I did it! Danskin 2011

A week ago today I completed my first triathlon! Yes, you read that right, ME... Sarah... COMPLETED a triathlon! It has taken me this whole week to think about the events that day and how I can put it into words to share with you all.

Saturday morning I was up early ready to go... I got the car packed up and just waited for Mark. We caught the 10:25am ferry to Seattle and headed to the Expo. (By the way this was the first time I drove in the main city part of Seattle!) We parked and found the place to check in. I got my packet and then got my arm marked with my race number #2076... and then also got the letters KTB written on. We decided that all us Kitsap TriBabes needed something on our arms so we could better spot each other throughout the weekend... went into the expo and got my swim cap, and finishers shirt. I would be in wave number 18 wearing a red swim cap. There were about 27 waves with about 125 women in each wave. These waves went about every 4 minutes! My start time was 7:50am... When I walked into the expo I hear some ladies shout my name! They were fellow TriBabes... one of my TriBabe friends bought me some new Tri-shorts. They thought I should look the part tomorrow at the race! It was so thoughtful of them to do that and I realize how amazing all these women are and how happy I am to have met them all!:)

After the expo we heading to the park to rack our bikes. My transition area was the farthest from the swim! My friend and I found a spot next to each other which was nice because then we can share the little space that we have! I walked from my bike area to the swim area and back so I knew what to expect and where to go on race morning. Mark and I headed to check into our hotel room where we laid around for a couple hours.

Lisa our fearless leader had a special TriBabe pep rally in a downtown park in Bellevue Saturday night. She made us cookies, had some special quotes for us and gave us a really nice pep talk. We sang a TriBabe song and just had a fun time together. Mark and I met his sister and her hubby for dinner at the Cheesecake factory. I tried to carb up but it was so hard to eat anything with my nervous stomach! :)

I crawled into bed about 10:30pm and set my alarm for 5am! I did get a couple hours of sleep and of course I was up way before my alarm went off. When it finally hit 5am I was up and ready! Washed my face, got my gear on and tried to eat a little something before we headed out...

We found a great parking spot close to the race which made me feel a lot better knowing we didn't have to park at Safeco and shuttle it to the race...

I had my pink bucket in hand, found my bike and set up all my gear so that it would be ready for me when I got done with the swim... we of course were there way early but that was OK with me... I headed down to the first swim start and it just made me so excited and nervous to see the first people start! I cant even describe the things that were going on in my head at this time... probably "what the heck did I get myself into" ... lol

I gave Mark a hug and told him I would meet him at the finish line! Then I headed to the swim area... as my wave was waiting our turn I saw our fearless leader Lisa walking around, we yelled her name and she came over to hug us and calm our jitters! Thank god for Lisa!

As our wave got closer to the water we had a couple minutes to dunk in the water and get use to it... the next thing I remember is the 10 second count down! I remember yelling "oh crap" and the lady who was holding the line we were behind laughed at me... told me it would be ok! :) 3...2...1... GO... and I was off on the swim. The water was very choppy that day... there were a lot of people out on boats and surfboards in case we needed to stop and rest at any moment. There were times I thought I was going fast, and other times I felt I couldn't move at all! Every time I put my head in the water to swim like I had been practicing a wave would smash in my face and I would freak out... I think the last couple yards was the longest! lol... I knew there were a couple fellow TriBabes at the end of the swim helping people out so I just kept them in focus knowing I would get a huge hug when I was done!

When I exited the swim and started making my LONG journey back to my bike I heard someone yell my name... I thought that was weird since it was just Mark with me and I figured he was parked somewhere at the finish line. I look up and it is my sister!!!!!!!! She was holding a sign she made for me! I gave her a big hug and pretty much cried! It was so nice to have her there to support me! Once I realized I needed to keep going I rushed back to the bike area to change. Since I had my new tri-shorts I just put on my socks, shoes and Tribabe

The bike ride was amazing.... we got to ride along the I-90 bridge. They close off the express lanes for this event and we get to go through a couple tunnels! My gears were working perfectly for me! I even made it up the steep hill onto I-90 that I figured I was going to have to walk it up! It was so nice having other Kitsap TriBabes there... I would pass them and hear some encouraging words just at the moments I needed them. I was actually smiling during all this! lol

I get back from the bike course, take my bike back to my transition area and guess who else showed up?! My brother and his good friend were there! I racked my bike, took my helmet off grabbed more water and then headed for my run/walk/crawl....

