My 2012 TrIslip Recap...

Well...What can I say? 

WE did it! 

my good,

young,

pretty,

smart,

intelligent,

marathoner friend Annette (UGH...the list could go on, and on...)

and I finally were brave enough to actually "show up" at our first ever sprint triathalon...

Well, I guess I should say that I was brave enough to show up...

and here's how it went down...

The weekend before I finally borrowed a bike and a wetsuit, because quite frankly...

why purchase these items if you don't really know what to expect,

or if you will even toy with the idea of doing it again.

She packed up her family and headed out to our house.  I had been " bugging" her for quite a while about practicing...I haven't been in any type pf "organized"event in quite awhile...and I needed a "run through" so to speak.  So, she finally obliged and made me happy... Once at our house, we set off to our "club" beach down the road...


We set up our tansion area on the docks...and headed down to the beach for our swim...

The practice went...ok...

Annette got a little "unhappy" swimming in open water...which is understandable when you haven't been practicing that way.  Not to mention we headed straight out to the rock and back which is approx a half mile...and you start to feel very "alone" out there...So, we decided to

keep with each other" the whole time... and we ended up making a more triangular route not too far out from the beach so that the distance out wasn't an issue...

No problem coming in from the water...we trotted up the steps taking off our caps, goggles and wet suit, ( much better than putting it on btw) and transitioned straight to the bike!  sunglasses, helmet on...and off we went. 

We biked for bit gaging the mileage from our garmins and then headed back to the beach to transition for the run. 

Bike parked, helmet off...and off we ran!

Now...this was just a "practice" really for the transition stages.  I for one, was not looking to go all out and hurt myself, especially since I wasn't cleared to do it...and Annette wasn't at all interested in interupting her marathon training by injuring herself on a sprint tri that we were doing "just for fun"...so, our distances stayed much shorter and our efforts at an enjoyable pace...

Perfect!

OK...now...Race day!

let's just say that one maybe shouldn't sip consume a drink or two...or three... the night before a race...

but this was only for fun...

and I was nervous as all get out!

 I mean, after all...I haven't raced in over 2 1/2 or 3 years...

 and I have never done a tri...

What

Was

I

Thinking???

The alarm clock went off at 4:15...

UGH, why did I have those beverages?

I got up...
hydrated myself as best I could...
 and made a VEGA shake...

I decided to drive alone and meet her there...I wold have had to leave much earlier than I needed to if meeting up with her to drive alone...and I am a big girl!  I only called her about 4 or 5 times along the way to calm my nerves...but all she did was laugh out loud and make me more nervous.  She thinks I'm competitive...Jeez!

When I pulled up into the parking lot, let's just say that she is standing in the middle of it, just laughing and everyone around her is looking at her and laughing too! 

I pulled up next to her anxiously and went to get out of my car. 

But...I couldn't get the keys out. 

Now, we were a bit late,

and EVERYONE was alreading heading to the transition areas for marking up, setting up etc...

and we weren't even out ofour cars yet! 

 I kept trying to get the keys our for a few minutes...

but they were stuck, and I was getting more nervous!

So, Annette got in and tried for awhile..

but they still wouldn't come out! 

Well...now we are both laughing with nerves

and I am trying NOT to PEE my pants from it...

so, I did what any mature, smart, and independent female would do...

I called my husband! 

And Dave calmly asked me one single question...

"Honey?  Did you put the car in park?"
Really???

God, I love that man!!! 

Getting marked up was fun...

everyone was in a good mood and music was playing! 

 I didn't like my age of 44 being marked all over my calf,

but then I did notice that I used others ages constantly during the race to push myself...

so I get it!!

Now...the setting up part...
what a nightmare!
  I wasn't in Annette's transition area because of our ages...did I mention she is a youngin???
Isn't everybody these days???

So...I was on my own.  And, we had gotten there late!  My rack looked entirely taken up, and on one seemed to care that I was trying to figure out what to do.  finally, two women told me that I had to put my bike in a cetain spot, and that I was to set up my area under my front tire...front tire?  It didn't look right to me...that would mean you had to run around to get your bike off...but they wouldn't move...nor did they want to hear about it.  So, I waited until what any mature woman would do, and I waited until they left and fixed it up the way I wanted.  Once they walked back, I told them that someone from the event told me we were all to set up under our rear tires and to make sure to tell everyone in my area that hadn't done that...so, they had to move...and they didn't look happy...but hey, don't shoot the messenger...

 Here is the story in pictures...

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obviously still trying to hydrate...

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Now she's stealing my water...and still laughing at me!

I think I'm either praying...or trying NOT to throw up...

Annette

I just think this is such a cool pic!

getting ready...and thinking out my strategy...
swim is the only thing that doesn't hurt me right now!!!



I'm off...



got right in front ...

moving ahead...but I lose my steam...

coming out of the water...slowly...a close third out of my wave...
but I passed many of the boys in hte wave ahead of me ;)



transitioning...slowly...what am I thinking?...



never again will I drink...



coming out of T1...I love the band ptill playing in the back...



And, I'm off again...

Getting my bearings on a borrowed bike...



coming into T2...my feet are numb...wierd...

Taking off for the run...





Annette closing in on the finish line...

Crossing the line...

Afterwards...thinking, "how cool we just did this?"

Watching and listening to the awards ceremony...
we really just wanted our cooler of mimosas!

Seriously??? they called my name?



I placed third in my age group...

I'm thinking, I don't know you...but I'm gonna beat you next time!!!


So there you go...one more item crossed off the Post-Op bucket list!

Here are my splits listed below for anyone who would like to analyze them...(Ahem, Mike, Ahj, Michael, Kepa...and all you tri-athletes out there...)

88	Jennifer	Charney				40	F	47:13	126	1st	7:29	186	1:54	85	14:58	92	1:09	118	21:44	149
276	Riquette	Cohen				42	F	47:20	129	2nd	7:21	172	2:48	159	15:26	110	1:09	122	20:38	118
278	Caroline	Cummings				44	F	47:44	133	3rd	6:08	89	3:24	217	16:41	167	1:04	94	20:29	113

Next up......

News of my MRI results and doctors visit in the city ...

have you ever gone into something haphazardly

and ended up being annoyed that you didn't actually "win??"