Yes, I know... what am I thinking?
Did I seriously sign up for another event with Team in Training?
Yes, yes I did.
How could I not?
When now I know so many of my honored heros personally, and I see the difference that we are making in their lives - one mile at a time?
When I have made so many wonderful friends, from all walks of life; people who would have never crossed my path otherwise?
When every day to me is a blessing - no matter how rainy, or stressful, or crazy?
I have my health, I have two good legs, and I have wonderful friends and family to support me.
I can do this.
I am excited to do this!
Yippee! Here we go again!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
It's all good...
I have to say that things are really looking up - yippee!
After being unable to ride my bike for over a month, I finally found Dr. Jody Gilligan of Corrective Chiropractic. He is not only a Chiropractor, but a bike fitter, and competitive cyclist! Do you hear the angels singing, too? He spent nearly six hours with me over two nights, and when all was said and done, I felt like I was on someone else's bike! I've been out for several rides and am happy to report I am no longer having any back pain!
If you are having any problems, give him a shout, and tell him I sent you!
Last week we were lucky enough to make it up to The Kennedy Space Center (actually the Astronaut Hall of Fame) to witness the final space shuttle launch... EVER. Just us and one million people we have never met. It was pretty cool to actually be there, though. The huge countdown clock, the engines igniting, and the rumbling boom as she lifted off into space. I'm not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears when she left the launch pad. The experience almost made up for the FOUR HOURS we sat in traffic to go 40 miles afterwards. Sheesh!
But... we had no choice because we were headed to Orlando Airport to pick up Isabella who was flying in with her Grandpa Welch after spending a week in Rhode Island. Boy, did I miss her! It was hard to be home and not have her there (though, the quiet was nice, and I didn't watch the Disney channel even once). She's already talking about going back next summer. Lucky kid.
So, things are good for now in our world. I have not signed up for any more TNT events (so you can let go of the death grip you had on your checkbook), but will be volunteering with them for the next few months. I like the chance to be involved, just not so financially committed! I will be switching my training to focus more on the run for the next few months. I am signed up for the Diva's Half Marathon in October on Long Island. It's been a while since I've run 13.1 - nearly two years as a matter of fact, but hopefully my feet will remember what to do! I'll keep you posted!
 |
| Here's the before and after shots of my bike fit |
If you are having any problems, give him a shout, and tell him I sent you!
Last week we were lucky enough to make it up to The Kennedy Space Center (actually the Astronaut Hall of Fame) to witness the final space shuttle launch... EVER. Just us and one million people we have never met. It was pretty cool to actually be there, though. The huge countdown clock, the engines igniting, and the rumbling boom as she lifted off into space. I'm not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears when she left the launch pad. The experience almost made up for the FOUR HOURS we sat in traffic to go 40 miles afterwards. Sheesh!
But... we had no choice because we were headed to Orlando Airport to pick up Isabella who was flying in with her Grandpa Welch after spending a week in Rhode Island. Boy, did I miss her! It was hard to be home and not have her there (though, the quiet was nice, and I didn't watch the Disney channel even once). She's already talking about going back next summer. Lucky kid.
So, things are good for now in our world. I have not signed up for any more TNT events (so you can let go of the death grip you had on your checkbook), but will be volunteering with them for the next few months. I like the chance to be involved, just not so financially committed! I will be switching my training to focus more on the run for the next few months. I am signed up for the Diva's Half Marathon in October on Long Island. It's been a while since I've run 13.1 - nearly two years as a matter of fact, but hopefully my feet will remember what to do! I'll keep you posted!
Monday, June 13, 2011
It’s not about you, Leanne (Tahoe, part II)
So where was I? Oh yeah, I was in the midst of a total adult meltdown tantrum and Ray was convincing me not to jump off the 11th floor balcony by agreeing to train for a century ride with me next year. (I can hear him now... “It seemed like a good idea at the time. You should have seen how sad she was. I just wanted her to cheer up. I didn’t think she believed me. Anything to make her stop crying...”)
So, I dried my tears and went back to bed in an attempt to be somewhat rested for the event the next day. I thought about my Teammates: Jon, a TNT running coach who was competing as a participant and riding in honor of his wife, battling cancer for the third time; Andi, a single mom, who despite a crazy work schedule and continued health problems, was competing in her millionth TNT event (well, it seems that way); Kristin, also in her umpteenth TNT event, so dedicated to the cause that she signed up to become a coach for the next cycle event; Judy, a recent widow, so determined to make a difference in the fight against cancer that she willingly signed up for a 100 mile bike ride despite her fears; Jacey, a good friend who has been with me every single step of this fitness journey, encouraging me from the very beginning, when I couldn’t run a mile without stopping to walk. I thought of Sam, the most athletic (and daring) 71 year old person I have ever met; Gary, always smiling and never once complaining, despite being hauled off to the ER after one particularly difficult ride (he was fine, just dehydrated); Susana, who just learned to ride a bike and started this journey without knowing how to stop or shift; and Stefany, her daughter and partner in crime, battling her own injuries all season. I thought of my coach, Bryan, who earned so many nicknames this season I can’t keep track anymore, a great coach - tough and no nonsense, and able to spot a BS story a mile away, but patient and tolerant of my issues when I needed some remedial cycle work; and finally, I thought of our tireless and amazing LLS campaign coordinator, Nicole, who was actually responsible for three TNT teams this season (2 triathlon and one cycle), and never once mixed us up! We have been together on this journey for almost six months so far; I had accepted that I would not be riding the 100 miles on my bike with them, but I had also decided that I would not be a brat about it (I was not going to make this about me).
I showed up at the meeting spot at 6:00 AM without my bike and put on my best game face. The weatherman was actually right about the day’s forecast – cold, rainy, possible hail all day – not a great day for any bike ride, never mind a 100 mile ride in the mountains! I outfitted several of my Teammates with my gloves, bike tights, socks, shoe covers, foot warmers, and hand warmers. I figured that if I couldn’t make the ride, at least my clothes would! I brought my TNT cowbell and cheered as my clothes (and my Teammates) crossed the starting line. With a wistful sigh, I made my way back to my room and outlined my awesome plan to support the Team for the whole 100 miles to Ray, who was probably so glad I wasn’t crying anymore he would have agreed to anything!
The Plan
The road to Emerald Bay was closed to traffic until 8:30 AM for the safety of the riders. We planned to wait for the road to open and then to catch up with and assist our Team with whatever they needed (dry clothes, warm car, food, drinks, cowbell). While waiting for the road to open, we stopped for a hearty breakfast and met a bunch of other TNT cyclists who had opted out of the ride because it was too wet and cold. As one of them told me, “I met my goal, and raised money for a great cause. There’s no point in doing the ride today because I wouldn’t enjoy it. The ride is the reward for a season of fundraising and training. There’s no reward in frostbite, or worse, crashing my bike on a downhill.” Hmm, he made a good point, but I don’t think my Palm Beach TNTers would agree.
As soon as the road opened, we were on our way up the switchbacks to Emerald Bay. I had one thought – “Whoa!” This was a steep, narrow, scary road with sheer drop offs on one side.
