Triathlon #4 - June 17, 2017 in Callaway Gardens

A few weeks ago, David, the kids, and I loaded up and headed down to Callaway Gardens for the weekend.  I was participating in a triathlon there that Saturday morning and we opted to make a family weekend out of it.  We arrived around lunchtime on Friday and after searching fruitlessly (though admittedly not very long) for a picnic area, we ate our packed lunch in our hotel room.  We changed into bathing suits, slathered on sunscreen, and headed to Robin Lake Beach.  

The kids had so much fun splashing and swimming in the mostly shallow water.  It was hot, but the water kept us cool.  I was so worried about getting sunburned and dehydrated for the following day's race that I was constantly seeking shade or covering up.  I joked with David that that must be what his pale-self feels like all the time!  We chased fish around in the water for awhile and dug in the sand.  Around 4pm, I picked up my race packet at the nearby pavilion and got the info on swim start waves.  After about another hour of playtime, we went back to the hotel to shower and change for dinner.  

Though we had been warned about how terrible the food onsite was, we opted to eat at our hotel's restaurant.  We got some grilled chicken and fruit for Audrey and chicken fingers for Luke.  I got a salad with chicken and I can't remember what David got, but it was all pretty gross.  The service was great, but they the food really was as bad as we had heard. Unfortunately there just aren't any other restaurant options closeby down there.  We decided to wash it down with some ice cream, so we drove back to the ice cream truck we'd seen at Robin Lake Beach earlier that day.  I asked about gluten-free flavors and the lady told me that all of their ice cream had gluten in it.  This is not unheard of (all of Bluebell has wheat flour in it), but it is extremely rare.  Whether it was true or not, we weren't going to chance it.  We slunked away and promised the kids we'd find something else.  

We ended up finding a ice cream shop in a gas station center and went inside to see what they offered.  They did have some GF choices, so we placed our order and climbed onto stools at a high-top.  On the way back into Callaway, we decided to stop by the acrobatic circus that Florida State University students were putting on for free.  We stayed about an hour, watching some pretty impressive stunts and swinging acts.  It ended around 9pm and we drove back to our hotel to turn in for the night.  Unfortunately, Audrey didn't sleep well (she had stomachache on top of usual insomnia) and neither did I (nerves and Audrey), so it was not ideal when my alarm clock went off at 5:30am.  I dressed quietly in the dark before waking everyone else. They were grumpy, but they obliged.

As we pulled into the parking lot, I took one look at the transition area and felt panic rise in my chest.  It was packed full.  I'd read just days earlier that this event draws 400-500 participants, which is about 300-400 more than my other triathlons have been.  YIKES. That was a LOT of elbows and feet to get hit with during the swim and a lot of bikes to pass or be passed by on the course!

We managed to find a parking spot and hauled my bike and gear to transition.  I laid out all of my stuff and then went to get body marked and grab my chip timer.  I walked back to transition to double and triple check that my stuff was in order before joining the growing line at the bathroom.  I chatted with a few of the ladies near me, some of which had done the race before.  I always like hearing their tips for the course, though sometimes they also throw in a tidbit that doesn't help my nerves at all ("Oh yeah.  The run is killer." Greeeeeaaaaat.)

Before long it was time for me to walk the 1/4 mile over to the swim start.  I said goodbye to the kids and got good luck hugs, but not before tearing up and whispering to David that I was super scared.  My last swim on my previous tri a few weeks prior had been terrible, and my mind wasn't going to let me forget about it.  He smiled and said confidently, "You're going to do great!  It's shallow enough to touch!" and then sent me on my way.

I headed over and spotted a woman walking solo near me.  I struck up a conversation with her and discovered it was her very first triathlon.  There is nothing that will help calm your nerves faster than to get outside of your own head and encourage someone else.  We talked through the course and I assured her that her training would get her through.  The two of us met up with another group of ladies while standing around on the beach and soon we were all laughing and building each other up.  Just one more reason I love this sport: complete strangers become friends quickly through the bond of the race.  You all know what you put in to get to that point and everyone completely understands how nervous and excited you are to just get across that finish line.  As with motherhood, there is a lot that is unspoken but understood in the club.  

The race director made a few announcements, a local pastor said a prayer, and then the National Anthem played.  Before I knew it, I was watching the mens' swim waves start.  The director had explained earlier that if you were a seasoned triathlete and strong swimmer, you needed to stay to the right of the course.  If, however, you were a new athlete or not a great swimmer, you were encouraged to stay to the left.  As I watched wave after wave go, I realized that the middle was wide open.  Hmmmm...I think I had just found my strategy. 

