From Disappointment to Triumph

-by Matt Leedham

Before we begin, I have one note:

This post was difficult for me to write as I tend to smooth over the rough edges in my life in an effort to make everything look perfect. My triathlon experience was not perfect, and swallowing my pride to tell you about it wasn't easy. But I hope you gain some knowledge or inspiration from my story. If you do, then it was all worth it.

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Yesterday, Jaime outlined her experience at the Luray Sprint Triathlon. I’m very proud of her accomplishments. She did great and finished strong. Very impressive!

Going into the race, I think we’d both admit that I was the more confident one about our abilities. I was just eager to get out there and enjoy the experience.

Everything leading up to the start of the race further confirmed my excitement. The town was buzzing with excitement the night before the race when we picked up our race packets and had dinner. The next morning, I was awake at 5:00AM running around to get ready. Pulling up to Arrowhead Lake in Luray, I felt energetic seeing all the people, the tents, the lake, the mountains, the finish line, etc.

I couldn’t wait!

I racked my bike in the transition area, completely unsure of what I was doing. I had to look around to see how others set up their stations, and then I just copied them. I met up with Jaime and Brian and headed down to the lake, barefoot and shirtless. I had my swim cap on, which I’ve never worn before, and started stretching.

I saw my wife up on an embankment and waved to her as she took pictures. I gave Brian and Jaime high-fives and fist-pounds and waded out into the water. I took a few short practice strokes to warm up and then lined up with the other swimmers in wave 1; the youngest, fasted wave. I waved to my wife one more time and then the air horn sounded. Everyone took off, including me!

Then, what happened next is almost indescribable…

Total meltdown.

You see, I had never practiced swimming in open water before. I could swim 20-25 laps in the pool comfortably, but had never found the time or opportunity to swim in a lake. As you might imagine, things are a little different in a lake.

For one, there is a wind. This creates mild choppiness in the water. Not normally an issue if you are just enjoying a leisurely swim or lounging around in shallow water, but quite different than the glass-like water of your local swimming pool. So, when turning my head for a breath of air, sometimes I would be met by a small swell of water, which then filled my mouth. When you receive water instead of air, it’s a little alarming.

Secondly, there are hundreds of people all around you kicking and stroking, splashing and causing a commotion. It’s not uncommon to be kicked in the face or the chest. Again, alarming and concerning.

Thirdly, and this is not unique to open water swimming, but it was race day and as I mentioned before, the energy was high. My adrenaline was pumping and I took off. I swam the first 200 meters quickly and then realized I was completely fatigued. I was huffing and puffing and couldn’t catch my breath. I was almost hyper-ventilating (I’ve come to learn that this is normal for rookies). I looked around. The shore was not close. I was only 1/3 of the way toward the finish and in deep water, struggling for air.

I’m in the middle of the lake, completely exhausted and starting to panic. Facing one of two options here (1 – to live, 2 – to not live), I did what I had to do. I looked for help.

As any good event would, there were plenty of safety personnel around. There were lifeguards and volunteers in boats every 200 meters or so. I struggled my way to the closest boat and grabbed on, breathing heavily.

The lifeguard in the boat was very calm and said, “Is this your first open water swim?” I said, “Yep.” He replied, “Take your time, man. You’ll be alright.”

His demeanor was appropriate, but his estimation was incorrect.

After a minute of catching my breath, I thought to myself, “I better get going again or I’ll be the last one in the lake.” I knew that after 40 minutes they would be calling it quits, pulling people out of the water, so I decided to go for it, knowing that another boat was only 200 meters away.

I went for it again, but ran into the same issue. Hyper-ventilating. I flipped on my back and tried to paddle slowly, hoping to catch my breath. It didn’t happen. I looked for the next boat and grabbed on.

By now I was frustrated and dejected. How could this be happening? What the heck is wrong with me?

After a minute, I tried again. Same issue. I grabbed a kayak.

After a minute, I tried again. This time noticing that the last wave of swimmers was catching up to me. I couldn’t make it, and grabbed onto a 4^th boat.

Almost sad now, I didn’t think I had it in me to finish. There were no more boats between me and the finish of the swim. I told the woman in the boat that I didn’t think I could do it. She told me that I could and that they’d keep an eye on me.

I let go and went for it. Side stroking with everything I had, taking mouthfuls of water every third stroke. I tried not to keep looking at where I was going. “Just go!” I said to myself. “Just keep moving.”

I finally looked ahead and saw that people were standing up in the water and running out of the lake…they were just 100 meters away. I gave it everything I had.

I can’t describe the feeling I had when my feet hit the first stones at the bottom of the lake. I reached down to check, and sure enough, it was solid ground. I stood up, exhausted. I couldn’t believe I had made it.

I tried to run out of the water, but could barely do it. When I reached the beach, I was able to pick up a slight jog. My wife was right there cheering for me. Well, if I’m being honest, she looked concerned and asked if I was alright. I just shook my head and tried to carry on.

Ahead of me was a wooden staircase that went up a steep hill toward the transition area. I started running up the stairs and then disaster struck again.

Like a bolt of lightening, my right calf muscle seized up, spasming with such force that I halted half way up the stairs. I couldn’t believe it. “This never happens to me!”

I rarely have muscle cramps, but I was having one at a very inopportune time. I grabbed the railing and tried to hyperextend my ankle, stretching my calf.

Meanwhile, there was a crowd of people at the top of the stairs cheering their heads off with vuvuzelas and cow bells. The first thing that crossed my mind was, “These people must think I’m crazy for stopping half way up the stairs.”

