Packing

In the past I have been the "pack three days early and call it normal" type of person.  However, over the last year of racing my packing has become more of the "days in advance" kind of packing.  This change has occurred for a few different reasons: 1) We raced a lot this year; 2) We only have so much racing and training clothing and supplies; 3) We have a LIFE!!!
Because of this and trying to be at peace iin my life I handled IMCHOO packing in stages. 
STAGE ONE: Mind Planning
This planning occurs only in my head.  Making mental list of what needs to be found and what may need to be purchased.
STAGE TWO: Mock List
These are a grouping of lists.  A lot like writing notes on napkins in a dark jazz bar.  These list get lost, rewritten, found in glove boxes and shorts pockets.
STAGE THREE: The List
Finally, making a REAL list.  This list will be the base for packing.  My list has everything from medications to shoes.  Top to bottom of how this is going to go down.  My list is color coded by stages-- hotel stay, morning of, swim, T1, bike, bike special needs, T2, run, run special needs.  All supplies are listed and grouped for each bag.
STAGE FOUR: Packing Preperation
I cleaned the room for packing.  Laid out Ziplock bags.  Set up tape.  Lay out the list.
STAGE FIVE: Normal Stuff
This is the easy phase of packing, it includes packing the clothing worn when not racing, some practice clothes, shorts, t-shirts, underwear, hotel pajamas.  This is easy.  Three days laid out.
STAGE SIX: Event Stuff
This is the technical phase.  Piles of items stack up in rough, symbolic groupings.  Piece by piece items went into bags, clothing was laid out.  The list was checked off and double checked.  Conversations happened between Patrick and I to make sure all needs were meet.  Once all in bags (with labels) the event bags are cleared and repacked with only these items these now vital items. 
STAGE SEVEN: The Cooler
There are a few coolers going with us- that that can be eaten on the trip and that which is saved for the course. 
STAGE EIGHT:
Line it all up.  Count it all out. And DONE.

The final part to this will be washing the bikes and car and loading it all up!!!

Four days form race day, here we go.

7 Days Out from IMCHOO- MOT Event

Today marks 7 days from Ironman Chattanooga.
Today also marks the end of our Mere Mortals summer tri training.  Every year this moment is marked by the Member's Only Triathlon- it is closed to the public but those of us who have been training together for the last few months have an opportunity to race, cheer, and hang out together.
For Patrick and I this is the last race before IMCHOO.  The last time we will move through transitions.  The last time we will rack our bikes.  The last time we will mount our bikes and dismount our bikes on a line in on the asphalt.  The last time we will rinse our feet, slide on sock and shoes.  This was it the last race before Ironman.


SWIM
This race morning was met with winds, which for a Gulf swim means waves!  The waves were breaking in sets of three, out as far as 50 yards, breaking 3-4 feet high.  In addition to this challenge there was a current forcing us down the course and slightly out to sea.  While going with the current is GREAT, the problem is when swimming to and from the shore, you are still being pushed and having to redirect back on line with the buoy or land point.
On my way out the the first buoy I worked hard to dolphin kick since the waves were making it shallow in spots, a standing push was the easiest way to fight the current from pushing you back to shore.  Once able to swim steady, I started my three stroke breathing, still riding the waves but not being pulled as badly.
Almost to the first buoy I had a much needed magical moment.  A dolphin swam under me and the woman next to me.  He came from the right hand side and was pushing against the current with ease.  As he passed under me he leaned to his right raising his fin.  It was a brief moment but made me feel like a giddy kid- I wanted so badly to grab the woman next to me and confirm she had seen it too!!  I swam on.  Feeling safe and secure.  As we went along there was additional sea life.  Mostly fish but also some rays hunkered to the bottom.     

There were waves.

