I tried my first tri!

A friend and I had dinner last night. All was good until the last of the ravioli was sitting in my belly and then that familiar feeling of 'oh this isn't going to be good' hit. It started with one little cramp, progressed to a larger one, then that grumbling sound followed by a pregnant belly look. Nope, not good. I questioned attempting the tri as I bundled up in bed and set the alarm. It was a painful and restless sleep. I wasn't anxious about the tri. I was anxious about keeping the pasta in it's in proper spot.

6AM comes earlier than necessary no matter what is on the agenda for the day. I hit the snooze button twice as the thought of 'why do we do this' circled my brain. I flopped out of bed and started pulling things together. The dog danced around me as I tied my shoes. I hate not being able to explain to her the meaning of 'not now, later'. Her look of disappointment always breaks my heart but truly, later I will take her for a walk. She never understands or cuts me any slack.

I left 10 minutes later than expected but that was due to the snooze button. Otherwise I'd be right on time. My friend calls to tell me that she's left her swim gear at the gym and we're changing our plans. Lots of shuffling, getting lost, cell phone calls and finally I find her, load the bike and we're off. Mental note - it doesn't matter if you care about the event or not, just leave yourself plenty of time to stay cool, calm and collected.

Parking was easy. We get our numbers and then I attempt to meticulously arrange my T2 spot but time is now ticking so I just sort of toss it into a nice pile and head off to the pool. No wetsuit, too far behind in time and nobody around to have a conversation with. We get instructions for the swim and I see my friend Mike with his camera. He's photographer for the day. Stop and say hi, chat a bit and then stand in the sun to keep warm. Four laps in a warm pool - no problem! Then the gun goes off for the first wave of men and OMFG! I see the term washing machine in live action. I have a big fear of drowning. My brother sat on my head preventing me from coming up from air and about killed me. I don't like being with people in water so that huge fear is now swirling in my stomach. For I minute I consider backing out but I tell myself I've done worse and if someone sits on my head I'll do exactly what I did to my brother and bite the hell out of the inside of their thigh.

Melle and I dash off to the bathroom and then I line up with a bazillion other wave 3 women in my age group. This is not going to be fun. The announcer promises that next year they will have seven waves instead of three and everyone cheers. Our gun goes off and I hang out for second to let people get in front of me. That works for about 1/2 a pool length as I start overtake them. Wait, I'm not a good swimmer this must mean I'm going to too fast but my head is in the water, my arms circling and I'm breathing like I practiced (what little of that there has been lately). The first two laps aren't bad. The third lap there are people flying in all directions going all speeds and I see feet, arms, breasts and all sorts of body parts no matter where I look. Mostly my head is in the water when it's not getting knocked by another person. Lap 4 I got that feeling of I'm going to die right here in the pool starts but fortunately I was 1/2 through the last lap and there really wasn't a way to easily swim to the finish so I dog paddle, breast stroke whatever to get to the end. Crawling out of the deep end of a pool, not so easy.

T1 - Attempting to put shirt on while wet - not so easy. Attempting to put any clothes on while wet - not so easy. Helmet first then shoes? Hell I don't know! Just get the right shoes on the right feet and go. Learned a lot from that few minutes.

I'm off on the bike. This is where I'm comfortable and a good majority of my competition are on hybrids or cruisers. I begin passing people from the start and continue to do so. My heart is racing and I'm practicing the breathing techniques my pilates instructor has taught me. It's all coming together. I feel great until I see a large tour bus turn into my path taking out a few orange cones. WTH?! This is a closed course and now a bus is going to kill me. I manage to get around the bus without a scape and things are getting back on track. I feel great I've passed the last girl in sight there's my turn. I rail the turn and am up 3 blocks when I hear "no, no, no, not that way". I look behind me and 5 girls sail past the marshall and head straight. Nice, one marshall at a junction where some people need to turn and some go straight. Not the best planning but whatever. I turn around and the marshall directs me to the right which is the opposite direction I know I should go this time. She screams, I scream. At this point I'm standing on the bike and pedaling hard. I just lost anything I gained and that competitive monster comes out. I remind myself that this was to practice my transitions and that I'm not truly over the flu. Monster doesn't care.

T2 - I find my transition spot easily and grab my running shoes. Yep, forgot to leave them untied like the SB lady suggested. Oh well, next time. I leave my cycling gloves on since I know I am behind. Grab my hat, my water bottle and I'm off. My friend Mike is there with his camera and yells, you were the fifth one in! Oh nice, I think I counted all those five when I made the wrong turn. I remind the monster that this was to practice transitions.

I take off running and immediately pass a few people. I'm sure my pace is just crazy and I try to find a nice running pace but the legs are still unsure of what I'm putting them through. It's a two mile run, I can do this in my sleep so why does this hurt so bad. Calm down, find a nice pace. My won't my hat stay on my head? I take it off and just run with it in my hand. I see the hill. There's a hill, actually an overpass but it seems like mountain at this point. I mentally beat myself up for not training harder despite traveling and being sick. I realize I am in no shape to do WF in a few weeks. The men scream motivational words as we pass in opposite directions on the overpass. I get to the top and start the descent. My right shoe lace comes untied. I stop to tie it. I begin again. My left shoe lace comes untied. Seriously!!! I stop to tie it. I continue on and see the marshall flagging a right turn. I take it only to be told that isn't the right direction and I need to go straight. OK really!!! Fortunately I don't run nearly as fast as I bike so this is only a 3 second penalty. I make the turn for the run and joke with the marshall about a bus to take me back. I finally fall into a nice pace and am pretty sure I'll finish this thing and then....have you seen the "Sex in the City" movie where Charlotte is in Mexico after she's drank the water? I begin to live that scene out. I'm not sure if it's a ravioli or oatmeal that is protesting this whole thing but my stomach bulges like a pregnant women, I cramp, I feel swirling and hear groaning. Oh man, NOT NOW! I'm not far from the finish line but I'm not feeling good. A bed sounds just about lovely right now, right here in the middle of the street and if there is a toilet attached to the bed even better. The gal I passed on the overpass does her kick at the end and passes me with 50 yards to go. I don't care. My right shoes comes untied again. Seriously, all we need is that tour bus to come along again and this day will be complete. But all I care about is keeping breakfast, dinner or whatever else is stuck in my gut down. I cross the line and get a high five from my photographer friend. I walk off by myself and drink my water. The brain talks with the stomach and let's it know this is now over and I'll be heading to a bed soon. The stomach is pleased by this and begins to calm down.

After I gain my composure, or the composure of my stomach, I head back to the finish line to cheer on the other two gals who did this with me. I'm feeling better, the stomach is no longer fighting me (though I'm sure I will eventually pay the price later and when it's least expected like during my performance at the Rotary Conference today). I have just done my first triathlon and I'm ecstatic. Melle crosses the line and I cheer her on. Despite how poorly I felt I'm so glad I pushed through this. I learned so much from this small event and I'm glad I have some knowledge of how to make Wildflower happen a tad bit easier. Yep, triathletes are a little insane but even for a small event it was pretty damn fun and I'm looking forward to the next one!