That's right, my friends. I ran the race yesterday and survived to tell the tale. It's a miracle! Now I can go back to normal life - cooking, keeping up with laundry, and actually returning phone calls. Oh, who am I kidding? Like I ever returned phone calls to begin with...
Anyway, the tale. It all started Friday morning, when I had the obligatory stress-related breakdown that precedes every major event in my life (which include, but are not limited to, vacations, moving, holidays, dental appointments, and buying new pairs of shoes). By Friday evening, I was feeling a little better, and yet Saturday morning still came all too quickly. Thankfully I was the eighteenth person to start, so I didn't have too much time to work myself into a frenzy. The poor lady beside me on the pool deck had to put up with my nervous chit chat while I waited. My chit chatting skills are sub-par, even on a good day; I'm a little surprised she didn't shove me in just to shut me up.
The swimming portion went well. I did 400m in eleven minutes, which was my personal best (thank you, adrenaline!). It was about average when compared with the other racers. From what I've surmised by talking with other participants, swimming is the event most people struggle with. I can see why that would be. Personally, the swimming was my favorite part.
My biking time was a bit below average, but I'm thinking that may have been, at least in part, due to my $100 Walmart bike that doesn't shift well. It was like a rusty Geo Metro in a sea of Ferraris. Sigh. That's okay, though. Our house is less than half a mile from one stretch of the course, and I seriously, albeit briefly, considered turning off and heading home for a snooze. I didn't. Therefore, I believe the biking portion to be a success.
It was the running that did me in. Well, that and my stupid bladder. Where's a blasted port-a-potty when you need one!? I alternated running and walking while I desperately tried to keep my mind off of anything liquid-related. At first, I contemplated what kind of magic the writers of LOST must possess to get me to fall head-over-heels in love with a series finale that, it must be said, answered basically nothing. Unfortunately, thinking of LOST reminded me of the sad, haunting melody that often played towards the end of an episode. And that's a horrible tempo for running - much too slow. Then somehow I got that "Go the Distance" song in my head (not the one by Cake, the one in Disney's Hercules). So I shuffled along humming that song for a while and then - get this - missed a turn! I know!! I'm an idiot. So there's an extra two minutes or so tacked onto my time that wouldn't be there had I used my brain at all. (Of course, I maintain that there should have been a volunteer to wave me in the right direction. Then I wouldn't have to feel so silly.) I could have gotten it taken care of, I'm sure, but it's not exactly like I was vying for first place or anything.
Ah, well. It's over and I finished. And it felt good. Is it completely crazy that I'm already planning on how to drastically improve my time in next year's race?
Probably.
16 comments:
Awesome! Congratulations! And I love your tatoo. Is that permanent? :) I really admire you and I need to get my rear in gear and get some exercise.
Very impressive. I knew they had volunteers all over the place. I am shocked that you didn't run into one. Maybe it's like skiing though....you get off the path and of course there aren't any to steer you back on. Your just headed for the stink'n cliff and bon boy auge(I know that's not how you spell that, bare with me...hehe).
I think it's great though, your 10 steps ahead of me. I think I'm going to plan for the next one....I'm saying that now, but next year when your needing a partner :) remind me of this comment.
Oh by the way, your legs are flippin ripped in your blue suit :). I'm totally jealous, that's the only reason I do want to do it, if my legs can not have any sign of cottage cheese, I'LL DO IT!!! :). You looked fabulous
Good JOB, I'm glad you accomplished something so huge. I bet you feel so much more successful, now that you finished something pretty big. That would be huge for me. GOOD JOB!!!
Becky, this is great! Congrats. I really admire you.
that is soooo COOL. Ya, I'm still in that lame stage where I'm struggling to exercise daily... let alone sign up for any kind of competition. GOOD FOR YOU! :)
Yea Becky! Maybe I'll come down and run it with you next year. I hate swimming so I admire you for doing so well. Way to go!
CONGRATSS!!!
okay, you rock... and your dedication has rendered me snark-less!
Okay, biking I do and enjoy. Swimming is something I have enjoyed in the past but running? Not since I was in the army have I ran and I never enjoyed it. The only way you could get me to run is to have something that could eat me chase me or a drill seargent (I dont know which is more frightening). So I admire your courage and stick-to-it-ivness (just thought I'd throw in a word that Randi would be proud of) even if I don't understand the running thing.
Wow-I'm so impressed. Especially since I totally bailed out of the tri I said I would do!!
And I agree that there should have been someone there to make sure you went the right way!!
You are a rock star and my hero! Congrats on your time AND finishing instead of napping.
You and your athleticism make me sick! How dare you actually accomplish something and make the rest of us fatties feel even fatter and useless. I'm gonna pout in a corner eating frozen Ding-Dongs until you apologize.
Well?
I'm waiting.
Fine. Be that way you skinny athletic freak.
BTW - you are awesome. :)
seriously? You ROCK!!!
Very impressive!!!!
Wunderbar! Congratulations!
And you have the perfect excuse for letting the laundry pile up, etc -- does "It's summer in Alaska" count if you're not actually accomplishing much of anything?
Good for you! That is so incredible. And it is wonderful that you are already planning next year.
Wow, lady. YOU ROCK. WOW.
This inspires me, it really does.
Congrats to you and my.hat.is.off.
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