I am a Triathlete!!

Well, folks, I did it. I can now say that I am a Triathlete. Below are my results. My goal was to to the Tri in under 3 hours. I did that. Another goal was to not be last in my age division. Did that too. :-) I will blog more about the actual event when I get home and can include some pictures. All I can say is it was AWESOME. I have just proven to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. I just wanted to thank you all for your support and encouragment through all of this. I could not have done it without you.


overall place:
1583 out of 1603

division place:
276 out of 277

gender place:
1583 out of 1604

time:
2:27:07

swim:
21:27

trans 1:
7:30

bike:
57:47:00

trans 2:
4:33

run:
55:53:00

Tomorrow is the big day!!

Well, this is it. My big day has finally arrived. Tomorrow is my first ever Triathlon. I am so excited and nervous rolled into one. I took some pictures today at the packet pick up and will blog after the big event. Please pray for me as my neck has been hurting this week, so I am a little nervous about the swim, but I know that I will be able to do it. I'll let you know how it goes. Gotta get to bed. Thank you everyone for your support. Much love, Melissa

A lot has been going on

As most of you know I did BIKE THE DRIVE on May 28th, 2006. This is where Chicago closes famous Lake Shore Drive for about 5 hours and opens it to bikers. It was a lot of fun. I considered this to be training for my triathlon. I will have to bike about 15 miles and did 30 in about 2 1/2 hours. I think I will be fine for my Triathlon. :-)

The picture above is of me on the train around 4:45am heading downtown. It was a lot of fun because the CTA changes their bike rules for the day, so at this point I was on the train with about 4 other bikers. Usually they only allow 2 bikes per car, but not today.

On the advice of some friends I started my ride heading north, so I could get the hills out of the way. Keith and I started out our marriage at 3600 N. Lake Shore Dr. I have spent countless hours driving in a car on Lake Shore Drive, so it was fun to pass our old stomping grounds on a bike. This is a self portrait of me with the tower we lived in behind. The tower right behind my head is the one that we lived in on the 13th floor. Ahhh, memoriesI finished the ride North and headed to the South. This route was much more fun because that is where all the sights are and it is less hilly. Here I am with Field Museum in the background.

This is my self portrait of me in front of Soldier Field. This is also where my chain came off. I was on the side of the road yelling, "Anyone know how to fix a chain?" Finally my Good Samaratin came along and helped me and I was back on my way. Next stop, Museum of Science and Industry and then back to Grant Park. I was trying to post more pictures, but I am having some trouble, so I will post more at a later date.

A lot more has been going on in my life, which is why I haven't posted on here in awhile.

First of all, I am back in college. I am taking 3 summer school classes. I am in Intermediate Algebra, Old Testament Survey and Non-Western Civilization. They are all interesting, but it is a lot to keep up with. I'm not sure what I was thinking signing up for 3 classes. In the fall I will be Trinity University student studying Elementary Education. I will be graduating Spring of 2008. Eeeeeeeeeeee!! I'm so excited. They have a face paced track I will be on. I will be in classes every Monday night from 6-10pm. The classes are all condensed, so the working person or mom can fit it into their schedule. It is a nice fit for me.

I have quit my preschool job and am taking a job in the fall being an aid for a little boy. I will be assisting him in Kindergarten. We have visited the school twice and it is a good match for us. It is montessori school, which both of my kids went to for preschool, so I am familiar with the philosophy of teaching, which will make for an easier transition.

My triathlon is on June 25th. Darlene and I are doing it together, so today we did a practice Tri. It was good, but tiring. It was almost 90 degrees and very humid. Luckily the Tri on the 25th will start early in the morning, so it shouldn't be as hot.

Tricia won a sweepstakes. She will honorary bat kid at tomorrow's (June 16) Cubs game. We have to go early, so she can watch batting practice from the dugout. She gets a hat, jersey, baseball, her name on the scoreboard, her name announced over the PA system and she gets to meet players. We are not allowed to go into the dugout, but we still get to be there with her and get to go to the game. As a Sox fan this is nice for me because the Cubs are playing the Detroit Tigers. That is the team that the Sox are trying to knock out of first place, so I need the Tigers to lose, so I will be a Cubs fan tomorrow.

After the Cubs game we drive to the airport to leave for Arizona for a week. Keith's Mom and Grandma live there and we haven't been in a couple of years, so it is time. We are all looking forward to it. I will blog when I get home.

I think that is pretty much the update and the life and times of Melissa. Until Next Time Keep on Keepin' On.

" I only have good days and great days." -Lance Armstrong