PRE-RACE MUSINGS
As I pulled into the makeshift parking lot in the middle of an open field the night before the race, it hit me: I was finally getting the chance to compete again. All of the waiting and anticipation during the near two-year stretch without a single triathlon unraveled at once and the excitement became irrepressible. Unfortunately, my state of elation was short-lived, for it only took one more moment before I realized {"Holy sh*t!"} that I would soon be competing again. Anticipation turned into unease; elation turned into apprehension; excitement turned into uncertainty. Was I ready for this? Being but a sprint, I knew that I was physically capable of completing it, but was I physically capable of competing it??
'Tis a blessing and a curse, as most competitive people have personally experienced, that finishing or completing the task at hand usually isn't enough to achieve that feeling of complete fulfillment. No, this feeling comes from something more -- whether it be a victory, a personal best, a lesson learned, or even the fact of knowing that you left every bit "out there," this "something more" must be present in order to feel a real sense of achievement. While this constant push for "something more" is an asset if used as an added means for motivation, it can also lead to a build-up of self-imposed pressure and disappointment if not kept in check. Although I try to keep a rational eye on this personal push during competition, I admittedly can be pretty tough on myself. As I looked around at the hundreds of other athletes at packet pick-up, the insecurities poured in; how was I going to compete with the super-fit, super-tan, super-powered human beings?! Even in the dark, there was no question as to whether or not I was surrounded by some very fine athletes.
I walked through the assembly line of stations to obtain my race number, swim cap, swag bag, and everything else I needed for the race and headed back to my car. Because my drivers' seat typically acts as my bed the night before most competitions (I'd rather spend the $60-$100 hotel fee on tri gear), I decided to head to the nearest hotel to find a good spot to park. I've found over the years that hotel parking lots work the best in terms of accessibility and safety, so I pulled into a very "ritzy-looking" Ramada Inn (I always "stay" at the best hotels!) and tucked into a spot between two vehicles with bike racks and tri stickers; I tend to trust other athletes and figured I wouldn't be messed with or ratted on if discovered mid-slumber. After doing the routine teeth-brushing, contact-removing, and face-washing (via water from my Sigg), I set my alarms (breakfast at 2:30am, waking at 4:45am), grabbed my travel pillow and blanket, pulled the lever on my seat, flattened out as best as possible, and turned in for my pre-race snooze.
Upon waking to my second alarm, I realized that although I was a long-time veteran of changing in cars, changing into the ever-so-tight tri uniform was going to pose a bit more of a challenge (especially if I wanted to practice discretion in the early-morning glow). Fortunately there was a 24-hour Walmart open -- (probably the only scenario that would lead me to use that line) -- with a very large bathroom stall that sufficed. After a swift dress-change, it was time to head back to Apple Canyon Lake, the starting point of the race.
Apple Canyon Lake is settled approximately 15 miles outside of Galena in a deep valley between small cliffs and surrounding bluffs. It is an extremely beautiful area in terms of natural features, including a constant stream of monstrous hills. Because the Galena Triathlon is a point-to-point tri, I had to drop off my bike in Transition 1 before taking the rest of my gear to Transition 2, which was located 17 hilly miles away. I drove behind the wall-to-wall traffic for what seemed like almost an hour, set up my T2 station, and hopped on a shuttle back 17 miles to T1. If I could change one thing about this (otherwise wonderful) race, it would include a more efficient way of dropping, transporting, and stowing gear and participants pre-race; a few racers weren't able to make the 35-mile round-trip jaunt before their wave began, which was unfortunate to witness. It's easy to blame such a situation on time management, but with so many people trying to travel very small roads in such a short period of time, there are bound to be some unlucky stragglers.
When I finally made it back to the lake, I opened up my new wetsuit bag, pulled out my brand new TYR Cat 5 Hurricane (made possible by gearandtraining.com), and began the oh-so uncomfortable "dance" into the "pants;" I'd feel somewhat foolish during this process if I weren't surrounded by hundreds of others also attempting to complete the dance with impossible grace. Once in, I had just enough time to spare to test out the water temperature (a balmy 57 degrees) and perform a few pre-race warm-up exercises. Before I knew it, the crowd-assisting countdown to the start of the first wave was on, and my nerves were about as stable as my dog's nerves during a thunderstorm. Despite a 3-minute wait between each wave, Wave 10 quickly arrived and I found myself standing on water's edge alongside a crowd of other nervous 25-to-29-year-old females. I looked to my right and spotted the race clock -- only 20 seconds to go until I would once again be able to call myself a competing triathlete. 15 seconds.....10 seconds........5 seconds..........the horn. Time to rock and roll.
