My life as an "athlete" started back in 2000 when I was 41 years old (aside from being on my high school swim team for three years). A chance meeting at the gym with a woman who is now a friend of mine led me down the path to triathlons and half marathons. A couple of years later, I also became a coach at the junior high level. I coached cross country, powerlifting, and track, and later on became the assistant coach for the high school swim team for a few years as well. I figured out pretty quickly that if I were to have any credibility with the kids I coached that I would have to ante up and get out there and show them that if I could do it, then they could do it as well. I took a course and became a certified sports performance coach, and I also started lifting weights on a regular basis. This has been my salvation throughout the past 10 years.
I did my first sprint distance triathlon on July 30th, 2000 in Temple, Texas. Since then, I have completed over 55 events: half marathons, sprint distance triathlons, 5K's, bicycling events, and a few adventure races. I have competed in eight states so far: Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, and Washington. I have met some of the most excellent people and have cemented fast friendships. I have managed to get nearly my entire family (mom, sisters, sons, and a cousin) into entering athletic events, and I am proud to say that last September, my 77 year old mother came in second place in her age group (77-79) in the Philadelphia Rock and Roll Half Marathon. She got a beautiful trophy in the shape of the Liberty Bell and was pretty excited that in that event, she had cut more than 30 minutes off of her time from a previous half marathon. How awesome is that?
I have also managed to drag more than a few friends into doing these events with me. We have the best time! Life has been pretty good to me, and there is no feeling like the one you get when someone tells you that you have changed their life. I owe it all to that chance meeting in the gym way back in April of 2000.....I have never looked back, and my life has been forever changed.
Till next time.....
Keep moving!
Jill
SWIM.....
BIKE..............
