The first thing I will say is that everyone can do a triathlon. You don't have to be young, super fit, or even really athletic to do one. Just determination to finish is all you really need. That being said, Tom, my cohort in this excursion to push myself, as well as Lori, our gracious host for two days, were making jokes about actually doing this the entire way to Lawrence on Saturday. Tom's sisters were poking fun at the length (Sprint course consisting of 500 meter swim, 11.4 mile bike ride, 3.1 mile run in that order). Where they come from they call those distances for a triathlon a "Try It."
Disaster almost struck as we were driving to Lawrence and Tom's bike started to fall off the bike rack and taste I-70 the hard way. Fortunately we were able to readjust and move forward. We stayed with Lori's mom Vikki and loaded up on carbs that night for dinner.
Neither one of us slept very well. I was up at 4am and then back to sleep and Tom said pretty much the same thing. I didn't ever think pre-night jitters would get ahold of me but I guess I was wrong.
Before the race started our friends Sheri, Mary, and Shawn all showed up to cheer us on. It was nice to see some smiling faces and welcome cheers.
The pictures tell the story much better than I could ever write but the highlights were when we were:
1. Driving to the site I told Tom I had an out because black people don't do triathlons. We don't. It was confirmed.
2. There is a stuff called Gu (ironically it rhymes with pooh), which we were told would give us the caloric and energy boost we needed during the tri if we ever started to feel run down. Well it worked but this thick viscous substance inching down your throat as you are "running" to the next stage needs some serious reformulation.
3. When people are passing you either in the same direction as you or coming back and they say "good job," they aren't talking to you. They are really saying, "I'm ahead of the fat kid..." to themselves and all you hear is "...good job!"
4. It is a humbling experience to have a 65 year old man basically beat you to the finish line by 3 miles... in a 3.1 mile run. It is equally humbling to say to yourself, "this 12 year old girl is not going to beat me biking up this hill..." and not only does she beat you but after two strong peddles you start crying like a 12 year old girl.
All said and done I am very happy for every one's support during all of this training and well wishes during and after it all. It was tremendous encouragement to help me finish my first (and there will be another) triathlon.
Until next time... Enjoy the pics!
4 comments:
Good job!
Well, for what it's worth, it is much better to be participating and telling yourself that the 12 year old girl isn't going to pass you than it is to be sidelined for a stupid injury and watching the 70year olds running instead of you.
Looking forward to catching up this weekend.
Yo Andre - congrats on finishing your first triathlon. It's not about who comes in first or last - it's just about going for it and getting it done. Well done killer!
Whoo hoo! Welcome to the tri club! Those things are a bitch aren't they? I did my first one last year, it was all women. I didn't finish dead last, but I was also passed by a bunch of older women. Ouch. I'm thinking about doing another one next year. Congrats!
So is your next post in August 2009?
JB
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