I Can and I Will

Last night I had the good fortune of spending the evening with some truly amazing multi-sport athletes.  I was invited to dinner at my friend Teri’s house.   I pulled up to Teri’s home and at first glance my SUV with Thule bike rack seemed to fit in perfectly with the other vehicles lining the street.  However, mine was lacking something. I felt a flutter of adrenaline, as I parked behind a jeep displaying the Mdot logo, indicating the driver is an Ironman.  That feeling of adrenaline increased, as I walked past car after car with 140.6 stickers.  Amazing!  Who am I to be invited into the company of such accomplished greatness?! In July, I will merely attempt to do HALF of what several of these women have already completed, some multiple times.  Some while fighting incredible odds.  One whose name is Teri Griege.

I still remember the first time I met Teri.  I had just been working at FLEET FEET for a very short amount of time; I don’t even think I was fitting shoes yet.  Teri and her daughter came into the store to find something for her to wear on TV.  Huh?  What kind of TV show do you go on in running apparel? The kind where they send a film crew to your house so you can be one of the highlighted competitors at the KONA Ironman World Championships, that’s what kind.  Teri started to tell us her story.  She had been invited to Kona as an inspirational athlete because she had just missed qualifying when she competed in Ironman Louisville.  But here’s the kicker…Teri came within minutes qualifying for the Ironman Worlds, while she had cancer.  Only 2 weeks after completing that race in Louisville, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer.  Teri took that news and turned it into strength.  She continued to train despite chemotherapy.  Last week at swimming practice, someone told me that Teri will go to a chemo treatment and then come straight to the pool for a workout.  Incredible.

As Teri stood there in Fleet Feet that day, telling her story, the 6 or so of us who were working, in addition to the other customers in the store, were all crowded around listening.  I can’t remember who all was there, I know Faith was standing next to me and I think Jess was with us, too.  I’m pretty sure every last one of us was crying.  I know I was.  And I still get choked up when I think about how absolutely amazing my friend Teri is for all that she’s accomplished.

Last October, despite a diagnosis of Colon cancer that had spread to her liver, major surgery, and many chemo treatments, Teri went to Kona and completed the 2.4 mile swim in the Pacific Ocean, followed by a 112 mile bike and then a full marathon.  Everyone knows I love running marathons, but I really can’t even fathom throwing down 26.2 after an already full day of athletic activities like that.  And I especially can’t fathom doing it while battling a vicious, grueling disease.  Teri can.  And she continues to fight.

About a month ago, Teri came into the store because her daughter Katie needed some running shoes.  While I helped Katie with shoes, Teri asked what I am currently training for.  I told her the Vancouver marathon and Racine 70.3.  Teri said she is going to be in Racine too, which is awesome, because just knowing that Teri will be there too gives me inspiration.  She will likely be using it as training for some other Ironman race, while I am just hoping to finish it.  As we talked, Teri said she’s planning on Ironman Arizona 2014.  She wanted me to think about doing it too.  Are you kidding?!  That’s the coolest invitation I’ve ever had to anything in my life!  But, I haven’t even completed 70.3 yet, I have no idea how that’s gonna go.  And as I sat there, with the wheels turning in my head, waves of doubt crashing around and coliding with thoughts of “Well, maybe?”  I was physically unable to utter the words “I can’t” to this woman.  Because this is Teri Griege, you don’t say “I can’t” to her about anything.  If she can, and she HAS, then you at least try.  I don’t know that this is the right time for me to attempt something of that magnitude, what with having 3 small children and adjusting to a new lifestyle.  But I know that if the opportunity was to present itself, the only logical response to Teri is, “I can and I will.”

I am humbled and blessed to call Teri my friend.  More than anything, she inspires me to remember that anything is possible!

Here is the link to Teri’s website.  http://terigriege.com/ She truly is Powered By Hope.

RRG and Teri Griege-Ironwoman

RRG and Teri Griege-Ironwoman

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