I am recruiting volunteers for the Trek Women's Triathlon the weekend of September 17 and 18. For every volunteer I can find to help out, a donation of $10 will be made to my fundraising efforts for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) as I train for the Nike Women's Marathon on October 16th. This would be a great opportunity to see how a tri works, before committing to doing one yourself. The energy is amazing, it will be easy to see why they are so addicting!!
http://www.trektriseattle.com/
On this link you will see the volunteer page, with tabs that detail the positions that are needed to be filled, along with the related time commitment. When you register, please list my name in the box that asks if you're volunteering with a friend so LLS will benefit from your time!
Please let me know if you have any questions, and thanks again for your help!
Go TEAM!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
We Did It! The Success Story of the 2011 Valley Girl Triathlon
As seen on active.com today: "Find your limits and exceed them." - Lynn Strickland
Another Valley Girl tri is in the books; it was all ages, all sizes, all athletic abilities, all women. This was the third time for me and the first for many of my friends, to include two that had never done a triathlon at all before. For me, it was easier in some ways and just as challenging in others, and my overall time was 10 minutes faster than last year. This is partially attributable to a shorter swim distance (1/4 vs. 1/3 mile) since the water temperature was much colder than usual, and I shortened my bike time despite going back to my mountain bike over last year's borrowed one. (I haven't yet made the leap to my own road bike but will soon!) The run, which most would assume to be my strongest portion, was more than 3 minutes slower than last year and 14 minutes slower than a slightly longer distance race I completed less than a week ago.
I cannot put into words the feeling of rushing the finish line at a triathlon. These are so much harder than the strictly running races I've come to love; they challenge the limits of what I think I am capable of.
Despite my pool and open water training this year, I still struggled greatly with the swim. While I waited quietly, almost anxiously, for the countdown for my age group, I splashed some water in my goggles and put them on. Then the announcer's voice shouted out: "5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 GO!" The panic didn't set in on the shore this time, but thoroughly enveloped me within a few seconds as the first weeds tangled around my legs coupled with the shock of the cool temperature as I ran deeper into the water. I tried to catch my breath and calm my breathing, but I gasped quickly with shallow breaths. The good swimming form I had practiced was forgotten as I tried to incorporate arm strokes without putting my face in the water. As this was a terrible version of the front crawl that under ideal conditions would allow for fast and fluid movement, I barely inched forward. Side stroke, back stroke, it felt like I was barely moving. There were 14 kayaks in the water this year (Laurie counted!) and I at least passed up the first one before asking for a break to catch my breath and regroup my wits. After a few moments I moved on, slowly and awkwardly pushing forward, accidentally taking in water and coughing, feeling the pull of the water on my timing chip strap. Then the next wave of swimmers, the neon green caps that most of my friends were in, started and most of them passed me by as well. I thought of how fitting the word "wave" is when describing how the groups enter the water, as I felt like they were washing over me. I stopped again and again at different kayaks, catching my breath for a few moments and surveying the distance in front of me. After awhile my "swimming" form melted into a sad jellyfish-like movement, but I kept pushing on. Yet another wave of swimmers, this time the blue caps of the women who were up to 10 years older than me, rushed in and passed me by. My arms were shot and my lungs on fire but I could make out the shore and mentally picture myself reaching it. It was a long straight shot back to solid ground. More weeds were encountered, and I kept reaching down, desperate to feel the bottom under my feet. AFter what felt like an eternity they finally touched. I bounced like a kangaroo up out of the water, hands clasped in triumph. I made it through the first part! Now on to the transition.
