and so it begins..
so uh...
right. well.
when we last left our heroine (me.) she was (i was. its going to be impossible for me to write like that.) preparing herself for certain death in one shawnee mission lake park.
since then, she has...
found out what its like to ride a bike in a diaper.
experienced her first "brick".
swim 600m in a very gross lake.
cursed many times that her legs don't have more OOOMF to get her up hill after hill.
and, last, but ever so far from least...
quit contemplating and straight up COMMITTED HERSELF to this triathlon.
because.. y'all.
i.
had.
too.
much.
FUN!!!!!
i don't know what i'm doing. i'm highly intimidated and in complete awe of the people surrounding me. i think there's a damn good chance i'll come in last. i may quite possibly be the least in shape looking person out there (seriously? do any triathletes have more than 2% body fat? i felt like a beached whale. i'm just being honest. that was this former fatty's nightmare come to life. i'm not gunna lie.) but, all that being said (and felt...)
i loved it.
i absolutely loved it.
the scariest part became the easiest part, and the part i thought i could do became the part i'm a little worried about, and for some reason all it made me do is want it more.
so. outside of the obvious... that i basically RULE out there and was pretty much BORN to do this..
i need your help.
if you thought i knew nothing about running (and i didn't. i still don't) then welcome to my knowledge free world, baby. triathlon is a whole 'notha ballgame and i do NOT know the rules.
here's the deal with my tri.
its a baby tri. a try a tri, if you will, with the short course (the one i'll be participating in) being only a..
.3 mile swim
11.75 mile bike
3 mile run
but it's a massive death defying feat in my world and to say i'm not scared would be a lie.
at this point, i probably don't know enough to know what questions to ask, but this is what happened..
i swam 600m in the lake/biked a 4.5 mile loop and didn't die.
that was the highlight of the evening.
i did, however, manage to veer myself so far off course at one point i was actually at such an angle that i straight up t-boned some other dude and caused quite a stir as i couldn't figure out how i even got into such a situation.
kicked so much i thought my legs were going to fall off and after mentioning it to my quasi-coach chick found out, oh... well.. you're not supposed to USE your legs when you swim.
right.
because that makes a whole hell of a lot of sense?
so then spent the second lap around the buoys attempting some sort of strange version of legless doggy-paddle that ended up a poor mans version of the butterfly.
(don't even ask. it was ugly.)
spent at least 10 minutes in the bathroom taking off my swimsuit and attempting to pull on my diaper-lined biking shorts that i realized i'm pretty sure i definitely don't understand the whole transition from swim to bike theory, because that was just stupid, it was so ridiculous.
almost fell off my bike at push-off because the diaper part of my shorts got caught on the saddle of the bike and if it weren't for my cat-like reflexes it would definitely have been a bad situation.
and, of course, wanted to cry as i spun my ass up, up, up, up the hills and cursed my way down down down the other side as i'm not used to going so fast and please dear god don't let me hit a rock.
but i finished. somehow i managed to make it back to my car in one piece.. and i finished.
and for some crazy reason, i can't wait to do it all over again!
heh. go figure.
so, i have six weeks.
lets see if i can't get a little better at this whole thing, shall we??!!
(and oh. by the way... i have a date tomorrow! because, you know, i don't already have enough going on in my life. i thought i'd be a good time to throw a new boy into the mix.
good times right?
always an adventure in a.maria town!)
Comments
a baby tri. how cute!
Posted by: Susan | July 19, 2006 9:27 PM
Six weeks? Baby Tri? You're golden!!
No dying out there on us, ok?
Love the new look over here, by the way. :)
Posted by: Running Jayhawk | July 19, 2006 10:59 PM
You've stepped over to the dark side!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I miss you already. I'm holding off on those damn things for as LONG as possible.
But a date? What's that? Oh, I think I remember, but... no that doesn't count.
Posted by: Nic | July 20, 2006 1:13 AM
sounds like fun. If i didn't sink when I tried to swim I would think about moving from the marathoning to the tri-ing. I am so impressed with triatletes! have fun training and good luck in the race
Posted by: LeahC | July 20, 2006 1:20 AM
they make shorts with diapers?? Where can i get me some of those...i seem to be having a slight problem...
listen: every tri-blog I read, the swimming is the hardest part. and the description always sounds just like yours! so apparently tri-ers ain't the best swimmers. your in good company.
Posted by: jeanne | July 20, 2006 4:19 AM
you're you're you're...i meant YOU'RE in good company!!
Posted by: jeanne | July 20, 2006 4:20 AM
I'm most impressed that you braved the gross lake! Kudos.
Posted by: sam92077 (Stephanie) | July 20, 2006 6:08 AM
You are awesome!! I'm definitely in good company with doing my first sprint tri August 19th!
Diaper shorts, snort!
Posted by: Bridgette | July 20, 2006 6:14 AM
YAY!
Posted by: Flatman | July 20, 2006 6:33 AM
The Tri distance is a good one for you to start out on. Always start with the achievable and then work your way up.
