Success!

Greetings! So, I can officially tick the box “triathlete” (you know, because it comes up so often!). Two Sundays ago I completed my first triathlon. Before the race, as you know if you’ve read the last post, I was feeling quite unprepared and nervous. My training had stalled and I also had a health issue that almost kept me home. BUT, race morning I was feeling good and, strangely enough, unexpectedly calm. Like, really, really strangely calm – especially after the stress-y week I had. I hit my snooze button, lingered over my coffee and emails, and finally rolled out the door about 6:00. This is unheard of for me, even on 5K race mornings! I think I was either seriously blocking out what was to transpire, or I had come to terms with the fact that I was not really competing, but just hoping to complete.
So, I arrived and saw the mass of people marked and waiting for the race to begin. I believe there were 700 competitors in all the divisions (duathlon and triathlon – individual and team). Thus, 700 bikes on about twenty racks for me to weasel my mountain bike into. This sounds really goofy, but that was the most stressful part of my day! I was so nervous I was going to knock over 50 other (really nice!) bikes hanging precariously on the racks for their quick get-aways later. But, I shimmied in and tried not to touch anything after that. My first success!
I got marked and hung around for awhile by my bike. Ate a banana, used the potty and then swam over to the start on the beach. I figured if I could get through the swim (my weakest area), I would be home free from there. Still strangely calm. At 7:45, 50 women and I were standing in the water waiting for the horn. It blared and we were off! I started in the back and outside hoping not to 1) get kicked and 2) get passed by every other swimmer. I did not swim any freestyle at all – only breast and side stroke. Even with that, I still maintained pace with the slower swimmers and was NOT the last one out! When I was about halfway through, I spotted my Mom and Dad on the dock with the other spectators. I was waving like crazy before I realized I had better not do that, as pumping your fist is the cue that you are in trouble and need assistance. Oops! Thankfully no life boats scooped me out of the water; and the boost of seeing my cheering section got me through!
As I ran up the boat ramp for my first transition, I shouted to M&D “I didn’t sink!” and thus began my permagrin that lasted the next 5 hours. I hopped on my bike for the two loops around the park. It’s just a 9 mile ride, but the course is very hilly. Didn’t even phase me, as the permagrin continued. Thank God I didn’t swallow any bugs with that mouth all agape. I was encouraging the slower riders, saying thank you to every volunteer (there were probably more than a hundred of them!) and generally just being goofy. With my ride over, I dropped the helmet, parked the bike and was off for the two and a half mile run. My cheering section kept my spirits lifted, and the run course (with the exception of the ‘dam hill’) is pretty and lined with yet more volunteers. And the smile remains til the finish! I finished about mid-pack; 64th of 113 women. I was elated and can’t wait to do another! Even my Mom, after seeing the race day excitement and grins is considering doing one next year. Now, how stinkin’ cool would THAT be?!?!?! Go Mom!

Fast Approaching

Sunday is D-day. While I am always up for a challenge, I have a feeling this race is going to be pretty comical. As I’m sure everyone reading this knows, triathlons are races consisting of 3 sports: swimming, biking and running (almost always in that order). The one I am attempting is a sprint distance (very short!)-- it is a 500 meter swim, 9 mile bike and 2.5 mile run. Done separately; piece of cake. Combined? Let the laughs begin! I have not truly attempted a brick workout (training on 2 of the 3 disciplines together). I am still uncertain what I am wearing. I do not yet have road tires for my huge, heavy mountain bike I will be riding. I have not tried my zip laces on my running shoes, nor ever worn a swim cap. I have also not practiced my transitions.
Obviously, going from swimming to biking and biking to running requires some ‘costume changes’, if you will – aka transitions. Everyone gets a small transition area next to their bike for changing shoes and clothes, and storing helmets, glasses, race numbers, goggles, water bottles, etc. For most it’s a science. For me it’s a last minute checklist of varied objects thrown on the ground and me desperately hoping I’m not forgetting something (like clothes or my bike). As I said, it should be pretty funny. The best racers can be in and out of transition in a minute or two (that includes running barefoot from the lake to the bikes and then from the bike dismount area to the racks). I’m shooting for 5-10. And remembering at least half of what I should be doing. Yikes. C’mon, not last place!!!

Tomato Protection

I’ve always been amazed at children’s ability to learn language. Hattie has gone from being a helpless, drooling, unfocused little being to jumping, giggling, reading and talking nonstop in just 3 short years. Although sometimes we still lose a little in translation. Here are a couple of my favorites of late:
Mama, you may have to hold my hand on the apple-gator (escalator).
You’re making me gravy! (crazy)
Hokey pokey snokey! (Okey dokey smokey!)
If there’s a fire, you go outside. If there’s a tomato you go in the closet and protect your head. (tornado drills at daycare)

We’ve been super-busy lately installing our beautiful new bamboo floors and then rewarding ourselves with an adult-only weekend at the lake. Hattie had a blast at my Mom and Dad’s house and actually told me when we got home she wanted to live there forever. Guess the only thing we need to worry about when leaving her in the future is whether or not we’ll get her back! Although I’m pretty sure my parents would help usher her out the door. Ha!
On a more frightening front, my triathlon is next weekend! I am crazy-underprepared. Haven’t been doing brick workouts, haven’t swam in several months, been busy laying floors and drinking at the lake instead of training, and now I have a head cold to boot. My goal has gone from finishing near middle of the pack to not finishing dead last! Will give you all a race report in a couple weeks.