Triathlete

Yep, that's me.

I apologize ahead for too much race detail but I want to have this on record so I dont forget.

45 minute rain delay.
Swim - I should have started either off to the side as was suggested or closer to the middle of the pack. I started at the back and couldnt seem to get past anyone. My goggles were fogged and my sigthing was not good.

T1 - I walked all the way in. I didnt know how my hamstring was going to be since I had not run on it in 12 days. I didnt want a problem already in T1.

Bike - it took a few miles to get my bike legs. But then I was okay. I should have been able to get through it faster but thats okay.

T2 - A little longer than it should have been. Again, saving the hammy.

Run - Yeah. Scared of the hammy. I walked a bit then would try out a slow jog. I kept that up most of the way. The hammy never acted up but I wanted to be certain I didnt do anything crazy before the end cause I was definitely running in to the finish. And I did.

My hammy was fine. My back hurt a lot around mile 2. And felt better running than walking.

Post-race - kick ass.

The whole experience was awesome and Im hooked. I knew half way thru the bike leg that I like multi-sport. I cant wait to do more. I cant wait to start training for the next race. I cant wait to train harder.

It was definitely life-changing. The comaraderie, the encouragement, the excitement, the challenge, the sheer fun and exhileration of accomplishment.

But as of today...I am a triathlete.

And its a go...

Tomorrow is the first of what I hope is many tris to come. Scratch that. Tomorrow IS the first of many tris to come. Ive got more goals. And I am looking forward to taking the steps to reach them.

But, for the next day or so...tomorrow morning is what this is all about. It will be fun and hard and exhilerating and emotional and calming.

I have soooo many people in my corner. It really is amazing.

This really will be life-changing. In fact, even the journey getting here has been changing my life. Wow, crossing a finish line after completeting a swim, bike, and run. I should send Dick Hoyt a thank you letter.

This isnt the end of this journey...tis only the beginning of my triathlon career. Stay tuned folks, there is so much more to come.

By the Numbers...NOT

I tend to be pretty analytical. In a big way.

When I started this journey toward my first tri I didn't really think about numbers so much. Well, that isn't exactly true. I thought I would lose a fairly significant amount of weight.

Of course, then I found the race results from 2009. I began to crunch numbers because I was determined to finish in the middle of my age group. I compared times for each discipline to what my capabilities were...and are.

Several people have told me to stop stop stop concerning myself with places and times and numbers on the scale.

Just finish they say. That's the goal. Enjoy the event...this is the fun part and what I have been working toward. Don't worry about the placing. Just run your race.

I am trying to not worry about numbers. It is both frustrating and easier since my hamstring/back thing that is going on. I really don't think I will be able to push myself on the run like I had hoped. I need to make sure I can do the next race. So, my goal times have had to change. While I am a good swimmer and can do the distance, Im just not fast. I have to reconcile that in my head...I want to be about two minutes faster and that just isnt happening by Saturday. The bike Im not worried about. Even if it is windy I will do alright. THe ride route is fun. I rode most of it and it will be a blast. And then I think about the transitions. Ive never done them before. It cant be that hard...but I still look at the numbers for that too. Or did. I'm trying not to.

Even though my quest was for health, fitness, and athleticism I had hoped the icing would be weight loss. I have lost a little and my clothes are definitely fitting differently. My fitness has improved immensely. Im stronger, faster. My endurance has increased. But the magical melting of pounds away just isnt happening.

Most of the time I dont worry about that number. But sometimes I can't help it. I'm not sure I will experience the melting of pounds but that's okay. I will be swimming faster, cycling farther, running faster and farther.

The only numbers I am going to be crunching now is how many weeks until the next event.

Mental, Physical, and Back Again

I started this whole thing mentally - exactly a year ago. It's hard to believe it has been a year since I announced to a few folks that I wanted to do a tri. And for a long while that is where I left it. Some day.

Some day is now three weeks away. Physically I have worked consistently and I've worked hard. I am doing the physical work. I've had to learn patience. Thank you, Steve. He was right - baby steps. One day at a time. And I would get there he said. I trust him and I believe him so I kept pushing even on the days I didn't really feel like it.

There were days when I was feeling a bit of panic at the tri coming up so quickly. But a week or so ago, I actually began the mental process of believing. I can swim. I can bike. I can run. I can do this. I am doing this.

But I had to be there mentally to get there physically. And now that I have, things are happening. I go faster. I go longer. I push. And I love it.

I truly believe and trust that my body is capable of much more than I ever gave it credit for. But I had to get to that mental realization before I could get beyond my self-imposed boundaries.

I am so ready for this and am already looking forward to what is yet to come.