Dublin, Ireland’s Celtic Warrior information packet read “races will start bang on time.” For those who might not know what that means, current Monon Community Center (MCC) member, Irish transplant, and Celtic Warrior conqueror Janine Beazley can tell you it means to be prompt, trained-up and mentally ready to undertake quite a feat: a half iron man triathlon race. Make that a half iron woman triathlon race.
“We moved to Carmel almost a year ago now,” says Beazley. “We looked at houses and then my very next stop was to find a workout center for training. When I toured the MCC I was sold immediately. We unpacked the house, and my husband and I each bought a membership.”
For Beazley, a fitness center that offers everything she needed to work out and train in one location was a must.
“The Irish aren’t built for extreme heat or extreme cold,” laughed Beazley. “The indoor track at the MCC is exceptional for training. I’m on the track, in the pool, spin class three times a week and I use the gym/workout area as much as I can as well.”
Dreams=Goals=Reality
When she turned 40, Beazley decided it was time for some goalsetting. Her first goal was to run the Carmel half marathon this past April, which she completed successfully. Next up? The Celtic Warrior triathlon back in Dublin. The race includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.
“The biking piece of the half iron man was something I was going to have to really focus on,” Beazley says. “I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive about my first cycle class, but Brian, my cycle instructor at the MCC, encouraged me to bike at my own pace and allow my own training to accelerate as I grew stronger and increased endurance.”
Beazley says prior to the race she was training six days a week with one day off for rest, which meant cycling each of those days. The MCC was home-base for her training, and she says as a newcomer to the area — and the MCC —the smiling faces greeting her every time she comes in for a workout is invaluable.
“It isn’t just the MCC greeters either, every one of my cycle instructors has been a huge motivating factor throughout my training,” Beazley shares. “Each of them has a different approach to the class but it lends a holistic approach to my cycling and training.”
Beazley recalls taking her very first cycling class on a Monday night, admitting it was a bit daunting. She encourages anyone to give it a try. “You’ll find your flat,” Beazley says which is where you feel comfortable and then progress from there based on how fast and difficult you want to make the experience. Indiana’s flat roads aren’t ideal to train for the biking portion of the half iron man, so training through a cycling class became crucial.
“Coming from Ireland, I have to admit the rides outside were beautiful,” says Beazley. “But Brian has a way of bringing the outside into the class by describing the cycling as if you’re riding up the Blue Ridge Parkway or passing a couple walking their dog. It makes it feel real and offers steady encouragement. The other spin/cycle classes have incredible music for motivation or a focus on burning calories. Each has their own benefit in my overall workout plan.”
Support Translates to Success
The encouragement and support of all the MCC staff has been imperative to Beazley’s motivation. She completed the Celtic Warrior half iron man in early August with a time of 6 hours and 58 minutes—45 minutes quicker than her targeted time!—surrounded by her Irish family and Brown Shoes Triathlon Club teammates in Ireland. (See photo.)
Beazley’s career has been spent in administration at centers just like the MCC and she hopes to become involved again with something in the sport exercise and leisure industry. No wonder, she says, that the MCC felt like home to her.
“Being able to train at the MCC made the difference. I knew I had prepared well, and it was just a tremendous feeling to complete the Celctic Warrior,” Beazley says, “Up next is training for Lap the Lough, an 89-mile annual cycle event around Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Ireland and Britain.”
Let the training begin … at the MCC of course!
Written By: Sheryl Rodgers
Sheryl focuses on branding and marketing engagement. She’s a storyteller, editorial and media consultant, and brand builder. This story was written in partnership with Pickett & Associates.
