It had to be said!!!

In life there are sayings that stick with you.  Most of them are passed down through a community: Time heals all wounds; red sky in morning fisherman's warning, red sky at night fisherman's delight; You'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar.  To each of us these sayings bring back different thoughts or feelings- I know my heart will heal; I know the wading waters will be waiting; I know sweetness or kindness brings us together.  These are "facts" of life.

Then there are sayings in life that were said only to us, only in a moment of passing, but they become a staple of our interactions with others and in who we are. 

Turns out sayings are everywhere.  In our racing life we have found a few which have stood or are starting to stand the test of time. Here a look into our words:
 
"I'm not even trying to pass you."  Yeah, I said it but it wasn't what I meant as I went buzzing past Patrick on one of our very early in triathlon cycling trips.  Yes I had passed him, but what I meant to say was I had no intention of passing him but I didn't want to move my hands to press my breaks.  Now this saying or derivatives of it is used by us as we pass each other going up hill or on mile 80 of a long ride.  I am sure to others someone yelling, "I'm not even trying to pass you", seems harsh but to us it is a memory from the beginning of this journey and it makes us laugh.

"Ice your eggs."  This little gem of a saying came to us from our friend whose English sometimes has need for translation.  This time there was no need to translate, she meant to pour the ice down your pants (for guys there would be eggs, or testicles).  Now on any given race or just a hot day you may hear, "Ice your eggs" being shouted in the distance.  No worries there is not a chicken crisis it is just a bunch of athletes needing ice to put down their shorts.
"There's air at the top."  This is my repeat saying as I run or bike up hills.  I asked a running buddy of ours, who was suddenly running much faster than me, "what changed?"  He told me he no longer stops to walk on the hills, when he is out of breath he keeps telling himself there is air at the top.  A few of you now realize what I was yelling at you on bridge runs or as we run up 12th Avenue Hill.  It has never failed there has always been air at the top.
"Knee pads" (said gangster style).  This statement actually started a great friendship.  It occurred when a "then" unknown friend yelled this at me as he was coming up behind me on mile 9 or 10 at a half marathon.  I didn't find it humorous at the time and thought he was picking on me.  Turns out he simply miss spoke- calling my knee braces, knee pads.  It still sticks in my head because sometimes you just have to laugh.  This friend has taught me that running is more about laughing and living than about the miles ahead of you. 
"Put one foot in front of the other (and soon you'll be walking out the door)." A saying that has gotten me across many finish lines.  It seems most of our racing ends in running so conversations with ones self about stepping forward are always necessary.

"Press On."  On my arm for many races you will find written, "SS BP Press On".  It stands for "Stay Strong, Be Positive, Press On."  This has become my racing, and to an extent my life, mantra.  Many times a race comes down to a mental game.  You have to refocus your energies towards staying positive with yourself, this mantra helps me to refocus.

Whatever your words, on the race course they stick with you.  So make them positive.     

I am continuing to raise money for the Navy Seal Foundation.  For more information please read the blog posting below.  Thank you for your on going support of our adventure. 
Supporting the Navy Seal Foundation- Frogman Swim
  

Supporting the Navy Seal Foundation

Teresa loves to swim open water. She recently committed to the 2016 Tampa Bay Frogman Swim. As part of the event, participants are encouraged to raise money for The Navy Seal Foundation. This is her motivation:

From Teresa Hess:

"I have been participating in marathons, 70.3 triathlon races, 25K swims, and Ironman distance events since 2008. During this time I have had the opportunity to meet and race with several members of our armed forces, especially given that I live near Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. Many of these racers carry to the finish line the memories of those fallen. They are not running from these memories, but instead they are running for them. These military members are a constant inspiration to make me push myself further and harder, with more determination.

