Boulder Peak Olympic Triathlon (Boulder) 2009

Boulder Peak Olympic Distance Triathlon
Sunday July 12, 2009

4:30am... I cruised down Hwy 36 headed to the Boulder Reservoir. I enjoyed the silhouette of the mountains to the West and the pastel orange colors as they traced the base of the skyline while the sun began to peak through toward the East.

It was a beautiful morning... air temperature a cool 66 degrees... I followed the red tail lights of the car in front of me... we were officially in the "Triathlon Rush Hour". Cars from all directions had bikes... fancy bikes with aero shifters. Occasionally I would glance at the driver of the car beside me... as our eyes locked we would gently nod in silent acknowledgment of each other's respect for the sport and courage to face the day.

I had been hydrating for three days prior and had packed my bags the night before. The time has come to face the Boulder Peak Olympic Distance Triathlon. 1500M Swim, 26 mi Bike up Old Stage/ Lee Hill, 15% Grade that is a six hundred foot elevation gain in two-thirds of a mile. And last, but not least, the final 10K/ 6.2 mi run. All done in the exposed heat of the hot, hot sun. Temperatures were expected to be in the ninety's!

My last successful completion of the Boulder Peak Oly Triathlon race was in 2004 <--click here to read 2004 story details!

Up until now, I have tried to hold on to the memory of my fitness level and athletic ability from 2004, however, a "Failed" 4 hour training session shattered ALL of those lingering thoughts.

So much has happened since 2004... so many years... so many pounds... The reality of my absence from consistent endurance training was beginning to reveal itself.

So five years later I stood here wondering...

Wondering what I had to bring to this day...
Wondering if this was somehow a mistake...
Wondering if I belonged on the "Tri Scene"...
...and more importantly Wondering if I could even finish!

Racing brings me face to face with my core beliefs...
...my core beliefs about myself and my abilities... and in this moment, I was face to face with wondering if I could complete these distances. And more so, what would it mean if I could not?


After some time in deep contemplation and after several conversations with my amazing coaches, I was left with the fact that I *LOVE* the sport of Triathlon and that I am in this sport for life! The reality of my training is that this is the first time since 2004 that I have been traning with any consistency and it *Just may take a little longer than one year* to re-establish the base milage and fitness levels that I once had. -- With this new perspective, I shifted my own expectations of myself for this race from my time based goals, to one of full participation and enjoyment.

There is so much to be grateful for...
There is so much joy in just being "In the Game"... and no, this would *NOT* be a Personal Record for my race effort, but after contemplation, I could now live with that. I know my fitness level will not be this way forever, so I faced my day by relishing in where I am "Right here, Right now" even if it is different than where I want to be.



Swim: 1500M - 00:37:31

So we all headed toward the shore line. Caps of all colors mixed together in the swim warm up area. I was zipped snugly in my new Blue Seventy Wetsuit! That suit fits like a glove! I relished in the fit as I entered the water.

I was trying something different in terms of gear. I usually race in a uni-body Tri suit, but I wanted to wear regular cycling shorts on the bike so I put those on over my tri shorts before putting on my wetsuit. While the cool water did enter the zipper, I felt like my body stayed mostly dry. My goggles had a perfect seal so I was ready to go!

"Go Carla!" a fellow swimmer yelled as Wave 4 corralled into the water awaiting our start! I felt fairly relaxed considering this was the first race I have ever swum without my heart rate monitor. I had planned to use my Garmin Wrist GPS for the bike and run, but I don't own the waterproof 310XT just yet but it's on the list!

"10 seconds" Barry, our race director said... I moved toward the inside or our counter clockwise swim and positioned myself toward the back of the swimming crowd. I took a moment to look out amongst the sea of Pink Caps... sun glaring straight ahead.

"GO!" ...splashing arms and legs... I jumped in on the tail of a kicker... We all headed blindly into the sun, it was impossible to sight!

My stroke was long and strong... I felt the water against my forearm on every single pull! I was relaxed... as relaxed as one can be swimming blindly into the sun at race pace. Occasionally I would raise my head to see if I could find anything that resembled a buoy, but no... I could see NOTHING!

"Just keep swimming," I thought to myself. I have raced enough to know that I would lose too many minutes if I stopped to get a better vantage on sighting... instead I opted for trusting that I was headed in the right general direction and any corrections that would need to be made would require less time than it would if I stopped to take a few breaststrokes for a better view now.

