Boston Performance Coaching

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Patriot Race Report: Learning the hard way

A little over a year ago, I took on my first half ironman. It was a challenge unlike other tris I have done. This year, I returned to the distance at the Patriot to try to learn from the difficulties last year and have a solid race. Well, I finished, and I learned more about this distance, but I don't think I can say I had a solid race. I finished in 6:08 - 18 minutes slower than last year. But I did come 8th in my age group (out of 26), so that's not too shabby. Still I wasn't out there to podium, I was out to master the distance, and once again, the half got the best of me. Here's what I learned.

With temperatures in the upper-80s, I knew I'd need to take on more fluids. I'd even planned on stopping to pee, but as it turned out, I didn't have to. I have 2 water bottle cages on my bike, a front one with my sustained energy and a back one with just water. I usually only use my back cage to refill my front one in training, so when I went for my water 2 miles in, I dropped it. Crap. Well there's a water stop at mile 15, I'll just have to make it there. Bad plan. I should have stopped and picked up the bottle. Instead, I was without water for the first 50 minutes of the bike. I kept drinking my sustained energy, but it just wasn't doing it.

Then, of course, when I did finally get to the water stop, the water bottle didn't fit in my cage cause my bike is so tiny. Bad planning. I jammed it in on a diagonal. I wasn't going to go without water for the next 15 miles. I focused on drinking ever mile, to try to get the fluid back into me.


When I got to the next water stop at 30 miles, I still had half of the water bottle and half of my fuel, so I decided I was good, I didn't exchange bottles. Again, bad plan. I ran out of all fluids at around mile 38, still ~7 miles to the next water stop. At this point I start developing a dehydration headache. Ugh. More water at mile 45, but it was too late.


I got into T2, put on shoes and ran to make a portapotty stop. By this point I had had 3 bottles of liquid, but only a thin stream of gu-like pee came out. Dang, my reflection in the mirror revealed swollen lips. Seriously dehydrated. I tried to remedy with some heed at the first mile water stop. But by the time I got to mile 2, I felt worse. I sat down, drank water, heed, had electrolyte pills, a gu. The volunteers offered to give me a ride back to transition. No way. If I'm gonna quit it's gonna be at mile 3. I start walking. After a few yards, I get up to jogging. At mile 3 I start the routine that will take me through the remainder of the day: splash myself with a cup of water, drink a cup of heed, walk a few yards and get to jogging. By mile 5, I actually felt good. More gu, more electrolyte pills and I was even banging out 9 minute miles there for a bit. Mile 10 didn't feel so good, but I made it. Total run time was 2:21.

Ok, so there are the lessons: pick up the bottle you dropped, practice with the exact mechanisms you will use on race day, don't rely on race provisions, explore other water options (bottle on the bars? camelback?).

Despite all this, there were some really good moments of the race yesterday too. I had the 4th fastest swim in my age group. I averaged 18.8 for the first half of the bike and 18.4 overall, giving me the 6th fastest bike in my age group. Once I got the hydration back in control, my run actually felt pretty good. I'm really proud of finishing the race. And finally, (and most importantly) my knee felt fine. Even a day later it's feeling ok. This was probably due to my absolutely amazing pit crew, Paul, who was ready for me with ice and saran wrap immediately after the race.

This morning I woke up still 4 pounds shy of my regular weight, so I've still got some work to do getting hydrated. But I'm now considering signing up for Pumpkinman. One more meeting with the half distance to tackle it.

Killington Stage Race

May 29 - 31

Killington, VT

 

Vic Brown, MS, CSCS, ATC

USAT – Level 1

Assistant Coach

Boston Performance Coaching, www.bostonperformancecoaching.com

Kenmore Square, 654 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02215

                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

After a 10 year hiatus, Vermont and Race Director Gary Kessler brought the Killington Stage Race back to New England and put on a first class event.  Threshold Cycling was ready to make their presence know this weekend with a total of 9 riders entered in the Cat 3 and 4 fields with another group, as equally important, their in support.  The team success has been top notch this season, but individually, I’ve had high expectations and have been average at best.  I rolled into Killington Friday afternoon with two goals: (1) RACE each day – not be afraid of blowing up. Put in the work and if a break was going to happen, I was going to be in it. (2) Be within striking distance to give myself a fighting chance on day 3.

