Hi Bees and all of the SBR family:

Lots of people have asked me to write up my NY City Triathlon report because were worried about me. Thank you so much for all the concern and support you've thrown my way. The simple truth of the matter is I was growing bored with triathlons and decided to throw a little gymnastics in the mix. My stunning one and a half somersault in the pike position garnered a 9.75 (those darn Russian judges for keeping me from a perfect 10!)

In all seriousness, the Rudy glasses and helmet probably saved my life. I fractured my left shoulder and needed 27 stitches above my left eyebrow (but it was a plastic surgeon and their stitches are tiny. BTW :) He also said he'd give me a discount on various plastic surgery procedures - thanks a lot pal!) I could have lost an eye but for the fantastic Rudy glasses which stayed in place.

I had a heartfelt conversation with a nice police Officer Wilson who told me he was going to handcuff me if I tried to get on the bike one more time before the ambulance came. I then accused him of numerous things, (including being a dirty old man!, which he got a real kick out of) in an effort to convince him that I was FINE and could jump back in there and FINISH. That's about when I saw SBR teammate Helene Roth - as she slowed down and threatened to interrupt her momentum when she saw the state I was in - and I screamed at her to go hard and joked that she could tell everyone that one of NY's finest wasn't letting me on the bike. I wasn't just being brave - I know from my medical training that head wounds often look a lot worse than they really are.

Ultimately EMS did arrive, check me out, and perhaps because I am an emergency nurse and speak the language, they let me get back in the saddle and get on with it. Finally. I hurt, but I put that aside, and at T2, I just got my shoes on, tucked my arm in my race belt and put one foot in front of the other to do the run. Crossing the finish line, which would have meant a lot without the spill, was a real rush. None of us knows what we are really capable of until we push the limits. [Oh and just so you all know: My hearing aid is somewhere on the West Side Highway so if you have a conversation with me in the near future until I get a replacement, questions that require either a yes or a no are best, otherwise you might find me a little odd and inappropriate, LOL.]

I can't wait for the first time someone asks me how I got my scar. It's really going to increase my "bad girl" factor because I'm going to reply "Upstate in the pen for B&E ." Or wait, riding NY's Rt. 9 on my face in the NYC triathlon might be bragging rights enough.

Thanks so much to Mike Nelson (my other Overweight Challenge teammate) his wife Monica and Community teammate Israel Rodreguiz for helping me get my stuff out of transition after the race. Mike, you're like a 3rd brother to me. I'm so glad we're in this together and I am so proud of you for yesterday! In spite of everything, I really enjoyed the race. You guys are truly the best! Thanks all. You kept me going yesterday. Good luck in Lake Placid to all that are racing. I'll be in Aruba doing aqua aerobics or something like that. Love, Margaret Bravo

SBR Overweight Challenge Triathlete and Rudy Project Customer for Life