We did it! IG triathlon relay is in the bag!

We did it! The Iron Girl Columbia triathlon relay is in.the.bag!  I couldn't of asked for a better swim, bike, and run team! So much fun! I'm not sure if a lot of you know, but my teammate was the lovely Katye, from Long Legs on the Loose who in fact, crushed the 3.3 hilly run. :) 

I kept telling her the entire weekend how happy I was that we were teammates.  This was by far, THE most stress free race/event I have ever participated in.  We roomed together at the host hotel and together we spent some $ dough hitting up the expo, racked my bike at the park, had a nice low-key pasta dinner, and then stopped at Target for some last minute items.  Not too long after, we got back to the room did we shower and head off to dreamland. :)

The next morning we were up early.  Step 1 for me was starting the coffee maker (sorry Katye! ha!).  We packed up our things, checked out of the hotel and we were on the shuttle to Centennial in the dark.  Shortly after we got there we got our bodies marked with our race #'s and a HUGE "R" for relay on our calves. LOL

We settled in, walked around for a bit (I caught up with my hubby and kiddos! :)) and before we knew it...the rain started and then it started P-O-U-R-I-N-G with a little bit of thunder! Yikes! We took cover under some trees, laughed about the rain, and people watched.  Eventually we made it over the Team ASA tent and waited until the first swim wave started...and waited some more! LOL  Everything had been pushed back by 20 minutes, so the downtime was a bit more than anticipated.  In between the waiting I found my family and friends, which def helped pass some of the time.

Around 9 a.m. (I think?) our swimmer was in the water!  It was time for me to head over to the transition area to be ready for her to meet me at my bike.  It didn't take long for her to crush the .6 mile swim and the next thing I know we were transferring the chip to my ankle, and I was off to conquer this...

As soon as I hit the course I settled in and started pushing it (passing a few of the ladies on 108).  It wasn't until I was around mile 3 that I realized I forgot to hit start on my Garmin. LOL  Time was flying and I was having the BEST time out there.  The hills were no joke, but being in the right gear made them totally doable.  In fact, the dreaded, steep Mt. Albert didn't seem as bad as it once was...(I think the longer gradual climbs were worse! LOL).  Before I knew it I was at the turnaround and heading back.  I realized at times going up those hills that I was going steady but slow, so I made a mental note to get in a heavier gear on the downhills to push it and GO...sometimes reaching a speed of 28.1 mph!  For the first time ever, I wasn't scared of the downhills. I felt in control and just so fearless! 

Coming down on the home stretch I was still feeling good. Still smiling, still cheering on the other gals out there.  Coming back into Centennial was a bit of a blur, I sort of couldn't believe it was over...  I came in fast, hopped off the bike, and ran to my rack where Katye was waiting. I don't even think we said two words to each other then. LOL I just stuck my leg out, she grabbed the chip...and took off!!!!  I got myself together, caught up with my family and friends...and we were off to see Katye bring it home....

And that she did my friends...I couldn't believe it! Minutes after getting to the run course finish area there she was! LOL

FINAL RESULTS:
Team We TRI Together - a.k.a. - Team Long Hugs and Sweaty Legs ;)
Placing: 19 out of 96 Relay Teams!!!!

Combined Time: 2:02:47
.6 Swim: 17:44

17.5 bike: 1:17:35
3.3 Run: 24:46

And there you have it folks, my Iron Girl triathlon relay experience. It was just.plain.fun and I would LOVE to do it again! :)  All in all, I think it's pretty damn amazing what can happen when you train well for something.  A mere 6-7 months ago, I didn't have much road cycling experience. I got my road bike, took a class, joined up with strangers for group rides, went out to Columbia to do the actual course, put in serious miles in spin classes...and I DID IT!!!!!!  I couldn't be more proud of us. :)

I'll end this post with a quote I wanted to share...

“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." - B. Tracy