Carey continues to prepare for the bigger sports event as she and her husband, Kevin regularly practice for endurance by trekking Saipan’s paved roads and trails.
But what gaves her the needed confidence was her victory in the recently held Kaike race in Yogano City where she beat her own expectation and finished fourth.
“I think with Kaike record, I am ready for Japan Xterrra,” Carey said in an interview during the Naftan Express mountain bike race where she and Kevin also showed up.
Carey’s time in the Kaike Triathlon turned out shorter than she had targeted. Taking it from last year’s event where she finished the bike and run courses in eight hours, Carey estimated that she may complete the next Kaike race in 11 hours.
But despite the bad weather that pounded the event again, the Saipan triathlete crossed the finished in nine hours and 47 minutes.
Of the 821 participants, Carey was among the 340 triathletes who reached the finished before the race was called off due to bad weather.
Carey completed the three-km swim course in 44 minutes ahead of hundreds of other participants. She trekked the 1.5-km bike course, half of which was a rocky uphill trail under the threatening weather in fours hours and 59 minutes. Then, she dealt with the 42.195 kilometer run course in four hours and 3 minutes.
Here’s how she recounts the event:
“At the opening gun, I took to the sea for the three-kilometer swim with a smile, but staying afloat in a sea of more than 800 bodies was madness. I felt as if people were pushing me down, grabbing my feet and coming within inches of kicking me in the chops. The water was not nearly as clear as in the CNMI and with all of the participants wearing black wetsuits it was difficult to see anyone or anything aside from hands, feet, and swim caps,”
“After having difficulty keeping my cool, I joined a band of rebels who escaped the frenzy by swimming on the other side of the rope. It was just what I needed to calm down and get into my zone, and when the herd thinned a bit some 200 meters or so down the line I re-entered the true course water,”
“At the halfway point we got out of the water and crossed checkpoint on the beach where our anklets tripped a sensor before finishing the final 1500m to the shore. There were a few people on kayaks and a couple of boats along the way cheering us on, and what started out so crazy turned out to be a pleasant warm-up for the rest of the race.
“I remember feeling great on the swim when I made the final turn and could sight the shore. I fought the urge to cut through the water as fast as I could for fear that I would waste energy needed in the later stages, but I definitely picked up my pace. The adrenaline was flowing when I heard the cheers from the coastline and could distinguish individuals between breaths. It was a challenge to keep swimming when I could finally see the bottom rather than standing and walking, but I continued until my hand hit the sand and I got up to run through the swim finish and into the first transition.
“It took me little over an hour to swim the almost two miles, and I was feeling great. I had a ton of energy as I strapped on my bike shoes, helmet and Camelback before heading out of the transition area and exploding onto the road.
“I could hardly believe that I was already into the second stage of the race as I pedaled through the narrow streets, and I was shocked to see supporters on either side of me like an animated canyon echoing ‘Ganbatte!’ and ‘Fure!’
“I was feeling fine along the opening 20km flat course, and, and by the time we headed into the mountain stages I was all warmed up and ready to go…”
