A Finisher of an Olympic Distance Triathlon

KELLY MCMAHON AT AGE 34 IS OFFICIALLY A FINISHER OF AN OLYMPIC DISTANCE TRIATHLON AND NOT ONLY A FINISHER BUT COMING IN JUST BELOW HALF OF THE WOMEN IN MY AGE GROUP! HORRAY FOR ME, IT WAS SUCH AN ACCOMPLISHMENT AND  I WAS SO PROUD THAT I FINISHED THAT RACE IN UNDER 3 HOURS!
of course the race uses your age that you will be by the end of the year so I am bumped up to the 35-39 age group!
Place                                  Age     Bib    swim  time                                   Bike time
535.Kelly Mcmahon        35 F     700  34:20  2:05  586 | 2:47  701 |1:21:12 18.8  638 | 2:12  577 | 
Run Time
52:24  8:27  395 |2:52:55

Just finishing my 25.5 mile bike ride and coming down the homestretch and ready to dismount off the bike to start my 6.2 mile run. Trying to stay focused but at the same time so happy to start the last leg of my race that I had to slow down to wave to the cameras so I would have a good shot for my blog! Some serious triathletes would look at this picture and say what are you crazy to slow down and wave but really I was so excited I wasn't thinking about seconds I was just thinking in my head that I seriously can't believe I am actually finishing an olympic distance triathlon.

 All smiles waiting to enter the lake for my first open water 1 mile swim. Look at everyone around me... I am the only one who is smiling. Is this girl crazy or should she be having a panic attack instead.  What's to panic for you can't go back now and really there are lifegurads, boats and bouys if you feel tired, so just smile and enjoy the moment of the acheivement you are about to complete.

 The Mullica Hill Tri Girls walking the plank before our swim.  We had to walk about a mile to the start and don't think it actually hit us yet just how far we would really be swimming.

 The end of the race is just feet away and I couldn't let the boys beat me so off I went to sprint to the finish line.

 Our amazing group of women that just all completed are first olympic triathlon together!

Tri-mantra (to be hissed or groaned at any unfriendly hill)

In my world,
The water is cold,
The wind is hard,
And the road never ends.

In my world,
There are no losers.
Only competitors
still on their way,
And spectators
waiting to be inspired.

In my world,
Victory is not weighed in gold,
But in determination and courage.

In my world,
There are no boundaries,
No limits,
There is no end.
Every day is the last day of my life,
And the first.

In my world,
The word "can't" does not exist,
And nothing is impossible.

by Olivier Blanchard
Greenville, SC

So the inspiration is there and the adrenaline is flying high and is often contagious because everyone I come across is so happy for my accomplishment and hopes one day to do the same! Just believing in yourself and setting a goal is the first step in doing anything that you think can be possible. So get in the pool and swim your first lap and jump on your bike and spin your pedals and then slip into your nikes and put one foot in front of the other because just like me, you can do it too!

-Kelly McMahon, not just a runner but a triathlete!