RUBY'S FIRST RACE

I took Ruby out for her first race this morning. I have been training for the Women of Steel Triathlon for a couple of months. By training I mean that I have been running consistently, taken Ruby for three rides, and pretended that the swimming portion of the race did not exist. On Tuesday I picked up my race packet and ended up buying a tri outfit. I spent a ridiculous amount but it makes me feel like a real triathlete.

When I woke up this morning I thought about just going back to bed. It was raining, under 50 degrees, and there was snow coming down in the mountains. But I also knew I wouldn't be able to call myself a "Woman of Steel" if I did that. So I pulled my stuff together, loaded Ruby in the car, and drove down to American Fork. The best news upon arrival was that the swim had been canceled. Since it was so cold they had decided to have us run 1 mile then bike 12.4 miles and then run 3 miles.

Overall the race was not bad at all. My final time was 1:32:39. I ran the first mile in 8:23, biked in 54:55 and ran the last three miles in 25:41. It was cold and I had a hard time transitioning between the bike and the final run. My legs felt super stiff and took about a mile to warm up. I loved racing against all women, but I wouldn't mind not hearing "on your left" ever again.

My friend Chelsea convinced me to do the race. We ran the Moab half marathon over a year ago together and she has told me many times that triathlons are much easier on the body. Let me just say that she rocked the triathlon. Her final time was 1:23:47. She was 123 overall and 12th in her division. She improved her time by 13 minutes. She is a "Woman of Steel."