You, too, can "Do the Danskin"If you think you can't do a triathlon, more than a few of your co-workers think you should think again. The annual Danskin Triathlon is structured for both first time and veteran athletes. It entails a 1.2 mile swim, 12 mile bike ride and 3.1 mile run. Many King County employees have enjoyed the empowering experience of pushing their personal boundaries. They came to the Danskin from all different lifestyles - from couch potato to seasoned athlete. All of them confirm the Danskin credo: "The woman who starts the race is not the same woman who finishes the race." Read their inspiring stories below.  Last year, feeling a bit spontaneous on a sunny morning, I signed up for the Danskin Women’s Triathlon, a national series of races supporting breast cancer research. For the Seattle Danskin, it’s a race in itself just to register. By mid morning the day registration opens, all 4,000 spots are filled. I got caught ups in the spirit. By 8 am, with the help of my Visa card, I had made the cut.
It was only after I received the confirmation email that reality dropped like a brick in my gut. In most areas of my life I aim high. I take pride in competence. I am unapologetic for an internal drive to get things done. But at the moment immediately after signing up, reality sank in. I had five months, panicked when putting my face in water and hadn’t run more than a mile in years. I took a deep breath, and came up with two personal triathlon goals: #1: don’t drown #2: don’t be the one puking in the storm drain (that can’t be good for fish) Now, months after training for and successfully completing my first triathlon, I can tell you my goals with pride more than anything. I’m hooked – in love with the feeling of racing into the wind like Atlanta, the fast-running princess from the child’s tale. But for a busy life training is about efficiency and finding the most streamlined approach to get to the finish line. My colleague, and longtime triathlete, John Villapudua gave me tremendous advice for the first few months of my training. Below we offer up our combined tips to you!
The Physical Test (tips from John) |
The Mental Game (tips from Jessie) |
Recovery takes place before, during and after a work-out, not just after. So be conscious of your hydration and nutrition at all times. If you start to feel lethargic while running or biking, eat a carb-loaded energy gel and see if you perk up! |
Find a support group of folks who ask regularly how the training is coming along in a positive way. Some respond better to tough-love, “I have furniture that moves faster than you! Pick it up!” Either way, set yourself up to get the feedback you need. |
Once the weather warms up, do a sweat rate test to help you determine how much you should be drinking. Simple, simple, simple…if you’re hydrated, you’ll feel better, train better, perform better. |
For almost any job there’s a tool designed to save you anguish. Your Danskin tools: - good running shoes
- good sports bra
- bike you look fast on (looking fast leads to feeling fast!)
|
You’re body will be experiencing plenty of stimuli and stress with the new training program. Substitute a weight-free, strength routine focused on core development. |
Find personal incentives (besides food): I made a deal with myself that on days I didn’t ride my bike to work, I was required to wear heels and make-up. On days I did ride my bike to work, I allowed myself to wear flats. |
Take a swim lesson first! We learn to run intuitively. Learning to ride somewhat less so, but still something learned as a child. Unless you’re naturally gifted, moving through water efficiently takes dedication and repetition. Correct your technique early on… before you develop any bad habits. Then learn to run! We learn to run intuitively, but it’s still wrong for the vast majority of us…especially if we’re trying to run a long distance. |
Streamline your life to make room for training: I traded in grocery shopping for Spud Organics delivery. $28 a week gives me organic groceries AND an extra workout block. |
Smile! Smiling releases endorphins & natural pain killers - making you feel better while knocking out the last few miles. |
Race with a smile. Finish with a smile. At the end of the day, the Danskin isn’t about pain. It’s not about coming in first. It’s about giving a cancer survivor a high five as you pass them on the race course; An ‘atta girl from the grandma cruising past on bike; A thumbs-up to the 10 year old handing out water from the sidelines. It’s about feeling good while moving! And you will! |
 At 58 years old I decided it was time to add little more exercise to my life and to change my eating habits, I want to stay fit and in good health as I advance in age. I started out by walking everyday and then increased to power walking. I felt like I needed a little more of a challenge so I started running. Running became a passion for me and my legs started to look like those of a cheerleader. Yippee! I decided to do the Danskin because I had been running for 2 years and felt like I was in good enough shape to try a Triathlon. I knew that the run part of the Danskin would be okay for me and I could probably get through the biking okay. The swimming was going to be a problem. My idea of swimming is floating in the pool in a blow-up pool chair with a glass of wine. I started out with baby steps. A couple of laps at a time and by August I was able to swim ½ mile in the pool. Next I had to take my swimming to the lake. Yikes! It is a whole lot different in Lake Washington than a swimming pool but I become one with the lake and I did it. On race day I was so nervous. Because of my age (60) I was with the "Grannies", the 3rd wave to enter the lake. It was dark, the water was choppy and was ready to run away but I entered the water swam ½ mile then biked 12 miles and run a 5K. I learned so much more about myself it was definitely life changing.
Beth Humpreys, Recyling and Environmental Services, DNRP This year was my fourth Danskin event. I participated in my first Danskin when I was 45 years old. At the time, I was concerned about gaining weight, and my naturopath recommended that I participate as a way to keep my weight in check and to get in better shape. It was a transforming experience and now I'm hooked. That first year, I was just trying to finish the event, but now I'm competing against myself and each year I try to finish with a better time. I like the cross-training aspects of swimming, biking, and running. I have also participated in other triathlons including the Escape from the Rock and the Subaru Women's Sprint Triathlon.
Perhaps the best outcome from participating in the Danskin is that I have met several women that I now regularly exercise with. We meet almost every Sunday morning and go for a long bike ride. Four years ago we thought riding twelve miles was a long ride, but now if we don't ride thirty miles we feel like we haven't ridden enough! This September we rode in the MS Bike Ride and rode a total of 110 miles over the weekend. We are also going to run in the Jingle Bell fun run in December.
|