THE SWIM AND TRANSITION 1
I knew the swim would be the toughest of the three disciplines in the tri, for it had only been three months since I'd begun to learn how to do the front crawl with some actual technique. When my wave ran into the water I immediately fell to the back of the pack; I felt like I was swimming all-out, and yet all of these people were flyng by me! Fortunately the first 200 meters didn't determine the overall outcome and I managed to pass up most of my wave (with the help of my new speedy wetsuit) by the time the swim was over. I exited the water third and felt relieved that my swim wasn't completely pitiful -- just a slow starter, I guess.
I rushed out of the water trying to utilize my foot speed to my advantage in transition. Because the transition area was set up on top of a gravel-laden parking lot, most of the racers had sandals laid out at the top of the beach to slip on before running to their station. I was proud of myself for remembering to do this until I attempted to run in my ridiculously non-athletic pair of sandals I'd chosen to bring; they slipped off my feet as soon as I'd slipped them on. Instead of going back for them, I internally spoke some variation of "screw it" and ran across the gravel as fast as my feet would allow. I would later regret this decision as the lost and found crew informed me that no sandals of my description were turned in. Ahhh. We had a good run.
To my surprise, the wetsuit was easier to get out of than I had expected. I did, however, make a few rookie mistakes (being my rookie year, I thought I was entitled) that added on a fairly significant amount of time in transition. Looking back, what turned out to be a 2:30 transition could have easily been about a 1:00 transition. Thankfully I am quite good at learning from my mistakes (at least in this area) and I will be sure to avoid any repeats in the future.
THE BIKE AND TRANSITION 2
I hopped onto the back of my decade-old Look road bike (the new Cervélo I had ordered through Gear & Training hadn't arrived yet) and proceeded up the steep incline out of the valley. By the time I reached the top, my heart rate was rearing to go. Over the following 17 mile stretch I had one strategy: Go HARD. I knew my body could handle a good pounding for the relatively short distance of the race. Looking back, I probably pushed it a bit too hard on the long uphills, but I still felt strong by the end. The clouds opened up and rain began to pour down about midway through the race. I had a close call on a slick patch of road while I was cruising at top speed down one of the giants, but I managed to maintain enough control to avoid wipeout -- luck was on my side with that one.
My confidence continued to grow throughout the race as I passed person after person without plateau. Better yet (I must admit), all of these people happened to be men; being in the first wave of women after all of the men took off was a nice motivator. I love to compete with women, but there's something very satisfying about passing a dude from time to time. ;) The only female I passed was within the first mile and I knew that the only one ahead of me was in the process of getting her PRO card. With this knowledge in mind, I knew I'd place well in my age group, barring any unforseen accidents on the rest of the bike or miseries in the run. After 50 minutes of climbing and descending, I reached the last downhill and decided to grind it out, just for "good measure." (Something I have since learned not to do -- need to bring the heart rate dowwwwn.)
I entered Transition 2 as the second female in, which was more fun than I'd like to admit. The crowd, it seems, tends to cheer louder and harder for lone females amongst a sea of guys. Once I found my station, the process of getting into my running gear went a bit faster. The only hold-up arose when I couldn't get my feet into my pre-tied old cross country race flats; I still hadn't purchased tri shoes, so racing flats were my only option against my heav(ier) trainers. As soon as they were on, I was off. Although pretty stiff from all of the hard climbing, I forced my legs to get out of the transition area fast.
THE RUN
The run started with a long downhill that helped to loosen the limbs up a degree. The giant hill that followed, however, didn't provide the same favor. As I inched my way up the monster, I passed a man who appeared to be struggling as I was. I felt compelled to say something to him, so I managed an airy "Is this hill for real?" before continuing the grind. The first mile of the run ran parallel to the end of the bike course, so I was able to see all of the bikers coming in. I knew I was a decent distance ahead of the next woman in my age group, but I began to notice the first women from the 30-34 and 35-39 age groups coming in. Because I had a 3-to-6 minute headstart on these women, I knew I'd have to pull off a strong run if I wanted to beat them in the overall placings.
