15.2 seconds away from 3rd

What an amazing race and what an amazing head-case I am.

Around 6:15 am the officials made the determination that the amateur athletes could wear their wet-suits.  This one simple little thing made my head spin.  You see if you wear a wet-suit in the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon you would not be able to place in the top three. 

So there it was…was I good enough?  Was today a day I could make top three?  With this level of competition could I make top three?  With a 1/2 Ironman two weeks away, is it even smart to try?  Who the hell am I to think I could ever make top three in only my 6th triathlon?  In only my first full Olympic distance course that had not been shortened? 

In those five to ten minutes I had put so much pressure on myself I could barley breathe and I  had no idea how to proceed. 

That new found inner voice started talking me off the ledge, telling me it was ok and that it would be ok however I placed.  So I heeded those words and decided I can simply do my best…today.  So I took my wet suit, against Jen’s advice, and just swam, biked and ran the best possible race I could.

This was a day that taught me a lot about myself, my racing, my abilities and my ability to hold back just enough to save myself from myself and still be really happy with whatever the outcome. 

 At 37, I think I might just be growing up. And yes…I really was 15.2 seconds away from 3rd place.

Results.

Photos.

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