The run was 3.1 miles... it was quite funny how that went. So during all our training I have really done nothing but walk the courses. I don't feel ready to run and I always just feel awkward running... BUT that day I jogged a lot with my walking too! It must of been the excitement of the race, the amazing adrenaline you get OR every time I went to walk a tribabe would pass and tell me "good job" or "keep running!" lol... even random women would say nice things too! I felt great! Coming towards the end I saw my brother and his friend standing on the side walk... Mike ran a couple steps and told me the finish line was just around the corner... at this point I was getting really tired... I kept up my jog and as I turn to that finish shoot I hear lots of TriBabes cheering for me and my family too! I feel so amazing once I finish that line. All I remember is someone asking me if they could take my timing chip and then I got a medal and some ice cold water! Went and gave my family some sweaty hugs and found Lisa for her hug and my TriBabe friends!

Later that day when the adrenaline left... my body was like WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?! lol... I could hardly move! :) I am glad I took Monday off of work to just rest and go to the chiropractor to make sure things were good! :)

I wasn't concerned with what my time was... I just wanted to finish.... but here is my times:

Distance	Short
Clock Time	02:32:03
Overall Place	1830 / 2037
Division Place	110 / 120
Swim	00:33:07
Swimrank	1833
Trans1	00:08:44
Bike	00:57:19
Bikerank	1721
Mph	12.5
Trans2	00:04:20
Runrank	1838
Run	00:48:30
Pace	00:15:38

Not bad! :) I have a lot that I can improve on. I try to focus on what an amazing accomplishment I have just achieved and not think about all those people who finished WAY ahead of me! lol... I have come a long way...

I was so happy to get home Sunday afternoon! I took a hot shower and headed for a long nap... We had a nice dinner with my parents that night who were excited to hear about my triathlon...

The experience was amazing and I know this blog cannot even begin to fully describe that day... I am so glad I took this step... :)

Mini Triathlon (aka dress rehearsal)

I have some things to catch up on before the actual triathlon. Which by the way is this SUNDAY!!!!!! I cannot believe how fast it has come... I am interested to go back and read my posts from the beginning and laugh at some of the things I was afraid of :) I really have come a long way and I am so proud of myself for sticking with this.

First off, we had a mini triathlon about 2 weeks ago. We did a full half mile swim in the lake, 8 mile bike ride, and 2ish mile run/walk. Now the actual Triathlon will be a little longer, the swim is the same, but the bike is 12 miles and run is 3 miles. It was the getting use to all 3 events together that we were working on. So here is how that day went for me.

I get there bright and early, check in and find a area to park my bike and unload my bucket of stuff. We use a bucket so that you can flip it over and sit on it to put your shoes on during transition. Of course I had to paint my bucket pink! What else would you expect of me? lol... so I get my area all situated, talk to some tribabes and then I walk down to the lake to see our swim course. My stomach sank when I saw the 3 large buoys out in the middle of the lake that we had to swim around! Yes when we swim Tuesday nights it is away from the shore, but never that FAR from the shore! It was once again time to get my "big girl panties" on and get over it! :)

So we all head to the water about 7:50am... just in our swimsuits or wetsuits... cant take your towel or anything like that... she starts the time and we all at ONCE head out for our swim. I take my time and let the crazy fast people go by so that I don't get kicked. I will admit it was a little scary to be out so far from the shore. I freaked out a couple times and just rolled onto my back like we are taught, caught my breathe and then kept on going! It took me a LONG time to finish, 35 minutes to be exact. The fastest person was like 15 minutes and the last but not least was at 55min... There is no shame because I didn't QUIT! I kept going... so I get out of the water... Lisa yells my time at me, and then I walk up to our transition area. Let me remind you, no towel is right when I get out... so yes... here I am walking in my swim suit for all to see! lol... I get to my area, towel dry off as fast as I can, throw on my Capri pants, which were not too hard to put on being wet... put my shirt over my suit, socks (those were hard to get on) shoes... eat a couple power blocks, drink some water, helmet, sunglasses, and racing belt and then I am OFF! :) I get on my bike and realize even though I am in an easy gear my legs are already tired! We have never put swimming with the rest and my arms hurt already! lol... the 8 mile course was not easy, lots of hills, and I was pretty pissed at that! lol... but of course I survived and of course all those stupid hills I have to go up... i forget I get to go DOWN them later! :) After my ride, you walk your bike back to your transition area, take off helmet, grab some water, and off to the run I go! I actually did jog a little this time... but I mainly walked it and that is ok! Because guess what??? I finished! :) I can officially call myself a triathlete...lol

Putting all 3 events together was crazy, scary, and fun at the same time! I feel like I can actually DO IT now... I am already looking forward to next seasons training, and thinking about the things I can work on during the winter!