The cramp calmed down and I jogged into the transition area, confused and disoriented. I downed a GU, and chugged some water. I dried my feet and put my socks on, this time my glutes (butt) started cramping. Argh!

I finally got geared up, grabbed my bike, and started jogging out of the transition area. I hopped on my bike and started pedaling.

To both of our surprise, I saw Jaime. She was also just starting to bike. Believe it or not, she completed the swim and transition in the same time, even though she started over 9 minutes after me. She was killing it!

I said, “J, everything fell apart in the lake. I was grabbin’ on boats!” She said, “Just go!”

I did what she said and took off. I had been training for the bike portion for some time and felt comfortable. I started to cruise and then hit the first hill.

Like a snail, I made it to the top.

Then I flew downhill for some time. This was the first opportunity I had to not exert myself. What I did next still makes me smile.

I laughed.

And I laughed hard. Almost hysterically! For the first time, my mind had slowed down enough that I was able to think about my experience in the lake. I literally let out a bellow…a laugh to be heard for miles. I shouted out, “What the heck was that!?!” I just shook my head, kept laughing, and pedaled on.

Cruising through the farmlands of western Virginia, I began to appreciate the scenery. Absolutely gorgeous! Rolling hills, dilapidated barns, livestock, and distant mountains made the ride memorable.

There were some steep hills. Every time I passed someone, I said, “good morning!” They replied excitedly and we both got a burst of energy.

On mile 3 of the 17 mile ride, I was headed up a nice hill and switched into a higher gear. What happened next was unexpected, but given all of my mishaps so far, perhaps should have been expected.

The chain came off the gears and wrapped around the pedal crank.

Going up a steep hill without the chain on the gears means that my pedaling gave me no forward momentum. I was already going so slow that I almost started to roll backward down the hill.

I quickly hopped off and examined the situation. The chain was off and was tight. I said out loud, “How the heck am I going to get this back on?” At that moment, a biker that I had said ‘good morning’ to earlier shouted, “C’mon, you can do it! Get back on the road!”

Luckily, a week before, I saw a bike mechanic deliberately disengage and reengage the chain onto the gears. I moved some things around and was able to finagle the chain back on. More people passed asking if I was okay.

I was okay. And from there on out, I killed the bike course. In fact, I was so grateful for making it this far, that I started to cheer everyone else on. Anytime I passed someone, I would say, “Good morning! You’re doing great!”

Shockingly, they were shocked. They seemed genuinely happy that I would offer such encouragement. I don’t know, but it seemed obvious to me. We were all in this together.

The only moment of real weakness on the bike was on mile 16 when they introduced the last hill. It was VERY steep. Two girls were walking their bike up the hill. Everyone else was swerving and struggling as they pumped away. I put my bike into the highest gear, stood up, and cranked away.

Each rotation took me a couple of feet and then I almost came to a stop. That’s how steep it was. I would not give up. I refused to get off my bike, even though I thought about it every moment. I would NOT get off this bike even if I fell over for lack of forward momentum.

Thankfully, there were fans there at the top of the hill cheering us on. They had cowbells and horns and were hooting and hollering. They would not let me quit and I love them for it.

I made it over that last hill and cruised down the other side toward the transition area. I was so happy to see my wife there again, cheering me on. She looked so proud of me.

My transition time was much quicker and I started to run. I saw my wife again, this time taking a picture. She reached out her hand for a high-five and I told her, “I will finish this race, even if it cripples me!”

I ran up and down some hills refusing to walk. After my 2^nd marathon, I adopted a life philosophy and mantra that has served me well – “just keep moving.” I don’t care how slow I’m moving, I refused to stop.

After turning around, and crossing mile 2 on the run course, I saw Jaime bounding down a hill looking lively! We fist-pounded and cheered each other on.

I refused to let anyone pass me. I carried on, completely exhausted. I began to hear the crowd at the lake, waiting for me to finish. Yes, ME! At least that’s what I told myself.

I rounded the final corner, into the park, and I could see the finish line. With a burst of super-natural energy, I sprinted to the finish line. My arms raised, my wife cheering me on, Brian handing me a bottle of water, and the race now over, I had the biggest grin on my face.

After all of the struggles, all of the setbacks, all of the disappointments…I made it. I finished.

10 Lessons Learned:

1. Adapt to change. My entire expectation of the event changed after the swim. I had to carry on.
2. Carry on. Adversity is natural. Carrying on is not…it’s super-natural.
3. Beam positivity. It’s contagious and will carry others on. Unbeknownst to you, this will come full circle. Guaranteed!
4. Appreciate the experience. The beginning of my experience was awful and frightening. But it has made me stronger and I can’t FREAKIN’ wait for the next triathlon to increase my skills.
5. Move forward. “Just keep moving.” Slow down if you need to, but don’t stop.
6. Support is necessary. Having people in your corner to push you forward is critical.
7. Don’t underestimate powers beyond your control. Water, for example, is a powerful, uncompromising force. I can’t control it…I can only respect it.
8. Regardless of how much you train and prepare, you can’t always prepare for the unexpected.
9. Disappointment is a personal issue. Get over your ego and preconceived expectations of the way things “should” be. The sooner you face the reality of the situation, the sooner you’ll find a solution.
10. Believe in yourself. You are powerful and important. You will persevere!

