Triathlon

I think it's natural for many of us to want push ourselves. See how fast we can move, far we can travel, or how long we can persevere.

In the last year, I've learned that I can push myself further and harder than I thought. I've learned that I need to. I want to continue to do so next year. I'll definitely do triathlons next year and likely participate in a marathon - - and PR.

But I will never ever participate in a DecaTriathlon. This is taking place in Mexico as we speak. The DecaTriathlon is 10 Ironman races! So, there swimming 24 miles in the pool. Then 1120 miles bike, 262 mile run. Ah.... no this event will not be on my life goals list. Nope. Never.

Here's a picture I found of the feet of one the participants during or after the swim

I spliced together some of the video we have when Kyle, Shawn and I did the Burrito Union 10 hour triathlon. Its my first attempt to put together a movie with music and titles etc. Against my better judgement, here it is.

Kyle, CadesMom and I did the Brewhouse Triathlon this year. Curses! This year Kyle beat me (by less than a minute). This was the 3rd year that I've participated and 4th year for CadesMom. It’s a fun, relaxed event and it's held in Duluth. Being in Duluth is a bonus as I really like Duluth and we get to see my friends Kyle and Kim and they're kids Will and Ilee and dogs Lexi and Sam. It’s always great to visit Duluth. The evening before the Brewhouse Triathlon we were all sitting around talking about another area event, the Burrito Union 10 hour Triathlon.

After finishing the Tri, the idea of the Burrito Union Tri was stuck in my mind. I was a tad, if one can be only slightly, obsessed. Kyle gave it a thumbs up and CadesMom said, "whatever", and moments later we were registered.

So Cade stayed with Gpa and Gma, Fiona looked after the hounds and buddy, and Shawn and I went to Gear West to rent her a wetsuit. Given that the race was held in Northern Wisconsin in early September it was a good bet that a wetsuit would be needed. Shawn’s been having issues with her hip. Sciatica-ish painful issues, so she had volunteered to do the swimming. Kyle and I agreed to alternate the biking and running.

We arrived at the Smith household past Will and Ilees bet time, chatted for a bit and went to bed. Kyle had gone to the pre-race meeting and shared that timing would only occur once the runner crossed the finish line. No other times would be kept. We all woke 5:30ish and were on our way. After a few failed attempts we were successful in finding a muffin/bagel shop serving coffee. The coffee prerequisite satisfied we carried on to Pattision State Park, the site of the event.

We found it really easily, and got situated. Kyle smartly brought a tent which we set up 30 yards from the transition area. The weather was cool (lower 60’s?) and overcast. Showers were threatening. Shawn started us off in the swim. Kyle and I aligned that I’d bike first and he would run the first tri, and wed alternate. So, after Shawn came out of the water she tagged me and I was off on the bike. Now outside of races, my bike hasn’t been on the road this year. The little time I’ve been on it, has been either on the trainer or in a race. So, I wasn’t prepared for cold weather. I wasn’t even sure what to wear…. So I wore a lot. I had a short-sleeve tshirt, long sleeve shirt, and a windbreaker on my upper body. Tri shorts and a pair of running shorts below. A thinner stocking cap and my helmet. Kyle thought I might be over dressed… I said he didn’t know what he was talking about.

The bike course was an out and back 7 miles out and 7 miles back. Turning out of the park on to the road it was all downhill! I got about halfway and I was HOT and tired. (For whatever reason, it never occurred to me to stop and take off some clothes). I was wearing my HRM and it read 165. I was sure that my bike speedometer was interfering with it, as I never go about 135 when riding….. After the turnaround (and after being passed by everyone and a few people who weren’t racing!) it didn’t get any easier. I swear it was all false flats and false downhills until the last tenth of a mile, when it was a decent uphill. The kind where, especially if you’re already cooked) you look for more gears and wonder if walking wouldn’t be faster.

Okay, so I survived. Kyle was there and he took off running on the 3.1 mile trail run. Shawn and I talked about the swim and bike course. Kyle arrived too quickly and Shawn was off back into the water. Kyle quickly changed into his biking stuff in the tent. We chatted for a bit (this was how the day passed, hanging and talking with your teammate while waiting for the other to finish a leg. I encouraged Kyle to wear a couple of stocking caps on the bike, but he didn’t listen. Shawn ran out of the water and Kyle was off biking. Shawn was cold and a bit tired from a hard frigid swim. We chatted a bit and sat by a heater in the lodge to warm up. Shawn was thinking she could do another swim but the water was just too cold to keep going. She said she’d do the next one, and I agreed to swim after that.

Kyle roared in on the bike, and I started off on the run. This time I was dressed better, wearing a shirt and shorts. I had a stocking cap on as it was still cold, but I ended up carrying it for most of the run. What a fun run. I love trail running and this trail was along the lake/pond and a stream that feed it. The run was mostly an out and back. At the turnaround was an aid station with Heed, water and Hammer gel. There was also a nice waterfall to take a peak at before turning around. On the way back I was behind two other runners who were talking. I just sorta latched on to them and listened in on the conversation. Funny thing. Both the runners live relatively close to me, Jeff lives near Nokomis, and Sage lives in Linden Hills. Funny world sometimes. Anyway I finished the run, and Shawn again took off on the swim. I then made the change to get ready again for the bike. This time I wore fewer layers and probably could have skipped the jacket as I was still really hot. After cracking up the damn hill, I tagged off to Kyle. Then I got ready for the swim.

The swim marked my 3 straight every other legs Brian (Run) – Shawn (swim) – Brian) Bike – Kyle Run- Brian (swim). I got into the wetsuit bottom half and left the top off while waiting for Kyle to finish the run. Once it seemed like he’d be coming, I put the sleeves on and had Shawn zip up the suit. Or try to zip it up. It took like 7 minutes and assistance from another lady to help get it zipped up! I guess the women’s suits are set up for bodies like mine! Anyway, Kyle came in and it was my turn to get wet. I had heard Shawn and everyone else say how cold it was, so I feared the worst and it didn’t seem that bad. It was cold, but not horrible. Perhaps all the peeing in the lake had warmed it up! I walked out of the lake, tagged off to Kyle who went on to bike. Shawn finished the tri with the run. We did that same order again. Finally we did start our sixth Tri. While Kyle was out on the bike it just poured! He finished the bike leg and I started the run in the pouring rain. I had the trail all to myself. There were huge puddles and it was really really fun. There was a bit of hail, but nothing to be afraid off, about halfway on the run the rain stopped and the sun came out. Beautiful. I finished the run and we all went to finish packing everything up.

Burrito Union was great. We all agreed we’ll be back next year.


Our Results: (I think this is slightly off. I think we finished our 6th tri at like 9:00. I remember thinking there we're still people in the water and that we COULD have done 1 more).

8 Looks like a deer ; Brian T Corrigan , Shawn Strathe , Kyle Smith 6 09:25:55
1: 1:30:42 01:30:42
2: 1:29:27 03:00:08
3: 1:34:33 04:34:40
4: 1:34:59 06:09:38
5: 1:39:20 07:48:58
6: 1:36:58 09:25:55


I believe this video shows why led 5 was so much slower than the rest. This is Kyle starting the bike leg of Triathlon 5.