Pittsford Triathlon Race Report

This picture is of the amazing Zach DeRidder, who completed his first triathlon today as he is currently undergoing treatment for liver cancer. Please read on for his amazing story. This picture is from 13 Wham News.

This morning was the 4th annual Pittsford Triathlon, consisting of a 300 yard pool swim / 15 mile bike and 3.5 mile run. I was honored to be able to win this time trial start race, as each of the 200+ competitors began 30 seconds apart.

For being in the midst of Ironman training I thought I had a pretty good day, albeit 3 minutes off the course record I set in 2004 here. With that being said I felt very good, a bit sluggish on the bike... which I expected after 150 miles of cycling this week.

I was thrilled with the race direction and my athletes all did awesome. They will be highlighted on the home page.

It's always absolutely thrilling to win a race. Absolutely. But what I think many people forgot today was a very amazing story that unfolded right before their eyes. I unfortunately heard whining about being beaten by a few seconds, or feeling that the seed times were incorrect, or the length of time it took do get to the awards....

How about the story of Zach DeRidder? I was so honored to meet Zach and his friends today, and I am also honored to say that Train-This is joining these guys in their fight.

How would you like to be 22 years old and be diagnosed with Liver Cancer?

Do you know how terrible a diagnosis of liver cancer is?

How would you like to race with a tumor the size of a grapefruit on that liver?

And would you race 2 days after your latest round of Chemo?

As I shook hands with Zach today I was astounded. I looked back to see people scrambling over results and people getting upset by defeats or excited by triumphs... yet the biggest triumph of the day was standing right before them. How wrapped up we can get in our own selves and our racing that we forget the biggest picture of all..... life.

Former Train-This athlete Christine Webb recently featured Zach on the news, she did a great job of telling it also......

He says his cancer diagnosis is his chance to give something back. Looking at Zach you would never know he has a tumor the size of two grapefruits just outside his liver. He was diagnosed last year at age 21 with a rare cancer. He took six types of chemotherapy at Rochester General Hospital and at times struggled for his life. Yet he feels grateful. His passion is sports and exercise. He desperately wanted to be active again after being so sick, so last year he started slowly—coming back to run five k races. His latest challenge is his first sprint triathlon this Sunday in Pittsford. But he's not stopping there. He wants to create his own foundation raising money for cancer survivors like himself-- to go back to school. Zach's next challenge is to ride his bike across the country raising money. His goal is to help inspire others to follow their dreams.

I stood at packet pickup yesterday and listened to a man slamming the race director because he did not believe his swim time was fair. Hey mister.... how'd you like to be Zach? That's what I wanted to say to him today.

But the funny things is, you wouldn't get that feeling if you met Zach. This kid was so full of life, so full of zest and so full of happiness. A cancer patient? You would never believe it. His smile lit up the entire town. This is a kid who is so happy and so full of life.

It was his first triathlon and I tell you.... he was the true champion today.

So complain that your spouse missed your finish on the video. Yell at the newbie girl who doesn't know the rules..... or get caught up in bike splits or run splits or whatever else that you may.

But remember that you are not racing with a tumor on your liver. You are not racing after undergoing Chemotherapy. Zach is an incredible inspiration to all of us.

Don't jump on the Zach DeRidder bandwagon. Do something better. Not only contribute and support....

Live well. Live your life well. Don't live your life based on race results or training hours (and I speak to myself just as much as I speak to you). Because at the end of the day.... we are all just human beings with our different bags of stuff. Some are heavier. Some are lighter.

Keep Zach in your prayers and look to him as the example. He's living life and he's throwing his arms around each and every opportunity that he has to make a difference.

Thank you Zach for allowing me to meet you. Thank you Zach for coming to the race today. You are making me and others better people and that is the most important victory of all.

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers