The Olympic Tri

My wonderful parents and brother Joel came along with me on my journey to St. George to do this tri I have been training for.  My brother Joel took a bunch more pictures but I haven't gotten them yet so I thought I would just post the iphone pics.  

My thoughts going into this event were.  The swim is going to be easy, the bike is going to be a blast, and the run is probably going to kick my trash.  

We are all happily sitting in the water when the dude with the mega phone without any warning yells GO!!!!  We all take off and it took me about 30 seconds to realize that I couldn't breathe.  It was awful!  I totally panicked and could not get my breathing to slow down.  I was 2 seconds from swimming over to the boat and calling it quits when this darling girl next to me asked if I was ok.  I answered between pantings that I thought I was having some kind of panick attack.  She said I am too and I never do, anyway she talked to me long enough for me to realize that I didn't need to be rescued and that I could do this.  I proceeded to try swimming mostly flailing for the rest of the swim.  I tried the breast stroke and felt like I was going backwards then I tried some side swim thing that worked ok but I decided that the back stroke was my best bet.  At one point I heard this kind gentlemen say ma'm ma'm your a little off course.  I look up and find that I am a lot off course.  Any way what I thought would take me about 30 min took me 51 min.  I was so exhausted and grateful to be alive by the time I got out of the water.  

I look like I got a nice face lift thanks to my cap.  
I was so happy to get on my beloved bike.  I was able to pass a couple of people but for the most part was all by myself.  There were only 32 girls out of 300 people that did the Olympic distance.  So there weren't a lot of girls to ride with.  Any way it was actually really cool to just be all alone and push myself to the limit.

The bike ride went really fast and then came the run.  The run was actually 100% easier then I thought it was.  Thanks to the swim of death.
I was grateful that there were still people at the end of the race.  I figured they would have all packed up and gone home.  
Here I am looking out at the water thinking what the crap was that all about?

I started at 7:30 and finished at 10:50.  1 mile swim, 24 mile bike ride, and a six mile run.  It was an awesome accomplishment for me.  I felt like it helped me realize that there really isn't anything I can't do if I just put my mind to it.  I know that anyone reading this can do it too.  So get your bum out there and start getting ready, you and me same time same place next year!!!!!!!