rmakela
06-28-2009, 09:57 AM
Looking to do something this weekend after getting closed out of Rock and Roll 1/2 and Lake Padden Tri, I did the first ever Cottage Lake Super Sprint put on by Mary Meyer. This was a really short course (.25/9/1.5) designed mostly for entry-level triathletes, but there was an option to complete the course twice as part of the elite group. There were about 250 people participating, with about 30 people in the elite wave.
Overall, a very fun event. Well organized, lake was 70+ degrees and dead calm and bike course was two 4.5 mile laps (each leg) around a fast Avondale/165th/173rd/Woodinville-Duvall Highway loop. Run was short but nice blacktop trail through Cottage Lake park.
Doing the Double Sprint was a blast. I didn't realize how refreshing it would be to re-enter the water after the run for the second swim leg (without wetsuit). The water felt great - no crowds or congestion and it was a nice recharge for the second round. Also fun to have to think about T3, T4 and T5 and try to remember to put stuff where you need it for the next leg. Finished each transition under a minute, so felt like that was great practice and everything seemed to go according to plan.
Came of the water 4th on the first swim, got passed several times on the bike and regained two spots on the run. After the first round, you kind of know where you sit compared to others on each leg, so there were fewer position changes.
Finished 5th overall in a time of 1:29:01. The official splits got a bit messed up from round one to round two (and it was too many splits to remember on my watch) but I think I was about 43 minutes and 45 minutes. They didn't have age groups for the elite wave, but I would have finished first in the 45-49 age group in either the single or double Sprint- so that's what I put down for TriNation. I got them to add the event so that's another 140 points!
Rocky won the whole thing, in 1:19:33. Nice work.
As a side note, this would be a great first Tri for family/friends/kids looking to get into their first race. Very relaxed atmosphere and a forgiving course to start on. There's another version of this race in September.
Ray
Overall, a very fun event. Well organized, lake was 70+ degrees and dead calm and bike course was two 4.5 mile laps (each leg) around a fast Avondale/165th/173rd/Woodinville-Duvall Highway loop. Run was short but nice blacktop trail through Cottage Lake park.
Doing the Double Sprint was a blast. I didn't realize how refreshing it would be to re-enter the water after the run for the second swim leg (without wetsuit). The water felt great - no crowds or congestion and it was a nice recharge for the second round. Also fun to have to think about T3, T4 and T5 and try to remember to put stuff where you need it for the next leg. Finished each transition under a minute, so felt like that was great practice and everything seemed to go according to plan.
Came of the water 4th on the first swim, got passed several times on the bike and regained two spots on the run. After the first round, you kind of know where you sit compared to others on each leg, so there were fewer position changes.
Finished 5th overall in a time of 1:29:01. The official splits got a bit messed up from round one to round two (and it was too many splits to remember on my watch) but I think I was about 43 minutes and 45 minutes. They didn't have age groups for the elite wave, but I would have finished first in the 45-49 age group in either the single or double Sprint- so that's what I put down for TriNation. I got them to add the event so that's another 140 points!
Rocky won the whole thing, in 1:19:33. Nice work.
As a side note, this would be a great first Tri for family/friends/kids looking to get into their first race. Very relaxed atmosphere and a forgiving course to start on. There's another version of this race in September.
Ray