Leadman Epic 250 Bend, OR Race Report (9/22/12)
About the LeadmanTri Bend Race Course
5K Swim — Voyage Across the CultusLeadmanTri Bend starts with a brisk swim in Cultus Lake. A deep, mountain lake at the base of Mount Cultus, it is filled with crystal clear water that is expected to be approximately 64 degrees on race day. The course will be two 2.5K laps along the shoreline. Swimmers will exit the water after lap one and pass an aid station before returning to the water for lap 2.
223K Bike — Trek Round Mount Bachelor
One of the most scenic and challenging courses in the sport of triathlon, the LeadmanTri Bend course climbs over the Bachelor pass not once but twice, with 1.5 laps around Mt. Bachelor. Athletes will have spectacular views of the summit, several mountain lakes and the shores of the Deschutes River. The bike finishes with a 16-mile descent into Bend.
22K Run — Tetherow Dash
The run course takes you out and back along the Deschutes River, through the majestic Tetherow Golf Club, and finishes crossing over the pedestrian bridge into the Events Plaza in the Old Mill District of Bend. The entire course is known for its old growth, large Ponderosa Pine, Douglas fir and western White Pine, sometimes rising to 120 feet (37m) tall.
Race Report
The
alarm was going off and the music of Jack Johnson was to thank for
that. It was the BIG day! I looked over at my brother and there were no
words spoken, maybe because it was 3:45AM! I had already set out my
morning outfit and it looked like I was headed to the snow. After
getting all things packed up in the van I was off to where the shuttle
busses were. I jumped on and tuned out listening to my music. The bus
ride was scheduled to take roughly 45mins to the start of the swim
(Cultus Lake) The funny things was that our bus driver got lost and it
took us 1 Hour and 30mins. Everyone on the bus thought we would miss the
start, that was until we realized that the course officials were
sitting behind us! After the fun detour we got to Cultus Lake and set up
T1 and got the wet suits on. I was not showing it but WOW was I
nervous. My brother and I stayed with each other and with 15 mins before
the start of my wave was in the water surrounded by nervous souls and
pros (Jordan Rapp & Matt Lieto to name a couple) Before the start my
brother and I had our game plan... stay with one another and grab
someone's feet! 10..9..8..7..6...5...4..3..2..BOOM the 5K Swim was
underway! Months of preparation and races lead to this moment to get my
BELT BUCKLE!!!! The swim was a two loop course and buoys were placed
every 50 yards which helped with my sighting. After the first loop we
were to get out of the water and loop around the timing mat, I did so
and looked behind me and my brother was nowhere to be found. I was
nervous because I did not know if he went ahead of me was stuck in the
back. Without hesitation I dove back into the water and started out for
my second and final loop, I found myself in a nice rhythm and was
enjoying the swim surprisingly. Just like my workouts I tried and
negative split my second half of the swim to the first half. Finishing
up the second loop I ran out of the water and up to the changing tent,
It was a chilly morning and I knew at the high altitude that I would
need to put on some warm clothes. I spend total of 7 mins and 18 seconds
stripping down and dressing up. I ran right over to my bike and my
coach was there saying "Great
job" my first words were "Where is my brother?!" I looked over where he
placed his bike and it was still there, so I knew I was ahead of him :) I
jumped on my bike ready to head out for the 223K bike ride! I felt
great on the bike, a little chilly but was in a good position and was
flying, in the back of my head I was thinking "Where is my brother, he
is a little faster on the bike than I am and thought he would catch up."
It was a beautiful course, I was in good shape through the first 90
miles to the top of Mt. Bachelor, I looked at my average speed at it
read 24.8MPH!!! I was PUMPED! That second time up Mt. Bachelor got me,
my MPH were declining rapidly, I was afraid of this the BONK was setting
in! My body was telling me to stop and my mind was saying "NEVER GIVE
UP!" I kept going and stopped a few times up the top of Mt. Bachelor. I
stopped once for about 10 seconds and one fit guy passed me and had
encouraging words for me, "ROCKY BALBOA, NEVER GIVE UP!" I jumped on my
bike and kept a decent pace into T2. In the back of my mind I kept
thinking, "Where the HELL is my brother?!" As I came into T2 I raced
over to my bag and saw my Dad, Sister, Coach, and my BROTHER! As I ran
over there I could see my brothers arm wrapped up and knew he took a
spill. As I get over to my bag my brother says, "Jimmy I CRASHED, but
your going to get the BELT BUCKLE!!" I got a rush of adrenaline, changed
into my running gear and was off out of the tend to start the 22K run. I
don't know what it is about crowds, but I get a rush or energy and my
first 2 miles were around 8min miles, that would change. The run course
takes you out and back along the Deschutes River, through the majestic
Tetherow Golf Club, and finishes crossing over the pedestrian bridge
into the Events Plaza in the Old Mill District of Bend! The best thing
that happened during the run was a gentleman and myself had the same
pace working with us and we ran together the whole way. We even ran an
extra mile off course and looked at each other and earned around and
said "Keep going, we got this!" With a quarter of a mile left, I could
see my brother and him yelling "The finish is right over the bridge!" My
brother ran to the finish with me and when I crossed I looked up with
arms in the air! I FINSIHED!!! About 20 seconds later my running partner
and friend Brian Holthus crossed and we high fived each other and then
got our medals!!!
Leadman Epic 250 Splits
Here is the Leadman Epic 125/250 Offical Video!!!!!!!!
At 45 seconds into the video you can see my brother and I thumbs up and smiles on our face ready to have some fun!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WegtwCm-F00
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