Gratitude

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward, American writer

At the end of June, I completed my first Ironman 70.3 triathlon.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, the “70.3” refers to the total race distance in miles. Participants begin with a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) open water swim, follow that with a 56-mile (90 km) bike ride, and end with a 13.1-mile (21.1 km) run.

Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene was to be my first race of the season. It was also my first opportunity for redemption. I had ended last season on a sour note, earning a DNF (“Did Not Finish”) when I withdrew from a race after suffering a massive panic attack in some especially rough open water.

With my confidence still a bit shaky, my main concern for the Coeur d’Alene race was finishing the swim, regardless of the race day lake conditions. My secondary, but very real, concern was making the intermediate bike cut-off. Because I’m not a particularly strong cyclist, the bike course’s net elevation gain of 3,445 feet intimidated me. If I could tackle those two parts of the race, I was confident I could run in before the 8 hour and 30 minute cut-off.

***

Without giving a detailed race report, I will say that everything went smoothly. The lake was calm, and the swim was remarkably civilized. The hills on the bike course were extremely long, but entirely manageable. The run, though in the blistering heat of the day, was on relatively flat ground.

I was happy and relieved to cross the finish line. But, more than anything, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

Although redemption was at stake in this race, few knew, up to this point, the true gravitas of that to me. Two years ago, I made a promise to a friend over coffee. That promise took on new weight after her unexpected death last year. I needed redemption, and more so the confidence that comes with that, to feel that I could make inroads towards fulfilling that promise.

So just finishing Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene was a success for me. I know that success isn’t achieved alone. You need to be surrounded by the right people who inspire, encourage, mentor, and challenge you.

My “right people” this year were…

1. The triathlon training camp crew:

• Gail, who pushed me physically and mentally further than I thought I could ever go, all in a week no less;
• Gary, whose good nature, mal-fitting tri kit, and beat-up wetsuit were a welcome source of comic relief;
• Virginia, whose rave reviews about the training camp convinced me to sign up; 
• Amanda, who inspires me with her perseverance
• Gord, who reminded me to never undermine my achievements; 
• Judy, who always seems to know what to say, at exactly the right moment; and
• James, whose simple, but kind parting words meant more to me than he knows.

I didn’t know it at the time, but that camp was truly transformational for me.

2. My personal trainer:

• Terra, who started working with me while I was freshly mourning my friend’s death, and who was the first person to say, “I think you can do this. I believe in you.”

3. My biggest cheerleaders and most trusted advisers:

• Heidi, who is fierce, unflappable, and everything that I want to be; and
• Alan, who is, quite simply, MY EVERYTHING. ♥

You’ve each played a role in the start of my journey to honour my friend, and for that I thank you.