Through Blood, Sweat, Tears... and Cheers

At 54, I've reclaimed my body, and I'm now training for a triathlon

August 19, 2007

A bottle of Berry Propel Fitness Water is on the desk next to me. I have just completed a 19-mile bike ride followed by a three-mile run. It took me 1 hour and 40 minutes, but I did it.

Thank goodness for my iPod. If I had to hear my labored huffing and puffing, I'd stop after several minutes.

At 54, I'm not horrendously out of shape. However, up until 2 1/2 months ago, I never entertained the idea of running any kind of distance. I guess I hoped I could run out of a burning house to push someone out of harm's way, but I never thought to put on a pair of running shoes, decide on a distance, and try to run it.

Although I participated in sports as a kid and have had my fair share of going back to the gym after holiday indulgences, I've never been one of those people who really enjoy working out. The blood, sweat and tears of it all never appealed to me. As soon as physical exertion became that -- exertion -- I stopped. I didn't have an internal challenge button when my muscles began to burn.

I had no idea that this summer was about to change my relationship to physical activity.

First of all, I moved into a teaching position, so I have the summer off. I have free time. Second, my two college-age daughters are doing jobs and internships out of Charlotte, and my son has spent most of his summer away at basketball tournaments and camps.

Those two events alone might have moved me into a semi-midlife predicament, but then I met a personal fitness trainer while volunteering.

Fitness trainer Emily Knudson (Empowered Personal Fitness) needed a kayak for a triathlon for which she was training. I had a kayak collecting dust in the basement, testament to my inactive life. In exchange for using the kayak, Emily offered to give me personal fitness sessions. Since I thought that only movie stars and famous singers were fortunate enough to have trainers, I knew I had won the lottery.

I had also won the right to sweat and burn in places that I didn't know existed on my body. Working out with Emily was a rude awakening to how out of shape I had become. It was also the beginning of reclaiming my body and parts of myself I had forgotten over years of work and raising a family.

Emily started me out slowly, but relentlessly added minutes to my runs, and strength and repetition to my exercises. Most importantly, she encouraged me. When she said I could do a 5K run, she meant it and convinced me of it, too. I worked out four times a week, once with her and three times with the exercise plan she gave me.

I did my first 5K on June 30, at the YMCA. I ran the race with two of my son's friends. Needless to say, they had to wait for me at the finish line. But I was happy to finish and didn't come in last. I not only enjoyed the race but found new energy and pride in the achievement, and I fit back into clothes that were ready to take to Goodwill.

It wasn't long after I met Emily that I heard the University City YMCA was hosting an eight-week triathlon class. In all honesty, I had no intention of doing a triathlon in my lifetime. I could barely say the word, much less spell it.

I figured triathlons were for the hard-core and crazy fitness buffs who weren't remotely like me, but I had gotten used to encouragement from a trainer, and when the training exchange ended, I wanted to continue with others. I knew that left on my own, I would stop exercising.

I joined the class and attended the first six weeks of the twice-weekly instruction and workout class. Six weeks later, I know I can finish the Lake Norman Sprint Triathlon (half-mile swim, 16.8-mile bike ride and 3.2 mile run) on Aug. 25. Through the encouragement of Pam Sardinia, a fitness trainer and teacher of the triathlon class at the YMCA, and the rest of the class, I'm continuing to enjoy physical activity.

I know that my life is changing. My children will be gone soon, and if I continue to teach, my summers will be free. That gives me a good deal of time for myself, and I am glad that I have included physical activity as part of how I use it.

I feel great, and I know that my children and my husband are very proud of me. I have a new group of friends at the YMCA and do not wonder how to spend time when more of it is mine.

There will always be blood, sweat, and tears with any new steps, but the rewards from them are great.