Happy Moment #23: St Peter's Rec Plex Indoor Triathlon Series

Some years back -- maybe around 2012 or 2013 -- I got this idea to try a triathlon after getting frustrated with my slow times with running after a bout with cancer in 2010. Prior to 2010, my running was getting better and better in my quest to qualify for Boston and I had just earned a 4:06:07 marathon time at the St Louis Marathon. I had about 15 minutes to shave off my time but I was getting closer. Looking back, I think running made me happy. At that point in my life, I could run on a treadmill forever as long as I had some good 80s tunes to help me along. I spent a lot of time on treadmills at the downtown YMCA when it was in the Marquette building (before Jim and I even lived downtown). I was always got nervous when I did races but I think -- for at least a few years -- running kept the crazy away. As long as I had some runs each week, I was a happy camper.

After cancer, it got harder. By 2011 I had major problems with Plantar Fasciitis and then all of a sudden getting up early to run outside or hit the gym sucked. I just didn't want to do it. I especially was feeling dejected by the fact that my times had gotten so much slower than they were before. I think it might have been Jim who suggested I try a different sport, one in which I couldn't compare my current times to my past times. Somehow I found out about the indoor triathlon series at the St Peter's Rec Plex and I thought I would give it a try (in fact, I think I discovered this series after trying the outdoor Fall race -- I was so traumatized by the Olympic size pool and someone told me that their indoor series used the same pool so I thought it might be a good idea to get more practice).

Anyhoo -- I ended up trying that indoor series and things changed. I liked the challenge of the multi-sport. I liked showing that big ol' pool that I wasn't scared of it. I liked jumping on a treadmill after swimming and biking. I just ... liked it all. I met Bill S. who encouraged me to give the St Louis Triathlon Club a try even though I told him I wasn't a "real" triathlete. And that was that. I got hooked and for the past few years triathlons have been a part of who I am.

Last year, though, I struggled. I didn't do too many races in 2017 but the Augusta 70.3 (Half Ironman) I did last September gave me a lot of time to think as I struggled on that course. I wasn't happy. These weren't fun. I had made some awesome friends through the triathlon club and I guess I was scared that they wouldn't like me anymore if I didn't do triathlons with them :( Who was I if I wasn't the Dianna who did triathlons or ran marathons?

I am not sure that I know the answer to that question even now. I do know that I hate the idea that I might exercise because I feel guilty about the food I eat on any given day. I hate that I hate the way I look. I don't know if it is menopause and old age but fat just sticks to me more than it used to. I can look at a piece of pie and boom! 20 pounds just jumps on me. But I also know that I eat yummy desserts and drink too much Diet Soda so I can't blame it all on my body. I do things to myself that aren't terribly healthy.

But this past winter, I decided to do the indoor series at the St Peter's Rec Plex again -- something I hadn't participated in much for the past two years. I used to feel joy when I did these short races -- and I wanted to see if I felt that joy again. The race series started in October (my birthday actually!) and we did 15 of them between then and this past weekend (the last one). The short course option that I did included a 300 yard swim, 10 miles on the bike, and then a 3 mile run. I missed two races because of prior commitments but I did 13 of them. My times ranged from about 1:07-1:13. When I started, I wanted to get under 60 minutes (like I did when I participated in this series a few years back). But -- I told myself after the first race that this wasn't the point. The point was that I wanted to find the JOY in racing and pushing myself. I think I did accomplish that. In fact, I signed up for a few outdoor races this summer based on how I felt during the indoor series. I am not going to say that I felt strong each and every moment -- but I did feel a little bit of that old spirit coming back.

During last weekend's last race (one that got complicated because the first four spin bikes I tried to use were broken!), I tried to focus on my feelings and being in the moment. I think this picture that I took during the last moment is a bad one of sweaty ol' me but it shows me doing my best!