I lined up at the back of my start wave, which was the women ages 35-39 group (in USTA sanctioned events, your age group is based on what age you will turn on December 31st of that calendar year.  For me this would mean a pretty big disadvantage because my birthday isn't until December 30th.  However, since it put me in the bottom age of the next bracket, it probably helped me.)  Anyway, I stood near the back and tried to slow my breathing while I heard them count down 3, 2, 1...

We were off.  I stayed in the middle and swam slow.  As I'd learned during my one open water practice swim in Lanier, I do not care for open water swims.  For one thing, you can't see at all.  For another, you don't get that 2-3 second break at the end of each lane to put your feet down and catch your breath as you dunk under the rope to the next lane.  (For a third thing, did y'all know fish live in lakes?!  BIG fish.  And all you can do is pray you don't get nibbled on by one.)  

I paced myself and found the right balance of concentration and distraction.  You want to think about each stroke while simultaneously letting your mind wander a bit in an effort to avoid becoming terrified of what you're actually doing.  Things were going swimmingly (HA!) until my googles got so fogged I was forced to pop up and try to rub them clear.  As I reached to put my feet down, I realized I couldn't touch.  "BUT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SHALLOW ENOUGH TO TOUCH!  I CAN'T TOUCH!!!" I panicked.  For a split second, all I could think about was my struggle in the pool at my last race.  Although in this one there was no side or rope to grab.  Lifeguards were nearby, but what if they couldn't see me?!  
Then almost as quickly as those thoughts entered my mind, they were replaced with "You're fine, Heather.  You don't actually need to touch right now.  Just put your goggles back on and keep swimming.  Make your way closer to the shoreline if you need to, but you are in no real danger right now."  I am positive that calming peace was because of the prayers my friends and family had said and were saying for me at that very moment.  I pulled my goggles down and started back.  I figured that if I got kicked in the face, I would know I got too close to someone else.  And if I came to a super shallow part and looked up, I would see people getting out and know I was at the end.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before I saw people around me walking.  Some of them started a good ways out from the exit, so I continued to swim and kept an eye on when to stop.  I remember thinking, "Was that really it?  I totally could've kept going!"  (Thank you, Lord!)  I got to the exit, stood up, and tried to clear the lake water from my eyes.  As soon as I could see straight, I searched the cheering crowd along the shore for my crew.  There they were! They clapped and yelled for me as I jogged up the hill to transition area.  I rushed to dry my feet, put on my socks and shoes, and unrack my bike.  I hustled it along to the bike exit, mounted it while holding a GU gel in my teeth, and pedaled off.  

The bike route was fairly easy.  It was a good bit shorter than my previous race, so I pushed myself to go a little faster than I normally do.  I ended up passing quite a few people, which is a rarity for me.  I guess in a race of that size, you have more people both ahead of and behind you.  It was a little annoying to have to deal with passing so much (and don't get me wrong...being passed, too!)  I am used to only having a few other cyclists near me on a course.  At one point the course went down a steep hill with a sharp curve at the bottom.  I saw that someone had wrecked and there was a group of 6-7 other cyclists that had stopped to help.  Flying by at 20 mph, I decided I wouldn't have been able to add anything to their rescue and kept going.  I came to find out later that the cyclist had hit a tree and actually passed away later that day from the impact.  It was unbelievably sad and sobering.

As I rode back into the transition, David and the kids waved hello to me and snapped a few pictures.  I racked my bike, clipped on my hydration belt, and took off for the run.  My legs were their usual jello, but I knew if I could just get through that first mile they would cooperate.  Though it was flat, the run was tough.  There was a long stretch without a stitch of shade and it was HOT.  I encouraged others as I ran by, probably annoying the crap out of them but it distracted me for a moment.  I didn't have any music or podcasts, so you just have to play mind games with yourself to keep from quitting or going insane.  

I grabbed a cup of water at the hydration station and dumped it over myself.  There was finally some shaded woods up ahead and I willed myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other until I got there.  The quote "You don't train for a race so there won't be any pain during it.  You train so that you can endure the pain" popped in my head.  I started the usual bargaining I do with myself "Okay, Heather.  You never, ever have to do one of these stupid awful races ever in your life again.  Ever.  BUT you have to finish this one."  

