I’m Kind of a Big Deal!

So, stealing Stephanie Anderson’s words: “Yeah, I’m kind of a big deal.”

As of about three hours ago, I completed my first triathlon!  After the prompting of my friend Latarsha, I decided to sign up for the Disneyland Triathlon.  I mean really, how threatening can Disneyland be?!  My intuitions proved themselves true.  When my alarm went off this morning at 4:30 am (after having friends over until 10:30 last night), I immediately questioned why I had convinced myself it was a good idea not to work out this last week and how I ever got myself to believe this was a good idea.  However, after getting all of my gear together and riding Mellow Yellow 1.8 miles down to Disney from my mom’s, my mind was slowly changed.  Seeing all the women around me (it was an all women’s tri, something I’d highly recommend) was encouraging and inspiring!  I even teared up yesterday after seeing about 10 of the 100 survivors (breast cancer) come up to the stage–and most were under 40.  If they could do it, so could I! 

After spending thirty minutes in line for the port-a-potties, I put on my swim cap and walked over to the herding area before swimming .35 miles in California Adventure’s Paradise Lagoon (supposedly the brown murkiness is due to food coloring…which I kinda believe now after cleaning out my ears!).  We then ran and jumped on our bikes to do a 10 mile trek around the Disneyland resort…twice!  I definitely rang my bike’s little bell a few time just to make myself laugh.  Mellow Yellow also received many compliments along the way.  I might have been a little intimidated by all of the beautiful new bikes surrounding us, but Mellow Yellow was quite confident and made quite a showing for his first time in a triathlon!  My mom and Jim were snapping pictures all along the way and cheering me on!  Thankfully, I found a friendly pace partner for my 2.5 mile run, because I don’t know if my body really wanted to do it.  I told myself I really didn’t want to walk and had set a goal to finish within two hours.  Patrick, my mom, and Latarsha were there at the finish line cheering me in! 

The results are in:

Overall Rank: 745 of 1332 (about the 55 %ile)

Swim time: 12:35

Transition 1: 5:37

 Bike: 44:04

MPH: 13.6

Transition 2: 2:28

Run: 19:40

Pace: 9:50

Final: 1:24.26

 

So, not too shabby if I do say so myself!  I am now sitting on my mom’s couch-freshly showered yet still wearing my medal.  We just finished eating a delicious post-tri meal of monkey bread, fresh fruit, and eggs with spinach, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, and cheese.  Delish!  My mom and Patrick are already napping-I guess cheering people on wears you out!  My adrenaline is rapidly leaving my body and I think I might lay my head down as well!

Thanks to Kristen, Steph, Bekah, and Irene for hanging out last night!  I had a great time!  Thanks to Latarsha for encouraging me to do this!  And, thanks to mom, Jim, and Patrick for making it to the race to cheer me on!  And, to sister, for coming out for post-party celebrations a.k.a. napping! 

And, by the way-I will be wearing my medal constantly through tomorrow evening.  Yes, I just finished a nap and, you guessed it, I wore the medals.

Also, I have two more potential triathlons lined up this season for those of you interested! There is one in Pleasonton (Bay Area) on September 27th and another one in San Diego on October 19th!  (Also, on August 24th there is one in Santa Barbara, but I have prior commitments-possibly useful info for all you SB folk!)