Friday, 7/10/09 at 5:18 PM
by Kelli Poindexter
by Kelli Poindexter
Mermaid Triathlon
I had the wonderful experience of racing and supporting the Mermaid Fremont Triathlon on June 7th. I’m proud as a Giant For Women council member to be partnered with such a wonderful organization. Their program and races provide something for everyone. From training clinics to bike tours to races, they offer a unique experience to the female athlete. Heidi, Marisol, Carlo and their team of volunteers put on a race that’s both supportive for the beginner and competitive for the more experienced triathlete. The sprint course was short (400m swim, 10 mile bike, and 2.5 mile run) but also challenging and fun. The bike course was three laps with several turns, a small hill, and a few feet of rough road. It was easy enough for the beginner racer, but for the more experienced it provided some challenge in cornering, sprinting the hill, and picking a line in the rough section. The bike segment was my favorite, but as a cyclist I’ll admit to being partial. The run around Quarry Lakes was beautiful and allowed a bit of escape in the scenery while transitioning my legs from biking to running.
As my second triathlon ever and my first all women triathlon, my personal race was one I won’t forget. As in my first triathlon in March, the swim segment was my biggest challenge. I can swim, but the mental factor instills panic in me. Running into the water and “fighting” for position overwhelms me, and I forget how to spot and at moments even swim. Luckily, Heidi has given me some tips for my next triathlon to overcome this fear and improve my form. I’m confident my next competitive swim will go much more smoothly. Another challenge at the Mermaid Tri is running out of the water up the grassy hill to the transition area. There is a line of spectators on each side of you cheering as you try to get your bearings. Your body is adjusting to the temperature change, different muscles being used, and uphill terrain.
As I said before, the bike segment just thrills me. To make up for my swim, I pushed hard and took chances in the corners. Seeing my husband and little girl as I rounded the corner for my final laps kept me smiling and pushing. I had so much fun it makes me giggle inside just thinking about it. Doing triathlons keeps me inspired to be a good example for my daughter.
I enjoyed the run, but wasn’t sure how much to push myself. I think I held back too much and should have run a bit faster. They had some really great volunteers on the run course. I don’t know his name, but the guy at the turn around point was comical and just made me laugh out loud. Any pain I may have been experiencing was momentarily lost and I remembered how much fun it is just to be out there participating. And the kids near the two mile marker were giving out high fives just about the time I started thinking “is this over yet, where is that finish line anyway”? Then I rounded the corner and could see the beach. As I ran onto the beach and adjusted for the sandy terrain, I was reminded of the uphill finish ahead of me. As I stepped up on the grass, all I could think was, “finish strong”, as the crowd cheered me in. You’ve got to try one of these! Check out the Mermaids at http://www.mermaidtriathlon.com
For the statistics fans, my overall place was 85/406 finishing in 1 hour and 10 minutes. In my age group, I placed 17/73, in the middle of the pack for the swim and run, but 7th on the bike (that feels good). The winner is my age and finished in 54 minutes and 21 seconds. Quite inspiring!
Kelli Poindexter
As my second triathlon ever and my first all women triathlon, my personal race was one I won’t forget. As in my first triathlon in March, the swim segment was my biggest challenge. I can swim, but the mental factor instills panic in me. Running into the water and “fighting” for position overwhelms me, and I forget how to spot and at moments even swim. Luckily, Heidi has given me some tips for my next triathlon to overcome this fear and improve my form. I’m confident my next competitive swim will go much more smoothly. Another challenge at the Mermaid Tri is running out of the water up the grassy hill to the transition area. There is a line of spectators on each side of you cheering as you try to get your bearings. Your body is adjusting to the temperature change, different muscles being used, and uphill terrain.
As I said before, the bike segment just thrills me. To make up for my swim, I pushed hard and took chances in the corners. Seeing my husband and little girl as I rounded the corner for my final laps kept me smiling and pushing. I had so much fun it makes me giggle inside just thinking about it. Doing triathlons keeps me inspired to be a good example for my daughter.
I enjoyed the run, but wasn’t sure how much to push myself. I think I held back too much and should have run a bit faster. They had some really great volunteers on the run course. I don’t know his name, but the guy at the turn around point was comical and just made me laugh out loud. Any pain I may have been experiencing was momentarily lost and I remembered how much fun it is just to be out there participating. And the kids near the two mile marker were giving out high fives just about the time I started thinking “is this over yet, where is that finish line anyway”? Then I rounded the corner and could see the beach. As I ran onto the beach and adjusted for the sandy terrain, I was reminded of the uphill finish ahead of me. As I stepped up on the grass, all I could think was, “finish strong”, as the crowd cheered me in. You’ve got to try one of these! Check out the Mermaids at http://www.mermaidtriathlon.com
For the statistics fans, my overall place was 85/406 finishing in 1 hour and 10 minutes. In my age group, I placed 17/73, in the middle of the pack for the swim and run, but 7th on the bike (that feels good). The winner is my age and finished in 54 minutes and 21 seconds. Quite inspiring!
Kelli Poindexter
Comments
Add a Comment