Camel's Back Duathlon!!!

I actually competed and completed in my first duathlon!!

It was SO hard and such an eye opener to me of how far I need to get in my running/biking abilities.

A few months ago there was great talk among my friends here about all of us doing it together. One by one they all dropped out which left Caleb, Gillian and myself to conquer the big race.

Here we are before the race began. Caleb did the long course which I would still be doing if I had chosen that one. Gillian was a rockstar and cruised through all the events (she credits the dye tie t-shirt) and then there was me.....

I did the short course which was 2K run/ 15K bike/ 2K run.


{picture from race photographer}

The first run was pretty easy. It was on a variety of terrain (grass, rocks, loose sand, hard dirt, loose gravel) but all in all it was a lot of fun.

Here I am coming in from the first run and heading towards the bikes. I had learned the night before that there was a "hill" that we had to do. Honestly, I thought it was going to be a nice stroll through the valley, I had NO idea that there was a hill.

Once I got to the "hill" I quickly decided that it was indeed a "mountain"- yes, the base of a ski resort!! It turned out that we had to travel up this mountain for 3 miles! Ouch! For someone who hadn't trained and who lives in a town with no mountains, this nearly did me in. Somehow, I mustered the courage and I kept riding and made it to the turnaround at the top. (I was encouraged by the 10 year olds and the 65 year olds who were cruising past me....note to self, get in shape!)

{picture from race photographer}

I finished the 9+ miles bike ride and dropped off my bike and returned to the running trail. My legs were burning, my throat hurt and I was ready to be done. It was a happy and joyful sight to see the finish banner and the streams of people cheering me on!

I DID IT!!! It was such an accomplishment to know that I conquered something that I had been dreading and fearing for several months!

We drug the kids out of bed and Jared and the boys were there to support me! Jared asked Gibson on the way up what they were going to do while I was running, Gibson said "we're going to yell "Go Mommy, You Can Do It!"

A race is a great chance to take a look inside one's self. I was my biggest cheerleader as I kept telling myself that I could do it each time I wanted to stop and turnaround. I learned that I am stronger than I think. I am more capable than I thought and that I actually enjoy it.

We've already signed up for another 5K in a few weeks and so I say, let the running begin!!