Saturday May 29

STAGE ONE:  The Mountain Times Circuit Race was 3 x 18-mile loops.  Each included a 5 mile climb that began gradual and slowly pitched upward toward the King of the Mountain (KOM) check point and finished with a fast downhill finish.  Each time through the finish line was for Sprint points.  Lap #1 and at the base of the climb, ‘Shake’ launches an attack.  A gap is forming.  A few riders respond and I am one of them.  Sitting 3^rd, I do all I can to stay on ‘Shakes’ wheel.  We hit the 5K mark and my heart rate reads 189.  I am suffering, but we have a gap and I am in it.  The gap is short lived.  I can no longer hold the pace and begin dropping back into the pack at the 1K mark.  I get my wind back as we descend and find myself towards the front of the pack we approach the first sprint checkpoint.  I decide to give it a go.  Two riders from Dartmouth shoot off on the right.  They obviously have a lead out train going and their second man is large. I am not. I choose the large wheel to pull me to the front.  It works.  We charge towards the line.  I run out of gears! Cross the line 6^th to contest the first sprint.  Lap #2 and ‘Mover’ slots his way to front keeping the pace up until we make the turn towards the one lane bridge.  ‘Shake’ is near the front again looking smooth.  I begin to set up as the second wheel on the right as we approach the 1K mark to try to contest the KOM.  The group goes.  I see Randall shooting right and look like he has another gear in him that I don’t have.  Powerful!  He contests and is 2^nd over the line taking his first KOM points of the day.  He would later earn points on the 3^rd lap as well.  ‘Mover’ is still near the front and I notice guys easing back as we are descending.  There is more space between riders than there should have been.  We make a hard right onto Rte 100.  ’Mover’ gives a quick peak back and see’s the potential for a break.  I see it and know what he is thinking almost instantaneously.  He puts in a large dig.  He and I go back and forth taking quick pulls, like at Sterling, but to no avail.  A couple riders escape towards the second sprint.  But there are still points at stake as the main group approaches.  As the pace slows, I see Randall and Travis sprint off towards the line.  I thought it was a perfect idea.  They just started too early.  Lap #3 and Jeff shows what was the start of a strong weekend for him.  He leads the charge to bring back the break down Rte 4.  We head up the climb again.  The third time up the climb was the hardest for me.  Road was gutted a bit and required me to put out more effort to ride through it and maintain my position in the pack.  Randall looks good again and powers by for more KOM points.  Moving forward to the final moments.  My plan is to maneuver similar to the first lap, but have teammates with me.  After Randall’s showing of wattage during the KOM’s, I said to myself, “he looks good. Let’s get him to the line.”  I see Randall.  Travis is close behind him.  I tell Randall to “get on my wheel because when I see a hole, I’m gonna to take it.”  The right side is not open as it was in the past.  I’m in the middle and the sea’s part …only slightly.  Cross the line 10^th on the day with Randall and Travis right behind in 11^th and 14^th.  Pace was high throughout as I had the average at 24.5 MPH over the 53 mile course.  Later in the evening we receive our time trial start times for tomorrow.

 

Sunday May 30

STAGE TWO:  Travis, Randall and I caravan to the start for the Long Trail Brewery Individual Time Trial.  The ITT is essentially an 11 mile false flat with 3 short steeper pitches along the way.  Take 30-minutes to warm up.  Legs feel pretty good.  9:42:30 and I’m off.  Randall has a one minute head start.  I have no MPH goal, but to solely focus on execution.  I always believe that if you execute, results will take care of themselves.  Since I do not have a power tap, my goal is to hold 90% of my max heart rate for what would essentially be 30-minutes of work.  I pass the rider in front of me by the 15K mark.  He hangs around a bit until I permanently drop him by the 5K mark.  I thought I was having pretty good ride, but then I am passed shortly thereafter by the rider behind me.  We jockey back and forth for a bit until I decide that I am not racing him, but need to execute my own race.  The final 5K is windy.  I tuck in as aero as possible.  I usually have difficulty on windy courses but work through this fairly well and I can see Randall slowly getting larger in my sites.  Randall stays away.  I cross the finish line in 28:04 averaging just slightly under my LTHR.  Good for 14^th on the day and 0:55 back on the GC after two days of racing.  Big thanks Jeff for taking the time to help make adjustments and set my TT rig up.

