  Well, it's over. Last Sunday , July 18, 2004 was my first triathlon: 325 yard swim, 11.5 mile bike, 3.25 mile run. My Time was 1 hour 18 minutes 16 seconds. Not terrible. I was in the top 3/4's. It was very fun, very intense, and much harder than I expected. Training in the gym helps, but I realized I need to train more intensly. In my training I focused on doing two things: swim then run. I trained bike/run only twice, and it wasn't even on my bike, but a gym stationary. I thought concentrating on swim and run would compensate for my weaknesses. I just didn't realize how weak I was on the bike. I started to realize it the week before the Tri when I biked 10 miles then ran 3.25. It was an eye opener. It took me about 5 minutes to recover from the bike while I was running.
By then it was too late to really train that way. Oh well, live and learn. I will be training differently for next year. The biggest surprise for me was the swim, which was in a lake as opposed to a pool. Just a hint for anyone else doing their first time tri, train in the lake as much as possible. Advice point number 2- really concentrate on relaxing. This is how it happens. You get in the lake with the people in your heat. My heat consisted of 46 guys between 35-39. The horn blows then you are diving in, trying to avoid getting kicked, and trying to keep up with or pass everyone else. You also realize how murky the water is, even with gogles, and that you have to lift your head up out of the water completely to see where you are going.
By the time I go to the first bouy I realized I had been sprinting the whole way, and was out of breath, and holding my head out of the water was getting harder, and messing up my rythm. This forced me to alternate between breast stoke and freestyle, made it difficult to get my breath back, and just pissed me off. The rest of the race went much better. The bike was much harder than the meager training I had done for it. Switching gears and such, but ah well more taining! It was very exhilaratinig. I was amazed at how good it felt to pass people too, and how sucky it was to get passed.
The competitive spirit is deep. The run was my best event. 3.25 miles in 27 minutes 08 seconds. Not my best, but I was happy. One thing I really liked about the Triathlon was the supportive attiude of the other athletes, and the spectators. As I was finishing up the run I tried to sprint as fast as I could. I came around the second to the last bin, going up hill to the fininsh, with lots of people cheering me, and those in front of me on, and I heard a guy, I imagine one of the guys who already finished, he sounded like a coach, a very authoritative voice, called out to me, "Way to dig 216!
" Then a few seconds later I was done. There was a fire truck spewing water high into the air so people could cool down after the race. I shambled ove to the merciful fountain, in a daze, with those word echoing in my head. In fact I have been hearing echos of them all week.
Now, a week later almost I feel strangely empty. The goal I had been working towards for the last few months is not there anymore. There are a couple more events in my area, but they both have signifigantly longer swims; I think I will wait until next year to try them. What a great experience though. Can't wait for next year. If you're interested here are the numbers: Overall place out of 333 : 175 Age group : 35- 39 Swim 325 yards: 7:40 Place: 217 Bike 11.5 Miles: 43:29 Place: 189 Run 3.25 Miles: 27:08 Place: 152 Overall Time: 1:18:16 
