Saturday, September 27, 2014
Day 395 - My First Sprint Triathlon
THE TRI-TURTLE-TRI
Last February, my friends, Paula and Mary, challenged me to participate in the Tri-Turtle-Tri, which is a local sprint Triathlon. Paula and Mary are the best Tri-Buddies (and co-workers). They encouraged me, laughed with me, motivated me, and never doubted that I could do it. My goals were simple... To finish and to not finish last.
I started training in about mid-April. With radiation done and the body healing, it was time to start regaining muscle. By the end of May we were even doing lake swims. I love lake swims. The lake is so much nicer than the pool.
Things were going along well until mid-July, when my left foot's plantar fasciitis decided to try and stop me from doing the Tri. Big shout-out to Melissa and Lindsey at the Center for Orthopedic and Lymphatic Physical Therapy. They kept the plantar fasciitis down to a dull enough roar that I could do the Tri and I especially appreciated the conversations about "stupid pain". "Stupid pain" is the pain you have to endure when you do things that you know you shouldn't do but you are too stubborn to listen or find an alternative plan.
So, in order to avoid "stupid pain", I had to come up with an alternative way to do the run/walk. Big thanks to Craigslist and the Tri-Turtle-Tri god (Lisa). Lisa graciously allowed me to do the run/walk portion using a "knee scooter" and Craigslist helped me find one that was 'hurky' enough for the adventure. Yes, I did the 3.4 mile run/walk portion using a knee scooter. Actually, I did the route twice... once on race day and once the weekend before so that we knew it was 'doable'.
Well, Sunday, September 14, 2014 was the Tri-Turtle-Tri. To say I was a little nervous was an understatement. Big Shout-Out to Stephanie who arrived in time to see me start the swim. Both kids were there by the time I was transitioning from the bike to the run/walk/knee-scooter portion. Steph, Tom, Mary, Paula, Karen, and several others were there to greet me at the finish. In fact, the kids already had all my stuff packed up and put in the truck.
The look on my childrens' faces as they congratulated me were priceless. If I could see a thought bubble above Tom's head, I think it would have read something like, "Wow, if Mom can do this then I think she is really going to be ok." Yup, I think I'm really going to be ok, too. :-)
I finished 338th out of 339 finishers. Big shout-out to Sue Billings, who was 339. For next year, my goal is to beat Paula and Mary to the finish line so that I can congratulate them right when they finish!!
Oh, and I have a slightly used knee-scooter, with very low miles, for anyone who has an excuse as to why they can't do something.
Last February, my friends, Paula and Mary, challenged me to participate in the Tri-Turtle-Tri, which is a local sprint Triathlon. Paula and Mary are the best Tri-Buddies (and co-workers). They encouraged me, laughed with me, motivated me, and never doubted that I could do it. My goals were simple... To finish and to not finish last.
I started training in about mid-April. With radiation done and the body healing, it was time to start regaining muscle. By the end of May we were even doing lake swims. I love lake swims. The lake is so much nicer than the pool.Things were going along well until mid-July, when my left foot's plantar fasciitis decided to try and stop me from doing the Tri. Big shout-out to Melissa and Lindsey at the Center for Orthopedic and Lymphatic Physical Therapy. They kept the plantar fasciitis down to a dull enough roar that I could do the Tri and I especially appreciated the conversations about "stupid pain". "Stupid pain" is the pain you have to endure when you do things that you know you shouldn't do but you are too stubborn to listen or find an alternative plan.
So, in order to avoid "stupid pain", I had to come up with an alternative way to do the run/walk. Big thanks to Craigslist and the Tri-Turtle-Tri god (Lisa). Lisa graciously allowed me to do the run/walk portion using a "knee scooter" and Craigslist helped me find one that was 'hurky' enough for the adventure. Yes, I did the 3.4 mile run/walk portion using a knee scooter. Actually, I did the route twice... once on race day and once the weekend before so that we knew it was 'doable'.
Well, Sunday, September 14, 2014 was the Tri-Turtle-Tri. To say I was a little nervous was an understatement. Big Shout-Out to Stephanie who arrived in time to see me start the swim. Both kids were there by the time I was transitioning from the bike to the run/walk/knee-scooter portion. Steph, Tom, Mary, Paula, Karen, and several others were there to greet me at the finish. In fact, the kids already had all my stuff packed up and put in the truck. The look on my childrens' faces as they congratulated me were priceless. If I could see a thought bubble above Tom's head, I think it would have read something like, "Wow, if Mom can do this then I think she is really going to be ok." Yup, I think I'm really going to be ok, too. :-)
I finished 338th out of 339 finishers. Big shout-out to Sue Billings, who was 339. For next year, my goal is to beat Paula and Mary to the finish line so that I can congratulate them right when they finish!!
Oh, and I have a slightly used knee-scooter, with very low miles, for anyone who has an excuse as to why they can't do something.
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