Shout out to Dr. Watabe

My doctor's nurse called me on behalf of Dr. Watabe to congratulate me on finishing the Hawaii Half-Ironman. Dr. Watabe has to be the best doctor in Utah. He saw me during my pregnancy with my youngest daughter, and he's only in his early 30s. I know this because in triathlon, they write your age on the back of your leg, and Dr. Watabe is a triathlete. I see him around at local races with his wife and child. He encouraged me that I could be healthy enough after delivering my baby to compete in the race.

It's interesting listening to people who have never competed in the sport. They can't believe people would pay money to torture themselves that way or wear skin-tight clothes when their bodies don't exactly look flattering in the attire. Where as a triathlete, for the most part, doesn't really even see the body size; you see the sweat and determination and you respect each other. Dr. Watabe looks good in a triathlon suit; I, on the other hand ... Triathlon is a bonder of people, not a hater. There's a great ad on the back of my triathlon magazine with a woman sitting after a swim and the look on her face says contemplation. The ad sums up nicely why I do this sport: "We all have to do it. Explain our actions. Make sense of it to somebody that doesn't quite get it. You may even question yourself sometimes, but not for long. No matter how tired you are, how much your muscles ache and joints hurt, you feel better training and nobody can take that from you. It's just you and your body. The pleasure and pain is only yours. It's personal."

For me and Dr. Watabe, we get it. Dr. Watabe will be doing the Vineman in July. Good luck, Doctor. And thanks.