Never really alone....

Last year I did a duathlon.  The race was in Philadelphia, about 2 hours from me, so I stayed with my friend, Teresa.  And she volunteered for the race and was at the finish line to put my medal on me.  I remember afterward, watching some of the other women pack their stuff up and leave, by themselves.  I remember thinking that it was awesome that they did this, with seemingly no one there to cheer them on.  They did it for them.  I remember not feeling sad but admiring them for their dedication to doing a triathlon.  

I have spoken to other triathletes who are similar to me.  We train alone, and race alone.  We do it for ourselves.  I know it gets to them and occasionally, it gets to me.  

In one week from today, I will do my first triathlon, a women only sprint.  It's the first race of, what I hope to be many.  A dream I have had for years.  And when I cross that finish line, there will be no one there to cheer for me.  No one to put a medal around my neck.  I will just pack up my stuff and go home.  

However, when I go home, I will open my computer and log into facebook.  And there will be my friends "cheering" me on.  You see in this world of electronic technology, I have become friends with people in just about every state in this country and a fair number of folks in other countries.  And those people will all be cheering me on next Sunday.  Sometimes when I go out for my training, they "come along".  They support me, help me stay motivated and pick me up when I fall.  

I'm sure there will be someone who sees me pack up my stuff and leave, alone, next week.  And if she is by herself, as well, my wish is that she has been as lucky as I have to learn that I am never alone on this journey.  And for that I am deeply grateful.