I am Auggie’s Dad

Issaquah Sprint Tri is in the books.

The 2009 Issaquah Sprint Tri Race Report as seen by me.

As all good races start with Packet Pickup, I’ll begin here. PP opened at 2pm Friday afternoon, I arrived at 2:10 to a line out the door and around the corner. (really? Don’t you people work?)

Once inside the door I knew that this was a well organized event, although the room that it was held is was much too small.
I quickly received my packet, got in line for my T-Shirt, and then made my way to body marking. When in line for body marking I took a minute to look around and see why so many people where crammed in this little tiny room. Most people were there to pick up their packets for the 10K and 5K, very few in line for the Tri. Maybe triathletes like to wait until morning of or triathletes work so they’ll pick up their packets later? Anyway, to my surprise, I was in and out in no time.

Back home and checking my list twice. I knew I had the key “essentials” (sunscreen, body glide, ear plugs, etc) in one place. I always keep them in 1 mesh bag in my closet. Grabbed that bag, my run shoes, bike shoes, helmet and other things and dropped them in my transition bag.
Looded the Bento Box on my bike with chapstick, (turned out to be a key decision) and a couple of Gu’s. (More is good I believe).
Bags packed, bikes ready, truck is packed and it’s 3:30 pm the day before race day. (ya, thats the type A in me).
Nothing new or unusual the night before. Actually got to bed at a decent hour with a clear, fresh mind. No butterflies.
Set the alarm for 4:45, for a departure time of 5am, and of course I woke up at 4:40. My breakfast/vitamins and water were all waiting for me. Kiss to the bride and son and let them stay in dream land, and I’m off.

I like to get to the race as early as I can and still at a sane hour. By getting there early your ability to get the best parking is maximized. Found great parking and lugged my goods to the transition area. This is when I realized how many people were going to be racing. This is a HUGE transition area. Found my rack, and to my surprise it was empty. Yet another good reason to get to the race site as early as possible. Premium “parking” in your rack as well. Set my bike in the first slot and mapped out my towel. I was “ready to go”.

Went out for a little walk around the race site to familiarize myself with where the in’s/out’s were and where my transition area was. Then I ran into my friend Joel at PP and we chatted briefly.
Mitch arrived shortly there after and I passed him my camera. At that moment he became my “sherpa/photographer” and for that I am grateful! He was an awesome sherpa.

As with any race, the line for the bathroom is always the longest, so I decided to dawn my wetsuit and test the waters.
Water was actually quite nice! I was very surprised. Mandatory meeting lakeside at 6:45 and I was ready to go. All of a sudden there was a hush that came over the crowd as we watched a Bald Eagle drop down out from his perch in the tall timber right at the start line, and swoop down to pick up “breakfast”. Right then, I knew this was going to be a good day. Weather was warm, sun was out, eagle’s were flying. Man, life’s good!

First wave of guys went off 5 minutes late, (no big deal really, I was quite surprised that they were so close to starting on time). 2nd wave in the water and its my turn to load in the shoot.

Male aged 35 - 39 in the shoot. I hear the guy holding us in the shoot say “you’re the largest wave. 120 guys”. Oh, great! We get in the water and I decide to line up where I feel most comfortable. Outside about 2 or 3 deep. Still no butterflies.

And the horn blows…We’re off!

I was taught by one of my very dear friends to place yourself in a “bubble” of sorts and imagine swimming by yourself. Well, with 120 guys in my AG, that was pretty hard to do, but by the first turn I found myself in my bubble. Still very much on the outside. Round the first bouy, down the long straight away and spot the final turn bouy. Still, very much on the outside. Make the final turn and out of the water I go.

Swim time: 6:38 - turned out to be a 1:30/100. (I didn’t think I had this in me).

spotted Mitch on the way out and called to him, “did I really just do a 6:30 swim?”
“YUP!”

Ok! T1. had my wetsuit down to my waiste, googles and swim cap off before I exited the water. Run up to T1 and well, this is were I need lots of work!

Had problems getting my wetsuit off, and decided to sit to peel it off. Yes, I know, I’ll be practicing this more very soon. But, not bad since this was actually the 2nd time I had my wetsuit on all year.

T1 was very slow! But, I’m completely fine with that. (3:19).

On to the Bike. 100 yards out on the bike course, still inside the park, there is a small speed bump. As I approached it, I realized I might have been going a little faster than I probably should have, and ejected my water bottle, my one and only water bottle. 15 miles without water when I needed it was gonna suck. Oh well.

The bike course starts out winding its way through some office area’s and has a lot of turns in the first mile or so, then after that, it’s pretty flat with a hill at mile 4 and 9. The bike course was shortened by about 200 yards due to road construction, but still made for 15 miles.

Got passed on the uphills, and passed back on the downhills. I think top speed on the downhill was 36 or so.

Overall a fun bike!

Bike time: 43:34 for a 20.66mph average, (really? wow! Didn’t know I had that in me either).

T2 - I again took my time as to catch my breathe. 1:52, (yes, I know this is a very long T2 as well, but I’m ok with it). I know why I took my time.

By this time I feel as though I’m not really ahead of a lot of people, but I’m not that far back either. Turns out, by T2 I’m 373 out of 929, however, this stat is sort of misleading as it was a wave start.

Off to the run. As I’m headed out on the run, my bib # breaks and is dangling by one corner from my race belt. Spot Mitch again and “stop” to chat with him for 2 seconds as I fix my bib and get some great words of encouragement.

Off to the run.

This is a cross country style run so lots of change in terrain, and pot holes and what not. Something I am certainly not used to running on.

Admittedly, running is my weakness.

Over the river and through the woods. We’re probably about 1/2 mile outside the finishing area when a guy passes me wearing his IM Canada jersey and he pats me on the back and says, “we’re almost home man! keep it up! You can do it!” I laugh to myself. I’m feeling really really good, legs are lose and I’m just running through the woods. But, like I said, running is my weakness, I’m just not speedy.

Coming into the finish area I hear a guy yell, “pass him Michelle, pass him!”. I could feel someone right behind so I held out my left hand to give the person, (Michelle) a high 5 and to say, “go get ‘em!” (again, I’m not speedy!)

Cross the finish, drop my chip, stop my clock, look at my watch, (huh! 1:25 and change! OK! I’ll take it!).

Admittedly, I am not nearly in the shape I was for my first tri last summer in Chelan. Heck, I haven’t even done a “real” brick yet this year in training, as I had been spending a lot of time mostly training for my 1/2 marathon earlier this month.

Going into it I had no specific time goal as I had never done this specific race before. I knew though that the swim was shorter, the bike was 3 miles longer and the run was cross country instead of on pavement, so I sort of figure my time would be in the neighborhood of 1:30. So, a time of 1:25 and change I’d be quite please with. And, I knew my transitions were slow, very slow. But, I’m ok with it.

And, the best part, was I made it to my son’s baseball game in time to watch the last 2 1/3 innings!

In a nutshell, very well organized race, lots of awesome volunteers, happy with my overall time, (transitions need lots of work), and this will be on my race calendar from here on out!

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