Silverlake Tri

I actually did it...completed my first Triathlon. Let me just tell you, it WAS as hard if not harder than I ever imagined. I had been training for about 5 months but realized about 5 minutes into the race that it was NOT long enough. For those of you who are not sure what a Triathlon consists of, here it is (in this order): 400 meter swim, 10 mile bike ride and 3 mile run.

I started to get really nervous Saturday and when race day came it was I could do NOT to throw-up. About 15 minutes before the race Trey and Jake were still not there and I really needed to see them. Right before the race started they showed up along with Cheryl, Danny, Dustin, Alex, Britni, Valerie, Sarah and Jason. Who would have thought that I would have the biggest support group there!! :)

So the race gets started and I immediately get kicked in the face and swallow about a gallon of water. (Stop laughing!) It took about 5 minutes of trying to convince myself that I wasn't going to die....then, I was completely worn out. Did I mention I wasn't even half way through the swim? As I'm doing anything I can think of to get to the end (breast stroke, side swim, back swim, doggy paddle, holding on to the leg of the person in front of me) I'm yelling at myself for even thinking I could pull something like this off. As I get to the shore 10 minutes later, I can see my groupies yelling and cheering me on and that's all I needed. I got my butt out of the water and headed to my bike. The transitions are 'supposed' to be very fast because you don't want to lose any time...not me, I took a load off. I actually SAT down to put my shoes on and got a couple of very strange looks. I just smiled and continued to drink my water. 2 min 36 sec later (normal transition time 45 sec) I'm off for a 10 mile bike ride. I'm thinking to myself...okay, now you can catch your breath because you've really been training on your bike and it's pretty easy. Wrong....no one ever told me there would be hills :) After about the 5th little boy passed me, I knew I had to step it up. I kept thinking, the faster I go the quicker I'll be finished...it actually kinda worked. I completed the bike ride in about 35 minutes. As I'm turning the last cornor, I could see my groupies again...thankfully. Now all I have to do is drop off my bike and start the last leg...3 mile run. Oh, did I mention...it has now started to rain....yup that's right! Bring it!!! Can't stop now...as I get to the first mile marker I swear it's a dirty joke because I feel like I've been running for days. I look at my time just to check...oh no, it's been 10 minutes :( 20 more to go...not even half way there. Great...here come some more little boys, they better not pass me. Well there they go...punks!!! So now for the next 2 miles I keep going back and forth in my head...stop or go, stop or go.... I knew that if I stopped I would not be able to start again, so I just pushed through it. I can finally see my GROUPIES...they've never looked so beautiful. I can hear Jake yelling 'Go Mommy Go', what an awesome sound. As my mom would say, 'Now Beth Now!!!!' I picked it up and started to sprint the last 5 yards :) :) Thanks Mom!! I crossed the finish line...what a relief!!!

Man, what a great feeling of accomplishment.