Goodbye 2019. Hello 2020!

Virtual Triathlon

2019 was not a good year for me. It had nothing to do with my health and everything to do with personal issues in the lives of the people I love. So I wanted to end the year on a high. I signed up for a Virtual Triathlon.

I am not your typical triathlon participant. I am a 67-year old (soon to be 68 this month) cancer survivor -- a university professor, who is also a grandmother of 14 grandchildren, and a little overweight. I have never been an athlete, but I have been a dancer. 

I have struggled with knee issues for the past three years and have been told by surgeons that I need to have both knees replaced. Because I have been living with constant pain, it has been difficult for me to be as active as I want to be. In my family the rule is that you cannot complain about anything, unless you want to offer a solution. My husband and my son suggested some pre-surgery physical therapy. I listened.

Six months ago I could only get out of the pool by crawling out on my stomach (much like a seal). I could only stand up by doing what my granddaughters called out, "Look! Grammy is doing downward dog!" I can now step out of the pool VERY carefully without support.

Six months ago I could only hold on to the edge of the pool and kick my legs. I could not swim one lap because of the pain. This was very disappointing to me, because at one time I was a decent swimmer.

Four years ago I used to cycle 17 miles in one hour. Six months ago my eight bone spurs and my half-missing meniscus padding made it possible only to complete one circle of movement, after 10 minutes of pain going back and forth to get my knees "oiled up." 

Running was out of the question. Six months ago it was difficult for me to walk without holding on to the wall, if I had been sitting for a while. This was very frustrating to me, because I have always been an active person.

So my son convinced me that I could participate in the Virtual Triathlon. What a crazy idea!

It wasn't pretty, but I did it!

Swimming was going to be the hardest event for me, since the movement of my head in the water often causes vertigo for me. I decided to swim all 20 laps on my back. It took me 25 minutes, but I was not in a hurry. I just wanted to finish what I began. One advantage I had was that I had enough fat on my body to keep me afloat and I knew I would not drown.

Another day I cycled on a stationary bicycle in the gym in the dark, watching a superhero movie about the Marvel Comic Avengers. The first 8.5 miles took me one hour and then another 30 minutes to go another four miles, but I did it all in one session.

I walked, and at the end limped 3.14 miles, instead of running. It took me one and a half hours. At the very end I looked a lot like Quasimodo. LOL. But I smelled the air. I counted my blessings. And I rejoiced in the fact that this old lady had completed an athletic milestone that was customized for someone like me to be successful. I am grateful to USA Triathlon for including me. And now that I have improved my physical fitness, I hope to recover sooner from my knee replacement surgeries. Then watch out!

-- Dr. La Verne Abe Harris (aka MaMa La Verne)

____________________