.3 mile swim + 13 mile bike + 5 k run = One hour and 26 minutes of joy, pain, endorphins, and adrenaline.
After two months of being injured, and two weeks of crash training, I am proud to say that I finished my triathlon in Charleston and felt good afterwards 
I didn’t try to race it, as I knew I wasn’t in shape to get a great time (and I didn’t want to re-injure myself!), so my times were a little slow. BUT…I’m becoming more and more comfortable with open water swimming, which is very scary the first time you do it (I freaked out and did backstroke for the whole swim in my first tri!), and I was able to push myself in the run to do 3 miles in 25 minutes. Not bad, considering my runs have been at about a 10 minute/mile pace lately! That adrenaline you get at the end of a race always seems to allow you to go faster than you’ve trained!
I didn’t bring my camera, but here are some pics from the race website:
the swim
the transition area
the bike
the run
Afterwards, we went and had a delicious lunch. I ordered a mahi salad with mango salsa….yum!!! (Sorry, but no pic, I’m a terrible food blogger.) Then, we laid on the beach for a few hours before heading back home. Perfect day.
The next day, I attempted to do an easy run to loosen up my legs. The plan was to go about 4 miles, but after 2 miles, it was clear that my legs were dead! Sometimes you really just need to rest. And eat some good food, which leads me to….
Breakfast Quinoa!
Red quinoa, blackberries, pecans, cinnamon, and agave nectar. This was a very fun and satisfying change from cereal or oatmeal. I got the recipe from 101 cookbooks. Highly recommended 
Last night while I was waitressing, I served some parents and their daughter who had just moved their daughter into the dorms that day. I instantly got a huge feeling of nostalgia for my freshman year of college. I just graduated in May, and I think I would relive my college years in a second if given the opportunity. (Not that I don’t still act like a college kid…but I had much less responsibilities 4 years ago.) I’m still young now, but I’m terrified of getting older….marriage, kids, a real job…yikes!!! I just want to play. Question (for those of you who have graduated): Would you want to relive college all over again if you could? Or do you like being an “adult” better?
Congrats! Sounds like you did more than just survive
Adrenaline is amazing, isn’t it? Mmm, college… i dunno bout that one 
i don’t have the stomach for all the alcohol anymore!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! That’s awesome – be proud of yourself
Breakfast quinoa sounds like a fun change! Since I changed my major I kind of am repeating college again
It’s still fun!
First off, congratulations on the triathlon, I really admire you for that.
Second, it’s SO wierd that you asked whether we would go back to college because JUST TODAY I was thinking about that same question…”Gina, if you had the chance right now to go back to college, would you?”….and I came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t. Why? It just wouldn’t be the same. I enjoyed college tremendously and it was probably some of the best years, if not the best years, of my life. However, I am very content with my life as it is and I’m ready to make even more/better memories!
Congrats on the race!
I definitely wouldn’t want to relive college! That said, I’ve been out of college so long I know what’s on the other side. Life is so full of richness, the likes of which you scratch only the surface in your college years. So much to look forward to!
Great job on your race! I’m glad everything went well and you’re feelin’ good. I’m sure you’ll be back up to speed in no time!
Congrats to you! I found your blog not too long ago and I love it – it’s great! So happy to hear your race went well. I look forward to reading more from you!
congrats on your race, very inspiring!! I just graduated too, but I’m heading back to school to become a registered dietitian so I’m kind in that awkward phase where I’m glad to still be in school but also more than ready to get into the “real world!”
Congrats on the race.
As far as your question goes, I would want to relive college again if I got to be 18 again. If I had to do it again at this age, I couldn’t do it!
congratulations!!!! you did awesome!
I do miss college sometimes – not necessarily the homework or finals, but I miss having classes at random times and not working 8-5 and I miss having more time to just hang out with friends.
oh WOW. I had to do a double take when I saw your quinoa breakfast. I gotta gotta gotta try it now!! Thank you for sharing such a GORGEOUS breakfast with us…and CONGRATULATIONS on completing the triathalon. It’s people like you who are so inspiring to people like me…hehehehe I would gladly do just the swimming leg of the race…but that’s probably all i can do.
I would easily relive college. High school not so much, but definitely college
Congrats girl! That’s awesome, especially all you’ve gone through. Seeing that really makes me want to do this sprint tri I’ve been thinking about in october, but I’m afraid of swimming and I haven’t really had the extra time or money to get started with a couch. I need some motivation and tips for quick training! I’m still getting used to cycling with a road bike, but I’d really like to do one someday
MMMM . . . i love quinoa, how great for breakfast!
sometimes I wish I could re-live college days because it was a blast and sometimes it’s nice to move on, but I’m not really liking the real world right now. I wish I could just retire already and travel haha ahh well, someday!
Have a great weekend!
-kristen
How much fun! I’ve only done one triathlon – in college. Need to get back to it!
Congrats on completing the triathalon!! That’s awesome
I’m hoping to be able to do that at some point in the future too… I see it as being pretty far off into the future though haha. I just graduated in May from college too and it’s WEIRD isn’t it??? Especially now that Fall has decided to roll in early, everyone’s packing, apartment hunting, buying school supplies *sigh* I miss it!!!! But working full-time/having work be the only real responsibility isn’t too bad either, don’t ya think? 
god, I am freaking out! I have a triathlon coming up in exactly two weeks! I have not trained for two months and I am so unfit!! I just found your post and am feeling encouraged! I’m curious.. did you stick to your two week training plan? do you have any other tips? Anything you can let me know would help! I hate running … my strength would be cycling .. but I guess that wont be the most challenging part!