By Brandi Heisterman
Blog: Babies and Bikes
The other day the strangest thing came out of my mouth, I said I was a triathlete. To those who have known me for many moons, they are laughing, even out loud right now. Yes, laugh Malaika, laugh. For the past few months I have been labelling myself as something else, like, “Xterra athlete, or Cross athlete, or mountain biker who swims and runs,” but when it all shakes down, I am a triathlete. Last week, I found myself buying Triathlon Canada magazine, though, selfishly, it’s because there is a two-page article about me in it, but still, I was standing at the til at London Drugs, with a Triathlon Canada magazine in my hand, and it felt good.
The funny thing is, I don’t mind anymore. To all those triathletes, please don’t take offence, there is some background information you might not know about with me and triathlon.
Back like a million years ago, UVic days, I dabbled in and around triathlon. Usually between injuries I would be caught in the pool swimming laps. I even remember coaches telling me I would make an awesome triathlete. But, I refused. I did not want to train for three sports, be tired all the time, jack of all trades-master of none, go to bed at 8pm and up at 5:30am… Triathletes lived with me and my housemates, they squatted on our couches (yes, Simon Whitfield was one), they came to our running workouts, they came on our road rides, but I didn’t want to be one. I loved focusing on running, seeing my times get faster and faster. Or focusing on riding road; there were no early morning swim workouts, just rides at 10am for 4 hours with friends. Running and riding seemed more social, and triathlon seemed more individual. But here I am, 36 years old, going to bed at the same time as my kids and getting up at 5:40 to swim. And, I love it.
There is something very alluring and satisfying about mulit-sport. It’s different than track and field, it’s different than riding bikes. It’s refreshing. You don’t have to do the same sport everyday, I mean, I do train 2 times, sometimes 3 times a day, but it’s not the same sport each time. It’s not putting on yet another chamois and sitting in the saddle. It’s not putting on your trainers and running again. Each workout is unique to the other, and I find myself looking forward to changing sports and attire and pushing myself in different ways.
The other day I received an email from Triathlon Canada, asking me to be on the National team and compete in Alabama for the ITU Cross World Championships in May. I was stoked. I mean, here is my national federation, asking this full time teacher, mom, mountain biker/swimmer/used to be runner, to be on the Canadian team. Well, I accepted, and I want to do my country proud. Last season in mountain biking, I worked hard to try and qualify for Worlds. The criteria was tough, the competition in Canada is deep. I wasn’t selected to go, and was disappointed. I felt even discriminated against, maybe because of my age? Having kids, a job? Or maybe I just wasn’t fast enough. Who knows. But Xterra? No way. This is an older sport. Being born in the 70′s is common…and that won’t be held against you…
It seems that life is all about self esteem and confidence. I try and instill that in my kids, my students, and most importantly, myself. It is tougher than it sounds to achieve. Admittedly, I think Xterra/triathlon has given me a new found confidence and esteem as an elite athlete that I didn’t feel with elite mountain biking. I don’t feel old. I don’t feel like everyone on the start line is wondering why I am racing and not home changing diapers. Even if it was all in my own mind, I felt it, and when you feel like you belong in the back, you race at the back. But now, I feel like I belong. And feeling like you belong and are accepted, is an awesome way to race.
