Join Team Z

I’ve never been an athlete, neither in school nor as an adult. A friend wanted us to do a triathlon for our 40th birthdays. At first I couldn’t run more than 10 minutes without walking, but I enjoyed training and pushing myself to do something well outside of my comfort zone. After that, I found Team Z. There are people of all skill levels on the team, and everyone I’ve met is friendly and helpful. During races everyone cheers until the last person has crossed the finish line. I do my swim, bike and run training with the team as many times per week as I feel comfortable with, I do a few triathlons each year, and I have made some close friends. I’m still one of the last people to finish a race, but that’s not the point. I am a triathlete.

I began my triathlon life in September of 2006. I am the archetypical AOA (Adult Onset Athlete). At 38 years old I was extremely overweight (pushing 400 pounds) and had uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure). Once I was discharged for the hospital after suffering Congestive Heart Failure I began swimming and then running. In four months I was able to run my first continuous mile ever. My first bike in twenty years came the next Spring. From there it was a matter of consistent training week after week and month after month I joined Team Z in 2007 when I moved to Virginia. Training is full of highs and lows. One of Team Z’s greatest benefits is that it keeps me training through the lows till the next high rolls around. As I keep training with the team I hope to take my speed to the next level of competition.

My first triathlon was a sprint designed for women of all shapes and sizes and speeds. The organizers made sure that the women who crossed the finish line last were as celebrated as the ones who finished first. You don’t see that much in racing. Probably the thing I most love about Team Z is that we are the ones who do that celebrating for the final finishers ”“ no matter what team they’re on. We line the finishing chute, form arches with our hands and blow vuvuzelas because we understand that the achievement of finishing is so much more important than pace or place.

I joined Team Z to train for my first Ironman. The training program got me comfortably to the finish line, as strange as that may sound. In 2012, about 100 teammates finished Iron distance races on the same day ”” the program is the real deal. But it doesn’t matter what distance you want to train for ”“ I’ve seen teammates go from not being able to swim one length of the pool to finishing their first sprint triathlon at the end of the season. They manage that because every week they get personalized attention from the swim coaches on the pool deck. Or they ride their brakes all the way down an even gentle hill and by the end of the season, they’re shouting “Woooooohooooooo!!!” as they break the sound barrier. They can do that because of the specialized hill training we provide with ride leaders beside them calling out instructions and encouragement. No matter what your fear, your weakness or your inexperience, Team Z can help you overcome it all.

Or ”¦ maybe my favorite thing about the team are the italian chicken sausages and hand cut fries on the bbq after a long ride. It’s the little things that Team Z does as much as the big things that makes it so important to me. Give it a go ”” see what I mean.