I raced Evergreen in 2006 and 2007 and was excited to learn when I was planning my 2008 season that the race held this designation. Knowing that I would be racing in a Regional Championship event, I set my season goal to earn a qualification and to race in the National Championship.
I analyzed my 2006 results (2007 was kind of a throw-away season for me) to see where I placed that year. I was 13/27, 4 places out of the top 33%. My time was 4 minutes slower than the 9th place finisher. I told myself that to qualify I needed to cut 5 minutes off of my time.
Fast forward to July 19 and Evergreen. Prior to the race I set my time goals to be sub 30 minutes for the swim, sub 1:08 for the bike, and sub 50 minutes for the run. I hoped my overall time would be 2:28:00 or so. This would have bested my 2006 time by nearly 10 minutes, and with that I was confident I would meet my goal of qualifying for Nationals.
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Pre-Race
My alarm went off at 4:15. I didn't really sleep too well due to excitement and anxiousness, so I was up pretty quickly. I had packed everything the night before, so all I had to do was get in and drive to the race site. It was just about an hour away, so my wife and I got in the van and headed off. About 10 minutes into the trip we hit a strong rain storm. I was worried that it might affect the race because the rain was coming from the west...where we were headed. We continued to drive through rain storms until we arrived at the race site. I got checked in quickly and was happy to see that the water temperature had dropped enough to make the race wetsuit legal. I got my bike racked and my transitions setup. (I was hoping to save time in transition by skipping socks in T1, but putting them on in T2 for the run.) It continued to stop and start raining, but there was no lightning or thunder, so we started just a few minutes behind schedule.Swim
Based on my race a couple of weeks before, I made sure to emphasize sighting during the swim. I didn't want to zigzag around the course and waste time correcting. So I sighted for buoys very frequently. I felt like I was moving along pretty well. I was passing some people from the wave that started 3 minutes before mine and I was feeling smooth and strong. I hit the swim exit and checked my watch. 28 something...Great! (Swim time - 29:19)
Based on my race a couple of weeks before, I made sure to emphasize sighting during the swim. I didn't want to zigzag around the course and waste time correcting. So I sighted for buoys very frequently. I felt like I was moving along pretty well. I was passing some people from the wave that started 3 minutes before mine and I was feeling smooth and strong. I hit the swim exit and checked my watch. 28 something...Great! (Swim time - 29:19)
T1It was a long run from the water to transition, but I felt strong...thank you wetsuit! I had counted racks based on the wave numbers they were labelled with, so I found my bike pretty quickly. I struggled getting my leg out of the wetsuit a little, but I was putting my helmet on at the same time, so I didn't really lose any time. I got out of my wetsuit and into my shoes (no socks), grabbed my bike, and headed for the exit. (1:35)
Bike
The rain had continued during the swim, so the roads were wet. I wasn't going to let that slow me. I was riding safe, but I was trying to go fast. I started passing people almost immediately. The collegiate (men and women) and men 34 and under waves had gone before my wave (men 35-44). I was passing alot of riders in other age groups, but wasn't seeing alot of 35-39s on the bike. I wasn't sure if this meant that they were all ahead of me, or if it meant they were all behind me.
The rain had continued during the swim, so the roads were wet. I wasn't going to let that slow me. I was riding safe, but I was trying to go fast. I started passing people almost immediately. The collegiate (men and women) and men 34 and under waves had gone before my wave (men 35-44). I was passing alot of riders in other age groups, but wasn't seeing alot of 35-39s on the bike. I wasn't sure if this meant that they were all ahead of me, or if it meant they were all behind me.
I had planned my nutrition strategy to hopefully maintain energy througout the bike and into the run. I was planning on drinking water and using Hammer gels every five miles. I was alternating Tropical (with 25mg caffeine) and Raspberry (no caffeine). I hit 5 miles and took the first gel. I continued on with this plan taking gels at miles 11 and 20. I felt very strong for the entire ride. Around mile 18 I finally passed a rider in my age group, then another shortly after. We yo-yoed back and forth a couple of times, and I finally passed them for good within the last 1.5 miles. I dismounted at the line and headed into transition. (Ride time - 1:09:22)
T2
It had continued to rain on and off (mostly on) for the entire ride. My shoes were soaked and the socks I had planned to wear were soaked as well. I made a split second decision to forget the socks, knowing that my feet would suffer for it. (I had tried running sockless for a training run only to return home after 2 miles to put socks on.) But I didn't care, I was in this race to try and go as fast as I could and I knew that the soaked socks would slow my transition way down. I pulled on my shoes grabbed my hat and race belt and took off for the run exit. (1:17)
It had continued to rain on and off (mostly on) for the entire ride. My shoes were soaked and the socks I had planned to wear were soaked as well. I made a split second decision to forget the socks, knowing that my feet would suffer for it. (I had tried running sockless for a training run only to return home after 2 miles to put socks on.) But I didn't care, I was in this race to try and go as fast as I could and I knew that the soaked socks would slow my transition way down. I pulled on my shoes grabbed my hat and race belt and took off for the run exit. (1:17)
Run
I was hoping to average 8 minute miles for the run and to come in under 50 minutes. Leaving transition, I reminded myself to control my breathing, relax, and stay in control. Also, I needed to run my own race and hold my own pace. I hit mile 1 and looked at my watch - 7:44. A little bit fast, but I felt ok. I forgot to hit my lap button right away, so my remaining miles were mistimed. The rain picked up again. I love to run in the rain. I hit mile 2 and my watch said 7 something, which I knew was wrong - it had to be closer to 8 something. Right after mile 2 I started feeling the hot spots on my feet - right in my arches - just like on the training run.
