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| Next | Back | Home | Fiction | Non-Fiction | Poems | Book Excerpts | |Travel Essays| Religious | SWIM, BIKE, RUN…Non-Fiction by Nicole L Jackson After having my 4th child in 2006, and all of the baby weight that comes with those sweet, little blessings…I decided that I needed to get back into shape. I started walking, doing Turbo Jam and other at-home work out videos, and had achieved several goals: 50 pounds lost, ran a 5k, and reached the weight listed on my driver’s license! A year ago a friend who is training for an Ironman (she’s crazy…), asked if I would be interested in doing a triathlon. I laughed. Hard. Then she explained that it was sprint distance – a shorter distance, all WOMEN’s triathlon called the Danskin. After some real soul searching… I actually considered it, and decided I would try it! It’s a good thing I registered when I did…while apparently off my rocker…otherwise I never would’ve gone through with it! So I began training…, sort of…(I have heard that if you didn’t lose your relationship during the training period, you didn’t train hard enough…) The day came when it was time to head down to Pleasant Prairie, WI (and yes I am still married…) to get ready for the race. Race day came very quickly, and my “wave” started a little before 9am. I prayed (there was lots of that going on) for strength and God’s power, which SO helped my nerves, and then jumped in the water. Ok, more like slowly crept in...it’s a spring-fed lake, so it’s fairly warm, but you know how it feels when you and you’re suit is dry and the water reaches the all too warm nether-regions. The lake was fairly clear as well, although when 4,000 women are swimming ahead of you...arms and legs flailing, as well as churned up lake bottom, that doesn’t make for a terribly clear swim. After about 12 strokes into the swim, I decided I was certifiable and really shouldn’t have done this thing...but by that time I was already in the lake and going in a forward motion so figured I should at least finish. The little flags 1/2 a straight mile across the lake at the swim finish were ... well, TINY ... and apparently I’m not very good at swimming in a straight line…if the swim leg would’ve been a circle, I would’ve rocked! I did end up realizing that I needed to take a few strokes, stop, try to find those teeny-tiny flags, and get myself back on course. I’m pretty sure I passed people in the lake, although, while being face down in a murky lake, it is entirely possible that all of the participants of my “wave” passed me. But, as long as I didn’t know…well, then no one passed me, I’m sure of it! I felt pretty good coming out of the lake...except for the sting in my right foot from the cramp that caused my toes to get all crazy and stick straight out about 50 yards from the swim finish. Once I stood up I was good…no more cramp. My Mom & Dad, Aunt, and best friend saw me get out of the lake …all wet and lovely I might add…but that was awesome! Although, them having to see me in all my spandex glory was definitely NOT a sight to be seen…ewwww! SWIM done without drowning – check! So, now was the challenge of finding my bike in a sea of 4,000 + bikes. I strategically placed my bike by the dolphin balloon…praying for 2 days that God wouldn’t send a gusty wind…(there were times when I saw cookie monster and other “markers” heading up into the wild blue yonder...oh, please let the dolphin still be there…) Well, found it! My bike was just where I left it…imagine that! So I got my socks and shoes on, put my helmet on, made sure my water bottle was still in its holder, prayed once again that I wasn’t forgetting anything important …and off I went. I was in high spirits during the ride…feeling the wind against my face, stretching my legs, drying off…although again, those nether-regions!! It was awfully quiet during the ride, so I tried to talk to fellow bikers as well as some spectators...making jokes and stuff. No one found me funny…like the girl with the colorful liquid bottles, or the 3 green outfit girls I passed. I don’t know, apparently people didn’t expect that, or didn’t want to talk…I sure got lots of strange looks! Quite frankly, I was just trying to keep my mind off of what was to come…… The bike was FOR SURE my best leg. I really had fun...it was a 12 mile ride...and fairly flat - so that made it much easier! I passed lots of people, which was a really nice energy (and ego) boost, and sorry to say got passed by a few ...but I finished up not terribly tired actually… so that’s good! I got back and my cheering section was right there again, cheering me on coming in from the bike ride...which, again, was very cool...although then I knew I was in for it...all that was left was the run. Waaaaahhh. THE RUN! The leg of the race I have been stressing about for months now...no…since I SIGNED UP! *sigh* BIKE done without crashing – check. So, back into the transition area to rack my bike again…looking for that dang dolphin…oooh, found it! Off went the bike helmet and on went the sun visor – you didn’t even want to see my fro by this time! Yikes. I grabbed my little water bottle, and a package of Sport Beans and I was off. Ok...it started slowly...very slowly...oh wait, it ended slowly too, so that doesn’t really matter. But I tell you it was TOUGH!! The first mile went...well, slowly...and when I got to the Mile 1 Marker sign...seriously, I was done. Somehow, I kept going. My goal was NOT to walk, but run the whole race...well, I walked twice in the first mile. (Ok...not starting off so well.) People were passing me left and right, in fact I remember hearing one girl say “hey, we’re 2/3 done!” Yeah, I wanted to trip her. Anyway...mile 2 was VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. I was hot, my shoulders hurt, my head hurt...not good, because you know, that was just as I was passing the Mile 1 Marker sign. Seriously! Again, somehow I sucked it up, walked several more times…although longer stretches now...got passed by one of my fellow Pillow Fight Club members...yeah, thank you, Dana...(looking all cute which kind of bugged me...I wanted to trip her too!) See, I knew what I looked like...exactly like I FELT!! AAAAHHHHH…do not look straight at the creature… Cover your eyes!! Ok...between Mile Markers 1 and 2 was a water station and a SPRINKLER HOSE running...that was pretty much when I was thinking: “What the heck was I thinking?! I will NEVER do a triathlon again.” But decided I couldn’t quit now…the sprinkler felt REALLY good. I was passing a few people…albeit VERY FEW…but it’s amazing what a boost it is to the old ego when you’re not the last one! (Thank you, Sally Edwards!) About 1/2 a mile into Mile 3...I started being aware of the light at the end of the tunnel... I was hot, tired, and wanted to SERIOUSLY cry...but hearing from the spectators: “you’re almost done!” “you can do it!” …it’s amazing how much that little extra encouragement really helped! (NEVER under estimate the power of a spectator!!) The cheering...the finish line...I could SEE the end. At that point my adrenaline kicked in…why did it have to wait until the very end?!! …but I crossed over the finish line...saw my little cheering section, who even made a sign for me!…got my medal, and I was FINISHED!! RUN done without puking – check! Holy smokes, it was over. I was officially a triathlete!! It was at this point, when I thought...oh, I can do this again. (Yeah...mental....I must have had heat stroke.) So, I got my results, and I actually did A LOT better than expected!! My goal for the swim was 15 minutes: I did it in 15:10!! My goal for the bike was 45 minutes: I did it in 45:35!! My goal for the run was 33 minutes: I did it in 34:03!! …so that ROCKS!! What an amazing accomplishment, what a journey! Now, where’s the chocolate….
Nicole L Jackson, age 35, contact:
jjaxncole@verizon.net
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