You're my hero...

The bar was smoky, hot and a little funky. It was about 6:45 p.m. and dusk was just settling in for it's comfy nap. I had just participated in my inaugural appearance at the Jack Quinn's Running Club Tuesday night run. It's basically a fun 5k run through the streets of downtown Colorado Springs. You meet at the bar, sign a waiver and then hit the street. I was doing the run only because I opened my big mouth atthe meeting of the Pikes Peak Triathlon Club my Triathlon Club the night before about doing more training things with the members of the club. So I sent an e-mail to the group and told them all to join me there.
Trouble is I woke up yesterday morning with a 3 mile run scheduled in my head. I hate running after work so I usually run in the morning. I'd totally forgot about the Tuesday night running club. So I rolled out of the bed and set off a running.

At the time I hadn't run in two weeks. I was still in recovery from the Half-Ironman I did on Sept. 17. Read about it!
But it was such a beautiful September morning - warm about 50 degrees, a little breezy and the sky was blue as a Carribbean waterfront. Lovely. How can you not run in that?
That question actually rushed through my mind. Four years ago, when I started doing triathlons I would have never thought about that. But that's what triathlon fun can do to you. Change your whole perspective on weather reports! :)
Instead of sunny and nice - I think perfect time to bike!
Instead of cold and windy - I think perfect time to run.
So I couldn't pass up the fun in the Fall sun. And instead of running 3 miles I eeked out 4 miles. It was slow about 13:47 a mile but hey it was a recovery run!
Even so I arrived at Jack Quinn's right on time at 6:00 ready to run. Another guy from my Tri club showed up - Ed.
Ed, an actual rocket scientist, and I ran/walked the 5K. He was tapering for a 1/2 Mary and I was just getting back into running. After the fun run, a dash by the free food buffet and, of course, a "Snakebite..."
I settled onto a bar stool with Ed and started to talk. As we were talking another PPer walked in. He had on our triclub hat.

"Hey, you're Ovetta right? He said.
"Yeah."
"I'm Ken. You know I met a friend of yours last week and I told her that you were my hero."
"Oh yeah, Monica. She told me. Wow, man what's that about."
"Well, my wife met you about two years ago at Criterium." Criterium is my local bike shop.
"Yeah," I said, nonplussed. I meet so many people. It's hard for me to keep them straight.
"Yeah, and you started talking about triathlons and you talked us into it."
"Holy Cow," I said. "Good for you."
"And now," Ken said. "I'm doing Ironman Florida next month. And it's all your fault."
We laughed and talked about our road to Ironman.
But it's really eerie, humbling and kind of fun to have someone actually say to you "you're my hero." Mostly because there are very few categories of people who actually desserve that term hero - despite's NBC's new show!
Heroes are people who fight wars.
Heroes are people who save lives.
Heroes are people who change the world.
I laughed off the comment. But inside I was beaming. I mean I certainly do not feel like a hero. Most days it takes an act of herculian effort just to get me out of bed. But when I think about all the things I've been through since doing my first triathlon in March of 2004 it seems heroic like.
Going from 260 pounds to a lot less.
Going from only being able to run 2 minutes at a time to running a 1/2 Marathon
Going from not being able to swim 25 yards in a pool without stopping to swimming two miles at a time.
Going from not being able to ride a bike for more than hour - crying when I hit more than hour to riding 60 miles.
It's definitely an accomplishment in my life. But still falls short of heroic.
Still it's nice to know that what you say can help motivate others.
I have to remember all the strides I made up to this point when it gets hard. When I can't run another step. When I can't stay on my bike a minute longer. I have to remember, "You are my hero..." and suck it up!