Out of the Darkness: Back to Triathlon

Hello? Is anyone still out there?

This blog started a looooooong time ago. Before I left my corporate job, before I became a professional triathlon coach and before Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and all the other Social Media channels. This blog was here to talk about my racing and my training. All that stopped over 2 years ago.

Yes, I trained like crazy for 10 years. And then it was like someone pulled the plug.

I was done. I stopped. I didn’t want to do this any more. My life was in a shambles. How does this happen?

Well – first – take a nasty, nasty divorce. My ex, who I used to jokingly refer to as the “Saint” turned evil. Pure evil. I was mortified by the things he did and said to me and it hurt. When someone you love and who is supposed to love you says and does such mean, hurtful things…well, it takes a toll on even the toughest of people.

Next – I was accused of a crime. Slandered. Bullied. I lost some people I thought were friends and I thought were on my side. I lost my best training partner. All by people who – as some of my closest friends have put it – are jealous of what I have been able to do in the triathlon world. Rumors started, threats were made and I am so grateful for all the friends who have stood by me and supported me through that awful (and ridiculous) ordeal.

Third – My company, Tri Smart Coaching, was sued. I was told I was “stealing” the business of another company similarly named, located in St. Louis. SAY WHAT?

This company, located in an entire other state, was accusing me of “stealing” business? Yeah, OK, all my clients are local. Unless, of course, they used to live here and have since moved. And I have no clients in Missouri. She wanted upwards of $30K in “damages”. You, my dear, are barking up the wrong tree. So, I changed my name. And it’s even BETTER than before. Thank you – a blessing in disguise!

Lastly – I won’t go into much detail here, but family issues have taken a big toll. It’s true, when it rains, it pours and just when I didn’t think things could get any worse, they did. Is this a test? Just how much crap can one person take before they break??

I was broken. I might still be broken. But I am not done. I will never be “done”. I have wasted too much time in this dark whole I found myself in. There is finally a light….

Two years ago, the Palos Half Marathon was the last race. I finally bit the bullet and did the Palos Half again this year.

Now, this was the slowest half marathon I have ever done, but I did it. Longest run I’ve done in 2 years. It’s a starting point.

When I think about how long I have been gone from racing, I’m almost appalled. But I always said I would stop racing when it stopped being fun. And I wasn’t having any fun. I haven’t been “training” for years, and that’s OK.

I have watched so many people come through the CompuTrainer studio with such drive, such enthusiasm. And I kept wishing it would rub off on me.

“Keep hanging out with those people, MJ, they will bring you back!”, I told myself. Well 18 months of that didn’t work. I have to do this for myself.

IT IS TIME. It is time to get out from under the rock and TRAIN AND RACE. I need your support. I’ve never been one who has needed support or encouragement from others before. But things have changed and I really would like to know that I have people who are watching, supporting, pushing me on. Are you with me?