May 12, 2017 12:53 PM
My Tri Journey
Hello everyone!!
I wanted to do a blog simply because I know there are other women...moms out there who are starting out for the first time triathlons and to be honest any sport! My journey to becoming a triathlete started 2 months ago. Lets rewind for a bit. 3 years ago I made a point to do something for myself. I already begun the journey of self-reflection and self-love 4 years prior. I wanted to now change the negative thinking patterns that I've attained from years of self doubt and discouragement. I was a single mom (still a single mom) going through life and all of it's difficulties. I made a point to first get back into school. I needed it, I craved becoming better than what others told me that I would be. Lost many friends that I grew up with (all were in college) I was not really close to many of my family members (not even my mom) so at that point I knew that some changes, positive changes needed to be made and that I could possibly be alone in this journey
3 years ago my fitness journey started when I finally decided to make serious changes for my self. I was over not being adequate for others or consistently being put down for my "lack of qualities". I was tired of working out then getting fat...working out then getting fat. I would tell myself I couldn't reach a specific point because it was too difficult. I would look at other women who were receiving athletic success and tell myself I could not do what they are doing. Yes! I wouldn't reach there level, why? because i'm not them...I'm me. I wanted to reach my own goals and not someone else's. I set out to improve every part of myself and I wasn't going to stop that with negative thoughts. Thoughts that were all lies. I first started by researching how to eat better, nothing really was working so I needed to learn an effective plan that wouldn't make me feel like I was doing another "diet". Once I did that. I then researched what fitness clubs can I be apart of that would hold me accountable? I have memberships to various places and never go so what will force me to push my self and get in the door? Orange freaking Theory! I can't say enough what Orange Theory specifically the Coral Springs South location did for me. I was so severely depressed, trying to find a route that would lead me to success and this was it! I learned how to workout and how to keep pushing! Not to mention the $12 fee for cancellation kept me committed.
Now on to the next step. I wanted to achieve goals, goals that I lost along the way. Challenges in which i felt I could never...would never achieve. I mean me? do 5k? Uh, yeah right! Well that changed! Because I was reminded " I could do all things in christ who gives me strength"! Philippians 4:3. Now most of you reading my blog might not be Christians. You might not be a believer. Yet it was my faith that honestly lead me to reverse my thoughts of "I couldn't" to "I will". The universe provides doors. Each door were given is an opportunity for greatness. We ask for something and BAM there it is (some of us stop looking so therefore the door remains hidden). I knew that ok I reached specific points in my life where I now love who I am and what I am and now it's time to continue climbing. So what do you do when you have a goal and you want to reach it? Set the pace in motion! I signed up for a 5k. The same way I signed up for school because my education was a goal. I now paid to do this race and I was going to work towards it. A couple of 5k's later and i'm still working on additional goals but I did the race folks. The race I said I would never do, I accomplished because I knew I was stronger than any negative statement or situation!
The Triathlon goal! Ugh! Boy I just didn't see this one coming. I'm a single mom with 2 kids and a full time job, recently became a beach body coach to help others with there weight loss goals and eating habits so how was this going to happen? Literally 2 months ago a friend brought up that she wanted to do a triathlon. I was like, ok...your crazy! Then she had the nerve to open her mouth and say "your going to do it with me"! Uh, say what now?! Psych ward...someone put her in the psych ward because she's now moved from thinking crazy to talking crazy! Oh it gets better...So I happen to work with a woman that I had no idea was a triathlete. She's just not some regular triathlete shes freaking amazing!! This woman is not only an iron man but has won some amazing triathlons. Talk about inspiring!! Her drive to be the best is beyond what I have ever witnessed and I work with her! The area which a friend put in my mind to do I work with someone who is a professional in the field! So after she encouraged me to try as well...2 weeks later, here comes out of my mouth. "I think i'm going to do a triathlon" Now listen, I said it, therefore it was out in the universe and most importantly God took that and ran with it because the events thereafter were all blessings. So a fellow Beachbody coach Leilani puts out there that she wants to do a tri and that I should do the one in July with her. Oh boy! I said with ease "heck ya lets do it" but people in my mind I was saying to my self...Jesus, uh help me please for I don't know what I am doing. I now made a statement the 2nd time. Here I am, someone that doesn't go swimming at all. Nor have I been on a bike in a hot minute, to now say YES I WILL DO A TRIATHLON WITH YOU. From that moment Leilani had a date for the tri and said here sign up. To then hey fab I found a women's triathlon group you need to join. So what did my crazy behind do? I joined! Now understand in my mind i'm still doubting myself. Ok, so i'm doing a sprint triathlon in July...I don't have a bike...and I haven't gotten in the water. Hummm now what?