I was having heart palpitations in the car, and I couldn’t imagine riding my bike up these roads in the freezing rain. I didn’t see any of my Teammates, so we made our way to the second rest stop. Here we met up with two of the Team, and they were both freezing and tired. One said her feet were so cold and wet she didn’t think she could go on. I offered her my socks right off my feet (and she accepted). We found a bench, and I took her wet frozen socks and replaced them with my warm dry ones. I gave her my foot warmers and some plastic bags to keep her feet dry, and she was off! Another one of my Teammates needed some more TLC, so we put her and her bike in the car so she could thaw and catch her breath. As we were leaving the stop, two more Teammates arrived looking for dry socks. I had already given mine away but offered to find some and meet them at the next stop. We had a mission, and were off!
We found dry socks at a shop in Tahoe City, and I bought a replacement pair for myself plus enough for the whole team, just in case. I grabbed some extra plastic bags from the confused cashier and we made our way to the next stop in the city of Truckee. Here we found more of our Teammates, and they were all shivering and wet. Two of them had to have their brakes replaced, one had two flat tires, and they were all tired and cold (America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, huh? Most miserable is more like it). We offered what support we could and waited for the rest of our friends. Eventually they all made it; we supplied more dry socks and plastic bags, and were off to the next stop.
While we were driving, the skies just opened up. Like the early morning rain wasn’t insulting enough, now it was a downpour, falling with a vengeance, and I hoped it wasn’t too much for anyone. Ray did his best to avoid drenching any of the cyclists with the spray from the car. The next stop along the ride was a designated lunch stop. It was here that the sun finally came out and my Teammate who had gotten in the car with us at the second stop felt refreshed enough to finish the ride and got her bike ready for the final 30 miles or so (half of which was uphill!). This is amazing to me. I don’t think I would have the dedication to willingly leave a warm dry car to ride my bike up and down a mountain in who knows what kind of weather. As soon as she left the car, we got a call that another Teammate needed assistance, so off we went to find her!
Knee problems were plaguing the next rider and we put her and her bike in the car and brought her to the next rest stop. From here she went to the medical tent, to see if they could tape her knee, but they were all out of sports tape. She refused to give up, and here is just one example of what sets the Palm Beach TNTers apart from the rest: she got duct tape from the mechanic’s tent and brought it to the medical tent. She had her knee taped with DUCT TAPE and proceeded to finish the ride!
That’s right; folks – our little group of riders from Palm Beach, home of the sun and sand, flat roads and sea level training conditions tackled this ride and won! It wasn’t pretty – we had plastic bags taped to our feet, shower caps over our bike helmets, and duct tape on our injuries, but we finished! That’s more than I can say for a lot of riders. In fact, the folks we met in the breakfast café (the ones who bailed without even starting) were from Ohio. Not to slam any Ohioans (well, actually I LOVE to slam Ohioans but only about college football), but come on, people – you train in the cold and wet, right? There was a ton of participants who turned around and quit before even making it to the first rest stop, and the sag wagon was absolutely FULL of riders who had enough and called it quits at various points, but not my Team - Palm Beach came to represent!
(And we did)
So, I dried my tears and went back to bed in an attempt to be somewhat rested for the event the next day. I thought about my Teammates: Jon, a TNT running coach who was competing as a participant and riding in honor of his wife, battling cancer for the third time; Andi, a single mom, who despite a crazy work schedule and continued health problems, was competing in her millionth TNT event (well, it seems that way); Kristin, also in her umpteenth TNT event, so dedicated to the cause that she signed up to become a coach for the next cycle event; Judy, a recent widow, so determined to make a difference in the fight against cancer that she willingly signed up for a 100 mile bike ride despite her fears; Jacey, a good friend who has been with me every single step of this fitness journey, encouraging me from the very beginning, when I couldn’t run a mile without stopping to walk. I thought of Sam, the most athletic (and daring) 71 year old person I have ever met; Gary, always smiling and never once complaining, despite being hauled off to the ER after one particularly difficult ride (he was fine, just dehydrated); Susana, who just learned to ride a bike and started this journey without knowing how to stop or shift; and Stefany, her daughter and partner in crime, battling her own injuries all season. I thought of my coach, Bryan, who earned so many nicknames this season I can’t keep track anymore, a great coach - tough and no nonsense, and able to spot a BS story a mile away, but patient and tolerant of my issues when I needed some remedial cycle work; and finally, I thought of our tireless and amazing LLS campaign coordinator, Nicole, who was actually responsible for three TNT teams this season (2 triathlon and one cycle), and never once mixed us up! We have been together on this journey for almost six months so far; I had accepted that I would not be riding the 100 miles on my bike with them, but I had also decided that I would not be a brat about it (I was not going to make this about me).
 |
| One awesome Team, ready to go! |
I showed up at the meeting spot at 6:00 AM without my bike and put on my best game face. The weatherman was actually right about the day’s forecast – cold, rainy, possible hail all day – not a great day for any bike ride, never mind a 100 mile ride in the mountains! I outfitted several of my Teammates with my gloves, bike tights, socks, shoe covers, foot warmers, and hand warmers. I figured that if I couldn’t make the ride, at least my clothes would! I brought my TNT cowbell and cheered as my clothes (and my Teammates) crossed the starting line. With a wistful sigh, I made my way back to my room and outlined my awesome plan to support the Team for the whole 100 miles to Ray, who was probably so glad I wasn’t crying anymore he would have agreed to anything!
The Plan
The road to Emerald Bay was closed to traffic until 8:30 AM for the safety of the riders. We planned to wait for the road to open and then to catch up with and assist our Team with whatever they needed (dry clothes, warm car, food, drinks, cowbell). While waiting for the road to open, we stopped for a hearty breakfast and met a bunch of other TNT cyclists who had opted out of the ride because it was too wet and cold. As one of them told me, “I met my goal, and raised money for a great cause. There’s no point in doing the ride today because I wouldn’t enjoy it. The ride is the reward for a season of fundraising and training. There’s no reward in frostbite, or worse, crashing my bike on a downhill.” Hmm, he made a good point, but I don’t think my Palm Beach TNTers would agree.
 |
| Was the ride worth the view? Maybe. |
I was having heart palpitations in the car, and I couldn’t imagine riding my bike up these roads in the freezing rain. I didn’t see any of my Teammates, so we made our way to the second rest stop. Here we met up with two of the Team, and they were both freezing and tired. One said her feet were so cold and wet she didn’t think she could go on. I offered her my socks right off my feet (and she accepted). We found a bench, and I took her wet frozen socks and replaced them with my warm dry ones. I gave her my foot warmers and some plastic bags to keep her feet dry, and she was off! Another one of my Teammates needed some more TLC, so we put her and her bike in the car so she could thaw and catch her breath. As we were leaving the stop, two more Teammates arrived looking for dry socks. I had already given mine away but offered to find some and meet them at the next stop. We had a mission, and were off!
We found dry socks at a shop in Tahoe City, and I bought a replacement pair for myself plus enough for the whole team, just in case. I grabbed some extra plastic bags from the confused cashier and we made our way to the next stop in the city of Truckee. Here we found more of our Teammates, and they were all shivering and wet. Two of them had to have their brakes replaced, one had two flat tires, and they were all tired and cold (America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, huh? Most miserable is more like it). We offered what support we could and waited for the rest of our friends. Eventually they all made it; we supplied more dry socks and plastic bags, and were off to the next stop.
