I started training for Ironman 70.3 Raleigh a little more than six months ago. At the time, I hadn’t run for more than 20 minutes at a shot since the night my father lost his battle with cancer. I held him in my arms and said goodbyes for myself and everyone in our family who was not there when he passed. After taking care of the things that needed to be done, I went to his house and ran into the night.
Running hasn’t been the same since. Where once I could run without a thought in the world and be at peace, my mind now works overdrive on every run. A deafening chorus of work, bills, children, projects at home and so much more echoes in my head with every step. So much to do before I die! Why am I out running, anyway? Get home and get things done.
Then, along came Ironman 70.3 Raleigh. Even though I wasn’t really exercising at the time, I knew I would regret not registering if it sold out, which of course it did – it was one of the fasting selling-out races in 70.3 history. Running was still emotionally challenging for me, so mostly, I rode my bike through the beautiful countryside north of Raleigh around Falls Lake. Armed with an iPhone and an Instagram app, I found solace in riding and photographing the farms, barns, horses, clouds, run-down ancient gas stations and whatever caught my fancy. My pace was casual at best and the gas-station food I ate counterbalanced the calories I burned. But as race day approached, I was forced to confront the demons that had been preventing me from running.
Throughout the race’s 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run, there were cheering fans at every turn. Still, as the day and the heat wore on, I started hoping for some shade on the run. I could hear my mother’s voice from heaven. “Do they let cars on the course? I’d ride next to you and hold an umbrella to give you some shade. You know I would do anything for you!” And she would, too. Then I heard my father’s voice: “Lady, you’re NUTS! You’d get him disqualified!” For a moment on the course I was both laughing and crying at the way my parents used to bicker with each other. Get it together, man! Just then I ran through what must have been the only patch of shade on Hillsborough Street. I looked to the sky, thanked my mom for providing shade without disqualifying me, per my dad’s advice, and pulled it together.
This race got me running again. I also personally know three people – and I’m sure there are a great many more – who had never done a triathlon, but were inspired to complete this race and have now caught the triathlon bug. While some may never do a race of this distance again, most plan to continue participating in the shorter triathlons throughout the area. I have to thank Scott Dupree and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and all the volunteers and partners who worked so hard to bring this race to Raleigh. Check out our awesome center spread photo for more props to the organizations that made it possible.
Local events have been using Endurance Magazine for the past 10 years to help grow their races and support worthy local causes. For the past four years, Endurance Magazine has been dedicating its July issue to the people and events in our endurance-sports community that focus their efforts on fighting cancer. In this, our 10th-anniversary issue, we highlight some great events that are raising money for a cure. We also feature Jessica Ekstrom (see our cover story), a recent N.C. State graduate, who started a business around helping children with cancer.
As always, be sure to check out our monthly exercises, injury-prevention tips, gear reviews and delicious recipes. And please take time when reading this issue to find a local race and sign up!
