Race Report - Ice Breaker Triathlon 2024

The 2024 Ice Breaker Triathlon marked the start of the tri season for me with my ultimate goal being to cross the finish line at IRONMAN California. As I write this, I think IM CA will be my last full triathlon...but we will see how the training goes. 

 

Pre-Race 

I woke up Saturday morning to rainy cold weather. It's not as if I wasn't aware of the forecast, I was. It's just that at 6:00am, looking out the kitchen window and seeing it, made me start to reconsider racing. I quickly told myself that staying home was not an option. If I chickened out of this race, IRONMAN California would be that much more difficult to get to the start line. 

HS and I loaded up my car and headed to Folsom Lake about an hour an a half before race start. TBF Racing had been very clear that, due to construction at the lake, there would be a 15-20 minute walk to transition. What went unsaid is that there would be a 15-20 minute walk back to where the swim start was.  

Check-in was easy. I had printed a copy of my USA Triathlon card and a copy of my drivers license and laminated them together. The lady at the registration desk loved it!! I took my numbers and had to go over what was what with the volunteer. This was my first triathlon since IRONMAN California 2022 and I was feeling like a newbie this morning.

After getting my bike and gear from the car, we started the long trek to transition...in the rain.

Transition is located at that white tent way in the background.

Transition
Credit TBF Race Photography

After arranging my gear into two large clear blue recycling bags, I made my way to the swim start. In the shelter of the restroom/snackbar building overhang, I put on my thermal swim booties, my wetsuit, my thermal swim cap and the blue latex cap for my wave. I was tired after struggling to get into my gear, but at least I was warm. That is, until I got in the lake.

Swim

I made my way slowly into the water, letting it first penetrate the booties. It still felt cold, but eventually, my body would warm up the water trapped inside them. I continued walking until the bottom of my wetsuit zipper was submerged and the icy liquid flowed down my backside and started to fill the legs of my wetsuit. Eeek!

Still contemplating my life decisions that got me here ;-)

When I was almost chest deep, I stopped. In my mind I kept hearing Coach James telling me to stick my face in and blow bubbles. Which I did, reluctantly. I know it's supposed to help, but it was so cold. Eventually, I pushed off the bottom and took several strokes. Cold water flooded into my ears and I remembered the one thing I forgot. My silicone ear plugs. 

I turned around, took a few more strokes (Warm-up done!) and went to find HS. Thankfully, we had put my tri bag back in the car so it wouldn't get soaked. I asked him to go and try to find the ear plugs and get back before the start. He made quick work of finding them. Yay! My ears were going to be protected from the piercing cold water.

My swim wave entering the water
Credit TBF Race Photography

The swim started. I didn't get in a hurry. I strode out slowly until it was deep enough to swim and then I just swam. It is actually nice with the ear plugs in because there is a serenity in the silence. It was also nice that everyone was so aware of their space and I was only bumped and slapped (my feet) a few times. I continued swimming, stopping every once in a while to see where I was at. My Garmin data shows a fairly straight swim (for me anyways).

Swim exit was almost as casual as the start! 

I am thankful I put a pair of shoes out, because it

was close to 1/2 a mile to transition through 

sand, rocks and mud!

Bike

Cold does not begin to describe how I felt on the bike!

When I got to transition, I stripped off all my thermal swimming gear and slipped on my helmet, the easiest piece of gear when you are soaking wet. I had a pair of riding socks, but my cycling shoes that I had just pulled out of the bag and set next to my bike were already getting soaked by the rain. I've raced without socks in the past, I figured I didn't need them now.

I grabbed my riding gloves next, knowing how cold and miserable my fingers can get. However, in what looked like a reenactment of the infamous court scene where a pair of dried, bloody gloves were tried on, I stopped before I got the first one on. I would just have to ride without them.

I slipped on a pair of clear riding glasses because I really hate water in my face and jogged off to the mount line. I have no pictures of the ride due to the fact that transition was so far away and there were no spectators on the course.

I opted to ride my road bike today. Unfortunately, the bike decided to act up and for some reason I struggled to shift into a high gear. I could downshift easily on a climb, but then I was stuck spinning for a while until I could get the bike to change gears...usually right before I needed to climb again. Anyone that has rode this course, knows that it is twisty, turny with lots of ups and downs. Having a bike that didn't want to cooperate was not ideal.