Like the bike course, there didn't seem to be a stretch of flat on the entire run. I decided to try to push the downhills while maintaining form and using my arms on the uphills. Even though I never got to the point where I felt like a "real" runner, I was content with the 6:50 pace on the 4.3-mile hilly course. Plus, I felt good about the number of positive comments I received from the males I passed; I got a negative vibe from a few of them, but most of the guys were very supportive and told me to "keep it up" and "go after it." My only regret in the run was not knowing exactly where the finish was located in relation to the rest of the course; I usually have a pretty strong last mile with my kick in races, but the finish line crept up on me when I came around a corner and I hadn't even begun to open it up. I hate finishing races with anything left in the tank, so this frustration got to me in particular. Again, another mistake to add to the collection, but all important experiences to becoming a better triathlete. Excited for big things ahead -- I can feel it.
RESULTS
700m swim -- 9:47
17 mile bike -- 53:13
4.3 mile run -- 29:25
TOTAL TIME -- 1:36:33
1st/49 Age Group
6th/~200 Overall Female
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
I think I can probably almost promise that it will most certainly in all likelihood never happen again.
Just over four months ago I completed my first "blog" entry. As soon as I pressed the "post" button, I felt quite confident that these entries would become routine to me in the following months. After all, how difficult would it be to post a new entry every week or two? I suppose this once-unquestionable presumption has proven to have been a bit premature; not only did these 'future entries' fail to become routine, but they failed to exist at all until now. Of course, I can sit here and try to justify my lack of effort by pretending that the fault lies within the "no-show entries" themselves, but I think it's time for me to "man-up" and take responsibility for my actions (or lack thereof, rather). I have no excuse for my four-month vacancy from the blogging world, nor for the millions of people simply waaaiting with bated breath for another scintillating update from this oh-so fascinating blog of mine. All I can really do at this point is apologize and promise that such an absence will probably never happen again. At least in the near future. I'm pretty sure of it. I think.
Phew. Alright. With that off my chest I can move on to the new (and somewhat recent) developments that have occured or are currently taking place in my life. Shortly after my last entry, I got a temporary job working with the Midwest Conference (a collegiate athletic conference) in Ripon, WI. Because I was already planning on living in Ripon for the remainder of the semester, the duration of the position was perfect; the MWC needed help catching up with various items until early June, which just happened to be the date in which I planned on moving back out West. I ended up working there for just over three months and I loved it -- being in a sports-related atmosphere all day is a pretty sweet gig. Plus, I got to assitant coach track and field for Ripon College from January until May, which was truly the exclamation point to a sports-filled day. Aside from a huge number of PR's, countless broken school records, a couple of historic team-finishes at the indoor and outdoor conference meets, and a Coach of the Year award for the head coach, Bob Duley, we also had two of our athletes, Freshman Derek Nelson and Sophomore Cory Zimmerman, make it to the National meet in Ohio. These achievements only extended the fun for another week! I couldn't be prouder of all of the hard work all of the athletes gave this season, day in and day out. It was inspiring, to say the least.
Only days after my last entry, I also learned that I had received a sponsorship in Triathlon from a company called Gear & Training (gearandtraining.com). Gear & Training is an awesome company that specializes in selling and distributing all sorts of active and outdoor gear -- running, cycling, swimming, backpacking, climbing, and of course, triathlon gear. I, along with 39 other triathletes from around the U.S., get to sport a G&T uniform during races in order to promote and support the company. Gear & Training has also been generous enough to give us pretty substantial discounts on nearly everything we order through them, which has been an incredible help in terms of affordibility in the oftentimes-pricey world of triathlon. With G&T's help, I was able to purchase some very quality triathlon items (a TYR Cat 5 Hurricane wetsuit, for example), as well as an excellent triathlon bike for racing (a 2011 Cervélo P3 Ultegra). The bike is my new 'pride and joy,' and it flies like nothing I've ever ridden. If anyone out there is ever in the market for some new gear, check 'em out (again, gearandtraining.com). You can even use my code "BD10" in order to receive 20% off + free shipping on orders over $150. Good deals. Quality stuff. Awesome owners.
