RACE DAY - FINAL PART

My legs were SCREAMING I mean screaming with pain. All I can remember is Teague saying your legs are going to feel like they are on fire for the first 15 minutes. They are just going to be burning. I was like I do not know how I am going to put one foot forward. I heard my girls screaming my name. I waved then started going towards the finish line…that loooooooong 6.2 mile run.
This truly was a sadistic course. I am still trying to figure out how these hills were harder than the bike. As soon and I mean as soon as I start running I had to make a left hand turn and go up a hill. I never have been in so much pain in my life I mean my legs are burning from the bike ride, I am tired and I just want to finish (no let me be honest I just wanted to stop and go to bed LOL). “Keep it Moving! Keep it Moving!” “I am doing this for William” “William I want to make you proud” I hear my mother saying “Keep Your Eye on The Goal not the Gold” I hear my boss saying “All you have to do is finish. Remember why you are doing this.” My first mile had to be 20 minutes and I am think I can’t take this long per mile I need to get back to my 15 minute run/walk pace. There were people saying good job (I was like whatever your ass is done LOL) Anyway, around mile marker 1, a man asked me if I was the last person. I told him I was I didn’t know for sure but I can bet on it. LOL He said that is ok. Then I heard this lady saying you are doing great – I told here this is crazy how, how do people do this, I don’t think I am going to make. She said yes you can. After I guess after 10 minutes of conversation, she said I am going to stay with you until I finish. I was like oh no that is ok. She said know I am doing my run anyway preparing for a run. Now I can tell you this is a pivotal moment (I am tearing up now as I write this). I just happened to bumped into a complete stranger that was willing to finish this run with me. How can I give up now? Was this GOD, My Mother or William talking to me - telling me you can keep going. The next thing you know another Man on a Bike from the Columbia Triathlon Association (CTA) said he will be with me until I finish this race. What? (Now at that point I was thinking the folks at CTA were ready to go home LOL) Why do I have to be the last person? LOL Uggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh WTF is this hill. “ Yo what is your love affair with these hills?” I ask the Man on the Bike. He just smiled. Then around mile marker 3 (I think) Coach Teague rides up with his bike. “What’s up?” It was good to see a familiar face. Then I decided to ask the lady’s name – Juniper. That is an awesome name. Juniper motivating me to do a 12/13 minute pace, Coach Teague checking on me, and the Man on the Bike making sure everything is fine. Now you have all of that and I still had moments when I wanted to stop. My body was so laughing at me every time I attempted to run. Running and Walking, talking to Coach Teague about some of the people that got pulled out the water or didn’t make it on the bike, Juniper talking about the woman who started the Danskin series….all I can think of is when is shit is going to be over. Well around mile marker 5 I said good bye to Juniper. (Thank you so much. May God Bless You) It was just me and Teague. I can’t even tell you what we talked about in that last mile. I just remember telling him it seems so far away, he was like look over the lake. Coach Teague “You are almost there. You are going to be so proud of yourself. I don’t know how you are feeling now but when you see that finish line you are going to feel great.” At this point I am doing that slow run/walk thing just looking pitiful lol. Then all of sudden I look up and there is the finish line…it was like a burst of energy. I sprinted to that finish line. Everyone cheering – My girls Kim and Tasha (I am so glad they are here. I love them. I needed them here they have been listening to my bitching for 20 years now LOL), Brett is here with family, OMG Mike is here! Mike? He waited for me – how cool. I hear my name Niambi Daniels. I Hi-Five the Announcer, hugged some woman I don’t know, started crying, yelling, screaming, just whatever. (I wish Daddy was here. It’s ok he is alive. And I know he is proud). Ok My Girls, My Teammates are here. Where is Coach Amy? Where is Coach Amy? There you go. Carrie gets a hug too.
Well the rest is history. You walk back to the transition area. Pack up your stuff. Catch the shuttle. Go back to the Hotel. You walk in the Lobby and there’s the rest of the team cheering Jim, Jeremy and Allen (They are what I call “Elite Athletes”. You know what I am talking about). What a great feeling!
I am so grateful for this experience (the bad and good). Team in Training is a great program. One I will remember for the rest of my life. It has been a tough 8 years for me (it’s called life). What I have been learning in my thirties is you got to take the bad with the good. Somehow, you have to recognize your Blessings through all the pain and frustration, through all the failures and obstacles. Why? Because you appreciate those “Finish Line” moments with so much more passion and enthusiasm.
Honey, “Life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you’re going to get.”
So Enjoy The Ride!
Niambi

