Luray International Tri Results

I did it! I made it! and I liked it! Which unfortunately means I'll probably do another one :)

Seriously, I did enjoy it and did a lot better than I had anticipated and had much more endurance than I thought I would. The only point I pooped out was on mile 4 of the run ... I started getting stomach cramps and ended up walking/running for the last 2 miles. But I still ran across the finish line smiling!

We had to swim around to two yellow buoys twice then

back to shore on the left and up stairs to the right

to the transition station for our bikes - fun!

1500 Meter Swim - 00:29:25

(my pretty new bike)
25 Mile Bike - 01:36:40
10K Run - 01:07:38

(Harris and Rebecca are off to the left in blue)

Total Time - 03:18:17

It turned out to be a beautiful day - 82 degrees - and the water was perfect for wetsuits - 74 degrees.

Thank you Rebecca and Harris (and of course Michael), if it wasn't for your encouragement, I wouldn't have done it!

Afterword we then headed up to NY to visit with family where we went kayaking, canal biking and continued our running training. We have an Eco-Tri coming up next month that we are now getting ready for.

Of course, no NY trip is complete without Abbots and Nick Tahoes - I earned it! Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us come up and crash!

Andy Rooney on Women over 40

"As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, 'What are you thinking?' She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize. For all those men who say, 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?' Here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!"

Andy Rooney is a really smart guy!

Murphy's Other 15 Laws ...

1. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
2. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
3. He, who laughs last, thinks slowest.
4. A day without sunshine is like, well, night.
5. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
6. Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
7. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
8. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
9. It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end-to-end, someone would be stupid enough to try to pass them.
10. If the shoe fits, get another one just like it.
11. The things that come to those that wait, may be the things left by those who got there first.
12. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer.
13. Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.
14. The shin bone is a device for finding furniture in the dark.
15. When you go into court, you are putting yourself in the hands of twelve people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.

Keep it Calm

Ok, so I am trying really hard not to freak out - my first Olympic Tri is this Saturday ... why am I doing this!?! I hate when I challenge myself to do something, I will do it - maybe not gracefully, maybe not quickly, but I'll do it.

Up to this point, the Sprints have been fun, light hearted, and I don't worry about my time. But it is my understanding that when you get to the Olympic level, people get pretty serious - the right outfit, an appropriate bike and not walking the last 6 miles. I mean, I know I don't have the toe grips or the bike shoes, but let's get serious, I barely know what I'm doing :) For my early birthday (by 4 mos.) Mike did buy me a new road bike so I wouldn't have to use my mountain bike with street tires. I guess that's a real faux pas - oops. I'm really trying not to get too over anxious and nervous - eek! My friend and her husband will be joining me - this is her first as well - he's done many of these.

I know, I'm lame. My summer has been consumed with teaching swimming lessons in the morning, working at the running store in the afternoon and training at night. I really need to get a life! I do have a good tan though :) But this is the last week of lessons, so I will have an opening for a new hobby ... hmm ... I do have the marathon coming up ... I really need to find another interest.