Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Race Recap
So, thanks to all you ladies who told me on Friday to do the race. But I went home that night and was like F-no. Steph is right and I'm too old to punish my body like that.
Woke up Saturday morning and was like, "why not? Maybe I'll just go to the race expo and get my packet and free t-shirt." At the expo, I decided hell yeah, I'm gonna do it. I figured if I didn't, I'd probably regret it the rest of my life. That night DH, his BM and I went to the Rockies game. DH REALLY didn't want me to do the tri. He knows my knees and feet are bad and didn't want to have to deal with the aftermath. I told him if he got me drunk enough, I wouldn't race. He tried, but I stuck to my guns.
Woke up on Sunday at 5am. I had put all my race stuff out the night before, STILL not knowing if I was really going to do it. (Hello, I flip-flop more than a politician.) I was a bundle of nerves, but still determined. Loaded my bike in the car, packed my transition bag and off I went. Got to the race site at 6:30 and parking was already being redirected. I had to park 1.5 miles from the race. Neat.
Hiked over to the transition area and arrived at 6:50, when the first heat started at 7 (I started at 7:56). Got my tires pumped on my bike, got my body marked and off I was to find a spot. Apparently in the past, I've arrived at 5 so I would have no parking or transition issues. Arriving so late created both. There was no place to set my bike on a rack and set out my stuff. I ended up just using a spot of grass. There were women everywhere but I felt alone and scared. Which is crazy, cuz I've done this before (just never w/o any friends).
After a horrible porta-potty incident where I almost puked into the urinal, I had changed and was ready to go. Put my cap on and went into the chute w/ all the other red caps. <---Totally felt like a cow being herded. While standing waiting to start I got all choke up. A combination of fear, nerves, irrationality, empowerment, joy, and pride. Before I knew it the swim started.
Now, I honestly hadn't been in a pool since May, but I've swam my whole high school career and beyond, so I really wasn't worried. Um, big mistake. Hadn't open water swam since '06 and the 250 bodies kicking and punching me didn't help either. I hung near the back and after about 5 minutes I thought I would die. "What the hell am I doing? Can't I just turn around? Why is that buoy SO far away? Why are my arms aching already?!" were just some of the questions screaming in my head. The swim felt like it lasted about 45 minutes (was actually only 20). And when I finished, I thought, hell no. I'm done. Women were already finishing the bike and I hadn't even started.
I really don't know why I kept going, but I did. There was no logic. I just biitched and complained the entire swim, but something made me do it. I threw on my helmet, shoes and jersey and off I went. The bike was amazing. I did the majority of my pitiful training on the bike and it showed. I was passing women right and left (mostly mountain bikes) in my fancy road bike. I saved my legs from the swim, so there was no fatigue. The two big hills did kick my ass, but it was actually one of the best rides I've ever had. When I passed someone, I would always cheer them on and the same would happen to me when I got passed. So encouraging. Gives me goosebumps just to think of it.
With the bike down, I thought, what's the harm in walking 3.2 miles, you've made it this far already. So on to the run course I went. The first half mile is all uphill which is the cruelest joke known to man. Halfway up the hill I saw my bestie and her baby waving at me. Hells yeah, now I had a cheering squad! I alternated jogging and walking and it was the most miserable 5K in history. The turnaround was so far away, people looked like ants. I thought I would never make it. But guess what, I finished!
Near the end (all downhill), there was another woman struggling like me. I would pass her at a jog, then walk. She would pass me at a jog, then walk. By the end, we decided to just jog together. When we crossed the finish line, our names were announced and the photog got a pic of us high fiving. The announcer said something like "If Misty B and Sharon G weren't friends before starting the race, they sure finished as friends!" It was pretty amazing.
DH ended up showing up and surprising me, so I got to hang w/ him and my bestie while I got water, food, beer and an otter pop. My time was 2:12:29, which is a far cry from my best of 1:46:15, but I really don't care. I'm just so happy it's over and I did it! The mile and half trek back to the car, the sunburn, the sore muscles and misery was totally worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat (but with more training). I seriously think it's the best finisher's medal I've ever earned.
Sorry for the long book, here's an otter pop if you finished reading 
Re: Race Recap
IUI #1 10/12/11 (Bravelle + HCG + Prometrium & acupuncture) = 10/26 BFP! Beta #1=250, Beta #2= 615. 1st u/s 11/8.
I'm so proud of you!
I got goosebumps at the part where you got goosebumps. I was an emotional mess the day my BFF ran the NY Marathon, cheering her on and people we didn't know on. It was really a sense of comraderie even from the sidelines, and I'm so glad you felt that during your tri.
So awesome to be struggling and see your BFF and her baby there, and your hubby.
You rock lady! Way to GO!
Awesome, awesome job Misty! So freakin' proud of you! You seriously inspired me get off my fat arse and do something.
Congrats on the finish and everything!
seriously, this! even when i see 13.1 or 26.2 (or this weekend, when i saw a 70.6!) sticker i get goosebumps.
i LOVE race recaps. they are the highlight of my days.
and you did a GREAT job and are a wonderful inspiration! Hope your body is feeling better today and that you sign up for another tri again
Blog
Way to go, Misty! Really, your story is incredibly inspiring.
I think I could make it through the swimming and biking legs but would fall apart during the running. It's amazing to me when people even finish one of those things in the first place.
Don't lose that drive to keep yourself going. Stick with it and do it again next year!
Thanks ladies! Honestly, I raced and finished b/c I said I would. And I hate to lie or go back on my word. I had no idea my piddly story would be inspiring, so thank you.
One thing I forgot earlier:
At the top of the hill on the run there were signs that said "I love you mom. Love Kaylee" or "You JUST biked 12 miles, what's 3 more?" or "You are amazing, you are strong". I wish I had my camera, cuz I teared up like a baby right there. Was crazy. I have no words to explain the emotion of camraderie. Stuff like that is the great equalizer. We were all doing the same thing and helping each other through it. If I never run another race in my life, I will definitely volunteer just to give women hope. Hope that they can finish. Hope that someone cares. Hope that they can beat cancer.
And Shauni: I love reading race recaps too. So awe-inspiring the things we humans/women do. And I'm feeling every second (that's 1,067,262,667 seconds) of my 33 year old body. Oy!