The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself. - C. Joybell C.
From time to time I like to share stories about how I entered the world of endurance athletes. This is the first of many small stories of how I entered the sport. I, like many others, in the early 2000’s dove right in.
Head First
At 13, I was unaware of much else other than friends, wrestling, and video games. I was 18 months into my weight loss journey. In 18 months I went from 215 pounds to a much leaner 160 and was continuing to lose weight with every passing week.I was early summer of 2008 and I had my first experience with running. My dad and I would go out for runs that felt like hours. He saw it as a way to connect. I wasn’t completely adept at understanding my body or training theory - I simply went out as hard as I could in every run - making a 30 minute run a test of mental and physical will. I assumed that if I wasn’t on the edge I wasn’t going to improve.
I recall my earliest running memory lining up for that first race as a young 11 year old boy on a hazy morning in May at the Vicksburg Hearty Hustle. I clocked a 27:49 and beat my dad by a good :30 seconds - both of us were absolutely cashed. This would be the last time Dad would run (he’s now had 2 hip replacements), and the start of an 8 year running drought for me.
Discovery
In my early days of my weight loss - I supplemented swimming for cardio. As a young boy, I swam on a swim team, Great Lakes Aquatics. In those 4 years I built a great amount of skill I could rely on now that I had a new goal for myself. I had confidence in my ability to swim even at my heaviest; I knew that I could use my swim skill to lose the weight I had gained. After a few months in the water I had begun to take a bigger interest in other forms of cardio and found myself gravitating towards running and biking.
It was the spring of 2008 and I was a sophomore in High School. I’d take Dad’s old Raleigh out for a ride now and then. On one ride in particular, I snapped a shifter cable and had to take it in to get repaired. I didn’t know that walking into Breakaway Bikes would change my life forever.
When I came in to pick up the bike a few days later - the mechanic went to the back to get my bike and I found a flyer for the Shermanator Triathlon. It was a local race in Augusta, MI.Where you Swim, Bike, and then, Run. I didn’t know much about the sport but I figured that with my swimming background, a couple bike rides, and that 5K fitness from 2000 - I’d be fine!
It was late May and I had until August to train for this triathlon race. I found a free training plan on the SlowTwitch message boards( remember, it was 2008 things were just starting to heat up in the triathlon world).I followed the plan and I still remember doing my first brick. I felt like my legs had most certainly left my body but, I crushed that workout and I knew I was ready.
TACO
The night before the race I set out my gear, practiced my transition in the driveway and went out for a short ride. I distinctly remember wearing the gear I was going to race in. Bike shorts were on the list of future purchases so my Umbro shorts, white t-shirt, budget Adidas were part of my ‘go-fast’ kit. I had no clue what I was getting into but I knew I could do it.
I got onto the bike and shifted into the big ring. Every good pre-race ride has to be at max effort right? I remember going through the race like a fantasy in my mind’s eye. What was the transition going to be like? I wonder if anyone will wear a wetsuit. Where will I change my swimsuit in transition (yes, a real thought at the time).
Like a masochist I rode hard all the way to my old high school because I wanted to practice turns and some bike handling. Let’s just say skill development was a weak link. Group ride experience? Zilch. Understanding of how gears work? If I’m lucky! So, it’s not unheard of to have something dumb happen the day before a race right?
Sure enough - I came around a corner a little too sharp. Perhaps the decades old rubber gave away. Maybe it was the huge swath of sand covering the outside of the turn. The details aren’t important - I hit that sand and put that back wheel into a curb at about 15 miles per hour. Needless to say I taco’d that wheel to oblivion! The rim cracked so there was no getting home. I remember trying to spin the wheel and watching my race fantasy grow darker and darker.
Plan B
I got home - head in hands wondering what in the world I would do. The clutch tool I needed for tomorrow’s race was pretty much useless. There was no way I was going to make the race. All this hard work - all my training up in smoke! I was crushed.
Dad put his hand on my back and reminded me ‘everything happens for a reason.’ I was too frustrated to realize that he was right. He challenged me to go to the race anyway and see what a triathlon was like. I figured if nothing else it would be good to see how competitors change out of their swim trunks before getting on the bike. I was very naive.
I showed up in my Go Fast kit ready to rumble in case an angel sent a miracle bike down from the triathlon gods. Turns out there were no bike angels but there was a 5K. I figured, hey I’m here I might as well see the course for next year! I lined up and raced my heart out. I thought for sure I’d run an 18 or maybe a 19 minute 5K. For reference, to date I’d only run a couple 400’s at that pace. Turns out I can run that fast - for exactly 400m. 5K’s are way longer than you think. I dug in and finished in 23:13 - not bad and a new PR!
Once the first racers came in, we all formed a huddle around and they began to dish out awards. Figuring this would take a few minutes, I stared talking with the person next to me.As they called out the 20-24 age group, I heard them call my name. I stood up and I kid you not said, “yes,” which lead to an uncomfortably long pause followed by, “you’ve won your age group please come get your award.”
I kid you not,I almost pissed my pants. Short of a few medals in wrestling, I hadn’t won anything since the fourth grade. I remember getting home and calling my Dad. It was like I had won the Olympics! He came over and we took a little group shot outside, he was pretty stoked about it all. It was one of the few moments I knew I had made Dad really proud of me. It was also the first time in a long time I was proud of myself.
Dad was pretty stoked!
Peep that ‘Go Fast’ Kit! Why did I tuck my shirt in?