My first Triathlon...

So last Saturday was my first Triathlon. I have been training for a couple of months and even though my coach strongly advised against me doing a triathlon right now, not to mention a race that was in its first year (which apparently meant it would be disorganized)... I decided I was getting antsy to compete and really wanted to do it.

I got there early and checked in, got my timing chip, set up my transition station... I met up with Abbey (fellow team fastlane team mate who was racing as well) and her boyfriend... we had to wait and wait and WAIT until the race started.

The water was DISGUSTING! I kind of wish I had taken a picture of it. It was seriously green, and I couldn't see a thing in it. It also smelled like someone who had oral surgery and had stinky blood breath! There was also a dead carp floating in it. I had never seen the half mile (I did a sprint) layed out all at once before, it's much less intimidating when you swim laps to that amount. I had never worn a wetsuit to swim before, it was a little tight around my chest area and restricted my arms a little bit. When I first got in the water I started hyperventilating. It was cold, my wetsuit got wet inside, there was slime hanging off my feet... When we got going, everyone was running into each other which I expected but it was scary nonethless. I couldn't seem to keep my face in the water to get into my stroke so I did a breath stroke and a back stroke most of the way... and veered off course a little bit while I was on my back. Initially I was really discouraged, wanted to cry and give up... but I kept going, it's a good thing I am so stubborn!

It was pretty disappointing. When I was one of the last people out of the water I got to the transition area feeling like a failure and I saw my friends there! Shaun, Thomas, Jeremy, Dook and baby Django all there to cheer me on! It felt awesome! I heard Django say "Mama!" That was enough to refuel me for sure! I had a very clumsy transition (I think it was two and a half min. or so) my wetsuit got stuck a little on my timing chip plus I was dragging from being angry at myself for my poor swim time but... I got on my bike and took off. It took a few min. to get my muscles working from my swim to my bike but when I got in the groove it was good. I passed a few people and felt pretty awesome on the hills. About halfway through the course on a road that was about 50 MPH (cars were speeding past MUCH faster) there were cyclists slowing and people gathered. There was a man laying unconscious on the ground who had been hit by a car. I wasn't sure what to do... I already have a lot of anxiety about riding in traffic. The image stuck in my head and threw off my ride for a while and slowed down my time. I picked back up my pace and rode in. My friends said they were happy that I wasn't the one that got hit (since they'd heard about it).... I transitioned again and went out for my run...

The run was much less grueling than I thought it would be after the other two events. I set a decent pace and passed many more people than I thought I would. I walked a few steps about half way when I got my water and then picked back up. I wasn't sure when the end of the course was or I would have ran a lot faster but I sprinted at the end (esp. when I heard people yelling to the guy in front of me "don't let a girl beat you".) Passed through the finish line to cheers, it felt AMAZING!!!

It was kind of a mess, very disorganized, but I am seriously so glad that I did it. I am really proud of myself and I know the next time I will do MUCH better! I came home and watched the lake stench off of me and ate lots of food, and went to work.

Amazing. I love it! Lessons for next time... be more prepared for the open water swim, buy my own wetuist instead of borrowing one, practice transitioning, mentally prepare for the worst on bike and keep a faster pace (and hook back up my cyclometer so I know what my pace is). Run faster (because I can) and wear my watch so I know what my pace is...


Results: #1282
Overall: 132
DIVPL: 9/15
SEX/PL: 38/64
Swim Time: 19:27 (I can swim this MUCH faster)
T1:2:49
Bike time:46:44
T2:1:43
Bike Time:31:16
Time:1:41:57
Pace:10:05That's right... I X'd up for my race and I'm pretty sure I'll do it again!!!

Cannuck the wonder kitty...

I just wanted to take a minute and reflect on the most amazing cat I ever had... Cannuck passed away yesterday for unknown reasons. We took her to the vet after I stayed up hugging her all night (much like I had done the night before I lost Nelix) because she had lost interest in eating. They took her temperature and she was cold so they tried to warm her and she passed away peacefully with heating blankets on her.... I assume it was her kidneys, and it came on pretty suddenly. Makes it pretty rough.

Django keeps taking bowls out to the spot where she slept on the back lawn and meowing, he's trying to give her water and it's breaking my heart! It's amazing how smart he is sometimes...

Nook was such an amazing cat... she loved soy dairy products, when ever she smelled me eating soy yogurt, cereal, anything... she'd come and beg to have some. She'd do this super cute thing where she would stand up on her back legs and put one paw in the air like a prairie dog... `I really can't believe she's gone, no preperation for losing her at all either.

R.I.P. Nook, best kitty I ever had, you are forever loved...


Here's a pic with her after Django was born laying on his warmth, she was always so sweet and loving... I like to think that she's somewhere playing with Nelix...

Triathlon training

My body is a wreck. I have been training for triathlon for a few months now and now that the season is here I have stepped up the intensity for my training.

Yesterday was the first ride with the team on bike. I got to ride my new bike!!! I LOVE my new bike, it's beautiful, and amazing, and the first thing I have bought for myself (well, when it gets paid back) in the longest time! It feels good to treat myself.

I had a little trouble initially with the pedals, I am using clipless pedals (and I still don't get why they are called that if your feet are clipped in to them) but I definitely right off the bat forgot I had my feet clipped in... first stop sign BAM down on the ground. Hahaha people must have been laughing at me! I got the hang of it but I seem to have A LOT of anxiety about riding near traffic because of it.

This week I did a timed mile swim. It was 35 min. which I am not happy with and I hope some day to look back on that number and laugh at myself but I swam a mile and that's pretty awesome! I also ran 3 miles that day, I am trying to do a couple of work outs each day.

On the bike ride yesterday we did almost 20 miles I think and my coach was trying to teach us about transition which was good to learn, and then we ran after the ride... I could only do a mile for some reason. It's REALLY awkward to get off a bike ride and then use totally different muscles for running, it takes a little bit to get used to it. I think I will have to practice that one more for sure.

I'm incredibly proud of myself for coming from doing very little exercise to this! My first race is the 21st, and I will just be happy if I finish my first one (I WILL).. but there will be many more through out the summer, and by the end of the summer I will be doing Olympic distance instead of sprint.

I had no idea getting everything I needed and entry fees would be so expensive but hopefully once I have it all I'll be good for a while... sponsors anyone?