PDX Tri

Saturday afternoon I picked up my packet for the tri. I was surprised to not see that many people there; I thought the tri would be much busier. I switched from the Olympic to the sprint distance. Even without the staples in my noggin, I think 1/2 mile swim is barely doable for me. There's no way I was going from the 1/4 mile swim at the Midsummer tri to a 1k swim :P

After the packet pick up, we headed to Psycho Safeway downtown for a little brown bag lunch/breakfast. That place never changes. Even though it's been very nicely remodled, it's still a swirling malestrom of the unwashed/elderly masses (and a richy rich down from Goose Hollow every now and again).

The wedding went nicely. The Marine wives got to sit around and chat while our hubbies were getting dressed in their blues and taking pictures. The coordinator was a little odd. She would not let Nikki and I sit with Jiana in the church, so Jiana had to sneak across the aisle like we were in grade school or something. The ceremony was beautiful, especially the touching homily. I always cry at weddings! :_) lol

The reception had the most delicious peach, vodka, and sparkling wine cocktails at the hosted bar, so of course I had to drink plenty of those lol Chris helped himself to lots of Black Butte Porter too. For some reason, Chris and I kept getting bugged by the bartenders about getting two drinks when we're the oldest Marine couple there. Even our friend Ed, who is married to someone under 21, wasn't getting harrassed about double fisting. Guess you gotta keep an eye on us "skeezy eastsiders" as Ian put it lol (Ian also grew up in ghetto fabulous SE Portland, although I think I'm the only official Felony Flater, and the reception was held at the Multnomah Althetic Club in the afore-mentioned Goose Hollow neighborhood.)

Chris decided it was time leave about 9:30pm. He said that he was only thinking about getting me to bed for the tri in the morning, but it was suspeciously after the host bar closed and as soon as the dancing began. Hmmmmm....

Even with the help of some Tylenol PM's, I couldn't get to sleep until after midnight. Waking up about 4am sucks. I think that's the worst part of racing - tearing yourself out of bed at an ungodly hour. Why can't more races be like Boston and not start until noon??

We get to the race and find a great parking space under the Hawthorne Bridge. I get my transition area all set up, got a latte from Starbucks, then just waited for my wave to begin. (Although a good thing to note: go to the honey bucket before you put your wetsuit on.)

I didn't get nervous until we had to head down to the dock. I suddenly felt like calling the whole thing off and hiding under the bed with Hank.

The best part of the swim (besides when it's over): wetsuit=awesome! I wasn't sure what to expect, how warm it would keep me, how that water would feel, ect. I cautiously put a foot in Willamette. Yeah, it's officially cold. But there was no delicate way of slowing getting into the water, so sploosh - off the dock I went. And yay! the wetsuit made the water nice and snuggly :) I felt even warmer than getting into the pool sometimes.

The gun went off and I clung to the side of the dock for a moment letting most of the wave leave. I instantly hated putting my face in the water again. And as a bonus surprise, my goggles decide to fog up too. I tried to rinse them out like I do in the pool but without a bottom to rest on that wasn't happening. I gave up and decided to lick them. I went from foggy whiteness to spitty glopness. Ug. Well, I wasn't out there to sight see. As long as I can head in the direction of the blurry orange buoy I'll be alright. (Now I know that you can take a break on one of the kayaks, but at the time I thought that just touching one of the helpers would mean a DQ.)

I was cruising towards the turn around buoy. I wasn't setting any records but it didn't feel like I'd never reach the buoy either. Zoom under the bridge. Zoom to the turn around. Then, wait a minute, what the hell is this? Why do I keep getting closer and closer to the seawall? Why is getting back to the bridge taking so freakin long?? Oh. That's right, the current. I forgot, I'm now headed against the current >:( I tried telling myself it's no different than when you're running and there's a little head wind, but I kept feeling like I was just treading water.

Finally I'm passed the bridge, finally finally finally I reach the last buoy. Then it was time to get out of river. And my legs refused to work. The rocks were especially slippery and even though there were volunteers to help you stand up and reach the shore, I kept flopping back into the water. Reaching solid land, I'm usually overjoyed to begin the bike. This time, I left everything I had in the water.

I slogged through the bike. Two loops of ug. The hills killed me. If I had a cadence counter, I think it would be at 12. My derailer kept making an evil noise. I was scared to switch gears. Although, the sights were wonderful. I went past the new Andaluz house, where I hope to have our little Mulk munchkin at. The gardens, the OHSU trams, the Chart House.

One loop on the run. Down to the Steel, up to the Hawthorne. And I was finished :)

No finisher's medals for us :( We got a frisbee printed with "Yes, I swam in the Williamette". And yes, I've hung it on the wall with all my medals and certificates lol

1/2 mile swim - 31:22
T1 - 4:04
16.4 mile bike - 1:28:53
T2 - 1:29
5k run - 32:41