A Little Help From My Friends

When I think about my year training, and completing the various events that I have, a song immediately comes to mind.  You could say it is my theme song for the year and sums up everything in my life, “With a Little Help From My Friends” by the Beatles.   Like with so many things, it is the support of family and friends that makes the difference!

Setting a lofty goal for the year to really challenge myself started with a conversation with my friend Marc.  I had completed some 5ks in 2010 and we were talking about that and he asked me what my next goal was.  Next goal?  I was just glad I hadn’t died from the 5ks!  But he got me thinking.  He and his wife had just spent their summer riding their bicycles from Seattle, Washington to Portland, Maine.  I asked him the same question, what was next for him.  Hardly an apples to apples question…cross country bike trip…5ks…but we both knew we needed something.

To this day I am not sure why I thought of doing a triathlon.  I had NO knowledge of what “doing a triathlon” really meant, didn’t know anyone who had completed one and certainly wasn’t in shape for such an endeavor.  But I wanted a true challenge and this sounded like one that would really push me while being fun at the same time. I told Marc my plans and it didn’t take very long for him to say he was going to do it too.

So we started to train.  We made out schedules of swimming, spin classes, running, time at the gym.  We researched online about swimming techniques, and shared with each other what worked and what didn’t.  We talked about what to wear, what to eat and how to keep track of laps in the pool.  As time got nearer and we needed to run longer distances, we set deadlines to reach these distances by a certain day and pushed each other to make sure we did.  It was invaluable to have him encouraging me on the tough days and for me to be able to do the same for him.  Having Marc as a partner was such a key to being successful!

After nearly 7 months of training together, race day was just a few days off.  Marc arrived with his wife and son in Michigan to complete the triathlon with me.   Even though we trained “together” all those months, we were thousands of miles apart!  I’m in Michigan, Marc is in Colorado.  Doing the race together, seeing each other at the finish and celebrating with our spouses all together that night was something I won’t ever forget.  It was a great day!

My husband and kids, family and other friends provided wonderful encouragement and support as well.  However to have that one person who is in it with you makes such a difference.  I tell this to people who tell me they don’t have anyone they can work out with or support of people around them.  I encourage anyone to think outside their local friends and they may find just the partner they need.

As I look ahead to 2012, Marc and I are already making plans for what’s next.  It is going to be a good new year!