The Park City Tri was one of the funnest and the hardest a things I have ever done. It all started about 18 months ago when my brother-in-law an avid ultra runner had the idea of changing 30 people’s lives (he was turning 30) and helping them with what he knew a lot about, running and biking. He first got me hooked on mountain biking and then I couldn’t get enough.

Now just 1 week after my own 30th birthday I can say I have purchased two mountain bikes (a road bike is now on the shopping list), run two half marathons, a trail race, a marathon and now my first triathlon. They all represented different challenges at different times in my training but I can say that the triathlon represented one thing like I have never experienced before, oxygen deprivation.

I was lucky enough to win the registration from Triathletes Edge 10 days before the event. I had been maintaining my base and training and mountain biking on a very regular basis so the timing worked out. After a few swim technique lessons, a rented wetsuit and a borrowed road bike I was ready to go. Race day came quickly and before I knew it I was in Jordanelle Reservoir listening to the countdown, 5,4,3,2,1 Go!

I let the pros do their thing as I felt the adrenaline flow through my blood as it made it hard to breath, throwing all my swim breathing lessons right out the window and I was only 50 meters into the race. I settled into my rhythm and finished the swim what felt like middle of the pack. Next was this strange thing called T-1, I had only seen it on a few youtube videos and a borrowed DVD about triathlon training I had watched the night before. 35 seconds later I was mounting my bike, it felt good to be on two wheels. I climbed up and out of the park only to see a monster hill ahead off me, my first triathlon had a category 3 climb with almost 800 ft of climbing in the first 3-1/2 miles.

Nothing I couldn’t handle in fact I loved it, I love to climb on a bike. I feel proud to say only 3 people passed me on bike ride (and they all had sweet bikes) and I was able to pick off quite a few competitors. After almost losing total control on a tight turn I was able to get back on the road without losing to much ground, and I finished strong. Feeling confident I made it through T-2 fairly smoothly, almost leaving the transition area with a helmet still strapped to my head. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Where was all that oxygen, where were my legs? It took me until the turn around to really get my running legs and functioning lungs back and I was able to pick off a few runners before finishing strong.

Overall I felt very good. 23rd overall, 5th in my age bracket only 4 minutes off the podium in 1:36. I made some mistakes, did some things slow, but I gave it my all and my best effort. I felt good, had fun, met some friends and think I want to do many many more triathlons. And who knows maybe even try to get on the podium one of these days (at least for my age group).

Thanks Triathletes Edge for the awesome opportunity to try something that I have been working towards without even knowing. Thanks for getting me hooked on something that was an adventure. And since I won the registration by suggesting that we submit our best race day pictures I am submitting my two favorite from my first Triathlon.