Monday, August 25, 2008

4<4<2

If we were to reverse the order in which people crossed the finish line of the triathlon today, awarding medals to those who came in at the end ... I would have placed fifth in the over all race. That means, there were five people slower than me.


Count 'em: One, two, three, four, five.

Cinco.

Actually, there were another 20 or so people that dropped out and didn't finish the race, so I think that should count for something, too.

The winner of the race did it in 51 minutes. My total time to swim 1/2K, bike 15K, and run 5K was 1:55. Charlie's total time was 1:48, but he could have shaved 30 minutes off his time, easily, if he hadn't stuck with me on the ride and run. Our swimming time was about the same at approximately 17 minutes, but he waited for me on the bike and then, ran backwards for almost 2-miles so he could talk to me while I staggered along.

This action on his behalf both touched and infuriated me.

"Oh, so sweet that my husband is running backwards to talk to me!"

"OH! WHAT THE HELL. He's running BACKWARDS to talk to me!"

The swimming portion of the race was a lot of fun, until I was a few hundred yards off shore and the theme song of Jaws popped in to my head. And then a huge strand of kelp got wrapped around my foot and I took a wave in the face and thought for sure I was going to die.

Swimming in the ocean is so unbelievably, totally different than swimming in a pool. Not only can you see in a pool - but you don't have currents that pull you off course if you're not paying attention. Or, completely paranoid about a sea creature having your leg for breakfast.


My transition time from swimming to running was pitiful. I don't know what the exact time was (we won't find out until they are posted on Wednesday), but I sat down on my towel and leisurely ate a tube of Power Gel before carefully lacing my shoes and hopping on my mountain bike with knobby tires and pedaling off with wobbly legs and a salt crusted body.

I think I only saw two other people on mountain bikes. It seemed that everyone in this race could have graced the cover of a fitness magazine with their rock-hard bodies and sleek equipment. Throughout the event I kept thinking "You know what we need here are more chubby people on one speeds. How can the chubby, out-of-shape people of the world feel inspired to do triathlons if EVERYONE looks this good?!"

We completed the ride, and my second transition was about as slow as the first. I savored my Power Gel, had a little drinky-drink of water, folded my stuff and put it away, fixed my pony tail, put on a hat, took another sip of water and then took off jogging.

Charlie and I ran and walked together for the next three miles, and were so excited to see that our good friend and neighbor, Dawn, had ridden her bicycle 20-miles to come see us. Having someone there to cheer you on - or encourage you with cookies that they wave in front of you before riding off on their bicycle (as the case may be) was such a good boost.

"Who wants a cookie? Come get it!!"


Overall, we both know that we could have done the race a lot faster. Sure, it would have helped if we actually TRAINED more than we did and if we didn't do things like sit down on the side of the course to re-lace our running shoes, or slow down to look at new houses they were constructing in front of the beach. But the important thing is that we did it, we had a lot of fun, we finished and we are ready to do it again. Mostly, we are really proud that with four children under the age of four, we completed our first triathlon, in under two hours.

When we returned home this morning, Charlie signed up for another triathlon in early October that he'll be completing by himself - and I'm planning to compete in another triathlon in mid-October by myself. We've decided to split up during the next race because one of us will need to be with the children.

And really.

How am I ever going to improve my time if I'm constantly distracted by my husband running backwards?

****

(Challenge Yourself iPod giveaway update: after getting up with the children this morning at 6:30, Mom was in bed sound asleep by 8:30 tonight. I'll post the results within the next day or so, once she has the chance to help me select a winner.)

26 comments:

  1. I hope I win,(not begging, just hoping.) I'm having surgery on my leg (they are removing the screw and pins they put in sometime in late January, after what they called "The most incredible break I've ever seen") on Thursday and I will have to be on bed rest for 4 days. I'm gonna be extremely bored. I really wished they would stop calling my leg an incredible break, I said "STOP USING GOOD WORDS FOR SUCH A HORRIBLE THING!"

    Opps, laid on the guilt there didn't I? Didn't mean to, I just wanted to vent.

    :(

    ***Mariah***

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  2. COngratulations!!! Seriously, I am so impressed with the fact that you did a triathalon. You set a goal and you met it. You should be very proud of Charlie and of YOU!!

    Leeann
    niccofive.blogspot.com

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  3. Yes, when I was in San Diego this summer, I couldn't bear to get in the ocean. My grandma lives right where the man was killed by the shark, and I just kept picturing that in my head. You're a brave woman, in more than one way!

    Way to stick with it, Jen! So proud of you!

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  4. Congrats - you did it!!!
    Ali/IL

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  5. Good for you!!!!! I could not even have done the swimming part....

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  6. WTG Girl!!! I'm so totally, completely impressed. I'm afraid I would have been one of the ones to drop out (talk about chubby and out-of-shape... ugh). Congratulations on a job well done to you and Charlie, ya'll rock!

