One Year Ago This Weekend

It turns out I have a race on Sunday.  Seriously?  I thought I would have started learning how to swim by now....I’m not any closer to stroking the entire race.  I can stroke for 100 meters, maybe, and then the doggie paddling kicks in. 

           This race (Midwest Mayhem) last year, was my very first triathlon EVER!  It was the very first time I swam in the open water without a life jacket, was scared to death of falling off my big (see leg/knee/hand debacle 2009), and only finished ahead of one other girl.  So, I’m sort of excited to see how I’m stacking up to my results last year.  Obviously, I've improved my doggie paddling skills, my bike is lighter, and well, the run, I’m certain I can get through it. 

           My good buddy Laurie is going to do this race as her first triathlon too.  She’s a great swimmer, she’s borrowing the very same bike I rode last year so and our running is about the same (actually, she runs a little faster than I LIKE to go but I would rather keep up then get left behind.)  So, I’m thinking Laurie will totally kill me in the swim and hopefully I can catch her on the bike and then we can finish together.  It makes it so much more fun when you have someone with you when you cross the finish line!

           Of all the races we have done so far, this one is generating some legitimate excitement for me….and then after this one I’m super excited for the Jackson County Triathlon in August. I thought I did great (for me) at that one (yes, I doggie paddled there too) and I’m really excited to see how I’m measuring up!

           In the meantime, Operation 20lb seems to be working.  I wore a pair of pants today that couldn't be worn comfortably a month ago!  Yay!