“Life Happens”

I got the “tri-bug” year before last. I fell in love the competition aspect of it—and the thrill of beating a previous time. I like the intention and goal setting of planning my training each week. I like the forced balance it provides by alternating cardio between swimming and cycling and running. Had it not been for triathlons, I would have never climbed on a bike or started doing laps again in a pool. I’ve really started enjoying both of those additions to my training. And, I rarely have knee issues running any more. So, tri training is fun. It makes me intentional. And I can compete with myself –or race against others. I was just starting to ramp up my spring time cardio routine for a summer of triathlons.  Then…life happend.  I learned that I needed to have surgery. It’s been a possibility for a couple of years. This time, however, I wasn’t bummed or upset about the news. No roller coaster of emotion. The Q to my doc was, “How long before I can train again?”  I had to smile. I’ve come a long way… “ain’t nothing gonna break my stride!” So what did I do? After looking at the optimal time to juggle work and line up summer driving for my kids’ activities, I searched the net for a local triathlon! I wanted to get at least ONE in this season. Found one that was two weeks away. It was last Sunday. The Saturday before was a gorgeous day. And Sunday? I woke up at 4:30 to cold, rainy weather. Oh well—I wanted to race. Never raced in the cold, so what the heck? A new experience.  My 10 year old daughter went with me to watch. The swim leg went well. The bike ride was…well, cold, windy and wet! I slowed down my transition a bit to add some arm warmers and a sleeveless jacket. I felt the cold, rain pelting me like little needles and yet– I had to smile. I thought, “I’m here. I’m STILL here. I get to FEEL this rain. I get to push it.” I had a blast. When I came in to transition from the bike to the run, there was my little girl standing on the corner in the rain, holding an umbrella, shouting, “Go MAMMA, go!” Just what I needed. Those words of encouragement fueled my run. I finished 2^ndin my division. Cool. Maybe I will get another race in late summer/early fall. And maybe not, but that’s OK. There’s always next year. As I was running today, Natasha Bedingfield came on my ipod. You know the song, Unwritten? “Feel the rain on your skin, no one else can feel it for you, only you can let it in….live your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins—the rest is still unwritten.” I felt the rain on Sunday. It was glorious. And today, I watched the trees dance while I ran along the creek and inhaled nature’s honeysuckle perfume…with arms wide open. It was awesome.