WE DID IT!

Here we are before the big race. I can't believe its over. We both completed the triathlon on Sunday. It was our first race ever so we were really nervous. I woke up at 4:30 in the morning and was instantly nervous. I couldn't go back to sleep and wanted to puke already. I choked down some breakfast before we left only because i knew i had to have something in my body for fuel. Now looking back the weather was beautiful but it didn't feel so beautiful at 6am and 58 degrees. This was our first cool morning here in Florida and we were getting ready to swim in it. YIKES! We arrived at the race site around 6:30 and got our body markings and set up our transitions. Then we waited. It was exciting being around everybody getting ready. There were a lot of 1st timers so that made me feel better. We waited at the lake for the international distance to swim. It seemed like forever but then it was time to get in the water and I panicked. Tom did good. The swim was really hard. I got in the water and forgot how to swim. DUH! I panicked being in the lake and it took me a few minutes just sitting there treading water to calm myself down and actually start swimming. It was awful. The sun was right in my eyes so i couldn't see the buoy I had to swim to. I couldn't see the people around me until i was practically on top of them if I swam the right way. Most of my swim was very inefficient and it seemed like an eternity before I reached the shoreline again. Once I did I was so relieved I just kept on going. The first half of the bike was brutal. It was against the wind and it was windy! I couldn't get any speed but I just kept thinking the way back will be better because the wind will be with me. And it was. The ride back felt good except for my numb butt. The run was good. A couple times i slowed to a fast walk for a few seconds just to catch my breath but I finished strong with a sprint to the end! IT WAS OVER!!!! I'm disappointed with my time I thought I would do a little better but I did it so I'm trying to keep that in mind. When i started there was no way I could run 3 miles without walking a lot and I didn't even know how to swim the right way let alone swim more than a couple laps without stopping so I'm trying to be proud of my accomplishments rather than think of my time. Tom beat me by 11 minutes. My friend Kelly did awesome. She took 3rd place in her age group with a time of 1hr 17 min (I think that's right).
My time was 1hr 35 min. My camera was back at transition so I didn't get any shots afterward but we all survived. It was a long tired day and I'm still recovering a bit but we survived!!! I might even try it again next year. I definitely want to keep up the workouts so I don't have to start all over again. Now i need to work on speed. Tom's done. He's so glad its over and I hope he's proud of himself. He did good. Jordan wants to try next year I think I will work with him and try a kids one next year.