Courage,Motivation,Inspiration

Want to Cry? Watch the CAF Tri!  Hey, that rhymes! ;o)

This past Saturday I went down to La Jolla Cove to watch the Challenge Athletes Foundation (CAF) Triathlon. I've heard that watching this race is amazing, and it didn't disappoint.

Finish Line of the CAF Triathlon

My Reason to Watch

I'm doing my first triathlon this coming Saturday. I won't lie, I'm scared. I'm afraid of the swim (even after some open water practice), I'm scared of riding a road bike (it feels so awkward to be pitched forward), and I'm afraid of doing poorly on the run after getting off the bike - when the run is my best part. A triathlon in all of its parts make up about 80% of my weaknesses. Two sports I'm terrible at, with transitions in between. Um, have any of you seen me get ready for work on the mornings? I'm not quick to move. A race where the clock is ticking while you change gear is totally my enemy.

Bike Transition Area

With that said, after having burned out on full marathons recently, I've decided that a triathlon will be my next new endurance goal! First up I needed to conquer my fear of water, and more specifically the ocean. I'm not a great swimmer, I'm a major germ freak, and I don't like nature, plants, and creatures. The idea of an open water swim was my worst nightmare on so many levels, but on another hand it was something I just HAD to do. I had to face those fears and see if doing a triathlon was something I could even do!

 Start of the Swim

Lifeguards on the Course

The Swim

My first open water swim was terrifying. I had never willingly put my head underwater in my life. I knew I wasn't a strong swimmer, and since I don't like nature the idea of swimming over kelp and past sea lions was a personal "Fear Factor" challenge.On my first swim in the cove I  made it about 1/8 of a mile out, and came flailing back to shore as quickly as possible. My 2nd an 3rd open water swims were different a little bit better. I swam in Mission Bay which has calm, unmoving water. This was an improvement over the Cove but instead of masses of plants and creatures, the water was just gross looking and dirty. Imagine putting your face in a bowl of pea soup - that's what swimming in the bay looks like. At my 2nd and 3rd swim I managed to make it through the clinics but really didn't enjoy the water. Apparently most others in my newbie group didn't either as well. It made me feel a bit better to know that I wasn't alone in my fears.

CAF Triathlon 3rd Swim Wave Start

Courage

Lets go back to the CAF Triathlon. I heard a quote from the race MC of my first marathon right before the gun went of, and it brought tears to my eyes that morning.

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."

-John Bingham, running speaker and writer

Coming out of the Water - Headed for the Bike

When I heard this the first time, I thought wow - that is so true! Deciding to take on the challenge of  a  marathon and taking the first step to register and acknowledge that you think you can do it is really hard. Once you've made that decision and you commit to the training, putting one foot in front of another on race day doesn't seem as hard in comparison. Don't get me wrong, running a marathon is hard. Making that initial decision to go for it though is REALLY hard.

Two Challenged Athletes Towing a Third

When I got to the CAF triathlon and saw all of the challenged athletes I thought to myself WOW, here are some brave people. I thought it was hard for me (able-bodied) to make the choice to train for a distance race. Can you imagine how much harder it must be for those with physical challenges? I saw people missing one leg, both legs, one arm, someone that was blind, and someone who was a paraplegic. Imagine how much courage THEY had to take the first step. I'm scared of swimming in the ocean - but I can walk in and out. I saw several athletes being carried in and out! Amazing.

Carrying a Swimmer Up

Motivation

I've always wondered what motivates others to take on big challenges. For me, attempting to run a marathon was something I wanted to do to see if I could do something I never thought was possible. Years ago running 10 miles was as crazy an idea to me as lifting a car with my bare hands. Finding out that I could actually run 10 miles, 13 miles, 20 miles, and then a full marathon was life changing. Now I feel like I can do anything! Well, kind of. :o)

Scout Bassett - Amazing Young Athlete

As I watched all of the challenged athletes out there in the water, on the bike, and preparing to run, I wondered what motivated each of them. I heard the MC announce that some of the athletes were born with their physical limitations, while others lost a limb or mobility in an accident or even in war. Regardless of their history, I think its amazing that they all decided to not allow a physical challenge to stop them. They were at this race doing what many able bodied people don't even try to!

Challenged Athletes Bike Start

  

Inspiration

I watched the entire swim portion of the race and watched the start of the challenged athletes bike race. Have you wondered by now what distance this event was? It was a Half-Ironman distance, also known as 70.3. This consists of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike, and a 13.2 mile run. Amazing.  I left after the bikers took off and ended up walking a few blocks with a man who was there taking pictures of the event. As we were chatting he said to me "Man, I haven't worked out in years. Watching these guys with no limbs do what they do, really made me think its a sign for a change." I hope this race really did inspire him and many others to change their life!

1.2 Mile  Swim Course

We walked a couple blocks further and a woman walking towards us stopped to ask what was going on down by the Cove. I told her that the Challenged Athletes Foundation Triathlon was going on. She said "oh, a triathlon." I giggle inside a little when my walking partner corrected her by saying 'No, not just a triathlon. A CHALLENGED ATHLETE triathlon. There's people missing limbs!" She didn't look like she got it and just walked on. Oh well. I loved that he asserted that point.

After leaving the race I kept thinking about the athletes. If they weren't scared to swim a mile into the ocean, shouldn't I be more brave about swimming 250 meters in the bay? Next weekend when I do my first triathlon (a fraction of the distance of a Half-Ironman) I'm going to try to suck it up and be brave and to face my fears of the water. I'm also going to try not to fall over trying to get my wetsuit off (which has happened), and to try to give this little race everything I've got. For me, this race is about facing fears, taking on new challenges, and doing something I never thought I'd do.

I'll be back next week with a race report! For now, think about these athletes and everything they have overcome to get outside and to get moving. Next time you're tired and don't want to workout, appreciate the fact that at least you can walk outside to get going. Not everyone can.