Amazing Jody

Last season I joined a local training group called Tri Zones. It was an attempt to have a more structured training and also to meet some other triathletes in the area. Every Tuesday evening we met for the day’s workout and some socializing before and after practice. All in all, it was a great experience for a number of reasons, one of them being that it was there where I met Jody.

Jody is not your typical triathlete (if there is such a thing). She doesn’t care about riding the fastest bike or being the first out of the water. She doesn’t talk about even splits, or negative splits, or any kind of splits. She is not concerned about whether or not she will PR at the next event or if she will place in the top 10, or 5, or 3 –although, she usually does. She just likes triathlon. I mean, she really enjoys it, probably more that most competitors out there. She’s always happy to be in practice and she comes out with the funniest stories when she participates at events. She is also over seventy years old. Needless to say, she has become an inspiration and a very good motivator. I can only wish that when I’m her age I will be as active, and training with her makes me think twice before complaining about one more lap or one more hill.

A few weeks back I received news from Tri Zones that Jody and her granddaughter, Shannon, were one of the teams selected to participate in the Amazing Race 16. I was so excited! I’ve watched the Race before and I always think to myself: “I would love to be able to do that one day”, and now I actually know someone who did. So tonight, as the Amazing Race 16 premiers, I will sit in front of the screen and cheer for Jody and Shannon. They might go all the way and win a million dollars or they might get eliminated in the first round (hopefully not). Either way, Jody, it is a privilege and an honor to have you as a training mate, and I didn’t need an Amazing Race to know that you are AMAZING.