mommy's first triathlon

Two years ago when living in Colorado and retired from dancing, I decided I need something a focus, a thing of my own so I signed up to train and do my first triathlon. It was suppose to be in Boulder in July of 2007. Just a few months into training I found out I was pregnant with Sky. I was high risk and the doctor said no way and not at this altitude. So I made a commitment to myself next year. Well recovering from childbirth was a bit more than I had anticipated and when it came time last year to sign up I was not ready with a 9 month old and all kinds of physical changes my body did not feel like itself. So I waited.......and now I can say with pride and joy I am a triathlete. I did my first triathlon on Sunday Aug. 2 2009 in Duluth. It was called the brewhouse triathlon in Pike lake. I found it to be well organized, friendly, and supportive. I did the short course, a 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike and 2.5 mile run. I trained hard for the swim two years ago taking two different triathlon swimming classes in Breck and swimming at 10,000 feet is hard. So I though I knew the swim would be hard I felt I could do and if I could just make it out of the water feeling good I was home free. Jared was amazing, even though he was doing it as well he got my bike ready showed me the ropes and helped set me up. He kept me calm and relaxed and feed me lots of encouragement. Something I get to see him do a lot with his bike racing guys but this time I got see him in his element coaching and supporting and he is truly gifted when it comes to helping you with the stress of events/races. I got to the place and saw the swim and thought to myself wow really that seems far.......maybe I should have practice the swim part more. Oops to late now. We got your stuff in the transition and set everything up, got numbered and then you wait. As a dancer I have been through this millions of times but I knew how to fill the preshow time down to the minute, with this I did not have a clue. All I could think of was to stretch and I wanted more than anything to do a ballet barre because I knew I could calm myself with that. Then race time came. Jared went first then 10 minutes later I went. As I stood at the front of the pack in waist high water my nevers were crazy. Off we went and all I could think of was how on earth do you stay alive in the water and not drown with all these flaling limbs I realized I would be more comfortable and be able to actually swim if I feel to the back. So I did. Got to the first boey and wow not to badturned right and half way to the second boey my mind and body said oh my lord what I have done. Made it just barely turned right again and headed for the third and finally boey, this is when I questioned my ability to make it. It seemed so far and I was tired and having trouble breathing my arms where falling off and my legs just wanted to stand on something. So I flipped to my back to catch my breath. Thought this was a good idea......not so much when I flipped back over it got me light headed and nausous and when I found my barrings I was off track and now had further to go because of the current. Then I did what you should not do panic. I'm not going to make it, this sucks....blahhhhh. Then my glimmer of hope......it was super shallow all I had to do was make it until my feet could touch and walk it in. Which is what happened. NO Michael Phelps but I made it. I felt like I was going to puck but just took it slow and walked it in to the bike. By the time I got to my bike I was ready to push again. One good thing about dancers they recover fast, though they have no stamina. So Off I went the bike felt good strong and assured. I tried to empower Jared and a good cadance shift efficiently and keep from crashing I got to pass people that swam over me in the water that felt good....and was only passed by a few riders. When I headed out for the run I knew I could finish and the joy got my through the rest as well as seeing Jared in the transition from the bike to the run.....that added boost and helped allowed me to head out and just keep my legs moving. The run was fine I hate running so I knew it might suck but I also knew I could always walk if I needed to and that nothing could keep me from finishing now. It was the best feeling, and so empowering to finally two years later cross the finish line. I even got to stop and grab Sky on the way by. Maybe that is why I was meant to wait two years to do this. She was meant to be there with me. Now I am looking for another one. But this time I think I will swim more before it.