Triathlon and Tatoos
13/07/10 21:30
My personal
journey toward becoming a healthy educator took a
LONG time, but it directly enhanced my quality of
life and allowed me to be the person on the outside
I always felt I was on the inside. Through
this multi-year journey, I learned that the
challenges inherent in wellness are powerful to
both the individual and those watching. I
know that my colleagues, friends, family and the
students I serve are inspired to embrace a
healthier lifestyle through lifelong fitness.
Doors to pertinent, and frequently personal,
conversations have been opened because I am willing
to be transparent about my struggles and this
journey. Here is my story.....
In January
of 2009, I decided that completing a triathlon
would be the perfect celebration of reaching my
goal and losing 83% of my excess body weight by
dropping 230 pounds. As I am fond of telling folks,
“I’ve lost an overweight, adult male, and I am not
doing a police report!”
I knew the triathlon would require training in swimming, running and biking. Sprint distance triathlons usually consist of a 400-500 meter swim, a 12.5 to 16 mile bike ride, and a 5K (3.1 miles) run. I began my preparation by purchasing some books on triathlon training online, and bought a bike in Albuquerque. As the superintendent of the Fort Sumner Municipal Schools, I found I had lots of encouragement from high school athletes, many of whom were quite willing to share training tips and tricks. Nobody in my rural community of Fort Sumner had ever done a triathlon, but they all knew how to provide support. On May 9, 2009 I completed the Jay Benson triathlon with tears of joy streaming down my face, and no shame that I was the last one across the finish line. Over the rest of 2009, I completed five triathlons, ultimately setting my personal best for the season by being 3rd from the last finisher at the Patriot Tri in Rio Rancho.
During the winter months, I continued to train, and recruited school staff and community members into a “fitness posse” that meets weekdays at 5:30 AM to run, walk, and lift weights. This summer the school principals, Doreen Winn and Scott McMath, and I organized and hosted the inaugural Billy the Kid Triathlon held at Sumner Lake State Park. A third of the racers were first time triathlon participants.
Friends from Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and now Fort Sumner are doing triathlons because they believe my message that ANYONE can do a triathlon. I frequently tell people, “If I can do it, I know you can, and I will show you how.” I share my passion for lifelong fitness with others in a way that makes joining in fun because I know the pain and difficulty of living in a body that weighed 405 pounds, and I rejoice daily in my new ability to be an athlete. I train six days a week, about 10-12 hours per week, and will gladly share my training schedule with anyone who is interested.
So far this year I’ve participated in four triathlons and I have six more scheduled, as well as two half marathons and a duathlon. One thing that makes me smile broadly is that so far this season I’ve not been last in any triathlon and my time in each race has been better than the last. My mid-range goal is to do a half Ironman (1 mile swim, 52 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) within the next two years and a full Ironman distance race (2 mile swim, 104 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) within five. When I finish my Ironman distance race, I plan on getting an Ironman tattoo!
You can read more about my triathlon experiences in the notes section of my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/patricia.d.miller.
Patricia D. Miller, NBCT
patriciam@gmail.com
I knew the triathlon would require training in swimming, running and biking. Sprint distance triathlons usually consist of a 400-500 meter swim, a 12.5 to 16 mile bike ride, and a 5K (3.1 miles) run. I began my preparation by purchasing some books on triathlon training online, and bought a bike in Albuquerque. As the superintendent of the Fort Sumner Municipal Schools, I found I had lots of encouragement from high school athletes, many of whom were quite willing to share training tips and tricks. Nobody in my rural community of Fort Sumner had ever done a triathlon, but they all knew how to provide support. On May 9, 2009 I completed the Jay Benson triathlon with tears of joy streaming down my face, and no shame that I was the last one across the finish line. Over the rest of 2009, I completed five triathlons, ultimately setting my personal best for the season by being 3rd from the last finisher at the Patriot Tri in Rio Rancho.
During the winter months, I continued to train, and recruited school staff and community members into a “fitness posse” that meets weekdays at 5:30 AM to run, walk, and lift weights. This summer the school principals, Doreen Winn and Scott McMath, and I organized and hosted the inaugural Billy the Kid Triathlon held at Sumner Lake State Park. A third of the racers were first time triathlon participants.
Friends from Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and now Fort Sumner are doing triathlons because they believe my message that ANYONE can do a triathlon. I frequently tell people, “If I can do it, I know you can, and I will show you how.” I share my passion for lifelong fitness with others in a way that makes joining in fun because I know the pain and difficulty of living in a body that weighed 405 pounds, and I rejoice daily in my new ability to be an athlete. I train six days a week, about 10-12 hours per week, and will gladly share my training schedule with anyone who is interested.
So far this year I’ve participated in four triathlons and I have six more scheduled, as well as two half marathons and a duathlon. One thing that makes me smile broadly is that so far this season I’ve not been last in any triathlon and my time in each race has been better than the last. My mid-range goal is to do a half Ironman (1 mile swim, 52 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) within the next two years and a full Ironman distance race (2 mile swim, 104 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) within five. When I finish my Ironman distance race, I plan on getting an Ironman tattoo!
You can read more about my triathlon experiences in the notes section of my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/patricia.d.miller.
Patricia D. Miller, NBCT
patriciam@gmail.com
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