I'm not smiling, my face is frozen!
Credit TBF Race Photography

As I said, cold does not begin to describe how I felt. I was in my sleeveless tri suit, soaking wet, sharp rain pelting my skin at times. My bike does not have disc brakes, so I was very, very cautious. I averaged 14.7 miles per hour on this ride. I can safely say that is probably my slowest race ride average ever. Even at IM CA 2022, in the brutal winds, I still averaged 16.12 mph! So, due to my slow pace, I got to enjoy more time in the cold. 

I was relieved to finally complete the second loop and head into transition. I unclipped and struggled to dismount my bike. My legs and arms were so cold, they didn't want to bend or move as I directed. I gingerly jogged over to my rack and hung the bike. I took off the helmet and glasses and tossed them into the bag with some of my swim gear. I pulled out a dry towel and wiped my feet and took the time to put on a soft, dry pair of running socks. Heaven!! I slipped on my shoes, knowing full well that my sock would be soaked in minutes.

I then started cleaning up my space and putting some loose gear away in the bag. "Stop!" I told myself. "Do that later." I have no idea what possessed me to clean up at that point, maybe I was just delaying the run. I pulled on my running cap, thankful for the protection from the endless drops of rain and started running.

Run

The long run from transition.

Perhaps it was my freezing cold legs, but I felt fresh headed out on the run. My steps felt light and I just jogged along easily. I had grabbed my handheld water bottle with electrolytes in it because I didn't want to slow down at the aid stations. Unfortunately, the first time I tried to take a drink, I almost knocked out a tooth. I was shaking so badly that I couldn't steady the bottle enough to get a drink. Maybe things weren't as good as they seemed.

Since I hadn't studied the map of the run course, I was surprised when we ran past the standard turn around point and continued on up the hill. Even though I was freezing, the course was beautiful and it took my mind off of being cold. Actually, running in cold weather, even with rain, is 100% better than riding a bike in the same weather ;-)

I closed in on a female runner with 42 on the back of her leg. Some people had body markings, others did not. She told me to go ahead and pass her and I replied "That's ok." I was focused on just running and watching where I stepped, not racing. I wanted to get out of this race injury free.

Post Race

Eventually I crossed the finish line. I was so happy, but the misery wasn't over yet. 

Happy face, happy race :-)

I went to the car and put on semi-dry clothes. I should have packed a warmer jacket for post race and an umbrella but I never would have thought it would be raining the entire time. I also didn't expect that it would be so cold. This is April in California, right?

I had HS scan the QR code for the results. No sense standing around if I didn't need to. The results showed me placing first in my age group. We were going to have to wait. I got a plate of pasta from the post-race food tent hoping that it would warm me up. It was lukewarm and after a bite, I handed the plate to HS. The snack bar was open for business, so we headed over to see what they had.

It was warm inside and the friendly lady at the counter brewed up a fresh pot of Folger's coffee for us. I couldn't wait to take a sip and finally feel warm. As we walked out to see where award ceremony was at, I tried lifting the paper cup to my mouth. I started shaking so badly that I splashed out half the coffee. HS tried to steady my hand so I could take a drink. I am not lying when I said I was freezing.

The award ceremony seemed painfully slow but eventually they called my name and I stood on the podium by myself. The only other female in my age group was still on the course. I collected my award and started the long trek to get my bike and gear...feeling happy that I didn't sit this one out, feeling even happier that I was headed home to a warm bath!

IRONMAN California (CANCELED) Race Report

Let me start by saying that this will probably be my shortest race report as the inaugural IRONMAN California was canceled due to an historic storm in Sacramento. Lots and lots of much needed rain...

On top of that the wind was crazy strong...

PRE-RACE

This was my third official IRONMAN branded race. Previously, I completed IRONMAN Vineman and IRONMAN Santa Rosa 70.3. So these are the IRONMAN experiences I am comparing IRONMAN California to. IRONMAN California was far above the other two races in terms of organization, staging and communication. I would say the only weak point was parking the morning of the race. 

In order to control the number of athletes at registration, I had to select a time to check-in. I chose Thursday morning between 10am-11am figuring that it would take about an hour and then I could attend the 11am athlete briefing. The whole check-in process was extremely efficient. I was in and out in about 10 minutes! HS and I did a little IRONMAN shopping and then found shelter under a small awning with other athletes waiting for the briefing.

Trying to stay dry as we wait for the athlete briefing

Also during registration, I had to select at time to drop off my bike on Saturday. This was handled by simply choosing a business sized card with an hour time slot. I always worry about how things are going to be handled and what I need to do, this was super easy.

