To Swim Bike Run or not to Swim Bike Run

So yesterday was my first foray into training for the numerous (mini) triathalons coming down the pike in Northern Virginia…Nearly half of the women on my street are training (some of them are pretty hard core!), so it’s a great motivating factor.. “If they can do it, so can I?!!” goes through my head… I did pretty well on the track and on the bike, although the big Broadlands Blvd and Glebe View hill combo pretty much did me in. Let’s just say i felt the burn!
I did have some serious swollen left thigh issues…A reminder of the joys of first pregnancy (Graham) when the thigh-length clot got lodged in there and darn did hole me up in the hospital for a few days. Now that i’m post two kids and numerous clots (and yes, on blood thinner), i’ve come to terms with the reality that i will never have great circulation in my left leg (the throbbing yesterday was painful reminder), but why should that slow me down. I think we’ll have to take this one step (stroke, pedal) at a time and see if i can power through the pain and mitigate where possible to attack the TRI……
I haven’t gotten into the pool yet and that is not a big worry to me, but the bike really is intimidating. Even though i got up the big hills, i had trouble with my gears and freaked out a bit on the descent down TruroParish (visions of me tumbling forward off the bike at 30 mph danced through my head). It is hard for me to think about pedaling to go faster faster faster, when it’s so lovely just to feel the breeze run through your stinky helmet. So, let’s just say i have some work to do there..
But get ready, all you “i have something to prove” stay at home moms with your fancy lightweight tri bikes. me and my cheapo cruiser hybrid will be coming up behind you…watch you back…Tonya’s gonna figure this out…