Sprint Triathlon

Race the River in Coeur d' Alene, ID Sprint Triathlon
It's over and I survived! Overall, it was a lot better than I expected it to be! The race course was beautiful and everything was set up so well! Everyone involved was so friendly and so helpful, it was a blast!

Kent drove me out at 5:45 in the morning so I could be at the "athlete" meeting at 6:30 to hear the directions and rules. Here I am setting up my transition station. I really had no clue what I was doing, I just set up my stuff like everyone else, it worked out well.

This lovely picture of me is before the swim start, the beginning of the race.

I'm pretty sure I'm not in this picture, Kent had a hard time finding me, it was just a bunch of purple caps and goggles, slowly moving through the water. We swam in the Spokane River and it was pretty much disastrous for me. I guess it could have been worse....but it was much harder than I had anticipated. I started out strong, maybe a little too strong because soon, I was gasping for breath and I couldn't get my breathing pattern down right. I turned over on my back and did the back stroke which was fantastic, until I realized I was zig-zagging down the course. The helpers in the kayaks kept yelling, "You're too close to the shore, head out into the river, OR you're too far into the river head back to the buoys! Do you need help? Are you ok?" I just sat up and smiled to let them know I was doing just dandy, I didn't exactly have enough air to speak to them though.....I made it, and it was the most relieved I have felt in a long time....I smiled the whole time I ran to get to my bike, I was so thrilled that part was over! My mom said everyone looked the same way that I did (the smiling part, not the zig-zagging part). Mom always knows how to make me feel better about being such a jack-ass. :)

On my way to the bike, passing my cheering section! All my chillin's, my mom, Kent's mom and my Auntie Jan, Kent took the pic. They all made me smile and feel so good!

I LOVED the bike section and I felt like I was flying (I didn't have to pull 80lbs. behind me)! The girls were on the sidelines screaming, instead of behind me telling me to go faster!

My camera battery died so there are no cute shots of me running. So sad, I know. Just wanted to let all of you who supported me that I survived and I actually had fun! I want to sign up for another one! Who wants to join me??

**Edit** I forgot to include my results: The whole thing took me 1 hour 40 minutes. Which I was happy with, my goal was under 2 hours.

1/2 mile swim (including zig-zag): 24:44
11 mile bike: 37:52
3 mile run: 32:40

Now I have something to look forward to and try to beat the next time!