triathlete in training

i am now officially registered for my triathlon

woot

it's at fernandina beach (right above jax) on august 8th

1/4 mile swim then 10 mile bike then 3 mile run

it was pretty exciting to look up the map of it today, i even went on google maps so i could see the street view. it looks great, nice and flat! it's just my style too, i love the beach! my training's been goin pretty good so far. i can't believe how dedicated i've been, i'm not a morning person but i've been getting up before 7 pretty consistently to work out. i guess surviving the triathalon is motivation enough, brett keeps reminding me that you're more people die in triathlons than in marathons and i had to sign a pretty intense waiver saying i'm physically fit and understand injuries can happen. yikes.

here are a couple funny stories from my training...

so before this summer i'd never used the leach swimming pool before. it was pretty intimidating. anyway so the first time i go to the pool i try to fit in, pretend like i'm a pro like everyone else there (even though my cheapo wal-mart goggles were leaking like crazy and recently cut hair is the perfect length to drown me, but not long enough to stay in a pony tail) so i do my little work out and it's time to get out of the pool... easier said than done. i made a fool of myself. the side of the pool is oddly shaped because there is a cut out ledge under the side of the pool for drainage etc. my weakling little arms weren't strong enough to pull my big ol body out of the pool because you have to reach up so high to do a normal side of the pool pull up. i tried once and just turned my failed attempt into my legs on the side of the pool like i was "stretching" ha. i eventually awkwardly made my way out by using my legs with my arms. ha i'm sure i made the lifeguard's day. and ever since then i have not tried to climb out, i just get a lane close to the end and swim to the stairs/ladder.

as i trained more and more i began to feel like a pro (my new spiffy goggles, swim cap and ear plugs helped) until one day my newbie side came out while trying to get out of the pool... yet again. i had to swim across one lane and the dive zone to make it to the ladder. piece a cake. i take my goggles etc. off and leave it on the side to get when i get out, and dive under to swim across. unluckily though, where do i just so happen to pop up to get air? underneath the only possible thing to run into in the pool, the stinkin lane divider! directly in front of two people sitting and talking on the side of the pool, and the all-seeing lifeguard. oh well. at least my training is entertaining people?