Gotta tri…

We’ve done it! Amanda completed her second triathlon a few weeks ago – the world famous Gold Nugget (http://www.goldnuggettriathlon.com/). And I have completed my first triathlon, the Eagle River triathlon (http://www.eaglerivertri.com/). Both of us are very excited about the achievment and also all the fun we had talking about it, training for it, and doing it. Kris Hadden did it with me also, which was very nice to have someone else to encourage you along on the first one. He’s done some others, but it has been a while, so he was a bit challenged by the course, also.

The races are called a sprint distance and they average about 500 yards swimming, 10-12 miles biking, and 3-4 miles running. Mine had a 12 mile bike with some pretty nice hills… wow, I was a bit out of it when I came in from the bike. I wasn’t sure how my body would respond to running right away. I just started going and hoped the mind and body would click in. They eventually did after about a mile. My intercostal muscles and diaphragm seemed to cramp up for a bit. I thought that may be because I was breathing so hard through the bike and then again in the run. After a couple miles though I got into my typical running groove and, other than being tired, felt pretty good.

The volunteers on the course are great… they are always yelling encouragments, clapping, and waving the racers on. Everyone of all ages and abilities participate, so it is a great atmosphere. On the run in I had my whole family, Pam and Kiera, and Rich and Stacy Young and family cheering me in, loudly. Stacy’s practice is one of the sponsors and she had brought bright green shirts for everyone, so I think I officially had the biggest cheering squad. The announcer called my name as I was crossing the finish line… Brian Walch and the Walchettes!