My first olympic.. eek

Ok, I'm sometimes too ambitious and sometimes I usually have unreasonably high expectations for myself, which is why I decided to do an Olympic triathlon..... when I didn't have the time to properly train.  BUT, I survived, which is what my goal became once I realized what I gotten myself into.  Plus there has got to be a first time for everything right?  Now I'll know what I'm in for next time!

  I chose to do the Chelanman in Chelan, Wa.  I have been wanting to go up there and this seemed like a good reason.  WOW that place is beautiful, I highly recommend it.  The lake is crystal clear.

   

  So here is what i did: 

     .9 mile swim

     24 mile bike

     6 mile run

My support crew, My Bro Eric

The first leg, the swim.  This part had me so scared.  Eek. I have been practicing in the pool so long now, that now, a big ol swim in the open water freaks me out!  I can't touch the bottom....I can't see the bottom... the water just fades away into the abyss, where davey jones and seaweed monsters are waiting to drag my into the depths.  AHHHHHH.  (it's kinda like being afraid of the dark... which I sometimes am) Then, as you can see in the above pic, I had decided not to use  wet suit, the water was warm and why not save the $.  But realizing I was like the only one!  (see the above pic... yeah thats me in the pink) I all of a sudden felt super unprepared... gear wise. I was near panicking.  I mean, really, If I'm going to die in this race, it would be in the swimming leg.  Swimming a mile isn't a problem, but what if I pushed myself too hard and got exhausted or a cramp, and oh my goodness, then I drowned!  So I decided that it was ok if I took it easy, it's my first time right?  So I did,  finishing at 40 min, 4 min. slower than my slowest timed swim, but alive.  

    And I have to say that the swim even though slow, went better than I thought, the water was soo clear, and such a pretty color, that I wasn't scared. (even though I had been freaked out during the practice swim in the lake the previous day) The swim was actually relaxing.  Which is one reason why I love to swim.  I love that I can be working really hard, but because I'm controlling my breathing is so much, I don't realize it until I take a break, and then I'm heaving and panting, and then I feel really tired.  But while I'm swimming, there is only the feeling of tension in my muscles and lungs as they work..... which I love, but not exhaustion.. until I'm done.  Plus the act of swimming is so meditative and clears my mind.. nothing to worry about except my stroke and counting (the counting is actually kinda hard sometimes.. haha).  Then there is the feeling of water rushing across my body, it feels so smooth and always refreshing.  ah, I love swimming.

Meanwhile... my brother is trying to entrain himself taking pictures.  As if cheering for his sister isn't enough fun.
my brother, who was trying to get another picture of his sister, pushed this onlooker, who had stepped in to his line of site, out of the way. 

"Whoa", says the innocent but excitable onlooker, "you messing with me?"   "Dude, shut it"  says Eric, "I'm trying to take a pic and your in my way.... jerk face!"

That was all it took... then the guy beat him up.  OOh, looks like the athletes weren't the only one hurting that day.  (My brother is funny, it has been fun adventuring with him)

Transition, to the bike leg.  My favorite! This is where I just have fun! You can see my cute and trusty bike.  Here I did much better, I kept up a 16.5 mph pace, which I was happy with.  21st out of 34 in my division.

I love biking as well, there

Then came the run.... bleh, running is still my weakest leg, but I ran the whole thing.  No details here, you'll have to ask me personally to find out.

 

And me... done! and uber pooped!  hooray!  

  28th out of 34 in my division.  Time 3:22.  yikes, but oh well, considering the circumstances and lack of training.  I did it right? I should be happy with that right?  

  Of course, I'll have to do another one and do better job at it, but I  enjoyed the experience.