Danskin 2009

The Danskin Triathlon took place Sunday the 16th however there were mandatory obligations Sat 15th as well. When reading over the info late Thursday night Laura and best bud Nicole realize each participant must check in their bike Sat. Problem-- Laura was scheduled to work Sat. Laura called into work at 9 AM Friday and luckily, the scheduler at work was able to find a replacement with a few phone calls and Nurse Gee worked Laura's shift. Nurse Gee will get some sort of homemade goodie for helping Laura out hey she got time and a half too so don't feel too bad for her **wink.

So sat Laura meets Judy at Nicole's house in Maple Valley at 8:30 and they caravan to Bellevue where the participant gets their race info including # and a chip that was worn around the ankle for race time results. The race organizers marked each racer with their race # in permanent marker on both arms and their age on the left calf. We stuck around for a seminar and checked out the vendors (bought goggles and YANKZ) and then headed to Seward Park where we racked our bicycles. There the gatekeepers only allowed racers who were marked and the race # was also affixed to the bike and helmet into the transition area. The transition area is basically home base and it is fenced off and is only allowed entrance by race participants.

We did not get out of Seward Park until 1:30PM. Laura then realizes why the day ahead prep is necessary-- looking at the sea of bikes it would have been a total disaster trying to do everything in one day. There were over 5,500 participants and at least that many spectators.

Race day: Laura and Nicole meet at Judy's house at 4:30AM and Jerry hubby of Judy and Nicole's papa was our support person slash driver. We arrived shortly at 5:15 and the first wave of swimmers were set to start at 6:45. Judy's wave was 6:49 Laura and Nicole's was an hour later at 7:45. The first wave were the elites/ pros the gals who wanted to win, the next wave women 19 yrs and younger and then the third wave was the first of 80-60 age group, there were a few waves for each age group. Each wave had a different colored swim cap.

Laura had a few firsts on Sunday: first tri, first time trying the swimming goggles, first time wearing the wet suit in water (ya know the knees don't bend so well-- hard to do the breast stroke), first time to change a bike chain 5 times in 30 min, first time to swim 1/2 mile under 30 minutes, first time to try an energy drink (between biking and running- just a quick swig for that burst of energy, hardly).

Laura swam the 1/2 mile under 30 minutes and was pleased at the pool she was paced around 40 min. She got out of the water and runs to the bike and then thinks I really should go potty while I have the chance. She does the unthinkable- goes into a Honey Bucket with no shoes... let her explain as mentioned earlier the transition area was strictly limited to participants only (WOMEN) so a Honey Bucket only used by women has a whole different aura than the mixed gender kind. What you thought she was crazy? Outta the Honey bucket she puts the helmet on check, wetsuit off check, sports bra and running shorts were under the wet suit so tank top layered then socks, shoes, sunglasses two bites of a banana and off, pushing the bike back to the street and trying to avoid incoming bikes, (remember some women had been at this for an hour already), people milling around, swimmers going to their bikes and outgoing bikes like herself. A lot like the video game frogger.

She hops on the bike and was fine until she shifted gears, yes she was peddling, along I-90 in the express lanes (it was closed for traffic). She could pedal no longer and that meant one thing chain fell off. Pull off onto the shoulder get off, fix it, ride some more, happens a 2nd time... same thing pull off fix, curse, get on ride some more, happens a 3rd time, really curse, get pissy thinks I did not swim for nothing, gets off the bike is a little rummy and loses balance and nearly goes swimming again (on the other side of the barrier was water aka Lake WA) hops on goes a bit happens a 4th time ready to blow a gasket, fixes it hands completely covered in grease thinks "Crap why did I have to wear a white tank top?" puts the chain back on rides some more happens a 5th time and she is a pro by now gets the job done in nothing flat. She hesitated to shift gears anymore after that debacle. Total distance 12 miles.

Gets back to transition racks the bike, helmet off, sunglasses off. quick swig of energy drink, and she's off. Goal is no stopping and she did that jogged the 3.1 miles. Drummers where along the course in 2 spots and that helped the push to finish and finish she did. 2 hours and 9 minutes was the time. She left 90% on the course and was originally hoping to finish in 2:30 then overheard a lady with a neck brace on and 1 year post op hip replacement surgery saying her first race she did in 2:20 and this time she wanted to be under 2 hours, Laura knew she wanted that for herself now. I think she would have had she kicked it up a notch in the run and a with less chain problems. A different bike (perhaps a road not a mountain) sounds really good right about now.

This will be the first of more tris to come. I am doing a 1/2 marathon in Sept too-- WOO HOO! Pictures soon