Bear Lake Brawl 2020
Bear Lake Brawl 2020
After watching my wife juggle the transfer and movement of Mdot races from Wisconsin to St. George I was sure there would be a race, but probably not an Mdot. With their races canceling my wife was preparing for her own designed race. “I am going to do something epic on September 19, I just don’t know what it is yet. It might be a race or a solo venture.” Her solo venture was going to be epic, swim in Fremont Lake in Pinedale, WY, bike to Farson and then head across South Pass, and then run what is called the Loop Road into Lander, WY. 140.6 miles and the lowest elevation being just under 7k feet and the highest point being over 9k. It was going to be epic.
Then On Hill Events announced the Bear Lake Brawl with distances from Sprint to Full, so she signed up and I signed up for the Olympic Distance. For those that aren’t familiar with Bear Lake Utah/Idaho it is an amazing piece of water often referred to as the Caribbean of the Rockies for its blue water. Simply beautiful. We had done races there and the past and they are small companies that means that support and clarity are often missing, but small races also have that local feel that is so welcoming. Two weeks before the race PTO announced prize money for Pros so some big names registered and it was going to be cool to see Matt Hanson, Sam Long, Skye Moench, among others toeing the line and also see them on the course.
Weather, well it started out marginal on the 10 day forecast and that was the best it would get. I trained with PP baseline through March and then stress fracture and everything else caused me to drop the baseline and just exercise. I must admit the numbers I was pushing/swimming/running in late March were the best I had done, so I knew I had banked some fitness. 4 weeks out I did a crash course in prep. Some tempo runs, threshold rides, and short rest swim sets. Going in I felt fresh and strong, but not necessarily fit.
Race Morning: Well, it was 48 degrees with a slight wind. As the sun tried to come up it brought the wind. 52 degrees and windier and windier. I saw over 10 people pull into parking get out and talk and then get back in and drive off. I saw two people pull their bikes out of transition and load up and take off. Full distance was supposed to go off at 7:00 after trying to wrangle a buoy that had blown off course and they could not get it back on the course they adjusted the Full Course and at 7:30 swimmers went off in TT start. Wind picks up more.
Swim: Olympic distance was last to go. I was told that the Sheriff came in on his boat and tried to shut it down but the race director convinced him that we would do out and backs to first buoy and back since the water was only 5 feet deep and people could stand. People swimming out and back into each other. Watching the Half and Sprint races pretty much everyone was walking the swim course. The buoy was airborne and people were just swimming/walking under and around it. As I hit the water I was elated, the northern part of the lake has hot springs so the air temperature was high 40s but water was comfy. That is about as good as the swim got. Talking to some pros after the race they all stated that was the hardest swim they had ever done. Sam Long said he just stood up a couple times to stop drinking the lake. Another tried backstrong. I have swam in big swells, IMCDA with 3 foot swells but you can time those. Choppy water is a different beast. I am not a fast swimmer but I do feel confident I am not going to drown. That day was different, lol. I took about 5 strokes and took two attempts at breathing and then just stood up. Everyone was walking. When I did get into a swim the wind was so bad I looked over and a guy was walking faster than I was swimming. It was funny in a lot of ways. To give some perspective on swim times. Pros 70.3 Course shortened to 1500M fastest times were around 30 minutes. I am usually a 23-25 min Oly, swimmer 28 minutes for 1000M.
Transition 1: Great run up the beach to the transition. SO DAMN COLD! I started stripping the wetsuit and then immediately decided NOPE! Once I hit transition I started stripping and was peeled off. Rain and more rain. Rain had started pounding with 20mph winds. Knowing it was coming I bought oversized cotton gloves that have the rubber fingers and palm. I chose not to go with sleeves or leg warmers ahead of time. I did go twitch to covers. I also went no sunglasses since it was just splotchy and couldn’t see.
Bike: It was perfect conditions to go FAST!!!! Low air pressure and wet roads meant that Crr was going to be low. The only concern was the hard rain and big winds. Going out it was apparent it was crossing tailwind. My goal was to hold a wattage a bit lower than normal and then on the way back from the turn around push a bit more. Uneventful bike other than some sketchy parts. The slower Sprint racers weren’t to their turnaround yet so going 25mph+ by them I am sure was uncomfortable for them as well as me. I started towards the back of the TT swim start because well I am slow. I was cruising on the bike after the Sprint turnaround and could see 3 bikers ahead of me. I caught one before the turnaround and estimated that I had about 2 minutes down from the “leader.” I say that because with a TT start you have no idea where anybody is. The bike back was crossing headwind but good news is it was wet and cold. Windchill was at 44 degrees. At the end of the bike I went into T2 with the lead biker.
Transition 2: Quick and easy no layers to pull off. I chatted with the lead biker and asked if he wanted to run together. A lot of people were in survival mode at this point and it was going to be fun to run with someone instead of being in misery alone. SO COLD. Fingers weren’t working so pulling on shoes was just muscle memory dexterity was non-existent. He shouted back, “I am not sure I can even run.” Turns out that was a lie.
Run: I turned onto the road and had to come to a complete stop. Some guy with a boat and truck ignored the volunteer that told him to stop. Good news is that traffic was so slow I ran with the truck for 1.5 miles. As I hit the road I was passed by a 70.3 Pro Female, I think overall winner, and she said, “Can you feel anything? I can’t feel my fingers? My feet hurt so bad! Can you feel anything?” I just said, “You are flying right now, I think you are doing just fine.” Like that she was gone! So cool to see how fast the Pros really are. Tailwind on the run on the way out. I felt so good and in control. My only concern was during the swim both calves cramped. I have a long history of achilles issues and that was concerning. My wife requested that if it acted up that I would back off to cause long term damage. I hit the turn around on the run in “1st Place” TT start who knows where you are, I had kept things in check and was ready to pour some coal on the fire. I ran the next mile very strong and controlled. Prior to that a young Oly racer was flying up the run course so I knew it was a matter of time before he caught me. At 4.5 miles I felt the familiar twinge and pain in my right achilles and was bummed. I started to back off and back off. The young 20ish year old flew by me like I was standing still. I kept backing off and backing off. I did catch a glimpse of the guy that I chatted with in T2 and he was on my shoulder so I kept his pace. With ½ mile to go I was ready to be done SO COLD. I told myself that ½ of hard running wasn’t going to do anymore damage. So I upped the pace to finish. Upon finishing everything cramped and I just fell over, lol. So funny looking.
Post Race: Get into dry clothes and find out how my wife was doing. My achilles was horrible could barely weight it. Found out my wife did a complete wardrobe change at mile 56 and was out on the course. It is a small race so I got in the car and drove the course looking for her. She told family that was there that she may not finish the bike. When I saw her the wind was down, the rain had stopped, and the sun was coming out. She had an “epic” day not what she thought it was going to be but it was. I volunteered for the Full/Half racers at the run turnaround aid station for the next 4 hours. Achilles is better just cold tight muscles. Thing about smaller races it is about who didn't show up. Also, the studs were racing the 70.3.
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