After the dolphin spotting I made my turn around the first buoy.  It took a few times to spot the next buoy this was caused by a few factors.  (1) The waves were causing a block in siting.  I had to push myself up out of the water to catch the first glimpse.  Once spotted I was on track and able to see it with each spotting (as long as I timed the waves).
(2) The men's grouping seemed once again to be tracking off course.  I saw a sea on bobbing swim caps, the problems was they were not really in front of me and did not appear to be between me and the buoy.  I spotted up the buoy twice before making my line, making sure I was not missing it if the middle buoy was out a little further in the line.  I was not but it would seem the leader to the middle of the men's pack was going to get a long swim in today.  Patrick confirmed that the men went for a wide turn of the third buoy.
After making the last turn to shore it was now about safely body surfing back in.  While I would not recommend body surfing 7 days out from IMCHOO, there was little choice on this day once I was out there.  The waves pushed me slightly off course, at which point I figured getting to shore was the best option.
Once on shore it is a long haul up the beach to solid ground and then over and into transition.  I hit the shore as the second female.  I wanted to stay in this position and there was an other woman coming up fast.  I beat her up the sand.  Patrick was there about to enter transition.  I yelled to alert him to me.  He high fived and we shared, "good job".  In this moment she got slightly in front of me.  Yes, I kicked it up and pushed to get back in front.
I was officially the second woman out of the water and into transition.  (Not to worry the woman I passed would speed past me shortly, because she was wicked fast!!!!)

BIKE

Patrick on the bike.

Head wind, lots of head wind.  Serious head wind.  I dropped my gearing and spun.  Legs not thrilled but they were working hard into the wind.  As I glanced down my bike computer started off strong with 16 mph, at times it dropped to 12 mph.  I tried to ignore it, just spin.  Smile and spin.  Once we were outside of the ally of homes and condos the wind was straight in our faces.  Spin, spin, spin.  The day was beautiful.  Even more beautiful was the turn around point.  We turned in an unoccupied parking lot, right turn, crossing wind, left turn, strongest head wind, left turn, cross wind, left turn, TAIL WIND.  Oh the glory of a tail wind.
Again a glance of two down at my bike computer, 19 mph, 20 mph, maxing out at 21.8 mph (I am sure for only a short period of time).  My end pace was 16 mph.
In order to return to the transition area we had to obey all traffic rules (since it was an open course), meaning going up to a light and waiting.  There were about 8 of us by the time the light changed.  We all fell to our order of approach as we returned to the transition area.  At the light a few brakes squealed behind us as we started to move, I was too chicken to look back.  If the cyclist could not stop I guess I didn't want to know they were about to hit me.  There was no accident so I guess they stopped.

RUN
Transitioning to the run is always a rough go for me.  Braces on, shoes on.  Helmet off- I have forgotten more than once.  Visor and race belt, here we go.
I am still getting use to my new brace.  Although it is the same as my previous brace it is still tighter and the Velcro is crazy strong.  I had to make a few adjustments before getting out of the parking lot.

Angry Runner!!!

I pressed on even though my legs are still not happy to run.  They screamed, I screamed louder.  My pace was slow.  In the start I was walking more than running.  My saving grace was a construction site porta potty (I am not ashamed).  After trying to stay hydrated on the bike, I was going to pay for it on the run.  My bladder screaming louder than my will.  I am good at run course porta potties, watching them to make sure they will not be occupied upon my arrival, trying to beat those behind me just to make it in first.  Look there is no mercy when it comes to having to pee.
A quick stop and back out to the course.  Feeling mucho better I was off again.  Not fast but going forward.  Run, run, run, and walk.  Water station.  Loop.  Back to the water station.  And let me say the water was perfectly cold at the water stop and handed out with smiles.
Upon heading back I was behind a woman who stopped to walk at the same time as me.  Then suddenly she yelled- "I am doing this, here I go.'  And she took off.  I took off behind her, while I followed in her trail for a good while I stopped to break before her.  I picked up another runner.  She and I went back and forth cheering and encouraging each other to the finish.  I don't know when she dropped back but as I turned into the parking lot I opened my stride and pushed to the end not knowing if my running buddy had a final push stronger than mine.  Again there are only 2 places I don't like to be passed- in the water and in the finish shoot.    

I could never have asked for a better friend to travel along this path with me.

Event done.  No blood.  Only took in limited salt water.  Biking in the wind simulated hills.  Running was... well, it was running.  Short race done now ready to have some Ironman fun!!!! 

   

A Moment in Time- A Look Back As we Look Forward

WARNING: Flight of Ideas.

In the Spring of 2013 after completing Ironman 70.3 New Orleans, we started to consider doing a full Ironman in 2014.  At the time we were looking at Ironman Louisville.  Before completing Ironman 70.3 Augusta we were preparing to sign up for the full.  Then things changed, a new Ironman opened up.  On 15 August 2013 Ironman Chattanooga came into view.  The race would open on noon 04 September 2013.  This meant a few things for us: 1) We would be signing up for a full before having done a second 70.3; 2) The last 70.3 [New Orleans] was rough; 3) We would have to sign up in the middle of a work day; 4) The question of would we both get in came up.



