(7-1-08) Submitted by Dave Campbell - What a race! I have said it before and I will say it again…I have raced all over the world, in four nations and in 15 different states and I have found no finer event than Pacific Crest. Stunningly beautiful, savagely difficult, and yet with a fun and friendly atmosphere like no other race - it is an epic challenge and, I believe, the finest event in the entire Pacific Northwest. The combination of its elevation, a long, and at times quite steep climb, on the bike, and a run that can get quite hot, also make it one of the hardest half iron-distance triathlons around. The 1.2-mile swim takes place in the clear, clean waters of Wickiup Reservoir with striking views of the snow-covered Cascade Mountains and a newly paved transition zone immediately upon exiting the boat ramp.
The 58-mile bike course starts flat only to climb slightly at mile 3 to join one of the most scenic highways in North America - the Cascade Lakes Highway. The climb rolls gently until about the 27 mile mark near Elk Lake, at which point the PCT is distinguished from nearly all other triathlons: an 11-mile climb of nearly 2000 feet to the entrance of the Mount Bachelor ski resort. The first section is long and gradual, passing snow banks and fly fishermen and rising 650 feet and then leveling out. The next portion of the climb, known as "Sparks Grade", begins at Sparks Lake and continues to Todd Lake. After one more break in the climb, the athletes make the final drag to the summit at 6500 feet, 38 miles into the ride and begin the breath-taking plunge down the other side. With only one notable long false flat, the rest of the final 20 miles is just-reward for the climb, with consistent and sustained speeds of over 40 miles per hour and sections where some participants can top out at over 50mph.
The 13.1-mile run circles the resort community of Sunriver on the bike path and is mostly flat with a few little ups and downs. Competitors have to climb out of transition and are quickly reminded how hard the bike was before enjoying a fair amount of shade on the first half of the run. The second half, however, is much more exposed, and is an extreme test of mental fortitude as competitors battle fatigue and heat in the quest to reach the finish line. Aid stations appear at every mile with enthusiastic help as well as smiling and encouraging vacationers all along the course to cheer on the athletes.
The finish into the Sunriver Village Mall could not be more perfect - a cold shower awaits just past the line, ample food and drink, great restaurants, live music, the race expo, plenty of shade, and lots of space for your friends and family. Of course, the Half Iron is but one of a plethora of endurance racing options over the weekend so there is an event to suit every member of your entourage, further adding to the fun of the weekend. The finish area is well-suited to reliving the glories of the race with friends and families, cheering in your friends and rivals, and reveling in the experience that is the PCT.
Over 600 competitors began their day in Wickiup Reservoir at 4700 feet with the temperature already well into the 70s. Some athletes still fear this race because of the cold water, but that is really a misperception. Veterans of the race remember the 54-degree waters of Crescent Lake in 1999 and the "warmer" Cultus Lake (58 perhaps) in the years following, but since moving to Wickiup in 2003, the water temperature on race day has averaged 64 degrees, and when paired with warm Central Oregon weather and a late morning start (9am) is quite manageable, and even comfortable in a full wetsuit. The first of the nearly 600 starters to exit the water was 28 year old Matt Clark of Bend in a rapid 24:08, trailed by defending champion and local pro Matt Lieto, 30, in 25:32. Erin Ford, 32, of the Dalles, was 6th overall out of the water in 27:34, and the first woman.
It took little time for uber-biker Lieto to take charge on Cascade Lakes Highway and his 2:17:11 was the fastest bike-split of the day. From nearly three minutes behind on the swim, a challenge was coming: 28 year-old Kirk Nelson of Longmont, CO was just 16 seconds slower on the bike and Clark's 2:22:25 put him within three minutes going into the run leg of the race. One of the biggest challenges of any long course triathlon bike is nutrition and Saturday was no exception, with the heat meaning most athletes were taking two bottles at each of the three aid stations (located at 17, 31, and 38 miles). The difficult climb and the raging descent made the moments for taking in food difficult to choose. In fact, a past winner of PCT, Scott Young of Reno, NV, along with many other quality athletes failed to finish as the heat, which would hit the low 90's, took its toll.
Lieto's strategy for combating the heat on the run came from his extensive long course racing experience. He took along a big Ziploc bag and filled it with ice at the aid stations and stuffed it down the front of his jersey to keep his core-temperature down. Others filled their hats with ice in similar cooling efforts, but everyone was thankful for the cold drinks handed out at every mile from cheerful volunteers along the course. Matt's strategy worked - his 1:25:01 half marathon was the fastest of the day, despite his lead plummeting to 45 seconds over the charging Nelson at one point. He crossed the finish, victorious and exhausted in 4:10:03, a remarkable time for the conditions. Nelson, the Coloradan would hang on for second in 4:13:36 with Clark finishing third in 4:19:31. "The money" went five-deep with the Seattle duo of Adam Jensen (4:24:07) and Michael Gordon (4:25:43) rounding out the top five.
The common story of the day - a fast run under the blistering conditions was a very tall order for most, as an example 1:17 is a more typical run split for Matt. For me, within only a very few miles it became clear that "racing" the run would be impossible and the goal would be too simply survive and make it to the finish line without overheating. I was not alone, most athletes were operating similarly and as testimony to their tenacity, the vast majority finished, which was an enormous accomplishment in itself at this year's PCT - one of the hottest in the event's 12-year history.
Sunny Gilbert of Corvallis, OR won a very hotly contested women's event in 4:48:55, just in front of Kat Baker of Canberra, Australia, who logged 4:49:47. Baker led until the latter stages of the run, but Gilbert ran a staggering 1:35:53, the fastest woman of the day and 13th overall to Baker's 1:38:10. Baker's strength was a women's best bike of 2:40 flat. Women's swim leader Erin Ford hung on for third in 4:53:34. These three incredible women were 18th, 19th and 23rd overall. David Ciaverella of Happy Valley, OR was far and away the fastest Master in 4:38:48 taking 9th overall. Reene Fiack of Chico, CA, 11th overall women, was the top Women's Master in 5:39:14. With the heat and the distance, it was a day that experience counted for a lot (note the times and overall performance of the Masters).
I had the extreme good fortune (the highlight of my day!) of running into a former student of mine at the finish. She was in my Biology class at Newport High School fifteen years ago and at that point, she had no interest in athletics, was quite overweight, and very unsure of herself. And now here she was...fit, strong, working as a Wellness Coordinator for a local firm and finishing her first long course triathlon! She was glowing with satisfaction and accomplishment and immersed in the culture of support and camaraderie, that is the multisport lifestyle. If that is not what it is "all about" then I don't know what is!
Like many of you, I will be taking several days of easy training and then scaling back the mileage and upping the intensity for the many short-course races that dot the Northwest calendar for the remaining months including Age Group Nationals at Hagg Lake in September. I look forward to seeing you all at the Hagg Lake Triathlon in just a couple of weeks, which will be a great preview of September's Championship event.
