Triathlon part 2

Yes, the worst possible senerio happened. As I was swimming by, I heard a faint .. "Help". Amazingly enough, there was no one even in close proximity to me or to the woman that was calling out. This left *me* to assist her. I had just got into a great rythme with the swimming and the finish was in sight, I had no choice to be help her. Of course, I wouldnt have kept swimming no matter what. There is a reason I was next to this woman: I am an extremely strong swimmer and I have the ability to be calm in a crisis. I quickly turned around to my left and swam the 10 feet over to her. She was probably in her 70's, was as tan as the lady from SOMETHING ABOUT MARY and had pig tails. When I reached her, she was slowly bobbing up and under the water. I looked around, called out to the guy in the kyak but he couldnt get to me because I was on the inside of the swim area... he couldnt cross over all the swimmers. This left no alternative but to grab her and swim with her to the kyak. Luckily, she was about 90-100lbs soppin wet (literally) and so I told her to lay on her back and I held her up from the middle of her back. She was wearing a wetsuit so that helped with the boyancy and she was able to keep her head above water. At this point, I started swimming towards the kyak which was a good 50 yards away. I kept talking to her while trying to get around the swimmers; most of whom where totally in a zone and had no idea what was going on. I think there were moments when she actually lost consciousness... another swimmer came along and offered to help and I said yes because I was getting tired swimming with one arm and keeping her afloat. She floated her head region but the lady was grabbing her face and the helper began to panic herself because she felt like she was being pushed under. i told her I was fine and to keep swimming, I had her. I swam nad FINALLY reached the kyak. The lady awoke from her coma-like state and was able to hang onto the kayak. Once I made sure she was ok, I started to swim...I was even more exhausted than I was before... and now, the waves were more intense becuase the motor boat that came to rescue the lady! I was about 300 yards off shore and it was the longest swim ever. When I reached the shore and could touch, I praised the Lord and was thinking simutaneously..."why the FUCK did I decide to do this? Am I fucking nuts?".... at that very moment, I heard my brother's voice... There he was on the shore screaming and encouraging me on! he ran with me up the boatlaunch area and told me I was doing a great job... we talked and I told him about the lady... thats about as much as I remember. I think I was still in emotional/physical shockover the swim and having rescued some lady in the midst of my first triathlon. The Lord does test Us I say...

I got the to transition area and was shivering and dizzy. I heard others saying they were dizzy as well. By this time, i was in the last 1/4 of the people in the transition area. I know I would have been at least 10 min ahead had that incident not happened; I wouldnt change it however... Sometimes, we are called upon to do things where there is no choice, just reaction.

I finally got out of my wetsuit and my family was standing next to the transition zone the entire time filming me and talking... My mom had a look on her face like she thought I might pass out and my brother and his gf were giving me words of encouragement... I got my clothes on and got on my bike... thats when the 2nd leg of pain began.

The minute you get on the bike you have to ride up a slight grade. Sure, on a normal day it wouldnt have been all that bad but having just battled waters from THE DEADLIEST CATCH variety, saved a drowning senior citizen and ran up a hill... this was not a good sign. I was relieved to know I had my energy gel to eat. I was so dizzy that I had a hard time balancing on my bike to steer with one hand. I grabbed the energy packet and in the midst of tryin to tear it open with my teeth, I dropped the fucking thing on the ground. FUCK!

I about cried right then and there. As I mustered up enough energy to begin a serious climb, I looked up and saw the first of the pack already returning. WHAT?!!?!?! 11.5 miles already completed? If that wasnt a bit demoralizing, Im not sure what was. I gritted my teeth, said a prayer to every God I could muster up and pedalled. and pedalled. and pedalled some more. 11.5 miles to be exact. At the midpoint, I would probably say that I had lost my lust for life. I had just cruised down the most AMAZING hill ever... then I remembered": I have to ride back UP that damn hill. I wanted to quit but realized How? I couldnt quit because there was no one to pick up my ass with my bike. It was me and the hilly 5.5 miles back to the transition area. I had to do it. I had to get there and finish. It was at about 8 miles that my handle bars started to loosen up. Oh yea. The handlebars where coming lose from the Y-stem and were slipping back and forth. and rotating forward and backward. There was no way they could come off perse but It was making using the gears and brakes a tedious task. On top of the sheer exhausting task of pedaling up hill, I couldnt count on my handlebars to stay in one place! I mean, HULLO! what next?!

