Triathlon Tuesday: You've Come A Long Way Baby...

This year, I was slated to race 2 sprints, 2 Olympic Distances, and 2 HIM's. Well...I raced 1 OD and 1 HIM. ouch. I raced less than half of my intended schedule! My dang heel injury threw me off course in early May, which had me sidelined for a sprint, an OD, and almost my Vineman HIM. And thank gawd I was able to race Vineman, but as the training climaxed back in July, I didn't want to think past the race, or put any more pressure on me.

So, now 2 months later I have my sights on the Tri Girl Tri, All Women's Sprint. And I have a special relationship with this one, as it's the first tri I raced post babies in 2006 when they were just 10 months old. It was the race that made me wanna think of myself as an athlete and push myself in future years. I remember finding such inspiration from all the athletes out there, but especially from the seasoned ones in my age group. Oooh, I remember thinking  'Some year I wanna be that!'

Well now four years later, it'll be fun to see how I race, with my experience and base HIM training under my belt. I know I'm stronger and wiser and now probably on the other side as a bit more of a 'seasoned' athlete. And that feels good. 

But ya know what? Ya know what's gonna feel really good?  I can't wait to see all those new mommy triathletes out there taking on this triathlon. I can't wait to cheer em' on, high five em' on the run, and let them know how inspired I am by them. That will be the best.


Now tell me, what's the race that made you realize you have an inner athlete? Would love to know...

P.S. (Go Enter the Fabulous BROOKS running shoes and shorts giveaway going on here right now!)  

Comments

Pahla said…
My very first race - the Susan G. Komen 5K - made me think, "Wow, maybe I could really do this running thing!"
I agree, even though I'm hardly a seasoned veteran, I LOVE to see new triathletes out there, living the tri-life. :-)
teacherwoman said…
Just doing a triathlon made me feel like I had an inner athlete in me. I had been running and doing 5K's for a while, as well as a Half Marathon, but it really wasn't until I did my first couple of sprint triathlons that I felt like such an athlete!
misszippy said…
Sounds like a great event. We have IronGirl right here in my backyard each year--similar deal. Lots of women dipping their toes into tris for the first time. A great all-around event.

My first taste of feeling like an athlete? I guess the first Oly race I did, which was my second tri. Made me say, "hey, maybe I can do this stuff!"
Anne-Marie said…
I have the same "special relationship" with the Philadelphia Olympic tri, since that was my first tri ever in 2007. I guess that was sort of my "inner athlete" realization moment too. I remember seeing triathletes walking by with fancy TT bikes, aero helmets, sponsor kits, etc, and thinking, "I hope I'm one of them some day!"
ShutUpandRun said…
Probably did not really channel my inner athlete until I ran my first marathon in '09. Before then I never really had run and didn't have much confidence that I had what it took. Now I know we all have what it takes!
Stacie said…
I think after accomplishing my first marathon I felt like an athlete. 4 years later and I've had some highs and lows. I'm not a fast runner so that can be discouraging. After doing my first TRI on 9-11 it feels like my inner athlete is alive again. I struggled during the swim but the bike ride was amazing. Being able to pass people on the ride AND the run was an amazing feeling. I can't wait until I can do it again.
Aimee said…
Yay for signing up for the tri!
It reminds me of the first tri I did. I did the Tri for the Cure when my oldest was only 6 months old. It was an amazing experience and got me completely hooked on this wonderful sport of triathlon!
Teamarcia said…
My first 10-miler stands out, I distinctly remember Things 1 and 2 being there and only 4yo and 9 months old. I so needed something that took me out of my mommy role, if only for a couple of hours!
Christina said…
There isn't a single race that made me feel "athletey." I don't consider myself as as athlete though because I'm not as well-rounded as some of the people on the blogs.
But I remember driving to run 5K races with my friend whom I ran my 1st race with and thought, I really like racing!
Similiar to Christina...

Not so much "inner athlete" but rather "okay, my body is meant to do this...." and "wow... this feels right...." moments (is that inner athlete stuff?)

1. the first swim that I did that was about 1.8 miles... I could have gone longer, but chose to get some dinner. each stroke continued, each lap of the pool was steady, .... all was calm and right.

2. a few trails runs... the one where the stride opened up on a leafy-covered down hill with the cool breezes

the one in the rain with the sunlight streaming through the trees at the right magical angle..

the sheer determination to finish a marathon after cramping at mile 5 and doing really not-smart things..
I have identified as an athlete since I was a little kid, but drifted away from the PRACTICE of being an athlete in my late twenties, when I was no longer involved in team sports. I think the biggest turn-around in my practice of being an athlete was in my late thirties, post baby, when I started training with you Anne Marie and you asked me what I liked to do. I said, I LOVE TO RUNNING UP & DOWN MOUNTAINS. It was then that you told me Trail Running was an actual sport and created a schedule for me that not only involved trail running, but treadmill workouts, weight training and swimming. Since then, trail running, and training for it, is one of the most satisfying parts of my life. It's been a year since I competed in that first trail race (winning my age group for the Napa Stomp 10k) and I have enjoyed myself ever since. I am still on the fence about whether I want to compete, but I can't wait to run every trail I come upon. Thanks!
Honestly, I've never thought of myself as an athlete, but rather as athletic. More recently that has changed, but there was no specific race. Good luck with the rest of your season!
Alison said…
I love it that you're looking out for the new moms/participants. It takes some people so long to feel like they belong on the racing scene (hands up!), and it's people like you, who remember what that feels like, who make it all the more easy to settle in. Good luck with the sprint!
Unknown said…
I haven't really felt like an athlete yet! I'll have to let you know! Enjoy the sprint :-) I reckon I'd feel like an athlete if I did a tri, they sound so much tougher than just running!
Jennifer said…
I think my first marathon really made me feel like an athlete. Crossing that finishing line was the hardest and yet most exciting thing I have ever done. Yep, that did it for me.
KovasP said…
What a cool race to go back to! I can't really say any race yet because I feel I still have a ways to go befor ecalling myself an athlete.
Unknown said…
I've always wanted to race the Tri girl series. You'll have to let me know how it is!
My inner athlete race was my first marathon. I think that was definitely channeling some inner athlete! More mentally than anything.
chris mcpeake said…
Completing that first marathon. Nothing like it (until I did my first 100 miler)
Definitely my first Tri just two weeks ago. I had run two 5ks previously, but this Tri was totally different. I was slightly more prepared and it felt like more of the athletic competitions I was used to. I LOVED it!
Unknown said…
I can't think of one particular "race" that got me going. My athletic pursuits have been up/down over the years. Post kids, I got back into running. I trained for and did the Disneyland HM when my youngest was about 7 mo old - that got me re-energized to keep my inner athlete going.

And I can't wait to see you at Tri-gril - I am already signed up - it would be cool to meet in person.
Megan said…
After my first half, I decided I want to be better at running. Slim down. Train hard and push myself. I'm not sure I think of myself as an athlete. I'm too clumsy and ungraceful. But a runner, for sure. A cyclist, maybe one day.

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