I am a Triathlete!

I competed in and completed my first real triathlon yesterday! I had done an adventure race before but it was a team event (I had to do the whole thing with a partner) and we didn't have to swim, we kayaked instead. I entered the race only a month before the event and so was not totally prepared but was confident that I had enough base fitness and previous race running experience to finish and survive. The race was quite low key and casually organised with only about 75 competitors. It was a "My First Tri" which means everyone in it was a newbie and there was huge range of ages, fitness levels, bodies, bikes and outfits.
We had to swim 400 m in a lake...I get nervous in any "Wild" water...i.e. not a pool so this was a big challenge for me and although I am an ok swimmer, this was a whole different experience that I was not prepared for!
First off, the lake was COLD! So that in itself was new and I found I just had trouble with regular breathing. Secondly, swimming with loads of other people was crazy! People were doing all kinds of new strokes and random ones and swimming on their backs going diagonally etc..it was a fight for your life out there! Factor in the waves and the fact I somehow swallowed a lot of water(helped with the hydration I guess) and some bordeline choking/almost vomiting mid-swim, I must have looked like I'd never been in water before. I settled a bit though and switched between strokes regularly and just tried to focus on my technique. I didn't think I'd make it out forever and felt like I was in the water for an eternity but really it was less than 15 mins and I came out in the top 1/3 of the pack. walking out of the water in bare feet across stony sandy lake bottom was not graceful to say the least but I was so glad that bit was over. Next was the bike, I had set up my transition zone well so I had a smooth turnover there but had to run with my bike up to the road as there was a zone of gravel road inbetween. No worries, though as once on the road I cranked up the gears and sped off. The ride was 20k out and back which I really enjoyed as I got to see the other competitiors ahead of me as they were on the 2nd leg, including my hubby and my friend who were also partaking. There were no mile markers so it was anyones guess as to how far the turnaround was.
Finally there was the run which I thought would be okay as I have done lots of running the past and have a slow but very steady pace. The first 5 mins were tough as I adjusted from the bike and of course it was slight but long uphill climb. I settled in though and kept a good pace using a guy about 50 m ahead of me as a target. I couldn't catch him until the last 1/2km and then I just focused and ramped it up and went for it...I passed him and left him in the dust to cross the finish line in just under 1.5 hours.
What a fun day and to do it with other people was really the icing on the cake, it was so fun to yell and wave as we passed en route and then at the end to see familiar faces was encouraging.
I think I might be hooked on Tri's now! Ask me next year!