30b430: Goal #2- Complete an Outdoor Triathlon

On Saturday I completed my first outdoor triathlon!

The end of the Double Time Triathlon

The first time you do something is always a harrowing experience because you aren't sure what to expect. I've been preparing so much I didn't think I'd be as nervous as I was, but...

My head was warmer if I kept the swim cap on.

It was 46 degrees when I reluctantly peeled off my sweatshirt, sweatpants, and winter hat for the swim. I wasn't wearing a wetsuit because I didn't train in one and I didn't want to do something differently than I'd already done in training. It was just me, my clouds of breath from the cold, and the water. It was a pretty horrible swim. I felt like my breath was being ripped out of my chest every time I went under and I could only manage one stroke and one breath. One stroke and one breath after all of the training I've done! One stroke and one breath after being able to swim eight strokes and one breath in my open water swim practice and being able to make it across the pool with only one breath! It was a frustrating feeling, but it was over fairly quickly. It took me 9 minutes and 2 seconds for a 400 yard swim. I know my next swim will be a lot faster.

My first transition was a disaster at 3 minutes and 32 seconds. I didn't bring an extra towel and my bike shorts wouldn't pull up over my damp thighs. It was like trying to stuff a bratwurst through a Chinese fingertrap. One of my friends had a bottle of baby powder on her towel, so I ran over to it and flung powder all over my lower half like a crazy woman. My black bike shorts looked like I'd been baking and had an accident with the flour but I didn't care. Note to self: Practice transitions for the next tri!

I finally got on my bike and realized the pedals weren't moving me forward because THE CHAIN FELL OFF. Good thing I know how to put a bike chain back on. Oh wait, I don't. It took a few seconds of me in a state of panic yelling, "AH! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PUT A BIKE CHAIN BACK ON! HELP!" for a nice elderly gentleman to laughingly and gently put the bike chain on. I've got to learn how to do simple things like put a bike chain on my bike if I'm going to keep up with this.

The bike ride is always the slowest part of tri training for me. I just started biking and I'm not very fast. However, I felt like I did an okay job and it was a beautiful ride in the country. I kept a steady cadence and got to eat some Jelly Belly Sport Beans along the way. I've been training on a hill with crazy ups and downs, so this ride was pretty easy. I finished 11.75 miles in 44 minutes and 25 seconds.

Transition 2 wasn't too bad at 50 seconds, but the person who won transitioned in 34 seconds. How?! I'll learn.

Finally, it was time for the 5k. My normal 5k time is just shy of thirty minutes, so my goal was to finish in thirty minutes. I figured my legs would be tired so I tacked on a minute or two.

Thanks to my best bud A.J. for the support and pics!

The run was hard to do without my headphones, but when I clocked in at 27 minutes and 4 seconds I decided that maybe it's okay to run without headphones. Maybe being in my anxiety-ridden head with no music to calm me down makes me go faster! Here's a glimpse into my running thoughts: "Oh what? You know what it is blackandyellowblackandyellowblackandyellowblackandyellow. I wonder how much longer? Has it been a mile? Where's the sign? Should I jump in this puddle? Hey! I'm running on a trail! Glad I practiced that. I wonder if I'm last? How am I gonna drink this water while running? I'm just throwing it on myself. Blackandyellowblackandyellowblackandyellowblackandyellow."

Thanks Wiz Khalifa.

Total time: 1 hour, 24 minutes, 55 seconds

I came in third place out of four in my age group (this was a super small tri) and even though it's not that big of an accomplishment, I'm still pretty proud of myself because I finished!

I'm a wiener!

I wore my 3rd place out of 4 medal all day because I've never won a medal for sports. I never even earned a presidential medal in elementary and middle school because I couldn't do a pull-up or hold myself up on the bar. I get the appeal of medals. Maybe one day I'll get 3rd place out of five or even ten!

Yep. I wore my medal when we stopped to get jerky on the way home. I thought about eating some lard because I burned over 1,000 calories but then I thought better of it.

So here I am, down 30 pounds and in the best shape of my life. I plan on staying like this for a long time. I am now addicted to triathlons and I can't wait to see how badass I can be on the next one. I don't know how to set goals for things like this, but I'd like to shave at least 1 minute from the swim, 3 minutes from the bike, and keep the run the same! The distances won't be the same for the Tri Goddess Tri in three weeks, but I definitely going to up my badass game.

Finishers! That girl next to me is the badass (otherwise known as Danielle) I train with. She's my inspiration and we are going to ROCK the Tri Goddess Tri!

I'm going to do a hodgepodge of workouts this week and I'll be on a different training schedule next week. I will keep using Beginner Triathlete's plans until I learn more about training unless anyone has better free training plans... suggestions?

Goal complete! Have a great week everyone!

I vow to stay away from the "I finished my first sprint tri so I'm going to eat anything I want all week without logging the calories" attitude. Well, I will do that after I eat these toffee covered almonds.

1. Complete an indoor triathlon. 2/12/12 2. Complete an outdoor triathlon. 6/2/12 3. Swim across West Twin Lake and Rose Lake. 4. Bike the Kal-Haven Trail. 5. Play the piano in front of people. 6. Visit my family in the Philippines (or at least have tickets booked by my 30th birthday). 7. Have a conversation with a dear Senegalese friend in French or Wolof (preferably Wolof). 8. Visit my grandparents in California. 9. Pop a champagne cork with no fear. 10. Make leche flan (it's Filipino, it's amazing, and I'm makin' it). 11. Jar or can veggies, pickles, sauce... something. 12. Revised 5/1/12 because I remembered that I'm supposed to graduate in December and my Master's degree is really important to me!!! Get my Master's degree and submit some of my academic writing and then, maybe, you know... get it published. 13. Travel out of the country with Nate. 14. Pay off at least 50% of my remaining undergraduate credit card debt. 15. Sing karaoke by myself in Kalamazoo in front of all of my friends. 16. Eat clean for one month. 17. Pick berries and bake something with them. 18. Write at least one chapter of the novel that I write in my mind while I'm walking the dogs. 19. Thank my mom for everything she's done for me. 20. Go further into the UP than the Mystery Spot tourist trap and jump into Lake Superior. 21. Get chosen for one more summer fellowship in another country where I am able to work with youth. 22. Go on a police ride along. 23. Get to 200 blog posts. 24. Revised 5/1/12 Make some decisions about my career and/or PhD prospects. Apply for PhD programs. 25. Attend roller derby training so I can learn the moves. 26. Learn how to flip turn when I'm swimming laps. 4/19/12 27. Take a real personal day. 28. Learn how to drive a stick. 29. Go horseback riding. 30. Poach an egg perfectly.