The End

So the race is over.  It was amazing.  Time was 1:46:37, 14 minutes better than my personal goal.  8:31 swim, which was amazing and seemed over so quick. 
We had dinner at the Olive Garden the night before and then just hung out in the room.  I hardly slept that night between my nerves and the anxiety.  Got up early Saturday morning with all kinds of feelings running through my body.  Left about an hour before race time.  When we pulled in the park I couldn't believe the amount of cars.  It was overwhelming at that point.  When I got into the park and saw everything going on it was really overwhelming.  In a good way.  Got body marked right away and then headed to the transition area to set up. As I am setting up my spot I look up and see Tanya and Danyell standing there which sent me over the edge for the 1st time.  Had no idea they were coming down to watch.  My entire family was there and waited with me before the race started.  It was high energy.  People were warming up in the water, some were on their bikes and others were just having a short job.  Me I was nervous enough.   
About 10 minutes before my heat was called I headed down to the water.  Started up a conversation with a couple of other ladies to pass the time.  Finally they called my number and it was my turn to line up.  My heart at this point was coming out of my chest.  Goggles on, nose plugs on and she counts us down.   Into the water I go, staying to the back of the pack.  I couldn't get my rhythm right away.  There was some hitting and kicking going on.  Nothing that really made me panic.  I knew what I had to do.  I got wedged in behind two people that I couldn't get around until about 3/4 of the way through.  It seemed as soon as I found my rhythm I was getting kicked by the guy in front of me or hit by the lady next to me.  But overall the swim was exhilarating.   
Out of the water to T1.  I was a little shaky, still nervous.  Grabbed the bike and I was off.  Time to settle in to the ride.  Now we had driven the bike route the night before and it was very hilly.  I was a bit worried about it.  So I hit the road, first hill comes along not so bad.  Down the other side and it was fast.  This went on for the next 13 miles.  My bike time was 1:02.  I passed some people and people passed me.  I surprised myself because most of the people I passed were on a hill.
So back to the park and into T2.  This was a bit quicker.  Not much to change except the shoes.  This run was tough.  I should have been more afraid of the run than the swim.  It was hot.  The sun was behind the clouds until it was time for the run and there it was the whole time.  I did have to walk a few times just to catch my breath.  It was a bit humid as well.  I was so happy to see the 1 mile mark written on the blacktop.  Time to enter the park for the final stretch and I had to tell myself don't cry yet cause you will hyperventilate and not be able to breathe.  So tough it out and hold on.  I see the finish line come into sight and it was the best feeling in the world.  I see my dad standing there looking for high five with my husband and who am I not to celebrate.  So high fives to everyone.  Across the finish line and the amount of relief I felt to stop was great.  The open the water works!!  Tammy first, then my dad, then my mom, then Sherry , then April, Trevor, Taylor, Tanya, Danyell, Gracie and Craig.  What better way to celebrate an accomplishment like that then to have your entire family there to cheer you on the entire way. 
Would I do it again?  Yes.  The training is time consuming but obviously worth it cause I finished with no problems.  Would I do a longer one?  Probably not.  But I would trade this experience for anything in the world.

Last Week

Its finally here the last week of training.  I can't believe the race is 5 days away.  I am so darn emotional about this whole process.  Knowing where I started a few months ago in the pool and seeing where I am now is mind blowing.  Running is still not my favorite sport, but I can't believe how far I have come.  I wonder what I will do when this is all over and I have extra time on my hands?  No more planning on where I am going to be or what I need to be doing.  My body is tired and ready for this to happen.  My bike to run transition is pretty quick.  At least it should be I have been practicing it the last 5 weeks during every brick.  Tonight I will run through both and then Thursday i will swim and then actually go out and bike.  So here are my goals:  swim--15 min.,  bike--1hr. 15 min, run--35 min.  I would like to be able to do this right around the 2 hour mark.  The weather looks decent so far.  I hope for calm water that morning. 

Week 11

First injury of training if you can call it that.  Had 3 days of long workouts:  2 hr bike, 1 hr run, then a 1 hr bike and 30 min run.  During my run ended up with some crazy knee pain.  A friend said it sounded like inflamed tendons in my knees.  So ice for 20 min after every workout and 600 mg of Motrin twice a day.   The rest of the week is two days of swimming and then a bike ride on Friday, so hopefully by then it will have quieted down.  Heading to the chiropractor tomorrow morning for one more adjustment before the race.  Got the maps of the bike course and run course yesterday and scoped it out on Google earth.  16.2 miles versus the 17 I had originally thought.  I feel like if I can get my rythem on race day in the water I should be just fine seeing that I know I can swim 400 yards and being in the deep water doesn't bother me. 
My emotions are all over the place.  Its crazy that the training has gone by so fast.  I put the time in I should be just fine.  Hoping for a finish of around the 2 hour mark.  I will be happy with that.  Off day tomorrow and then one more long swim Thursday and its downhill from there. 

