Lake Padden Tri

Oak Harbor and i've never done it.  This is my 2nd season of triathlon and had heard that Lake Padden was a good one to do. 

Hi!  Thanks for your description of the bike course!  Even though I already rode it last week on the 4th, it was still interesting to read what you wrote.  I went up with my husband, and first we drove the course, following the map that I printed off the website.  When we got to the Big Hill, my husband said something like, "Oh, for goodness sake--we have to ride up this?" I said sorry, this is the course!  So we continued on and arrived at the Lake Padden West area, parked and prepared to ride.

Heading down Samish Way, I take it easy because I notice my hubby is quite a distance behind me.  After a bit, it also feels like I'm ascending even though the road doesn't look uphill very much.  Finally, hubby catches up (I found out later he was having trouble shifting--his bike is quite new and he's still breaking it in), and we hit a downhill section--yippee!  Then it's across I-5 and a right on Old Samish Highway.  Looking back, this is my favorite part--I love rolling hills!  I got up speed going down and momentum helped carry me up the ascents.  I hit a top speed of 27.5 mph!  But then we hit Chuckanut Drive, and, oops, it's uphill!  Gasp, gasp...I shift down and breathing a bit hard, ride fairly slowly but steadily up until the road finally levels out.  Before the traffic light, I stop for a brief breather, wondering about the next part--a bridge or something.  We elect to ride on the sidewalk and continue until we can get on the bike lane on Fairhaven Parkway.  Heading toward I-5, there's some intersections to negotiate, and I nearly forget about the Big Hill.  On the east side of I-5, I think there's another light/intersection just before the park-and-ride (if I remember correctly), so we're riding slowly. 

Ahead is the Big Hill.  My hubby continues straight and dismounts.  I am also planning to walk the hill, because I am still breathing hard.  I turn into the park-and-ride a little ways, dismount and check my bike computer.  It says I have ridden 10 miles (already!) and my average speed was 15 mph.  I reset it and walk my bike back to the street and up the Hill.  At the top, my computer says .25 miles.  (A quarter of a mile!!!).  My hubby gets back on his bike and turns left to ride up the next uphill part.  I decide to keep walking.  A little chihuahua runs out and follows my hubby, yapping away!  I keep walking and the dog isn't quite as interested in me.  Finally, I decide to get on my bike where the street begins to level off--I have walked about 1/2 mile!  When we get back to our car, my hubby says his computer says 12.3 miles.  Now the recreational tri info claims the bike course is 10 miles.  So we're wondering where we got the extra couple miles.  Any idea? 

Thinking about the Big Hill, it must be close to a 12% grade.  There is a hill like that not too far from my house, but it is probably only one-fourth as long.  Usually, I like to get up speed before a hill and use momentum a little--but that probably is mostly effective on short hills.  I'm thinking about what if I can get up momentum on the course before the Big Hill--but it would mean that the intersection just before the park-and-ride must be open so I don't have to stop for a possible red light or traffic.  Still I would have to be able to shift down enough, and I'm not very good at shifting into the lowest gears, because it means getting the combination of the large and small rings correct, and I just haven't had enough practice with that.  Also, someone told me that I should stand up on my pedals to get up the Hill, and that's something I'm not sure about either--I have clipless or spd pedals--and they're tiny! 

On the bright side, a while after we finished the ride, I went for a swim in the lake in just my "tri suit." I found out that with the warm air that day, that my "tri suit" kept me warm enough that I could tolerate the cold water without bothering with my wetsuit.  In fact, I swam clear across the lake and back, plus drifting to the east a little on the return trip, so I had to cut back to my left to end up where I began (I had my flip-flops waiting on the beach for my poor feet!) So I hope the 27th is a warm day, too!!!

Oops! Looking at the course map again, I think I see that right turn I missed.  However, being unfamiliar with the area, it's understandable why we blew right past it.  And the map is not terribly detailed.  I had found the route on MapMyRide, so I guess I should have studied it more, using the satellite images.  Well, it's nice to know I don't have to worry about Chuckanut Drive.  (Although, going to Chuckanut Drive did give us a little extra exercise! )

Thanks again!

You should have received an e-mail today with race information.  If you still have questions, as I do, e-mail the race director!