Triathlon!

July 11, 2009. Another one of my most important weight loss goals met: My triathlon is finished!
I swam 1/3 mile in 17 minutes, biked 15.9 miles in 56 minutes, and ran 3.4 miles in 34 minutes! Add a 2 minute penalty for headphones, and we did it in well under 2 hrs! Whoo Hoo!



May 2008: my friend Ashley and I were at the beach for her birthday and decided to do a triathlon together. I agreed and began searching the internet for the perfect first triathlon: one close to home, at least a year away (time to lose the weight and get in shape) and one that some of my family could attend. I found 2: May 2009 in North Myrtle Beach and July 11 in Florence. Every work out session that I wanted slack off or not work as hard I thought about the finish line of the triathlon and worked harder. In the winter when my bike buddies got busy I worked extra hard alone and began doing gym spin classes when the weather was unbearable. There I met other triathletes training and learned to stand and bike which helps with hills. By the spring, I was in great biking shape, OK running shape, and pretty good swimming shape. My friend Ashley dropped out of training secondary to her work schedule, but my other bike buddy Harriet stepped up and committed to the final 3 months of training with me. We followed a time consuming and rigorous regimine and worked out a minimum of 4 days a week. We swam in open water in Hartsville, biked hills and flats, ran a greuling 2-3 miles after biking and swimming, and got in great shape. Interestingly, neither of us lost any weight in those 3 months, but we definitely toned up. Enough in fact to buy unitards and wear them in public. hehehe. They are actually called trisuits and make the transition from swim to bike to run much easier. Harriet describes them best: it feels like we're naked! I love mine though: I actually have 2 because they are so comfy. I think Kris and Bella should get matching ones so we could be the unitard family and wear them all the time. heheh.
So, as for the details of the triathlon:
The night before I had a healthy meal and prepped my bag and went to bed early. My alarm didn't go off, but thankfully I woke up in time to not panic. Abbie was unable to make it, but my dear Ashley woke up at dark in order to be at my house at 6 and was the best cheerleader I could hope for! She brought signs, crowns, wands, and chocolate! And then she had to go to work! Kris was wonderful and drove, cheered, held a sign Ashley made him that said My Wife Rocks! and gave Harriet and I flowers when we crossed the finish line!
So, the race: we were in the final wave of athletes called Novices which was the final wave. Harriet and I lined up with about 30 other newbies and started the swim off at the top of the group. I kept bumping people and getting bumped, and settled in at the slower mid-group pace. Harriet is a very fast swimmer and stayed at the front. When I came out of the water I felt great: I had been practicing swimming much further (40 min) so I had tons of energy left after only 17 minutes in the water (1/3 mile)! Kris and Ashely were cheering and I heard Ashley say "Now go catch Harriet" and I started sprinting the 200 yds to the bike area! I passed 10 people and found Harriet just putting on her shoes. I threw mine on and was ready to go the same time she was! We biked like we were race stars! We passed at least 50 people: even people 3 waves ahead of us! Once we made it back to the transition are, we transitioned to running which was surprisingly harder than usual. For starters, we were both congested, I didn't feel tired on the bike but we definitely pushed it there, and I forgot to do my energy packets for feul. AND I'm pretty sure the adrenaline rush was gone at that point. So we trudged 3 times around the lake at the slowest pace ever but without stopping. At least half of the people we zoomed past on the bike started passing us on the run: Boo. The last lap I wanted to walk so badly I almost puked, but Harriet kept running and so did I! Each lap Kris and Ashley had different signs that made us laugh, and the last lap they were at the finish line and Harriet's friend's children ran the last 200 yds with us! I was barely able to pick up my pace to keep up, but we did it! When it was over, Ashley made me drink water, eat a banana, and do a protein powder, and eventually the exhaustion and nausea went away and I felt great! After we went home I showered and then talked Kris into taking me shopping and out to eat! I ordered the house special at the Italian restaurant and cheesecake for dessert. The next weekend my family came over for Sam's bday and we celebrated my triathlon too!
Now that its over, there is a bit of let down and disappointment that I didn't expect. The final month of training was so boring and specific that I couldn't wait for the race to be over so that I could bike and not have to run after! But now, just biking is too easy and doesn't feel like much of a work out! So we've been doing 2 of the 3 events when we work out and that feels better! Who would have though I'd miss the intensity so much? Oh well, we have a trip to NY coming up for 10 days of biking, running, swimming, and enjoying Kris's family for me to get it out of my system!
Enjoy the pictures!