This weekend was the Danskin Triathlon in Seattle!

I was pretty excited to do my first whole triathlon on my own!

This tri was aprox 1/2 mile swim, 13 mile bike ride and 3.2 mile run!

Kalei and I getting ready for the swim, Kalei did awesome I am proud of her!

My nerves weren't too bad before the race, the only bummer was that the weather didn't hold out and it began to rain. It wasn't cold, just raining. I headed to the swim start to see the "elite" athletes and the cancer survivors start the race. The elite athletes are amazing to watch, they were flying through the water! The average time on the 1/2 mile swim is something like 20-24 minutes some of the elites were done in 8 minutes! craziness!



Here I am waving in the sea of green hats!

As I headed out into the water my nerves were gone, I was going to do this! At the start I quickly realized it is a lot different to swim in a wave of 150 people kicking you and splashing water on you. I calmed down about 1/3 way through and relaxed and just went at my own pace. I was surrounded by some great ladies who were all together and adopted me into there group. They were truly phenomenal! Thank you to all the ladies in red! As I got out of the water I looked at my watch and thought wow I am doing good time wise and I feel great! Bonus!


Me coming out of the water



Here is my friend Dianna coming out of the water! I talked her into doing the tri this year, first time for her and she did so good!


I walk/ran into the transition area to put on my shoes and grab the bike - due to the rain I hadn't laid out all my gear so it took me a little bit to find my socks. I saw a friend (Cory) on the sidelines as I got my bike, we both gave a yell and I ran with my bike to the start.


I felt great, but I couldn't get my bike to go correctly. I don't know if it was me or the bike, but I am blaming the bike! Let's just say the bike didn't go very well! I think I was wetter on the bike than I was on the swim! The rain was pouring, you could barely see when I was going over I-90! I felt like I was pulling a car behind me! I don't know what happened! Let's say I have some major room for improvement.



Got off the bike, wow I still feel good I thought! Ran into the transition area again and racked the bike, and grabbed my running belt, and I was off.



My toes were numb for the first mile, then finally I could feel my toes! They felt like they were asleep, so I walked the first mile. Wow amazing after I could feel them, I began to run. I was feeling good. To my surprise I wasn't completely out of breathe when I was running. I am not a fast runner, but I was doing it! There is a small hill at the end of the course... once at the top I knew I was close to the finish so I picked up the pace! Rounding the corner to the finish I saw Patty from Raise the Bar, yelling my name! Wow what rush that is, so even faster I went! I passed four people in the final 1/10 of a mile! Right as I entered the finish chute I heard Derrick yell I couldn't see him but it was great to hear him cheer.







This pic of Kalei is just too good I have to put it in! I think it should be the main pic for Danskin! Way to go Kalei you are wonderful!!


Kalei, Nani, Dianna we did it our first triathlon!! Thank you for all the training everyone - you all did fantastic!

My time wasn't what I would have liked, but if I take out the bike troubles, then I would have been right on, so I can't complain! I did it!!

I have to say a special thank you to Derrick for getting up at 4:30 am to be at the race site and for being a trooper and standing in the pouring rain for hours! Your the best!

There is a couple in September, anyone want to join me?