Amy's Adventures: I'm a Triathlete!

After 20 long weeks of training, the triathlon is finally complete!

The Omaha Women's Triathlon took place yesterday at the brand-spankin-new Lawrence Youngman Lake in West O.

Kate was the one who got me into this mess... it was her idea from the beginning to challenge ourselves and do this triathlon. It wasn't ever something that was on my bucket list, but it is now a write-in that has been crossed off. Thank you for pushing me, Katers.

Here is my journey....

Kate and I arrived at the lake at 6:15am to get all our things into the transition area, get set up, and get rid of the nerves before starting the race. We got our uber-huge Sharpie markings on our arms and legs (By the way, why is it necessary to graffiti us with SO MANY numbers? I had 5 numbers on my 4 extremeties). We got our time chips, and got our transition goods all set out. And then we spent an hour and a half freezing. People started putting on their wetsuits -- using PAM to get it on (yes, cooking spray. NO JOKE!!), and there were Kate and I in our minimal swimming gear. I guess maybe we should have realized that 60 degrees really was going to be chilly. The lake was freezing cold. Talk about a shock to the system. It was even colder than the practice swim two weeks ago. (I didn't know the tri was going to include a polar bear plunge.)

But regardless -- off we went. The swim. People were grabbing, swatting, pushing, kicking... it was vicious out there. I even got jacked in the side with a kayak paddle at one point. I think I swallowed enough water to hydrate me for the whole race.

22 minutes and 31 seconds later, I emerged from the water. The volunteers were helping people get their wetsuits unzipped while getting out of the water and into the transition area, but when I got out he looked at me like 'Ok... Interesting... Great Job!' and instead helped me to not fall on my face on the algae-covered cement of the boat ramp. Thanks dude! Into Transition #1 I went....

I attempted to dry off my feet and my dripping wet hair, put on my tank top with race number, my shoes and bike helmet, and took my bicycle off the bike rack. My muscles were still in shock from the 60 degree water, but no time to waste. Let the adventure continue!

Onto the bike route I went. It began with an uphill and (nearly) ended with an uphill. Killer. Especially with no low gears. 56 minutes and 20 km (12.5 miles) later, my legs felt like Jell-o. (With added Knox gelatin for extra rigidity to hold up the rest of my body.) However, no stopping now! Only three miles to go!

Back onto the rack my bike went, off came the helmet, and running I went. Again, it started with an uphill. My legs were wondering what on earth I was doing to them. So badly I wanted to walk. But I told myself I wouldn't. I did the cool-kid yog (that slow jog that doesn't get you going any faster than a power-walk) and pushed up the hill. In agony. Only.Three.Miles. However, in training and in past 5K's, 10K's, and a half marathon, I have never NOT used an iPod to pass the time and diminish the mental struggle. But I had dropped it during the bike, so I had to resort to singing songs to myself. Not an enjoyable thing outside of the shower. I gave out a lot of "You got this, girl!"s and received a lot in return, and that's what kept me going. On my way up the very last hill, I wanted nothing more than to walk. Well, except for magically transporting myself to the finish line. But since technology hasn't gotten there yet, again I powered up the hill. All the way up I was thinking of Kayla, my 33-week pregnant friend who always does these stupid miserable races with me. Way to go and get pregnant Kayla. I needed you on that last hill. And I didn't want all those people at the top of the hill to see me walking. My cousin Suzy and her hubby Jason had been at the top of that hill earlier, and I wasn't going to walk in front of them! I had made it almost 3 miles without walking, and I wasn't going to do it now.

A few minutes later, I was finally approaching the finish line. I could hear the finish line music, so I didn't have to sing to myself anymore. Hallelujah! I looked at my watch, and I had been biking/running for 1 hour and 28 minutes, so I picked up my pace. I didn't know how long my swim had been, but I had to finish the rest of it before my watch hit 1:30. It's amazing what adrenaline can do for you. People cheering you on (for a minute, my name was 'Number 33' and I was ok with it), loud music, and the finish line in the distance. And a downhill finish. Genius, the man who planned that. Genius, I tell you.

I saw the clock time, which read 1:59:47... and I sprinted (as much of a sprint as these short chunky legs can do). Let me tell you folks, that was not a pretty sight. Check out the picture. And be glad it wasn't a full-body shot. Thanks, Photographer Mike. But I made it! My official chip time was 1:55:37. Under 2 hours. Not quite my original goal, but my time nonetheless. Mine. An accomplishment no one can ever take away from me, and something that most people can't say they've done.