Taking the Leap

 

Leaping the Moeraki Boulders, New Zealand

Greetings and Sun Salutations!
No, I'm not a Yogi. I'm a self-professed triathlon junkie. Well, at least today I am. I have a love/hate relationship with the sport. I'm sure I'm not alone with that one. Regardless, I've gone from a super short track distance runner to completing three Ironman 70.3 races in 2013.

Let me tell you a little about myself and how triathlon has become part of my life....

First and foremost, I've never blogged before doing so is pretty scary for me. I'm not one to "put myself out there" and tend to stay pretty private. So starting this blog, whether anyone actually reads it or not, is taking a leap of courage for me. So now that part's off the table I can tell you how I got into the "tri way".

Long ago in 2002,  I met a guy in Tennessee who had raced the Memphis in May Olympic distance triathlon and was planning on doing it again in 2003. Sounded like a fun challenge, so I decided to train for it, though I held off on registering for the race. I had never swum more than a lap in the pool. My strength in running was the 100m sprint- I'd be out of breath in more than 200m! I did love to ride my bike and especially enjoyed riding around my hometown of Sheridan, Wyo. at 2 a.m. any given summer's eve in high school. So how hard could it be to put all three together? Especially a race combined of a 1500m open water swim, 24.8 mile bike ride, and 6.2 mile run? Ha! I surely must have drunk the crazy kool-aid to think it was possible!

Needless to say, I started training at the YMCA pool in Jackson, Tenn. Swimming was hard!! I couldn't swim more than a length without gasping for breath! But with practice, it started to come and soon I was swimming longer without needing to stop. My run training consisted of 30-45 minute runs on the treadmill or around town in Brownsville where I lived. My hybrid bike remained untouched on the back porch. Well, the triathlon never did happen. I moved back to Wyoming in February and the Memphis in May challenge was forgotten.

Super Sherpa Husband, Paul

Fast forward to 2010. My husband and super Sherpa, Paul, and I relocated from Colorado Springs to Thornton, Colo. and joined "The Taj Mahal" of gyms, Lifetime Fitness. I had stayed pretty active throughout life, though I'd gained 15 lbs when I moved to Colorado Springs in 2005. Any who, I saw that Lifetime was offering an indoor triathlon so I signed up. I took a few master swim classes since I hadn't swum any laps in a pool since 2002, (now that I think of it, that's crazy! I pretty much started over!) and on April 11th finished my first triathlon. How exhilarating!! It was then that I became hooked! I bought a road bike and completed 3 all-women sprint distance tris that summer. In 2011, I signed up for the same 3, PR'd my times and even earned podium finishes in 2 of the 3 events!! I also completed my first half marathon. Not bad for someone who previously struggled to run just 1 mile!!

In 2012, I decided it was time to try a longer, co-ed distance and completed 4 Olympic distance tris, a sprint and a half marathon. This was getting serious! Paul and I decided (after a some persuasion from my stud triathlete friend, Amy) that I should hire a coach if I was going to get any better at my new found sport-love. In January of 2013, I joined the "Wolf Pack" led by professional triathlete, Dan McIntosh, and got my first true taste of serious butt-kicking training. Throughout the season I had highs (placing 3rd AG at the Steamboat Olympic Tri and 5th at the Boulder 70.3 earning me a slot to the 70.3 World Championships in Vegas) and lows (burning out and feeling my coach had sabotaged me before Worlds leading to a embarrassing finish in a championship race).

Me and former Wolf Pack teammate and friend, JGar

Despite the ups and downs, I must remember that the roller coaster of emotions is what makes triathlon so fun and challenging - it is trial of the mind, and my greatest opponent. Having struggled with depression, self doubt and a lack of self confidence most of my life, triathlon has given me the means of dealing with the negativity. I'm not saying I've mastered control over the self-deprecating thoughts that go through my head, but I'm learning to deal with it every time I go out for a swim, bike or run. The saying "mind over matter" is so frustratingly true!

2014 is a new chapter with lofty goals and changes in store. I've hired T2 coaching's Wendy Mader (t2coaching.com) to guide and push me with my training, especially with my stubborn swim skills. My race season kicks off with the Horsetooth Half Marathon in April, St. George 70.3 in May, Kansas 70.3 and Loveland Lake to Lake Olympic Triathlon in June, Racine 70.3 in July and hopefully 70.3 Worlds again in Mont Tremblant, Canada. I have my work cut out for me, that's for sure. My swim needs A LOT of improvement. I'd like to PR my run time (my fastest half marathon to date) in Kansas and I'm excited to start training with my new Stages power meter in February so I can keep up with Amy and my competitor, Betsy M, on the bike. But thanks to a great support system of an incredibly loving spouse, unconditional friendships, a stellar boss and a coach who knows when to push and when to just let me do my "thang," I'm confident I will have the best season yet. And who knows? Maybe a full iron distance triathlon race is in my near future. That, folks, will be my next big leap.

No bike workout is complete without crazy socks (courtesy JGar)