colby's danskin

[colby]

Hey gals, I think there are some reports over in the weekend race reports but I'm getting pressure to get the fudge off the computer so I'll pass on my drive-by CONGRATULATIONS!!! to everyone.

My transition area was really far from... everything... and transitions are something I have to work on. I did well on the bike, decently on the swim, and sucked on the run... I'm just not a fast runner. I guess this year I'm going to have to focus on running, finally, instead of just talking about how slow I am. My bike rank was actually up there near the age group winners - but their transitions were a few minutes faster overall, their swims maybe 1-2 minutes, and their runs 6-7 minutes

The weather was great! It was threatening before the race and the bike had some wind that I could have done without, but the sun just barely peeked through for the run and otherwise it was pleasantly cloudy and mild. Temperatures were warm for the area, and the tunnels we had to bike were SUPER humid! But hey, it wasn't raining... last year was miserable.

My goals were to break triple digits in my age group and to break 20mph on the bike, both of which I accomplished with breathing room. And hey... finally above average on everything! Significantly, even. It's far from an age group win, but this is a pretty well packed race.

Pictures aren't up yet... for reference, I am in the 25-29 age group and the distances were (supposedly) .75k/20k/5k.

Overall Rank
546 of 3710
Class Rank
76 of 222
Swim
00:18:03
Swim Rank
622 of 3710
Trans1
00:05:56
Bike
00:34:30
Bike Rank
167 of 3710
MPH
20.8
Trans2
00:02:52
Run
00:30:51
Run Rank
1079 of 3710
Pace
00:09:57
Final
01:32:14

[teigyr]

Colby, you did great The bike course was fast though it was crowded and there was that curve going up to I-90. I'm impressed you got over 20 mph

And the transition, esp (for me) T1 was difficult to get a decent time on. It was a trek just to get to my bike.

Congrats!!!

[salsabike]

Colby, beautiful job, although after your Ironman, I am not surprised! Yup, ditto on the first transition distance---it's just a long way from swim to bike, period, in that park.

[jesvetmed]

Great job, Colby. I don't think your run time is bad! It's about the same as mine, and I was fairly happy with it!

Didn't know you were going to be there -- I'm sure you mentioned it and I missed it -- I'm oblivious that way a lot!

As for that T1... you've got nothing on me! Of course, I spent two minutes trying to wipe the sunscreen off my butt (I sat on my tube!)

Sorry to miss meeting you. Maybe next year!
Great job -- excellent ranking!
Jes

[OakLeaf]

Way to go Colby!

Jes, I'm trying to picture that sunscreen Maybe you should've just left it there to soak through as chamois lube

[jesvetmed]

You ARE a thinker! Next time...

[colby]

Hitting 31mph on the first big downhill was probably a major help to reaching a 20.8 average. This is the first time I remember feeling wind in my face going either direction. Probably could have finished a little more solid, but I do sure like that downhill finish. My bike computer said 16.6 average and only 10.4 miles - I'm not sure what happened there. The rolling hills aren't too bad, didn't seem to see as many ladies walking bikes as previous years, but saw a few more technical issues than in the past (some flat tires, and one with medics, must have been a spill).

Thankfully no sunscreen malfunctions!! In that position, I might have left it, except I don't really need the extra lubricant to slide on my bike seat (and don't imagine you did either) Part of the tri is learning to cope with the unknown, right?? I forgot my sunglasses entirely, thankfully it was still mostly cloudy on the bike - when the sun came out I said "oh crap" - thankfully that was at the return, and the corridor is pretty tree-lined.

That downhill off of I-90 sure was crammed with people!! More people than I ever remember were walking their bikes down the hill, so many that I had to unclip and brake very carefully. I usually like to take it easy, but never so much that I've had to unclip. It's too bad there isn't a better way. Lake Washington Blvd would be a pretty scenic ride in and of itself, but I suppose less convenient. Doesn't seem to get a whole lot of traffic, and we ride right down it anyway... I have the same feeling about the Seattle Marathon, which cheats and goes down the I-90 express lanes, too.

I am seriously thinking about returning (I just live across the state) for the Federal Way USWTS thingy on Sept 7th... I'll have to think about the logistics but I think it would be fun.

