On Sunday the Luna Bar Women's Triathlon was held at Rancho Seco Park. Almost 400 women of all shapes, sizes, races, ages and various degrees of fitness competed. Many of the athletes were supported by their loving families and friends. There was many a case of a mom proudly cheering on a daughter and little girls waving supportive signs for their moms.

I was really taken by the sense of kinship. Women truly cheering other women on. No one was checking out what anyone else was wearing. No one, at least not at my level, cared about anyone else's time. We really just wanted everyone to complete whatever goal they had set for themselves and celebrate the completion. As my friend and 'coach' Joy had told me from the very beginning, "It's all about forward movement." And Sunday was all about forward movement. In a supportive environment of women and friends and family.

There was one participant who, like me, had never before considered competing in a triathlon. She had trained for several weeks for the swim and the week before the event, she broke her wrist. Seriously broke her wrist in that it required multiple pins and had to be held straight out at an awkward angle. Refusing to give up, she opted for the run and as her broken wrist swelled to uncomfortable limits, she proudly crossed the finish line. Later, I saw her with a giant ice pack on her wrist and an even more giant smile on her face.

Much later I would think, "So what, I completed a 3 mile event in a triathlon. What's so great about that?" But then I would remember that 4 years ago, I smoked 3-4 packs of cigarettes a day and was a lifetime expert on avoiding even walking across the street. This was pretty great. And having a daughter, a runner herself, call you to tell you how proud she is of you, how she brags to all of her friends about you, that was extra great.

Gillian Parrillo
Sacwomen