Well ok God, you put this amazing crazy lady in my life...in my path that is now pushing me. So how are we going to do this? I needed a bike for starters. I do not have $3-4,000 just sitting around to freely spend so how was I going to get this bike? A bike to use to do a triathlon? A bike to get me started on a goal that I always said never to? God work that out because I am stuck. Well...so he does! I posted about needing a bike. I figured hey, someone must have a bike I can borrow because I can't purchase one right now right?! I got offers to purchase a bike but again baby steps, cant immediately spend on something I don't know if i'll love. Well here comes Jesus himself deciding to send an amazing woman who I met at ORANGE FREAKING THEORY in box me and say "fab, I have a bike that's sitting in my garage that you can use. Wait...what? Ok so if you don't yet understand how big this is let me get you in on it. This woman named Vicki used to do triathlons and could no longer race, who hardly goes on Facebook at that moment decided to go on Facebook then sees my posts. It's not a cheap bike people!! This angel pretty much saved me in more ways than one but again you put out in the universe what you want and it will release it to you! Remember my journey began ant OTF and look where it's going? Get it? So one I was beyond blown away and two I had a moment with God. So you work it out for these goals I have but i asked you for a husband and what...this was your alternative? Really Jesus? Really? Ok...Amen (with a smirk on my face)
I know have a bike, I became apart of this amazing Boca-Tri crew which lead me to this amazing page for Women Triathletes and I have been feeling is nothing but encouragement! being apart of the Boca tri family opened so many more doors for me! We were placed to be apart of the Dog House Cycling Center for training. I loooove that place and the owners! I mean I am learning so much about riding and positioning. I am now more excited then I was in the beginning to really do this! I finally got my bike but couldn't ride it outside. I order my shoes, a week later it arrived but with the wrong size. So here I am practicing in doors with out shoes and clips but just my sneakers (very uncomfortable) I couldn't return the shoes. So what in the world was I going to do? Well, Rick who runs the DogHouse happened to be a dealer and he was able to get me my size and fix me right up! He not only fixed me up but he took his own time to ride with me outside to make sure i knew how to clip on and off, how to make effective safe turns and to get a feeling of the bike. He has been so patient with me and has been there to help me with everything! How great is God? How amazing is life to place people at the right place and right time!
Swimming...NOPE still haven't gotten in the water! I know I know what the heck sistah! Well, there is this women by the name of Katie Dodge. She is an amazing swimmer! I mean she wins a couple of races and triathlons in her time so not just some old Joe smo'! Everyone has said to call her, she'll help. I thought to myself...help who? me? how? it's race season, how would she make time for me? Well 2 weeks later I got in contact with her and she is more than willing to train me...WHAT? I mean God really? and I'm still single? ok...ok...it's not my time so lets just enjoy these goals because a husband is not promised blah blah blah got it! So now I am set to train with Katie freaking Doge this week!! I have been given the opportunity time and time again to reach goals that I've said was too hard and un-achievable. How many times have you said to yourself no...can't do that? How many times have you allowed someone else to allow you to think you were not capable of achieving anything because of your size, because of your schedule because of anything? We have to start realizing we are the only door stop placed in front of our opportunities. We're never really ready in our mind to close one door because of comfort and open the other. Believer or not, God...the universe...life creates awe-inspiring moments when we choose to take that leap of faith in believe in what we can do rather then setting limits on what we think we cant.
So, join me on this crazy new transition in my life! I will take on this challenge on my birthday...the 4th of July! I made the choice to write and video each moment. Hopefully, I can look back at this in a year or two when I doubt doing an Iron Man and remind myself "I can do all things in him who gives me strength"!
