One of the scariest things I've ever done...

On August 2nd, I participated in the Tri for the Cure at the Cherry Creek Reservoir in Denver, Colorado. I was really excited until about 2 weeks before the event; then I started getting nervous! I barely slept the night before, we all got up around 4:30-5 in the morning and I don't know if I have ever felt so dreadfully nervous in my life! I felt like we were driving to my doom! I just kept thinking, 'in a few hours you'll feel so much better!'. I had been wanting to do a triathlon for a couple of years now, but I didn't realize it would be quite so scary! I have a fear of bike wrecks since I got in a bad one when I was a kid and I've barely ridden one since, so I think that was the part I most feared. The bike ride was actually quite exhilarating and I wasn't as close to other cyclists as I had imagined. I did keep telling myself as I would read the mile markers 'you only have 6 miles to go without wrecking' and so on and so on. I thought that I most looked forward to the 5k at the end since I would finally be on solid ground doing what I'm most used to...that ended up being the hardest part (1/2 of the 5k was up hill) but, I ended up really enjoying the whole experience (well, maybe except the nerves!). Now, that I have this one under my belt, I hope that in the future I won't get so freaked out! Tom and I are hoping to do one together next summer!
arriving at the park and feeling like I wanted to puke!

my $5 dollar garage sale bike...perhaps one reason I was a little worried! I thanked God once the bike ride was over for my bike lasting through all 11 miles!

off to my DOOM! ;-)

trekking to the race...it was a long walk.

Tom took some great pictures of the race...it was a beautiful morning! There were about 3,000 participants I think.

the transition area

this was the only pic Tom was able to get of me....I'm in the middle looking at the camera wearing the wetsuit. Someone gave me the tip that you can rent a wetsuit for $5 for the weekend....it was a great tip! The water was freezing!

this was my wave...I'm in there somewhere praying for my life! ;-)

this is a good pic of what it's like during the swim, especially in the beginning...CRAZY!

the start and finish of the bike race...

for the 5k we had to run up to this damn....UP, it was so challenging after swimming and biking and whew! Seriously, probably the hardest 5k I've ran!

looking out for Momma!

Taylor enjoyed the sprinklers...

still alive! It was actually a very inspiring event because we were raising money for the Susan G. Komen foundation and there were breast cancer survivors all over; participating and supporting. It was very touching to feel so grateful to get to participate in such a physical event...to have a life to live....I'm very grateful!

so grateful for these lives too!