 

Monday May 31

STAGE THREE:  Initial plan for the Champion System Road Race was to make it to the final climb on East Mountain Road with ‘Shake.’  Let the others dictate the pace up the preceding climbs.  Work together in the final.  Test our metal against the field.  Him sitting 1:11 back and I at 0:55 off the GC and within 0:30 of a podium spot.  The field rolls out and shortly we are at our first climb of the day.  I see my heart rate hit 180+.  A rude awakening early in the race.  We are over the climb and now its fast flat &/or downhill until about mile 25.  Very glad we scouted the course Sunday.  I decide to keep my wheels in the middle of the road &/or on the left side as the right side was pretty gutted in areas causing guys to flat.  And I’m a right side rider.  ‘Shake’ flats, but I knew we still had a strong group in the field.  And they made their presence known all weekend.  At mile 20, ‘Mover’ asks if I need to be pulled to the front.  I say thanks anyways for the moment.  "We have 5 miles until the climb.  I’ll start making my way up pretty soon.”  Pace picks up slightly for the intermediate sprint with only a few guys battling for it, probably knowing what was ahead.  I have no intention of going for it.  Right hand turn and let the Battle of North Road begin.  Rider goes down. And instantly my initial reaction is that anytime a rider goes down, the pace at the front picks up and a few riders are OTB.  And it does.  A Mystic Velo rider hits a pretty good 2 minute interval before exploding.  I’m on the inside and clear.  We hit the 5K mark.  Things are stringing out.  I am anticipating a selection soon.  We hit the 500m mark that includes another surge as we approach the KOM.  I take a quick look back to see where the rest of Threshold is.  Quick look reveals know one.  Rider next to me is fading quickly as the group is pressing ahead.  Thinking I’m solo, I tell myself get to the pack then get your rest.  I surge onto a pack of less than 20 riders.  We have a gap.  And I don’t know who is left in the dangling group of riders behind us.  The typical Cat 4 rotation to keep the pace up is short lived.  We are over the climb, descend, and make a left hand turn onto Rte 12.  Pace slows here as we climb to the feed zone.  Recovering well, I see the Threshold pit crew manning the feed zone - PRO.  I get a shot of adrenaline from them and am stoked!  I notice the pack is larger now as I drop back to conserve.  See Travis and am pumped that he made it through the first round of climbing with the main pack.  Make our way to the dirt road section of the course.  Travis makes his way towards the front and does a number on the peloton with some riders at the front of the pack.  The kid has an engine.  He had steam coming out of his ears as he hammered away on the main pack for 10-15 miles with a few others until we turned onto East Mountain Road.  I didn’t feel great going over the dirt road climb or down the majority of Rte 4 with the pace high and Travis mixing it up front. It was pace lined out.  And as soon as it wasn’t…crash…on a bridge.  Just prior, I hear a holler on my left side.  It’s Jeff!  Awesome to see him there after 45+ miles in the bank.  Three riders are now off the front.  Jeff let’s me know he still has wattage in the tank.  He and Travis were having none of it!  Back to the front came Threshold’s 1-2 punch.  They were cycling's version of The Hart Foundation.  Sitting 1, 2, me at 4.  They were determined to bring this thing back together before the turn and set the pace high.  I stake out Steven from Cambridge.  He’s looked strong all weekend and that’s the wheel I want to be with.  ‘The Foundation’ almost pulls it off as 2 riders are pulled back on the first climb.  Steven goes.  I follow.  Time to test my metal.  I get energy from The Foundation.  I hear one of them call my name.  They did their work and I want to finish for them.   We make it up the first climb and around the bend.  I’m thinking let’s do this.  We approach the second climb and my gasket blows.  I enter mind over matter mode.  Bramhall goes by me like I’m standing still as we near the KOM.  I see Curt and Dan yelling encouragement.  I try to get one rider to work with me in getting some time back as we crest past the KOM, but declares, “I won’t be much help.”  “Help when you can,” I reply.  The carnage ends as I cross the line 30^th on the day dropping me to 21^st on the GC.

