feedmysoul

Monday, November 13, 2006

I FINISHED AND I AM PROUD OF IT!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I haven't been on to report back and thanks for the encouragement. I have not been able to get near a computer. Exam time here and my kids are stressing out. E took over my home office and although I have planned to wait each night till she has finished as that has been around 11.30pm I was off sleeping off the exercise.
I left home at 5.20am Sunday afetr 2 hours sleep. All night I had worried about whether or not to do it knowing I had not trained. AT 3am it started raining just to add another factor to the terror equation. I drove there and luckily the 3 women I had met the day before were there and greeted me warmly. Set up my bike in the transition area, had my numbers written on and went down to check out the water. Luckily the water was calm. Put on my wet suit and we went in to "warm up" the water was cold but the temp didn't really bother me. There were a lot of first timers so very nervous comments being made which was reassuring. The siren went off and the "young" girls went in. Then 2 minutes later our siren went off and in we went! OMG it was nearly impossible to swim. Everyone thrashing and splashing, a current. Without even getting to the first turn some off us started to panic. I stopped swimming and treaded water and thought about it!! Then took off doing breast stroke. My arms wouldn't move. Slowly got around the turn and the pack of women left me behind. I did back stroke, then tried freestyle then breast stroke. Then the men were coming. I was so frightened. Not of drwoning because my wetsuit has a vest but of not being able to do it. I laid on my back for a while and men passed me,(Hitting and pushing). The lifesaver asked me if I was Ok and I said yes then swam a bit more. Then another lifesaver on a paddle board suggested I rest leaning on his board while the men went past. So I did. It looked so far to the next turn so again I talked to myself; "Did I want to be a quitter and be towed in??" "Maybe." I was really having trouble. But I started again and somehow got around the bouy and to shore. I was so relieved to touch ground but figured I was now definitely last of the womens group as I was surrounded by men. I found out later theer were 2 women behind me)I struggled up the beach and some nice people cheered me on. In transition I had to get changed and then headed out on the bike. I went the wrong way at first, having trouble breathing so my brain was not functioning. The nice ladies team called out to me and I walked my bike to the mounting area. I started riding and it was difficult. Head wind and so discouraged by having trouble swimming. Definitely felt like an idiot as male bikers raced past me. But I talked myself through it and reminded myself my goal was to finish!! But gradually I started enjoying the ride and enjoying what I was doing. 2 hills down I spied a women in front of me. OMG my chance not to be last! I got serious and passed her and then loved the ride even more. And she was only about 26. At the turn I knew I was going to make this as the ride back has a long down hill stretch in the middle and just 1 big hill. I rode back trying to master the gears on the bike and said hello to every volunteer official. They must have thought I was stupid. But I was enjoying it and was thankful they were volunteering so it could run. Also if I am going to be so slow at least I would be nice about it! With the end coming up I got a big confused because we had been instructed that if we didn't dismount in time we would be disqualified. Stopped too soon and stupidly asked if I was allowed to ride through the red light. Of course the roads were barricaded off but as I said my brain was not working. Went into transition and de-biked then started the run, well actually the walk as I was exhausted. I ran some small sections but as no other runners were near me not really motivated as I couldn't catch anyone. I saw the woman coming last riding her bike still so called out some encouragement. By the time I got near the finish line the next event was on and the men were coming out of the water. The official tried to tell me to go where they were going but I called out, "finish line" and he let me turn left. I ran through the finish line , of course and saw the clock said 1 hour 2mins. Stood there gasping for breath and a nice official took of my timing anklet as I certainly could not bend down to do it. They also gave me a spot prize. Guess they felt sorry for me. The other team were waiting for me and congratulated me . I was sooo happy. Had to wait half an hour to get back into the transition area to get our bikes. I didn't have a jacket as mine was there so I was freezing. Chris lent me one of hers. How nice. They asked me to join them for breakfast at the pub which blew me away. Took advantage of the offer, which is unlike me as I am shy, and went to the pub. They had been discussing things and asked me to join them to train for the next one. They plan to still do it as a team but change which leg each one did. I am hoping they email me and the training happens, will have to wait and see. Drove home and rang some people to boast of my athletic success and then once home collapsed into bed where I napped or watched DVDS all day. When the results came on line I eagerly checked them. Can you believe the woman who was at least 9 minutes behind me beat me on the official list because her swim timing said she did the swim in 14 seconds. Obviously an error and should have been at least 10 minutes. So I am last again. BUT and a big but, many of the women who "beat me" only did one leg each so I am stoked. In every leg there were people, men and women who did slower than me. It is just the combined totals obviously from these teams that beat me. Of course I am also way slower at every leg than the majority of competitors but I knew that before I did it , but I was not the slowest at any one leg. Went to kickboxing at 6am Mpnday, of course wearing my triathalon t-shirt to boast, went to gym this morning then had tennis today. Loving exercise at the moment. Of course I am just as terrifed or maybe even more so of the next one in 3 weeks. The swim is the problem. I definitely have to train hard and get some swimming in every week. But that is tomorrows problem.

At the moment I am basking in the fact that "I AM AN ATHLETE." Of course this is said with tongue in cheek but still I am proud of myself. Who would have thought a non swimming, non bike riding, once obese, older woman could finish a triathalon..............It is true dare to dream and one can achieve amazing things.
Posted by michelle :: 8:45 pm :: 10 comments

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