So we watched the first and many groups after that jump off the dock in the 70 degree salt water, swim to the starting line, and begin their 1/3 mile journey to the paddle-wheel steam boat down the shoreline. Meanwhile I guess Karen's friend was getting really nervous, and Tiffany was still feeling sick enough she wasn't sure she could do it. I made a quick last-minute journey to the bathroom. Once it was our turn (that is, me and Tiffany's dad, in the Men's First-Timers group) to get up there, I didn't think about it much, just lemming-ed right off the dock 10 feet down into the water. So far so good. Uh aside from the shock of the cold water. Most people were wearing wet-suits. Pansies. Our swim took about 17 minutes of breast-stroking and occasional salty-mouthed freestyle when I had the breath, frosted with some backstroke when I wanted to watch the women first-timers swim from five minutes behind and pass us. Oops. Only some of them though.
I knew this was the worst part so finishing it was glorious. We chilled out waiting for Karen and Christine who were in aforementioned women's group to catch up with us at the transition, after being sprinkled off by some overhead water thing and cheered on by volunteers and spectators alike. Ate some goop for energy, dried off, and hopped on the bike for a leisurely 12 mile ride down the coast of the gulf. Not too bad! Would have been worse if I had ended up with the road-bike the bike-rental place was originally gonna give. UM, no thanks I don't wanna die, a mountain bike will be grand thanks. Tiffany's dad (we can refer to him as Mr. Burd, I suppose, his name is Wes) decided to pull ahead on the bike part, and it may have caught up with him on the run.
After he decided to get going, I chugged my PJ (yeah that's Pickle Juice) and sprinted to catch up with him, leaving Tiffany with Karen and Christine (at her insistence, mind you) and we took our time, as the sun was starting to warm up and steam up the place. Volunteers were great about cheering us on still, and giving us water and gatorade and wet sponges. The last half mile I decided to sprint it on out and realized I didn't have much gas left, so it wasn't quite as sprinty as I'd have liked, but I told Mr. Burd I wanted to see what I had left. Finishing alone (and near the end of the entire group of everyone) gave me the chance to be personally announced over the loudspeaker as I came in. That was cool. And just like that, I was done with my 3 miles and wearing a wet towel and taking pictures.
We did some more of the picture taking as the rest of them came in, and walked around where they were announcing winners, handing out trophies, giving out free Papa John's, bananas, sweet tea, energy drinks, and BEER. Yup, had one of those after plenty of sweet tea. We went to lunch, took our time sitting around, and then headed back out of town. All that walking around after the race was enough to get me some sun on my arms and head though, just enough for my nose to peel a little this week. Thankfully I had a swim cap, helmet, and hat, for the legs of the race, and wet towel for after- balding guys gotta watch the head.
Um so that's it, it all ended rather quickly. We of course started talking about next year, and I'd like to see how fast I could really do it. But really working hard at it takes too much gear and training and gear and practice and training, so I'll stick to runs, at least for wanting to be competitive. But we'll see what time I can get next year anyway. Probably won't beat 57 minutes, which is what the 9th place Iron Man guy got. I finished in over two hours. Yeah the Iron Man is a 2.4 mile swim 115 mile bike ride and full marathon. Um I'll pass.
We wrapped up the weekend by eatings lots Saturday night- steak and such, wine, lots of relaxing. Helped clean some pool toys and hung out by the pool with the boys. So nice being outside. Sunday was a little party of family and friends to come hang out with Tiffany, with Pappasito's her favorite Mexican food, before we had to skip town. It was over fast, and by the time it was done it felt like home and they felt like family and it was sad to go. Especially leaving the weather and going back to class. Hopefully the Burds will be coming to town Labor Day weekend to visit and meet EVERYONE :) The icing on the cake was Southwest needing to bump some people, so we took $200 vouchers and a paid return flight plus money for breakfast, to stay in Houston until the morning. HA! Victory.
And now its back to real life and all the other things I've got to do. Weather is getting nice and I wanna be outside. Unfortunately NO. Tonight I figure out whether I'm getting a new roommate or whether I have to move by the end of April. Or pay another $100 a month. Right. I wish I had a source of positive cash flow lined up for the summer at least...
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