Cooterfest Triathlon

When Josh decided to do his first triathlon, I was excited for one last opportunity this season to finish another triathlon.  His only stipulation...we do the Cooterfest Triathlon and we do it in costumes.  What I thought was a crazy idea, ended up being a crazy awesome idea.

There wasn't a lot of time to train, but there was plenty of time to find costumes when we registered just three weeks before the tri.  Cooters are fresh water turtles, so naturally we needed to go as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Josh also recruited Beth (her first tri too) and Itsky to join the costume tri fun; so we were all set with the whole turtle gang.

This tri was so fun, that only photos will do it justice.

 

Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo were ready for the race, bright and early that morning.

The swim was a little brutal.  I've never swam in a completely black lake and was happy to just finish this part.

The ride had several rolling hills but still a very fun ride.

Hamming it up.

Check out those karate action moves across the finish line.

Post Race Photo.  Good job Josh and Beth (they both killed it)!

Pinappleman Triathlon

Pinappleman was the triathlon that I was signed up for last year and didn't actually compete in it. So what better way to redeem myself, than get out there and finish it this year.

Tammy and I heading out to the start of the swim.  Team Extremeist gear and all.

First swim without the wetsuit (so real possibility of drowning) and it went pretty good.  This was a slightly further distance swim than the previous two races.

I have not mastered looking cool on the bike...but out there doing it.

All smiles on the run again.  I think I really love this part of the race.  Or maybe it is the fact that I am near the finish by this point. ?

Finish line celebration (it was raining...and on this hot day, the rain was welcomed).

Another finish line photo.

Team Extremeist post race photo with Tammy and Dave.

Rocketman Triathlon

Rocketman Triathlon was suppose to be my first tri, but since I got a practice run in with the Cocoa Beach Tri, I was feeling really ready for this one.  And this one was going to be a family event.  When I was back home in late 2013, registration opened for the first ever triathlon that would have you biking through Kennedy Space Center.  I figured this might be the only chance this would actually be allowed, so jumped on the opportunity. Both my Mom and Dad did as well.

The day before the race, the three of us headed over to Titusville to check out the course, pick up our packets, drop off the bikes, and get marked for the following morning. And while we were there...might as well take a dip in the water.  Since the previous race, I hadn't had any more open water time, so this would be a good way to get out the pre-swim jitters.  Surprisingly, I did fine. Didn't panic and felt really comfortable out there. I'm sure it helped having my experience tri dad there (I'm pretty sure he wouldn't let me drown...pretty sure) and the fact that there weren't 100 other triathletes competing to be out front.  But still, a successful swim helped calm my nerves and get my head right.

Even though my nerves were calmed the night before, I still woke up feeling anxious for the race (I don't actually think that feeling will ever go away).  Quick change, double bag check, triple bag check, chug morning smoothies...and we were off to the race.

Swim was great!  I really felt like I killed it and was all smiles coming out of the water.

What a cool bike ride. The course took us 38 miles (that is what I calculated) across the beautiful water and on and around Kennedy Space Center.  

The run was very hot that day (despite the photos, there was actually very little shade), but how could you not be happy after surviving the swim and bike.

Finish line!

Triathlete!

Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote about trying a tri; not getting though the swim, struggling with the bike and then not living up to actually doing a triathlon later in the year.  Fast forward one year, I now get to write about actually finishing a tri!

In September, I signed up for a triathlon at the beginning of May.  That would give me plenty of time to get through my Marathon, take a quick break (which ended up being almost a full 4 weeks off...and it was nice), and change gears to biking and swimming; with maybe a little running along the way.  So mid January hits and I get back in training mode.  I got lucky that early in my training I met another triathlete (and a super successful one at that) at the pool who introduced me to some improved stroke techniques, a near-by (and pretty car-less) 11 mile bike loop and some other triathletes working towards a half iron-man a little later in the year.  That is just what I needed; some pros at this sport that were nice enough to teach me the tricks of the trade and keep me accountable for time in the water and on the road.  And thanks to them, I finally over came my fear of biking.  There had been few and far between rides after the "accident" that happened in September of 2011.

With some solid training behind me, I was getting anxious for the big day.  Literally couldn't wait and decided to do a race before the "first" race.  Cocoa Beach Triathlon was the chosen winner!

Pre-race prep photo.  I honestly had no idea what I was doing.  Just tried to copy everyone around me, keep the nerves low, and the excitement high. Luckily I had my very own cheerleader with me that morning.  Josh did a good job keeping from looking inexperience and crazy; all while pumping me up.

Check me out center of photo with the pink cap.  Fake smile much?  I was definitely getting very nervous at this point.  Ready to hit the water.

As I entered the water, reality set in.  I was swimming in open water for the first time.  I was swimming with other competitors for the first time (nothing like taking a foot to the face for the first time). And I was swimming in a wetsuit for the first time.  Yes, I panicked.   I got out there and immediately didn't know how to swim or breathe.  It was actually very scary.  Even though I knew that I would not sink in a wetsuit, something told me I was going to die.  When I heard the whistle for the next wave, I tried to get myself together.  All of a sudden, the next whistle went off.  Who knows where my head was...but it wasn't there.  I did some doggy paddling, some breast stroking, some frog kicking and a bunch of other things to move in the water that were not free style swimming; like I practiced.  Finally to the end and feeling defeated, I exited the water.  Actually the yellow caps started 2 waves after me...leaving Josh a little concerned how many people got out and I didn't.

As I entered transition, defeated and upset, I decided to do what any 3 year old would do.  Throw a tantrum and whine.  Yup sat there for nearly 5 minutes saying things like: "This is stupid," "Why would I even want to do a tri," "I almost died," "ERRR." But I'm here and I ain't quitting.  So on to the bike I went.

Something happened on the bike.  Something really good.

I found myself realizing why I wanted to do a triathlon.  Not to win the race, but to win for myself.  Finally being able to say I can swim; finally being able to say I got back on the bike; and finally being able to say "I am a triathlete!"

It was nice to get my head right...and at that moment all was good in the world and I was happy to be there.

The Run!  I love the run.  I'm not fast, but I run it. It was a great day for a run and I couldn't be happier at that point.  As I turned the corner and saw the finish line, I had to restrain myself from crying.  I sprinted forward and finished with all I had.

Finished!  I AM A TRIATHLETE.