THE FIRST MOMENT
Given these questions on our mind I emailed the race organizer about the possibility of us both getting into the race.  I was told they did not expect the race to sell out quickly so there should be no problem with us both getting in to the event.  HA HA HA!!!  Well, it is a good thing I don't trust such advise.  Patrick and i were both at our computers at noon that day.  I left a training and he closed his office door.  At the ready when noon hit and the open indicator came up we both started.  Immediately I was in and registered. Then it happened.  The registration site went down Patrick's registration along with hundreds of others was stuck.  At first I thought he was joking.  I reentered the registration site and qued up a few more potential entries.  Waiting!!  I made a call to the registration site, the woman was nice but given that she was not the one to restart the system I made her stay on the phone with me till things were back up and running.  After a 2 hour wait Patrick was able to finally process his entry.  WE WERE NOW BOTH IN!!!  This was it we were going to Ironman!
We watched the news hit, a sell out race within minutes.  People angry with the crash, understandably angry.  A few were given entry.  Some were offered spots in other races before they opened.  Most were simply told "sorry".  We were given a gift, a opportunity.

THE INJURED MOMENTS
In November/ December 2013, I admitted defeat by admitting my foot was broken.  This was a disappointment to me, but earlier enough to train through and make a come back.  I would get the boot off in February and then off again in March- I was a little too quick to get back out on the road.  Thankfully I healed up and was back out.
In July I began to experience abdominal pain.  It went from possibly appendicitis to being an ovarian cyst, still not fun but manageable.    
In August 2014 Patrick injured his foot, making running difficult.  To top it off he injured his rib in a bike accident.  He continues to heal.
We have both had to push through moments of pain, doubt, and frustration.  

THE RACE MOMENTS

During this adventure we have raced almost every weekend, sometimes twice in the weekend.  We will have over 30 races by the time we race IMCHOO.  We have raced 5Ks to 70.3s and everything in between. 
We raced in the cold, in the heat, and in the rain.
We had races that seemed to go on forever and those done in a few seconds.  We challenged ourselves every step of the way. 
Bib numbers flipped past.

THE TRAINING MOMENTS
Joy. Tears. Screams. High Fives. Smiles. Growls. Side Stitches. Laughter. Mornings. Pain. Progress.
Everyday there was a mix of feelings, physical and emotional.  We pressed on from winter to spring to summer.  The seasons changed and we changed too.  Our bodies adapted to the training, to running, biking, and swimming.  Our bodies sometimes tried to say NO; sometimes we gave in to this demand.  In training we realized a very important factor we are human- we have jobs which are demanding, we have social clubs which are our destressors, we have our fur babies who deserve our time and love, we have friends and family who are our ever lasting support and sanity, and we have each other who without we would have so little.  Realizing in our training the importance of all of these factors we trained as to not forget about life.  We did not want to loose us in this adventure.

THE FINAL MOMENTS
Here we are 12 days out. These moments have been dreamed about.  We take a deep breath with each movement.  We try to live in the here and now, to breath in and breath out and move forward.  We are driven to push on despite short times and long roads, with the ever changing race.  This is an amazing place to be, like being 6 and counting down to Christmas.  There will be no Santa, it will not be so easy as opening packages, there will be no toys to play with afterwards.  No our day will be different it will be a gathering of athletes, volunteers, and spectators; we will open up bags of our own items sending us out to the next stage; in the end we will wear the medal of our victory.

THE MOMENTS OF WHY
We ask why, a lot.  Sometimes there are answers, sometimes there is only silence.
I can say this about the "whys" for me.  They are answered all with "because". 
Because my love, Patrick, love me, stands beside me, and believes in me.  Because he started a fire with a single spark in 2008.  Because life is meant to be challenged. Because the beauty of this world is best seen through goggles, with sounds of wind through your wheels, and the beat of your feet on the ground.  Because there are no better people in the world than those on the road, first timers to old timers.  Because adventure is the reason we thrive.  Because dreams are meant to be achieved.  Because someone said it wasn't  possible. Because someone said it could be done.  Because I want it. 
Why?
Because.  

Because I CAN!!!!