My breath was still coming in short, quick gasps as I stumbled toward the storage racks. My bike was very easy to spot; it was one of very few that were left in the two age groups that were next to each other. I clumsily wiped some of the dirt off my feet and pulled on my socks and shoes, threw on my tank top and Camelback (there's no water bottle holder on my bike), and fastened my helmet. I was working on my gloves as I pushed the bike towards the starting point when I saw Stephanie watching for me. It recharged me to see a friendly face cheering me on! I jumped on the bike and immediately began to push hard; it starts on a hill. Within a split second I saw Kim and Bill waiting for me and cheering me on, double bonus! My trademark smile was on and I was ready to go. The hill stretches for quite some distance, and it was initially crowded with lots of fans who were cheering the racers on. I focused to control my breathing, which wasn't as out of control as it had been in prior races. As I looked ahead I almost didn't see Jeff, my former boss who was there to support his wife Elisia, until he called out to ask if it was me. I smiled and waved and we exchanged air fist-pumps, and I was ready to throw it in full gear and ride hard. Riding the bike is a combination of soothing and exhilarating; feeling the wind rush by as you go down a hill makes you feel so fast and weightless, while pushing and prodding up a steep hill demands so much energy but is so rewarding when you glance back and see how far you've come.
It was during the bike ride that I started thinking about limits; the limits of my abilities, both imposed by myself and by others. What I think I can do, and how I keep reaching boundaries and stretching them further. This is the meaning of growth, the ability to keep pushing and moving ahead. I never thought I could do this, but I did it! And as I looked out at the women around me, younger, older, fitter or not so much, I knew that they were out there for the same reason: to prove to themselves that they can do it too.
I saw all of my friends at some point on the bike ride, and we cheered each other on. I saw a lady wearing a TNT jersey and called out the customary "Go TEAM!" though she didn't know what to think because I wasn't wearing my customary shirt. As I pulled out onto the long final stretch back towards the lake, there was Stephanie waiting for me. I quickly saw that I had enough room to get over to the side and I slowed down enough so we could do a high-five; the bike portion was almost done. I won't deny that seeing the women crossing the finish line when I wasn't done with the bike portion was a little disheartening, but this just means I have room to improve. Better training in the water, a lighter bike with consistent training, I have a lot of ways to work to better my performance. Since the course started uphill, the downhill ending was fast and sweet. A shout out to Kim and Bill, a quick dismount, and I was ready to put the bike back on the rack and start running.
As the run is my strong area, I had high expectations for the last piece of the challenge, especially as I have consistently gotten faster over the last few months due to an improved and consistent training routine. But that didn't translate well to the last leg of a triathlon. There is a training technique called a brick; this is where you do a short run after a bike training ride to acclimate your body to the sensation of transferring between the two sports. I immediately wished I had tried it, even once. My feet shuffled forward, no more than a few inches apart it seemed. I was anxious to go but my legs felt like they were made of stone. It was almost as if I was hobbling, but I kept just pushing forward. We followed the road and turned onto a little path, and as we crossed a street there was somebody's cheerleader, complete with a boombox and a misting spray bottle. She started the song "Push It" by Salt-N-Pepa (you know I still have the cd at home!) and I couldn't resist doing a half body groove to the music; the legs weren't up for any other direction than forward. The miles stretched forever while my stride would not. Past the 2 mile marker, as I made my way up through the residential area back towards the park and the finish area, there was Stephanie again waiting to cheer me on. Her words of encouragement refueled me as I mentally pictured the last portion of the race. The run ends in Pavilion Park; there's a path that stretches along the edge and then winds south, curving enough that you can't quite see where the finish line is. You must trust your instincts, dig deep and ignore the pain, push hard, and put everything you've got into finding the end; it's there, you just have to believe. I slowly picked up my pace, ready to leave the rest of my energy on the trail, and continued ahead. Finally there it was: a strip of white tent poking behind the trees, signaling that the mat was so close. I broke into a sprint, charged past the woman next to me, and raised my hands victoriously through the chute. Another finish line, another accomplishment, another victory. No matter how much time it took, I had completed another triathlon. What a rush.
Despite a few setbacks, my friends were victorious as well, and the looks of pride and satisfaction were mirrored on the faces of all the ladies around us in the finish area. In a few short hours we had completed a challenging event, many for the first time. In doing so, we strengthened our sense of self and stretched the perceived limits we have on our bodies and minds. We've already started discussing doing the event again next year, and more events in the meantime!
