I DID IT. This has to be placed up there in atleast my Top 5 list of best things ever to happen to me. I knew deep down that I was going to accomplish this goal. I don't tend to back down from any challenge I set myself. What I didn't realise was how well I would go and how I would astound myself. I am so proud of me. Even when things got hard I dug deep and just kept going. And I do believe I did it all with a smile on my face even when my face was under the water. I just couldn't believe that I was doing it and that the day had finally arrived, and everything that I had trained for was finally coming into play.
The swim leg was great. The water was nice and cool but not too cold. I did the 250m in 3min 11secs and didn't feel that pace at all. I felt like I could have just kept going and going. I exited the water and was totally pumped, taking off my cap and goggles as I got to the transition for the bike leg. Once there I was glad I had set everything up in order, sunnies on first, then helmut, socks, runners and off with my bike. It went really smoothly I must admit.
The bike leg felt really good. I know I was pushing hard in the first 5K because my quads started to burn like they were on fire, but I maintained my cadence throughout the next 5K and then as I started to approach the transition for the run I dropped it down a gear and started spinning to loosen up my legs and get them ready for what lay ahead.
That jelly feeling in my legs was quite noticeable to me and my only hope was that it wasn't noticeable to everyone else. I felt like I had not much control over my lower half for atleast the first 250m of the run but after that I just got in a zone. Not a fast one, but one that I wanted to maintain and knew that I could sustain through the remainder of the run. God only knows my running is not great but I was happy. I was happy with my efforts. And why shouldn't I be.
I know there are many things to still work on. Like getting stronger in my run and bike leg, but these things come with time. But I am happy - actually ecstatic with coming 6th in my age group and 11th overall.
Sure I exited the water first and it would have been good to have maintained that the whole way but those other legs are a work in progress. I cannot scoff at coming 6th and I won't. I am SUPER DUPER PROUD OF ME.
The swim leg was great. The water was nice and cool but not too cold. I did the 250m in 3min 11secs and didn't feel that pace at all. I felt like I could have just kept going and going. I exited the water and was totally pumped, taking off my cap and goggles as I got to the transition for the bike leg. Once there I was glad I had set everything up in order, sunnies on first, then helmut, socks, runners and off with my bike. It went really smoothly I must admit.
The bike leg felt really good. I know I was pushing hard in the first 5K because my quads started to burn like they were on fire, but I maintained my cadence throughout the next 5K and then as I started to approach the transition for the run I dropped it down a gear and started spinning to loosen up my legs and get them ready for what lay ahead.
That jelly feeling in my legs was quite noticeable to me and my only hope was that it wasn't noticeable to everyone else. I felt like I had not much control over my lower half for atleast the first 250m of the run but after that I just got in a zone. Not a fast one, but one that I wanted to maintain and knew that I could sustain through the remainder of the run. God only knows my running is not great but I was happy. I was happy with my efforts. And why shouldn't I be.
I know there are many things to still work on. Like getting stronger in my run and bike leg, but these things come with time. But I am happy - actually ecstatic with coming 6th in my age group and 11th overall.
Sure I exited the water first and it would have been good to have maintained that the whole way but those other legs are a work in progress. I cannot scoff at coming 6th and I won't. I am SUPER DUPER PROUD OF ME.