  

Beach Blast- RACE RECAP

This tri had added complications.  Given the factor that we have been training for the past year we are starting to have some moodiness.  This is said to often happen when tampering (or taking an exercise break). Given this added moodiness we were a little on edge with each other to start this adventure.  Adding to this factor, this is also a race course we have raced previously and Patrick HATES it!!!  He had sort of forgotten this in the 2 years since we did the race.  It isn't that it is a bad course, it is that the time of year either April or September that versions of this race are run it is hot- full on Florida HOT!
Let's talk about the race.
This race has many options a Sprint Triathlon or Duathlon, or Olympic Triathlon or Duathlon.  We selected the Olympic Tri (0.7 mile Swim, 25 mile Bike, and 6.2 mile Run)! 

SWIM
The swim was broken in to 3 waves.  First the disabled athletes, for our race this was one guy.  He is blind and was assisted by a visually able athlete.  Second the men's wave.  Third the women's wave.  This would mean for me that I would be in the last group to enter the water yet again. 
When we entered the water there were a number of women fighting to get out ahead.  Normally I would be one of those women but these were too aggressive even for me.  So I stuck to the inside and passed these women on the way out to the first buoy.  One thing to really make me hate you is to cut buoys on the swim course, one woman who had been squawking while we were on the sand did such a thing.  She went to the inside of the buoy, I guess instead of dropping behind me.  What else was I to do but leave her quickly behind?  So I did.  In the first straight away I started to catch some of the men's group, by the second turn i was in the thick of the boy's group.  We all were headed for two buoys that we were to go between before heading back out to loop again.  The sun was bright and in our eyes, making matters worse the round yellow buoys blended into the yellow swim caps.  I made my first turn feeling good, except for being in the middle of the directionally challenged (more on that in a minute).  On the second time in the straight away I had a guy actually grab my ankle, not just brush but grabbed.  And then he pulled like pulling me backwards, WHAT THE HELL DUDE???  One there is no need for that, try to swim over top of me, elbow me, brush against me, but don't be a jerk and pull me back just because you and being passed by a girl.  With a swift kick I left him behind too.  Final turn and headed towards shore, I could see the Sprint athletes grouping up, they were going out 24 minutes after us so they were beginning to be at the ready.  Upon coming out of the water this race has quiet the jaunt up to T1.  Up the beach, onto a boardwalk, over a road, then a ditch, a few steps, more boardwalk, more steps, across a field (with rocks under the rugs), across the mat and the swim in now in the books!
I was ranked 14th out of the entire race, I was the 5th female out of the water, and 1st in my age group. Even better I felt good.   Patrick was middle of the race pace coming out of the water, this is an improvement for him.  I was so proud to see how strong he has become in the swim.    
Now let's chat about the directionally challenged men's group.  In the beginning it seemed they were on track, all pointing the right direction to the first buoy.  Once the large portion of the group went around the first buoy they seemed to break into pieces, some looked almost headed back to shore others looked headed out to sea.  Then the horn went off for the women to start.  You would think this ends being able to see directional shifting of the men, but actually what happened is I found myself in the middle of them.  I know I was headed for the buoy, I know this because each time I looked up I was in line.  What I could not figure out was where the guys were headed.  Some were zigzagging in front of me, left, right, left.  Maybe they were trying to distract me from my destination, ploys to mess with me.  When I reached the turn around buoys it was a traffic jam.  It should have been easy, through the buoys turn to the left back out to the first buoy just like the first time.  This was not the case some where swimming towards the beach at the turn around point, some turned but went far to the right, some turned as if headed back the way they came.  I knew one thing, I wanted away for all of them.  I found a happy place between the front and the middle of their pack.  It was easier here until the leg pull.  Oh boys.

BIKE
My T1 was fairly easy going.  Washed my feet, socks, shorts, shoes, washed face, sunglasses, helmet, out! 
The first portion of the bike is on Highway 98 and with recent rains there were a few puddles and sand.  This was not so fun, since avoiding these areas was difficult given the limited road access. 
After making the turn north it was a straight 12 mile shot out.  This portion of the race is part of the reason Patrick is not a fan of this race.  he says it is a boring ride.  I like it though.  There are pine trees and more pine trees to look at, but more than that the part I like is the smell out there.  The moist pine, the dirt, the fresh air.  It makes me happy.  Now one part that makes me less happy is the road.  If you ride too close to the right hand side it gets bumping- like bounce you off your bike bumpy.  This means you have to ride to the left leaving less room for passing in the lane.  This need to shift out in the lane is okay if other riders would call their shot to alert when passing.  Since they don't make this call there ends up being a few close calls, even when I glanced backwards to make sure I was clear. 
On the route there is one major hill (well, 2 if you count it when coming back too)- well, it is actually a bridge, a slow climbing bridge.  The good thing about bridges is once you reach the top there is no place to go but down!!!  
I felt good on the ride averaging at 17.1mph, a good ride for me.  It did put me towards the back of the race pack, but I was good knowing I had pushed hard.  One of the things you learn as a triathlete who is good in the swim, is that you spend a good part of the next two portions of the race getting passed by those who are not so good in the swim.  You learn to get use to it- keeping in mind that every person who passes you, you passed first!   

