Triathlon: Big Lake Graniteman

 This was suppose to be my final tri for the summer in a series of three. but the first one got cancelled so this was the second one I did for the summer and the last one for a bit. This summer I am focusing on running (a 10 mile in May) and swimming (a 2 mile open water swim in Lake Superior in August). 

This was at Big Lake. 

The water was SO CLEAR it was so fun to swim. 

 

And I'm off. 

Since joining masters swimming in November of '23 my swimming has totally transformed! Which is why I signed up for the 2 mile open water swim. That's gonna be exciting. 

These photos were from the triathlon I did in June just before we left on our summer trip. 

You can see me in the middle background - yellow cap, number 899

Then these photos are from this August tri

Family didn't come cheer me on cuz it was kinda a drive out of the city and there was all the baseball things going on. 

June 22nd

 Yes, I know, I know I'm a little behind. I got all caught up before our big summer vacation. Then summer swallowed me whole and finally coming up for air. Also a little delayed getting to those vacay posts because the DOG ruined my SD Card that had all my Grand Canyon pics from my nice camera, so those are GONE! Sorry can't share the amazing condor I captured flying in the air. But I got plenty of photos on my phone. 

Before I get to our trip I need to post about my June triathlon that I did the day before we left. I woke up at 4ish to drive an hour to participate in the Clearwater Graniteman Triathlon. It was raining on me the whole way there and I really questioned myself why I was doing this, lol. 

Doing a full spring distance and the swim is longer than I've done previously but I was way better prepared this season having joined master swimming 6 months previously. 

The swim finish:

Transition all set up. 

Headed out for the run, this was the first triathlon I have done where we were allowed to have headphones for the run so I was updating Kyle lol. 

All done! Felt GREAT!

Mary had her last softball game since we were leaving the next day for vacay. 

The girls also got to their friend's for an afternoon birthday party. 

Thomas was so excited to bike to this cherry tree that we discovered when he had tennis camp by our house. 

Maple Grove Triathlon 2023

Back at it. I did three triathlons right in a row back in 2019 - this was one of them. And while I did an indoor tri later that same year, and a splash and dash (swim and run) in Kansas on September 11, 2021 I haven't done a full on one since. I decided to sign up and train for a spring triathlon (all my others had been super sprints so a tiny bit shorter). Training was going well, until my dad died and then my training plan took a nose dive. But I still got some movement in here and there, it just happened the week he'd died was the hardest training week and I had missed all that. But knowing I wasn't as prepared as I had hoped, I still gave it a go and had a good time. 

I went on Friday evening to pick up my packet, leave my bike in the secure transition zone and set my alarm for early the next day. 

 

Saturday morning all set up in transition. I have my dad's towel :-) and this year since the swim is longer than I'd done before I got a wetsuit to wear to help with buoyancy. 

 

Gorgeous morning. 

Almost go time! 

Kyle got some pictures of me: 

 

I survived! 

Aftermath, lol.

It exhausted me but didn't kill me. Still felt amazing afterwards and ready to heal (hip issues I started seeing a physical therapist for) and train more for next summer. I have already signed up for a 3 series next summer. Two in June and one in August! Here we go. And I joined the master swimmers to get more swim time in.