Oh, It Was Bad… Just Not Tha-aat Bad!
If you let it, the mind can run away to the ends of fantasy and back again. Particularly when confronted with a challenge you just don’t bloody well feel up for… such as, when ruminating on a tough UPHILL triathlon only hours away… and then lo and behold, in the deep, dark yet scarily vivid recesses of your mind, yer being abandoned on a high mountain trail, alone, lost, with no food or water, stalked by wolves and cougars, ultimately to end up an early supper for a frustrated mother bear and her eager little cubs.
And there’s where our story begins….
I did get out of the pool last. I did end up alone, the last racer on the bike trail… slowly pedalling if I wasn’t trudging, pushing my bike up the steep, narrow inclines, alone with my thoughts, sometimes singing- and yes, as I sang tunes loudly hoping that, if my presence alone was not enough to scare off predatory wildlife, then my complete lack of musicality would be- but always working to appreciate the sounds of the birds , the butterflies and the burbling of the creek in the narrow valley below, and reminding myself it’s really not so bad. Things can always be worse, after all. And… I took the short option trail, which brought me out to the festive crowds cheering, the first person to take to the trails on foot.
And so, I ran. Again the short course. Which brought me into the finish….
FIRST!!!
OK, so I know that out of 12 individual participants in this inaugural race, I was the only person to take the available short cut. I was also one of only two women to participate. The other woman hauled ass, my friend. She won the event- the long EXTREME event, I might add, beating the guys handily. For her, this was merely a fun event in an otherwise gruelling triathlon circuit over the summer.
Ahhhh, if only…..
Anyways, it was a great day. A great event. And many volunteers in the way of our trusty local Lions Club. They were organizing, offering support and several opportunities for water and oranges.
It was great. And, yes, if it happens, I will, in fact, participate again next year. LONG COURSE!
