We sadly had to say good bye to our little paradise in Danville, CA and pack up our "tour bus" and move on to the next stop. We had to drive through Yosemite National Park on Tioga Road and Pass to reach our final destination of June Lake. It was like taking a quick stroll through memory lane since we had spent a week with our son enjoying all Yosemite had to offer a number of years ago. We could only stop and take a few pictures as we were on a mission to get to the expo to pick up my race packet for the race, preview the venue and course, check into our hotel and make the pre-race meeting and athlete's dinner. It was very difficult to rush through Yosemite, but we did it! We are now officially national park tourists who's average visit through lasts only a few hours.
We did make it to June Lake around 2 pm which gave us enough time to take care of all of the business mentioned above. There was not as much snow on the mountains as the June Lake Triathlon pictures boast, but it was a beautiful venue. My nerves were higher then normal not being familiar with the terrain and how to manage my energy and the technical requirements of the course.
June Lake Triathlon was a race I have had my eye on for the past few years as it meets my requirements of cooler temperatures and pine trees. It takes place the same weekend as Vineman which is another popular race destination, but this year it worked out perfectly in our summer tour. The race woos you right from the beginning by taking you to the top of the mountain via the ski lift for the athlete meeting and dinner. The race started years ago as a small grass roots event and was reincarnated 8 years ago by the High Sierra Tri Club. They recently added a half distance to the sprint and olympic distance races.
We sat on top of the world as we viewed the course from above and learned all the details for the next day. Next, we sat outside and enjoyed a delicious dinner of Mahi Mahi, corn on the cob, salad and dinner roll. We met Steve and Kelly from San Diego who had both come to AZ to volunteer and then returned for Ironman to celebrate their 50th birthdays several years ago.
We had to come down from the mountain to go prep for the next day. Many other triathletes were staying at the same motel and people were prepping their bikes outside their rooms. We took a walk down to the lake and enjoyed the sun set.
There were less than 500 athletes overall in this race and everyone had to meet at the Ski Resort to take shuttles to June Lake Beach. The ski resort had huge bike trailers and busses for transporting us back and forth to the venue. They did not close transition off early and allowed athletes to arrive prior to their own events. I signed up for the Olympic event with the second start time of 8 am. We still got an early start and made it there in time to watch the long course swim.
I set up my transition, went through my rituals and met my rack mates. I was dedicating this race to a co-worker, Jule, who passed away suddenly earlier this week at one of the AZ lakes and I asked the volunteer body marking to help me put her name on my leg. Jule was always a bright light at the school that I worked at and she was always very excited to hear about my triathlons. That was an emotional moment because it finally hit me that she was gone. I was going to take her spirit with me at this beautiful race!
Then, I took my wet suit, cap and goggles and watched the long course swim with my husband. The morning view was so beautiful. The water was crystal clear, the ski was blue, trees were green, and the rocky mountains were red and grey. Here I am again, yet, I forget how many miles I have done a few weeks ago or even the day before. One workout and one race begins to blend into another.
The race began out in the water because with the California drought the water level was low with warmer water temperature then usual. Wetsuits were still mandatory although the water felt quite comfortable in sleeveless suit. There was walking and running through sand and water at the beginning and the end of the swim. This swim was different then the others for me. At 8000 feet it was a even a little harder to relax and required breathing every stroke. Smooth and steady it seemed but I was not certain where I stood. I do know I can't be afraid to start in the front line any more because it takes more energy trying to get around people who should not start in the front then having a few people bump into you. I was a bit more disoriented in clear water with a view of the sand on the bottom. I found that more difficult than dark water. I felt a little dizzy, so I avoided looking straight down at the bottom and sometimes even closed my eyes spotting enough to see the buoys. I thought I was taking a straight line after the first turn to the next bouy but it was far away and there were a lot of swimmers closer to shore, so I am not sure if I did not find the shortest path. I swam until I hit boulders and could not swim any further before having to run through the water and deep sand. My swim time was slower than usual probably due to altitude, maybe not finding the shortest line, and running through water and sand.
