but I don’t think I will. I did the Triathlon. Yay! I went over to Shawnigan Lake with my friend Jason and his family. It was a lot of fun. That said, my wife was not pleased that I was going away for the weekend. I offered to take the kids with me, and I invited her. Nothing made her happy. So, I went anyways (and the result will be in my next live life to the fullest entry). So, we had to check in the night before. I was pretty hung over as I had a business drinking event the day before the check in. In any case, we missed the mandatory pre-meeting, getting ridiculously lost. I can’t thank Siobhan enough for getting reservations for the ferry, paying attention to schedules and everything, because without her, we wouldn’t have made it to the event at all.
So, we got there late, checked in the bikes, looked at the lake, felt the water temperature, drove the bike route. We got back to the hotel, where Siobhan and the kids had taken a swim. We went for dinner, got back to the hotel and got to bed at a reasonable time. I was missing a tremendous amount of gear for the race, but I eventually got everything I needed. I had to borrow a bronchialdialator from one of Jason’s kids.
So, the next morning we had breakfast at Tim Horton’s and then headed out. I had never, ever had an audience before. So, we got ready for the event, but then there was only a minute to go. I got into the water and the race started. I started swimming and I lost my breath. Whenever I put my face in the water, I lost my breath entirely. I had to swim the 500m without putting my head under. I totally need to work on this because I haven’t had this problem since I got my inhaler. So, I was sucking at the swim. This was a very fit group of triathletes, very fit so I knew I was at the very back of the pack, by a ways. When I rounded the bouy and looked to the shore, I could still see people in the water, but they were so far from me! I kept with it and I was so discouraged (later though I felt great about sticking with the swim despite my problems. At first I was so freeked out). So as I left the water I high fived one of the kids and smiled Siobhan and the very pretty blonde who Jason works with (who was there to see another triathlete). I got out of my wetsuit and realized I left my shirt for the bike ride out of the transition area. I wasn’t in any rush at this point, so I asked Siobhan to throw it to me. So, I got started on the bike and my legs were strangely tired very quickly. It was at this point I realized that only biking once this year was a bit of a problem. I passed a handful of people, but no where near as many as I should have. About halfway around, I knew just finishing this race without walking, without slacking was going to be a huge achievement. I finished quite strong on the bike but still nothing to write home about. I changed into my shoes and running shirt and grabbed my walkman and I was off. My second transition was slow, as was my first, but I think I needed the recovery time. So, I ran out on the trail. It was an out and back and shortly I came across Jason returning. We tried to high five, but missed. My muscles were exhausted, but I kept running. The 5k didn’t feel very long, but it was hard as well. In general my knees are much better and I didn’t have any knee problems. I finished it in 1:46. By all standards a terrible time. Still, I felt good. I gave it all I had. I kept pushing myself during the run. I completed a swim that I thought was going to be impossible, and my muscles were spent. So, as a first of the year triathlon, I think it was a total success in every way, especially in the way of showing me I have to start working out more seriously.
So, I am not going to mark this as checked as I just did enough training to do the race, but not nearly enough to do well. I haven’t decided on whether I will be trying for the olympic distance later this year or another sprint. I think by moving up to Olympic, I will have the best chance of taking off all unnecessary weight, but I am tired of losing. I would like to improve a little and get a better time.
We shall see, but now I am getting ready for my next step in triathlon competition again…
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