Iron Girl Sprint Triathlon

An E-mail from June 15, 2007

Hi Friends, Family, loved-ones, and those long-lost!

I thought I'd write because it's been too long since I've probably said hello to most of you.

I'm filled with excitement and anticipation today - I almost feel like a kid the night before Christmas. Tomorrow I'm leaving on an adventure. It's not like it was leaving to hike the A.T. but it scares and frightens me nonetheless. It's a beast that I want to know and be near. I'm afraid of failure, but willing to take it if it comes.

On Sunday, the 17th, I'll be in my first traithlon. Granted, it's not the kind where you swim three miles, bike 100, then run a marathon - NO! Not this year, at least. It's a mini one (1/3-mile swim, 18-mile bike, 3-mile run) that I signed up for back in January anticipating my 30th birthday this June. I wanted something for myself: health, joy, fitness, pride of accomplishment...all the things I get from breathing fresh air, doing something harder than I actually think I can do, experiencing the wonderful/beautiful people along the way, and sharing in something that is bigger than myself. In many ways, this process, and the race on Sunday is like the Trail (except, with less candy bars).

When I got this wild hair to sign up for the Iron Girl Atlanta (It's an all women's tri), I called many women who I know would be loving and supportive in this process...to share the news. Some I cajoled into signing up, too. Breah, Ingrid, Mary, Catherine, and Terry all answered that call. We've had wonderful mornings greeting each other with crusty-eyed, just-awakened-to-the-day smiles as we've jumped in the pool to re-learn how to swim. We've run together, biked together, sometimes danced together, and often laughed together. I feel so lucky.

Anyway, with any more luck, I'll do as well as I hope I can on Sunday. Here is the course:
http://www.irongirl.com/pdfs/AtlantaMap.pdf. I jump in the water at 7:15...so if you're awake at that hour on a Saturday, keep me in mind. I'll probably be drawing in a long, stuttering breath if the water is too cold.

Races and Paces

I started wondering the other day, am I running faster or slower than I've run in the past. Then I started a search to remember which races I've run and what my finishing times have been. This is what I found. This seems like all the races but somehow I feel like I've completed others.

Mystery Miler, 4.87 miles, Boyce VA, time: 54:37

George Washington Birthday 10K, Feb. 2001, Alexandria VA, 63:33

Bright Beginnings 5K, April 2001, D.C., time 33:08

Jingle Bell Run 10K, December 2001, time 59:47

Cooper River Bridge Run 10K, April 2002, time 58:43

Asheville Citizen Times 5K, Sept. 2005, Asheville N.C. time 31:06

Dupont Forest 12K, March 2006, time 1:27:38

Bent Creek Classic, June 2006, Asheville, N.C., 1:08:40

Maggie Valley Moonlight Race 5K, Aug. 2006, Maggie Valley, N.C. time 32:01

Firecracker 5K, July 2007, Weaverville N.C. time 31:17

Bele Chere 5K, July 2008, Asheville, N.C. time: 31:21 (without time removed from time-chip at start)