Crashed and burned!!!!

So, here is the story of my first triathlon. I have got to say that overall the training was a really great experience. I got back in shape, learned how to swim, and bought a new bike. The weather here in Southern California has been in the 90's all week, until race day. We woke up to rain and the temperature outside was a chilly 50 degrees. I couldn't believe the luck. We met our friends DJ and Rachel and planned to have all kinds of fun camping while letting all our kids run crazy. Well the rain destroyed the camping plan, but we were fine with the idea of just getting hotels, especially since Todd's dad was with us. We got to the event just before 7 in the morning. I was the most nervous for the swim mainly because of the cold. It still hadn't warmed up past 55 degrees yet, and the rain was coming down. We brought the girls, who I bet were freezing. Luckily Joe (Todd's dad) stayed in the car with them most of the time. So the race started at 7:50... I attempted the swim, which I must say was pretty sad on my part. All the training in the pool could not prepare me for the panic that was a cold Lake with arms pulling you and legs kicking you down (all the while water splashing in your face, eyes, and mouth). Half the swimming distance in I finally was able to relax and try to swim. I definitely was not near the front of the pack, but the goal was to make up time on the other 2 events. I made it into the transition area and put on my wet shoes, socks, and helmet and off I went for the 12 mile bike ride. I didn't know what to expect because during training I was always pulling an extra 50 lbs behind me in the trailer. Well that over training worked well in my favor because no one passed me on the bike while I was passing people like crazy especially on the hills. I felt as light as a feather without those girls in tow. I was all excited to finish the bike because I thought I made up time from the poor excuse for a swim. With the 55 degree weather my fingers were almost too cold to shift gears, and the rain was not relenting. With only 100 feet of bike trail left, I hit a pothole, lost control of the bike going downhill 15 mph, and slid down the road with the bike on top of me. The only good part was that it was too cold to know that I was even injured. I looked down, didn't see any blood or holes in my clothes, so I hopped back on the bike to finish. In the transition area I started to feel the burn. ROAD RASH! I put the bike up on the rack and saw blood all over where I just held it. There it was, the worst gash I have ever seen on my body. I have really never been injured before. I actually got super queesy and nauseous. I could see tissues ripped open on my wrist, on my own body. That was more than I could handle. I had to sit to stop from passing out. Todd found me and made me freak out even more because he thought I needed stitches too. I went into the medic tent and kissed the remainder of the triathlon goodbye. I even had an asthma attack (I DON"T have asthma). All in all it was a case of serious bad luck. I am sure dissapointed to have not been able to finish the race after all that hard work. If there ever is a next time, I hope to get to the running part.

Before the swim with a smile still on my face

Okay, I still have a smile, but I am in the medic tent.