 

A Moment to Reflect

Many positives came out of this weekend.  I’m proud of my teammates and being a Threshold’er.  Break through performances all around.  Jeff, ‘Mover,’ and Travis take punches at stringing out and wearing down the pack.  Leo wins an intermediate sprint and works with hard man winner BB to keep Devin in the KOM jersey.  Jeff conquers the mountain.  Randall earns some KOM points.  Devin wins the Cat 3 KOM!  Did I finish where I wanted to on the GC?  Maybe not.  But my teammates left it out there for each other on and off the bike, gave me a fighting chance in the end, and finally earned my first top 10 finish.  I will be back to tackle this course again next year.  Special thanks to Curt, Dan, Paula, Sari, and Sarah for being our support crew and helping make a great weekend of racing!

Giro del Cielo

May 15 & 16

Sussex County, New Jersey

In its 6^th year, it’s easy to see why this race has expanded and grown in popularity over the years which first began sponsoring men’s fields in 2008.  The Giro del Cielo is a point race bike race that is part of the 2010 New Jersey Women’s Cat 4 Cup.  I grew up in rural northeast New Jersey about 20-minutes from the New York and Pennsylvania borders where agriculture is king and the Appalachian Mountains are at your backdoor.  All of which make for a great scenic venue for bike racing in my hometown.  It gave me a great opportunity to get intensity in as part of my Killington Stage Race prep at the end of the month.

SATURDAY MAY 15

STAGE ONE:  a 4.6-mile uphill time trial on Sunrise Mountain Road through the deep woods of Stokes State Forest, with spectacular views of the tri state area.  I saw this as my best opportunity to score points.  I chose to go without the TT bike this weekend as most of the field had.  At registration, I see a number Green Line Velo racers including Kyle Butler, who grew up in the next town over from me.  They have 2 each in the Men’s Cat 3, Men’s Cat 4/5, and Women’s 4 fields.  As I’m on my trainer warming up, long lost Threshold Cycling team member, Aaron Hall stops by and says hello.  I had not seen Aaron since last year’s Connecticut Stage Race almost a year ago.  Take 40-minutes to warm up.  Climbing legs are ready.   8:28:30AM and I’m off.  Feel solid.  Focus on execution.  Final kilometer is a VO2max lunge scorcher at 9%.  Finish in 17:10.  No idea where that put me, but TT results will be posted at the start/finish line of stage 2.  Down a recovery shake and cool down for 20-minutes.  Prep for the afternoon race starts now.  The TT was my favorite race of the weekend.

STAGE TWO:  Doesn’t go off until 1pm; which is nice.  Allows me some time to go back to my parents, refresh and refuel.  Head to stage 2.  Sign in for the afternoon criterium.  Check the TT results.  Currently sitting 14^th on the GC with 2-pts.  The criterium was 22 laps on a 0.7-mile loop at Sparta Corporate Park.  9 primes were to be awarded including 2 for GC points.  The loop consisted of 2 left hand turns and a gradual rise out of turn #1 into a headwind.  What made this course very difficult was that they gave us half the road to use.  The rest was blocked off by cones.  It was a constant battle to get position and keep position.  In order to do well, you must be in the top 5 wheels entering turn #2.  We roll out with one neutral lap and it’s on.  There were at least 3 or 4 teams from the tri state area in force here.  Pace is up and down with guys willing and not willing to do work at the front.  But because of the narrowness and short course racers were immediately pulled from the race if they fell off the back of the pack.  It takes me 5 or so trip around the course before I learn how to take the 1^st corner to move me up.  A couple attempted breaks from riders; but to no avail.  Mid way through the race, one other rider and I take turns at the front for few laps to bring one back.  Recovering back in the back now, sitting top 10 with 6 to go, trying to keep position.  I always keep what Curt Comber once told me about crits, ‘you are either making a pass or getting past.’  Final laps and slowly losing positions.  Pack finish for 19^th in the afternoon and no points.  Drop to 22^nd on the GC.

