Morton Plant Mease Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

I decided that I needed to remind myself that I was out there for my sister and not myself. So I grabbed my Ipod and listened to Lightning Crashes. (When my sister passed away there was a baby born down the hall 30 seconds later.) So I fought back some tears and brought my Ipod back to my wife and now heard "White Wedding" on the loud speaker. "Hey little sister what have you done...." and now the tears where back. Betsy caught me crying too. Oh crap my wave is up, got on my swim cap and goggles. I guess there is no more time to get in some last minute training. We ran in the water and it got deep, then hit a sandbar. After a few kicks to the face and smacking someothers around the field started to thin out at the first turn. I went out too fast and had a hard time catching my breath. I started to swim on my back a bit and turned back over to swim freestyle and sight. Thats when I saw that I was about 30 feet to the left of the bouys. I heard a guy on a surf board laugh at me. (I'll add him to the list of people that can kiss my a$$.) When I got back on course I realized I was surrounded by a handfull of blue caps (wave in front of me) and a white bouy out here on the course?? Nope it was a white swim cap from 2 waves ahead. I was happy to still see a bunch of people behind me. On the last turn in I tried to warn a girl next to me, but she ran into the bouy. I finally found solid ground and pulled off my goggles and swim cap. Maybe it was a little too soon, I forgot it got deep again. Oh well I survived.

More OWS training, and not go out quite as fast.

This was a long way from the water and I was exhausted. I walked a lot but I was happy. I was tempted to wash the salt off at the shower we passed, but I resisted. I got to see Terri by the racks, that lifted my spirits a lot. I got my socks on very quickly using the heel/toe method from Lucy (Thanks Christine!!) I almost rode my bike out of T1, then remembered I had to run out with it.

Just run it out to T1.

I managed to run and jump on the bike pretty smoothly. I tried to keep the thought of the bridges out of my mind until I attack them. I was a little slow to pick up speed, I noticed this when I was getting passed. I passed a few people before I got to the draw bridge, and saw it going up!!!. So I got held up a minute by the time I finally got there. Then on to another hill which I passed a couple of people. Now it came the time to avoid some pot holes. I saw a firestation coming up and ran over some road kill. I think it was an Armadillo, as I hit it the tail came up and hit my calf. Thats definately a first. As we made a couple of short turns I knew the Memorial Causeway first of 2 big bridges was close. I used Jeff's advice about hammering it out upto the base and drop into my climbing gear. After 1/3 the way up I dropped to my lowest gear and managed 6 MPH. Yet I was still passing others on the incline. I was proud of myself for not getting off to walk up. The decline was awesome!!! I got my body down as low as possible and reached 35 MPH. Even though the course wasn't closed to traffic the police did a great job making sure we had the right of way. (Except for coming out of the round about.) I kept my pace around 20 MPH all down the beach. Now was time for the second bridge, I immediately dropped to my lowest gear on the climb of the Sand Key Bridge. I managed to pass a few more on the incline and decline. Then a quick turn into and around the park. By the end of the bike leg I managed to pass repass everyone that passed me except 3 with rear disc's. I alos managed to pass a couple others that were out before me. I got to say "On your left" about 15 times. I saw the official at the dismount frantically waving and I wasn't slowing down. I saw some fear in his face. I completed a jumping dismount at about 16 mph right at his feet, and sprinted in to T2.

Add another water bottle/cage to my bike. I needed more than one bottle to stay comfortable and get the saltiness off my lips.

I had to back track 2 racks to find my own. I guess I need to pay more attention. I was so elated that my dismount was so smooth and fast. Off with the helmet and on with the visor and race belt. I grabbed a Gatorade and ran out of T2, constantly making sure I had all I needed.

Not drink straight Gatorade. I need to take it to 50/50 with water.

As I was reaching the turn on the trail I realized I drank too much Gatorade, and felt like puking. So I walked a bit to settle my stomache. I got out to the main road and ran along with Ed (another novice). We ran at a comfortable pace and talked for a bit. I was taking it slow, my PF and hamstring were both hurting on my right leg. After the turn I told him I was going to go ahead and would see him soon. A mile later I was entering the park and passing up on drinking, stomache was still trying to refuse the Gatorade. I walked once in the park because my hamstring was hurting bad, worse than my heel. I started to run again and saw Betsy and Jeff. They came back to find me and run back in with me upto where my family was. This is were a 2 year old that ran out on the course. Seriously some people need to watch their kids. I want to know where his father was......oh wait, thats me. Finally I crossed the finish line. I got my finishers medal, bottle of water and a cold towel.

At the same time I heard the announcer call my name and where I'm from. But he kept talking. He mentioned that I was out there today in memory of my sister Lynda who was a patient at Morton Plant, Clearwater in ICU. There was more said, but I was sobbing too loudly to understand. (much like I am right now.) I later find out that Jeff emailed the Race Director about me and my sister. Thank you Jeff! This was a perfect ending to my first TRI.

Not drink straight Gatorade and learn to stretch my hamstring better.

I was heading back to see everyone, and my son came running up to me screaming "Daaaadddddyyyyyy Aaaalllllll Doooonnnne" Time for more tears. I gathered back with my family (Mom, Gene, Colette and James) and friends (Betsy, Christine, Tom, Kid1, Jeff, & Terri), we talked about the race and course. After everyone was calmed down emotionaly and physically we checked preliminary results and headed over to TA. I missed Ed at the finish but caught up with him in TA, we talked some more and he is going to be signing up on BT soon.


30 lbs of excess weight, and just need to train more.


There are so many people that helped me through my training and my first TRI. Between my family and my BT family I was able to finish with a pulse (which was my goal). Jeff thank you for being my unpaid coach, you are such a generous and patient friend. I look forward to many more races with my fellow BTers.

Christine Congrats on hardware!!!
Terri Thank you for Strappin for us!!!
Colette, Thank you for putting up with the time my training takes away from you and James.