2010 Bonelli Olympic Race Report

Bonelli, San Dimas Olympic Distance Race Report

Race Date: 06/13/10

Wake Up: 4:50AM

Race Breakfast Meal: Jay Robb Smoothie with Yammit

7:15a Arrived at Bonelli Park in San Dimas

Race packet pick up was set up for the morning of the race. This is really stressful, because you have to wait in line to get your bag with your bib number, racing chip, and bike number. This is where the race really starts. I was in line for the pre-registered racers and the line was very long. The announcer told everyone they could go to any computer to get packets; No need to wait in the long line. This was my first mistake. I got out of the long line to get in a short line which was intended for new registrants. Even though the announcer was technically correct, I ended up receiving a bib number that was not cosmically mine. Normally when you have pre-registered (as I did) a bib number is assigned to you based on when you actually registered with your name on it and age. The bib number I was assigned to was #37 and it just didn’t feel like it belonged to me. The race must go on.

Transition

The transition was chaos. There were no labels on the bike racks either by age group or by gender. The bike racks were full of racers stuff and bikes. Some competitors took up 2-3 spaces with gear. “Unbelievable!” was my thought. Gear everywhere spread out like they owned the whole rack. Of course there are some bold contenders who move people stuff over and if not done carefully that racers equipment might not be easily found on their entry to transition. They had no staff at the entrances to transition so anyone could have walked off with a bike or gear at any time. This was another stressful moment. I waited until staff appeared at the entrances before I left my “Kay” to defend herself from fellow racers.

The Swim (.93 Miles)

I had a chance to warm up in the lake. I did a quick check-in with my body. My swim stroke was good, no shoulder issue, I had no body issues at all. Everything checked in just fine from my head to my toes. I was a happy camper. I listened to the other ladies talk about the swim route and how they needed more buoys in the lake. I watched while one lady pointed out the course to another lady, saying that coming in will be hard because there weren’t enough buoys. I thought, “I’ll just follow the pack, as usual, no worries”.

The ladies were the last wave to go out for the race. The Gun was fired; I took off into the green murky lake which was a lot different from Lake Mead. It did not stink but still green and yucky looking. I had a nice easy stroke out, not too fast. I didn’t get kicked or hit. I guess it helped that I was one of the last people to enter the lake because I knew I was not as fast a swimmer as the other ladies.

I believe before I got to the 2nd Buoy I took a rest break, although I can’t be too sure because the buoys were spread out pretty far. While I was taking my break, a cute life guard asked if everything was alright. I signaled that I was OK and stated, “Just taking a rest.” I continued my swim, and I tell you, it felt like I was swimming for days! I did my strokes and I sighted and was very pleased that my stroke felt natural on both arms. I kept a decent rhythm but I was tired. I finally got to the buoy to turn, “another rest spot” was my thought, and a young lady life guard was very nice she said “You are doing just fine! Keep it up!” I thought, “She’s nice” and my next thought, “Why did I register for Vineman? This swim is a killer. What was I thinking, I’m crazy. Oh! Ironman Championship Kona is why I’m doing these crazy races.” So, I continued to swim and focus on doing it right and to breathe. I arrived at the next buoy turn, and I’m exhausted, I feel a little hungry but not worried. The same lady life guard said, “You are on the home stretch!” I say “Where?! I can’t see home! I’m taking another resting break!” I continued to swim and sight and came across a man wearing a yellow cap. We both were asking, “where’s the exit” to the same lady life guard. She yells to both of us “I think you just keep going straight and get closer to the shore. No more buoys.” The yellow-cap man was at my heals, of course he got kicked. I didn’t realize he was so close to me. The lady life guard screams out, “There is one more buoy to go around before your exit!” I stopped mid stroke, the yellow cap guy stopped too and we both said, “What do you mean?” She pointed to a white buoy and said, “Just swim around that to your exit, I will stay with you guys to guide you in”. My thought, “she is really nice,” she stayed with me for a long time, at least 4 buoys. I wish I had gotten her name. I did yell to her on the 4th and last buoy, “Now I see the home stretch!” I saw my friend Audrey with the Nina sign and I tried to get her attention but she didn’t see me, so I continued on in and got a little closer. Then she saw me and I heard her little squeaky voice “GO NINA! GO NINA!” I was thinking, “incognita is sounding great now,” my 2nd (more urgent) thought…I’m hungry.”

