Final Stretch ...

The rest of the Story ...

Sorry for the confusion TBF stands for Total Body Fitness, Its the training class I went through.

BG(Back Ground) - Running I would say is one of my strengths behind swimming, but after swimming and biking you definitely have to re-adjust to get your balance back.

As I jump off my bike like a ~ ~ ~ gazelle and head for the running entrance ....My friend Sonja is there the greet me with camera shots. I wave good bye as I start down the trail. I don't notice that my legs have turned to jelly and it feels like I'm barely moving. As I trot along the path my first obstacle is a large mud puddle, which can not be avoided. I try to leap and be as light footed as possible, but to no avail, I land in it and mud splatters everywhere. I'm able to catch up behind someone for a while till we reach the road and then I break away after about the first mile.

The course winds around, ~ up and down small hills and is not on an even path. The second mile goes by the transition area and my parents are there to cheer me on, as well as some sand dunes and more mud puddles who say hello. I try to keep an even pace and I can't feel my legs. I try to remember what I learned in class, to alternate leg lunges every six steps to keep the momentum and recover some of my strength back. There are water stations along the way and surprisingly It helps give you a burst of energy. I don't usually like to drink while I'm running. I think at least one cliff shot or gu would have helped at least in the middle of this segment.

As I come up on mile 2 the course changes to a parking lot for about a 1/2 mile before disappearing again into a wooded trail with more small hills and mud puddles. Its kind of scary to not know what awaits you around the next turn. I'm able to pass a couple people and maintain my position as I reach mile 3 which starts ascending up steep climb. There's a couple spots where there's a down grade and I'm force to use my quads to slow down, which really took a lot out of my legs. The last mile was really tough, my legs are burning up and I'm try to use up the last of my speed without cramping up or pulling anything.

I felt a sense of relief as I come over the last him and see the finish line and a pile of horse manure in the middle of the path. Which I almost step in, The last 100 yards I sprint toward the finish as people on the sidelines cheer and encourage the racers to finish. I can sense someone on my tail, So I take it up a notch, so he doesn't pass me and I cross the finish line... Got to keep moving and warm down. A volunteer pulls off my tag number and hands me a vitamin water, which I graciously accept.

Thanks to my Parents, Sonja, Tracy, Jeannie, Vadar, Auntie Nancy and Cousin Kev. for coming out to support me it really meant a great deal to share this experience with all of you.

Finish Order - 211
First - Darren
Last - Yee
Age - 28
Gndr - M
Div. - 25-29
Net Time - 1:37:06
Swim Split - 11:02
Swim Rank - 119
Bike Split - 50:34
Bike Rank - 286
Run Split - 35:30
Run Rank - 176

Take care and continue to race for Gods Glory.