Gotta tell everybody about my first road triathlon! Yep, sorry; that's the virgin part. Never thought I'd say it, least of all write about it.....but here it is. Sure, I've done an off-road tri before, and that was a lot of fun. But a road tri? Too many pre-conceived ideas about road tris and triathletes. We'll see!!
I'm very pleased to say that I joined a tri club to get into the mood for my 'transition' and I'm glad I did. I joined our local club - Tomaree Tri Club, El Presidente is Graeme Chamberlain (Chambo or Yogi) - thinking that it would take months before anybody would talk to me. Boy, was I wrong!!! I entered an Aquathon (run/swim/run) prior to my first tri and it nearly killed me, mainly because my swimming leaves a lot to be desired.....drowning more like. After it was over, a group of us BOP's formed (that's back of the packers) and we were congratulated by the elite guys and encouraged with advice on how to train and tricks on how to improve. Fantastic!!! First pre-conceived idea blown out of the water. Of course, my effort was posted on facebook and again I got some wonderful comments from people, including El Presidente himself. Anyway, that wasn't a tri so we'll see what happens next month.......
Next month rolled around and I found myself setting my beautiful bike, Rusty up in the T1 transition area with my T2 stuff, road running shoes with lacky laces. I just realised that I can actually talk the talk now (and walk the walk cause I've done it), but I still feel like I've 'Got all the Gear and No Idea'. Off to the start of the swim at the end of Salamander Shores jetty and looking out at the turn buoys, my thoughts turn once again to self preservation and drowning prevention. The water looks like chocolate soup and I'm sure there are sea monsters just waiting to pick out newbie triathletes like me. Hooooonnnkk!!! And we are off; needless to say I didn't drown or get eaten, but I did get a good look at the rear end of every other competitor as we exited the water to run up to T1. The idea of a tri transition is to get your old clobber (in this case, swimming stuff) off and your new stuff (in this case, bike stuff) on as quick as possible. Yeeaahh right! Buggered from the swim, shaking like a dog pooping razorblades from the cold and excitement and trying to get bike shoes on and remember my helmet, it takes time (and I will need lots more practice, I've gotta tell you). Off we go, Rusty and I, at least I'm heading in the right direction and not too far behind the next rider. I'll make this short....I ping a couple of riders and manage to get my feet out of the bike shoes before I get back to T2 and roll into the transition area. Soooo, not too bad on the bike. Whewww!! Now....off with the bike stuff (already out of shoes, but musn't forget to take helmet off), and into the running shoes. Funny feeling in the feet and legs as new muscles innervate and blood recirculates as I start to run (must look like a ballerina, cause I certainly feel like one). I realise at this stage that I have nearly finished and am not going to die. I also realise that duty athletes acting as Marshals have been cheering us newbies the whole way. Fantastic......feeling good!!! Running into the finish, I realise that I've got it all wrong...this is great, this is wonderful.....I've discovered a new sport....and I've joined another unique group of people. It doesn't matter whether you are a newbie or an elite, we are in this together, and we are all winners.....and now, grinners! Thanks all the guys and gals from the tri club. Thanks Margaret and Wayne and Neil. Incidentally, thanks Sonya for a yummy brekkie! But most of all, thanks to my beautiful Jaci for encouraging and supporting me in my new venture to compete in a Half Ironman in October. I know now that I can actually make it....at least to the start line. :~))
