In the "If your child is born today" newspaper announcement clipping from the day I came into the world way back when, there's this sentence: "Sports are a must."
It didn't promise I would have any talent.
I grew up on nearly two acres in a mid-sized city, and I was always climbing trees, running around, and riding my bike to my friends' houses. By age 4 I was enrolled in ballet class; tee-ball followed that summer. I danced for 10 years before deciding I wanted to play tennis, which I did in both high school and my Division III college. I didn't, and still don't, have any real tennis skills, but I showed up every day and worked hard. And I learned how that goes a long way.
After college I started to gain a few pounds, so I gave running a try. I hated it... until I started to love it. I started building mileage once a week until I was at 13 miles on the weekend. Then, I had an epiphany: What am I running all these miles for if I don't DO something with them? A few months later, I was laid off. And that was when I decided: If I'm ever going to run a marathon, now is the time. I did my first running 10:50 minute miles. But my first 26.2 was under my belt, and I knew it wasn't going to be my only.
My next goal was the triathlon. I knew what an Ironman was, and always had a secret goal to do one. I signed up for swimming lessons. I went from 25 meters before I needed a break to 50 to 100 to 1000. I panicked on my first sprint and completed the whole swim on my back, arms sculling. The same thing happened on my second. I worked through my fear of the open water.
I won my first age group award. I bought a triathlon bike. I did an open water mile and didn't panic once. I did speed work. I completed my first Olympic-distance triathlon. I won a couple more age group awards. I took more than a half hour off my marathon time. I got hurt. I recovered. I made new friends. I had a lot of fun.
Where do I go from here? Who knows. Follow along and find out.
I'm not a trainer. I'm not even really an athlete. These words are my own, so don't take them as advice. This blog is worth what you paid for it. I'm not responsible for you, mmmkay?
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