Checking in at the Portland Triathlon	waiting in line to get my numbers drawn on me.
Getting my number put on me
The Transition area
THe Swim area (before the swimming)	roaming around trying not to be too nervous
	The elite swimmers, the first wave in the water and off to swim 1500 meters
The swimmers in the water off in the distance
always with a phone in my hand	My mom said give me a scared look (wasn't hard to do)
The last wave (my wave) shuffling down to the water.	Getting us all in the water.
look there is my shoulder!	I am in the middle with the large white goggles. The water was about 69 degrees so it was actually nicer in the water than outside waiting to get in the water.
	Ready set go!
	"My baby is in open water!!!" – My mom "Geez mom, calm down" – My sister
Just after coming out of the water Sheesh that was hard.	After the swim, running back to the transition area I was tired and wondering what I had gotten myself into
putting on my shoes	Ready for the bike
	And I am off!
ready for 16 miles of bike!
	I think this is the start of my second 8 mile lap
	The cheer squad with mascot
This was taken by the race photographer at the very top of the hard part of the hill. I was going about 2 feet per mile but damn I look sporty.
	The Cheer squad on during one of my laps
Bike Done!
Off the bike and run it in to the transition area	Walking the bike to the transition area
	And off for an easy 3 mile run
The finish line area	Coming in to the finish line
aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrg just a little bit more!!!!!!
Done and survived!!!!!
	Roaming the after party
GELATOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
	Athlete and Coach
Limping back to the hotel for a nice shower

These are my pictures from my first Triathlon. I did the Portland Triathlon, Sprint Distance, thats 750 meters swim, 16 miles bike and then 3 miles run.

My first goal was to finish, and my second was to not finish totally last and I accomplished both! My total time was 2 hrs and 32 minutes.

The swim was the hardest in that I had only been practiced swimming in the pool off and on for about 6 weeks. I started out in a crawl stroke but VERY quickly figured out that I wouldn’t be able to make it that way so I switched to breast stroke. It wasn’t fast, but I finished.

My first transition went very smoothly. I was just a bit tuckered from the swim. I got on my bike and got going for the 2 8 mile laps that made up the bike portion. The first 4 miles was uphill (ugh) but the second half was a nice downhill ride. I found myself a little emotional as I got to the top of the hill on the second lap. I was doing it I was really doing it. I wasn’t passing anyone or setting records, but I was doing it.

I came in from the bike, racked my bike and was off to the run. 3 miles, easy peezy. I never thought I would ever think that a 3 mile run was easy or enjoyable. My first mile i ran in 9 minutes! I thought I would be a lot slower considering the previous activities of the morning. I just kept going and in the end I ran the 3.1 miles in 31 minutes. Very happy about that.

I was tired but so happy, and it was so great to be able to share the victory with the family.

Next year my goals, now that I understand how this all works, is to have a stronger (and hopefully faster) swim, Cut about 20 minutes off my bike time, and cut 3 minutes off the run, and come in closer to 2 hours.