C.A.F. San Diego Triathalon Challenge

10th Anniversary Race
1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run

Driving down to the race I was very nervous. All of my training had been done in the gym at the YMCA. I swam in the pool, I cycled in a spinning class, and I ran on a treadmill. I hadn’t proved anything really out in the elements that I would be competing in.  

When I got to the Jewish community center and started meeting people I was feeling much more at ease, and even though I had only signed up for the swim portion of the race, I wanted to be able to do the full course of the race. I spoke to Julie, one of the organizers, and a couple others and then Julie can up with a bike for me from a pro racer named Greg. I was amazed, in a matter of moments I went from being able to only participate in one event to having the ability to do all three. I couldn’t believe it, and I am so thankful to Julie, CAF, and Greg for helping me. 

After when we went to the theater for the introductions I had to fight to hold back the tears. I was so proud to be associated with such great people, and people who have overcome so much diversity and still strive for such great success. Listening to everyone’s stories just inspired me to try that much harder. 

On race day the butterflies continued their sordid dance in my stomach. Greg and I got the bike prepped, I got a wet suit from one of the sponsors, introductions were done and it was time to hit the water. I was scared. I didn’t care how well I did; I just wanted to be able to finish. The race started and people were swimming past me like I was just another piece of the kelp floating lazily upon the water. I kept going though, and I just kept saying to myself “Don’t stop moving, no matter what you do just keep moving.” That’s what I did I was cold, my fingers and toes were completely numb, but I just kept moving and with each stroke a made it closer to the goal. I survived the cold, the kelp beds, and the people going by me and I made it to the end. I was amazed and surprised, but I made it.

I would have been fine stopping there but I really did want to do the rest of the race, and I couldn’t let Greg and everyone down after helping me out with the bike. I went up to the staging area, changed over and mounted the bike. I was so tired, but as I pulled out of the staging area I was my son Derek and he looked at me with such pride, It was awesome. It gave me the strength I needed to get started. Then I started up the first hill and I was scared again. I told myself if I can just get over this hill I can do this race. It took some time but I made it over the hill, and I was off.

Everything went really well for the first 20+ miles then I took a wrong turn and had to back track about four miles. That really demoralized me. I was riding with my head down wondering how much further I could go when suddenly thud, thud! I had run over a construction sign support and it blew out my back tire and severely pinched my front. I saw a police officer a few yards behind me so I started walking towards him to ask for help. Just then the guys from the bike shop at the staging area came by and fixed my back tire. I was on the road again. 

I made it to about the 43-mile mark and my front tire started going flat. I was also going flat, I hadn’t eaten since before the swim and I had only had a half of a bagel then. I was so exhausted. I tried to pump the tire up and had no success. The tire held for awhile and so I kept peddling on.

On a long flat stretch through one on the coastal villages between Carlsbad and La Jolla I was ready to quit. I kept peddling, put my head down and began to pray. I prayed “Dear Lord please don’t let me quit, I don’t want to be a quitter, please give me the strength to make it through this." When I picked up my head and looked forward I saw a billboard across the street with Winston Churchill on it, and his famous quote “Never Give up, Never Give up, Never Give up.” I know it was a sign from God for me to keep going. I went on for a couple more miles and my front tire finally went completely flat, I kept going still but finally I figured I was only going to ruin the bike and I had given it my best shot. I gave up. I started walking the bike, and I prayed again asking God to just let me make it back. A few seconds later another bicyclist showed up out of nowhere and asked if I needed any help. I wanted to tell him no and that someone would come pick me up, but instead I said sure and he helped me patch my front tire. We chatted for a bit and I told him what I was doing out there. After fixing my tire He (Steve) offered to finish the race with me, and help make sure I completed my goal. I was astounded; it was the answer to my prayer. Steve and I continued on and whenever I felt weak he put his hand on my back and pushed me along. Steve kept his hand on my back the entire way up Torrey Pines hill pushing me along not letting me quit. When we reached the top I was in tears. Never had I been so completely spent, Never had I been so thankful, and never had I felt such complete happiness, and joy. I know Steve’s hand was God’s pushing me up over that hill and helping me finish that race.  We finally made it back many hours after I had started, but I made it and that is what matters. I didn’t end up doing the run portion, it was to late in the day, and I had to start getting on my way home, but the experience of making it through that swim and bike portion of the race is one of the greatest experiences of my life. I am training now to do another half Iron-man in six months, and I know now that I will be able to make it.

by Dana Cummings