Turkey Triathlon

On Friday night, my friend Jessica, my roommate Tina and I all drove down to St George.  Driving is not the most exciting Friday night activity, but we all got dinner together and even watched a movie in the car. "Night at the Museum 2" which was fun because I had never seen it. We stayed at Jess's Aunt's house down there and got a good nights rest.

Yesterday morning we got up early and I did something that I never thought I would do. A Sprint Triathlon! I know its only half of a real triathlon, but it was still a big deal to me. I am not the most athletic person. I don't even like running... I only do it because I know its good for me. So yeah... this was kind of a big deal. On top of that, I didn't really train for this like I should have. I ran plenty... I knew that wouldn't be too big of a deal for me. However, I had not ridden a bike since I was a kid, didn't go on any bike rides before the race and only swam a couple times within a couple of months before the race. This was not the best idea. I don't recommend it. I also didn't have as much time as I thought I would to train. In fact I had not even exercised at all at least a week before the race. Opps. I just didn't realize how crazy busy my life would be when I signed up for it a few months back.

This is a pic of Jess and I while we waited in the long line to start the race.

Here is our lovely trackers that we wore throughout the race.

Here we are pumping ourselves up for the race...

The race started at 9 am. We got there at 8 to sign in, get our number to put on our shirt, put on our bike and written on our arm. We parked our bike and then stood in a long line at the pool for 40 minutes until the race started at 9. Even then the line moved pretty slow. While in line, I started to get a little intimidated by the people that were in the race with me. They all looked hardcore with their spandex outfits and swim caps and goggles. I did not bring any of those things, nor did I even bring a towel. I had no idea what I was doing really. We were in the middle of a line of 700 people! There are only so many lanes in a pool and they put in two people per lane. Jess and I started the race when we finally got into the pool at about 10 am. Tina waited along with us and then was there on the side lines cheering us on and taking pictures (which is why I have all of these pictures) Thanks Tina! The swim was 400 meters (8 laps or 16 pool lengths). The swim went better than I thought. I didn't have to stop at all and I think I completed in a pretty decent time. It even went by faster than I pictured it going. By the time I was done though, I was pretty tired... I could barely lift myself out of the pool! Ha! Too bad I was nowhere near the end of the race.

Next came the bike. I felt like it took me a while to find my bike, put on and adjust my helmet (which was was borrowing from Jessica's aunt) and put on my shorts and thermal shirt and other shirt (which my number on it) over my wet bathing suite. Thankfully it had warmed up a little bit outside so it wasn't freezing when I started my bike ride. I was borrowing my old roommate Ashlee's mountain bike, which I am very thankful she let me borrow (Thank you Ashlee). However, she warned me of the chains and condition of the bike before I borrowed it. I didn't even test it before the race. It was not in the best shape, but I just prayed the chains wouldn't fall off. Which they didn't. From the very beginning (and I was already tired and out of breath from the swim) it was hard to peddle. I knew right then and there that it was going to be a LONG 10 miles. The bike really was my biggest struggle. First of all, I don't think having a mountain bike was the best in a race like this. Road bikes are best for racing on the road. But there were plenty of people on mountain bikes... but I think it puts you back on time in the race. Second of all, the course was very hilly. There were some steep hills to ride up. At the same time there were some hills that you rode down... which would have been great if the breaks on the bike worked! Don't worry, I discovered this on the first big hill. It freaked me out a little, but I was okay. It was mostly straight so I didn't have to worry about going out of control on the bike. There was also a "Beginner Triathlon" going on that day, which was half the distance of ours. So the course was set up for the beginner triathlon and then the people doing the Sprint, such as myself, had to do the course a second time. After completing the course and finishing the first 5 miles on the bike, I really wasn't sure I could go and do it again. I almost considered only doing 5 miles on the bike and skipping to the running. That is how hard it was for me. Then I decided I wouldn't be happy with myself if I didn't complete the whole thing. So I went back for the next 5 miles. I just had to pace myself and kept telling myself that I could do it. Jess and I passed each other twice on the bike course. I was so happy to see her each time because she was having a great time. When she would see me she would smile and yell "Missing Missy!" to me and it made me smile and realize this was all in fun and to just keep going. Somehow, I got through those 10 miles on the bike. I parked my bike. My legs were shaky and I was out of breath.

One more event to go! I started the run. All I had to eat before the race was a banana and at the start of the 5k (3 mile) run I got my first glass of water! YES!!! I was so parched! I was looking forward to the run. The one thing I was most comfortable doing. At the same time, I have never started out a run already so tired. I was able to jog most of the way even still and after 10 miles on the bike.... 3 miles didn't seem so far or seem to take as long. By this time Jess was already done with the race so I had Tina AND Jess on the side lines cheering for me, telling me they loved me and that I was doing a great job and that I was almost done and could finish the race. As silly as it may seem, this is really helpful to have people cheering for you and telling you that you can do it. It helps lift my spirits and keeps me going and if nothing else, puts a smile on my face.  Tina and Jess were not the only ones either.  There were many people in the race that would pass me and tell me to keep up the good work and people on the sides that would cheer as I went by and say good job and even one car of a couple of ladies that were just leaving their house for the day and saw me go by on my bike and yelled out "Way to go number 539! You can do it!".  It was great. I appreciated each one of those people that day. And then I was finally done. I had completed my first (and maybe only) Sprint Triathlon!

I don't know what my time was and I don't think I will look to see, because I don't want to beat myself up for having a crappy time. I didn't die. I didn't give up. I finished. That was a big accomplishment for me. I pushed myself harder physically than I ever had before. I had never done all 3 of those events in the same day let alone right after each other within a couple of hours. I did something that many people would not even attempt. For that I am very proud of myself. It wasn't very fun most of the race, and I am now very sore, and I had a wheezy cough for a while, but it was worth it. I pushed myself and accomplished something I didn't think I was capable of doing.

At the end of the race they had music playing, we got a Turkey Triathlon T-Shirt and they had food! We took it easy for a bit as they announced the winners and gave away some prizes then went home left around 1 or 1:30 pm and took a nap and later in the afternoon drove back to Provo. What a day!