rock /räk/ noun
1. geology any hard mass of consolidated mineral matter, such as a boulder
2. a person or thing suggesting a rock, especially in being dependable, unchanging, or providing firm foundation
3. on the rocks a. in a state of ruin or destitution b. (of drinks, esp whisky) served with ice
1. geology any hard mass of consolidated mineral matter, such as a boulder
2. a person or thing suggesting a rock, especially in being dependable, unchanging, or providing firm foundation
3. on the rocks a. in a state of ruin or destitution b. (of drinks, esp whisky) served with ice
Over the past year I have experienced the pain of many rocks and the joys of many more. During my first year of triathlon and my first few adventures on the bike, definition number one met my rear many times in what we like to call the "graceful fall". And, if I am being honest, there have been more than a few of definition three over the past year as well. Let's call that self medicating for definition one. The definition that strikes home most is number two: A person or thing suggesting a rock, especially in being dependable, unchanging, or providing firm foundation. This "rock" was the group that I now know as the TEAM.
I started my year with the TEAM hesitant and unsure. Not only unsure of my abilities as a triathlete, but also of my role in the group. What I found was that this group of people was more important to my success and rehabilitation over the past year than any training schedule or swim workout would be. I have confessed to many of my teammates that when I joined the group I planned to only gain training. I cannot believe how wrong I was. Yes, I completed the Philadelphia Triathlon with confidence. Yes, I went on to complete the Nation's Triathlon along side many of my teammates later in the year as well. The thing I did not anticipate was that I gained a support group beyond what I could have imagined. I gained a family.
If you have been following my journey, you know that in August we marked the one year anniversary of my mother's passing. The tradition in the Jewish faith is to memorialize the first anniversary of a death by consecrating a headstone or other gravesite marker. It is also a Jewish custom to put a pebble on the headstone when one visits a grave to mark that you have been there and that you respect the one who has passed on. I have to say that while this is an important moment, as it is intended to mark the passing of the most difficult period of grieving, I faced it with trepidation. I was unsure of what to do or say so I thought back on the year that had passed, the emotional and physical hurdles and triumphs. In that moment I knew what I was going there to do.
I took my rock and applied a layer of bright purple paint. A very specific color of purple, TEAM purple. I placed that purple rock on the headstone that stands above my mother and I told her that I was fighting for her. I was doing something to help. And above everything I thanked her. A mother's job is to look out for her children in every way. To care for them and make sure that they have all the tools they need for success. In thinking about this I realized that it was no accident that I came to know the people I met at TEAM, they were sent to me from her. They were and are the pillars of strength who have held me up through the last year. Mom knew that our family would be healing to each other and that my friends would support and love me through my grief but in a way that only she could, she sent me an insurance policy of support. She sent me the TEAM.
I will be paying it forward this year as I join Team in Training again as a mentor to other triathletes in their fundraising efforts. We will start training and fundraising in December so keep an eye out for updates!
I started my year with the TEAM hesitant and unsure. Not only unsure of my abilities as a triathlete, but also of my role in the group. What I found was that this group of people was more important to my success and rehabilitation over the past year than any training schedule or swim workout would be. I have confessed to many of my teammates that when I joined the group I planned to only gain training. I cannot believe how wrong I was. Yes, I completed the Philadelphia Triathlon with confidence. Yes, I went on to complete the Nation's Triathlon along side many of my teammates later in the year as well. The thing I did not anticipate was that I gained a support group beyond what I could have imagined. I gained a family.
If you have been following my journey, you know that in August we marked the one year anniversary of my mother's passing. The tradition in the Jewish faith is to memorialize the first anniversary of a death by consecrating a headstone or other gravesite marker. It is also a Jewish custom to put a pebble on the headstone when one visits a grave to mark that you have been there and that you respect the one who has passed on. I have to say that while this is an important moment, as it is intended to mark the passing of the most difficult period of grieving, I faced it with trepidation. I was unsure of what to do or say so I thought back on the year that had passed, the emotional and physical hurdles and triumphs. In that moment I knew what I was going there to do.
I took my rock and applied a layer of bright purple paint. A very specific color of purple, TEAM purple. I placed that purple rock on the headstone that stands above my mother and I told her that I was fighting for her. I was doing something to help. And above everything I thanked her. A mother's job is to look out for her children in every way. To care for them and make sure that they have all the tools they need for success. In thinking about this I realized that it was no accident that I came to know the people I met at TEAM, they were sent to me from her. They were and are the pillars of strength who have held me up through the last year. Mom knew that our family would be healing to each other and that my friends would support and love me through my grief but in a way that only she could, she sent me an insurance policy of support. She sent me the TEAM.
I will be paying it forward this year as I join Team in Training again as a mentor to other triathletes in their fundraising efforts. We will start training and fundraising in December so keep an eye out for updates!