Tempe International Triathlon - Olympic Distance - TriathlonOlympic

I had already swam this course in my mind about 100 times so mentally I was really prepared for it. Thanks to Splash and Dash I was prepared to be bumped and jostled at the beginning and that didn't really bother me at all this time. I wasn't prepared to be kicked in the head but it was ok. I did stop and catch my breath a few times but for the most part the swim went really well. I knew by the time that I got to the first buoy that I was going to be fine. I just kept swimming and swimming and swimming. By the time I was about half way through I stopped a second and said hi to one of the guys on the surf boards. He immediately jumped up and asked if I was ok. I said yes and started swimming again and as I was swimming away I thought, "you have no idea just how ok I am right now, LOL". At one point I could hear some kind of "plinking" sounds off in the distance. I wasn't sure exactly what they were but I thought maybe the next waves hitting the water. As I rounded the final far buoy the sun was in my face and I couldn't see where I was going. I decided to swim in a straight line and just get here. Oops, I think I veered into the middle of the rectangle a bit so I know I swam a little long but it turned out ok. I really could not believe it when I saw the stairs and it was time to get out. It went really super smooth and I was thrilled. I got to the top of the stairs and gave a giant woop! for the crowd. Then I saw a few from the tri club and gave them another woop! I was soooo happy!

I was totally happy with my swim. I need to become a more efficient swimmer in general but for where I am at today I am happy. I plan on many more OWS this summer to get faster.

The splits aren't up yet but I know I was slow here. I am guessing right around 3 minutes though if I back out my other times. I was not rushing just getting everything done.

I need to hurry it up. :>D

I set off on my bike making a mental note to stay to the right. I knew that even at my best pace I was going to be slow out there. My only goal was to hit over 16 mph as that is the fastest I have trained at. I was hoping that I would get closer to 17 but with the little climbs and the sharp turns it turned out to be 16. There were a few spots that I had a calf cramp but otherwise it went smooth. I saw Paulette and she looked super strong and I saw Jen with her East Siiiiide sign that just cracked me up. Once I hit the last lap I felt super energized as I knew it was almost time for the run.

Of course I got passed and heard "on your right" 10,000 times. It really didn't bother me at all and I came to love the sound of the expensive tri bikes as they whooshed by me. It sounded like a hoover craft "woom woom woom". It always made me smile. I saw several people walking bikes back and was so thankful that Tewonda made it through the day in one piece.

Same as the swim. I just need to spend more time biking at higher speeds. I also need to put aero bars on my bike but that won't come until the fall probably. One step at a time. ;>) I also plan to take spin classes this summer so hopefully that will help with speed on the bike as well.

I saw most of the tri club bikes were back already. D'oh! I better get going!

My big disappointment of the day was my run. I had practiced brick after brick after brick to be ready for this. As soon as I started moving though I had nothing. My legs weren't really cramped but they were tight and felt blah. Somewhere right during that first mile I lost any fight that I had. I don't know why but it was like I gave myself a permission slip to walk. I even had a conversation with myself about how it would feel later to know that I didn't press through and I was ok with it.

There were some highlights to the run though. The first was what I call dancing with a guy. He would run, I would walk and we swapped spots for about 10 minutes. Finally I caught up to him and asked him how he was doing. Turned out he had started in my wave and this was his first Oly as well. We were both whipped but happy to be getting through. I really couldn't hang with him so he left about mile 4 where I had my worst mile of the day.

As I crossed the bridge for the second time a younger guy came up and said, "great job". I don't know why that motivated me and I picked up his pace and ran with him for a few minutes. As he ran off I said, "thanks for the ride". I noticed on his calf that he was 21 years old! What a nice boy. Right then another guy came and gave me a high five. As they both ran off I yelled, "the back of the pack rules!" They both pumped their arms in the air in agreement. :>D

When I rounded one corner there was a guy encouraging the stragglers. He said, "do you hear them? they are waiting for you!". I said, "yeah, they want to go home." He looked me square in the face and said "don't ever say that, you are doing this!". I thought that was really encouraging.

I saw a few of the tri club on this last little leg, some running strong and some on a death march like mine. I also saw a few off to the side cheering. I am so thankful to the tri club and all of their encouragement. Who knew that when I logged on to Beginner Triathlete that day to find a group swim that I would find such encouraging people to do this with.

As I rounded the corner to the finish I saw my family. What a nice vision for tired eyes. I walked when I got to them and they all were hollering to GO! GO! They didn't realize that I had not a single ounce of go left.

I crossed the finish line and let out a giant "WOOP!" It felt stupendous to complete this race. It was hot, the bike course was long but I finished!

Ugh, I am not sure. I think I was just tapped out around the 3 hour mark. It could be that my nutrition is not really nutrition for this long of an event or it could be that the fever from the night before took part in the run. I know though that I need to keep running and lose weight!

Hung out at the ESCKTC tent!! WOOT WOOT!!


Just overall ability. I came in 3rd or 4th from the bottom for the WHOLE event. I had a blast and I did the best that I could but seriously, no one wants to scrap the bottom that low. I won't let my back, back of the pack take away my joy from the day. Never one time did I think, "never again". I just kept thinking, "next time...next time." It is barely two years since I got off the couch and started moving at all and here I just completed an Olympic triathlon. I will get faster, stronger and I will be back. It's going to take a ton of work but I can do it!


I had a great time on this course!! My only complaint is the steps on the run..twice! Seemed a bit cruel at the time but I guess it worked. The drink stations and volunteers were wonderful!