RACE DAY

By noon today, all the gear was put away, the body markings had been washed off, the wet clothes were in the washer and we were on our way to lunch. It was hard to think that all the work for the last 10 months was over. I don’t want this to be over this quickly, I even tucked my finishing medal in my pocket to take with me as assurance that today actually happened.


After months of training, I completed my 1st Sprint Triathlon today. I had started training hoping to finish, then it became a goal to finish in less than 2 hours. In the last few weeks I had set a personal goal to finish in 1:45. I was feeling good about what my body was able to do.

I held back tears as I made the final turn back into the park towards the finish line. I held it together and as I crossed the line there was a large digital clock showing my un-official time as 1:19, I could hardly believe my eyes. They hung a medal around the neck of everyone as they crossed the line. It was more about finishing then about winning. I gathered up my gear, packed it back into my bag and headed for the car. I stopped to read the official results that were being posted as people finished. I found my name and saw that I had finished 148th out of 300+ finishers. I was 4th in my age group with a time of 1:07:16. I almost fainted when I read that I have finished in just over 67minutes.

Over the last couple of weeks I have had more than one moment of panic when I thought about what I was planning on doing. But it would be for only a moment because I knew I am ready. I trained hard physically and mentally for this challenge. I have kept the triathlon in perspective and balanced my life around it. I have handled the disruptions in training and the setbacks from illness and injury.

I didn’t get to this point by saying what I couldn’t do. I didn’t get to this point by watching someone else do all the work. I didn’t get to this point by only talking about it. I had to set the goal, have the faith to reach the goal and put in the hours and sweat to get to this point.

When I started working out for the very 1st time I made the following notation in my journal: Hopefully this will work for me so that I 1) get in shape, 2) get my attitude in a better shape, 3) get motivated about other things.

I can honestly say that because of the last 20 months of working out I have achieved all of these. I have dropped 25 lbs and can maintain it, I look at life as an opportunity and not a challenge and I am motivated in many areas including one of my hearts desires to complete a triathlon.

Psalm 71:7-8

Tri Minus One

I started this week with a plan, a plan of rest, nutrition and hydration. It turned out to be a week of improvising. I ended up with a minor medical problem that has forced more rest more then I planned and all but eliminated any of the training I was going to do. My taper turned into a halt. I did get in a workout on Monday and Tuesday but just couldn’t do one the rest of the week. My wings are clipped at least through the weekend and then we will play it by ear from there.

I still would like to get one more run in and at least one more swim in a lake with the wetsuit. Not sure if it will be possible. But what I do know is that I will compete in the triathlon in exactly one week and I will complete it. I know that all the training I have done to this point has made me ready. Now it is more about me being ready mentally than it is physical.

So as I rest and prepare all my gear and continue to work on nutrition and hydration, I will be flexible and improvise and attempt to get those last workouts in when and if I can.

Jeremiah 29:11

Tri Minus Two

Along this journey there have been some funniest moments but this afternoon was probably the strangest. We have new neighbors moving in and I wonder what they thought as I stood out in the rain in my wetsuit as Kyle hosed me down. I needed to practice taking a wet wetsuit off and transition to the bike and then to the run.


For our older neighbors this would just be another one of those “what are they doing now” moments. They have watched me hit golf balls in a bucket while in a leg cast, watched me weed the garden while on crutches and other various not your typical activities. So for them to watch me run around the house in a wetsuit, strip it off, put on shoes and helmet and take off on the bike in the ran only to return 15 minutes later, park the bike, remove my helmet and take off running just seem normal for me.

On Friday I had a moment where I realized that I was within reach of completing this journey. It made me pause for a moment of panic. Yes, I had a catch in my stomach when I realized how close this is. But it was only a moment because I know I am ready. I have training hard physically and mentally for this challenge. I have kept the triathlon in perspective and balanced my life around it. I have handled the disruptions in training and the setbacks from illness and injury. With less than 2 weeks left it is now time to focus on Rest, Nutrition and Hydration. It is the little things that will make the biggest impact now.

So as I do some significant taper and work on the last of the little details it will be an interesting week.

Exodus 23:20

Our Tenth Anniversary

Kyle:


Today is the first of the major milestone anniversaries we will celebrate. The 10th anniversary is signified by Tin or Aluminum because to the pliability that they symbolize. A successful marriage needs to be flexible and durable with the ability to be bent without breaking. This anniversary is about the durability of our commitment to one another for the past decade and the decades to come.

A Daffodil is also a symbol of the 10th anniversary, its trumpet-shaped flowers represents the joy, cheerfulness and happiness we bring to each other every day.

Thank you Kyle for being “the perfect husband”, I love you.