Aside from work and training, I had the great fortune of living with my oldest friend (as in, "known-the-longest," and not the "eldest," as she likes to point out), Gwen. Although Gwen and I have known each other since before we could call ourselves kindergarteners, we had never gotten the chance to live together. After my mom passed away late last fall, Gwen suggested that I live with her and another friend during the Spring semester while she finished up her year at Ripon College (yes, the same 'Ripon College' I had graduated from a year-and-a-half prior). Because Ripon was only an hour away from home, and because I wasn't ready to leave my family quite yet after all that had happened, I thought it would be a good "transition," if you will, back into the "real world." Never could I have expected my seemingly-short five months under the same roof with Gwen to have gone so well. We are very different in many ways, which could have caused conflicts, but rare were the times when I didn't feel completely content, comfortable, supported, and happy with her around. "Gwennie" helped me through a great deal that I'm sure I will never be able to repay her for. I am very blessed to have such a friend and to have had the opportunity to share some unforgettable experiences with her for an extended period of time.
Fast-forwarding to the "more-present" day, I have been living in Boulder, Colorado for the last three weeks now. I knew the West was still calling my name, but I was unsure of exactly where I wanted to go. I had already spent a few summers in Washington up on the tiny San Juan Island and I had already lived the better part of half a year in Oregon in the big(ger) city of Portland. Returning to both of these locations crossed my mind many times, but looking back now, I suppose I felt like I needed a fresh start somewhere that wasn't associated with anything before Mama's death. My life had changed in so many ways throughout Mama Sue's struggle this past year that I didn't think I could go back to living in either of these locations without memories mixing, overlapping, or overshadowing. I still don't know exactly how to describe the sentiment, but I just knew I needed something different with no prior connotations or ties to the past.
So why Boulder, one may ask? Well, although I had never visited Boulder, it appeared to be about the right size that I was looking for -- not too big, not too small. It had my "prerequisite" of having visible and accessible mountains for training, hiking, climbing, backpacking, and playing. It had a well-known reputation of being one of the "greenest," healthiest, and most progressive cities in the U.S. It was home to the University of Colorado, which plays host to several graduate programs I have considered getting into. And perhaps most importatnly, it carried the title of being one of the "best triathlon training cities" in the world. All in all, the place sounded like a personal utopia made just for me; the only thing left to do was to get out to Colorado to explore it! After taking a week-long roadtrip to Boulder mid-March with my other Colorado-loving friend, Abby, I knew this was the place I had been looking for. After much trial and error via Craigslist, I was fortunate enough to land a small, centrally-located, one-bedroom apartment that I couldn't be happier with. Once again, I have been blessed. I can't help but think that Mama has been playing quite a role in all of my good fortune the last six months or so. And, for what it's worth, I thank her for it every single day.
Since arriving here, my days have been filled with many hours of training, an hour or two (...or three) of reading, the occasional hour (........or two) of microbrew tasting (Colorado is home to the second-most breweries per capita of all the states in the U.S.), with several hours of city and mountain exploration "thrown in" for good measure. I am soaking up every one of these wonderful days before the inevitable and impending days of work arrive; I am on the hunt for a job right now, so it will only be a matter of time before work and training almost solely dominate my days. Until that day arrives, however, any time away from training and exploration will undoubtedly continue to be spent with a good book, a local brew, a live band, a baseball game, or a combination of all the above.
***NEXT ENTRIES COMING SOON (for real this time): Race Reports on Galena Triathlon in Illinois (from May) and the Boulder Sprint Triathlon (from mid-June)
Phew. Alright. With that off my chest I can move on to the new (and somewhat recent) developments that have occured or are currently taking place in my life. Shortly after my last entry, I got a temporary job working with the Midwest Conference (a collegiate athletic conference) in Ripon, WI. Because I was already planning on living in Ripon for the remainder of the semester, the duration of the position was perfect; the MWC needed help catching up with various items until early June, which just happened to be the date in which I planned on moving back out West. I ended up working there for just over three months and I loved it -- being in a sports-related atmosphere all day is a pretty sweet gig. Plus, I got to assitant coach track and field for Ripon College from January until May, which was truly the exclamation point to a sports-filled day. Aside from a huge number of PR's, countless broken school records, a couple of historic team-finishes at the indoor and outdoor conference meets, and a Coach of the Year award for the head coach, Bob Duley, we also had two of our athletes, Freshman Derek Nelson and Sophomore Cory Zimmerman, make it to the National meet in Ohio. These achievements only extended the fun for another week! I couldn't be prouder of all of the hard work all of the athletes gave this season, day in and day out. It was inspiring, to say the least.
