I Did It

When JS and I first started this blog at the first of the year. One of my goals was to do the Hy-Vee triathlon, the WHOLE thing. Well I did it. The Hy Vee was today Sunday June 22nd. I must say that Fri and Sat I was nervous, anxious and scared spit less. I finished in 3 hours, 20 minutes and 57 seconds.

Swim 31:51
Bike 1:24:28
Run 1:17:40

I was thrilled with the swim, we could use wet suits so that made a BIG difference. It took me a while to get my rhythm but once I did I just kept telling myself swim like you do at the pool and you will be fine. I felt good. JS was waiting to cheer me on in T1. JS makes a great cheerleader. She had finished her swim for her tri team and was waiting for me to come in.

I was hoping for a little better time on the bike but looking back I am happy with it. It was a semi hilly course but what was worse was the wind, we had a strong head wind for part of the course. I also had to pee. So I made a kybo stop. felt much better.

I knew that running would be difficult and it was, I walked alot of the first three miles. I was hot and just didn't feel good. For some reason about mile 3 I tried running again and ran most of the way. I ran 12 minute miles. So I have my winter project get my running up to par. I think that my running will improve as I lose more weight also. That is a lot of weight on my tiny little ankles.

I need to thank the following people:

JS for telling me that I can do this, for cheering me on ,for meeting me at the finish with some nice cold water and for being my friend I enjoy your company JS.

Hubby Bill for the great tri bike, for coming today and helping me get home. I was feeling pretty tired and he drove me home. Our friend Dan Mendanhall for coming with Bill today and helping him take care of me.

Dan Applegate for helping me with my swim and for training with me for a couple of months. I am sorry that you couldn't make it today.

For everyone on the side of the road today that clapped and said good job you can do it even when I was walking. That kept me going.

All of the volunteers goodness the shear number of them was amazing.

Lastly for my mom, sister, Gerard and everyone who called to wish me good luck or stopped me to tell me good luck and to tell me how proud they were of me trying this. It means alot.

On a sad note someone did lose their life today. a 46 year old gentlemen didn't drown but was pulled from the water able to talk then stopped breathing. My heart goes out to his family.

This picture was on the Des Moines Register page, why I do not know. One of these days I will take a decent pic.



Coming in from the bike Bill took picture



Rounding the corner to the finish line Bill took picture....I was tired but happy





Until next time

Peace JG

Hy-Vee Tri

Check out my family blog for info I received from the race director!

Rain Rain....go Away

Will we be able to do the Hy-Vee Triathlon...Gray's Lake is closed!
It will be an interesting couple of weeks to see how the weather cooperates and if the flooding goes down enough for Des Moines to have this great event!

On another note...Kyle was up at Seven Oaks in Boone Sunday for the IA Games Adventure Race. He says it's going to take a lot of work to get the course ready for the 24hour race Labor Day weekend. I see many trail work days on many Sunday's to come in his future!

Let's all pray for better weather so the people affected by the floods can get some relief and so we can participate in these awesome events our area has to offer!

14 Days and counting..

It is 14 days until the Hy-Vee triathlon. At this point I am ready for the swim and the Bike. the running still eludes me. I have resigned myself to the fact that the running is going to be alot of walking, I can deal with that this year however running is going to be my winter project.

This spring has been very strange, colder than normal then all of a sudden it is hot and humid. I rode 40 miles yesterday, was suppose to run for 45 minutes, I didnt have it in me. The humidity had taken its toll. I drank 5 bottles of water and was still dehydrated. Today I ran 6 miles As with the biking it was hot and humid. Drank alot of water. I have come to the conclusion for me to get through the run I will need to be drinking and eating pretty much constantly. How I am going to pull this off I do not know. If you see me during the run just hand me some food and/or water. I will be grateful.

The rain has me worried. I keep thinking how are we going to swim in Gray's Lake if is it flooded. I am hoping that they have thought of this and have a plan in place. I know that it is not worth the worry, I cannot do anything about the rain.

I am excited, scared, nervous, doubtful, and hopeful. I have worked hard for the past 6 month for this, I need to keep in my mind that I am competing against no one but myself. I am doing this for me not for anyone else. It has not been easy there have been many days I have questioned why am I doing this. There is no way that I can do this. I still have doubts. But it is all worth it today I stepped on the scale and have lost 20+ lbs. That is why I started this whole triathlon training was to force myself to lose weight, eat better and get healthier.

The next 14 days are going to be critical. I need to eat better all day not just before I exercise. My exercise schedule is starting to taper. I can see the tri coming, I will give it my best shot and we will see what happens.

Until then PEACE

Pigman...DONE!

I finished! I wasn't completely ready, but I had fun and the race felt pretty good!

Setting up transition...it was about 6:00am!

Swim (.5K or 543yds) out and back went good. I used a wetsuit (water 67) and even though I had practiced in it. I wasn't real comfortable. After rounding the last buoy I felt a tightness in my chest and had to breastroke it for a while to get my wind back.

Out of the water after the swim...I was having troubles with my wetsuit. If I can suck it up and bear the cold water next year...I'm not going to wear it!

Bike (15.5miles) went REALLY good. I rode my BMC time trial bike and it felt good! I need to get a new seat and adjust my shoe clips for a little more comfortable ride, but all in all it was good! I'm not a hill person and I even passed a few people on hills!

Coming back in on the bike...I played catch and pass with the girl behind me for the last 2 miles!

Run (3.1miles) went OK. I ran what I think was the first mile. I then did a run/walk until about the last 3/4 of a mile. The cheers of the crowd really helped to kick it in at the end and I finished strong. I have a really hard time not thinking about my breathing when I can't listen to music. When I run on the treadmill or out around the neighborhood with my headphones I run better and longer!

Heading out for the run...I was actually about ready to choke on the water I just drank!


Anyway...here are my times:

Swim 10:33 - would have been better if I didn't have a little panic attack in the water!
T1 4:02 - I couldn't get my wetsuit off my ankles!!
Bike 51:25 - avg 18.1mph
T2 1:42 - have to work on leaving my shoes clipped in so I can run better with my bike!
Run - 36:51 - 11:52pace
Overall - 1:44:30

I also need to work on getting on and off my bike while moving!