While we were driving, the skies just opened up. Like the early morning rain wasn’t insulting enough, now it was a downpour, falling with a vengeance, and I hoped it wasn’t too much for anyone. Ray did his best to avoid drenching any of the cyclists with the spray from the car. The next stop along the ride was a designated lunch stop. It was here that the sun finally came out and my Teammate who had gotten in the car with us at the second stop felt refreshed enough to finish the ride and got her bike ready for the final 30 miles or so (half of which was uphill!). This is amazing to me. I don’t think I would have the dedication to willingly leave a warm dry car to ride my bike up and down a mountain in who knows what kind of weather. As soon as she left the car, we got a call that another Teammate needed assistance, so off we went to find her!
 |
| The sun came out while we stopped for lunch |
Knee problems were plaguing the next rider and we put her and her bike in the car and brought her to the next rest stop. From here she went to the medical tent, to see if they could tape her knee, but they were all out of sports tape. She refused to give up, and here is just one example of what sets the Palm Beach TNTers apart from the rest: she got duct tape from the mechanic’s tent and brought it to the medical tent. She had her knee taped with DUCT TAPE and proceeded to finish the ride!
That’s right; folks – our little group of riders from Palm Beach, home of the sun and sand, flat roads and sea level training conditions tackled this ride and won! It wasn’t pretty – we had plastic bags taped to our feet, shower caps over our bike helmets, and duct tape on our injuries, but we finished! That’s more than I can say for a lot of riders. In fact, the folks we met in the breakfast café (the ones who bailed without even starting) were from Ohio. Not to slam any Ohioans (well, actually I LOVE to slam Ohioans but only about college football), but come on, people – you train in the cold and wet, right? There was a ton of participants who turned around and quit before even making it to the first rest stop, and the sag wagon was absolutely FULL of riders who had enough and called it quits at various points, but not my Team - Palm Beach came to represent!
(And we did)
 |
| We are the Palm Beach Purple People! |
Friday, June 10, 2011
Expect the Unexpected (Tahoe, part 1)
What is that they say? You plan, God laughs. The past few weeks have reinforced that lesson over and over. The take home message is that nothing works out the way you planned it, but somehow everything works out the way it is supposed to.
My last blog entry was a few weeks ago, and I was counting my blessings, every single one of them. I was also laid up with lower back pain, which turned out to be a result of a little bike wreck I had two months ago. A few visits to my trusty chiropractor had me back on my game and I was good to go. The next two weeks passed in a flurry of tying up loose ends at work, getting ready for the last day of school, and packing for 10 days of vacation. I was obsessively checking the weather report for South Lake Tahoe and despite my efforts, prayers, and crossed fingers, the forecast never changed – cold, rain, possible snow – low of 36, high of 52 (yuck). So, I packed every warm thing I owned, and spent way too much money ordering brand new (and warm) cycle clothing (gloves, shoe covers, fleece lined cycle tights, foot warmers...). Fortunately everything arrived on time, and got crammed in my suitcase with everything else.
It’s go time!
As our flight was heading towards Sacramento, the captain let everyone know we were flying over Lake Tahoe – yeah, baby! I peered over Ray’s shoulders and noticed a very large body of water below the plane... very large... huge, even. I also could not help but notice all of the snow around the lake. Snow? In June? Sigh... good thing I bought all those warm clothes.
Ray and I arrived a day before the rest of the Team, so we explored the area a bit, but mostly relaxed. On Friday I rented a mountain bike with my Teammate and good friend, Jacey, and we did some more exploring. The idea was to try and acclimate to the elevation (6200’) and the hills since we had the time. Jacey is a bit more adventurous than me (but then again, who isn’t?), and was in her element; dodging tree trunks, riding through squishy mud, and spotting wildlife. I, on the other hand, was white knuckling the handlebars, had my eyes glued to the trail/road (so I missed most of the wildlife), and was generally spazzing out (but trying to seem cool), as usual. We found ourselves at the Pearl Izumi outlet (specialty running and biking clothing and accessories), where we were compelled to spend even more money on warm cycle gear. The store was full of fellow cyclists who were just as freaked out about the weather report for Sunday’s ride. The store manager was grinning from ear to ear (not that I blame her).
Rain, Rain, Go Away!
The next day we met up with the rest of the team for a 20 mile “shake down” ride. Here was our chance to get the kinks out before Sunday’s mega ride. We could try out what we planned to wear, and make sure everything on the bike was shifting cleanly, and working smoothly. The weather was cooperating in that it was rainy and cold – exactly what was expected for Sunday, so it was a true dress rehearsal. We set out on the road and quickly realized a few things: cycle shoes are designed to keep your feet cool on a hot day, Florida toes get cold... fast, Florida lungs (gasp) train at sea level, you cannot ride in a pace line on a wet muddy road unless you want to eat the mud spraying off of your teammate’s tire in front of you, and finally, (speaking of mud) it is best to squirt a bit of water out of your bottle before putting it to your mouth for a drink (Aack! Choke, spit!).
As I was wiping down my bike after the ride, I noticed a familiar tightening in my lower back (no!). I quickly dropped to the floor and started going through all my stretches and exercises to release the twinge of pain, which was getting worse by the minute. I took some ibuprofen, forced myself to relax, and spent 20 minutes in a hot shower, all to no avail. I refused to accept the inevitable and gamely started getting my stuff ready for the ride on Sunday. I showed up at the TNT inspiration dinner with a back brace and a support pillow, and my coach’s eyes got real wide (I didn’t want to talk about it).
At the dinner, we learned some amazing things... Team in Training has been participating in America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride for the past 15 years; in those years, we have raised over 75 million dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society from this event alone! Just for the record, TNT has raised over a BILLION DOLLARS (yes, I used the Dr. Evil pinkie to the chin maneuver) for the Society! This past weekend, TNT had over 1500 riders determined to circle Lake Tahoe, and together we raised $6.8 million (whoa).
Hearing all this amazing news, and being surrounded by all the good cheer and purple people made my back feel better and I was excited to ride. Both my coach and teammates warned me to listen to my body and make a call in the morning. I went to bed early and said a prayer for a speedy recovery and a pain-free morning (with a little sun thrown in for good measure).
Unfortunately, morning came a little early to my room in the form of a 3:00 AM bathroom call (nature calls, I listen). I rolled over to get out of bed and felt the spasms in my back begin. Ray heard my whine and leaned over to comfort me – bad move, baby (cue the water works!).
To say I was despondent wouldn't even scratch the surface of what I was feeling. Disappointment, regret, futility, helplessness, and a little bit of rage, mixed in with back pain made for a very unhappy camper at three in the morning. What did I do all this work for? Raise all this money? Train so hard? Push my body to the brink and back? Save for a new bike? I missed countless softball games, girls’ nights, date nights, neglected my family, my house, my yard... All for this moment – the ability to bike 103 miles in the mountains, and I COULDN’T EVEN GET OUT OF BED!!
I was wrecked, emotionally and physically and I hadn’t even gotten on my bike, yet.
Ray, ever the philosopher, said to me, “Everything happens for a reason. God has a plan for you.”
I wanted to smother him with my pillow, but I knew I didn’t have the strength.
I’m not an emotional person, usually. I’m not given to rash, hysterical crying jags. But, when I finally give in, I generally make it count and this tantrum was no exception. After using nearly every tissue in the room (plus the bed sheet, and probably Ray’s shoulder which is big and strong, but not particularly absorbent), my darling hubby was desperate to make me feel better. He said something that (though I am sure he is regretting) actually did make me feel better.
He said, “You can try again next year, and I’ll do it with you.”
WHAT?!?
Did he say it just to make me stop crying? Maybe. Men have been known to agree to lots of things just to stop a woman’s tears. But, hopefully he meant it. Hopefully he was inspired by the thousands of purple people willing to put their lives on hold for a little while to make a difference for those who can’t. Maybe it was my crazy teammates and the way we love and support each other like a single-minded yet slightly dysfunctional family. Maybe it was the challenge, the tough course, and the new shiny (and expensive) bikes.
