Knocking off some RUST and getting MUDDY!
Ariana,Julie,LeighAnne,Nina
This weekend marked the first local triathlon near Seattle to sort of “open” the 2010 season. Sammamish State Park in Issaquah played host to the sprint triathlon for the 10th year. One would think that June would be a great time for a “summer” race but mother nature had something to say about “when summer will start”. I think she decided it would start, for 1 day, right after this race was over!
Rain had come down steadily last week and made the park into a “bog” or swamp of sorts. I talked to a crew of guys post-race who explained they were up the night before using Google maps & map my run to create a NEW run course for the race just hours away because the traditional trails in the park used for the run course were under water!
The result was having to use the single lane into the park as bike out, bike in, run out & run in….all designated with lanes of orange cones. When you are trying to set a 25mph average on the bike course, riding into a single lane a few feet across with runners and cyclists going in and out on the course on a single width lane of pavement is a bit hair-raising. But that is racing.
Coach Julie and myself as well as a few of our brave clients all had a pretty darn good day despite the weather! Ariana & Leigh Anne get special props for running the 5K – unknown to them they would be running a cross country 5K! Here’s mud in your eye!
All together we had myself, Julie, Ariana, LeighAnne, Ryan, Eric, Nina (and family in relay and kids tri!) all taking part in competition. A shout need to go out to Grant (Blue Lake), Kevin (Whidby Island) and Catrena (Honu) as well this weekend – Great job everyone who was racing!
At the end of the day, completely unscathed but a little mud spattered, we all knocked off the rust, raced and had great stories and results- for most of us, triathlon #1 is in the books.
Oh, and I can’t forget to mention what a stellar day Saturday was weather -wise. I thought summer was HERE and then woke up Sunday to rain and dark skies…oh, well!
-Coach Ryan
