Danskin Triathlon 2008

So about a year ago I got together with my friend Jess. I had just finished my first 5k and was talking about it with her. She mentioned that she did a triathlon and that it was so much fun and encouraged me to participate the following year. I talked with my friend, Suzanne about it and she became really excited to do it also. So we decided to go for it. Over the next year we both trained for the race, sometimes together and sometimes on our own. I wouldn't say the training was intense, or at least I wasn't training intensely. But we would swim about once a week and I did mini-tri's here and there if I had the opportunity. Then of course we did much more once summer rolled around. There were several evenings where we'd meet at the local pool, swim for our allotted time and then go on a bike ride. It was great to be able to train with someone and also have a goal to work towards.

So finally the race weekend came! I had butterflies in my stomach for a few days straight before the race. The event was a big one, about 4,000 women competing!!

When we first get to Illinois on Friday we just went right to the hotel and found a place to eat. We ate at this amazing little buffet place called Sweet Tomatoes. It has a huge salad bar with lots of really fresh ingredients plus tons of soup and baked goods. Yum!! I highly recommend it if you have one in town. Sadly we have none in Minnesota :(.

Saturday morning we woke up and went straight to the park where the race was being held. We were strongly encouraged to bring our bike that morning and leave it in the transition area. Before doing this I decided to wait in line and get a free inspection of my bike since I really haven't done any maintenance on it at all. Well the lady came around to pump up our tires. She checked mine and told me that my pressure should be about 80 or so and definitely no lower than 40...mine was 25!!! Oops. That may explain why everyone was passing me no matter how hard I pedaled at the Duathlon. After the inspection and putting my bike in the transition area, I met up with Suzanne and we got all our registration stuff, got our numbers written on our arm and picked up all sorts of goodies. Then it was time to listen to a speaker (who was very helpful by the way). After that I bought some sunglasses and Scott and I waited for Sue (Scott's mom) and Angie (Scott's cousin) to meet up with us. I wanted to drive the bike course to see how long and hilly it was. Not too hilly but pretty long it seemed. A nice ride though. Then, Culvers :) After that we went to the free Jelly Belly factory tour. That was a great bonus of the weekend!! After Jelly Belly I wanted to get some new workout gear, leave it to me to leave it to the last possible minute! Well actually what I had bought before was made out of cotton and I got a heat rash from working out in it. So I wanted something a little more breathable. Luckily, there was an outlet mall minutes away. After that we went back to the hotel to clean up and then went to Sweet Tomatoes again...told you we liked the place :). That night I was actually feeling really good. You'd think I'd be nervous...well I guess I was a little...but I honestly was more excited than anything else. It was just going to be so much fun!

Sunday morning finally came and it was an early one. We had to be at the race no later than 6:30am because the transition area closed at 6:30 (and you need to put all of your stuff in there for the transitions like tennis shoes, socks, towel, bag and whatever else you need). I liked that part, getting everything ready in it's own little place. Then all 4,000 of us walked to the other side of the lake. We were all in different waves. The first wave started at 7am. Mine didn't start until 8:28am. So we just waited and talked. Jess and Lindsay (another friend from college) were both there too and we were in the same wave. We spent most of the time in line for the bathroom. Just before we headed to the starting line we practiced swimming in the water...the temperature wasn't too bad. I was a little nervous about swimming in open water. Afterall we had practiced in a pool for the last year. It was much different but not too bad. Then....the time came!!

Go!!

1/2 Mile Swim

The swimming part is a little chaotic although less than I expected. I loved the swim, it was a lot of fun for me. You basically just have to keep looking up to make sure you don't get off course. And also make sure you don't kick someone in the face or get kicked in the face.

12 Mile Bike

Then it was off to bike. I ran to my bike and started taking off my cap and goggles on the way. The bike was also a lot of fun. It was soooo much better than the duathlon!!! I think the ride was just better, not as many hills and more scenery.

3.1 Mile Run

Then it was time to run. I don't enjoy the running very much. It's just not very fun for me. I can't stop thinking about how much I just want to be done! I did pretty bad with my run time this time but I guess not horrible considering I swam and biked first.

Overall the race was great and I really hope to do it in the future. This is a wonderul starter race if you ever want to get started. Go to Danskin's Triathlon website for more information. It's kind of bitter sweet, the ending. It's sad because I don't get to workout with my friend anymore and don't have something to work towards. It's kinda nice though because I don't feel guilty for not getting in a workout. I'm sure I'll find something else to work towards :)

Here are my stats:

Jennifer Elder
bib number: 3009
age: 27
gender: F
location: Pleasant Prairie, WI (Chicagoland)
overall rank: 1744 of 3655
class rank: 216 of 311
swim: 17:39
swim rank: 1445
transition 1: 3:31
bike: 50:58
bike rank: 2232
MPH: 15.3
transition 2: 2:23
run: 34:17
run rank: 1953
pace: 11:03
final: 1:48:50

Check out my other races I did earlier this year and last year.

Here's a video I put together. Thanks for the pictures and video clips Scott, Angie and Lindsay!!