Race Day - Part 2

I couldn't even run to my bike I was so tired. I just walked to it. Now as I walk up to the transition area I see there are about 10 bikes left. I am like this is not good. I don't know what my swim time is but I know it was long and I have until 11:15am to finish that bike course. I get to my spot #1846. It was a mess...I put on my helmet first. "Always put your helmet on first" I have everything on and then I can't find my sunglasses. Oh Shit where are my glasses? WHERE ARE MY GLASSES? So I picked up my goggles and started to run out the transition area...Then I said "BUMP IT" I threw my bike down and went to get my glasses (LMAO I can't believe I did that - hilarious). I found my glass case and got up the hill onto the road. So let's go back to earlier in the morning before the race. The TNT Team is standing under the tent at the transition area entrance. We’re talking and Coach Amy says "Ok Niambi this is your strategy for the bike" (My brain said Oh Shit this is not good) "You are going to go up the hills and book it on the straight away. No playing around. You have a time limit to finish the course. There's no playing around no taking it easy" (NOTE: remember the statement about the straight away). My brain was right. I said "Ok I understand - I knew it. I need to finish this in 2 hours" Amy said "You can do it" Coach Teague "You can do it" Alright so now you know my strategy. After the first 4 miles I see Jim coming in the opposite direction - "Hey Jim" "Niambi!" (Now brain is says "This is not good. He's coming in and I am just starting. Not good). Then I see Carlos (no comment LOL). I just need to keep it moving. The first 13 miles this girl and I were neck to neck, then I fell back on this one hill. The next thing I knew there was a cop motorcycle following behind me. "Oh Crap this is not good. I can’t get pulled off this course. I need to keep going. I have been on the bike an hour and 15 minutes. I can’t get pulled off this course that will be so embarrassing. “Just keep it moving, keep it moving" My brain says. By the way where the hell is the straight away I need a moment to book it. THERE WAS NEVER A STRAIGHT AWAY, NOT ONE, NOPE NOT ONE STRAIGHT AWAY - After the 10th hill I just gave up looking for the straight away. I can laugh now but it wasn’t funny at the time. Why do I have to be the last person on the road with a cop following behind me – only Niambi (LMAO).
What was really cool about that ride from hell all the people who were on the sidelines cheering me on. It was awesome (I cried a couple of times) when I was going up those hills as people were yelling at me "You are doing a great job" “You are almost up that hill" You can do this you are almost there" That shit helps. I was so ready to give up so many times and the funny thing is the hills were not even as bad as the ones I trained on at home. It was just so damn many. Geez. (where the hell was the straight away?) Anyway when I thought I had 2 more miles to go the next thing I know I am turning into the park. I see Head Coach Chuck walking up the hill on the bike. Now I was so happy that I didn't get pulled off the course. I yelled his name and waved. (Afterwards My brain said "Ain't this some shit he's done and going home LOL")
Note: Coach Chuck is an impressive man - he is an Iron Man and he was in the 55 + age group. I just wanted to put it in perspective for you. It will sink in soon.
I stop my bike. I walk back into the transition area.

