Reflections...
Posted by Samantha Fugate on Monday, June 13, 2011
With my next race less than a week away, my dad and I decided to go for an open water swim. When I swim in open water I like to throw my Garmin GPS watch into my cap because that is the only way to track distance properly. Unfortunately, with the combination of my rather large watch and my lengthening hair, I feel like I need an extra large cap because there just isn't enough room! So as I was finishing my open water mile, I felt my cap starting to slip up. During the swim I did stop a few times to pull my cap down, but I was so close to the finish that I decided to just keep swimming. And then my cap popped up over my ear. Ugh, I hate when that happens! Of course, it gave me some flashbacks to when I very first started triathlon. Which brings me to when I started learning how to swim.
The first time Todd showed up to the pool to teach me how to swim I was ready by the pool with my cap on... but not over my ears. I am pretty sure Todd laughed out loud because with a cap on my ears stick so far out to the sides I am sure I looked absolutely ridiculous! I love to look back on those pictures from my first year in triathlon, which really wasn't all that long ago. In my very first race I wore a black onsie that had a broken zipper (I broke it the night before when I was practicing), so I had to hold it shut with a safety pin. My ears were sticking out of my cap on the swim and I am wearing long socks with smiley faces on the bike and run. Good times! That was also the one and only race I did on a road bike, my dad's Trek 2100.
Looking back now I think it is crazy how far I have come in only 4 seasons! I still can't believe that one day this idea popped into my head as my soccer career was coming to an end. And I can honestly say I would not change any of my triathlon past. I think that is the great part of triathlon, the sport has so much to give. I met my fiance and soon-to-be husband Todd, my best friend Becca and strengthened my relationship with my dad. I have also met so many great women on the Playmakers team... Becca dragged me to a practice last year and I am actually starting to like running!
Strange how something so simple as my ear popping out of my cap can make me look back and appreciate triathlon!
The first time Todd showed up to the pool to teach me how to swim I was ready by the pool with my cap on... but not over my ears. I am pretty sure Todd laughed out loud because with a cap on my ears stick so far out to the sides I am sure I looked absolutely ridiculous! I love to look back on those pictures from my first year in triathlon, which really wasn't all that long ago. In my very first race I wore a black onsie that had a broken zipper (I broke it the night before when I was practicing), so I had to hold it shut with a safety pin. My ears were sticking out of my cap on the swim and I am wearing long socks with smiley faces on the bike and run. Good times! That was also the one and only race I did on a road bike, my dad's Trek 2100.
Looking back now I think it is crazy how far I have come in only 4 seasons! I still can't believe that one day this idea popped into my head as my soccer career was coming to an end. And I can honestly say I would not change any of my triathlon past. I think that is the great part of triathlon, the sport has so much to give. I met my fiance and soon-to-be husband Todd, my best friend Becca and strengthened my relationship with my dad. I have also met so many great women on the Playmakers team... Becca dragged me to a practice last year and I am actually starting to like running!
Strange how something so simple as my ear popping out of my cap can make me look back and appreciate triathlon!
