triathlons are fun...really

so, i finished my first triathlon. i trained, i worked i prepared (ish) and now it is over. its always weird for me when things that you look forward to for a long time and prepare for are over.

distance: swim - 300m, bike - 11miles, run - 2miles

time: 1hr, 18 min

luke's time: 1hr, 7min

i lost to luke with his no training, no spandex, 1985 bicycle self.

i also lost to some 12 year-olds but it happens.


it was a very fun weekend, we left saturday afternoon and made the drive to new braunfels where the triathlon was held. we had to hustle to austin to be there in time to pick up our packets before the bike shop handing them out closed. after we had our packets we just enjoyed the road trip. we stopped so the dog could play, we ate dinner and enjoyed the wonderful summer day.

here we are loaded, gassed up and ready to go.

we had dinner at an italian restuarant in whole foods. it was delicous and a good source of needed carbs for he upcoming day.

after that we made our way to my friend tasha's mother's house who graciously allowed us to stay with her to crash out. at 5am on sunday morning my alarm went off and i found myself surprisingly waking up from a deep sleep. i had anticipated nervous sleep but instead had good rest. but immediately sunday morning my nerves we intact and active. i woke luke and ashley up and we began to ready for the day. after arriving at texas ski ranch we realized we had to park in the rear parking and walk about 1/3mile to the race area. about halfway through our walk luke and i realized we didnt have our helmets (which are required)for the bike race. luke walked back and got them and i began to feel rushed. but luke returned and we pressed on. first we went to rack our bikes in the transition area and get marked up. while laying out my towel and shoes i realized i didnt have my shoes. thankfully ashley walked back to the care and got them for me while i got my timing chip and finished setting up. after ashley returned with my shoes i finished getting all my stuff ready and started stretching.

here is luke and i before the race, marked up and ready to go.

luke and ashley before the race.

after all that feeling rushed i had plenty of time to get ready. after hanging for a few minutes i jumped in the lake to get a feel for it and have a quick warm up swim. that is when i discovered that the water at the texas ski lake was the grossest water in the united states. it smelled like poop, was black (also like some poop) and left a residue on your skin (like poop probably would if you swam in it). i was disgusting.

there were 1,000 people in this triathlon so we had to take off in waves. the 1st wave took off at 8:00am, luke's wave took off at 8:03am. he is the one on the right side of this picture in the yellow swim cap.

luke is in the water and in the race!

luke is out of the water and headed to the transition area to get on his bike. i am still on the beach waiting to start.

luke was the only male in his entire age division not in spandex and he was pretty proud of that.

here i am in the water waiting to start. i am in the red swim cap.

my start time was 8:18am.

and im off!

just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming

out of the water, complete with 5 o'clock shadow from the poop water and headed to my bike.



the transition area.


luke is done riding his bike and starting his run.

when i finished my bike ride i could see that luke was already finished, in my defense he got a 15min head start.

i could see the finish line and i was ready to be there.

the conquerers

i repped my "just kidding" tye dye uniform in honor of my ultimate frisbee team.

all in all it was a very fun weekend.

on another note, i am done with seminary for the summer and grateful for a break and am loving the extra time to play outside.