Triathlon....really!

So.....a couple months ago my dear friend Jennifer Roach (Bridesmaid, made my wedding cake, friend since early 90's) came to visit and casually mentioned that she was doing a triathlon. Well, I joked with her that we could no longer be friends if she was gonna go all fitness on me. While I chase two kiddos and attend weight watchers meetings and lose .5 lbs I was feeling a tad discouraged. She joked that I could totally do this tri thingy. In fact it is a sprint triathlon, which essentially means the distances are shorter and the pressure/competitiveness is lower.....plus this would be all women.

After she left that day I couldn't get the notion of it out of my head. I was facing 40 and feeling fat and bit depressed. I know how important being home with my kids is right now but it isn't easy for me. I couldn't quite let go of her comment that I could do it. So, I looked it up online and thought....I can swim....swam on teams for years (didn't really win anything but I naver came in last)....I can ride a bike....I don't have a bike and haven't ridden one for years but geeesh I can still ride one and I did run a 5k about 6 years ago and 50 lbs lighter....sooooo ummm....I wonder if I can do this.

The first thing I did was to try swimming the quarter mile distance in the pool......after a couple tries was able to do so without any trouble....then I dragged Brian's bike from the storage side of the basement to the useful side and began biking....I could do the 12 miles. I didn't love it but I could do it. BUT, the running!!!! I couldn't do it and I HATED it!!!! My chest burned and I wanted to die. It made me feel old and all the jiggling of each part of my body made me know how much weight I had gained and how crappy that was.

All that being said.....with 40 approaching I knew I needed to do this so I signed up, paid the fee and confessed to Jen that I had done so. She was THRILLED. She happily switched to the buddy heat and vowed to stay with me each step of the way. That is a GOOD friend. I tried to swim, bike or run/walk each day.....not easy with two kids, one of which doesn't nap anymore! Thankfully Brian would hold them in the pool so I could do my laps and I rode the bike in the basement whenever I could. Running was the hardest part for me. The summer heat was unbearable. I was a wreck just getting the kids in the car for basic errunds forget about running. Then I got the idea to see if I could get a treadmill on Freecycle.org and had one the next day taking up valuable real estate in the bsement. No excuses now.

In Mid July Jennifer and I went to a Tri-clinic to learn about the transition process and do a mini tri. I was totally terrified when I arrived at 6pm. Rain, ROUGH water and a storm brewing were not ideal conditions. Even the 4 lifeguards and 4 mentor triathletes hired to attend weren't so sure the swim was a good idea. But I got out there and got pummelled by wave after wave and finally a took in a mouthful of saltwater that stayed with me the whole rest of the 'race'. I think I was coughing up saltwater 3 days later. ACK! I was drained after the 200 yard swim (usually an easy amount for me) and the biking was just annoying as the route wasn't marked and I wasn't used to riding with traffic....the 1 mile run dang near killed me.....but I did it. I was painfully discouraged and expressed this to Brian when I got home. What if this whole thing backfires and makes me feel worse about myself than better. He gently tried to encourage me and relay there was no shame in withdrawing but I knew I had to try. Really, what is worse...trying and failing or not trying?

So comes August 29th 2010. The big day. Jen...came the night before and we were up at 4:30am or something insane like that to get out to the race site in Asbury Park. Bikes, sneakers, gel packs, hydration and the lot in tow we got ready for the race. Even better we were giggling all the way. I wasn't trying to win.....just not need medical attention! Jen could have done the race 2 times over but she stayed with me each step of the way. That is a dear friend and a gesture I will never forget. As we stood on the beach I started to get excited and panicked at the same time. A riptide warning was in full effect thanks to Earl but the water was glass after the initial waves. The horn blew....in we went......past the waves around the first buoy, the second bouy......ummm...Jenn, is that seaweed? What am I touching? I gave up on trying to keep my head in the water since I hated the taste of the saltwater more than I hated not keeping my head down for the true 'freestyle' stroke I had been practicing. Thankfully I was pretty good with the breast stroke and muddled through the swim in only 16 or so minutes......not far off the same time as the winner!!! To bad I didn't pedal and run as fast as she did.

As we got out of the water and 'ran' to the transition area I thought....holy shit I did part one....if I can do part 2...I can walk part 3 if I have to!

Back at my bike I tried to pull on my pants and shirt and hydrate ate a 'shotblock' for some energy and wondered if I should take a minute to text Brian....but we were off on the bike trail before I could follow through. I won't lie, I got a little lazy on occasion. It look a mile or so to get my breath back and though I had borrowed a great hybrid bike from a friend......it was hardly the machine my friend had. I was pedalling and panting my ass off and she was coasting and chatting away. Thankfully the chatting helped me forget how much I was struggling and before I knew it we were giggling and having a nice bike ride and not a race. At one point we joked that the cops keeping the streets closed were thinking....less giggling more pedalling girls! Before I knew it we were done biking and back at the transition area and ready to run. Ummmm...but my legs felt like rubber and I LOATHE running so I knew this was gonna suck at best.

Jen was great and wouldn't let me walk more than 6o-ish seconds at a time. She would point to a lamppost or a building or some scantily clad chick and say....we can run to that and then you can walk for a little bit. She was awesome since she coulda blew by me and finished the race while I was still trying to find my bike!!!!! We even stopped for a laugh filled potty break! Next thing I knew the finish line was in sight and I was tearing up with amazement. I couldn't believe I had done it! I couldn't believe Jen was so willing to do it with me each step of the way and to share that with a friend who has known me for so long and all my struggles.....weight issues, back surgery etc was really a gift. We were both so excited and actually finished the race in under 2 hours which we did not expect AT ALL. We had told our husbands not to try and get there too early since we thought we would be taking at least another 1/2 hour or more. They were both shocked to hear from us that we were done and thankfully each only a few minutes away. In fact when I called Brian he thought for sure I was calling to tell him something had happened! I don't blame him for wondering that but was happy it wasn't the case. I haven't ordered my pics that the pros took that day but when I do I will post them. Here are a couple little shots taken via cell phone or just of the goods when I got home. Thanks to Brian and the kids for putting up with me and supporting me so much....also to Jon and Kat for coming out to cheer....ummm even though they too missed my crossing the finish line because they thought I was a good 40 minutes away from doing so. I am so happy I followed through on the challenge and it turned out to be so positive!