Yeah! I survived! My first triathlon with real training! (The Kirkland Triathlon I did last year with very little training doesn't count that much to me. I just wanted to see if I could do it and if it was something that I wanted to invest in.)
Saturday was classic NW weather. Rain rain rain! And everyone got wet! Atleast it was warmer than the week before. Alfredo and I got to the venue early. I always stress out on just the getting there, especially to an event that I have not been to yet. I worry about parking. I worried about the setting up my transition area. I worry about having to walk too far and not having my car close by if I forget something in it. I just worry.
The closer we got the more it rained. We got a great spot. The exact spot that I noted the day before. Then I ran to the bathroom. I like to get hydrated the morning of. Lol
I got all my gear set up in the transition area. I'm so glad I brought plastic bags to cover my stuff. I have a small thick rug that I can use to put everything on. Alfredo stayed in the car.
On my way back to go sit in the car too I met up with Eric, coach Mary's husband, walking his gear to transition area. I let him know how nervous I was. He asked me..."You know how to swim, right?" Yes. "You can ride a bike, right?" Yes. "You can run?" Of course, I said.
"Then no problem," said Eric.
Thanks Eric!
Coach Mary had the team do a group warmup. It's so great to be part of a team! I felt like I belonged. I then got my wetsuit on and double checked my transition area. At the swim start, some people did not have wetsuits and I could see the goosebumps on the arms of the girls standing in front of me. Even the ones with armless wetsuits. So glad I had full coverage even in June!
The swim started off ok, but after about ten strokes I was unable to breath. The neck of the suit was too tight! Lesson learned. I, with the help of Alfredo, velcroed it too tight! I swam whatever way I could but freestyle. Oh, well. I got it done. As I was getting out of the water I just wanted that suit off as fast as I could. I felt suffocated.
Made it back to transition and got the suit off pretty quick. Thank you Bodyglide! Shoes, helmet, bike. That's all I needed. Off and ruining out of transition and onto the course. Brrrrrr! Wet and cold! I just thought that if I push it I would warm up. Kinda worked. I went as hard as I could. Two loops and only one real hill. I passed and got passed. Then onto the run. Helmet off and I was off and running. Ohhh. My knees where cold and I felt like a slug. Finally got warmed up at half a mile. It was only a 1.6 mile run so I went as fast as I could. Came in 25th OA in the run! I passed and no one passed me! Towards the end I saw a gal with the age of 49 on her leg. I needed to pass her. Sorry. Competition. I even passed the oldest runner (70 yo guy) who commented to me later that I flew by him. Sorry again.
Alfredo was near the finish and got a couple great shots and cheered me on the the end! Thanks babe!
That was fun! Very wet but very happy. Whoohoo! One of many to come!
I ended up placing third in my age group! And 54th OA! Yeah, I'm hooked! I want more!
Next up are several running events leading up to my 70.3 Ironman. Next weekend is the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon. I have not been training for a full marathon. The last 26.2 miles was two months ago and the farthest I have ran was 13.1 miles one month ago. We'll see how this goes. I just want to have fun on this one. Lots of people that I know and have met on Facebook will be there. Besides, I can't be overdoing it since I have more swimbikerun to do the following week.
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