For the swim ,I did free style, side stroke and backstroke. Swim was a piece of cake. I felt relaxed, comfortable and not stressed at all. I breath with every right stroke on the free style and stayed in a good rhythm with it. I concentrated on doing each stroke the best I could. The laps flew by.

Not a thing! This was a great swim experience for me, really built my confidence. I had plenty of energy.

My daughter, event coordinator, allowed me to change my clothes since she knew I would be more comfortable biking and running in my biking clothes. I had everything laid out in the locker room. I dried off while getting from pool to locker room. Stripped from my suit in the restroom since I had a need to potty. Wrapped my towel around me to get to dressing room. Applied generous amounts of baby powder on my feet first to allow them to dry while I dressed. Put shoes and socks on last, applied sunscreen, threw all my swim gear into my bag and speedily walked out the door. The rest of T1 was at my car in the parking lot. I had laid out my helmet, gloves, sunglasses and sport drink bottle on front seat. My bike was leaning up against the car. just hopped on, put my foot on the pedal and took off with my son biking with me, as my personal coach. My husband and daughter drove the car to T2 location, our friends' house.

Not a thing. I was really pleased with how neatly organized I was. It all worked out according to plan.

Biking is my favorite part. It's what I did to get my endurance up over the last year. I got a road bike 2 months prior, as opposed to doing it on a mtn bike. I was real comfortable with my gears. I hauled on the downhills and the straight-aways. I had a blast, except for that darn hill near the end! My booster club of friends had course maps and 4 cars. They'd drive to a spot, jump out of the car, scream and yell, waving their signs as I biked by. I never knew when or where or who would show up next. My kids laid out the bike course so I'd have the worst hill at the end! Bummer! It was a hairpin curve into the hill then BAM, I was on the hill with no opp to prep. I have always hated this particular hill and this time was no better. I didn't think I would make it. My son was urging me on, tears were streaming down my face, I wanted to come off my bike. Then I looked up and there was Julie, part of my booster club, on the hill with a sign, cheering me on. When I got to the top of the hill, there was my daughter. As I rounded the last curve before the straight-away to T2, there were 1/2 dozen more friends with their wonderful signs, screaming and yelling for me. They caused such a commotion, cars on the road started honking their horns for me too!

More hill practice. I commute home from work 8 miles, 2-3 times a week with one monster hill. I was grading my growth on that hill and getting better but it was never easy. I have several hills out in the country where I live that I was getting better on. I thought I was doing those hills well, they were getting easier. In spite of that, the last hill on my race threw me. I guess my legs were just getting tired. I plan to conquer the hills (Lance wins in the mountains, I want to too!).

My car was T2 again. I had my running shoes, visor, facial wipes, a snack and fresh water bottles on the back seat. Someone took my bike from me the second I got off it. I changed shoes, grabbed my facial wipe, handed my son two water bottles, one for each of us, and we took off. My son stayed on the bike for my run. I was about 50 feet from T2 when I remembered that I forgot my grapes (fresh and cold!). I wanted to go back and my son said, "no! sorry! better luck next time!"

Someway, somehow, I want to break every so gently into running so I can do more triathlons. It was running that caused my back to go out, took me out of training and thus I missed my orginally scheduled triathon. After that, I didn't run a step because I wasn't taking any chances before My Own Triathlon. If I had the energy, I decided beforehand that I would run and worry about my back later. Luckily, it never hurt me at all. I'm fine. I don't want running to be my slowest event when I'm feeling so good about swimming and biking.

I ran out of the cul de sac then started walking because my legs were tired and felt like lead. My son again chimed in, "no, Mom! No walking. You have to walk, I don't care how slow, if you don't, you'll never get rid of that feeling in your legs and besides, they'll cramp up on you." I'm thinking, "son, if you're feeding me a line, you will be in such trouble!" I ran 2 blocks to a parked car, then walked a block because I knew a hill was coming. I didn't know how I was going to make 2.5 miles. My son said,"Mom, run to the end of the fence." I looked up and saw that the end of the fence was at the top of the hill! I put my head down and as a distraction, I started singing to myself. I sang my grandson's favorite song. At the top of the hill, I walked a block, then there they were - my booster club, out in full force, all 8 of them, screaming and carrying on again. Sherry ran with me for a block, chit-chatting , at my request to distract me. My husband ran with me for another block. His pace exactly matched mine. I could feel his energy transferring to me. I felt lighter! Back on my own, all of a sudden, my legs felt real warm and comfortable. It was the weirdest feeling. At that point, I knew I'd make it. I put my head down and kept running. In my head I sang EVERY song I sing to my grandson, as total distraction, and just let my legs do their thing. My son said later he could tell I was realy concentrating.



The best thing I did was taking that facial wipe with me. I doused it with water and wiped my face and neck 1/2 dozen times during the race. If I overheated, it would be all over. I'm susceptible to heat exhaustion. It had been up to 95 degrees the past week. Luckily, it cooled a bit, was still early enough and a bit overcast.

When I rounded the corner to the cul de sac , I had enough energy to laugh at the path my booster club had chalked on the road. It said,'finish' with an arrow pointing the way. Then I looked up and the whole bunch of them were there, two of them holding a red, white and blue starred ribbon across the clearly marked Finish line. I raised my arms up over my head and jubilantly crossed it. My daughter placed a jeweled tiara on my head. My friends handed me the biggest bouquet of flowers I had ever received. My daughter fashioned the finish line ribbon into a sash that I wore. With the flowers, the sash and the crown, I truly felt like Miss America. I did a l-o-n-g cooldown, walking around and around. I was so hot, the sweat kept pouring off my face. I wasn't tired, just HOT. I did my usual stretching routine, cooled down outside some more, then went inside for a long shower and a change of clothes. I felt wonderful and special. We celebrated my victory with a brunch in my friends beautiful back yard as I gave details of my event.


My goal was 3 fold: to finish, healthfully and happily. Time was a non-issue, although I hoped to finish in 2 hours max. I was totally delighted to finish in 1:49 in spite of my long, almost 7 minute T1 transition and the slow run.


I could not have had a better first triathlon. I hoped my friends would come to see me but I had no idea of the energy and enthusiasm they would outpour. It was overwhelming. My kids were so supportive and wanting to make this the 'real thing' for me. My husband supported my 5 days a week of training. It's kinda like labor. You know it's coming whether you're prepared or not, so you better practice your breathing exercises. I did not want to drown, or not have enough energy or not finish, so I put my all into my training. I was very blest, it all worked out wonderful! I'm hooked! My goal is to do an open water swim tri next summer!