Skip to content
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Center Staff
  • Board of Trustees
  • Services
    • Sunday Services & Meditation
    • Wednesday’s Wisdom
    • Congregational Songs
    • Archived videos on our Youtube Channel
  • Gallery
  • Media
  • Contact Us
Top Menu

Center for Spiritual Living
Center for Spiritual Living
No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, know that you are welcome here.
  • Programs
    • Animal Kinship Ministry
    • Circle of Love
    • Coming Home – Awakening To Spirit
    • Community Outreach Programs
    • New Thought Bookstore
    • Shifting Sands
    • Youth and Family
  • Science of Mind Classes
    • Course Descriptions
    • Current & Upcoming Classes
  • Events & Calendar
  • Prayer Ministry
    • Affirmative Prayer: Career and Creativity
    • Affirmative Prayer: Health
    • Affirmative Prayer: Love and Relationships
    • Affirmative Prayer: Spirituality and Consciousness
    • Affirmative Prayer: Wealth
  • Ministers
  • Give
  • Volunteer
  • Blog
  • Programs
    • Animal Kinship Ministry
    • Circle of Love
    • Coming Home – Awakening To Spirit
    • Community Outreach Programs
    • New Thought Bookstore
    • Shifting Sands
    • Youth and Family
  • Science of Mind Classes
    • Course Descriptions
    • Current & Upcoming Classes
  • Events & Calendar
  • Prayer Ministry
    • Affirmative Prayer: Career and Creativity
    • Affirmative Prayer: Health
    • Affirmative Prayer: Love and Relationships
    • Affirmative Prayer: Spirituality and Consciousness
    • Affirmative Prayer: Wealth
  • Ministers
  • Give
  • Volunteer
  • Blog

Life Lessons from Triathlon

Have you ever been so terrified that you wanted to cry and vomit at the same time? You shake uncontrollably? Your fight or flight area of your brain has been activated and screams, “Run for the hills!” But your bowels protest screaming, “Run for the porta potty instead!”

Welcome to triathlon my friend. Defined, triathlon is a swim followed by a bike followed by a run. All in one day.

I read somewhere that triathletes are classified as narcissists and masochists rolled into one crazy little package. Anybody not associated with this sport can’t imagine why anyone in their right mind would ever want to do such a thing.

My journey into this insanity began 6 years ago. It changed my life and how I look at it forever.

I joined an all women’s triathlon team. The voice inside my head told me I didn’t measure up to these elite athletes. I had absolutely no business even thinking about it! What I actually experienced was quite different. These women came in all shapes and sizes. Varying fitness levels and ages that spanned across the board. Lots of professional women and busy moms just like me. Hallelujah! We all had similar fears and some negative self talk. We were all here for many different reasons. However we all shared one common goal. To see what our glorias bodies were made of. And how far we could mentally be pushed. Most of these women had accomplished so much in their lives and were still looking for something more.

For the last 6 years we’ve trained together miraculous things started happening. Our bodies were going from soft and weak to fit and strong. We were getting faster in all three sports. Mentally when you didn’t think you had anymore to give there would be our coach screaming at us,”Yes, I know you have more in you now give it to me!!” And some how we did have more to give.

We spent many training sessions scared out of our wits to enter the 60 degree ocean with large rumbling waves for our mile swim. Our backs screaming in agony after a 70 mile ride only to end with a mind numbing 6 mile run. We cried and laughed and cheered together. Always pushing each other to be the best we could possibly be.

We travelled long distances to races together. Packed 6 girls in one hotel room with all our bikes because we were afraid someone would steal them before the race.

Always on race day the mood was somber. Supporting those of us having per race jitters or a panic attack or just an old fashioned nervous breakdown. We talk about forbidden subjects such as gastro intestinal problems and other unmentionable bodily functions. If one of our girls went down during a race we stopped no question about it.

The most magical part of the race is the finish line. Making your way down the finishers shoot toward the finish line and seeing all your teammates there cheering you on. It’s an out of body experience. In a flash it all comes down to this glorious moment that is all about you. All the months of blood, sweat  and tears have brought you to this point. All the joys and agony you have shared with with these women. It’s absolutely pure unconditional love for each other. You are forever bonded by this experience. As you cross the finish line with the crowd cheering you on like a rockstar, suddenly you know why you do this and what it took to get you there.

These are all the reasons I do triathlon and why it’s changed my life forever. I now have the confidence to approach any situation in my life, not with fear but a good training plan. I know I can do anything. It probably won’t be as scary either!