Danskin is something I have been so nervous about since the first day I signed up! It is less than a week away now and as we get closer my nerves get worse. I have no doubt in my ability to complete this... the thing that scares me is the amount of people that will be there! I am so thankful to all my fellow tribabes though! There will be a lot of us there this weekend and I will feel so much better knowing they will be there until the end with me! :)

I have already said it, but I am going to say it again. This has been a crazy hard journey, I am so proud of myself for sticking with it until the end. I cannot tell you how many fears and obstacles I have faced these last couple months! I know my grandparents who have passed would be so proud of me today!

Wish me luck! I probably wont write more until after the official triathlon!

Less than a month to go...

It has almost been a month since I blogged last, and now less than a month until my first ever Triathlon! I have had some bumps in the road lately... I went on vacation for a week. I had to miss 2 BRICKS, one of which I made up and the other I didn't :( I missed one swim too. Recently my grandfather passed away. He died July 12th... it was a Tuesday (my lake swim days)... I spent the day with my family who all encouraged me to go to that swim that night... I decided that is what my grandpa would of wanted me to do... It ended up being the hardest swim ever. It is really hard to concentrate on something when your mind is not into it... I am working hard to get back on track and finish this triathlon thing with pride. My Papa Jerry would want me to keep going and do my best! He was amazed at what I was doing and I know he will be there with me race day!

BIKE: Last time I wrote we were up to a 7 mile bike ride... well this past Saturday we did 11.5 miles!!!!!!!!!!! In the area we bike, there is always going to be hills! I still hate hills, but I have learned to get through them without complaining all the time! :) This weekend was a very nice sunny day! Those days make the bike rides so much more enjoyable... I really didn't feel like I went that far! I didn't hurt afterwards! I am beginning to really like biking. I am hoping to maybe save up for a road bike... they seem so nice but are so expensive... I think it will be a fun thing to get though... on some of our training days I have other ladies tell me things like "I don't know how you get that mountain bike up those hills." lol.. I just laugh cause I really have nothing to compare it to... one day? lol

RUN/WALK: We are up to the 3 mile run/walk... I have been walking most of it... I really want to get running and I know I will be there some day... might not be for this triathlon, but I will get there! :) The point is that I am moving right?

SWIM: We are up to 4 laps which is 800 yards, almost a half mile. If I compare myself to how I was on day one, I am getting a lot better at this swimming thing... it is really hard when we are training and I am half way finished with my laps and a lot of people are done and leaving already :( Lisa tells me I need to get that out of my head... that it doesn't matter how long it takes me to swim as long as I finish! I know that in my head... I just wish I could magically be fast at it! I even wish I had a wetsuit! lol... one day? lol... I am liking the swims a little more though...

Next Saturday we are doing a mini triathlon... not sure what to expect but I am sure glad we are doing one of these. We are ready I know... but putting all 3 things together is going to be interesting! I need to get a new suit though. The swimsuit I have is a girly one with a skirt..lol... that doesn't work well in a triathlon where you got to just put your bike shorts right over your suit when you get out! So I will be looking for one this week for our mini tri!

A fellow tribabe posted an article for us to read and I copied this section that really spoke to me the most and is how I am feeling now:
"I’m not the fastest, but I’m no longer the slowest either. I’m making progress. If I quit, I’m letting my insecurities win. I’m letting the people telling me I can’t do something because I can’t run 6-minute miles, because I don’t go out and run 13 miles every weekend, because I don’t wear a size small race kit that I’m not a true runner, cyclist, swimmer, or triathlete. I won’t get better and be where I want to be if I throw in the towel. You can only go faster, go longer, get stronger by training and practicing. I’ve accepted that I can only do what I’m physically capable of right now and I must appreciate my body for it’s capability to do just that.

I can run. I can cycle. I can swim. It doesn’t matter the speed, because for so many people, they can’t do any of that. I am working one step at a time and one race at a time. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do what so many people can only dream of doing. I shall overcome."

Thanks again for reading! I appreciate all the support! I am going to work as hard as I can to get my head focused once again and finish this thing as enthusiastic as I started! :)

Big girl Panties!

