Skip to main content

Showing up is half the battle- Hagerstown Duathlon 2019

The Hagerstown Duathlon is a fun local race in Maryland. It was one of the first multi-sport races I participated in back in 2013 before I could swim.  This small town family friendly duathlon brings out the local multi-sport athletes from Western Maryland and alike.  It is well organized and great fun to kick off the season.  So I signed up.  This was my first solo multi-sport race since 2017.  For the past 2 years, I have participated in individual sports i.e. running only, swimming only or relay but just didn't have the time to participate in anything more than that.  So I figured " Hey look Stacy, you have nothing to lose just show up."  With my under-trained happy attitude, I decided to participate in this Duathlon.  The course consisted of a 1.8 mile run, 10 mile bike and 5k run.  It was relatively flat and safe.   Yadda Yadda.  As you know, my blogs are really never about the race.  It is all the BSS (Behind the scenes stuff-Mental chatter we tell ourselves).

I had no goal for this race except to show up.  I needed to do this for me.  Was I prepared --Heck NO!!!!!  I repeat NO NO NO.  I was so nervous I must have used the restroom 4 x before the race started.  I forgot to eat breakfast.  I didn't drink on the bike. I literally just showed up and did the entire race on water because I was too afraid to take my hands of my handlebars due to the wind on the bike.  LOL.  But I did it.  I showed up.  I smiled at the start why?  Because sometimes just getting to the starting line is the hardest part.  We talk ourselves out of stuff or convince ourselves we are not ready.

Thanks to Ms. Lela Gant. She captured the quintessental Stacy smile... " Hi everyone I am just happy to be here smile."


Off I went. I smiled on the run, bike and the final run.  I made it to the start and the finish.  Metaphorically speaking, we may never know where a path leads even if we know the course. I expected nothing from this race and it gave me more than I could have imagined.  It reminded me that we can NEVER predict the outcome, but we can show up.  This is a valuable lesson triathlon/duathlon gives that  lesson and it is transferable to other aspects of our lives.  Sometimes it is just that simple.  Show up. You never know how it will end.   On this day, I got on the podium.  Was I happy with my results? Sure. I have not consistently trained for anything for 2 years due to life's events and probably won't train for the rest of this year, but I will continue to show up, smile for the camera and run with my heart.


It is all about the journey,

Simply Stacy















Results below*** (my fellow team mate took top Female Masters who was also in 45-49 age group so No Double Dipping--That put me in First in my AG).  I was super surprised and humbled because she is absolutely deserving of both. **

RUN116:27 (1.9mi)8:40/mile

73
T11:50


106
BIKE38:57 (10mi)15.4/mph

89
T22:03


107
RUN229:15 (3.1mi)9:26/miles

75
Penalty



FINISH1:28:28.7

2/5 










Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2021 Fort Ritchie Olympic Triathlon

General thoughts about the Fort Ritchie Olympic Triathlon and the race experience.       On August 1, 2021, I participated in a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 6.2 mile run. If you want stats, splits, watts, etc. you will find none of it here.    Why?    It’s not what is important to me in participating in triathlon. It’s not my why! I signed up for the local race in Cascade, Maryland because I knew it would challenge me mentally and physically. My expectations were to finish and learn.  This race was not wetsuit legal and a USAT championship series race.    I knew it would bring out some spectacular athletes from the area.    But I also knew this, I have never swam in open water without a wetsuit.    Never.    Stacy motto- Safety first.  I will not put myself or others at risk for me to race.    I quietly spoke to the race director and he nodded that I could do the race but would not race in my...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rock n Roll:DC- Tired, Train, Trust-March 2016

After the long months of cold and over 30 inches of snow, I arrived at the Rock n Roll:DC half marathon.   It was a blast. I had been tired from working consecutive night shifts and this event was on a Saturday unlike other half marathons I have run in the past, except Baltimore.   I spent 2.5 hrs in traffic to pick up my packet on a Friday night .   Between the traffic, security and all the training to get to this event, I was simply exhausted.   Saturday was a brisk Spring day. I decided that I had done all I can to get me to the event healthy so I matters we'll have fun.   I did. I listened to the sites and sounds of the bands and cheers of the spectators. Around mile 5-7, I turned up the music in my iPod. I knew what lay ahead. A huge hill by the National Zoo was gonna trying to beat me down. I felt like an old car with a manual stick shift gear system and powered it down. I made it up the hill and conserved energy for the second...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Reflections on COVID-19 from Generation X

When you grow up with less, you learn how to make a dollar out 15 cents See Langston was right. Life ain’t no crystal stair and grit is only a new concept to the comfortable living high on Maslow’s hierarchy. See when you grow up with little, you can make something out of nothing. You know how to create calm in the chaos.  We know how to maximize with minimal. We’ve been living the game of Chutes and Ladders.  We’ve been watching those who sit securely in the cushy desks slide down the chute while others who have been the backbone of this nation climb up the ladder to save her. See Patti told us Your Ams to Short to box with God. She’s right you know But this is all about show Healthcare is a human right Nah, I’m not one to pick a fight But... Like Stevie said we living on the edge of.. COVID-19 So forgive me this may sound mean For all of those who were against Obamacare and said it was like Government cheese Give your check to essential workers please A...
Post a Comment
Read more