Well I tri-ed

This past Saturday I completed my first triathlon. I competed in the Share a Smile Triathlon in Orem. My goal-finish. Did I achieve that goal? YES! I couldn't believe the amount of nerves I had that morning when I woke up at 5:45. I had to sit in my car for awhile to calm myself down.

I met my friend Becky there and after the children's race, we lined up for the swim. To quote Martin Short in the old synchronized swimming skit from SNL, "I'm not that strooong of a swimmer." Earlier in the summer my friend Cynthia kindly tried to help me with my swimming. That's when I came to the realization that I panic when my face is in the water. So, as I was waiting to jump into the water, I was anxious about three things- 1.Being able to finish the swimming course without drowning. 2. Not running into the other swimmers because I couldn't see where I was going. (I feel more comfortable doing the backstroke.) 3. See item #1. I got through the swimming though. It helped that Brad and the kids were cheering me on.

After the swimming, I ran to the transition area to get my bike. I felt pretty good about the biking leg of the race. Brad and Caleb stood at a street corner to cheer me on when I rode by. I love my family!

I was surprised at how hard the transition between the biking and running was. Never once in the three months I had to train did I ever feel any pain in my calves. When I started to run, my calves cramped up something fierce. I think it was because I was slightly dehydrated because I didn't drink very much after swimming. I walked the first 1/2 mile of the course. I drank water at all the aid stations and after that I felt better. Somewhere along the route, there was a big white hearse parked in front of a church. Not a good omen. Would they be taking someone home in that? Well, I was determined it was not going to be me!

This next picture is definitely not flattering but it shows me crossing the finish line. I really wasn't in as much pain and as close to tears as it appears in the photo.
I ran the fastest when I crossed the finish line because I saw my family standing there cheering me on. I can't tell you how much it meant to me to see Brad and the kids and my parents and brother there to cheer me on. Thank you! I love you! My mom wanted me to cross the finish line again because she missed the picture when I actually finished the race. Um, not going to happen.

I finished the race in 1:43. I'm pretty proud of the time considering it took me 18 minutes to swim.

Things I learned about myself and some things in general:
1. I can do hard things. Three months ago I could barely run a mile and I hadn't been on a bike in about ten years. To add to the anxiety, toe clips and shifting gears on a bike scared me to death. I never thought I could do a triathlon, even when I was 20 years old and could bench press 120 pounds. Now 20 years later, I'm crossing the finish line.

2. If you want to take pictures, be sure you take some before the race when you don't look so exhausted/sweaty/disheveled.

3. Some people look good in spandex bike shorts. I am not one of them.

Next goal-swimming lessons. I think I'll do another one of these sometime.