Ben Collins writes our race report for Kirkland Triathlon!

Sunday I raced the Kirkland Triathlon at Carillon Point. I won, and was the first person to break an hour at this sprint triathlon. It was fun to get out and race! This was my first time wearing a race kit since May, so I was a little overly anxious to get out there. Also I couldn’t have done anything without Courtenay who schlepped all my crap everywhere before and after the race.
The swim was in Lake Washington. It took me a minute to get my rhythm after a 10 minute delay in the start waiting for the sheriff’s ok. The first 200 meters I was right with Dave Messenheimer and Chris Tremonte, then I pulled away and never looked back. I started the bike 45 seconds ahead of Tremonte, and had a nearly four minute lead by the start of the run. With that in mind I relaxed on the run, chatted with the volunteers and thanked them for all their help in putting on the race. I finished in 59:50, about 90 seconds ahead of second place, Rusty Pruden.
It was fun to lead a race like this. I have only done a few non-drafting races since getting my pro card in 2008, and this race was a reminder of how different non-drafting can be. My strategy was just to go hard and once I was far enough ahead, I went less hard. And, since I was leading the whole way, about 57 minutes of the race were spent alone watching the back of a police motorcycle (his job was hard because the volunteers didn’t expect me there yet)!
The course was challenging, hilly, and beautiful. And I’ll admit, my favorite part was probably that it was close to home. It was a great day to get out there and get back into racing mode. Now I just have to repeat this whole wire-to-wire race experience at another non-drafting event, the LA Triathlon on October 4.
Check out BenCollins.org for updates!

Spokane Triathlon

Written by Mojdeh:
I raced the Spokane Triathlon on September 13th, 2009. This was the first year of the event and it was a great success. It was an olympic distance triathlon- 1.5k swim, 40 bike, and 10k run.
The day before the race packet pick up was set up outside a local tri-shop called Fitness Fanatics. The shop was a great location for packet pick up, there was plenty of parking and the shop carried everything you would need for race day. The best part about packet pick up was that there were no long lines! Everything was very well organized and there were plenty of people working the booths. The goodie bag was great, everyone got a cool white and orange long sleeve tech tee, a Fitness Fanatic water bottle, hammer gel, hammer endurolites, and coupons/ fliers.

Race day:
Transition opened at 5:30am, it didn't get busy until around 6:30.The racks were not numbered so the sooner you got there the better the spot you had. There was also mobile coffee truck parked right next to transition. They had some great drinks and breakfast foods. I always think it is a great idea to have coffee at transition on race mornings.
Swim:
The first wave took off 7 am (men) then at 7:03 (women). The swim course was very well marked. There were 4 BRIGHT orange buoys to follow on your right for the first half then a turn around and the same thing on the way back. The swim start was a deep water start, except it wasn't really very deep. I found a rock to stand until it was time to start the race. I really liked the swim because it was cold (60 degrees) so it made me swim harder and there was a current on the way out so as soon as I turned the last buoy I felt like I was floating all the way back to transition. I think it was the best negative swim split I have ever had!
Bike:
The run from the water to transition was really close, just long enough for me to start getting my wetsuit off and all of a sudden I was in front of my bike. Transition was really well marked, one in and one out. Simple! The bike is always my favorite part. I loved the scenery, the lack of cars, the wide open roads, the 3 simple right turns out and then 3 left turns back after the turn around! I felt like it went by so quickly. About half way through my bike I heard a cow bell and a cheering kid. The owner of Fitness Fanatics was driving the course to make sure everyone was okay and he had his kids in the back seat cheering the cyclist on with a cowbell and cheerful screams. It made me smile.
Run:
By the time I finished my bike it finally started to warm up a little. I was so happy the run was on gravel and through a shaded trail. It was a really beautiful and well marked trail. There were volunteers and signs everywhere. The run was 2 laps, the aid station could not have been more perfectly placed, I ran by it 4 times.There was water, Heed, and hammer gels.
The finish:
I finished with a great big smile on my face! Everyone was cheering, there was music and all the excitement you find at the finish line of any triathlon. I want to thank everyone made this triathlon happen! I had a great time and the race was perfect. I would love to do it again next year.

Check back for announcements for next years race.
http://www.spokanetriathlon.com/

Lake Sammamish

The last weekend in August was the Lake Sammamish Triathlon. It was a lot of beginners. In typical Seattle fashion, it was raining. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun despite the weather. I guess they are all used to that up here. I have never seen a race where they switch the "run in" and "run out" signs halfway through the race. Well in fairness, they were "transition in" and "transition out" signs, but they were switched while participants were out on the course.

SOMA Triathlon.

Everyone has heard of this race. This year is your chance to get out there and do it. There is still time to register for one of the year's greatest half iron distance triathlons! SOMA is still open. Registration is here.

Red Rock proudly announces the SEVENTH year of the Soma Triathlon.  This is our marquee event and per your feedback for 2009 Soma is a half iron distance only!  Come out and race in the same location as Ironman AZ...swim in the same lake, ride bits and pieces of the same bike course, and finish in the same location.  This event is a great tune up for Ironman or just a great way to get out and compete in a half in a phenomenal setting.  Race this one and you will get a Head Sweats visor, a tech tee and one heck of a good time!