Capital of Texas Triathlon - FirstTri - TriathlonMini Sprint

was in trouble from the start - 215 people starting from a straight up and down in the water position all going horizontal...oops...splashing, kicking...and did I mention the water was COLD???? So all of a sudden I'm in a frothing, foaming vat of killer sharks... nah....just a bunch of people trying to move from dead stop to forward motion. The water was cold....I couldn't catch my breath....couldn't get a rythym going...there were lots of canoes out there to watch for struggling people...a couple of people grabbed onto them (breather)...and I started breast stroking...got some water in my mouth (YUCK YUCK YUCK)...and was thinking....I don't HAVE to do this....no one is MAKING me do this...I wanted to quit...but God sent an angel...with a name of Susan. She was doing the side stroke (the slowest swim possibility on the PLANET)....and she said...hey...we are doing this...in the water...starting a triathlon...we are going to be triathletes...so we talked...all I could see was her dark goggles...and her mask...but I started freestyling...and breast stroking...400 meters didn't seem so long in the pool you know? We switched strokes...and talked....and made it all the way around the buoy's...and back to the ramp...if I'd had the time, I would have hugged her...but up the ramp....time to get on the bike.

I will spend a LOT more time in the pool....400 meters seemed ridiculously long...and the next OWS I'm going to sign up for TWICE!

MY bike is the coolest, fastest one out there....unfortunately her owner isn't quite so fast switching gears - wipe the feet off, put on socks, put on tennis shoes - tie the shoes, get the gloves on, get the helmet on, put the camel back on...oops, strap came undone....a minute later....okay....going..

The transition was really difficult...the swim shook me up....I knew the bike would be my easiest...but should have prepared better for the transition.

Going from the transition area....going.....cross the blue line and I can get ON my bike...and I took off like a bat out of hades. I love riding. I flew out of there, down the road, around the corners....got up to 25.5 mph at one point....climbed up the hills...didn't have to walk ANY of them...and flew back to the transition area....I wanted to ride more!

Speed up the transition, get rid of some of the 'junk'...

This one went MUCH smoother - just had to grab my sunglasses and go... (couldn't find them in T1 cause a towel covered them up!)

Drink more water

I'm suprised at how good I did on the run...I hate running....but compared to the swim? It's not so bad at ALL. I talked to people and jogged for a minute, then walked....ran into my swim angel....she was running 2 minutes at a time...so I ran with her....til I ran out of breath....then said have fun...and walked for a bit...then ran for a bit....then walked...then ran....until I saw the finish line... ;-) And it was done....

Run more...lots and lots more

Walked around and got some nasty sprite tasting stuff....a banana and a piece of pizza....saw Lisa J... said hi...ran into a couple other people and said 'hey!'....was very tired, and very exhilirated...


Not knowing what to expect...everyone has a first...as they say in the military....bleed now...and you won't bleed later...I know what changes need to be made to be better prepared for the next one...


Hey - It's my first one...and it was awesome.