My first tri (or is it try)

Well I finished my first triathlon.  Although it was a very short one it was still fun.  Not very hard but it was fun to get out there and do one.  The wifey and I woke up around 6am so we could leave by 630.  We drove to Clermont, Fl which was about an hour away.  We got there and I linked up with someone who was going to let me borrow a wesuit.  Long story short, I rented one online and it didn't show up on time so I called a friend who called a friend and eventually put me in touch with someone who had a wetsuit I could borrow.  Moving along...

So I finally get my number and my goody bag and get to the transition area to set up my stuff.  I laid out my bike stuff and my running stuff and waited around.  

I finally got into the borrowed wetsuit and the race began.  The 400m swim turned into more like a 200m swim and a 200 meter water run. The lake was quite shallow and it took a long while to get to where we needed to swim.  The toughest part was determining what the fastest way to get through the water was.  Once I got to where I couldn't run anymore, but I could still walk was it faster and more energy efficient to swim or walk?  I would swim for a few strokes and then realize the people I was next to were going just as fast as I was but they were walking.  So I would stop and walk, but that made my legs tired and knowing that i had to bike and run, was it better to swim? But then swimming is a lot more tiring overall than walking so was walking the best option? This back and forth went on in my head for a long time.  I finally finished the walk/swim portion and transitioned into the bike.  The transition took a little longer than I would have liked but not bad overall.  Once on the bike I felt a lot more comfortable than I felt in the water.  Because this was a first triathlon for most people, there were people riding mountain bikes and one guy was even riding a beach cruiser. It was funny until I realized that he was beating me and by a lot.  Anyways, I kept pedaling and the 9 miles went by quickly.  I got off the bike and put my running shoes on.  The 2 mile run started off on a very sandy path which made for slower running but it ended on regular dirt which I appreciated.  I think most people were very tired by this point because I passed a lot of people.  
In the end, my goal was 1 hour and I finished a few seconds ahead of that.  And my second goal was to let no one pass me. And no one did.  Well except in the swim maybe.  But no one came up from behind me in the bike or on the run, which is always a goal: always be the one passing people.  At the end I was bumbed there was no medal to show for my efforts, but oh well.  It was still fun. I am looking forward to the next one. The next one is in a month and is a legitimate distance and will require a legitimate effort.  

Here are some pics the wifey took...

Me setting up my gear.

I had to test out the water before I got in...65* = brrrr.

A funny sign next to the water's edge.  Not something you want to see right before you go swimming...

A self portrait before it all began.  I was going to make a "that's what she said" joke about all that rubber I was wearing, but decided against it.

The start of the race...can you find waldo?

Me during the bike portion

And at the finish... I know I could be a walking Nike poster. And no I am not sponsored by them; yet.