SUNDAY MAY 16

STAGE THREE:  The Velo Circuit Race was 5 x 5.5-mile loops through Green Township that included a false flat finish.  As with the crit, riders were pulled for safety reasons if they fell off the main group.  Lap #2 was for GC points.  I meet up with the GLV, and we head out to warm up and recon the course.  This race was the Mid-Atlantic version of the Turtle Pond Circuit Race.  Narrow roads, etc. which made for an ‘interesting’ Cat 4/5 combined race.  Another race where maintaining position was key.  Fast forward ahead to the final moments of lap #2.  There is a sweeping slightly downhill right hand turn about 0.5-miles from the start finish line.  I am sitting top 10 wheels on the outside entering the turn.  Goal was to move up a few positions coming out the turn in competing for some GC points.  I take the turn wide…and fast.  ‘Oh...’  I slide right out and lay my bike down on the right side.  Hit the pavement and continue to slide into the grass.  Quick bike check and I’m on my feet.  I quickly realize the pack is still going by and I can get back in this thing.  I right my bike to remount and the race volunteer working the corner asks me if I’m OK. A quick ‘yea.’ GLV rider Kyle Butler slows his pace and says ‘get on Vic’ as he goes by.  Tons of respect.  The race volunteer holds my saddle and gives me a push from behind Tour de France style as the last few riders who have fallen off the main pack ride by.  I TT-it up to Kyle, sit for second is his slipstream, move around, and we pick riders off making our way back to the main pack a mile later.  OK..Deep breath.  It all happened real quickly.  Time to asses the damages, recover, and get my bearings back during lap #3.  First thing I feel is burning down the outside of my leg.  Well that’s because I no longer have the words ‘Four Burgers’ written on my kit down the outside of my right leg.  Add in some road rasped knuckles and I seem to be in one piece.  Realize we have 2 laps left, and hey, I can get back in this thing.  Start to slowly work my way up the field again.  Move ahead to the final lap.  Sitting in the top 1/3 on the inside of the main pack.  As the main group is coming out of the first turn on the course, a rider stands to accelerate and bumps with the rider directly in front of me.  They go down. I veer off course into the grass cow pasture on the right to avoid the crash.  I am upright and rolling.  Most of the main field goes by as I make my way back onto the course and to the main field…again.  Not much time left or areas on the course to move up.  Two guys try to make a break through some rollers with about 2 miles to go.  One holds off the field.  The rest is a pack finish.

MONDAY MAY 17

Early rise to assess the damages.  A rough weekend of racing for me.  Took my lumps.  This race has great potential taking into account the beautiful locations in this part of the state.  But with Killington right around the corner, it was time to put the finish touches on my race prep.  Base maintenance.  Finish with 4-hours in the saddle through the Kittatiny Mountains in NJ and PA.

New England Season Opener Triathlon
Hopkinton State Park – May 9, 2010

By: Coach Vic Brown, MS, CSCS, ATC
USAT – Level 1
Assistant Coach
Boston Performance Coaching, www.bostonperformancecoaching.com
Kenmore Square, 654 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02215
                                                                                                                   

 

August 2007.  I cross the finish line at Timberman Ironman 70.3 in 4:48:03.  February 2008.  Diagnosed with a stress fracture and two osteochondrial defects in my left ankle.  June 2008.  I officially withdraw from Ironman Lake Placid.  August 2008.  Arthroscopic surgery which included inserting two screws into my left tibia to unify a stress fracture and remove the majority of the cartilage left in my left ankle.  May 2010.  Little did I know that nearly 3 years would pass before I’d toe the line for another triathlon.

