›Big Kahuna Half Ironman (Santa Cruz, CA)
Race date: September 11, 2005
By: Frank Cobarrubia
I started getting nervous about 3 weeks prior to race date. Recurring anxiety dreams started in at about 2 weeks. I dreamt that I was at the swim start and remembered my bike was still on top of the car. I told Ron Thompson about the dream and he gave me some assuring words, “Dude, that shit can happen”.
I got down to Santa Cruz with Sharley and her dad, Chip, the day before and went for a swim. It is a chilly 60 but nice once you warmed up. Got my obligatory mint chocolate chip shake the night before, double checked my gear and food. I spoke to Barry, Andie and my folks who wished me well and I went to sleep.
Slept like a rock, no bad dreams, and woke to a cold starry sky. No rain. Threw down another smoothie, hydration and was surprisingly relaxed considering my weeks of anxiety.
The transition area was about 300 meters from the beach so after your swim you had to run on the street to get back to T1. Anyhow it was a bit cold racking up the bike and getting ready. The swim started between the Santa Cruz pier and the boardwalk. The sun broke out just before the first wave went off and sent a golden- orange shine over the beach. It was really beautiful. I warmed up and calmly got ready for my wave. I remembered Jenny M telling me all the anxiety is just getting up to the start line and she said to relax and enjoy the day. Now I’ve been given a lot of good advice from a lot of good and smart people in my life. I know its good advice and I know it would be wise to heed that advice but rarely does it sink in to my ultra dense and teflonic head. I must have had a soft spot that day and somehow it did absorb on that given day at that given time. I may not be that lucky again. Anyhow I just jumped right in the group up front and calmly paddled away—head down, long reach, high elbow and glide. I was totally relaxed and the swim seemed too short. Out of nearly 600 competitors I finished 116th at 36:00 which included a goggle fix, wetsuit adjustment, safety check on some guy on his back, and an espresso stop. Not too bad for my second year of competition. I shuffled my way down the road to the transition area and got my bike. I darn near fell over since you immediately go up this short hill but I forgot to put it in a small gear during the prep and I couldn’t get clipped in after my push off. Close call. I followed the directions of Barry to spin spin spin and so I did. I relaxed got some hydration and bounded out towards Hwy 1. I picked it up but kept an eye on my HR and just cruised and enjoyed the scenery. I passed a few, got passed. Say la vie (sp?) It was a little hillier than I had anticipated but the Hwy was in good condition. I went to stretch my back and my foot came out of the clip—WOOOAAAAA. I recovered but not before my adrenals give me a nice boost. All of the sudden I see my Jihad brother yelling. Tracy Dutson and Robin Aiello are out delivering the love. Thanks. Anyhow the ride was an out and back and Sharley had started 10 minutes ahead of me. I was getting close to the turnaround and beginning to wonder where she was. I finally see her and I realize she is only a few minutes ahead of me. Out comes the Field and Stream high powered scope. She is in reach. Well Mother Nature, my small bladder, and low intolerance to the pangs make me pull off for the pee break. I hear the woosh of 12 people passing me. I can never reel them all back in and Sharley is long gone. Damn. Other than my sore back I am feeling good and in very high spirits. I finish the bike under 3 hrs (2:53). I’m happy with that.
Nice transition and head out for the run. I am at about 3:36 so unless my wheels completely fall off I will do under 6. “Stay calm my boy”. I realize this is the first race that I have yet to start cussing at myself. Now I do realize that I am not done and there is plenty of time for things to go wrong but so far so good. I feel alright and keep my HR in check but I am getting passed big time. In all over 100 people pass me on the run. Oh well I’m all smiles. The turnaround is by an ocean ledge and it is a beautiful day. Mile 7 rolls around and I am feeling it. Mile 9 and the smile is now a grimace. Here come the tears. Tracy rears his little head up from the bushes like a marmot, and yells “jihad” and jumps in with me. He just about carries my sorry ass the last 4 miles and into the finish chute. I finish under 6 with a 5:50. Better than I ever expected myself to do. I soaked my legs in the cool Pacific Ocean had a double margarita on the rocks and was glad it was all over. What a nice way to end my second season.
Thanks to Barry, Jenny M and Sharley for keeping me focused on relaxing and enjoying the day.
It's good to be home and have that under my belt.
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