The Bold Road

-By Jaime Willis

Yesterday, I finished a triathlon. A half-mile swim, a seventeen mile bike ride, and a three mile run. I covered over 20 miles of land yesterday with my body as the only fuel.

I was afraid I wouldn't finish.

Matt and I started this triathlon training business several months ago at the urging of one of our close friends. I already had (have!) a huge physical challenge goal for 2011 (50 10k runs), so I wasn't initially too keen on signing up for another challenge, but decided to play along.

After we decided to "go all in" and do it, I was a flurry of planning & action. Just like many people who are excited to start out a big goal, I was geared up for this race. I bought a bike and bike gear, I found out where I could practice swimming, I changed my running lengths, I bought swim gear. I began practicing the swim distance, I started riding my bike to work.

Like many other people, though, this goal fell by the wayside as life got in the way. Matt and I talk about using your core values as your guide, and the other things I was occupied by during my days ranked higher in my core values than this race. We even had a discussion a few months before the race where we both acknowledged that we weren't training as much as we should be and concluded that we were on the right track in life, if not on the "best" track for this triathlon.

In the month before the triathlon, I swam once. I rode my bike twice. I ran twice. That's all the training I fit in. I was afraid I wouldn't finish this race because I *know* what it takes to prepare for the race, and I didn't do it.

Two weeks before the race started, one person, then another dropped out. I thought about doing the same. I didn't need to do this triathlon. In the end, I decided that I needed to stick to my word more than I needed to buy into my fears.

My biggest fear was 'being swept.' The race director decides what the maximum time is for each leg of the race -- and I knew I had to be out of the water in 40 minutes, and done with the bike within 2 hours of the race start. (Turns out I read wrong, and athletes had 2.5 hours to start the run). That was going to be a challenge for me -- I knew I could do the distances, as I'd done them all before, but I wouldn't be fast. Would I be fast enough to beat the sweeper?

The night before the race, Matt, his wife Yu Jin, and I drove the course. It was beautiful, but challenging. The entire course was hills. Steep hills. Rolling hills. No flat land -- either you were cruising down a hill or working your way up a hill.

Added to that, thunderstorms were rolling through the Shenandoah Valley. The race director was rapidly responding to increasingly frantic messages from athletes wondering if the "race was still on." He started out telling people it would be a "game time decision," but when that didn't suffice, he let athletes know that if thunderstorms prevented us from swimming (lightening and water don't mix), we'd attempt a dualathlon (biking/running), even in the rain. Racing through the hills on a road bike in the rain made me a little anxious.

When I got back to my hotel room, I spent some time visualizing my whole race. What I was wearing, what I was doing, how I felt. I also spent a fair amount of time requesting the weather hold off until 11am so we could finish the race without rain. I tossed and turned all night, finally calling it quits to sleep at 5:00 am, and started packing and preparing for the race.

Matt and Jaime before the race

We arrived at 6:30am at the course -- it was bustling with activity. Matt took a moment to pump up his tires and mine, and then we walked our bikes to the transition area. Right before entering the transition area, I heard a loud BANG. I was startled a bit, and looked around for the culprit -- who was setting off fireworks this early in the morning? Then a fellow triathlete pointed to my front tire, which had just popped. Oh Boy.

This is where Matt's colleague, Brian, saved the day. An early riser, Brian arrived at 5:50am and was completely ready to race before we even got there. When he saw my tire, he took my bike, told me to finish setting up and went over to the bike shop and began repairs.

I got marked for the race, got and put on my ID chip, and set up my gear, all the while wondering if my tire was fixable, and if I'd really be running this race today. After all, I think I held the record for the most inappropriate bike for racing -- a 1976 Schwinn Varsity -- the original 10-speed bike. The bike itself weighs 42 pounds, compared to a modern racing bike, which weighs around 20 pounds or less.

Luckily, Brian and the Bonzai bike team really hooked me up and my trusty steed was ready to go back to the transition area. I was the only racer that had a kickstand to use in my bike set up -- both useful and comical, under the circumstances. Brian commented that maybe next time I do a tri, I would consider removing the kickstand and LIGHTS in order to reduce my bike's weight.

Kickstand for the win!

Before I knew it, it was time to make our way to the beach for the swim. Matt was in wave 1, Brian in wave 2, and I was in wave 3. We chatted on the beach for a minute, being thankful that the weather was in our favor before we separated and lined up to start. I got to the back of my wave, because I knew swimming wasn't my strong suit and didn't want to be run over by my wave-mates.

The horn sounded. The race began.

The first twenty or so meters, I flat out sprinted in the water -- coming up for air shortly down the course completely spent and nowhere near finished. "Wow," I thought, "I really need to pace myself." I used Sam's tip and flipped onto my back and began backstroking through the water, alternating occasionally between that and the breast stroke to ensure I was headed in the right direction. After an eternity, I finally made it to the first buoy.

I flipped on my back, and began backstroking with a vengeance, surprised that no one was hitting me as I swam. Then I heard someone yell, "Where are you going?" I flipped around, and there was one of the lifeguards next to me on a surfboard. She asked again, "Where are you going?" I said, "I don't know, where am I?" She said, "You are back at the first buoy. Turn around and you'll see the second buoy." My face must have displayed my defeat, because she said, "Hey, you're fine. Just flip over every few strokes to make sure you are pointed in the right direction. You can do this."

The only bonus to swimming the wrong way was that I was now in a "lane" in the lake almost to myself for most of the rest of the race. By this time, everyone in my wave had passed me, as well as many folks in the waves behind me. But I just kept swimming.

