“Nervous?”

“Very.”

“But you know we can do it.”

“I just don’t want to die…”

Race jitters occupies much of the conversation prior to the Northwoods Triathlon Saturday morning. Six women (two teams) in matching warm-ups were digging deep, challenging themselves to compete in a race all but one would never have considered a possibility a year ago.

This year’s race was won in record time by Brooks Grossinger of Mayor. He beat his own time to finish the event in under an hour. While his accomplishment will go down in the record books, another story played out at the end of the race.

The story of these particular six competitors is one of personal gain. Well, that and loss.

The logo on their warm-up suits reads: “The Center for Weight Management.”  All have undergone gastric bypass surgery and collectively lost more than 500 pounds.

Abby Rolffs, (from left) Hannah Gurno and Lisa Schneider, all related, have made exercise a new family tradition. Their weight loss journey brought them to Nevis for a first-time challenge as team

Leah Walters, The Center for Weight Management Coordinator, wipes away tears as a grinning Hannah Gruno of Cloquet charges through the finish line. Each woman has finished their leg of the race. While many went into the race with a personal goal of simply surviving, as it turns out none had finished last.

“I am so proud of them,” Walters beams.

Inspiration

Days before the race, Linda Hanson was mentally getting herself pumped. For years she has been associated with the triathlon, but in the role of volunteer at the finish line. She has lost 110 pounds since her surgery 19 months ago and started running in December. She ran the Nevis Muskie Days 5K in preparation for Saturday’s team race.

“The first year I volunteered for the triathlon, I thought to myself: I want to do that some day,” Hanson says. Watching from the sidelines, she was always inspired by the competitors. “My heart was there, it was just that my body wasn’t. Now I think they’re both there. I’m ready.”

She is amazed by what she has been able to accomplish.

“I am so thankful because I have my life back. This has been such an amazing journey,” Hanson adds. “Mentally, I’m healthier. Physically, I’m definitely healthier, and I know I’m going to live a whole lot longer. This is the best decision I’ve ever made in my whole entire life. I have absolutely no regrets, and would do it again (have the surgery) in a heartbeat.”

When she crossed the finish line Hanson made mental note to check another item off of her life’s, “To Do,” list. Her eyes are on next year’s triathlon; next time as a solo competitor. There was also some mention of Grandma’s Half-Marathon.

Meeting the challenge

Sandy Jones, physician assistant, looks on as weight loss patients dive into Lake Belle Taine for the first leg of the Northwood Triathlon.

Sandy Jones, Physician Assistant with St. Joseph’s, Dakota Clinic and The Center for Weight Management, watches the triathlon unfold from Nevis city beach. Jones works alongside surgeon, Dr. Daniel Smith, and sees gastric bypass patients throughout the surgical intervention process.

She beams like a proud parent as her friends, family and patients dive into Lake Bell Taine at the race start.

“This is incredible,” says Jones. “What a great feeling. These women are able to be a part of something they wouldn’t have been able to do before.”

She has said it before and continues to marvel at the transformations she’s witness to on Wednesdays at the clinic when patients return for post-surgery check-ups: “I have the best job in the world.”

Watching Connie Nygaard of Fergus Falls and Abby Rolffs of Lake Lillian swim off was a rare treat.

It took effort for Nygaard to go up and down stairs prior to her surgery. “I was not a happy camper,” she says, having shed 120-pounds in excess body weight. “I was not feeling good and was frustrated with how my life was turning out. Today is about me for once in my life, and I want that to be my own motivation. I want to be an inspiration to myself.”

Following a quarter of a mile swim around the big, orange buoys, Nygaard’s smile is priceless as she wades out of the water. “Let’s do it again,” she jokes. Or was she serious?

Connie Nygaard, (from left) Linda Hanson and Cathy Hensel make up the team,

Nygaard holds every intention of sticking to an exercise routine. Let’s just say she’s become addicted. “I will continue swimming and want to attempt the triathlon as an individual next yearänow that would truly be amazing,” she says. “And, I would like to do more than one.”

Rolffs was another team member to emerge from the swim with a new sense of pride. She’s lost 80 pounds since December. Her team, “Becuz We can!,” was a scene from all in the family. Rolffs, Gurno (a cousin) and Lisa Schneider of Willmar (a sister) are all related. In addition, they also had two aunts and a cousin competing. Weight loss and better health is their new family tradition.

Having met their goals with a triathlon team effort under their shrinking belts, they too are encouraged by similar challenges. Their stories of transformation are still unfolding.

New way of life

“I still can’t believe I am doing this,” says Cathy Hensel of Park Rapids. She was pretty nervous prior to the race start. Despite butterflies, she rode her Schwinn around the 14-mile loop through the Minnesota northwoods. Hills and wind proved to be a challenge, but she drove into the transition area proud of her accomplishment.

“I never thought I would even be semi-good enough to consider doing something like this. Before surgery even talking about it would make me tired,” she admits.

Hensel says she owes a debt of thanks to Walters who encouraged her to participate in the event, “She had faith in me.”
Hensel understands that weight management will be a lifelong journey, with the surgery being only one part of the solution. She knows Dr. Smith gave her a tool to help her along that journey and that staying motivated and active takes ongoing effort.

Having the courage to set goals such as the triathlon inspires her to keep going.

In fact, this experience gave all of the women flashes of self-discovery. Their rewards are a new can-do attitude in which their futures hold fewer limits.

“This is just the start,” Hanson said out loud, to herself as much as to anyone.

From her standpoint at the finish line, that same spot in which in years past she was inspired by other triathletes, Hanson reached out to accept her participation medal. Mission accomplished.

In that instant Hanson became a source of inspiration for others. She had come full circle.

Six women. They didn’t finish in under an hour or break course records (they came in just under two hours), but they did finish. It never really was about the outcome for them, rather the process. They were already winners the minute they said, “I can.”