So that new thing I was talking about....It was a bloody TRIATHLON...
Alot of people at Bushfield have been doing tri's for years or have recently started having a go, so it's something people are always talking about. PACTRAC run triathlons throughout the summer and last nights was a novice only event (novice being anyone who has been in the sport 1 year or less).
It included:
400 yard swim
10 mile bike
3.5 mile run
The swim went surprisingly well, but I knew this would be one of my strong points. Lanes were split into abilities and I started in the slowest lane as I wasn't sure on my speed. This is really difficult to judge when you have never swam against anyone before. I ended up switching lanes 3 times in the end. The swim was full of mixed abilities so was nothing to worry about. However attempting to get out of the pool, in the deep end with nothing to push up from, without flashing spectators was really fun.
The bike (which I knew was going to be my worst) turned out to by my worse. When we got out the pool it had started raining which I didn't think would matter when I was already wet. Oh how wrong I was. My transition period was really fast (I'm good at the bits which didn't require any exercise!). I used my bog standard Raleigh bike which was a big mistake as it was so heavy. The first 5 miles of the ride are pretty much all up hill in the pouring rain and wind. At one point I ground to a halt on a hill and honestly didn't think I would make it to the top. But I sucked it up and carried on, knowing I was last I just decided to enjoy (well as much as I could) myself.
The run, by this point I was so cold and wet I had to fumble around putting another t-shirt on in my second transition peroid. I remember telling my friends watching that I thought I was dying (always one to exaggerate). When I started running I honestly thought to myself how am I going to do this, my legs felt like jelly and I was so tired already. But I pushed through. Paul from Bushfield jumped on a bike and biked alongside me to keep me company which I really appreciated and I don't think I would of finished without him. Once I found my pace the run was actually enjoyable, it was an out and back route with the back section being uphill (so not fair). I was surpised the marshalls stayed out to see me finish as I was so far behind everyone else but I was really thankfull that they were there and it really motivated me to push a little faster.
I have never been so happy to complete something and even as I type this I am still on a high, I can't believe what my body can do when I ask it nicely. The support/organisation and marshalls where amazing and I can't thank them enough for an enjoyable event. Whether I will do another one has not been decided yet, but that doesn't matter because......
I'M A TRIATHLETE!!!!
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