It's true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, particularly for mothers. But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, you'll find you've created family traditions and lasting memories. Those memories, good and bad, are really what help keep a family together over the long haul. -- Caroline Kennedy
You know your family has a problem when your Christmas card has a bunch of triathlon pictures on it. :) I was going back through the year, looking at the times our family spent together, and races were definitely prevalent. So I put some on our card. I was worried that it would look goofy, but IronSherpa said it looked good, so out it went. I guess it shouldn't matter - our family and friends already know what nuts we are!
This year we are making some traditions and memories around the holidays, involving races, naturally. On Thanksgiving, IronSherpa and I ran the same Turkey Trot 10K we ran last year. I was slower, but still - it was a good event. Then the entire family ran the Toys for Tots 5K. I ran it last year with the Youngest, but this year we all ran. Everyone set a PR except me - and IronSherpa and Oldest both got awards for placing in their age groups. It was really pretty awesome and a tradition I'd like to continue. Finally, last year I ran the First Day 5K on New Years Day...and this year IronSherpa and Youngest will be running it with me. Eldest is going to volunteer. The family that races together creates traditions and memories and stays together. :)
Monday, December 22, 2014
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Little Glimpses and Baby Steps and A Christmas Carol
Life is a series of baby steps along the way and if you add up these tiny little steps you take toward your goal, whatever it is, whether it's giving up something a terrible addiction or trying to work your way through an illness. When you total up those baby steps you'd be amazed over the course of 10 years, the strides you've taken. -- Hoda Kotb
Occasionally I am starting to see little glimpses of what I had before I got hurt this year. This week I ran 3 miles without any walk breaks. And I ran 7.5 miles at a 9:1 ratio of run:walk. And both were good. Not fast. Not as fast as I have been and not even fast, period. But my foot didn't hurt. And both outings made me feel as though I am going to get back there. Someday.
(BTW - I kind of love Gonzo...this is my 2nd favorite all-time Muppet song.)
I'm also starting to see tiny glimpses of things good things to come. (Yeah, I realize I'm starting to sound like A Christmas Carol . . . the ghost of Christmas Past, the ghost of Christmas Present...it's that time of year.) I have moved up a lane in swimming - LANE 3! OMG. I can't keep up completely - especially when we are doing pull sets, but I'm getting there and it's exciting. I was getting comfortable (and occasionally frustrated) in my old lane. I'm not comfortable in my new lane, but I feel like it will be good for me. It's time to take my swimming a baby step further.
And to wrap up the trilogy...the ghost of Christmas Long Ago...it is hard to get to this time of year without remembering where I was 9 years ago. My baby was almost one. I was out of shape, a lot heavier and fatter than I am now, and I didn't have any sort of ambition with respect to my health and fitness. It's hard to even remember what that felt like, especially now where my whole family's world revolves around sports, racing, and other healthy activities. Even though I've lost some of the fitness I have recently had and gained some pounds I'd rather have kept lost, the quote above is spot on...it's amazing how many years of baby steps can take you to someplace you never dreamed of being. It's been a long hike, full of tiny steps forwards and back, but I can't wait to see what is coming up ahead.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite Christmas carols (without the ghosts, of course)...
Occasionally I am starting to see little glimpses of what I had before I got hurt this year. This week I ran 3 miles without any walk breaks. And I ran 7.5 miles at a 9:1 ratio of run:walk. And both were good. Not fast. Not as fast as I have been and not even fast, period. But my foot didn't hurt. And both outings made me feel as though I am going to get back there. Someday.
(BTW - I kind of love Gonzo...this is my 2nd favorite all-time Muppet song.)
I'm also starting to see tiny glimpses of things good things to come. (Yeah, I realize I'm starting to sound like A Christmas Carol . . . the ghost of Christmas Past, the ghost of Christmas Present...it's that time of year.) I have moved up a lane in swimming - LANE 3! OMG. I can't keep up completely - especially when we are doing pull sets, but I'm getting there and it's exciting. I was getting comfortable (and occasionally frustrated) in my old lane. I'm not comfortable in my new lane, but I feel like it will be good for me. It's time to take my swimming a baby step further.
