My first sprint triathlon

Well, I did it. I completed a sprint triathlon. I may not have been number one or in the top anything, but I finished. I did not quit. Or drown.
And I suppose that's something to be proud about. Also, I might add, I have NEVER done any sort of race/competition before...never a 5k, bike, or any sports of any kind while growing up, so this was way out of my comfort zone.

Yesterday, we drove to Fort Desoto and I picked up my packet. All day, I was so nervous, like on the verge of barfing! I was mostly worried about the swimming portion. I did not do any open water swim practices, which I know is kind of stupid, but I just wanted to finish this triathlon and say I've done one. That, and I am super scared of the water, so it was hard to get me in without a huge group.

We arrived this morning bright and early. I woke up at 4:20, which was not difficult because that is the time I wake up for work. I probably got almost 7 hours of sleep. For breakfast, I had peanut butter toast and a banana, but could only eat about half of each.

It was pitch black and we kept getting eaten by mosquitos, so I was relieved when the sun finally came out.

I made my way to the water with Mirza and decided I should get in. Surprisingly, I wasn't freaking out.

Even though I peed before, I had to go sooooooo bad while waiting. I just wanted to get in the water to freakin' pee!!!

Finally, the horn went off and we went into the Gulf of Mexico. I was the 8th wave and only one wave after mine. I stayed to the far right and back, but didn't have much of a choice since I was so slow. Honestly, I was not that scared in the water like I thought I would be. I just focused on swimming and going slow. Also, I did not have any form whatsoever. I put my face in the water ONCE and it was so salty and disturbing, that I gave that up and did the breaststroke and a combination of freestyle and on my back  for the rest of the swim. I do not remember the Gulf being so salty!! haha. I made jokes with the people in kayaks, "ooh hello, how are you? just hangin' out, decided to go for a little swim this morning." The last wave came, but I managed to not get trampled. YAY!! It was only 400 meters, but it felt like foreverrrrrrr for the second orange buoy to show up. Once I was able to put my feet down, I was so relieved and happy. In fact, I almost thought I would cry because of relief, but I didn't.
Overwhelming.
Swim time: 14:07

The transitions to the bikes was NOT a short run. It was far. I was TIRED. I kept getting a tight feeling in my chest.

 It took me 6:12.

I made it to my bike and I couldn't get my damn shirt on, but eventually managed!!

The bike ride was 10 miles. I did not want to push it too hard because I just kept thinking about my first 5k directly after. I felt like I was the only person out there for a lot of the time, and tons of older men kept passing me, but I tried not to let it bother me. It even started to rain halfway through, but it only lasted a few minutes.
Towards the end of my ride as I drove into the transition area, some guy had fallen and smashed his face, and was in a C-collar with EMS and bleeding all over the place.
I didn't want that to be me, so I clipped out pretty quick.

Total bike time: 42:28

I knew I would not be able to run most of the 5k because I felt like garbage, but I threw on my running shoes, took off my helmet, and ran through the exit.

T2: 1:59

Okay, here's where I lost all steam. Like I said, this was my first 5k and the furthest I have ever run. Now, I usually probably average a 10-11:00 pace, but that's without the swimming and biking before-hand!!

I am being completely honest here. The "run" sucked. Listen, I want to be positive and enthusiastic about this, but all of my recap is the damn truth.

 Half of the time, I was running in packed sand or in a grass/sand that was lumpy. I was alone most of the time, and knew that I was one of the last people in the whole race. I would love to tell you that I didn't care, and wanted to just finish, but that would be a lie. No one wants to be freakin' last, but it looked like that was going to be my fate. I just wanted to finish to get it over with and cry!!

About a quarter mile from the finish, a woman who wasn't even racing, fell and probably broke her leg. She was screaming and crying, and I stopped (hey! I'm a nurse) to see if she was ok, and then I directed the people just standing there staring to go get some help. Then I "ran" and just before the finish line, some girl was trying to pass me, so we literally sprinted to the finish line. She beat me by a few inches or so, and then we high-fived.

Yes, my 5k took 46:25.

Listen, I had imagined crossing the finish line a million times. I thought that when I crossed, I would feel emotional, like a huge sense of accomplishment. But honestly? I didn't. In fact, I felt kind of disappointed because I knew that I was last. People say it shouldn't matter because you had the nerve to even compete, but LAST?! arrghhhh. Mirza was filming me, and he asked how I felt, and my first words were, "LIKE SHIT!!" I did. I felt like garbage lol. People kept talking to me and offering me food, and I thought I was going to collapse or vomit. I didn't.


I was second to last in my age group (25-29), but only because one person did not finish, so technically, I was last. And overall, I was 720 out of 730, not including the 6 people who did not finish.

My goal was to come in under 2 hours, and I did it in 1:51.

Immediately after, I felt bummed, but as time goes on, I don't care anymore. This was my first race ever, and I really did the best I could. At first, I said I never want to do this again, but that's just being a sore "loser."

And I have another race on September 5th. And I will finish again, even if it is dead last.