Edwine Gains says, “You must do one thing a year that scares the s…t out of you!” Well Edwine, Accomplished!

As far as the beautiful women who are my team mates go I couldn’t and wouldn’t do this crazy sport without them. We are like sisters now. These women are all angels in disguises of workout clothes, tennis shoes and bike helmets. Every now and then you can catch a glimpse of a wing sticking out of the back of their team jersey as they race past you.

I am the luckiest crazy person in the UNIVERSE!! Please come and join us one day. We are always looking for new angels to add to the team.

Share this post

Author: Robin Pajaro

Recent Blog Posts
  • Annual Holiday Brunch, Sunday December 3rd

    Sunday, December 3rd at 11:30 a.m., after the service Celebrate the holidays with your spiritual family Sunday, December 3rd at our Annual Holiday Brunch. Bring friends and bring your wallet, shop our Annual Holiday Boutique! No need to bring a potluck dish, all of the delicious food and drink will be provided!

    November 29, 2023
  • Annual Holiday Boutique December 3rd

    Our Annual Holiday Boutique unfolds Sunday, December 3rd, at 11:30 (after the service). This year the boutique is open to artists and artisans from Centers throughout Orange County. You will find art, fine art photography, crafts, fiber arts, trinkets, and gifts you won’t see elsewhere! Whether you are looking for creative hand-made gifts to give…

    November 28, 2023
  • Hans Smith Made His Transition

    Hans (Hanyo) Smith October 27, 1947 – November 11, 2023 It is with great sadness we announce that our beloved Hans Smith has made his transition. Hans made his transition at his home in Cleveland, Ohio, where he relocated several years ago to be near his son and grandchildren. Hans was a long-time member of…

    November 12, 2023
  • Dena Van Slyke Celebration of Life January 7th, 2024

    Sunday, January 7th, 2024 ~ 2 p.m. Please join Dena Van Slyke’s beloved life partner Lee in celebrating her remarkable life Sunday, January 7th, 2024 at the Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley, 1201 Puerta del Sol, San Clemente, CA. Dena had been a member of the Center for more than 20 years and served…

    November 9, 2023
  • Town Hall Meeting, October 8, 2023

    Values/Challenges/Strategies Summary We asked you what you valued and what you saw as challenges or obstacles to our values. Many of you also offered up some strategies for meeting concerns you had. Below is a summary of your feedback. Values Challenges/Obstacles Suggested Strategies Ministerial Staff (3) Financial Stability (3) Increase no. seats filled Programs Music…

    October 15, 2023
  • The Visioning Process – Sunday October 15, 2023

    Vision statements and visualization do involve creativity but taps into our left brain, which is analytical and logical. It’s the part of the brain that helps us write our to-do list or plan our budget. Visioning flows is an exercise in tapping into the subconscious brain. It is a spiritual practice that allows us to…

    October 9, 2023
Categories
  • Blog
  • Classes
  • Events
Tags
Affirmation Affirmative Prayer Audio blog center for spiritual living capistrano valley creativity Darin McClure Darin McClure Dr. Heather Clark Dr. Heather Clark Ernest Holmes Forgiveness gratitude gratitude Jason Silva Joyous Living Journal Joyous Living Journal Juli Isola Juli Isola Lisa McClure Lisa McClure Love Love Meditation meditation Music Oneness Parenting Quotes Rev. Dr. Heather Clark Rev. Dr. Heather Clark Rev. Karyn Allen Rev. Pattie Mercado Rev. Pattie Mercado Science of Mind September Warren September Warren spiritual growth Sunday Service Sunday Service Vidette Vanderweide Vidette Vanderweide Wednesday Wisdom Wednesday Wisdom Youtube
Contact Us
Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley
1201 Puerta Del Sol
Suite 100 San Clemente, California 92673

Phone: 949-240-6463

Other contact options

Volunteers: Please check your assignment schedules here.

Latest Tweets
Could not authenticate you.
Latest Facebook Update
This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts. Backup cache in use.
Click to show error
Error: Error validating access token: The session has been invalidated because the user changed their password or Facebook has changed the session for security reasons. Type: OAuthException

Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley

Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley

Percolating Your Passion with Purpose, with Dave Friedman, RScP. Sunday August 13, 2023.

... See MoreSee Less


Video

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Center for Spiritual Living
© Copyright Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley