St. George Triathlon

Are you craving an adventure? Do you enjoy pain? Does a near death drowning experience describe your idea of a good time? How about two of them then?!!

Yes Ladies and Gentlemen - I'm talking about the St. George Triathlon. It could be yours next year!!!


And so my story begins... It's 6:45 on a beautiful, but apparently windy, day. My friend, Summer and I are full of hope. We haven't yet touched the water of course... but I'm already glad to be wearing a wetsuit.

I have left out the pictures of me looking like I'm being stabbed by ice cold daggers on purpose. Instead, I give you this one. Triumph! I can't feel my face! Yes!!! As most of you know. I'm a swimmer. I have never worried about the swimming portion of a triathlon - I just show up, and for the most part do pretty well. Well God was ready to smite whatever pride I had - and give me a run for my money. (OK, I know God didn't smite me, but He sure did let me remember that I need Him). You see, there was A LOT of wind. So much so, that there were whitecaps crashing over (and into) my head. I've swam in the ocean, and been fine. This was no ocean. This was a lake of fury. As Summer put it, we were swimming vertically. Unfortunately I literally almost did drown. I got to experience my first panic in water. This didn't really lead to the wave pool "fun" that others may have enjoyed - but left me scared and praying. I finished my swim in 35 minutes. 35 minutes!!! This means that I was swimming at a 2:20 pace per 100 yds. To put this in perspective, I warm up usually swimming around a 1:30 pace. I can do elementary backstroke faster than this! Really... I should time that tomorrow. Anyhow, I was all over the place - but luckily I was also given another quality from my Heavenly Father - determination. I didn't quit! This is me coming into the finish area (which is surrounded by docks - and calmer than the rest of the lake) ... I'm the one on the right. You can't see any limbs because of that wave I'm about to suck into my lungs.
Oh, incidentally - they cancelled the swim portion of the race for everyone after us. Apparently they were worried that people actually might drown... and too many people had to be rescued from our heat already.

Usually there's running after I get out of the water... immediately. This time, I was trying to figure out if I should hop into that Ambulance. Summer was right there with me, and I think I was saying "What the heck just happened?" or "Oh good, you didn't drown either!"
A few seconds later and we had the strength to start running... I love our hair here - we both look like fuzzy chicks.

This is the last smile I had on my bike! It was one of the only times on the bike that I didn't have a severe headwind or crosswind. In 3.3 miles I hit a 6% grade with a headwind. That's when Summer past me, and I realized I needed to start praying again.

The entire bike ride was plagued with the question of whether my knee was holding out. I kept giving myself little markers to make it to, and then I would keep going. My knee really hurt after the hill- and I thought for sure I was done when I had to keep peddling downhill because of the wind. But I did keep going - for another 1:40 minutes... at a measly 15 miles per hour. Again, that's my usual warm-up speed. But I did finish the bike! I made it... despite the two times I was literally blown off the road by the wind. When I came into the bike to run transition - I told Jaren "I think I'm done - my knee is really hurting". Then I got off my bike, and my knee pain wasn't there... so I put on my shoes and said, "can't hurt in trying."

This is my face at the beginning of the run. I look like I'm ready to kill someone.

This is my face when I have completed one loop of the run, and realize for the first time that day, that I will finish the race! I really was happy here. Happy that I only had to run in sand for 3 more miles. Happy that I would only have to empty my shoes from sand one more time - and happy that my blisteringly slow pace would someday still get me to the finish line.
This is me at the finish line. I'm well over a 30 minutes past my projected pace. I'm tired, and I'm positive that this is the last triathlon that I will ever do.
I have purposefully left out all of my ugly pictures for a reason - I don't like to show you how ugly I can look. But this one describes my pain perfectly - so here you are. An ugly pic of me immediately after crossing the line. Next time I need to remember to smile here.

For me, this race OBVIOUSLY wasn't about competing. I just didn't

know it. Summer told me right before we left the start line - "It's complete, not compete!" If there were ever a mantra that I needed. I beat myself up the whole race, and the beating didn't end on the 5 hour ride home, or the throughout the night. The beating finally ended today in writing this blog. I am just realizing how proud of myself I really am. I didn't do as great as I had hoped with my time - but I did so much better than I could have hoped with my determination. Next time, I hope that my attitude during the race will be more positive. That I will remember that I'm doing these things for fun. And that, as my friend Rob said, "I'm not Lance Armstrong, so who really cares how well I do!"

And maybe, there will be another triathlon in my future. Today I made it to maybe - and that's way better than yesterday!

Brenna's 5's - Tagged by Taryn

10 years ago: I was 19, just left BYU with a broken back - and was a bit of mental case.

5 years ago: I was living in Sandy with my 5 roommates. Heather, Rachel, Marnie, Tina, and Jen (who turned into Andrea a few months later). I was getting back on track spiritually, and made a Gospel Essentials teacher (one of my favorite callings). I was rock climbing a lot, and starting work with DCFS.

5 months ago: I was looking forward to Jaren getting his Certified Flight Instructor's license. I was already training for this year's triathlon season. I was a month into living at my in-law's house.

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1) Reisens
2) Popcorn
3) Another meal :)
4) Cheese chips (that's what my in-laws call em... I affectionately know them as Nachos!)
5) Cashews

5 things I would do if I were suddenly a billionaire:
1) Go rock climbing around the world.
2) Hire my own private chef! I would be so skinny - and eat yummy food! YES!
3) Buy Jaren his Ferrari F-50.
4) Buy Jaren his own helicopter (and invest in his helicopter company).
5) Pay off my debt - my family's debt - and save / invest everything else so that my money would work for me!