And to wrap up the trilogy...the ghost of Christmas Long Ago...it is hard to get to this time of year without remembering where I was 9 years ago. My baby was almost one. I was out of shape, a lot heavier and fatter than I am now, and I didn't have any sort of ambition with respect to my health and fitness. It's hard to even remember what that felt like, especially now where my whole family's world revolves around sports, racing, and other healthy activities. Even though I've lost some of the fitness I have recently had and gained some pounds I'd rather have kept lost, the quote above is spot on...it's amazing how many years of baby steps can take you to someplace you never dreamed of being. It's been a long hike, full of tiny steps forwards and back, but I can't wait to see what is coming up ahead.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite Christmas carols (without the ghosts, of course)...
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Keeping It All Together
Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress. -- Charles Kettering
Balancing family and work is a top priority for me, and I treat it as such. Meaning, I actually put specific family time and events in my calendar so that precious time is dedicated and properly blocked off from any work that may try to sneak its way into my schedule. -- Biz Stone
Lately I've been a bit overwhelmed with work activities - the end of the semester is always a busy time and I've let it sneak up on me this year. I think it's especially worse given my persistent injury funk...but I'm working on it. In fact, I ran my first race since the DNF...a 10K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. I was about 5 minutes slower than my time at the same race last year, and that bothered me a little bit, but I've settled into a peaceful acceptance that I'm on the comeback trail. I should be thrilled that 1) I ran 2) pain-free 3) over the whole distance (9 run:1 walk) and 4) am only 5 minutes slower, even though I'm XX pounds heavier. (My post-injury weight gain is another post altogether.)
Anyway, back to being crushed by real life...I have plans to get myself dug out by the end of the year, so I can start 2015 on a fresh page. And that's critical. With IronSherpa and I both training for an IM race next year, keeping it all together -- family, work, training -- is going to be a serious exercise in logistics. Like UPS couldn't even keep up.
This isn't an advertisement for UPS - like I said, they couldn't keep up with the Iron Family's life...but I do want to give a shout out to a company that I hope is going to be a huge help as I plan and execute a successful 2015 - family-wise/work-wise/and race-wise.
This company makes a product known as the Passion Planner - check it out here.
They're currently wrapping up a Kickstarter campaign...and they've been very successful - which doesn't surprise me, because this is exactly the type of "keep it all together" that I've been looking for. Goal setting, motivation, personal & professional to-do lists, etc....all in one place. I think I'm in love. IronSherpa and I keep a shared web calendar for appointments, but I need something in addition to that. And this is what I plan to use for 2015.
(PS - I don't usually give shout outs to companies, unless I'm totally in love with their products. I'm not a professional blogger & I have no affiliation with Passion Planner. Even though I've only used a few sample pages from their website, I'm just telling you my plans...kind of like I usually do.)
Balancing family and work is a top priority for me, and I treat it as such. Meaning, I actually put specific family time and events in my calendar so that precious time is dedicated and properly blocked off from any work that may try to sneak its way into my schedule. -- Biz Stone
Lately I've been a bit overwhelmed with work activities - the end of the semester is always a busy time and I've let it sneak up on me this year. I think it's especially worse given my persistent injury funk...but I'm working on it. In fact, I ran my first race since the DNF...a 10K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. I was about 5 minutes slower than my time at the same race last year, and that bothered me a little bit, but I've settled into a peaceful acceptance that I'm on the comeback trail. I should be thrilled that 1) I ran 2) pain-free 3) over the whole distance (9 run:1 walk) and 4) am only 5 minutes slower, even though I'm XX pounds heavier. (My post-injury weight gain is another post altogether.)
Anyway, back to being crushed by real life...I have plans to get myself dug out by the end of the year, so I can start 2015 on a fresh page. And that's critical. With IronSherpa and I both training for an IM race next year, keeping it all together -- family, work, training -- is going to be a serious exercise in logistics. Like UPS couldn't even keep up.
 |
| Photo - Fortune.com; Trademarks - UPS |
This company makes a product known as the Passion Planner - check it out here.
