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

5th Place!

Not me - Elise! 2 weeks ago she ran a 1-mile race put on by the BYU Cross Country team. There were 15 first-grade girls who ran, and Elise came in 5th! Her time was 10:04 - I was very impressed, and she was so proud of herself! The Saturday after she and I ran 1.3 miles. She is very excited to run with me, Stephen and Uncle Brett.

Also on Saturday she decided she wanted to ride her bike without training wheels, so Stephen took them off and helped her ride. She didn't ride again until yesterday, and I helped her for about 30 seconds - she doesn't need help anymore! My little girl is growing up! She is also so proud of herself for riding alone!

Seeing her ride her 2-wheeler alone after a minimal amount of help helped me realize (again - there have been a number of examples of this) that when she wants something bad enough, and is developmentally ready, she'll pick it up with no struggle. I don't have to push anything on her at this stage. She'll do...whatever...when she's ready.

I'll post some pictures once my computer is back to normal...poor computer! It's tough being sick!

11.5 miles

No, not a run - a bike ride! My first, in fact, since I was pregnant with Elise - and then I was just a commuter biker! The first 5 were great, and I was thinking how easy it was. The second 5 were when I started feeling like I was getting a workout. It felt GREAT!!! There is a really cool trail that runs along the Provo River, from somewhere in the canyon to Utah lake. I felt like I was flying on my birthday bike! Maybe the best thing of all is that my knees didn't hurt at all. :o)

Here's my route:

13.1

WOOHOO!!!!! I did it, I did it, I did it!!!!! At yesterday's physical therapy session I got the go-ahead to run the Helvatia Half Marathon on June 14th! I ran 13.1 this morning at a 9:01 pace, which is great, because I want to be at about an 8:30 pace on race day. My knee has been bothering me a bit this morning (who am I kidding? I was totally limping all morning long!), but it's just fine now. I am SO incredibly excited that I can run the "hilly half"!

Almost all my blogs are about house projects, kids and running...that's just what I do! :o)

10.3

That is how far I ran this morning! That's the farthest I've gone since the half marathon before Sammy was born! My average pace was 9:25/mile. The first 8 miles were faster (right around a 9:00/mile), but I had to slow down because of my knees. But they held out and never hurt!!! I'm dead tired now, but it was SOOOO worth it!!!