I looked at my watch and realized I would still make the cut off, if only by 10 minutes, so I kept swimming. As I switched from backstroke to breast stroke and back, I noticed one other light blue cap in the water slightly behind me. Someone else from my wave was still in the water! My mission for the rest of the swim was just to stay in front of that person. If I could get through the swim before them, I wouldn't be dead last in my age group!

Twenty-seven long minutes after I started, I ran out of the lake and up onto the beach to the yelling and cheers of the crowd. I did a slow jog through the beach area, up the stairs and to my bike. My bike had no water bottle rack, and I never did anything about that before the race, so I was going into the seventeen mile bike ride with no access to water. I spent a minute in the transition area chugging a whole bottle of water so I wouldn't get too dehydrated on the bike.

The first hill wasn't so bad, and the first downhill was so fast, I braked a lot -- I was nervous I'd wipe out and disqualify myself from the race. Much of the race I did by myself -- I didn't have a lot of racers near me. In the first half hour on the bike, I saw all the elite athletes whip by me in the opposite direction. It was funny, because they sounded different -- their bikes whooshed by, while mine creaked through the course.

Without any navigation aids or mileage clocks, just a watch, I really didn't know how far I was into the race. I did the first turn and then the second, and just plodded through the course. About a half hour into the bike, I thought to myself, I am actually going to finish this. This is hard, but doable, and I'll finish this race. I passed a few people as I was riding, and to every one I said, "We're doing this!"

A hour and thirty-two minutes after I started, I was back in the transition area, kick-standing my bike, throwing off my helmet and running on to the course. My legs were beat from the bike, but I kept plodding along at a slow and steady pace. A woman came up from behind and before passing me said, "You are my inspiration -- you are a work horse -- I know you'll finish this race." That comment literally got me through the next three miles.

I saw Brian heading into the finish line as I was heading out onto the course and shouted a "Great Job!" to him. A mile into the course, I saw Matt -- we did our exploding fist pound, which made me smile like a loon for the next stretch of road. I yelled out "Great Job!" to everyone I passed and to those who passed me. I made a goal when I started the run to finish in forty minutes, and I kept track on my watch as I hit the 1 mile, the half way point, and the 2 mile to see if I was staying on target. The last mile was brutal -- the sun had come out, so it was finally hot out. My legs were spent and the hills just didn't stop. I alternated between a fast walk and a slow jog.

I looked down at my watch and saw that I had 4 minutes to make it to the finish line to make my time and started jogging again. As I hit the final stretch almost three hours before I began, the cowbells and shouts began.

Forty minutes after I started the run, and two hours and forty eight minutes after the starting horn went off, I crossed the finish line.

At a birthday dinner I was at last Friday, the guest of honor shared a story she learned from her father. His advice was, "If you are at a crossroads and can't decide which option to take, go with the bolder one. You'll never regret it."

I am so glad that I overcame my fears and chose to run this race. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you are, how prepared, or even how good your gear is. We are all greater, stronger, better, and wiser than we think we are.

Take a chance. Take the bold road. You won't regret it.

Weekly Wednesday Inspiration #27

-by Jaime Willis

As you may know, Matt and I committed to running a triathlon several months ago. Last week, two of the folks we were supposed to be running with dropped out. I have not been as diligent in my training as I could be, and Matt and I were discussing whether or not I should go to Luray this weekend or just wait and train better for the next one.

Even if I "fail" (which to me means I cannot finish the race -- either because I get swept off the course for time, am injured, or my bike breaks), I want to be able to say that I tried. And if I don't "fail," that will be one more chink in my armor of "look what happens when you don't stand in your own way."

This photo below is pretty appropriate, so I thought I'd share it for my Wednesday Inspiration.

I'm taking a chance on this triathlon this weekend. I'll report back, good or bad, next week. Wish me luck.

Goal Update: Health Edition

-By Jaime Willis

I have 3 major health-related goals for 2011 -- let's check in and see how I am doing.  Thanks to Sean "Positivity" Powell for nudging me to update.

1) Running 50 10k 'races' by the end of the year.

2) Completing a sprint triathlon on August 14, two days before my big "6th anniversary of my 29th Birthday" (Yes, it is up to you to do the math on that one).

3) Continuing to lose weight and reach my goal. 

I've made progress on all three fronts.

As of now, I've run/walked/ellipticaled through 23 10ks.  That's over 138 miles in the last seven months.  To reach my goal, I need to run another 27 10ks in the next 22 weeks.  This is totally achievable!  I'll have to start doubling up on 10ks (2 per week).  Since I've done that in the past, I know I can do it again.  I've committed to running a 10k this weekend, and 1-2 more before my birthday.  After the triathlon is over, I'll really get back to my 'normal' routine and I should be able to knock these out and be back on track.

10k Milestone Goals (to help keep me accountable throughout the rest of the year):

End of August:  Have 27 10ks under my belt
End of September: Have 33 completed
End of October: Have 41 completed
End of November: Have 47 completed
End of December: Have run all 50 10ks.

As for the triathlon, I have done the full biathlon distance (biking, then running) twice already.  I've also swam the full distance several times.  I'm not fast, and it's not pretty to watch, but I'm confident that I'll be able to finish the race, barring injury.  I will be training hard this weekend and next, and in two weeks, I'll be reporting back with a medal in my hand.