He’s a man – it was probably the bikes.
(More on the ride, to follow...)
 |
| The view on the way to Lake Tahoe |
It’s go time!
As our flight was heading towards Sacramento, the captain let everyone know we were flying over Lake Tahoe – yeah, baby! I peered over Ray’s shoulders and noticed a very large body of water below the plane... very large... huge, even. I also could not help but notice all of the snow around the lake. Snow? In June? Sigh... good thing I bought all those warm clothes.
 |
| Perfect cycling weather... |
Rain, Rain, Go Away!
The next day we met up with the rest of the team for a 20 mile “shake down” ride. Here was our chance to get the kinks out before Sunday’s mega ride. We could try out what we planned to wear, and make sure everything on the bike was shifting cleanly, and working smoothly. The weather was cooperating in that it was rainy and cold – exactly what was expected for Sunday, so it was a true dress rehearsal. We set out on the road and quickly realized a few things: cycle shoes are designed to keep your feet cool on a hot day, Florida toes get cold... fast, Florida lungs (gasp) train at sea level, you cannot ride in a pace line on a wet muddy road unless you want to eat the mud spraying off of your teammate’s tire in front of you, and finally, (speaking of mud) it is best to squirt a bit of water out of your bottle before putting it to your mouth for a drink (Aack! Choke, spit!).
As I was wiping down my bike after the ride, I noticed a familiar tightening in my lower back (no!). I quickly dropped to the floor and started going through all my stretches and exercises to release the twinge of pain, which was getting worse by the minute. I took some ibuprofen, forced myself to relax, and spent 20 minutes in a hot shower, all to no avail. I refused to accept the inevitable and gamely started getting my stuff ready for the ride on Sunday. I showed up at the TNT inspiration dinner with a back brace and a support pillow, and my coach’s eyes got real wide (I didn’t want to talk about it).
At the dinner, we learned some amazing things... Team in Training has been participating in America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride for the past 15 years; in those years, we have raised over 75 million dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society from this event alone! Just for the record, TNT has raised over a BILLION DOLLARS (yes, I used the Dr. Evil pinkie to the chin maneuver) for the Society! This past weekend, TNT had over 1500 riders determined to circle Lake Tahoe, and together we raised $6.8 million (whoa).
Hearing all this amazing news, and being surrounded by all the good cheer and purple people made my back feel better and I was excited to ride. Both my coach and teammates warned me to listen to my body and make a call in the morning. I went to bed early and said a prayer for a speedy recovery and a pain-free morning (with a little sun thrown in for good measure).
Unfortunately, morning came a little early to my room in the form of a 3:00 AM bathroom call (nature calls, I listen). I rolled over to get out of bed and felt the spasms in my back begin. Ray heard my whine and leaned over to comfort me – bad move, baby (cue the water works!).
To say I was despondent wouldn't even scratch the surface of what I was feeling. Disappointment, regret, futility, helplessness, and a little bit of rage, mixed in with back pain made for a very unhappy camper at three in the morning. What did I do all this work for? Raise all this money? Train so hard? Push my body to the brink and back? Save for a new bike? I missed countless softball games, girls’ nights, date nights, neglected my family, my house, my yard... All for this moment – the ability to bike 103 miles in the mountains, and I COULDN’T EVEN GET OUT OF BED!!
I was wrecked, emotionally and physically and I hadn’t even gotten on my bike, yet.
Ray, ever the philosopher, said to me, “Everything happens for a reason. God has a plan for you.”
I wanted to smother him with my pillow, but I knew I didn’t have the strength.
I’m not an emotional person, usually. I’m not given to rash, hysterical crying jags. But, when I finally give in, I generally make it count and this tantrum was no exception. After using nearly every tissue in the room (plus the bed sheet, and probably Ray’s shoulder which is big and strong, but not particularly absorbent), my darling hubby was desperate to make me feel better. He said something that (though I am sure he is regretting) actually did make me feel better.
He said, “You can try again next year, and I’ll do it with you.”
WHAT?!?
Did he say it just to make me stop crying? Maybe. Men have been known to agree to lots of things just to stop a woman’s tears. But, hopefully he meant it. Hopefully he was inspired by the thousands of purple people willing to put their lives on hold for a little while to make a difference for those who can’t. Maybe it was my crazy teammates and the way we love and support each other like a single-minded yet slightly dysfunctional family. Maybe it was the challenge, the tough course, and the new shiny (and expensive) bikes.
He’s a man – it was probably the bikes.
(More on the ride, to follow...)
Saturday, May 14, 2011
I am Blessed
I have been trying to write this blog for several days, but life, as it does, keeps getting in the way. I actually wrote this blog two days ago, but didn’t get to finish and publish it until Saturday. What a slacker.
I wanted to write a follow-up on St. Anthony’s Triathlon, I wanted to tell you all about my latest trip to Clermont, Florida for some hill training, I wanted to give you an update on my fundraising, the fact that we scored tickets to the next space shuttle launch, my wonderful Mother’s Day... But every night after dinner is cooked, and dishes are done, showers taken, homework checked, teeth brushed, prayers said, goodnight kisses bestowed, lunches made, and the next day’s coffee is prepped, somehow I don’t have the energy to do anything more than brush my own teeth and crawl into bed.
But, as always seems to happen, just when I wish for down time to get some “me” stuff done, I always get it (but never in the way I plan). So, here I sit, in lots of pain, able to do nothing more than move the ice pack off my back when my skin goes numb, and reach for the remote – though several times even that was a little too much movement. I have caught up on all the episodes of Glee and Modern Family that I have missed in the last month. I got to watch the Today show, and even part of Ellen; I watched a bit of the local news but got tired of the hysteria over the teenager getting bitten by a rattlesnake and had to change the channel. Come on, people, we live in South Florida. Snakes, alligators, sharks, and mosquitoes that can carry off small children are all just part of the landscape. Add in the rabid raccoons, monster iguanas, brown recluse spiders, and man of war jellies and it’s a wonder that anyone survives down here.
So, back to the update... In spite of the back pain, I continue to be grateful for everything in my life. Sounds weird, right? A little too Pollyanna for you? I am, really. One of my resolutions this year was to remember to count my blessings. I have heard it said that when you commit to be grateful, you find so much to be grateful for. It’s not always easy, but I have found that even when my day stinks, I can find a reason to be grateful, a reason to feel blessed. And here are a few reasons why...
I have been so blessed to find a church home which is just that – home. I know in my heart that we were led to Advent by powers stronger than I could ever understand. The folks we have met there have become a part of our lives; our extended family. They have helped raise Isabella, teaching her lessons that I never could. We have sung, laughed, cried, and prayed together – sometimes all at once! Like all families, we don’t see eye to eye on everything. In fact, we disagree on some major issues. However, I have found that despite the bad press given to Christians and Christianity in general (a lot of which is unfortunately true), the overwhelming message I have received over and over here is that of God’s Amazing Love. Though a part of me believes I am far too liberal in my thinking to blend in there, I have allowed myself to bask in this love. In the last year, I have noticed a real change inside of me, a peace that never existed. I have made a commitment to speak sweeter, to love deeper, and to make a difference in the world. I am able to be accepting of situations that would have previously made me crazy, I no longer sweat the small stuff, and I trust that there is a plan for all of us; a plan we may never understand.
