She believed she could and so she did!

It has been a few days since I completed the most psychically challenging task to date!!!...all the months of training got me across the finish line by the skin of my teeth and with a little help once again from some friends.

June 20th - Wyckoff / Franklin Lakes Triathlon - Swim: 1/2 mile Bike: 17 miles Run: 5 miles

I think I had mentioned in an earlier blog or a facebook status that I had never done any of these distances before...so completing this Triathlon I knew was going to be difficult for me...but somehow I just knew I was going to do it.

It’s hard for me to say what was most challenging for me because I think each and every single one posed different problems for me. I think the bike though was probably where I wanted to throw in the towel...haha!

Swim: I was lucky enough the week before to participate in the Lap the Lake that YMCA organizes at the Indian Trail Country club. You had the choice to choose what distance you wanted to do so I chose the 1/2 mile swim. It is so incredibly helpful for those who are doing the triathlon the week after to see the exact distance you are swimming. So I knew last week that the half mile distance is FAR! But I did it! I did it slowly but I did it! I had my friend Christine right alongside of me who was so helpful. She happens to swim like a fish...so she was kind enough to stay right alongside of me to make sure I finished. I unfortunately would not have her next to me the day of the triathlon however. Being that she was part of a relay team...her wave was before mine. So I was doing this alone..just me...know one to give me a pep talk during the swim. I started off incredibly slow...I don’t know if it was all the seaweed that was throwing me off but the race just started and I'm already last...lol! I know I'm way behind because all of the other waves after me are now passing me!! So I finally see the end insight...thank god!!!  Time to get out of this wetsuit and on to the bike!

I am so relieved to be getting to the beach!!! 

Christine waited for me and we walked to the transition area.  I know others sprint to their spots...this wasn't happening! I needed to catch every breath I could!! I swear I think the transition is one of the hardest things to do...pealing off a wet wetsuit is no easy task!!!

Christine right there about to help me get out of this wetsuit!!

 

Bike: Time to get on this bike now and ride further than I ever had.  Never did 17 miles...the most I had ever done was about 11.  Again...I realize I am so far behind everyone else because I am pretty much allllll by myself the entire bike course.  This was not only depressing but I was so very nervous!!  So I went even slower cause I can actually feel my heart start beating faster and I know this isn't good.  All of sudden I hear someone behind me...I'm like wow where did you come from?! haha! I can't tell you how happy I was to see him.  Let me introduce you to Phil! Phil was telling me that he had gotten pulled out of the water and they needed to take his blood pressure.  Getting pulled out of the water is automatic disqualification.  Phil continued on the race not realizing this. So Phil and I finished up the bike course....he said he would even let me go in front of him so I wasn't last.   I am convinced Phils purpose on this day was not to finish the race... his purpose was to get me thru that bike ride.  I am 100% convinced that Phil was my guardian angel at this particular moment when I really needed it. A stranger who I had just met....just wanting to see me succeed after hearing my story.  Awesome!

Me and Phil coming into the transition area...poor Phil didn't even have his helmet on!!

 
Time to transition now into the run... Thank goodness the weather was cooperating...cloudy and in the 70's...no sun beating down...I am beyond relieved!!! I am so psychically drained from that bike ride and the thought of running has me on the verge of tears until I see some of the most amazing people in my view. 

If you recall the last Tri I did I mentioned that a few of my friends finished the race and then ran again with me for the last leg.  So knowing that they would all be finishing way before me they were all ready and waiting for me...including my husband this time around.  Let me introduce to you...my Secret Service Detail:

 

Look at these people...suits, sunglassess, earphones..just incredible!
 

Run:  Talk about having supportive people in your life.  Jerry, Laura, Val, Christine and my husband Chris...all ran the remainder of the race with me.  They knew that I would be all alone at that point....they ran the remaining 5 miles with me.  They thought it would be funny to all dress in suits to look like secret service...I mean I couldn't believe they actually did this!!  Hysterical!  I think someone thought I was a congresswoman..lol!!! I still have trouble putting into words how they made me feel.  Truly amazing!!! I did my best with the run...I knew I wouldn't be able to run the entire time but I reallly tried.  I was totally running out of gas at this point.The volunteers had already left the water stations...thankfully they left the water at least!  And then it happens...talk about a dejavu...the cop car is behind me!  I know what this means...this means I am the last person to finish the race.....sighhhh!!!  How did this happen...AGAIN!!! I jokingly say...at least I am consistent..always last!

