› Blue Lake Sprint Triathlon
June 10, 2006
Laura Skinkle
I got back from a convention in Vegas just in time to do the Wednesday night time trial before the Blue Lake Sprint Tri. Since this was going to be my first open water swim I thought I should at least try on my wet suit the night before to make sure it still fit. This was a good idea since I never did get a chance to actually swim in the suit….Boy I don’t remember it being this tight, how much did I eat in Vegas?
Went down to breakfast the next morning to find an all you can eat Hampton Hotel buffet. Thinking protein is good in the morning, I eat a bunch of mystery sausage that will prove to be a bad strategy for my first open water swim.
Wet suit on, in the water at the start line early. I get some last minute tips from the fast swimmers also lined up at the front. The horn blows and I feel pretty good for the first couple of hundred feet. The field swarms me from behind like a school of tuna being chased by a great white. I get kicked in the head (first timers, do not start at the front!) swallow a bunch of water, start to cough, panic and here comes that mystery sausage. I take it slow, start to tread water, and I can’t breath. I feel like my wetsuit is too tight. I loosen up my suit, relax for a few minutes, and try to remember what Kevin has taught me over the last four months. Kevin didn’t tell me that they wouldn’t have a stripe on the bottom of the lake. I slowly start to swim and regain my composure. The field behind me is starting to pass, but that’s O.K. I don’t have to hang on to the boat, and I continue and finally get out of the water. I see Dave taking pictures and all I can say is “heinous!”….and trudge off to T1.
T1: Boy it’s hard to get this wetsuit off….I have enough energy to trot out, and had a great time on the bike. I passed a bunch of people, which is easy when you’re one of the last ones out of the water.
T2: No time to put socks on as planned, take out orthodics, put on shoes, hat, number and head out.
I hurt my knee at PPP so I haven’t run in three weeks and I feel pretty good. Not my best time, but I’m having fun! I finished feeling pretty good, happy that I finished my first (but not last) open water tri.
There are three or four more sprint tri’s this year and I’m determined to better my time at every event! I’ve caught the Tri bug and next year I’ll be ready for the Olympic distance.
return to main race reports page!
