Solana Beach Triathlon Experience

Okay I need more discipline on blogging...
When I turned 35 a year and a half ago, I wrote a list of 50 things I wanted to do in the next 35 years. Today I get to cross one of them off- I competed in my first triathlon. I am hoping that it is one of many... I had such a great day today. If anyone is thinking of taking up this sport I highly recommend Solana Beach's triathlon.
San Diego is considered the modern birthplace of the triathlon; so it can be an intimidating place to start out, but everybody was so nice today. Yesterday at the Expo there was a 2 hour newbie course overview. They covered everything and the instructor Steve Tally was amazing he came running by me during the run section - he took 2nd place for his age group. Not only was he funny - that man can run!
On Steve's advice I got to the race a little before 5am this morning. I got great parking and got a great end spot on the bike rack; so I could have plenty of room to lay my shoes and stuff out. It was fun watching all the competitors show up, the different bikes, outfits and bodies gave me hope that I wasn't completely out of my class.
I got down to the beach to get comfortable with the water and see what the course looked like. There was a fairly strong northern current, but the surf was crazy calm. I ran into an old high school friend Heather Hawthorne(married name Thelen?? I think) It was amazing to watch the Elites and a few waves take off before my heat. You can learn a lot just by watching others. My heat had about 142 women from 30-39. After last weekends swim clinic I was expecting to get pummeled, but women are obviously more civilized in the water. I got a couple of really good drafts(which is legal in the swim) after getting around the first buoy. Before I knew it I was going around the second buoy and headed back to shore. Got a little washing machined with about 10 other women when a rogue wave rolled through, but actually carried me pretty far into shore; so besides the water up the nose - not a bad ride!
Out of the water there was a fair little run up an incline, across a street to get to the bike transition area. I was psyched that there were still a fair number of bikes on the racks in my age group. Wet suit came off relatively painlessly - put shirt and shorts and shoes and helmet on and trotted with bike to the bike out area. I mounted my bike off to the side so as to not cause any collisions and didn't really want to get mowed down to start my ride. The bike was my big fear of the day. I've swum my whole life - I've done marathons and half marathons before - but the bike was all new. I clipped in one shoe and made the first turn and merged into the heats that were ahead of me. The second shoe took a little while to get clipped in, but about two minutes into the ride I finally heard the click - I was now ready to ride. The first stretch of biking I sounded like a wheezing asthmatic as I tried to get salt water out of my nose and just get comfortable. I'm not sure if it is the wet bathing suit that then gets the bike shorts pad wet that made the saddle a little less friendly, but get to the first of 4 u-turns on the course and I don't fall and I don't obstruct other riders yippee!! The bike ride wasn't bad despite all my fears, I did okay. Whatever advantage I had out of the water I lost on the bike, but today was an internal race and I passed a few on my ride...
With for me a graceful (not flying) dismount from the bike I headed back to my transition area - this time the sight of all the bikes on the racks was not comforting... Got out of the bike shoes and into my Adidas. Headed to the run out stomped on all the timing mats and headed out. This is where the race got ugly - it felt like I had 20 lb ankle weights on each foot! The shuffle that ensued was not pretty. The first mile was an ugly mess, but after the first mile my legs started to feel more normal and the shuffle picked up and I got into a rhythm. I started to sing "I Can Only Imagine" in my head which is an inspiring song in it's own way, but there is a you tube video with the Hoyt's - an Ironman son and father that I find truly inspiring. If I feel weak - I only have to think of this video.
I finished the race in 1:26:01. I was anticipating a 1:30 time so I was happy that I gained some time somewhere - they haven't posted the splits yet... I just feel blessed that I can compete and have fun in the process. Thanks to everyone who sent encouraging words and thoughts.