I then waited around after I registered, we got there a little early.
The triathlon was made to be a team event as well, so there was a volunteer that was going to do the swimming portion for me, I got a great lady named Jaqueline to be my teammate, she was 62 years old! Since I was not doing much, I got elected to help set up some stuff, so here I am helping to carry a boat down to the lake with the organizer of the event Roeland.
A little later, we had our first sighting of Matt Hoover, he came walking in too register with one of his friends. I went and talked with his friend and told him the story about who I was (the traveling shirt guy) and how Matt had challenged me to this triathlon, he friend then took me up to meet Matt. Matt is a great guy, I brought the shirt with me and we shared a few stories about the shirt and he posed for a picture with it and me.
After the picture with Matt it was time for the triathlon to start. All of the people got ready and then jumped in the lake (poor, crazy people). After the people got away from shore one of the people along the lake pointed out the very large water snake that just swam by the starting line (another reason why I am glad I did not swim.) So I waited until Jacquline finished her swim and was ready to go out on my bike!
Matt had finished the swim and was changing into his biking gear as I was waiting for Jacqueline to pass off the timing chip. I took off on the bike and about half a mile down the road Matt pulled up beside me. I was not sure if he was going to just take off and make me eat his dust or what, but he just rode along side me and we had some good conversations along the way while we looked at some amazing looking houses along the nice FLAT country route. We got back and took off for the 1.5 mile run. Matt again ran beside me, even though he killed me going up the couple of hills along the route.
We both finished the race around the 55 minute mark...I had to figure out a way to beat him....so I decided to TRIP him at the finish line....
Actually, that is not what happened, Matt just got tired and I had to carry him over the finish line...
The truth is Matt was a really great guy who ran with me and helped me get through the race, I thank him for that! After we finished the race Matt had to do some interviews
and then go into the health convention to hand out the awards. Now Matt did a truly nice thing for me at the awards cermony, he was able to get me a medal, since it was my first triathlon. Here is the medal.
Thanks Matt it means alot! Next on our agenda was to participate in an obstacle course that was set up by some Army reservists. Matt went up against his friend, I actually went up again the mayor of Fairfield. I lost because of my inability to do the crab walk, which I don't think I have ever attempted since the second grade. Good job, Mr. Mayor!
And then the final event of the day was to go watch Matt speak to the convention. Matt gives a wonderful and inspiring speech and gives an excellent message. I don't want to give much of his message away, but he can make you beleive that anyone can loose weight, they just have to do it!
It was a wonderful day, that I will not soon forget, I am glad I went too the triathlon. I know that I did not complete the entire tri, but now I have a new challenge to keep me going, I need to practice my swimming so that I can complete this entire race next year. Now I am going to spend some time to read Matt's book. Oh, and I also broke out of the 290's...
TODAY'S WEIGHT: 289.6 lbs.
And finally, a picture of my wife with Matt and Matt and I.
No comments:
Post a Comment