July 21, 2011

On the back end now.  Swam for 400 yards straight Tuesday night across the lake.  So that I can manage, an extra 40 yards isn't going to kill me.  Sunday I had a 70 min bike ride and a 35 min run.  It was a challenge, but I think it was difficult because of the heat and humidity.  I did have to have to take walk breaks during the run to catch my breath cause it felt like there was no air.  I have 16 days to go.  The training flew by.
I practiced the first transition Monday  night.  It seems ok.  I hate to say easy.  But I should be able to get in and out in a 1:30.  The 2nd transition I have been doing once a week for the past 3 weeks when I was doing the brick workouts.  That one is simple.  Its a matter of switching shoes and taking off your helmet.
For the first time in my training the muscles in the back of my arm/shoulder are sore.    More so in my right one.  For some reason when I am in open water I find myself only comfortable to breathe to my right.  The left is just a little uneasy and I can only do it for a few strokes.
Pretty soon I will officially be a TRIATHLETE!!!!!!!!!!!!

July 13, 2011

Today I had the longest swim yet, 1100 yards.  I swam it in the pool since the weather was so cool.  I remember being in the 2nd week and my arms feeling like jello when I would finish.  I thought boy 400 yards and I feel like this, 1100 yards my arms will fall off.  Well they didn't.  I get emotional when I think about how far I have come.  From being so exhausted and thinking boy I'm tired to getting in the water and just swimming it.  I remember trying to swim 50 yards and being so winded.  When you see yourself progress its amazing.  I don't think you fully know that the training works until you commit yourself to doing it and see the tiny differences along the way.  The running, still not a fan, but I can tell you I would never have even pushed myself for a 20 minute run much  less a 55 minute run. Is it easy?  By no means.  Can I do it?  Yes.  With a smile on my face and without a bit of struggle?  No.  But I wouldn't quit in the middle.  I know my body can do it, its just keeping my mind focused and in tune with my body and vice versa.    I keep reading stores of people doing their first tri and having so much trouble in the swim.  That's hard to read.

My swim today took 35 minutes for 1100 yards, but when I swam in the lake the other day it was 800 yards and it took me the same amount of time.  So I am guessing that I have to be swimming more than I think.  Obviously unless you measure it out you don't know.  I counted my strokes and it took 45 strokes to swim what I was and today at the pool I swam 25 yards in 25 strokes if that means anything.

July 7th

Its been a slow week.  Very light in the training to a point where I don't feel like I have done much.  Next week is a different story.  Had a decent swim Tuesday night.  Had to really watch where I was going there so many people, but I am sure that was good practice cause I had to get used to spotting where things were.  The days seem to be going by faster and faster.  I have waves of panic, joy, nervousness, excitement and accomplishment every day. 

4 weeks away

So I am officially 31 days out from the race.  The closer it gets the more nervous I become.  Last week was a heavy training week and this week if feels like I am not doing anything.  I seem to be getting more and more worried about the swim.  I really need to see the distance in person.  So hopefully I will get that out of the way when I go to the tri in Negaunee next weekend.  I had another brick workout Sunday, only a 30 min ride and 10 min run.  My heart rate didn't seem as high as the previous Sunday. 
Having trouble with my left hamstring but I think its my hip being out of place.  So another trip is due to the chiro soon.  I have been swimming in Chassell Bay but it is gross.  There is so much seaweed it makes me nauseous and it interrupts my swimming.  These last 7 weeks have gone by so fast.  I feel like I just started this journey.  I have accomplished many things over the last 7 weeks.  Learning to swim with my head in the water, running for 50 minutes straight without stopping.  Fears have been overcome.  There is one fear left and that is taking a swim out into the water where there is no chance of touching the bottom.  So Tammy and Taylor will take the kayaks out with me in a couple of weeks and I will swim until I can't swim anymore.  Transitions are coming up soon to practice.  I can't wait to cross the finish line and actually be able to say I did it.  To be able to push your body and have it cooperate.