I am a Tri-athlete

This is my first post on my blog.  Not sure if anyone will ever follow me but it is a way for me to get thoughts down about this new pursuit I have undertaken.  I set out on this journey just over 8 months ago and have come such a long way but have an even longer way to go.  My reasons are many and dwell in the superficial but also in the spiritual.  I see myself as someone who is not special but am striving to complete extraordinary things.  Perhaps in the process, I may inspire other ordinary people to do the extraordinary.

I am a triathlete.  I never thought I would call myself that.  See, I despised running growing up to the point that I kept my distance from sports that involved the activity.  Sure I played soccer and baseball but it was clear that I struggled to keep up with others.  Did I mention I had a clubbed foot?  It has never been a crutch for me or an excuse in my life, nor will I ever let it be.  I was never a diehard cyclist either.  I viewed bikes in my young age as the most convenient, and quickest mode of transportation to see friends or get into the occasional sticky situations.  My true passion growing up was swimming.  It was in the water where I felt the most free and at home.  I spent the greater part of the last 24 years competitively swimming and/or playing water polo.  Once college was over I believed my sports life had come to a close.  I could not be more wrong

It started with a simple goal 2 years ago.  A photo was taken of me at a swim meet and I was shocked at the weight I had gained.  I knew the best way to begin losing weight was to run.  The dread of it still remains as a powerful memory of mine.  I had never had a good pair of running shoes so I started by going to the local running store.  Got my first pair of running shoes that fit my feet correctly and off I went.  Those shoes brought me to my first non-swimming race, a turkey trot 5k on thanksgiving day.  After that the rest was history.

Why did I become a triathlete?  For one, watching them compete at the Kona Ironman world championships on NBC was a big motivator seeing how fit they were.  So my first reason was a very superficial one....I wanted to look hot! Haha.  I also got to watch one of my coworkers successfully complete the Madison Ironman and saw the journey she went through and it was quite inspiring.  A third reason was to do something that only a small fraction of the populatio has ever dared to attempt.  The final reason (and biggest one) was to honor my father who passed away 6 years ago.  People have unique ways with how they honor loved ones who have passed on and this journey was mine.  My father loved watching me compete and what better way to honor his memory but to take on the most grueling competitions on the planet?

This is the first post of hopefully many 100s more.  This post comes on the heels of my first successful completion of the Racine 70.3 half ironman in 6 hours and 49 minutes.  God willing, I will continue to complete many more half distances and the infamous full 140.6.