Seafair Tri '05 & '06 and Kids Tri

Seafair Sprint Triathlons
(Photo: KB & Darcy post-race)>

July 15, 2005

3rd in AG (45-49)

Swim: 17:18

T1: 1:43

Bike: 38:03

T2: 1:16

Run: 24:28 (7:52 pace)

Total: 1:22:49

July 16, 2006

2nd in AG (45-49)

Swim: 14:27

T1: 1:30

Bike: 37:33

T2: 1:10

Run: 24:04 (7:45 pace)

Total: 1:18:44

The Seafair tri is a popular mid-summer race in Seattle. The swim is a triangle course in Andrews Bay at Seward Park, the bike ride takes you along Lake Washington Blvd. and onto the express lanes of I-90 for an out-and-back ride. The run goes around Seward Park mostly along the lakeshore, except for about 1/3 mile "tour" of the "upper park" (i.e.; there's wicked steep hill 2 miles into the run). I've done this race yearly since '04.

In 2005 when she was 9, Camille and a couple pals did the "Kids Triathlon". The kids pretty much run through chest-deep water for about 50 yards for the "swim", then ride a level mile and run something like 1/2 mile.

Here is Camille getting mentally focused and centered before her swim send-off. Note the concentration as she visualizes herself slicing through the water, maybe silently chanting "I am sleek, fast and strong. I am a seal. I will move through the water like a torpedo." Probably she is scoping out the course and considering whether to swim a direct line or go wide around the buoys. OH WAIT! Her skin is wet... She is actually in T1 and finished with the swim! And not exactly in an "action pose", she looks like she's chatting....or loafing! Clearly, this is someone else's child, not mine.

Check out the girl in pink (click to enlarge) . Maybe Camille passed her on the run and she is making a mental note of who she is (probably checking a race number and age marked on the backs her calves) and will later go home and look up her results, then Google her past races and try and take her down next time they meet in competition. Or maybe she just wonders where she got that soda pop.

Camille with friends and grandma.

Seafair Triathlon '04 (My first!)

7/19/04

Placed 3rd in Age Group (45-49)
Swim 14:17
T1 2:11
Bike 38:41
T2 1:10
Run 25:59
Total: 1:22:19

This was a “warm up” race I did just to get some experience under my belt before the Danskin the following month; something to see what a tri was like without the pressure or expectation of striving for some goal. Well, I did have a goal of doing well in the swim since I expected that to be my strongest leg of the race. But I wasn’t really prepared for the chaos of a crowded swim start and wondered just what I had got myself into. But I shook it off and finished the race with a nice surprise: placing in my age group! Sandy L. was on the podium taking 2nd in AG and I could tell she was wondering just who the hell this newcomer was. She later became one of my main rivals and a triathlon buddy and we enjoy an email and race-day friendship.

I have no picture from Seafair '04, but thought I'd insert something not triathlon related so as to attempt to portray a somewhat balanced life. The photo is from Mothers Day '05; that's my girl Camille, me and my mom (and a CAKE!).

The following is an excerpt from an email to Mary Meyer in July '04. Mary offers local triathlon/open water clinics & workouts here in Seattle and I had attended several in preparation for racing. I picked up a lot of valuable information to carry into my first race:

A quick "Thanks!" for the tips and training you offer in your clinics. I did my first triathlon yesterday (Seafair) and I felt confident and organized through the transitions (never mind the gasping for air or the jelly legs). I saw so many people struggling and running through the end of the swim in waist-deep water. Swimming/crawling in to shin-deep was a breeze!

I exceeded my goal and even my wildest hopes by placing 3rd in my division (45-49 females). Holy cow! There's always more to do to pick up speed and lessen the feeling of falling apart with fatigue (oh, and I did experience a few moments of near-panic in the start of the swim - kind of overwhelming, but I remembered you saying "rope it in" and the feeling passed).

I'm very happy about this first triathlon experience. Thanks again for helping with the training.