Medical Lake Trailblazer Triathlon

This is the first open water triathlon in the immediate Spokane area. I like this race for a few reasons.

1. It's close to home
2. The race starts at 1:00, yes 1:00
3. This is the one and only triathlon that the distances are 'exact same' from year to year because you swim across a lake. Granted, their measurement isn't exact, but it has been the same for over 25 years
4. You get a variety of people from veterans to first timers
5. They offer to haul you over to the start in the back of trucks (seriously)
6. They give you your award and t-shirt right when you cross the line
7. It's a fun low key race... that hurts.

Normally this race is 1 week prior to IM Cda so it's a great pre race effort. But this year it was the day before so it did not get as big a turnout as years past. But about 150 were still in attendance. I have raced this evet 2 times prior. The first time getting second to Tom Soderdahl (pro from Finland riding for TIMEX), and last year I was first. And this year the perennial favorite, Michael Bergquist, would not be racing since he would be doing IM Cda th next day. Michael literally lives on the course. His house is spitting distance from the start and he trains exclusively on this course. So he knows it well. So well that wherever he racks his bike... so do I, wherever he starts on the swim... so do I. Wherever he is, and whatever he does, is for a tactical advantage. But Michael wold not be racing so I would have to wing it.

This year was a little up in the air this year because my pre race preparations had been anything but decent leading up to this. Most the week's focus was on getting things ready for IM Cda which neither Jessi nor I were involved in, but would be spectating and be there the entire day. So periodically we would have to remind ourselves that we have a race to do on Saturday. In other words, mentally we were not really 'there.'

We rolled into the race site at about 11:30am (1.5 hours prior) and the transition area was practically full. Pretty amazing that people get here so early for such a small race. But I think that has to do with a 1:00pm start time... who isn't up by then. I was able to get a decent spot after talking with many people before even getting into transition. That's what I love about local races... you get to see so many familiar faces and connect with people. But this also consumes the time pretty quickly and therefore I find myself scrambling to get to the start.

I finally got my area set up and was able to get in a little warm up ride as well. When I got back, they were loading up the participants in the back of trucks and were ready to start heading over to the other side of the lake. I normally swim across the lake since it's about 400 meters... not too far. You can honestly make it over there faster swimming than in the back of a truck. I realized that I did not have a swim cap (normally given to us) so Michael went and grabbed me one from his house. He knows every second counts :)

Looks like a bunch of seals sunning themselves on the rocks

I then swam across the lake, which always feels pretty good and I was able to find some friendly faces at the start and we had about 10 minutes before the start. So the typical conversations started to happen and the surface humor was abundant. But it always helps before a race... it helps you feel like you are in this with a bunch of people just like you. There was a gal, Samantha, who is/was a NCAA record holder in the butterfly and free in this race so I figured I would not be the first to the ramp.

The gun, or something, went off and the race started. The swim start is spread all out. So not too deep but very wide. I took off and settled in quickly. I could see people to the right of me, since that is the side I breathe to. Since my eye sight is not all that good I was doing my best to go straight. I eventually could see where we exited and focused on that. I was first out and ran up the grassy hill and was out of my B70 suit quickly and on the road.
I settled in on my TTX and watched my watts. I really wanted them to stay at 100 the entire race :) (just thought I would throw that in for all you number people). The bike felt okay, but I did not feel strong on the bike. More like I was just out there 'doing it.' I did not see anyone and just wanted to maintain a consistent effort.

I came into T2 quickly and racked my bike.... actually Michael grabbed it for me and got it in the rack since my bike was a little too tall for the racks they had. I know, 'outside assistance,' but don't think I gained any time by it, only protected my bike from falling over and getting damaged.

I headed out on the slightly less than 3 mile run. It just goes around the lake. There was a guy in this race that can run a 15 minute 5k so I had to have a decent gap on him. When I came out of T2 herd someone say '20 seconds.' Crap! I must only have 20 seconds on 2nd place. Man, this is not good. I took off and quickly tried to get into a steady rhythm. I just never felt 'smooth.' Not that I ever do in a print race, but I just did not feel like I was going very fast. I never looked back because I did not want to know how close someone was. If it was Josh (the 15 min 5k guy), and he was 20 seconds back, he would catch me. He could have been 1 minute back and still would have caught me...maybe even 2 minutes.

It was pretty hot and humid so I was actually looking forward to the one aid station on the backside of the run. I could see where it was set up and my body was already anticipating the water. As I approached it, I saw that it was a couple water jugs and a stack of cups. What!? You have got to be kidding. am supposed to stop and fill up my own cup. My thirst got worse because I knew I was not going to stop. Only about 1.5 miles to go... I could make it. I finally made the final turn and could see the finish line about 400 meters down the road. I kept truckin' and with about 100 to go, I looked back just in case there was someone that was 20 yards back. You get passed in the last few yards unexpectedly, you never let it happen again. And yes, it has happened once, only once.

Love the picture of Emma and Linda off my left shoulder

I crossed the line first, but felt more like a 5th place performance. I defended my Founder's Day title. Now I can let it go. I will still race this race, but you only have to defend once. After that it's just bonuses in my opinion. Think about it, everyone talks about the defending champion and wondering if they will repeat. After they do, it's not a surprise. Just a thought.

I stayed and cheered in the rest of the athletes. I think I was literally the last person the leave. You know how it is... you get to chatting with people and next thing you know it's 4:00pm. But then again it started at 1:00.
A shout out to Jessi who had a great race on what we have found out to be a more severe injury in her lower back than we had first suspected. This race probably did not help that, but 2nd place overall is a nice accomplishment too.