Trust Me...I Tri'd (WW # 46)

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!

This linkup is hosted by yours truly and my good friend Tricia at MissSippiPiddlin.    The purpose of this link is to connect with and support other active women. You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!  {See rules}   

We are thrilled at the number of linkers we have each week.  Thank You!  The support and camaraderie are truly priceless.  Please return later in the week and interact with more women. It's an excellent way to make new friends and gain invaluable support, all while holding yourself accountable!  Don't forget to comment on each blog that you read and remember to support your hosts.  

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Monday -- Strength Exercises
Tuesday -- Rest Day
Wednesday -- 4.5 Miles Run (am) + 12 Minutes Swim (pm)
Thursday -- Strength Exercises
Friday -- Mini Tri Practice:  6 minute swim / 20 minute ride / 5 minute run
Saturday -- Callaway Gardens Sprint Triathlon
Sunday -- 5 Miles Run

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I am a Triathlete!    Hold on, hold on.  I'm getting way ahead of myself.

About a month ago, I decided I wanted to do a duathlon and immediately incorporated  brick workouts. At some point I checked Active.com and noticed everyone (except one person!) had signed up for the triathlon.  I inquired with an e-mail and was told they were merging the Du with the Tri and I could "walk" the swim portion as the water was shallow.  After way too much internal struggle and debate, I signed up for the Callaway Gardens Sprint Triathlon.

I got in our backyard pool a few times and dog paddled for 30 minutes nonstop.  A few days before, I received the typical pre-race e-mail...and yep it included duathlon instructions.  {Heavy Sigh}  By this point, I was invested in the Tri.  I had swam.in.our.pool for goodness sake, as opposed to my normal napping floating. 

Google was my friend.  I looked up everything you can imagine from swimming, to rules, to racking my bike, to body markings, to laying out gear in the transition area.  I read every newbie article I could find. Marcia very sweetly sent me some great tips too.   I took my Trek Lexa XL in for maintenance and pretty new red handlebar tape to replace her nasty white.  Sanity was ready.  Was I?

Last minute, I ordered tri shorts from SLS3 since I had a $25 gift certificate for participating in Level Up Virtual Runs.  Whew -- they fit.  Keeping in mind I have never found a pair of goggles that worked on my pea-sized face {would I HAVE to wear goggles?} and have never worn a swim cap, I was as ready as I could be with so little preparation.  Adding to that, Thursday's afternoon thunderstorms forced my last workout to the day before the race...when I should be resting.  Que Sera, Sera. 

Let's do this thing...

She looks good with her new red handlebar tape!

I arrived at the event with an hour to prepare.  At check-in I was given a blue swim cap and was told I was in the 6th wave.  This was the last adult wave (aka old lady group).  I racked my bike in the transition area easily enough, although it was crowded and I had to squeeze in.  The weather was cool for Dixie (around 70) but humid with heavy, low-hanging clouds.  Thankfully, there was a 15 mph wind. Soon it was time for the blue-haired *ahem* I mean blue-capped group to start.  

I purposely started near the back.  I know my limits.  The water was much warmer than the air and quite shallow.  At no point was it up to my chin.  Some ladies did more of an aqua-jog as opposed to a true swim.  I tried to swim as much as possible, mostly side stroke with some free style, but admit to putting my feet down a couple of times.  When I had open space, I back-stroked as that seemed to be faster. They had gigantic yellow buoys on our right which were easy to see even on my back.   Before I knew it, this swim was over.  Swim = 9:48

Body Markings = Bad Ass

After running across a sandy beach, up a grassy hill, down a side-walk, and into the parking lot -- I was at transition.  I put my helmet on first as to not forget and then washed the sand off my feet with a bottle of water, dried them quickly and put on my socks and running shoes.  I popped a SaltCap and drank Gatorade.  Off I went with my bike.  T1 = 3:08

Thank goodness for volunteers!  I was worried about mounting (and later dismounting) my bike at the wrong time and getting penalized.  The volunteers shouted to every single rider when to do this.  I simply adored this portion of the race.  Remember how I started in the last adult wave?  Guess how many people I got to pass?  Hundreds.  Gosh.that.was.fun!  The scenery was spectacular.  I truly wanted to yell "Whee!" the whole time.  Instead, it was "On Your Left!"  Those rolling Georgia hills claimed a few victims, but not this old gal.  {Thank you Sanity!}   I didn't get my Garmin turned on initially but according to others I overheard, what was supposed to be 9 miles was more like 10.  Bike = 36:49

A very pretty T-Shirt!

Too soon, that part was over the I knew the death march was next.    The transition from bike to run was really nothing.  I put my bike on the rack, took off my helmet, attached my race bib belt, drank Gatorade and got busy.  I had cycled in my running shoes.  T2 = 1:26

As soon as I began the run, my left calf cramped.  I spent the first 1/2 mile trying to walk/run that out and finally did.  I did not have the jelly-leg feeling I did during training though --  I was just TIRED.  I saw two ladies in my age group pass me (got to love the age written on the calf!) and thought I must be near the back of my pack.  I plodded on.  Just get it done.  I did manage a small sprint to the finish line, which felt satisfying.  Run = 21:27

A beautiful location for my first triathlon!

My total time was 1:12:36.  I placed 4 out of 28 in my age group (#2 and #3 passed me on the run!) and 79 out of 254 all females.  I'm very glad I went ahead with the Tri.  It is not the scary animal I had created in my head.  Most things aren't.  This particular race was first-timer friendly too. Would I do another? Yes!  But only after more swimming practice.  I don't think the swim portion of any other race would be as forgiving.

And that's a wrap!

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