Wow!!! Just wow!!! My first triathlon experience was amazing!! It poured last night and I was worried it would carry into today and that didn't thrill me since I have never ridden my bike in the rain. Thankfully the rain stopped and we only had some mild sprinkles before we started.

I started my day at just after 4am with some breakfast, rolling and stretching, did a last gear check, woke my husband up, loaded the bike on the car and packed everything up. Out the door we went until I remembered I had forgotten to fill my water bottles for my bike. Woops!! Back in the house I went, filled one with water and one with Gatorade and out the door we went. I couldn't believe how calm I was..I really wasn't nervous at all. This surprised me considering the lack of training I had for a triathlon. I had zero swimming prep, got on my bike several times since the half and only ran a handful of times since the half 3 weeks ago. I should have been nervous and I just wasn't.

Michael and I unloaded my bike and gear and I was off to set my bike up in transition. I had no idea what I was doing and started by hanging my bike by the seat but the front tire barely touched the ground and my back tire went way into the opposite side of the racks transition area. So, I turned it around and hung it by the handle bars. Worked like a charm. Set my helmet and sunglasses on the aero bars and set up my bike and run gear on a towel next to my bike. Felt good to have that done. I grabbed my bib and Michael and I headed off so I could get my body markings and my timing chip. I wasn't rushed at all by being there so early and I think that really helped to keep me calm.

I headed back to transition and walked through the area to get in my head where I was going to go for each transition. I was set with what I was going to do. I headed for one last potty and then back to my bike. I talked with people around me and one Dad was doing a triathlon with his son and it was his son's first one while Dad has done 3 Iron Mans!!! I was in awe watching him. I cannot imagine doing that even once and he has done 3!! So impressive. He was really helpful too!! The area was really filling up and getting crowded. I talked to people around me and met other newbies and people that have done many tris.

So they corralled us out of the transition area and into the lake area and we were getting ready to go. A fellow triathlete sang the National Anthem and then it was time to start. I had a wait of over 25 minutes before I got into the water, I was in wave 14...a long way back!! So it was finally our turn and off we went..running in the shallow water for a while and then time to swim. It was chaos in the water, people splashing all over, going in the wrong direction..it was crazy. I saw one lady that had to get help from the lifeguard to get to the ladder. She was choking and coughing and hanging on for her life. Scared the crap out of me. Once I got around the dock I knew I was half way. I did a lot of side stroking..I need to get goggles before the next tri.

Out of the water I went and I was running to transition to get my bike..it was absolute chaos in the transition area. Craziness!! I get to my bike, get my socks and shoes on, throw a shirt on, helmet and sunglasses and off I go. Run to the mounting area, get on my bike and go. It was a great ride and as I passed more riders who started ahead of me I started to feel more confident. I didn't want to push to hard as I knew I still had to run a 5k but my adrenaline sure was pumping and telling me to go. I seemed like such a quick ride, before I knew it I was heading back into transition to get ready to run.

Re-rack my bike, get my shoes on, peel off the wet shirt, remove my helmet, grab my interval timer and off I go. I look down and realize I dropped my race belt with my bib and have to go back. Duh!! Grab my belt and I am off again!! My legs felt so strange..almost like they weren't with my body. I kept plugging along putting one foot in front of the other and just concentrating on the run. I got to mile 1.25-2 miles and I was dealing with a dreaded side stitch..it did not want to go away. I had to walk it out. Finally I was able to run again. I got near the park entrance and I knew the finish line was just around the corner and I would be completing my first triathlon in just mere moments. I was so excited!!

I rounded the corner and headed up the hill to the finish line, heard my name, crossed the finish line and I can now call myself a triathlete!! What an amazing accomplishment for me. I am looking for another one to do too!! I think I found a sport I can fall in love with!! It was a challenge but a really fun and exciting challenge!! I DID IT!!