Well, this sister did it. I finished my first outdoor triathlon this Sunday. It was an all-women's sprint (1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run), sponsored by TREK bikes, and it was phenomenal. Not so much my performance (I finished, so I was quite pleased with that), but this mass of super-strong, super-focused female energy. It was so inspiring to be a part of the whole thing.
You know where I'm going with this, don't you?
And, repeatedly, I thought to myself, why can't this be what the face (body) of womanhood looks like? Muscles, hips, curves, tanned skin from spending time outside (not a machine), unfussy hairdos, smile lines, crinkly eyes, sandals you could run in. Guilt-free chocolate. All of us assembled in one place to challenge ourselves and our bodies...but happy about it, not hyper-competitive. You got the sense that people were proud of themselves, not feeling inadequate or ugly (well, except maybe for inner monologues during the run). A beautiful thing, to be sure.
Now, I usually prefer a mixed-gender group, but, for a first-timer, I appreciated the supportive environment...newbies, cancer survivors, sinewy veterans, but all chicks. While looking over the transition area, where 1683 bikes were parked with Elmo balloons and chalk greetings ("We're so proud of you, Mom!") marking peoples' spots, my friend observed, "I'll bet Ironman doesn't look like this." Sweet, a little silly.
For three or four hours, no one was worrying if they looked fat or old or boring. It was all about inner (and outer) strength; about being able to go deep inside and pull out the energy needed to finish. How refreshing. I wish it could be like that all the time, for everyone. All "you go, girl" messages, instead of "imagine what you would look like 20 lb.s lighter."
Wouldn't that be nice. I wish, I wish, I wish.
(P.S. If you're toying with the idea of a triathlon, can't recommend enough the site, Tri-Newbies Online for training suggestions, info, workouts, etc. It is a very sane, careful approach to training, with a lot of advice for first-timers. Yoga, of course, is a wonderful complement to it all, both physically and mentally.)
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7 comments:
what an inspiring post! and congratulations on finishing! i am SO beyond impressed : )
Hey, congrats! I hope to do my first tri when I move out to california at some point. Sounds like yours was also pretty unique experience in that it was all women. I love funny signs like that...part of my fav. part of running road races is seeing all the family and friends with their creative signs!
From my first half-marathon last year: "If your feet are tired it's because you're kicking your own butt!!"
YES YES YES!
Congratulations!! wow what an accomplishment- very cool.
I agree wholeheartedly. if only.
Congratulations Brenda! Happy accomplishment for sure!
And yes, "If Only...". Great message.
Impressive!
One observation on the inner/outer beauty dilemma: Women who are active, strong, fit, and so forth, often do send out an attractive vibe. Whether a woman is classically beautiful or not, she definitely looks better when she's smiling and carrying herself upright with confidence. And I'm sure that finishing a triathlon is a real boost!
Just trying to find a silver lining...
Congrats on the triathlon! Completing something like that must be such a great reward!
This is completely inspiring, thank you! Also congratulations on the write up in the Magazine of Yoga. Excellent work on all fronts!
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