Three Times the Pain! Three Times the Fun???

Today I finished my first ever triathlon. While I would love to tell you what a wonderful experience this was, I hate to lie...it was horrific. I didn't realize that a body could hurt like that and for the first time ever I realized that sometimes no matter how badly you try to convince your body to do something, it just won't do it.

This triathlon was the most challenging physical activity I've ever done in my life. I was under the false impression that triathlons were simply sticking three sports together - I didn't quite calculate the cumulative affect of these sports. My goal for the triathlon was to finish it in less than 3 hours and 15 minutes...I came in at 3 hours and 13 minutes. Although I should be happy, I can't help but be a bit disappointed with a slow run (that in reality was a run/walk) and some sloppy race-day errors that made the experience more draining than it needed to be.

At the 5 km point of the run, I was convinced that this triathlon would go down in history as being my first, and last. Of course, it's been 12 hours and 4 ibuprofens and I'm already planning next year's training schedule. Thankfully, I've learned a few important lessons:

1. The bike to run transition is the most grueling...practice running exhausted because that's how you'll feel.

2. Don't take 4 ibuprofen and a Clif bar 2 minutes before jumping into the pool. It will make your stomach hurt and you will spend the next 3 hours wanting to vomit.

3. The little silly things that you do to make the transition time faster: springy shoelaces (the 80s style ones), triathlon shorts/bra, carefully positioned bike shoes, etc... are all worth it. It may only be 2 minutes, but it's nice to feel like you are in motion.

4. Ice is your friend...

I'm glad that my first athletics goal for the summer has been met. Next up is the Kluane-Chilkat, although I've revised my goal to 5 hours, instead of 4:30. My knee is still hurting pretty badly and I'm doubting I'll get a chance to be on my bike anytime before the race. The half-marathon in Calgary is out as my physiotherapist is insisting that I give my knee an 8 week break, if I ever want it to properly heal. This means that Victoria marathon is unlikely, but I am a determined individual and am adamant that I will fulfill my New Year's resolution...if that means running 42 km on the Alaska Highway on December 31st, so be it... The more likely, and definitely more amusing option, is the Las Vegas marathon, complete with Elvis impersonator mile markers. Sounds like good times, if only there wasn't all that running business involved...

Sierra posted this on Jun 04, 2007 from the outside | | permanent link