The Fro Fro Blog: Race Report: Danskin Women's Triathlon (Austin)

Deja vu? Perhaps, since this is the fourth year in a row that Jo Jo and I have made the trip down to Austin for "The Danskin." Of course, it's become much more than just the race. It's a weekend full of great food, shopping and spending time with Joanna's family. And while we've gotten some of the weekend down to a science, there are always new things to discover and hopefully keep this report interesting.

Day 1: Friday

First change was our hotel. I am so over the Omni after suffering through construction noise and housekeeping screaming down the entire hall for turn-down service when we stayed there for the Austin Half in February. So we made the switch to the Hyatt Regency on the other side of the Congress Street Bridge, adjacent to the "SoCo" 'hood. I fell in love with the place immediately, mostly because once we ditched our bags in our room, we went on a walk on the Lady Bird Trail (formerly Town Lake Trail) which was right at the hotel's back doorstep. It was early evening, but the weather was still quite warm. It was the perfect way to shake off the airplane ride, get our heart rates up a bit and take in the gorgeous scenery (trees...and cute Southern men!)

For dinner I made a reservation at Trio, in the Four Seasons Hotel (see separate post).

Day 2: Saturday

Rise and shine, bright and early to pick up bikes at Bicycle Sport Shop. Imagine my delight when I learned that my fab Trek Madone rental bike was grey and pink -- and would therefore match my new tri outfit! (Like Billy Crystal's Fernando Lamas always said, "It's not how you feel, dahling. It's how you look. And you look mahvelous!")

From there it was the usual routine we've come to know so well -- Expo packet pickup, bike transition area drop-off, and lunch at the best Whole Foods in all the land. My Saturday lunch fare is usually the shrimp spring rolls and a fruit salad. I also got some cappuccino almonds from the huge Nut Bar. (That's funny. That's what people usually call me when I tell them I'm going to do a triathlon...) The bar has about six times more varieties than I was able to capture in this photo.

After lunch, I went on a SoCo shopping expedition. What were some of my favorite finds?

Big Top Candy Shop: An old fashioned candy shop that stocks all kinds of bulk and novelty candies. I found some of my old favorites (Goetze's Bull's Eyes, Swedish Fish), some more recent discoveries (Violet Crumble, which Jacquie turned me on to in Sydney) and some things that were just not to be believed -- like Burgers and Fries made out of marshmallows, and a Pop Rocks Chocolate Bar. If you ever liked Pop Rocks as a kid, and you like chocolate, I encourage you to get your hands on some.

hey cupcake!: The culinary highlight of the trip, I kid you not. People line up and wait for the chance to buy cupcakes from an Airstream trailer with a huge spinning cupcake on top. What makes the cupcakes so good? You know how most cupcakes are decent on the bottom, but the best part is the moist area near the top and, of course, the icing? Well at hey cupcake! the entire thing is rich and decadent enough to want to set up a tent next door. As the napkin holder says, wipe that icing off your face, you big disgrace!

Another special treat this trip was seeing Ann -- my college friend and sorority sister whom I hadn't seen in ages. A few months ago we reconnected on Facebook and bonded about races, and before I knew it she'd decided to come out from Rhode Island to do the Danskin! Ann, her brother Ken, her sister-in-law Debra and I enjoyed dinner at Blue Dahlia the night before the race. Between bites of my open-faced Chicken Salad Sandwich with pine nuts and sundried tomatoes, Ann and I tried to put Debra's tri newbie mind at ease about the race. I don't think we were very successful, but the sandwich sure was good!

Day 3: Sunday (Race Day)

Arrived at the transition area a little after 6 am, which gave us plenty of time before it closed at 7. I set up my gear which included:

SFTri Club Towel to dry my feet off after the swim

Bike helmet

Sunglasses

Camelbak

Socks

Sneakers

Number belt

CLIF Nectar Bar (unwraped and placed in a plastic baggie to keep the bugs out)

For those of you who have never done a tri before, you've got no more than about one square foot in which to put all this stuff, and you need to be very strategic about it -- placing items in the order in which you'll need them. My area was well-organized, but unfortunately I got a little overconfident and didn't bother to really take a few minutes to memorize my transition area location vis a vis the entrance and exit points. (Insert ominous music signifying foreshadowing here.)

Jo Jo and I headed down toward the Swim Start and got body marked. Yup, 974 on my arms and legs, and the big 4-0 on the back of my right calf. Before long I was in the water and Sally Edwards was telling me I'm a PHENOMENAL swimmer! (Each wave gets a word - so you can chant to yourself throughout the race. "I. Am. A. Phenomenal. Swimmer!" So glad my word wasn't "Awesome." Gag me.)

Speaking of gagging, it was so windy that I ended up swallowing most of Decker Lake. But I got through it and was able to remain calm thanks to remembering triathlete Matt Reed's great speech at Sports Basement a year ago. "Relax in the swim." It really makes a difference in terms of not freaking out. That said, the first year of Danskin I actually did freak out in the swim but had my best swim time of all four years. Go figure.

So I finally made it out of the water. This first shot appears to be me displaying that manicure also made it out intact.

Running up toward the transition area I was feeling good -- relieved that the swim was over and ready to get on my bike. If I could only find it... I finally did, hopped on and rode like the wind. he bike leg was great. It's always such a treat to do the whole thing without falling or getting a flat tire. Those are the two things I always worry will happen and, thank God, to date never have.

Back in the transition area, I ditched the bike and Camelbak, grabbed my number belt and Nectar bar and was off again. As I headed out the Run Exit, I heard the announcer say, "There goes Number 974 looking strong, not a care in the world!" That gave me a boost and I was feeling great for about 15 more seconds. Then the Austin heat and the fact that I hadn't done enough brick training really set in. I just had to keep reminding myself that this was the final leg, I could do it....just keep pushing. However, the biggest encouragement was at a point where the run course ran by part of the bike course. Someone yelled to the bikers, "What's your word?" The answer came back, "Phenomenal!" Wait a minute, that's my word, and I'm running! I must be doing pretty well!

It was so hot that at each water stop, half my water went in my mouth; the other half I poured on my head. Boy that felt good. Before long I was crossing the finish line at 1:46:59 -- 31 seconds faster than last year. Another one down!

After the race, it was back to rituals. A Barton Springs Sandwich at Whole Foods (turkey, arugula, brie and fig spread), and since their Gelato Bar was closed (gasp!) we scurried across the street for some famous Amy's Ice Cream. Kahlua Ice Cream with Heath Bars and Oreos mixed in, please -- I just did a triathlon!

From there it was down to San Marcos for a quick, productive stop at the outlet mall and then on to what has always been my very favorite part of the trip: time with Joanna's family -- including swimming in the river with the kids, and Texas BBQ for dinner.

So that's all for this year, folks! Since next year will be our 5th Annual, we're going to really do it in style. More style that this, you ask? Yes - we mean raising money for semi-private bike racks in the transition area and going for a little spa vaca afterwards. Anyone want to join us?

Comments

Congrats!

I did the Danskin Austin in '03 as 1/3 of a relay team. I'm finally tackling the event alone (Danskin Chicagoland) next week and I'm scared out of my mind. I know I'll get through this...but I won't fully believe that until after the swim. LOL

Posted by: Courtney | July 05, 2008 at 09:48 AM