Paying it forward

If you have followed my progress at all then you know that I started doing this while I was morbidly obese.  I wanted to run.  Unfortunately because of my excess weight I had to move into running very slowly and use cycling and elliptical workouts as my primary cardio.

In 2007 I was working for a little Bleeding "Edge" Technology company and doing support for them.  I had gotten this bug to start running my at that time 275 lb body around in an attempt to become a "real" runner like the kind you see in Nike commercials.  FYI Real runners look like all kinds of different things. I ran with no plan and no diet changes for about 75 days.  Some of it is even documented in some of the first posts of this blog.   A coworker found out and began encouraging me.   We talked several times about my training.  I really wanted to run bad but I hurt my knee because I was too heavy and too determined.   While I was off mending I lost motivation.  2.5 years later I get my head out of my butt and lose a bunch of weight and in the process get recommitted to running and pursuing my goals.

My coworker friend pushes me to Tri... and that's all it took to get me in.   This last year I became a Triathlete with a lot of struggle and injury healing time off I got 2 races in.    The reason for this post is not to recap my past start.  Much of that can be found in other posts on this blog.  The purpose is to take a moment to show how much a friendship and a hand up can help another aspiring runner, cyclist, swimmer, duathlete, or Multisport athlete Whatever you are.

A few weeks ago I had come off of the post holiday season and realized that I had some work to do and I needed to get my head back in the game and prepare for the upcoming season.   I knew I didn't have a ton of cash to throw around but I had some items I needed to purchase to be more competitive this season and just do things right.   I reached out to my Triathlete friend hoping to just get a boost of motivation and help me pull myself together.  What I got was far more.

She sent out a email blast to the Tri Community and found the stuff I needed on the cheap.  We decided to meet up for a trainer ride and we had a very good talk.  She is a super amazing friend.  You couldn't be luckier to have a friend in LittleRachet.  She cheered me up and lifted my down spirits and then surprised the crap out of me with all kinds of gear I could use!  That night I picked up a trainer, shoes, pedals, and great coach. She is pretty amazing and really shows how much helping out an aspiring athlete can make a huge difference.  I owe her so much.  One day I hope I can repay her or at least pay it forward to someone else new to the sport.

Just exactly when I needed it.

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours. - John Galt