Cycle University Triathlon Team: March 2009

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

2009 Triathlon Season

Although Cycle U Triathlon Team members have already participated in several biking and running events, with the advent of spring (please, please, please warm up) comes the official start of the 2009 triathlon season.

Listed below are the events noted for participation by Cycle U Triathlon Team members. Additionally, BuDu Racing events have been added. In exchange for volunteer assistance, event discounts are available to the tri team. (Contact Deanna at BuDu Racing for more information.)

4/5/2009
New Orleans 70.3
http://ironman.com/events/ironman70.3/neworleans70.3
New Orleans, LA
Half Ironman

4/19/2009
Mt. Si Ultra and Relay Runs
http://www.ontherunevents.com/results/785.htm
Snoqualmie, WA
50K, 50 mile, 57 mile relay (teams of 5)

4/26/2009
Mt. Rainier Duathlon Series
http://www.buduracing.com/events_detail.php?e=49
Enumclaw, WA
short and longer course run-bike-run

4/26/2009
Mount Rainier Duathlon Long and Short Courses
http://www.buduracing.com/
Enumclaw, WA

5/3/2009
Wildflower
http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/Wildflower2009-main.htm
Lake San Antonio, CA
Olympic, Half Iron

5/25/2009
Spring Festival Triathlon and Duathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Moses Lake, A

5/30/2009
Issaquah Triathlon
http://www.issaquahtri.com/
Issaquah, WA
super sprint triathlon and 5K run

6/6/2009
Moses Lake Family Tri: For the Health of It!
http://www.buduracing.com/
Moses Lake, A

6/12/2009
XTERRA Vashon Off-Road Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Dockton Park, Vashon Island

6/13/2009
Five Mile Lake Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Auburn, WA

6/20/2009
Five Mile Lake Womens Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Auburn, WA

6/21/2009
ironman CDA
http://www.ironmancda.com
Coeur D'alene, Idaho
Ironman

6/21/2009
New Balance Victoria Half Ironman
http://www.lifesport.ca/NBHalfIM2009.htm
Victoria, BC, Canada
Half Ironman

6/28/2009
Lake Padden Triathlon
http://www.trithecookie.com/pages/lake_padden_triathlon.html
Bellingham, WA
"competitive" and "recreational" distance triathlons

7/19/2009
Vineman 70.3
www.vineman.com
Sonoma County, CA
Half Iron individual and relay

7/26/2009
Federal Escape Triathlon
http://www.trifreak.com/federal_escape.htm?c0433790
Federal Way, WA
olympic, sprint

8/8/2009
Ellensburg Sprint Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Ellensburg, WA

8/9/2009
Whisky Dick Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Ellensburg, WA

8/16/2009
Lake Stevens Triathlon
http://www.lakestevens703.com/
Lake Stevens, WA
Half Iron individual and relay

8/16/2009
Danskin Triathlon
http://www.danskinsheroxtri.com/Seattle.htm
Genessee Park
Sprint

8/22/2009
Lake Sammamish Sprint Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Issaquah, WA
Sprint

8/22/2009
Lake Sammamish Kids Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Issaquah, WA

8/23/2009
Ironman Canada
http://ironman.com/events/ironman/canada
Penticton, BC
Ironman

8/25/2009
Satsop Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Elma, WA
Sprint and International

9/13/2009
Lake Stevens Olympic and Sprint Triathlon
http://www.buduracing.com/
Lake Stevens, WA
Olympic and Sprint

9/19/2009
Grand Columbian Triathlon
http://www.thegrandcolumbian.com/
Grand Coulee, Electric City, Wa
half Iron, Olympic, relay, aquabike

With only two and a half more weeks left on the training calendar, the next major team event will be the Mt. Si Relay and Ultra. Cycle U will have two to three teams participating in the 57 mile relay, including Team Beer Drinkers and Team Bacon Eaters. Unfortunately, team members Mandy Lund and Mark Van Waes have suffered recent recreational and training injuries.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

St. Patty's Day Dash

a.k.a. "A Team of One"

Former Cycle University Triathlon Team director, and multisport coach extraordinaire, Tammy Metzger (pictured left with friend Michael Rydinski), flew in from hot & sunny Austin, Texas for Spring Break last week, and in a moment of weakness was convinced by her fellow-Cycle U Triathlon Teammates to sign up for the St. Patty's Day Dash on Sunday, March 15th.

If this Austin acclimated former-Seattleite can run in the freezin' cold snow & rain, surely her much hardier Seattle-based teammates would be out in large number to join her, no? No. When questioned on this disappointing outcome, Coach Tammy had this to say: "Apparently this team has gotten soft in my absence. Perhaps an Austin bootcamp is in order!"

The Report:

Pre-race consisted of pouring rain, which transitioned to snow flakes the size of Texas, and back to pouring rain from mid-race on. 6,500 people were registered for this event, and it appeared all of them NOT on Team Cycle U where there. I chose to run in the red wave, not sure I was up to staying out of the way of the green wave after the previous day's 3-hour spin trifecta with tri-buddy Peter Beeson at Allstar Fitness W.Seattle. I was shivering like crazy at the start, and thanks to a nice gradual climb out, I warmed up about 10 minutes in and started pulling back the many layers. Michael & I managed to stay together, despite the obstacle course that ensues with crowds this large. It was fun seeing all the get-ups out there, like the guy in the green wave running with a keg on his shoulder, or the girls in short-shorts with green fishnet stockings (brrr!). I did not wear a timing chip, but ran a solid pace, and was happy to have done it. Too cold & wet at the finish, we opted to bail on the beer garden and hit Starbucks for some warm coffee. Below are some more pics from the day. Enjoy!