1:41:06

I did it, I did it!!! I finished my first sprint tri today! It was a 400m swim, a 12-mile bike ride and a 5k run. And it didn't rain (it was supposed to)!

I'll start with the swim: There was an 8-lane, 50m outdoor pool that we snaked through. The temperature was only about 45, and standing and waiting in my swimming suit at the pool's edge was not so fun. It was wonderful to get into the heated pool and begin! I felt so good the first couple of laps, remembering all the things I've learned about swimming...and then I just needed air and couldn't pace myself. So I did freestyle, the breast stroke, even a little bit of side stroke. That was the best - I could breathe as much as I wanted to! :o) Roadkill: 1 (but it was an old, big man, so I don't know if he really counts...)



I got out, pretty winded, and jogged to my bike. I got as dry as I could, threw on my biking shorts, shirt and helmet, and off I went! The first 5 miles were a gradual uphill, followed by some fun downhill (where I practiced such self-talk as, "you are amazing and incredible and fantastic and remarkable and outstanding!"), level, and then a KILLER hill that was pretty steep for about 2 miles. I kid you not. And then, just when I thought I was at the top - there is another hill! And another! And another!!!!! But, I made it. Roadkill: 3



Back to the transition area - take off the shorts - put on the pants - try to buckle my shoes with frozen fingers - try to run on shaky legs (uphill, no less). 3.1 miles of rolling hills, back to the Olympic Oval to finish the last 200m. There is my family!!! "Go, Mommy, go! Go, Mommy, go!" I finished!!! Hugs and kisses and pictures! Warm, dry clothes at last. Roadkill: 4



Stephen asked which part was the most difficult, and I really don't know. The combination was tough, as was the 2-mile hill. The way my legs felt after the bike ride was really strange, they were so shaky I wasn't sure I was going to be able to walk - and I couldn't even feel my toes until the last mile of the run. That was weird.

After doing this, I think I prefer a sprint tri to a half marathon. I didn't have time to be bored with the tri! I will definitely be doing one of these again...and hopefully I won't be pregnant next time! :o)

Here are my splits:

swim: 12:00
T1: 2:39
bike: 57:22
T2: 1:57
run: 27:10