RUN
My T2 was alright.  I struggled getting my new knee brace on.  It was tight and difficult to get on just right with the knee support (but I really like it).  I was able to get out of transition just shy of 2:30 minutes.
The run???  Well, my run sucked.  Thanks to a decent swim and bike, I was not the last to finish, although my run time was close to the longest.  I had a rough time in the heat and humidity.  The run course is on black top with shade seen for a total of about a 1/4 of a mile out of the whole 6.2 miles.  It was HOT to say the very least. 
The run was made more difficult for me just because my legs were considering leaving the union.  They are not happy right now- nights of leg cramps and runs where they feel like rubber bands about to snap. 

Even with perhaps my longest 10K (ever) I was about to finish 5th in my age group and about 5 minutes faster than the last time I was on this course. 
Patrick got the race done which was a good thing! 

Last "long" race before IMCHOO- in the books!!! 

We didn't take a prerace photo (that whole moodiness thing).   :(

Injury - Recovery - Injury - Mental Hunger Games.

We match now- August 2014.

Even though we've been doing triathlon for a while, we haven't really figured out "everything." I think my biggest problem revolves around adequate/appropriate recovery. We never really know the appropriate recipe for RECOVERY or how to deal with INJURY and how important is TAPER.







To be honest, I don't know how we've gone this long without these deficiencies biting us in the ass. I say "us." I mean "me." I don't know how long I've gone this long with inadequate recovery or an injury. Plus I'm a huge klutz so that doesn't help. It's caught up with me and we are 20 days out from our big event, IMCHOO.

The day to get it done, September 28.

It's been a long year, and we've packed it with runs, swims, bike trips, training, travel, and fun.

Marathon in Live Oak, FL - March 2014

We've hit each distance and accepted each challenge with enthusiasm. I've had some bumps along the way. My motivation was zapped this summer. I've had problems with shoes and other equipment. I've worked through adjustments on a triathlon bike. Things started to smooth out in August. Long bikes were going well; long swims were going great; long runs were going.

My foot is on strike - August 2014.

INJURY: Since early August, I've been dealing with a Neuroma between my 2nd and 3rd toes on my right foot. This pinched nerve has effected my gate, my foot strike, my speed, and my confidence. I'm pushing through but the RECOVERY is a fine balance. Do I skip a race? Do I skip some training? Do I focus on another triathlon discipline? Will I loose the speed/endurance gains I've developed in training? Will I be able to achieve the final goal? Oddly, my answer to most of these questions is "YES!" But it is hard. It's mentally exhausting on top of the physical exhaustion. The foot has gotten progressively better. I've figured out what I can do to minimize discomfort. Things were looking up.

A great bicycle ride until I fell.

At least I look fast, after the bicycle
accident and with a bum foot.

INJURY: I had a bicycle accident during a race, roughly one month out from IMCHOO. I lost traction going around a sharp turn and slid a little on the pavement. My left side hit pretty hard and knocked the wind out of me. I got some minor scratches. I was able to get back up and finish the race. The scratches healed quickly. I may or may not have a cracked rib. Ouch. So I'm in the same boat, even closer to the race. Do I skip an upcoming race? Do I skip some training? Do I focus on another triathlon discipline? Will I loose the speed/endurance gains I've developed in training? Will I be able to achieve the final goal? Should I just taper until Sept. 28?

I've had a good week worth of rest and recovery. The foot seems really good. The side hurts.

Animals and kids love me. I growl at both.

I remember when chaffing and bloody nipples were my biggest concern. Those were the days.

I'm excited and I'm scared. I'm confident I can push through, but damn, I haven't been this nervous since my first Triathlon.

Chattanooga, we'll meet in 20 days.

