What brought you to tris

[Running Mommy]

Coming in later here, but here's my story..

I started running in 94 when my Grandma was battling lung cancer. I was never a runner, so I started on the treadmill run/walking until I could run 6 miles straight. It took MONTHS of training, but I finally toed the line at my first charity 10k in May of 1995. I did the race in honor of my Grandma..
From there I became the 10k queen. My running partner and I ran every race we could find.
I became pregnant in 97, and made the mistake of listening to the folks who said I would "lose the baby weight as soon as he was born"! HA!
So I had him in a jogging stroller at 6 weeks, and have been fighting my weight ever since.
In 99 I got a wild hair and entered the NYC marathon as 10k's were no longer an challenge. I completed the 99,2000,2002,and 2004 NYCM's.
In 2001 I decided I wanted to get into triathlon, but I was diagnosed w/ cervical cancer, and had to deal with that. Most people lose weight on cancer meds- I gained! I ballooned to 234 lbs. I then decided that I needed to get my act together. So I worked hard to get some weight off, and in 03 I did my first sprint weighing in at 199 lbs. I cringe when I see those video's now, but they remind me of where I came from.

I'm not a natural swimmer, so I took adult swim lessons at the Y. And in the begining I didn't like the bike, I just rode because I had to. I think back now and realize it was a comfort thing. I was always afraid of a flat or a mechanical. So I could never relax and just RIDE like I do now.

Anyway, I did many sprints and then decided to go for the big one- Ironman.
I signed up for IMAZ (arizona) in 05, but dropped out for personal reasons. 2006 was my year to be Iron. I chased cut off's all day, but I had a blast.
Last year was my first ever DNF in a race. I was sick on the run portion at IMAZ and had to drop out only 8.5 miles from the finish. It was a tough pill to swallow, and took many months to get over.
I'm signed up for this years race, but my training has been sub-par, so we will see what happens.
So there ya go. That is how I became the Ironmom that I am today. Lots of small steps towards a goal, and a few set backs in between. Just as life goes..
All I can say is, if you want it bad enough, you can do it!

[Starfish]

Wow, RM, what a story. It is a wonderful reminder to me that things don't come all at once...that there is a progression and path through twists and turns. For a variety of personal reasons, your story is having a very inspirational effect on me this morning. Thank you for posting.