RACE DAY - Part 1

3:30 AM is when my day started...I jumped up out of the bed - fixed my oatmeal, fixed my green tea, took a shower, put on all my clothes, checked my bag and went downstairs by 4:30 AM as designated by Carrie. I was trying to be calm so my nerves wouldn't be too shot. Half the group was there, then all the group was there. It was raining like cats and dogs. I mean pouring, just pouring - I was like this is not good. I had to run upstairs to my room twice (I needed tissue and something else, can't remember). I come downstairs and my teammates are gone. "Where did they go?" I asked our coach. They went to catch the shuttle. That's what happens when you are the only chick on the team LOL. So I ran out to the shuttle to catch up with my team.
FYI - There were other TNT Coaches and Mooseman Participants doing the Columbia Tri but registered separately. And they did not look stressed (trust me) lol.
It's dark, raining, and that 1 mile seemed like a long ride. The shuttle didn't even drop us off at the front of the park. We got dropped off the corner of the street across from the park. I was like damn I gotta work out before I even get to the transition area. You walk into the transition area and loud is music playing, 100s of people are setting up (which soon turned into the 2000), a commentator is speaking, Meanwhile you are trying to locate your bike you set up the night before (number 1846, number 1846 I said to myself – I found it!). I was overwhelmed, nervous, confused and excited. I pumped air in my tires, tried to set up my transition area in the rain - left some stuff in the bag. I go back to the entrance of the area where my coach is with other Team in Training. My advisor looks calm as hell. I walked back down to my hair. Next thing I know I need my goggles, swim cap, banana nut bar and I am walking to the Port-A-Potty with Coach Jill (she is so happy and excited).
So after using the Port-A-Potty LOL I walked over to the Lake. The closer I got, the more I heard people's conversations, the more my nerves were getting out of control. By the time I got to the lake I was mortified. And yes "they" noticed. Everyone is giving me great advice and encouraging me but I couldn't hear them. I mean I heard them but I just couldn’t absorb the information. My mentor was trying to get my mind off of things, I could barely eat. I had to wait 2 hours 2 freakin’ hours for my wave. You know the 34 – 39 and Athena group. I watched my teammates go into the water wave by wave. I really lost it when I saw the look of fear in Jeremy’s face. I mean this man is a monster when it comes to this stuff. That look was not good…I saw that and my food started coming up.
Finally, they called the women with the Black Caps. I heard my name. The announcer mentioned that I was the highest fundraiser for the NJ Team-In-Training Columbia Team. I'm thinking "I BETTER FINISH THIS RACE." So I gave myself a talking to. Poor Coach Jill she was so trying to cheer me up - I was too much in shock LOL. Now while waiting in the water I saw these 3 guys on the other side of the lake looking confused - that is not a good sign. Next thing you know I am swimming. 1st half I kept up with the pack. 2nd half - I started seeing orange caps, people hanging on the buoys, blue caps, two guys grabbed my ankles and pulled me back, 10 minutes of swimming and not moving (I swear I wasn't moving lol). Finally – remember what my coaches taught you Slow and Steady, Reach, turn your body, breath under your arm pit - "I CAN NOT be pulled out of this water.” 1st buoy, 2nd buoy, 3rd, 4th coming around that mini island I see the dock....I started booking it. I get out the water, I can barely breath, I could barely walk let alone run, disoriented, dazed – I have to get to my bike.

RACE DAY - Part 1

3:30 AM is when my day started...I jumped up out of the bed - fixed my oatmeal, fixed my green tea, took a shower, put on all my clothes, checked my bag and went downstairs by 4:30 AM as designated by Carrie. I was trying to be calm so my nerves wouldn't be too shot. Half the group was there, then all the group was there. It was raining like cats and dogs. I mean pouring, just pouring - I was like this is not good. I had to run upstairs to my room twice (I needed tissue and something else, can't remember). I come downstairs and my teammates are gone. "Where did they go?" I asked our coach. They went to catch the shuttle. That's what happens when you are the only chick on the team LOL. So I ran out to the shuttle to catch up with my team.
FYI - There were other TNT Coaches and Mooseman Participants doing the Columbia Tri but registered separately. And they did not look stressed (trust me) lol.
It's dark, raining, and that 1 mile seemed like a long ride. The shuttle didn't even drop us off at the front of the park. We got dropped off the corner of the street across from the park. I was like damn I gotta work out before I even get to the transition area. You walk into the transition area and loud is music playing, 100s of people are setting up (which soon turned into the 2000), a commentator is speaking, Meanwhile you are trying to locate your bike you set up the night before (number 1846, number 1846 I said to myself – I found it!). I was overwhelmed, nervous, confused and excited. I pumped air in my tires, tried to set up my transition area in the rain - left some stuff in the bag. I go back to the entrance of the area where my coach is with other Team in Training. My advisor looks calm as hell. I walked back down to my hair. Next thing I know I need my goggles, swim cap, banana nut bar and I am walking to the Port-A-Potty with Coach Jill (she is so happy and excited).
So after using the Port-A-Potty LOL I walked over to the Lake. The closer I got, the more I heard people's conversations, the more my nerves were getting out of control. By the time I got to the lake I was mortified. And yes "they" noticed. Everyone is giving me great advice and encouraging me but I couldn't hear them. I mean I heard them but I just couldn’t absorb the information. My mentor was trying to get my mind off of things, I could barely eat. I had to wait 2 hours 2 freakin’ hours for my wave. You know the 34 – 39 and Athena group. I watched my teammates go into the water wave by wave. I really lost it when I saw the look of fear in Jeremy’s face. I mean this man is a monster when it comes to this stuff. That look was not good…I saw that and my food started coming up.
Finally, they called the women with the Black Caps. I heard my name. The announcer mentioned that I was the highest fundraiser for the NJ Team-In-Training Columbia Team. I'm thinking "I BETTER FINISH THIS RACE." So I gave myself a talking to. Poor Coach Jill she was so trying to cheer me up - I was too much in shock LOL. Now while waiting in the water I saw these 3 guys on the other side of the lake looking confused - that is not a good sign. Next thing you know I am swimming. 1st half I kept up with the pack. 2nd half - I started seeing orange caps, people hanging on the buoys, blue caps, two guys grabbed my ankles and pulled me back, 10 minutes of swimming and not moving (I swear I wasn't moving lol). Finally – remember what my coaches taught you Slow and Steady, Reach, turn your body, breath under your arm pit - "I CAN NOT be pulled out of this water.” 1st buoy, 2nd buoy, 3rd, 4th coming around that mini island I see the dock....I started booking it. I get out the water, I can barely breath, I could barely walk let alone run, disoriented, dazed – I have to get to my bike.

