The Beginning
My very first 5k - Cary Road Race 2008
"My name is Jamie, and I am an Ironman."
I will never forget how it all started.... Trainer Beth and Trainer Wendy said "You should do a triathlon next!" I nearly fell on the ground when they said this because I had just finished my first 5k which I recall as a pretty miserable experience. In fact, to quote myself at the finish line "I will NEVER do that shit again!!!" Or something to that effect.
Funny how things change... At this point I can't count the number of 5ks I have completed. I have also completed one ultra marathon (31 miles) two full marathons, and six half marathons. I have raced every distance from the mile to the ultra marathon and it gets hard to count how many races I have done after all this time. I always laugh when I think about my first 5k in Cary, NC where I said I would never race again. I hae raced one half Ironman, and one full Ironman triathlon. I am the director of a program at the Pitt County Animal Shelter (Greenville, NC) called 5ks4k9s. We run with shelter dogs two days a week and then enter the dogs into local 5k races. Volunteers serve as "Doggie Guides" and run the dogs the full 5k distance. We have helped numerous dogs find their forever homes with this program.
I will never forget how it all started.... Trainer Beth and Trainer Wendy said "You should do a triathlon next!" I nearly fell on the ground when they said this because I had just finished my first 5k which I recall as a pretty miserable experience. In fact, to quote myself at the finish line "I will NEVER do that shit again!!!" Or something to that effect.
Funny how things change... At this point I can't count the number of 5ks I have completed. I have also completed one ultra marathon (31 miles) two full marathons, and six half marathons. I have raced every distance from the mile to the ultra marathon and it gets hard to count how many races I have done after all this time. I always laugh when I think about my first 5k in Cary, NC where I said I would never race again. I hae raced one half Ironman, and one full Ironman triathlon. I am the director of a program at the Pitt County Animal Shelter (Greenville, NC) called 5ks4k9s. We run with shelter dogs two days a week and then enter the dogs into local 5k races. Volunteers serve as "Doggie Guides" and run the dogs the full 5k distance. We have helped numerous dogs find their forever homes with this program.
So back to the triathlon... I never thought I would complete one. "Okay, so you are saying I have to swim, then bike, THEN run???" These people are out of their minds is all I could think. I ended up entering the Ramblin Rose Women's Triathlon in Chapel Hill, NC. I trained all summer at the YMCA and with the help of Trainer Beth and Trainer Wendy, I conquered my fear of the water! I was afraid to swim because I had a terrible experience in a pool when I was younger. I went under water and panicked and thought I was going to drown. That experience alone is enough to make one never want to go in the water. I am getting better, and even joined a Master Swim class at the gym in order to work on my technique. When the coaches said, "Maybe one day you will do an Ironman!" I knew they were crazy. Turns out, they had planted a seed.
Three years ago, I rented an apartment in a complex that has a pool. It seemed like a sign that maybe another triathlon was in my future since it doesn't get any better than having a pool across the parking lot. No excuses, right? Late Spring, I was going though the closet and found the USA Triathlon jacket that I bought in 2008. I wanted to wear it again but felt like I didn't earn the right to wear it again. If I was going to wear it again, I would have to start training again. That summer I spent many mornings at the pool while my co-workers we undoubtedly sleeping in.... after all, it was summer vacation. I wanted to wear that jacket again and I was going to make it happen. When the school year started, I found myself in the pool two mornings each week at 5:45 am and swam for 45 minutes. This gave me enough time to shower and get ready to go to school. When I arrived at school I would have to hang my bathing suit in the closet with a towel underneath. I couldn't help but think, "This is dedication!" I went on to complete my second Ramblin Rose Triathlon in October 2013 and I felt amazing. I crushed my previous times, and since it was on the same course I was able to truly compare apples to apples.
In January 2014, I renewed my membership with USA Triathlon. I was a member in 2008 because I thought I was going to "tri again" the following year so it made more sense to pay the membership fee and avoid the extra costs with one day license fees that are required at all USAT sanctioned races. I fell off the wagon later in the year and ended up not signing up for another triathlon. I was disappointed in myself and gave up with swim and the bike and focused on long distance running. My first half marathon was completed after my longest training run of something like eight miles. I didn't know what the heck I was doing and needless to say the half marathon (5.1 miles longer than I was trained for) was more or less miserable after about mile nine. I have sense gotten smarter about the run training and feel like I have a hang of that.
As if training for one sport isn't hard enough, I thought why not train for three. Again. Although I stay very busy teaching third grade and taking care of two dogs, I am getting better at making myself a priority and getting the training done. I have to say that I take a lot of pride in the fact that on a Friday evening I am swimming laps while everyone else is getting ready for the night. I think about where I was even eight years ago and how different (and upside down) my life was. I am in such a better place physically, mentally, and emotionally and triathlon is a great outlet.
Although I only competed in one triathlon in 2016, it was the hardest race I have ever done. On October 1st, 2016, I became an Ironman in Cambridge, Maryland. The summer of 2016 was spent training early and late almost every day. Bike rides that started at 4am were never out of the question. Two hour pool sessions were considered normal. I met amazing people and built amazing relationships along the way. If you are considering trying an Ironman distance event, I encourage you to surround yourself with positive people who will support the goal and lifestyle you will take on. An Ironman athlete is not built alone, but rather along side friends and family behind them every step of the way.
On October 1st, 2016, I became an IRONMAN!
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