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The day before a race is always really exciting but really nerve racking. As for the morning
of, I am like a mess. 'Cause I'm just so frazzled, do I have everything, do I have my timing
chip on, do I have my goggles. The training usually consists of practice every day. Monday
afternoons we do an off-base swim. In a whole week, we'll end up swimming three times, biking three
times, and running three times. It's like a seven day a week intense schedule. We started
out as such a small team and we've grown over the years, but we still have a small enough
group and a close enough group that we all really know each other really well. Know each
other strengths and weaknesses and even when practice is done we all still want to be together.
I think the bond that is formed through the triathlon team is pretty extraordinary. That
family atmosphere is what has drawn a lot of people to join our team. Our team has grown
exponentially. Two years ago we had eight people. This year we had thirty two try out.
Athletic competition in general will really prepare you as an officer. Being able to work
toward a goal, work with a team, to achieve something is key of just about any job. Dedication,
the patience, and the hard work that goes into training is something that any leader
needs to learn. And that triathlon prepares you for better than anything else. I love
triathlons because of the challenge. You're not just running, you're not just biking,
you're not just swimming, you're doing all three. You're using everything that you have
in you to propel yourself forward and get through a course. I would find way to do this
sport if there weren't people showing up, but if there's a hundred other people you
can compete against, it's a pretty good time. I think just how the sport is set up really
drives one to compete in it and to keep doing it after they've tried their first one. I
have never met a single person that did a triathlon and afterwards didn't want to quit
whatever sport they were currently doing to start doing triathlons full time. I do triathlons
because to me it represents a challenge and an adventure.