Tick that box

I just participated in my first ever triathlon! Ben, Suzanne and myself entered as a team; Suzanne swam, I rode and Ben ran. Those who know me well will attest to my un-sporty reputation. Hence this was a REALLY BIG DEAL for moi.  I started training a few months ago. Initially it was tough going...basically I felt like I was going to DIE! But week by week my muscles adjusted and over time my stamina increased enough to be able to survive a 20 kilometer distance without stopping.

On the actual day of the triathlon I thought I was going to melt away with nerves. It's amazing how nerves and sheer terror can leave one feeling so debilitated! I literally curled myself up in a ball (in between running to the loo) under my bedsheets! As for eating....not a chance. If only this had been a morning event, as opposed to a 3pm start.  I'm really going to have to conquer my nerves (which are getting worse with age)....they almost wrecked the day for me.

Ben hurt his ankle quite badly playing paintball last week. He spent the days leading up to the triathlon hobbling around, bandaged and under the influence of inflammatory reducing drugs. I really didn't think he was going to be able to run. But with a super supportive ankle wrap he set his sights on getting through his 5 k run no matter what, despite not having trained once, NOT ONCE FOLKS. Goodness knows how men can do that...I think it has something to do with their caveman days! Admittedly he does play a lot of sport and so is reasonably fit. But still, there's no way I could have jumped on a bike to ride 20 k's without having spent some time building towards it.

Suzanne claimed to have not trained much either...but honestly she is a fish! Truly! She thinks nothing of doing a few laps of Emily Bay FOR FUN! Suzanne gave the best performance in our little team...being one of the first out of the water. Ben ran a good race also with his time only 30 seconds behind the fastest run time of the day. As for myself, well slow and steady might be the best description, but I did beat my training times so was happy with that! Especially considering I'd barely slept, barely eaten....and thought I might faint or vomit after the first two laps (was this supposed to be fun???). 

It feels good to have achieved something completely out of my comfort zone and I hope I've shown Harry and Till that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I'm so grateful to Ben and Suzanne for their encouragement and for never making me feel like I was holding them back! And now there's talk of a mini triathlon just for women later this year. I think I might just have a crack at that.....flying solo! Well nothing can stop me now.

Isn't the Kingston area stunning....what a picture perfect spot for a sporting event!