Another Valley Girl tri is in the books; it was all ages, all sizes, all athletic abilities, all women. This was the third time for me and the first for many of my friends, to include two that had never done a triathlon at all before. For me, it was easier in some ways and just as challenging in others, and my overall time was 10 minutes faster than last year. This is partially attributable to a shorter swim distance (1/4 vs. 1/3 mile) since the water temperature was much colder than usual, and I shortened my bike time despite going back to my mountain bike over last year's borrowed one. (I haven't yet made the leap to my own road bike but will soon!) The run, which most would assume to be my strongest portion, was more than 3 minutes slower than last year and 14 minutes slower than a slightly longer distance race I completed less than a week ago.
I cannot put into words the feeling of rushing the finish line at a triathlon. These are so much harder than the strictly running races I've come to love; they challenge the limits of what I think I am capable of.
Despite my pool and open water training this year, I still struggled greatly with the swim. While I waited quietly, almost anxiously, for the countdown for my age group, I splashed some water in my goggles and put them on. Then the announcer's voice shouted out: "5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 GO!" The panic didn't set in on the shore this time, but thoroughly enveloped me within a few seconds as the first weeds tangled around my legs coupled with the shock of the cool temperature as I ran deeper into the water. I tried to catch my breath and calm my breathing, but I gasped quickly with shallow breaths. The good swimming form I had practiced was forgotten as I tried to incorporate arm strokes without putting my face in the water. As this was a terrible version of the front crawl that under ideal conditions would allow for fast and fluid movement, I barely inched forward. Side stroke, back stroke, it felt like I was barely moving. There were 14 kayaks in the water this year (Laurie counted!) and I at least passed up the first one before asking for a break to catch my breath and regroup my wits. After a few moments I moved on, slowly and awkwardly pushing forward, accidentally taking in water and coughing, feeling the pull of the water on my timing chip strap. Then the next wave of swimmers, the neon green caps that most of my friends were in, started and most of them passed me by as well. I thought of how fitting the word "wave" is when describing how the groups enter the water, as I felt like they were washing over me. I stopped again and again at different kayaks, catching my breath for a few moments and surveying the distance in front of me. After awhile my "swimming" form melted into a sad jellyfish-like movement, but I kept pushing on. Yet another wave of swimmers, this time the blue caps of the women who were up to 10 years older than me, rushed in and passed me by. My arms were shot and my lungs on fire but I could make out the shore and mentally picture myself reaching it. It was a long straight shot back to solid ground. More weeds were encountered, and I kept reaching down, desperate to feel the bottom under my feet. AFter what felt like an eternity they finally touched. I bounced like a kangaroo up out of the water, hands clasped in triumph. I made it through the first part! Now on to the transition.
My breath was still coming in short, quick gasps as I stumbled toward the storage racks. My bike was very easy to spot; it was one of very few that were left in the two age groups that were next to each other. I clumsily wiped some of the dirt off my feet and pulled on my socks and shoes, threw on my tank top and Camelback (there's no water bottle holder on my bike), and fastened my helmet. I was working on my gloves as I pushed the bike towards the starting point when I saw Stephanie watching for me. It recharged me to see a friendly face cheering me on! I jumped on the bike and immediately began to push hard; it starts on a hill. Within a split second I saw Kim and Bill waiting for me and cheering me on, double bonus! My trademark smile was on and I was ready to go. The hill stretches for quite some distance, and it was initially crowded with lots of fans who were cheering the racers on. I focused to control my breathing, which wasn't as out of control as it had been in prior races. As I looked ahead I almost didn't see Jeff, my former boss who was there to support his wife Elisia, until he called out to ask if it was me. I smiled and waved and we exchanged air fist-pumps, and I was ready to throw it in full gear and ride hard. Riding the bike is a combination of soothing and exhilarating; feeling the wind rush by as you go down a hill makes you feel so fast and weightless, while pushing and prodding up a steep hill demands so much energy but is so rewarding when you glance back and see how far you've come.
It was during the bike ride that I started thinking about limits; the limits of my abilities, both imposed by myself and by others. What I think I can do, and how I keep reaching boundaries and stretching them further. This is the meaning of growth, the ability to keep pushing and moving ahead. I never thought I could do this, but I did it! And as I looked out at the women around me, younger, older, fitter or not so much, I knew that they were out there for the same reason: to prove to themselves that they can do it too.
