From the Beach to the Barre – How My Triathlon Brought Me Back to Ballet (part three)

(In part one and part two of this blog post I share my story about why I signed up for a triathlon and what I experienced during training.)
Finally! It was race day! I could hardly believe it. All my hard work was about to pay off – at least that’s what I was hoping. My husband and I arrived at 0-dark-thirty to set up. I was so relieved to find out that Lake Michigan was 54 degrees and pretty calm which meant the swim would not be cancelled. I never thought I would say this but I felt lucky to get the chance to swim in 54 degree water!

Lake Michigan – a calm but chilly 54 degrees

As we stood on the beach in our wetsuits waiting for the race to begin I was surprised and strangely comforted by the number of people (and in all shapes and sizes). As challenging as a triathlon can be, it is definitely not an elite athlete event. I belonged there just as much as anyone else.

Warming up for the swim

 

Taking the advice of many experienced colleagues, I chose to swim in the “novice” wave because of the very real possibility of getting pretty much beat up by other swimmers in the regular wave. As the novice wave was one of the last groups to go, I had plenty of time to stand in the cold water and get “acclimated” to 54 degrees. If that’s at all possible. Eventually, it was go-time. Because of my chest cold and the water temperature, I avoided putting my face into the water. I was a bit disappointed about that after all those lessons and hours of training, but I just had to get through it the best way – which turned out to be a lot of backstroke, side stroke and yes, some dog paddling! I watched my husband swim ahead – we had agreed to go at our own paces and meet up at the finish line. With my head out of the water as much as it was, I was able to look around quite a bit and see other poor souls struggling in the frigid water – I was not alone! As I rounded the last buoy I saw my husband exiting the water and my daughter on the shore taking pictures! At last, I knew I would “survive” the swim as I approached the beach and felt the sand at my fingertips!

Mission accomplished!

So glad the swim is over!

As I headed to the transition area to get my bike, I started taking off my wetsuit and realized my hands were so cold I couldn’t grip very well. My feet were numb as well, so I was relieved that the next leg of the race was the bike ride and not the run. I headed out on my bike just a few minutes after my husband but I paced myself and didn’t ride too hard so that I could save my legs for the run. It was a nice, leisurely ride.

My husband heading out for the bike ride

Getting ready to enjoy the bike ride!

 

Finishing up the bike portion!

I had assumed my feet would warm up during the bike ride. Boy, was I wrong! I guess standing in the water so long before the swim wasn’t such a great idea. I ditched my bike in the transition area and headed out for the run. It felt odd to start running with numb feet, but what choice did I have? I thought “this can’t be good for you!” As I ran past my kids, my son cheered me on but made sure to let me know that I was “way behind daddy”! I had to laugh just thinking about what might be going through his 5 year old mind and felt good about being a positive role model.

Waving to my kids

 

 

During the run I felt really good. After all my previous races, I knew what my running capabilities were and was excited that I was so close to finishing! Who knew when I first starting running two years ago that I would consider a 5K run to be “easy”? About halfway through the run, the numbness wore off my feet and I realized that if I ran a little faster I could finish in under 2 hours. (Just to clarify, I’m not a “fast” runner. If I’m doing a 10:00 minute mile my heart rate is around 180 so it’s really tough for me to go any faster. I discovered this when I traded my fitbit for a MotoActiv heart rate monitor watch and did some metabolic coaching at my gym). Up until now, “time” hadn’t even been a consideration for me. My goal was to be a “completer” not a “competer” – but I liked the sound of finishing in under two hours. And so that’s what I set out to do and picked up my running speed for that last mile or so.

I did it!

My race time and placement are certainly nothing to brag about, but I was pleased with the results! My official race time was 1:55:00 exactly. I couldn’t believe my swim was under 15 minutes at 14:50. My bike was 51:20 and my run was 33:42 which is a 10:52 minute mile! Not bad after all that swimming and biking! And, best of all, NO injuries! Score.
My husband, a strong swimmer and biker (but has bad knees from past sports injuries), crossed the finish line 9 minutes before me. We celebrated with our kids at the finish line.

My family

Our body markings

I always wanted a tattoo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

So many people have asked me: “Will you do another triathlon?” I think the question instead should be “What will you do next?”

My triathlon experience helped me learn more about what my body is capable of physically, and I enjoyed focusing more on what my body could do instead of what it looked like (the only time I had thought this way was when I was pregnant). I also enjoyed learning something new, meeting new people and biking or swimming with my husband. However, I did not enjoy the experience mentally – I felt like I was missing something important. I wanted more out of this experience than just the challenge. I longed for a mind-body connection and something that felt more nurturing. Maybe it sounds strange to want exercise to be nurturing but that’s the best word I can find to describe how I felt. And I was beginning to figure out why.

At the beginning of this story
I shared that I had studied ballet and attended a performing arts high school. But I didn’t go on to explain that while I danced throughout college I had not taken class since then. There are many reasons, and some of them complex. And unfortunately, that meant I had left an incredibly important part of my life behind.
But now, I had pushed myself so far beyond my comfort zone that I actually started thinking about ballet again. I guess I thought if I could do a triathlon, I certainly had what it takes to get back into dancing. You see, ballet is not “frills and fluff” – it’s actually quite gritty.