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  7. That's awesome!!!! Congratulations!!! What an accomplishment!!!!

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  8. I don't know if they have a Danskin triathlon near you but that is a wonderful (all women) event. Half of the participants are 1st-timers. I did my 1st when my older daughter was 14 months old and I will do my second next year when my twins are 2.5.

    I did the same as you during transitions. In fact I actually forgot it was supposed to be a race. Love the sport -- everything except how EARLY they start!

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  9. YAY!!!! You are awesome! I seriously doubt I could run further than 1/2 mile, so for you to take on a triathalon is amazing.

    Enjoy the prodigious amount of beer, you have earned it! :)

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  10. CONGRATULATIONS!!
    I really don't know much about triathalons but your times sounds terrific! I personally can't imagine going all of that distance in less than 3 hours (or more!). Dare I say it?.... I think you've inspired me to maybe try to commit to completing a triathalon, but I'm thinking I'll start with a local 5K (the running part would be the worst part for me and my 42 yo arthritic knees!). I'll keep you posted!
    Great job!

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  11. Congratulations on finishing the race and having enough energy left over to blog about it! In my opinion, your finishing time doesn't matter at all!

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  12. I am so excited for you. I hear you on your husbands actions. sweet and sour:)))) How did you get those pictures???? Well I am so impressed I think I will get to training, I only have five days to go until my 10K:)

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  13. Good for you Jen!!!! Congrats on doing something I would never dream of doing. If you want next time I can drive down to SD considering i am a Chubby gal and enter the race. you will feel like a real buff lady then. Also remember some of these this is all they do is work out to do tri. really if that is the case let them do it. You have much more fun running after your 4 and enjoying your TJs peanut butter cups!!!
    Anyways Congrats and I am so happy you finished your goal. You should be extremely PROUD of yourself

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  14. Since I hate the ocean... I will be sticking to Duathlons... Run-Bike-Run sounds a whole lot better. Maybe you can come up to Long Beach and participate with me! We'll have to get you a road bike, though... LOL!

    Congrats on finishing your Tri! That's what Lance Armstrong used to do before he took up bike racing! You guys are one step closer to winning the Tour de France!

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  15. S - I took those pictures at 7:05 AM when the "elite" and men age group 20-29 started. My "wave" wasn't until 7:40, so I had a few minutes to snap off some pictures before dropping off my camera, putting on my cap, freaking out, and charging in to the water when they yelled "GO!"

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  16. way to go! i am so impressed! that i awesome.

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  17. That is a wonderful accomplishment. Congratulations!

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  18. You did it!

    I've been looking for your post this morning...it's so great to see you completed your goal and had fun doing it.

    Thanks for the inspiration.

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  19. Congratulations! I am so impressed!

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  20. YEAH!!! Congrats! on a "record" finish! :-) Marg.

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  21. ok, i already commented on the awesome triathalon, but i HAD to tell you about this article from People.com, and i didnt know how to email it to you.

    This woman who is married to Charlie Sheen has decided she wants to have triplets....Direct quote from the article:

    Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller's summer of love, which began with their wedding in May, is closing with more exciting news: They are expecting their first child together, his rep confirms. "Brooke and I are thrilled!" Sheen said in a statement Monday. "She's the best stepmom Sam, Lola and Cassandra could ever hope for. Seeing her love and affection with those three, I know she'll be an amazing mom. Unless I bat 100 percent, perhaps a boy awaits us." Sheen, 42, already has three daughters: Sam, 4, and Lola, 3, with ex-wife Denise Richards, and Cassandra, 23, with ex-girlfriend Paula Profitt. "Brooke found out for sure on Friday and is thrilled to death," a family source tells PEOPLE. "Brooke loves Charlie very much and has wanted a baby for some time." The pregnancy doesn't come as a major surprise: The pair began talking kids right after their wedding, with Mueller joking that she wanted triplets. "Could you imagine if I really had triplets?" she told Extra in June. "He'd be like, 'Whoa!'" The couple were married in front of about 60 close friends and family at a private estate in Los Angeles in May. Earlier this month, Sheen, 42, reflected on married life with Mueller, saying it's "fabulous." He added, "We're having a ball. I'm the luckiest man in the world."

    Go look at this woman's picture. Perhaps someone should let her know that triplets, while amazing, and fun, will severely cut down on her hair care and work out schedule. I'm just saying.

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  22. You are AMAZING ... awesome job on the triathalon. Who cares how you finished - YOU FINISHED!!!

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  23. YOU AND CHARLIE ROCK!

    Congratulations on a job well done.

    We're very proud of you.

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  24. You are rock hard in my book, Jen! WTG! You are awesome!

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  25. You go girl!! One more triathlon than I've ran, biked, swam :) I wouldn't have have made it past the swim. I'm a terrible swimmer unless it is a dog paddle, well not really, but close!

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