A Virgin No More!
me (black speedo not warm cozy wet suit ) feeling extreme gratitude that the swim part is over…onto the bike
my pal keylla and i transitioning as fast as we can!
I think I can I think I can I think I can...almost there!
home ready for COFFEE and a MASSAGE! Whooo Hooo!
Hey Groovy Group!
This past Saturday was my very first time…completing a mini triathlon! (I resent the mini label as .5 mile swim, 18 mile bike, 3.2 mile run…IN A ROW AS FAST AS YOU CAN felt major to my glutes :0). It was truly an amazing event and left me feeling ridiculously inspired. As the race approached and life got in the way of my training plan, my anxiety rose to the point that my husband, Vic asked me if I was actually having fun. I realized even with the self-imposed deadline and massive energy required that I was, indeed having fun (in a type a kinda way). My trainer Colette and I started training for the race 2 months prior by incorporating swimming, running and biking into my weekly workouts. I trained about once a week for the race along with my regular work out schedule.
This was a gift to myself and I am grateful to be healthy enough to do it at any age. The following is a list of the top 5 things I learned from my experience:
1. I can do anything I put my mind to doing. I used to say,” I am not a runner.” Then our son, Alex turned us onto Chi Running by Danny Dryer and my experience was transformed. You are what you say you are. I learned I am a runner.
2. All game- no gear was apparently my mantra for this race as the pictures will attest. I learned that there is a good reason why people have gear like a wet suit cause it was freakin’ freezing and proper bike shoes etc. I learned that gear is good.
3. Swimming is swimming, right? Wrong. Swimming in a pool is not even a tiny bit like swimming in a lake with 50 other people around you. I learned that training in the body of water you plan to race in is imperative to not freaking out on race day.
4. Completer or competer, I was asked. I said I am a completer but why do I care about my time (2.09 25 seconds #175 out of 300) and why did I just tell you my time and completion number?? I learned I am both a completer AND a competer.
5. Racing keeps staying fit interesting. I will continue to do mini triathlons because I loved the entire experience. I learned that pushing myself outside of my comfort zone expanded my mind as well as my muscles!
So I invite you to ask yourself what are the dreams you have given up on and why? (The why is usually bull shit BTW) If you are the architect of your life (and you are) what are you building?? It’s never too late to do ANYTHING unless you think it is.
Go out and live your best life. Remember not one second of this beautiful experience is guaranteed you. Every moment, every second is a gift. Find what is right in your life and have enormous gratitude for it. Find what is wrong and change it. You are the only person responsible for your happiness so expand your idea of what is possible.
If not you…who?
If not now…when?
I am cheering you on like a wild maniac!!!!
Love Love Love,
Terri
P.S. I also learned from my friend Keylla that as a Triathlon-er you are only aloud to talk about the race for the time it took you to actually complete the race. So I believe my two hours, nine minutes and 25 seconds are officially up!
Who dat skinny wahine (girl)? Way to go!! Congratulations.
I found this very inspirational, Terri. I can use this. I like the practicality, the straightforwardness. “I am the architect”. It’s the new, ‘Just Do It’ – but do it with gratefullness. I need to keep myself in this type of positive thinking/feeling. I know I want to one day have an artshow – my own work. This can help me. I was just thinking about it this evening as I was returning from my “day job”, which I enjoy also – a personal shopper for J.Crew! But, my heart tells me to go for the artshow – it is God’s gift to me – “I am the architect!”
Thanks Terri,
nice job on your Triathlon
Michael
girl, i am so proud of you!!! loved your commentary…you always crack me up and i come away with your little pearls of wisdom that are awesome and so inspiring. thanks so much for your offerings….love love love you back!!!
AWESOME.
You are truly an inspiration to us all. Congrats on your first triathlon, the first of many to come. Perhaps one day I will find myself crazy enough to follow in your footsteps.
You are the greatest! Love always, Joyce
You are GREAT! Good for you! And I agree…how dare they say “mini”
Rock on girl
Twill be an elixir now, Terri and you’ll be going back for more. Happened to me three years ago in my first 150 mile bike ride (in two days) — just did it again for the third year for Multiple Sclerosis. Perhaps a cross-country ride is in the future? Who knows but in any event, YOU GO GIRL! Those glutes are made for something, and it’s not sittin on a couch!
