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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Not a first timer any more

So, if you read this blog very often, you remember a few weeks ago when I posted about training for a triathalon. I had never done a triathalon before and thought it wise to sign up for a super sprint (meaning very shortened) triathalon in the first timers wave. So, I did, and I got a couple of friends to do it with me too. I have some really great friends!

Well, Sunday (Mother's Day) was the big day!

I am the one on the right. My friend, Holly is on the left, and Jessica with the envious abs is in the middle. Holly has envious abs too. Hoping I can join that club next year! :)


I went to bed early Saturday evening (before 9) and woke up at 12:30 to Cora crying, then again at 2:30, and once more right before my alarm went off. Ugh! I finally got up at 4:15. I had a small bowl of Greek yogurt with some Bare Naked berry granola and a half a cup of coffee. I dressed in my cool purple tank top with the Emma's Hugs logo and my black Emma's Hugs skort, and put on my flip flops and my black head band. I also applied some Body Glide to prevent chafing and some sunblock. The sunblock worked, but I missed a spot with the Body Glide! Live and learn!
My friend, Jessica, picked me up at 5:00, and we headed to the race site, Duessen Park on Lake Houston. It's a really great park with over 300 acres of playgrounds, trails, ponds, etc., and it borders Lake Houston, where the swim portion of the tri was. Kelvin texted me that morning around 6 to let me know the wind was only 4mph, and we should have sun and a 64 degree start. I texted him back to let him know the weather man was a little off, because the wind was howling at about 15 mph, the skies were cloudy, and the water was looking more like the beach than a lake. The sun finally peaked it's head through the clouds and warmed us up a bit. We found our spots on the bike racks and laid out our stuff for the transitions. We then took a picture or two and made our way to stand in line for the restroom. I was beginning to get nervous about the swim since the water was so choppy.

Right about the time I donnned my flattering swim cap, mine and Jessica's crew walked up. Cora didn't even recognize me, but Carleigh and Luke did and thought I was looking pretty silly with the bright pink swim cap on my head. 




 Anyway, they cheered me on to the swim start and watched as I walked into the water and proceeded to keep from drowning for the next 14 minutes. What a mental workout the swim was! We were seriously no more than 10 or so yards out in our 200 yard swim, when women all around us were screaming at the top of their lungs to save them because they were drowning! OH MY GOSH! I wanted to help them, but I couldn't, and I felt bad, and weird. It was hard blocking them out. All the training we had done free style swimming went out the window because the water was so choppy. I was afraid to even put my head in the water for fear of never coming back up. I knew that if I turned my head to get a breath like I normally would, I would get a mouthful of water. It was hard just keeping it out of my nose. I kept swimming like a frog (whatever you call that style), and made it to the exit. Whew! I was so glad that part was over. It was a shame the conditions were so yucky, because the swim was the part I really enjoyed the most during training. Oh well, maybe next time won't be so bad. A friend of mine from Tri4Him said I should be proud that I finished the swim because it was SO not typical of what the tri swims usually are. That made me feel a little better.

I ran to the transition area, toweled off a little, shed the pretty pink swim cap and goggles, put on my socks and shoes and my bike helmet and sunglasses, and ran my bike out of transition for the 8 mile ride. The bike ride was pretty cool for me, because only one person passed me that I can remember. (big smiles) We biked through Duessen Park to Eisenhower Park and around it and back. Man, I didn't know we had such great parks available in our area! Kelvin and I will take the kids back soon to enjoy themselves, for sure!


I made it back to the transition and shed my helmet, clipped on my race number, and headed out for the two mile run. Running is not my favorite thing. I have to talk myself through it the whole time. Part of the problem is that my hip hurts (more on that later), my hamstring starts pulling, and my toes numb up about 1/2 a mile in. Then there's the whole breathing thing. I feel like I can't breath. Oh, and the jiggle factor is a little frustrating too. But I got through it. The more weight I drop, the better it will be. Since I weighed in January and started trying to lose some weight and get back into better shape, I have lost 10 pounds. I'm glad I had the triathalon as a goal. I'll keep remembering I want to be about 15 pounds lighter still before I turn 40 in 201 days, 5 hours, 44 minutes. Hopefully there will be a couple more sprint or super sprint triathalons I can sign up for to have a little extra motivation as well.

I forgot to say that when Jessica and I went to the transition clinic a few weeks ago we found out they mark your race number on your arms and thighs. And on your calves, they mark your age. Your age as of December 31, 2012! I was totally bummed to find out I would have to put 40 instead of 39! UGH! Someone asked the race director why we had to have our age on our legs. She really didn't have a great answer except for the whole competition factor. She explained that when you are out on the course and need a little extra kick to pass someone or reach a time goal, it helps to know you can take someone who is a little younger or older than you. I didn't think that would matter much to me. I'm not usually very competitive. But when I passed a 37 year old at about a 1/2 mile left in the race, I was pretty stoaked. When I saw her pass me right before we got to the very last stretch before the finish line, I realized I wasn't going to let that happen. So, I kicked into high gear and passed her happy little hiney and crossed the finish line before she did. (very BIG smiles)

But not yet. Not sure what that is on my right leg. ??


I remember thinking about Emma as I got close to the finish. I wondered if she was running alongside me that morning cheering like the rest of my family. I pictured her skipping and doing cartwells through the clouds right above me. I told her I was doing this one for her and that I loved her very much. I felt a little chill running through my body, and I thought that might have been her. I miss her.

For my sweet Emma

I love my friends.

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