It was a Tuesday in November at 6:45 a.m. when I arrived at work and took a quick glance at the e-mails on my phone before starting my day and read these words... 

 

From:             no-reply@usatriathlon.org

       Subject:   Congratulations from USA Triathlon

              Date:   November 19, 2013 6:45:53 AM CST

                  To:           Julie Schlobohm 

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Congratulations Julie Schlobohm. You have qualified for the Olympic-Distance race at the 2014 USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships on August 9 in Milwaukee, Wis., after finishing in the top 10 percent in your age group at the Rev3 Branson.

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“Shock and awe”, as my mouth dropped to the floor and I just about fell out of my chair!  I cried!!!  I couldn’t believe that God would do that for me…I went out to the website and watched the video of the last year’s race in Milwaukee…and then I was “stunned”…the conversation I had with God next became a little more real.  “I do not qualify for this! What are you thinking?  I know you guide my steps and you heard my prayer, but this??? They are the best of the best from across the country.”  And here is what He repeatedly told me…”You qualify! You qualify because you didn’t quit, and because you asked Me for this…a place and an event where your family could come together and be with you when you race".

 

I was so humbled that He would choose me to be in this race.  You can’t just sign up for this race, you have to qualify…and the means by which I qualified passed up so many others that are still trying to qualify and are far better triathletes than me. 

 

God challenged me to not “just show up” but to show up with everything I’ve got.

 

I quietly trained hard all Summer that year.  Spending much alone time mostly out on The Path...biking, and running and using the beach where the other races had been before to practice my swim.  There were no more triathlon circuits coming to Branson and it was time to move on.

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Every race has always been a spiritual journey for me.  I enjoy the physical training but what was going on inside of me was life changing.  The discipline to train matched the level that I was praying.  I have to admit that there was a daily conversation of self-doubt going on because I did not feel like one of the best of the best from the whole country.

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I was in this race because God wanted me in this race and I knew there was more waiting on the other side of the finish line than a medal around my neck.

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I arrived a couple of days prior to race check in and took the time to do the preliminary walk thru the race course with family by my side.  This time it would be the swim in lake Michigan that would intimidate me.  A new vision board helped me keep a focus on the course from while at home training and I had set a race time set in my head.

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My Wisconsin family showed up! 25 of them! they loved me and gathered themselves together to support me with hugs and love, cheers and signs.

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I made it through the swim in the exact time that I trained at all Summer.  Transitioned to the bike and enjoyed the beauty of the sailboats on the lake while pedaling the course.  Next would be the Hoen Bridge over the Milwaukee harbor.  It was bumpy and full of potholes and my worst fear happened...my first flat tire.  I had practiced changing a tire a few times but when it happens during the race and you're flustered it just doesn't come together very smoothly.  There was a problem with the tire and bike support came at just the right moment to help me out.  

 

It was in that moment of wait that I looked up to heaven and on my knees sighed a deep breath.  Realizing how keyed up my body was to perform, still trying to prove to myself that I was worthy to be in the race and doing it all in the strength of what I could control in my mind.  10 minutes, then 15 minutes had gone by trying to fix my tire and I lost the momentum I had going and certainly wasn't going to hit the goal on my vision board. I was only halfway through the 26 mile ride with a 6 mile run still ahead of me.  

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I had no choice but to accept it and get back on my bike and ride. There would not be a DNF (Did Not Finish) next to my name.  I rode the second half of my distance much smoother and more effortlessly because I had let go of all the pressure I had put on myself.  When I came back over the bridge to the transition area the view of the lake, swim area, sailboats and the sun glimmering on the water was breathtaking.

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My family patiently waited for me and cheered me on as I began my run/walk.  The run was a struggle as disappointment kept creeping up on me.  Much of my training came back to me from the Summer.  What was the baggage I was still carrying with me? like running with a duffle bag full of weights.  It wasn't about proving anything with my stellar time so I could feel worthy to be there it really was about what I wanted to leave on the course and not carry with me over the finish line.  Coming up on the tunnel to the finish line I could hear Katy Perry's "Roar" blaring.  It was a song I used a lot while training and it was quite fitting for the moment.  I made it! I finished! And once again I crossed over to another level of who I could be.  The intimidating waters of Lake Michigan, the flat tire on the back side of the bike course and the duffle bag of weights on the run were left on the course. They put a "finisher" medal around my neck but my true medal was my family all in one place together... the longing of my heart and the deepest of my prayers answered.  That alone, is what made me worthy and qualified me to be in that race.