Between miles 2 and 3 I ran with someone from the Tri-Shark club. We were holding the same pace and it felt good to run with someone for a little while. I talked about the rain a little bit, how it was holding off the heat. I did glance at his calf to make sure he wasn't in my age group...Nope, he was younger. The two guys from my age group who I passed on the bike both passed me on the run, but they were clearly strong runners and I wasn't able to match their pace. I watched them run away, one at a time, wondering if I was going to be able to hit the goal that I had worked so hard for.
At the mile 4 water station I ran away from the Tri-Shark guy, trying to pick up my pace a little. I was hurting. My feet were blistered and on fire and the exertion of the race was starting to take its toll on me. I started telling myself, "I am strong. I am strong. I am strong." It became like a little chant to time my foot falls to...I-am-strong. I-am-strong. I-am-strong.
I was hoping to average 8 minute miles for the run and to come in under 50 minutes. Leaving transition, I reminded myself to control my breathing, relax, and stay in control. Also, I needed to run my own race and hold my own pace. I hit mile 1 and looked at my watch - 7:44. A little bit fast, but I felt ok. I forgot to hit my lap button right away, so my remaining miles were mistimed. The rain picked up again. I love to run in the rain. I hit mile 2 and my watch said 7 something, which I knew was wrong - it had to be closer to 8 something. Right after mile 2 I started feeling the hot spots on my feet - right in my arches - just like on the training run.
Between miles 2 and 3 I ran with someone from the Tri-Shark club. We were holding the same pace and it felt good to run with someone for a little while. I talked about the rain a little bit, how it was holding off the heat. I did glance at his calf to make sure he wasn't in my age group...Nope, he was younger. The two guys from my age group who I passed on the bike both passed me on the run, but they were clearly strong runners and I wasn't able to match their pace. I watched them run away, one at a time, wondering if I was going to be able to hit the goal that I had worked so hard for.
At the mile 4 water station I ran away from the Tri-Shark guy, trying to pick up my pace a little. I was hurting. My feet were blistered and on fire and the exertion of the race was starting to take its toll on me. I started telling myself, "I am strong. I am strong. I am strong." It became like a little chant to time my foot falls to...I-am-strong. I-am-strong. I-am-strong.
Mile 5 was a welcome site. I knew that the finish was near and I just had to hold on a little while longer. As the road wound around towards the lake I could hear the sounds of the finish line and I just wanted to get there. I looked down at my watch and saw that my goal time was going to slip by while I was still on the road. At this point I had no idea where I was within my age group, and I was just hoping that I had a good push to the finish in me.
We hit the turn onto the road toward the finish and I told myself to pick it up a little. The Tri-Shark guy apparently picked it up too, because he passed my and cruised on towards the finish. I told myself, "Don't hold anything back" and started my finishing kick. I got up the road a little and saw the cones that marked the entry to the finish chute...about 100 more yards to go. The cones were laid out in an s-curve - left then back right and on to the finish line. I hit the left started back to the right and WHAM! my left hamstring just balled up into a massive uncontrollable cramp. I stopped, grabbed the back of my leg and started screaming in pain. People were yelling "Keep going!! Keep going!!" But there was nothing I could do, the pain was horrible. People started rushing by me...other racers pushing to the finish. I started to hobble, then grabbed and squeezed my hamstring as hard as I could. Another runner from my age group passed by. I could feel the cramp start to release a little, and I began to run again. I tried to catch him, but he had momentum and I couldn't catch him in those last yards. I was crushed. I just knew my goal wasn't going to be realized. I was so close. I tried so hard and a stupid cramp just robbed me of what I wanted - right in sight of the finish. (Run time - 51:16) 
Post Race
Post RaceI wandered around a little bit. Drank some water. Hobbling. Feet hurt. Leg hurts. Feelings hurt. I did the best I could. I was so close...2:32:50...my best Evergreen finish by over 6 minutes. Was it good enough?
I got some food and started looking for results sheets to be posted. I had to know how close I was. I headed towards the shower building and saw people gathered around. Preliminary results were posted...I scanned the sheet, picking out ages and counting. One, two, three, four...FIVE!!! "I'm fifth! I did it! I'm in! I'm fifth! I should have been fourth! It doesn't matter - I did it!" Yahoo!!! Wow, what a relief. I am happy!
I got some food and started looking for results sheets to be posted. I had to know how close I was. I headed towards the shower building and saw people gathered around. Preliminary results were posted...I scanned the sheet, picking out ages and counting. One, two, three, four...FIVE!!! "I'm fifth! I did it! I'm in! I'm fifth! I should have been fourth! It doesn't matter - I did it!" Yahoo!!! Wow, what a relief. I am happy!
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