 

5:00AM:  Alarm goes off.  Anyone who knows me, know that I am a creature of routine, consistency, and organization.  Everything I am going to be wearing on race day has either been already laid out the night before or packed in my car ready to go.  Goal is to get to transition for when it opens at 6AM. I am THAT person who likes to ‘win the race to transition.’  I prefer to take my time with transition set up and typically need a very long warm up.  I do short work of my morning routine and breakfast (<500 cals) consisting of a small bowl of oatmeal with ½ a banana and two mini whole wheat bagels with spread.  Grab my TT bike and I’m out the door by 5:30AM.

 

6:15AM:  Arrive at transition.  It is cold.  It is windy. Thermostat in my car says 41-degrees.  Grab my bag, pump my tires, body is marked (#212), and off to transition set up.  Short meet and great with BPC’s racers, the Boston University Triathlon Team, and other friends of the tri community.  I’m usually on a mission until everything is set up nicely.  My diligence pays off.  I earn the first spot on the bike rack.

 

6:45AM:  Begin my warm up.  Head out onto the bike course with two Boston University athletes, Colin and Chris.  I get about 10 minutes in and decide to cut the course ride.  With the temperature and wind, this is not working out and I am just getting colder.  Head back to the car, set up on the trainer and continue to warm up.  Much better.

 

7:30AM:  Wetsuit on and head to the water.  I chose to go with my DeSoto neoprene swim cap under my red race cap; and it was worth it.  The water temperature was rumored to be at 62-degrees and actually felt better than the air temperature which was currently in the 40’s.  Wind gusts up to 30 mph.  Pleasant…not really, but these are the conditions and everyone has to deal with them.  I tell myself that it is how you face the conditions that will determine your outcome today.  You are here to race.  At about 7:50AM, I see a couple BPC and Boston University racers in the water and we discuss strategy for the swim.

 

SWIM:  Gun goes off for the second wave. First wave of duathletes are already off.  I choose an outside line to the first buoy which keeps me clear of the mess.  It’s windy.  It’s choppy.  I tell myself to stay ‘long and strong’ and breathe left.  The wind is in our favor and gives us a push to the first bouy.  Make the turn.  Wind is now into us and I am getting tossed.  Breathe right.  Stay long.  Stay in control.  Figure I won’t lose a ton of time in a short swim.  No idea how long the swim ended up being, but it felt slow coming back to the beach.  Exit the water in 8:26. Currently sitting 30^th.  Did I mention that the last 2 swim waves were canceled because the rescue boat was capsized in the middle of the race due to the extreme wind?  Heard they ended up pulling about 14 people out of the water. Wow!

 

T1:  Heart rate level changes worked in training (swim to push-ups to squats, etc.).  I hear some encouraging words from Robyn Metcalfe en route to transition.  It felt like I had time to eat lunch in T1.  Wetsuits never come off easy and body glide is over rated for that purpose (it does do wonders for preventing chaffing on my neck though).  I had arm warmers rolled up to put on, but one was blown away.  Forget it, helmet on, and I am out of T1 is 1:36.

 

BIKE:  OK time to get to work.  Bike begins on park roads, with downhill turns and rolling terrain through Southborough and Ashland.  All in all, a flat course with a few power climbs around mile 2, mile 7 , and in the park near transition.  By 1.5 miles, my hands are cold and white.  I tell myself no worries, you will be back in the park in less than a half hour.  I finally see BU’s Colin around mile 7 and finally make a pass in the park.  A strong swim set up a good race for him.  A steady ride gives me a top 10 bike split on the day as I enter T2.

 

T2:  Colin is smoother getting his feet out of his shoes and dismounting; and re-passes me as we enter T2.  I’m in slow motion as I try to put my shoes on.  I really just can’t feel my hands at this point.  Stay relaxed.  Grab my sunglasses and I’m finally out of T2 in 0:55.  Colin is out in 0:40.

