06 February 2010

09.13.09 - Club Wars Intl. Tri @ White Lake

1500 meter swim, 28 mile bike, 10K run

This race wasn’t even close to the edges of the radar at the beginning of the season. However in August, Benji and Hope Jones, NCTS managers for Setup Events, contacted Nick to see if FCA Endurance would be willing and able to come up to White Lake and help work a race with them. We had been working all season long building rapport and a presence with FCA-E and the Setup folks. At first, they were hesitant. But once they saw our huddle’s effort and the value we could bring to them, especially on the novice races, we ended up getting the call like this one.

We had copied the SC huddle by introducing to NCTS the ‘novice table.’ This is a table at the end of the packet pickup line that is to answer any questions any of the athletes may have. Most of these come from the folks that have never raced before or newer to the sport. It has been a hit. Well the call came because this 9/12-9/13 weekend, there was a Saturday all women’s Dash for Divas race. This was going to be 500+ women who for the most part had never done a triathlon. Or it had been a while since they had. So needless to say, the table would be handy.

In return for us helping, Benji offered us one of the cabins at the FFA Campground where the event was held (and also the site for the spring half Ironmans and sprint races) and race entries for Nick and I in the Club Wars International distance race the following day. With these factors in the mix, this was going to be a family ‘camping’ weekend. Allyson and the girls were excited. Allyson and I were a little leery about the whole cabin thing. We’re not really the sleep outside types.

We had a great trip up to White Lake on Friday. Packet pickup was about to be in full swing when we arrived. We first check into our cabin and first assessment was not as bad as I had expected. Cement floor, walls half way up, then screens the remainder of the way. 8 steel frame bunks with a ‘mattress’ on each. And a big ol’ picnic table in the middle. This was what will call ‘glamping’ – or glamorous camping (friend of mine gave that to me on Facebook. Which yes, we also had internet access the whole time.)

Packet pickup was an absolute blast. Working with novice racers is the best. And women are much more laid back and fun about the whole thing. Nick and answered some interesting questions over the next few hours while Allyson and the girls played around on the FHA campsite and in the water. White Lake itself is the huge draw to the area. It is an oval about 6 miles or so around. It is spring fed and pretty much 8 feet deep at its deepest point. You can walk from the shore out nearly 200 yards in some places and be no more than shoulder deep. And you can see the bottom always. The girls think it is the Caribbean.


The next day we worked the race, helped where needed, worked in some swimming with the girls, tested out the ol’ wetsuit (which I had not been in for a while) played some putt putt golf then joined up with our friend James Ruth for a little spin around the race course. And boy did we spin it. We got in a pace line, rode the full 28 miles in about the same time we each raced it the next day. Probably not the best move, but we had a blast riding. Went out and grabbed dinner that night at a local yocal restaurant, then back to the room… err, cabin.

The race itself was a hit. It was a smaller field (couple hundred folks maybe?) and the weather was perfect. Cool fall morning, but certainly not cold. My goals for the race were: Swim – Steady. Good sighting. Push a little but not too much. Bike – Practice for B2B race in 1.5 months. 22 mph avg and 95 rpm’s and hold it. Run – Just run. This was the first race, actually one of the first times on the road at all, running since wrestling with the plantar issue. I was considering a swim/bike/park right up until the day before the race. I decided to go for it and go easy.

The swim was sort of Ironman style – all men at one time versus the usual wave start by age group. I found a groove early on and it was pretty smooth sailing. Not my best swim as a percentile of the field, but not bad either. Came out of the water 10th heading to the bike. My man James Phelps, I mean James Ruth, smoked ‘em with a great swim split. Transition was uneventful and it was out onto the flatlands of Bladen Country, NC. Again, we’d ridden the course the day before so there weren’t any big surprises. Early on I was able to hold the pace and rpm’s I was shooting for. And in fact finished the bike at 22.5 mph and 97 rpms, so right where I wanted to be. Passed a couple of folks on the bike. Got passed by Nick ‘Cancellara’ White who was in great bike shape and zipped by me at some point.

Felt great about the bike and got off feeling good. I got turned around in the TA and the volunteer staff was a little thin for the race. Wasn’t sure where the TA exit/run start was. You would think having done this before and working the race the day before I would know this. Finally got out on the road and the run was feeling great. But I was resolved not to push it. About a mile in I got passed very fast by Tom Crichton, one of the Setup Events employees. He was in my age group and I let him go. No way I was keeping up with him. Then a couple of miles in, came up on Nick. I started running with him and talking a bit. We settled into a great pace. I kept looking back to see if anyone was coming. Nothing. No one. So just kept running.

We hit the turn around at mile 3.1 and started back. There were definitely folks behind us, but no one close or in danger of catching us. So we pressed on. I love out and back run courses because you can see everyone behind you and better yet, encourage them. High five them. This race was actually a triathlon club competition and Nick and I were racing for FCA Endurance. And in team colors. Running together and encouraging folks can be a great outreach opportunity. We had a blast cheering for the other competitors. A few high fives here and there. Good times.

We started into the home stretch last mile, and eventually the left hand turn into the campground and a few hundred yards to go. We decided to have a little fun at the finish line and ‘fight’ to keep each other from crossing first. All captured on film fortunately. Again this was a club competition so you get points for placing in your age group/division. Nick won his age group and I placed third, giving us I think 6 points, which was cool but no where close to what was need to win the overall. But still cool.



So Whats from Club Wars?

- Bike pacing is critical. Exercises like White Lake are great for testing ability to hold a pace and be disciplined to not exceed that.

- Racing is about so much more than racing. The true highlights from the actual race was the time Nick and I were able to spend together being salt and light. Making it about more than the racing. And serving the day before was a blessing as well.

- Sometimes a break from running can help!

Next up would be another international distance ‘warm up’ for Beach2Battleship Half. Heading out to Pinehurst, NC with good friend Brian Goins and a bunch of guys from the Team In Motion Tri Club. New race to the schedule. Looking forward to it.