I took one for the team… of us “older gals”!

Yes, I completed my Falmouth Sprint Triathlon yesterday on good ol’ Cape Cod!

The morning was spectacular, sunny and just cool enough to be a perfect July summer morning.  There was excitement in the air as 600 some-odd participants gathered and talked and smiled and stretched and (some) stressed and waited in porta-john lines and hydrated and took photos and hugged family members.

I was designated to Wave 9, which meant that I would hit the water for the 1/3 mile ocean swim with 110 people, all 50 and over.  The previous 8 Waves were elite athletes and younger athletes.  I watched how each Wave manuevered the currents and stayed on the right side of the giant orange buoys.  (I can’t see much without my glasses, so I was up that creek… you know which one… if I didn’t have a good idea as to what to do!)

I was surrounded with love.  Barry, Jane, Audrey, Mathew, Keith, Nicole and 6 of my 9 grandchildren… Taylor, Andrew, William, Alexander, Benjamin and Henry.  Everyone was smiling and proud and happy, and this just set the tone for what I had to do… this Bucket List item that I had written on my list of New Year’s Resolutions back in January.  Six months and a couple of weeks later, 8 weeks of an on-line training guide, so much encouragement and inspiration from my family and friends and angels and you-all out there made me ready, willing and able to accomplish my goal. As I tiptoed into the rocky shoreline, my family was there cheering.  As I tiptoed out of the rocky shoreline, my family was there cheering.  As I transitioned into my bike ride, my family was there cheering.  As I rode the 9.2 mile bike ride, people all along the way were sitting on their porches or driveways and cheering loudly and enthusiastically for us.  As I began my run, my family and hundreds of others were there cheering on us runners.  The race organizers were friendly and competent and professional… making the day simply delicious.  What a day for a first!

And I did it.  I did it.  My goal was to complete the 1/3 mile swim, 9.2 mile bike ride (I didn’t anticipate how hilly the bike ride would be… but it was gloriously beautiful!), and the 3.1 mile oceanfront run in 2 1/2 – 3 hours.  And I didn’t even care if I came in last.

I did it in 1 hour, 28 minutes and placed 541 of 600 some-odd racers.

Coming across the finish line was one of the proudest moments of my “old gal” life… and I think I may even do it again.