Half Ironman Triathlons really are for everybody

It seems that a lot of people come into the fitness forums harbouring serious doubts about whether or not they can do this or that activity, whether they can keep up a fitness regimen, lose the weight, get rid of a specific fatty area on their bodies, etc.

I'd like to briefly summarize where I've come from and where I am right now.  I'm still on a journey, with goals yet to be attained, but my recent athletic accomplishments bear telling.

In November 2006, I weighed over 265lbs.  I could say that it was because I made babies (4 in under 6 years), but really it was because I loved to eat and enjoyed being gloriously sedentary.  However, as is often the case when one is overweight, I started to have some serious back problems and self-image issues.

Then, for Christmas, Santa put a piece of paper in my stocking announcing that I'd been signed up for a Sprint Triathlon the following September.  OMG!  I had 9 months to get ready for an event!  There was no backing out -- my Scottish side wouldn't just throw the registration money away and my stubbourn nature just couldn't back down from the challenge.

My first hurdle was losing enough weight so that I could begin to run without destroying my knees.  Doing so in rural Quebec in the dead of winter was something else, I tell you.  No gym anywhere around and no way of getting out to do any kind of activities outdoors with minus 20 and wind swirling about.  I had to get creative with a home-trainer and my ancient ten-speed.

Finally, in the Spring, I was ready to try running.  First week, I busted up my knees and had to stop.  Santa has a wierd sense of humour and had also signed me up for a 10k in June, so I had to figure out the knee thing quickly.  A few trips to the chiro helped, and losing more weight made it easier to start up again.  I did the 10k, but it took me an hour and a half to do so.  I came in second to last overall.

By the time I did the Sprint triathlon, I'd lost 65lbs and had a really good time.  I felt like I could keep going forever.  I made the mistake of saying so to DH and he responded that I should be doing Half-Ironman's.

In January, 2008, I asked someone in our area to be my coach.  She'd been to the World Championships in Hawaii (full distance Ironman) twice, placing second on her second trip there.  After training all year, getting injured and competing in shorter distance races, I finally made it to the big race in the Northern Muskokas (Ontario, Canada).

This race had 1,800 people signed up, including some of the biggest names in the sport (Craig Alexander, Lisa Bently, etc).  I swam in choppy water, got off course three times and was basically beaten up by the other swimmers.  My time was horrible (really) and when I got out of the water I was really bummed about how long it took me to do the swim. 

The bike was the hardest bike ride I've ever done.  94k of hills, hills, and more hills in downpours and gravelly roads.  People were getting off of their bikes for some of the steepest portions.  I just stood up on my pedals and forced my way up.  I didn't get off of the bike once (not even to pee!)

When the bike was over, I had some real doubts about the run.  I could barely walk to the transition area.  However, I'd promised my husband that I'd run the run, without walking at all (even if it meant baby-steps), so I put on my running shoes and did my best.  Turns out my best was pretty good, as I was passing people from all age groups who were just too tired from the bike-ride to run.  This was the pinnacle moment of the race for me:  I could run where others had to walk.  Somehow, I had the endurance that others were lacking.  (Or was it the mental attitude?  Could it be they were walking because they felt they could?)  Who'd have thought?  I came to the finish line well ahead of hundreds of other people.

And this is the point of this post:  Any limits you feel you have are in your head.  Really.  It might sound trite, but I know it to be true from my own experience.  All it takes is breaking down your goal into small, attainable hurdles.  One step at a time, one day at a time.  I went from being a very sedentary 265lb woman, to being a very active 175lb one (BTW, I'm 6' tall).  Yes, I still have weight to lose, but that seems so secondary to the accomplishment of swimming, biking and running over 70 miles in one day. 

Before looking for panancea's and quick fixes, how about addressing the real blockages and walls that are keeping you from working toward a goal?  Fear is an amazing thing, and will keep you from living life to the fullest.  The next time you'd rather watch CSI instead of go to the gym, ask yourself just what you're afraid of.  You might be surprised at the response.  You also might be surprised at how courageous you really are.

Get out there, guys.  Go live life to the fullest by giving your body what it needs.  It will reward you with lower cortisol levels, less stress and better sleep.  Better moods!  Happier thoughts!  I mean, you just can't BUY that kind of well-being in the form of a pill!

Lecture over.  Thanks for reading.

Skinny kitty, congratulations on your 70.3! That is no small feat by any means.  I bet there's an Ironman in your future, you go girl!!!

I am awed and inspired by your spirit and determination.  I looked at your gallery, and it looks like you have motivated your kids as well to be healthy active people.  What a great thing to do for them and for yourself and your husband. 

Awesome!

Thanks for the pep talk. I still think people who run marathons are cookoo crazy. And I like to run, just not forever.

Very inspiring...makes me want to start training for at least a 5k run. THANKS!

What a great story - thanks for sharing it with us.  I ran my first 5K last month and am currently training for a 4 mile race.  It's nothing compared to what you've done but the message applies to everyone  - "Far too often, our progress is limited by our minds, not by our bodies".

Wow is all I can say -- what a great accomplishment!  Congratulations.

Congratulations! 

WTG skinny_kitty! I also turned to triathlons as my form of exercise when I was starting to workout again last year. I have now completed a few sprints, 2 olympic distances, and numerous 10ks. I keep questioning wehther I shoudl go for the 1/2 ironman or not and haven't made up my mind. I will eventually, but need to make sure I have time to properly train. Maybe maybe next year. Triathlons are sooo addicting and fun and that's why it's sucha  great way to lose weight! YOu have lots of variety and always have a goal in mind. They are awesome!

Well, ktcort, your experience with the sprint tri that you did really helped me prepare for mine!

I'd say the training is better done intelligently than with too many hours.  A good coach goes a very long way.

I helped you??? Well, however I did, I'm glad it could help. I've got my second to last sprint tri of the season tomorrow! Then it's off season training! not excited about that!