Can I get a blog from you? A question I have never been asked before but have been asked twice in the last two days! Writing has never been my forte but I will tell my story the best I can!
So lets start at the beginning – Months of training, early mornings, long rides, intense pool sessions and generally just hectic training sessions day in and day out – But would this all pay off? Would I finish? How long would it take me? Would my foot injury hold out? All questions racing through my mind every single time I thought about the race. It did, it all paid off.  Janine, yes, beginner Janine, here I am.. but as of the past weekend, as Luc would say, no longer a beginner. I took part in the Sun City ultra this past weekend – My very first one! And yes, I managed to somehow cross that finish line!

The weekend started with a bang, and life once again showed me to expect the unexpected. Friday night came with no sleep and a very sick child. Making that drive to Sun City on Saturday morning, exhausted, finishing the race seemed almost impossible. We checked in and started meeting up with our amazing group of TriFactri team mates and their families. A short pre-ride with Siann, Garth and Matt followed. To end the night, as we always seem to do, we sat around the braai listening to all the stories and experiences of other members and had a good laugh. I finally climbed into bed and as soon as my head hit that pillow I was out! 

Sunday morning – 4:30 sharp, it was cold and dark but I was awake! No alarm clock – Just my body ready to rock and roll! Luc and Aubs still sleeping, I had the coffee going, breakfast, banana’s and shakes – All part of the nutrition that Luc preaches to us about! Once everyone was up and ready to go I just followed Luc and put my bike where hers was, put my bag where it belonged, jumped into my wet suit and took pictures! Watching the sprints go off all I could think was “OH SH*T I AM WITH THE BIG BOYS NOW!”

Into the water I went – My nerves were surprisingly gone – I swam and swam and swam – start stop start stop – swimmers bashing into me – looking up, off course – readjusting and swimming again! What always feels like hours in the water finally came to an end! I got out, neck burning and realised that I now needed to make the transition – ran from the dam to the tent – Hells bells what a run! – pulled my wetsuit off and went on.  I proceeded to get my bike and there I saw Garth! I got his attention and said ‘LETS GO!’  The cycle went well – a little windy and quiet, all I wanted was a friend to chat to! Nonetheless, I was smiling and feeling strong – a few cramps here and there – but nothing too major.
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Riding into Sun City I felt a sudden wave of exhaustion. Unsure of how I was going to still get through a 21km run, I decided it was now time for a mental shift. Positive thinking was what I kept telling myself! I promised my boys I would bring a medal home and that is what I was about to do! To my surprise I then saw Luc, gave her a quick shout “HEY COACH” and thought to myself “how on earth does she look like she has just started this race and she is on her second lap already? This woman is crazy and incredible.” The run wasn’t an easy one, hill after hill I just told myself to keep going. At this point it was getting really tough to carry on and to make matters worse I was bursting for the loo! BUT “waaaay too many golfers and if I stop now I probably won’t start again” I thought. My stomach was acing from all the “goo”, I had a sore knee and I was now REALLY exhausted! I was so close though and realising that sparked this excitement in me that pushed me to carry on. I would not stop for ANYTHING now.  

The power of team work in an individual sport is something so precious. It doesn’t happen often enough for me. My schedule usually finds me doing many of my sessions on my own, but there are two sessions in the week when I immerse myself in the “group”. It is when I get to run in harmony with track team mates or push a long sweet stretch of tar side by side on the bike with sweat sitting on the front edge of my helmet.

When it’s over we laugh at the fact that we did it and did it well, or console that it was shitty but so much better to have hated it with company. It’s special for the words of encouragement received as you ache to the end of a set that has left you lagging, or the “come on – push to the line – you are looking strong” that you say to those who need it.

It’s the power of the team that sits with me when I get to the start of a race. I’m on my own then, but I draw from that something special that makes me feel strong, that makes me remember the feeling I have when the power of the team pushes me to a limit I thought I could never do on my own. I store that feeling and bring it to the fore as I stand nervously at the water’s edge. It gives me a sense of belief.
It’s that sense of belief that we often don’t give to ourselves. As Athletes we are always supremely critical of our performances, finishing wishing we had done something different to have shaved that extra minute, moved that one place farther up on the leader board, pushed out more watts on the bike, been fiercer in the swim. 

In the build up to my SA Champs in East London, I felt sluggish, uninspired and internally doubtful of my ability to perform to my satisfaction on the day. I needed the power of the group. Gratefully, I had the pleasure of being surrounded by some amazing women - team mates – friends.  I needed them, more than I think they knew, to help me believe. Each gifting me with something – Laura-Beth with her exuberance to be back in the sport and feeling physically and mentally amazing, Andy for her quirky and humorous fears of sharks which gave lightness to the nerves, Jess for her calm spiritual aura and Shannon for her level headedness. 

As the hooter went off for the start, I took with me an inner power and strength – as well as a flutter of nerves. Time to prove to myself that I can perform to MY expectations. I had the power of the group.
Returning to an event always brings heightened expectations. I hate the sense of failing myself. But on that day I finished the race with the sheer joy of lifting the banner as I crossed the line – hey it could have been a Kona moment (no Lucy, I have no aspirations to go to Kona). I finished knowing that I could do it. I had the power. I had been granted the belief. It allowed me to feel proud of my achievement and to not look for the things that were wrong but rather the things I could improve; A matter of perspective.
I look forward to the next chapter when this same group of women journey with me to World Champs. I can feel our Power.

My husband, Chris, was the first to join team TriFacTri. It was a big deal you know, not just anybody got to train with the infamous Lucie Zelenkova! So when Lucie decided to take Chris on as an athlete we were so excited! He flourished from the minute he started training with the group and had many podiums to show for it.  I was the ‘team photographer’ which made me so proud. I loved every second of snapping these super-humans (whom I looked up to each time I got to spend time with them)… and I still love photographing each athlete every chance I get.

So chop-chop chemo was over and I could start training very slowly on the 1st of September.  Training was tough as I had to do most of it alone, all my training-buddies were now way too fast for me. But I was determined and got through it (with no advice on how much to train or nutrition etc).
IM 70.3 East London was amazing! I loved the sport and the distance straight away and I knew this was what I wanted to do. I ended up doing a 6h30 and was mostly happy with that. But as we all know, it’s never good enough! After that I knew there was only one place for me. TRIFACTRI.
 
I messaged Lucie to ask if she would consider training me. This took me about 2 months to do as I was so incredibly intimidated by Lucie AND the amazing athletes! I mean, why would they even consider having me there? I’m not even close to being a podium contender and I don’t have the talent to get there either, but I absolutely LOVE the sport and everything about it. Luc, being the sweetheart she is, immediately offered me a coffee date to discuss my request. And the rest is history. 
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All I want to say is that this group, from the coach to each athlete, has given me a renewed purpose in life. I cannot describe to any of you the absolute heartache that comes with infertility, let alone the battle of cancer. I am truly honest when I say that my life would probably have gone up in flames if not for TriFacTri. You guys have done so much more for me than I can say. Thank you for treating me like a normal person and not some victim. Thank you for taking me in and making me feel like an athlete even when I can’t keep up with you guys. Thank you for being my friends and my family. Thank you, Lucie, for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.  

Team TriFacTri, the team to beat…in more ways than one!