Mission Complete

I did it!

I completed the triathlon on Saturday. My only goal was to finish it...although, I was shooting for under two hours. M. surprised me by being in many places to take pictures & cheer me on!

The day started very early for me, around six o'clock. I left M. and Miss O sleeping in their beds and headed downtown to the race site. I was surprised by how UN-nervous I was. After pulling my bike out, I headed over to the transition area...I looked around and copied what anyone was doing around me.

Towel? Check. Shirt? Check. Sneakers? Check. Helmet? Check. Water? Check.

Once I was comfortable with my layout under my bike, I went to get marked. And marked I was, on my left arm, left leg, and right leg, in big black permanent marker my race number: 201. After that, all I could do was wait for my swimming heat to be called.

I was excited that M. and Miss O. were able to see me swim...they walked in just as my heat was called to the pool. I haven't swam a race in over 12 years, but as soon as I hit the water the adrenaline kicked in and the rhythm of my stroke fell into place. I predicted to swim the half mile in 10 minutes, but I finished 2nd in my heat just over 8 minutes! As I pulled myself from the pool, my mind started to think, "what are you doing?"

I ran from the pool, just before the transition area I slipped crashed to the ground. I don't know if I missed the curb, or just fell, but I hit the pavement hard. I was so embarrassed...I hopped up and continued on to my bike, didn't even realize the blood pouring from my knee.

I learned a lesson at transition. Untie your sneakers before you swim. I must have spent at least 5 minutes trying to untie my shoes! I got my helmet on, and I was off on my 10 mile bike ride.

After missing a few cones while trying to stay balanced, I took off. The bike ride consisted of two laps of the course. The first half of the lap was a very steep hill. As hard as getting up the hill was, I refused to get off my bike. I just kept peddling. I sure wasn't going very fast, but I was making headway. I spent most of the bike ride looking at the pavement under my feet...I couldn't look ahead, it was too discouraging. Up at the top of the hill M. and Miss O. were cheering me on. How can you consider stopping when all you can here is this tiny voice saying, "Go, Mommy, Go!" over and over? Coming back down the hill was heaven! I just coasted the whole way to recover.

The second transition went better, I just had to hang up my bike, take of my helmet, grab my radio and go! I never expected it to be so hard to run after biking! I sure didn't run at all the 1st half of the run...it was more like a shuffle. My legs just felt like lead. I ended up power walking up the hill, but after I got to the top I ran all the way down and to the finish line!

Final time, 1 hour 54 minutes! Woo-hoo!

I felt so empowered by finishing. I put my mind to something and I finished it to the end. My body didn't fail me...I might be a *little* overweight, but it didn't stop me!

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Little side note to the race...I woke up to an unwelcome visitor, so I completed it on Cycle Day 1, too!