I did it!

Im writing after just arriving home from a surreal experience of actually doing the triathlon that ive been training for. Everything I learnt...basically went out the window......due to the swim!!
That was HORRIBLE! As soon as i jumped in i know Iwas in trouble...it all happened so fast......I swallowed loads of disgusting water ...and then I guess i panicked. My breathing was too fast, I couldnt get my rhythm, there was no way my head was going under otherwise I´d just ingest more water. The shock of that meant that all I was thinking about was how far that buoy looked and whether I could actually do it. At one point I did think that I couldnt. I mean why should I suffer this awful experience. I did only breast stroke (nice and slow) ...and a couple of times went on my back to try and get my breathing under control. I saw fellow swimmers being hauled into the boats that were circling to see if we were ok. It was obvious I was going to be slow and last in this but I decided to continue to at least finish. I mean someone has to be last right?? By the time the person before me left the lake, I was still possible 50 metres or more from the finish. I ended up chatting to the guys in the boat, actually laughing and joking about what the hell I was doing whilst I was swimming.  They were great....very supportive, flirty and fun. Just what I needed to keep me going!

By the time I got on the bike I felt relaxed...as I´d finished the worst part for me. That is an achievement im proud about. The bike and run I had done a few times but obviousely after the swim it meant everything was much slower. Theres a massive hill coming out of the transition area which I didnt train on......so difficult. But I decided I´ll go slow and just keep moving.  The run was fine..although passing people going in the opposite direction jsut forces you to realise how much you still have to go. arghhhh.
My knees did hurt a bit...but the run had only a slight incline and i think I managed to pick up speed on that.
My body is not in as much pain as I thought..just generally tired. I need to wash all the crap off me....and hopefully anything I swallowed isn´t growing inside me! 

Finishing was great. Agreat sense of achievement.
Im not sure how I feel about this experience just yet. I think im still in a bit of shock from the swim (I sound so dramatic i know) and although people say I will now want to do more.....I will have to see about that.
I do plan to continue training....and maybe I will.....the whole experience is surreal, emotional and a little bit scary.

Freaking out - 1 day to go

Its like the quiet before the storm. Im sitting here on my sofa listening to the birds knowing that in less the 24 hours i will have finished (hopefully) the event. Im mean its only a triathlon, I should put things into perspective and all!
Today Im going to go to Casa de Campo and pick up the race stuff and also support fellow colleguers from the gymn who are taking part in the Olympic race, and of course see the wohle mayhem that goes into this whole Triathlon. Im not good with crowds (unless im on stage - im little) so im guessing it will make me more anxious but it should inspire me and start the adrenalin flowing.
hopefully i get a good nights sleep. I havent slept good in a few days.....arghhh
Today im not doing any training.....will just chill.....not sure if its psycholgical but my knees are hurting today! 
oh and weight wise...i hit my 53kg goal..so all this training has been amazing.
deep breaths...deep breaths...

6 days to go - transitions

so there is this whole lingo when it comes to triathlons....T1 and T2.
T1 is the change between the swim and bike.....T2...bike and run.
theres a whole industry out there with things to make the transition times shorter...it is a race ya know!
Ive sucumbed to only 2.......elastic laces...they are fab...I feel like a kid again(!).......and a race belt so I don´t have to fiddle with pins. I may save all of 3 seconds..but hey that a big difference between last and second last :-D (i have no illusions of doing this thing in record time.....I just want to finish it!)

Today I tried the transition betwen bike and run. It was mainly to see how my legs felt after cycling for a distance. The distance im doing in the triathlon is quite short so I know I wont get that jelly leg feeling that everyone seems to talk about. I did a 45 min ride ...a gentle one...few hills....but just kept moving really......then dumped the bike at my home and then ran for a bit (15mins). the legs felt heavy but it was manageable. Its going to be impossible to swim in open water before the triathlon but I will try the first transtion as some point this week.
Tomorrow we are meeting in the park to try the full route out, I keep getting lost when I try it alone, so it gives me time to go out again in the week a few times to get used to it!

nearly there.
oh and the nightmares have started.

1 week to go

oh S&%t ...thats all im thinking right now.

I´ve just come back from a 30 min jog, sneezing like crazy from hayfever. I did a 30 min swim earlier today too....then a 2 hour siesta! Ok im a little jetlagged as I arrived from Miami yesterday and my body is a little confused!
While I was away these 2 weeks I only did 2 runs, and a scary cross fit session (my arms are still hurting) but I ate healthy, hardly drank and dont think ive put on any weight.
Today the swim seemed easy...im sticking with the breast stroke as the front crawl is just not working for me.... and the run (jog really) , no problem.
Im still concerned about the bike as my gears are still crap and it will cost too much to get new ones, as its such a short distance I will cope....!!!! (famous last words). On sunday we are doing a run of the bike route, so that should calm me down a bit.
All of this we are actually raising money for a charity......its a personal charity asd it helped my sister and her family take care of my niece before she passed away. You can sponsor and donate here...its a great cause: http://www.justgiving.com/madridtriathlon2012

This coming week i will continue to train.....a little each day..but take it easier even though I am panicking inside!