Crazy May Day!!

I do believe that preparing for my first ever Olympic distance triathlon by chugging a couple beers, eating some cake and a cheeseburger whilst celebrating my birthday with friends was the correct thing to do. How can you refuse such handsomeness in their encouragement (even if it was an attempt to get me to drink some hard alcohol) and support?

What I wouldn't recommend, however, is the less than five hours sleep. My stride was a bit panicked as I realized that even though this was going to be the biggest physical challenge I had ever put myself through, I was even more woefully underprepared than I thought!! I only packed one water bottle, didn't remember to have at home a banana or any food to refuel with and as luck would have it ... my goggles broke. When I jumped into the pool to start I was nervous to have someone counting the 32 laps as I was sure that he'd only by critiquing my poor, slow form. And that didn't turn out to be true ... my counting god managed to find a new pair of goggles for me, and proceeded to encourage me and give me updates on the countdown so that the last three laps were easier than the first!!

Up, up away I went to the spinning room ... unfortunately being competely wet on a spin bike is a bit different than being out in the sun on a road bike. And oh, my right pedal wouldn't clip in which was a bit awkward. Argh ... the spinning component felt like it went forever, but it was great to have music interspliced with the cheering on as people ran in and ran out with their time up. AND there was great music- something you never hear during a real triathlon!! A nice girl left me a mango bar so I ate that when I ran down to leave for the run ... and immediately afterwards it was probably the fastest part of the entire 10K. Need I remind you that this body was not meant to run? I'm sure there are grannies who can walk as fast as I plod along. The sights were spectacular, however as first the Washington Monument and then the Capitol Building became my targets for turnarounds. Also along the route were the Avon Breast Cancer walkers who were doing the 60 mile walk ... we cheered each other as we passed.

When I finally made it back into the Y, hampered by a sore spot on my upper leg where my suit rubbed a raw point, all the Y-triers erupted in cheers for this Queen of BUTR. What a fabulous way to spend my morning! And here's the after shot ...