Thursday, September 15, 2011

Mommy is a Triathlete

Self-portrait, just before Live.Love.Tri
The world is completely different lately. Or maybe I am different. Two weeks ago I went from an exhausted, frazzled, stay-at-home-Mommy to a successful Triathlete after completing the Live.Love.Tri Triathlon in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Granted, right after the race I had a moment where I thought I might pass out. At first I thought it was just the normal effect of the post-adrenaline rush. But now I am thinking what I felt was actually a major shift in the entire world as I know it. That's certainly enough to make anyone feel a little bit dizzy.

7 Desert Mommies just before Live.Love.Tri
To be honest, the whole experience was a little dizzying. Two weeks before the race I had no idea I was going to do the Triathlon at all, but some of my friends convinced me to just go for it. When I started to offer my list of excuses, one friend pointed out that she was pregnant and was still going to run the race. In fact, out of the 7 of us that participated from our playgroup, 2 are pregnant, 2 are nursing mothers and all have children under the age of 5. So, my excuses evaporated and I went for it. The goal wasn't to break records, but simply to finish. I am happy to say that, despite being the last of my friends to finish, I did meet that goal and did so much more in the process.

Ziva's sign of support for Mommy's race
Perhaps the most important thing that came out of doing this triathlon was realizing not just that I COULD do it physically but that I SHOULD do it for myself and my family.

Ahava's sign wishing Mommy, Miss Carrie and Miss Lilly good luck
That realization hit me like a ton a bricks when I came around the corner after a grueling (for me, at least) 3 mile run and 10 mile bike ride and saw my daughters' faces. It was their voices in my head that had pushed me up those tough hills ("You can do it Mommy, you can do it! Little by little and bit by bit!") and seeing their excitement over my accomplishment was incredibly uplifting.
Finishing bike ride. I'm in pink shirt. My family's behind that tree, running to cheer me on in the final event... 400m swim! (photo by: Brandy Klobuchar)
In an instant I went from the Mommy they have always known to a different kind of a role model.
"I did it!" (photo by: Brandy Klobuchar)
And as I pulled myself, with shaking arms and legs, out of the pool after the 400 meter swim I knew I showed those little girls that women can do amazing things.

Cover page of my daughter's report
Who knows what they will do with that new information in the long run, but by the end of the weekend my 6 year old daughter was writing a report for school about "Mommy's Triathlon," which she proudly read to her whole class Monday morning. And when one of her classmate's mothers came up to me and said, "So you're the one that my daughter was talking about running in that race!" I could've sworn I saw a twinkle of pride in my own daughter's eyes.

Of course, there is no time to rest on my laurels. In two weeks I will be participating in the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Relay with my husband in celebration of my 40th birthday. I wanted to do something to celebrate this milestone and give thanks for my health at the same time. And this time the kids won't just be on the sidelines. They are running their own races too. As I watch them practice sprinting every day before and after school I know for sure that the world has indeed changed in marvelous ways!
My wonderful support team! (Photo by: Dianne Hensely)

2 comments:

  1. Congrats Rosa on completing the triathlon! What a tremendous role model you are to your children teaching them the importance of staying fit as well as other lessons such as determination and believing in yourself. And you look great along the way!

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  2. Thanks so much Kate! I really appreciate the kind words.

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