Like a few other Tri4Him members, I chose Iron Star in Conroe for my first half-iron distance triathlon. First the simple stats: swim (40:06.9) + bike (3:16:35.4) + run (2:32:43.8) = total 6:36:09.4. That is only a part of the story. I found Tri4Him through no small coincidence last year, just after making the decision to begin this sport. I came to that decision as a constructive way to use the family time that I lost after my divorce. Back on topic, I was out on a run listening to some Third Day on my iPod and praying. I asked God for ideas on how I could share my faith and was thinking of having a couple of tech shirts printed with a favorite scripture, maybe even a cross or some other logo. Some time in the next couple of days I was surfing the internet for tri-gear with one link leading to another and another and finally to Tri4Him. I was excited to say the least. I read all about it and wrote the contact number down for the leaders of my local group. From the first conversation I had with Ronnie I could tell I had found the right organization. The way I remember it more than half of the subject matter of that phone call was about our shared faith with the rest being mundane stuff and tri stuff. Cool. It didn't take long before I officially joined the group, but I was on board from the start. We got together as a group for a volunteer opportunity and a couple of fellowship meals. What a great bunch people I had found! And they were Christians too! Then a few months later, the Performance program started and the new IM Texas was announced. I signed up for the race with the help and encouragement of my group and signed up on the Performance program shortly after that. Jeff's 16 week Race Prep Plan has done wonders for me. Even though over the course of those 16 weeks, I skipped, postponed and modified my workouts due to family(I only worked out twice during the weekends with my kids) and shiftwork, I still improved dramatically in each discipline. I thank God for keeping me relatively injury free during that time as well and came to race day feeling pretty good. I knew that I was not going to meet my original goal of

Ok - well I am a fair weather trier for sure - this was way to stressful to figure all the clothes out. It was 35 degrees when we all woke up at 5AM - brrrrrrrr! I had made a decision to wear my sleeveless wetsuit. I went back and forth but the full sleeve just did not feel comfortable. Went to transition and set up my gear. I had a plan - oh was it going to be good. But first I would go stand in the freezing cold sand and wait for the gun. 35 yr old ladies and all the way up would be the last wave. That was fine w/ me because the boats would be right behind me - not so! The water was so so so cold, it took me until the first bouy to put my head in the water. There was a girl off to my left and she was already screaming in panic because she could not breath. I said a prayer that she would be ok, one of my friends tried to help her, it did not seem like there was any support in the lagoon as we swam out...I had to keep praying and swimming my breast stroke...I put my face in one inch at a time and finally after the turn of the first bouy i was swimming some form of freestyle. I could not feel my feet or my arms but i just keep moving forward. I have my mantra - God, Relax, God, Relax or I say the Guardian Angel Prayer over and over or I try to count bouys or I just think about my safe place - ironically... by sitting by a lake with Jesus. It seemed much longer than a mile. Lots of fog on the lake and hard to see what was ahead. They did not use kayaks - but motor boats instead so when they were traversing back and forth they made great waves and awful exhaust - yuk. But alas, i saw a lifeguard STANDING in the middle of the lake and I was able to really relax and swim myself in at 50 min - not bad for me. Now it was time to see if my plan would work - omg...it was so hard to get my bathing suit off and the great towel I had with velcro would not stay together. Thank goodness there was a small changing tent so off I went with tri shorts and top in hand - so hard to get them on but I persevered. I grabbed my jacket, gloves and helmet and was off - IN ELEVEN MINUTES - should have gotten a prize for the longest transition - where do these people get their toughness? I could not imagine getting on that bike wet. Anyway, THE first 20 miles I was cold and so glad i took the time to dry off (until I saw my times) but what the heck. The bike went well - lots of tough hills but I just kept telling myself I was IM training and this would be the same course I would be riding in May for IMTX. I shed my jacket about mile 30 when I stopped at a water stop and these darling cub scouts helped me. I made it to dismount in 3:39 (loved the