Tri for the Cure 2009

The plan was to do only one triathlon this summer, Tri for the Cure. A friend of mine from gymnastics was doing it as her very first triathlon. Initially I was going to go and watch, but I thought, if coach is making me swim, bike, run for practice, why not do a small triathlon? This race was SHORT!--1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 2 mile run. So my race plan was REDLINE, REDLINE, REDLINE!!!!

We got to Alum Creek early to check in, get body marked, and set up transition.



I went down to the water and did a little warm up. Who said you can't have a little fun?



I was in wave #3. The waves were divided by every 50 numbers, mine being 119. But, the numbers were not designated by age group, which made it really hard to determine what place you were during the race. After sizing up the talent, I decided to take my chances and line up at the front of the swim wave and GO FOR IT! The gun sounded and I shot off. I was the first one in the water, but I happened to be in a wave of super-strong swimmers. I was quickly overtaken.



I found clear water and swam harder than I ever have in a triathlon. I stayed close to the buoys and swam all the way until my hands hit sand. Then it was a quick sprint up the beach to the transition area.





I took up triathlon a few years ago believing I would be a pretty good triathlete because I was a decent swimmer and a pretty fast runner. What I found out was that everyone was strong on the bike and I absolutely sucked on the bike. And I've used that as my excuse for why I have not continued to pursue triathlon as my sport of choice. For this race, I decided to prove that theory wrong. I pushed on the bike and made things hurt. I wanted to pass people and hang on. I wanted to go for it. And I did. Finally, my first race I averaged over 18 mph on the bike. Makes me wonder why I didn't try that two weeks ago at the Wendy's Triathlon?!



I blasted through T2 and was onto the run. I tried to go as fast as my legs would take me, but unfortunately there weren't a whole lot of people to catch and a good portion of the race was cross country on rough grassy, wet terrain. I did pass 8 people with only two being in my age group.





I thought I had a good race and it paid off. For the second triathlon in a row, I finished 3rd in my age group.

This officially marks the end of my triathlon series. Now it's time to concentrate on my upcoming half and full marathons.