Remembering Hillary - Carpinteria Triathlon 2008

Yesterday, I completed my first olympic distance triathlon at Carpinteria, California. Carpinteria is a small community about 40 miles north of where we live. It boasts some beautiful south-facing beaches and is nestled between the Santa Monica mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Laura and I, like most other participants, were filled with an anxious energy prior to the start of the race. The swim in the 62 degree water would be cold and after that things would get really hard with two tough hills on the bike portion. Despite the rush of facing a new challenge, it really wasn't the reason why we were there. We, along with many others from around the country, came to Carpinteria to honor a friend/wife/sister/daughter who had passed few short months earlier.

Her name was Hillary. Although we had known her for a short time, it was clear to me and Laura that she was an amazing woman. She was, at once, a beautiful, intelligent, and kind woman with the fiery heart of an athlete and competitor. She and her husband, Brent, made a great couple. In honor of Hillary, Brent, and numerous friends and family participated in this year's triathlon. For some, it was the first time ever and for others it was first time doing a longer distance.

The course itself was really challenging for me. The 1 mile ocean swim was made more difficult by choppy surf, heavy fog, and freezing waters. Honestly, by the time I had reached my first turn on the swim (about 200 meters into it), I seriously wondered if I could make it to completion. I felt exhausted but pushed through, partially because I couldn't deal with the public and private humiliation of a DNF, and (more importantly) I was part of something bigger that I couldn't do again. So, I continued to swim through the surf, waddled through the transitions, rode up and down some tough hills on the bike and finally ran a route that, at times, I thought would never end. In the end, even though I came in 272 out of 320 with a time of 3;14 (a time far slower than I would have liked), it felt great. Brent, members of his family, Hillary's family, and their friends were waiting at the end for all those who ran in her name. I had a chance to hug Brent and Hillary's mom. I don't know what I said. I'm sure it was nothing of much substance but I think they felt the love I have for them. It was wonderful to see them and for me it put everything I experienced on the course in perspective. Life is a grand adventure and in the end there is only love. it is the only thing that is real and the only thing that truly matters. I am grateful for a reminder of that simple truth.

Here are some early pictures. We will add to it as we get them...

http://gallery.me.com/laura.biswas#100162/DSC01451&bgcolor=black

peace and love all....

Sugata