NSV: my first triathlon

On a whim, I decided to sign up for a triathlon a few months ago. I do a ton of cycling, I'm a pretty good swimmer, and I hate to run, but 2 outta 3 ain't bad, right? Swim .5mi, ride 12mi, run 3mi.

The race was women-only and billed as UBER-noncompetitive, open to women of all ages, shapes, fitness levels, and experience. I couldn't have picked a better race to start with!

I'm don't consider myself an athlete, so my goals were to (in order):

1. Have fun
2. Not die
3. Finish
4. Finish in under 2:30:00
5. Keep over 13mph on my bike
6. Run at least 25% of the last leg

I'm proud to report that I finished 5 of the 6 goals-- I walked most of the last leg. BUT I totally finished!

My setup in the transition area. I have the most stylin' bike around!

I finished in a total of 2:08:00, rank 245 out of 291 participants, though my swim time was #184 and my bike leg was #194. Much better than I expected! I kept a bike pace of 13.8mph (if my math is right) which is MUCH better than my average so far this season.

So I wasn't fast by any stretch of the imagination, but I FINISHED, and I had a BLAST, which is WAAAAAY more than I could do before surgery! I had so much fun, in fact, that I've signed up for another triathlon in September.

Once the race-day pictures go up on Facebook, I'm totally going to print one out and put it on my fridge as proof that I can do hard things :)

Congratulations!! That sounds amazing!

i am still pre-op, way early stage of this journey, but a couple of weeks ago, I was looking at exactly this type of race online. Women's fun-tri. It's a major goal of mine.

How inspiring that you've accomplished it, and had such a great time doing it!!!

You should go for it! The environment was super supportive, no ego at all. It was a great introduction to the sport!

Very inspiring! Great job!

That is fantastic! Can you imagine if present you had appeared to five-years-ago you?

"Julie! It's me, Julie! Hey, imma let you finish that bag of chips, but check it out! Five years from today, you're going to complete a triathlon! Oh, honey, you got crumbs ... yeah, you got 'em. Anyway, I just wanted to swing by and let you know not to panic or ... aaaahhh, you're not really listening, are you?"

I'm so proud of you!

Jen

That is so amazing. Big congrats.

Awesome!! Congrats for doing it AND beating your planned time!

JULIE - 5 or 6 years ago, could you have even imagined such a thing???? I am in total awe, of you!!! I would get down, and bow, but I probably couldn't get back up!!!

You ABSOLUTELY can do hard things..and whatever word there is that is HARDER than HARD...of yea--CHILDBIRTH..and you aced that one, too !!!

Oh man, you made me realize that I managed to finish a triathlon in less time than it took me to push out my kid... I pushed for three freakin' hours!! LOL

This is an accomplishment that you will remember for the rest of your life. Even if you come in last in a race, there are at least seven billion people in the world who could not even attempt it.

You are a rockstar.

Enjoy.