My husband has raced in triathlons for many years, and I have been content playing the role of race "sherpa".  On race day, I help pack and carry my husband's race gear, so he can concentrate on the race itself.  Racing always looks like a lot of fun, and a few months ago, I unwittingly made the comment that I could do one.  My husband suggested I attend a Traithlon101 meeting that the San Diego Tri Club was putting on, and I realized that, with a little determination and some equipment, anyone could finish a triathlon.  I see 80-year old grandmothers do triathlons all the time.  I thought to myself, "How hard could it be?"  I made the decision then and there to try it.  Little did I know what I was getting myself into...

That next week, I bought a woman's road bike and wet suit and started training.  If I'm being completely honest, it was a lot harder than I expected.  I had never really ridden a road bike before, and it did not come naturally to me.  All of the steering, gear changes, and clipping my feet in and out of the pedals was really stressful.  Swimming was not much better.  I had to learn how to swim with good form and, most importantly, not get tired out after only a few meters.  Once I had somewhat mastered swimming in a pool, I tried my hand at ocean swimming.  That first experience was terrifying; and I cried, hyperventilated, and swallowed seawater most of the way through.  There were definitely highs and lows through my workouts, but I kept trying.

Two weekends ago, I showed up to race my first triathlon (400 meters in the water, 7 mile bike, and 2 mile run).  I did not have a particularly fast race (in fact, I came in nearly dead last), but at least I finished.  The whole time during the race, I kept thinking, "Why did I sign up for this?  What was I thinking?"; however, when I finally finished the race, it felt pretty good.  I always tell others to try things that they are scared of, and this has been an experience where I have had to "eat my own dog food".  I have learned a lot though...I've learned that we can sometimes surprise ourselves in what we are capable of doing.  I've also learned that you meet the most amazing people when you try something different.  My husband and I have met some great friends over the past few months, people I would never have met otherwise.  During the Triathlon101 meeting, one of the guys warned us that most people get hooked after doing their first one, and I am getting hooked.  My husband and I signed up for our next triathlon on October 4th...

What have you done lately that scares the heck out of you...but you're glad you tried it?