(Oh, and I forgot when I was complaining about all the triathlon gear….dancers have some pretty outrageous gear, too! Check out this video…)

About two months before the triathlon, the performing arts high school I had attended held a 30 year reunion. I didn’t attend, but I did reconnect with several classmates and relived lots of memories through the group’s facebook page.

Right before heading to the dance academy in 1983

Dancing at college in 1988

Reunited with former classmate Lisa Weyenberg Jacobs after 30 years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortly after that ‘World Ballet Day’ was celebrated on YouTube with streaming live classes and rehearsals from companies like the Bolshoi Ballet and the San Franscisco Ballet. I found myself glued to the screen for hours at a time. I was mesmerized by the behind the scenes filming, and as the memories flooded back, I realized how no other exercise had ever come close to ballet and how much I missed it. Shortly after that a former dance teacher and mentor contacted me out of the blue. We hadn’t spoken in nearly 30 years.

So it seemed like there were all kinds of signs and the time was right to finally get back on that horse. I signed up for my first ballet class in 25 years.
I honestly didn’t know how I would feel taking that first class. Would I be an emotional wreck? Would I be able to look at myself in the mirror? Would I hate it? Would the teacher be encouraging or critical? And what was I supposed to wear? I was scared and excited at the same time.

But, as soon as I touched the barre and the piano music started, I felt right at home. I enjoyed moving to the music and feeling connected to my body. I loved hearing the teacher call out the names of all the steps in French – words I hadn’t heard in 25 years! I knew there would be some physical and mental limitations – let’s face it – I wasn’t able to do the splits anymore and probably couldn’t remember the combinations as well because of my aging brain. But to my pleasant surprise – that did NOT take the JOY out of it for me! I couldn’t help but smile when we learned a combination across the floor and even giggled when it was all moving so fast I could barely keep up. I honestly can’t think of one single time when I was running or swimming that I “couldn’t help but smile”.

Finally, as I limped out of the studio that first day, I thought “triathlons have got nothing on ballet!”

 

At the barre again! Shoes have changed a lot in 25 years.

Even though I had no idea what I was signing up for, I’m so glad I did the triathlon. And I’m so grateful it led me so unexpectedly back to ballet. While I have no plans for another triathlon at this time, I’m so enjoying this next phase in my midlife experiment. Who knows, maybe I’ll even dance on stage again someday? We’ll have to see how my feet hold up, but it can’t be as hard on them as running. And I’m also getting back into my strength training in hopes that I can get those extra pounds off. Maybe I’ll do some bodybuilding? I’m also planning to take a karate class with my son this Spring, and who knows, maybe I’ll finally get that black belt I started working on 20 years ago!

It’s so good to feel excited and positive about exercising again! Challenging yourself is one thing, but enjoying what you do really is the key ingredient. I hope my story has inspired you to stretch beyond your comfort zone and find (or rediscover) the joy in exercise! Thanks for letting me share my journey with you.

Please share your comments below!

To check out other posts on my “Food for Thought” blog, click here.

11 Comments

  1. Yvette on February 5, 2015 at 2:57 am

    Thank you for sharing! I love that you are back to your roots of ballet. That is something I always wish I would have gotten into when younger. I am recently back into swimming – no intention of racing but healing an injury. I did swim team as a kid & I must say I really like being back in the water. So cool how there are so many ways to make fitness fun & not such a chore!

    Keep sharing – would love to hear how your journey back into ballet evolves.
    Cheers!

    • admin on February 5, 2015 at 2:41 pm

      Thanks, Yvette and congrats on rediscovering your enjoyment of swimming! Interesting how an injury led you back to the water. Just shows you that good things can come from bad!

  2. Kate G. Byers, MS, RDN on February 5, 2015 at 4:24 am

    This is awesome, Melissa!! Congrats and kudos to you for being so bold and daring!! I keep saying that I want to get into kick-boxing…I think it would be good for letting out pent up frustration!

    • admin on February 5, 2015 at 4:30 am

      Thanks, Kate! Yes – I encourage you to do whatever it is you are interested in exploring! Best of luck to you!

  3. Shelley Johnson on February 9, 2015 at 3:27 am

    I am so happy that you are doing something that you just love! I talk to people all the time who say that they wish they loved running enough to make it their hobby, or even triathlon. I think I feel that way about dance. Oh how I wish I could dance. But I know that I am just not cut out for it. I am at peace with that and thrilled that I have running to love. Glad you got a freezing cold and bad-ass triathlon out of the way so you’d know. Congratulations to you!

  4. Jennifer Barnett Fox on February 10, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    This was a very inspirational way to start the day! Thanks for sharing.

    • admin on February 11, 2015 at 12:27 pm

      Thanks Jennifer!

  5. Alicia on September 8, 2015 at 12:59 pm

    After googling triathlete and barre workout I found your blog! I’ve never cried while reading a blog nor commented. Thank you for writing and sharing. It brought me peace.

    • admin on December 14, 2016 at 7:51 pm

      Alicia – thank you so much for your touching words – I’m so glad this was meaningful to you!!
      Melissa

  6. Marcia Pell on September 17, 2023 at 11:54 am

    I am so happy to get to read this nearly 10 years after you posted it. I love learning more about you and how you step into so many new experiences so boldly. Thanks for sharing your journey and experiences.

    • Melissa Dobbins on September 17, 2023 at 2:34 pm

      Thank you so much Marcia! This means so much coming from you. You inspire me!!
      Melissa

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