My history with the military started in my childhood. While my parents were both discharged from the military at the time of my birth, their military service was prominent in mine and my brother’s childhood. Enlisted in the US Navy, my father was a Second Class Petty Officer, Machinist Mate on the USS Bluefish Nuclear Submarine, SSN675 with 6 years of service, and my mother was a Seaman, Yeoman for 100 Commands out of Anacostia with 4 years of service. My parents raised me to respect our military and to always honor those whose lives were given for our freedom. It was with this respect and honor in my heart that I made the decision to register for the Tampa Bay Frogman swim.

This event raises funds for the Navy SEAL Foundation. This foundation provides support to the families of fallen SEALs, including trauma and grief assistance and scholarships for education. Additionally, they offer aid in creating monuments and memorials to our fallen heroes so we may remember the sacrifice which keeps us free.

I feel by helping to raise funds for this cause and by taking a swim in the cold January waters of Tampa Bay I am raising awareness for the Navy SEAL Foundation while offering support, hope, compassion, and honor to our service men and women, to their families, and to those who sacrificed all.

If you can, please help me support the Navy SEAL Foundation. Thank you for your support!!!"

Not current 2017 link.

Xterra = Awesome!!!

If you want to feel like a badass sign up for an Xterra event!!!

This was my first time racing a full triathlon “off road”.  I was extremely nervous going into the event- nervous about falling, about getting hurt, about being in the way, about getting lost, pretty much I worried about everything.  Before I signed up for the event I was even worried, so much so that I didn’t actually sign me up for the event.  Patrick spoke to the race director and got me registered, then just told me I was signed up to race.  I guess he got tired of me freaking out.

Now I was signed up but I was not sure what to do about it.  I was coming off of a Iron distance race where the run was all trail, so that part I knew I could do (I just had to tell myself a few times), plus I love trail running.  The swim was all good, a lake is a lake. It was the bike I was worried about.  I have been mountain biking and recently (last few years) go out a few times a year to ride the trails at the nearby college.  Out there I can pull over to get out of people’s way.  Out there I know how to get home (most of the time).  Out there I know when the trail is less traveled.  This was going to be a new experience. 

I originally had plans to ride my mountain bike- my Trek from 1999, purchased for me by my parents as a graduation gift to take to college.  The Trek had no shocks and can be a rough ride, but I like my bike.  However, we came across another mountain bike with a few more features- SHOCKS- to it; so my Trek took a backseat.

I was able to ride the bike course a few weeks before the race.  It was a nice course but narrow in a number of places.  This began my asking of everyone “what do I do when the fast people want to pass?”  The answer was always the same, “They’ll find a way”.  While I understood the idea that they will get past me the factor of how was still running through my mind.   I spoke with a tri friend and coach about the event given that he had done other Xterra events.  He told me the people would be different there.  They would wait till a safe spot then make their move to pass.  They would let me know they were behind me and they would call a direction to pass.  He also told me a bit of advice that I will keep in mind in a variety of races, “It is the other racer’s fault they are behind you, they should have been a better swimmer.”  With a mass swim start this race held true to this point.

The days between signing up and race day passed quickly.  This race would mark the start to the Fall Tri Season for me- hence why not getting hurt was a huge focus. 

When we got to the race site it was not the normal frantic noise.  Patrick got the kayak out for water support and I headed to the pavilion to do body marking, then off to transition.  Since Patrick wasn’t racing and was instead given a job it was a little strange in the morning going to transition alone.   Everything was very laid back.  Number on the bike, number on the athlete= Welcome to transition, set up anywhere.  I grabbed an outside spot about midway, set up my gear, and headed to the water.

The lake is not a swimming lake and has not been for years due to wildlife.  Today that would change as 150 athletes take to the water.  We got to swim in advance of the start, proving that the only thing “good” about this water was going to be that it was fresh water.  The water temp was 85 degrees, and I think that was on the low side.  It felt like a bathtub.  It was not cooling or refreshing, but it was fresh and without jellyfish. 

