The TrekWomen Triathlon was held at Mount Snow on August 9, 2009. It was a sprint tri, with a 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 2.1 mile semi-trail run. A portion of the proceeds benefitted breast cancer research and Team Survivor. There were a total of 185 finishers, who included cancer survivors and first timers who have overcome great obstacles to get to the finish line.One woman had undergone a heart transplant and was participating in her first triathlon. Wow! If you were looking for inspiration, this race was a great place to find it. I was teary eyed in the wake of the awesomeness of this undertaking for some, as well as the feeling of community from being with this accomplished group of women.
There were many highlights of the race, one of which was the day before the race. I had the opportunity to listen to Triathlete Hall of Famer Sally Edwards, who is the spokeswoman for the series, speak about triathlon and offer some tips for success. While there were portions of this talk that were a bit advertorial for my liking (presentations from the sponsors), I really enjoyed listening to Ms. Edwards. She told the story of a woman who had done one of these Women’s Triathlon events, participating in her first triathlon. This woman had played basketball competitively when she was younger, but as she grew older, she followed career oriented pursuits, yet didn’t find the happiness she expected. So, when Ms. Edwards asked her why she was doing the triathlon, she replied, “To find the athlete inside of me that I lost years ago.” That really spoke to me. While I didn’t realize it, I guess I’ve been doing marathons and triathlons to find my athlete as well. I missed her, and I’m glad to have her back.
In terms of the course, the run course was great fun as it followed trails along the base of the mountain. Parts of it were muddy, rocky, and sandy, making this portion exhilarating and challenging. The end of the run course needed better marking, as I (along with several other participants) ran off course a bit, overshooting the finish line. Mile markers would be a good addition for next year’s race. Luckily, my husband yelled for me to get back on course before I went too far. This issue was fixed later in the race. According to the official results, I ran the course averaging a 6:44 minute mile. Uh, hello?! Recovery week is NOT overrated. My legs were fresh and fast. While I get antsy not working out as much, it’s clear that taking a week with lower volume and moderate bouts of intensity can help you perform better.
Snow Lake, the location for the swim, was cold but clean. And, by cold, I mean cold–about 59/60 degrees. And, the air temperature that morning was around 45/50 degrees. So, a cold start to say the least. During the race meeting the day before they told us the swim would be an in water start. Well, if by “in water” they meant up to my ankles, then yes, the race was a in water start. Unfortunately, I had counted on the four minutes between the first wave and second wave, which I was in, to get used to the water. No dice and a HUGE MISTAKE. It is absolutely imperative, at least for me, to get in the water and acclimated before the race starts. I think this is an important move even if the water isn’t terribly cold.
As soon as I put my head in the water, my heart rate shot up and I started to hyperventilate. It was COLD, especially since the air was even COLDER. I used the first 3 or 4 minutes of the swim to get used to the water. I would say warm up, but that is SO NOT what I did. I just kept trying to keep my face in the water, and by the time I reached the first buoy, I was able to do so.
As I ran out of the water, I saw John snapping my picture. I said, “That water is cold as sh#t.” In this picture, you can clearly see that profanity is indeed what I uttered. Needless to say, it wasn’t the best swim I’ve ever had. The official results clocked me 8 minutes and 25 seconds for the swim. Not too bad, but I would estimate that I lost about 1 minute in the beginning due to my tactical mistake.
I ran to T1, and if I had any feeling in my toes, I imagine that the stones and gravel might have hurt my feet. But, since I was fairly numb from my toes to mid-shin, I didn’t have to worry about that. Given how cold my toes were, I actually took the time to put on my socks. I usually don’t wear socks for the sprint tris, but I’m glad I took the extra seconds. My feet did warm up—by the time I started running that is.
I had a great bike. I learned to relax and enjoy the downhill, and was able to really push on the uphill. My performance on this bike was exactly what I needed to boost my confidence going down hills. My experience on the bike is worth it’s own post, so I’ll be writing more on that next time.
The announcer called each finisher by name, which I thought was quite motivational–and it reminded me of how the Ironman announcer called out everyone’s name at Lake Placid. (Side note: since signing up for Lake Placid 2010, it’s been on my mind nonstop–in a good way. I dream of that experience to come.)
Sally Edwards, along with other race organizers, waited for each finisher with hoots, hollers, and high fives. At various points, when they were waiting for finishers, they would dance to the music and keep the crowd involved (at left).
Each finisher received a sterling silver finisher’s medal with the name and year of the event, which seemed more personal than a basic medal.
The vibe was awesome. I had the chance to meet Sally Edwards after the race, and she said that these triathlons are “like a party.” I would have to agree. I really had fun. During the race, all of the participants shouted support to each other: “You go, girl!” or “Nice job—you are looking strong!” or a great big smile. During the run, I was able to pass a few women, each of whom cheered me on: “Looking strong,” “Nice run,” “Good job!” Despite the individual competition, there was a strong undercurrent of community and support.
I finished the race in one hour, six minutes and 14 seconds, which was enough for first place in my age group and 7th place overall. To say that I’m happy would be an understatement. 
Not only was the event a great collective undertaking, I can be pleased with my individual effort as well. For my first place age group finish, I received free entry to the TrekWomen Triathlon Series event of my choice in 2010. It’s safe to say I will most definitely use that gift!
I highly recommend this race for first timers and the experienced alike.
