I didn't expect a current. I didn't expect to vomit. I didn't expect a perfect weather day. I didn't expect to make a new personal record. I didn't expect to cry.
There were a lot of things I didn't expect to happen on this race. I actually went into the race just hoping I would finish because I had not been able to train properly the weeks leading up to it (due to a quad injury). I had set a goal for myself, which was a pretty lofty goad, but I quickly let that dream die after my lack of training.
I arrived at the race site at 6AM. As i started putting my transition station together, I kept praying and asking for the Lord's strength to come upon me because I wasn't sure how I was going to accomplish this feat.
We lined up at the start of the swim… This was my first open water swim, so I didn't really know what to expect, but I didn't expect what I got. the current was strong, and i had to swim against it for most of the swim. basically I spent A LOT more energy on the swim than I was planning or anticipating.
Because the swim was so hard, and took so much, I was already exhausted by the time I ran up to the transition area to get on my bike. At this point, I threw up some, and while that's gross, I had a quick though of "finally, i worked out so hard, I threw up!" And once i was finished, i got on my bike and off i went! Cycling is my strongest sport, and so going into the tri, I wasn't worried about it. However, once I got on my bike and my legs didn't want to move, I knew I was in trouble. It took me a good 2 miles to get my head back in the game and refocus on what I had to do. During those 2 miles, I actually had the thought "I'm never doing another tri… this is ridiculous". Of course I didn't mean those words, but in the moment I did! Thankfully as I prayed through this moment, the Lord reminded me of how much I enjoy it, and of course I will do another one!!! How's Sept. 7, 2013 sound? Good to me! So the bike was a 12 mile out and back course. They shut down many of the roads in Nashville just for us, and it was so nice to ride down Ellington Parkway because it is so smooth. There were a few hills that weren't so fun, but it was a GREAT day for a ride.
The run, like everything else, had unexpected results. As i started out, I walked up the pedestrian bridge (because my legs were like jello coming off the bike)… Once I got to the top, there was a sweet man sitting among the spectators. And what he said was another aspect of this run I didn't expect… he just simply said: "Hey 150, you're doing a great job, I'm proud of you.!" I broke at that point. tears started running down my face because it was as if the Lord was speaking through this man directly to me. I needed to hear those words at that exact moment, and those words are what drove me to keep running. My goal for the run portion of this race was to run more than I walked. during my first tri, i walked the entire thing, so obviously I wanted to do better than that. AND I DID!!! I ended up walking about 3/4 of a mile total. HUGE improvement for me.
As I crossed the finish line, I heard cheers from my adoptive sisters who came up to watch me and cheer for me. It was such a blessing to have them there, and it meant so much to me! I don't do these races for anybody but myself and the Lord, but it is always nice to have someone there who is cheering specifically for YOU!!
After the race, I went through the food line, and then over to the results area. As I searched for my name, I finally found it. I hesitantly looked at all my times. I finished in 1:54:36… As soon as I saw that number, I cried again. All day long, I felt like I hadn't performed very well, and that I would have a horrible time. I had set up my expectation to believe that it would be impossible to attain the goals I had set in front of myself- which was to finish in under 2 hours. I DID IT!!! I could not believe it! But that was just the "icing on the cake" of what the Lord had been speaking to me all day. Way back at the beginning of the day, I prayed: " Lord, may you be glorified through this race today. You have created my body to move and worship your through this sport, so may you be glorified today." As I was out on the course, multiple times, when I was weak, I cried out to the Lord in my weakness, and His gentle response was this: "my strength is made perfect in your weakness." Honestly, there is no way I would have finished in the time that I did had I done it in my own strength… but it was apparent from the moment I jumped into the cumberland river that I wasn't going to be able to do the race in my own strength. I must give all the glory to the Lord for this race. today showed me how easy it is for me to slide into an attitude of pride when if comes to sports, thinking I'm better than I am, but I was humbled today. Every stroke, stride and step I took today was an opportunity for me to grow closer to the Lord by stepping out of my own strength and depending on HIM. As I released my expectations and hopes and desires to Him, He was then able to do exceedingly and abundantly more that I could have ever hoped or imagined. I NEVER imagined that this would be the race where I shaved 24 minutes off my previous tri time. NEVER! But In christ, all thins are possible. Phillipians 4:13 says that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I have this verse taped to my bike, and it played through my head along with 2 Cor. 12:9- "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." The Word of the Lord is such a refreshing thing. It is TRUTH.
It was a great day overall. I can't wait to see what the Lord does in the coming days in my life as a result of this. I can't wait to share my story with anyone who is willing to hear because it is a story of overcoming through Christ.
Here are some photos:
Thanks for reading!
