A glassy lake, favorite local bike loop, and a flat run made for a great olympic triathlon morning with top rock and brass bands adding a punch of fun and variety. For an inaugural event, this was a well run and supported race. No corners were cut and safety was a priority with numerous EMT aid stations.
I arrived sat for packet pickup. Stopped at the booths, and won a gift certificate at the super supplements book. Trirock directors were holding info talks to ask questions. Sun morning I got up early for breakfast. I left home at 5:30 with touches of pink in the sky from the sunrise. With no traffic I was at the park in about 5 minutes. Arriving to early, I went over to the greg’s mechanics to check my tire pressure. My stem blew out. The mechanic replaced the tube and the tube would not inflate. The mechanic then opened a 2nd new tube and install. This time the tire inflated. I was glad they had plenty of tubes. By then, 20 minutes was left till transition close. Each person had their own assigned rack location which was very nice. So even though I arrived at the transition late, I had my open space just waiting for me with my name and number on my reserved transition space.
At 6:40 we all went to the start. The star spangled banner was song in perfect pitch acopelo. Waves stood on the beach to start. Once i ran into the water and out at the 2nd buoy, water was clear and I could easily draft behind people since I could see both bubbles and feet. The Exits were carpeted, so no ouchy feet getting to T1 . A really cool (and environmentally clean) barge-boat came in before the race with a live band which played while we were swimming. Sometimes I have smelled gasoline in sammamish. The water was fine for this race.
I was impressed the whole northbound lane of west lake Sammamish was closed for the race from Issaquah to Marymore park with brightly colored volunteers about every 300 ft making sure no one drove in the lane. Cones every 3 feet marked the lane was closed. At the west end of marymoor park was a brass band and bottled water and Gatorade being handed out. I had 2 bottles of heed on my bike, so didn’t take a bottle.
The east side of the lake has a good bike lane which was used for the race. The bike lane was marked every 3 feet with bright orange cones. Like the sprints at Sammamish lake, 1 lane was closed for the race starting at the round about, past siemens/Microsoft and all the way to the park. At the corner of siemens/Microsoft a huge covered stage the likes of what you would see at salmon days had a rock band playing.
Once into t2, The rain started. I changed shoes and was out on the run. The run course in the park is like the sprint tris held at the park, which is partly cross-country on mowed grass. This was a 2 loop course where I ran past a small band among the tall grass. This reminded me as a child playing in the tall grass and corn fields. I loved this. I also passed the live band at the siemens/Microsoft corner 2 more times. The beat was perfect to motivate athe keep up the pace. I found several people on the run I could pace with. Water stations were about every 1 1/2 miles.
The signature band at the park was allen jones. I asked my kids about the bands. One daughter had gone to hear allan jones, and told me he was an up and coming band.
Like other races, my name was announced, strap taken off and given water and gate raid bottles with any snack one can imagine to take. I picked up some peanut butter crackers and pretzels. I kept walking for about 15 minutes eating some of the snacks. Later i also went over to the burrito booth and ate a hot egg, cheese, bacon burrito. I could also have chosen a vegetarian burrito.
The easiest was the run. With the variety of terrain and music the run seemed to pass quickly. I also love the sammamish gravel trail which is my favorite place to run. My hardest event was the swim, as I was working on swimming straight
Winners were announced. I won a massage. My name was called for 2nd place female 55-60, which got me a large glass mug. I took the mug to work.
For favorite race at sealevel I wouldn pick this as my favorite race. I would definitely do this race again. I have previously done the 2 Sammamish sprints, da skin, pacific crest Oly. If you are thinking of trying an Olympic, this race is perfect for a 1st time. You can practice the bike ride (counter clockwise) and run before hand.