I realized this morning it has been awhile since I last wrote something on this blog! I am not good with blogging, so I am making it my goal to keep you all updated on my journey, and to use this to help myself reflect on what I am doing everyday!

BIKE/RUN: Our last BRICK we did 7 mile ride and a 1.5 mile walk/run. I was having an "off" day that day of workout... I had been sick the whole week before, so my body was very tired. My chain fell off going up a hill so I had to get off and put it back on and keep going... when I got done, I walked the 1.5 mile part. I really want to start pushing myself with that part... start running a little, walking, running, walking, etc... I really try to get some workouts in during the week and so Mark and I took our bikes out this week... we ended up riding 11 miles! That was a crazy thing... there were so many times I wanted to stop and quit, but I kept going... Not often to I push myself past my comfort zone, and it felt really good afterwards when I got home!

SWIM: I am amazed at myself on this part. I started TriBabes only being able to doggy paddle, and I have a big fear of open water... you cannot see what is in that water but you can FEEL it! YUCK... I have always hated deep water too, for the fear of drowning and putting my face in the yucky water...lol I never liked going out in boats when I was a kid either...So we have had 3 lake swims. First being an orientation and a small swim out to a pole and back... then from here on we add a "lake lap" to each lake swim. So last Tuesday we did 2 lake laps. Each lake lap is 200 yards... The weather was finally nice last week! There are a lot of women who have wetsuits, but I have not decided to invest in one this year... Knowing this part if my biggest fear, and each time I show up I think to myself "what the heck am I doing?!" I think back to what our leader Lisa told us on our first swim "You got go put on your big girl panties... you canNOT be a diva in the water... and we are not swimming like pretty orca whales, we are swimming like ugly beluga whales!" LOL... I keep her words in mind and I just SWIM! I focus on ME and not anyone else, because I know what I need to do and it doesn't matter how long it takes me. I am so proud of myself for TRYING... that is what is so important to me... if I don't try then why am I doing this?

My brother Mike showed me some swimming techniques and I attended a pre-swim class taught my our leader, and will continue going early to have her help me with my swimming... I am proud to say I am starting to swim the freestyle! With my head in the water and everything! I cant say I am not scared out there, but the pride over shines the fear and I think how amazing I am! LOL

SELF: Not only am I becoming more active, I seem to be building a lot of self confidence too :)  I am reading a book that a friend suggested called the "Slow, Fat, Triathlete" it is such a great book so far, and the author is so funny! It definitely helps to read it as I am working towards this huge goal... there is a part about not worrying what you look like and what other people think of you... here is a little excerpt "... life is way to short and precious to worry about what other people think when you are out doing something. Self-consciousness is the enemy of fun." I keep this in mind all the time... if I am having fun and doing something good for myself, why would I care what other people think? I am working on getting those bad thoughts out of my head because they only bring me down! :)

Thanks for reading! :)

Thanks for reading! I am going to really TRI to do some interval running this week! Wish me luck!

BRICK #2

I have successfully completed BRICK number 2! Lisa, our fearless leader chose to run the starting point a little different this time. We start in "waves" #1-10... depending on where you think you are you choose what wave you want to go with, 1 being the fastest and 10 the slowest. My first week I stayed in the last wave just so I could get a feel of how well I could do. This week I thought I would just stay around the same... but she sent us off in this order... waves 1,2, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3!!! So that put me starting third... I was nervous about this... plus we were on a different route this week, going a total of 6 miles, and also there would be one STEEP hill, and another gradual incline hill! She said we would probably hate her after the ride, and that there is no shame in getting off your bike and walking it up... (in my head though I am thinking YES THERE IS! I DON'T WANT TO WALK MY BIKE).... so as all my fear creep up on me and I start thinking to myself I don't want to do this anymore, there is no way I can do this... yadda yadda.... I am glad I MADE myself try... because I DID IT! I didn't have to get off the bike one time! I made it the full 6 miles and then got off my bike and headed for the 1.5 mile walk/run! If you have never rode your bike and then got off to run/walk you should try, basically it feels like my legs could just give out at any moment! I know with training and time that will feel a little better.... our first week I walked the whole mile, this week I actually did a LITTLE jogging with my walk.... and when I walked, I went fast! I want to be able to run so bad! I remind myself I need to take it slow, I will be able to work up to a run by August... but its hard when you see others run by you!


