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16:05:00 o'clock BST
Feeling Ecstatic
I Am A Triathlete
I am A Triathlete!
I am A Triathlete!
I am A Triathlete!
And if you didn’t hear me I am A Triathlete!
I have just had one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I was told many, many times the adrenalin would get me through and you better believe it.
Well a little after posting last night’s blog I totally went to pieces. The can’t and the won’t surfaced and I had an awful night’s sleep.
As predicted it was throwing it down. Checked the bags, checked the car, checked the lists, double checked the lists and then went back in and did a triple check of the whole house to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.
Arrived just after 8. Start was 9.30. That hour and a half absolutely flew.
Registered, picked up the goodie bag, had my numbers drawn. Went to find the bike racking and found Sue my Iron Lady and Paula, who I’ve never met before who was off at Number One. They asked how I was feeling and I said awful and Paula said that she just wanted to get going and that basically was that. I wanted to get going too and I wanted to prove to the World how far I’d come in 6 months.
I made the monumentous decision that I’d cycle and run in leggings and a T shirt and that was that.
Racked the bike and all the books say lay out your stuff in the order that you’re going to put it on. It was pelting down so everything got shoved into a carrier bag. TipI will buy a plastic box with a lid for my next event.
Said goodbye to Mark and Morgan and off to get changed.
I have never spoken to so many complete strangers in my life. Everyone was so friendly, encouraging and totally relaxing.
Were called for the briefing which explained the direction of the swim, how you would be tapped with a kickboard with two lengths to go, how you must not touch your bike until your helmet was fastened, how you must run with the bike through transition and only mount when you were over the line, likewise dismount before the line on the way in and not remove your helmet until the bike was safely racked.
Got in the pool and I missed the whistle. I was looking round like a startled rabbit! Off I went. Plan was 4 lengths crawl then alternate breast stroke/ crawl so that I finished on breast stroke so not to be too out of breath. Sue had warned me just before I got into the pool not to go off too fast. Then doh if I did 4 lengths breast stroke I’d end up finishing on crawl. Did 5 lengths crawl and struggled and the niggling doubts of why the hell am I doing this crept in. Closely followed by I’ll never do it. Then as I’m doing breast stroke I have time to take notice of the people watching. Shouting “Come on Lynne you’re doing really well.” Piece of cake. As it happens I was in the pool on my own and the cheering and applause when I got out, via the steps was unbelievable.
Transition. Golden Rule. Keep Calm. Yeh and who invented that one?
Well as it was throwing it down no point whatsoever in using my towel on my body so put my T shirt on and then disaster. Couldn’t find my leggings. Put the towel down, in a puddle. Tried to dry my feet, socks soaked in the end just go for it. Remembered my race belt, which I put on upside down. Helmet, fastened, the bloke next to me got shouted at for unracking whilst his was undone and away to go. I ran with the bike through transition (this is important – remember for later!)
So off out onto the road and it’s raining. Warned about turns being slippery so take it a bit easy and then just go for it. No plan for the bike just enjoy and I did. People started to come past me on their way back and almost everyone shouted “Well done” or “You’re doing really well” or “Keep going” and Glyn Ceiriog came around much quicker than when I’d done it on a training run. The backwards was a breeze and even the hill at the end was nothing compared to my usual hilly routs around home. So back in and passed my Dad and asked him for a time check 15 minutes faster. I felt I could fly.
Dismounted the bike and tried to run with it through transition. I couldn’t. Not a problem. Get my legs moving I’ll be ok. Racked and started to walk. I couldn’t feel my feet and my calves were killing me. Betty Spaghetti legs at a walk. Not to worry I’ll run out of the gate. I couldn’t. It’s ok I’ll walk the hill and run when it flattens. I couldn’t. So I walked and walked and walked and walked. Every time I attempted to run my heart rate monitor beep beeped at me.
When I first said I was going to do a triathlon my Mum said “You’ll give yourself a heart attack” my response was if I do nothing I’ll have a heart attack. I made a solemn promise to her last night that I wouldn’t push myself on the run and I didn’t. I ran down the hill to the finish.
I have not stopped grinning! It’s like I’d won and I have!
Provisional times of 2hours 17mins 14.30swim, 1 hour 17 bike and 43minutes run. All better than expected and Steve Smith’s prediction of 2hours 10 was closer than mine of 2.30. It’s not about time though. It never has been.
Six months ago I set out to complete a Triathlon. Today I did it.
I am a Triathlete.
Official Result
328th out of 333
Two were slower
Three Did not Finish
2 hours 17minutes 12 Seconds
Swim 13.46
Bike 1.15.01
Run 48.25
John Smith's Woman On A Mission AKA Out of Transition
The Start of The Bike
The Start of The Run (Walk Ha Ha!) See the Agony?
Proof I Finished (That Orange Thing Is The Finish Line)
Relief?
Worth It!
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YA-AAAAAY!
LYNNE EVANS YOU ARE A TRIATHLETE!
YA-AAAAAAY!
Well done to you! You worked so hard for this, and here you are -- a triathlete! How fantastic is that?
Whens the next one? ;)
:D
27/04/08 21:01
Thanks for your support x x