As I start my third year of triathlon, I want to reflect on how I got into the sport and how it has changed my life. It all started when my husband said he wanted to do a triathlon. I remember looking at him and asking him, "That's the swimming- biking- running thing, right?" We already had road bikes and had been cycling for a couple of years but we were both living a pretty sedentary lifestyle and, I for one, had the pounds packing on.
He mentioned this in January, so as I began to do my research I saw that most of the races started up in April and May. We found a local shop that sponsered a series of races and I decided that if we were going to do it we might as well dive in and do it. I signed us up for The Windcrest Freshman Triathlon that caters to first timers. Brian, my husband, was surprized that I signed myself up as well. He didn't think that I would want to do one and he was proud that I signed up as well.
I was so nervous on race morning. The anticipation was a killer as we waited to get into the pool to start our swim. When I did get in the water, I thought I was going to die on the 200m swim. I was so out of breath and my body felt so heavy when I got out of the water and tried to run to my bike! I sat down and put socks on my feet before putting on my bike shoes. My first T1 was 2:14!! The bike was a two-loop course of five miles each and went OK. Then it was time for the run - my lungs felt like they were going to explode and my legs felt all wobbly from being on the bike. I think I ran maybe the first 10 yards of a 2 mile run and then I had to walk. And then an amazing thing happend, people who were passing me were telling me "Good Job" and "You're almost there". It gave me such a lift that I was able to start running again. I crossed the finish line and promptly ran to the bathroom and puked my guts out. It was the best experience ever!! I found my husband and said, "When's the next one?" I wanted to race again the next weekend I was so hooked.
For my first season I was nowhere near the top of my age group but it didn't matter. To me, this was about personal improvement and pushing myself to limits that I didn't even know I had. I've made many new friends and feel so much healthier and stronger. Now instead of just sitting around I'm out swimming across a lake or biking or running with my friends. I'm am so glad that we discovered this sport and hope that I can continue to do it for as long as my body lets me.
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