The losing weight front has been a back and forth struggle -- the weigh-in yesterday after two weeks of "tourist" eating with my visiting sister wasn't pretty.  That said, I am committed to continuing to work on healthy eating and exercise, and I know I'll get myself back on track.  I know when I get busy, my diet is one of the first things I "let go."  With 22 weeks left in the year, I'd like to end 2011 22 pounds lighter than I am now.  This means making my health a priority!  I know I can do it and I'm glad to have all of you keeping me accountable!

TGIF: Pat Reynolds

TGIF:

This Goal Is Finished

Good morning achievers! Hope you've had a wonderful week!

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Today's This Goal Is Finished achiever is Pat Reynolds.  Like many of us, Pat wanted to do something extraordinary for her birthday.  Although she had never ridden a bike before and never been swimming, she decided that she could train for and finish a triathlon! Read the rest of her story below to be inspired by what happens when you BELIEVE you can ACHIEVE!

The Achiever

From L: Chris, Michael, Pat, and Brian Reynolds

My name is Pat Reynolds and I live in Atlanta, Georgia. I am a wife of 31 years, mother of two sons and a soon-to-be daughter-in-law. I love football and baseball, a home filled with family, and a healthy lifestyle to enjoy it all.

The Goal

My primary goal was to complete a sprint triathlon with a distance of 400 yards swimming, 12 mile biking, and 5K running. My secondary goal was not to be last!

Why This Goal?

I chose this goal in honor of my 50th birthday. I had never looked at myself as much of an athlete when I was younger. I often felt uncoordinated and to compete in something like this was terrifying. I felt that way even though I have two boys who were quite athletic throughout high school.

I really wanted to overcome my fears and do something that I never thought was possible. I literally had no previous experience with biking or swimming, but I wanted to challenge myself.

The First Step

The very first step for me was to actually sign up for the race. Once you make that commitment and register, it’s very hard to back out.

Also, getting up the courage to tell other people was a big step because, to be honest, I didn’t know if I could finish a triathlon. Again, I felt that I had a commitment I couldn’t get out of. Once that mental shift happened, it changed everything for me. Since backing out wasn’t not an option, going forward was the only way.

Challenges

Challenges? Yes, there were a few! My first challenge was not knowing how to ride a bike or how to swim. I must have fell off my bike 100 times. I had to start in a parking lot. A few weeks in to the training, my legs were covered in bruises. And the first time riding my bike on a proper road was terrifying.

Learning to swim the freestyle stroke was a bit overwhelming for me. So I learned to swim the breaststroke which was a bit easier and allowed me to keep my line of sight when swimming in a pool or lake. At first, I barely had the stamina to make it from one end of the pool to the next.

It took me one month to learn how to ride a bike and nine months to train for the race. Consistency was so key for me. Even though I wasn’t going far or going fast, I had to keep plugging away to get better and better.

Staying Motivated

Once I set the goal, I didn’t really get off track. Of course, having a trainer really helped hold me accountable. But to be honest, I found myself really enjoying the experience! I began to make it a priority and schedule my life around my workouts. I simply looked forward to training and that really kept me going.

Also, I had so far to go in terms of building up endurance and basic skills, that I didn’t really have time to goof off or skip a few days of training.

My goals was to go slow and steady and just finish the race. Baby steps and consistency were really important for me. This also gave me small accomplishments to feel good about as I progressed.

Who Helped?

The guy that talked me into doing a triathlon cuts my hair. He’s really into triathlons, so he got me all excited about it. Then, every month I saw him and felt accountable to him. This was really helpful and kept me on track and motivated.

My personal trainer was integral in monitoring my progress and pushing me to go further each week.

My husband and sons were very supportive. My youngest son, Chris, would come out with me when I was first learning to ride a bike to encourage me.

All of my girlfriends were great cheerleaders. It was so scary to tell people outside of my immediate family about my goal. But what I found was endless support and encouragement. They were all so happy for me and helped me stay focused. In fact, one of my girlfriends actually joined me in the race which was great fun!

I was also really inspired by the other competitors. Some of the younger guys that got started ahead of me were already finishing the race as I was just getting started on the bike. As we passed each other, they would cheer me on and tell me how good I was doing. Everyone wants others to succeed and it’s a great environment to be in.

TGIF - Celebrate!

As I approached the finish line, my son Chris ran the last 50 meters with me. He was really excited and it gave me a burst of energy to finish strong.

One of my girlfriends is a school teacher and she had her class make a big banner that they held up at the finish line and I got to run through it! Finishing the race, and having my friends and family with me, was the best feeling in the world.

Funny side note: when I actually crossed the finish line, the first thing that came out of my mouth was, “I only fell off the bike once!”

Also, I didn’t finish last!

After the race, we all had a big tailgate and celebrated with great food and drink. It’s so rewarding to share an experience like this with people you love.

Advice

For someone like me that is just getting started with training, consistency is so important. It’s important to remember this especially on days when you don’t have a great workout and may not be feeling so good. What you have to realize is that baby steps are so important. Just a little at a time and you will eventually get there.

Also, when confronting your own doubts and fears, reach out to your support network. Mentally, there were times that I thought I couldn’t finish a triathlon. But rather than give up, I turned to my friends and family, and they gave me the perspective and support that I needed to carry on.

What's Next?

My goal for this year is to launch a fundraiser in Atlanta for the Wounded Warrior Project – an organization that meets the needs of physically and emotionally injured veterans. Through counseling, adaptive sports, and job training, the organization strives to ensure that this generation of veterans is the most well adjusted in our history.

