PNW Tri Novices

[Wahine]

I know there are a lot of you who are planning to do your first triathlon this year. I'm big into expanding the sport and I'd like to help you along. Soooo....

I am seriously thinking about "hosting" a tri weekend here in The Gorge. My thoughts are that we would do a swim and run workshops on Saturday including transitions and then join a group ride on Sunday. There is a really nice ride out here called "The Cherry of a Ride" and it's held on a Sunday, (April 20). It's a nice ride with multiple mileage options and would allow for many different skill levels.

http://www.stmarysacademythedalles.org/upcoming_events!.htm

So what I'm wondering is how many people would be interested in doing this. Saturday would cover the more technical aspects of triathlon. Sunday would just be the organized group ride for those who wanted to do it. I can accomodate a few guests at my house (about 4 with some creative sleeping arrangements) and there is an Inn in the town where I live that has hostel style accomodations for as low as $25 per night.

http://www.innofthewhitesalmon.com/

So let's hear what you think and see who might be able to make it.

It could also happen another weekend, we just wouldn't be able to take advantage of the organized ride. Though I'm sure I could find some ride leaders to help out with a training ride in the area.

[Meg McKilty]

Great Idea!!
I would love to come, but my work schedule is made 6 weeks in advance so I couldn't get off for it since the schedule is already made.

Could you make two different weekends? Or a later date?

[rocknrollgirl]

hmmmm, how far is it from my house to your house....about 3000 miles? Anything over 2500 is just not practical for a w/e....

[Wahine]

Did I miss communicate something that made Meg think I was in her area, or is that just her usual sarcasm (which I like BTW) coming out?

Seriously, can PNW be interpreted as something other than Pacific North West? I'm pretty fresh to the states and haven't learn all the geographic nuances.

ETA - Unless in "Nashville to Asheville" Meg means Ashville OR? And I may offer different weekends. I'm just floating this now to get feedback and figure it out.

RnR - You could easily cover that distance on your bike. I expect you to come and to do it as a bike commute. Hee Hee

[Xrayted]

I'd love to come but Kit and I have a motorcycle safety course that entire weekend. I wish I would have known which w/e the ride was on cuz I really liked doing that one last year. Just not the billy goat hill climbing part you did for the second half, Wahine. Although, it was fun to drive up that part and yell out our encouragement as we passed you. :p When you have another w/e planned, let us know. We aren't too far away. Besides, Kit needs to go back to the kayak shack. :D

[salsabike]

Wahine, thank you SO much for offering this. I would love to do it. I might be able to muster up the whatever by April 20 but it would be hard for a variety of reasons. I wonder if you would be willing to try to plan it a little further out, far enough so that most people's calendars would be empty and they would have plenty of prep time? For me, either early/mid-May, early/mid-June, or mid-July weekends would be easiest to schedule. How does that kind of thinking fit with your own schedule? And the rest of the PNW Tri gang?

And we better start thinking NOW about how to thank Wahine. I think we should start pondering putting together a Pansy-Palmetto style outfit for her next Ironman...

[jesvetmed]

Wahine: I think this sounds really great. I would be up for it. Have to work Sunday evening, so could not stay and do the ride, but would be great to come for Saturday. I've done one sprint tri, but with no "training" of any kind. Would be wonderful to do something with someone giving advice! This date or later... I'd try to make it.
Jes

[dex]

Ooo...this sounds awesome. My participation in anything bike-related right now depends entirely on when I'll be able to obtain new wheels. (The sad part of this is that it's mostly my schedule that's keeping from getting new wheels...I can't seem to find the time to get to the shop owned by the person who I want to build the darn things.)

[rocknrollgirl]

Well Yoda, I just bought a road bike, she is not even named yet. She is a hand me down from a friend that rode her about 6 times. A Cannondale. Nothing fancy, but now I have....1, 2, 3,4 ....Four Bikes! I could start out tomorrow and head west and I might even make it on time...

Oh BTW she is green...hmmmm, a green girl bike, she is a girl for sure, I know that. I am sure after I spend some time with her, the name will come to me.

[Wahine]

Wahine, thank you SO much for offering this. I would love to do it. I might be able to muster up the whatever by April 20 but it would be hard for a variety of reasons. I wonder if you would be willing to try to plan it a little further out, far enough so that most people's calendars would be empty and they would have plenty of prep time? For me, either early/mid-May, early/mid-June, or mid-July weekends would be easiest to schedule. How does that kind of thinking fit with your own schedule? And the rest of the PNW Tri gang?

And we better start thinking NOW about how to thank Wahine. I think we should start pondering putting together a Pansy-Palmetto style outfit for her next Ironman...

I actually just got news today that could put the weekend of the 20th out of the running. I would definitely consider a date further out if it works better. The big bonus of a date further out is that we could actually practice an OWS. Mid July might work well because it will fall during my mid season break after Pacific Crest.

I'm not sure what a Pansy-Palmetto style outfit looks like, but you're making me nervous.

[salsabike]

You'll love it, Wahine. Honest.

Guys? I think we should make good on this idea as a thank you gift. It has to be custom designed to suit Wahine, of course.

We will be back from our rock hunting trip on July 7. Would the weekend of July 19-20 be too late?

When's Pacific Crest?

[Wahine]

Pacific Crest is the last weekend in June. I'll have about 2 weeks of light training after that to recover. But no matter, 3rd weekend in July will work out.

[KnottedYet]

Something out in July would be spiffy, April might not be the easiest for me to manage.

I have a tent, and I love sleeping in my tent. Can I tent in your yard somewhere? Or is there a campground near you?

[Wahine]

Tenting in the yard is totally doable. We actually have it landscaped in places with tenting in mind. :D:D We have a lot of degenerate windsurfing buddies that like to come visit in the middle of summer so you never know when you'll need a spot to put up a tent.

[Starfish]

But no matter, 3rd weekend in July will work out.

This might fall into my taper for Shasta, so might be good timing. (ETA...also will depend on work and Shasta travel schedule...might not be able to make it if timing is a little off...but sounds really great! Oops...edited again...if the 3rd weekend is the 19th, should be OK!) I can't run, yet, but I would like to learn about Tri's.

I can camp in my car if there is a campground or place to park a Honda Element.

[salsabike]

So let's talk about it more next weekend and try to settle on a date. Then everyone can commit that weekend in their calendars and we'll be all set.

It'll be fun to come up with a thank you present.

[Wahine]

You really don't have to come up with a thank you present. Really. Really.

As for car camping. There's tons around including my driveway. It just might get a little crazy with all you ladies and 1.5 baths alotted to you. (Sorry, I'm keeping one bath to me and DH).

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!:eek::eek:

The neighbor's big white cat just slinked past my window like a ghost and scared the bejeezus outta me.:o:):D

[Starfish]

Then everyone can commit that weekend in their calendars and we'll be all set.

I don't want to disrespect anyone's time. I can probably commit in pencil, but not ink. Better to count me out if very firm numbers are needed, which I can certainly understand! :)

[Wahine]

Firm numbers won't be required as long as I know I'll have at least 3 people commited, it's worth organizing it and making it happen. Anyone after that can be a penciled in add-on. I imagine we'll figure it out on Saturday.

[kelownagirl]

If it's in July, add me in pencil. :)

(Although techincally, I'm from the PSW, or more appropriately, the central interior...)

[Wahine]

In reference to Canadian geography you're right. But in the realm of world regional geography you're still technically PNW. I had to take a world regional geography course to get my PT license in Oregon... don't ask.

[MM_QFC!]

Tenting in the yard is totally doable. We actually have it landscaped in places with tenting in mind. :D:D We have a lot of degenerate windsurfing buddies that like to come visit in the middle of summer so you never know when you'll need a spot to put up a tent.

...or who you'll be semi-sleeping with...?:eek::p

[teigyr]

Hmmm....

Right now July is open. June has a few weekends scheduled but there's a 50-50 chance I'd be free :D

And I'm thinking a Pansy Palmetto outfit would be spiffy! Yes, I did see some of the pictures :D:D:D

[KnottedYet]

...or who you'll be semi-sleeping with...?:eek::p

At one point, I was the youngest registered windsurfer in the state of Washington. It's cool... ;)

(but my tent is MY tent!)

[Xrayted]

Knot - does Trek know that? :rolleyes: (It could have been worse. Kit said... Does Trek help you pitch that tent? :eek:) She's bad, I know. I'll flog her later tonight. ;)

Yeah, we can probably make that unless they make me work at the last minute in which case, I will call in DEAD. A tentin' we will go....:D

[NbyNW]

Has there been any progress on nailing down a date for this?

I'm actually thinking 2009 is more realistic for my first tri, since I don't see myself doing any running this summer . . . still, this sounds like a great learning opportunity!

j.

[Wahine]

July 19-20th I think. It's definitely the 3rd week in July, I'm just not sure of the exact date. No calendar in front of me at the mo.

[Starfish]

July 19-20th I think. It's definitely the 3rd week in July, I'm just not sure of the exact date. No calendar in front of me at the mo.

Yep, 3rd Saturday of July is the 19th. (There is this little calendar button directly above the thread listings in TE...) :D ;)

[Wahine]

So here we are nearly two months later. And about 2 months from the proposed weekend. I have a few things to throw out there for y'all.

First - I want to say that I really want to do this. I love giving back to my sport and this is a fantastic way to do it.

Second - There are some things that have come up in terms of timing. I have been asked to crew for a guy who is doing Race Across Oregon. This is happening on the weekend on July 19th to 20th. This is also the Gorge Games weekend and while I'm not registered for any events - the area will be smokin' busy. But then again, we're pretty busy all summer anyway with tourists etc and it might be fun for people to see some of the stuff that's happening.

I am committed to doing this and if JUly 19th to 20th still works best for most people, it shall stay on that weekend and RAO boy will just have to find someone else to help with his crew.

So here's what I'm asking....

How many of you are at least 80% sure you'll be here if the weekend is:

July 19-20

or

July 26-27

Please let me know if one (and which one) weekend works or if you could come to either.

[dex]

I could do either, assuming my body holds up. (I, um, sort of fell down and hurt my knee again.)

[salsabike]

Wahine, you are a doll.

I can do either weekend, so if it works, would be happy to switch so you can crew the 19th-20th. I am, like, 100% sure, barring the totally unforeseen event, that I will come.

Dex?? "Sort of" fell down?? You OK? You and I can just walk that run, you know...not to worry.

[dex]

Dex?? "Sort of" fell down?? You OK? You and I can just walk that run, you know...not to worry.

I'm just the biggest klutz ever, really. I tripped over a metal cable that was used to anchor an electric or telephone pole on a sidewalk, twisted my knee and then went down hard on the edge of the curb. I managed to keep most of my skin, but the bruising and swelling was kind of hideous for a few days. The best part was that I was on my way into a meeting with an ad agency for some freelance work. I think the obvious tears in my eyes, and the ice I requested, really worked to get me some sympathy points when I walked in. :rolleyes:

At this point, I'm definitely going to have to walk. I had almost gotten myself up to short bursts of slow running, but I don't see that happening again soon. I'm thinking it may be in my best interest to buy some body armor to put on whenever I leave the house, just for the injury prevention. Heh. :eek:

[NbyNW]

Wahine, thanks for putting this together!

I'm more than 80% sure that I could make either of those weekends.

Dex, that sounds like quite a stinger. If you're walking, I'll probably be keeping you company. I haven't run since injuring my back two years ago. I think my body has forgotten how.

[teigyr]

Wahine, you are awesome.

We're shift bidding on friday so I'll know my schedule for the summer. Am keeping my fingers crossed for weekends but we will see....once I know my schedule and if it conflicts with this, I'll see if I can work around it somehow.

So in essence, I know nothing right now :o

I do know, work scheduling aside, that probably the 26/27 is better though we're free both weekends. We have plans on the 18th (a friday) that will get us home Very Late that night.

I checked through my non-office work schedule and both weekends are good in that regard.

[Wahine]

So it's official. I have agreed to crew for a RAO hopeful. That means we move the Tri weekend back to July 26-27. I hope there'll still be lots of takers.

Just to remind you all that I have room in my house for several people, I have one king sized bed in a very large room, a bench in the living room that doubles as sleeping space for 2 and plenty of floor space. There is also lots of room to set up tents outside, or for vehicles in the driveway.

This way I'll also have tons of great stories from the RAO weekend to share.:cool: :eek:

[colby]

I might be able to come... only possible factor, a friend of mine is due August 3rd, and if she's early, I might be on assistant baby duty. ;) It's within driving distance for me and sounds like fun. Learning is good.

[KnottedYet]

I have major cold feet about doing the tri. I think I'd rather volunteer and crew it.

But I'm trying to keep an open mind... maybe I will anyway.

Colby - re: your title; shiny! Sigh, I really liked Firefly.

[Wahine]

Knott - coming to the informal training camp is a perfect way to get rid of the cold feet. Even if you don't race you should come. It's going to be totally low key and we'll make it fun, promise.

[colby]

Colby - re: your title; shiny! Sigh, I really liked Firefly.

I skip the "what happens next in the movie" part when I say it. ;) It's been windy here lately, I actually find myself saying it out loud to relax. Such a nerd.

(We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming)

[teigyr]

I have marked the dates in my calendar :D I also will be off fri-sun for the summer with a 3:30pm start time on monday. The thought of not waking up early makes me very very happy :)

Wahine, I can't believe how busy you are and how much you are helping us. I'm sure it'll be fun and really informative! Please let me know what I can do or anything you need.

