By Ann-Marie Irwin of Texas

My friend, Moira Muldoon, called late February saying she was going to do the Danskin (again) and did I want to join the team. I was about to turn 48, a bit over weight and coping in treatment for Shoulder Impingement and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. At that point I was getting PT and had my first cortisone shot. Moira pointed out that she had just had a baby the day after Christmas, two other (younger) women were significantly overweight so being the 'old girl' was not an issue.

I said yes. What the heck. I identify myself as a late-blooming over-achiever. When I met Moira I was a non-traditional grad student at Texas State University working toward an MFA in poetry.

I said yes, knowing I had no bike, had not really ridden a bike in well over ten years. I wasn't supposed to swim yet and I dislike running (big boobs since forever). But I could walk and I needed something positive to focus on.

Another friend loaned me her old bike and it took a bunch of courage to ride even a few blocks around my neighborhood. When you can’t trust your shoulder then you can’t always find your balance. A shoulder injury is surprisingly disruptive in how you go through your days.

After getting a second opinion I was diagnosed with a SLAP tear of bicep in my right shoulder. I've had many medical issues over many years but nothing as painful as this. But I had a great PT, Mills Cooper, here in Austin, an avid cyclist and triathlete, he was very supportive in this endeavor. In fact when I told him I registered to do this triathlon, he said that I was his third patient to register. The best part was he didn’t laugh or look at me funny as many others did.

So I walked at a good clip and swam with one arm at first -- the breast or side stroke. And I'm getting used to riding the bike. . .bought the helmet and gloves.

I did the Danskin because I am grateful for what I have. My mother died of cancer, but also she never could get her weight and eating to a healthy place in the second part of her life. There is Type 2 diabetes and heart disease in the woman in my family.

When I tell my son about my shoulder pain, he says: “Well, Mom, it’s not cancer”. And while I have to ask my husband to hook my bra or help me with my swimsuit, it’s not cancer. I want to move my body for those who can’t, see, my 21 year old niece is dying of colon cancer as I write this.

My First Tri Story

On June 8th I competed in the Danskin Women's Triathlon here in Austin. My first, not my last. It was: Remarkable. Intense. Joyous. Hard Work! Best high ever. This event came four weeks to the day after my niece, Grace's death from cancer while I was caring for her. She really died in my hands. I wrote her name on my race number, pinned it to my Frost Place t-shirt.

My friend Nadine was a volunteer Swim Angel. I got to the front of wave (the allotted group you start the swim with) and when we moved into the water there was Nadine, holding noodles, with the others, to keep us from starting too soon. So I got a hug from a friend as I started and she was there at the finish to hug and cheer me.

The swim was a bitch – strong currents and wind made the water choppy . I went slower than I could have because weaker swimmers got unglued, and bumped into me constantly. . .rarely got my rhythm going but I was so confident in the water. I swam my breast stroke using two arms, not a great stroke but I did it.
When I got to shore there were guys helping us find our feet. I took an outstretched hand, looked up to say thank you but instead saw this handsome man and gushed, "You're Gorgeous!" He laughed. Then I looked around to all these hunks, Austin Police, and said: "you're all gorgeous. Austin's Finest!" They were helping and cheering us on. Sweet.

Warm Gu is gross but I swallowed it down, with water in transition. Got on my bike and went. I was glad I bought bike sun glasses not for the sun but the headwinds. Windy and the hills in 90 degrees! Had a minor asthma attack on the first sharp hill, pushed my bike up. Drank lots of my electrolyte stuff the bike shop recommended. (yuck warm lemon). 3/4 of the way through the ride I got a calf-cramp, got off the bike, and two bike volunteers . . .again CUTE and SWEET. . .helped me stretch, gave me pointers and one rubbed my calf, leaving wonderful greasy finger prints. One of the bikers kept an eye on me as I went up the big hill.
I finished the bike, crying some, it was the part I was anxious about. I went to do walk/run but stopped to pee a bit. . .which I was pleased about because it meant I wasn't dehydrating, a concern of mine. I was exhilarated to feel my body working so well and my mind was working in tandem. Training paid off! Simple stuff: OK now you walk. Walk legs. And they complied, I got my groove and went. I did not run because it hurts my shoulder too much.

As I started the walk, a younger woman was walking too, we started chatting, keeping a good pace. She was a god-send because she'd done this before. She is an social worker, her husband a pharmacist. . .both worked Austin Hospice. So I talked about Grace and my sister and health care. We talked labor and delivery and mothering. It was so good. We kept a very strong fast pace. And at the very end, up the last hill. I told her to do her run in. I hugged her and said she was my angel, without cliche. It was a gift.
Rolling Stones were playing as I finished, which was perfect! I jogged, walked in, crying. . . folks had their hands out for high fives to my right. . I did one and hurt my shoulder!! But only at the end, I truly painful reminder of where I’ve been the last six months. Got across the line weepy, first aid grabbed me, pulled me into the tent. . . He helped me get off my tee-shirt off, gave me bags of ice for my shoulder, drank ice water and calmed down some. I know looked scary red in the face. It’s normal for me.

I did it all in the time I had planned: my time was 3:01. Swim time 35.27; Bike time 1:19:50; Run time:48:34. My over all rank is: 2456 of 2592. My group (mixed age) is: 314 of 376. These are my first numbers and I am so proud of them. I finished which is all I really wanted. I accomplished something I always wanted to do but never thought I would.

I think my favorite thing of the day is this: I called my sister just before we were tossed out of transition area, she wished me luck, said she'd already been praying for me. Then she said she wants to come to Austin do it with me next year!

I have seen in these few months the spectrum of what our bodies can or must endure. When I registered for this thing, I had no idea how much I would come to need it. I spend three weeks in Florida helping with the care of a 21 year old girl, dying a horrible, ugly death at home. I’d go to the gym and burn all my anger and hurt off on the treadmill or bike or pool. I hate gyms. I came back to Austin and took my sorrow outside where I trained. Many people called strong over the last month but I didn’t feel it inside. Now I do.

“The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well.” Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

My first triathlon. MY FIRST.