Between the cop car, my secret service, the girls...what a moment...one I will never forget!

 So we are on are last mile...and I see Shay and Camryn come running to me.  I started to cry at that moment because all this time I have been really trying to set an example to show what being strong is all about. For them to see me push thru and finish meant so much to me. 

I have finished!!! However I did it...I still finished!  It bothered me to be last until I sat down and broke the last year down...and how on this day a year ago I was in physical therapy just trying to get my strength back from the incident.  So I shouldn't be upset with myself...I need to be proud of myself for what I accomplished.  And I am!  I finished something that healthy people don't even attempt to ever do.  With all my obstacles and curveballs thrown out at me...I finished!

I have really enjoyed and have a new love for this sport.  The satisfaction one feels afterwards is just incredible.  One thing I will say and I can assure you is that....this was the last time I will ever be last!  I can't wait to continue to train and get better and better...and I know that I will.  I have been told that I need to have patience but this was definitely the last time. 

On to the next tri in July!!  I'm going to keep going as much as I can. I love having something to look forward to...something to train for..it really fuels me!!!

Back to Phil quickly...I have since been in contact with him...I have found Phil!  I wanted him to know how grateful I was for him...I think he was a big part in me finishing this race and I will be forever grateful for him. 

Thank you thank you to everyone who has cheered for me supported me let me borrow stuff has given me advice has offered to run with me bike with me...I mean I can go on and on!  Thank you!

I'd like to think all my training paid off but I also know that the determination I have inside is what at the end got me across the finish. 

Yes I can!

So it appears I have totally missed the entire month of May for my blog :( ... I really didn’t mean to but I just have had little time and energy to do much of anything :/

Since I last did my blog...I have checked a few more things off my "TO DO List". I feel like I have learned even more about myself and more than ever I have taken the saying "where there is a will there is way" to an entirely different level...haha!

On May 3rd I participated in my very first Sprint Triathlon. This took place down the shore at YMCA Camp Zehnder Wall, NJ ...it was named the Bubble Triathlon. I needed to Swim 200 Yards, Bike 11 Miles, Run 3.2 Miles. This would be the very first time I was getting myself on an actual bike since my incident. All this time leading up I was just training on the stationary bike at the gym. This did not go that well.....haha! I never fell or anything but man was I slow! I was nervous about my balance, not knowing how to shift gears...it really was difficult but slow and steady I made it thru it. It was during the bike portion that I had realized I was the very last person! I'm like how did that happen...how did I become last? The poor people directing traffic were waiting for me to shut it all down!! "Come on lady pedal faster"...is what I think they were saying under their breath! haha!

As I was riding one of the cops pulled up to me and tells me what a good job I'm doing and then shares with me that he had to be removed out of the water by lifeguards the last time he attempted to do a Tri and never got to do the bike or the run! ...so I was much further than he had ever done! I thought that was really nice of him to share that story with me...only for the sake of making me feel better about myself.

I forgot to also share that I have right beside me my coach/psychical therapist/ my friend Jerry Yoo. I have spoken about him before :). Here is a man that can win the entire thing....he got out of the pool and waited for me. He road right next to me and tried to guide me on how to shift gears. He is truly the best example of a selfless person. He shared with me that this was one of the first times during a race he was ever able to take it all in...there was no pressure for him.  His only job was just to hang out with me during this race :)

So I finally make it back into the transition area....and now it is time to run...good god! Running...how I loathe you! There is nothing good about running in my mind...I am not good at it period! It hurts my insides! My legs feel like jello but let’s now run a 5k...blah! So me and Jerry take off and are ready to run and there are two more amazing people joining us...Laura and Amy. They are part of our fitfam and they just got back from finishing the triathlon. They turned around and went back out with me and Jerry. Amazing! I made sure I told them not to ever expect me to do this for them...lol because there would be no way! hahaha! So now we are all running this last stretch of the race. It was a really beautiful run I have to say. We are finally coming up to the end and I realize we are now getting a police escort....are you frigin kidden me? Let’s bring more attention to the slow girl! hahaha!

We are coming into the finish and Jerry hangs back and lets me cross over the finish first so he is the very last person to finish the race. Again...amazing selfless people!

All of the volunteers were there cheering me on with of course my husband and our new friend Tasha. Since my husband had some time on his hands while waiting for me he had told a few people my story. These people that I didn’t know seemed so genuinely thrilled to see me cross that finish line. Not just so they can go home and call it a day...but were just so happy for me. I was so happy for me! That feeling of psychically crossing that finish was the most incredible feeling for me. Like wow I just did that. I didn’t have a heart attack and I finished...yay me!

Jerry, Me, Laura and Amy.....amazing people.  I am so grateful for all of them!

Thrilled I was able to do this race before the one I have coming up in a few weeks. It was real great practice for me.

In May we also celebrated Mother’s day...one of my absolute favorite days! I had to go on a business trip to Atlanta and we celebrated my beautiful girls Shays16th birthday!

Enjoying a beautiful day in Hoboken on Mothers Day with my best girl xo

Back to training...Jerry had mentioned several times to me that I will need to practice swimming in the open water for the upcoming tri on June 20th. He had finally put me in touch with this woman Ellen who trains all levels of athletes in the open water including himself. I went up there with a few others and what happened next I wasn’t expecting. I had a panic attack in the open water! I cried like a big baby! Swimming in the lake water without seeing the bottom really is something I never really gave much thought to...it is a completely different animal than swimming in the pool! I finally got my barring’s and I was able to do it...thanks to Ellen for calming my nerves...she is amazing! Swimming in the outdoors really was a great feeling...sun beaming on your face a swan swimming nearby with her babies...just a completely wild experience for me. I will need to keep practicing as much as I can before the 20th to make myself comfortable in that lake!

A gorgeous morning right on the lake! Open water swimming is no joke!!
 

As if I didn't have enough to worry about and train for...I had signed up to do the Spartan Sprint up in Tuxedo NY June 6th. If you recall I had posted a picture of me wearing a helmet last blog :) This was by far the most psychically hardest and challenging thing I think I had ever done in my entire life! Hills Hills and more hills! Holy crap! I had tears in my eyes at one point...I really was like why the f@*& am I doing this willingly! So after crawling under barbwire, scaling a few walls, carrying a bucket filled with rocks up a hill...and much more with my hubby and fitfam right alongside of me....another check off the to-do list and another finish without having a heart attack...yay again! So grateful for my husband and the others that helped us get thru every obstacle!

Love my husband so much for being there for me :)

So now that I have finished two big things....this is what I have learned...I never felt that I was/am fully ready for either of these races...the Tri or the Spartan. I felt like I should have trained more running up hills and I should have practiced the bike etc...but what I have learned is that psychically I CAN DO THIS....my body is saying I can...it’s my mind that questions it. So when my mind is cooperating...I CAN DO THIS. I am not a 100% where I should be for this upcoming Tri which is longer than the Sprint Tri ( 1/2 mile swim 17 mile bike and 5 mile run)...I have never done any of those distances. I am praying and hoping that my body cooperates but more importantly my will and my determination will get me across another finish line on my "to do" list.

I have appreciated so many of you reaching out to me to offer some guidance and sharing some of your own experiences with me. I can’t tell you how much it has meant to me. The continued support is just simply amazing. I have this weekend a practice run...its called Lap the Lake up in Franklin Lakes, NJ.  This takes place in the same lake where the actual Triathlon will be.  It allows people to basically practice in the lake a week prior to race day.  So I will have this to do this upcoming weekend...and I'm so nervous!  I'm nervous because I know this will determine a lot for me...I pray it doesn't take me too too long and I simply don't let my nerves get the best of me and I finish.

I love how so many people are wanting to come and cheer me on for the upcoming Tri on the 20th. It really means so much to me...I've been telling people to come with a chair and a cooler lol...god knows how long this will take me.  But I am going to finish!!!

Thanks again for all your love and support!!! xo