Find your happy pace! What's your motivation? Make a splash, go for a ride, find your stride...we've given you a lot of things to do! Do you want to be a Mermaid we asked?? Well you did it, maybe it was just the way you thought it would be or maybe it wasn't even close to the way you thought it would pan out...but YOU did it. Even if you didn't physically do it due to crazy circumstances that you didn't see coming, you did it. You are a Mermaid even in spirit.
I was amazed at how many of you we heard from this year and the journey you are on or have taken. Thank you for sharing your story with us like we encouraged you to do, we know there are many more. As we were doing our post race wrap up as a team we thought through some of the stories that keep us coming back year after year to bring you the Mermaid Series....as our email said, "It's never too late to be what you might have been".....
Here are some of the highs and some of the lows for the day that have come my way...
One Mermaid contacted us a while ago, she had been working towards being a Mermaid for quite sometime, a goal that she was stoked to realize. Then the doctors visit came and the diagnosis of a rare disease would be the reason she could not compete. As she fought through the decision as to whether or not she should race given her condition I could hear the fighter in her words and told her she would be back, she would soon find her happy pace and cross that finish line. Regardless of the fact that this race did not look like she thought it would, she is a Mermaid. Being a part of the Mermaid begins when you decide you are going to do something differently, that you are going to push yourself in a way you never thought possible.
Another Mermaid decided days before to participate in the triathlon. Turning 40 was the impetus and looking at her 11 year old daughter, seeing that she had one shot to be the role model she wanted to be ~ she went for it. She knew her only goal was to cross the finish line, regardless of how long it took or how awkward she felt in her bathing suit coming out of the water....she did it, she crossed that finish line. I feel like I can confidently say, she will never be the same woman again. As she said to me, "I am ready to unzip this body and let the real me out, I'm not going to let my size or my feelings about my size hold me back anymore."
The story below is from a new Mermaid....just to show the day isn't always what you thought it would be. Surprises are always around the corner when you put yourself out there....
"I wanted to tell you both how much I enjoyed the mermaid triathlon on Sunday. In preparing for it mentally, I was thinking that the triathlon would be the hardest thing I would have ever done; especially because I wasn’t able to train much at all for the event secondary to severe back spasms, piriformis syndrome and sciatica. Even though I finished 405/407 in the swim, I am content and proud of the fact that I did it, and finished the race. I overcame a lot of fear and anxiety to participate in the swim. Now I have something to look forward to next year. After reflecting on the event on the drive home on Sunday, I realized that climbing Half Dome several years ago was harder than the triathlon. For me, the distances were perfect and I was able to push my body to a different level."
The following story is from a Mermaid that was hospitalized the week before the Mermaid with pancreatitis. She got out of the hospital and insisted that she would come and volunteer. She was released Friday night at 8 pm and was at packet pick up Saturday, with a smile handing you your goodies...
"This race had been a goal of mine for three years. I've done other triathlons (with pool swims), but I had proclaimed that I would complete the Mermaid "one day." Well, I rode over to the race last year to just watch, and a call went out for a volunteer to pass out water. I locked up my bike, and spent about three hours passing out water to the finishers and congratulating them. I decided then that I would be doing it this year. I've told everyone under the sun that I would be doing the Mermaid in '09. On Memorial Day weekend, I went out and completed the swim and the infamous "new" course. Due to time constraints, I didn't complete the run that day - oh how I now wish I had! At least then, I could have said I did it, just not on race day.
In the Bible, there is a verse that says, to the effect, "Don't say next year, you'll go here or do that, because you don't know what a day will bring forth..." Ain't that the truth!
Today, I'll be wearing my hospital bracelet, and for all the racers who know me, I'll be ready with my "I didn't know what a day would bring forth" story of why I'm not doing the race as committed. Here's hoping for success in '10"
For any Mermaid that didn't think they could do it, that their own body was the reason that they were being held back, new Mermaid Triathlete Rebecca Barbee shares her story...in bullet points no less...a systematic Mermaid that got it done.
Another Mermiad sent in the following...
- March 2007 came to a gut realization that I must change or my life would be severely shortern due to high blood pressure and diabetes
- Spent the next year getting myself ready for implementing a systemic life change - talk therapy, nutritional counseling, spiritual counseling, etc
- Had Gastric Bypass surgery on March 4, 2008
- Top weight - 406 pounds
- Goal weight - 185 pounds
- Current weight - 209 pounds
- Weight lost to date: 197 pounds
- Started exercising regularly right after the surgery
- First just slow walking
- Joined a gym in May 2008
- Have always been intrigued by the idea of a triathlon and had told myself if I ever got fit enough I would give it a go
- Started working with a trainer in November 2008
- Trainer suggested I check out the Mermaid Tri
- It seemed attainable, fun and supportive
- Signed up, focused my training
Five goals: 1) complete the race 2) Have Fun! 3) don't get hurt 4) run the entire run 5) finish around 1:45 (and I) attained all my goals.
Doing the triathlon was also a symbolic act for me - THIS is my new life - If I can lose 197 pounds with my goal weight so close AND complete at triathlon I can do ANYTHING I put my whole self to... (I am) hoping to put together a team from my gym for the Santa Cruz Mermaid Tri - look for Team Vivre come September! I am so hooked and can't wait to see how much faster I will be in September!"
How fun it was to watch women come across the finish line in what felt like time enough to only stop and tie my shoe! I couldn't believe the span of ages and sizes that topped our age groups and overall winners. We are thankful for their graciousness as competitors, the spirit of Mermaid runs through each and everyone of us and the beauty is that regardless of how fast or how slow....we all want that charm, so we'll do whatever it takes to get it.
So why is it important for you to read these stories?? Well sometimes when you have worked so hard towards a goal, you sort of end up in this weird space at the end and say NOW WHAT???? I thought it might help you to see what it took for some Mermaids and to remind you of what an amazing thing you did. That now the sky is the limit, it's time to start looking around your world and ask yourself, "What's next? If I can do that, what else can I do?"
The answer is you can do anything, you are not the same woman you were Sunday morning June 7th at 7am. There is a new you waiting to live and learn and experience all that this life has to offer you. Although I can't participate alongside you at a Mermaid event I must tell you how inspiring each and every one of you are to me as a woman, a mother, a wife, a friend and an athlete. I am reminded each time I see you that there is a story underneath every bib number and I am thankful that I get to be a part of it.
I am training now for Barb's half in August, a fitting way to celebrate turning 39. While I am unsure of how my body will respond, whether or not I can actually do the training will be seen. I do know that when I went to see a specialist in Los Angeles, she shook her head at me and said "I don't really know what to say, does racing make you happy?" "Yes" I said. She said "Well, hmm. I guess I can't tell you no, you don't seem the type that would listen." She smiled and sent me on my way, still shaking her head not really knowing what to do with me. So here I am, training, laughing that I am training and hoping that I can live up to all of the amazing Mermaids that have crossed my path and some that have become a big part of my life. I hope you too are inspired by their stories of perseverance and heart regardless of whether this is your first or 40th triathlon.
I also hope that as the days get warmer and longer that you enjoy all that this life has to give you, charm around your neck and all. I will look forward to seeing you out on the roads or on the trails or maybe even in the water!!
- Coach Heidi