You have told the story well, Babe. Your first event was a triumph. As for every second being a gift, I read where Ted Kennedy, once the diagnosis was delivered, used that as his daily mantra more or less.
I am so proud of you, inspired and NOT surprise! Always moving that edge just a little bit further. LOVE IT!! Truly motivated me to reset MY priorities and make living my dreams #1.
I am so excited and proud of you for completing the tri. Now you know what to expect when training for the next event, and training will become more comfortable with more experience you have in races. So agree about the swimming. swimming requires a different mindset from running or cycling. In running and cycling, for the most part, if you want to get stronger and faster you run or ride longer and/or harder. The key to swimming in a triathlon, though, is about being efficient in the water Regardless of your circumstances, you stayed positive and remembered what a great opportunity it is to be out there. When facing a challenge there is no need to be wasting energy on negativity right off the bat, you will surely lose valuable time and motivation.
…Can’t thank you enough for what you’ve shared here. Comes at a good time. Information wrapped in joy – it’s genuine and inspiring. Thanks for the reminders.
VERY inspirational Terri :! Go for it w/o holding ourselves back ….. I like this ……think I may actually try this , lol. I so appreciate your spirit ……. and am SO glad to have found the way to your website !!!!
))) Isabelle
ps . I find your insight so so helpful . Thank you for all your work in helping others .
Incredible! You are an amazingly, wonderful super woman! What a trip. You really wore flip flops to run and bike? OMG? How did you do that? Thank you once again for teaching by example; leading the way to a healthier physical and mental life.
Thanks Isabelle! I’ll send you info on the next one upstate, let’s do it together!! Love, Terri
Thanks Mar, I miss you guys. Coming up north anytime soon?
xo
Thanks Michael. FOLLOW YOUR HEART, IT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST!!! Love, Terri
As always Terri, you have put another smile on my face! I’m happy you finished something so daunting for you. Ya have a great way of mixing your humor with life lessons that’s terrific. Kudo’s to you!
Give everyone my regards.
And yes, I still miss you guys
Hi Teri, I love the way you told the story! I enjoyed doing the tri with you and count on me for training next season. I have be honest and say that the the credit for the line about talking about the race only for as long as the duration of the race, goes to my boyfriend Temo
You are amazing Teri! Congrats again.
Keylla
Hi Terri, I love the way you told the story! I enjoyed doing the tri with you and count on me for training next season. I have to be honest and say that the the credit for the line about talking about the race only for as long as the duration of the race, goes to my boyfriend Temo
You are amazing Teri! Congrats again.
Keylla
What a great event – I did a partnered mini tri (3 legs – swim, run, canoe) this summer and it was fun. You cannot really describe the surge while it is going on. Congrats again. See you at the Y!
Also – I expect you to go over your allotted 2+ hours to tell me about it the next time I see you. Consider it a freebie from my future completion time.
thanks d
daryl-
i am only too happy to tell you the blow by blow!
like inhaling a gallon of water in the first 3 minutes of the swim spending the next half mile trying not to drown!!
good times…:)
xo
terri
keylla-
yes credit to Temo not just for the wise words but to both of your kindness to spend your sunday before showing me the course and explaining the transition (which still can not be understood until you do it!) being able to visualize-helped sooooo much!
love love love
ter
lin-
that was my post race shot!! so no i did not run and bike in flip flops (THAT would really have been a challenge!)
xo
tc
co-
i would not have even thought of doing this…like really doing it it it were not for you planting the seed in my brain. once YOU thought i could I thought i could. so thank you and yes yes yes …onto the next!!
love
ter
AMEN SISTA!
AAAAAOOOOWWWW!! big love from Roshnee and Davinder xx
Whoa, amazing! Contrats! I’m not a runner but this sure is inspring
l better read that book 
love, Maggie
thanks goshia
xo
WHOOOO HOOO
guess what people you are starting on the mutha of all triathlons!!! congrats!!
xo
tc
OOOhhh I can feel that cold water!!!!! What an accomplishment and inspiration! What time does the book store open? But really, when will YOUR book be out? I want that one!
thanks kyle-
working on it….to be continued!
xoxo
tc