Included because I'm a huge nerd.

Triathlon Changes Our Lives- In Strange Ways

Jeep packed for 100 mile ride.

I am sure it is true of any athlete or fanatic of any type that living with us is difficult, but it seems that since we became tri-athletes things have changed some in our lives.  Also having two of us in one house is at times a challenge.   
When our journey first began we took up running.  We ran in cotton shorts and t-shirts, so laundry was easy, everything in the washer, then dryer, then done. As we ran longer we got "special clothes" that could no longer with stand the dryer, so like any normal person we installed a drying bar in the laundry room (this kept things from being set out in different places in the house to dry).  As the running increased so did the laundry, but again is wasn't too bad, it mostly fit in one basket.  It seemed at this point that laundry was really the only life change (other than the running).

Why do we have so many?

Then swimming started and the laundry details go even more, well, detailed.  There was now an extra towel load along with the "sports" load of laundry.  The drying bar was a maze of run and swim items carefully balanaced.  But as one sport grew into two sports we noticed something else, we started to need a few things.  Like bags to carry swim gear or race gear, different goggles, better shoes, real swim suits.  We also started running longer distances which meant better clothes and water bottles (oh the first water bottles).  It also meant we were running in different seasons which required different gear yet again.

Tri gear lay out.

Then it happened like a switch being flipped from low and subtle to high intensity, strobe.  We were tri athletes.  Bikes were being brought home.  Gear was increasing rapidly.  Water bottles were acting like Gremlins being fed after midnight or dunked in tubs of water.  This was not a slippery slop it was a cliff and we had jumped!!!
As we grew in to the sport so did our lifestyle.  Laundry now consist of two loads of exercise gear plus towels.  A mixture of laundry detergent, downy smell good stuff, and old fashion baking soda was found to be the best to maintain freshness.  Doing dishes means stacking and re-stacking water bottles and lids as to limit there ability to fall from the counter top or come crashing down from the cabinets.  And the little storage bench we purchased for running stuff has been moved to biking stuff and a new one purchased for "other" stuff.  Not to worry going from three bins to nine bins was just a realization of the amount of stuff accumulated.  In addition there were the bins in the garage on the diving rig to hold extra bike gear, like seats, bags, shoes, weird things purchased to try once and hate.  A hanging system was created in the garage for the bikes but they rarely live there.  They are more comfortable in the bar room (except for the mountain bike, she likes it out in the heat).

RAGBRAI Packing.

Other changes occur during tri season- the lawn gets mowed late on Sundays and only if the dog can not be seen when playing out back; we purchased an automatic vacuum cleaner which is set for certain times each day to clean; dusting is done only if the dog touches her noes to the dusty table of the cats leave prints across the shelving; clean sheets are a must (for me) each week; our friends know we can hang out but only after 11am and we have to be home by 9pm; coworkers judge having conversations with us based on our morning workout occurring; once bills are paid, races are evaluated as possibility.
But even with these changes and inconveniences to our lives being a triathlete is something well worth the aggravation.  That's why we do the extra laundry, balance the water bottles, strategically plan cleaning and mowing days, plan for races, and through it all lean on each other.

One Event- All will be used!

           

All In Our Head

We have reached the point in training where it is all about the race in our heads.  During our year of training we have been in our heads before but this time is different.  Now in our head is a race course filled with photos taken by others, stories of the course, numbers, configurations, good races, bad races, and voices.  With the resting and staying healthy phase starting there is no better or worse place to be than with our thoughts.
Every night I race the race in my head.  Sometimes we race it together talking out transitions or running strategies.  Other times we race alone, noting the sun in our eyes as we swim, the heat on our back as we bike, and the view of a perfect sunset as we run.  But it all ends the same, at a finish line where our names are said and our affirmation that is now only said in the bathroom mirror will be said to the world.

Start of NOLA 70.3

Finish at NOLA 70.3

The path to the finish line is narrated by the good voices, supported by the positive number configurations.  But sometimes in the midst of joy and positivity comes thoughts of "what if".  What if I crash?  What if I get a flat? What if it wasn't enough training?  What if I forget my bike at home?  What if my run shoes get lost?  What if, what if, what if.  At this point we can  not ignore these thoughts, so what do you do with thoughts you can't ignore, you work through them.  We look at crashes as an opportunity to get back up, we talk to those who have done it, we read about those who with broken bones pushed out to the finish line.  We learn and train how to change tires.  We carry our spare tire supplies, checked often for accuracy.  We talk to those who mid-race changed tire, after tire, to know how they handled the mental pressures.  We trust our training.  Good or bad we trust it.  We make packing list (I make packing list), from the big things like our bikes to the small things like ear plugs.  Also, we remember we are going to a place that is made to be a rolling running, biking, and swimming shop, if we forget it it will be there.  The "what ifs" start to fade once answered.  They are silenced for brief moments and we move forward back to the race.

