Last Sunday people gathered en masse in the quaint little town of Sylvania, Ohio to watch three hundred and ninety six women swim, bike and run. And I was one of them. Because among these three hundred and ninety six would-be triathletes was my client Liz and her daughter Fannie.
Out of my entire clientele, both past and present, I dare say that Liz was the very last person that I would expect to ever compete in a triathlon let alone actually enjoy it! At the very beginning, to say that Liz wasn't thrilled with the whole concept of working out is a drastic understatement.
She wasn't a big fan of pushing herself, she went to great lengths to avoid any sort of physical pain and she wasn't someone who necessarily enjoyed being uncomfortable. For three solid years I chewed on this woman's ass to get her going and keep her going. So, for her to voluntarily put herself way outside of her comfort zone and enter a triathlon, essentially a trifecta of misery, pain, and discomfort, of all things, was nothing short of jaw-dropping. Stranger things have happened I suppose. But not many.
Is Liz a natural athlete? No. Is she a swimmer? Not even close. Is she particularly adept at running? Not at all. Can she bike? Only if she really had to. So right from the start, Liz could maybe pull off exactly one-third of a full-blown triathlon. Did that stop her from entering? NOPE!
Armed with her own personal resolve and incredibly determined daughter, this proper, well-manicured champion of rest and relaxation jumped in stagnant lakes, biked until her rear end was numb and ran until her feet blistered. If it rained, they trained. If it was hot and humid, they trained. If it was cold, they trained. If it was windy, they trained. Liz hit the gym with a renewed sense of determination and purpose; it was muscle and might that she sought and she aimed to get it this time.
After endless weeks of grueling training, the event was fast upon them. These two awesome women swam 400 yards, biked 13 miles and then ran another 3 miles to the finish line. Exactly one hour and forty minutes after jumping into the water it was all over; they were officially triathletes.
I suppose that you never really know what you're truly made of until you give yourself the opportunity to find out. I am glad that Liz and Fannie did. . .
(Liz waving and riding the bike. I love this picture. Blow it up and take a look!)
Taken the moment they became bona fide triathletes. Congratulations Liz and Fannie on a strong finish!
Thank you both for the inspiration . . . .
I love this!!! I'm inspired. Way to go Liz and Fannie (and of course you).
Posted by: Cori | Monday, 03 August 2009 at 04:21 AM
I have a new theory. Christine Hardy is a gateway drug. After enough doses of the Hardy method, one seeks the next level. And that's a good thing! Thanks Christine for your encouragement, your faith [in the improbable!] and for getting up before dawn on a Sunday to drive down to Sylvania OH to support us & document our unmanicured triumph!
Posted by: Liz | Monday, 03 August 2009 at 07:57 AM
Liz and Fannie! Congrats! I'm so impressed and inspired and very proud of you! Great job! Chris, those are really nice pictures...you must have had a really nice pink Elph that you took those with. :)
Posted by: Elise | Monday, 03 August 2009 at 12:58 PM
WOW! Like everyone else I am impressed and inspired!
That's it. I am getting off of my ass. No more excuses for me. It's time to do what Liz and Fannie have done. Like Christine said -- thanks for being an excellent example ladies!
Posted by: Allison | Monday, 03 August 2009 at 01:50 PM
I had the time of my life Lizzy! Thank you for the opportunity to go and to be apart of your special day . . .I loved it.
Why yes Elise . . . I just LOVED using a pink Elph. ugh . . . anything for Lizzy.
Posted by: Christine | Monday, 03 August 2009 at 02:13 PM
Amazing job! I am very impressed.
Posted by: Tony | Tuesday, 04 August 2009 at 09:11 AM