My transition times were great, but my heart was racing, so I tried to settle down on the bike for the first mile which was a little climb before the 16 mile descent. The bike course was so beautiful. The steep downhills and curves were more manageable then I expected. I did well on the short uphills and passed several people on the short quick uphills. When the biggest portion of the descent ended, and the climb back up to the lake began, I was not able to maintain the momentum but I focused on cadence and trying to go steady. My first 16 miles I averaged over 20 mph, but then the remainder was a 2-3% grade back with an average in the mid 12s mph bringing my overall ave down to 16.7. I was disappointed with the average, but I felt strong and I did not have any cramping. I worked in zone 3 for power and HR and cadence was just under 90 average, so I think I can celebrate some success. I was able to sip on one bottle of water with electrolyte mix and I took 1 Huma Gel on the bike. I did use Dr. Hyland's anti-cramping tabs before the race which I still don't know if it is helping physically or mentally. A day without cramping is a sweet day! A few of the riders I flew by on the descent overtook me on the climb. I passed 2 people on the climb. Passing any riders is progress in my book! This was another race where I found myself sightseeing, enjoying the view the whole way through. It was a scenic loop overlooking a series of lakes and mountains and I would love to stay and train on it, but this day, I was happy I only had to do it one time and that it was clockwise, because the other direction the grades were much steeper.
The bike had it's challenging moments, but it was the run that gives the race its motto, THE TOUGHEST RACE in the MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE. You see elevation charts and descriptions, but you never know how difficult one person's description is going to rate in your book. Well, it was every bit as hard as the description. The run was on trail, jeep road, paved road, and single track. It went up to 8500 feet through around the lakes, through pine trees and dry ponds. There were several very steep sections where my running was slower then surrounding athletes walking, so I caved and walked on the steepest sections where I was still hunched over with labored breathing. Even the down hills sections were steep, sandy and rocky and did not offer much relief. This was the section where I was passed the most. I carried a bottle filled with electrolyte. I forgot to pick up my nutrition from my mat in transition so I grabbed a gel from one of the aide stations and carried it with me until I needed it. I accepted offers of being sponged by the volunteers. Some cloud coverage would have been nice, but it was not to be on this perfect day. I was able to run most of the run, did not cramp and was happy to finish. I had no idea what my time was other then slow. My heart rate was in zone 3, so not sure I could have pushed myself to go faster and continue to run. My finish was slower then I anticipated but not far from my prediction of 3:30 with a final time of 3:37 and some change.
The finish involved running through some deep sand (what was up with that), not making a kick to the end very doable. I hunched over again after crossing the line as they want you to stop dead to remove your timing chip. I even sat in a chair for a minute. I felt so happy. I got to race in the most beautiful place. I did not place but I got to honor a friend and carry her with me in this heavenly place. It is funny how a shorter distance can feel just as challenging as a longer race.
The race ended with a catered meal which was amazing. I was actually hungry and able to eat. It included grilled chicken, fancy side salads, fruit and dessert. We sat on the beach and watch the kids triathlon which was so inspiring to see tiny little bodies trying to swim in the shallow water. We stayed for awards, but the competition in my age group was tough and my slow time did not cut it. The time were all slower then average accept for the really fast people were still fast! The run is what devoured me.
What went well: no cramping, no stomach problems, 96 out 150 finishers, 37 in swim, steady on swim and bike, improving with cadence and maintaining zone 3 power and HR for Olympic Distance, good transitions, ran most of run accept steepest parts, but was able to resume running
Areas to improve: overall speed all around, longer climbs on bike, continue to get lighter, prepare better for specifics of course
I was high on triathlon at 8000 feet. I most highly recommend this race and hope to come back again. June Lake is a cute little town with a series of small lakes, mountains and lots of boating, fishing, hiking and biking opportunities. The High Sierra Club put on an amazing small race. I am most impressed by a club that can keep the costs down and the perks high. The athlete's meeting, dinner and post race meals were an added bonus to the breathtaking views. I realize there are ways to better prepare for this particular race including adding a lot of hill training and trail running.
After June Lake, we have moved on to Bishop, CA for my husband to train for his race called the Everest Challenge. One thing I have learned is that it is not such a good idea to be a sherpa and sit in a truck for 8 hours supporting your husband the day after TRI-ing at June Lake. He succeeded making 2 of the climbs and will go back at it tomorrow. I hope to get my body moving into recovery so I can continue with my Ironman training with 11 weeks to go or 77 days!
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