This Is Why I TRI

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Hi,

I wanted to share a story about one of the Xxtra Mile's triathletes. This woman has a great story...one of struggles with weight, health scares, and the desire to make an impression on her daughters and her family.

She exemplifies what we set out to do with our Trek Women and Danskin triathons - deliver a secure environment for women to find the athlete that is lurking inside of them. A place where they can succeed and achieve a goal that will enrich their lives. Enjoy Jill's story and check out more info about our events at http://www.xxtramile.com.

This is Why I TRI!

My name is Jill Schwenzen. I am 33 years old. This past weekend I participated in my second triathlon, the Trek Women Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

It didn't start just this year. It was about 6 years ago actually. I was working out at the Y and I heard some ladies talking about training for a triathlon. I thought to myself, wouldn't it be cool if I could accomplish something like that? I got all psyched about it, decided I was going to do it, even sent out an email to friends asking if they'd like to join me. Then I stopped myself, the doubt kicked in, "I can't do that", "someone like me could never accomplish something like that". I was always the "fat" kid in school and heard lots of comments from lots of people about all the things I couldn't do. All those wonderful stupid voices both on the outside and inside my head talked myself out of it before I even really looked into it.

However, a few years ago, something changed me. I found a lump in my neck. Long story short, I went through antibiotics, some waiting, a cat scan, some more waiting, a biopsy, even more waiting, and finally surgery to remove my lymph node, all of this with the word “cancer” looming above me. Even though it was not definite, I would go home and look into the eyes of my 18-month-old and couldn’t help but cry and beg God in my head that I would do anything, just anything to watch my daughter grow up. You just can’t help going there.

But for me, going there doesn’t happen often. I chose to live the majority of my life thinking positive thoughts. After all this was said and done, even if it was cancer, I knew I would be okay. I would not accept any other possibilities.

Like I said before, this situation changed me. It made me realize that there is no time for doubting and that I just need to believe in myself. So that is what I did. I got much healthier and in the process lost 42 pounds. I decided, thanks to a wonderful friend who knows who she is, to complete something that I never thought I could do.

I would do this triathlon.

The training process was long, difficult, but extremely rewarding. When I started swimming, I made it four lengths of the pool with out stopping. Now I can do all 40 lengths. When I started running, I would run for 30 seconds, then walk for four and a half minutes… run for 30 seconds, walk four and a half minutes. Now I have run two 5K’s and am able to run more than 30 minutes.

What I thought about the most was what it would feel like when my feet cross the finish line. I didn’t care if it took me 20 hours; the feeling of accomplishing something like that was something I could never have imagined.

The day of my first triathlon is forever engrained in my mind.

I remember driving to Kenosha at 4:15 in the morning, listening to my running playlist, crying my eyes out one moment and laughing with excitement the next. If only there would have been a camera filming that drive!

I remember how insanely long it felt to wait from 6:30 until my start at 8am.

I remember holding the hand of my dear friend as we walked to the edge of the water to await our start and we both were shaking.

I remember hearing them countdown from 10 to 1 and thinking, you are about to do this, it is finally here.

I remember smiling at one point because I realized I was already half way through the swim.

I remember seeing my family and friends for the first time, my sister asking me if I needed my inhaler and laughing at how cute I thought that was.

I remember praying to God that I would not get a flat tire, because even though I had learned how to change it, I was scared to actually do it.

I remember how gorgeous the views were along the bike ride and that I actually reminded myself at one point to remember this.

I remember getting anxious about the run as I reached the end of the bike.

I remember the run, every single inch of the run. Running has always been difficult for me. I was nervous from the time I agreed to do this about the run. It doesn't help that it is at the end, after you have already swam and biked. It was rough for me.

I remember when I got near the end and there began to be spectators along the route. They were cheering so loud. It was awesome. I could see the end. It was actually going to come to an end. I looked down at my watch, I was under two hours. I couldn't believe it. I thought it would take me close to two and a half hours. I saw all of my friends and family, I was smiling, almost laughing, I had done it. I reached the end and they put my finish metal around my neck and said, "Congratulations, you are a triathlete".

My friend Missy, the one that made me believe I could do this, was there. We hugged for a long time and cried. I saw the rest of my friends and family and we all hugged and it was awesome. I remember picking up Hadley and just hugging her for a long time, what I think now is that I hope she will know as she grows up that you can do anything you want if you believe in yourself.

This past weekend was my second time. This time around it was a decision for a couple different reasons. One of which is sustaining healthy decisions. After my first tri I got pregnant with my second daughter. I gained a lot of weight and fell back into some old patterns. Once I recovered from having a baby I decided to start training again and participate in another tri.

I thought it would be easier the second time around, but it definitely was not. It was very hot outside and the humidity was tough on my asthma, but the feeling of accomplishment as you swim, bike and jog next to such powerful women makes it totally worth it.

This time, as I crossed the finish line, an announcer spoke over the intercom system “Crossing the finish line with a big smile on her face, JILL SCHWENZEN!” That was really cool. My younger daughter Harper, who is just over a year old, smiled when she recognized her mommy’s face at the end of the run and stretched out her hands, which just reminded me again that I totally do this for my girls.

Every time I achieve a milestone in my training I think of my girls. I think of how I am going to raise them as strong women that are worthy of respect and love. I am proud that they will look at me as a mom who is strong and believes in herself.

When the race was over, my older daughter Hadley asked me, “Mommy, did you win?” I said, “No, but mommy tried her hardest and that is all that matters.”

With the biggest smile on her face, she looked up at me and replied, “I’m so proud of you for trying, mommy.”

Right there was everything I want her to remember in life. I’ll always be proud of her for trying, but this time the roles were reversed.

Thank you to the Xxtra Mile for providing this triathlon opportunity. You offered this woman the chance to feel success. You offered me the chance to feel like I could achieve something that I never thought that I could. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Jill

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