They're currently wrapping up a Kickstarter campaign...and they've been very successful - which doesn't surprise me, because this is exactly the type of "keep it all together" that I've been looking for. Goal setting, motivation, personal & professional to-do lists, etc....all in one place. I think I'm in love. IronSherpa and I keep a shared web calendar for appointments, but I need something in addition to that. And this is what I plan to use for 2015.
(PS - I don't usually give shout outs to companies, unless I'm totally in love with their products. I'm not a professional blogger & I have no affiliation with Passion Planner. Even though I've only used a few sample pages from their website, I'm just telling you my plans...kind of like I usually do.)
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Happy Thanksgiving!
I write about the power of trying, because I want to be okay with failing. I write about generosity because I battle selfishness. I write about joy because I know sorrow. I write about faith because I almost lost mine, and I know what it is to be broken and in need of redemption. I write about gratitude because I am thankful - for all of it. -- Kristin Armstrong
It's time for my annual Thanksgiving post - and it's a bittersweet one to write. Looking back over this past year, it is so easy to focus in on the failure. THE failure. The FAILURE. And so hard to see anything else. What did you do on your summer vacation? I DNF'd IMLOU. Yes, I was hurt. Yes, I made the right decision to quite, but I'll be honest - it has really dealt a blow to my ego, my ambition, not to mention my waistline.
Looking back, I started this blog because I was trying to do something scary. Trying. And I succeeded. And after racking up a number of successes that surprised me (because I have low expectations for myself), I started to think I wouldn't fail. But if I'm going to try, I need to be OK with failing.
Shortly after Louisville, I found this quote. It is time for me to start living this quote.
Since Louisville, and even before, I was the recipient of an immense amount of generosity. People were kind with their time, with their prayers, with their help. I have often been selfish with mine - it's not easy to be a full-time mom/wife/professional amateur triathlete. It's pretty much a constant juggling act and sometimes that makes me selfish. But one benefit of my failure is the gift of time to be generous...to volunteer...to show up. Generosity should be repaid, and I'm currently in debt.
I know some people will think that sorrow is too great an emotion to attach to my triathlon season. Sorrow should be reserved for big things...but it isn't. Sorrow is a feeling that attaches to all sorts of things. I know that I should focus on the joy of all the many gifts I have, of all the successes that have been achieved, and so on. But sometimes, I still am sad. And so I should write about joy. Because there is joy there too, if I take the time to see it.
Faith. Faith is hard. I feel like I have lost some faith in myself. I realize that all faith comes from elsewhere and it isn't really faith in myself that matters. And on a bigger plain, I get that. But I also know that I need to believe that God will give me the strength I need to achieve what is planned for me...and some of that is believing that I am stronger than I think I am.
Which leads me to gratitude. I am grateful for so many things as I come out of the funk that has been hanging over me for a couple months. Maybe I'm not coming out of it - I can't really tell. But I am grateful.
I am grateful for my family, who made it possible for me to try and loved me when I failed. I am grateful for my friends, who were there for the struggles and saw even the failure as a triumph of sorts. I am grateful for everyone who has been so generous to me - helping with logistics, helping with motivation, helping with praise, helping with trying to kick my butt back out of the funk. I am grateful that there is joy under the sorrow and that the world is not as dark as it sometimes can seem. I am grateful that I have faith, that I can rest in my faith when things look to hard for me. I am grateful for it all.
Happy Thanksgiving! May you have a holiday full of gratitude.
It's time for my annual Thanksgiving post - and it's a bittersweet one to write. Looking back over this past year, it is so easy to focus in on the failure. THE failure. The FAILURE. And so hard to see anything else. What did you do on your summer vacation? I DNF'd IMLOU. Yes, I was hurt. Yes, I made the right decision to quite, but I'll be honest - it has really dealt a blow to my ego, my ambition, not to mention my waistline.
Looking back, I started this blog because I was trying to do something scary. Trying. And I succeeded. And after racking up a number of successes that surprised me (because I have low expectations for myself), I started to think I wouldn't fail. But if I'm going to try, I need to be OK with failing.