Augusta 70.3

It is all a game in our heads the good voices will win our mantras will crush the negativity.  We will stay positive, we will be strong, and we shall press on.  
     

Finding Inspiration

Patrick and I often hear people say we are an inspiration to them because of our exercise regiment.  What people fail to realize is how they inspire us.  So I wanted to share some inspiring moments we have gained from those around us.

The volunteers at races often inspire me to work harder.  I recently was struggling through the final five miles of Toughman Alabama when I approached a corner manned by a very enthusiastic man.  This man was doing more than flagging us into the right direction. 
About 30 yards away form him he began to preach.  Not about religion but about triathlon.  "While others sleep you run.  While others play you swim.  While others watch TV you bike.  Why because you are a triathlete! You have dedication, drive, and passion.  You don't know what it is to give up." 

This man could have just said "good job" which would still have lifted my spirits but instead he went the extra mile to inspire us to be better.  I can honestly say I picked up my pace for him.  Later I had an opportunity to thank him for being there and for giving me the inspiration I needed to push harder.  He just laughed and said thank you.


Those out there racing despite age inspire us.  In our local area we have several friends who are older and racing.  Some are just starting and others have been racing for years. 

There is a couple who I use to pace with, who I am deeply inspired by.  He is 83 and she is 80.  This couple often races together, side by side.  In the last few years I have noticed that he often carries water and tissues.  During the race he hands her the water, she takes a sip and hands it back.  He hands her a tissue, she takes it, wipes her nose and hands it back.  They smile, laugh, and dress alike.  When Patrick and I talk about this being a lifestyle for us, this couple always comes to mind.  At races we point them out to each other and we watch them, being inspired not only to race long into the future but to also be a better couple who cares for each other above all else.

Our friends taking their first step to a lifestyle change.  No matter if they choose to run, lift weights, walk, swim, or zumba, they inspire us.  We remember the first steps on our journey and we know what these friends have gone through to get to this point of making this change.  It is inspiring to see their faces when they talk about going to a run for the first time or their face when they cross the finish line.  We have had the joy of watching several of our friends approach the start line and cross the finish line.  One friend of ours did a triathlon a few years ago, she was nervous, mostly about the swim.  This was her second triathlon, she was unsure of the course due to some hills on the bike course and the big hill leaving transition on the bike and run.  We spent most of the pre race making jokes and laughing, what better way to get the nerves to fade away.  The most inspiring moment was to see her finish but it wasn't just her who inspired me that day, but also her father who stood there next to me.  He was cheering her on, he was talking about how proud he was of her, he could not take his eyes off of her as she approached and then crossed the finish line.  His pride in his daughter in that moment was breathtaking.  It has inspired me to be a better support to my family and friends, making sure they all know how proud I am in them.

While I am inspired greatly by those surrounding us in our lives, I am also inspired by the man who stands beside me everyday.  I know I have talked about it before but there is no greater inspiration for me than Patrick.  Patrick has in the past 6 years made a HUGH lifestyle change.  Beyond that he inspires me by how much he embraces others in our athletic community.  He is the first one with a kind word, the first to support, the first to offer encouragement, the first to offer gear and supplies.  Patrick has stopped to help fix flats mid race.  He never passes a person on the side of the road without asking if they need help.  Patrick also brings smiles to the course.  If you have the joy of running with him on race day you will get to hear him sing, you will get to hear him yell good job, and you will get to here him push you to the next step telling you that you can make it to the top of the hill, despite what you believe.  And amazingly you make it up that hill.  Patrick also inspires me through what he does for me.  He tells me this is possible.  he lets me vent and be crazy, then he hands me my running shoes.  Now he may drive me insane sometimes but he also drives me to be a better person.

There is inspiration all around us, it is just a matter of accepting it, processing it, and applying it.  Thank you to all those who inspire us; there are many more stories of inspiration keeping us going on this journey.

Thank you.