Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly." -Robert SchullerI complete my first (sprint) triathlon today.
I feel accomplished.
I feel proud.
I feel strong.
I feel...sore! :)
I was nervous going into the race, because I had some complications toward the end of my training that caused me to have to slack off a bit. My body was not cooperating at all with these goals I had for myself; how dare it? Yet, race day came, and I was able to persevere.
My morning started at 5 a.m.; when I got out of bed and started to prepare for the race. I drove the 45 minutes to Newnan and willed myself to wake up as the sun rose over the interstate. When I arrived around 6:45, there were already a number of people at the race. I parked my car, unloaded my bike, and looked around for cues as to how I should act. (It being my first race, I didn't want to look like a complete newbie). I saw other folks walking toward the registration tent casually pushing their bikes along and I followed suit.
After I registered and got my number, I went over to pick up my timing chip and get marked. They gave me, what I later found out was, an ankle strap timing chip and a young girl grabbed me and assaulted my biceps with a sharpie. "I need your upper thighs," she said. Surely, she must be mistaken, I thought. I had been looking around and admiring the taut bodies of my competitors since I arrived. My thighs, among this crowd, were not enviable. Then, I realized she meant she needed to write my number on my thigh, just above my knee. I laughed nervously, and proceed to drop my pants.
Following the marking and the chipping, I headed over to the transition station and racked my bike. I was surprised to see that there were several other people of color preparing for the race. One of which was my neighbor, whom I promptly began to chat up. She, too, was a first timer. We talked nervousness and excitement, then, before long, it was time for the race to begin.
The first leg of the race, the swim, took lake in a lake in Newnan, GA. Different groups of people were staggered, with us novices going last (about 10-15 minutes after the official start time of 8:30). Despite the general ickiness of getting mouthfuls of lake water and the occasional kick in the shoulder or side from my fellow novice triathletes, the swim portion of the race went, well, swimmingly!
I climbed out of the lake and dashed over to my bike. I had read some things about successful transition, so I was able to put on my tennis shoes and get my self situated quickly. Then I was off on one of the most beautiful, albeit challenging, bike rides I had to date. The hills were rolling, the greenery was a far as the eye could see, and peppered among all of that were beautiful lakes, rivers and country homes. It was enough to make a girl consider moving to the country. (I am chalk that up to the "tri high").
By the end of the 14 mile bike ride, my thighs were screaming. There is no way I'll make another 3.1 miles, I thought. I rolled over to the transition station, hung up my bike and took to the road for the final event. I jogged about one-eighth of a mile before I said, "I am about to do some walking." So, the last leg consisted of a hybrid run/walk, because my legs were just too weary. However, as the finished line approached, I was determined to finish strong, and I sprinted across the finish line victoriously!
I did it! It was imperfect, but it was more than I had done before, and I don't regret one minute of it.
I TRIed.
