I am a triathlete!!! You can do it too!!!

[parrothead]

So, I was never athletic.  I was only picked for teams because I had friends.  I hide in the back of group exercise classes because I am usually out of breath and out of step. 

A friend pushed me to try a triathlon.  I thought she was nuts. 

This February, I turned 40 and every year I like to try new things. This being a big year, I decided to try something bigger.  I also am very goal oriented and enjoy accomplishing things.  So, my goal for this year was to do the bike part of the Danskin Triathlon, a 12 mile ride in Webster, Mass, July 27.  This is women only, so it felt safer for me to try to tri. 

In January, I started with spinning classes at the gym.  These are high energy, high calorie burn (usually about 500 an hour!) and you SWEAT.  I kept up with my weight training.  As the weather turned nicer, a group of us moms all doing the triathlon would do exercise swaps taking turns watching the kids and exercising.  (those breaks alone were worth it!).

A year ago, I contemplated trying it, but when I got on my decade old mountain bike, I almost died doing just 3 miles around my neighborhood.  I had a condition that required me to have a strict diet so I certainly couldn't train for a triathlon.  (or could I have?) 

For Mothers' Day this year, I had my bike tuned up.  I had those nubby tires removed and replaced with slicker tires so I could ride up hills. (most of the time)  Mid June, I started tracking my exercise on mapmyride.com (they also have mapmyrun.com, too).  It kept me motivated and excited.  I did about 100 miles in almost five weeks! 

The race day was approaching...I felt ready.  Friday night I went to sleep.  I woke up about 4am with the "what were you thinking" anxiety...panic set in.  Saturday am I jumped up and we left our town at 8am to head down to the expo to check in, have lunch and see these hills I kept hearing about that crazy me had committed to ride.  As we drove the route, I kept wondering "is this ever going to end"? 12 miles felt like 25!  But, I was in. 

I knew I had to do it.  I trained.  I could have done more, but I did a lot.  I wouldn't win, but I would finish.  And, I had a team mate doing the swim.  Of all things, I would never let my friend down.  That's a cardinal sin for me. 

We went out for a nice dinner...17 women ate (healthfully), drank (lightly) and laughed loudly.  We headed back to the hotel to go to sleep early since we had to get up at 4am.  (what?  I only do these things for airplane rides...)  My team mate and I were told we needed to sleep on the full sized pull out because we were only doing a relay and our two other friends got the king sized bed.  Only a relay?  Jeez, this is the biggest thing of my life!  I was quiet and just followed along. 

We got up at 4am. RAIN and LIGHTENING.  On the weather channel, it said, "get inside NOW!"  wtf?  We laughed, got ready, had a healthy breakfast and were out the door by 5am. 

The swim was first...I watched waves of women with colored caps swimming in the lake.  A few of us were able to welcome back and high five our friends after the swim...now it was my turn!  I ate my access bar, put on my bike shoes and helmet and was ready....I could do this!  My friend came back and passed the chip to me.  Off I went!

The weather had cleared, humidity was low and..I thought..."hey...this is fun"!  The big straight up hills approached at about mile four.  I listened to the woman at the expo who said "Only about 200 out of the 3500 women will be able to ride their bikes up these hills" and popped off and walked.  Ok, even walking them was hard!  But, at the top..the pay off...a huge down hill ride...FAST. 

The rest of the ride was nice!  It was easier than my town's roads!  I passed some, was passed some, and was happy! 

I got back to the transition area and decided to do the walk with my friend.  She's not a runner, neither am I...so we decided to fast walk together.  That made it fun. 

It was great, as you passed random women, they would call out "great job...almost there...only a mile left..." and there were spectators all along the routes clapping and yelling out words of encouragement and waving signs..."you go girl" and "you can do it" etc.

We ran the last bit and heard our names called out and got our medals!  We did it!  It was over!  And, I survived and was still upright!!!

So...if I can do this...ANYONE can do it!  Visit Danskin.com and click on triathlon see when there's one near you and just do it...get a team together and have a blast!  You deserve this!  If it's come and gone near you, start mentally training for next year.  Read, learn, prepare.  What part can you do?

You work hard all day, all night, all week, every month, every year...for your family...it's your turn to have something that is for YOU that makes you stronger and better...this is it!

Vote my post popular so we can encourage as many moms...(daughters, grandmothers) as possible to JUST DO IT! :) 

[RobynS]

Jul. 28, 2008 at 9:43 AM

How amazing!! I worked at the Rock-N-Roll marathon in Phoenix a few times (with the parrot head club--we always won 'best water station' because of our enthusiasm). So I have been on the cheering side!

It's hard for me to imagine doing something like this--especially since I'm pregnant at the moment. I was never athletic, either. But you've inspired me! Who knows... maybe when I turn 40, I'll start training, too!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

[40sthenew20]

Jul. 28, 2008 at 9:55 AM

Yeah! I can't believe you did it! I wanted to commit to something like that when I turned 40, but, alas, I'll be 42 this year, and haven't. Right now, I'm committing to taking weight off, so maybe that will turn into something great like you did. But, I'm jealous of you, that you actually did it! congrats! you rock!

[momofj]

Jul. 28, 2008 at 10:18 AM

Yeah for you! Very inspiring! I hope you feel rested and enegrized. What's for next year? 

[MIddle-AgedMom]

Jul. 28, 2008 at 3:59 PM

Great job!!!  Some mornings, I can't even stand upright for the first 1/2 hour that I'm out of bed - heehee.  Love the photo - you girls rock!!!

[ajh629]

Jul. 28, 2008 at 9:36 PM

great job!  didn't you feel so strong as you were doing it...its such an inspiring event too!  i did the danskin in denver in 2001 and 2002 and the swim nearly killed me both times...its tough!  but finishing and not being last were about the biggest accomplishments of my life!  good for you!!!

[KathySRW]

Jul. 29, 2008 at 2:40 PM

Good for you. although I only started at age 41 I've only been able to do some 5-K's .

[jakrn]

Aug. 6, 2008 at 10:48 PM

That is awesome!!!  I did a 50 mile walk in 3 days to raise money for MS and it was incredible.  It really is such a great accomplishment and such a self-esteem booster to know you can accomplish something so big.  Good for you.  That is awesome!

[jacksmom507]

Aug. 7, 2008 at 2:47 PM

Congrats!!!! That is such an AMAZING experience!!!! Yay for you!!!! Your hubby and beautiful daughters must be soooooooooo proud of you!!! I hope one day I can do something like that, what an accomplishment!!! I am so happy for you:) Sorry for the late response to this, i just read it for the first time :o) WAY TO GO!!!!