I AM AN IRON GIRL!!!

About a month ago I got a text from my friend, Kimi, saying meet me in Vegas and do the Iron Girl Triathalon with me. I text her back "I don't swim and I don't bike, so...I don't think so!" Well, Kimi knew I wouldn't pass on a challenge so after not-much-thinking I decided "WHY NOT".

So for the last couple of weeks I have been biking to the gym, swimming laps in the pool, biking home and then running 3 miles. I instantly knew that for someone who has never taken a swim lesson in her life that was the event that was going to kill me...and it did not disappoint.

I somehow convinced my mom, dad and brother to drive up to Vegas with me and be my support team. What a trip! Seriously, I haven't laughed so hard in my life as I did on this trip. Between Kimi and my brother it was a weekend I will never forget. We shopped, ate (and boy do I mean eat:), saw some shows, oh and of course we participated in the triathalon.

Kimi and I started to freak out a little Friday night (the night before the race) because it was so windy and cold. We were both ready to quit just because of the crazy weather...and let me tell you it didn't get any better the next day. Kimi and I were driving to the race at Lake Las Vegas Loews Resort Saturday morning looking at the 50* weather on my car temperature gauge thinking what in the heck are we doing. I am not kidding when I say my teeth were chattering as we were gearing up for the big swim. Luckily we got our wetsuits on and that was a little better on the body, but my feet and hands were numb. I was already nervous about the swim let alone the cold, the wind, the choppy open water...the nerves were on high alert. Well, the race began and the adreniline sort of kicked in until I hit the water and began swimming. I thought I was going to die. Ladies are swimming like crazy, kicking everywhere and I started to have a panic attack right there in the water. I couldn't get my breathing under control and I kept thinking I am never going to be able to finish this. I stopped trying to swim freestyle and just began doggy paddling it...I'm actually pretty good at that. Dori's famous words from Finding Nemo kept popping in my head "Just keep swimming...Just keep swimming"...and that's exactly what I did. It took me 25min12s to finish the 800m swim, which I was just lucky to get out of the water alive.

We had about a quarter mile run from the water to the bike transition area, so I was running as fast as I could barefoot while stripping off the wetsuit. It took me 9 min total for that transition (which I now know I could defintiley do faster) and jumped on my bike for the 22.5km ride. It was still so windy, but at least I felt much stronger and faster on the bike then I did the swim. I finished in 53min19s.

Next, it was on to what I feel most comfortable doing...running. We had a 5k run in sandy dirt with some crazy inclines and blowing wind. Not quite the running conditions I'm used to, but I finished the run in 27min56s for a 9min/mile pace...not bad considering the conditions. So, my total race time was 1hour56min56s. My goal was to be around 2hours, so I was very, very happy with that time. I loved having my family there taking pics and cheering us on the whole way...such an amazing feeling.

We ended the trip with more shopping, more shows (we saw Cirque de Soleil Love and Elvis), and of course more eating. My parents spoiled us rotten and Kimi and I couldn't have felt more loved! My brother flew out of Vegas to Washingtion D.C. for his internship this summer and I'm so glad I got to spend those few short days with him...I will never forget them! I am so thankful he is one of my bestest friends!!

It's funny how now that the race is over and the pics look so fun Kimi and I are already making plans for next year. Not what I was thinking during the swim, but hey maybe I can actually train a little better and conquer that swimming thing next year. Thanks Kimi for the crazy idea and for a great trip!!