After participating in the Luna or All Women's Triathlon over my birthday weekend this year, I thought I would push myself to do something a little bit more. An Olympic Distance Triathlon. My good friend Bene, said she'd do it with me. At the time with a smile. The night before we headed down to the bar and grill for a drink. In an attempt to calm nerves. There was never any calming, at least for me. I think we both knew we might be in over our heads.
I was in awe when we arrived. Everyone had super-fast-looking-bikes and bodies that were harder than rocks. The men and the women. However, we both knew that there was no backing out, now. Here we were, staring at the BIG Columbia River and getting ready to tri whether we liked it or not.
We travelled in a group of four. Bene and I Olympic distance competitors, Katie did the sprint and our friend Erin came along for moral support and a safe driver to get us home. Katie met up with a cousin, who is number four in my all-time favorite before race picture below.
The swim was in calm water considering the location. It took me 23 minutes to swim 1K in my modified for the conditions style. The end of the swim confirmed what I knew from the start, I'd be closer to the end, if not the last competitor to cross the finish line. I was not the last yellow cap out of the water, as I originally thought now that I look closer at the picture.
The 30 mile bike ride was more than challenging. The ride had substantially more up than down. Miles of up with a quarter mile down only here and there. I only saw four other bikers and spent almost the entire two hours talking myself out of the run. And somewhere during the past two years, the bike became my strong leg. I've never felt so weak.
I planned on using the excuse that my Hammer Gel flask leaked all over me and my legs were sticky. They were. In the above picture you can see the white sugar ALL OVER ME. It was uncomfortable but I couldn't let my friend down and not finish. Or myself for that matter. During the run Bene and I saw each other and she yelled out, "this is out of my league." It was so far out of mine, too.
But she finished. Strong.
With the encouragement of our friend Erin, who ran the entire run with me, I too....
finished.
Talk about pushing yourself. I have more emotional recovering to do than physical. My body, suprisingly feels ok. My legs are slightly sore. I've been much worse. But getting 99 out of 104....I finished.