Bike Transition

It was easy to find Kay, all the other bikes were gone and then I realized I had no food. No Shot Bloks, no supplements and thought this may be tough but I can do it. I got my gear on and headed to the exit to start my ride.

The Bike (24.8 Miles)

My 1st loop was OK but then it hit me. I’m starving, my stomach was growling! If I had cash I might have stopped at a gas station for something to eat. My average speed was 12 mph and I had to do 24 miles on the bike (3 loops) around the park going up and down hills. My last loop I believe my speed was 6-10 mph, and I was just exhausted. I thought, “What do I have to eat at transition?” My mind was racing now because I had nothing left in me for the run. I finished my 24oz Heed drink on the bike, but I need some food fast. Then I remembered the registration packet bag had a free cliff bar in it, maybe 30 calories. I never eat them, because they always give you the flavors no one buys. But this was not a time for me to be picky.

While on my last loop I realized all the event support cops that stopped traffic were gone and signs were taken down. I told a couple of race crew that I wished I didn’t know how to count to 3. Maybe I would have come in on the 2nd lap. They laughed of course and said “You are almost finished.” All I could think was that I still had a run to do and I was starving.

Run Transition

I entered transition, racked Kay and attacked my gear bag for the one little Cliff Bar I knew I had. “Got it and I love you!” was my only thought as my hands found it. I put my run gear on and was off eating that little tiny bar.

The Run (6.2 Miles)

As I ran out of transition, saw my family and friends I yelled “do you have food?” The reply was “Yes! Chocolate Chip Cookies!” That sounded really good at the moment. I ran out passed an overhead bridge and all my energy was gone. I had nothing left in me. I did a body check-in at this point: shoulder, legs, thighs, knee, ankle, feet. Everything came back fine then my stomach grumbled. I’m starving! Food! My need for food just hit me like a ton of bricks. Since my body was fine I started to run again at a slow pace but I could not keep the momentum up. I was told there was one lady behind me on the run and I didn’t want to be last. There was no racing staff out so I made a wrong turn down a hill. Some cyclist told me it was the wrong way and that I needed to go back up the hill to the right. I believe that cost me about 7 minutes. There were no water stations either. Every one was gone. I was glad I had water on me.

I passed a volunteer who radioed in my bib#. She told me that one lady was behind me and a man is in front of me. The next part of the run she said will be a great view. I told her that walking was on the agenda at the moment. I came across the man walking and I jogged pass him and greeted him. I never could keep the momentum of the jog so it was always a jog and walk. This part of the race was very nice. The pine trees and wildflowers were just beautiful and the smell was wonderful. It reminded me of Hawaii’s forest for a moment. Next thing I heard was, “I was the last woman on the swim you better start running!” I looked back and saw a lady moving fast towards me so I started to run but again, could not hold it. I was hungry and there was no fuel left in me. I begun to walk, Sylvia was her name, and as she passed she said “come on Nina lets finish this race.” I picked up my feet again and started to run right behind her. She was running a 9:20min/mile pace and in normal circumstances I would have been able to keep up with her easily. She stated she was a runner and she left her watch at home so she didn’t know her pace or how many miles she’d gone. I could only tell her the pace because I did not reset my watch for the mileage. I thanked her for getting me to run because I tend to lose focus with the rabbits and squrrels running in the forest. We ran up a steep hill and that’s where I lost her. I had nothing left at that point. I thought I would stay right on her heels and sprint past her at the finish line but to no avail I had nothing left in me to even keep up with her. I had to concede at that moment that I would be the last woman in the race. I continued to walk and jog to the finish line. I thought about all the people waiting for me and how tired they must be and maybe being incognito should be my motto as I thought earlier.

The Finish

I saw Scott running to his camera so that’s when I knew I was close to the finish line. I picked up my feet to make a good apperance. There was no sprint in me, just a lazy jog. Now I know what hitting the wall really means. My body had no physical issue, I was just starving and my stomach was growling on the whole run. It was coming to an end now; I jogged past Scott, continued on and saw the finish line. I gave it what little I had left, a very tired sprint. Brandon caught me as I crossed the finish line and it was over. Sylvia gave me a high-five. The family and friends were tired and worried about what happen to me out there. I guess this race will go in the record books for being the worst for not having all my gear. The main lesson I learned is that I will make a list for my next race so I wouldn’t forget anything. Forgetting my fuel on an Olympic Distance has cost me this race.

Nina

Finisher Time 04:47:37