I *FINALLY* made it to the transition area. Spent and delerious by this point, I cruised in to hear my cheerleading squad giving me fevered encouragement. Now was the worst part for me: THE RUN.
I will preface this by saying that when I returned almost all the bikes were back on the racks and there were runners crossing the finish line already. I was listening to the announcer. I still had a good 45 minutes left. This was about what I calculated for the run/walk. I ran a mile, walked a mile or more... At that piont, I think there were probably 8 people between me and the last person to stroll over the finish line. At least I wasnt last i kept thinking. It was hot, I was tired and I just wanted to cross the end piont. I finally got there and I saw my stepdad taking my picture and I heard the announcer call out my number and people cheering! My brother met me on the other side of the finish line and I just remember thinking...I DID IT DAD...I DID IT! It was, afterall, for him and in his memory... being a 3 days from the 1 year anniversary of his death. I collapsed in my brother's arms and started to weep.

I had achieved a goal I had had for over 5 years. I had fnished despite the obstacles I encountered and the lack of training properly in the last 2 months. The most critical time.

I got my medal, I got my shirt and hat and snacks... and I walked away with the best smile Ive had in a long time. 2:31 was my time. My goal it to get to 2 hours. That is my next Triathlon in September. the Winner of this particular Tri finished in 1:34 and was 14! crazy!

My mom, stepdad, brother and his girlfriend and I all went to lunch in Napa. That was rpobably THE best pizza and salad ive ever eaten.

For the next 2 days, I couldnt eat enough food. I was totally famished but it was the best FAMISHED id ever felt. I loved the feeling of accomplishment. Especially for a phsycial challenge. Ive given myself a week off and will start working out tomorrow after work again. I drove to my Dad's in Northern Nevada on Wed and hung out there with my Uncle until he left on Friday morning. I spent most of my vacation doing yard work for my mom and stepdad and at my Dad's house. Labours of love I call it. Its hard as your parents age and they cant do what they used to. I did alot of spring clean up in mom's yard and at dads, tons of weeding and maintance to help out my brother; he is the official owner of that house now and so it helps him out to work on it when I go there...he lives about 4 hours away so it takes a village to keep the place in tip top shape...nothing like what my dad did... but we can honour him by doing the best we can.

I stayed there alone for the first time ever Friday night. I will admit I was a bit freaked out. So much so that I smoked a lil maryjane and tried to relax. I kept waking up every few hours waiting for my dad to "appear" before me. You see, he died in the bathroom next to my room there and actually landed partially in the door way of my room (according the the report and stain patterns)... Being oa big fan of the Ghost Whisperer and believing that sometimes, people get stuck where they die, I was imaging crazy things! Nothing happened however... so thats nice.

I made it home last nite around 10pm. In my exhaustion, I had made a wrong turn in Lassen Park and added 1.5 hours to my drive. That sucked. Badly. my dog was about to jump ship and frankly, so was I.
Eventurally though we pulled into the driveway and I was so happy to be in my own bed...

Now, back to work tomorrow morning. The next big 'event' in my life is DC coming to the Northwest.
We are going to take a road trip to Vancouver for 2 days. He has gotten us a room at the new Fairmont Pacific Rim for 2 nights and we even get to take the Dogger! He called and asked... I dont have anyone to leave her with and he insisted we bring her... so, my dogger will be staying with us in a 5 star hotel. Huh. This outta be interesting.

Well, thats a story for another time... Right now? My tired eyes require sleep...