Triathlon Training: FAQs

-By Jaime Willis

"We can't solve problems using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

First, I want to thank you all for reading and posting during Triathlon Training Blitz Week!  It is has been a whirlwind of a week, but I know the best is yet to come (and I'm not just talking about our TGIF Interview tomorrow, although that is going to be awesome!)

Here are some questions we've gotten these week about the Training program that we'd like to take a moment to answer.

What is a Sprint Triathlon?

A "sprint" triathlon is a shortened version a full-length triathlon.  Sprint does NOT refer to how fast you have to go!  The triathlon itself consists of three legs:

• 750 Meter Swim (about a half mile in a lake);
• 16.5 Mile Bike Ride (for reference, the average person bikes at about 13-15 miles an hour when not racing). 
• 5 Kilomter run (3.1 miles long). 

Where and when are you training?

As a group, we are training on Sunday mornings in beautiful Lake Audobon in Reston Virginia.  In addition to several great riding/running trails, we will have access to the lake during training days to help simulate the race conditions. 

Depending on the number of participants, we may also choose to hold informal training meetups during the week before or after work in DC.  

I live in the city and don't have a car - can I still participate?

Sure!  We are going to be organizing car pools on Sundays out to Reston, so you should be able to hitch a ride with one of your soon-to-be new friends. 

Are you sure this is for everyone? I am so out of shape!

I am POSITIVE this training is for you - we are focusing on COMPLETING, not COMPETING, so this training program should be FUN, not stressful.  Caveat: We are not doctors - please speak to a medical professional before starting any exercise regimen, particularly if you have any pre-existing medical concerns.

What if I can't come for all of the training dates?

That's fine.  If you are going to miss over half of the training sessions, you may consider signing up for 1 or 4 sessions a la carte.

I am just not sure if I am ready to commit - eek!

Anyone, signed up or not, can join us on May 1 to learn more about the program, see the beautiful training location, and meet your fearless training buddies.  If you decide to continue, you can sign up after the first session!

Should I register for the race now?

If you sign up for any of our training program options first, you'll get a coupon code for $10 off race registration! 

I'm in! Where do I sign up?

Right here. 

Weekly Wednesday Inspiration #10 - Part C

-By Jaime Willis

The final leg of our Weekly Wednesday Inspiration Triathlon Blitz - the run!

Running Quote of the Week

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners.  Eventually, you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit."

Running Picture of the Week

Kelly Gneiting set a Guiness World Record on March 20, 2011 when he became the
heaviest man to finish a marathon.  Gneiting is 400-pound sumo wrestler who finished
the LA Marathon in 9:48:52, smashing the earlier record of a 275 pound man's marathon
finish of 11:52:11.  If Gneiting can do it, what are you waiting for?

Running Video of the Week

I know this isn't strictly speaking about running, but who isn't inspired by Rocky's famous run?

Weekly Wednesday Inspiration #10 - Part B

-By Jaime Willis

In our second weekly inspiration installment, let's focus on the second leg of the triathlon, the bicycling event.

Cycling Quote of the Week

"Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving." 

-Albert Einstein

Cycling Picture of the Week

We will also not be biking with sharks, mom.  Do not worry!

Cycling Video of the Week

I know Matt shared this earlier, but it is worth watching twice.  So cool!

Weekly Wednesday Inspiration #10 - Part A

-By Jaime Willis

Because we are in the midst of Triathlon Blitz Week, I thought we'd do an inspirational post from each of the three triathlon categories.  This morning,  let's be inspired by swimming.

Swimming Quote of the Week:

"For me, losing is not coming in second.  It's getting out of the water knowing you could have done better. For myself, I have won every race I've been in." 

-Ian Thorpe

Swimming Picture of the Week: 

See mom, it could be worse.  There could be crocodiles in the water when we swim.
(I promise, there won't be!)

Swimming Video of the Week:

You may have seen Melissa on a recent commercial - here's the rest of her story. 

First, I need ...

-By Jaime Willis

"You can't always get what you want,

But if you try sometimes you just might find

You get what you need."

-Rolling Stones

This is the second of three blog posts today in honor of Triathlon Training Blitz Week!

Today, we are talking about the excuses that people use to avoid taking action on a goal. One excuse we hear a lot is that people don't have the right "stuff" to really start tackling the goal. The "stuff" can be anything, including: not enough money, too out of shape, don't have the right equipment, don't have the right education, etc.

The really awesome thing about goals is that there are so many ways of getting them accomplished. Your lack of "stuff" is likely just a lack of imagination.

As you think about the resources or "stuff" you need for your goal, ask yourself a few questions.

Do you really need that particular "stuff" at all?

Say you want to own your own business giving dance lessons to kids. You may think, "I need to buy a building before I can start my business." But do you? Couldn't you rent a building? Even better, couldn't you rent a room for an hour or a day - the amount of time you need to run your class(es)? Best of all - couldn't you use your networks to find a FREE space to provide dance lessons -- a church basement, a school cafeteria, a friend's building?

Money is usually a big obstacle that isn't nearly as necessary as people think. Think about the budget for the business above. In the original, this person may have needed over $100,000 to put down in order to buy a commercial property. Renting a space on a year-long lease may have meant a $20,000 annual commitment. Renting space on an hourly or as-needed basis may have meant a $5,000 - $10,000 annual commitment. Using free space while she builds up clientele - $0 dollars and instantly, her business is net positive!

If there is a resource you do need, how flexible can you be about it?

