Harvest Moon Half Iron Triathlon

Sunday, Sept. 16-Harvest Moon Half Iron Triathlon-1.2 mile swim , 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run, Aurora Reservoir. I did it! I took me 7 hours, but I did it! Mom and Dad got up at O'dark Thirty to come and support me (even though, the Buff game went late into the night before). Thanks guys; it was awesome to have you there! The water temp was pretty cold. The swim was an out and back and my arms were pretty cold near the end. I did veyr good on the swim, (32 minutes out of the water and 2 minutes up the beach to the transition area for my official split time of 33:56) I was ranked 101 in the swim out of 322 people total, men and women, elites and amateurs. Both my transitions were quite slow; guess I need to rethink the changing clothes thing. I guess it is time for a new tri suit, with 2 pieces and a zipper in the front of the top. The bike was not very fast at all, 3 hrs. 31 min., but part of my first time strategy was to be rested for the run, since I hadn't done enough running distance training. I was well hydrated though, Pops, had to take a nature break on both the bike and the run. The last 15 miles of the bike was very hard with a head wind and up-hill. The run was long, but doable. The rolling hills were challenging, but did break up the monotony a bit. My run time was 2 hrs 47 minutes, although looking back, it didn't seem like that long. I walked up all the steep hills and through the aid stations. It was hot for the first 3/4 and I dumped water on my head at every aid. There was also wind, which was a curse and a prayer. I feel better about the run, knowing that Dad said it was one of the hardest he had done. I guess next year, I better go do some runs at Aurora Res. to get used to those rollers. Well it feels good to have that under my belt! A great sense of accomplishment! And, I am even thinking about the next one. It's cool to think I can shave a half hour off my time, next time. Thanks for all the moral support, fam! I couldn't have done it without you all behind me. It was definitely mentally taxing to stay focused for that long. I did do my fuel right though. I have decided that I now deserve the somewhat obnoxious, "TRIATHLETE" with the green Colorado mountains bumper sticker in my car window!