I am always grateful for good health; mine and that of all of my family and friends. The past few years have taught me that life and health is truly precious. I have lost friends and family far too early. I have watched friends struggle with cancer, and seen firsthand how it can tear a family apart. I continue to be amazed at the stregth and resilience of the families I have met since being involved with Team in Training. During the run portion of St. Anthony’s Triathlon I saw many of the physically challenged athletes competing. Let me tell you, nothing is more humbling than seeing an athlete with a prosthetic leg hammering out a 10K run; a run that I (with two perfect legs) was struggling with. I wonder if I would have the drive and dedication to train and compete at that level if I were in the same situation.
I am so blessed with an amazing support system of friends and family. My friends and family showed up in droves for my recent fundraiser, and I am still humbled by their show of support. My sister had a jewelry party at her house two weeks ago, and convinced the sales rep to donate a portion of the profits to Team in Training to help me out with my fundraising. Not only that, but she sold raffle tickets at the party to give away her hostess gifts and donated the proceeds to TNT. She did this for me, to help me out. I don't think she kept one piece of jewelry for herself. I continue to be amazed at how lucky I am to be a part of my family. On Mother’s Day, I was given the day off, literally. After church, Ray dropped me and Isabella off at the beach where we hung out all day with my mom and several family members. With our toes in the sand, we did nothing all day besides people watch, build sand castles, float in the water and I may have drifted off to sleep for a while. When we were ready to leave, we drove back to Mom’s to eat a fabulous dinner that Ray had cooked in our honor.
I am so blessed to be a part of this particular Team in Training Team. We are made up of people from all different backgrounds, religions, races, family situations, political leanings, social status... Looking in from the outside, we have very little in common, and you’d wonder what the heck we would have to talk about. That’s a laugh! It seems like we never run out of things to talk about, we are always laughing together, and lifting each other up. Maybe it’s the endorphins from all the exercise? I have to tell you, spending time with these people is a true joy.
Here’s just one example: Last Friday night while riding in Clermont, FL with the Team, I was having a tough ride. The week previous had been a difficult one – tensions at work and at home had tested my commitment to be grateful over and over. I had managed to hold it together all week, but found that on the bike, I was struggling to keep up with the rest of the Team. Eventually I stopped trying, and decided to work some things out on the bike by myself. It was really no surprise to me that while replaying several conversations I had with important people in my life, the tears started flowing. One of my Teammates came back to check on me. I let him know that I was ok, but needed some time alone. He understood and gave me my space. So, I had a good cry on the bike while riding at 17mph – it was very cathartic. The time came when I wanted to stop feeling sad, but I wasn’t sure how. I asked aloud to the heavens to please help me feel better, and... I got a flat tire. “Oh, now how is this supposed to help?” I wondered aloud, and almost started crying again. Sure enough, within minutes, the rest of the Team had come back to check on me. I was surrounded by my friends, and two of the guys started play fighting over who was going to change my tire for me. Normally I’m a do it myowndamnself kind of person, but I decided to sit back and let them take care of me. We joked, laughed, slapped mosquitoes together, and actually found the tiny sliver of a shell stuck in my tire that had caused me to have three flats in three weeks. By the time we were back on the road, I felt 100% better. So, it’s true – God truly does work in mysterious ways.
And finally, that brings me to this week, and my little back episode. I called my doctor and got in to see him first thing. I paid my $20 co pay, walked out with two prescriptions in my hand, and headed to the pharmacy. The pharmacist took one look at the scripts and asked me if I was planning on waiting, since he could tell I was in pain. I decided it was less painful to stand around and wait for nearly an hour than to drive home, only to have to struggle back up off the couch, into the car, and back to the pharmacy later. So I waited. Let me tell you, if you ever want to feel grateful for your problems, sit at the pharmacy counter for a little while. While I sat there, I met a young man who was picking up his meds for kidney disease – even with insurance he was paying $4000 a month for life saving medicine. I watched several elderly people have to decide which medications to pick up this time, because they couldn’t afford all their prescriptions this week. I watched others ask the pharmacist if he could only give them a few pills to get them through until they got paid. The pharmacist knew several people by name - I assume it is because they are there all the time. I saw a man with his whole leg bandaged up, another so skinny and bald, I could only assume the worst. By the time he called my name, and apologized for the wait, I had counted my blessings so many times I wanted to skip out of there (of course I couldn’t, not today). I almost kissed him as I handed over my $20 co pay, and took my meds home.
So, my friends, take the time to count your blessings. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and above all, be grateful for your problems, because they are yours and not someone else’s.
We're headed to Melbourne, FL tomorrow morning to visit the Kennedy Space Center, and spend the night at a hotel on the beach. We'll be back at the KSC at 5:00 AM on Monday morning to witness the final launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Fingers crossed for a successful launch!
Here's a few pictures from my weekend ride in Clermont, FL:
I wanted to write a follow-up on St. Anthony’s Triathlon, I wanted to tell you all about my latest trip to Clermont, Florida for some hill training, I wanted to give you an update on my fundraising, the fact that we scored tickets to the next space shuttle launch, my wonderful Mother’s Day... But every night after dinner is cooked, and dishes are done, showers taken, homework checked, teeth brushed, prayers said, goodnight kisses bestowed, lunches made, and the next day’s coffee is prepped, somehow I don’t have the energy to do anything more than brush my own teeth and crawl into bed.
But, as always seems to happen, just when I wish for down time to get some “me” stuff done, I always get it (but never in the way I plan). So, here I sit, in lots of pain, able to do nothing more than move the ice pack off my back when my skin goes numb, and reach for the remote – though several times even that was a little too much movement. I have caught up on all the episodes of Glee and Modern Family that I have missed in the last month. I got to watch the Today show, and even part of Ellen; I watched a bit of the local news but got tired of the hysteria over the teenager getting bitten by a rattlesnake and had to change the channel. Come on, people, we live in South Florida. Snakes, alligators, sharks, and mosquitoes that can carry off small children are all just part of the landscape. Add in the rabid raccoons, monster iguanas, brown recluse spiders, and man of war jellies and it’s a wonder that anyone survives down here.
So, back to the update... In spite of the back pain, I continue to be grateful for everything in my life. Sounds weird, right? A little too Pollyanna for you? I am, really. One of my resolutions this year was to remember to count my blessings. I have heard it said that when you commit to be grateful, you find so much to be grateful for. It’s not always easy, but I have found that even when my day stinks, I can find a reason to be grateful, a reason to feel blessed. And here are a few reasons why...
I have been so blessed to find a church home which is just that – home. I know in my heart that we were led to Advent by powers stronger than I could ever understand. The folks we have met there have become a part of our lives; our extended family. They have helped raise Isabella, teaching her lessons that I never could. We have sung, laughed, cried, and prayed together – sometimes all at once! Like all families, we don’t see eye to eye on everything. In fact, we disagree on some major issues. However, I have found that despite the bad press given to Christians and Christianity in general (a lot of which is unfortunately true), the overwhelming message I have received over and over here is that of God’s Amazing Love. Though a part of me believes I am far too liberal in my thinking to blend in there, I have allowed myself to bask in this love. In the last year, I have noticed a real change inside of me, a peace that never existed. I have made a commitment to speak sweeter, to love deeper, and to make a difference in the world. I am able to be accepting of situations that would have previously made me crazy, I no longer sweat the small stuff, and I trust that there is a plan for all of us; a plan we may never understand.