I saw all of my friends at some point on the bike ride, and we cheered each other on. I saw a lady wearing a TNT jersey and called out the customary "Go TEAM!" though she didn't know what to think because I wasn't wearing my customary shirt. As I pulled out onto the long final stretch back towards the lake, there was Stephanie waiting for me. I quickly saw that I had enough room to get over to the side and I slowed down enough so we could do a high-five; the bike portion was almost done. I won't deny that seeing the women crossing the finish line when I wasn't done with the bike portion was a little disheartening, but this just means I have room to improve. Better training in the water, a lighter bike with consistent training, I have a lot of ways to work to better my performance. Since the course started uphill, the downhill ending was fast and sweet. A shout out to Kim and Bill, a quick dismount, and I was ready to put the bike back on the rack and start running.
As the run is my strong area, I had high expectations for the last piece of the challenge, especially as I have consistently gotten faster over the last few months due to an improved and consistent training routine. But that didn't translate well to the last leg of a triathlon. There is a training technique called a brick; this is where you do a short run after a bike training ride to acclimate your body to the sensation of transferring between the two sports. I immediately wished I had tried it, even once. My feet shuffled forward, no more than a few inches apart it seemed. I was anxious to go but my legs felt like they were made of stone. It was almost as if I was hobbling, but I kept just pushing forward. We followed the road and turned onto a little path, and as we crossed a street there was somebody's cheerleader, complete with a boombox and a misting spray bottle. She started the song "Push It" by Salt-N-Pepa (you know I still have the cd at home!) and I couldn't resist doing a half body groove to the music; the legs weren't up for any other direction than forward. The miles stretched forever while my stride would not. Past the 2 mile marker, as I made my way up through the residential area back towards the park and the finish area, there was Stephanie again waiting to cheer me on. Her words of encouragement refueled me as I mentally pictured the last portion of the race. The run ends in Pavilion Park; there's a path that stretches along the edge and then winds south, curving enough that you can't quite see where the finish line is. You must trust your instincts, dig deep and ignore the pain, push hard, and put everything you've got into finding the end; it's there, you just have to believe. I slowly picked up my pace, ready to leave the rest of my energy on the trail, and continued ahead. Finally there it was: a strip of white tent poking behind the trees, signaling that the mat was so close. I broke into a sprint, charged past the woman next to me, and raised my hands victoriously through the chute. Another finish line, another accomplishment, another victory. No matter how much time it took, I had completed another triathlon. What a rush.
Despite a few setbacks, my friends were victorious as well, and the looks of pride and satisfaction were mirrored on the faces of all the ladies around us in the finish area. In a few short hours we had completed a challenging event, many for the first time. In doing so, we strengthened our sense of self and stretched the perceived limits we have on our bodies and minds. We've already started discussing doing the event again next year, and more events in the meantime!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
What's the order of events? What's a transition? and other questions answered
There are a million questions for any new activity, and a triathlon is no exception. For my first event, I would have been completely lost except for my take-charge friend Gretchen who led us through the maze of the transition area to get our gear set up. Of course the first thing I discovered is that not only are the racks (where the bikes and gear are stored) organized by the designated age groups, all participants have their age written on their calf. I'm not certain if this is supposed to be for administrative or motivational purposes, and perhaps it is intended to be both. However, having a bike whiz right by you with its rider's age that starts with a 6 is actually more depressing than inspiring.
Everyone is here for different reasons, and the participants cover all ages and sizes and athletic abilities. For many of them, this is their first time here as well. I know for me that I didn't know what I had signed up for when I agreed to do a tri. The idea sounded simple enough: swim, bike, run. I love to run, riding a bike seems easy enough, and I know how to swim at least well enough to not drown; how hard can this be? That answer is unique to everyone, but the event itself is the same:
The swim is first. Our Valley Girl event's distance is 1/3 of a mile. This doesn't sound far, but will look and feel like forever. They will usually announce that morning whether wetsuits are allowed or not depending on the water temperature, and everyone will be lined up in waves by their age group (which is designated by cap color). When it's time for your wave to start everyone runs into the water and starts swimming. Things to consider:
1. This is a lake and therefore the water is not nice and clear like the pool most people train in
2. There are plants and such growing in the bottom, which can be unnerving at first
3. The water will be undoubtedly colder than anticipated
4. You will be fighting around the other swimmers who are all trying to move in the same direction
5. There are really nice people in kayaks along the perimeter of the swim; if you find yourself struggling you can swim over to one of them and hang onto the side to catch your breath
6. After you take a quick break and get back to swimming, the next wave of swimmers will come up on top of you
So just relax, try to control your breathing, and keep pushing ahead. It will be over soon.
