( CNN ) -- It was the day before my 58th birthday . I had decided to end my 57th year doing something that was unthinkable when I turned 57 . You see , eight months ago I got the unexpected news that I had been selected as a member of the 2013 CNN Fit Nation Challenge team . At that time , the main event , the Nautica Malibu Triathlon , seemed a lifetime away . I could n't run a mile , swim a single lap or even sit clipped in on a road bike without falling . One of my most enthusiastic supporters over the past year has been a co-worker who has challenged me to do things physically that I never would have done without his support and encouragement . He challenged me to do a local 5K race one month into training when I was sure I was n't ready . Thanks to him , I accomplished my goal of finishing the race without walking . He challenged me to hike the Manitou Incline -- a 2,000-foot vertical climb that is not for sissies ! He also challenged me to ride my bike to work . Which gets me back to that fateful pre-birthday morning . Triathlete-to-be conquers first time in ocean . My daily commute is 29 miles one way , with a few serious hills . In the days before the ride , I studied the course and knew it would be a challenge . The night before , I started wondering if I had bitten off more than I could chew . The morning of the ride , I was still uneasy , at one point even regretting that I had accepted the challenge . Everything changed at 5:15 a.m. , when I opened my garage door to wait for two of my friends who had generously volunteered to ride along with me . There was an immediate excitement in the air as we made our final preparations and took off , right on schedule at 5:30 . It is hard to put the next 2Â½ hours into words . Just as I reached the top of the first big hill , I saw a blue car pulled off to the side of the road . I assumed it was someone with car trouble . As I got closer , I recognized the familiar face of one of my co-workers . He was smiling and clapping , cheering us on ! I soon realized that he was there intentionally , something totally unexpected , giving me a mental boost and surge of energy I can not describe . Training dedicated to slain colleague . It only got better . Every few miles , much to my surprise , dozens of my friends were staged , holding big signs and cheering me on along the highway . Once we reached our destination , my co-workers were waiting for us , cheering us into the finish line like it was the Tour de France . I have to admit that all the attention was actually a bit uncomfortable for me . I am certainly not the first person who has made this particular ride . In fact , I can not think of a day that I drive to work that I do n't see at least several fellow bikers along the way . I am still overwhelmed at the thought of so many people getting up early and going out of their way to show their support for what I was doing . It was the best birthday present ever . Throughout the day , I was repeatedly asked how the ride went , and if I was sore . My answer was that it went great , and I actually felt wonderful . Most of the credit for that belongs to my friends who rode with me , changed my flat tire , and made me feel like a superstar . Each one of them has been there for me along my fabulous journey this past year . They know where I started and have celebrated my progress . They are just as excited for the upcoming triathlon as I am . Most of all , they validate what I have known all along : I am the luckiest person in the world . At the beginning of 2013 , I was feeling heavy , sluggish and tired . I had convinced myself that , at 57 , that was my fate , and that I just needed to accept that feeling energetic and healthy was a thing of the past . The key to fitness ? Schedule it in . From the very beginning , I have viewed my selection as a member of this year 's Fit Nation team as a once in a lifetime opportunity . But being 20 to 30 years older than my five teammates , I thought that I would not be able to accomplish as much as they did . Despite this , I remained dedicated , and focused every day on the advice to `` Keep moving forward ! '' That powerful mantra , along with the love and support of my friends , family and co-workers , has given me a strength and confidence going into my 59th year that I never had before . I no longer use my age as an excuse , because it is anything but that . In fact , I have 11 months to set a new goal -- something I 'll do on the day before my 59th birthday that seems impossible today ! Follow Rae on Twitter @ TriHardRae .
Rae Timme biked 29 miles to work the day before her 58th birthday . Timme is training to do her first triathlon with the CNN Fit Nation team . `` I no longer use my age as an excuse , because it is anything but that , '' Timme says .