Ironman Tahoe - The Bike Course I Have Been Waiting For

So, the Tahoe Bike, I was in 6th and 6 minutes down. We got going and it was cold, but not 2013 cold, just a little bite to the air. As I have said a million times I was really excited to ride the course. It's 2.5 loops and the first section you will end up riding 3 times before T2. This section was fast, and fun and is punctuated with a little hill they call Dollar Hill. It's fun because the first loop I was like "yay dollar hill" and then the third loop I was like "YAY DOLLAR HILL"

My friends Michael and Brandon were on Dollar hill and I knew they would be. I was stoked to see them and had nothing but smiles and joy. They were cheering up a storm with loud booming voices and I felt just like they did! Dollar Hill was the first time I noticed that my rear wheel was rubbing on my frame. This became a fun game for me. If I pedaled really stable and stayed in aero, it wouldn't rub. If I got out of the saddle or let my core relax, it rubbed. I thought about why it might be happening when it wasn't the day before and deduced that it was because my tires were at 115psi and that expansion made my wheel rub.

After Dollar Hill I got back in aero and worked on pushing the next section of the race. There is a lot of flat and downhill on this course and that's a strong area for me, especially since I haven't been in the mountains as much this year. One thing I know I'm good at is getting in aero, finding that uncomfortably comfortable place, and just nailing it. Very little movement in my body, glued to my bike in aero, staying squarely in the moment. I almost crave race day for this very opportunity, it's almost meditative for me, that pure focus on the moment.

The vally between Tahoe City and Truckee was cold. I got cold, my hands got cold, and my feet got cold. Luckily I don't seem to get aggravated by the cold. Everything for me goes a bit numb and less functional, but it's not painful for me. I know others experience different reactions, some get the shakes, some get very painful coldness. I just go numb. And sometimes I ride too hard because my legs are numb and I can't quite tap into them.

I was just happy. Through Truckee it was awesome, lots of cheering and it's the cutest mountain town. Then we were onto the new out and back section that they added. I loved the edition. On the way out it was road, then we climbed and got onto a bike path. We had a fun descent then it was bike path on the way back and was super fun to race down. There was very little passing in this section. Although I did get passed by Ciaran to which he said "Sonja your wheel is rubbing" to which I said "I know"...hahahah!

Because of the big week of training my heart rate was nice and behaved. It wasn't spiking when I got excited, and I didn't spend a lot of time looking at it, I just checked in every once in awhile. Thank you tame heart rate!

Then we got to the big daddy climb up Brockway. In years past training on this course and getting ready for Kona I have had some wild experiences on Brockway and I'll tell you about a few. One time (at training camp) I rode up Brockway at 255 watts, at 5 beats below my Ironman heart rate (what what?!). For those of you in the know, this is really huge wattage for someone my size. It was nothing for me on that day, I could do no wrong, I remember thinking I was the queen of the world that day.

Another day I was kaput and I remember riding up Brockway and my watts were 117 and I was at Ironman heart rate. Quite the opposite situation. This particular day I was about to start crying (my go to reaction when I need rest from the training...took years to figure this out) and I remember riding up Brockway saying to myself "Damn it Sonja, do not cry. Whatever you do...do. not. cry....look at those trees, those are damn beautiful trees...it is gorgeous here...don't you dare cry, be thankful, your life is great...don't you dare shed one tear." I talked to myself this way all the way up Brockway. Coach was at the top and I pulled in, not crying, holding it in, keeping my cool. I was way behind the group and he looked at me and said "you okay kid?"

to which....I lost it....balling. I was good until he asked! I still remember him taking my bike and telling me to get in the truck, then he put my bike in the back, got in the drivers side, and said "kid, just let it out"

So yes, I have MAD CRAZY memories of riding up Brockway Pass. On this day, I smiled. Coach was half way up the pass cheering, he told me I was in 3rd, and 1 minute down to first. And then he told me that Annie was out of the water 2nd in her wave. And I looked at him like "what?" and he was like "Annie, your daughter."

That floored me. My daughter decided last minute to race a kids tri the day that I raced Tahoe. It gutted me that I couldn't' be there to see her race. Gutted me! In fact, the entire dolphin pod knew I was gutted so they all went to the race and cheered for her....for me... (typing that makes me cry). Muddy had talked to Troy and he kept me updated on Annies race the whole time I was racing. I think some of you moms who race triathlon can feel me here when I say this was one of the most special things someone has done for me. Thanks Mud!

That news added to my joy. As far as how I rode up Brockway...easy. On a course with two major climbs you don't make your moves on the climbs. You make them on the downs and flats, so I rode up like I was out for a social ride, and I took it all in. Because there was no pro field when I passed my way into second woman literally half the spectators screamed "Second Woman, she's right there." For a few miles I had to say "yes, thank you, yes thank you, yes, i know, thank you" It was awesome. So many thank yous!

Once down Brockway on the flat again I passed into first with a "rock on" and just kinda thought about that for a second. No pro field I know, but it felt special, I won't lie.

When I went up dollar hill the second time, this time leading the women's race, Brandon and Michael were screaming up a storm. That made me feel awesome. After I saw them it was business time. From then on, for the rest of the race, it was heads down, balls to the wall. I was in the front of the race, and people were very spread out, so I rode for miles without seeing another person on the course. When I stopped into special needs to replace all of my bottles with fresh bottles I let some air out of my tire. That fixed the wheel rub for the most part. Sweet!

When I went by Squaw vally, I was going about 30mph and coach was on the side of the road and all I could hear was him yelling F-bombs. He does that when he gets happy! He'll yell "F*$& Yea" and it always makes me laugh!

The last loop I put my head down and enjoyed the pain. My body had thawed and I could really TT it out and feel every sensation in my body. That is why I love Ironman, you are stripped down to the feeling of the movement. It was my favorite part of the day. Climbing Brockway a second time I took it all in, absorbed the beauty around me, and pushed a little harder. The third time up dollar hill my friends were gone and that got me excited. I knew all the spectators were making their way up to Squaw to cheer on the runners and I couldn't' wait to get there.

The last 4 miles, and this ALWAYS happens in Ironman.... all the familiar faces from the bike reconvene. It's so funny but you make friends out there even if you don't talk. You go back and forth with people and you know them from what they are wearing. Then you drop some people or they drop you, but it always ends up that the last 4 miles everyone comes back together. Like magnets.

Up to squaw I could see there were lots of people on the course doing the 70.3, lots of spectators, lots of fun! All the 70.3 athletes were out on the run and my first thoughts were on Anthony and Jody who raced (they both rocked, Jody got a worlds slot, Anthony was 2nd overall and won his AG). I was excited to get running myself.

Into T2 I ran into the tent and most the 70.3 racers had transitioned so the tent had 2 athletes in it. The volunteers were standing in there and I could tell they weren't going to help me at all. They were checking their phones and hanging out, lounging, not concerned with the athletes at all, which is cool, no judging! Haha! I came in yelling "LET'S GO LADIES, I'M THE FIRST WOMAN OFF THE BIKE, I NEED HELP" they all kinda jumped up and sprang to action. I think I scared them. In fact I know I scared them! Transition was really quick and I was off and running. Thank you volunteers!! Sorry for the scare!