Rambin' Rose Raleigh 2014 AKA my first official triathlon

Ramblin' Rose Raleigh

I've been training for the last 12 weeks with Tri It For Life in preparation for completing my first official triathlon. 

Race was scheduled for May 18, 2014 at 8am. The race consisted of 225 yard swim, 9 mile bike and 2 mile run. Race was held at AE Finley YMCA in Raleigh. 

My plan was to be at the race site at 6am to get a good parking spot and a good spot in the transition area. I realized I was super dooper early when the race was still being set up. Early bird gets a good parking spot and bonus an end spot on the bike rack.

This was my first official TRI so I was kinda wandering around like a lost kid in the mall. A lot of my TIFL mentors would come up to me and guide me on what to do. I love those chicks.

Helen Bac AKA Claudio Mello help me mount my bike properly and all the way to the end of the rack. Martha helped me attach my timing chip. Then I headed over to the orange shirts aka the volunteers to get marked. I was familiar with being marked as we went through the same process during the mock TRI. I made my necessary pre-race potty stop. Went back to the transition area to get ready for the fun. 

I met up with the 3 amigos. Let me explain the 3 amigos = myself, Julia Reed and Erin Keener. 

We head over to the front of the Y for the pre race announcements and the start of the race. After the announcements, our TIFL cheerleader Sharon lead us into our TIFL cheer. Who are we? Triathletes What do we do? Finish Strong. We were so loud they could probably hear us in Durham. 

We filed into the Y. We line up in the gym based on swim ability. 10 is the fastest level and goes down to 1. I signed up with group 6 along with Julie. Like most things I got talked into moving up to group 7. Peer pressure I tell you.

Group 7 is headed towards the pool. I'm thinking OMG we are about to swim. We head towards the pool. Erin and Julie are ahead of me. Then I'm up next. I climb into the pool and start swimming. I'm moving slow and steady. Next thing I know I'm apparently holding up traffic because there are like 3-4 women who pass me. No problem. I'm in no hurry. At the end of each lane I see a TIFL mentor who is calling my name and rooting me on. Then I'm on the last lane and TIFL mentor Amanda Law is pointing to the ladder and tells me "Jo you are done. You can get out" why do feet act like they can't move. I do make it out the pool. We head back to the transition area. There are spectators along the route rooting and cheering fellow participants are running past us to get to the transition area. Did I mention we noticed as we were getting out of the pool, we could see ladies already on the run course. That meant they had already done the 9 mile bike course. Holy Smokes batman. 

I make it to the transition area. I'm wishing I had brought a shirt to put in over my Tri suit but I totally didn't think about that when I was packing. Shoes and socks are on. CamelBak is on. Helmet and gloves are on. I drink some powerade and head out for the bike run. I meet up with other 2 amigos. We head out round 2. This is actually my 3rd time on this course so I know it very well. 

I'm rolling down Baileywick and cross into the neighborhood and I see folks headed back. Rebecca Sitton yells out "good job Jo" I see my fellow TIFL athlete Emily hauling tail back to the Y. This bike course is not for the faint. It is up and down. Up and down. We hit mount Vernon which is a busy road and when we get to the hill. We all walk it along with everyone else. We get to the top and get back on. Turn and turn through the neighborhood. Then we make that right on Countrywood. I know what's next the devil disguised as Carrington. I rock downhill. I will pass you going so fast it will make your head spin. I'm hauling down Carrington. Then here comes the uphill. Did i mention that Carrington is the devil in disguise. I don't even try, I get off the bike and walk it up. Because there is no shame in walking. There's a family bless their heart that lives on that devlish hill. They have a pit stop at the end of their driveway. They tell us there was food but it's gone. The story of my life. Erin asks "where's the beer?" The mom says she has champage and offers to run into the house to maker her a mimosa. I hear about this after the race. I was oblivious to the conversation as I was in a zone pushing my bike up Carrington.

After that it really is just a few more turns back to Baileywick. When I ride over the bridge and see 540 I am so excited because I know soon as I will be headed back to the Y. I'm head down the hill and I see the turn and the cops and course monitor are holding traffic and that turn is made with ease. I have less than 1/2 mile to go. I pedal and pedal. I see 1 of the amigos Julie I'm front of me. She is walking the last bit and I am still biking and I yell out "on your left" then there's the turn into the Y. I see a TIFL mentor and she yells out "you can dismount now" she tells me the hard part is over. You know what she is right. I check RunKeeper and will you beleive it i have another PR on the bike course.

I walked my bike back to the transition area. I see people leaving which means they are done. I hear someone yell my name and it's a friend of mine who has come out to see me at the race. That just made my day.

I load the phone in the armband, take the helmet and gloves off. Then I head out for the 2 mile run. The run at this point is a slow stroll. Slow and steady until the finish. It felt so good to cross that finish line and see all my TIFL ladies waiting for me as I crossed. I am a triathlete. 

None of this would have been possible without the love and support from my TIFL family.