This past Sunday my good friend Karen Burks and I competed as a team in the Couples Triathlon in Austin.  It was my first race in close to two years.  I was very nervous in the days leading up to the race, and even had a day where my back hurt a lot!  I hadn't had a back episode in months - NOT great timing!  Luckily it began to feel better a few days before the race, so all was ok.  The course I have done many times, as it's a venue used for several other triathlons, including the Danskin Tri.  It was a FANTASTIC time for me and Karen.  Having Fun and Going Hard were the goals of the day!  We accomplished BOTH, and placed 1st in the Female Friends division, coming in 1 and 2 amongst the ladies we started with in our swim wave.  I was very happy to be out there again, and will work hard to get back in to racing shape!  Two of my daughters, Shanti and Asha, were there with Jude yelling and clanging the cowbell we got from Don at Austin Tri Cyclist!