Courtenay Brown

Today I did the Denver Tri for the Cure Sprint Triathlon. It was really fun, obviously partly because I won and had a very enthusiastic photographer in tow, but also because I really like meeting other women athletes of all experience levels. There were tons of enthusiastic racers! This race was touted as the largest all-women’s 1-day sprint-distance triathlon in the world (although, at 3,000 entrants, it was smaller than the 5,500-entrant largest all-women’s 1-day sprint-distance triathlon I also won last year, Danskin Seattle – either way, glad I have my bases sort of covered on winning the largest all-women’s 1-day sprint-distance triathlon).

I also enjoy racing for a cause, because it gives me a perspective on swim-bike-run that can be refreshing after long days of training and obsessing over splits and time gaps. The cause today was breast cancer. At the post-race awards, I stood on stage with the top finishers in the Survivor category (i.e. cancer survivors), one of them said “wow, you finished 25 minutes ahead of me, I can’t believe I’m even on stage with you!” All I could think was that a 25 minute gap was paltry compared to beating cancer. This is your stage, not mine!!

Photos are below. As you can see, it was a hot sweaty day out there. I’m sitting here sipping my 4th bottle of Orange Ginger nuun, rehydrating for my evening spin with the cover model! Here are race results and my splits (transitions were reallly long!). I was really really happy with my swim (under 1:40/100m for the first time ever in a race! Thank you FAC masters!), I caught all the girls in front of me by the end of the bike, and then I got to really enjoy the run! The funny thing was I felt so tired this morning and I thought I might just lay down and nap instead of race. I was going to take a Double Latte PowerGel before the start, but I forgot it in transition. Then during the swim I kept thinking, hurry hurry, get into T1 and get that gel! Then I got out on my bike and thought CRAP I forgot the PowerGel! Hurry hurry get into T2 and get that gel! I finally remembered it on the run. After I stopped worrying about the gel, I kept looking down at my new K-Swiss K-Ruuz and thinking “WOW, I just LOVE my shoes!” It wasn’t just the Double Latte talking… I really do love them. Plus they match my outfit.

So, all in all, a successful day. I’m doing another local triathlon in a couple weeks, the Rattlesnake Olympic Distance triathlon, then to San Francisco for Alcatraz at the end of the month!