Pictures from #19: Building a campfire without cut firewood.

I completely forgot about these pictures! But Kelsey put them up yesterday & I figured I should add them to the checkmark blog. =)

Completing #29: Complete a triathlon.

I did it!!! I finished a triathlon. Without walking! And within the tentative time goals I had for myself. =) I can't believe I did it! Given my nerves for the three days before, I think I did pretty darn well. AKA I finished, which is more than I was anticipating at 10:30pm the night before the race. I came in 5th for my age group and 108th overall (out of something over 450 people). I swam in about 15 minutes (partially because I waited to start until most of the pack was aways ahead of me... I didn't want to get kicked in the face and drown). I biked in about 48 minutes and ran in 30. Not too bad considering my goals were to swim in under 20, bike in 45, and run in 30! Other than that, I suppose the best way to tell the story is with pictures so I'll put it in slideshow form. Enjoy!

Next year's goals include swimming in 12 minutes, biking in 40, and running in 27. I think I can do it! =) I also want to swim out in front with the big dogs. So... here's to 12 months of working on my swim confidence! And to finishing #29: Complete a triathlon. =)

Almost at #29: Complete a triathlon.

Well, I'm here! My dad & I drove out to the west side of the state this morning & found our campsite. Correction... I drove us out to the west side of the state. In the motorhome. AHHH! But we both survived and so did all other drivers on the road. Several butterflies and two caterpillars' lives are in question but all in all, the world isn't much worse off post-Sarah-driving.

So, we arrived, sat around, and at 3:30 we headed for the triathlon park. I registered and checked out the lake (which was being buoyed up and let me tell you... those buoys are a LOT further than they're supposed to be). My dad and I biked part of the route just to get a feel for it and then headed back to meet up with Dana.

We got her registered (even if it did take a full hour). Then was Multisport 101 which was basically a class with a guy that stood up there and said everything that I've read in books over the past year but did a MUCH better job of making me feel a lot better about my decision to do this stupid thing.

I take that back. Sort of. I DO question my decision but this isn't a stupid thing. It's a potentially stupid decision but it's a huge scary big thing (right now at least). It's 9:13pm the night before and given the 5a.m. wakeup time, I should probably get to sleep.

I got some Lift Off today from the Herbalife store that Kelsey's parents run. Her dad got me hooked and now I'm super stoked to drink it tomorrow. Hopefully it's enough to clear my head and calm my nerves while giving me the energy to stay alive through the entire 32 mile swim (I swear those buoys are WAY more than 500 meters).

Pray for me! And Dana! And all of the mommies that are doing it too because I know their little ones would be so sad if something bad happened. And for everyone because I seriously don't know how anyone could ever get GOOD at this.

That's all for now... expect a SUPER excited Sarah if I do this thing and a super not excited Sarah if I don't! Hopefully tomorrow will involve a post titled "Completing #29." And hopefully my hands will be steadier when I go to type it than they are now!

Completing #19: Build a campfire without cut firewood.

Could it be? Could I really cross two things off in one week!? I suppose we'll find out on Saturday. For now, let's focus on #19!

Monday night Kelsey had a few of us over for a bonfire. More specifically, Kevin, Grassley, and myself. Joined by her brother Drew and eventually her parents, we set out to build a campfire without lighters, chopped wood, starting bricks, newspaper, or any of the other glorious amenities that the world relies on to begin fires.

I suppose I should pause and take you back to why #19 even exists.

When I was 10 years old my family went to Alaska for a 3 week vacation. We rented a motorhome and drove all over, pulling over whenever we felt like sleeping and driving when we were awake. (Time had no grasp on us as we were there in July when the sun never sets!). One day I was determined to build the fire... all by myself. I told my parents of my plan and went out into the woods and gathered sticks and leaves and caribou hair and every flammable looking item I could hold in my arms.

I trekked back to the motorhome where, to my dismay, I found a fire already blazing. I was SO upset. My parents told me that I could build the fire and then they went and did it themselves! That's when I decided that one day, whether they liked it or not, I was going to build my own fire. And I wasn't going to use any of their stinkin wood either.

And thus, #19 was born.

So, Monday night, we gathered sticks and leaves and the hemp that Grassley had and we headed back to the pond. I build a lincoln log cabin around the hemp and used the magnesium and knife to launch sparks onto the entire contraption. Soon enough, it lit and I had to blow like crazy to keep it going. I added leaves and a few sticks (all at Grassley's direction, of course) and finally had it going. Kelsey documented it with pictures (which I'll upload when I get ahold of!) and eventually we built it up with pre-cut wood (because I wasn't allowed to go chop down a tree). That's okay though.. I got to start it, and that's what I wanted!

In other news, I learned how to hot-wire a car this week. But that wasn't on the list. =(

Anyway, super stoked! 16 of 31 things crossed off the list! More than half way there! I'd better slow down a bit... I've hopefully still got more than half of my life left to go!

Working toward #29: Complete a Triathlon.

10 MORE DAYS!!! Crazy, right? I think I'm ready though. Not that I'll win, but I fully anticipate finishing. Hopefully. Maybe. Possibly. Potentially.

I swam the full distance in a lake last week. I've been consistently able to do the biking portion without any difficulties. I ran more than 5 kilometers today. The issue will be whether or not I can do them each consecutively. Pray I can!

9 days til I leave for K-Zoo with my dad. Well, Three Rivers. But our camp site is only about 10 minutes from the start line even if it's technically in a different town. AHHH! Panic mode. =P

Back at it: #29, you WILL be checked off!

Well, 2 weeks ago I got back to training. I am able to bike the full distance and run the full distance. I need to start swimming and then practice doing two events together. If I'm able to keep training at the pace I've been training at, I should be good to go by August 28th! =)

My current goals are:

1) Swim the full distance by July 31st.

2) Bike and Run the full distances, one after the other, by July 31st.

3) Do at least 3 open water swims by July 31st.

4) Swim the full distance in a lake by August 7th.

5) Swim the full distance in open water followed by the full bike distance by August 14th.

5) Be able to Swim, Bike, and Run the full distances consecutively by August 28th!

Failing at #29: Complete a triathlon

God just wants to make this triathlon as near to impossible as He can! At the beginning of April it was discovered that I had an abdominal hernia. I've had it for two years but just played it off as a recurrent muscle knot. Finally it got too painful and was refusing to go away sooo I mentioned it to my mom who tentatively diagnosed it as a hernia. Go figure -- not a muscle knot. Doctors at UHS and U of M confirmed via exam & ultrasound and low and behold, I needed surgery. I met with the surgeon on a Monday and four days later was in the OR getting my tummy cut open and all sorts of things sewed together.

It went well -- I was able to walk later that day, and thanks to Brian, walked every single day thereafter. But I'm on activity and lifting restrictions until June. AKA I can't run, rollerblade, swim, bike, or lift more than 10 pounds for what feels like forever. This basically sucks for triathlon training because by now, I've probably lost all the strength and endurance I'd built up. When I'm allowed to move again, I'll have exactly 12 weeks to train. Typically having at least 16 weeks is necessary so we'll see how it goes. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to bounce back pretty quickly (as soon as the rest of my tummy wakes up from surgery! We're having problems still. =( blah). My goal now is to just finish the triathlon... screw placing. I just want to be able to do it!