For example there was the Vineman 5/3 brick. Deep in the valley in Westlake Village we did what was supposed to be a five hour bike ride and a three hour run. It was "I'm traveling through a dusty desert" hot that day. A "I put ice down my bra and can't even feel it" kind of hot. Miserable hot. Impossible to fry an egg sunny side up because it would just cook the yoke right through kind of hot. The bike was ok. When you are cutting through the air at 15-20mph you cool off even if the air feels a little like standing in front of the oven with the door open. Plus, all those extra bottle holders are holding water (warm sadly) that you can splash on yourself to cool down. But running? The only saving grace that day was our lovely teammates running SAG with cold water and ice and Pai. Pronounced "pie", he was our photo captain. I've probably posted a picture here that he took at some point. He's also the buffest Asian man I've ever met. He ran with me that day, or he would say I ran with him. Either way, this pro-football sized man ran most of that 5 hour run with me and I wouldn't have finished without him. Over and over I wanted to give up, I felt dizzy, I was miserable but he kept saying things like "let's just run to that poll", that fire hydrant, that house. He threw in small goals and was patient when all I wanted to do was walk. I finished that workout because my teammate ran with me. Left to my own devices I would have stopped halfway through and procrastinated the other half to tomorrow. (Which when I did that it didn't actually always mean I'd do it the next day.)
But you know what else a team is good for? Life.
I'm part of a group that can't be broken. Whether friends for a lifetime or just a year I will forever have a bond with these people. People I never would have encountered if it wasn't for Team in Training. Doctors. People twice my age. Adults with kids when I'm just this twenty something kid myself just starting my career and still trying to figure out who I am. People in entertainment. People who live far. People who live close. Lots of straight people. Lots of straight women. But these people who I may have nothing in common with, because of Ironteam, are my family.
And when we lost a member of our family we all felt it. Together.
Every single day since we lost Mari I have felt such love and affection for my teammates. Generally conversations during the season that start out with "how are you" were given generic answers. But now, knowing we are all sharing in the same pain I have reached deeper levels of honesty with people I didn't normally talk to. We all feel it. It didn't matter if you knew her for one season or her whole 8yr TNT career. We all loved her and all feel the empty place she left in each one of our hearts when she left. Today was the first day since October 13th that I didn't see one of my teammates. 8 straight days of crying together, leaning on each other's presence, and Sweet Rose ice cream.
Here is a thought I shared earlier this week with my team:
"This is such a unique group that I don't think the rest of our lives understand. One of my best friends from college said to me "i didn't know you were so close". Only someone from the team would understand what we've gone through together. We don't just train for a race together, we combat fears together, we stretch and challenge ourselves together, we chase dreams together, and we see a glimpse of just how much strength and potential we have when we see each other cross that finish line. And we have all seen each other at the breaking point where exhaustion and tears take over. We are a family. I love you all and the beauty in this tragedy is how it has brought us all together. I think she'd be proud of her Ironteam."
More than just for workouts. Even more than alongside you during your race (which for a portion Mari did for me). Your teammates will run with you in all aspects of life. Because on Ironteam we don't leave anyone behind.