I love Kitsap TriBabes. I cannot tell you how much I am addicted to all of this so far! All the women I have met so far are amazing and are always so encouraging! They are always there saying "Yahooo! Way to go! Keep it up! Good Job!" I think that is what makes it so fun! I don't even know many of these people and yet they are all so kind! It makes this sport a lot more fun then doing it on your own at home! I never would of thought I would LIKE this so much and I do! I look forward to our training's and the off training days... I feel proud of myself when I go on a bike ride instead of doing house work! lol I have so many fears that I am facing every day when I do this, and it is making me such a stronger person each day!


Tonight, Mark and I went on a bike ride. I decided to go a little farther on this route tonight. So when all was said and done, we did 7.3 miles with some really hard hills! I thought I was going to puke going up one! It isn't easy biking after dinner! lol 


Tomorrow is our second lake swim. Lisa is having a little swim clinic before the group swim that I am going to try to attend.... it will help me with my fears of lake water and swimming in general. I will be able to have a little more one on one time with her and I think that is great. When we are at BRICKS and lake swims, you don't have much opportunity to chat with her so I think even if I was OK with the lake and swimming I would still go just to get more of a connection with her!


Thanks for reading! Love you all!

Swimming'

When we were in Elementary school we got to take the bus to the pool with an older grade and take swim lessons! I think that is where my fear of deep water began. I remember faking like I couldn't swim well so I wouldn't have to join the group in the DEEP end! :) I remember one day our instructor taking us over to the deep end to practice diving!!!!!!! I did NOT want to dive in that 12 foot water... I remember crying and hated the feeling that I had to do it....

Don't get me wrong, I do love pools and swimming. I think after that incident of swim lessons I shut down and didn't try to learn anything new... I realized last week at our first swim for TriBabes that I really had no idea how to really swim... you know with your head in the water, breathing every so often off to the side? Yea... I know how to doggy paddle, swim with my head up, and I am amazing on my back! I noticed though that it takes a lot of effort to just do it that way, and you don't go very fast.

I went to the pool at the Y last night and did some laps on my own... I watched others swim and hated how they made it look so damn easy! I tried to do the breathing thing to the side and ended up getting a face full of water! lol... Today I met my brother at the Y... he wants to help me train for this triathlon... I asked him if he swam like a normal person, he wasn't sure, so he put on my goggles and off he went! Yea.. that easy, he was swimming the right way!!!!!!!!!!! So he showed me, I tried, it was so so... then he asked me if I was blowing out my nose when I was under water... I was like... yuck.. no! lol... so we practiced by the wall, and then I put on the goggles and tried a lap with his suggestions... it worked! He said I looked good too, even though I felt like a freak!

I still need work I think... my lower back hurts a lot when I swim, I think I arch it and I am not sure how to change that... so anyone with swim advice or wants to help give me some lessons at the Y can help! :)

Oh yea... and then Shannon wanted to get some of those kick boards and just work on our kicks!!!!!!! OMG... yea so here i am kicking like everyone else but I am NOT moving!!!!!!!!!! So I sucked at that too! I tried all types of kicking, the lady in the next lane was trying to give me pointers but there I stayed!!!!!!! So I was done for the night after that!

Tomorrow is a BRICK...  6 Mile bike ride and 1.5 mile run!

Bike Ride

Before I had this Triathlon dream we use to drive my "bikers" and think "GET OVER!" LOL... I still can hear my husband Mark yelling at these bikers for taking up room on the road. Who would of thought that him and I would be those bike riders?! Mark is very supportive in my new goal... he bought himself a bike too and takes rides with me at night. Most of the time he has to wait for me at our turn around point! Tonight I was right on his ass! lol... I told him to HURRY up or I was going to have to pass him... which I did a couple times. :) 

We are somewhat addicted to biking now. I still fear those hills, but I am gaining more confidence each day! It is hard for me to make myself make time for working out and training, but I am getting a lot better at just forgetting about the dishes or laundry and going out and working my body! We ride out bike from out house, out on Sherman Hill Road, to Clear Creek Road, and then either go right towards Rude road, or Left to the Clear Creek gas station... each has a different route, but both good work outs. Mark is ready to go farther, and I am sure I will be ready soon enough. Tonight we went right towards Rude road... it is between 5-6 mile ride...

I got a new seat and Mark put it on tonight... it is a little more cushioned... my butt doesn't seem to hurt as bad tonight... still not in love with it yet... but we will see! lol

I think I am going to join the Y tomorrow so that I can get some swimming in and other workouts to help me with my training...

Thanks for reading! Hope I dont bore you all!