 

RUN:  The entire run is inside scenic Hopkinton State Park.  I actually enjoyed the run course.  There was a lot of variation in terrain, some road, some trails; and brought you by the reservoir in the final mile.  I exit T2 with no idea where I am place wise.  But I feel good off the bike.  I finally catch and pass Colin near the turn around.  I actually run past the turn around and I hear Colin yell from behind, ‘No Vic, turn around here.’  Pay attention Brown.  The only negative on the run course was that there were no mile markers.  No idea what pace I am running at.  I’ve done it before.  I was in a zone running on feel.  Pass the reservoir and finish the 5K course in 18:37; and finally cross the finish line in 58:41 good for 9^th overall and 1^st M30-34.  Colin crosses a minute later in 59:54 good for 11^th overall and 1^st M20-24.

Cape Relay Race Report:

Well my Cape Relay began at 5:55am on Saturday, May 1st.  Mind you, I didn't have to be up that early, one of our teammates was driving back from her high school reunion in New Jersey (yes, you read that correctly) to meet up with us by 10am in Marshfield.  So, the texts began, as Van #1 (Jess Douglas, Robyn Metcalfe, Max Metcalfe, Colin Kipping, Andy Bruna, Natalia Reynoso, and Barbara Oswarek-BBQ) started their morning at 5:00am.  They wanted me to know that they decorated their van, yes, it was a beautiful morning, and yes, they started their first leg at 7am.

So, I dragged my body out of bed, packed up the cooler (items-yogurt, turkey/cheese, water, mustard, apples, bananas, peanut butter) and headed to pick up the van #2.  Wait- saw a few missed calls on my phone.  Yes, what was going on now?  Oh, it was just the van rental place calling me to let me know that we didn't have a van available.

what?

So, I informed the owner of the van rental that this was totally unacceptable and that we needed our van IMMEDIATELY and I then panicked and called the rest of our teammates in our van (Christina Taddei, Kelly Cassidy, Ilsa Bruer, Caroline Batra-Gale, and Laura Van Orden (who was still driving from NJ)) to let them know we may have a slight problem.  Slight:)

We managed to get the van and still high tail it out of the Somerville rental place by 9:05am.  We went flying down route 93 and route3 south to Marshfield.  We still needed to pick up our other teammates and get ice, decorate the van and get ready to run!  We kept getting text messages from Van #1, so we had a good idea as to where they were, how fast they were running their legs and what time we anticipated starting our legs.

We arrived at exchange #6, Marshfield, at the South River School.  There were porta potties and a few vans/runners there already, so we knew we were in the right place.  However, no volunteers, no Cape 13 Relay set up, so we weren’t sure exactly how these exchanges were going to work.  Our team didn’t worry about it so much, we instead spent the time getting ready, organizing our van, decorating the van with as much BPC stuff and funny quotes as we could, and of course, climbing up on top of the van to take pictures.

Text from Jessica Douglas around 10am notified us that we were super early/super fast (go team BPC) and that our runner #6, BBQ was due to arrive shortly.  However, that was before she got lost (poor girl) and we stood around for a few minutes, chatted with van #1 and then all of the sudden- Kelly was off for leg #7.  We hopped in the van and began to trail Kelly, following the VERY sparse Cape Relay signs and handed out water as needed.  No one realized how hot it was out there and most of our legs were pretty hilly and  very little shade.  We quickly pulled into first place amongst the other teams that we were started with, and our race truly became “a race”  I was excited to see our teammates in our van step it up a bit and with our “rocking music” and “girl screams” we did a great job to support the group.  I have to say, it’s a bit strange to be in a van, quickly jump out, sort of warm up and then try to go full out effort for your run.  I was surprised at the effort for my first leg and felt pretty good when I finished but there’s no time to revel in your achievement, as as soon as we were done- we had to jet down to the next major exchange. 

