Races and group workouts

I am a classic extrovert. I am energized by being around people, think out loud and thrive as part of a strong team. I’ve known this about myself for a long time, but hot damn it was made crystal clear during COVID.??Lockdown was one of the biggest challenges that I have ever faced, especially while being pregnant with our second little one. It was all about holding on and trying to keep it (mostly) together.?

One of the biggest lessons that was reconfirmed was the strength that I draw from IRL group workouts and races. They feed my physical, mental, and spiritual self. It’s a unique kind of shared experience and I flippin love it.??

I am writing this within the comfortable buzz of a busy coffeeshop, which for me is the best place to write anything and to get clarity about something. And as I start to train for my first triathlon in about five years, I am reminded of how much I love getting into and staying in shape.

There’s a lot to be said for athleticism that is tied to community and friendship. It’s a great relief from stress, overwhelm, and just plain old depletion. And, when you tune into the right frequency, it shows you that in life, you are competing only to become your best self.?

Yes, I played some sports growing up, and yes, I biked around Providence in college; but I didn’t really start to find my physical edge and push up against it until my mid-twenties. It all started when I went on a trip for six months to South America with my sister, Alison. We began that journey hiking through Torres del Paine (I was still an avid smoker), and we ended up doing a sprint triathlon on a dare on the gorgeous island of Rapa Nui.?

Doing that race is still one of my favorite memories. We were out at a restaurant/bar (one of two on the island) and took on the challenge at 1am, only to wake up for the race the next day at 7am. We got the last two bikes on the island and they both broke during the bike portion of the course. My sister and I finished dead last, but together and hand-in-hand. It was a rad experience.??

That memory informs my approach to workouts and races now. I love pushing my body, fostering endurance, and building resilience but I also love being a cheerleader for others. I want to inspire people to dig deep and surprise themselves. And I believe in the importance of faith in someone’s abilities to make them more capable. Sometimes you need someone to see something in you to be able to see it yourself. It can help you manifest the change or growth that’s needed.?

Here's to building out that roundtable of people who help you be your best self. Who nudge you, support you, wait for you, tease you, and are a healthy mirror for your soul. When we go through tough stuff (like the collective PTSD that follows a global pandemic), it’s easy to wallow, it’s possible to fall apart, and it’s human to have moments of self-pity. But the right folks will remind you that those things have a place and time limit. And that you need to be kind to yourself to get through things.

The other great thing about races? The shit-talking. I will see you in August, Neal Desai. And this time, you are going down.???

Photo credit: A shot of my sister and me after that sprint triathlon race.