Next is the bike; we will be going 12 miles. After you drag yourself out of the water, make your way back to where your gear is at on your rack; the faster the better, since the clock doesn't stop running. This is where some people may have buckets of water to rinse the dirt off their feet, or you could wipe them on the towel you've got on the ground. Throw on your clothes, shoes, helmet, etc. and push the bike to the starting point - important thing to note is NOT to ride the bike in the transition area. The bike portion starts at the lower portion of the hill near the porta-potties and you will start by going uphill towards the north. There will be plenty of people ahead of you as well as volunteers to direct you where to go. There is a map of the bike course on the website if you want to look at it ahead of time; it has a few big hills but for the most part is fairly level. Besides the volunteers, there will be plenty of spectators to cheer everyone on. At the end of the bike ride, dismount at the starting point and push the bike back to your area on the rack. Oh, and be forewarned that since you're going downhill to the end not to go too fast (I fell over one year when I ground to a stop!)
Finally, the run - 3 miles. This starts in the opposite direction of the bike ride and will wind through Liberty Lake and around the golf course. There will be at least one if not two water stops along the way. The run winds back along the residential area and picks up on the path in the park - there will be a big area with the race clock and lots of people cheering you on at the finish line!
So the rules are:
1. Don't quit. Slow down or walk if you must, but just don't quit. We will be waiting for you at the finish line.
2. Smile as much as you can - there will be photographers, but it will also help you on the course (I promise!)
3. Enjoy yourself! This is quite an accomplishment. It's going to be tough; not everyone will try this and you will be a rockstar for taking on such a challenging activity.
I'm looking forward to doing this with all of you!
Everyone is here for different reasons, and the participants cover all ages and sizes and athletic abilities. For many of them, this is their first time here as well. I know for me that I didn't know what I had signed up for when I agreed to do a tri. The idea sounded simple enough: swim, bike, run. I love to run, riding a bike seems easy enough, and I know how to swim at least well enough to not drown; how hard can this be? That answer is unique to everyone, but the event itself is the same:
The swim is first. Our Valley Girl event's distance is 1/3 of a mile. This doesn't sound far, but will look and feel like forever. They will usually announce that morning whether wetsuits are allowed or not depending on the water temperature, and everyone will be lined up in waves by their age group (which is designated by cap color). When it's time for your wave to start everyone runs into the water and starts swimming. Things to consider:
1. This is a lake and therefore the water is not nice and clear like the pool most people train in
2. There are plants and such growing in the bottom, which can be unnerving at first
3. The water will be undoubtedly colder than anticipated
4. You will be fighting around the other swimmers who are all trying to move in the same direction
5. There are really nice people in kayaks along the perimeter of the swim; if you find yourself struggling you can swim over to one of them and hang onto the side to catch your breath
6. After you take a quick break and get back to swimming, the next wave of swimmers will come up on top of you
So just relax, try to control your breathing, and keep pushing ahead. It will be over soon.
Next is the bike; we will be going 12 miles. After you drag yourself out of the water, make your way back to where your gear is at on your rack; the faster the better, since the clock doesn't stop running. This is where some people may have buckets of water to rinse the dirt off their feet, or you could wipe them on the towel you've got on the ground. Throw on your clothes, shoes, helmet, etc. and push the bike to the starting point - important thing to note is NOT to ride the bike in the transition area. The bike portion starts at the lower portion of the hill near the porta-potties and you will start by going uphill towards the north. There will be plenty of people ahead of you as well as volunteers to direct you where to go. There is a map of the bike course on the website if you want to look at it ahead of time; it has a few big hills but for the most part is fairly level. Besides the volunteers, there will be plenty of spectators to cheer everyone on. At the end of the bike ride, dismount at the starting point and push the bike back to your area on the rack. Oh, and be forewarned that since you're going downhill to the end not to go too fast (I fell over one year when I ground to a stop!)
