Coming Across the Finish Line. A Great Feeling!

There's no better feeling than crossing the finish line. Thats me in the back.  I caught up at the finish line and was off by 2/10ths of a second. Not that I am counting or anything.   The weeks of stressing about whether or not you can even complete your first triathlon come to an end when you finish to cheers from people you don't even know. It's another accomplishment in life you never expect to reach. You change your mind 100 times leading up to the race. "I can do it". "I'll never do it". "What was I thinking" And then, you're addicted!

Before The Race Begins. Hiding The Nerves.

You smile like you're having fun. It's all a cover-up. The nerves have built up so much all you can do is laugh, make people think you're having a good time. Pretend you know what you're doing. What's he eating? What's she rubbing on? I think I need to throw up.

This Doesn't Look Like The Pool. That Water's Moving.

Can't you see the intensity!! which is really hiding unadulterated fear. There are WAVES out there ohh my!!For me, who hates roller coasters, this moment is akin to the slow anticipatory ascent before the big drop where I am sure I'm gonna die. Honestly, ladies I would have rather given birth a thousand more times without an epidural. What helped me push through was part preparation, part stubborn determination, and part not giving up in front of my husband and especially my 13 year old daughter.

Swim Done. Bike Done. Now a 3-Mile Run.

Ok at this point I am feeling good the bike ride was awesome. C'mon it's just a 5K. I've done this before. I just keep telling myself "keep going" "don't stop". Just when I am about to lose my mojo, I see AHEAD of me a man who is 70 years old, with one bowed out leg who is walking or really hobbling thru this last leg of the tri. I catch up and breathlessly say "how great he is and what an inspiration" and this pushes me through. I mean seriously, I am not going to complain about how hot and tired I am at this point. I am celebrating and thanking God and everyone that I made it and thinking how fun it really was.

                                                       Keep on training!!!!!!

Exiting The Water. Looks Like We're Having a Blast

Yeah, fun, if that's what you call choking on untold gallons of salt water. Yeah, feel the burn. Except the burn is not coming from your muscles it is from your nose, throat, and lungs. Getting out of the water gracefully is so not an option between the slight vertigo caused from the water in your ears and the waves crashing at your back you look more like a women on the way home from her 3rd wine tasting party that got caught in a monsoon than a wanna be triathlete.

Making new friends

The joy of participating in events like these is the comraderie it builds. Here are two of the athletes that I met at the edge of the water. Both were helpful giving tips and helping me put on my swim cap, which is not as easy as you would think. It is like stuffing sausage into the casing, yuck. And thankfully, one of them reminded me, just before the gun went off, "you might want to take off your glasses unless of course your swimming with them" Duh, rookie mistake!!!

Preparation is the key but this is way too much stuff

I did a lot of research in the two weeks I had to prepare, yes I know 2 weeks... another rookie mistake. There was all sorts of info about what to bring and equipment to use etc... and I had it all packed (I could have done survivor for a month with what I  had)including the sunscreen which is what you see on my arm. Funny thing is I was copiously applying it my chest, arms, legs, and ended up forgetting to put it on the most important part my FACE. Another rookie mistake!! Does any know a good aesthetician? I need some microdermabrasion to undue some of the effects of all this outside Florida training