Some Last Minute Thoughts

Even though the Columbia team is small we are strong and even though I am the only chick on the team (as always) it has been real fun. Anyway, my Dad was in a car accident earlier this week and had to be admitted into the hospital (4 broken ribs). So of course my world just went spiraling out of control and I really didn't know if I was going to make it. So this is how cool my coach and mentor are - My coach took my bike to get tuned up before the race and my mentor picked the bike up before we left for the race. And some might think that is small but it is HUGE for me.
Then all my fellow Mooseman Teammates have been giving me so much love and well wishes to the point I feel so bad I won't make it to their event. J, A, ST, SR, M, E, C, C, J, A, J, G, J, S, M, T, L ...(I used the first letters of the names cause I don't know how people feel having their name listed on a blog lol) These people have touched my life. And if I never see them again after this (but I do plan on it) I am all the better for it. They raised the bar for me. They have inspired me...Every once in a while you need that.
So driving down with my Mentor and teammates Jim, Jeremy and Family, and Mike was pretty cool. We had some minor difficulties, someone's car broke down, but we still made it. I know exactly how that person feels I have been there the last two years (shit just happens at the most inopportune time). And yet somehow you pick yourself up and KEEP IT MOVING!! LOL We met up with Allen and Brett later that night.
So there's this lady named Carrie. She is awesome, she is the LLS coordinator and organized the logistics of everything. She is great and she definitely doesn't get enough credit. The reason why she is really cool is because she picked up a birthday cake for and had the Crab Shanty waiter bring it out to surprise me. Now that is cool LOL!

Yesterday was a great birthday not because of the cake and FREE DRINKS (which was really nice cause I can't tell the last time I had a man buy me drink LMAO) but because I experienced something new with some really great people and I would do it all over again.

So as I sit here and try to fight back my tears (I cry for so many reasons). I realize how important it is to never give up because somehow you will make it to the Other Side....with a little help from someone.

Obstacles

Had a family emergency last night on my way to the city. Woke up this morning with with my head spinning. Missed my bike ride this morning. I had 50 thousand things to do today(I am at work now). Somehow between now and tomorrow morning I will need to get my bike ride in. I will figure it out. I hope everything is timed perfectly tomorrow so I can make swim practice or I am screwed. I am not sure how much more I can take, I am really trying to push through these roadblocks. Move them out my way so I can finsih this race on Sunday. I have some serious decisions to make between now and Wednesday.

