The Strength of a Team – The Rye Y Tribe

by Laura Tiedge
Sr. Director of Healthy Living

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

On September 9^th, an intrepid group of 56 women -- mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, aunts and grandmothers -- set out to discover the mystery and challenge of the exciting and fun three-sport event called triathlon.  They are the Rye Y Tribe!

The Tribe, which was formed in early 2011, is a group of women interested in completing their first triathlon.  In 2012, sixteen members of the original team joined fifty “newbies” to train for and compete in the Danskin Women’s Triathlon, a sprint distance race in Sandy Hook. NJ.

Everyone came to the group with different motivations, abilities and personal challenges.  Some were already runners, or swimmers or cyclists – most were new to everything.  Some came to get back in shape and find a routine.  Some came to re-discover their inner athlete.  Some came to learn a new skill. Our youngest member was 16 years old; our oldest, 78.  All came to challenge themselves to reach for something that seemed unattainable or long sought after. 

Training started, in March, with the basics.  After refining their techniques—there is a more efficient way to swim, run and bike—and learning new skills, the women began to develop a plan for regular physical activity. Eventually, their routine incorporated all three disciplines.  All of this was just preparation though for a 12-week training plan that would begin in late June.

Along the way, the Tribe explored Triathlon 101.  From nutrition, foam rolling and selecting proper training clothes, to preventing injury, changing a bike flat and finding and getting into the perfect wetsuit – they learned it all!

We ran, biked and swam together.  We rehearsed the transition and became comfortable swimming in open water.  We hugged, cheered and celebrated our hard work.  We became a team – The Tribe!

Before we knew it, the race weekend had arrived!  After checking out the course and settling into our hotel rooms, the team enjoyed a relaxing dinner that included a last minute pep talk and conversation about our personal journeys to triathlon.  The coaches left the Tribe with two pieces of advice before retiring for a restless night’s sleep – Stay in the moment and keep moving forward!

It’s 5:00 am – race day – and the Tribe is awake, nervous and desperately seeking coffee as we organize our caravan to the race site.  A set of lost keys causes a last minute frenzy, but we remind everyone that this is what staying in the moment is all about – enjoy the good and the bad, the scary and the thrilling! 

We get to the race site and busy ourselves with preparing our transition area and waiting in line for the port-a-potties.  The ladies are talking about how this is “our first, our last tri”  “this is crazy, what was I thinking” – clearly another reminder to stay in the moment is required. And then, the countdown starts, the horn sounds, and we’re off!

In our pink team t-shirts, it’s easy to catch glimpses of each other as we move from swimming to biking to running.  Tribe members shout words of encouragement to their teammates-- “let’s go Rye Y”; “keep moving forward”; “you’ve got this” and “Go Mom” and slap each other’s hands in enthusiastic high-fives.  We were having the time of our lives.

By 10:00 a.m., the entire Tribe has finished, except for one team member.  Rosy, our oldest participant at 78, is still out on the run course.  And because this is the Tribe, and because we are sisters, a group of our team members sprint back onto the course, crossing the finish line again, this time with Rosy.  Everyone cheers.  At this moment, we feel the full power of our accomplishment and the strength of our TRIBE!