For the Danskin folk here, is anyone going to go to one of the seminars next week? It's on Weds in Lynnwood, Thurs in Seattle (both at REI's) then somewhere else later in the month.

[jesvetmed]

Teigyr: I'm hoping to hit the Thursday night's seminar. Working Mon-Wed night so those are out. If not, I may go to the one on the 26th which is at the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle.

Are you going to one? Anyone else?

[teigyr]

Thursday is at the Seattle REI, right? I get off work at 5:45pm so the question would be if I can get from SeaTac to there in a timely fashion. I could do either and Seattle would probably be easier.

After the 7th, my new bid starts. Same days off (fri-sun) but my new hours are 3:30pm - 2am so that other thursday is out.

[Wahine]

After the 7th, my new bid starts. Same days off (fri-sun) but my new hours are 3:30pm - 2am ....

Does this mean that I'll start getting email from you at strange hours again? I kinda missed that about your new schedule. I used to wake up in the morning to an email written at 1:30 AM thinking WTF. Until I remembered that you were maybe working.:D

[salsabike]

I'm going to the June 5/Thursday one at THE TEMPLE (aka REI).

[colby]

Wish I could go, but I'm too far to drive in the middle of the week. :( Last year and the year before they had one on a Saturday, which worked a lot better for me... flew (or drove) out on a Friday, hung out with my mother in law at the seminar, then flew home on Sunday. Danskin is the one thing my mother in law and I do "together" (well, we do other things, but this is the one thing that's Just Us - she only had 2 boys, so I'm sort of the daughter, but not really good at the girl stuff).

It's fun to kick off your training or get wrapped up in it a little bit, and if you want something signed or to meet Sally, she'll be there. Also, if you have any friends who didn't sign up and you want to draft in, it's a REALLY good way to get them in (first timers are effectively "guaranteed" a spot by attending a seminar). I've tried every year in vain to get people to join me... ;)

Also, I can always use an excuse to go to REI... especially THE REI.

[teigyr]

Does this mean that I'll start getting email from you at strange hours again? I kinda missed that about your new schedule. I used to wake up in the morning to an email written at 1:30 AM thinking WTF. Until I remembered that you were maybe working.:D

Yeah. I'll be back to being me :D:D:D I am not a day person no matter how hard I try. Waking up early makes me braindead and out of sorts. I'd much rather go to bed 3-4am and wake up by 10-11am then exercise then go to work. Only 7 more days to wake up early...the clock IS ticking!

I will RSVP for the Thurs Danskin clinic. I will drive as fast as traffic will let me and if anyone has any parking wisdom, I would gladly accept it!

Colby, too bad you can't come. Would be nice to meet you!

[salsabike]

So...now that my consulting report is turned in, I can start paying attention to Danskin stuff. Today I did my swim things:

Tried on a Blue Seventy wetsuit. Worked reasonably well. Glad I don't have to put it ON during a transition. Came home and ordered a different one, though, that I think will fit better. But at least I now know I CAN find a wetsuit that fits! Yay. Big hump to get over.

I went local-pool-touring. The place I used to go some years ago shut down this past winter. Went to three community pools and was bowled over by the lovely setting of the third and farthest away one. Luckily I think I'll be able to get there midday now, because it's on an after-work rush hour route. Wow! It's in a state park, and one wall of the pool house is glass and opens onto the park.

Monday: the running shoe store. It's all starting to move along now...Yahoo! I'm an excited newbie.

[KnottedYet]

Super Jock-n-Jill at Greenlake is the *best* running shoe store I've found.
(much better than Seattle Running Company, but I'll be diplomatic about it;))

[salsabike]

<snort> Yup, Knott, Super J & J is where I'm going. Heard universal praise about them.

[KnottedYet]

After you visit Super J+J, you can walk down the block to Title 9.

Oooooh, Title 9.....

I intend to be there tomorrow. I liiiiiiiike Title 9. (so does Trek420) http://www.titlenine.com/

[salsabike]

And actually I DO plan to then go to Title 9. The vet tech I met at ACCES last week is in some 6-week class that Title 9 is sponsoring for people who don't like to run--all ages and types, she said. I want to ask if they're going to run it again--sounds like fun.

[salsabike]

Boy, were you guys right about Super Jock N Jill. I said, "Here's what you need to know about me: Doing the Danskin tri in August. Have never run. Bike good--have ridden 2000-3000 miles for the last few years. Am 70 pounds overweight now. Used to be a dancer, so please don't think I am coming from eating jumbo bags of chips on the couch all my life. Thought I would walk the run for the Danskin, and maybe I will, but I also might get bored walking, so may pursue a couch-to-5 K kind of training program. Have intermittent plantar fascitis in left foot. Please help me get the right pair of shoes." They were great. We spent an hour and a half being fitted there (two of us). So now I have good shoes.

Then we DID go to Title Nine. And for those who want to know, they have a running group on Tuesday nights that is for people who don't really like to run. They do a six-week cycle, so will be starting a new one in about two weeks. I plan to try it. They said they would send me a little shpiel about it when they were ready and that I could post it on TE. They were delightful--really enthused, really nice.

Mission 3--drawing up a training schedule.

Yeeha! What the heck. Why not?

[Veronica]

Can you give me a town that's near Columbia River Gorge, so I can Google how far of a drive it is?

The 26 is the weekend before my HIM. I guess I should be tapering, whatever that means. :p And Bowling for Soup is playing at one of the county fairs. BFS versus TE Tri Chicks weekend. It's a tough call. :D

V.

I used Hood River to get an idea. It's an 11 hour drive. I wonder if there is anyone in the Bay Area who would like to go up for a weekend...

[salsabike]

I think Wahine lives in or right near White Salmon.

[teigyr]

Salsa, you are pretty much there :D Let me know if 'n when you're ever in the mood to OW swim though my wetsuit is sleeveless and it still feels cold out. Who knows...you might end up liking running. I never thought I would and I really do now. In fact, I prefer running to the other tri disciplines right now.

V, you will be there for the weekend? That is fantastic :D

I LOOOOVE Title 9. If the fates were to tell me I had to spend $1,000 there, I would have no problem. Unfortunately, these fates don't appear to exist.

[Veronica]

V, you will be there for the weekend? That is fantastic :D



I have to run it by the man first. :p He's a big Bowling for Soup fan and it's their only concert date in CA this year.

V.

[salsabike]

Teigyr, I thought we were going to start playing the lottery...if only I could convince myself to do it.

As soon as I get this wetsuit I am ready for an OWS, and I will PM you.

What I really liked most about Title Nine was how INTO it they were--that is, the running group thing. They were just so ENTHUSED and encouraging.

[Veronica]

Title 9 is about the only catalog I keep and just keep drooling over. I "hate" their models though. Real people aren't suppose to look that good. I think they must not sleep to have time to do all the things they do.

V.

[Wahine]

V - Hood River is very close. It's where I work. White Salmon is where I live and is directly across the river from HR. An 11 hour drive is about right. DH and I have done the drive from here to Stockton (his parents live there), we stay off of I5 as much as possible and it takes us about 12 hours. I'd love to have you here but it is a lot of driving.

Salsa - Whooooooo hooooooo..... It sounds like you're seriously getting the bug.

[Veronica]

I'll be on summer vacation so I've got the time. It's an intriguing idea. I wonder how much gas will cost by then...

V.

[colby]

BMission 3--drawing up a training schedule.

Yeeha! What the heck. Why not?

Sweet!! I didn't realize how close it was... it's June already, so only 11 weeks, good time to get thinking about stuff.

I haven't wore my wetsuit in the Danskin or really any sprint distance (the local one I have done is too warm anyway), but I suppose if I think I can get out of it fast enough, I might. I'm with you -- good thing they don't time you putting it ON!! Pulling it up over the hips... getting rid of excess stuff behind the knees... pulling it up and over the shoulders... WHEW. Exhausting.

[salsabike]

OK then.

Yesterday morning I got up at 5:15 am to do the Uphill Grind before I went to work. I am NOT a morning person. But I never want to do it after work. And I'm always pretty wound up after I do it, so seemed like a good way to start a day. And I never get enough sleep anyway (a fibromyalgia thing), so I figured, why not? This may be second nature to some of you, but I assure you, it is a definite first for me. Worked great, except I need to leave about another 15 minutes of margin/shower time/cat medicating time before I leave for work.

Today Quillfred and I went to the St. Edwards Park pool! BOY, that pool is beautiful. We may have stopped after every lap or two to breathe, but we did do the requisite 12 laps that constitute 1/3 mile. First time I've been lap swimming for probably five years or so, and first time I tried to do only crawl. So now I know what I need to work on, at least in part (pacing, breathing). And I do a very funny little curly/scoopy thing with my left hand; good thing I don't have to watch it on videotape.

I came out of the pool all excited and still can't quite get rid of the adrenalin, and it's been about three hours...whew! Very pumped.

Teigyr---I know you have a pool at LA Fitness. But boy, you should come try this one with us. It is just lovely. Not crowded either.

[teigyr]

I'm willing to go to any pool :D

I'm the same way re swimming and I really think it's a breathing thing. I don't tired but I get out of breath, if that makes sense. If I "regroup", I can go a long time but unfortunately, there's no regrouping in OW swimming.

Must work on that. The breathing, not installing handrails in lakes.

[Sprocket's Mom]

Hey everyone! I live (technically) in Hood River and we have a lovely 9.4 acres of pear orchard and horse pasture and lots and lots of nice green grassy yard. IF summer is here by the time this gathering is occurring, then anyone who would like is more than welcome to come stay at our place too. We don't have lots of room in the house but there's tons of room to park cars, pitch tents, etc. We even have a few tents of our own we'd pitch for ya (just ask Wahie, we've got a tent that could hold all of us!!).
I also have a pretty nice little shop/bike work area with lots of tools and such for anyone's use.
Just wanted to throw that out there. I'll probably be participating in some of the "reindeer games". Though for the bike ride I will be doing the local "summit to surf" where we ride from Welches (small town on Hwy 26 in the foothills of Mt Hood) to Hood River (via Timberline=lots of climbing).
Anyway, just wanted to throw the offer out there.

[KnottedYet]

Thank you! That is very generous of you!

[trickytiger]

Is this now the 26th/27th? Cause if so, I may be able to come! The weekend before is the Seafair Tri.

[Wahine]

Yes it has been changed to the 26th and 27th.

And I will vouch for SM. Her tent really could accomodate all of us. It is a tent of luxury. And, if you so chose to camp at her place you would be able to see their new baby.... it's a horse, not a human.

[Wahine]

I have a special request.... at one point people had talked about a gift for me for hosting this little weekend. It would mean a lot to me if rather than a gift... you considered donating to Athletes for a Cure. The link is in my sig line. Thanks for considering it.

C.

[salsabike]

Wahine, it would be a pleasure.

Although I may still bring you a tiara to wear on your next Ironman, or some other Pansy Palmetto-type thing.

[salsabike]

Jeez, you guys, it just took me, like, three years to put on my new wetsuit. Oog. Please tell me that part gets a little easier with practice, or I'll have to sleep in it the night before....whew.

[Wahine]

It definitely gets easier with practice. And there are a few tricks, like putting plastic bags on your feet to help them slide in and spraying yourself with Pam. I hear that works, I've never actually done it of course.:rolleyes:

[salsabike]

Whoof. Glad to hear it, Wahine---thank you! Sheesh. If only we could suck in our butts the way we can suck in our guts...

I also went back to my new favorite book, Slow Fat Triathlete, and was glad to see she got pretty sweaty (not a good thing) and took about a half hour. Thank you, Jayne.

For those of you who can use some cheap entertainment tonight, I put on my sunglasses and one of Chris' hats, and made him take a picture:

6247

[Wahine]

Cool!! Thanks for the photo Salsa. You look like you're ready to roll. A little word of advice tho, save the sunglasses for T1 and the hat for T2, got that?:rolleyes::p

[Sprocket's Mom]

Just a mild word of caution.....while I know that I've heard of people using Pam to get their wetsuits on, I have also heard that it can potentially break down the material in the neoprene so it's best to use bodyglide or something along those lines.....
Just a thought, maybe I'm way off base....as usual.

[MM_QFC!]

Whoof. Glad to hear it, Wahine---thank you! Sheesh. If only we could suck in our butts the way we can suck in our guts...

I also went back to my new favorite book, Slow Fat Triathlete, and was glad to see she got pretty sweaty (not a good thing) and took about a half hour. Thank you, Jayne.

For those of you who can use some cheap entertainment tonight, I put on my sunglasses and one of Chris' hats, and made him take a picture:

6247


wowie-zowie...SalsaHotMama! :D

[Wahine]

It's true about the Pam breaking down neoprene, but it's OK for occasional use. It's a matter of convenience for some... Pam sprays on while body glide takes a lot longer to coat your legs etc. But if you want your wetsuit to last a really long time, I wouldn't use Pam. Hence the reason why I don't.

