Rancho Seco Olympic Tri

                                       .93 Swim - 40K Ride - 10K Run

 The morning started off as any usual race morning. Susan and I packed up our bikes and Tri gear on June 15th. This was to be our longest distance race yet. We had individually completed all disciplines just never put together. We gobbled up our PB sandwiches and coffee on the trip down to Ranch Seco. We got all set up in transition , checked out the competition (not really)  and took our usual pictures. 

I think I may have asked Susan a thousand times if she was ready or nervous. She always has the same answer "It will work or it won't" I love it !!!!
So, I was feeling pretty damn competitive in my new Eleonore Rocks gear and thought to myself all these Athletes are probably thinking DANG that girl must be FAST .. haha 
Yeah I felt like I totally could be Pro and people were most likely thinking I would come in FIRST place overall.. HA , That was my  little dream moment. 
In Reality I was just like the average Joe in a really cool get up racing for an AMAZING cause with some pretty legit  sponsors ..
 Check it out here http://www.eleonorerocks.org/mission.html  and then if you wouldn't mind making a little donation to help me reach my goal  donate here  http://store.eleonorerocks.org/Bambi-Baechler_p_95.html .

* SWIM .93 miles 
Little did we know Susan and I actually got to start in the same wave. 
I was already a little nervous to get in the water because I had heard there were leaches. I got in the water for a warm up and when we got out it was determined there were slimy little creatures on my feet.. EEWWWWWW! 
I didn't even panic, I wiped the little buggers off and went about my business with my feet completely  OUT of the water I waded with Susan for the whistle to blow. 
3-2-1 GOOOO---- 
I felt super strong starting off in the swim. I kept my way off to the side along with Susan and we were holding a pretty good pace every once in a while looking up to make sure each of us were oaky. I could tell Susan was having some issues with her suit but she managed to push through like a champ. 
We both exited the water with only a few men passing us in different color caps.. They must have been super fast.. 

Transition 1 - 
Pretty quick and we both chugged down our nutrition , threw on our gear and off we went. 

* Bike 40K 
Just a little insight on the bike for me. When the girls and I go out for rides I am usually the one huffing and puffing trying to keep a good pace to keep up with the girls. I will admit the bike is the toughest part for me. I am not a very efficient cyclist UNLESS its downhill ( I LOVE speed) I do not brake ever. They always keep me honest on the bike and make me work REALLY hard while they effortlessly cruise along. 
So we both transitioned really quick out to the bike course. I started to get in the zone and focus on a steady pace but enough to know I could keep up with Susan. 
After the first few miles I kept looking and could see Susan not far behind me but by the time I had got to the bottom of the hill she was no longer in my sight. I debated turning around to make sure everything was okay BUT it was a climb back up and I told myself she is just fine to keep on going.
I knew it was very odd she wasn't in front of me. 
It was a very long stretch of road and I just could not et in a groove. Fast.slow.fast.slow I just wasn't feeling the bike at all but kept trying to do what I could to keep a good cadence .  I even lost my chain on one of the biggest hills. aughh It never fails.
At turn around I noticed I was passed by a few people. Ummm , Yeah those older women KICK ASS. I loved seeing the 50+ lady pass me and tell me to "Great Job" no really I did. I want to be just like her one day. 
After the turn around I caught a glimpse of Susan, I tried to yell out to her but I was heading down a hill. I was so glad she was okay but really confused at why she was those miles behind me. 
I was all alone out there on the course the last few miles except for the chic I was trying to catch in front of me. I played leap frog with her for a while but finally got a second wind and passed her. 
Coming into transition I was bummed I couldn't go harder on the bike but knew I could make up some time on the run. 

Transition 2 - Another quick chug of some nutrition I threw my helmet off, grabbed my visor and water and off I went.

