I can't believe I let the whole summer pass without posting about my first triathlon!  It was such a big deal!  Ok, so remember back in elementary school?  Remember the chubby girl with her nose in a book?  The one who got picked last for kickball and the one who couldn't run all the way to the fence in P.E.?  Yeah, that was me.  I've always been on the sidelines, too shy and unfit to join the fun.  So last year, I made a decision to stop putting off "someday" and finally signed up for the triathlon I've talked about doing since 2005.  Great idea at the time, until I remembered that I was so out of shape that I'd lose my breath just talking with customers!   Luckily, I had 8 months to prepare.  So, I lost 40 pounds, dramatically improved my fitness, and learned how to swim (important in a triathlon, I've heard).  As the big day approached, I was ready physically, but starting to panic mentally.  The chubby girl on the sidelines kept yammering in my ear about not belonging there and kept trying to convince me to chicken out.  I had no idea that actually getting myself to the starting line would be the most challenging part of the whole event.  I just kept telling her to shut up and kept reminding myself that I was physically capable of doing this, and the chubby girl did finally relent.  And as nervous as I was in the weeks leading up to it, I was oddly serene about the whole thing the night before and morning of.  No butterflies, no nerves, nothing...just pure excitement and joy at the prospect of accomplishing something that the little girl waiting to get picked for kickball would have never dreamt possible.  I loved every second of it.  Actually, that's a lie, I am not a huge fan of the swim yet (who likes getting kicked?).  I loved every second of it, after the swim.  I was grinning from ear to ear the whole time I was out there (not swimming).  It was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life, and definitely one of the most fun things I've ever done.  I am so glad that I stopped talking about doing it and just finally did it.  And I am so, so glad that I got to do one before John.  (That is probably the best part of the whole experience, actually!)  So the big question now is, what's next?

This is me before the start thinking, "I think they measured wrong, that looks way farther than 400m!" and really wishing they had extra-large swim caps. 

This is transition one.  I am so happy here, because the swim is OVER!!!  And also because I get to go ride my bike now, and I love, love, LOVE my bike!

I had the most fun on the bike, despite all the crazy turns and close brushes with traffic!  Have I mentioned how much I love my bike?

First of all, the great thing about the Mermaid Triathlon is that it is an all-women event and the energy and camaraderie is amazing.  Second of all, who puts the finish on a hill after a stretch of sand?  Like, seriously, after all that, I have to run up a stupid hill now?  But I made it, and I had a blast!  I can't wait until next year!

 The Mosqueda BMX Park opens Friday, July 3 with a bang.  Don't miss out on the huge grand opening celebration going down over there.  (Mosqueda Park is located here).  The 30,000 square foot park is the biggest in the nation and it's right in your back yard.  The ceremonies start at 1pm and the contest starts at 3.  Do not miss this.  I'm serious.  Do whatever you need to do to get over there to be part of this ginormous day.  This is what you've been waiting for, riders!  So get out there and celebrate this victory, BMXers!  Call the shop or Ryan Garcia (621-PLAY) with questions.

Are you drooling?

It's all yours, bikers!

Isn't it beautiful?  Don't you want to go ride your bike now?

Click here for a great video about the local Homegrown cyclocross series that CCORC puts on. 

Go to ibikefresno.org and sign up for the MIllion Mile Challenge!   The goal is for Fresno-area residents (and this includes you, Madera - I doublechecked!) to ride a total of a million miles (or more!) during May, National Bike Month.  Every mile counts, whether it's riding to the grocery store, around the neighborhood, or on a 50-mile training ride.  It seems like a big challenge, but if we all sign up and log our miles, we can achieve it in no time!  Now get pedaling!