Finally, the run - 3 miles. This starts in the opposite direction of the bike ride and will wind through Liberty Lake and around the golf course. There will be at least one if not two water stops along the way. The run winds back along the residential area and picks up on the path in the park - there will be a big area with the race clock and lots of people cheering you on at the finish line!
So the rules are:
1. Don't quit. Slow down or walk if you must, but just don't quit. We will be waiting for you at the finish line.
2. Smile as much as you can - there will be photographers, but it will also help you on the course (I promise!)
3. Enjoy yourself! This is quite an accomplishment. It's going to be tough; not everyone will try this and you will be a rockstar for taking on such a challenging activity.
I'm looking forward to doing this with all of you!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
What do I bring to my first triathlon?
Sprint Triathlon Race Checklist - tailored for the first time Valley Girls
Wetsuits - these have historically been prohibited at Valley Girl as the water temperature was too warm. I know the weather's been off this year, so it's hard to say, but I personally will not be wearing a wetsuit and would not encourage anyone to spend the money to rent one. I'm going to wear my bike shorts over my swimsuit, worked just fine last year.
Energy gels/snacks - hopefully you have been training with these, or something that helps your body replenish from all of the activity. NEVER TRY ANYTHING NEW ON RACE DAY!! (I especially don't recommend any of the electrolyte goodies that come in your swag bag due to a firsthand bad experience.) Some common ones are GU packets, shot blocks, sport bean/Jelly Bellys, etc. There will be a water stop or two on the course but only for the run portion, and your body will need some fuel before then. Even Gatorade or an easy-to-chew (translation: digest) granola bar will help give your body something to burn; I prefer Nutri-grain bars.
Bike parts - bring what you have, but most of the people on our course don't have a whole kit lined up. There will be a tent to have your bike checked beforehand (another reason to ensure we get there early!) and there will be some help available on the course if you have an emergency. Certainly bring an extra tube if you have one just in case, but don't feel that you need to buy a whole toolkit just for this event!
I'll warn you now - you'll get overwhelmed looking at all of the people who are super hard-core, they'll have buckets to put water in to clean off their feet, and they'll have all their gear laid out in such a way that they can throw it on as quick as possible during the transition between the events; they'll also take as much room as they can get on the racks (did I mention we should get there early?) For those of us that are there for our first time, let's just keep it simple, play it smart, and have fun!
Oh, and I see something important is missing on this list - a smile! There will be photographers out there, as well as plenty of fans to cheer everybody on. Let's have a great time Valley Girls!
Swim:
Swim suit or tri shorts
Wetsuit - Emmie's note: see discussion below on wetsuits
Goggles
Swim Cap - Emmie's note: this will be provided at packet pick-up!
Lubricant or anti-chafe
Towel - Emmie's note: I recommend bringing one for your body and one for the ground
Ear Plugs
Bike:
Bike
Helmet - Emmie's note: HELMETS ARE REQUIRED!!!!
Bike shorts or tri shorts
Bike Shoes - Emmie's note: for this first event, the same shoes for running is just fine, no need to invest in these if you don't have them
Sunglasses
Water bottles w/energy replacement fluids
Energy gel or snacks- Emmie's note: see discussion below on energy gels/snacks
Biking gloves
Sunglasses
Spare Tube, CO2, Tire Levers - Emmie's note: see discussion below on bike parts
Run:
Race shoes with elastic or quick laces
Cap or Visor
Lubricant for feet
Race number on race belt
Energy gel or snack
Other:
Warm clothes or Rain clothes[List obtained from: http://www.onetri.com/static_html/Sprint_Triathlon_Checklist.html]
Sunscreen
Bag
Extra Energy gels and snacks
Sandals
Change of clothes for post race
Wetsuits - these have historically been prohibited at Valley Girl as the water temperature was too warm. I know the weather's been off this year, so it's hard to say, but I personally will not be wearing a wetsuit and would not encourage anyone to spend the money to rent one. I'm going to wear my bike shorts over my swimsuit, worked just fine last year.