FINALLY a buoy! A nice big orange one! But where was the next? I thought I saw something just off to the right... I buried my head and pulled hard for a few more strokes... the faint and distant triangular shaped buoy slowly came into view. This one was Yellow and it marked the corner! "Left turn at the buoy," I thought to myself as I rounded the bend and headed toward the center of the lake!!

I got kicked in the mouth by someone's flutter... and I passed a few swimmers to avoid the consistant contact of their arms as they stroked. I could feel myself reaching... "Long and Strong". I was so very thrilled with the ability to feel my pull so clearly during an open water swim!!!

Finally I hit the final turn and headed toward the next buoy... I could not see the finishers arch, but I did see the next buoy. -- A guy from the wave behind me swam over top of me! I swallowed a bit of water, the a tiny bit went up my nose...I shook off the incident and soon found my own hand hitting sand!

I stood up and ran up the sand and through the crowd toward the Swim Finish mat! I swear it was at least a quarter mile! I relished in the feeling that I had a great swim... it was based on how I felt, not my swim spilt. At the time I had no idea that the swim distance was a little more than 1500M and had I worn my watch my split would have appeared to be "Slow".


T1: 00:06:00

Usually in T1 I go about the business of removing my wetsuit and getting on my bike shoes, but I had "other business" to take care of. So instead of heading to my bike, I headed toward the port-a-potty!!!!! Usually I go once before the race then that's it until I finish... but I have been hydrating so much that I just couldn't hold it, so I had to make a "pit stop" before heading out on my bike leg!!!

Shoes on, helmet on... "Shot Blocks" uniformly placed on the frame of my bike for convenient consumption later.

Note: Shot block are a "Gummy bear" like electrolyte replenisher that one can take during athletic activities to help support and maintain one's energy levels.

A woman who racked her bike next to me simply sat the shot blocks on the bike frame and they seemed to hold so I borrowed that great idea and tried it myself!


Bike: 26 miles - 02:10:35 Avg Speed 12.0 MPH

I ran to the bike mount line and "Boarded the E9" for our two plus hour ride! While I tried to apply sun screen in the transition area, did not work, so I abandoned the thought of having any for the exposed bike ride.

I left the bike in a very low gear that would allow my "Swim legs" to ease into their new responsibility of pedaling. I laid in my arms in my aero bars and headed out of the reservoir and toward Hwy 36.

Now many would say that the bike ride to Hwy 36 is "Flat" but my sensitive legs tell me that there is a steady climb from the Boulder Reservoir to Lee Hill Road. My cadence was less than optimal, but that is what I expected it to be based on my previous attempts on this bike course. So I softened my thoughts about "Cadence efficiency" and pedaled to the best of my present ability toward "The Beast"!

Climbing "The Beast":

In the very distant past I have made it up Old Stage Hill without walking ... but today I actually went into it with a "Walking Plan" in place. There were two spots on the hill that were "Designated Walking Spots" where I had planned to get off and walk. I got to the first one... just below the Old Stage Intersection. I ran with my bike to a location just above that steep section of the hill and got back on my bike for the second riding segment.

Neighbors were out in their drive ways ringing cow bells and clapping. Triathletes will do almost anything when they hear a cow bell! So, I climbed and climbed to the best of my present ability and I got to my second stop. I unclipped and walked a bit more to a flatter section... clipped in and that was it! The end of the "Walk Zones!" From here, it was "Mailboxes" or "Bust!"

Note: The Mailboxes would mark the official end of the climb and the beginning of the "Sweet, sweet, descent" back to Hwy 36!

FINALLY, Mailboxes!!! I was more tired than I had hoped. But I managed to get there and I just had to keep going! -- A friendly volunteer reminded me of the "Speed Zone" that was just ahead. On the race course there is a six-tenths of a mile section that was monitored by a police man with a radar gun. Cyclists were not allowed to exceed 35 MPH, the posted speed limit. I, personally, thought the policeman should have the speed gun on the climb! Some of those guys were going pretty fast up the hill!! That would have leveled the playing field for someone like me who counts on maximum speed on the down hill portion to increase my average bike pace!

