From couch to triathlon

5 years ago I was 150 lbs overweight, I couldn't walk 1/4 mile and could barely make it up my own steep driveway. When I started working with a trainer, I couldn't do a wall squat and on-step step ups were a challenge. I have shared my story many times on here. Now the latest update:

This past Sunday, a week before my 64th birthday, I completed my first individual tri . (Last fall I was part of a tri relay team.)

500 yd swim in a 10 lane saltwater pool, 13.65 mi bike ride along the Snohomish river, and 5k along the Centennial Trail, which I walked.

Weather was 40s but dry after a week of wet slop that had me quite worried. Thus, I did a full change to dry clothes after the swim, which added to my time, but that didn't really bother me. I knew if I started the bike wet and cold there would not be a good ending.

I always try to be well prepared, and I came armed with a roll of trash bags to keep the gear in my transition area dry. I was the hit of my bike-rack mates when I started sharing trash bags with others who had none. It was especially good because transition was on a WET grassy area.

The facilities and course were gorgeous, my hubby was my ever-helpful "Sherpa", photographer, and cheering squad. He was as excited as I was and not nearly as nervous (fortunately).

I was 1/1 in my age group and last overall. I was the second oldest female participant in the event. They announced my name as I crossed the finish line and everyone was cheering, pretty cool! Not everyone can be first and last in the same race LOL. I was last in my first 5k, so it's only appropriate that I was last in my first triathlon. It keeps the theme of our "Tri Turtle" training group alive!

Yes, it's taken me almost 5 years to get this far. Yes, there are many things I still cannot do. Yes, I put on dry clothes for the bike. Yes, I walked. Yes, I was last in the field.

BUT, I'm in a much better place than I was 5 years ago. There are many things I can do now that I NEVER did before. I did what I needed to do to ENJOY the race and ensure I could finish without too much misery or injury. I was ahead of 15 DNS (registered but did not start) and thousands of people who didn't even tri.

I feel that sometimes it's the turtle who finishes last who is trying harder and going further out of their comfort zone that all those who finish before them. I will keep doing what I want to do and keep making my life better, regardless of whether someone might think I'm "embarrassing myself", "not as fast as someone," "too slow," "look goofy", "judge me", or whatever. It just does not matter to me. I'm not there for others, I'm there for ME!

Thank you to all who have shared in my journey these past several years!