This past weekend was the 2nd big real race of my life. And it was awesome. During the race I was highly focused on technique, time, transition, nutrition, etc. ME! At the start, I saw my family and yelled, "I love you, family." If you don't focus on yourself during a distance race, bad things can happen. Bad things can happen even when you focus on yourself. It's the nature of racing. But, you always focus on the positive!
After the race, things have stuck in my mind like a photo. I remember Emma at home meeting me in the driveway w/ the bike race number at 3:50 a.m. I road with a friend and I didn't want the race number coming off my bike in the wind. Emma wanted to be there as early as possible and put herself in charge of family patrol... getting everyone up and at 'em before the race. So, I let her wear the race t-shirt and named her, "Director." She wore it with such pride.
I have a vivid picture of my entire family (Jim, Abby and Emma) before the race all standing there before I entered the water. I even had time to hug them. Emma saying, "See, Mom, I did it." The over-sized t-shirt looked beautiful on her. I remember being in the water before my wave started and Abby screaming at me saying, "Mom, I love you. Good luck!" from the beach. I remember her face. She wanted me to see her there. I screamed back when they told us to go, "Family, I love you." Then I dove in and swam away. Jim, he's always by my side. Somehow he does his best to find me at every transition... I hear him or see him. He is my biggest fan and greatest supporter. I love him with my whole heart. He had to work during the race yet still brought the kids and still found me.
There are volunteers who come and work really hard. There are people who know the questions and answer them. There are people who don't care if they ever get on stage or receive recognition.
And then there are the people who don't require a tent, tree, or chair. They have to provide their own nutrition during the ENTIRE race. They stand on the sidelines and yell for you. I hear them. They, too, know the transitions. They've done the race in the past and they know. They don't care if they can do it faster than you; they are still right there on the sidelines yelling, "Go!" They know what's important. They could be people you know from the past who still cheer because they've been there-done that. I had no idea that one of them had seen me during the race. She bumped into my husband and daughter and told them how I was doing.
There are people who play music at the top of a hill screaming, "Go". There could be a girl the same age as your daughter screaming her head off at the very end... all I had in me was the energy to do the peace sign sideways at her just b/c I heard her. I had to focus on pulling myself in. It's a weird peace sign but something that my daughter does. Peace to you!
This is my first racing season ever. I've been in the stands yelling, "Swing, batter batter." when my brothers pitched. Yelling, "Run" when they were going for home. Screaming for them as they were playing basketball or football or when my sisters played volleyball and basketball. This was the first time I felt what it was like to have extra energy during a real competitive race. It's not something you can depend on but, it was something I was grateful for. They are pictures I have in my mind.
I love you, family.
Happy Racing and Peace to You,
Christy