This week, I had the absolute best race sherpa/travel partner around…my dad! 9 years ago, when I was studying abroad in Spain, I was lucky enough to travel to Barcelona and Paris with my dad at the end of my study abroad session. Since then, life has been busy for both of us, so visits are usually weekends, or him visiting during the week which means that actual visiting hours are squeezed in around business and training hours. Also, since his retirement, my dad has become quite the world traveler and is gone for months at a time.
When I first found out that I would be competing in Age
Group Nationals, I though I’d be making the trip solo. The BF works weekends and couldn’t get the
time off…my mom was teaching summer school and couldn’t find a flight that
worked. My dad was supposed to leave for
Aman, Jordan on August 8, so he originally couldn’t make the trip either. But travel gods were shining down on us and
his trip was pushed back to August 14.
So I got a travel buddy!!!!
Seriously, it was such an awesome surprise, and we have had an
amazing trip. I could not give enough
thanks for the selfless Tri-Sherpa role my dad took on. From waiting around the hotel room while I
squeezed in a swim and a run, to traipsing all around the expo and race
grounds, he was up for everything.
On Friday, I had to pick up my bike, ride my bike, go for a
run, go for a swim, listen to the rules briefing, check my bike into
transition, rest my legs, eat my pasta, and go to bed early!! Phew! As stressful of a day as it was for me,
I can only imagine how boring it must have been for my dad…to be sitting
around, guarding my bike and waiting for me to be done with my training. But he couldn’t have been more supportive and
selfless throughout the day. He guarded
my bag while I was on my run, and babysat my bike while I was running. And he walked back and forth with me from the
hotel to the race site multiple times, to get my packet, to do my final training,
and finally to check my bike into transition.
As for Friday night and Saturday morning, I know that I was
quiet and sometimes short with him because I was so nervous, but my dad took it
in stride and did nothing but offer to help and do anything I needed. He repeatedly told me how proud he was, and
offered encouraging words to no end.
On Saturday, my dad was a champion photog. He was all over the course and was able to
cheer me on in so many different spots. He
was up at the crack of dawn, foraged some extra bananas, followed me around for
my bathroom stops and my transition set up.
He sat around while I chatted with my friend Erin. He scoped out the best place to see the swim
start. He kept track of me on the swim
in the mass of silver swim caps, and he caught the absolute greatest shot of me
crossing the finish line with my arms held high.
Throughout my life, I have been so incredibly lucky to have
the unwavering support of my dad in everything I did. From the Panda Bears t-ball team, Baldy View
Gymnastics, UHS Track and Field and now to my triathlon races, he has been the
world’s best cheerleader. He has
encouraged me to achieve all the goals I have set and has never doubted that I
would achieve them. I couldn’t imagine
going through my first experience at Age Group Nationals without him and I am
so very thankful that I have had the past 6 days with him.
Dad, I love you more than anything and I am truly the
luckiest girl! Thank you for your
unwavering support and unending love. I
am so very grateful for the amazing father-daughter week we had!
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