[Sprocket's Mom]

I just wanted people to be aware of the potential downside before they went to Costco and loaded up on cases of Pam! :D:p
Once ya know the scoop, then you can make informed decisions. Like you Wahine, I want my suit to last a long time. Of course at this rate I'm not the one getting the use out of it....but oh well, at least it's getting some good races in while I cheer from the far far off sidelines! :o

[Wahine]

But if you keep telling people this stuff my stock in Pam is going to go down in value!!;);)

Seriously though, it's a really good point that I should have mentioned so thanks for catching it.:D

[salsabike]

I meant to post on here Sunday night to say that I'd gone that day to a Mary Meyer pool clinic in Seattle, and it was GREAT. Just what I needed. All the basics of what makes for an efficient freestyle, and drills for an hour. Uh, it really HAS changed since they taught me at good old Camp Yowochas in 1963. So that was an excellent thing to do.

Today I spent starting to create the muscle memories for all that. I didn't worry about fast or even about extending how many laps I can do without stopping. I just practiced everything they'd told me, probably about 18 laps' worth of practice. I plan to do that again Thursday, and then do the pool clinic one more time on Sunday. I don't have anyone to tell me exactly what to do, but I THINK that getting the stroke/form correct and into muscle memory comes before worrying about endurance, and that doing it correctly will help with endurance/pacing/breathing/whatever it is I'm trying to say! Then, I plan to do one of their OWS clinics on July 12.

Then I hiked down to the beach and back up, just a couple of miles. Set to take a four hour chi running workshop this coming Saturday. Still have no idea whether I'll like running or not, but will find out.

I would dearly love to hear from other newbies here on how they are doing with their training and what they're working one.

PS Arggh. Water in my right ear, staying longer every time. Earplug?

[dex]

Sounds like things are really on track for you, Salsa. Very cool. :D

(WARNING: Lots of whining ahead...)

I'm feeling a little blah about anything related to exercise lately. (Except weightlifting, but that's not going to help me much with the whole getting ready to swim-bike-run thing.)

I can't seem to get interested in the swimming. I think this is partly a logistics thing--it's a hassle to get to a pool--but also partly just a frustration thing. The last few times I went, I just felt uncoordinated and kind of, well, dumb. I'm not sure what happened. I didn't have these problems in the early part of the year (when swimming was all my PT was ok with me doing), they've just cropped up in the last few weeks. Maybe I should try one of those clinics. I mean, it can't hurt. (Except the embarrassment of looking like a way out of shape, uncoordinated dumb thing in front of other people.)

The bike. Eh. I'm riding occasionally, but not as often as I probably should. Definitely not as much as last year, but then again I'm not trying to get ready for the STP like I was last year. I'm not overly concerned about the bike part, I just wish it was more *fun*.

Running. Well, I try not to think too much about running. I walk. I have occasional short bits of jogging mixed into the walking. Realistically, that's probably about as good as it's going to get for me. If I try to walk too much (or mix in just a bit too much of the short jogging bursts), my knee gets cranky and starts to swell. So I just try to avoid that. Right now, three miles is my upper limit for walking without incurring the Wrath of Cranky Knee. My hope is that will improve a bit as summer progresses--the weird spring weather put a bit of a damper (no pun intended) on getting outside and doing these things earlier. But it is discouraging sometimes to think that I may *just* be able to complete this event, and it's probably going to hurt a little.

Ok, I'm done whining. Sorry 'bout that. I now return you to your regularly scheduled TE awesomeness. :o :)

[Wahine]

I don't have anyone to tell me exactly what to do, but I THINK that getting the stroke/form correct and into muscle memory comes before worrying about endurance, and that doing it correctly will help with endurance/pacing/breathing/whatever it is I'm trying to say! Then, I plan to do one of their OWS clinics on July 12.

....


PS Arggh. Water in my right ear, staying longer every time. Earplug?


If there's a question in there the answer is ... Yes, yes, yes and yes. Great plan.

[salsabike]

Thanks, Wahine. I am having a ton of fun, especially now that I am on vacation from both jobs until late August. I didn't have much vacation the last two years, so for the next month and a half I plan to train and weave. Weave and train. That's IT.

Dex, come to this Sunday's pool clinic with me! That way there will be at least two of us who feel overweight, uncoordinated and dumb. And we'll do it anyway and leave feeling better, which is what happened when I went last week. Remember, I'm 70 pounds overweight. I am just fixedly ignoring any thoughts about how I look.

I have a Part B to my philosophy of life as articulated last year (Part A: If I'm not feeling like an idiot regularly, then I'm just not being adventurous enough), and I actually identified this Part B while driving to the pool clinic last Sunday, having never gone before and feeling pretty nervous about it. Part B (small drumroll) is: Do everything you're afraid of. (Because often it works out well when you actually do it). (no, I don't mean EVERYTHING. I still plan on never sticking my finger into a cobra's mouth, or whatever).

Sadly, I told this Part B to Chris when I got home, all excited, from the pool clinic, and he now thinks I am obligated to go do Juanita Hill on my bike because I said I was afraid of it. Juanita Hill is not steep but it is very, very long, about 2 1/2 miles. It's a favorite among area cyclists. We've done it on the tandem several times. The pool I swim at--which, Dex, is really nice, by the way, in case you want to come there--is WHERE ELSE? Right at the dang top of Juanita Hill. I think that in a few more weeks, I will have to try it.

I'm not usually this yakketty online. It's all the adrenalin.

[Wahine]

Dex, come to this Sunday's pool clinic with me! That way there will be at least two of us who feel overweight, uncoordinated and dumb. And we'll do it anyway and leave feeling better, which is what happened when I went last week. Remember, I'm 70 pounds overweight. I am just fixedly ignoring any thoughts about how I look.

FABULOUS IDEA.


I have a Part B to my philosophy of life as articulated last year (Part A: If I'm not feeling like an idiot regularly, then I'm just not being adventurous enough), and I actually identified this Part B while driving to the pool clinic last Sunday, having never gone before and feeling pretty nervous about it. Part B (small drumroll) is: Do everything you're afraid of. (Because often it works out well when you actually do it). (no, I don't mean EVERYTHING. I still plan on never sticking my finger into a cobra's mouth, or whatever).

Excellent way to live.


Sadly, I told this Part B to Chris when I got home, all excited, from the pool clinic, and he now thinks I am obligated to go do Juanita Hill on my bike because I said I was afraid of it. Juanita Hill is not steep but it is very, very long, about 2 1/2 miles. It's a favorite among area cyclists. We've done it on the tandem several times. The pool I swim at--which, Dex, is really nice, by the way, in case you want to come there--is WHERE ELSE? Right at the dang top of Juanita Hill. I think that in a few more weeks, I will have to try it.


This will be an excellent warm-up for Snowden hill that is pretty much straight out my back yard. We'll be doing it on the Tri camp weekend. It's a 6 1/2 mile climb at mostly 6 to 8 % I'd guess. It's about a total of 1500 feet of elevation gain in that distance.



......



Just kidding.;) Well I wasn't kidding about the hill, it is there. I was kidding about making you ride up it.:D:D
Unless of course you want to. Then I'm more than happy to oblige.

[dex]

Dex, come to this Sunday's pool clinic with me!

Send me details and I'll be there. :D (I'm actually free on Sunday, so this can totally happen.)

I'm totally down with your Life Philosophy Part B. One of my tattoos is to remind me to do almost exactly that, and placed such that I can't escape seeing it many times a day. I suppose that's why I do things like moving cross-country without knowing anyone here, randomly taking up rowing, deciding to ride the STP before figuring out if I could even ride a bike farther than a mile or two, quitting my Very Stable Job with no plan other than Do Something Besides This, and signing up for this tri on a whim. Hah! :cool:

(I'm over my whining now. I think some of that was the product of a very long couple of days at work.)

[salsabike]

This will be an excellent warm-up for Snowden hill that is pretty much straight out my back yard. We'll be doing it on the Tri camp weekend. It's a 6 1/2 mile climb at mostly 6 to 8 % I'd guess. It's about a total of 1500 feet of elevation gain in that distance.

Just kidding.;) Well I wasn't kidding about the hill, it is there. I was kidding about making you ride up it.:D:D
Unless of course you want to. Then I'm more than happy to oblige.

Well, just fire up the pickup truck and get the tow rope attached to my Bianchi. Ms. Sadist.


Send me details and I'll be there. :D (I'm actually free on Sunday, so this can totally happen.)

I'm totally down with your Life Philosophy Part B. One of my tattoos is to remind me to do almost exactly that, and placed such that I can't escape seeing it many times a day. I suppose that's why I do things like moving cross-country without knowing anyone here, randomly taking up rowing, deciding to ride the STP before figuring out if I could even ride a bike farther than a mile or two, quitting my Very Stable Job with no plan other than Do Something Besides This, and signing up for this tri on a whim. Hah! :cool:



Yes!!! Will PM info. And I figured you were like that.

[teigyr]

Hrmm....the clinic is sounding like fun.

Anyone up for a small tri on Saturday? It isn't sold out yet, is womens only, and is limited to 500 people. The water looks NICE and will be around 68 deg. I'm actually excited about it.

When I first went to the pool clinic (my only time, actually) I didn't even know how to put on a swim cap :o I had it on backwards meaning the side to side part was forward to back. It was a lesson in humility. That and I was mortified that someone was seeing me in a swimsuit.

I greatly agree with Part B unless it has something to do with Snowden Hill :eek::eek::eek:

[salsabike]

Anyone up for a small tri on Saturday? It isn't sold out yet, is womens only, and is limited to 500 people. The water looks NICE and will be around 68 deg. I'm actually excited about it.

When I first went to the pool clinic (my only time, actually) I didn't even know how to put on a swim cap :o I had it on backwards meaning the side to side part was forward to back. It was a lesson in humility. That and I was mortified that someone was seeing me in a swimsuit.

I greatly agree with Part B unless it has something to do with Snowden Hill :eek::eek::eek:

Wish I was ready, because it sounds like a nice one, but know I'm not yet.

[NbyNW]

Salsa, re: what other newbies are doing:

My goal for my first tri is for 2009. I fractured my sacrum nearly two years ago, and I am still dealing with some soft-tissue trauma and muscle pain in my right hip and lower back. I do pilates 1-2x a week plus my home PT exercises 2-3x a week for that. And lots of stretching.

Getting back to pre-injury fitness is like building a sandcastle. I make a little progress, and then something will flare up which forces me to rest and back off and lose the base I've built.

I've started bike commuting 1-2 times a week, it's about 5 miles each way. Cycling is pretty much the only cardio I've been able to do since my injury. Hoping I can work up to 3-4 times a week by end of summer.

Swimming is a little less convenient. I bought a pass for the city pools, but I can't seem to get to the pool during lap swim hours. Maybe I'll have more energy as the days get longer.

I'm not sure when I'll be ready to start running again. It's partly a question of when my body tells me it's ready, and then I have to get over my fear of doing too much too fast and setting myself back.

This week I'm resting. I had spent Saturday planting seedlings in my garden and woke up Sunday with lots of overly tight muscles in my back and hip. Trouble going from sitting to standing and standing to sitting. Sunday night I took an epsom salt bath, Monday night I took a muscle relaxant, and today I went to see my massage therapist, who did a lot of work around my piriformis, psoas, glutes, and lateral rotaters. I think I have control of my muscles again, but I'm gonna take a couple more days before starting on my next sandcastle.

Where is Juanita Hill?

[MM_QFC!]

Thanks, Wahine. I am having a ton of fun, especially now that I am on vacation from both jobs until late August. I didn't have much vacation the last two years, so for the next month and a half I plan to train and weave. Weave and train. That's IT.

Dex, come to this Sunday's pool clinic with me! That way there will be at least two of us who feel overweight, uncoordinated and dumb. And we'll do it anyway and leave feeling better, which is what happened when I went last week. Remember, I'm 70 pounds overweight. I am just fixedly ignoring any thoughts about how I look.

I have a Part B to my philosophy of life as articulated last year (Part A: If I'm not feeling like an idiot regularly, then I'm just not being adventurous enough), and I actually identified this Part B while driving to the pool clinic last Sunday, having never gone before and feeling pretty nervous about it. Part B (small drumroll) is: Do everything you're afraid of. (Because often it works out well when you actually do it). (no, I don't mean EVERYTHING. I still plan on never sticking my finger into a cobra's mouth, or whatever).

Sadly, I told this Part B to Chris when I got home, all excited, from the pool clinic, and he now thinks I am obligated to go do Juanita Hill on my bike because I said I was afraid of it. Juanita Hill is not steep but it is very, very long, about 2 1/2 miles. It's a favorite among area cyclists. We've done it on the tandem several times. The pool I swim at--which, Dex, is really nice, by the way, in case you want to come there--is WHERE ELSE? Right at the dang top of Juanita Hill. I think that in a few more weeks, I will have to try it.

I'm not usually this yakketty online. It's all the adrenalin.


Hey adrenalin-woman!
Yep, Eleanor Roosevelt is known for advocating your Plan B: "We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot."

I've done Juanita Hill in both directions more times than I can count and you'll do just fine. Yes, it's a bit longer when you ride north from Juanita Beach park, however it's not as steep a grade as riding south, up and over it from the Kenmore side - plus it has some gentle 'shelves' built in and a good-sized bike lane. Just take your time, get in a rhythm, with an easy gear to relax and spin, sit back in your saddle, open up your chest/lungs to breathe freely and roll on up there!
Then when Ms. Sadist Yoda starts yammerin' on about Snowden hill, you can just smile sweetly and impress the he!! out of her!
Tailwinds!
Mary

[Wahine]

Did I mention that I like to pull the wings off of flies.

