Try-Try-Triathalon!

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can……I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could.

This weekend I competed in my first ever Triathalon. The Spirit of Akron, Womens-Only Triathalon is billed as, “A perfect venue for those ladies wanting to take on their first triathlon in a very non-competitive environment.”  And it was.  In fact, it was annoyningly non-competitive. At every turn, some stranger was telling me, “You’re doing great!” or “Keep it up!” Is it wrong that I wanted to smack them? I don’t do well with empty support from strangers. This is especailly true when said strangers are passing me on a hill while I’m sweating and vigorously pedaling my husband’s bike which I have literally rode three times prior to this moment.

In retrospect, of course I appreciate the encouragement and think it is truly a great event where women, most of which are competing in thier first ever triathalon, are supportive of each other. But in the moment, I admit that under my breath, I may have said, “Bite me!” a couple of times. I know I said, “You have got to be Freakin’ kidding me!” twice.  (Once when as I was just finishing up the bike portion of the race and they announced the overall winner crossing the finish line…I still had 2 miles to run! And once when the woman who pulled her baby on the back of her bike and then switched the carraige around and ran with the baby for the running portion passed me in the last leg of the race.) Anyway, congrats to super fast Triathalon girl and congrats to SUPER Stroller mom.  It is an accomplishment to just compete and complete. So, with fake trophy in hand, I will make my winner’s remarks.

I would first like to thank Dr. Leila Blake, who when I went to see her about hip pain, told me to take an Advil and quit my bitching and maybe try a triathalon. I’d like to thank Patti, my office mate who dared me to sign up for the event after I laughingly told her what my doctor had suggested. I would like to thank my son Jacob, who let me compete on his 6th birthday, thereby stealing some of his thunder. I would like to thank the fine makers of Advil (see above).  I would like to thank Dane, for inspiring me. I would like to thank my girlfriends who think (and ocassioanally mention) I’m awesome. You are all so much more awesome than I. I’d like to thank Vivian, for letting Jake spend the night so he wouldn’t be subjected to all the pre-race business. I’d like to thank my in-laws for the flowers and well-wishes. I would like to thank parents for raising me to believe I’m awesome (see above). And finally, I would like to thank my husband, Jeff, who not only forced me to get my butt out of bed on the mornings I didn’t want to work out, but who also reconfigured his bike so I could use it in the race, helped me set up my transition area, cheered for me at every turn, supported me all summer long and bursted with pride when I had finished the race.

I completed the triathalon ( 250 m swim, 7 mi bike, and 2 mi. run) in 1 hour and 8 mins. I had some trouble with my MP3 player and actaully got off my bike at one point to fix it. I had some trouble with the transitions becasue I had no idea what I was doing. So next year, barring any life-changing issues, I will compete again, if only to prove I can do it in under an hour. Maybe I can beat SUPER Stroller Mom in 2009.