Bear Lake Brawl

Mike and I did the biggest Triathlon we have ever done. We did the Bear Lake Brawl, Olympic size. So that is a one mile swim in open water, 26 miles on a bike and a 10k run(6.2 miles). This was our moment the race we had been training for all summer. 

The first day we were at Bear Lake we woke up early not by choice but by the crazy lightening and rain storm. After the storm passed we went for a run. Mike and I have never run before nor have I ever kept a 11 min. mile pace. It was fun though to run with Mike. He likes to talk while he is running and since I sound like I'm in labor while I run, I just listened to him talk about how cool it is that we were running. We ran 3.5 miles in 43 minutes. I wanted to run part of the course so that I was familiar with it and could know when to push myself and when it was okay to slow down. After we got back from our run we decided to go on a short bike ride into Laketown to stretch our legs on our bikes. We rode around looking at property that was for sale. Someday I will live up there. 

When were all done we took a rest out on the beach. Enjoying the sun. The water felt good on the warm skin. Mike's parents and sisters all came to Bear Lake. We enjoyed our time together laughing and eating and playing games. The kids really enjoyed digging in the sand. 

On the morning of the race I couldn't sleep. We were up early. We wanted to get a good spot for our bikes on the bike racks but little did we know there were numbers already placed on the bars of the racks that coordinated with our bib numbers. So we racked our bikes and tried to go back to our tent to get some sleep. The race was taking place at the same camp ground that we were staying at. So we didn't have to travel very far for the race. After going back to the transition area again, this time with the rest of our stuff, shoes, towels, helmets, gloves, glasses and water buckets. We got our wetsuits on and went out towards the lake to watch our neighbor who was competing in the half iron man part of the race. Just watching those competitors started to make me nervous and my stomach start to squirm. Then it was Mike's turn to get in the water for the men's Olympic. I could see he was nervous but he was trying to remain calm. He did a great job on his swim and he was on his way to the transition when the gun started the women's Olympic part. I started to get nervous that I was going to not get around the buoys fast enough. While I was swimming, I was feeling good that I could do this, I could finish this race. Then it was time to get out of the water. I was a bit slow on doing that. I didn't want to get all wobbly as I was walking on the sand to transition area. In transition area people were moving so fast. I wanted to move fast but at the same time I wanted to make sure I was set up for my run after the bike. So I made sure my feet were sand free and I had some band aids on my feet for my blisters that I continue to get. Then I was out for the bike ride. I was feeling good until I came to the turn around point for the sprint riders. I still have 21 left. I didn't want to go further. I did of course. I saw Mike at one point on the ride and he was finishing, I also saw my neighbor and he was finishing also. I felt better and knew I could finish. Then came the run. It felt like the longest run of my life but it was also the fastest run too. My SIL was a volunteer at an aid station where she was handing out water. Her encouragement about my time and that I was doing a good job help keep me going. 

I wanted to finish this race in under 4 hours and I didn't want to be last with the safety vehicle behind me. I accomplished all those goals but finishing in 3 hrs and 43 min. I wasn't LAST!!! Mike did good as well in finishing in 3:03. I felt really good afterwards. Now onto the next race.