Mission Accomplished!

Official Results:  Finish Time- 1:51  
(Swim- 21:33  Bike- 49:30  Run- 34:17)  
Placed 14 out of 36 Athenas

Today Dan and I had a great day in Long Beach at the Long Beach Triathlon.  Last night we checked into the Courtyard Marriott (they upgraded us to a large corner room with a view of the Queen Mary and the ocean) and had dinner at one of our old favorite dinner spots when we used to live in the LBC.  We went to bed early hoping that I would wake up feeling well enough to race.

We headed down to the transition area at 6am to set up my bike and other supplies and then I nervously forced myself to eat half a protein bar and some Gatorade.  We headed over to the beach area where the swim portion of the race was to begin.  This is where I got really nervous.  Everybody looked so athletic and experienced.  I mean there were tons of seriously in-shape people at this race.  I huddled in my wave the Athena and Clydesdale wave and the Queen Mary blew her horn for each wave of competitors as they started.  I have been sick all week with a chest cold and I wasn't sure if I should go through with the race.  I almost did turn back when I saw the first wave of competitors take off in the water.  It looked so intimidating.  But I knew that if I could get through the swim I would be good.  Right before the QM blew her horn for our wave a guy next to me touched my shoulder and said "Alright let's do this!".  I looked at him and said, "This is my first triathlon."  And he just smiled and said, "You'll do great.  Good luck."  Then I saw the wave in front of us start and a couple of women were carrying a paralyzed competitor into the ocean.  She competed in her wheelchair bike for the last two legs of the race.  That did it for me.  I thought to myself, "If she can do this with no leg power then I can do this!" and I was really to go.

I loved competing in the Athena and Clydesdale division.  It is full of people like me who have come to this race with the attitude of "The victory is that I had the courage to be here at the starting line today."  We all threw up a yell and then ran off into the gray, cold ocean.  The cold water, the taste of saltwater in my mouth, and seeing fish swim by me was a little uncomfortable at first but I soon found my rhythm and made it to shore.  The transitions from swim to bike and bike to running were the toughest part of the triathlon.  I enjoyed how encouraging and friendly everybody was in the race: fellow racers encouraging each other, my husband and friends from church and strangers on the route cheering me on.  Everything went well and I felt good throughout the race.  I finished around 1hr 50min about 5 minutes over my goal of 1:45.  Not bad considering I almost didn't complete because of my chest cold.  I don't know my split times yet, but they will be posted here soon.

I am soooo glad that I did this!  I always learn so much about myself and others when I do something to push myself.  I marvel at the bodies and abilities God as gifted us with.  The top finishers completed the entire triathlon in 52 minutes!!!  Yeah. .  that is an hour faster than me!  Isn't that amazing?  Then there is the 59 year old woman (they write your age in body marker on your calves for all to see)  that I passed on the 3 mile run.  She looked sore but she refused to walk.  She slowly jogged along and I was excited for her when I saw her cross the finish line later on.  What determination and perseverance!  I hope I am still challenging myself when I am 59.  Many thanks to Dan for snapping the photos, cheering me on, and giving me a nice long back rub when we got back to our hotel room.   Mission accomplished!