Pumpkinman Triathalon

I did it!!!! I finished the Pumpkinman Triathalon. It was a beautiful day. The sun was bright and there were no clouds in the sky. We made a lot of friends on the route. We started the day with a moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11. Then cheers went up after the National Anthem. There was excitement in the air. Triathaletes from all over the country were rearing to go. Everyone was nervous but exhilarated at the same time. We were ready. We trained all summer for this moment. Running 2-3 times per week, biking 1-2 times per week, swimming 1 time a week. All that training was ready to be used. We were scared, ready to start but waiting for our waves to get called.

The elites went first. Cheers rose up. Then the next heat, and the next. and the next. I was in the 6th heat. There were only 2 heats behind me. I was nervous about getting in the water, but I was ready. My last 2 swims were practicing putting my head in the water and breathing side to side. My goal was not to be the last out of the water. Our wave was called, "GO GO GO GO". And we were off. I stood to the right and back of the pack. Everyone rushed into the water to get out front. I stood back a little. With swimming in tri's, there are so many people that some don't pay attention to where they are going and run into you, cut you off, and/or kick you. I found my pocket where the risk for getting dunked was less.  I was in the groove stroke stroke breathe, stroke stroke breathe. The finish line was near. I made it out of the water in 14 minutes, much faster than my first year. Now the climb up the hill challenge. I started jogging and then hit the steeper section and I had to walk, most people were walking. I took a breathe and smiled for my picture, then continued panting.

The transition area went smoothly. I changed out of my wetsuit, socks, shoes, helmet, and glasses on and off I went. The bike was a little challenging. There were so many hills that my legs were burning. I needed to conserve strength for the run. It was hard to push myself through the bike. The last couple of weeks of bike training was difficult. I didn't have the drive to push myself. My thoughts kept going back and forth to push harder, I am good going slower, I'm tired, I can do it. Mentally it was hard to keep focus. I finally got my drive after Great Hill. I pushed and pushed after that. I think I was very nervous to ride Great Hill that I defeating myself in the previous sections. However, I rode the 14.25 miles in 53 minutes. I beat my time again from last time. Going through transition was easy, change shoes, take off helemt and go. I went out on the trail and started running. Oh No, I forgot my number belt. I had to run back and get my belt. There was some wasted energy. After biking and then running, your legs feel like bricks. I felt like I was running so slow and I kept trying to speed up. After the first mile, I met someone on the run and we chatted the other 2 miles. It made time go by much faster. We started getting into the transition area and I started breaking out, faster and faster, down the hill. My name was called as I came through the finish line. "Jody Ferreira from South Berwick, easily running on her home turf." I did it. I finished. I felt great, exhausted but great. My time for my run was 29:44 which was faster than all my 5K's. Overall my time was 1 hour 44 minutes. Not bad. I was happy. My training paid off. Later that night we went home and was looking at different series to run. Our challenge for next year is to do Will Run for Beer series and a half marathon. Maybe the Dempsey 100 mile ride and the Danskin triatholon. But for now, weight training and figure competition is next in site.
PS: I actually did do a weight work out the next day.

Thanks for the pictures Donna!:)