When Big Guys Tri
I participated in my first triathlon today, the Huntsville Sprint Triathlon. It is a 3 mile cross country run followed by a 6 mile bicycle road course and finishes with 400m in a pool. I kind of have to say participated rather than competed. When the fastest individual finishes in ~38 minutes and my time was 1:33:46, you really can't be said to be competitive. :) But I finished - and I finished around 15 minutes faster than I expected. So despite the unpleasentness my legs will be putting me through for the next several days I'm pretty happy. When a 330lb guy can actually finish a race like this I count it as a win.
I was the last one to finish the run and start on the bike, but I wasn't the last one to finish the bike and start the swim. Partially this is due to the fact that I am much better at biking than running - and being able to rest while cruising works much better for me. But I did have some extra motivation not to dawdle. As the last participant onto the bike course the supporting EMTs in the ambulance followed me out and down the course. And since I was quite a ways behind everybody else to start with that left me all alone ridikng down the ride being followed by an ambulance - not the most confidence inspiring position to be in. :) Once I was able to pass a few people the ambulance was no longer following ME, just bringing up the rear.
My final results were:
Time: 1:33:46
Overall place: 545 of 554
Division place: 34/35 (I'm not sure if this is the Clydesdale division [men over 200lbs] or the 30-34 age group)
As a side note: the title of this post is shamelessly borrowed from a book title. I haven't read the book yet, but it is just too cool to pass up.
I was the last one to finish the run and start on the bike, but I wasn't the last one to finish the bike and start the swim. Partially this is due to the fact that I am much better at biking than running - and being able to rest while cruising works much better for me. But I did have some extra motivation not to dawdle. As the last participant onto the bike course the supporting EMTs in the ambulance followed me out and down the course. And since I was quite a ways behind everybody else to start with that left me all alone ridikng down the ride being followed by an ambulance - not the most confidence inspiring position to be in. :) Once I was able to pass a few people the ambulance was no longer following ME, just bringing up the rear.
My final results were:
Time: 1:33:46
Overall place: 545 of 554
Division place: 34/35 (I'm not sure if this is the Clydesdale division [men over 200lbs] or the 30-34 age group)
As a side note: the title of this post is shamelessly borrowed from a book title. I haven't read the book yet, but it is just too cool to pass up.