Determination

Yesterday I experienced my first Triathlon. No... I didn't participate, I experienced. Craig participated (for those of you who don't know, Craig is my Long time Lover). He does these Adventure Races which are fairly intense - they are 12, 24 or 36 hour races that include anything from orienteering, climbing, kayaking, biking, snowshoe-ing, and whatever else they put on the course. There's no time to sleep, it's non-stop until they complete the course. Even with all his adventure race experience, this was his first triathlon. Grace & I drove him to the start line to send him off. I was completely clueless. He checked the website that morning and found out that there was a time cut off for the swim. If he wasn't out of the water within 1h:10m, he wouldn't be allowed to move on to the bike portion and would want a ride home. I told him, he was going to do it! Since he hadn't been swimming since before we went to Peru last year October, he wasn't sure that he'd make the 2km swim, but he really wanted to finish the race.

During the swim, Grace found another dog, Lulu, to play with in the sand / water. Lulu's dad asked what Craig's usual time is for the water. I responded "I'm not sure, this is his first race. He hasn't gone for a swim for about 10 months."

Lulu's dad laughed. "And he entered a half Ironman for this first Tri? Well, go big or go home, right?"

What? Half Ironmann Craig?!?! Are you serious? I had no idea.

Craig was out of the water just under the hour mark. He was the only competitor to swim in doing the breaststroke. Grace and I cheered him on as he moved into the transition station. We watched him get changed and ready for the next portion of the race. He took 8 minutes in the transition and looked confused for about 5 of those minutes. Finally, he grabbed his bike - a mountain bike with cycling wheels - and started on his way. He was the only one with a bike like that! Grace and I gave him a high five as he passed.

Grace and I went home to do some yard work and eat, then showed up again at the finish line. We cheered him across the finish line, gave him a congratulatory hug and a high five, Grace went to town licking his salty legs. For the first 5 minutes after he was done he didn't say much other than "I still can't believe I got out of the water!"

I think the part of the race I enjoyed the most was his re-cap of the days events when he was talking to his Mom later. (She may just be the most supportive athletics Mom on the planet! It was probably driving her nuts that she couldn't find live updates on the internet like when he was playing hockey).

Mom: So, how did it go?

Craig: I finished! But I still can't believe I made it out of the water! You know how they say to do something that scares you every day? Well, I think I have the month covered with that one! There's over 850 competitors who jumped in the water at 8am. There were feet and elbows everywhere! And it was COLD! I got about 50 feet out into the water and thought - There's no way I'm going to make it! I'm going to have to go back! But, I already got the wetsuit wet, so I couldn't take it back. Might as well keep going! When I checked my watch at the halfway mark - I did the first km in 23 minutes. I thought 'I can do this!'

Mom: What did you do once you got out of the water?

Craig: Honestly, I didnt' know what to do. I started veering off track and they had to point me in the right direction.

Mom: Were you disoriented?

Craig: No, I was looking for Jana and Grace. I couldn't believe I made it out! I wanted to tell her! The transition team had to help me out with my number and all that stuff. I had no clue what I was doing. I seriously couldn't believe it!

Mom: How was the bike?

Craig: (laughs) I need a new bike. There are a few points when we doubled back. A couple guys ahead of me were doubling back and saw my bike and I heard them say to each other 'He's doing it on a mountain bike?!? Wow! Good for him!" At one of the water and snack tables the guys noticed: 'You're the guy on a mountain bike! Good on ya!'  I probably could have shaved off some time if I had a lighter bike. Even on the bike, when I figured out my pace after the first 30 kms, I realised that I could actually finish this race! I had to keep going. Only 60 km bike to go!

Mom: And the run?

Craig: I jogged the whole thing. 21 kms. No walking. I'm pretty stoked about that! The only other time I ran that far was in a half marathon in New Zealand 4 years ago. I finished 9th. There were 12 people racing and all the men that came in behind me were over 50! Haha!

Mom: Are you glad you did it and will you do it again?

Craig: Yah! For sure! I said I was going to do one by the time I was 30 - doing it while I'm 30 counts. I'm happy about it! Again? Yes, but not this year. The sportsmanship out there was unreal. People helped me out with the most random stuff. I need a new bike and should probably spend some more time in the pool.

Wow! I'm so impressed with him! I know he's an outstanding athlete, but to finish a half Ironman with minimal training in under 7 hours is impressive. I could never do that! There's a level of focus and determination that goes behind that type of race. The power of positive thoughts and positive affirmations. I think it's pretty cool. He didn't have the right equipment, nor had he trained seriously for the event, but he showed up.

Disclaimer: By no means am I endorsing that anyone show up for a race of this magnitude without the proper training... Craig is an abnormal specimen of athletic capability with some what of a soldier mentality. He is always in training of some sort, just not specifically for triathlons. (Thankfully for me - he's a soldier of the light!)

It's kind of like in yoga - showing up is where it all begins!