I am always grateful for good health; mine and that of all of my family and friends. The past few years have taught me that life and health is truly precious. I have lost friends and family far too early. I have watched friends struggle with cancer, and seen firsthand how it can tear a family apart. I continue to be amazed at the stregth and resilience of the families I have met since being involved with Team in Training. During the run portion of St. Anthony’s Triathlon I saw many of the physically challenged athletes competing. Let me tell you, nothing is more humbling than seeing an athlete with a prosthetic leg hammering out a 10K run; a run that I (with two perfect legs) was struggling with. I wonder if I would have the drive and dedication to train and compete at that level if I were in the same situation.
I am so blessed with an amazing support system of friends and family. My friends and family showed up in droves for my recent fundraiser, and I am still humbled by their show of support. My sister had a jewelry party at her house two weeks ago, and convinced the sales rep to donate a portion of the profits to Team in Training to help me out with my fundraising. Not only that, but she sold raffle tickets at the party to give away her hostess gifts and donated the proceeds to TNT. She did this for me, to help me out. I don't think she kept one piece of jewelry for herself. I continue to be amazed at how lucky I am to be a part of my family. On Mother’s Day, I was given the day off, literally. After church, Ray dropped me and Isabella off at the beach where we hung out all day with my mom and several family members. With our toes in the sand, we did nothing all day besides people watch, build sand castles, float in the water and I may have drifted off to sleep for a while. When we were ready to leave, we drove back to Mom’s to eat a fabulous dinner that Ray had cooked in our honor.
I am so blessed to be a part of this particular Team in Training Team. We are made up of people from all different backgrounds, religions, races, family situations, political leanings, social status... Looking in from the outside, we have very little in common, and you’d wonder what the heck we would have to talk about. That’s a laugh! It seems like we never run out of things to talk about, we are always laughing together, and lifting each other up. Maybe it’s the endorphins from all the exercise? I have to tell you, spending time with these people is a true joy.
Here’s just one example: Last Friday night while riding in Clermont, FL with the Team, I was having a tough ride. The week previous had been a difficult one – tensions at work and at home had tested my commitment to be grateful over and over. I had managed to hold it together all week, but found that on the bike, I was struggling to keep up with the rest of the Team. Eventually I stopped trying, and decided to work some things out on the bike by myself. It was really no surprise to me that while replaying several conversations I had with important people in my life, the tears started flowing. One of my Teammates came back to check on me. I let him know that I was ok, but needed some time alone. He understood and gave me my space. So, I had a good cry on the bike while riding at 17mph – it was very cathartic. The time came when I wanted to stop feeling sad, but I wasn’t sure how. I asked aloud to the heavens to please help me feel better, and... I got a flat tire. “Oh, now how is this supposed to help?” I wondered aloud, and almost started crying again. Sure enough, within minutes, the rest of the Team had come back to check on me. I was surrounded by my friends, and two of the guys started play fighting over who was going to change my tire for me. Normally I’m a do it myowndamnself kind of person, but I decided to sit back and let them take care of me. We joked, laughed, slapped mosquitoes together, and actually found the tiny sliver of a shell stuck in my tire that had caused me to have three flats in three weeks. By the time we were back on the road, I felt 100% better. So, it’s true – God truly does work in mysterious ways.
And finally, that brings me to this week, and my little back episode. I called my doctor and got in to see him first thing. I paid my $20 co pay, walked out with two prescriptions in my hand, and headed to the pharmacy. The pharmacist took one look at the scripts and asked me if I was planning on waiting, since he could tell I was in pain. I decided it was less painful to stand around and wait for nearly an hour than to drive home, only to have to struggle back up off the couch, into the car, and back to the pharmacy later. So I waited. Let me tell you, if you ever want to feel grateful for your problems, sit at the pharmacy counter for a little while. While I sat there, I met a young man who was picking up his meds for kidney disease – even with insurance he was paying $4000 a month for life saving medicine. I watched several elderly people have to decide which medications to pick up this time, because they couldn’t afford all their prescriptions this week. I watched others ask the pharmacist if he could only give them a few pills to get them through until they got paid. The pharmacist knew several people by name - I assume it is because they are there all the time. I saw a man with his whole leg bandaged up, another so skinny and bald, I could only assume the worst. By the time he called my name, and apologized for the wait, I had counted my blessings so many times I wanted to skip out of there (of course I couldn’t, not today). I almost kissed him as I handed over my $20 co pay, and took my meds home.
So, my friends, take the time to count your blessings. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and above all, be grateful for your problems, because they are yours and not someone else’s.
We're headed to Melbourne, FL tomorrow morning to visit the Kennedy Space Center, and spend the night at a hotel on the beach. We'll be back at the KSC at 5:00 AM on Monday morning to witness the final launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Fingers crossed for a successful launch!
Here's a few pictures from my weekend ride in Clermont, FL:
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| My hero! (He had no idea) |
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| Struggling up Sugarloaf Mountain... |
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Whew!
This past weekend, I competed in St. Anthony's Triathlon in St. Petersburg, FL. This is known as a 51.5 race (1.5Km swim, 40Km bike, 10Km run), or for those of us not on the metric system, roughly a mile swim, 25 mile bike, and a 6.2 mile run. This is the same distance triathlon run in the summer olympics. And, the same distance I competed in last year at The Nation's Triathlon. However, I was totally freaking out about the race in the week leading up to it. Seriously, we're talking nightmares, nausea, inability to focus on ANYTHING... you name it - I was a wreck! I'm not sure why I was so freaked out about it. I've done the distance before (lots of times), I was well-supported, I am clearly in better shape now than I was last time I did this distance. I really have no idea why I tortured myself. Or, why I continue to torture myself by signing up for these events.
My good friend and teammate, Andi, sums it up best on her blog... we do it, because we CAN!
I guess I have officially drank the TNT Kool-Aid (you think?).
I did not officially participate with Team in Training for this event, but I drove over with a friend who was on the Team, I stayed with folks on the Team, and, of course, I had to wear my Team colors (gotta represent). There is something so cool about putting on the purple and teal tri suit in the morning, and knowing you will be wearing the same colors as hundreds of other folks out there. Plus, wearing your TNT tri suit guarantees lots of cheering and cowbells, and shouts of "Go Team!" to keep you inspired as you race.
As usual, most of my butterflies went away on the morning of the event, and I was pretty focused. While shivering in the pre-dawn darkness, I chatted with other TNT folks from around the country. I met teammates from New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Atlanta, Washington DC... all over the place! They all had one thing in common (and it's not what you think) - they had NEVER trained in open water before.
Never.
All their swim training was in a pool. Which kind of makes sense - I mean, where are you going to find a body of water in Ohio in February to swim in? Another thing... most of their bike training was in a gym, on a spin bike. Once I realized this, that very last butterfly flew away. I am so happy to live in Florida - now more than ever.
So... how was the race?
It Was Fun!
Did I set any course records? Not even close. I didn't even place in the top ten of my age group (more like the top 100 of my age group).
What was cool about this race is that because it is very early in the triathlon season, a lot of big name professional triathletes come to get their feet wet here. These are folks I read about in Triathlete magazine, the ones who do this full-time, the ones who actually get paid to compete. I didn't get to meet any of them, but still. The race start was at 6:50 AM, but because they have to space out the 3000 or so competitors, I got to watch the pros do the swim portion of the race while waiting around for my scheduled start time (7:55 AM).
They were so fast!