JK.:p:D

[MM_QFC!]

Did I mention that I like to pull the wings off of flies.

JK.:p:D

You didn't need to...we already assumed that.:D

Hey, good luck and have tons o' fun this weekend yerself!

[salsabike]

Thanks, Jocelyn! It is really interesting to me to hear how and what others are doing. Oddly enough, I met someone yesterday who had fractured her sacrum--a runner. I am sorry for the sandcastle thing---that can be so frustrating! It sounds like you are trying to deal with it with care and patience, which is hard! But good.

Re getting time to swim: I am SO not a morning person. But just before my school year ended, I took to getting up really early to do the bike trainer thing before school, only because I'd spent months saying I'd do it after work but was always way too pooped. Now that I'm on vacation, I can go swim midday, which makes it ridiculously easy to do, of course. It'll be interesting to see what I do with all this when I go back to work in late August. Will I really get up at 5 am again to do stuff that I know I'm too tired to do after work? We'll see....

Juanita Hill: Go up Lake City Way towards Bothell. Turn right on 68th, which becomes Juanita Drive. That becomes Juanita Hill. MM_QFC, I'd be coming at it from the Kenmore side. It would be more fun to try if I wasn't carrying all this extra weight with me. I once had a ballet teacher who, cautioning us not to gain weight over the holiday season, said, "Imagine coming back here to the studio after Christmas and having to dance holding two five-pound sacks of potatoes." It was an image I never forgot. And the sacks of potatoes I'm hauling now are way more than ten pounds' worth. But anyway. I am working on it.

We knew that, Wahine. :D:D:D


Salsa, re: what other newbies are doing:

My goal for my first tri is for 2009. I fractured my sacrum nearly two years ago, and I am still dealing with some soft-tissue trauma and muscle pain in my right hip and lower back. I do pilates 1-2x a week plus my home PT exercises 2-3x a week for that. And lots of stretching.

Getting back to pre-injury fitness is like building a sandcastle. I make a little progress, and then something will flare up which forces me to rest and back off and lose the base I've built.

I've started bike commuting 1-2 times a week, it's about 5 miles each way. Cycling is pretty much the only cardio I've been able to do since my injury. Hoping I can work up to 3-4 times a week by end of summer.

Swimming is a little less convenient. I bought a pass for the city pools, but I can't seem to get to the pool during lap swim hours. Maybe I'll have more energy as the days get longer.

I'm not sure when I'll be ready to start running again. It's partly a question of when my body tells me it's ready, and then I have to get over my fear of doing too much too fast and setting myself back.

This week I'm resting. I had spent Saturday planting seedlings in my garden and woke up Sunday with lots of overly tight muscles in my back and hip. Trouble going from sitting to standing and standing to sitting. Sunday night I took an epsom salt bath, Monday night I took a muscle relaxant, and today I went to see my massage therapist, who did a lot of work around my piriformis, psoas, glutes, and lateral rotaters. I think I have control of my muscles again, but I'm gonna take a couple more days before starting on my next sandcastle.

Where is Juanita Hill?

[MM_QFC!]

Kenmore-shmenmore...you can do it, Salsa! There are pull-outs up that side too, in case you need a break...I don't want to hold you up, but I'd love to ride it with you so, maybe when you're ready, then I may be back on a bike...we'll see!

Yep, Teigyr's doing a sprint tri in Federal Way tomorrow...sounds ideal...women only and a 500 participant cap...Linda and I had a fun quick visit with her at SeaTac last night and she's ready to swim, bike, run!

[dex]

Noooo! Crap. I'm dumb.

So, I was just putting things in my bag for the pool swim clinic tomorrow. (Trying to be all prepared ahead of time and stuff.) Cap? Check. Goggles? Check. Swim towel? Check. Suit? Che...hey! Where's my suit?

After tearing up my bedroom and emptying my drawer of workout clothes, I've come up empty. I have a strong suspicion that I left it at the gym the last time I went swimming, probably actually *in* the little spinny-machine-thingy they have for getting the water out of your stuff.

The last time I tried to go shopping for a swim suit, I couldn't find anything in the store, so I ended up having to order a few online to try on. And, of course, I only kept one and sent back the others. Grrr.

Crap. Crap. Crap. :mad::o

[Wahine]

Bump!!

Just wanted to kick this up to get the dialogue going. T minus 2 weeks (ish).

So Here's what I'm thinking.

Anyone who wants to show up Friday evening is welcome to. I will be home from work by 7 pm. I'll have lots of horror stories to tell about Race Across Oregon, so we'll have no shortage of things to chat about.

Sat - ride, variable lengths and difficulties. I've dealt with plenty of beginner groups and as much as I like to tease I promise not to kill anyone, (I may sneak out early to hit some hard hills before the group workout, that'll take the tigger factor down a notch). Then maybe a light form workout for the run and/or the swim, depending on what folks want to do. I have the perfect spot for an OWS, so bring your wetsuit!!

Sun - brick/transition work day. I imagine lots of people will want to head back Sun afternoon so we'll be sure to be done by early PM. I will have to do a long run on Sunday in the afternoon after the brick workout, so anyone who wants to stay to do part of the run with me (either running or riding) is welcome to it.

Accommodation... I can easily sleep 6 people in my house without any extra gear except for sleeping bags for the last 2 to sign up. 4 of those sleeping spots would be in a bed shared with someone else, ones a king and the other a double. Then I have 2 singles in the main room of the house. First come first served. I have tons of tent space and lots of parking for anyone who wants to sleep in a vehicle. Sprocket's mom, who lives across the river has kindly agreed to allow anyone to tent at her place that wants to. She'll also be helping with the rides etc.

I'm pretty excited.

Please let me know if you're in and I'll send out directions. It would be good if people could car pool as well.

Looking forward!!

[salsabike]

I am absolutely in!

Plan to post a long training update soon...

And thanks again.

[teigyr]

I'm in, and thank you :D I don't know if I have a sleeping bag or not (our camping stuff co-existed with Very Bad Cats who did Very Bad Things for a while) but I am perfectly ok on the floor.

I'm good for whatever ride is going on. I have a pretty hill friendly compact double, my only limitation is me. It dawned on me the other day I have run 530 miles this year and only ridden about 150?! I'm usually ok on inclines if my legs can handle it (ie if I'm strong enough, I'm good for the whole hill but if it's too steep, my climbing legs aren't really there).

I'd love to run with you on part of the long run but I am betting I am way too slow. We will see?

For the rest of the PNW people, if I take my car, it's limited to one bike which would probably be mine. If I take DH's truck (which he might be agreeable to) it's good for two people and two bikes. It's a spartan kind of truck, just be forewarned. I'm good with carpooling. I'm off on fridays so going down friday might be easier than waking up early on Saturday. I also work late on monday so I really have no concrete time frame for Sunday.

Wahine, what do you need? I can pick up anything on the way.

Salsa, nice to see you :D I can't wait to hear about your training, I was thinking about you and wondering if you went to the running clinics yet.

[NbyNW]

Still hoping I'll be able to be there.

I'm currently carless -- our rear differential failed massively on our way back from Yellowstone last weekend.

Will keep you posted.

[salsabike]

I'm in, and thank you :D I don't know if I have a sleeping bag or not (our camping stuff co-existed with Very Bad Cats who did Very Bad Things for a while) but I am perfectly ok on the floor.

For the rest of the PNW people, if I take my car, it's limited to one bike which would probably be mine. If I take DH's truck (which he might be agreeable to) it's good for two people and two bikes. It's a spartan kind of truck, just be forewarned. I'm good with carpooling. I'm off on fridays so going down friday might be easier than waking up early on Saturday. I also work late on monday so I really have no concrete time frame for Sunday.

Wahine, what do you need? I can pick up anything on the way.

Salsa, nice to see you :D I can't wait to hear about your training, I was thinking about you and wondering if you went to the running clinics yet.

I have an extra sleeping bag if we need it.

THAT'S the long story---the running thing---and it's why I've been so quiet the last two weeks. Short version: LOVED the chi running workshop---but probably already had a stress fracture in 2nd metatarsal/right foot before I took the workshop. Was put in wrong running shoes a month before that forced me to walk on the outsides of my feet, and while I don't doubt my weight made me more vulnerable more quickly, I think it would not have happened without those shoes. Bad stupid podiatrist; good smart physical therapist who figured it out about the shoes. SO--I am back to walking the run for this year. Was pretty upset last week; have more or less come to terms with it in last couple of days, so was planning to post an update soon.

More later. All else going fine.


Still hoping I'll be able to be there.

I'm currently carless -- our rear differential failed massively on our way back from Yellowstone last weekend.

Will keep you posted.

Jocelyn, I have a two-bike rack for my car, so you could come with me if you want. Teigyr, ditto.

I was thinking Friday night also, and thinking about food/etc.

PS Have lost 10-12 pounds in last month or so. Long way to go, but fine start.

[Wahine]

Too bad about the stress fracture!! :(:( Yippee on the weight loss!!!!:D:D

I'm thinking of a really mellow group dinner either Fri or Sat. We can prep at the house and buy stuff during the day for salad, pasta and chicken or something like that. Easy but healthy and many hands make light work of course. Ed will be working at a wine dinner Saturday night so that might be a good option.

[Sprocket's Mom]

Who wants fresh baked rolls with white cheddar and fresh rosemary??:D I'll share if you will!!!

[Wahine]

Awwwwwwwww!!!!! It's a pic of Scribbles!!

Bring on the buns and cheese SM! It wouldn't be a party without 'em.:D:D

[NbyNW]

Who wants fresh baked rolls with white cheddar and fresh rosemary??:D I'll share if you will!!!

That sounds heavenly . . . can we turn this into a potluck?

Salsa, I may take you up on that ride offer . . . we'll figure out this week what our situation is. Sounds like we may have at least a 10-day wait just for the new differential to arrive, so DH and I need to figure out if we're going to get a loaner or if we can do without for a couple of weeks.

Oh, and take good care of that foot.

I felt really good scurrying across the street during my lunch break today . . . I'm thinking to try out a lite lite lite run on a squishy synthetic track someplace this weekend. Feeling pretty confident . . .

[Wahine]

We could turn this ino a potluck, I just didn't want people to feel like they have to pack and bring stuff. We'll have time to consult and pick up groceries on Saturday afternoon, we can split the cost and cook together. Or people can bring things. I live in a small town (3500) with a reasonably stocked Thriftway and a great local fruitstand/produce type place. So it would be a very low stress venture for us to do things on Saturday. But if people would rather bring things with them that fine too. We can take inventory on Saturday and suppliment as needed.

[kelownagirl]

What day are you guys getting together?

[dex]

I still want to come down. I won't know how much I'll be able to do--as far as the workouts go--until closer to the day, though. (Having lots of issues, assessing everything on a day-by-day basis.)

[Wahine]

Come Dex!! you'll have fun and a lot of what we'll do wil be chatting about how to handle transitions etc. and form. All of which you can benefit from even if you don't workout. :)

KG - We'll get together on Fri July 25, evening, workouts on Sat and Sun. I imagine the group will start to break up Sunday afternoon so people can get back home and ready for work on Monday.

And about Sat evening. I forgot that a friend of mine (cyclist) is having a post Summit to Surf (big ride around here) party and we are all invited. So we could do that for dinner. I'll get more details. He's a sweety, previous Cat 1 rider and his wife is a doll. They live on a lovely farm with horses not to far away.

[salsabike]

Yeah, Dex! We want you there.

Could someone just please tell me it'll be okay if I have to do a combo of freestyle and sidestroke through my 800 yard swim? I'm not sure I'm gonna get the freestyle breathing down well enough to do it the whole 800.

By the way, MM_QFC, I would LOVE to take you up on your Juanita Hill offer. And I'll be happy to wait till you're ready, because the less extra weight I have to take up that hill, the better. You are a doll for offering and I know damn well we'd have fun!

[teigyr]

Salsa, YES it's ok. That is my uneducated feeling. I think it's ok to do whatever you have to do to finish. This coming from the person who did rest on buoys last year...but managed to swim the whole thing on my tri this past June :D

And Dex, it would be great if you could come.

[Wahine]

Salsa - yes, it's fine you can do what ever stroke you want. In fact I have friends that will do a whole swim (sprint length) doing breast stroke.

FYI - I won't be on TE much over the next week. I've got guests at the house and then I'll be crewing for RAO on the weekend. I'm going to PM out some directions, hopefully before this weekend coming up, but if you don't get them, have no fear, I'll get them to you before next week. :D:D

[SBR]

I'm a very infrequent poster/lurker, but just wanted to say "thanks" for being part of "Athletes for a Cure"- my 43-yr old husband was diagnosed w/ prostate cancer in February (no family history or risk factors- he's an athlete himself!) and underwent surgery to remove the prostate last month. I'm happy to report that he's doing great! I raised money for AFAC by racing in IMAZ this past April- I think it's an awesome organization. Do you know someone that had/has PC?
Colleen V.

[Wahine]

Interestingly enough.... I have only one rather far removed blood relative that has had prostate cancer and my FIL. But my family is riddled with lots of different types of cancer. Who I do know is the brain(s) behind Athletes for a Cure and they brought me into the fold. Since becoming involved with AFAC, I've learned a lot about prostate cancer and the organization and I can't think of anyone else I'd rather support at the moment. Thanks for the kind words.\ and thanks for helping AFAC.

