Little Pieces of me...

Love his music!  Website Gonna have to get onto Itunes now…

Invictus
 
OUT of the night that covers me, 
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be 
For my unconquerable soul.
 
In the fell clutch of circumstance        
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance 
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
 
Beyond this place of wrath and tears 
Looms but the Horror of the shade, 
And yet the menace of the years 
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
 
It matters not how strait the gate, 
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate: 
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley  1849–1903.

So, it came and went…and was a blast! Here’s my recap..

So, the day started with getting up at 4:30 so I could make it to Windsor by 6:00 to get all checked in and get my transition area set up.  While we got all checked in and set up we had FUN!  I met a bunch of great people and we were goofing around while we got ready…and watched the sunrise. We hit the Restrooms and then headed for the start.

Once we got to the start we had a pre-race meeting (no drafting, no kicking people, stay with the bouys…) and then got in the water to get used to the tempurature and aclimate.  it was actually not too cold this morning, which was nice!

They started the swim waves at 8:00 sharp, and let a wave go every 5 mins.  I was in the 3rd wave and got a pretty good start, but it seemed like once I got to swimming the wind picked up and the water got choppy…so I drank some lake water for breakfast…yum!  The swim went really well even with the choppy water and I got done in 19:28!  Although it felt like I was crawling along…I think because it was such a big expanse of water that you feel small and slow no matter how fast you are going.

Then I went to transition and rocked it…less than 3 mins to get off my wetsuit and on my cycling shoes and helmet and stuff.  I thought it rocked.  I took about 5 mins to finally warm up my cold legs and get them crankin’ but once they were warm I was MOVIN’!  I hit 30 mph at one point on a downhill…FUUUUUN! Then back to transition for Bike to Run Transition!  That one went really well too…off with all bike stuff and on with race belt and running shoes and visor.

The run, as you all know, is my weak leg…and it proved to be painful today too.  I had a pretty good pace going through mile 3 and then my knee started up hurting again…so I gritted my teeth and kept on running.  At one point there was an older guy who was eggin’ me on…he was totally fun, and kept my mind from really digging into the knee pain so I could keep on going.  It was a really fun run overall, every time I would pass one of my teammates (it was an out and back loop, so you pass the people who are ahead of you and then turn around and pass those who are behind you) we would ech holler and cheer each other on, and the people I met in transition in the morning were the same…so fun to be a part of that and be able to root them on too!! 

I finished in 1:31, which was 12th place in my age division! Not too shabby since I was thinking I would finish in about 1:30!!  Whoo hoo!!  I am going to be doing more Triatlons, I love the people and the atmosphere…and the work.  it was such a fun experience and I can’t wait to do it again.  

By the way…I was number 25…I think that’s my new favorite number…

Well…I still have a job!  We all got notified if we were in or out…and I was one of the lucky 7 that is in.  I would like to say it’s a relief, but it’s also sad.  We had a small family to start with, and it has gotten a lot smaller!  I hate that.

So the place I work is being bought out…by a compeditor (duh), and they have yet to let us know who will keep on with the new company, and who won’t. It’s been about 2 weeks since the news came down, and it’s taking a toll on the enviornment around here…but mostly it’s just wearing us all out.

BUT….

Today is the day. We will all know our fates!.

Ack…my stomach is flip flopping…

Cross your fingers…in we go.