(7-15-08) Submitted by Dave Campbell - The Hagg Lake Triathlon is one of oldest institutions in Northwest triathlon dating back to the Bud Light USTS series in the early 1980's. Its field size has suffered in recent years due to the plethora of high-quality long course racing in late June (PCT, IM CdA, etc) but the course remains super challenging and racing there is always fun. Several years ago, the event was reinvigorated when organizers wisely moved it to two weeks, instead of just one, after Pacific Crest thus allowing athletes the needed recovery time. The event is the TRI NorthWest Regional Olympic Distance Championship and of course, the venue will also serve this fall as the USAT Age Group Nationals venue.
The rugged course makes for one of the most challenging Olympic distance races you will find anywhere. The swim is mild with typically flat water and this year two laps. The bike is one where you use nearly every cog on your cassette. Two laps around the lake roll up and down constantly with several sweeping downhills where you can go well over 40 mph and at least eight climbs of consequence, from ones you can power over in the big ring to those that require sustained seated small gear climbing. This course just keeps coming at you, so it is best to be conservative on the first lap and climb efficiently and stick with a pacing strategy. The run is out and back, thankfully, with a slightly easier return but the same relentless climbing and descending as the bike and a particularly painful climb at mile six before flying downhill to the finish. The result is that only the very strongest athletes succeed here and proper pacing is critical.
The operative word this year was HOT! Even with an 8 a.m. start, athletes were boiling by the time they hit the run course and many enjoyed jumping in the lake again after the race. 38-year-old Daniel Rockholm of Portland rocked the swim course in the reservoir, leading out of the water with a stunning 17:42, followed nearly a minute later by Matt Berg, the clear race favorite. 35-year-old Chantel Efraimson of Camas, WA was not only first women out of the water but 6th overall. With no less than ten athletes clustered in the low 21 to low 22 minute swim split, the competition was heated as well when the racers exited T1.
I had just returned to the Northwest after nearly two weeks at altitude (some days up to nearly 10,000 feet) in Wyoming and was happy to use my now abundant blood cells to post the days fastest bike split of 1:01:55 (24.09 mph average speed) and move up from 7th in the swim to "apparent leader" on the road. Apparent because, although I caught Berg, who led for most of the bike on the third to last climb (there are six of note after the turnaround alone...OUCH), as a day-of registrant he didn't start in the first wave and thus was still a minute up! 23-year-old Carl Newton of Bellingham, WA and season revelation David Ciaverella were close behind as we exited T2. Efraimson still led the women, but one of this season's most consistent athletes, Ann Ciaverella of Happy Valley, OR was breathing down her neck.
As proof of the difficulty of the course and the oppressive heat, only four athletes managed sub-40 minute 10k's. Matt Berg ran the third best run of the day (39:29) to pull convincingly away from the leaders to take a clear victory in 2:05:12, while I hung on in the heat (not my specialty) for second in 2:07:45. Grant Folske, 31, of Portland uncorked a 39:07 run to move from 5th of the bike into 3rd while 42-year-old Ciaverella was 4th and won the Masters title yet again. 41 year old Andy Libert of Eugene had the fastest run of the day in 39:05 to move him into 6th overall. Ciaverella's wife Ann, 37, charged the run in 43:39, best among the women to break the tape nearly a minute clear. Efraimson hung on for second while third placed Bridget Dawson of Portland, aged 50 raced to an impressive 2:27:50 and the Masters title. The fastest relay was a trio of 40 something guys calling themselves "Old & Angry" (Alex Stiles, David Williams, and Gary Geist) who combined for a 2:25:01.
The next major Northwest triathlon is the Blue Lake Mid-Summer on August 3 with both Olympic and Sprint distances as well as a Duathlon. It also serves as the TRI NorthWest Regional Sprint Championship. The day before is the LUNA All Women's Tri and Du where the ladies take center-stage for a traditionally well-attended and very fun event. Keep training and keep smiling and hope to see you at the races!