5 of my bad habits:
1) Carbohydrates
2) Getting frustrated after 11:00 pm - just go to bed!
3) Feeling like people must be mad at me if I haven't heard from them in a while.
4) Trying to please everyone.
5) Stressing out over other people's problems (especially family stuff).

5 places I have lived:
1) West Valley - born and raised until age 13.
2) Sandy - age 13- 18, and multiple other times in my life (like right now)
3) Provo - age 18
4) Avenues - age 22
5) Yosemite - for one month age 21.

5 jobs I have had:
1) Zumiez - keyholder (Crossroads Mall)
2) JP's Collision Repair Center - Detail technician (this means I cleaned out cars, sanded, pulled tape - whatever my dad made me do), also did sales and marketing for my dad.
3) Mr. Rags- Assistant Manager (Fashion Place Mall)
4) Odyssey House - Support Staff for a drug rehab - one of my all-time favorite jobs!
5) DCFS - started out with CPS, then went into Permanency work (foster care), and now I'm a supervisor.

5 things people don't know about me:
1) I crave meat all of the time (ok, so most of you probably do know that!)
2) I used a fake tanning lotion for the first time this month... kinda streaky. haha!
3) I don't like raw tomatoes. Seriously, shouldn't a vegetarian like those?
4) I hate it when people cheat at swim practice - "Wow!!! Really??? Ya gonna just sit there??? Why did you come???" ---- I might need some therapy on this.
5) I'm an official blog stalker - I have been known to read people's blogs that I don't even know. Usually happens when Jaren won't get off the dang X-box!

5 people I tag: Emily, Gwen, Lena, Erin, Siobhan

Orem Telos Timp Tri

First race of the season completed! The race was awesome, and very well run. I got to do this race with two of my training buddies from cycle camp and masters swim. Jenny Weenig (right) and Laura Belgique (left). Aren't they sexy?

The Telos tri was a backwards triathlon. So instead of Swim-Bike-Run it was Run-Bike-Swim. Starting out with the run was a fun way to go. It was a new sensation (for me in a triathlon) to actually feel alright during the run! This is a picture of me on the turn, when I realize that I am not really running 7 minute miles - and that I still have to run around the park. I knew 21 minutes was too good to be true! Transition 1 (or T1 as it is called in triathlon world) was good. I am always suprised at how little I want anything that I have laid out. I just wanted to get in and get out! Go Go Go!
This is me clipping in and beginning the bike portion (10 miles). If I thought it was weird to start the race with the run, it was an even wierder sensation to get the jello legs on the bike! The bike leg was a two loop course... with a CRAZY hill. I'm not kidding. I had to stand up (while in my lowest gear) just to get up the dang thing. I've never wanted a different crank so badly.

When I hopped into the pool it was so hot! It was like I was swimming in a hot tub. My arms felt heavy - like they were made of lead. I didn't really think I used them that much running and biking, but I guess I do! My right goggle was full of water the entire time - but I couldn't stop... just keep swimming... swimming... swimming (say in in Dori's voice, and it's much better).
Overall - I loved seeing that my training was helping me to be stronger. I guess all those hours are worth it! Best part was that I took 3rd in my division! Woohooo!!! I finished the race in 1:07:22.

Pre Race Jitters

What? That is too me!

It's the bike isn't it? That's what always gives it away.

I have my first race of the season tomorrow, and so in my pre-race checklist I have :blog.

Hello, have to write about your puking butterfly sensations.... Anywho... so last night I had a dream. I dreamt that I did the race, and then checked out my run times afterwards to find out that I ran an 11:43 min mile for three miles. Someone save me! Today has been spattered with incidental knee pain, a headache - and oh, I think I have a tumor! Really!

It's only a short one tomorrow, but I swear on everything that a sprint hurts more. Dang. It's that word - SPRINT. It's like a mental hemorrhage for my brain to accept the fact that I have to go all out.

Anyhow, think I'll just go eat some carbs now. :)

The Eagle has Landed

Jaren had Lasik surgery this morning, and all seems to have gone very well. He reports that he felt only slight pain in his left eye (the second eye). The Dr. said that it is normal for the second eye to experience pain, when the first did not. My guess is that the body is just so dang smart, that in between the procedure time of the two eyes - the body figures out that the eyeball should probably not be experiencing this and then creates pain.

I got to watch the procedure on a monitor right outside of his room. Fascinating, and yet terrible! My stomach was flip flopping all over the place just knowing that it was Jaren's eye that I was watching the Dr. remove the lens from! I don't know how I'll ever be a mother and learn to cope with watching them possibly be in pain... On the other hand, it was amazing that Jaren could start to see right after the Dr. put the flap of lens back on his eye.

Jaren is now an eye drop receptacle (has to have drops about every 15 minutes), and high on Valume. It's funny that they give you a Valume 10 minutes before the operation. The operation only lasts about 10 minutes, and then they send you home. Jaren was home when he finally started feeling relaxed! He's got a blanket over his head (sensitive to light), and some sweet protective sheilds taped to his forehead. But he's not in pain!!! Love that.

All in all, I'm very grateful today. Grateful that he can already see better, grateful that he was protected during the operation, and grateful for the wonderful man I married. I am a very blessed woman.