"Swim"

I completed a sprint triathlon in September.  I absolutely LOVED it, it was so much fun!  This particular one (Triathamom) was really well organized.  While I competed, they had a fair for the kids with bounce houses, face painting, cotton candy, sign-making stations and all kinds of activities.

I trained for a long time.  The distances were a 300-yard swim, 12-mile bike and a 5K run.  I know, pretty easy, but for me, it was really an accomplishment.  I had three goals:

1) Finish in under 2 hours.
2) No getting off my bike.
3) No walking during the "run".

I know, I'm setting the bar really high:)  I was happy that I met all of my goals.  I'll certainly do more of these and hopefully I'll get better each time.  Here are my times for each area:

Swim  9:11
Transition 1  2:53
Bike  1:03:13 (Rate-10.4)
Transition 2  1:39
Run  35:09 (Pace 11:21)
Total Time  1:52:02


My family came to cheer me on!

The bike leg was really tough for part of it.  The first four miles were all uphill so there were parts of it that I was only going 3-4 mph.  Some people were getting off their bikes and walking around me and others were flying past me.  I just had my gears on the lowest possible setting and kept pedaling.  It was brutal.  4 miles in, it switched to downhill and I got to finish most of the rest of it at a 30 mph pace.  That made up for the first four!  Here I am finishing the bike leg.

Transitioning from bike to run.

During the run, I got all emotional (ha ha, big surprise).  A song came on my Ipod from my favorite band, but I'd never really paid attention to the words before.  They were so motivating at that moment.  I was really proud of myself.  I set that song on repeat and listened to it over and over through the entire run.  The lyrics are at the bottom of this post.

 Fueling up afterward.


I talked a few of the girls I work with into doing it with me.  I'm glad they did, we had a great time!

My kids wanted to join me on the podium.

What a neat experience.  I can't wait to do one again!


"Swim"
Jack's Mannequin

You've gotta swim
Swim for your life
Swim for the music
That saves you
When you're not so sure you'll survive
You gotta swim
And swim when it hurts
The whole world is watching
You haven't come this far
To fall off the earth
The currents will pull you
Away from your love
Just keep your head above

You gotta swim
Through nights that won't end
Swim for your families
Your lovers your sisters
And brothers and friends
Yeah you've gotta swim
Through wars without cause
Swim for the lost politicians
Who don't see their greed as a flaw

The currents will pull us
Away from our love
Just keep your head above

You gotta swim
Swim in the dark
There's no shame in drifting
Feel the tide shifting and wait for the spark
Yeah you've gotta swim
Don't let yourself sink
Just find the horizon
I promise you it's not as far as you think
The currents will drag us away from our love
Just keep your head above
Just keep your head above
Swim
Just keep your head above
Swim, swim
Just keep your head above
Swim