DONE!!!!!!

Well, I did it! I crossed the finish line, without stopping, without walking the entire time. I believe I finished in 3:33, but I don't know my official time because I didn't know there was a computer there to check it all out. Oh, well, when I looked up the clock said 5:33:24 or something like that, and I started in the wave that went out at 2:00 into the race. So there it is. I was hoping for 3 1/2 hours, so 3 minutes longer feels awesome!!

The swim was great. Since I hydrated so much before the race, I had to pee REALLY bad by the time we got into the water for our practice swim immediately prior to our wave start. I let loose as soon as I got in. It really did help warm me up. Before you get too grossed out, let me tell you it's a common practice, ok??? My face and head were pretty cold, and my feel and hands got numb, but it didn't stop me. The kelp was even less of an issue today, in part because it was parted some by prior waves of swimmers, and in part because I knew that I was boss....I just slapped it out of the way. My teammate Nancy had had an asthma or panic attack at the practice swim yesterday, and was totally freaked out before the race, like sobbing with the coach, didn't want to get in the water. Well, I have to say the highlight of my race was getting out of the 2nd lap around the bay and seeing her right next to me. We had gotten out at exactly the same time and we yelped and gave each other a huge hug. It was so great to see her swim so well!

We ran up the beach and up a concrete path to our transition area, ripped off the goggles and cap and wetsuit--the tri suit was on underneath. Put on bike shoes helmet, and ran my bike out of transition. I felt gleefully numb, couldn't feel any pain or any cold or anything as I set out. It was a looped course and quite beautiful with crashing waves on the beach next to us the whole way (though I couldn't see so well with my foggy misty sunglasses on). We went around a loop 4 times...at one end was a bit of a hill, which sucked, but going down in the other direction was so sweet!!!! That's the one place where my size is a definite advantage....I propel down the hill way faster than those skinny chicks! The other thing about the bike was that I could see me arms now with the people's names on them in sharpie. So I would look down and be reminded that the spirit of those folks would help me. That was totally awesome!! The third loop sucked. And by the 4th, I had beseeched Zack's help to finish the bike part, and he came through. I did my bike in 1:32 or something respectable like that. No flat tires, no road rash. Check it off the list. Swim done. Bike done.

Back into transition, ripped off the bike shoes, slapped on the running shoes, ripped off the stupid foggy misty sunglasses, put on the shirt with my race number and all the people's names, and my running hat, and off I went. So many people lined the course and cheered us on. Team in Training is a big presence at many of these races, and people who didn't even know me would cheer me on. Go 1050 (my number), looking nifty! That was my fave. Go, team!! It helped so much. I smiled the whole way through the bike and the run, felt like I had permagrin. In part I was so touched to have people cheer for me like that, in part I was checking off my list and realizing that I was getting closer to being done with each stroke or rotation or step! Three loops on the run. The first loop sucked. The second loop was better, and on the third loop I was just so aware of the end coming up that I was happy. I saved a bit of energy for the push to the finish line, I felt so strong coming in, and when I crossed, our team captain Will, who is like the nicest, most supportive guy in the world was there with a big hug. I burst into tears and started sobbing. Thank God Will was there for me to hang on.....so much energy and emotion, so much training to get to that point, so much help and support along the way, so many people thought of on the race. It was a huge thrill!!!!

Now I am showered and in clean clothes, happy to be done and updating my blog. It will be good to read later, reflections from my first triathlon!!!!

Love,
Suzy