CONFESSIONS OF AN AGE-GROUPER

BY HOLLY BENNETT

WAG YOUR TAIL

LESSONS IN POSITIVITY CAN COME FROM THE MOST UNlIKElY SOURCES.
38 JANUARY FEBRUARY 2013 2012

For all our often talked about Type-A rigor, triathletes can be a readily adaptable bunch. We adjust to many different situations for many different reasons, either planned or unforeseen. For example: We juggle time. Its no secret we tackle seemingly insurmountable loads, with family, work and training vying for those oh-so-precious 24 hours in each day. So we get creative. In an interview for this months PROfile column, Xterra U.S. champion Josiah Middaugh admitted to compensating for the constraints of his schedule by sometimes eating lunch in the shower. (I forgot to ask how he keeps his sandwiches from getting soggy!)

HUNTER KING

and rave and drop F-bombs at any other We grasp opportunities. This hapdriver who will listen. You can freak out pens in straightforward ways, such as about missing whatever rendezvous making a break on the bike when the youre in a rush to reach. Or you can opportunity is ripe. And it happens in chillax, enjoy some music or perhaps surprising ways as well. Xterra world phone a friend. Whichever approach you champion Conrad Stoltz, during his early choose, youll arrive at your destination days of frugal living on the European at the exact same time. Stress will literrace circuit, once collected and cooked a ally get you nowhere. freshly road-killed rabbit, resourcefully The poster-boy perfect example of turning it into a gourmet meal. (Whats positivity is a guy called Riley. Thats his with these Xterra guys?) given name, though hes better known We shift gears on the y. Rememas Mr. Fur, and incidentally hes not a triber when Ironman champion Heather athlete at all. Wurteles bike broke during a 2012 race? Mr. Fur is the canine pride and joy Barely skipping a beat, she borrowed a of Ironman champion Mary Beth Ellis. much shorter athletes mini-bikeno And all of us, triatheasy feat for a 6-foot-2 letes and couch pocyclist. Yet she saddled tatoes alike, stand to up and soldiered on. THERES ALSO A LOT learn from this furry Sadly, it turned out phenom. Granted, dogs this tactic was against TO BE SAID FOR HOW are a positive lot to bethe rules (unknown to gin with. A simple kind Heather at the time), WE NAVIGATE LIFES word or a cuddle, or esbut it was a valiant exMURKIER MOMENTS. pecially a tasty treat, ample of making do a tail-wagging with the tools at hand. ATTITUDE, IT TURNS OUT, elicits frenzy, the equivalent I try to remind myof a human being who self of these, and similar REALLY IS EVERYTHING. has just won the lotsituations, every time tery or crossed the nI encounter challenges ish line in Kona. But Mr. in my own life. Not that Fur is more than just a mutt wagging Ive ever selected my sustenance o the his tail at lifes simple pleasureshes side of the road, but you get my drift. wagging that tail with a can-do attitude The mere fact alone of being an endurin the face of extreme adversity. A few ance sports enthusiast implies a cermonths ago, Mr. Fur was diagnosed with tain capacity for getting through any cancer and as a result had one of his angsta strength of character Im sure front legs amputated. One day he frolmost of us have called upon more than icked on all fours; the next only three once. But theres also a lot to be said remained. But thats the only thing that for how we navigate lifes murkier mochanged one day to the next. Mr. Fur ments. Attitude, it turns out, really is adapted almost immediately to life as everything. a tri-pawed dog, smiling his overgrown Imagine my horror when my phone puppy smile and wagging up a storm. service failed to work for a full 18 hours Admittedly, we cant overcome evrecently. No phoning, no texting. I felt ery obstacle with Mr. Furs resilient delike Tom Hanks in the movie Cast Away, meanor. But we sure can try. We can marooned in suburbia with no conneconly work with what we have, not what tion to the outside world. And yet I loved we had yesterday. Our last personal best every minute of it. Sure, there was the time means nil compared to our tness minor annoyance of my itchy thumbs at present. Bad breaks happen, but life automatically moving toward the keygoes on, and in each moment our opporpad, to no avail. But on the ip side, I tunities start afresh, right now. Chew greatly enjoyed the unexpected escape on that chunk of wisdom next time your from all things instant, direct and SMS. coveted noontime workout is cut short I even kept my computer and television because a work meeting runs long. Think turned o to be truly rid of technology. of that the next time youre in a race or a Instead, I relished a bath, a glass of wine, tough training sessionor even a trac a short read and a long nights sleep. Lo jamand everything seems to go awry. and behold, the earth was still turning Ask yourself, What would Mr. Fur do? on its axis come morning. Then move forward, and by all means Take your average trac jam. The wag your tail. fact of the matter is this: You can rant

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