Enjoy the date. Tell him your a runner and a triathlete!
Posted by: Kurt | July 20, 2006 6:43 AM
well done! you represented. and, you gots 6 weeks... like the dark side imagery...
join me luke
*heavy breathing sound*
triathlon secret #1: unless you are doing an ironman, you just wear the same thing through the entire event... basically a tri-suit with a thin chamois, so thin, it's pretty much just like wearing a bathing suit, which is what i wore for my first two TRIs
triathlon secret #2: sighting is what the swim is all about, everyone does it differently, but i like to 'sight' the same number of strokes it takes me to swim a length of the pool... so, 20 strokes, in my mind i say 'yah me, i just swam 25 yards/one length of the pool!', and i pop my head up to see if i'm headed in the right direction... it just takes practice.
keep at it, you're doin' great!
lil' miss tri pants?
Posted by: bolder | July 20, 2006 6:47 AM
YOU CRACK ME UP!!
you'll be a pro in no time!!
Posted by: justjunebug | July 20, 2006 8:42 AM
Look at you!!! You go gurl!
You never cease to amaze me with all that you are willing to take on and try.
Have fun on the date!
Posted by: TheRunningRedSoxFan | July 20, 2006 9:22 AM
Six weeks is not problem. You will be gliding through the water and similing as you cross the finish line. Then you will be volunteering for another Tri. Have fun on the date. All your training stories should make for some good conversation.
Posted by: Al Durham | July 20, 2006 11:24 AM
so...
you're saying you don't like wearing diapers?
Posted by: good ol' j | July 20, 2006 1:09 PM
do you have a problem peepeeing and poopooing in bodies of water? :) what is your date going to think if you ever hit up the beach!? you are going to do GREAT in the sprint tri! i MISS them terribly! you still doing xfit?
Posted by: Kim | July 20, 2006 1:30 PM
As a new comer to tris but a very long time competitive swimmer I have a couple of thoughts. Number one, you will never win a tri in the swim, (I have tried and even when I win the swim I soon get passed on the bike), BUT you can kill yourself in the swim so take it easy. And swimming long distances is much more about arms than legs. You don't get far with the legs and kicking too hard wastes energy. Think of the kick as a way to keep your body a float and you use your arms to go forward. Also lift your head every 10 strokes or so until you get comfortable doing straight. I only kick really hard at the end of the swim to wake my legs up for the bike. Good luck!!!
Posted by: Karen | July 20, 2006 2:35 PM
Oh, you think you love this sport now - just wait until you cross the finish line!
Posted by: Habeela | July 20, 2006 5:18 PM
Way to Go! You will do great. I'm looking forward to reading about your training.
Posted by: aprilanne | July 20, 2006 8:15 PM
600m in open water? I am impressed, dude.
Posted by: KT | July 20, 2006 9:20 PM
It sounds like you did awesome. My first tri, the swim was only 220 yards, so you're doing awesome in the swim department.
Tip 1: Buy the book "Total Immersion Swimming." It helps with the "not using your legs to swim" thing. And it's true.
Tip 2: Listen to Bolder. Both his suggestions are good ones.
Tip 3: Spend time on the bike. It sounds like the swim and run should be cake. Learn to spin for 15 miles (90 RPM), and you'll be golden.
Great job. Good to see you've become one of us.
Posted by: Iron Pol | July 21, 2006 7:01 AM
Oh, the places you will go! In six weeks we in the TBA (Triathlon Blogging Alliance) will have a new memeber. And, THAT will be a good day.
My words to you are to relax, relax, relax. Triathlon is swim, bike, run with a little dance in between called tranistion. Nothing to freak about. Take your time and have fun.
Stay tuned...
Posted by: TriBoomer | July 21, 2006 12:33 PM
great post. you know you love something when you love sucking at it...suck being relative and all
Posted by: jenn | July 21, 2006 12:52 PM
You crack me up! Can't wait to follow this training and good luck on your date!
Posted by: Amy | July 21, 2006 4:08 PM
good for you for trying the baby tri, you'll do great! happy date!
Posted by: neese | July 21, 2006 8:27 PM
Training for a tri, complete with diaper and mucky water, AND a possible new boyfriend??
My girl, you do live a full life.
Posted by: Running by | July 21, 2006 10:12 PM
a tri-suit from ebay was the best purchase i made before my first tri. (ok. a friend bought one on ebay and i bought it off her when it didn't fit her...but still.)
it is fun. don't lose sight of that!
Posted by: Dianna | July 22, 2006 4:29 PM
Hey, the tri bug has bitten you too! I am training for my first tri and am loving it. My race is five weeks away (Iron Girl Columbia Tri) and I my attitude ranges from super excited to super nervous.
I'm about to order my first tri suit from www.swimoutlet.com. I get my bathing suits from there and they have been great.
Good luck with all your training!
Posted by: Stephanie | July 23, 2006 5:05 PM
Ask me.
Ask me how proud I am of you. Go on.
*sniff* ...
Posted by: wil | July 26, 2006 7:27 PM