Return to Racing 8/2005

August 20, 2005
Elma, WA
300m swim/13m bike/5k run

First some history. After an awesome year in 2004 I started 2005 with high expectations for a summer filled with races. What I got instead was major knee surgery in June 2005 followed by 6 weeks on crutches (non-weight bearing) and then to add insult to injury I got a blood clot (DVT) in part due to my surgery, inactivity while on crutches and years on BCP. So my season vanished right before my eyes and it was all I could do to ease slowly back into exercise during the late summer months. So that's where this report finds me....
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After my return to biking a few weeks ago I'd been really wanting to do a sprint triathlon just to see how my knee would hold up. I'd been planning on going to Seattle this weekend to volunteer at Danskin and so when I found a race near there on Saturday I thought it's menat to be :)

I didn't tell anyone I was going, DH was sick so he didn't join me I just drove up and chilled. No info on the course, no abbreviated taper, just woke up Saturday AM and said "Yep the knee feels ok, let's do it!"

Got myself into my trisuit, checked out of my hotel and 30 min later pulled into the park where the race is being held. This race series holds races like 7 times a summer, mostly sprints or running races and they are small and fairly cheap like $30 so I was interested to see how organized, safe etc it was.

I was pleasantly suprised. I registered, got my t-shirt and proceeded to set up my transition area (there were about 10 racks set-up) so other people just laid their bikes on the ground or those with kickstands used them :) There was no timing chip only a final finish time and no bodymarking or bike #s. No biggie I set-up and started chatting with some women who looked nervous. Turns out these ladies did their first race a few weeks ago and had so much fun they wanted to try another one. Older, bigger but soooo excited to be there they lamented not getting marked cause they couldn't show it off. Always prepared I offered to mark them with my Sharpie - WOO HOO! Before I knew it half the field was marked (including me) :)

Their were guys on race bikes with Zipp Wheels, guys on 30yr old Schwinns with tennis shoes, a woman in a beach bikini and then lots of people just out for a fun day.

The distances were 300yds swim, 13 mile bike and 5k run. We get into the water which is SUPER warm (I opted to leave the wetsuit off for only 300yds) and all we have to do is swim out and around a boat then back. Someone shouts go and we're off. No idea why but I hauled on the swim. I was passing people left and right and got out in the top 50% (my unofficial glances back to the water). I'm figuring it's partly because my swimming is better but also because this race caters to people who are slower, scared of swimming etc. Needless to say I came out of the water in 4.37 (I think the course was a little short).

Tried not to run to transition but I did jog a little, transitioned quickly and I was off on the bike after about 2min.

The bike ride was great, it was mostly flat except for a few small rollers. It was out and back so you could see who was coming back (the winner passed me at like mile 3 going the other direction) but the road quality wasn't that great :( Oh well. My knee strategy was Tylenol when I woke up and then 1 Tylenol but before I got off the bike. This worked great. As I rounded the turn into the park I popped a Tylenol and got ready for T2. Bike time was 55min, Avg speed 14.8mph and total distance on my bike computer was 13.69m

T2 was uneventful expect I had to vaseline my feet to prevent blisters which is weird cause usually 3 miles is no big deal on that front. Anyway took off after 2 min in T2 with my hat and race #.

At this point it's starting to get hot and I'm wishing I'd rememberes sunscreen. Walked as best as I could and it KILLED me not to run. I feel like I could run, my legs weren't tired or anything and my HR was fine. Fast walked which sort of depending on bounce looks like a slow jog. Just kept moving forward and before you know it there's the 1 mile mark and an aid station. 1st mile 15.14 - WOO HOO!!! Got some water, at this point there are still 1/2 dozen people behind me so I keep wogging (that's this weird jog walk thing I made up). 2nd mile 17.26, and at this point I know I'm going to make it, even under 2 hours and I feel great. I wogged it in with a very nice lady doing a relay and I will admin I jogged to the finish (slowly but yes I did jog) :) Final mile in 16:22

Crossed the finish line in 1:52.47 - WOO HOO!!! Got some water and a banana and waited for the final finishers to come in and then we got awards and everyone got medals. Packed up my gear and I was off to Danskin :)

This is a really good low-key, fairly organized beginners race. I had a blast! I know I can complete a sprint again comfortably which makes me happy :) I'll be back there a time or 2 before the season ends.

No knee pain after just the regular stiffness.

Train Hard, Race Fast, Be Safe!
Bonnie