Shortly after Louisville, I found this quote. It is time for me to start living this quote.
Since Louisville, and even before, I was the recipient of an immense amount of generosity. People were kind with their time, with their prayers, with their help. I have often been selfish with mine - it's not easy to be a full-time mom/wife/professional amateur triathlete. It's pretty much a constant juggling act and sometimes that makes me selfish. But one benefit of my failure is the gift of time to be generous...to volunteer...to show up. Generosity should be repaid, and I'm currently in debt.
I know some people will think that sorrow is too great an emotion to attach to my triathlon season. Sorrow should be reserved for big things...but it isn't. Sorrow is a feeling that attaches to all sorts of things. I know that I should focus on the joy of all the many gifts I have, of all the successes that have been achieved, and so on. But sometimes, I still am sad. And so I should write about joy. Because there is joy there too, if I take the time to see it.
Faith. Faith is hard. I feel like I have lost some faith in myself. I realize that all faith comes from elsewhere and it isn't really faith in myself that matters. And on a bigger plain, I get that. But I also know that I need to believe that God will give me the strength I need to achieve what is planned for me...and some of that is believing that I am stronger than I think I am.
Which leads me to gratitude. I am grateful for so many things as I come out of the funk that has been hanging over me for a couple months. Maybe I'm not coming out of it - I can't really tell. But I am grateful.
I am grateful for my family, who made it possible for me to try and loved me when I failed. I am grateful for my friends, who were there for the struggles and saw even the failure as a triumph of sorts. I am grateful for everyone who has been so generous to me - helping with logistics, helping with motivation, helping with praise, helping with trying to kick my butt back out of the funk. I am grateful that there is joy under the sorrow and that the world is not as dark as it sometimes can seem. I am grateful that I have faith, that I can rest in my faith when things look to hard for me. I am grateful for it all.
Happy Thanksgiving! May you have a holiday full of gratitude.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Life is not a spectator sport...
As a spectator, you get to watch everything, but I'd much rather be playing than watching. I'll have time to watch later in my career. -- Landon Donovan
This past weekend I got the chance to spectate at the Richmond Marathon. IronSherpa husband was doing his first full marathon and as a show of support, the IronKids and I chased him around the course - seeing him at miles 7, 18, and 22. We didn't get to see him at the finish line, because IronKid the Elder had a soccer tournament last weekend too...so it was one of those weekends. Like every weekend.
I can't say I'm jealous - I mean - I am jealous, but I was never intending to run Richmond this year. I was signed up for OBX Marathon that was the weekend prior, so this weekend was always going to be a spectator event for me. But given that I deferred OBX until next year, it was harder than I expected.
The weird thing is what bothers me the most. Finisher jackets. Yeah, that's what I find to be the biggest trigger for jealousy, disappointment, etc. I worked the marathon expo at the tri club's booth, so I got to see many of the participants. And there were more than a few people wearing IM finisher jackets - those sleek black jackets with FINISHER across the behind. That was what I wanted more than anything Louisville...and they still make me a bit weepy when I see people wearing them. Doesn't matter what IM they are from. Just the idea of having FINISHER across my butt is going to drive me from now until October of next year. :) Good to know, huh?
Anyway, IronSherpa had a great race. I'm getting back into the running groove - did my longest run since Louisville this past weekend (6.5 miles)...OK, so it's 20 miles shorter than what IronSherpa ran, but still - it was an accomplishment for me. And that's what's been going on here. :)
This past weekend I got the chance to spectate at the Richmond Marathon. IronSherpa husband was doing his first full marathon and as a show of support, the IronKids and I chased him around the course - seeing him at miles 7, 18, and 22. We didn't get to see him at the finish line, because IronKid the Elder had a soccer tournament last weekend too...so it was one of those weekends. Like every weekend.
I can't say I'm jealous - I mean - I am jealous, but I was never intending to run Richmond this year. I was signed up for OBX Marathon that was the weekend prior, so this weekend was always going to be a spectator event for me. But given that I deferred OBX until next year, it was harder than I expected.