Only days after my last entry, I also learned that I had received a sponsorship in Triathlon from a company called Gear & Training (gearandtraining.com). Gear & Training is an awesome company that specializes in selling and distributing all sorts of active and outdoor gear -- running, cycling, swimming, backpacking, climbing, and of course, triathlon gear. I, along with 39 other triathletes from around the U.S., get to sport a G&T uniform during races in order to promote and support the company. Gear & Training has also been generous enough to give us pretty substantial discounts on nearly everything we order through them, which has been an incredible help in terms of affordibility in the oftentimes-pricey world of triathlon. With G&T's help, I was able to purchase some very quality triathlon items (a TYR Cat 5 Hurricane wetsuit, for example), as well as an excellent triathlon bike for racing (a 2011 Cervélo P3 Ultegra). The bike is my new 'pride and joy,' and it flies like nothing I've ever ridden. If anyone out there is ever in the market for some new gear, check 'em out (again, gearandtraining.com). You can even use my code "BD10" in order to receive 20% off + free shipping on orders over $150. Good deals. Quality stuff. Awesome owners.
Aside from work and training, I had the great fortune of living with my oldest friend (as in, "known-the-longest," and not the "eldest," as she likes to point out), Gwen. Although Gwen and I have known each other since before we could call ourselves kindergarteners, we had never gotten the chance to live together. After my mom passed away late last fall, Gwen suggested that I live with her and another friend during the Spring semester while she finished up her year at Ripon College (yes, the same 'Ripon College' I had graduated from a year-and-a-half prior). Because Ripon was only an hour away from home, and because I wasn't ready to leave my family quite yet after all that had happened, I thought it would be a good "transition," if you will, back into the "real world." Never could I have expected my seemingly-short five months under the same roof with Gwen to have gone so well. We are very different in many ways, which could have caused conflicts, but rare were the times when I didn't feel completely content, comfortable, supported, and happy with her around. "Gwennie" helped me through a great deal that I'm sure I will never be able to repay her for. I am very blessed to have such a friend and to have had the opportunity to share some unforgettable experiences with her for an extended period of time.
Fast-forwarding to the "more-present" day, I have been living in Boulder, Colorado for the last three weeks now. I knew the West was still calling my name, but I was unsure of exactly where I wanted to go. I had already spent a few summers in Washington up on the tiny San Juan Island and I had already lived the better part of half a year in Oregon in the big(ger) city of Portland. Returning to both of these locations crossed my mind many times, but looking back now, I suppose I felt like I needed a fresh start somewhere that wasn't associated with anything before Mama's death. My life had changed in so many ways throughout Mama Sue's struggle this past year that I didn't think I could go back to living in either of these locations without memories mixing, overlapping, or overshadowing. I still don't know exactly how to describe the sentiment, but I just knew I needed something different with no prior connotations or ties to the past.
So why Boulder, one may ask? Well, although I had never visited Boulder, it appeared to be about the right size that I was looking for -- not too big, not too small. It had my "prerequisite" of having visible and accessible mountains for training, hiking, climbing, backpacking, and playing. It had a well-known reputation of being one of the "greenest," healthiest, and most progressive cities in the U.S. It was home to the University of Colorado, which plays host to several graduate programs I have considered getting into. And perhaps most importatnly, it carried the title of being one of the "best triathlon training cities" in the world. All in all, the place sounded like a personal utopia made just for me; the only thing left to do was to get out to Colorado to explore it! After taking a week-long roadtrip to Boulder mid-March with my other Colorado-loving friend, Abby, I knew this was the place I had been looking for. After much trial and error via Craigslist, I was fortunate enough to land a small, centrally-located, one-bedroom apartment that I couldn't be happier with. Once again, I have been blessed. I can't help but think that Mama has been playing quite a role in all of my good fortune the last six months or so. And, for what it's worth, I thank her for it every single day.
Since arriving here, my days have been filled with many hours of training, an hour or two (...or three) of reading, the occasional hour (........or two) of microbrew tasting (Colorado is home to the second-most breweries per capita of all the states in the U.S.), with several hours of city and mountain exploration "thrown in" for good measure. I am soaking up every one of these wonderful days before the inevitable and impending days of work arrive; I am on the hunt for a job right now, so it will only be a matter of time before work and training almost solely dominate my days. Until that day arrives, however, any time away from training and exploration will undoubtedly continue to be spent with a good book, a local brew, a live band, a baseball game, or a combination of all the above.
***NEXT ENTRIES COMING SOON (for real this time): Race Reports on Galena Triathlon in Illinois (from May) and the Boulder Sprint Triathlon (from mid-June)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
So this is what it's like.
