Daily Herald Tribune 10K and 1/2 Marathon

Well considering I only decided to do the Half Marathon a couple of days before the race, I was very happy with the end result! The DHT Press Run has grown exponentially over the past few years and with almost 500 registered this year it just keeps on growing and growing!! Sonya and Ross did a great job as Race Directors this year and the chip timing made race day go smoothly! I did my volenteering part with an early moring rise...finish line setup and some course layout! Now time to get in the "racing mode"!!  A perfect morning for a race....no wind, bright sun and about 10C. Did the usual trash talking with my running buds and the gun was off!! The 10K and Half start at the same time and starting out I felt so good so I lead the lead pack of mostly 10kers for the first 3K and were hitting all the kilos in about 4 mins untill I decided to let off a bit and get into my pace....then the 10K dudes turned and all of the sudden I was alone....in first place!! Feeling the pace was a bit less than comfortable but feeling good at the same time so I held on. Robert Jr. was on lead bike just in front of me and was great and kept reminding me to "drink some fluid"...(was that outside assistance??) Got to the turnaround and Lorna was cheering me and I was in my zone but remember her screaming "you gotta win this one!". At the turnaround I could finally get a good look at the competition...second place was about 400 m behind so I did have a confortable lead but I kept the hammer down! Lots of Go Roberts as I met the rest of the feild on the way back which really does give a boost when your starting to enter the "hurt locker"! Robert Jr was excellent at encouraging me and at 19K told me I have a sub 1:30 if I can maintain my present pace. I don't usually check my time later in races and hadn't looked at it since 10K (41:20).... so under an hour and a half was going to happen!!  And not by much,,,,1:29:55!! Good for first overall!! Thanks to Darren Hunter for racing in Edmonton instead of GP...and Paul and Leonard for running the 10K...it left the Half Marathon for me!! 100 Bucks and a cool metal made from recycled glass....keeping with the green theme of the event...it was a good day and a great event!!!!

I ESCAPED FROM ALCATRAZ!!!

It was a great race and before I forget too much of it I will give a report of what I think was one of the most enjoyable but challenging races I have ever participated in!!

First, San Francisco is such an awesome City...so much to see, a very cool and vibrant city and runners and cyclists everywhere! People are into fitness and even the girl at the grocery store checked out my Ironman shirt and asked me if I know Chris Leito (google him if you don't know him) because she is best friends with his wife!

Back to the race report...it was the 30th anniversity of this iconic race and i would go back and do it again in a heartbeat! A legendary tough swim, gruelling hilly bike and a challenging run with the famous sand ladder make this a one of a kind! Two other tri friends from GP (LeeAnn and Rhonda) raced with me and my bud Duncan who was registered had to cheer us on due to some heart issues very similar to what I went through......some say its related to the Cervelo P3 that he just bought because the same happened to me when I got my P3!! Also with our GP group was Lorna the planner of course, LeeAnn and Rhonda who were racing, our special events corridinator Ted and Coach Joe.

Strong currents and cold water make Pedros swim clinic the Friday before a good idea...we all participated in this since Pedro has done this swim close to 1000 times he "knows the waters". Some priceless tips on currents, sighting, landmarks and some "in the water" practice made the 100 bucks well worth it and if you ever plan to do this race....do the clinic!!

Race Day.....race start was 8 am but having to rack the bike, plus take a bus from transition to the ferry dock and a ferry ride out to "The Rock" made a 3 am wake up necessary! Our condo was a short walk away from the transition so I racked the bike, organized my gear yaked with some people and said Bye to Lorna and got on the bus to the ferry! Arrived at the dock at 6am and picked up the timing chip and spent the next hour walking around and chatting with other tri people from all around the world....not a bad way to spend some time before the 7 am boarding! The ferry is huge and has 2 levels...I finally met up with LeeAnn and Rhonda so we found some floor and got ourselves ready. Such a cool way to start a race.....on a boat with 1800 people....everyone with their own rituals, routines and degree of nervousness. I particularily remember the "I Rock for Jesus" dude!! The ferry left the dock and headed out to Alcatraz and circled around the island and stopped at the starting line. And what a starting line! Starting with the pros and working through the age groupers we all jump off the boat into the ccccold water about 3 or 4 at a time....a bit nerve racking while were waiting out turn to jump but once in the water the solid fall/winter of 3 times a week 6 am Matt Tri Swim Training and Pedro Swim Clinic, it was time to get on with the business!! The tidal current was strong and taking us to the Golden Gate but inside info (Pedro) gave us a plan of swimming perpenducular to the current and 5 landmark sightings that got me to shore in 31 minutes for the 1.5 miles....almost 15 minutes faster than planned!!! Thanks to Matts swim training, Pedros swim clinic, and the currents of the day!! Hit the beach....off with the wetsuit...on with the running shoes and then the 1 Km run to T1. Felt pumped from the "fast" swim and passed quite a few to T1. On the bike....feeling great....warm temps....bike feels great...it is of course the absolute best triathlon bike that you can possibly buy (Cervelo P3 Carbon)!! The bike was tough but senic through the streets of San Francisco....to the Golden Gate National Park and back to T2. Dropped the bike and felt FAST on the run...first time in a long time doing a "shorter" distance race so the legs feltamazingly fresh!! The run course is a cool mix of flat gravel/pavement, steep single track, stairs, beach running and of course the infamous sand ladder! Race summary    2hours 50 minutes and 6 seconds.....34 out of 175 in the 45-49 Age group and got the sub 3 hour goal I set!! LeeAnn and Rhonda had great races and we all celebrated the next day with an epic bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge, to Soulsalito, Tuberon and back!! Tram Cars, Peking Duck, Fishermans Wharf, Sport Basement....wow what a store!! Love San Fran!!!