TRI THIS ON FOR SIZE!

Standing in line at the Port-o-Potty before the race, the feeling in my stomach was a cross between wanting to throw up and wanting to cry. I did neither until after the race. I set my stuff up to the best of my inexperienced ability and anxiously paced the transition zone making small adjustments. My number was written on my arm, my category and age on my calves and number plate pinned to my running shorts. 225 FYI my lucky numbers are 7 & 9. (2+2+5= 9.... hello fate!)



The swim sucked for the first 450 yards. I couldn't catch my breath, my arms felt like lead and I thought I was going to sink like a rock. I kept telling myself "you can't stop! Everyone is watching YOU, just keep going long and strong!" By the time I rounded the second buoy I found my pace, felt great and started to make my move past other swimmers into the finish. Struggled with the strap on the wetsuit a little but transitioned to the bike in under 1:30 after a 16 min swim.



Unfortunately I hadn't trained the bike because I don't love it as much as running and I wasn't scared to death of it like I was the swim. I suffered for the first 5 miles. People were passing me left and right when finally my energy shot of MonaVie kicked in and I rocked the climb. Stayed in the saddle and cranked it to gain a fair place and finished the bike in the big ring. Dismounted the bike, transition 2 went well under 40 sec. Other than completely numb legs for the first mile, the run went better than I could have hoped. In fact, I wish I would have gone a little harder. I didn't realize how good I would feel and how short the run felt and I saved a little too much in the reserve. But I finished strong and have never felt such a sense of accomplishment in my entire life. I wept with joy.


THANK YOU FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING MY DREAMS.