Tri Tri Again

Well it has been a little while since I have written in my blog. I certainly have missed you dear blog, just busy the month of May subbing and training for triathon. As soon as the weather breaks I am outside whenever possible.I have had time to reflect on what I wanted to blog about as I am swimming, biking, or running; that is one of the many reasons why I love triathlon.
In April I turned forty four. It was not a significant birthday except for the double digits but for some reason I had some difficulty with the number. I started reflecting on my life and my accomplishments and decided what the heck had I really done? I've raised kids and now they are older. I am trying to return to the workforce but realize my skills need some tuning. I am at a crossroads in my life. Change is good and I usually embrace it but at 44 and only working part time I realized I had some major decisions to face. Do I spend a fortune on school to go back to college to get a teaching degree in which I will spend three years doing so? Do I stay where I am doing the part time thing and trying to make ends meet? How will I balance work and family when everyone has been used to me being home? Will I fall flat on my face?
During runs, bikes, and swims I even started to question whether or not I should continue to be an age group sponsored triathlete. While I have had great success with it and it has kept me sane during so many aspects of life; like when my children were babies or potty training, during illnesses of family and friends, maybe it was time to hang up my running shoes, put away my goggles and bike shoes and get a real job and a real life. Maybe I am getting too old for this nonsense. Maybe I should grow up and trade in the outdoors for more schooling, more inactivity, more mundane because isn't that what being an adult is all about? No, I said to myself, no!
And so I did my first race of the season in June at Pinchot Park in Lewisberry PA. and took second place in my age group. I don't even care about placing( well a little because I don't want to let Hydroworx, my sponsor, down.)Even while I was racing,( my first of four this season), I thought this is my last season, it is time to grow up.
Then after I crossed the finish line and was waiting for results I met some incredible people. The girl who beat me was just in a full Iron man competition in Utah. She said that she had just done it a month ago and here she was doing a shorter distance tri; to her the sprint tri was a mere workout for the day. Amazing I thought,and she was my age. Ah, another crazy person that doesn't let age get in the way. I was already feeling better by talking with her about my own situation.
Next there was a man hanging out with us that had a Beach2Battleship shirt on. I recognized it because I did the 56 mile bike portion with my friends. I commented on his shirt. "Hey," I said, "I did the half iron man last year as a team and we won," I gleamed proudly. He goes,"Great! I did the full Iron man last year." That shut me up! Meanwhile this guy was 60 years old. One of the benefits of tri is that they mark the backs of your legs with your age, well maybe that is not one of the benefits, but that's how I knew he was sixty. He maybe looked fifty! Again I was blown away.
Lastly, before they called my name for awards, I noticed a man standing in front of me. On the back of his left leg in black sharpie there was the number 70. That's right, the guy was seventy years old. Holy Sh--! He was totally in shape and did not even come close to looking his age. I grabbed my medal and as I walked by him he winked at me. That wink sent me to the moon and back again because at seventy this guy was still doing what he loved. I shook his hand and said,"You are an inspiration." He said, no my dear,"you are."
I'm still not sure what to do about going back to school. I'm still not sure about what kind of work I should look for full time or even if I'm ready for full time yet. I'm still not sure how long I'll continue to triathlon. How can anyone be certain of anything? There are risks in everything we do in life. I am certain of one thing. I can not give up triathlon yet. I am certain that no matter what changes my life brings I will continue to be a triathlete as long as I can. I read a statistic that the average triathlete is 37 years old, male, and has a family and a career. Okay so even with full time work I should be able to still continue.
I went home and signed up for the Beach2Battlefront half iron man this November as an individual.I hope I can make the 70.3 miles but that is what keeps me coming back for more; to tri, tri again! Happy Training!