[MM_QFC!]

By the way, MM_QFC, I would LOVE to take you up on your Juanita Hill offer. And I'll be happy to wait till you're ready, because the less extra weight I have to take up that hill, the better. You are a doll for offering and I know damn well we'd have fun!


Hey Salsa - you bet, I'd love to ride it with you...I am not 'cleared' to ride yet, but will assume that I can look forward to riding it with you before toooooo much longer...I'm planning on doing the Chuckanut ride too, in mid-September, but probably the 25 or 50 mile loop...right, Teigyr??


Hey everyone - have a blast with Wahine; you'll all be superwomen after a weekend being worked over - er, out! - by Yoda!
Tailwinds!
Mary

[teigyr]

...I'm planning on doing the Chuckanut ride too, in mid-September, but probably the 25 or 50 mile loop...right, Teigyr??

Mary

YES! We haven't registered yet but just keep me posted. If you go, I'll go :D

I wonder if Knot's doing it also?

[Wahine]

I will be sending directions to the house out on Tues. So far the plan is to send to Salsa, teigyr, jocelyn and dex. (sorry if I spelt anything wrong... I am extremely sleep deprived at the mo.

If anyone needs to be added to the list, PM me.

[KnottedYet]

YES! We haven't registered yet but just keep me posted. If you go, I'll go :D

I wonder if Knot's doing it also?

I intend to. Haven't registered yet.

[salsabike]

Hey, guys. Could everyone who's coming say so, so we can organize the driving part?

Knot, you sure you don't want to come as general advisor and all-around fun person?

[teigyr]

I am going :D

Depending on what time we ride on saturday, I might be bikeless for the drive down Friday. If we're riding on or after noon, DH can bring my bike down Saturday. He's working late on friday night but can make it down by 12 Saturday. If that's the case, I'd like to (if I could) hitch a ride down with someone on friday so we're not taking two cars back home on Sunday. I can help pay for gas, of course.

DH also offered to carry anything down that would require a truck.

Oh, and DH is going (if that's still ok) but he won't get there until Saturday and will be driving himself.

Wahine, do you need anything?

[NbyNW]

Still want to go . . . still carless.

Salsa, are you still good for a ride? I'm MORE than happy to pay for gas.

[kelownagirl]

Wish I could come but I'll be camping down in Osoyoos. Why don't you guys do a long ride up for a visit? :D

[Wahine]

I can't wait to regale you all with tales of Race Across Oregon. It was amazing.

So I don't need anything except all of you with happy faces and great attitudes.:D:D

I just got home from the RAO banquet and desperately need to go to bed. So I'll post more later and send out directions and phone numbers tomorrow.

Sleep tight.:D

[dex]

I'm going. As of right now, I'm not sure what time I'm going to be able to leave here on Friday. (Wrapping up a project with a client, so my schedule at the end of the week is a little up in the air.)

[salsabike]

Jocelyn, the offer is definitely still open! We can settle on a time in the next day or so. You might want to PM me with your email, phone number, etc.

So...brief training update, too. Since Friday, here's what I've done:

Friday: OWS practice with Teigyr. 1200 yards. Although stopped every 75 yards, probably.
Saturday: 60 mile tandem ride around Lake WA with small group
Sunday: Mary Meyer pool clinic. I love these. They are so good for me and they're really fun.
Monday/yesterday: OWS practice. 1350 yards? And probably stopped every 135 yards. But starting to work out a sustainable MO: 20 strokes of freestyle, 4-6 of sidestroke, 20 of freestyle, etc. I just know there is some THING I am missing about establishing a sustainable breathing pattern in freestyle. So I'll just keep working on it and hope to benefit from others' knowledge.

Tomorrow: pool swim, to reinforce latest lesson from Sunday (BEND YOUR ELBOW IN UNDERWATER PART OF STROKE!).
Thursday: OWS practice.
Friday: Maybe the Uphill Grind. Was going to do that today but think a total day off might be good. Am a little pooped.

Am just not walking long distances until the day of Danskin, when I expect to be able to walk three miles with no trouble. The doc--the nice one, not the idiot podiatrist--said that the stress fracture would not require a walking boot, but just stiff soles, to allow it to heal. I got carbon fiber insoles, very stiff, and am walking with no pain, which he says is the cue to knowing that healing has started (and vice versa, I'm sure).

Last week was with friends in Lake Chelan Tuesday-Thursday, a little Lake Chelan swim (and I do mean little, like 70 yards). Did my first OWS clinic that previous Saturday--first swim in wetsuit, first swim in crowd--and was a little discouraged by it. Then drove to Portland to meet Chris at STP finish line, came back Sunday, did pool swim Monday before going to Chelan. So...will be revving up the swim practice for next four weeks, with two OWS and I hope two pool days a week. I can do this since the bike part is not a big issue and the run is, for me, moot. I don't THINK I'm crazy, but am really sure I can do a half mile swim if I can do the freestyle/sidestroke switching. But would SO like to get over this freestyle-breathing hump.

[NbyNW]

My car came home tonight!

But looking forward to sharing ride with Salsa . . . DH can have the car for the weekend so he can do all the chores that we couldn't get done without the car.

Training update: Rode the Dahon to work a record number of times while the car was out of commission these last two weeks. Also got in weekend riding in the form of biking several miles to/from Pilates and to/from grocery store/farmers market.

Hip feels ready to start some light running, except I did an awkward dismount from the bike on my way home on Monday and pulled an upper quad. Right by the "good" hip. The pull isn't high enough to be the hip flexor, but I've been taking it easy the last couple of days.

Today: massage. Very critical part of training!

Wahine, how are the temps where you are?

I don't have a wetsuit but I have a suit that I've used for kayaking -- keeps the wind out, is kinda splashproof, and I have swum in it -- it lets the cold water in but I warm up again immediately as soon as I'm out of the water.

[Wahine]

Water temps are mid 60's, a kayaking wetsuit will be just fine. And the air temps are typically very comfortable this time of year. Check here for forcast (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=98672). These guys seem to get it right more often than many of the other websites. It looks like the wind is even going to co-operate more or less. That's saying something here in The Gorge.

[salsabike]

We are aiming to follow all instructions--should be rolling by 2 pm, will call, look forward to bistro! Hope bistro will let us bring our bikes there to leave during dinner....

[Wahine]

They will let you leave them on the deck outside the door but I don't think you could bring them in. You park right on 6th street we would be able to watch the bikes from the patio (assuming we can get seats outside). Otherwise, we can go up to the clinic and drop the bikes off there and pick them up after.

[MM_QFC!]

I hope you all have an absolute blast this weekend - eh, except Wahine, as we know that if the Yoda/superwoman/sicko coach in you has a blast, then it means that my buddies will be pushed to their limits! :eek:
Make it fun, Yoda...take pics...have tons o' fun...and we wanna hear all about it from the survivors, k? :D

[kelownagirl]

How's it going? Are ya having fun yet? Oh wait, it's only Thursday. OK, post some pics tomorrow k?

[salsabike]

How's it going? Are ya having fun yet? Oh wait, it's only Thursday. OK, post some pics tomorrow k?

Too bad you couldn't come, kiddo! That would've been real cool.


I hope you all have an absolute blast this weekend - eh, except Wahine, as we know that if the Yoda/superwoman/sicko coach in you has a blast, then it means that my buddies will be pushed to their limits! :eek:
Make it fun, Yoda...take pics...have tons o' fun...and we wanna hear all about it from the survivors, k? :D

And as for you, Ms. MM_QFC--you seem to be enjoying that prospect JUST A LITTLE TOO HEARTILY. :D:D:D

Will report all.

[jesvetmed]

I'm so jealous! Everyone have a great time and work hard, report back. I'll be working 40 hours over the next three nights...:( Getting my butt kicked by Wahine sounds like a lot more fun, but just doesn't pay as well!

[Wahine]

You gals are soooooo fortunate. I am actually on rest orders right now, so that means all I get to do is ride really light and boss you all around. No need to worry about keeping up with me. :D

We're goinig to have a blast. Starting out tonight with a good selection of food, beers on tap and wine. That's my kind of triathlon.:cool:

[dex]

Whee! I've just finished a long, slow breakup with a client. I'm now free to eat some lunch then load up my car and start meandering south. And put on sunscreen...mustn't forget the sunscreen. Oh, and print out directions...mustn't forget those, either.

[salsabike]

Whee! I've just finished a long, slow breakup with a client. I'm now free to eat some lunch then load up my car and start meandering south. And put on sunscreen...mustn't forget the sunscreen. Oh, and print out directions...mustn't forget those, either.

Congrats on the breakup, Dex!

See you at the bistro. Drive safe. (I have to say again: nice car!)

[Veronica]

Have a great time you guys! I seriously considered joining you, but couldn't quite justify the gas.

Don't let Wahine mangle you too much. :D And be sure to tell us all about your cool adventures.

V.

[Wahine]

Day one completed. No one is dead yet. :D:D

[kelownagirl]

Day one completed. No one is dead yet. :D:D

Any pictures yet? I've been packing all day, heading to Osoyoos tomorrow. Guess I'll have to wait until next weekend so hear how it turns out. I wish I was there!!

[Wahine]

Oh yes!! There will be pictures!!

We won't be posting for a little while. Still busy.

Eggs for breaky this AM and everyone is pretty hungry for some reason. I can't understand why.;)

[Wahine]

We had 2 great days. We did a track workout running with drills and warm-up Saturday AM, then rode a picturesque flattish route late Sat AM, lunch at a lovely cafe with fantastic gourmet woodfire pizzas, then chatting at the house about tri. Salsa and Dex allowed me to cut the legs on their wetsuits which was strangely quite fun. Then out for a short OWS to work on sighting and a few drills.

Today we had a great breaky thanks in part to Teigyr who scambled eggs for us. Then out for a full sprint OWS and transition parctice. Everyone did really well, in spite of some wind and sighting difficulties!!:D:D:D They even managed to get the transitions down to less than 2 min on our second go round. I was really pleased!!:D:D:D

Everyone survived but Dex's knee got sore.:( Salsa managed to finish the swim even with an achy shoulder, she just held back a bit and took it easy. Very smart training.

Then it was off for authentic Mexican to make sure everyone had enough food to get them through the drive home.

They should be home soon. Check in when you can.:)

Thanks for coming down and thanks for my Pansy starter kit.:eek::D

[dex]

Home. Showered. So not unpacked. Man, my hair is a mess and of course there's no dye in the house to fix it. And my shoulders are *way* brown.

Had a great time. Thanks for tolerating my slowpokey-ness, everyone! And thanks for putting us up in your gorgeous home and being so giving of your time, knowledge and energy to us, Wahine! :D

I think I'm going to settle in with some Llamas and Empanadas and veg out for the rest of the evening.

[teigyr]

Thank you very much, Wahine!

We are home now and showered. The unpacking can wait.

Here are some pictures. I'll wait for permission before I show the *good* pictures :D

[salsabike]

Home, showered, unpacked, REALLY pretty dopey. Although I did not mistake any more restroom soap dispensers for my water bottle. :D:p:D

More tomorrow. What a great group and weekend. Wahine, I can't thank you enough. It was fabulous and fun and good work! Next time, maybe the red tutu for thanks.

More tomorrow! Zzzzzzzzzzzzz..........

[NbyNW]

Home, fed, showered, and laundering stinky clothes. Legs are stiff and sore after the drive home . . . "I accomplished something this weekend"-kind of sore :)

Thanks Wahine for so generously sharing yor knowledge and opening your home to us!

Salsa, Teigyr an Dex - Learned lots from each of you as well! Really enjoyed this weekend with such great company.

And a big thanks to Dex for the wetsuit! Hope the knee starts to feel better soon . . .

[crazycanuck]

Great job! Thanks Wahine for showing the loverly Seattle ladies some good points!

I hope you guys to well at your next tri's!

More photooos pwease :)

[tygab]

Wow, I think I need friends to train with after seeing these....

Can someone explain the wet suit leg cutting? Thanks.

And more pics please!

[Wahine]

Wow!! that cell phone shot of Mt. Adams actually turned out really well. Cool.

The wetsuit leg cutting was done to "tailor" the wetsuits to some of our relatively shorter legged gals. They got their suits on, I marked them so they would end at about 2 inches above the ankles, we cut them off and sealed the edges with patch kit rubber glue. Worked great. Got rid of the bunched up neoprene behind the knees and now the suits are a length that's easier to get off in transition.

[mimitabby]

so who is in those photos. I recognize Jocelyn.. but the two tall gals, are you Teigyer and Knot?

[Wahine]

Teigyr is closest, I'm in the red suit.

[tygab]

The wetsuit leg cutting was done to "tailor" the wetsuits to some of our relatively shorter legged gals. They got their suits on, I marked them so they would end at about 2 inches above the ankles, we cut them off and sealed the edges with patch kit rubber glue. Worked great. Got rid of the bunched up neoprene behind the knees and now the suits are a length that's easier to get off in transition.

Thanks for the answer, sounds like I might benefit from this. I have to step on my suit legs to get my feet out and I've wondered if the legs were supposed to be that long.

