So often we let a million reasons get in the way of becoming the strong, confident woman that we long to be. Not having the best bike, or the right shoes or knowing exactly how to operate a bike are not reasons to keep you from riding. Trust yourself, the confidence you get from knowing that you can wake up and head out the front door is life changing.
Below is the story about my first triathlon experience and I tell it to encourage you just to get out there and try it!
A friend asked me if I would be interested in doing the bike portion of a relay in the Sandman Triathlon, she hadn't found a swimmer yet but promised she could line one up. I looked at her, assessing her abilities (which far out weighed mine) and thought, well what have I got to lose. Besides. the race was on my 30th birthday and I thought it seemed like a good way to spend it. I didn't know ANYTHING about triathlon, and I even knew less about what I should be doing on the bike.
At the time, my kids were little and attended Jr.Lifeguards at Capitola Beach. I had spent the last few summers staying in shape by riding my hand-me-down bike with a junkyard trailer attached to the bike and the boys in it. The bike was awesome (teal of course) with a metal wire basket attached to the front.
Thinking that I should do some "training" I asked my friend where we would be riding for the race and she vaguely mentioned something about Aptos, Rio del Mar and maybe a little bit of Corralitos....I knew nothing about those areas and thought that I would try it out. I would drop the boys off at guards, lock up the bike trailer and get ready for my ride. I felt pretty cool as I strapped my antique helmet on, attached my tape cassette player to the wire basket so it wouldn't bounce around as I listened to the book Evita on tape. I would ride maybe 30 minutes and think oh my, I've got to go back to the beach and take a nap. The bike I was riding was a cross between a touring bike and a mountain bike made in the late 80's. I didn't know any different, I felt ready to go and dominate the triathlon thing NO PROBLEM.
Problem #1. I found out our "swimmer" was the state champion open water swimmer for Junior Life Guards AND I saw my friend running on the beach and realized I was in a little over my head. This was about a week before the actual race. I started analyzing the situation and thought that maybe my bike wouldn't make the cut. I found a local bike shop that rented road bikes. I picked out this really cute Centurion road bike and was set to pick it up Saturday before the race.
On Saturday I went to the shop to pick up the bike I'd never ridden and walked into find the bike decorated front to back with ribbons and bows. My friends had found out that I was renting it and bought it for me instead as a birthday gift. I was beside myself, I couldn't believe they had done that and couldn't wait to get it home to try it out.
As soon as I got to the house I took it out and rode around the block a few times. Mark, my husband helped me get a handle on how to use the gears and I put it in our carport to go up and shower for a birthday dinner.
Problem #2. When we came out to head out for dinner, the bike was gone. It had been stolen and I was left without a bike for the race. In all the flurry, a friend offered to let me borrow his bike for the race. I said ok and we left for the night.
On race day morning, me and my bike built for a 6' man headed out for the race. Our swimmer was the FIRST out of the water and I am pretty sure I was the last off of the bike. I remember laughing out on the course at myself, at the bike I was on and at the circumstances of the day for me. I had no idea what I was doing but I was so glad at the end of the day to have done it anyway.
Since then I've logged many miles on my bike, have graduated to a beautiful Giant triathlon bike and am learning to trust myself as a cyclist. Trusting yourself is key. Set realistic goals and give it a shot. If you are just starting, get out the door ride for 10 minutes or so and come back home. You don't need to go out for a 4 hour ride at first. Just get out there and try it. Asking a friend to come along makes it even better.
If you don't think you have what you need, look around your garage and see what is in there, can you ride it? It probably wouldn't take much to get it up and running, once you've gotten out there and felt the wind on your face, felt the power in your legs, then you can think about moving up and getting a different bike, but don’t wait to ride. All you need to get going is a bike that has brakes, and tires that don't deflate in 10 minutes and a helmet.
Make sure when you head out for your ride that you always carry a phone, some cash, water and some snacks. It's better to carry too much and know that you are prepared rather than not have what you need.
Mermaid is hosting a 40 mile ride coming up on July 18th in Santa Cruz. Our goal is to get you out on the road and have fun while doing it. We have all sorts of support for the day and it finishes with a lunch back at the Bicycle Trip. Trust me, this is for ALL levels and if you don't have a bike, let me know we can help head you in the right direction.
Often times, we make a decision in our heads that we can't even start something because we have this image in our head about how we should look or how we should it. We think that in order to go out for a ride, we are going to have to be like Lance Armstrong. Fight that image and just go for it. The more you just go for it, the more your life is going to change. I can't imagine what I would be doing if I had backed out of that race because of the bike being stolen. I fell in love with the idea of triathlon that day, even though it would be a long time before I actually did one.
Don't wait, don't decide that it won't work or that you can't do it. Change your mind, change your way of thinking, know that the Mermaid is the right place to begin. Get on your bike and let's go for a ride.
Heidi Boynton
Head Coach Team Mermaid
