My First Triathlon

Back in February, I was listening to a podcast by All Bodies on Bikes when they started talking about the Girlfriend’s Triathlon. It peaked my interest, so I looked it up and found that it was held in Vancouver, WA.

I had already committed to riding the Seattle to Portland (STP) event and a huge goal for 2023. After reading about the Girlfriend’s Triathlon, I got the hair-brained idea to register for it, too. The triathlon would include a 1/2 mile swim, a 12 mile bike ride, and a 5K run (or walk). Why wouldn’t a 64-year old woman with no race experience give it a try?

After registering, I did start jogging around the block a few times. I hadn’t really done any running for decades. Before my knees were replaced, I couldn’t run and why would I anyway? It’s not like I ever enjoyed it, not even when I was a teen in high school! I stopped trying to even jog after other women said they usually walk the 5K run part.

Over the next several months, I rarely thought about the triathlon, let alone train for it. I figured that I knew how to swim and grew up swimming in a river, so I wasn’t worried about that part. I also was used to riding long distances on my e-bike and rode a regular bike around Green Lake without much problems. I kept pushing it out of my mind as I prepared to ride STP.

I July, I did ride STP and finished the 207 mile route. It was long, but I did enjoy it for the most part. It was just the heat that I didn’t like. After checking that milestone off my list, I was more confident that I could do the triathlon, even if I didn’t really train for it.

The day before the event, I drove to Vancouver to pick up my packet and check in at my AirBnB. When I got to Frenchman’s Bar Park, the road was closed for another event. I had to park my car and ride my bike the 4.5 miles round trip to pick up the packet. It was bloody hot and it was supposed to be even hotter the next day.

The Event

I got up at 6am, dressed, loaded up my bike, and headed to the park. I wanted to beat the traffic line to get in since there was only one way to enter. After parking, I walked my bike and gear to the area where I would be marked with my bib number, age, and S for sprint. I was really starting to look official.

After getting marked, I entered the transition area to set up everything. Another woman, who did the tri before, gave me all kinds of pointers about how to place my towel, shoes, etc. She introduced me to some other women. Everyone was so darn supportive! We were all in the charity wave, which meant we would start in the first group.

I had time to kill, so I took a few photos and walked around to get familiar with the starting locations for each segment.

I had to walk the half mile to the swim chute partially blind and in bare feet. My friends, Michael and Daidrie, hadn’t arrived yet and I didn’t want to chance not having anyone hold things for me. With only a few minutes to spare, they arrived at the swim chute and wished me good luck.

Too soon it was time to start and I made my way out into the water. The water was pleasant and not as cold as I feared. When the horn blew, I started swimming, thinking it wasn’t so bad. That thought changed quickly after a few yards and I was already tired. I soon was way behind the others in my wave and the next wave was quickly catching up and passing me. I had to stop about every ten yards to stand and catch my breath. I found that doing a side stroke gave me the most momentum. When I got really tired, I would flip to my back for a while. Michael walked along the shore shouting encouragements. As long as I could see and hear him, I was able to press on. I really think I would have quit if it wasn’t for him being there!

The half mile seems to take forever! I later saw that my time was around 25 minutes, which sucked. But at least I did it.

While others jogged past me to get to the transition area and their bikes, I took my time. I wasn’t trying to win…I just wanted to finish.

After using my towel to get the sand off my feet, I put on my shoes and grabbed my bike, walking it to the segment start.

My average speed during the ride was around 11mph, I think. I was going to record it, but forgot.

During the ride, I passed a rider who had crashed and was getting first aid until the ambulance arrived. It brought back memories of my own bike crash two years ago and I shuddered seeing her bloody legs.

It was getting quite hot as I rode the route and it was making me feel sick in my stomach. My bike was feeling a tad too small for me and I wished I would have figured that out a lot sooner. As I rode, just about every other woman yelled to me, “You got this!” or “You’re strong!” Finally, I was close to the finish for the bike segment!

After stowing my bike in the transition area, I asked for something for my stomach at the first aid station. That, and drinking more water, helped as I started the last leg of the tri. As tired as I was, I already knew I was going to walk the 5K instead of running/jogging.

About a mile into the walk, I was getting a bad headache from the heat. I found a tree with shade and sat down for a bit. So many asked if I was ok. I told them that I was and just cooling off. There was a nice breeze under that shade tree and I loathed to leave it. But, I had to keep moving if I wanted to finish the tri!

Most of the walk was without shade and unbearable. I stopped several times just to try and cool down a bit. One woman saw I didn’t have any water and insisted in squirting some into my mouth. I had never been around so many women who were so supportive! It was amazing!

When I was a few yards to the finish, I started jogging. I was so happy to cross the finish line and be done!

For the entire tri, I just kept pushing on and tried not to think about what I was doing. It was kind of like an out of body experience, only getting really tired while watching myself.

I’m proud of myself for finishing and I don’t think I could have done it without my friends there to cheer me on. But this is one event I will never do again, especially at my age! I’ll stick to my e-bike, thank you, since I know I enjoy riding it so much!

The following day, I ached all over! I can’t say I was surprised since I hadn’t really trained for this event. My legs felt fine since they were used to bike riding, but my arms and shoulders hurt from the swim and my knees ached from the walking/jogging.

Note to self: The next time you get a hair-brained idea about a big goal, don’t be so impulsive!