Help with sentence construction 我本来只是抱着试一试的想法去参加比赛的， 没想到居然获得了冠军。 这不但让朋友感到吃惊而且让父母很高兴。

I found this sentence difficult to understand mostly because of 我本来只是抱着试一试的想法去参加比赛的 and don't know how to break it down.

我本来 I originally
只是 only?
抱着试一试的想法 hug and try at the same time? thoughts?
参加比赛的 attend the game

Obviously, I am in a mess and need some clearing up.

Thank you.
The interpretation of 我本來 and 衹是 are fine.


抱着 (literally to hug, but should be interpreted as to grasp onto)
試一試的想法 (a thought of just trying)
參加比賽的 (to participate in a competition)



  我本來衹是抱着試一試的想法去參加比賽的
  
  I originally participated in the competition holding on to the thought of just giving it a go