Part of a Team

by Catarina Cabrera
On Sunday, September 9, 56 members of the TRIBE, the Y Rye’s women’s Triathlon group, finished the Danskin Sandy Hook Triathlon. The oldest competitor was 78; the youngest was 16.  For most, it was their first Triathlon.  Catarina Cabrera shares her inspiring story here.

Not too long ago, I couldn't run a single mile! I was critically close to turning 40 and taking stock of my life. I grew up the daughter of working class immigrants in Yonkers and throughout my childhood, sports for girls were just not an option. My parents were of the belief that only education had any value. For years and years, I did absolutely nothing physical except for the mandatory phys ed. As an adult, I was blessed with good genes so going to a gym was never in the cards. The thought of it was intimidating and worse, a waste of time. Then I spent the better part of my 30's having babies and unlike the Hollywood starlets, I would gain 40-50 pounds at a clip. Eventually Bootcamp found me and I started taking my body back!  With the support of some great ladies, I found that I could run. I was only capable of very short distances but I was actually moving forward ! Once I figured that out, I thought "What else could I be good at?"



Last September I enrolled in an adult beginner swim class at the YMCA. It took me months of spotty attendance and hyperventilating at every lap before I figured out rotary breathing! For 39 years, I had never intentionally put my face in the water so this was a HUGE accomplishment!!  I continued practicing and adding to my distances with Viwat's help and then I thought, "What else can I be good at?"

 I had seen the signs at the YMCA for a Triathlon Group many times and kept on with my day because I wasn't an athlete and that sort of thing took a lot of endurance, which I didn't have. Then one day on vacation, I was feeling sorry for myself because although I have a great husband and four good kids, I was 40 and hadn't done anything really inspiring ! Sure, I get my kids to school, get the homework done, and the list of endless mommy chores get done. But all alone at night, I'd ask myself, since you stopped working, what inspiring thing have you done? Then I remembered the posters and the masters swimming group at the YMCA and all those people who say that Tri's are so much fun! Before I had a chance to talk myself out of it, I emailed Laura Tiedge and she sent me the longest most detailed message outlining the entire process.  I signed up for the Danskin Triathlon before I even sent her a response.



Since that fateful day, I have been swimming, cycling and running with the most amazing group of ladies. There were many Sunday mornings that I didn't want to cycle or run. But, out of some sense of loyalty and commitment, I kept showing up.  Monday nights, they held Open Water Swims at Oakland Beach.  As someone who couldn't swim a yard just a year ago, I thought “this is going to be awful.” Magically, I willed myself to show up. The first few times out were tough especially since there are no black lines or buoys out there. My sighting skills were non-existent and I used to joke that my suit lacked a GPS. Somehow with the encouragement and kind words of so many, I kept showing up. If these ladies were going to give of their time, then at the very least, I was going to make the effort. Wow, am I happy that I did !



Until this race, my bike was only used to follow alongside tricycles! Coach Denise and Coach Sally taught me what the gears on my bike were meant to do. These extraordinary ladies went above and beyond their job to help me when my knees ached and I thought the Tri was over for me before it had even begun. Selflessly, they each gave of their time and expertise to adjust my bike and strengthen my knees. Coach Laura organized many meetings to prep us for race day! INVALUABLE !



On race day, my nerves were shot. I was dealing with achy knees and a bad case of poison ivy. I was a teary and anxious mess on the shoreline but the last words I heard were, "Keep Moving Forward!" Coach Vickie realized that I was not having a great swim, and even though she could have easily left me and swam on ahead, she stayed with me like a swim angel until I was around the last buoy.   I was never so happy as when I would see a pink shirt pass me or going the other way and hear "Go Tribee."

The night before the Tri, the coaches organized a team dinner at the hotel. We were each given a pink shirt and on the back it says, Life is One Big Transition.  Denise asked the group, "How long since any of you have been on a team?"  For me, the answer was NEVER. That changed on Sunday, September 9th, 2012. I was finally part of something bigger than myself: I was part of a team!  I could barely stand the emotions when I saw my 78 year-old team mate, Rosalie, cross the finish line. I was equally overcome watching all the pink shirts converge on one another in congratulations and joy watching others cross the line. Now, I belonged to this team of amazing and strong women. For that one day, I was great and I did something inspiring. I hope my girls and my son fully appreciate all the teams they will belong to and that their mom inspired them to be great too. 



I may never be a Super Model. I may never be President. I may never be a brain surgeon. But I will always be a Triathlete ! 



Thank You Tribees