Well, I made it! I participated in the Tri out of Sylvania Ohio and I'm alive. It was a great and tough experience.
I warmed up in the lake before the race and felt great. This being my first tri, I was trying to decide where to start, up front with the group or let them go out and follow. Well, my excitement led me to the front. The gun went off and I jumped right in! I was getting banged around a little, which I expected, but was keeping form. Something I was happy with considering I'm not much of a swimmer. Until . . . I got smacked and sucked in about a gallon of lake water after the first 100m! I was coughing uncontrolably and though I was going to die, literally. My first thought was to start swimming for the shore. I started back stroking until I was able to get my breath and made a difinitive decision that I was not going to give up. I did not train for this to give up in the first 100m! I tried to get back to form, but my body and mind were not cooperating. I ended up back stroking and breast stroking the rest to the swim. My body felt so strained by the time I got out of the water.
I had to keep going. Bike transition was slow, but I was happy to be alive and wasn't to concerned at that point. No one passed me the rest of the race, although I don't think there were that many people behind me after the swim.
By the time the run came around, I was suprised how great I felt! I was passing people left and right and felt very proud to be a part of the whole experience.
My goal was to finish in an hour and a half. Final time - 1:30.05. Excellent!
The most that overwhelmed me was the support for all the people organizing it and spectators. Tall, short, heavy, light, it didn't matter and I was impressed with every person out there.
Thanks to all on this board who offer their knowledge and experience, I couldn't have done it without you!:)
Well, I made it! I participated in the Tri out of Sylvania Ohio and I'm alive. It was a great and tough experience.
I warmed up in the lake before the race and felt great. This being my first tri, I was trying to decide where to start, up front with the group or let them go out and follow. Well, my excitement led me to the front. The gun went off and I jumped right in! I was getting banged around a little, which I expected, but was keeping form. Something I was happy with considering I'm not much of a swimmer. Until . . . I got smacked and sucked in about a gallon of lake water after the first 100m! I was coughing uncontrolably and though I was going to die, literally. My first thought was to start swimming for the shore. I started back stroking until I was able to get my breath and made a difinitive decision that I was not going to give up. I did not train for this to give up in the first 100m! I tried to get back to form, but my body and mind were not cooperating. I ended up back stroking and breast stroking the rest to the swim. My body felt so strained by the time I got out of the water.
I had to keep going. Bike transition was slow, but I was happy to be alive and wasn't to concerned at that point. No one passed me the rest of the race, although I don't think there were that many people behind me after the swim.
By the time the run came around, I was suprised how great I felt! I was passing people left and right and felt very proud to be a part of the whole experience.
My goal was to finish in an hour and a half. Final time - 1:30.05. Excellent!
The most that overwhelmed me was the support for all the people organizing it and spectators. Tall, short, heavy, light, it didn't matter and I was impressed with every person out there.
Thanks to all on this board who offer their knowledge and experience, I couldn't have done it without you!:)