On this date 28 years ago, my aunt and uncle got married. Consequently, it was also the birthday of a very dear grandfather, who has since passed away. This year, August 11 marked my first ever mini-triathlon practice! Of course, it is also the day after I returned home from a trip to Nicaragua (I could write volumes on that trip – so much fun!). So, bleary eyed, and not so sure what timezone I was actually in – just hoping that my alarm clock was still set to Pacific time, I got up 5 1/2 hours after I went to bed; donned my trisuit for it’s inaugural triple event practice; and headed out the door. Oh yeah, my husband grabbed the bike for me – he’s so great!

I arrived at the mini-tri site and started the laborious task of putting on the wetsuit. It adds a whole new meaning to the phrase “Suit up!”

Once in, the coaches talked and explained the route. We introduced ourselves to the other teams, and that’s when I realized just how awesome some of these women were.

The other two teams were Heartzones Bellevue and Team Survivor – a team of women who had all survived cancer. One of the women racing that day was 82 years old.

We all lined up in the water and started the race. It was so exciting! I got kicked a few times; I kicked a few people; and then we all started to break up into our swim paces. I definitely had a tougher time breathing due to the excitement of it all, and the fact that I was basically sprinting in the water. Normally, I do NOT sprint while swimming. I breaststroke, which is a slower, more laborious stroke, which enables me to breathe and sight easily. Thus, once I started to pace myself, all was well!

I easily transitioned to the bike, but I found it weird to slide my semi-wet feet into my shoes. It was all squishy, and I kept thinking, “Hmmmm. I wonder if my feet will be all pruney at the end.”

I do not use clips on the bike, which I am definitely rethinking as I believe it would add greatly to the efficiency as well as ankle support during the ride (more on that later). Also, I’m on that clunky mountain bike. Man, I worked hard to bike the 10 miles! I kept getting passed by folks with clips and road bikes with those delightfully skinny tires. Boy did I have bike envy by mile 3.

Toward the end of the bike, I used the pull up with your hamstrings method that Coach Denise taught us to help transition from bike to run. I had heard that your legs feel heavy after the bike, but I wasn’t sure if that was true since I had not experienced it.

Okay. It’s true. My heavy, solid, log-like legs would not run after the bike. I had to walk out of the transition area with my brain screaming, “RUN!!! RUN!!!” to no avail.

Finally, I could run, and run I did! I ran the entire first 1.2 miles, which included Genessee hill, which will be featured in the race. However, on the final 1.2 miles, the inside of my right ankle started to burn. I tried several changes in my stride and foot falls to help alleviate it. No luck. So, I walked and ran to the finish.

Note: I did the bike and run in 0mm drop minimalist running shoes called Inov8 BARE-X LITEâ„¢.

All in all, it was a good mini-triathlon practice! I finished the .3 mile swim, 10 mile bike, and 2.4 mile run in 1 hour 30 minutes. Woohoo!

As for my ankle(s – now it is both ankles. I believe they get jealous when one gets more attention.), I have an appointment with a sports medicine doctor (new member of the village?) Tuesday. More on that later. I also made an appointment with Mac at Born To Run for his coaching on minimal/barefoot running technique and form as I think that my form may still be putting undue stress on the ankles. We shall see!