This weekend is my final race of the season: Waskesiu’s Frank Dunn Triathlon. This is my longest-running triathlon with this being my sixth year in a row to complete this race. I was a little uncertain after my half IM experience as to whether I was going to do this race or if I would pull out or if I would just stop after the bike. However, I have been running a bit lately and with my knee feeling as close to 100% as it has in months, I’m going to go for it.
This morning I was looking at my previous race results and am a little shocked at the variation of times. It is partially because of the swim – it’s a rough lake and there have been times when the swim was made shorter so as not to torture us triathletes for too long. However, this year I expect to have a great swim due to my new wetsuit and working on my stroke.
This triathlon is unique in that it is not a standard distance for anything. It is a 1.5km swim, 62km bike, and 13km run. These seemingly awkward distances make the triathlon that much more difficult. This year, I look forward to seeing where I am in the grand scheme of my time results. I think that considering what my season has been like, I would be happy with a 4:15 total time result. Only race-day will really tell.
Over the years many friends and family have come to watch this race. In fact, this is the only race that my family comes to. Waskesiu is such a picturesque place and it is close to where I grew up. Also, the race is always around my birthday. This year it is ON my birthday! We always have a BBQ after with cake and lots of chatting. It is partially my family that brings me back to this race… it definitely isn’t the cold, unpredictable lake swim. One year (I think it was 2005) the lake was so cold that I thought I was going to get hypothermia. I have since learned some tricks: two swim caps and my long-sleeved wetsuit.
Thinking back to my first Frank Dunn race, I remember it like it was yesterday. It was my 25th birthday and I was scared. SCARED. My first triathlon, my first open-water swim… and my whole family was there to watch me. When it started I almost stopped. I was hyperventilating and I had images of my mother on the shore sick with worry about the waves and the other swimmers. I eventually made it out of the swim… and it felt like forever. I did head-up breast stroke the whole way and it was fine because I was at the back taking my sweet-ass time. The bike ride was fine, but it hurt my butt and my back. The run felt like a marathon. I was so glad to be done. The finish-line remains to be my favorite part of a triathlon (with the exception for the Great White North Triathlon this year) and sprinting across the line is the best feeling ever. I look forward to crossing it with my family on the sideline for the 6th year.
Previous years’ results:
| Year | Total Time | Swim | Bike w/transition | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 4:23:00 | 21:13 | 2:36:00 | 1:25:33 |
| 2004 | 4:42:37 | 33:35 | 2:36:06 | 1:32:56 |
| 2005 | 4:23:29 | 29:55 | 2:26:16 | 1:27:19 |
| 2006 | 3:52:06 | 25:39 | 2:08:41 | 1:17:45 |
| 2007 | 4:22:31 | 35:32 | 2:13:52 | 1:29:15 |
