If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that I competed in the Big Bear Triathlon 10k on Saturday! They just added a 5k and 10k to the race this year, and since Alan is the race announcer I was able to get a free entry! It obviously wasn’t a race I trained for (or even prepared for) since it is in Big Bear at 6,752 feet elevation, but I went, I had fun, and I didn’t do too badly. Here is my Big Bear 10k Race Report (plus some other fun things we did in the mountains).
The Day Before the Race
Our timing was perfect to get out of the desert. We left Friday around noon on a day that was expected to be 115 degrees! We arrived in Big Bear around 2:30 where it was in the mid-80s. Warm for the mountains, but nowhere near what we left behind. Of course, as we were reminded at packet pick-up, the sun is more intense and the air is much dryer, so hydration is really important, both before, during, and after the race.
After Alan checked in with the race director and I picked up my race packet, we left to check into our cabin. As the announcer, Alan is always comped accommodations, for the night before the race. The quality varies, but we really scored this year. Not only did we have a cabin of our own, the reservation was for two night! That meant we got to avoid the desert heat for two whole days!
Somehow along the way, we’d skipped lunch, so we headed out for an early dinner. Fortunately, our cabin was within walking distance of both the race venue and all the downtown shops and restaurants, so we left the car and headed out about 5:30. I already knew where I wanted to eat, the Himalayan, which is one of my favorite Indian restaurants and has a lot of vegan options. I also knew I wanted the Chana Masala. Alan got the Daal Tadka, lentils served with Himalayan herbs. Both were excellent.
As we walked back to our cabin, we passed another restaurant that I had heard had some vegan options, the Copper Q. It’s more of a bakery/sandwich shop, so we popped in to see what they had for dessert. We lucked out with the Maple Cupcake. It was so good!
After that little treat, we went back to the cabin to rest and head to bed early. Alan needed to be at the race venue by 5:30, so he was up early while I tried to get a little more sleep. When that didn’t work, I got up, drove him to the race (we had to drive because he brings a speaker, table, and other tools), then headed to the store to get some non-dairy creamer (which I’d forgotten!). I may have stopped at Starbucks on my way. Then back to the cabin, a light breakfast because the race didn’t start until 9:00, and basically killed time until about 8:00.
As I walked toward the race venue, I decided to check in on Alan, who was just starting the swim portion of the triathlon. The water is very low this year in Big Bear Lake, so the normal swim had to be moved into deeper water, which was probably about 1/3 of a mile from the transition area. When the athletes got out of the water, they had to run on asphalt for quite a ways. Fortunately, the race had set up some shoe racks, which I thought was a great idea. Not all the athletes used them though.
Alan was done at the race start about 8:30, so we headed toward where the Duathlon, 5k, and 10k races would start (which was also near the finish line). That still gave me some time to warm up, though I didn’t do much. My goal, in addition to filling up on Nuun before the race, was to start very slow, see how I felt, then take it from there.
The Big Bear 10k Race Report
The race started right on time at 9:00. As we headed west on the main road through Big Bear, I noticed what could potentially be a problem. We, the runners were in the fairly wide bike lane, which was coned off from the traffic lane. Suddenly, cyclists were coming from behind in the same lane. I tried to call ahead to warn the runners, and most got the idea and stayed to the right, but the lane really was quite narrow for both runners and cyclists. Fortunately, after about a half mile, we turned off the main road and the lane was much wider.
At mile one I was feeling pretty good. I wasn’t really trying to race, just to enjoy the run, and try to feel good through the whole race. I was happy that I was still in half marathon shape, having just done the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half a few weeks ago. I allowed myself to go a little faster and was happy that I was passing a few runners who may have gone out a little too quickly.
The course was rolling, and fortunately, in a nicely forested neighborhood that provided some shade. It was warming up, and that sun was intense. Mile two went by quickly, and 15 seconds faster than the first, which pleased me. There were three aid stations within the first two miles, a little more than necessary (and then a lapse of over a mile, which was kind of weird). I walked through all the stations and even stopped to sip at a couple. I wasn’t worried about my time, just about feeling good through the race. One thing you learn when you have exercise-induced asthma is to be aware of the things that can trigger an attack, and running at high altitude is certainly one of those things.
Part of the course was a loop (they called it a lollipop), so I passed the mile two aid station again just before mile three. There was a volunteer handing out iced towels, which were amazing! I put it around my neck and it stayed cold for a couple miles. At that point the course turned and started an uphill out and back, so for the first time I saw other runners coming back toward me. Following my own advice about race etiquette, I called out to most of them as we passed (rule #7). Sadly, only one or two responded, apparently in oxygen deprivation (or possibly committing etiquette no-no #3, wearing headphones).
