Wurst Tri Ever August 23, 2009

300m Swim, 14 Mile Bike, 3 Mile Run
My time: 1:31:50

Well I saved the Wurst for last, thats for sure. This statement is mostly true because I was sick. There is nothing like swimming 300 meters, riding 14 miles uphill, and running 3 miles on a Texas August morning while being sick. My original thought was "I paid for it so I have to do it but I won't go all out". Well we all know that doesn't work. Its go big or go home. So, I did my best. My lungs burned so incredibly bad and I could tell my oxygen consumption was very diminished.

The Swim: Landa Park Pool. YUCK. Never have I been in a pool where seaweed was my biggest fear. It was grabbing me from all directions. Landa Park Pool is a spring fed pool and lets just say its very natural. Naturally disgusting. There is so much algae and other disgusting things growing on the bottom of the pool that it was actually scarier than a lake. In all my lake races I never once had seaweed grab me. GROSS. The water was clear but I wished it wasn't so I couldn't see all the grossness. Also, this is part of the comal... that means the water was a nice 72 degrees. That was the least of my worries.

T1: Wow, like 5 minutes. I suck. Also my first time doing the bike shoes.

The Bike: So the clips and shoes were nice. I still had a hard time on the bike though. I wonder how bad I would have been if I did it in my sneakers. There was a hill so big on this course that they actually gave out an award to the person who could ride up it the fastest. I actually thought this hill wasn't too bad. There were about 3 that were worse on that course. Anways, I did not get that award but I actually didn't do too bad. I came in 22nd place on the hill out of about 150 women. After 10 miles, like an addict, I reached for my gel with shaking hands. I was so hungry. I squeezed it too hard and brought it to my mouth too quickly and got it all over my chin. oops. Not to mention a mouth full of raspberry goop. Gels are better in small doses, not one big mouth full.

T2: Under a minute. Thats more like it.

The Run: I didn't let anyone pass me on the run but I was still running at an 8:30 pace. I thought was going faster but it turns out I wasn't. On the run I finally caught up with the people I couldn't catch on the bike. And I experienced the meanest course yet. I was coming up to a turn and I could see the finish line and hear the mc announcing people as they crossed it. I keep following the course and we ran right by the finish line! It was a total fake out and I hated it. I had pushed myself and was going all out and then I found out I had another half mile to run. Thanks for the trickery, that felt awesome.

Overall I finished 5th in my age group out of 25. Eh. Not too bad for being sick and whatnot. Top 25%.. can't complain too much but I probably will anways :)

Thanks to my wonderful husband, my son and Pam and Paul for coming out to support me. That really means a lot to me :)