Anyway... that T1 is murder. My mother in law and I do Danskin together and she's in her 50s - at least she was a little bit closer (in the Bs, I was in the Is). I guess I have to do some time shaving... no drying of the feet, some quick laces, maybe no socks (not sure how I like that), more running, haul arse...

I forgot to mention that "we" forgot all of our bags at home ("I'm going to wait in the car" apparently doesn't mean "everything is in the car" ), so I had to go buy a tri suit, a couple gels, sunblock, deodorant, anything human clothes related (socks, underwear, tshirts, pants), and toiletries. All we had in the car was my bike, running/bike shoes, helmet, and gloves. Improvised a race belt "mom style" since I forgot to buy one (elastic + safety pins = win). In that vein, I did like my Zoot Tri Suit with the full-ish bra... I didn't feel jiggly at all (my husband says I didn't look jiggly, but I'm not sure that counts). It was really difficult to put on, and I wiped permanent ink on it in the process since they do body marking the day before. My skin just does not want to soak in that permanent ink, I had to have it reapplied. Maybe if I showered RIGHT before going down to get marked.

[colby]

Pictures of me... http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_...36770&BIB=3150

Not very exciting. No bike pictures (those are my favorite and I didn't get any ). I look like I'm bored (or annoyed?) crossing the finish line. Oops... next time remember that the people taking pictures are AFTER the timing chip mats.

My mother in law had some great pictures. I guess the trick is to go by the camera slowly by yourself and look extremely victorious. Note to self

Here's one of the two of us.
http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_...photos&BIB=459

[Urlea]

Looks like a fun race!!! To bad there isn't one like it closer to me.

Great job Colby, you really hammered it on the bike. 20.8 mph WOW!


Your pics look just fine, better than mine did from last weekend (Yikes, looks like I was giving birth to a porcupine during the run.) Anywho, You don't look bored to me. Just like you're still thinking about the race and haven't enjoyed that you just kicked butt yet.

[teigyr]

You did great with the improvisation I like the race belt.

I never look happy or victorious in pictures. I've seen pictures where people are practically leaping over the finish line with their hands in the air. That isn't me. The way I am isn't good for pictures.

That I-90 bit was a pita. I was fortunate in that I could stay on my bike and in my pedals for the way up (though it was slow) but coming back down, someone had a freak-out incident right before me so I had to unclip both feet and half ride half walk down.

I'm not a fan of the body marking the day before. I got ink on my tri suit (I think it came off though?) and a shirt. The amazing thing was this. We got home and I was going to change the sheets and then got lazy and thought I wouldn't. The bottom sheet looked really dirty from a distance and I couldn't figure out what was up. With cats around I always change the sheets because of cat hair and other unpleasantness.

I got closer to the bed and discovered what had been happening as I slept

[alpinerabbit]

This body marking thing- they don't do that anymore here since you get a chip.

Sounds like a rite of passage to me more than a necessity?

And btw - congrats on not letting such a blunder get you down

[Urlea]

LOL! Noticed the same thing when I changed the sheets yesterday. I kept seeing the number 6 and couldn't figure it out until it finally dawned on me. Our number marks were from after the race though as there was no body marking the day before.

[salsabike]

The sheet pictures are a riot! And, Colby, nice to see you in person, so to speak.

Chris had a bunch of pictures of me breathing like a fish, and I don't mean IN the water. Yikes. I breathe through my mouth a LOT. I need bigger nostrils, or something.

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.

[Tri Girl]

Great job, Colby! I love the picture of you and your mom! I think you look really good in your pictures.
I, however, never look good in my pictures. I think they always get me when I'm looking the most tired and slow. But I guess when I'm racing that's just how I look.

Dumb that they body marked you the day before. Why not race morning? Silly.
We body mark at all of our races for the officials. When giving penalties on the bike (especially), they need the numbers to identify you. I guess it would be equally sensible to just put numbers on the bike instead of body marking. Less messy, too.

[dex]

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.

(Edited: Oops...don't want to take over Colby's thread. I'm moving my pic link over the PNW Tri Novices thread.)