my transition area
about to cross the finish line
right after I got out of the water
Well, its not often that I set a New Year's Resolution and actually accomplish it, but I made it through the triathlon! It was really fun and I start training for my next one on Monday.
The drama started on Saturday when we went to pick up our race packets and the bike that I rented. Since it was a rookie triathlon, I expected the people there to offer a lot of information about what to expect and the rules, etc. Well, there was none of that and it really added to my anxiety about the whole thing. After we picked up our packets and were in the car I was reading the handbook and it said that we had to have our race numbers displayed on the front of our bodies when we begin the running part of the race. Well, I was planning on wearing the same thing throughout the race so I couldn't figure out what I was to do with my number because it was on paper and that wasn't going to make it through the water, but I didn't want to have to take the time to pin it to my shirt in the middle of the race. Oh the stress! So that led to some tears and the two of us getting back out of the car to go and see if we could find what the book called a 'race belt'. Well, we did and no thanks to the race coordinators outside the store, we figured out how it worked and all was well...until 4am on Sunday morning. At that point I was thinking the triathlon was a really bad idea. Not only was it early, but I was going to have to swim in the lake. I do not like to be in lakes, I do not like to not be able to see my feet, I do not like to put my face in the water, and I hadn't swam the freestyle since my last swimming lesson in elementary school. We practiced in a lake on Saturday and it was disgusting! We looked rediculous by the way. We go out in our swim gear complete with swim cap and goggles (Jason is doing this with me to see if there is any possible way he can make it through the race with no pain) and I don't last 10 minutes. There was seaweed attacking me and with the water being dirty it would be right in your face before you knew it!
Anyway, Sunday arrives and I am really nervous! Jason told me he had never seen me like that before and he felt bad because there was nothing he could do to make me feel better. He was great the whole day though. He was so patient with me and so proud of me when I finished. We got there at about 6:15am and the first thing I had to do was get 'body marked' where they write your race number on both of your arms and thighs and then they write your age on your calf. Then I put my race number on my bike and take all my stuff into the transition area. There were about 1000 participants in this particular race so there were bikes everywhere. I found my spot and set out all my stuff. Jason wasn't allowed to go in that area with me, so when I was finished setting up I took a picture and then showed him to make sure I wasn't forgettting anything. After that, we went and got my time chip that I wore around my ankle and then it was standing in line at the bathroom. I did a practice swim at around 7:30am, managed to get down some energy goo (it is disgusting) after that and then the race started at 8:00am sharp! They released you in flights by age so my flight was about five from the beginning. They count down from 10 for each flight and then a horn goes off and everyone takes off! The swim was really annoying. First of all the water smelled really bad. Second, people were in my way. At one point early on in the race I was just getting into a rythm when I bumped into something. When I popped my head up I was staring the face of another competitor. What's wrong with this picture? Hmm...she was just taking her dear sweet time and BACKSTROKING her way through the water. Now, I'm an awful swimmer, but I'm still competitive and I was annoyed. People were just in the way. I finally gave up and just ran over people. You can't see anything in that water and I was running out of energy. I was never so happy to get out of the water. Then on to the bike ride and the run. Out of 1000 participants I finished 259th and my time for all three events was 1 hour and 9 minutes. Not too bad for a rookie. I had a good time and I will definately do it again.
Anyway, Sunday arrives and I am really nervous! Jason told me he had never seen me like that before and he felt bad because there was nothing he could do to make me feel better. He was great the whole day though. He was so patient with me and so proud of me when I finished. We got there at about 6:15am and the first thing I had to do was get 'body marked' where they write your race number on both of your arms and thighs and then they write your age on your calf. Then I put my race number on my bike and take all my stuff into the transition area. There were about 1000 participants in this particular race so there were bikes everywhere. I found my spot and set out all my stuff. Jason wasn't allowed to go in that area with me, so when I was finished setting up I took a picture and then showed him to make sure I wasn't forgettting anything. After that, we went and got my time chip that I wore around my ankle and then it was standing in line at the bathroom. I did a practice swim at around 7:30am, managed to get down some energy goo (it is disgusting) after that and then the race started at 8:00am sharp! They released you in flights by age so my flight was about five from the beginning. They count down from 10 for each flight and then a horn goes off and everyone takes off! The swim was really annoying. First of all the water smelled really bad. Second, people were in my way. At one point early on in the race I was just getting into a rythm when I bumped into something. When I popped my head up I was staring the face of another competitor. What's wrong with this picture? Hmm...she was just taking her dear sweet time and BACKSTROKING her way through the water. Now, I'm an awful swimmer, but I'm still competitive and I was annoyed. People were just in the way. I finally gave up and just ran over people. You can't see anything in that water and I was running out of energy. I was never so happy to get out of the water. Then on to the bike ride and the run. Out of 1000 participants I finished 259th and my time for all three events was 1 hour and 9 minutes. Not too bad for a rookie. I had a good time and I will definately do it again.
a banana for the person next to you in the bike race? That's an interesting choice, left his protein bar at home?!! I think everyone should walk around with their ages on their calfs... that's fun. I was scowering the picture to see how old people where.. did I see a 75??
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I've been checking for pictures. So proud of you!
ReplyDelete