[salsabike]

Jocelynlf and Teigyr and I drove down together on Friday. Just getting ourselves out of town was an adventure. I put my bike rack and bike on my car. Picked up J, added her bike to my rack and put HER 3-bike rack in the back seat. Picked up T. Took off MY 2-bike rack, left it in T’s kitchen for the weekend, and put on J’s 3-bike rack. Then we spent, oh, about 30 minutes or so trying to figure out how to get J’s bike on the last position on the bike rack---we just couldn’t get it all the way on without some other bike appendage getting in its way. Then she had an inspiration, took off her rear wheel, put the bike on the rack, put the rear wheel back on. We bungeed where necessary. Left Seattle at 3 pm, an hour later than we’d wanted to.

We were planning to meet Wahine for dinner at 6:30. Hahahahaha. It took us THREE hours to drive the first 60 miles, stop and go allllllllllll the way to Olympia. Ugh. Friday, nice weekend, rush hour—which starts at, like, 2:00-3:00 pm on Fridays in Seattle summertime. Whoof. So, dinner, instead of a nice bistro meal in Hood River, was a 6” Subway on the road. We finally got to Wahine’s at 9:30.

Here are the things that stand out in my memory:

Saturday: A bit into the bike ride, Wahine offered us a hill to go up if we wanted to, probably a mile and a half long at a steady 6% grade. We all tried it, came close to finishing it, and some of us then obsessed for the rest of the weekend about going back and doing it again since we were so close to finishing it. We didn’t, but we WANTED to. We still do...

The post-lunch wetsuit-donning party at her house. It takes a certain amount of guts to put on and swim in a wetsuit for the first time, which was the case for some (I’ve been doing it for a few weeks), and/or to do the wetsuit thing if you’re, like, a lot bigger than you used to be and want to be, like me. And...you do it anyway, because you WANT to do a tri and you think you really can. “Slow Fat Triathlete” is my bible for this year. Do it no matter how you look...laughing all the way...so that’s what I’m doing, dammit. No matter what. Trudge. Trudge. Trudge.

Sunday:

Doing the full sprint-sized OWS. It was nice to confirm that I can do this—I was pretty sure I could, but hadn’t done the full length yet—and also nice to know that it won’t take me, like, 45 minutes to do it, which was sort of my little nightmarish fear. I’m not positive about this, but I think it took us about 18 minutes, maybe? For me, one of the “just want to finish my first tri” folks, that’s okay with me. This time, anyway.

“Where the hell is that damn BUOY????” :eek::D:eek:

Getting to run through transition stuff for the first time and realizing how logical and sorta easy it is if you just set it all up right.

Zipping around the parking lot on the little bike loops we were doing on Sunday. The Gorge is a windy place, so you get to work yourself on the headwinds and fly on the tailwinds. Yeah!!!

Marching into the restroom after the OWS and little bike loop, on my “run” (which for me is just a walk this time), putting my water bottle on the sink, doing the restroom thing, washing my hands, and trying to pull off the oblong soap dispenser attached (firmly, I might add) to the wall because I thought it was my water bottle. :p:p Proof that this kind of activity can make you a little addled in the head, or anyway, more addled than your previous addlement threshold.

The Pansy starter kit story. Pansy Palmetto is a Bike Journal person. Last year, she and Raleighdon (Mimitabby’s husband) got into this nutty competition to see who could make 8000 miles first (he did, but only because her knee blew out a few hundred miles short of 8000, I believe). They spent the whole year trash-talking at each other on Bike Journal and were pretty funny to read. Pansy: 1) has a lot of guts, for reasons you’ll instantly grasp if you visit her page (http://www.bikejournal.com/profiles.asp?rname=PansyPalmetto), and 2) she likes red lipstick and wild cycling costumes a LOT. So, since Wahine asked us not to bring any serious thank you presents, and she really meant that, instead we brought her a little Pansy starter kit so she could be well dressed at her next Ironman. :D:D:D You’ll see a pic of that too.

Wahine and spouse’s house---beautiful, intelligently designed, just wonderful. Even got to see the red Chinese tables she talked about last year!

Wahine---so really good to give us this weekend out of her life. Teigyr, Dex, Jocelyn, Teigyr and Wahine spouses---good company.

And then.... some of us went swimming today, just for a bit, and practiced the sighting technique Wahine showed us--which, by the way, is really useful and very do-able.

Wonder if I might want to do ANOTHER tri after Danskin?? :eek:

[colby]

Secret buoy sighting techniques, wetsuit cutting, great food, and fun? When's the next one? ;)

[NbyNW]

Wonder if I might want to do ANOTHER tri after Danskin??

I'm seriously considering the Subaru event, and it's not right after Danskin-- it's the first weekend of September, so there's plenty of recovery time in between events!

A few details to add to Salsa's account:

Saturday started with some running drills. Wahine taught us a dynamic warmup and then sent us around the track a bunch of times. It was my first run in two years :eek: Good thing the track was nice and squishy.

Dex brought an extra wetsuit that seemed to have taken up residence in her closet and said she thought it might fit me. I thought it might fit around one of my legs. I felt like I was back in the 80's trying to put on a pair of Jordache jeans that were 5 sizes too small. I'm amazed I didn't pull a muscle just trying to get it on. In the end I needed some help, and as long as I can breathe when it's all zipped up, I'm golden.:p

On Sunday Sprocketsmom and another local tri girl stopped by to show us around the course during out little mock tri. After doing the course twice, I'm STARVING. Good thing tasty Mexican food was not far away.

I feel way more confident after this weekend that this tri goal is within reach. The legs are very sore today, but that's to be expected. What I'm really happy about is that my back and hip are not complaining . . . . at least not any louder than the major muscle groups in my legs. So I'm actually feeling very proud of the muscle soreness that I've worked so hard for!

[salsabike]

Sprocketsmom is a kick.

[teigyr]

Sprocketsmom was great :D

I have to say our tri helpers made running look very easy. Hrrrm....

Thanks Jocelyn and Salsa for posting a recap of the weekend. The company was fantastic, the food was yummy, and the location and hosts were perfect. We are all very lucky PNW people.

Here's another picture. It is HRH Wahine adorned in tiara and whip...er...scepter :D She has that "I just woke up and always look this good" gift. Seriously.

[MM_QFC!]

You are now gnarly-girl triathletes trained by Wahine the wonderful (or wicked, depending on her diabolical training tendencies!)...ready to torpedo through open water, make smooth transitions in a single bound, pedal strong on your ride leg, then get those quads to settle down quickly for your walk/run...to gracefully glide under that FINISH line banner, arms raised triumphantly...ta da!
Looks and sounds like a terrific time; I'm glad for all of you...cool beans, ladies!
Tailwinds!
Mary

[alpinerabbit]

I'm pretty darn envious of you girls, that sounds like such a great time...

[NbyNW]

So inspired to hear of everyone's recent races . . . . plus the fact that I was able to walk away from Wahine's boot camp without aggravating any injuries

. . . I've signed up for the Sept. 7th Sprint in Federal Way.

. . . now I just gotta get myself on a training schedule. Especially with the running and the swimming.

If all goes well I should be pretty comfortable with the run/swim distances a week before the race. Worst case, I'll just be a slow-poke.

Good luck to everyone who is doing Danskin next week!

[salsabike]

Yeah! Go, Jocelyn! I love it.

[dex]

Yay! :D

[Wahine]

Jocelyn!! I'm so happy to hear this. You'll do fantastic. It's amazing how you've recovered and how well you did the other weekend. Awwwwww, it's like watching a child graduate.:D:D:D

[teigyr]

Jocelyn, you will LOVE it!!!

Is anyone else going to Subaru? It's at a fantastic place for spectators too. It really will spoil you for other ones.

[salsabike]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! Teigyr is a tri pusher. "C'mere, little girl...I have a USAT application just for you...it's on sale this month..."

i might do subaru

[teigyr]

Subaru AND USAT are on sale. It's a sign.

Oh yeah. You know you want to do it.

[Wahine]

You know... she sent me a link to the new Garmin. Definitely an enabler.;)

[NbyNW]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! Teigyr is a tri pusher. "C'mere, little girl...I have a USAT application just for you...it's on sale this month..."

i might do subaru

She's hooked . . . just gotta reel 'er in!

[salsabike]

"This email confirms that we have processed your USA Triathlon membership."

"Congratulations! You have successfully registered for the 2008 US Women's Triathlon Series - Federal Way."

I HOPE YOU'RE ALL HAPPY NOW.


I had no idea I was so EASY. What a pushover.


PS Wahine, I told Chris to get a Garmin 705 just before RAMROD. They're REAL COOL.

Just sharing the enabling love...

[KnottedYet]

I would love to come cheer you guys on for the Subaru in Federal Way!

[salsabike]

I would love to come cheer you guys on for the Subaru in Federal Way!

Hey, that would be nice. We miss you.

[dex]

I HOPE YOU'RE ALL HAPPY NOW.



Hah! Of course we are. :p :cool:

Oh, and as I told Salsa and Teigyr this morning...I've been signed up for the Federal Way for awhile. It's been my Danskin Backup Plan. :o :)

[teigyr]

Federal Way is a great race. The bike course has a few hills but it's not bad at all. Last year I actually passed someone on a hill and she was riding a Cervelo! I think it's my favorite bike course so far. The run is two loops and you go through the park (the start and finish) for the second loop so it's good for spectators.

You will have SO much fun. I'm going to be at the Iron Girl 10K on that day or else I'd join you either as a participant or spectator.

This is exciting :D:D:D And congrats, Salsa!

There's an easy sprint tri the week after Danskin too. 400M swim, flat bike course, I haven't signed up but would gleefully allow myself to be enabled.

mmmm....Garmin. Speaking of. One of these days.

[NbyNW]

There's an easy sprint tri the week after Danskin too. 400M swim, flat bike course, I haven't signed up but would gleefully allow myself to be enabled.


Enabling here: you can do it! you know you want to.

I'm so glad others are signing up for the Federal Way race! I know I won't get lost on the bike leg because I'll be chasing salsa and dex.

[dex]

Just a bit of randomness...

Yesterday, while rummaging through my sock bag (I have a huge mesh bag where mismatched socks go to die), I managed to find my cycling socks with skulls on the bands. I thought I'd lost them last year during the post-STP shower/change rush.

This means that I'll have skulls on my face (um, goggles) during the swim and skulls on my feet during the bike and run. Yay! I <3 skulls. :D:cool:

(It's the silly stuff that excites me most, clearly.)

And, yes, I'm still planning on doing the Danskin. At the very least, I'll show up and start then just see what happens from there. The mushiness and instability I've been feeling in my knee for the last couple of weeks has faded by about half, so if I continue to be careful with it, I'm guessing it'll be pretty normal (or as close to "normal" as it gets for me) on Sunday. I'm sure the swim will be fine--slow, but fine. I don't anticipate huge issues with the bike, so the question mark is really around the run (walk) after getting off the bike. *shrug* I won't know until I try, so try I will.

(Ok, I suppose I should get back to work now...*sigh*)

[salsabike]

Yay! How cool! Skulls AND your presence, both.


In which case, we will also PM or email you re the Saturday night pre-race dinner---you, me, Teigyr, Jes, and Jes' friend. Anyone else we missed for this, please let us know...

[kelownagirl]

Yay! How cool! Skulls AND your presence, both.


In which case, we will also PM or email you re the Saturday night pre-race dinner---you, me, Teigyr, Jes, and Jes' friend. Anyone else we missed for this, please let us know...

Didn't Knot sign up for the Danskin Tri??

[Wahine]

Yay Dex!!!

I think Knotted did sign up but she decided not to do it after all.:(

[KnottedYet]

Nope, not doing it.

I've signed up 3 times, only done it once. (the first time) I don't think I'll sign up again. But I am interested in the Subaru one for next year.

[NbyNW]

Dex,

I got a skull & crossbones flag that you can drape across your shoulders for your victory lap
:D

[teigyr]

Yay Dex :D

Knot, I think you would like Subaru. Another good one is that Five Mile Lake Women's Tri that is in June. 400M swim, only 300 participants (this year, the limit is 500), and good parking made it a lot of fun. I didn't get a lot of STUFF from it but still, it had a fun and supportive atmosphere.

Jocelyn, I wish you could be there this weekend but I know you'll love Subaru. I never did sign up for Lake Sammamish but I think I will next year. I've got so many events going in and out of my head (and that I have pending) I know I am being scattered about the whole thing. Thanks for the enabling though :D I will definitely take you up on it another time.

Hey Dex, are you joining us on Saturday for a lovely pre-race meal?

KG, I'm sorry you are so far away. Would be impractical to drive down just for food but we will eat/drink in your honor.

[dex]

I can do dinner on Saturday. My only other plans are laundry and sleep. Heh. :)

[Wahine]

Wow!! I can't believe it's finally here. I can't wait to see how you all do. I wish I could be there but I don't think I can handle another travel weekend. I've been way too busy. So I will cheer you on from afar...:D:D

[jesvetmed]

Looking forward to meeting everyone Saturday.

Did you all find out what time you have to be there Saturday? I'm #1836, so 12 to 2pm I think.

Are they actually keeping our bikes overnight? This makes me a bit uneasy. Hmmm.... I can see there are a lot of us to check in, but that's also a lot of bikes to have racked and protect for 24 hours.


KG, I'm sorry you are so far away. Would be impractical to drive down just for food but we will eat/drink in your honor.
I'll eat and drink without a reason any time, but glad to have a good excuse for this weekend! Here's to KG! :p

We'll try and make you proud, Wahine!

