I suppose most chemotherapy patients don’t do much blogging about a triathlon, but you know me… just a bit crazy. Maybe like P!nk says, “wrong in all the right ways?”
Last time I was in treatment I did a race, so I figured I could do one this time. Never mind that my oncologist said that the second time would likely be tougher, or that I’ve had to miss more school this time than last, or that I’ve felt way crappier this time around, or even that my last treatment was only 5 days prior… I could still do a race. After all, it would just be a ‘mini’ sprint. And *every* finisher would get a medal!
The evening before, even the moments before, I told Morgan, “I’m not sure I can do this.” But he knew I could and he encouraged me and by the time I hit the water, I was good to go. I didn’t push hard, just swam at a regular pace. The transition to the bike was *really* long, but I was trying to remind myself that I just wanted to finish, it wasn’t really a race this time. On Fiesta Island, the headwinds were harsh, but I kept singing in my head and thinking of all the people who would be proud of me and was able to at least maintain peddling. When I transitioned to the sneakers, I knew I was getting tired. I would run a bit and feel pretty decent, but after a short (really short) distance, I’d have to walk. Headphones with good music helped, but I also didn’t want to shut out the encouraging cheers of the supporters. I needed that more than music. Finally had the finish line in sight and knew it was close enough to run to. So I told myself, “this is it,” I picked up the pace and went with as much gusto as I could. Getting closer I could hear the announcer calling out names and I really wanted to hear mine, but I had to focus too hard on keeping my legs moving and any sounds from outside my head disappeared. I crossed the blue timing mat and then saw the second mat, and for a moment remembered being frustrated with that in the past. “Why do they put that first one out? It always tricks me into thinking I’m done, and then I have to go like 25 feet more. How dumb.” Second mat, steps away, I could see the medals hanging from pretty yellow ribbons … Yes, crossed it, DONE 
I did it! Stumbled a few feet into line with the racers ahead of me and then realized… the jerk kids handing out medals didn’t even give me one.
How anticlimactic and unrewarding to have to turn back around and ask for a medal.
(Thanks a ton to Kim and Cathy, my long time baseball girlfriends for staying after they were done to cheer me on, and to Morgan, my love for being with me through it all)
kim, me, cathy
Way to go Anitra. You are inspiring to say the least. What’s my excuse now for not getting in shape huh? Hey girl, I’m in town until Sunday. Would love to see you. Give me a call. 928 710 7233.
Congratulations…there was no doubt that you could do it. You are an inspiration! Love you. xoxo
I suppose a triathlon also helps you make Vitamin D (go ahead click it – it’s a good Dr Mercola article), the deficiency of which is a great candidate for causing cancer.
Here’s a brief summary of some articles I just read on it (1 and 2): If you expose your body to sunlight when the sun is high enough in the sky (I think somewhere over 42 degrees ascension), the oil that your body puts on its skin uses it to convert raw ingredients to vitamin D, but it’s nearly impossible to overdose this way because the process stops automatically. For us pale-faces, 10 minutes every day at noon should be plenty and affords very little risk of sun-exposure skin cancer. There’s another article I can’t find right now that says it takes about 2 days for at least 50% of the vitamin D produced on our skin to be absorbed. Soap and water wash it off. So I don’t wash my legs very often.
You are a rock star!
Although I wish you didn’t have to be, I always knew you were a superhero. Stay strong!