A nice story to start your day

[rocknrollgirl]

So normally I do not swim in the am during the week because of school, but I am off from school this week, so I went this morning. So I finish up around 7:45 and head in to the locker room and it is crowded with a gaggle of older swimmers, probably ranging in age from late 60's to late 70's. There must have been at least a dozen women. It looked like they were all there to attend water aerobics.

There were all chattering away about their Easter celebrations and the grandchildren, and what they had cook. The locker room was filled with the sound of their laughter.

So a woman named Maura comes in and they all yell...Hey Maura! How was the meal.
Maura replies, well I had 14 for dinner you know. I made a ham and seafood morney. My husband was taking the seafood morney out of the oven and he dropped it.
Dead silence...and then one of the ladies yells...So how was the pizza!
They all crack up.

So two by two they drift off to the pool until only two of the ladies are left in the locker room. They look over at me and one says to the other. That young girl ( I am 45), must think we are crazy.

I look up at them and I say, Actually I was thinking how lucky you all are to have such a wonderful group of girlfriends. I hope that when I am ol... and I stop,
They look at me and say, it is ok, you can say, when you are old like us...
Yes, when I am your age, I hope I am this blessed.

The one ladies looks at me and says, you know we did not know each other before. And now, it is no longer about the pool. We know we are all there for each other, and you are right, it is a blessing.

I headed home kind of jealous of those old babes and their group. They really are blessed. What a nice way to start my day.

Ruth

[makbike]

A great story! My mom has a similiar network of friends. Instead of gathering at the pool they gather at the golf course. Now image a bunch of 70 - 90 year old women driving golf carts and swinging clubs . It is a sight to see but more importantly they have so much fun and they laugh like there is no tomorrow. They take care of each other and are always willing to lend a hand. Sadly, my mom has COPD now and being outside is too much for her lungs but her friends still include her in lunches and other outings. I too hope when I'm retired and older that I'm able to find a group of friends like this.

[Kimmyt]

Aw. My eyes just started tearing up.

Darnit.

We could all only be so lucky as to be surrounded by wonderful friends when we are older (heck, we'd be lucky to have that now!)

K.

[Wahine]

That's a good story RnR. I miss my Triathlon group in Edmonton for similar reasons. It wasn't just about the swimming.

[rocknrollgirl]

I would love, love, love to have girlfriends to train with, but it just does not happen. It seems that all of the women I meet mt biking or at the pool, are not racing or taining. So although I can get together and do that sometimes, I can't do it as a regular training routine. Sad but true. You guys know wthat the planning is like to make this work.
I actually think that most of the other girls I meet are turned off by the fact that I am training and racing. Like the competitive part is a negative thing.

So I feel very, very lucky to have my hubby and my biking guys. But some girls would sure be nice.
And Kimmy, they made me all gooey inside too, I was welled up just talking to them.

[spokewench]

Rock N Roll Girl:

I used to ride with the boys a lot too until I decided enough was enough. Here's the clue - and I'm good at it, since in order to calm my nerves before a race in the start line, I talk a lot!

I started talking to all the gals in my category, plus; in the start line; and then would look them up after the race and rehash the race, and then we just started being friends. I have a great bunch of about 5 girls that are some of my best friends. We all don't race anymore, but we still get together to ride, camp, etc. Most of us did a couple of 24 hour races together as a team and that really cemented our friendship. We are, and this is where my name comes from, the Spokewenches. I'm Captain Spoke, there is Double Butted, Aero Spoke, and Bent Spoke!

You have to make a real effort to talk to your competitors and you will eventually make friends with them.

[Wahine]

I also try to speak to the other girls in races. Sometimes they'll be a little cold, but I think that's because they figure I'm trying to psyche them out or something. But then, I always go up to my main competitors after the race and congratulate them, no matter how I finished. Usually that'll result in some small talk etc....

It's easier for me to find girls to train with because in distances like IM you have to go out and do the long rides at low intensities. So I just hang with people and chat, even if they are going slower than I might want to. This is a lot harder to do mountain biking. But I did still manage to find a contingent of ladies where I used to live to train with.

Then there's doing things together where you can each work hard but still be side by side regardless of fitness. Swimming (that's how I made most of my tri friends) and weights, which is how I got to spend time with my non tri, but still fit girlfriends.

I'm going through making new friends now in my new location. It ain't easy!

[rocknrollgirl]

I have met some really nice girls at races. I even put a team together last year for a 12 hour race, which was a blast. But many of them live far away, several hours away, and it seems that they all have their own circle of riders with their own thing going on.

At the pool, I am usually the only one there. Not many swimmers training I guess, lots of seniors.

I did chat with a girl online today that rides a similar venue, and I am going to try to hook up with her.

I am pretty lucky that the DH and I are buds, and in most team events he is my partner. It works out well because we are about the same in our competitive nature, so we are on the same page.

So here I am chatting with you guys....