Swim
Comments: I positioned myself one "row" back from the front and in the middle. Good call. I had no trouble finding space to swim in. The water was warmer this year than last if I remember correctly, though I think I might ask Santa for a wetsuit this yearn (hey, a girl can dream!) Heading out, I did freestyle the entire way. Navigation was spot on and I never went off course. Rounding the first turn, we headed into the sun, which made navigating a challenge, but I kept sighting off the lifeguards and stayed on course. Heading in, I felt a little winded, so I did breaststroke for about 50 yards to catch my breath. Then it was all freestyle all the time until the end. I was so much calmer this year before the swim. I knew I had prepared much better for the open water aspect of the race and I felt confident that I could swim freestyle most of the way. I just wish I had been 100% healthy. Confirmed official distance is 500 meters. What would you do differently?: Go to the very front. Not be sick? I am jazzed about this swim - no matter the distance! Last year's swim was 17:31 so I've really improved my swim. Transition 1
Comments: Its about a 200 yd distance from the swim finish to the TA - I high fived Jorge on my way back. Rinsed my feet and threw on socks (might skip this in the future) The TA exit was very crowded and my cleats got full of sand and would not clip in right - so it took me a while to get up to speed - in fact, I didn't even clip in until already on the course. What would you do differently?: This transition is way too slow. Felt like I was motoring, but obviously I was not. Last year's T1 was 5:48, so I've made improvements. Bike
Comments: Clipping in was a problem in the beginning - I was really trying NOT to fall - so I just pedaled with my shoes resting on the clips and kept trying to clip in. I'm sure some spectators heard a few choice words fly out of my mouth because I was getting super frustrated. Once I got going, I flew by people and really just hammered away. The dang computer is still busted, so I had no idea of my speed or distance. There were no mile markers (?) on the course either which sucked. Coming back - there was a headwind that really slowed me down and I got passed a few times. I stayed in the drops most of the way - going out, because it felt comfortable and coming back because of all the wind. What would you do differently?: I probably should've taken in some nutrition on the bike, but I didn't bring any gels or anything. Very dumb of me. Still, a good improvement over last year - 43:18 was my bike leg in 2006. Transition 2
Comments: oh snap! this transition is exactly the same as it was last year - that's not good. i was starting to feel weary and not looking forward to the run, which is not like me. this is where the illness and lack of food start to take their toll What would you do differently?: move faster, dammit! Run
Comments: Say hello to rubber legs! was the beginning of the run for me AGAIN! But after the first 1/2 mile, the legs were no longer a problem. My lungs were - I just could NOT get enough air in me! I saw Carol a couple of times on the run and she let me know Mom had made it to the bike leg - what a relief to know! I didn't see anyone else on the course that day. First mile was 11:09 or something and I knew that was as fast as I could go. I kept taking walk breaks like 5:1 hoping that by some miracle it would help me pick up the pace a little. NOT! By the second mile, I glanced at my watch and saw that I was really going to beat last year's overall time, so I didn't try push it anymore. I know I can do a 32 min 5K or less even on a good day - but this just wasn't one of those days. Managed to pick it up in the finish chute and raised my arms for the finish picture - hope it came out! Saw Jorge and Brianna and got hugs galore! Waited there for Carol to come in, more hugs, then Nora. What would you do differently?: This was an illness factor, last year the run was 34:29 - so I didn't show any improvement on race day - in spite of the fact I'm a much better runner now. Stay healthy before the race! Post race
Warm down: Went with Nora to find Carol and then Mom - saw Janet coming down the home stretch of the run and we all started running with her - but she said stop, you'll make me cry! so we let her go - as she's running away she yells, "where is it?" and I cracked up! then we started the anxious search for Mom. Carol and her friend (the overall Danskin winner) Maggie escorted my Mom the whole rest of the way. We met up with them and ran the final 200 yards or so - then made the "tunnel of love" for the final finisher with Sally Edwards. My mom got her medal but asked my dad to put it on her - he was beaming, she was glowing, I was crying - it was amazing! What limited your ability to perform faster: Illness. But I gave it everything I had - its just that there wasn't that much to be had that day :) Event comments: The Danskin Women's Triathlon is in my opinion, one of the best women only events around. It encourages women of all shapes and sizes to challenge themselves and bond with their loved ones. I hope I'm able to do this race every year! It just keeps getting better! Last updated: 2007-03-12 12:00 AM
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United States
Danskin
Sunny
Overall Rank = 678/1303
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 133/202
The night before the race, Jorge and I were debating on whether I should even be racing. I had a terrible cough and lots of chest congestion. So did Brianna. We were all up way too late the night before tending to her and to me. I was really torn, knowing how much I wanted to race and knowing how sick I really was. We made the decision that morning to go because I really could not have forgiven myself for missing the day when all the women in my immediate family would race together and my mom and two other sisters would become triathletes.
There were some moments of frustrated crying that morning, because I really trained hard for this race and to end up being sub-par healthwise was really a let down.
I felt so ill, I could not bring myself to eat anything that morning. I brought toast to eat in the car, but my stomach said no way. This would pose a problem later on, but I really didn't want to get sick pre-race (since with my track record, I'd probably do it on the course somewhere anyway)
We left the house at about 5 AM with Brianna and I coughing most of the way there. Good times. We got to the race site around 6 but there was still a line to get to the parking lots. I was remembering the drive to the site last year and how nervous I was then and I wish I could have been there earlier to help calm down the others in our group who were first-timers.
Finally parked and made my way to transition - took a while to find space on the rack - but managed to squeeze in and set up. Found Carol and then Nora and went in search of the porta potties. The line was REALLY long, so I got out of it even though I really had to go.
Saw Jorge on the sideline and he told me to try the ones they had for spectators since the lines weren't very long - good call.
Headed over there quickly and then after hooked up with everyone for some pre-race shots. Started walking to the swim start and Nora says, you're still wearing your flip-flops. So again I run back to my transition spot to dump them off and go back to the group.
I guess the running to and from the porta pottie then over to the gang for a picture counts as a warm up?
My mom was SOOOOO nervous at this point. She thought she was going to be sick to her stomach (must be where I get it) but she maintained her composure very well. I have to say, it was kind of hard seeing her so scared - I give her so much credit for going through with the race.
We held hands singing the national anthem and that helped pump everyone up - it released tension too, because we were all fighting (or not fighting) back tears.
We all high fived and hugged and headed to our respective waves.
I almost started too early - but managed to get back in the chute to wait for wave 9.