This isn’t your typical race report, I’ve been doing lots of reflecting with thoughts of the upcoming season and challenges I know I will face. The reflecting had me thinking about how things got started, and what kept me pushing in this sport. I figured it was fitting that the first triathlon of the season, Parris Island, has the tag line “Where it all began”. What better way to segway into how and why I got started in sport.
Parris Island was actually my 2nd triathlon I’d ever done, and will forever be embedded into my memory. I’d gotten involved in Team in Training (www.teamintraining.org/sc ) a couple months prior where I’d not only found people to train with, a coach and guidance, but also a reason to race. I remember laying in bed the night before Parris Island, having my teammates, the nervousness before the start, and the calm that came over me when I realized that if the kids I was raising money for could make it then this triathlon was going to be a piece of cake.
Triathlon and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org/sc ) have been one in the same for me ever since. I don’t do a triathlon without each and every time thinking about the people I’ve raised money for, and how what I’m about to do is for them. Cole was the first honored hero (Leukemia Survivor) I had the pleasure of meeting, and I never would have thought a 12 year old could provide so much inspiration. I remember one paticular race where I was feeling really bad thinking I couldn’t make it, and seeing Cole out there cheering me on. You heard me, cheering ME on. Here this little boy had spent countless nights in the hospital, many nights his family had been told he might not make it, and he was cheering for me. The vision of him is what reminds me during races why I continue when times are tough.
I credit TNT (www.teamintraining.org/sc ) for not only giving me guidance during my early years of triathlon, but also providing inspiration along the way. What better way to train for an endurance event, and finally race for a reason?! If you need a reason to get off the couch, have a better/healthier lifestyle, or your training needs more of a purpose then shoot me an email to nicole.ramsbey@lls.org or check out www.teamintraining.org/sc . Fall events are open for registration! Check them out!