Well, I made it through the "Speed Trap" successfully, avoided the "Bear", who has been known to cross the road and be an obstacle to cyclists. I crossed on to Hwy 36 and headed down Nelson road.

Now Nelson road is also a down hill, so I pedaled at maximum cadence and made myself as aero as possible! "Weeeeeeeeeee!!!" I thought to myself as I descended at high speed! I found myself at the base of the hill all to quickly and turned right on to 63rd which was more of a "Roller" than flat.

I used a little power on 63rd... pushing the up hill sections and working the down hill... I "Powered up" one too many times and tuckered myself out. I backed off of my "aggressive cycling plan" to catch my breath. "The Diagonal/ Hwy 119" seemed further than usual that day, but I eventually made it and had one final stretch of the bike to complete before heading "Home".

I eventually got the Vetenary building, then the Firehouse, then 51st. -- I did a reasonable job staying in the present moment. A few times my thoughts got ahead of me and I felt the overwhelm of thinking about a 6.2 mile run. But I kept coming back to the present moment... trying to find something to enjoy and reminding myself to "cross the "Running Bridge" when I come to it".

T2: 00:03:00

I finally matted my bike finish. I could hear Ellen, my first triathlon coach, yelling my name in the distant. It is amazing how easy it is to distinguish the voice of someone you know in a crowd of people! Such an amazing feeling... such an amazing experience.

I tried to distract myself from the task that lied ahead. 6.2 mile run... I wasn't sure how I would do it, but all I needed to do was start. So I strapped on my fuel belt which carried an hour's worth of Perpetum power in case I needed to fuel and an empty flask that I would fill at the water station to carry with me to drink "mid-mile".

Off I was to run!

Run: 6.2 miles - 01:37:34 Avg Pace 15:45mm

My legs moved rather well off the bike. I trotted past the many spectators standing against the finish line railing. The professional men were just about to finish up their races. I could year Yoli yelling, "I will be here for you when you finish!" I felt myself about to tear up... "I would finish" I thought... it was the first time that day I allowed my thoughts to jump ahead.... while my pace is slow, my body is use to running for very long periods of time... and I was sure that I could trot out six miles.


So I found my pace... and focused on cheering others on as they were headed to the finish line! I was grateful for the cloud coverage... I'm sure the temps would have been 5 - 10 degrees hotter without their shade. Even still it was very warm. The brim of my white cap pulled snugly against my head, I trotted onward!

I am so familiar with this race course that I barely need markings to know how far I have gone. And with my trusty wrist GPS I didn't have to guess on my half mile markers either!

"Jingle by Jingle" I inched my way around the race course... seeing team mates from the two Triathlon clubs I am connected to. Strangers were offering their words of support... "Nice work 166" someone yelled... I perked up my run form and ran with a little more effort because of it! "Go CWW!" was exchanged a lot! So many friendly faces and words of support and encouragement! I finally reached the turn around cone where the volunteer was holding the "Tree" yoga pose!

"I'm so happy to see you" I said to her... "I'm happy to see you too!" Of course we didn't know each other... but it was fun to exchange pleasantries as I trotted around the cones and headed "home"!!!

My miles passed quickly for me in spite of the splits my Wrist GPS read. I felt good all considered. No leg cramping... no low grade headache from heat exhaustion! -- I allowed "Station 1" to splash me with water! I think they enjoyed it as much as I did!

I relished in each foot strike... knowing the stretch of the reservoir's path almost by heart.

Up the slight grade of gravel, then down toward the fans which still stood lining the finish! About four tenths of a mile to go... a little longer than I could sprint, but close enough for me to hear the announcer!!

"C A R L A !!!!!!!" One of my favorite sounds!! I could hear my friend yelling!! I felt the smile sneak across my face!!! At that point, I started to well up with tears... I was sure I would finish and I felt great!!

I saw my co-workers on the side... my coaches, both past and present... my friends... those I just met in the transition area and those I have known for years! I ran close to the side to touch their hands as they extended in effort of cheering me on!

I picked up my pace for the vanity sprint through the finishers shoot!!



"Carla Thompson from Highlands Ranch!!" the big voice said as I crossed the mat!

"Well done," I thought to myself... "you did it!! You won!"

Total Time: 4:34:38

Big Fun in the Sun...
... Swim, Bike, Run!!!