Up until that point, my breathing had been just fine. I was taking it easy, to be sure, but I was running faster than just a training run. I got up that last hill just fine. Then, as the hill peaked and I started down, suddenly I could feel my airway start to close a little. Even though it happens this way frequently, I always think it’s weird that the asthma starts when the hard part ends. In any case, I stopped to walk for a bit, made myself breathe slowly and deeply, and was able to start running and finish the race without a problem.
After completing this little out and back, I turned toward the finish, passing three more aid stations (the same first three). At this point, I definitely felt hydrated, like I was sloshing a little, but my mouth was so dry I took water simply to wet my mouth. There were more people on the course by this time, some of the 5kers, plus triathletes finishing up the run portion of their race. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other. After a slightly slower mile four, when I’d had to walk, I picked up the pace for mile five and was able to maintain it for the final mile. At that point, I was back on the main highway and I could hear Alan in the distance announcing the finishers.
I’ve told you before how I love when Alan brings me home. He usually says something like “here comes my favorite person in the world, my wife…” Well, he added to that this time. He told them that I was the overall women’s winner at the La Quinta 5k and 10k, as well as a 3:16 marathon finisher. All true, of course, but almost 20 years ago! I did get a nice cheer as I crossed the finish line though!
I felt good as I finished, though it was pretty hot by that time. I filled up my own water bottle and added some Nuun, plus they had watermelon! That has to be the best treat I’ve ever had at the finish line of any race! It was cold and they had a lot of it. So perfect for rehydrating and cooling off.
I had some time to hang out. They had tents to stand under, which was nice with that intense sun. They also had a beer garden, a food truck, and other options, but I didn’t partake. Then when they posted the results and I found that I’d won my age group, I knew I had to wait around a while longer!
As I mentioned on Instagram, yes, I was the only runner in my age group. But, I also beat the women in the two age groups below me and beat all but one in each of the two groups below that. So I was pretty happy with that. It shows that time isn’t everything, especially in a challenging, high-altitude race. Better to listen to your body and run your own race. It will pay off in the end.
So while I was waiting, this happened (you can also read the story here):
The triathlete in the video (alongside Alan) is David Frease. While I doubt he read my etiquette post, he went beyond the call in adhering to rule #7. When he is was in the final portion of his Olympic race, another athlete on the course suffered a heart attack, almost right in front of him. Fortunately, David is a medical student and he dropped all thought of finishing his race when he stopped and began CPR on the fallen man whose heart had stopped.
Soon, the on-course first aid brought the defibrillator, and David continued CPR in conjunction with the defib. Amazingly, they got the fallen man’s heart started again! David waited until the paramedics arrived to take over, then he went on and finished his own race. By that time, Alan had been made aware of the situation and let everyone know that they had a hero among them. No word yet on the condition of the gentleman who had the heart attack, but as far as I know, he is alive and recovering.
Soon after the award ceremony started, and thankfully, they handed out the awards for the duathlon, 5k, and 10k at the beginning. By then it was almost noon and I’d been waiting almost two hours. It was hot and I wanted to rest and cool off. But, I still enjoyed my little moment of fame when I received my award! As soon as that was over I walked back to the cabin to cool off for a while before picking up Alan when everything was finished.
Since my first place award was a beer glass, I figured I should enjoy some Michelob ULTRA while I was recovering! (#sponsored)
I really enjoyed this race. I loved the challenge of running at altitude without much preparation and was surprised at how good I felt during the race. And while my time of 1:06:26 was much slower than my most recent 10k times, it was good enough for first in my age group and, believe it or not, 21st overall (and 8th woman)! I hope the Big Bear Triathlon will continue to hold a separate 5k and 10k going forward and to consider those races a big part of the event. Maybe even have a medal that says so. Right now it just says Big Bear Triathlon.
One of the nice parts of having the cabin for an extra night was that Alan and I could relax and enjoy the beauty of Big Bear without having to rush home. We went back to the Copper Q for lunch, then I made dinner at “home.” We talked about taking a run in the morning, but ended up getting up a little later than normal, taking a short walk, then packing up and heading home to our “kids.” Still, a great weekend.
How did you spend your weekend? Any races, event or other fun? Do tell!
Weekly Linkups
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Meatless Monday with Annmarie and Dixya
Tuesdays on the Run with Marcia, Erika, and Patty
Inspire Me Monday with Janice
Wild Workout Wednesday with Annmarie, Jen, and Nicole
The Plant-Based Potluck Party with Deborah
The Running Coaches’ Corner with Rachel, Lora Marie, and Me!
Friday 5 2.0 with Rachel and Lacey and Meranda
Weekly Wrap with Wendy and Holly
Congrats on your AG win and great finish! Sounds like a beautiful race and a great event. And kudos to the athlete who stopped to do CPR on the fallen man. I wonder how many wouldn’t have done that? You must have felt so inspired by his story!!!