Kathleen Richardson’s Race Report: My First Triathlon
If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever consider doing a Sprint Triathlon, I would have answered with a resounding, NO WAY!!!
I love cycling, but running and swimming? As I imagined myself doing a triathlon, all I could imagine was gasping for air. Through the course of this last year a few of the women that I ride with have talked about their experienced with triathlons and I found out about the shorter versions.
Finally, after watching four of my friends do a sprint tri in May, I decided I would give it a try (no pun intended!). Anne-Marie Alderson (fellow Team PH athlete and endurance athlete trainer/health and wellness coach) had been working with me on cycling since January, so I asked her to add running and swimming to the mix.
Saturday, August 12th at O Dark Thirty, my husband (my greatest supporter, cheerleader and friend!) and I rolled in to the parking area of Waterfront Park in Clermont, FL. I was excited, a little nervous, and thankful! After getting set up, I found my friends who were also competing in the event and we headed down to the water. I was in the 6th wave to start the swim.
One leg of the tri down, two more to go…
It went fabulously! I wasn’t fast, but I didn’t panic, and I didn’t drown! I also didn’t get kicked in the face (one of my fears)! One leg of the tri down, two more to go! The transition to the bike went well, and I was on my bike in just a few minutes. This part of the race was my favorite as I’ve been riding for quite a while… I got to pass people- woot! Of course, once the biking was done and the running began, I was passed by many of those same people.
Coming across the finish line was great fun as well as exhilarating. I’d finished something I didn’t think I would ever do and did it with the help and camaraderie of some great friends!!!
As I think about the race, and the training, I am grateful for the people I trained with. We encouraged each other and spurred one another on. It’s much what we do as Team PHenomenal Hope. We work together, encourage one another, spur each other on, and we do it for an awesome cause- to defeat PH!
Together we accomplish so much…
I am grateful for the community we are building and the work we are doing. Together we can accomplish so much- I am grateful for every team member! Thank you for all you do in the fight against PH, in the search for a cure, in the hopes of making a difference in the lives of PH patients world wide!