My Tri Journey
Hello everyone!!
I wanted to do a blog simply because I know there are other women...moms out there who are starting out for the first time triathlons and to be honest any sport! My journey to becoming a triathlete started 2 months ago. Lets rewind for a bit. 3 years ago I made a point to do something for myself. I already begun the journey of self-reflection and self-love 4 years prior. I wanted to now change the negative thinking patterns that I've attained from years of self doubt and discouragement. I was a single mom (still a single mom) going through life and all of it's difficulties. I made a point to first get back into school. I needed it, I craved becoming better than what others told me that I would be. Lost many friends that I grew up with (all were in college) I was not really close to many of my family members (not even my mom) so at that point I knew that some changes, positive changes needed to be made and that I could possibly be alone in this journey
3 years ago my fitness journey started when I finally decided to make serious changes for my self. I was over not being adequate for others or consistently being put down for my "lack of qualities". I was tired of working out then getting fat...working out then getting fat. I would tell myself I couldn't reach a specific point because it was too difficult. I would look at other women who were receiving athletic success and tell myself I could not do what they are doing. Yes! I wouldn't reach there level, why? because i'm not them...I'm me. I wanted to reach my own goals and not someone else's. I set out to improve every part of myself and I wasn't going to stop that with negative thoughts. Thoughts that were all lies. I first started by researching how to eat better, nothing really was working so I needed to learn an effective plan that wouldn't make me feel like I was doing another "diet". Once I did that. I then researched what fitness clubs can I be apart of that would hold me accountable? I have memberships to various places and never go so what will force me to push my self and get in the door? Orange freaking Theory! I can't say enough what Orange Theory specifically the Coral Springs South location did for me. I was so severely depressed, trying to find a route that would lead me to success and this was it! I learned how to workout and how to keep pushing! Not to mention the $12 fee for cancellation kept me committed.
Now on to the next step. I wanted to achieve goals, goals that I lost along the way. Challenges in which i felt I could never...would never achieve. I mean me? do 5k? Uh, yeah right! Well that changed! Because I was reminded " I could do all things in christ who gives me strength"! Philippians 4:3. Now most of you reading my blog might not be Christians. You might not be a believer. Yet it was my faith that honestly lead me to reverse my thoughts of "I couldn't" to "I will". The universe provides doors. Each door were given is an opportunity for greatness. We ask for something and BAM there it is (some of us stop looking so therefore the door remains hidden). I knew that ok I reached specific points in my life where I now love who I am and what I am and now it's time to continue climbing. So what do you do when you have a goal and you want to reach it? Set the pace in motion! I signed up for a 5k. The same way I signed up for school because my education was a goal. I now paid to do this race and I was going to work towards it. A couple of 5k's later and i'm still working on additional goals but I did the race folks. The race I said I would never do, I accomplished because I knew I was stronger than any negative statement or situation!
The Triathlon goal! Ugh! Boy I just didn't see this one coming. I'm a single mom with 2 kids and a full time job, recently became a beach body coach to help others with there weight loss goals and eating habits so how was this going to happen? Literally 2 months ago a friend brought up that she wanted to do a triathlon. I was like, ok...your crazy! Then she had the nerve to open her mouth and say "your going to do it with me"! Uh, say what now?! Psych ward...someone put her in the psych ward because she's now moved from thinking crazy to talking crazy! Oh it gets better...So I happen to work with a woman that I had no idea was a triathlete. She's just not some regular triathlete shes freaking amazing!! This woman is not only an iron man but has won some amazing triathlons. Talk about inspiring!! Her drive to be the best is beyond what I have ever witnessed and I work with her! The area which a friend put in my mind to do I work with someone who is a professional in the field! So after she encouraged me to try as well...2 weeks later, here comes out of my mouth. "I think i'm going to do a triathlon" Now listen, I said it, therefore it was out in the universe and most importantly God took that and ran with it because the events thereafter were all blessings. So a fellow Beachbody coach Leilani puts out there that she wants to do a tri and that I should do the one in July with her. Oh boy! I said with ease "heck ya lets do it" but people in my mind I was saying to my self...Jesus, uh help me please for I don't know what I am doing. I now made a statement the 2nd time. Here I am, someone that doesn't go swimming at all. Nor have I been on a bike in a hot minute, to now say YES I WILL DO A TRIATHLON WITH YOU. From that moment Leilani had a date for the tri and said here sign up. To then hey fab I found a women's triathlon group you need to join. So what did my crazy behind do? I joined! Now understand in my mind i'm still doubting myself. Ok, so i'm doing a sprint triathlon in July...I don't have a bike...and I haven't gotten in the water. Hummm now what?