In the triathlon example, there is no getting around the fact that you need a bike. One-third of the race is on a bike, and it would be a little odd if you showed up without one. But you don't need the BEST BIKE EVER. You just need something serviceable. Do your research - does a friend have a bike languishing in their basement they can lend you for a few months? Is there a garage sale or swap meet nearby? Can you find something in your price range on Craigslist?

Left: Kestral Airfoil Triathlon Bike: $4,995 MSRV, Right: Schwinn Varsity Road Bike, $199 New, $75 Used

Do you have to have a $5,000 bicycle to complete a triathlon? Absolutely not! I'll be finishing my race with a 30 year old, $75 used bike. Ask yourself, as I do almost every day, What Would MacGyver Do?

Is there another way to think about the goal itself?

Back when I was first losing weight, I thought the ultimate "physical challenge" would be to run a marathon. If I was going to prove to myself that I was fit, not fat, I needed to run a marathon. So, I started training. I ran and ran and ran some more. When I got up to 10 and 11 mile runs, though, my hips and knees mutinied on me. I went to an orthopedic surgeon, who advised me that if I enjoyed ambulating on my own two feet, I should find another sport. From all the years I abused my joints carrying huge amounts of excess weight, my hips and knees were pretty permanently opposed to long-distance runs.

Now, I could have spent a lot of time and money on rehab and surgery and physical therapy and running clinics and figured out how to run a marathon. But when I searched my heart about WHY I chose that goal, I found that it wasn't really the marathon itself that meant anything to me - it was doing something BIG. And AUDACIOUS. and PHYSICALLY CHALLENGING. With that in mind, I embarked on a mission to do lots of shorter-distance runs. To help lessen the impact on my joints, I've written the rules of my challenge to include lower-impact cardio equipment, like the elliptical machines or the cross trainer. When I finish running 50 10ks, I'll have run the equivalent of almost TWELVE marathons. I'm betting I'll feel just as accomplished (or even more so) as I would had I pushed myself and my body to complete the marathon.

Think about your "ideal" resources to accomplish your goal. Now spend some time brainstorming - asking yourself the questions above and see if you aren't a lot closer to being able to complete that goal than you think!

I'm too busy...

-By Jaime Willis

"Focus on being productive instead of busy."

-Tim Ferriss, The Four Hour Workweek

Pre script #1: Matt is out of town this week making things happen in the big state of Texas.  I'll be taking over his blog posting duties for today. 

Pre script #2: This is one of three posts that will be published on our blog today in honor of Triathlon Training Blitz Week.  If you'd like to join us, go here for more information.

Pre script #3: If post script is a thing, pre script is a thing too, right?  

Today, I want to explore three of the biggest reasons excuses that we hear about why a particular goal or dream can't be accomplished.  This morning, let's talk about TIME.

One of the things I hear so often is, "I would do X, but I just don't have time."    

"I'm late! I'm late!"

I don't have time to make it the gym.  

I don't have time to go back to school.

I don't have time to pursue a hobby I'm really passionate about.

I don't have time.

You know what I say to that?  

Malarky! 

Whenever I hear that excuse, I think of the President.  The President of the United States, the Commander in Chief of our entire country, finds time in his week to a) play basketball; b) watch his girls play sports; c) read to his kids at night; and even d) go on vacation.  The President before him found time for exercise, family, and relaxation as well.  

If there is anyone in this country that could say with a straight face that they don't have time, it has to be the President.  The fact that even our Presidents find time for things that are personally important to them means that any of us can do it as well. 

When Matt and I started prioritizing our lives to make our dreams possible, we realized pretty quickly that time management was key.  

For Matt, this means a 5:00am wakeup call every day of the week.  While the rest of us are sleeping, Matt is taking concrete steps towards his dreams.  

For me, this meant cutting out almost all television watching.  TV is so enjoyable - I know.  It is relaxing, it is entertaining, and it gives us something 'easy' to talk to our coworkers about during the work day.  But television watching is rarely a productive use of our time.  

Think about this -- when you think back on your 2011 ten years from now, are you going to proudly brag to your friends that 2011 was the year you watched Season 15 of The Bachelor?  Are you going to pull out your iPad 20 with your grandkids some day and swipe through all the photos you took of yourself watching Glee?

Wouldn't you rather look back on your 2011 and say proudly:

2011 was the year I wrote my first book.

2011 was the year I ran a triathlon with some of my now closest friends.

2011 was the year I finally "found" the time and made my dreams happen.

Take an honest assessment of your schedule and see if you can find even 15 'new' minutes of the day to start working towards a goal of yours.  Try keeping a time log to see what you actually do in a day and see if there are any areas that you could more productively use your time.

But I Can't Even ....

By Jaime Willis

"Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have."

The other day, I was talking to my mom on the phone.  She reads our blog everyday and has been following along as we announced our intention to complete a triathlon.  

In contrast to her daughter, who is never happier than when she is speaking in front of an audience - the larger the better - my mom prides herself on being a professional audience member.  As she says, there can be no performance without an audience.  Although she shuns the spotlight, she has never been anything but supportive as my brother and I have launched ourselves out of the nest and into the world.  

But I know that this support has cost her no small amount of stomach lining and gray hairs in motherly concern.

Mom starts out this conversation cautiously, "So, I read on your blog that you are training for a triathlon?  That's in addition to the 10K's you are running?" 

There - the first touch of nervousness creeps in.  Let me note for the record that this is NOT skepticism on my mother's part, it is genuine concern.  She knows that I generally finish what I set out to do, but worries nonetheless.

