Issaquah Triathlon Race Report

Well, we did it!!! We completed the Issaquah Triathlon this Saturday! I'm so proud of us all! Here is my race report.

June 1, 2013 - Race Day!:  The day started before sunrise.  We woke up bright and early to hit the road by 5:15am.  Next stop, Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah.  I was surprised that so many people were already there when we arrived.  We found the transition station and set up our bikes and gear.

Transition Area with the lake in the background.

I was #1295. This was my transition area.

A little sleepy looking, but ready to go!

By the time we were all set up it was almost 6:45am and we had to make our way down to the waterfront for the mandatory pre-race meeting.  I had rented a wetsuit for the swim, so I suited up and we headed down to the water. Sorry, no pictures of that awesome outfit! Steve (Mr. Polar Bear) opted to go without the wetsuit. Bold move Mr. Johnson. The water temp registered at 59 degrees Saturday.

The race started in waves designated by age and gender.  I learned that I was in the 30-34 female wave (even though I am still in my 20s for 9 more days thank you very much!!! gah!).  The waves are approximately 20-50 people. You start in the water about thigh deep.  The first wave started at 7:00am.  There would be a few waves to go before my wave started at 7:12am, including the Men's 30-34, which Steve and our friend Colt started in right before me.  I gave Steve a big hug and a slap on the butt and sent him off to the start shoot.  He took off hard from the start and was leading the pack when I had to go get in line for the start of my wave. I lost sight of him after his group passed the first buoy, but it was time to focus on my start now. Here we go! 

The Women's 30-34 wave lined up and was in the water by 7:11am, with one minute to go.  Our wave was on the smaller side, so I took a position up front and to the outside.  The countdown started and before I knew it the bell rang and we were off!!!!  I went hard to start and I was actually out in front! Holy #$%^!! I'm really doing this!!! Then I hit the first buoy and my wind was gone.  I flipped over and backstroked enough to catch my breath, but I just couldn't get back into my groove after that. The lake was choppy and I couldn't get my head above the waves enough to get a deep breath doing a freestyle stroke, so I finished the rest of the swim with an all out backstroke (which I hadn't practiced at all!). I was discouraged and thought for sure I'd blown it. I'm pretty sure the race marshalls in the kayaks out there might have heard a few expletives as my little frustrated head bobbed along the remaining 300 yards or so. Ah well. By the time I was (finally!!) getting out of the water the Men's 35-39 wave that had started behind me was clicking at my heals.

I ran the 100 yards or so from the water to the transition station and started getting out of my wetsuit and into my bike clothes. This was transition #1.  I had worn bike pants under my wetsuit, so I just had to peel off the wetsuit, get my shoes and socks on, slip on my race shirt and snap on my helmet.  Easier said than done when you are soaking wet and panting like a dog.

I pulled myself together and wheeled myself out of the transition area.  I mounted the bike and off I went.  The bike ride was tough.  I felt like I had "on your left" written on my back as I kept hearing it yelled out behind me as what seemed like the Tour de France passed me by.  There were two wicked hills at mile 4 and mile 9 that more than tested my resolve.  The only person I passed on the bike leg was a poor lady pushing her bike up that second hill.  At some point I decided to just enjoy myself and that's when I started singing.  The only song that I could think of was Donna Summer's She Works Hard for the Money.  I got more than a few laughs and a couple thumbs up gestures as I sang away the last few miles.  Then before I knew it, I'd done the 15 miles and the bike ride was ending.  I wheeled into the transition area, remounted my bike, took a giant swig of Gatorade and then I was off for the run. That was transition #2.

The final leg!!!! The run was an out and back trail run - 3.1 miles. As I hit the trail out, Steve was running in. Yay! Go us!  My legs were jelly the first 2 miles before I finally hit my stride in the final minutes. And then I saw it...... the big balloon arch marking the finish line! I gave it everything I had left and sprinted across. I did it!! I'm a triathlete!!! Steve, having finished just a few minutes before, was right there cheering me on.  It was an awesome feeling! Hugs and high-fives all around!

The whole triathlon crew:  Annie, Steve, Ken, Brittany, Chasity & Colt.

Steve's goal was 2 hours and mine was 2 hours 30 minutes. I was amazed when the results were posted.  We blew those goals out of the water!!!

Annie
Total Time -   1:42:29
Swim -                8:17
Transition 1 -      3:49
Bike -                59:58
Transition 2 -      1:01
Run -                 29:26

Steve 
Total Time -   1:40:41
Swim -                6:59
Transition 1 -      5:24
Bike -                57:43
Transition 2 -      2:56
Run -                 27:41

And there you have it!!  Steve is already talking about improvements we can make for next time. I'm just going to relish in this accomplishment for awhile before I think about "next time."