TRIATHLON

Sorry I've been so slow about posting about the triathlon! But I have finally landed long enough to do so!

Bright and early last Monday morning, I woke up at 5:30am. I wanted to allow myself plenty of time to drive to Joseph's (he lives down south, not far from the triathlon) and then have him drop me off. I was running about 15 minutes behind schedule, but I ended up making it in enough time. He just dropped me off then went to park (and go pick up a few things).

I made my way to the transition area and had about 15-20 minutes to get all my stuff set up before they closed it and kicked us all out (at 7:15). The Olympic distance started its waves at 7am. (The two transition areas were separate.) The first wave was the "open" division, the division participants were encouraged to sign up for if they thought they were competitive to win. The first people were done with their 1500m swim in 17 minutes! Unbelievable!

So the transition area closed at 7:15, but the first wave for the sprint distance (which I was in) didn't start until 8:00. This meant I got to wander around in my bathing suit and bare feet (like everyone else!) for about 45 minutes. I didn't have my cell phone and was hoping that Joseph and everyone else coming to cheer me on would be able to find me so I could see them before the race. While I was waiting I got my body marked....they wrote my number in permanent black marker on both upper arms, the front of both my hands, one leg, and wrote my age on the back of my left calf.

The funny thing about everyone having their age on the back of their calf is when I was out biking or running and getting passed, I could think things like, "So I just got passed by a 61-year-old man!" Haha!

I mostly paced as I waited, trying to keep my eyes open for everyone and trying not to be nervous. Finally with about 5 minutes before start, I had to head down to line up with the other people in my division (women 29 and under). Just after I put my swim cap on, my friends found me! I was so happy they did! This is also when the pictures started. Michelle brought her camera and got some good pictures for me. Thanks Michelle!!

This is me right after they found me, I'd just put on my cap. (I was hoping I could have gotten a shot without it, but hey, that's okay! :) )

Here I am getting in the water right before the start of the swim! All those green swim caps... I also wore my red swim suit to be easily seen.

The swim went better than I expected. I gave myself a somewhat generous goal of 25 minutes to complete it, and actually did it in 17. 700m just seemed a lot shorter out there then it did any time I swam it in a pool. That's kind of weird, but okay. I sometimes had trouble swimming in a straight line, but I made it!

Here's a kind of funny shot of me right after the swim. I'm trying to hurry to the transition area. Everyone was there cheering me as I got out! Yay! And while I was swimming, Joseph had painted his chest in support of me, as you'll see proof of later. (That might explain the big smile on my face!)

Next up, the bike ride! I was most nervous for this portion of the race, just because I was worried I might fall off or something. (No, really. I was!) Though it actually ended up being the best part, I thought. I didn't have fancy swim-in-bike-shorts like a bunch of other people, so I had to dry myself off a tiny bit before getting on my bike. And I couldn't ride without socks. This doesn't sound like a lot, and I don't think it is, but for some reason, my transition time was horribly slow! But that's okay.

Here I am, starting out on the bike ride.

The total bike distance was 27K. It was two loops around the course. Everyone had made there way up to the bike course to cheer me on each time I passed. (Which was four....twice going out and twice coming back.)


Toward the end of the bike ride I started getting a pain in my knee, similar to one I'd had a few days before when I took Michelle's bike out (for a second time, not the first time that I blogged about). I was really worried it would linger into the run and slow me down, but it didn't! Whew!

My transition time from bike to run was MUCH shorter. Even though I did take the time to take off my bike shorts and put on real shorts. :) Here I am starting the run.

The run was by far the most difficult part. I think it's just because I was tiring at this point. As I got running, I got a bad cramp in my side. (I call them a "stitch," Joseph calls them a "catch.") I had to slow down a bit and even walk for a minute or two to make it go away. (It hurt! It seemed worse than a regular stitch/catch.)

And there everyone was again, rooting me on as I ran past them on the run course! (Although I had to get their attention that time. :) ) My friends are the best!

As I was nearing the end, I saw my friend Vince, and he was cheering me on, giving me enough gusto to sprint the last bit of it to the finish line.

I made it!! (You've got to throw your arms up in triumphant victory as you cross the finish line!)

Volunteers standing at the finish line set up the "tape" for everyone to run through as they crossed. I thought that was awesome.

I have the best friends in the world! So many of them came to cheer me on, despite the fact that it was so early. I was the only one running the triathlon, so they really did come out just for me! It made me feel very loved and supported!! Joseph, Michelle, Tamara, Shaleen, Vince, Mariah, and Sarah, you guys are the BEST!!! THANK YOU!!

Here's Joseph and I. He really did paint his chest (and arms, and face...) for me! :) He's a keeper, that's for sure. He got a bit sunburned and the best part was that when the paint washed off, the "E!" was still on him! We got a big kick out of that!

My goal time for finishing was 2 hours. My official time (posted on the triathlon website) was 2:00:28. I call that close enough. :) If my first transition time had been shorter, I likely would have come in under 2 hours, but I'm still pleased with it!

They weren't opening the transition area for people to get their bikes for about another hour, so we all had a bit of time to kill. The triathlon being over meant that the sugar-free month was over. As we were waiting, we all went to the nearby Jack in the Box (there wasn't much around) and got milkshakes. Yay!

I wasn't sure if Joseph or I was more excited for the end of the triathlon. He got a milkshake too. (Since he's been giving up sugar too with me.)

I have to post this picture too because I like it. This is Shaleen trying out my bike after it was all over.

Last shot of the day. I got my bike out of transition, and posed one last time with it. The triathlon was officially over. Yay!!

It was a lot of fun running it. I want to do another someday (hopefully the Olympic distance!) and now I feel a bit more educated as to how best to train and race for when I do.

Thanks again to everyone for your support, good luck messages, and asking me about it when it was over. You're all are great!!