Lessons from My First Tri
By Lauren TomoryToday, I did my first Triathlon.
Well, maybe that’s not entirely correct. In fact, it’s only 1/3rd true. I only did the run part of a swim, bike, run race, but, thanks to the other competitors in the race, I felt just as much a part of it all as the the real triathletes who competed today.
I warmed up and did strides near T2 (or Transition Area 2, a piece of tri lingo that I was proud to pick up) before my teammate, John, finished the bike portion of the race. During that time, I watched in awe how fast the Pros zoomed around the corner, halted to a stop, and before you could yell out a cheer, were already starting their watch for the run section. I understood, for the first time, how difficult it is to hop off the bike, change, and get the quads and hamstrings going again.
T2 was exciting! The organizers didn’t have enough workers to take the bikes to their racks, and soon I heard, “Anyone, anyone, who wants to help us?” Sure enough about 5 spectators joined the sweating and hard-working crew and continued working until the last biker came in. I have never seen this in a running race before, this kind of team work, mutual understanding and esteem between race directors and spectators.
Then, to my surprise, I saw our very own Amy Kloner roll through T2. She looked great, and was off the bike in no time! I was beside myself in excitement, so I think I must have lost a minute or two of my own 10k time in well-spent energy cheering for Amy and TSF.
“LAUREN, LAUREN!” A yell came into my left ear. After just completing a PR on the bike and swim section of the course, my teammate was in T2. ‘GO, GO, GO!’, he yelled, as I strapped the timing chip on my ankle, ready to finish strong on the final leg of our triathlon relay.
As I began to pass people, I had a sense that I was somehow cheating. At some points I wanted to yell, “Don’t worry that I’m passing you, I didn’t do the swim or bike like you!” But I didn’t do that. Instead, I just continued my race, going for a good, hard effort. I have to admit, that sometimes I lost my modesty and began to enjoy the effortlessness of passing people even if they had started the competition at the same time I was rolling out of bed and sipping coffee this morning. It’s only human, right?
Coming around for the second 5k lap of the 10k, I was astonished at the number of times that a competitor shouted positive and encouraging words in my direction. Everything from, “Good job” to “Keep up the good work; you’re rolling!” or “Great form; you’re doing great!” I think I was so surprised by all the kind words that I didn’t know how to react. I’m not used to this degree of support from other competitors in the running races (where the support is much quieter and happens less often) and tennis matches (where the “support” from the competitor is generally some sly comment meant to distract or rattle the opponent, something that would make Brad Gilbert from Winning Ugly proud).
Rounding the corner to start the second 5k loop, it started to sink in, and I was determined to give a little back. From then on, I muttered a, “Let’s Go” or gave thumbs up to people I encountered in the race. Man, that felt good!
After the race, I thought about the epiphany that came to me at the start of the second lap. I finally understood that all of the competitors, from the top pro to the last to cross the finish line, are all in it together. The work is already done when we get to the starting line, and from there it’s only guts that get us through it. Mutual respect and esteem are well-deserved and beneficial emotions for anyone who is competing in endurance races. It took the beauty and camaraderie of a triathlon to teach me this. Yes, only one person gets the prize, but isn’t everyone who commits to perform the race at their own best effort on that day a winner?
See you on the roads . . .
Lauren Tomory is a Running Coach with The Sport Factory and is also a rep for Mizuno. A two-sport athlete at Furman University, Lauren graduated in 2009 with a degree in Business Administration. Lauren is dedicated to helping others achieve their running and fitness goals, and she is excited to co-coach The Sport Factory’s Junior Runners Program with Head Coach Matt Russ. Lauren is also very passionate about her marketing effort for The Sport Factory. Coached by Head Coach Matt Russ, Lauren’s dream is to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the marathon / half-marathon distance. Growing up in a military family overseas, Lauren enjoys traveling back to her hometown of Vicenza , Italy whenever she has the chance!
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