She Tris | A Women's Only Sprint Triathlon | Mount Pleasant, SC
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Triathlete Spotlight: Marla K.

2/10/2017

4 Comments

 
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​Never an athlete as a kid, I learned to run distance as an adult in 2011.  While the inside of my head screamed “they will laugh, you can’t,” I found the running community to be quite welcoming and encouraging.  And as I worked towards my goals that year to complete a 5k, 10k and then a half marathon, I indeed found that inner voice that said  “You can!” and “I’m proud of me.”  Around this time, I also found an all women online fitness/weight loss group called PNPTribe and an overflow of more encouragement, motivation, inspiration and self-confidence continued to flow.   In discovering my inner athlete as an adult, I have found women athletes to be some of the best encouragers and inspiring people I know.   
 
 At the beginning of last year, I decided to see if triathlon was for me.  So inspiration in hand, I searched for a triathlon and found the inaugural SheTris Triathlon in 2016.   The tag line “All women. Three sports. ONE JOURNEY” just sung out to my soul and spirit.  I not only learned how to run as an adult, but also recently learned how to swim as well, and I hadn’t been on a bike in ages.  So I knew my journey ahead was going to be long and challenging should I attempt to do all three together.   But after reading through the mission of this triathlon (to empower and show women of any size, shape, age or ability they could do a triathlon), I wanted to become a triathlete at SheTris. 

From experience, I knew that setting goals and asking for help from community is so empowering and important.   So I went to the online group of PNPTribe and posted out that I had a dream/goal of doing a tri.  I told them I had found the perfect one in beautiful Charleston, SC and that I wondered if anyone would want to join in my new adventure.  And as amazing PNP women always do, they responded whole-heartedly. Nine women (most of whom had never done a Tri) from all over the US and Canada, decided to join me in the SheTris journey. We would all train and learn together. 

Forming an online private Facebook group, we trained separately, encouraged each other often, and celebrated our milestone. When race weekend came, we knew we were ready.   From the moment I made my first stroke in the water, zoomed through the bike course, ran around that beautiful picturesque lake, and  heard encouragement from friends and strangers, my heart filled with joy and determination.  Crossing that finish line was fantastic, but I will say that watching each friend and woman coming across with her own story and accomplishment was equally amazing.    We were all strong women, accomplishing goals, celebrating strength and diversity.  We were TRIATHLETES! 


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The next day, we all reveled in our glorious accomplishment by going to the beach.  The laughter and friendship of that weekend was one of the highlights of this year.  And I can’t wait to come back and do it all again, and this time 18 of my friends are joining me in the journey!  We as women can do amazing things together with our own inner strength and the power of encouragement and support from one another.  SheTris celebrates this spirit in each of us individually and together.   I cannot wait to do it again.  See you there! 

​-Marla
4 Comments

Amazing.

2/8/2017

0 Comments

 
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I walked back into a yoga class at my favorite studio three weeks ago. I hadn’t been there since I was 9 months pregnant with my third child. Here I am in that uncomfortable familiar place of starting over in this once again postpartum body. After 6 months I am finally starting to recognize it again.  I am not one of those lucky ladies who bounce back to their original size and shape quickly. I continue to convince myself I’m ok with it and to just show up, just get started, no matter how it looks and feels. I walk into the crowded class and lay out my mat. The Yoga instructor opens up the class with the most perfect thing I needed to hear. She discusses the difference between being okay and being amazing. I quickly realize I am not okay with okay. I have never been someone who settles. I love the word amazing and I overuse it a lot, but maybe not as much recently. She reads us this quote (I wish I knew who to give the credit to):

“Look around you. How many people do you think are settling? Probably a heck of a lot. People settle into okay relationships, okay jobs, okay friends, and an okay life. Why? Because okay is comfortable. Okay pays the bills, and provides a warm bed at night. Some people are fine with okay, and guess what? That’s okay. But okay is not thrilling, it isn’t passion, it’s not life challenging or unforgettable. Okay is not the reason you risk absolutely everything you’ve got for the smallest chance that something absolutely amazing could happen.”

Wow. That’s AMAZING. I want to be and feel AMAZING. At the end of the yoga hour after struggling through the challenging flow class, fumbling through poses, lying still for a few minutes-Aha! Finally! I feel AMAZING! I want more of this so called AMAZING. I had forgotten what AMAZING feels like.
​

My mind instantly thought of all of you. If you are in the process of gearing up to start training for your triathlon you might be feeling like “What the heck did I sign up for?” Why did I do this to myself? It’s okay to feel apprehensive.  However, by taking that step and signing up for She Tris (or any event) you’re taking that chance to become passionate about something. In my last entry I wrote about how the first step in rejuvenating your health and fitness goals is to listen to your inner voice. Listen to your needs, your desires, to what your heart is telling you.  Is there something missing from your life? What is it? If you are out of balance, if you feel something isn’t right, if you know you are not giving yourself enough, if you know you want to lead a healthy life but don’t know why you haven’t started or can’t stick to it, this is your heart telling you you’re not going down the path it honestly wants. So what do you do, how do you answer these feelings and questions? You start. Listen, then act. Then guess what? You will start to feel AMAZING!  Take that uncomfortable first step into a yoga class, into the pool, onto your bike, by walking forward or running and it will make you feel AMAZING!  You are about to start something that’s on your bucket list or maybe you needed a new challenge or want to conquer something you never thought you’d do.  Whatever the reason, make it an AMAZING journey!

Yours in Fitness, 
​Angi
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  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • Mission & Background
    • FAQ
    • Event Photos
    • Beneficiary
    • Contact Us
  • I'On Mt. Pleasant
    • Course
    • Sponsors
    • Pre-Event Information
    • Event Day Information
    • Volunteer
    • Results
  • Hamlin
    • Course
    • Pre-Event Information
    • Event Day Information
    • Volunteer
  • Carnes Crossroads
    • Course
    • Pre-Event Information
    • Event Day Information
    • Volunteer
    • Results
  • Training Programs
    • Getting Started
    • Training Tips
    • Clinics
    • Transition Checklist
  • Blog