We See It Differently

If you know an athlete you know they look at the world a little differently.  If you know a triathlete you know they see the world in an even more SPECIAL way!!!

I first noticed I was different when I started looking at distances and thinking I could swim it, I could bike that, I could run there.  This starts small with thoughts like, "Well, the store is only 2 miles away.  We could run there."  This turns into we could run to downtown, 13 miles away.  Biking is much the same, we started talking about how we could bike to other towns.  Then when driving home at mile 100 we both laugh, threatening if the other person dropped us off there with our bike we could make it home.  Or if the car breaks down.  And yes, we often have our bikes with us at these distances away from home since we were more than likely coming back from a race.  The last part that starts to be measured in "I cans" is the swim.  Suddenly we find ourselves driving over bridges saying, "How far was that?  I can swim it."  We often travel over the bridge which we swim yearly (either 5K, 10K or the shoreline for the 25K), leading to many conversations on swim distances.  

Not everyone agrees on weather.

This bridge also brings about the factor that we had both run, biked, and swam this particular bridge!  It holds a lot of memories for us together.  It is the only local spot where we can say this has happened; this three mile span is an important part of our mind change as it is the first place we noticed our comparison of vehicle distance to personal power distance. 
An important note at this point is to point out triathletes also measure distances in conversations with others this way.  We are thinking in the back of our heads,"oh I could run to their house in an hour, or biking to the party would be easy but it will be dark later and that could be dangerous."

Beyond how we look at distances there are other things we look at in different ways.  

There is always wind.

The weather is one of them.  We call out wind directions and speeds, adding in if it would be a head wind or a cross wind or a tail wind. Please note we make these references when no one even talked about going biking, just a simple weather conversation.  Water conditions are also noted as swimable or not swimable or as "we have swam in worse".  And then there is rain; rain is tricky since there are three sports.  Rain could be good for a run, not important for a swim or a cause for replanning of a bike ride.  Triathletes also seem to change the names of seasons- Off Season (winter), also known as the planning season; and Triathlon Season (all the rest of the year which you can race).  The opening and closing of triathlon season varies by athlete but it seems once training can start outside the season is open.  We will test the weather (and the weatherman) with freezing bike rides or runs in monsoons.   

Gear for every season.

Before 5am (on a rest day) I knew it was 44 degrees out with light winds.  My mind already processed that the water would be cold and a light chop, the bike would need cold weather gear, but the run would be perfect.  

I guess I write this article for 2 reasons, one to say to other athletes, "You are normal, we all do this."  But more so I write it for those who have to talk to us.  I want you to have a little insight and understanding that we don't mean to make these possibly irritating comments, it is just how our brains process things.  So when we say we could run to grandma's house because the weather is overcast, with a cross wind, and low humidity, plus it is only 10 miles away, it doesn't mean for you to pull over and drop us on the side of the road-- we just know we COULD!!!  


I am are continuing to raise money for the Navy Seal Foundation.  For more information please read this: Supporting the Navy Seal Foundation- Frogman Swim 

We've been blogging for a while now. If you enjoyed this one, you may enjoy others. Look though the Blog Archive on the right, for more of our experiences and random thoughts. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our adventures.  

Please feel free to share our blog.

    

Banged Up, NOT Broken

"I am not broken."
These are the words that play in my head when I know people are chasing me, trying with all their might to be in front of me.  
There is a place for having a "rabbit" to chase in a race and we all at times play this role for those around us.  But for some of us we wonder if we are simply a "rabbit" or if we are something more threatening.  
In road racing I have often wondered if the person who keeps passing me then stopping to walk, then passing me again, and again, and again, really has picked me out of all the others around us to jockey with for the pure need for motivation or if picking me is a self inflicted requirement because to the other racer I look broken with my bandaged knees.

Does this mean don't pass me?  NO.  If that's what you think you are misunderstanding my words and I hope to clarify.  What it means is pass me with the same respect in your heart and in your mind as you would if you were passing by the race leader.  Don't pass me because you feel you deserve to be in front of me because of my banged up knees.   

I am easy to spot!

Since the time we started running I have worn a knee brace on my left knee.  I have never known my running life without a brace.  After three different knee surgeries the brace was not an optional part of running.  It was not a negotiation.  It was a requirement.  

Over the years I have gone from running a 45 minute 5K to running a 30 minute 5K, and completing an Ironman race at 144.6 miles (a little to grow on).  Over the years I have also upgraded from a plastic support bracing to metal hinged bracing.  Over the years I have also been asked several questions about my braces.  And over the years I have also encountered athletes who think they "deserve" to be faster than me because they view me as BROKEN. 
Well, I am not broken... banged up... but not broken.  

How as athletes we can better relate to the athletes on the course with us who may have a disability, either visible or hidden.  

First there are men and women overcoming challenges much more complex than mine on the course, be it physical or mental .  However, I do believe my insight as a banged up athlete can help to provide insight to others on the course.

A few things to remember out there on the race course. 
We all have our own stories of how we got there and what we are overcoming.  The person in tears after their first 5K is just at motivating as the person in tears after finishing their first marathon or 100th marathon. Racing is an individual journey that we share with others, take time to respect others and their stories. Also, be nice out there.  I understand we are pushing our hardest out there and getting a breath in to be able to move forward is more valuable to us than a breath to talk, but before or after events be nice and if you can during events be nice.  Cheering for others helps them feel better and is a great way to give back, making you feel a little better.  I will be honest there are races when hearing, "You got this girl" from a complete stranger, makes all the difference between tears on the side of the road and making it to the finish line.  While podiums and medals are fun and shiny, remember there are people out there pushing themselves only to prove they can take one more step. 
Lastly, if I or someone like me is your rabbit don't yell, "Let's get in front of the girl with braces."  Yes it happens.  Instead say, let's try to catch the girl in the blue top or the one with the braid, it sounds much nicer and less.... well, less like you are being a jerk. 


Have a great race out there and remember not all that seems broken is, sometimes we are just banged up!!!  

I am are continuing to raise money for the Navy Seal Foundation.  For more information please read this: Supporting the Navy Seal Foundation- Frogman Swim 

We've been blogging for a while now. If you enjoyed this one, you may enjoy others. Look though the Blog Archive on the right, for more of our experiences and random thoughts. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our adventures.  

Please feel free to share our blog.