Tri'ing to stay positive

I had set the alarm for 5AM, but shortly after 4AM I awoke to a dog panting in my face. It was my sister’s dog and the panting in your face was his way of saying he wanted let outside. Today was my first triathlon race of the season; in fact, it was my first tri in nearly two years due to my summer in Alaska last summer. Determined to get my final hour of sleep I rolled over and wished the dog away. By 4:45AM, after being reminded by the dog every ten minutes, I gave up, grumbling out of bed.

Unlike my mom’s dog’s, my sister’s dogs must be leashed outside or they will run. As I tied up her second dog, I thought to myself, “Why is Nala (my sister’s golden retriever) staring at me? Usually she runs into the yard. And I’m surprised how quickly Maggie (my mom’s golden retriever) ran into the yard, usually she just stares at me…” With that I realized that Maggie was staring at me, while Nala took off into the neighborhood. I was presented with the difficult decision of: (1) try to chase down the dog, or (2) cut the lost dog as a loss and get ready for my race. Considering how mad my sister would be, it seemed like net net chasing the dog would require less energy. Stepping into the yard with only shorts on, the opened up and began a torrential downpour. There I was, standing in the pitch black, being drowned, and no clue how I would begin to find this dog. After aimlessly wondering around the neighborhood I realized I should get my mom to join in on this search. As I returned to the house, that dumb dog was sitting at the door waiting to be let in! First challenge of the day: Completed.

After a 1.5 hr drive I arrived at the race with 45 min to the start of the race. I had taken my mom’s car, enabling me to put my bike inside in case the rain started again (which conveniently stopped after the dog was found). Walking up to the check-in, it dawned on me I had intentionally placed my helmet in my car so as not to forget it. I did not think about forgetting to take MY car. There I was, 1.5 hrs from my helmet and 45 min to the start of the race. Selfishly I figured I might as well try and get a family member to drive it out here, otherwise I could just do the swim and call it a day. My dad agreed (highlighting the awesomeness of my family).

The helmet would not arrive until 20 min after I was out of the water, but at least I could participate in all 3 events. It was a bummer not to be able to compete. With 20 minutes to the race time the sky opened up with torrential rain, thunder and lightening. Most importantly, the race was delayed. Amazingly, the helmet might arrive in time! Now was a race against the clock. My phone has this great ability of no longer working when the moisture around it got too high (this could even be a sweaty pocket on a hot day). I knew my phone wouldn’t last long. The only spot out of the next flood I could find was a port-a-pot. I stood in the bathroom trying to relay as much info to my dad as I could. I also finished preparing for the race in the small space.

As quickly as it came, the race stopped. As I lined up for the start I realized I wasn’t very nervous. All the chaos of the morning had completely pre-occupied me. When I got out of the water my dad was standing there with helmet in hand.

Other than everything being completely drenched, a very choppy swim, windy bike/run, and getting burned because in the downpour I didn’t even consider sunscreen, it turned out to be a fantastic day. Despite these challenges during the race, but spirits were high because I was just glad to participate. I find it amazing that while any one of those setbacks (the dog, the dog, the helmet, the rain, the wind, the sun, my bleeding feet) could have justifiably called it a day, but it turned out pretty awesome.

I don’t have any pics from the race, but here are some from last weekend’s Saturday swim and run (not pictured: the giant milkshake after the run!!)