I had the privilege of watching just over half of your swim at the Fall Creek Falls triathlon yesterday. I have to admit, you were soooo far behind-- my pity turned to irritation because I was afraid you might drown-- why did you sign up for this 9/10's of a mile swim if you knew you sucked at swimming? As the last few swimmers were exiting the lake, my friends and I headed back up
the hill to transition and we left you out there with the kayaks to guide you in. I was certain you would drop out, or that they would make you quit.
Imagine my surprise when many many minutes later, when all of the athletes were out on the bike or run, we saw you trudging up the hill from the lake! You finished the swim!! So it took you an hour and a half. Who cares!! You kept going. You didn't quit. You were relentless! You beast!
I'm not sure-- either you simply are not a fast swimmer, or perhaps you had a panic attack as many do on a first open water swim. Or maybe something else went wrong. Probably it doesn't matter. What matters is that all my pity and irritation dissipated when I saw you walking up the hill to get on your bike. Did you hear us all cheering for you? Did you feel as proud of yourself as we all felt for you? I watched you take off on the bike long after nearly all the bikes had returned. And finally I saw you start out on the 6.2 miles run long after many had finished the race. You, my anonymous friend, are the winner today.
I want to celebrate your tenacity. I don't know your story. Perhaps this was your first triathlon. Who knows. I simply applaud you for completing the race. Even the Bible says that the race is not to the swift only. The swift ones might take home the medals, but you took home pride and self-achievement and confidence and increased levels of persistence and tenacity. Truly, you are my hero.
You see, I chose not to do that particular triathlon because I knew I would be super slow. I didn't want to be the last one in the water. Nor the last one in the bike and run. What a great opportunity I passed up because I forgot that victories aren't measured in timing chips. Oh sometimes they are, but it would have been my first Olympic distance and so a simple finish would have made me a champion. Perhaps it was your first olympic distance. Perhaps it doesn't matter.
Congrats to you for not giving up. You have inspired me, and really, that's what this sport is all about, isn't it?