I was glad I waited for the briefing. Although most of the info was available in the athlete guide, there were a few changes that had been made to race day logistics. Due to the predicted rain, wind and cold, the organizers added full changing tents and instructed us to bring our "Swim to Bike" bags to the stadium with our bikes on Saturday. I appreciated the fact that they were willing to make last minute changes.

IRONMAN mask was part of the swag

After checking in on Thursday, we headed back home. I spent the next two days checking the weather and making last minute changes to my gear and spraying Scotchgard on everything that wasn't designated by it's manufacturer as waterproof. I also added a few decorations to my bags. 

Decorated my bags to help me locate

Glad "Press N Seal" worked great protecting my 
saddle and bike bag for the overnight stay in the rain

Saturday afternoon was an easy drive back to the ball field. It was cloudy but dry. I prayed that the weather people were wrong about their forecast for Sunday and that my biggest problem of race day would be ditching unnecessary layers of clothing.

Such a cool place for transition

Bike bagged up and tied to the rack

As I said earlier, the communication for this event was great. Saturday evening, after HS and I had already went to bed, I received the text message below. HS also got a notification on his phone because he was following me on the IRONMAN app. On top of that, I received an email with the same info. Since I was just laying in bed unable to sleep, I saw the phone screens light up. Curiosity got the best of me and I got up to check. 

When I saw that one loop of the ride was being cut, I was a little relieved. I knew that I could easily complete 56 miles, even in the wind (Well, "normal" wind, not what we woke up to LOL). However, I secretly wished it was the swim that was being cut. I was shocked that even after the accident and my fear of riding on the road, I was still more afraid of the swim. At that point, all I could do was climb back in bed and stare at the ceiling.

RACE MORNING

Race morning finally arrived. I got up, fixed some coffee and started dressing for the race. Instead of wearing the Pearl iZUMI tri suit I got in 2018 during my last year as a PI "ambador", I opted for the two piece kit I wore for IRONMAN Vineman. Actually, I was just wearing the shorts and a sports bra for the swim...less wet clothes to deal with. 

As I sipped my coffee, I scrolled through the various IRONMAN California Facebook groups. Some athletes were upset about the ride being shortened but most seemed to accept the change because it was made in the name of safety. I noticed a post about the change in the start time, so I re-read the text from the night before and saw that the start would now be at 7:30am. This was a relief because I had noticed that it was still dark at 7am, the original start time. I really didn't want to swim in the dark.

HS and I adjusted our leave time and I continued getting ready which included another double-check of my remaining gear bags. Since it was now raining heavily, I slathered my legs in baby oil and slipped on my wetsuit up to my waist. The wetsuit would keep me warn and dry until I had to climb into the American River. I then covered my feet in vaseline and slipped on my neoprene booties followed by a pair of shoes. 

The drive from Roseville (staying with my daughter and family) was a bit disconcerting. The wind gusts could be felt as we drove in silence. Neither one of us wanted to mention the fact that the truck was being blown around. How was I going to be able to ride in this. I'm not a very light rider, but I knew I didn't weigh enough to feel stable on the road. I was starting to get panicky about swimming in this kind of weather too.

At the athlete briefing we were assured there was plenty of parking at the ball field (for a $15 fee) and that our support peeps could come and go all day. The weather the morning of the race may have forced more people to drive instead of walk from their hotels because we were at a standstill once we got off of I-5 (we used the J St exit, not sure if that was the best choice, but we weren't alone). 

When we finally made it to the intersection of Tower Bridge Gateway and Riverfront St I told HS that I needed to get out and get to my bike. We had intended to ride the shuttle together to the race start but I was worried that at 6am, I was running out of time. From the athlete entrance it was a winding route down on to the field where the bikes were waiting. HS gave me a kiss, told me he loved me, and I hopped out into the rain and ran across the street. I hoped we would meet up again before the swim start.

The red star marks where I finally got out of the truck

I walked up the area where the blue "Swim to Bike" bags were carefully lined up. I looked for mine and found it on the opposite side of where I was told to place it on Saturday. I tapped the top of the bag to check that my helmet was there and kept moving down to the field. Everything was soaked and the field was getting a bit flooded. Even though the entire field was covered in an interlocking plastic grid, mud and water pressed up with each step, soaking my shoes. 

Photo from one of the IMCA Facebook groups
credit to Bev Raines Hess

I dropped my red "Bike to Run" and grabbed my Gatorade and filled the bladder on my bike. Just then an official sounding voice came over the loudspeakers. At first it sounded like he was just reiterating the info I received in last night's text and email. However, the content had changed. After talking about the severity of the weather, he announced that the race had been canceled. I bent over and grabbed my knees and started to cry. I know there are much more important things in life than a race but I had so much emotionally invested in this endeavor that the announcement was soul crushing in that stormy moment . I stood up and looked at the faces of my fellow athletes. I wasn't alone in my disappointment. 

