My Birthday "Try"athlon

This year for my birthday I wanted to do a triathlon. That may seem like a small birthday gift but all of the preparatory items added up. Bike:700$, Biking shorts: 50$, New Swim goggles: $30 Entry fees: $80, finishing my first triathlon: Priceless

I participated in the Blue Lake Triathlon June 5, two days before my birthday. I'm not sure if you know this, but they write your age on your leg. The older I get the less I want people to see my age, but there it was written in a huge black sharpie on my right calf. That afternoon, while I was taking a shower and washing off my number (#143 on my left calf) I started to scrub my age off my right calf, hesitated, and decided that I better leave it, being that I only had one last day to be 35.

The triathlon was better than expected, time wise, but nothing spectacular. I finished in 1:39:45 overall. The 1/2 mile swim took me 20:44 with a 4:05 transition. (That's the time it took to change out of my wetsuit and into biking attire) The 12 mile bike ride took 41:27 with a 2:17 transition and an amazingly slow 3.1 (5K) run at 31:11.

I felt the best on the bike but must have pushed a little too hard because my legs felt like lead when I got off and they wouldn't move no matter what I did. But, I finished and it was a nice surprise to finish faster than expected.

As I was starting the triathlon and saw all the the friends and family members in attendance, waiting to cheer for their favorite athlete, I began to feel a little sad that I had told everyone that they didn't need to come. I wished that I had someone cheer for me, but I was even more grateful that Jon was home watching the kids. After a very slow, air gulping, water choking swim in the water, I exited onto the shore to hear, "Good Job, Michelle" To my surprise, and joy, my Dad (Step dad) was on the side lines cheering for me. I was so overwhelmed that I got a little teary. Thanks Dad, That was the best birthday present of all.

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