Skylands Tri and Why It Made My Life Better.

Dad and I right after I crossed the finish.


Honestly, I had half a post done about how bummed I was feeling, how exhausted, how overworked, how crazy busy and jam-packed and un-fun my life was. Then, it got deleted. Now, I'm feeling pretty glad that my whining didn't make it into yet another of my posts.

Instead, I feel re-energized and ready to take on the week, even if the week is even crazier than the ones preceding it. I start tutoring football players in their Labor Studies class- 8 hours a week plus making syllabi, et cetera, but for $1800 for a semester, I'll deal. That means I'll be able to get a tri bike! Yes!!! Plus, my sister and I have a sweet shopping trip (clothes and tri stuff) planned for NYC next weekend. Double Yes!!!

But the reason I'm in a much better mood is due to today's race, the Skylands Sprint Tri.

I should be annoyed for one major reason, but I'm not. I placed 4th female overall, 1st in my age group. In addition, I was 44th overall, and 5th female out of the water. So I'm pretty stoked. I missed third by only a couple minutes, but I did move up a place in the last tenth of a mile, putting down a really awesome hard and fast sprint. So feeling pretty great.

But above and beyond that, it was a FUN race. I had an amazing swim, a super fun bike, and a run that for once had no stomach or leg "issues." Plus, the weather turned out perfect- in the seventies, with COLD water but wetsuits, so I was in seventh heaven.

Me after getting my trophy and the first CASH that I've ever won!

I'll get the actual race report done in the next day once my splits are posted online, but for now, suffice to say that I am feeling much better about life in general and about triathlon in specific. I'd been low on motivation lately and this was the boost that I needed.

I have some amazing pictures from the end of the race, so here are a few:
Front view:
Mom and Colleen made excellent tshirts that matched my Splish suit- they had the grim reaper and next to it, it said "Killa."

Also, the back:
Excellent.