Taste Life Blog

Once upon a time, during my dietetic internship at Milwaukee County, I (“lover of shopping malls, fashion and clothes”) met an outdoor adventurer athlete type guy named Gary. We fell in love and got married. Through the years I learned how to cross country ski and camp outside without flush toilets, while Gary learned how to patiently help me shop to find the “best outfit.”

Pushing my limits

To celebrate my 55th birthday in February, Gary and I went dog sledding. Dog sledding was awesome, but what was more awesome was that I felt so in charge of my life. The weekend I was dog sledding I thought what else could I do that would push my limits. I really wanted to sky dive, but after talking to Michele, my physical therapist sister, we decided a sky diving adventure was not worth knee surgery. That same weekend Gary brought along a pair of swim goggles for me. It was the first time I swam a length of a pool with my face in the water. Watching Gary swim laps that weekend gave me the idea of doing a triathlon. Boy would that be out of my box or what! What could push my limits more?

I was almost afraid to tell Gary I was thinking about doing a triathlon. I knew he would immediately love the idea and get me outfitted for whatever I needed for a successful triathlon. By March I had the perfect triathlete outfit and all that was missing was the courage. I thought, all I have to do is try!

Training doing the minimum

From March to the end of May, Gary bugged me about training. I was in the contemplation stage of change and Gary thought I needed to be in action. I was not sure I wanted to start training but thought again, all I have to do is try. Memorial Day week I finally swam my first laps in the pool. One time I ran .3 miles and ended up with a locked knee and at the orthopedic surgeons office. I was told my right knee is bone on bone and I will eventually need a total knee and will have to walk not run during the triathlon. Boy did that bum me out, but again, I thought, all I have to do is try.

I started to ride my bike the absolute minimum number of mile as the race – 12. When I was in Milwaukee I walked with my sisters the absolute minimum miles as the race – 2. Linda Beduhn taught me how to walk faster a few weeks before the race, which was much harder than I thought. The week before, Sarah Mullaney and Georgia Kandiko helped me train with a bike ride, fast walk and swim in the lake. It was the first time in probably 15 years I swam in a lake. Thank goodness it was crystal clear Sugar Lake!

Race day

I did not sleep. I woke up exhausted and with a stomach ache. We had a hour drive to the race and I was trying to forget where the car was headed. I was so nervous I told the body marking lady who writes numbers on your body I was number 130. I was 30! We got my bike all set up and an older lady named Kathy from Appleton noticed me and I guess she thought I needed a pep talk. She told me the lake was greener than she had ever seen it. I asked her if she opens her eyes when she swims. She replied, “The lake is so green you will only be able to see your hands.” Now I really wanted to watch this race and not participate. A green lake!!

Thank goodness I was in the second wave of the race as I didn’t have time to think about what I was doing. The gun went off and I gingerly stepped in the water as people were diving right in all around me. Danielle said it looked like someone had pushed me on my back and I just fell into the water. Ick. Green! Squish!! I like pools! My heart was beating so fast and OUT of my body. As I passed the first lifeguard I swallowed a big chunk of green water and started coughing. The lifeguard offered me a noodle. No way was I going to swim with a noodle with my daughter Danielle watching with a camera in her hand. I never caught my breath the entire swim and even ended up swimming on my back. I never even considered the back stroke during my training and high school was probably the last time I swam on my back. As I was seriously choking on these green chunks of water I just kept on thinking…you just have to try, Chere. I was so sick of swimming I thought why not stand up and run out of this green lake. I tried to stand and my feet landed on jagged rock full of moss. More Ick! So I plunked my body back in the water and swam a little bit more. I could not get out of that lake fast enough. As I left the green swamp I waved to Danielle and my mother in law letting them know I was still alive.

Next, I hopped on my bike for the 12 mile bike ride. I was seriously out of breath until mile 7 when I finally relaxed and noticed the gorgeous scenery around me, Norman Rockwell-like red barns surrounded by wildflowers and cows munching. As I rode I thought “calm confidence.” As I pushed my left leg down I thought “calm” right leg push “confidence.” Calm Confidence! Calm confidence – two of my client’s favorite words. It seemed to help my speed. With wobbly legs, I got off the bike dying of thirst. Why didn’t I drink from my water bottle during my bike ride?

As I walked, everyone was running past me. I saw one other person walk. I tried to remember what Linda Beduhn told me “Heel, toe, short strides Chere!” My shins felt like they were on fire. I just kept on telling myself, “Come on Chere, just try!” I love people watching and because the race course was a loop and I was walking I had plenty of people to watch. The time flew! All of sudden I only had one more mile to walk and I thought. “Holy cow, Chere, you ARE going to do this!”

All of a sudden, I could hear music and the race announcer and before I knew it Gary was next to me cheering me on telling me I was almost there . No time to cry – just get going – only 200 yards away from being a “triathlete.” Crossing the finish line was sweet, and filled with unlimited confidence that I could do anything.

Life is what you think

Life is full of limitations IF you think so. The biggest limitations are your beliefs and your creative imagination. Our creativity is so ingenious we stop before we even get going or before we even start to try. The good news is we can change our thoughts. To mentally train for this race I placed the book, “As Man Thinketh” by James Allen next to my computer to remind me “men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.” Meaning where you are today is where your thoughts have brought you and you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. When I look at this book it reminds me to ask the question, “Who do I want to be today?

If I can do a triathlon anyone can

If I can train and accomplish a triathlon, anyone can. I really don’t like to run, swim or bike fast. Key word is fast. I like to engage in those activities as I talk to a friend and take my time. But there is something so magically sweet about attempting to do something you thought you could not do. It is a spirit booster that gives you calm confidence…and unlimited possibilities!

What could you achieve if you took away your limiting beliefs? What area of your life could use a little more confidence? Pick something today that you want – go for it! There are no limits; knowing your destination is all you need to get there. And remember, you will never know unless you try! Or should we spell it “tri”…as in triathlon….

Your challenge: Make a decision to try something that would push your limits. I would love to hear more about you have accomplished when you had no limits. With a smile and energized abundance.

Don’t forget to savor your life today!