"Yes, mom.  We start training in just over a month, but I am already pre-training now" I tell her, waiting for the shoe to drop.

"So a triathlon - that's running, biking, and swimming?" she asks.

"Yes, all of that.  It's a 5 kilometer run -- 3.1 miles," I translate, "a 16.5 mile bike ride, and a 750 meter swim - about a half mile," I finish.

"A half mile of swimming?  In a pool?" she asks, hopefully.

"No, this triathlon is an open-water swim -- we'll do the whole swim in a lake in Virginia," I say.

"Oh," she says, thinking a bit more before continuing, "How deep is the lake?"

"Mom, I don't know - it's a lake - it's lake-depth," I say, knowing that my answer is neither helpful nor consoling.

"Well, Jaime," she says, asserting her motherly instinct, "is it safe?"

Ah, there it is - my mother has chosen a worry for my triathlon - that I will drown trying to complete the swim.  I explain that the race has lots of folks watching the water to help those who find themselves in trouble.  I further explain that we'll be lined up to go into the water by our estimated finish time, so not everyone will enter the water at the exact same time.  Finally, I promise to be safe and not drown on race day.  

Although my mother is somewhat soothed by my answers, I hang up the phone knowing that if there were a way for her to require the race to be swum in a lake under 5" in depth, she would do it.  That's the mom in her.  

To be truthful, I am most concerned about the swim as well, although not because I think I'll drown.  I've run before, I've biked plenty, but I've never swam competitively, or really, otherwise, since I was in grade school.  I can swim, but I can't swim well.

Matt shared an anecdote from his grandmother that fits so well here, I'm stealing it to share with y'all.  "You know what can't means?," his grandmother asks.  "Can't stands for can try." 

Right now, I can't swim competitively.  But I have over four months to learn.  And, I definitely can try! I know that I will be able to finish the swimming portion of the triathlon - maybe not quickly, maybe not with pretty strokes, but finish nonetheless.

I may also be the first one who finishes a triathlon wearing a life vest, if only to assuage my mom's fears. 

Triathlon Training: Origin Story

-By Jaime Willis

No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch.

As many good things do, our story begins through the intervention of Sam Horn. In addition to being an incredibly talented writer and successful entrepreneur, Sam is a Connector in the true Malcolm Gladwell sense of the world. She has the gift of bringing people together to accomplish amazing things.

When Sam began thinking about what to do to honor an upcoming "big" birthday, she was inspired to DO something. Something BIG. Something BOLD. An experience that, on reflection, would stick a metaphorical flag into the ground, saying with gusto, "I did that!" She decided to complete a triathlon.

Sam, being the connector that she is, immediately glommed on the idea of having her friends and family join her in her birthday quest. As you can probably guess, shortly thereafter Matt and I got the call to join her.

I'll be honest, when Sam first called and asked Matt and I to join her in completing a mini-triathlon, my answer was no. I was already working on a big physical challenge of my own. I was so busy already adding another weekly item to my schedule was a lot to ask. I didn't own a bike and the last time I'd swam a lap was to cool off in a hotel pool. No one would fault me if I chose to pass on this opportunity, I thought.

So, the problem with being the Chief Inspiration Officer at a company focused on getting people to achieve their goals, no matter how audacious, means I know what a string of excuses sounds like when I hear them. Even when they are coming out of my own mouth.

My "new" bike - a Schwinn Varsity -
the original "Ten Speed" Bike.

What really sold me on this program, though, was Sam's approach. I always thought that completing a triathlon meant competing in a triathlon -- I needed to be the fastest runner, the strongest biker, and the slickest swimmer in order to be a triathlete. As you may know from my running posts, I am the antithesis of 'speedy.'

Sam's focus was not on competing, but on COMPLETING this event. What a great reminder of why we achieve goals. If winning was our only goal, we'd spend much of our life disappointed. But when we open ourselves to being a part of a great new experience, we all win just by participating.

If you just got a little zing by the thought of being a Triathlon Completer, join us! We welcome everyone, regardless of age or experience! We are committed to ensuring that everyone finishes the race and has fun in the process.

Triathlon Training Blitz Week!

By Jaime Willis

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. 

Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omni potent. 

The slogan "press on" has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race.

-Calvin Coolidge

Less than a month from now, Matt & I, as well as our good friend and mentor, Sam Horn, will begin training for a great new goal - completing our first mini triathlon.

If the previous sentence caused you a bit of hyperventilation, you are not alone! A triathlon, even a 'mini' triathlon seems daunting.  For some of you, it may even feel impossible.  I am here to tell you right now that NOTHING is impossible.  

We think that you, yes YOU, can complete a triathlon.  

Photo by Jenny Ruley

We have so much faith in you, we've invited you, yes YOU, to join us in training for the Luray Mini Triathlon.  If you live in the District, Maryland, and Virginia, you can join us Sunday, May 1 for sixteen weeks of training, support, and most of all, FUN.  If you are a bit further out, we still invite you to join us virtually through our weekly triathlon newsletter -- where you'll get a copy of the official Luray Triathlon Training Program as well as weekly tips and motivation to do your best!

We are so excited about this, we've declared this week "Triathlon Training Blitz Week." This means we will be posting THREE times a day all week!  We hope that you enjoy Blitz Week as much as we will!

If you have any questions about the triathlon training program that are not answered in our Training Program Page, please email us!  We'll do a Frequently Asked Questions post later on this week, so everyone can benefit from the answer to your great questions.

Believe It.  Achieve It!