Struggles

A couple of weeks ago I did the Riding Mountain Olympic Triathlon. I did this race last year as well and it was miserble and cold, foggy and pouring rain and I didn't really like the distance. I vowed to never do it again. Funny how you change your mind about things after a while. Anyhow I signed up again this year for the Olympic distance which is 1.5k swim, 40K bike and 10K run. Anyhow the weather was awful, again - pouring rain - but this time add high winds into the mix and you end up with huge white caps on the swim, crazy head winds and side winds in the bike and a freezing run. Funny thing is I still had fun. I love to race. I love that it is hard and that it took a lot of preparation to get there. I love that I really am not there to race against anyone but myself but the others really help me to push past my barriers, I love that I have family and friends there every race to cheer me on and take pictures, I love the lone long runs and rides I get to do late in the evening or early in the morning ALL BY MYSELF, I love the feel of the water as I glide through it and practice my stroke effectiveness for hours until I can feel the power of my swim. I love feeling tired after a training session and knowing that I worked hard, and that even though I worked hard, in the end it will give me more energy. I love Triathlon and am so lucky that I get to do so many each season. Now to the Struggles part... This race was HARD! I don't think I have had a race this hard since the two races when I started Triathlon 7 years ago. The swim was killer and I couldn't even see the bouys between each wave, I swallowed so much air trying to avoid swallowing water that at one point I had to stop and let many many burps out, it was kind of funny though - the bike was really hard because of the wind and the bike course in this race is all ready challenging because of all the huge hills in the course. Then I got to the run. Well at this point I realized that several people had had to drop out because they were done for after the swim, and several had flat tires on that nasty bike, I thought to myself, if I finish I will celebrate. I felt okay at the start of the run, but tired. And then this blog started in my head and continued to distract me throughout the run. Through all the leg cramps and sore knees, I thought about how we all have struggles. How most of us try most of the time to pretend we don't have struggles. And how when we are having struggles sometimes we feel like they are worse than anyone elses. And that brings me to this thought - this race was a struggle - it was hard - really hard. And I still had fun. It taught me many lessons - like most struggles do - and in the end it was all worth it.

I started triathlon because I like to be active, I knew how to swim, but not fast, I had a mountain bike and I knew how to ride it and I could learn how to run (or to walk-jog or wog as I call it). I really hate running and I am still not good at it - but improving and continuing to practice. Anyhow, I fell in love although the first few races were a disaster. It was a challenge and it gave me something to be proud of that I could do. It has helped me deal with all kinds of other struggles by both distracting me and empowering me and I think everyone should try it.

If you can swim - doggy paddle included (and if you can't then take lessons), ride a bike, and walk - you can do a triathlon. There are lots of "Try a Tri" races with nice short distances all over Canada. I believe the one in Saskatoon in May is 200m swim (flutter boards allowed), 6km bike and 2km run. Friends, if you want to try it I have lots of tips and advice and I can help you find some good resources and help you set up a program (mind yo not so many tips on how to win - but lots on how to have a great time:)!

Dispite the struggles I still had fun!


And was so proud of myself when I was done:)

....and I am sure I will be back again at this race next year.