Because West Michigan Multisport Racing is a 501(c)(3), non-profit corporation – with no paid staff – 100% of remaining funds, most of which was generated through donations from our corporate sponsors, are available for our charities. We are pleased to announce that your enthusiastic support of the 2009 Millennium Triathlon generated nearly $30,000 that will bless the following charities:
- Children's Advocacy Center (Ottawa County)
- Children's Assessment Center (Kent County)
- Kent County Parks Foundation
- Kids Food Basket (Grand Rapids)
- YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
But wow--even 5 days later I am still sad this race did not happen...is that weird? I understand all the reasons it did not happen (hello big bolt of lightening that I saw out the car window at exactly 8:20a.m. when I was to be in the water)...but still the disappointment is there. What is funny about Tri's is that in some ways I tell myself that I am crazy pretty much right up until we jump into the water....the whole car ride over in the dark I am thinking wow--I really don't want to get in the water--hmmm this was a poor choice....but that is where the adrenaline addiction begins. You dread it--your stomach hurts--and then suddenly the horn, the gun or the whistle goes off and you are in it....and then in just a few minutes you are climbing out of the water and on your bike and things start to feel better...then you are off your bike and things start to feel even better (ha...well they don't really feel better...in fact they feel quite awful for about a mile into the run)...but suddenly you start to feel good again and you see the finish line...and just like that you are eating a bagel chatting with other racers, thanking that person that said "go get em" after you passed them and feeling good that your workout was done for the day and that you are part of a community of people that decided to get out and kick some ass that day.
So imagine 700 people with those types of feelings being told the race was cancelled--700 people not really talking that much, walking their bikes back to the muddy field where their car was parked, soaking wet. The person that I felt the worst for was our friend Gregg--who we (I) talked into doing a triathlon...something he chalks up to BAM (bad alcohol management) on his part...I like to think I am highly persuasive! He was ready--he had trained and in an instant it was over with nothing but a shirt, swim cap and water bottle to show for it. We all joke that we do it for the shirt or the finishers medal...but we do it for so many reasons all of which you can't see. Gregg will do one--he has promised. Chris and I are signed up for the Labor Duathlon in Door County in September--our adrenaline will be replenished but wow I didn't know exactly how big my addiction was until last Saturday!
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