One of the nicest compliments I could receive is when my son Bryce came to me this past May after The Woodlake Triathlon in NC and asked if he could sign up for a triathlon. I couldn't have been happier or prouder as a mom and as a triathlete. For the last nine years my family has supported my nutty obsession with triathlon. They have not missed many of my races and I am so thankful to have them there cheering me to the finish line.
Many Sunday and Saturday mornings my family has gotten up at the crack of dawn or before and traveled with me to a race site only to stand around for the longevity of the event. Many times they have fished in the water that I swam in or gone to an extravagant breakfast to pass the time while I am swimming, biking and running my way to the finish line. Usually by the run portion I am questioning why I would want to torture myself with all this nonsense. My legs are usually tired by the last leg and I'm usually feeling cruddy but the thing that keeps me going is knowing that my kids and my husband are waiting with smiles and hugs for me at the end. Trying to impress them is what keeps me going. I want them to think of me as not just their mom or their wife but as a superstar. I know that sounds a bit corny and a bit narcissistic but as my realtor recently said, "Triathlon is something just for you isn't it?" Yes, triathlon is something I can do, but sharing triathlon is even better.
I'd like to think that I have inspired some folks to,"tri," or at least to consider doing something to keep healthy. A friend of mine named Shellie Gruber got hooked on triathlon and I like to take some credit for that as I encouraged her to sign up for the same race I did nine years ago. She is still at it today and a very good triathlete. Another family I know named Purich is also into triathlon; again I'd like to think I inspired them as well, but I am not one hundred percent certain. This family has been friends with my family for years. I've seen their twins grow up and now their daughter and the husband and wife are participating in triathlon as a family. They recently did an event called The Mission Man Triathlon in Burlington, NC as a team. How great! Whether I had anything to do with their new passion or not I really admire the fact that they too love triathlon now. Todd Purich recently said,"Triathlon is addictive. The events are electric." Indeed the sport is addictive but in a healthy way.
Now with my son Bryce wanting to participate in triathlon my passion has come full circle. I remember when just trying to get my workout in was such a challenge when my sons were little. Many hours they spent at the daycare at the YMCA so I could swim, bike or run. I went through the jog stroller phase too, where I'd load them up in the double stroller and run around Lake Pine in Cary, NC. Then we moved to them riding bikes with me while I ran. Now both of my kids come running with me except that my youngest doesn't really like long distance running so now he usually opts out. Bryce( my oldest) however has become a natural and strong runner which makes me mad sometimes as I have to work so hard.
One of my long term goals is to become a triathlon coach. I have my first,"victim," to train now and I have to say that it is a challenge to motivate my fourteen year old. He has signed up to do a sprint triathlon with me at the Rex Wellness Center in Raleigh. We have been swimming, biking, and running together all summer but his training enthusiasm is not like mine. Most mornings I have to wake him and drag him out of bed only to hear him say,"I don't feel like running today Mom. How about we go tomorrow?" Anyone who knows me will laugh at this because I am pretty disciplined in my sport and someone telling me,'"no," will drive my type,"A," personality over the edge. I am happy to say that I have been extremely patient with Bryce and his training, but I gently remind him of how important it is to train for his event so he can complete it and complete it without feeling totally awful. I also think that this is going to be his race and it will be a teachable moment if he perhaps doesn't train as hard as he should. I will not let him fail, but until he tries this sport for himself he won't know exactly what he needs to succeed. Sometimes having a "bad," race will teach you what you need to practice for the next race. Perhaps a,"bad," race will deter some people from ever doing another event. We won't know until we try or," tri."
I am happy to report that Bryce has improved his swimming. He has been doing his laps when we go the neighborhood pool. He has been riding his bike, but on his terms; around the lake with his friends and his brother. He ran with me last Saturday and the little whippersnapper stayed with me for the first mile and half and then took off to beat me in the 5k we were running. The young have it easy.I am envious and proud of him at the same time.
Recently I had a conversation with my own dad who inspired me to swim and run at an early age. He used to come to all of my swim meets. I know how painful it must have been for him to sit on the sidelines for four hours or more just to see his daughter swim for 30 seconds or a minute, literally. I told him how much it meant to me for him to be there and how I could really appreciate it now as a parent after attending all of my kids events. Now my son is inspired after watching me on the sidelines or perhaps he is tired of standing around. Full circle or family tradition is a way to describe our passion for sports.
I love watching my son grow as a triathlete. I love more talking to him and having some one on one time with him while we train. I remember when he was a little boy riding his trike and now he is riding a road bike. He is somewhere in between that little boy I remember and a grown man as a fourteen year old. He is striving toward manhood but is still awkward and immature; don't misunderstand this for criticism as I love the person he is now and the person he is becoming. He is a wonderful young man. I'm just so proud I could pass one of my passions to him. We'll see how it goes in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping after the Rex Sprint Triathlon that he still shares the passion for triathlon- either way it's all good.
Tri- On Friends,
Kelly
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