my first tri

yesterday morning at 4:30am i felt something i haven't felt in such a long time (get your minds out of the gutters).  we have raced just about every single distance over the past two years, 5k's, 10k's, 18 milers, half and full marathons.  and i have become so comfortable that i can't remember the last time i had butterflies.  but as we drove over to Pines Lake yesterday, i was overtaken with them, with nervousness.  for the past 14 weeks, i have trained for triathlon racing and finally i would be putting my skills to work.  what if i didn't finish?

as we descended into the lake, they made all the 'newbies' move to a certain spot, there were 5 of us.  so glad they pointed us out.  this was the first time i was in a lake swimming.  i have been on quite a regiment at la fitness and last week swam in the crystal clear waters in st. maartens, so swimming in murky water was going to be interesting.  also, it was the first time i would be swimming in my new wetsuit (check out photo's on fb, look like a superhero).  for all those who have yet to have the privilege of wearing a wetsuit, let me tell you how tight they are.  you have remarkable flexibility, but they are tight.  and as we took off swimming, i felt like the suit was choking me.  maybe it was a mental thing, but i couldn't swim normally, so i adjusted.

i was out of the water and had to do my first 'transition'.  this meant i had to strip off a tight wetsuit and put on my biking apparel.  my 'stripper' and her fearless dog, tucker, helped to unzip me and, surprisingly, i was out of the suit in no time.  threw on my shoes and shirt and started pedaling away.  my heart rate was through the roof and i tried to calm my breathing.  a few miles in, i felt pretty good again and tried to make up some time i had lost in the water.  the loop around pines lake in wayne, nj is pretty challenging.  quite a few hills.  as i caught up to more experienced riders i watched their every move, hoping to gain some knowledge.  seeing then doing has always worked well for me.

transition two was much easier.  hopped off the bike and threw on the running sneaks.  much easier than taking off a wetsuit.  nonetheless, the heart rate was spiking, but i am assuming this will subside with the more triathlons that i do. (talked my brother to do one in less than a week, you get hooked)  the run was great.  i figured that the achilles would be painful, but it wasn't.  i was able to make up a little more time and cheer on the remaining riders.

i crossed the finish line in just under an hour (official results not posted yet).  my first tri was a success.  it sure didn't feel that way physically, but it was wonderful.  everyone there, the family members and friends of the athletes and the athletes themselves, were so respectful.  the pro's offered advice and encouragement to the newbies and we listened intently.  we even got awards and prizes.

as the rest of the day rolled on, i realized a few things....

1. i'm hooked.  we signed up for the harvey cedars tri on June 3.

2. without doing these 'sprint' distances, attempting an Ironman would be terrible.  you have to get all the butterflies out and gain the courage needed to compete in an Ironman distance.

if you never tri, you will never know....