This event, the Five Mile Lake Triathlon, put on by BuDu Racing , was a sprint (400m swim, 14 mile bike, 5K run) in Federal Way/Auburn, Washington. I've done this race several times, but this was the first time I did it this way -- I raced with my wife.
WITH her, as in by her side the whole way. Well, okay, I couldn't be "beside" her through much of the bike, or risk a blocking DQ...
We had decided to do the "Retro" division, which doesn't allow wetsuits or any aero equipment on the bike, and also has a retro-spirit award for the one who most exemplifies the origins of the sport. Speedos are definitely worth bonus points (Lisa, my wife, nixed that idea almost before I'd completed the thought), as are neon and down-tube shifters. This division also is a direct benefit to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). But we had signed up for this division so we could start together. In fact, the Retro division had its own start wave (last), and cheering/support section (the folks from JDRF, who did an awesome job making us feel like pros).





With an already 3-minute deficit from the get-go on the rest of the field, it was pretty certain we'd finish at the back as well.
And yes, we made the whole distance just fine. My wife made it out of both T1 and T2 ahead of me, and we did the "family finish" with my daughter running in with us. JDRF gave us a tie for 3rd in the division, and we celebrated with a kiss at the finish line. Yes, we finished DFL, but we didn't care.
And we got a growler of Mac & Jack's!
It was a fun morning, with much less "game face" and worrying about having the perfect warm-up, lining up for the right start position, getting the primo transition real estate... It's too bad that there won't be a Retro division at the Bonney Lake Tri...
4 comments:
That's awesome! I'd love to race with my husband. I think he'd be great at it. Congrats!
Love the jersey. I worked at Gregg's years ago; still one of my favorite shops!
Hey Jon here I am your fellow "Retroer." I never got the pictures for this event! and you seem to have lots of good ones! Could you email them to me! This was a lot of fun and it's cool that you have a blog this actually ties in to my blog www.theroadtoleadville.com and my email is jonnychandler@gmail.com Also did you get the email from the JDRF lady? if so what was it? :) well hope to see you next season at some tri's!
Hey Jon, it was a great event. I think my wife got the pics from JDRF directly.
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