Try the "Tri"

Coeur d'Alene Olympic Triathlon

Saturday, August 8, 2009

0.93 mile swim - 24.86 mile bike - 6.21 mile run

Mikin Morton: Finisher

I have gone since I was a kid to watch the athletes do the triathlon in my hometown. I always thought it was something I would like to do someday. But, this year I finally did it! I trained for months and it all payed off. I just wanted to finish the race, and live with only minor injuries... and I did!

START

SWIM

This was when I started thinking, what am I doing out here... I got hammered by other swimmers. One went right over the top of me. I even froggy swam for a second to push a place open for myself and catch my breath. I was a little anxious, but when I settled down, I got a rythm and it was smooth sailing. I was shocked at my time of 32 minutes. Wow!

This picture does not do justice on how far away those buoys looked that we had to swim around!

BIKE

Coming into the transition from the bike to the run.

The bike went just fine, except for the two times I had to stop, unclip, get off my bike on the side of the road to put my chain back on, clip back in on a hill and get my bootie up it. That was so frustrating, but I was just glad it was not a flat tire, like so many I passed along the way. Even though I had everything I needed in my tool kit, I do not even know how to change my tire! I would have been out of the race for sure!

RUN

I froze on the bike, so I threw on a long sleeve shirt for the run. I was actually surprised how good I felt at this point. I usually feel like trash when I go from biking to running, but the stars aligned that day or something... it was probably those electrolyte pills...hmmmmm...

FINISH

Natalie caught me on the run and we had a grand finish together...

That was a sweet moment, to be done, and to get to eat and sit down. Wow.

I still can't believe I actually did it!

Swim Time : 32 minutes

Bike Time : 1 hour 34 minutes

Run Time : 1 hour 11 minutes

Overall Time : 3 hours 24 minutes 35 seconds

I took 4th Place in my division!!!

I was so proud of myself, I was a little emotional after the finish, something you just kind of think you can't do, but then you just do it!

I have no idea why I am throwing up a peace sign, but Tyler was there watching our four kids and a niece and nephew, so he was a champ to have all 6 kids and still wait at the finish for me! He was such a support through all of the hours of training. Thank you to a grrrrreat hubby! He is going to do it with me next year!

(I think he just does not want to have kid duty again ;-) hehehe)

It was so much FUN! More fun than I ever thought it would be. That is for sure. It was so neat to have a few places where the course doubled back and I got to see so many people I knew, both in the race and on the sidelines. Thanks to everyone for your cheers and motivation. It was so amazing and I am really thinking I caught the fever!

Other people I knew who finished:

Triathlon:

Astin, Brandon 2:27:24

Astin, Randy 2:39:51

Crandall, Adam 2:53:43

Crandall, Alex 3:04:28

Crandall, Cameron 3:26:30

Davis, Dana 3:00:16

Erickson, Brynne 2:53:56 (1st place in division)

Erickson, Royal 3:06:03

Fowler, Tamara 3:57:12

Frank, Natali e 3:24:35

Frantz, Tyson 3:54:42

Gatten, Brett 2:53:05

Leonard, Denise 2:55:09

Leonard, Paul 2:49:42

Pitcher, Bob 2:36:42

Sharp, JamiSue 3:01:24

Tenbrink, Robin 3:23:01

Tran, Ben 2:54:07

Teams:

Team: "We've Been Robbed" : 2:20:51 (3rd place in division)

Erickson, Brandon - swim 23:03

Erickson, Jonathan - bike 1:12:15

Erickson, Sherry - run 43:32

Team: "Page/Holstein" : 3:27:29

Page, Donna - swim 43:53

Page, Ken - bike 1:40:58

Holstein, Lynnette - run 1:00:35

Team: "D Double J" : 3:02:38

Welch, Doug - swim 36:19

Smith, Jason - bike 1:35:37

Bryson, Jeremy - run 48:47

Duathlon:

Morton, Nicole 3:07:41