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Triathlon Season is Upon Us – Give it a Try!
 by BodyHealth Team Member Brooke Hanley Davison
My first race of the season, South Beach Triathlon, was this past weekend. While I was racing in my first pro race, many others were getting their season started at Oceanside 70.3, the inaugural New Orleans 70.3, IM Australia and IM South Africa. It was a big weekend for racing and just the start of another great year in triathlon. Natascha Badmann, at the age of 41, won in New Orleans with a blistering bike split. After losing his goggles, having an asthma attack on the swim and nearly tossing in the towel, Matty Reed won at Oceanside by well over a minute and half. Chrissie Wellington went under 9 hours down under. And in South Beach, hundreds of people lined up to race their first triathlon next to many physically challenged athletes inspiring us all.
After the race a reporter asked me what inspired me most about South Beach Triathlon. I loved this question as I found myself reflecting on it again later on the airplane home to Colorado. At the expo the day before the race, I had the honor of meeting a slew of triathletes during a Q&A session of sorts. And everyone likes to share his or her story. Among them were two students from Edmonton racing in their first triathlon, never having swum in open water, and training indoors all winter, barely riding on the road. Nervous and yet excited, the gleam in their eye was palpable. Another man, Rickie, was racing in the Clydesdales division, after learning about triathlon on YouTube. Three months prior to South Beach, he couldn’t swim a lap in a pool. There was a young woman, Elizabeth, who had close friends with her to cheer her on. I ran into Elizabeth and her gang after the race, and all three of them couldn’t wait to sign up for their first triathlon. They had been inspired.
Lets face it. Triathlon is an amazing sport. Where else do you find a participatory sport that involves such dedication, commitment, courage, and is open to all ages, body types, genders, and is special for the whole family? Triathlon encourages a healthy lifestyle, community building through training groups, and goal setting with the gratifying outcome of crossing the finish line. People are willing to push themselves beyond their wildest dreams and then go for more. After one hour of hanging around the expo, my dear brother in law told me he would be racing South Beach in 2010. Of course he has to get a bike, and start running, yet I trust he will be toeing the line next year. Triathlon is just that. Inspiring.
Next up for me is St. Anthony’s Triathlon at the end of April. This was my first race in 2008 and the kick off for a great season. Traditionally, St. Anthony’s has been the season opener for triathlon and just about every big name shows up to race in St. Petersburg. Also toeing the line at St. A’s are close to 4000 age group triathletes, some racing for their first time. Team in Training typically boasts a huge group competing in their first Olympic distance triathlon and doing it among friends and family. The smiles, the hugs, and the tears at the finish line are nothing short of INSPIRING. I wish I could encourage everyone to give triathlon a try, even if just for one race. Because, as I was told before my first triathlon, “be careful, you are sure to get the “bug”. I certainly did and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Have a great season and enjoy the ride!
P.S. Brooke won her debut in her first pro race in Miami.
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