Triathlon Season 2009

The most satisfying moment in 2009:

Winning for Janet's Memory!
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The toughest moment:

Holding 2nd place at the Aquathlon, hurting every step of the 5K run, racing sick at ZooTown triathlon and...

...getting 2nd at the State games, a race I know I can win.
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The end of the triathlon season is always dissapointing, but I take comfort in knowing, that after a winter of hard work, next season will be even better.

If I could sum of my triathlon season I would do so by saying, "rags to riches." I was in rags up through March after a winter of not training, only to rise up to riches and attain my fastest form ever. Out of 8 finishes I managed 4 wins, 3 seconds, and an 8th in Washington after bike problems, not bad for a season that was scrapped the first day of the year.

I had more fun and success this year than any previous. At times is was hard, especially in the beginning of 2009, most would have given up but I take victory in the fact I did not. I had incredible races and trips with so many great people! Please see my previous posts for the specific race reports. I would just like to sum 2009 up with a few antedotes and photos.
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Best triathlon accomplishment of 2009: Winning 4 races in a row!

Win #1 at YTriathlon!

Win #2 at Queen City

Win #3 at Janet Clarkson Memorial!

Win #4 at Spring Meadow Sprint!
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Best Swim:


Janet Clarkson Memorial
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Best Bike:






Tie! Spring Meadow Sprint and Federal Escape (bike problems not considered)
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Best Run:



Tie! YTriathlon and Spring Meadow Sprint
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Best Finishes:


Finishing 8th in Washington despite major bike problems and...



...smashing my course record in West Yellowstone
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Best supporter (non family):


Wasn't even close! :)______________________________________________________

Best new triathlete:

Carrie Eubank! (with me at her first race) ______________________________________________________

Best counselor and therapist:


Jess Kato!
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Best trip (interstate):

Federal Way Triathlon with Kevin via Yakima and Seattle hospitality and cheers
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Best trip (intrastate):

West Yellowstone with Corrie, my family and Quintana!______________________________________________________

Best home-away-from-home (Montana):


PJ's house "my apartment in the basement" in Billings for State Games and Great Falls triathlon!
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Best home-away-from-home (non-Montana):

Kevin's house! His mom makes excellent pasta salad and his dad likes NASCAR...just like me, don't hate.
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Best shared accomplishment:

Sharing the overall (men's and women's) wins in West Yellowstone with my Sister!
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Best tradition continued:


Mackenzie winning her division in her first Half Ironman (My older sister did it, I did it, and now so has Mackenzie)
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Best triathlon get-away:

The Tri-Pad at the lake! (living room full of bikes)
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Best weekend trip:

Tri-Pad with the Eubanks, Jess, Kevin, Trisha, and Chris the pizza slicer, hands down (I mean hands up...Chris)!

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Best triathlon "whip":

Tie between my Civic SI and Cervelo P3 Carbon
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Funniest T-shirt of 2009: My friend Evan "the excellent" Eck's triathlon shirt (not typing what it says).

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Best triathlon quote:

It's in your head, NOT your muscles." -made by me :)
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Best Wedding to have to miss a race for:

The only wedding I have ever done that for, the Fimrite-Eubank wedding bash!

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It was an amazing season, thanks to everyone who took pictures, traveled, cheered, sponsored, housed, and helped make it great. Thanks for following and being there for me! Thanks for reading, triathlon 2009 is done. :)

Let us all look forward to the winter training. Remember it's not what you do when you are on top, everyone is "the man" when things are going well. It is the times when you are down that shows the true measure of your belief in yourself. 2009 triathlons were the perfect test and subsequent proof of what it means to BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF ONE.

Anchorman Seattle

The trip "operation San Diego-Seattle" was planned, the minds set and objectives clear: obtain tickets to Championship in California or implode trying. Kevin and I had our minds set to race an event in Seattle called Anchorman, a unique race in which the start was a 5+ foot plunge off a ferry boat and swim to shore. The people who do well at this race get paid entry to the sprint championships a month later in San Diego, California.
 Unfortunately, the week of the race the event was cancelled. The championship slots we should have won (I know that we could [and would] have gotten them, we were very motivated and prepared) became a "never was" when the race was cancelled. Just goes to show you should never take anything for granted, especially in triathlon, because it can be gone just that quickly. I feel bad for my family in Seattle, they were all looking forward to the race, and for Kevin because he and I would have cleaned up with awards at that race. I hope the series survives and we are able to secure our slots next year.

...The Last Two Races

**The Finish Line I never Crossed

I can usually count on catching a "bug" twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. My summer bug came in August, I missed two races because of it.

One race I was too sick to even think about starting. The second race I was too sick to finish it, withdrawing after a slow swim and a lack luster bike.

Here are a few pictures of those two races.

**Radio personality Dave Norman telling me jokes before the swim start. Dave is the nicest guy on the triathlon circuit

**The Start of First Annual ZooTown Triathlon

**4th out of the pool

**2nd place after the bike, very sick

**Heading out on the run in 2nd place, I withdrew a few minutes later, too sick to run another step.

I have had a few weeks to recover, I feel much better going into the most adventurous race ever... (lead to next race Sept. 13) Look for the post :)