Open Water Swim Part 2

So last week (Open Water Swim Part 1) I was excited about the open water swim. I just got my goggles and triathlon backpack the other day. I woke up in the morning cooked breakfast, didn't have to worry about packing my bike cause it was already in the car, then went to back my bag. Then I realized I did not know to pack this bag LOL. I was like Oh Crap what do I do - so I googled TYR Triathlon Bag and looked at the pictures and some how figured it out. It is amazing what you can do under pressure. Plus I wanted to practice before the race. Anyway, I got to the beach my teammates were there.
Let me paint the picture for you. It is cold and very windy (I mean windy). We were at Lavellette Beach (near Seaside Heights). After we got organized into our groups - Beginners, Intermediate and Advance, we had to swim out to the area. 30 people swimming to one point, the current is taking you one place the wind is taking you to another Uggh. When I finally got out the water for the first part of the session - I know I had this look of horror on my face because two of my teammates asked if I was ok and then My Coach Jav asked (well at that point I almost started crying cause I was like I don't think I can do it. I couldn't pull this off)
Well, some of us had lunch and I realized that it wasn't just me we all felt a little (something I can't think of the word). Good Lunch - Wharfside in Point Pleasant.

So yesterday. I was running late (I don't know what I had but something made me sick in the morning LOL). No time to pack a bike or tri-bag LOL Oh well...End result I left the Open Water Swim feeling I can do this! I can do this....

10 DAYS!

There are 10 days left until D-Day...I can not tell you how nervous and scared I am. I got it get it together LOL I keep saying it is all good - I am just slower than everyone else LOL
10 days - I am also excited and looking forward to it. Weird right. I mean I am starting to really enjoy this craziness. I already signed up for the Jersey Girl Triathlon on August 8th.
More importantly I have raised a little over $4000 and I know it is going to help someone. I am thinking I am nervous is because I do not want to disappoint William. I mean this is why I am doing this anyway to raise awareness of this pain in the ass disease.
Well I will stop procrastinating now and go to the gym LOL (still at work)

10, 9, 8, 7, 6 ......

Open Water Swim

All I can say there was an extreme look of fear when I got out that water yesterday

Pivotal Point

So last Friday I went by Marty's Reliable Bike Shop in Randolph(two Fridays ago) to pick up some biker shorts. Cause I am tired of looking like the orphan of the group- Oversize sweatpants, borrowing peoples ID bands, etc. etc. Anyway, my Coach (Coach Amy) was working that day and she was glad to see me because she wanted to talk to me. So she asked the question "Do you think you are ready?" and I just started crying, right in the middle of the bike shop. I was trying to do that calm cry so no one will notice but that was the straw that broke the camels back. I feel like I am failing at everything and I am so stressed about this race and getting sick that week did not help. So the coaches were concerned...
Amy and I talked for a while ...so bottom line I can do this I just need some "special" help LOL. So last Sunday I was with Amy and her beau working on hills and last Friday I rode with her for another bike ride. And I can tell you I will never look at a hill the same. OMG I truly did not think I was going to make it but Amy made me a deal if I got up those hills then I can do Columbia - So I made it up those hills with no falls and no walking.
I can not tell you how important it is to have a supportive and motivating coaches to help you reach your goal. I have been so impressed by not only their athletic skills but their leadership abilities are awesome. And even thought I fell like I am failing I am glad they never thought I was a failure.
Yes I Can!

Bike Rides

My First Ride
It was about four weeks ago, I picked up my $1200 bike on Saturday and went on my first 30 mile bike ride on Sunday. It was horrible, I fell 4 times, never have done so many hills in my life. One fall was on hill, and I cried going up 2 of them. I got through and moved on.

My 2nd Ride
So this was recovery week, so I thought until Coach Chuck said it is 40 miles. Huh, Say that again. Well I can tell you I only fell twice, the first fall was at the end of 20 miles in front of a coffee shop (Bike Stop) in front of expert bikers. And it was in slow motion LOL. Oh Well. Then did my final 20 got to my car and once again slow motion but a loud boom. These two women yelled out are you ok, one guy shouted it...Yea Yea Yea. The guy said I know, it is more your ego that hurts. LOL

Well rode with some teammates last friday. It went pretty well and they all were helpful. One of more compettive teammate Jeremy (and a stealth athlete) Really pushed me on the hills which was good for me. He is a great motivator.

So I had special training today with my Coach and her beau for hills. I will discuss that tomorrow.

All I know is have to make it to this race and finish.