5 Words That Made a Race an Unforgettable Experience

When I participate in a race, I don’t ever have any expectations except to cross the finish line, preferably in one piece with no injuries. Everything else is just icing on my sweaty-red-I-feel-like-I-may-have-a-heart-attack face.

 

But what happened at this race was so much more than icing. It was one of those moments you never forget, and I never will. 

 

It’s June 21st - Father’s Day -  and I’m Team Member No. 3 in a triathlon relay at the Toronto Triathlon Festival. My friend Jen is swimming 1500m, Katja is cycling 40k, and I’ll be crossing the finish line after running 10k.

 

Our team name? 

 

 

Our ages range from the mid 30s to late 40s. We were running to encourage other moms that they too can compete in a triathlon, even non-athletes like us.

 

 

No matter what happened on this day, it was going to be a feel good race. Jen had gotten back into swimming after a hiatus and it had spurred her on to enter more triathlons. Katja had never cycled before and was going to ride on the Gardner/DVP in Toronto - an amazing experience for any cyclist. 

 

Jen ended up killing her time and, I think, even surprising herself at how well she did (I wasn’t surprised, I knew she would kick ass). And Katja had bravely put any worries she had aside and came riding in with a smile on her face. 

 

I was off and running. 

 

Unfortunately, by kilometre three, what had initially started out as a warm overcast day, turned into a hot, the sun is out in full force day. I don’t do well in the heat so in my head I knew my goal of hitting under an hour might not happen. By the seventh kilometer all I was focused on was keeping my feet moving forward and hydrating at every station.

 

Finally the end was in sight. I was hot, red, sweaty, and ready to be done. As I was finishing up the last half a kilometer, I could hear people yelling...

 

 

I had no idea what they were talking about or who “her” was but I sped up anyway.

 

I was down to the last few hundred feet when I felt a tap on my shoulder, turned my head and looked into a face lit up by a smile.

 

I didn’t know it at the time but it was a Junior Elite triathlete, Meghan Lamers. I would later learn that like me she fought hard to overcome an eating disorder. 

 

She smiled at me and said “Let’s finish this thing together.” 

 

And so we did.

 

Meghan who is just beginning a very promising triathlon career and me, a 45 year-old mom who is just plugging along trying to stay active. Both who battled body image/food related demons in our past. The young and the old(ish), side-by-side.

 

I sprinted across that finish line faster than I’ve ever sprinted before. I have no doubt Meghan slowed down her pace to stay with me. 

 

Racing keeps me fit. It helps me set goals, and allows me to be a good example to my boys. 

 

But that race? That race Meghan was the example we should all set. She showed great sportsmanship and what the triathlon community – what racing communities are like in general – warm, encompassing, and supportive. 

 

It could have been a normal ending to what would have already been a great day.

 

But with five words “Let’s finish this thing together,” Meghan gave me so much more.