Tell me about your first triathlon!

[badger]

good lord, as if Ironman isn't punishment enough, there's something beyond it?!?!?

[roadie gal]

I've told this story before, too. Here it goes...

I had been having some health problems: shortness of breath, a choking sensation, lightheadedness, that made it so I couldn't exercise. It took about a year, but I finally ended up with a pacemaker. Then it took another 6 months to get the settings right for me, but I finally started to feel good and was able to exercise again.

The summer after I got it, a few women at work decided to try the Donner Lake Sprint Tri (1/4 mile swim, 6 mile bike, 2 mile run. The bike is the hard part), so I joined them.

I came in 3rd for my age group. It proved to me that I really did have my life back after a frustrating few years. Since then I've done 2-3 tris a year, either sprints or olys. I like having a goal for my training.

[Connie]

I did my first Danskin Triathlon 2 1/2 years ago at the age of 58 and my second one last summer at 60! I wasn't a good swimmer then and still today am not good but a little better. I never learned how to breath so the first time I did the swimming with my head out of the water the entire time. I was so tired by the time I got out of the water but couldn't belive I actually did 1/2 mile. First time ever in my life! Last year I took swim lessons to learn how to breath properly but my time wasn't much better. This year I'm planning on concentrating more on swimming. My two daughters did it with me last summer as a celebration of me turning 60. One was 2 months pregnant at 33 and the other is 36. My older daughter didn't train hardly at all and was surprised at how easy the whole thing was!!!!! They were both on swim team in high school so that was the easiest for them. My running days are over after the first time so last year I walked and felt fine about it but forgot how old my shoes were so my feet were killing me. Make sure your shoes are in good condition. I absolutely LOVED the tri. The second time wasn't as exciting because I knew what to expect but my favorite part of the whole thing was the training. I never new I enjoyed swimming so much and in particular in a lake. It just goes to show that it's never too late to try new things. Enjoy yourself and don't take it too seriously!!!!!!! I look forward to hearing all about your first experience

Connie

[NbyNW]

I think most of my first tri experience is in the PNW Tri Newbies thread, but in a nutshell, mine went like this:

-Fractured sacrum, 2006 - freak accident, long story.
-Started road cycling in 2007, still rehabbing hip and back from '06 injury.
-Feb. 2008 my bike got stolen, and while looking for it online I discovered TE and all the wonderful online communities around cycling and cycling-related sports. And I started tripping over forums like this one, and websites like beginnertriathlete.com, and got this crazy idea that doing a tri would be a great way to overcome my injury. I set a goal to do one in 2009, since I didn't think I would be comfortable running for another year.
-July 2008 - fellow TE-er Wahine hosted a few of us who were prepping for our first tris. Ran for the first time in two years and decided to train for a tri in September
- Training was fun! Re-discovered how to enjoy swimming, and biked to work several times a week. Mildly sprained my ankle a week before my race, but I wasn't too concerned about it.
-September 2008 - I did it! Entered the U.S. Women's Triathlon Series in Federal Way, WA, which is also an ovarian cancer fundraiser. Goal was to finish, which I did. Back of the pack in my age group, but wasn't dead last. I ran flats and downhills and walked the uphills. Back felt pretty tweaked about halfway through the run -- I needed an adjustment after, but the whole thing felt great! Can't wait to do another!

[tribogota]

I started triathlon after a miscarriage and the idiot leaving me. I needed to know that my body wouldn't fail me. I did an olympic distance which I trained for for 12 weeks, with no running experience, only biking on my banana seat Huffy back in the 70s and not much swimming, 2 times a week, poor technique. I trained with a team for the swimming, improved immensely, from 100s at an average of 1:50 down to 100s with an average of 1:37.
I finished second to last in my first tri, the guy behind me was 72 (I was 37).
Now I am dedicated to the sport and did 3 olympics and one sprint in 2008 and just signed up for VINEMAN, my first 70.3, I am still slow running (10k 60 mins) but I am improving on everything and actually hope that in 2010 I qualify for a championship spot in my age group, which will be 40-44....

GOOD LUCK! and ENJOY, it is really NOT about winning but about enjoying the training, which is way more intensive and time consuming than the races.

[colby]

My first was also a danskin tri. I had watched the previous year's that my mother in law did, and ever since then, we've done it together (well, not literally together, though because of our age difference, we ALMOST finish together... THAT would be cool).

I was a competitive swimmer as a kid, but hadn't really swam since then. I don't know that I really trained for swimming, maybe one or two trips to the lake. I mostly started running. Well, walking... jogging... then running... much later. I had already bought a road bike to ride with my dad and husband (we all got bikes at the same time), and rode to work and did some regular riding. I wish I'd known about training plans then... or maybe not. Sometimes I feel married to my training plan now.

It was so... amazing... to cross the finish line that first time. I was doomed from the moment I started that triathlon. The adrenaline. The feeling of completing something that was a challenge for me. The individuality and yet amazing camaraderie at the same time. Watching people finish that were challenged to their maximum, winning a personal victory, and still having fun doing it.

Hah. It sounds so sappy and romantic. I feel like a total dork talking about it that way. I hope I'm not the only sappy and romantic person out there. I always try to describe the feeling of crossing the finish line to my husband, about the mental and physical victory, whether it's your first, a special victory, something you did in your (mother/sister/friend)'s honor... I wish that feeling was a gift you could give someone in a little box in that moment when they need it most.

[salsabike]

Colby, that was wonderful.