Some Sharing and Tooting…..

Last Saturday, I completed my very first triathlon. Now for some of you this may not seem like much of a feat, but for me this is huge. And I mean huge!!!

So just how did I find myself with 511 much more physically fit people than myself waiting to swim for my life on Saturday morning?

It all started earlier in the spring when my 9 year old daughter and I decided to participate in an after school running program at her school. I have never been a runner and have always admired anyone who could run farther than the distance from couch to fridge.

Our first run was a 5k or 3.1 miles in March. I managed to finish and that was a major accomplishment for me. Most importantly it planted a seed for me that I could do many things if I just set my mind to it and trained. We did a few more races in the spring and then several of my friends and I decided to sign up for a triathlon... Why did I think I could do all of this, you might ask? Well, I knew I could run and I used to bike quite a bit and I figured I could train for the swim. So 10 of us signed up and made plans to train for the summer.

Well, the big day finally arrived last Saturday and frankly…I have to admit I was more than just a little bit scared. My big plans for training never really materialized as the weeks turned into days as the big T loomed ever nearer. My friends and I dubbed ourselves T.I.T.S…triatheletes in training…….and truthfully I did train some and I knew I could do all 3 events. I just didn’t know if I could do them back to back to back…..

We set out Friday evening for the race site, a state park about 50 miles from home. We decided to go the night before so we could pick up our race packets, checkout the course and get a good nights rest. Afterwards four of us went for pizza and a wise-ass competitor sent us over 2 very cold Heinekens….the waitress sent his message to remember we were in training and ½ a beer was ample. Ha….whoever heard of drinking only ½ a beer with pizza.

When we arrived at 7am for an 8 oclock start on Saturday morning, I had my doubts and was really questioning what I had gotten myself into. I can’t tell you how amazed I was at just how fit some of those people were. And interestingly enough….they grease pencil your age onto your left calf. I think this is supposed to make it easier to size up your competition.

With the Black Eyed Peas tune Lets Get It Started Now playing loudly in the background, we all donned our bright orange bathing caps labeling us as novices. And there I was….. down right shaking in my flip-flops…..and when they said “on your mark, get set, go”…..I went, and I went and I went and I went…………I went for 1 hour and 58 minutes and some odd seconds. And I have to tell you it was one of the most fun things I have done in a really long time.

My swim goal was just to not drown and also to beat the 84 year old man that was nipping at my heels. I saw his age on his calf…. The biking was a breeze…my best time of all 3 events …and the run was basically hell. But I did beat my friend Beth and only because she had to pee so badly from all the Gatorade she drank she had to dash behind some trees for relief. It was all pretty hilarious.

I finished 494 out of 512. Not bad for my first time, and I did beat the 84 year old man but not by much.

I am sharing some pics here for you all to see. It was an awesome experience and really deepens my belief in the power of a goal.

Hats off to all of us who attempt something new and challenging!
~Pamela~