Annnnnd We're Off!

My wheels and I  (oh, and my BFF and my family :) are off to the sprint triathlon this afternoon! My great uncle lives fairly close by, so we're staying the night with him. Tali and I are attending a first-timers' clinic this evening and then hitting the hay early. The transition area opens at 5:30 Saturday morning. Our wave doesn't start until 7:17. I'm very thankful I'll get a chance to watch some earlier waves before it's my turn to dive in. (Intentional pun, sorry!)


I'm psyched about this whole event, and I plan on having a wonderful experience. It's difficult to know what to expect, so I'm just planning to take it as it comes. Whatever happens, I will finish. A couple from my church is into triathlons and they offered some transition advice and loaned me a race belt! Tali and I were talking about how once you get into something you find out a bunch of other people are into it, too. A lady I baby sit saw me riding last week and called me a couple hours later. I told her about the triathlon, and it turns out she's done a handful of them herself!


Post race, we're hitting the beach and soaking in some family time. I plan on applying SPF80+++ and laying low under a sun hat.


Oh, one last thing: this is probably the most hardcore-looking sport.


I read this on the race website:
"You will be body marked when checking your bike in. Your race number will be written on both your right and left upper arms, both thighs, and your left calf. Your USAT age will be written on your right calf. You will not be permitted in the transition area without being body marked."


And I thought tattooed people walking around Cornerstone looked insane.
;)