The mass start was something new for me as well, especially in such a narrow area.  When a race does waves you are looking at 40-50 people this was triple that.  I knew I was fast enough to be out front, but I also knew I didn’t want to fight, so I moved to the outside thinking not as many would want to be there.  I was wrong, as the final 10 second countdown started it seemed people poured in beside me.  Let me also take this moment to remind you that Xterra is like another triathlon, meaning there are only a few females, about a 1:4 ratio.  The horn went off and suddenly I was being elbowed and pushed down by men twice my size.  It took me a moment to process the situation then my brain flipped the switch; “get out, get away, go.”  There was only one way out of the situation, forward.  Being smaller than the guys I was able to dart and weave between them and elbow out some room.  By about half way to the first buoy space was opening up; of course a few guys were still pushing people around.  I passed the first buoy and the lake opened up to me.  I was able to breathe.  In the triangle placement is difficult to figure out sometimes but I knew I was in a good place.  Unfortunately this meant my mind slipped to planning the bike and planning for narrow passing.  About that time I saw Patrick on the kayak and all worry left me- I am safe here, I am safe now, and if anything happens Patrick is here.  I came out of the water early in the pack.  It was a short paved run to the transition area- one rock got me. 

In transition it was the same routine- shoes, helmet, sunglasses, oh yeah camelpak (that was new).  Out with the bike and down a short paved road to the trail.  Once on the trail the fun began.  I had ridden the trail once before so I knew a little of what to expect.  I took a few deep breaths at the beginning as other athletes began to come around me.  They all called their pass.  They mostly yelled out positive remarks.  They gave as much room to me as they could and I did the same for them.  Once I didn’t feel like I was stopping the bike course in its tracks I let myself enjoy the adventure.  I curved around trees, rushed through mud, and went a little squirrely in the sand.  It may not seem super fast but I reached a max speed of 18mph on the bike going down a gravel/ grass hill; of course, uphill was a different story.  The course was two loops around and by the second loop I was feeling a little more at home out on the course (of course most of those faster on the bike had already passed me, but I did get to still pass a few people). 

Leaving T2

Towards the end of the bike course I worried a little about the running portion, which was quickly approaching.  I was concerned over my lower back hurting from riding in a different position than normal and from the bumps along the way.  But there was T2 in front of me and no matter how I thought it was going to feel I was about to find out the truth. 

Over my mud covered legs I slipped on my braces- a little grit is good for you.  I headed out, thankful to have my camelpak.  The first mile seemed to take forever.  I kept thinking, “How am I not on the other side of the lake yet?” or “I could swim around the lake faster.”  Both ideas led me to telling myself one thing, “Focus and run”.  So I ran and walked and ran and walked, on and on.  I was starting to feel really proud of myself- sure I was for the most part alone out there, sure I was a little slow, sure I was hurting a little, but I was almost done with my first off road triathlon…. SLAM….the ground came fast at me as I tripped over a root.  REALLY!!!!!  NOW!!!! 

I hopped back up and looked around, there are bonuses to being alone in the woods, or so I thought.  As I approached the second water stop the gentleman in front of me was there and asked if I was ok.  I told him yes and then he let me in on the secret that he heard me fall.  I was a little embarrassed, not that I fell (that happens all the time), but that he heard the thud of me falling.  I guess, if a Teresa falls in the woods she make a sound; a LOUD sound.  I laughed off this encounter and pushed through my last mile. 

Upon seeing the levee I was ready to be done and ready to run it out.  The day had gotten hot and the sun beat down as I came out of the woods into the open area.  Patrick was at the finish line yelling for me to hurry up.  There were no elbows out, just head up, legs and arms going, one final push across the line. 

For my first time I was happy to have survived.  Patrick noticed my dirt covered side about 5 minutes after my finish, but there were no broken bones and no scrapes- YAY!!!  

A bonus to the day was taking 3^rd place in my age group (because 2 of the top three ladies were form my age group, but remember it is all about who shows up on race day). 

This was a great event and I look forward to a few more, just maybe not so close to an Ironman event!!