For the last three months, I’ve been training for a Team Triathlon race. I “sucked” my dear friend Cindy S. into the swim (1/2 mile) and I trained for the bike (13.5 miles) and run (3.2 miles). I haven’t worked out this hard in a long time, but it felt rewardingly rejuvenating to actually train to compete. I miss my basketball, baseball, softball and racquetball team competitions of my youth. As an adult, I realized that solo exercise activities would fit with my lifestyle much better.
The history…I rode my first bike race four years ago in Logan Utah on a insufficient hybrid bike. After achieving 80 miles, my dear husband realized that I was committed and gave the go ahead for a “real” bike. The requirements were that I could lift it onto the racks myself and that it wasn’t too expensive. I love my Novara, REI bike! I completed another 80 mile event last year and went to sign up this year for the Little Red Riding Hood, Breast Cancer fundraising event-this time for 100 miles, but alas, registration filled up more than a month earlier than last year and I was not able to register for the ride. I scoured the Active.com listings and found a competition on a Saturday, May 7, SHEROX, Tempe, AZ. I mentioned this to several co-workers who immediately wanted to register too for a team! Mary (bike) and Melissa (run) needed a swimmer. Graciously, Rachel B.(a pro swimmer!) signed up for their team. Each team worked out intensively on their part of the relay. Dear Cindy’s husband took her out to Canyon lake for a test swim, she bought a wet suit and went to several training meetings.
One week before the event, Cindy and I both had bronchitis! We were faithful though frustrated and relied on the intense earlier training to pull us through. On the day of the event we rose with the sun and headed over to Tempe Town Lake. Relieved I realized that I was not the only one over 50, and not the only one overweight! All shapes and sizes filled my view of the transition area. Cindy and I once again walked the transition areas and talked through our exchange of the timing chip. She entered the water to warm up and I ran to the portapotty. It was only 24 minutes later that she ran from the lake to the bike area, held my bike while I unlatched the chip from her dripping wetsuit and attached it to my leg. At that moment I did question my sanity, but my drama girl kicked in and I ran my bike out to the mount line, confident in the biking event. After training in Las Sendas and my cycling class, I was prepared for the smaller hills and climbs and made my fastest time ever-15 miles per hour, to finish in 54 minutes. I must have been moving in slow motion because the next transition took me almost 2 mins. (slow). I had pushed hard on the bike and due to the bronchitis struggled with my breathing. I began the run confident with the cheers from my team, friends and family watching me stumble through the transition. After ½ mile though my stomach rolled, lungs wheezed and my brain went dizzy. I had trained so hard to get 3 miles running without stopping that I resisted the need to walk for a minute and catch my breath. I shoved down my anger and hesitation, owned up to common sense, and walked to the first mile water stop. I chewed some energy bites, guzzled 2 cups of water and tried again to get into some kind of a rhythm. No go, I stuggled with the slowest jog. Well wishers that passed me (which was everyone) kept repeating, “good job”. I thought if I’m doing such a great job then why do I feel like crap? I didn’t want to hear anything, I wanted to move faster! It took almost until the end of mile 2 to get any kind of regular breathing going. Then I jogged and walked the rest of the way. Anytime I pushed it, my heart beat rapidly and the nausea returned. By the end of the 3rd mile I actually felt better, but too late. Another racer jogged up to me and said, “hey, you and I kept passing each other on the bike, you want to race to the finish line (about 10 yards away). I said, “sure, lets begin on the carpet”…then said “go” and she totally dusted me. Well, at least I finished strong. My friends cheered and waved. I came in last, but did finish! I actually didn’t run as slow as I thought I was, but it was more of a walking pace at 47 minutes. Overall, our relay team did the 3 events in 2 hours and 5 minutes. Not too bad for the first time.
As I sat in church on Mother’s Day I realized that the preparation for the Triathlon wasn’t just a physical experience, but also a spiritual one. I jotted down my thoughts as the children sang to the mothers. Spiritual Triathlon- Be spiritually prepared, Be physically and emotionally prepared, and Be intellectually prepared for life’s tests. This encompassing experience provided me with focus and intensity in my daily life that improved my mental processing, my physical fitness and uplifted my spirits during some difficult months at work. Every day I worked out harder, I made a stronger commitment to study and pray more consistently, eat healthier, and be a happier person. I rejoiced in the blessing of physical fitness and time to work out. I had less time to whine about my problems and less time to waste. My life fell into focus and I achieved more from this experience than just a medal. I achieved wholeness with God and myself. I am truly grateful for this opportunity and for the dear friends and family members who supported me during this time of training. What’s next?
