I TRIed

Well, I did it and I am darn proud of myself and did my best. I was happy with how I did considering my circumstances.

The swim was the hardest, the pool was a human blender and it looked liked they had turn on jets, very choppy. You started based on your estimated finish time. I was number 92 (starting at 31) and there were well over 200 people behind me yet. Most everyone was swimming at a faster pace. I was bound and determined not to get passed so I wouldn't have to pull over and wait while I was passed. So I swam my little heart out. I was exhausted and could barely get out of the pool at the end. I have no idea how to translate my swim time so I have no idea what it was.

Both of my transition times were horrible, they aren't lying when they say to practice. My advise is to practice when your heart rate has been at max for 5 minutes. I have already peeled off 3 minutes mentally for next year on what to do differently. The transition area was indoors which was awesome. The windchill was 24 that morning and the winds were howling.

The bike ride was grueling. The hardest most have ever ridden. 35mph out of the NNW with higher gust. It was hard going down hill. It took me 40 minutes to go 7.75 miles. Then we got to turn around. Boy was that fun. My average mph on the way back was 28, 25 uphill, 32-35 downhill. It took me 60 minutes total. (I was very glad to have my new bike... more on her later).

Prior to this event I was a 5k virgin, never even ran 3 miles in training, I was up to 2 when my dad died and then my training ended. Ironically it was a lot like sex the first time. At first I thought, 'oh no, what I have gotten myself into'. Then a little while later it was, 'this isn't so bad,' and then just like that it was over. :) The run ended up being the easiest of the three for the day. I finished and felt great. My run time was 25 minute 10 seconds. (Now I am curious to find out what it would be if I wasn't exhausted from the swim and bike ride prior.)

My finish time was 1 hour 40 minutes 5 seconds. I was hoping for 1 hour 30 minutes but with the wind on the bike ride, that was impossible. I was 5th in my age group (out of 34) and 15th overall women (out of 95). I am happy with that. I should/could have been 11th overall, my times in all three events were faster than those ahead of me but my transition times were to slow. I can't wait for next years and shouldn't have a problem being in the top 10 (as long as no one dies).

My reward taste awesome. The event was extremely well organized and they honored my dad with a moment of silence and wanted me to say a few words about him (I had the heads up on this). I don't have the slightest idea what I said but everyone said it was good.