Triathlon Complete // Swim, Bike, Run

Success!!!! It is no small secret that I have been freaking out a little bit about today's race--you may know the drill--self-doubt, I didn't train hard enough, what if I am terrible, I haven't looked at my training schedule since week four, etc. etc. etc. I'm sure that my husband is happier that the race is over than I am.I am here to report that I woke up this morning and finally convinced myself that I was going to have fun.  I enjoy swimming and biking.  I've done a fair amount of running, my husband and kids were at the race by 6:30am to cheer us on (if that isn't love, I'm not sure what is), J went to Radio Shack's in three states (well, two states and a hopeful state) to find the right battery for my bike computer (again, feeling the love), I slept well, etc.

Surprise, surprise, deciding to have fun and enjoy the race was actually a good thing-- I (barely) placed in the top third of the women's field and I was within five minutes of my pie-in-the-sky time goal, which was pretty great.  Even better, I was able to train and race with a fabulous training partner and friend (Tricia is finally on flickr! Check out her latest quilt here). Thanks family, thanks T & family!I learned a few things this time around:

• practice really does help--it is much easier to "sight" in the swim if you have done it a few times
• a good cyclist will beat a good swimmer every time
• even if you are a "good swimmer," you will have an off day (that was me today, in case you wondered...I'm not sure if it was because of the crazy current/waves or what)
• it is hard to walk on the run when an older triathlete comes up behind you and says, "You can't stop now. Start running. Run with me." So, I did.  And I was grateful.
• having a speedometer on your bike makes a huge difference
• you have to race your own race, and not panic when lots of people pass you on the bike
• we always run into someone we know at these races--today we ran into two people!
• Driving in crazy rain/thunderstorms with little kids is  not very much fun, your little one may or may not eat her weight in smarties
• Finally, the hardest part of the day was carrying my little one right after the race--she thought she needed to be glued to me immediately, and I was tired!

Who is in next time? :)