Seriously, they were leaving actual wakes in the water behind them as they swam, like small sleek motorboats. Then, when they got out of the water to run to their bikes in the transition area, they didn't even look winded and were literally SPRINTING past us, barefoot, on cement, to get to their bikes. Once arriving at their bikes, they slapped on bike helmets and sprinted (barefoot, again) out of the transition area, made these graceful flying leaps onto their bikes and started pedaling like mad, while putting their bare feet into the bike shoes which were already attached to their bikes.
It was awesome! These folks are like superheros. Of course, they ARE profesional triathletes, meaning this is their job. They are paid well to perform at superhero levels by companies that make bikes, and shoes, and helmets, and performance wear to make other people (like me) want to buy their stuff so we can pretend we are just as fast - ha ha!
My portion of the race started an hour later.
I did not leave a wake behind me in the water, I jogged to my bike, I put on my bike shoes (one at a time), and had to stop to get my feet clipped in before pedaling off. No graceful flying leaps for me!
I guess I should mention that on the morning of the race, the race officials moved and shortened the swim course. The wind was blowing 15-20 mph and the original swim course was deemed too choppy to be safe. So they moved us about 1/2 mile away into more of a secluded cove, and shortened the course by about a third of the length (1000 meters instead of 1500).
I'm all for a safer (and shorter) swim, but the only problem was now once we got out of the water, we had to run barefoot on cement for nearly 1/2 a mile to get to our bikes. My poor little piggies were going whee-whee-whee all the way to my bike (actually it was more like ow-ow-ow!).
While on the bike course I noticed a camera crew was following a competitor on his bike. They had a fancy motorcycle rigged up to support a cameraman and another crew member and were focused very closely on someone who seemed to be having a tough time on the bike (it was very windy). I saw them later on the run course as well. I figured that it was a local celebrity running the race; maybe a weatherman or something.
I heard a rumor later that it was a camera crew from TV's The Biggest Loser following one of the competitors on the show. I biked past them at one point, so I'll have to watch the episode whenever it comes on - maybe I'll be in the shot! I don't watch the show, so I'll have to do some poking around on the web to see if it was really true.
In any case, I finished strong and happy and that's all I can ask of my body. A good friend of mine wished me well on my Facebook page the night before the race.
She told me, "I know you will do well. Remember to have fun, smile, enjoy God's beauty, the sunshine, the wind in your face, the way your body works, your friends cheering you on, everything in creation."
I did.
Click here to see official photos of me in last month's race at the FAU Wellness Triathlon.
And here to see photos of me at St. Anthony's Triathlon. (I'm smiling in a few of them) There are several which are clearly not me - I'm sure you will figure it out!
My good friend and teammate, Andi, sums it up best on her blog... we do it, because we CAN!
I guess I have officially drank the TNT Kool-Aid (you think?).
I did not officially participate with Team in Training for this event, but I drove over with a friend who was on the Team, I stayed with folks on the Team, and, of course, I had to wear my Team colors (gotta represent). There is something so cool about putting on the purple and teal tri suit in the morning, and knowing you will be wearing the same colors as hundreds of other folks out there. Plus, wearing your TNT tri suit guarantees lots of cheering and cowbells, and shouts of "Go Team!" to keep you inspired as you race.
As usual, most of my butterflies went away on the morning of the event, and I was pretty focused. While shivering in the pre-dawn darkness, I chatted with other TNT folks from around the country. I met teammates from New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Atlanta, Washington DC... all over the place! They all had one thing in common (and it's not what you think) - they had NEVER trained in open water before.
Never.
All their swim training was in a pool. Which kind of makes sense - I mean, where are you going to find a body of water in Ohio in February to swim in? Another thing... most of their bike training was in a gym, on a spin bike. Once I realized this, that very last butterfly flew away. I am so happy to live in Florida - now more than ever.
So... how was the race?
It Was Fun!
Did I set any course records? Not even close. I didn't even place in the top ten of my age group (more like the top 100 of my age group).
What was cool about this race is that because it is very early in the triathlon season, a lot of big name professional triathletes come to get their feet wet here. These are folks I read about in Triathlete magazine, the ones who do this full-time, the ones who actually get paid to compete. I didn't get to meet any of them, but still. The race start was at 6:50 AM, but because they have to space out the 3000 or so competitors, I got to watch the pros do the swim portion of the race while waiting around for my scheduled start time (7:55 AM).
They were so fast!
Seriously, they were leaving actual wakes in the water behind them as they swam, like small sleek motorboats. Then, when they got out of the water to run to their bikes in the transition area, they didn't even look winded and were literally SPRINTING past us, barefoot, on cement, to get to their bikes. Once arriving at their bikes, they slapped on bike helmets and sprinted (barefoot, again) out of the transition area, made these graceful flying leaps onto their bikes and started pedaling like mad, while putting their bare feet into the bike shoes which were already attached to their bikes.
It was awesome! These folks are like superheros. Of course, they ARE profesional triathletes, meaning this is their job. They are paid well to perform at superhero levels by companies that make bikes, and shoes, and helmets, and performance wear to make other people (like me) want to buy their stuff so we can pretend we are just as fast - ha ha!
My portion of the race started an hour later.
I did not leave a wake behind me in the water, I jogged to my bike, I put on my bike shoes (one at a time), and had to stop to get my feet clipped in before pedaling off. No graceful flying leaps for me!
I guess I should mention that on the morning of the race, the race officials moved and shortened the swim course. The wind was blowing 15-20 mph and the original swim course was deemed too choppy to be safe. So they moved us about 1/2 mile away into more of a secluded cove, and shortened the course by about a third of the length (1000 meters instead of 1500).
I'm all for a safer (and shorter) swim, but the only problem was now once we got out of the water, we had to run barefoot on cement for nearly 1/2 a mile to get to our bikes. My poor little piggies were going whee-whee-whee all the way to my bike (actually it was more like ow-ow-ow!).
While on the bike course I noticed a camera crew was following a competitor on his bike. They had a fancy motorcycle rigged up to support a cameraman and another crew member and were focused very closely on someone who seemed to be having a tough time on the bike (it was very windy). I saw them later on the run course as well. I figured that it was a local celebrity running the race; maybe a weatherman or something.
I heard a rumor later that it was a camera crew from TV's The Biggest Loser following one of the competitors on the show. I biked past them at one point, so I'll have to watch the episode whenever it comes on - maybe I'll be in the shot! I don't watch the show, so I'll have to do some poking around on the web to see if it was really true.
In any case, I finished strong and happy and that's all I can ask of my body. A good friend of mine wished me well on my Facebook page the night before the race.
She told me, "I know you will do well. Remember to have fun, smile, enjoy God's beauty, the sunshine, the wind in your face, the way your body works, your friends cheering you on, everything in creation."
I did.
Click here to see official photos of me in last month's race at the FAU Wellness Triathlon.
And here to see photos of me at St. Anthony's Triathlon. (I'm smiling in a few of them) There are several which are clearly not me - I'm sure you will figure it out!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Almost There!
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, folks.
Pray that it isn't a train.
I made it through scary events number two (fundraiser) and three (Easter).
Ok, they weren't really scary but just stress inducing.
The fundraiser was, in a word, awesome! I have my amazing family and teammates to thank for that, because I was as near a total meltdown as I have ever been that night.