The weird thing is what bothers me the most. Finisher jackets. Yeah, that's what I find to be the biggest trigger for jealousy, disappointment, etc. I worked the marathon expo at the tri club's booth, so I got to see many of the participants. And there were more than a few people wearing IM finisher jackets - those sleek black jackets with FINISHER across the behind. That was what I wanted more than anything Louisville...and they still make me a bit weepy when I see people wearing them. Doesn't matter what IM they are from. Just the idea of having FINISHER across my butt is going to drive me from now until October of next year. :) Good to know, huh?
Anyway, IronSherpa had a great race. I'm getting back into the running groove - did my longest run since Louisville this past weekend (6.5 miles)...OK, so it's 20 miles shorter than what IronSherpa ran, but still - it was an accomplishment for me. And that's what's been going on here. :)
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Travelogue - Scottsdale Arizona
Arizona is gorgeous. The sunshine in Arizona is gorgeous red. --Cecilia Bartoli
Greetings from sunny Scottsdale, Arizona! I'm traveling for work and had the opportunity to go for a beautiful run with the sunrise this morning. I left my room while it was still dark, running with the lights that lined the roads in the resort area while I'm staying. (I left the resort property for a little bit, but got a little worried since I was unclear on the local fauna...I hear there are jackrabbits running around at the least.)
But then the sun came up and I realized that I'm in an area situated between two mountain ranges. Plus there are amazing cacti - so cool. As soon as I finished my run, I went back in and got my camera to catch the tail end of the sunrise.
I am so glad I can run. I'm so glad I can enjoy the beautiful views along the way.
Oh. And there are all these cool Native American statues around the property. Bam.
Greetings from sunny Scottsdale, Arizona! I'm traveling for work and had the opportunity to go for a beautiful run with the sunrise this morning. I left my room while it was still dark, running with the lights that lined the roads in the resort area while I'm staying. (I left the resort property for a little bit, but got a little worried since I was unclear on the local fauna...I hear there are jackrabbits running around at the least.)
But then the sun came up and I realized that I'm in an area situated between two mountain ranges. Plus there are amazing cacti - so cool. As soon as I finished my run, I went back in and got my camera to catch the tail end of the sunrise.
I am so glad I can run. I'm so glad I can enjoy the beautiful views along the way.
Oh. And there are all these cool Native American statues around the property. Bam.
Monday, November 3, 2014
I Love it When a Plan Comes Together
Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. -- Henry Ford
So...my future race plans are starting to come together. And, you know, I love it when a plan comes together.
I've shared some of this before, but it was pretty tentative...now things are gelling and I'm registered for a bunch of stuff, which is very exciting!
How cool is that - it's only the beginning of November and I have 6 things that I'm registered for between now and the end of next November. I guess that means I'm feeling pretty confident in how things are going - which I do. My swimming is currently going well, I'm starting to get back onto the bike, and I'm RUNNING! This week is 4 run/1 walk...so nearly back to full time running, plus I ran ~ 10 miles last week and have 11.5 miles on this week's plan. Yeah!
Things are coming together - now I just gotta keep them together through the winter.
So...my future race plans are starting to come together. And, you know, I love it when a plan comes together.
I've shared some of this before, but it was pretty tentative...now things are gelling and I'm registered for a bunch of stuff, which is very exciting!
2014
November - Turkey Trot 10K (R)
December
2015
January - First Day 5K, Frostbite 15K
February - Love Rox Half Mary (R)
March - Rock & Roll DC Mary (R)
April - RTC Sprint Tri
May - Raleigh 70.3 (R)
...
October - IM MD (R)
November - OBX Mary (R)
How cool is that - it's only the beginning of November and I have 6 things that I'm registered for between now and the end of next November. I guess that means I'm feeling pretty confident in how things are going - which I do. My swimming is currently going well, I'm starting to get back onto the bike, and I'm RUNNING! This week is 4 run/1 walk...so nearly back to full time running, plus I ran ~ 10 miles last week and have 11.5 miles on this week's plan. Yeah!
Things are coming together - now I just gotta keep them together through the winter.
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