My swim was 20m 49s--5 mins over target :-( the bike was 49m 52s (on target of 50 mins); the run was 34m 28s (slightly below target of 36 mins. Yea!). Overall time including transition time between events was 1:59:15. No world class records were set by me during the race, but I really feel good about it.

I finished!!!

Today was the day. I had a hard time sleeping last night as I was amped up about the triathlon. I didn't think I would be but I was. I got up at 4:45 so we could get there about 5:45. You have to get your bike and other gear setup in the transition area. Our heat (first timers) went off at 7:35am. The sunrise was spectacular.



We waited in the water for about 10 minutes for the start of our heat. I kept looking out at the other swimmers in front of us and you could see how the wave action affected them. The water was about 68 degrees today but it definitely got colder the further out I went. It was quite the rush. I was definitely thankful for the wetsuit. I got about 1/3 of the way out and was struggling and had to hold on to a buoy for a minute or so. The tide was coming in and the wave action was pretty heavy so it made for hard going. I know that in the future I will have to do more open water swimming to prepare. We had to swim out a couple hundred meter, turn left for a 100, then swim in two hundred. I was pretty well tuckered out when I got out. This was the hardest for me of the three events. But everyone is there cheering for you when you get out and it really picks you up as you head to transition to start the bike.


After that was the bike ride. We had to go over the Kemah bridge, under it, then back up the other side and across the bridge again. What a way to start the ride. Better at the first than the last though. My son Jeff borrowed a road bike from a friend of his for me. Wow! No substitute for a high quality bike. It made the ride much easier than my old 10 speed bike. We had the wind against us (about 12 mph) all the way out to the turn around (about 7-8 mile mark) Nice having the wind with me on the way back in. The bike was my best event.

The run was tough after the swim and bike. I had to slow to a walk for 10 or 15 seconds several times throughout the run, just enough to get my breathing back. But I completed it. I was completely unprepared for my emotional response after I crossed the finish line. I heard my name being called out, walked over to get my First Timer's Finisher's medal and then realized I had done it. I completed a sprint triathlon! I know it isn't the Ironman in Hawaii, but I did it and I got choked up a little. My lovely bride of 22 years was there to greet me and take pictures. I saw the pride in her eyes and felt like I came in first place.

The last picture is the group of guys with whom I entered this race. I couldn't picture a better group of men to do this with. I was proud to have participated in this with them, and proud of them.


Thanks to all of you well wishers and contributors to the charity. I was blessed to have you all as partners in this. Diane and her sons I know are appreciative too.
Blessings to all of you
Pete Trivanovich--newly minted Triathlete