So this is what it's like to b-l-o-g. Step one: INTRO[?].
I have been given an awesome opportunity to compete in an Ironman this year. Casually competing in triathlons every summer between running seasons has been an interest of mine since my mother introduced me to the sport when I was 15. I will never forget the excitement in Mama Sue's face [particularly in those uniquely ample eyes] when she asked me if I'd like to compete in our first-ever triathlon together; the woman always liked to push her boundaries, and she was never one to hide the anticipation of a new feat. Before I could even tell someone what, exactly, a triathlon entailed, my mom and I were beginning the preparations for our Big Day.
Fast-forward a decade to the present moment. I am, once again, in "preparation mode" for another Big Day with Mama Sue. The differences, however, between the Then and the Now are insurmountable.
Difference #1: Race distance will be over ten times what it was in that first race 10 years ago.
Difference #2: Preparations have included (and will continue to include) significantly more than the occasional Sunday stroll on our 1998 hybrid bikes, and more than the one-time pre-race swim that doesn't involve lounging on water noodles and incidental games of "King of the Raft" (however fun these may be).
Difference #3: With every stroke, with every breath, with every surge, with every high, with every low, with every moment of weakness, with every taste of glory ahead, with Every. Single. Step. Mama Sue will be with me. This time around, her encouragement comes not from her physical or vocal support, but instead from her Spirit. What I do, I do with Mama Sue. What I overcome, I overcome because of her. In her passing, she has become the very core of my Strength.
As I continue on in my training, I carry with me a newfound inspiration and motivation like never before; I no longer think I can succeed, but rather I know that I will succeed. The feeling is like nothing I have ever experienced and the potential that I feel from within is exhilarating.
As a good number of people continue to ask about my training, my upcoming race plans, my health, both my near and more-distant future goals (pertaining to triathlon, academia, work, physical location, etc.), my family and our new lives post-Mama Sue, this blog will be the best route for me to share the answers to these inquiries. Accordingly, please expect my first update very, very soon.
Until then...Be Healthy. Be Optimistic. Live in the Present, but Learn from the Past. Never Give Up. Love Others. Love Yourself. Take Risks. And most importantly, BE HAPPY.
End: Blog post #1. Hmm. So this is what it's like.
I have been given an awesome opportunity to compete in an Ironman this year. Casually competing in triathlons every summer between running seasons has been an interest of mine since my mother introduced me to the sport when I was 15. I will never forget the excitement in Mama Sue's face [particularly in those uniquely ample eyes] when she asked me if I'd like to compete in our first-ever triathlon together; the woman always liked to push her boundaries, and she was never one to hide the anticipation of a new feat. Before I could even tell someone what, exactly, a triathlon entailed, my mom and I were beginning the preparations for our Big Day.
Fast-forward a decade to the present moment. I am, once again, in "preparation mode" for another Big Day with Mama Sue. The differences, however, between the Then and the Now are insurmountable.
Difference #1: Race distance will be over ten times what it was in that first race 10 years ago.
Difference #2: Preparations have included (and will continue to include) significantly more than the occasional Sunday stroll on our 1998 hybrid bikes, and more than the one-time pre-race swim that doesn't involve lounging on water noodles and incidental games of "King of the Raft" (however fun these may be).
Difference #3: With every stroke, with every breath, with every surge, with every high, with every low, with every moment of weakness, with every taste of glory ahead, with Every. Single. Step. Mama Sue will be with me. This time around, her encouragement comes not from her physical or vocal support, but instead from her Spirit. What I do, I do with Mama Sue. What I overcome, I overcome because of her. In her passing, she has become the very core of my Strength.
As I continue on in my training, I carry with me a newfound inspiration and motivation like never before; I no longer think I can succeed, but rather I know that I will succeed. The feeling is like nothing I have ever experienced and the potential that I feel from within is exhilarating.
As a good number of people continue to ask about my training, my upcoming race plans, my health, both my near and more-distant future goals (pertaining to triathlon, academia, work, physical location, etc.), my family and our new lives post-Mama Sue, this blog will be the best route for me to share the answers to these inquiries. Accordingly, please expect my first update very, very soon.
Until then...Be Healthy. Be Optimistic. Live in the Present, but Learn from the Past. Never Give Up. Love Others. Love Yourself. Take Risks. And most importantly, BE HAPPY.
End: Blog post #1. Hmm. So this is what it's like.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)