* Run 10K

The temperature had climbed by the time I came in off the bike and it was HOT at 10 in the morning !! 
I told myself I had to pass double the amount of people that had passed me on the bike. I had to pick off 6 people. It wasn't for any other reason except to make myself feel like I was really giving it my all. 
The road was one I had ran before. HORRIBLE
Red dirt, chunky rocks everywhere, rolling hills and no shade at all. 
By the 1st mile I had noticed a few people walking ahead of me. I knew if I could catch up to them it would give me a little boost in confidence. 
I had read a blog about walking through all the water stations so I told myself that would be okay. 
I walked through EVERY single one and I think that saved me. I decided to pour water on my head and drink the sports drink. 
I started to pass about 2-3 people and kept telling myself not to stop even though I really wanted to just walk. Did I mention how hot it was. My leg hadn't hurt AT ALL and I think it has a lot to do with taking my runs 1-2 minutes slower per mile ( This beats the advice of NO running at all) and it was working. 
The first 4 miles I had tons of compliments on my Eleonore Rocks attire. I was so happy to be able to yell out the website and tell people to check it out. As you all know it is something that pulls at my heartstrings knowing I am out there running to make a difference in the lives of so many families like my own. 
It was about that time I saw Susan. She looked so strong out there with not a care in the world. 
Did I mention it was HOT. I was completely out of water and Susan yelled across the bridge and we gave one another moral support. I said "I need water , its so HOT" and wouldn't ya know t she yelled back at me " HERE TAKE MINE" oh my gosh seriously. What an awesome teammate and friend. Of course I said No. I knew there was a water station coming up. 
As the miles went by I had only passed 3 people so I wasn't seeing much chance of doubling my gaol. 
I just told myself not to let anyone else pass me. Well The last 2 miles I got a chance. I noticed 5-6 people all spread out in the distance up on the HORRIBLE dusty trail. I made my way around the last part closest to the lake and tried to give it my all. I had made my way up to a man with no shirt who also looked like he needed water,  I saw him peek back at me and run faster. It took me a good few hundred yard to get on his heels ( Not really that close) but eventually when we went to go up a hill I pushed through and passed him. 
There was about 1 mile left and at the water station the volunteers were so AWESOME. I knew I had to push really hard to pass to more people. 
That last mile felt like the hardest mile EVER. Low and behold I was alb to pass 3 more people 2 men but then one charged ahead again. I was so excited to see the Finish Line so I gave every bit that I had left. 
I DID IT.. I just finished an Olympic Distance Tri. CONGRATULATIONS BAMBI BAECHLER our 3rd place 30-34 AG winner. That was exciting.. lol
So, I went over to the tent to see my finishing times mostly to see how I did on the run because it felt like I worked SOOO hard and thought maybe it was one of my fastest times. NOPE. I was over a 10 min mile but I wasn't ALONE. Had I did much better on the bike I would have did better overall because even though my 10k was slower than any I have ever done before at 1:07 I still had a better time than a lot of the people who had better times overall and by 10+ minutes on the run. 
Did I mention it was HOT. 

Susan came in not long after. She still looked so strong on the run coming to the finish line. 
Later I discovered her bike did have malfunctions and she could barely even get uphills. POOR girl. I knew it wasn't normal but IT WORKED and she finished. She never gave up even on the hardest times out on the bike course. I am so proud to call her my teammate and friend. 
Susan and I decided while everyone else was filtering out and leaving we would wait for the last athlete to cross the Finish line. 
OH MY GOSH ---- Tear jerker times one thousand. This woman came across that finsih line like a BEAST. Her daughter who was pretty young ran out to the beginning of the start to the finish and ran hand in hand with her mother. It was such an emotional site and really put perspective on life  and the reason a lot of us Athletes are out there. I was more excited to see her cross in Last place to even worry about who won the Overall race. Truly an inspiration!!!
After the race we devoured the BEST hamburger on the planet .. NO JOKE. It was some little hole in the wall hamburger stand in Ione. YUMM.
A huge Huge Thank you to our awesome training mentor Carla. She is one of the Elite Eleonore Rocks athletes who has helped us in so many ways during training. Thanks Carla! 
I can't wait to rock the course in August.