The announcer instructed us to get our bikes and gear and make our way out of the stadium. At this point, the wheels sort of came off the well oiled machine. The initial instructions said to leave the way we came in. It was like swimming upstream as athletes were still making their way into the stadium. I went through two sets of volunteers that were checking wristbands against the number on the bikes (thankful for that). I asked about my timing chip, but no one seemed to know what to do with them at that point. Just as I got to where the blue "Swim to Bike" bags were, a volunteer was turning people around and telling us to go the other way. 

I made eye contact with a guy on the other side of the railing he asked "What do you need?" and I answered "Can you get bag 631 for me?" He quickly located my bag and handed it to me. I thanked him and turned around and headed back towards the field. Eventually another volunteer opened up a space in the fence and pointed us to an exit. The next thing I knew, I was outside and had no idea where Hot Stuff was and I didn't have my phone.

I hoped he was still waiting in line to get into the parking lot so I walked in that direction. Cars were still lined up. The wind blew my bike around in my hand as I tried to push it with a bag balanced on the aerobars and two in my free hand. I walked the entire perimeter of the stadium before stopping at the entrance where soaked athletes were waiting in line to collect their gear. I scanned the cars driving up the street and the parking lots. It was still dark and the rain and the lights made it impossible to see much. I stood in the rain and waited.

Eventually I decided to change out of my soaked jacket and put on the clothes I had intended to wear on the ride. I had a long sleeve thermal jersey and a waterproof cycling jacket. I stood out in my bright yellow and pink jacket in the dark wet morning. No sign of HS though. 

From behind me I heard a woman ask a volunteer about her timing chip. The volunteer answered that she could take it. I unstrapped the chip from my left ankle and handed it the volunteer and thanked her. I returned to my search for HS. After about 20 minutes I decided to circle the stadium again. Although it was still raining heavily, dawn had started to lighten the sky. I felt like a lost child, too shy to ask to borrow a cell phone. Eventually I saw a familiar shadow coming towards me, I finally found him or more accurately, he found me. He helped me with the bags and opened the back door of the truck as I hoisted the bike quickly inside.

As it turns out, he gave up trying to park and drove to the swim start only to be told that the race was cancelled. He drove back to the stadium, parked, and was able to get down to the field because he had a ticket that allowed him to retrieve my bike for me. This was supposed to happen while I was out on the run, not the morning before the race started. When he found my bike rack (everything is well numbered) he realized I had already been there and was gone. He probably walked past me as I was standing by the entrance looking for him.

Mint condition swim cap and bib

Honestly, there were moments during our drive home that were scary and we were in a 4x4 truck. Every time a gust of wind shook the truck, I was thankful that IRONMAN made the difficult decision to cancel the race.

LOOKING AHEAD

After the rain and my tears subsided, I took some time to reflect on the opportunity I was being given. I went into this race feeling scared and under-prepared. I figured I might do another IRONMAN California some time in the future but 2022 was not in my plans. With the cancellation, it was like I was being handed a do-over. HS seemed to be 100% onboard with 2022 as well :-)

Part of my uncertainty about the race was due to an unspoken level of self sabotage. I had a race weight goal. I made a half-assed attempt and only got half way to my goal. I also knew I should get my bike in to the shop for a tune up because it's been on the trainer for over a year. That didn't happen. I procrastinated until it was too late. I did put new tubes, tires, and a chain on the bike myself, but couldn't bring myself to take it anywhere. I knew I should probably go on one of the group rides or swims on the course, but I stayed home.

Thankfully, my deferral to IRONMAN California 2022 is automatic so I can't do anything to sabotage that. I've already created a new spreadsheet to track my weight race goal. With a little less than a year until the race, there is no reason for me not to meet my goal. I've also decided to do more workouts outside instead of hidden away in my house (See "Tethered By Fear"). I will also break out of my comfort zone and participate in group rides on the race course and practice swims in the river.

First run outside in the books!

On top of that, I am super excited for the new team I joined "IRACELIKEAGIRL". Real triathletes that also have a Zwift presence...for those days I decide to stay inside :-) 

Here's to October 23, 2022! 

PS: I knew there would be more... I will age up in 2022 and although I will 54 at race day, my late December birthday means I will be in the 55-59 age group. This is a welcome surprise because this year my age group was the largest women's group!