Welcome to racing in the Napa Valley: as we toed the start line, the race director announced that the only flat part of this course was going to be the lake, so we’d better enjoy it. The bike and run courses would be taking us either up or down. It was good to start my second half of the season with a laugh! The race took place on the outskirts of Napa Valley, California. My upstairs neighbour and dear friend Monica and her boyfriend Marc Perrot were my partners in crime for the weekend. With three bike boxes and overstuffed weekend duffel bags in tow, we turned some heads at the airport. Most people thought we were musicians traveling with a harp
or trombone. It was essential to rent the most transformable minivan we could find, and Chrysler came through for us! That Lee Iacocca really knew a thing or two about designing cars and vans. We stayed in a town called Fairfield, 12 miles outside of quaint Napa, and $300 a night cheaper. Wendy’s, MacDonald’s, and Denny’s were the only dining options around, but we quickly located a trusty Trader Joe’s store and brought dinner back to the comforts of our hotel room. I have met my eating match in Marc—he can definitely put back the calories. I was impressed with his attention to fueling and topping up his stores. Friday was a day of exploration and relaxation. As chauffeur, Marc navigated the minivan through 57 miles of twisting roads, switchbacks, and rolling hills to Lake Berryessa, the location of the race start. Without a person in sight, we thought we had come to the wrong venue. We city slickers carefully hid our van keys, stuffed our wallets under the van seats, and worried about our bikes going missing if we all swam in the lake together at the same time. Once I pointed out that there was not a soul in sight for miles, we laughed at our paranoia and headed out for a 20-20-10 swimming, biking, running suppleness session. A few friendly competitors rolled in to do the same, which confirmed we had in fact come to the right venue.
The roads were so winding and rolling that I requested the front seat, which Monica graciously offered up for fear of me losing my breakfast. We drove the course backwards and noted the level of difficulty this course would offer us on race day. I focused on the smooth parts of the road yet realized that these patches were few and far between. We all agreed to keep our wits about us so as not to fall into a pothole or ride off the cliffs. Fueling, pacing, and hydration
were going to be the keys to a solid ride. I was certainly coming to the race with a bit of fatigue in my body from the past three weeks of solid training. Yet, mentally and physically, I knew I was up for the race and felt a burning desire to give it 110 percent. The run was where I wanted to shine the most, knowing full well that this leg of the race would only be brilliant if I had taken care of things prior to that point. I shared this strategy with Marc and Monica so they too might take note for their own performance and race execution.
Race morning meant an early start. Our saving grace was the local Starbucks 24-hr drive thru! I think the Starbucks sales in the Napa Valley region increased tenfold while we were in town. We were all craving our special potion at about the same time each day, multiple times a day.
Our minivan pulled into transition at approximately 6:30 a.m., 90 minutes before race start. Marc and Monica were in steady form, eagerly preparing for their first half IM of the season. I was feeling calmly confident and excited for the day. I was almost more excited for it to be over so we could tell our stories and laugh at the idiosyncrasy of an event such as this.
With everything in place—no more tweaking, positioning, stretching, peeing, pumping, checking, or lathering left to do—we got the race underway at 8:00 a.m. I started as close to the front as I could and stayed there for the first lap of the swim. Come the second lap we were mixed in with the second and third swim waves and things got a bit busy with so many bodies in the water. I was second female to exit and passed the first female in the transition area. It was a decent hike to our bikes, which benefited the legs, sending blood and energy to the required muscles.
The ride did not disappoint. It was just as rolling, technical, and rollercoaster-like as it had been the day before. It played to my strengths brilliantly and I felt totally at one with the road. For most of the ride I was out there alone, with only the odd cyclist ahead. I rode aggressively while keeping the run in mind. By the two-hour mark, the sun was heating up and hydration was becoming more of a priority. I never once felt like I had drained my fuel tank permanently. I was completely in control of my pace (except for on the very steep climbs when my power would spike somewhat). Marc rode past just over halfway into the ride, at which point he immediately proceeded to slow down. Is that a guy thing? It was nice to have a familiar body in proximity yet we only exchanged a handful of words. He did witness another racer ask me for a swig of my water bottle. I found this quite odd since I was in the lead (hence focusing) and I only had a mouthful or two left with 16 miles to go. The course offered up some flatter sections towards the end along with a final steep climb and steeper descent into T2.
The speed bumps in and out of transition were likely the most disconcerting sections of the ride. I had to check if my bolts were all still intact when I rolled over them.
After locating my runners under two unfamiliar wetsuits, towels and empty water bottles, I headed out for the run. It took a solid 20 minutes to find my rhythm. But once I did, I locked it in as best I could. The run route was simple—out and back, twice—with a serious climb on the way out and an even more serious multi-stage climb on the return. We were protected from the wind so the sun was even hotter than it would have been with a slight breeze. I was never sure
of my lead but hoped it was more than three minutes. Katya Meyers (a pro and sports model) was behind me with a few others trailing behind her. It didn’t bother me that no one was biting at my ankles. I was racing for myself and for a performance indicative of my fitness. I could have been out there alone and I would have given the same effort. Marc was always close by but again we never really spoke other than when he was buckled over stretching his back. I muttered “You okay?” but I knew full well it would be a volunteer to assist him, not me. He got a second wind and finished up 2nd in his age group. Monica was charging along with a huge grin and strong stride. We got to high-five each other during her outbound leg and my inbound leg. The finish line was hugely satisfying as were the Advils I popped within moments of finishing. I finished with a respectable time of 4:42 and my best half-marathon split yet this year.
The Canucks cleaned up the awards. Monica was 2nd in her age group, Marc 2nd (in a very competitive division) and I was first female and 7th overall. We celebrated with a trip to Starbucks (just kidding), an Italian dinner in downtown Napa, and some serious shopping in the Sports Basement on Sunday in San Francisco.
This race was a low-key event that worked into my schedule perfectly. It was an opportunity to test out some fitness, fueling and race-pace efforts. My coach, Kevin, says that my race data, heart rates and wattage, is textbook based on our predictions.
Next up is Ironman Coeur D’Alene on June 22nd. If the timing works out, I may jump into a half ironman in Victoria, BC on May 25th. The racing scene is picking up on all fronts: running, cycling, triathlon and multisports. It is great to see everyone streaming outdoors, ready to play in the sunshine. Mother Nature tells me we are in for a hot one!
Christine
