A Tri Babe

I am almost at the finish line (I am in blue).

Travis and the kids were there cheering me on during each transition, it was so fun to hear Sydney yelling "Go Mommy Go! Go Mommy Go!" from far away, it brought tears to my eyes when I was going from the bike to running because I was so tired. Thanks Trav and kids for being there for me, it made this a lot easier.

This is my good friend, Stephanie, she has been my training buddy.

Last year I did my first triathlon with 5 of my neighbors and had a blast. I decided to do it again this year and talked 4 of my running friends into doing it with me. I trained a lot harder, especially in the swimming and had such a fun time getting ready for the triathlon. We did a lot of our training at the local lap pool but had one practice in Lake Oswego to get us ready. Let me tell you, it is so much different swimming in a lake then in a swimming pool. First, the water is a lot clearer in the swimming pool, you can see the black line at the bottom to help you go straight. I was afraid to look in the lake, you never know if there is a big fish around you. Another difference is that you are more buoyant in the pool you have a tendency of sinking a little bit more in the lake so you have to work harder to stay a float. I used a wetsuit so it helped a great deal, sorry I do not have pictures to show, it is a good thing because it is not a pretty sight with a wetsuit, swim cap and goggles.

I beat my overall time this year and my swimming by 3 minutes, which is all I wanted to do. I did freak out at the beginning of the swim, I could not get my breathing right, started to have a panic attack and there are a ton of people around you so it was really little scary. I wanted to give up but I rolled over onto my back floated for a second and said a little prayer and then off I went. It was a great experience and I look forward to doing it next year.

A major highlight of my whole experience is that I ran into my best friend from childhood at the race. We have not seen each other in 12 years. I was listening to this prerace meeting and was looking around and all of a sudden our eyes met. We both freaked out. We grew up together on the same street in Littleton, Colorado from the time we were 2 until I moved away when I was 14. Her parents were my second parents and we have so many great memories. She moved to Portland 1 year ago. After we caught up for a second it was time for the race. During the whole race I kept thinking to myself, I just saw Jenny McDonald. It was crazy. After the race she was able to meet my kids and Travis and I met her boyfriend. Travis was happy to finally put a face with all of the stories he has heard. We are planning on getting together in the next couple of weeks. We did not take any pictures together but will when we get together, I know my family would love to see how little Jenny has grown up.

As soon as the triathlon was over, the car was packed and we started heading out for our long drive to Utah with a stop in Idaho. I had to freshen up in the bathroom of a Jack in the Box and change clothes, I was not a pretty sight when we showed up at my friend's house in Jerome, ID.