Well ok God, you put this amazing crazy lady in my life...in my path that is now pushing me. So how are we going to do this? I needed a bike for starters. I do not have $3-4,000 just sitting around to freely spend so how was I going to get this bike? A bike to use to do a triathlon? A bike to get me started on a goal that I always said never to? God work that out because I am stuck. Well...so he does! I posted about needing a bike. I figured hey, someone must have a bike I can borrow because I can't purchase one right now right?! I got offers to purchase a bike but again baby steps, cant immediately spend on something I don't know if i'll love. Well here comes Jesus himself deciding to send an amazing woman who I met at ORANGE FREAKING THEORY in box me and say "fab, I have a bike that's sitting in my garage that you can use. Wait...what? Ok so if you don't yet understand how big this is let me get you in on it. This woman named Vicki used to do triathlons and could no longer race, who hardly goes on Facebook at that moment decided to go on Facebook then sees my posts. It's not a cheap bike people!! This angel pretty much saved me in more ways than one but again you put out in the universe what you want and it will release it to you! Remember my journey began ant OTF and look where it's going? Get it? So one I was beyond blown away and two I had a moment with God. So you work it out for these goals I have but i asked you for a husband and what...this was your alternative? Really Jesus? Really? Ok...Amen (with a smirk on my face)
I know have a bike, I became apart of this amazing Boca-Tri crew which lead me to this amazing page for Women Triathletes and I have been feeling is nothing but encouragement! being apart of the Boca tri family opened so many more doors for me! We were placed to be apart of the Dog House Cycling Center for training. I loooove that place and the owners! I mean I am learning so much about riding and positioning. I am now more excited then I was in the beginning to really do this! I finally got my bike but couldn't ride it outside. I order my shoes, a week later it arrived but with the wrong size. So here I am practicing in doors with out shoes and clips but just my sneakers (very uncomfortable) I couldn't return the shoes. So what in the world was I going to do? Well, Rick who runs the DogHouse happened to be a dealer and he was able to get me my size and fix me right up! He not only fixed me up but he took his own time to ride with me outside to make sure i knew how to clip on and off, how to make effective safe turns and to get a feeling of the bike. He has been so patient with me and has been there to help me with everything! How great is God? How amazing is life to place people at the right place and right time!
Swimming...NOPE still haven't gotten in the water! I know I know what the heck sistah! Well, there is this women by the name of Katie Dodge. She is an amazing swimmer! I mean she wins a couple of races and triathlons in her time so not just some old Joe smo'! Everyone has said to call her, she'll help. I thought to myself...help who? me? how? it's race season, how would she make time for me? Well 2 weeks later I got in contact with her and she is more than willing to train me...WHAT? I mean God really? and I'm still single? ok...ok...it's not my time so lets just enjoy these goals because a husband is not promised blah blah blah got it! So now I am set to train with Katie freaking Doge this week!! I have been given the opportunity time and time again to reach goals that I've said was too hard and un-achievable. How many times have you said to yourself no...can't do that? How many times have you allowed someone else to allow you to think you were not capable of achieving anything because of your size, because of your schedule because of anything? We have to start realizing we are the only door stop placed in front of our opportunities. We're never really ready in our mind to close one door because of comfort and open the other. Believer or not, God...the universe...life creates awe-inspiring moments when we choose to take that leap of faith in believe in what we can do rather then setting limits on what we think we cant.
So, join me on this crazy new transition in my life! I will take on this challenge on my birthday...the 4th of July! I made the choice to write and video each moment. Hopefully, I can look back at this in a year or two when I doubt doing an Iron Man and remind myself "I can do all things in him who gives me strength"!
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