Why I Did a Triathlon at 50
And How It Helped Me Reclaim My Power
Eight months ago, I stood on the shore of Wasaga Beach, wetsuit zipped, heart pounding, staring out at a body of water that once terrified me.
It wasn’t just race day.
It was transformation day.
But let’s rewind a bit.
A Promise I Couldn’t Ignore
For nearly a year before the race, I’d been telling friends, “I’m going to do a triathlon.”
Six months passed… and nothing.
No training. No sign-ups. Just talk.
But as I got closer to turning 50, something shifted.
I remembered what I did at 40—when I entered my first fitness competition to push past the complacency I had slipped into. That choice led me to four shows, a top 3 finish at Canadian Nationals, and a new standard for who I wanted to be.
So I asked myself again:
“How do I want to enter this next chapter of my life—mentally, physically, emotionally, and energetically?”
The answer came in strong:
A triathlon.
Why a Triathlon?
Because it scared me.
Specifically… the swimming.
I’ve loved running for years. Cycling? Fun.
But swimming in open water?
That fear had been with me since I was eight years old, when I almost drowned.
For over four decades, I carried that trauma quietly.
Avoided it. Rationalized it.
But deep down, I knew:
If I wanted to live the next half of my life free—
I had to stop dancing with fear and start confronting it.
The Commitment
I gave myself four months.
Moved back to Toronto for the summer.
Hired a triathlon coach.
And started training—relentlessly.
Some of my closest friends joined me. We trained together, struggled together, grew together.
Because I knew:
Doing hard things alone is powerful.
But doing them in community?
That’s where transformation becomes exponential.
The Hardest Swim
The Thursday before the race, I did my final open-water session.
No coach. No team. Just me, the lake, and some seriously choppy water.
The wind whipped across the surface. Waves knocked my breath out of rhythm.
For a moment, I stood there thinking:
“Maybe not today. Maybe I skip this one.”
Then I caught myself.
This wasn’t an obstacle.
This was preparation.
If the water was rough on race day, I needed to know I could handle it.
So I swam.
600 meters of resistance and breath control.
And when I emerged—soaked and shaking—I didn’t just feel prepared.
I felt free.
Race Day
Wasaga Beach.
750-meter swim.
20K bike.
5K run.
I crossed the finish line with pride in my heart and peace in my chest.
For the first time in my life, I no longer feared the water.
I didn’t just complete a triathlon—
I transformed through it.
I felt strong.
Centered.
Alive.
And for the first time, I felt like an athlete.
What It Gave Me
This wasn’t about a medal.
It wasn’t about performance or proving anything to anyone else.
It was about honoring my next chapter.
It was about healing.
And it was about letting go of an old story I didn’t want to carry anymore.
The story that said:
“That fear is just part of who you are.”
It’s not.
Fear is a teacher. But it’s not the truth.
Your Turn
If you’ve been carrying a fear for years…
If you’ve been putting off a challenge that could stretch and shape you…
Ask yourself:
“What would my life look like if I finally committed to it?”
You don’t need to be fearless.
You just need to be willing.
Declare it.
Commit to it.
Surround yourself with support.
And take the first step.
I’m grateful for everyone who walked, swam, cycled, or simply encouraged me through this journey.
And I’m proud—not just of the race I finished—
But of the man I became through the process.
And to anyone reading this, wondering if they can do something like this:
Yes. You can.
What’s your triathlon?
It may not involve a wetsuit, but I guarantee there’s a version of this in your life right now.
If this resonates with you, share it.
And let me know what fear you’re ready to face next.Because the finish line is never the end.
It’s always the beginning.