[salsabike]

Thanks, Wahine! I think I will just try to keep in mind how much fun I've had training for this, so it seems like I should have a chunk of fun actually DOING it as well, and, then...try to be quick where I can.


Best of luck, all who are racing this weekend, and have a good time!

[salsabike]

And one more thing---

I made a date at my favorite local spa for Monday---"healing waters" treatment, massage. PM me if you want to know the spa--they're quite wonderful.

See ALL Y'ALL at dinner Saturday!

PS Bib number 695, pickup 9am-10am.

[colby]

Are they actually keeping our bikes overnight? This makes me a bit uneasy. Hmmm.... I can see there are a lot of us to check in, but that's also a lot of bikes to have racked and protect for 24 hours.

Yeah, you do leave your bike overnight. I don't think they've had any problems. I am pretty sure they have security the entire time, too. It is a pretty well-ran race. :)

[teigyr]

Saturday was race packet pick-up and bike drop off. Despite my aversion to spending the day standing in line and driving, I think Danskin did a great job of lessening the impact of such a huge race. The expo was ok and there was a surprisingly lovely amount of free stuff that could be had.

Saturday night was our dinner. I only have one picture from that; this is us looking tough. They bodymarked us on Saturday so we got the pleasure of walking around with big numbers on our arms. Mine also came off a bit on my sheets, I woke up to an imprint of my race # on the bottom sheet.

On race morning, we were instructed to park offsite and a bus would drive us to the start. We left our house at 4:30am and were on a school bus before 5:30am. All the way down to the parking structure, we saw lightning! It turns out that there was quite a bit of lightning that morning but fortunately it stopped in time for the race.

The transition area was huge. I felt bad about my T1 transition being 6 minutes but then I looked at everyone else's results and that appeared to be right around average. There was quite a long trek from the swim finish to my bike and for those who had a shorter distance, there was a long distance from the bike to the timing mat for the ride. My T2 time was about 2 minutes which kind of made up for T1.

The swim was ok. It was crowded and I was kicked quite a bit. I swam freestyle the whole way but there were those who stopped to breaststroke and there is nothing like being kicked by a breaststroke kick. I tried to be aware and not kick anyone myself until a few people from the wave after me swam OVER me. I figured by that point I'd stop trying to avoid people and try to politely do what I had to do. I am not all that strong of a swimmer but I don't get that tired and I go a fairly steady pace. I ended up passing people and trying to work my way through holes in the crowd.

I wrote my transition spot on my wrist so I didn't lose my bike this time. Transition spots were letters then numbers for the rack.

The bike had a sketchy part where the road narrowed and riders had to make some sharp turns and go up a hill. I was fortunate in that I could squeeze by and stay on my bike. The volunteers were so great about telling people to shift and get off the bike before the hill if they couldn't make it but I think a lot of people ended up stopping where they were so riders that could've made the turn and hill had to stop so they didn't run into someone who stopped suddenly. We did the same bit for back down the turn and hill and I did get stuck behind someone who was intimidated by it. Some people tried to pass and cut in front but I figured it wasn't worth risking an accident for and it wasn't like it would make that much of a difference anyway.

The run was ok. Hot but ok. There was a hill in mile 3 that was less than pleasant but there was a drum band playing and it really helped me just mindlessly put one foot in front of the other.

To put the sheer magnitude of this thing in perspective, I was wave 10. When I was on the run, there were still waves starting for the swim.

I think all the PNW tri people did an incredible job!!! To my knowledge, we all met our goals. Several of our PNW people are going to do another tri in a few weeks so I guess this one wasn't that scary :D

I can't wait to hear from the other PNW people to see how they felt about the race. It was fun for me and a great experience to be able to race with all of you :D

And a special thanks to Wahine. THANK YOU!!!!

[melissalb]

Hi ladies! I'm new to the board and did Danskin yesterday too! It was my 5th Danskin! We learned a trick this year. If you sign up for the Mass Mutual breakfast at 7:30am, you get to pick up your race packets and rack your bikes before everyone else, regardless of your race number! It was AMAZING! A definite must for next year. Can't believe it took me 5 years to figure that out. What a great race yesterday! Congratulations to everyone!

Melissa

[mimitabby]

Teigyr, tell us who the ladies are. I know Dex, Salsa and you, and Jesvetmed?
who else???

congrats! i've been very distracted and was surprised to see news FINALLY being posted now!

[Wahine]

You're welcome!!! I'm so happy for you and what a fantastic photo!!:D:D:D

[jesvetmed]

Teigyr, tell us who the ladies are. I know Dex, Salsa and you, and Jesvetmed?
who else???

I'm the one in black and white pants in the center. The gal on the end is someone I used to work with 10 yrs ago -- she and I have now done two tri's together. I dragged her along to dinner (she was my ride to the race, afterall! :D)

Jes

[jesvetmed]

PS.. Welcome MelissaB! Good information -- my friend did the 7:30am thing. I would have been happiers with 7pm coming from out of town!
Hope to meet you at something soon.
Jes

[salsabike]

The Danskin is so huge that there is no on-site or near-site parking. They ask participants to go to Safeco Field (the Mariners’ baseball stadium) and take school buses to the race site, a 15-minute drive. Remembering the problems with the Seafair Triathlon some weeks ago, when they didn’t plan too well and about 400 runners were left behind because they didn’t have enough buses, we got up at 4 am, left at 4:30 (partly because the lights were flickering constantly due to the passing thunderstorm and I thought it would be nice to leave before we got cast into pitch-blackness), and were in line for the first bus at 5 am, which left promptly at 5:15. Here's how it looked around 5:30 am:

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/transition.jpg

So I had about an hour to set up for transition, go down and look again at the swim course (which we’d seen the day before), find Teigyr and Dex, etc.

Salsa and Teigyr @ 6:00 am:

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/salsa_teigyr.jpg

It didn’t seem like too much time at all! We all had wave start times around 7 am, so went down to the swim start around 6:30. The time passed fast and my wave went at 6:58; Teigyr, a few minutes later; Dex, around 7:15, I think. My wave was the one with yellow caps.

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/swimwave.jpg

My sole priority was to stay at the back/side. I really didn’t want to get kicked in the face in my first tri, and anyway had already experienced that pleasure in an OWS clinic a month ago. Once the wave went, there was plenty of room along the course and I never felt too crowded. It was choppy and sloppy and seaweedy, but since we’d all been swimming in the lake for the last month, none of these things surprised me, and none of them were that hard to cope with. Since I just kind of relearned the freestyle starting in June, after having last had lessons around 1967, I am looking forward to a year of training so I can keep improving my efficiency and form. It won’t be any hardship since I’ve been swimming all my life and just plain like doing it.

Coming out of the water:

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/salsa_swim_800.jpg

Because it’s such a big tri, it’s a long way from the swim start to the transition area, and back again to the same place for the bike start. The bike course goes down a relatively flat street for about two miles, and then left onto an access road for the I-90 express lane. The Day St. access road is a fairly steep, sort of elongated S-shaped hill. Riders make a 90 degree left turn from the street onto Day St.; several yards later, a similar right turn through some posts onto the hill; several yards later, a similar left turn onto the body of the hill; about a 70 degree right turn at the top, and then a sharp right turn onto I-90. Chris and I had gone to see it on a tandem ride, and Friday Dex and Teigyr and I went there and walked the hill. That’s a real advantage, and a lot of participants never have the chance to do that, so don’t know exactly what it will be like. The access road is one lane and is divided into two lanes by tape because returning riders also descend part of it.

I made it about ¾ of the way up before someone stopped right in front of me. Glad those Quattros unclip easily so I could get my feet down instead of falling over! Then ran my bike up the rest of the way and got back on. The 4+ miles out the I-90 express lanes are great, because the lanes are wide enough so there’s plenty of passing room. There are a couple of inclines that require work but obviously the subsequent downhills are pretty fun. I felt strong on the bike and had a blast the whole way. I am happy with my time and rank there. For this year.

On the bike home stretch grinning like a fiend:

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/salsa_bike_800.jpg

As for the run part---because of the stress fracture in my right foot, of course I walked it. Most of it is flat, along the lake, but there is one quite steep hill not far from the end. A bunch of guys bring their drums every year, and sit at the bottom of the hill and do this great percussion stuff, so you could samba all the way up that hill if you had the juice (no one did, but it makes the hill a lot more fun than it would be otherwise). And then you go downhill right to the finish line. Right at that point, a young runner held her hand out to me and said, “Come with me and finish like a marathoner!” I thanked her but knew I couldn’t because I want the foot to heal as soon as possible so I can start running myself. But it was a lovely thing for her to do, and that is very much the spirit of the Danskin.

Walking along knowing I was through the swim and bike and could hardly NOT finish:

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/salsa_run_800.jpg

The Danskin is a real pageant, sort of like the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. There are gazillions of volunteers along the way, lots of kids and family members and local people cheering everyone on. You see some amazing racers—cancer survivors, women in their 70s, the deaf-blind athlete I keep mentioning.

It’s very cool.

Finished!

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/finish.jpg

Overall Rank 3099/3710
Class Rank 242/290
Swim 24:49, rank 2585
T1 8:06
Bike 41:28, mph 17.3, rank 1713
T2 3:42
Run 55:42, rank 3548
Final 2:13:48

Given Saturday’s weather—90 degrees—and today’s morning weather—wind and rain—I would say we lucked out yesterday.

Today I went to my favorite spa and had a long “healing waters” treatment and massage. Plug for Ummelina’s Day Spa in downtown Seattle, a very quiet, aromatherapy sort of place with really great staff.

As for “Speedo John”---I figure yesterday was my answer to him. Living well is the best revenge, buddy.

Wahine---I second the thanks, in the most heartfelt way! You and TE were both at our pre-race dinner in spirit:

http://home.comcast.net/~cheg01/dinner2.jpg

And also many thanks to my various local advisor/training/race/dinner buddies—Teigyr, Dex, Jesvetmed, KnottedYet, Quillfred, Jocelynlf. Laughing your way to a tri and remembering that having fun with it is what it’s for---worked for me! And to Chris for being such a good first-tri spouse.

See you all at the next one. And glad everyone else had good races as well!

[mimitabby]

aw, great story, great stats, great photos! you did a great job!!! (for someone with a broken foot!!! :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: )

[jesvetmed]

Great story telling and pics, Salsa!
I'd blocked out coming down that exit from the bridge. I had to have my feet down the entire way, too! Someone jumped off her bike in front of me and no one could pass, but none of us were willing to get off!

Thanks for posting all of those -- that morning picture tells a story about the size of this thing!
J

[dex]

Great report and pictures, Salsa!

Looking at the one of you exiting the water just made me realize that you were done with your swim while I was still waiting for my wave to start. See that group of red caps out there? I was in the next group of red caps, so four or five waves later. (I think it was around 7:40 when we finally went.) I could have watched you finish the swim if I'd thought about it (dammit)! Instead, I was floating around in the warm-up area wondering if I was ever going to get to start...heh.

[colby]

Great pictures, salsa! Especially the fish and chips ;)

I was the pinks, which came somewhere right after the blues, which came right after Jes's red wave. Supposed to start at 7:40, closer to 7:45 or so. Was running over blues, greens, and reds toward the end... maybe there was another green wave after the reds and the blues?

In other news, that's the same suit I got, except the green/blue top. It's way more supportive than I expected, and I think I mentioned a pain in the rear to put on :p. I had to go to the bathroom after I put it on before the race since I had so much waiting time (my mother in law took off about 50 minutes before I did, in the third wave, mine the 20th). That was fun. At least it was before I went into the warmup zone. ;)

In our experience, if you get there that early, you don't need to take the shuttle. We have been able to park fairly close to the race (about a block away) both of the last 2 years (before that we did the mixed group and took the shuttle), near Dakota and whatever the cross street is, 43rd? Super easy to get home from and no shuttling back and forth.

[teigyr]

I was pink too!!! Though I was an earlier (meaning older) pink.

It is good to know that we could park near the venue if we got there early enough. I don't know if I'll do the Danskin experience again but who knows, I might.

I'm impressed that you ran over some other cap colors :D I think I passed a few of the wave right before me (very very very few) and then I had a few people from the next wave pass me. Fast swimmers impress the heck out of me.

The warm-up area was nice and floaty except for all the seaweed. Every time I came out of the water I looked like a swamp creature :eek:

[salsabike]

You guys, I hate hate hate to burst our common "wow, I went fast" mph numbers, but I talked to a friend (placed 365th) who heard from another friend about a 10.5 mile total on her bike computer. Colby, that's similar to yours. I did not remember to restart my computer until a bit into the ride, but it was only a small bit, I think. I just looked at it now and it said 10.88. Am starting to wonder if they set the course a little short...Did anyone else check their mileage?

[kelownagirl]

How long was your bike supposed to be? I get confused with the variety of sprint tri distances.

Mine was 750m, 20km, 5km (.46 mile, 12.4 mile, 3.1 mile)

[jesvetmed]

I didn't run the computer, but I wondered -- it seems unlikely that I would avg my fastest time ever on that ride! But it was a smooth, easy ride other than the bottlenecks. Sounded about 2m/hr too fast.

I think it was 12 miles... or 12.point.something?