Normally I like to think that I am quite calm; it takes a LOT to ruffle my feathers. I take great pride in the fact that I'm not an over reactor. But you know what they say about pride... I think that if you asked me my name in the hour before the event, I would have been hard pressed to think of it, let alone spell it correctly. My wonderful cousin took the day off of work to help me out. She and a teammate of mine set up all the food (chafing dishes of hot dogs and wings, plates, cups, ice, waters, chips, sandwiches..) and then re-arranged everything when the wind started blowing the sterno out! All while I stood there staring into space, drooling, and forgetting what I was supposed to be doing next. I honestly would not have managed without them!
But... I made it through!
We had fun!
We ate chocolate fondue!
AND... raised nearly $700 when all was said and done.
I was honestly hoping for more. So many people put in so much effort for this event to come together. I was hoping for $1200, but I'll take $700 - it is more than I had on Wednesday!
The bottom line is that we all had a great time, right?
I have to give a few major should outs to my amazing donors.
First of all, Thirs-tea corporation provided all the beverages for the event. Not only that, but the president of the company helped me set up, clean up, and he provided the flyers for the event at no charge. What a great guy that Ray Welch is, easy on the eyes, too.
Second, the owner of Boca Raton Melting Pot was there himself, serving chocolate fondue to all of my guests. Yes, you read that right - delicious melted chocolate, served over your choice of fresh strawberries, pound cake, marshmallows, brownies, or rice crispy treats. Oh, joy! Not only that, but he provided an amazing gift basket for a raffle prize.
Finally, Alise from Putt'n Around Delray Beach, the venue for the event, was so amazing. Not only did she let us have the run of the place (I'm not sure their landscaping will ever be the same), but she gave me a donation back based on the number of attendees at the event, AND provided a four-pack of mini golf as a raffle prize!
My amazing, inspiring teammates were there in force to assist me - so much purple in one place - it was great! I am humbled by their support, and forever touched by their kindness.
Saturday morning was another one of those long bike rides - you know, all this training is getting in the way of the fundraising and socializing (ha!).
We rode sixty miles on Saturday.
Yes, 60.
On bikes.
All at once.
(Ok, we had two pit stops for food and potty breaks)
We rode our bikes from Boynton Beach to Ft. Lauderdale and back.
Seriously?
When we reached the turn around point, I looked around and realized just how far I have come. I also realized how far away from home I was, and how I was never going to make it home by 11:00 AM, like I told my family. One of my teammates looked at me, and said "We just freaking rode our bikes to Ft. Lauderdale - I don't even like driving this far."
I cracked up laughing.
Well, it was that, or cry.
What else could I do? Call a taxi?
I forgot to mention the wind. Oh, it was windy. Like, blow you off your bike in a crosswind windy.
But, I survived (barely). I realized that I am still having anxiety issues on the bike - probably from the crash. I'm going to need to get over it (or take a Xanax before every ride). I'm not sure I have time for hypnosis therapy before June 5th. Where would I squeeze it in?
Finally it was Easter Sunday.
He is Risen.
As was a certain six year old at 5:30AM.
"Mommy?" she presses her nose against my face in the pre-dawn darkness.
Forcing one eyeball open, "Yes?"
"I think I hear the Easter bunny."
Listening hard I reply, "I think it's just the rain."
"Oh, ok. Yeah, it's rain. Can I see if the Easter Bunny came?"
"Um, sweetie, it's a little early."
"Can I get in bed with you, then?"
"Um, sure," rolling over to make some room.
"No. I want to be in the middle."
sigh
We arose when the sun came up, and sure enough, the Easter Bunny came to our house. Candy, toys, and treats for all. Luckily he also remembered to get the coffee pot ready the night before.
That's one smart bunny.
Pray that it isn't a train.
I made it through scary events number two (fundraiser) and three (Easter).
Ok, they weren't really scary but just stress inducing.
The fundraiser was, in a word, awesome! I have my amazing family and teammates to thank for that, because I was as near a total meltdown as I have ever been that night.
Normally I like to think that I am quite calm; it takes a LOT to ruffle my feathers. I take great pride in the fact that I'm not an over reactor. But you know what they say about pride... I think that if you asked me my name in the hour before the event, I would have been hard pressed to think of it, let alone spell it correctly. My wonderful cousin took the day off of work to help me out. She and a teammate of mine set up all the food (chafing dishes of hot dogs and wings, plates, cups, ice, waters, chips, sandwiches..) and then re-arranged everything when the wind started blowing the sterno out! All while I stood there staring into space, drooling, and forgetting what I was supposed to be doing next. I honestly would not have managed without them!
But... I made it through!
We had fun!
We ate chocolate fondue!
AND... raised nearly $700 when all was said and done.
I was honestly hoping for more. So many people put in so much effort for this event to come together. I was hoping for $1200, but I'll take $700 - it is more than I had on Wednesday!
The bottom line is that we all had a great time, right?
I have to give a few major should outs to my amazing donors.
First of all, Thirs-tea corporation provided all the beverages for the event. Not only that, but the president of the company helped me set up, clean up, and he provided the flyers for the event at no charge. What a great guy that Ray Welch is, easy on the eyes, too.
Second, the owner of Boca Raton Melting Pot was there himself, serving chocolate fondue to all of my guests. Yes, you read that right - delicious melted chocolate, served over your choice of fresh strawberries, pound cake, marshmallows, brownies, or rice crispy treats. Oh, joy! Not only that, but he provided an amazing gift basket for a raffle prize.
Finally, Alise from Putt'n Around Delray Beach, the venue for the event, was so amazing. Not only did she let us have the run of the place (I'm not sure their landscaping will ever be the same), but she gave me a donation back based on the number of attendees at the event, AND provided a four-pack of mini golf as a raffle prize!
My amazing, inspiring teammates were there in force to assist me - so much purple in one place - it was great! I am humbled by their support, and forever touched by their kindness.
Saturday morning was another one of those long bike rides - you know, all this training is getting in the way of the fundraising and socializing (ha!).
We rode sixty miles on Saturday.
Yes, 60.
On bikes.
All at once.
(Ok, we had two pit stops for food and potty breaks)
We rode our bikes from Boynton Beach to Ft. Lauderdale and back.
Seriously?
When we reached the turn around point, I looked around and realized just how far I have come. I also realized how far away from home I was, and how I was never going to make it home by 11:00 AM, like I told my family. One of my teammates looked at me, and said "We just freaking rode our bikes to Ft. Lauderdale - I don't even like driving this far."
I cracked up laughing.
Well, it was that, or cry.
What else could I do? Call a taxi?
I forgot to mention the wind. Oh, it was windy. Like, blow you off your bike in a crosswind windy.
But, I survived (barely). I realized that I am still having anxiety issues on the bike - probably from the crash. I'm going to need to get over it (or take a Xanax before every ride). I'm not sure I have time for hypnosis therapy before June 5th. Where would I squeeze it in?
Finally it was Easter Sunday.
He is Risen.
As was a certain six year old at 5:30AM.
"Mommy?" she presses her nose against my face in the pre-dawn darkness.
Forcing one eyeball open, "Yes?"
"I think I hear the Easter bunny."
Listening hard I reply, "I think it's just the rain."
"Oh, ok. Yeah, it's rain. Can I see if the Easter Bunny came?"
"Um, sweetie, it's a little early."
"Can I get in bed with you, then?"
"Um, sure," rolling over to make some room.
"No. I want to be in the middle."
sigh
We arose when the sun came up, and sure enough, the Easter Bunny came to our house. Candy, toys, and treats for all. Luckily he also remembered to get the coffee pot ready the night before.
That's one smart bunny.
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