Esprit de She

My first official Sprint Distance was the Esprit de She Triathlon in Naperville, Illinois. I crossed that very emotional and muddy finish line on June 14, 2015. I loved the event. I’m not sure if it’s because it was my first event. I’m not sure if it’s because I simply finished and within 22 seconds of my goal time. I’m not sure if it’s because I survived what is still arguably the most bizarre swim a person might have to face during a race. I am sure I loved this event because it was an all-women event. Women only. As young girls like to say “No Boys Allowed!”

                                 

I remember going and picking up my race packet, the pure excitement that was in the air and all of the strong, amazing women I’d be racing alongside the following day. I remember the buzzing of women the day of race as we shivered in the rain waiting to start. I remember being kicked in the chest by a fellow swimmer passing me and thought for sure I'd die, or at the very least drown. I remember biking and passing women. I remember getting passed by super fast women. I remember running and thinking it was only 3.1 miles. I remember finishing.

The following days I was on some sort of purely bizarre post-triathlon high. The thing was ... it wasn't just me. Through the event and social media I came across other women experiencing the same feelings. They had completed the same race that started late due to inclement weather and finished with the sun shinning.

Months and races passed, but cliche as it is my first triathlon is very near and dear to my heart. It was encouraging. It was emotional. It was fun. It was wet. It was so wet and muddy. Also in the months following, thanks to social media I continued following not only the Esprit de She race series, but other women whom I had either met or been inspired by. These women are all from different walks of life. Different shapes, sizes. Some athletic. Some just 'tri'-ing. 

Much to my surprise and what I thought was a pretty ridiculous long shot, I applied to be an Esprit de She Ambassador. This is the race series that started it all. This is a group of women who race with women. Meaning they race for women ... themselves at the very least. Much to my surprise I was chosen to represent Esprit de She in 2016. I'm honestly still trying to wrap my head around it.

When people find out I do triathlons they are surprised by this. I don't blame them. I work a Monday-Friday office job. I in fact work a part time job a couple nights a week and on weekends. I'm not sure what a triathlete looks like, at least not a non-professional one. I take that back, actually I do. I'm one. I know what I look like. I know what all of those women I did the Naperville race look like. Ok, not really, but stick with me here. Point being while people are surprised I do triathlons and at first I was taken aback by the fact that I do them as well I didn't talk about it a lot. It was sort of my secret "Oh, hey, by the way". 

Now I'll talk your ear off. I'll try to encourage you. In fact, at my part time job I came across two women who were buying swim goggles, I said to them "Hey, these are my goggles! Well, these goggles, I have a different color." We began chatting. They were going to tackle an indoor triathlon; in fact the same indoor triathlon that got me hooked. I chatted their ears off. I told them what my very new self knew. I told them about Esprit de She. On that day of the indoor triathlon we saw each other and chatted. And best of all ... I've switched workout locations and go to the same location as them! Just the other day we were talking about Esprit de She and I'm not positive but I'm pretty sure they will be lining up in Naperville come race day.

Does that make me the right choice as an Ambassador? Who knows. Maybe that's why I was chosen. Maybe it's my intense passion for finally finding something in life that I can do. I don't have to do it well, but I do it. I improve. I fail. I get up (literally if I fall off my bike) and try again. I wasn't athletic growing up. I chose triathlon at random. I'm pretty sure I could have found a less random sport ... as in singular, not triathlon which is three sports. But that's just me. Little ole me a 2016 Esprit de She Ambassador out in the triathlon world seeing who I can inspire and bring with along the way.