We arrived at exchange 12  2 hours too early.  As we pulled in, we found out that the race organizers were going to hold us for 2 hours.  Fine, not a big deal and we parked alongside Van #1 to hang out for a while.  Imagine tons of white vans, all decorated with random items like- blow up turtles and legs sticking out the top…very interesting group of people.  We met a group of male ultra team- Team Gecko, and they anointed our van with a small gecko for the remainder of our trip.  Meanwhile, Coach Kelly and Natalia felt it necessary to do a kettlebell workout in the tick filled sand while the rest of us ate and relaxed.

The 2 hours went by quickly and we helped Robyn and Van #1 get organized for the beginning of the night legs.  Reflective vests, head lamps and butt lamps went on every runner and Jess got her bike ready to ride.  Robyn started out strong and did a fantastic pace for her second leg, and then Colin and Andy screamed out solid sub 7min/mile pace for legs number 14 and 15.  By the time Max Metcalfe started at leg  17, we were well ahead of schedule again, until he got horribly lost in the dark and went a “few” miles out of his way!  BBQ made it without getting lost for leg #18 and made it to the  next major exchange where again, we had to wait an hour before Van #2 could start on their next set of runs.

Now it was 11pm.  Dark, Dark, Dark.  Did I say Dark?  There are minimal, if any, streetlights on Cape Cod and now we are running in the middle of the night.  Odd as it was, they held all the vans until 11pm, so with a mass start, over 100 runners shot out to race leg #19- through Otis Air Force Base.  It was pretty cool, actually to see all the runners racing in the dark, butt lamps and head lamps bouncing with every step and the security guards just laughing at all of us.  Kelly made it thru her 8mile leg, with an awful stomach bug and the race went on.  Laura had the next leg- 10miles in the dark and Coach Christina was elected to follow her on the bike.  Laura did an amazing job- one foot in front of the other at a solid 8:30/8:45 pace!  The next two runners- Christina and Ilsa both faced 2 mile and 3 mile legs (they were pretty happy about that) and hoofed it in sub 8 min miles!  We were catching up again and when I took off for leg #23, I felt pretty confident that this 5.8miles would be pretty fast, especially since it was nice and cool out.  However, at about 2.5 miles my right calf seized up and I literally had to sit down.  The vans surrounding me quickly thru foam rollers, sticks, water…hoping that it was just a leg cramp, I rolled and stretched with no luck.  Out pops Caroline to finish my leg (as per the rules) and I hopped on the bike hoping that it would stretch it out a bit.  No luck and thank goodness, our hero Ilsa hopped out for the final 5.3 mile leg #24.

4am.  Robyn and Jess are set to roll with leg #25, 7.6 miles.  We informed Van #1 that we would need two of their runners to complete Kelly’s leg and my leg for the next rotation and Max and Colin were all over it!  Van #1 rolled out of there and Van #2 high tailed it to Orleans so that we could finally sleep a bit. 

Not so much, sleeping with 6 women in a stinky van doesn’t really do the trick and around 7am we gave up, went to get coffee and breakfast and await Van #1.

10am BBQ rolls into exhange 30 and we are ready to finish this race!  Colin hauls out leg #31 and we all race down to the next stop.  We gather ourselves, turn up the music and remember that this is a race!  Laura, Ilsa and Christina all cooked it on the next legs, as we handed out water and ice to the blistering hot runners!  Jess hopped in for one of our legs- at a blistering 7:15 pace and we were amped to catch and pass the runners/teams that we were with!  Caroline kept up a solid pace for leg #35, a beautiful but windy stretch alongside Truro.  Finally, Van #1 and Van #2 came together at exchange #35- where Colin and Max raced out the final 4.8 miles.

Team BPC hung it all out there and finished strong.  As I was carried over the finish line by our teammates and heard the cheering- it was amazing to see how these 12 athletes, many who barely knew each other, came together and worked together over the past 24hrs. 

Final Time on the clock: 30:41

Would I ever do this again?  Perhaps.  If I knew we could have as much fun as we did?

Yup.  Thanks Team BPC!!!!

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Follow us on Twitter:  @bostontricoach

Ali