[colby]

Was supposed to be 20k... .75k/20k/5k. Last year they shortened the swim by 250m (I was able to swim it in 15 minutes), this year it must have been back to the correct distance (took me 18 minutes).

I've never had problems with my computer before. I don't see how it could be 2 miles off. I know I was close to 20mph, but I was expecting to be under. I guess it's all relative to other people, to some degree, at least we were all measured with the same stick.

[Wahine]

You gals crack me up!!!

Salsa, thank you so much for that amazing story/race report. I loved it, grinning right now almost as much as you are in the photos. And than you for "bringing me to dinner". Did you actually fish in chips?? That is too funny.

I'll say it again, I'm so proud of you all.:D:D:D

[Connie]

Thank you for sharing your pictures. This was my second DT. My first was in '06 and hope to do it again next year. My daughters did it this year with me in honor of me turning 60 next month! For the women here in the Seattle area where did you train for the swimming? When it was cold I went to Meadowbrook Pool and then at Magnuson Beach when the weather finally got hot! I would love to do some training with you gals next year. The weekend you spent with Wahine sounded like a blast. What are you going to do on the off time to keep motivated? I usually ride the BG trail but get pretty bored with it. I would like to do some rides with Cascade Bicycle Club but most of them are 20 miles or more. Connie:)

[NbyNW]

Got home from the east coast very early this morning but have been following your race reports -- so psyched for everyone for meeting their goals this weekend! And the pictures are awesome, wish I could have been there. You all look like you're having a great time! And I'm so impressed by the shear scale of the event. Congratulations, everyone!!!

I noticed there's a similar thread re the bike distance on seatri.org today.

My own training update:

I've been swimming twice a week and adding 100 yds each session, and also feeling my stamina increase. Yay!

Bike workouts are pretty much covered by the commute. Would love to find time for a longer ride, but . . . you know how it can be. And I figure biking from home to pool to work is 2/3 of a supersprint.

Running has been a bit less consistent. I started out doing some short intervals a couple of weeks ago and on Friday was in the hotel gym b/c of thunderstorms in NYC (had originally been planning to do my old route in Central Park), but had horrible PMS pain - first time ever I felt I wasn't wearing enough support. So I did three 3-minute intervals with my arms crossed over my chest and then spent the rest of my time doing core work.

Today was supposed to be a run day too but the 1 am arrival home made it impossible to run before work. I figure an unscheduled rest day means I should be able to double-up later in the week.

Wherever I am on race day, that's where I'll be. :cool:

[Connie]

I just read about the mileage on the bike ride and mine read a little over 10 miles too. I think it was 10.47 miles. I thought maybe my computer was wrong but maybe not. I know they did shorten the swim last year but put it back to what it was suppose to be which is 1/2 mile. I'm really curious about the true distance for the bike ride now.

[NbyNW]

Welcome Connie! Sounds like you had a great time with your daughters.

I'm swimming at Evans Pool in Green Lake to get ready for the Sept. 7 tri in Federal Way.

Re what I'm planning to do in my "time off": I'm sure I'll have some performance goals after the first tri. But honestly all this swimming biking and running has been carrying me through my days at work, so that (as well as kicking old injuries to the curb!) is my big motivation. Last Wednesday I biked to the pool, swam 10 laps, then biked 5 miles to work. Felt like a champion. Really didn't mind pushing papers the rest of the day. One of these days I'm going to arrive at my office and just keep going . . .

This winter I will probably look to have someone coach me on my swim technique and just keep riding my bikes as much as possible.

[teigyr]

Hi Connie :D It sounds like you had a fun time too.

For OWS, I go to Matthews Beach or Madison Beach. Madison is nicer; the swim distance is 150 yards vs. 75 yards at Matthews. The water at Madison seems cleaner too. Matthews is closer to the house so that's where I go when I don't have much time. If you have a wetsuit, I'm sure you can swim for a bit longer before it gets too cold.

For pool swimming, I go to LA Fitness.

I am not a cold weather cyclist so I'll probably go to some spin classes in the winter. Right now I'm training for a marathon so most of my post-Danskin time will be running. I swim once a week though.

It is always fun to train with people! Definitely think about next year or even this year, if it works out.

As far as keeping motivated goes, I keep signing up for things so then I need to train for them :eek::D:eek:

I know I've mentioned it in this thread before but if you're looking for a nice early season Tri, the one at Five Mile Lake is a lot of fun and it's small. It's in June.

Congrats on your upcoming birthday! It sounds like you had a perfect celebration.

[Connie]

Thank you to all of you who responded to my e-mail. I appreciate it very much. I went for a 14 mile bike ride yesterday and then went swimming today and swam for about 15-20 minutes. It was the first time in my life I've swam that far doing the freestyle!!!!!! I felt really good about how far I've come in my swimming this year. Next year I'm hoping to do the swim without a wetsuit. The pool was certainly a whole lot easier to swim in compared to the lake!

Also, I'm really curious about the distance on the bike ride so I e-mailed Danskin and hopefully they'll send it on to the person incharge of it in Seattle. I'll let you know if I get an answer!

[dex]

From the picture conversation over in Colby's Danskin thread:




The person among us who WAS pretty photogenic was Dex. The girl just looks good in photos, is all. Funny how that happens with some folks but not others.

Heh. I think at least half of why that worked that way was because by the time the majority of the pictures of me were taken I had long given up on speed. All of the bike pics were snapped once I'd entered "I'm just going to prop myself up and coast along enjoying this nice leisurely ride by the lake" mode. There are a few of them where you can see riders in the background who were still actually trying. (I cheered them on as they rode by me.)

My wetsuit pic...now that one was special. I've named it, "How many chins can one girl have, anyway?" I think I may frame it and send it to my mom. ;)


Here's the link to judge for yourself: Dex's Danskin pics here (http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=36770&PWD=&BIB=2809)

[SadieKate]

I'm trying to figure out how you guys actually got any racing done. It sounds like you giggled the whole way. :D

I'm actually claustrophobic looking at some of those photos. I hate crowds. I can't imagine racing in a crowd. I tip my helmet to yawl (that is the plural yawl :p).

[jesvetmed]

Allright Dex.... Here's my photos (http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=36770&PWD=&BIB=1836). Everyone else must share, now!

[kelownagirl]

Here are mine. http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/565521897qAxtWI

[salsabike]

I'm trying to figure out how you guys actually got any racing done. It sounds like you giggled the whole way. :D

I'm actually claustrophobic looking at some of those photos. I hate crowds. I can't imagine racing in a crowd. I tip my helmet to yawl (that is the plural yawl :p).

Loud guffaws, mostly, interspersed with various types of snickering, giggling, downright cackling, and occasional smirking.

Thanks!

PS The size of the crowd made me want to moo. And yes, I realize I opened the door just now to a vast amount of cow wisecracks. They'll serve me right, I'm sure.

PPS I have a feeling that today's weather is similar to Danskin's of last year. I repeat, we lucked out. I actually opened the door just now to go down the street to the mailbox, looked outside, and said, "NO."

[crazycanuck]

If you think the no of participants at the danskin was big..The first tri I did was part of the Special K women's tri series in NZ..The one i did in Auckland had 5000 women & broke a world record.

I'll have to find the details on the net..

[SadieKate]

No, please don't. I can't even handle malls during non-holiday periods.

[crazycanuck]

SK..I can't handle malls either..

I wanna walk fast & can never zoom around everyone..

[Connie]

I read somewhere on one of the threads about the woman who turned blue and had to have cpr done and rushed to the hospital during the swim at the Seattle's Danskin Triathlon. I can't find the website that has the information and update on her. Does anyone know where I can find it?

[dex]

I read somewhere on one of the threads about the woman who turned blue and had to have cpr done and rushed to the hospital during the swim at the Seattle's Danskin Triathlon. I can't find the website that has the information and update on her. Does anyone know where I can find it?

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattle911/archives/146571.asp

and

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/453712.html

[Connie]

Thanks DEX!!!!

[salsabike]

There is also a thread on seatri, Connie. It sounds as if she is recovering.

http://www.seatri.org/community/showthread.php?t=3460&page=2&pp=10

[salsabike]

OK, you guys. I just went back to the Mary Meyer Sunday pool clinic. Boy, after Danskin, the crowds shrink, from, like 20 people pre-Danskin, to, uh...SIX today. She worked our butts off and it was great! This is how I plan to spend a lot of my winter Sundays.

Needing to go somewhere now to blow off the high endorphin level I always have after the pool clinics....

Also, by the way--her website now has really excellent drill/instructional videos.

[KnottedYet]

Do you have a feel for how a person who doesn't actually know how to swim might do at a MM clinic?

I don't know how to swim, I just get in the water and flail around until I reach my destination.

'course, if I start going to a pool over the winter I'll have to buy a swimsuit. :eek: (oh, but that means more shopping on TE!)

My biking is ok, but I gotta work on swim and run before next year's tri season. (ran/walked a mile this morning... yay me!)

[salsabike]

Yes! The nice thing about these clinics is that they have one lane and one coach for beginners, where they teach you the correct basics---stroke, breathing, etc.; lots of teaching over in that lane as well as practicing; then, several lanes and one coach for the technique/efficiency folks, who already know the basics of the freestyle but need to work on doing it better (I'm there); lots of observing and teaching here as well; and one lane for swim team, the few people good enough to not need much coaching--they are just assigned a certain set of laps and they go on their own.

I LOVE these clinics. They are so good for me and really fun. I always come out totally stoked and slightly bananas with respect to adrenalin level, as my spouse will attest (Him--"Are you starting to wind down a little now?" Me--"Yeah, but I forgot to tell you about this one really cool drill she had us do where..." Etc.).

From the website:

http://www.marymeyerlifefitness.com/swimtraining/pool/

Beginner Swim Clinics
and
Technique and Efficiency Clinics

The purpose of our pool clinics is to teach people how to make swimming easier, more efficient, and to inspire them to get into the water. The Beginner Clinic will help non-swimmers feel confident in the water. Learn how to float, breath and overcome your swim fears with the help of coaches on deck and in the water. The Technique and Efficiency Clinic is intended for anyone interested in learning how to become a stronger swimmer. Clincis help individual's stroke, endurance, and efficiency. We offer hands on coaching to improve speed, knowldedge and comfort in the water.

Our Pool Clinics Cover:

* Proper stroke technique
* Body balance and alignment
* Rotation
* Breathing technique

* Underwater stroke
* Kicking
* All levels welcome!


PS Back to me---Excuse me, but what is this RAIN thing that's going on???? Ack oop

[teigyr]

Knot, I went last year and they had to (gently) tell me how to put on a swim cap. Serious. If anything, the lower level you are, the more one-on-one instruction you get. I love the clinics. I don't know if I'll be going until after the marathon but I would love to go starting mid-October or so.

The instructors are a lot of fun and I thought they were very patient. I was apprehensive, self-conscious, and whole bunch of other things. After I left my first session, I wanted to go back.

And re the rain? When I ran this morning, I wore sunscreen. When I ran this afternoon, I had to wring out my clothes after! My shoes are still drying.

[colby]

I really wish I lived closer to the Mary Meyer clinics. A friend of mine really wants to learn to swim better - like Knot, she mostly feels like she's just not swimming. I could benefit (forever, we can always learn something) from some technique and tips.

Maybe we'll have a girls weekend and go out to one. Too bad she has a newborn baby. Maybe in 6 weeks when she's going stir crazy... ;)

[NbyNW]

Salsa,

Thanks for sharing the Mary Meyer info. I've been thinking I'd like to work on the swim skills this winter and it sounds like a great setup.

I had a low-energy day today. Had written in my calendar to go out and do a 2-3 hour ride, but woke up feeling like there was nothing in the tank. So I spent my day eating and catching up on correspondence. At one point I considered going for a run in the rain, but opted for a bowl of chili, instead.

I actually feel kind of weak. I'm chalking it up to hormones and hope I'm not actually coming down with something.

I WILL have a good swim tomorrow, dammit!

[KnottedYet]

Seattle TE goes to Mary Meyer event? Followed by nice winter-warm-up coffee event?

How 'bout in something like 2 months? When the rain starts?

[Wahine]

I had a low-energy day today. Had written in my calendar to go out and do a 2-3 hour ride, but woke up feeling like there was nothing in the tank. So I spent my day eating and catching up on correspondence. At one point I considered going for a run in the rain, but opted for a bowl of chili, instead.

I actually feel kind of weak. I'm chalking it up to hormones and hope I'm not actually coming down with something.

I WILL have a good swim tomorrow, dammit!

It's usually best to have a day off when you feel like that.

[NbyNW]

It's usually best to have a day off when you feel like that.

No doubt about that. Too bad those days can't just happen when I'm stuck at work drawing an irrigation plan. It was actually nice to hang out at home and declutter a bit.

Knot, TE at Mary Meyer sounds fun, but I thought the rain started last week? ;)

[salsabike]

I got this reply from Danskin today:

We are in receipt of your inquiry regarding the length of the 2008 BIKE COURSE for the Seattle / Danskin TRI

Our Local Race Director through her Bike Course Coordinator and Set up crew has confirmed with us that the course set was 11.8 miles in distance.

Based on this information – RACE results will be updated

Thanks for your support. We look forward to seeing you in 2009

Danskin Women's Triathlon Series

They have adjusted the mph, but it's not a big change--e.g., from 17.3 mph to 17.0.