Next time...

[truth]

My finacee started running 2 years ago and learned to swim (really swim) last summer. She got on her first real bike in May and has a total of 7 actual road rides under her belt. She's barely mastered clipless pedals. She's never done an open water swim. Yet for some reason she decided to enter a triathlon way back in January.

I was stoked that she'd decided to set a long term athletic goal. I was weary of all the things I would need to teach (and buy) her along the way. I prayed that she'd not bitten off more than she could chew, thus souring her on more ambitious athletic pursuits.

She got herself a training plan and she stuck to it to the T. I knew she could make the distances and if she just kept her head together she was going to be suprised with her results. She'd put in the hours and miles and I was genuinely proud of her total commitment. She took instruction well and trusted in my plan to teach her to ride and race. She fell and got back up. She got frustrated and fought through it. She was becoming an athlete before my very eyes and she kept me working hard in my rehab. Hell, she even got me to enter a tri later this summer.

As the race drew near I had only one fear. I was terrified that she was going to hate it. That she would be miserable in the race and feel the whole endeavour was pointless. I knew that it was all or nothing. There could only be 2 outcomes.

Fuck this shit...

or

next time...

The day was not gonna help my cause. It was 65 and raining and would stay that way all day. We stood in the rain waiting for her "wave" to start from 5:30 am until 8:20 am. She was cold and the time was more than enough to rattle anyones nerves. Unkown swim, riding in the rain...she had alot on her mind.

Someone's got some pre-race jitters.


Soon enough it was go time and now she could rely on her training. I just kept her smiling as they counted the group down...


Into the maw...



And go she did...



She lost a ton of time in her first transition, nearly 7 minutes, but still rallied the sprint distance course in 1:35:13. Kicking the crap out what she had sworn would be a 2 hour effort. She was stoked, I was elated and most importantly, on the walk back to the car I heard her say, "next time..."

FKNA!

[Crinkle]

was it a Danskin Triathalon? My wife is doing the sprint Tri next month. Its been tough training with the little guy around and working. This weekend she went and did a 1/2 mile open water swim. Now we just need to improve the running. the riding is cake. I doubt she will acutally go race pace in anything but the swim, but looking foward to her 1st tri. I will pass this on to her as motivation/good success story.

[truth]

It was part of the Subaru Women's series. Nice event. Well executed and organized.

[Rontele]

way to go mrs. truth

[Daywalker]

way to get her involved. Sounds like the training paid off!

[BeanDip4All]

I was weary of all the things I would need to teach (and buy) her along the way.

Heh... so true. Just what I needed... another expensive sport!

that's awesome that she loved it

[climb2ski]

Well Done... Nice TR

[stepchild]

Good for her! ...and you, for being supportive. I've seen situations where an SO pours him/herself into training and that causes some strain on the relationship (less time together, among other issues). Nice work.

[powstash]

nice, very nice. I only hope my return to the tri world next month is as victorious as hers.

I think you've got yourself a keeper there.

[CantDog]

As much as I dont like triathalons, I gotta say that girls that do them are usually a lot less beastly than girls who just race bikes. I think that it something to do with not having thighs that can crush a man's skull.

[Vinman]

Way to go Ms Truth. Glad you had a good time and nice result for your first sprint.

[truth]

Powstash - She's a keeper allright. I too hope that my return to racing is nearly as succesful come 8/27.

Cantgog - Spot on, there was some eye candy for sure. In comparison to female cyclists the tri girls are freaking super models. The nice thing about this event was that without a mens field the swim is much more relaxed for the women. Where men would run each other over the women are quite polite.

Vin - I think with some transition work and some more bike time she can bring her race into the low 1:20's easy. Another year of swim training and she should be able to go sub 1:20.

She's allready looking for another event and is stoked to take her training to the next level. It's pretty cool.

[CantDog]

Cantgog - Spot on, there was some eye candy for sure. In comparison to female cyclists the tri girls are freaking super models. The nice thing about this event was that without a mens field the swim is much more relaxed for the women. Where men would run each other over the women are quite polite.

Totally. In that picture with your fiance in the middle, all of those women could be attractive. At a bike race at best there will be one or two. And they usually arent fast.

Yeah, the politeness knows no limits. I was riding past a road race a few weeks ago and saw a crash before a tight corner. All the women, instead of immediately getting on their bikes and hauling out of there, where standing there laughing, seeing if everyone was okay, etc. I threw up a little in my mouth. ITS A FUCKING RACE. GET ON YOUR BIKE AND GO. I think this has to be a reason why womens sports is not popular(well, I guess there are lots of reasons). If there were fights, then men would watch it a lot more.

edit: strange goings on on the board...