new bike but my neck still ached a bit - guess there is no getting around it). I felt pretty good the first two loops of the run and then really started to fade the last loop. I remembered how the day before I kept telling God how happy I would be if He could get me to the run safely and relaxed and HE did. However, I wore relatively new shoes so my feet started to burn on the bottom - tossed the socks and then I just could not get comfortable with my breathing - kept feeling like I was going to hyperventalite. (I posted a pic of me at the finish and I have a huge smile because I was so glad to be done). After the pic I had to walk for a while to get my breathing normal. The race had 600 participants - got first in AG - the OTHER 60 yr old young lady came and gave me a hug and we congratulated each other for being there.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day. I am so grateful that God has given me this gift of desire and ability to still do this crazy stuff because I am always so over joyed when I complete a race. Total time - 7:15 because of the very long transition and the very long run (2:34). Last Oct at Long Horn, my HIM time was 7:22 so guess I beat that time. I did this course 5 years ago but for some reason they had a shorter swim course and a 59 mil bike so can't compare times for that. Ok - so now Jeff told me a few days rest and low intensity to begin prepareing for the Houston Marathon in January and then.....serious IM training. When I was running the last loop yesterday I wondered why I signed up for the IM in the first place questioning my sanity and if I can even complete the full distance? But I am a member of TFH now and God and all of you will see me through (Does that rhyme?) Congratulations to all race finishers this past week and God Bless you all. MC

I was blessed to be given the time to train for and compete in the
Iron Star half-iron triathlon for the November 7, 2010 race in Conroe,
TX. Weeks 1-8 of training were golden... years of dealing with a
chronic hamstring strain never reared its ugly head during this period
and I felt great going into my training runs "injury free"... so I
thought. After competing in the Towne Lake Olympic tri at week 8, my
old injury came back in full throttle. I now could hardly run a
couple of miles without having to stop and stretch it out, return home
and ice it for days, and the start of carving time out to go to
therapy sessions to rehab it two to three times a week. I spent the
last 4 weeks of my training doing water running and even did a couple
of my 3 hr bike rides on a recumbent bike! Now that was boring!!! I
feared I would have to let go of my desire to do the Lone Star and
prayed for God to bring healing to my injury and supply my need for
trust during this disappointment. I rested up the week before the
race and decided I felt good enough to give it all I had, knowing He
was sufficient for me in all circumstances. It was a very cold
morning, but my wetsuit kept me warm in the water. I had frozen toes
until mile 20 on the bike, but never cared much about it because of
how beautiful God painted the scenery around me. At mile 55 of the
bike I knew the hardest part for me with my given injury was just
ahead. I talked with my gracious Savior and He reminded me of how
strong He was in me and that I could be bold and courageous to face my
"giant" of 13.1 miles of running. I knew my husband, my Dad and his
wife would be there to cheer me on for the 3 loops of 4.4 miles. I
knew my mom and 3 children were anxiously waiting back in Houston by
the phone to hear all about my race. Every step my feet would take I
prayed for God to give me the next step. Around mile 7, I felt the
tightening pain of my hamstring and I knew there was nothing in me
left to give, but by God's power alone He would run one step ahead of
me so I could focus only on His strength alone. There was a group of
Tri4Him on one certain curbside of the loop and they joyfully cheered
me on each time I passed them... I looked forward to that curb knowing
they would give me the encouragement I desperately needed! This was
my first race I got to wear my Tri4Him top in, and I felt like I was
glowing!!! I heard people say, "Go Tri4Him!", and "You got it
Tri4Him"! They didn't know my name, but they did know who I
represented! That was reason enough to be out there with a race
victory or not!!! Humbled as I crossed the finish line, I wanted to
put my arms around God and hug him. He did it instead and I was blown
away when I found out I had won 1st place age group! Regardless of
the place I received that day, my true victory is in Christ because of
His great love and sacrifice for me on the cross. I am so thankful
for Tri4Him and to be a part of a group that wants to glorify God in
their lives.
Elaine Griffin