Energy gels/snacks - hopefully you have been training with these, or something that helps your body replenish from all of the activity. NEVER TRY ANYTHING NEW ON RACE DAY!! (I especially don't recommend any of the electrolyte goodies that come in your swag bag due to a firsthand bad experience.) Some common ones are GU packets, shot blocks, sport bean/Jelly Bellys, etc. There will be a water stop or two on the course but only for the run portion, and your body will need some fuel before then. Even Gatorade or an easy-to-chew (translation: digest) granola bar will help give your body something to burn; I prefer Nutri-grain bars.
Bike parts - bring what you have, but most of the people on our course don't have a whole kit lined up. There will be a tent to have your bike checked beforehand (another reason to ensure we get there early!) and there will be some help available on the course if you have an emergency. Certainly bring an extra tube if you have one just in case, but don't feel that you need to buy a whole toolkit just for this event!
I'll warn you now - you'll get overwhelmed looking at all of the people who are super hard-core, they'll have buckets to put water in to clean off their feet, and they'll have all their gear laid out in such a way that they can throw it on as quick as possible during the transition between the events; they'll also take as much room as they can get on the racks (did I mention we should get there early?) For those of us that are there for our first time, let's just keep it simple, play it smart, and have fun!
Oh, and I see something important is missing on this list - a smile! There will be photographers out there, as well as plenty of fans to cheer everybody on. Let's have a great time Valley Girls!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
I'm a Valley Girl!
That's the name of the tri I'm doing in July. I've rounded up a group of ladies to join me, some of which will be participating for their first time, so it should be a lot of fun.
For starters, here's the link to the event website: http://valleygirltri.com/
1/3 mile swim 12.0 mile bike 3 mile run
For starters, here's the link to the event website: http://valleygirltri.com/
2011 DATE: Sunday, July 10th
Liberty Lake, WA
Race Start Time - 7:45 am
Women’s Only Sprint Distance Triathlon
1/3 mile swim 12.0 mile bike 3 mile runFor those who haven't done this before, there will be a packet pick-up the day before in Liberty Lake (generally at the PepperTree Best Western). I haven't received an email with last minute details yet, but expect to receive it soon. There we will receive our number to put on our bicycle as well as for the run, our swim cap (each age group will have their own color), t-shirt, and a few freebies/advertisements.
One of the biggest questions often has to do with wetsuits. The two times I've done this race before, they made a determination that morning and did not allow wetsuits to be worn; as this year has been colder that might change, but I probably won't have mine. For me, wearing one will not save me enough time in the water to compensate for how long it will take me to get it off when I'm out, especially with as spent as I usually am when I get out of the water!
I will put together a packing list (Girl Scouts is already rubbing off on me!) and get that listed as well. Feel free to ask questions - anything at all! - and I will try to address as many of your concerns as I can. Remember ladies, rule #1 is to have fun and be proud that we are willing to "tri" this!
Just "tri" it!
Triathlon: –noun
An athletic contest comprising three consecutive events, usually swimming, bicycling, and distance running.
These can vary in distance, from sprint (where I'm currently at) all the way to Ironman (never say never). Each portion (swim, bike, ride) varies depending on the type of race and its location. To date I've done a handful of events, and will continue to "tri" to improve upon my performance and enjoy the rush of the finish line.
At this time I am no longer working with a coach, so all of my information is either from personal experience or gathered along the way. Feel free to add your input as well!
-Emmie
An athletic contest comprising three consecutive events, usually swimming, bicycling, and distance running.
These can vary in distance, from sprint (where I'm currently at) all the way to Ironman (never say never). Each portion (swim, bike, ride) varies depending on the type of race and its location. To date I've done a handful of events, and will continue to "tri" to improve upon my performance and enjoy the rush of the finish line.
At this time I am no longer working with a coach, so all of my information is either from personal experience or gathered along the way. Feel free to add your input as well!
-Emmie
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