Technically I'm a triathlete.

22 hours ago

3 min read

Updated: 45 minutes ago

Swim. Bike. Run. = Tri

When I was in Seattle I really wanted to run a marathon. The idea had been haunting me for 20 years. It wasn't coming together. Apparently signing up for races and buying running gear wasn't enough to add up. I'd never done any dedicated training.

Then a friend Lisa, agreed to start a Half Marathon Training program with me at my then local running store, West Seattle Runner. I figured if we did the half marathon, then maybe I could talk her into doing a full marathon with me, since Lisa had already completed a marathon before. We officially started the Half Marathon Training at West Seattle Runner on January 8th, 2012. That was the day I started being active, and it was the beginning of me becoming my version of an athlete.

Shortly into the training my friend Lisa introduced me to her friend Dana and they decide I should do a triathlon. Dana finds this triathlon and it is one week before the half marathon. Now keep in mind, I've never done any of this stuff before. High School Marching Band was the most activity, other than bowling, from my life until then.

Someone, maybe Lisa, lends me a bike. I probably had not ridden a bike in 30 years. The bike was heavy, and didn't move very fast, or maybe that was me, or possibly both.

The best part of this first triathlon is that someone told me, or somehow I came to (falsely) believe, that you could not drown while swimming in a wetsuit.

When I found out that my belief about that was wrong, that was a rude awakening.

So any who, race day comes for the triathlon and it was an all female race, at a beautiful lake in the Seattle area. We got it done. I believe I was dead last. Almost positive. Missed the cut off for the official time by I think four minutes. But to me, it counted. I did the swim (doggie paddle style ~ suddenly I couldn't really remember to swim right), did the 2 loops on the bike, and completed the run portion by walking, I believe. Having the support of girlfriends and even the surprise of a co-worker really helped with morale. The work was all on me, but having friends helped tremendously.

Next up was the first half marathon. Then the marathon, and then ultramarathons. Maybe more to come on other blog posts. I never really did become a runner, even struggling through future marathons and even the initial stages of training for an Ironman Triathlon with a coach.

Thankfully there have been many wonderful friends along the way. In addition to Lisa and Dana, Tauyna joined us. After a few triathlons in Seattle, at least one as part of a relay, I ended up back in Michigan. Then I began to swim with Marcia and she decided she wanted to become a triathlete. We did the first one together, and then boy did she ever become a triathlete. Wow. Betsy has also become a triathlete, and her children too. I can't take any credit there at all, by then my triathlon days were behind me.

I must say one of my favorite triathlons was on my birthday. My dear friend Carol went with me, out of town overnight, and I was nervous. Oh my goodness I was nervous. Again, please remember that none of this stuff comes to me naturally and the nervousness was evident. Carol being there was such a gift. On that one my bike got knocked out of gear and major manpower was required up numerous "rolling hills". But I got it done. And that time there was watermelon to celebrate.

A cool note to consider, is that if you do races and stuff, you get a numbered bib, sometimes a t-shirt, and often you even get a medal!

Thank you for letting me relive these memories with you.

May you too get out of your comfort zone and do uncomfortable things.

Hopefully you will meet some others and have fun along the way.