I used to be in awe of people who said they did triathlons. It seemed impossible and the idea of swimming in the ocean/lake seemed crazy. I loved swimming, but was scared of the deep end of the pool. I would imagine sea creatures in a pool (i know how that sounds), so the idea of real sea creatures was definitely a no-no. However, when there was on info session about Malibu Triathlon at my office, i was intrigued. I got carried away by the presentation and prompty signed up for it. That probably was one of the best decisions of my life. The journey after that wasn't half as easy as i expected. It was a lot of hard work, but that part is still within my control. The part that was a true test of my will power and grit was overcoming my fears in the ocean and to keep on trying, no matter how scary the last experience was. That experince changed something in me. I sometimes view an adversity in my life as the process of getting to a bouy from the shore. Its amazing how a lot of the mental techniques you use in a sport can apply to your daily life. I now absolutely love doing triathlons, especially Malibu. It is an exceptionally beautiful course, and i invariably get lost in its beauty in the middle of the race.
Well, that was my story. However, there is another aspect of the malibu tri that makes it so very special. The fundraising for the race goes to the cancer research at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). I feel grateful to be able to raise money for these not-so-fortunate children while doing something i enjoy so much. Often during the training/race when i want to quit, the thought of the battle these children are facing makes me realize how small my problems are, and it keeps me going. I hope you feel the same, and help by donating to the cause in any capacity. Thank you for reading so far, and have a fantastic day.
