| Triathlon is the fastest growing sport in cycling. The | | | | efforts on the run. I was snapping pictures the whole |
| more triathlon events I attend, the more I see why. | | | | time so documented it in a Facebook album. This was |
| Today's article is about Donna Chapman, who is one | | | | going to be a great story! I then ran to the finish line to |
| of KGS Bikes' newest teammates, a runner and a | | | | see the folks finishing in the dusty heat. |
| triathlete, as well as a wife and mom of 3 darling girls. | | | | By the time Donna finished, you never would have |
| So much of my writing revolves around the | | | | known that she had a big problem on the road. Here is |
| improvement of performance and today I want to | | | | what happened. Donna was passing people and due |
| write about performing in the real world. Everything is | | | | to the numbers of folks on a part of the road, she had |
| easy in life when things go well. When things start to | | | | to go over a massive pothole. The front wheel got |
| hit the fan, however, we see a differentiation of | | | | over the hole ok, but the back one didn't. It hit the hole |
| success, failure, winning, losing and exhilaration or | | | | so hard that the tire exploded and Donna was forced |
| exasperation. | | | | off the road into the ditch, still down in the aerobars! |
| Donna brought her bicycle to San Antonio for a | | | | After getting back on the road, she found the bike |
| pre-race checkup and I used Vittoria Pit Stop sealant in | | | | unrideable and since it was just a mile to the transition |
| the tubes to help minimize the potential of a flat. I got | | | | she decided it was faster to hit the pavement and run |
| to tease Donna a bit about her need to learn to adjust | | | | barefooted with the bike than deal with a tube change, |
| gears and lube the chain and after a few laughs she | | | | plus the tire may have been too badly damaged to be |
| and her happy bike were headed back north to Austin. | | | | used. |
| Everything was ready for Donna's participation in the | | | | The point of this is, activities such as this place us in |
| Couples Triathlon in Austin, where she and her | | | | situations that are out of our control. We have a big |
| husband Dave were planning on a podium finish. | | | | choice at the time, but little time to make it. Donna |
| I went to this triathlon to photograph my friends for | | | | stayed cool, focused and made quick decisions that |
| Facebook, as is becoming my trademark, and sure | | | | minimized her losses. The net is a performance gain |
| enough I captured Dave and Donna at the beginning of | | | | but the real lesson is we get experience in dealing with |
| the bike leg, both moving along smartly. I had time after | | | | failures that are quite real, but have little impact on |
| the competitors had started the bike leg to run back to | | | | things, other than bruised egos, feet and a slower time. |
| the transition area to photograph people getting off | | | | Compare this with the consequences that can happen |
| their bikes. All the folks were dismounting pretty close | | | | in life, and it is no wonder that people who are "in the |
| to the dismount line and if anybody got too close, they | | | | game" use sports to train and improve all aspects of |
| were spotted by primo volunteers Leilani and Ron | | | | life. |
| Perry. Nothing gets by them! | | | | I am always impressed with a person’s |
| I snapped great pictures of people and was simply | | | | performance but am incredibly impressed when that |
| observing expressions, how some folks were gingerly | | | | person overcomes adversity with class, calmness and |
| walking barefoot on the pavement and others left | | | | focus. The best part of my job is to be exposed on a |
| their cycling shoes on and were looking like bike racers | | | | daily basis to folks like you and Donna. Day in and day |
| stopping for a drink, others running like crazy, and then | | | | out you train, race, fail on the short term, recover, learn |
| here comes Donna, stern expression, running with her | | | | and ultimately improve things like strength and |
| bike in from the road. The back tire was blown off the | | | | endurance, capacity for work and the ability to solve |
| rim and she was holding her shoes, with the soles of | | | | problems. Bravo Donna for a job well done and to all |
| her feet black from the road gunk that had built up. | | | | who go out and get beyond your comfort zone and |
| Donna was not upset, but very focused. She hit the | | | | expand your limits! |
| transition zone, ditched the bike and refocused her | | | | |