05/19/2018
Meet our : Don Garringer (pictured)
"In 2016, I was diagnosed with an incurable disease, but was told if I kept my weight in check and got daily vigorous exercise, I could slow down or even possibly reverse the damage of the disease. So, I went to battle by losing weight and exercising at Planet Fitness almost daily. I Didn't have any goals other than to workout hard, which got boring pretty quickly.
I told the trainer there to pick any race and that I would do it with them. The trainer picked the Indiana Spring Sprint Triathlon with America Multi-Sport (AMS). I had always wanted to do one since they (AMS) came to Muncie years ago. The problem was I barely could swim - no clue how to breathe, but I made a deal. So I did my best to teach myself to swim. My Nephew got me a month at the YMCA so I could practice. I really didn't know what I was doing, so I watched swimming videos and talked to pretty much everybody at the pool for advice. I also met lots of great people who tried to help.
The day finally came to race but, because of a thunderstorm with lots of lightning, the race ended up getting cancelled. I was so disappointed, so much so that, on that very same day, my daughter Candi, paid for my entry fee into the next triathlon. It was a few weeks away and the swim portion wasn't in a swimming pool, but in open water. To help me get more swim practice, one of those great people at the YMCA pool paid for another month. There are no people like Triathlon people.
I was so nervous and excited at that first sprint race. I panicked a few times on the swim. I wasn't sure I would make it, since open water is way different than swimming in a lap pool. Luckily, I had heard about some open water practices and some of the people there gave me pointers on how to sight while swimming, which was probably the best advice I had gotten up to that point. I doubt that I would have made it without it.
The bike and run was cake after surviving the swim. Crossing the finish line was truly life changing. Some of the people I met at the YMCA and at open water swim practice invited me to join their race team. That also was life changing. I had people to train with. People with experience that helped me however they could with invaluable information, support, and friendships that have continued to grow each passing day.
The next month I did another AMS sprint triathlon. Although I still struggled on the swim, I had more fun and was more excited than before, because I now had teammates to share the experience with.
My goal from the first time I ever saw a triathlon was to do a half distance triathlon. I had shared that with some teammates and one of the guys volunteered to help me with the swim. What a life changer. He had me stop kicking. That's all, stop kicking. I instantly went from being out of breath and struggling to swim 400 yards, to swimming a mile an not being tired at all. It's on now!
I talked to a some of the team to see if they thought I could be ready to do a half distance in a couple of months and they said I would have to work at it, but that it could be done. Everyone started helping me with swimming, biking, and running. They gaave me advice, trained with me, and helped me to increase my distances...what a wonderful couple of months. I had become very close to these wonderful people.
Race day came and I had family and team members come just to support me. I went into the water with my swim mentor and it was a long, sometimes rough swim, but I made it, which called for a Tarzan yell before leaving the water.
Then, off to the bike I went. I had trained a lot with some pretty good rides, which taught me how to shift better, the importane of nutrition, and little tips that I would have never thought of. The bike portion was good.
Last was the run, which is now my weakness since the miracle of not kicking on the swim. I wasn't able to run it all, but when I was coming up to the finish line there they were a bunch of my team waiting for me. One teammate even came from work just to see me finish and realize my dream. They ran with me to the finish line where my wife and one of my brothers were to cheer me on. Talk about a life changing experience. I had just realized a dream that I had for close to 30 yrs and had all but given up on. My team has gotten me here.
America Multiple Sport's motto of life changing finish lines rang true for me at each race. I'm ate up with the sport. The athletes are like no other. They are the kindest, most helpful, and most caring people you will ever meet.
I love triathlons! The challenge is great, but I love the people more and think they are the greatest. Now I talk to anyone I think might want to Tri. I think everyone should try it at least once. I couldn't stop doing them now if I wanted to. They are part of who I am. You can find me at all the AMS triathlons!
It's a tradition now to do a Tarzan yell coming out of the water and one just after the finish line. It's about the people more than anything at this point. I train to be healthy and so far I am winning the battle. But also, I train for my team! I want them to be proud of me and to know that I try my best to represent the greatest people I know. Go Tri people!"
