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The Newbie Diaries, Part VI Cheering Section This weekend I did another indoor triathlon, making the total number of multisport activities I have done in my life a whopping two. Even though it was only my second event, I felt comfortable enough to help out the other people. “The pool is this way,” I informed a newbie, expertly leading her into the men’s locker room. One of the nice things about having so much experience is how useful I can be to others. The drive out to Lisle actually took longer than the event, which I think will get to be a theme of these triathlons. With the exception of the Chicago Tri, none of the triathlons I am doing are even in my cell phone’s calling zone, which foils my plan of hooking up a Hands Free Apparatus and keeping my anxious grandmother posted on any potential injuries or mishaps mid-race. Saturday’s race was a good time, mostly because everyone was so supportive. Each athlete gets his or her own timer/lap counter for the swimming and running portions, which basically means you have two guaranteed cheerleaders. The presence of supporters is important. Why else do you think football players always thank God at the end of their (successful) games? I’d like to think God is in my camp, too, but to be on the safe side, for this event I engaged in a tactical procedure known as “Bring Your Own Fan.” These people are supposed to be stalwart and steady during the event, which my fan was, and let you take a load off on the trip home, which my fan didn’t, chiefly because he was busy throwing up into a plastic bag. Ha Ha! No hard feelings, though! Who cares about leather seats, anyway? Actually, I am accustomed to Bringing My Own Fans, dating back to my days as an age-group swimmer. In that era, my fan base consisted of: 1. Mom; and 2. Dad. The magnitude of the mortification they inflicted, however, was much greater than 2. For example, my father had an ALIX cheer he would use to rally the crowd during quieter moments. It started, “A is for Arms, L is for Legs,” and surely didn’t get any better, although at this moment I refuse to remember any more. It is very nice to have other people’s encouragement. I am one of those people who sees the finish line and then slows way down. It’s like once I know I am actually going to finish, and won’t be collapsing into the nearest ditch or air-conditioned Toyota Camry, the big challenge is over. Having fans around helps me to out-psyche myself, and put some effort into my finish. So, thanks for coming. And I will be at Tri-Shark, too, if anyone is planning on making me a big sign to pick up the slack for my parents. “A is for Arms! L is for Legs!” It is just possible “I” stood for “Invincible,” but there is absolutely no way I am telling you about “X.” Alix Weisfeld is a world-renowned
triathlete who has won Ironmans on three continents-- no, wait, that is
someone else's life. She |