At one point near the end, I got passed by someone.  When this happens, it's natural to always look at their calf to see how old they are.  This particular person happened to be a 13 year old boy.  I thought to myself, "Are you really going to let yourself get passed by a 13 year old boy?!"  And then I answered:  "Yes.  Yes you are.  Because he's a 13 year old boy and, though some days you still think you are 18, you are now a 34 year old woman."  And suddenly I became okay with him outrunning me.

I broke out of the woods and into the sunshine.  Glancing at my Garmin watch, I knew I had to be getting close to the finish line.  I tried to ramp it up a smidge as we went up a short hill. Coming down on the other side, I saw and heard the crowd.  Finishers were lined up wearing their medals and cheering us on.  I spotted David and the kids out of the corner of my eye as they got up to run over to the finish line.  I heard David yell "GO HEATHER!  GET 'ER DONE!!!" which was all I needed to sprint the last 100 yards across.  I ducked my head as a volunteer put the finisher's medal over my neck.  It was gorgeous...and it was hard earned.  

Behind me I heard some commotion and realized someone had just proposed to his girlfriend as she came across the finish line.  My first thought was "Aw! How sweet!" followed by "Good gravy, I hope she doesn't have a heart attack from being stopped and then shocked like that."  I searched the crowd for my crew and heard David yelling for me.  He and the kids hugged and congratulated me as we headed over to the pavilion for water and snacks.  They had a ton of huge pizzas, but I couldn't quite stomach that so I got some fruit, Cerasport, and then a few minutes later, a cookie.  We sat and talked about the race, but it wasn't long before I knew it was time to head back to the hotel.  The kids were antsy and tired of just standing around.  

Audrey helped me gather my gear and then Luke and David pushed the bike back to the van. We went to the hotel where I took a luxurious shower before we checked out and loaded up. We drove over to the bicycle rental place and I pointed out all of the trails where I'd biked just a while earlier.  

After getting a short safety briefing, we climbed on our special duo-bikes (I have no idea what they're called.  It's a regular bike with a long bar in the back that connects to an apparatus with another wheel, a set of pedals, and a child's seat.)  I will be the first to confess that it was incredibly difficult for me to get the hang of this thing.  My current road bike is lighter than Audrey's and I was obviously quite used to it.  This huge monster was made of steel, which was very heavy and difficult to maneuver.  Audrey braved it with me, though, and we took it VERY slow.  (I may have actually walked the thing at several points.) 

We got to the Butterfly House and went inside for what turned out to be an extremely quick visit.  Ever been to the inland part of Florida or Georgia in August? Imagine that heat and oppressive humidity and then multiply it by about a hundred.  Then add fire-breathing dragons.  And some sauna steam for good measure.  That was the inside of this butterfly exhibit.  After our five minute tour (no joke), we actually stepped outside and felt chilled in the south Georgia heat, if that tells you anything.  Of course it could have been our severe dehydration, but whatever it was, it felt delightful.

We rode back to the area where we rented bikes, this time pairing Luke with me and Audrey with David.  (When I offered her the chance to switch, she jumped at it so fast that I laughed instead of being offended.)  I was definitely studiER on the way back, though it still made me nervous enough to stop and put my feet down when other bikes passed us.  David put the bikes in the rack and we went inside to the little cafe for lunch.  I wish I could say the meal was better than what we'd had the night before but I am not a liar.  We choked it down and then got back on our bikes to ride over to the chapel.  It is such a gorgeous building tucked away in the peaceful woods with stained glass scenes of the four seasons along one side.  A nice elderly lady that worked there encouraged us to come back for the organ "concert" in about 45 minutes and we politely nodded, knowing we'd probably choose to skip it in favor of air conditioning.  

As we walked back to the bike rack, David was pushing for us to take a longer and more scenic route back.  It was at this point that I reminded him, as my quads were reminding me, that I had indeed done a triathlon that morning and that I may be ready for a rest.  I was about to suck it up and give in, though, until Luke piped up and said, "I have to go potty!"  I know you're not supposed to have favorite children, but at the point, he kinda was mine.  I mean, I was totally going to stick it out and ride farther, but Luke had to go!  

We made it back to the nature center in time and David returned the bikes while I took the kids to the bathroom.  After we were in the clear, we visited the gift shop and picked out a couple of t-shirts and our traditional travel tree ornament.  When we felt sure we'd seen all that the Nature Center had to offer, we drove back over near the Butterfly House to walk the hydrangea garden that we'd missed earlier (probably due to our heat stroke daze.)  There was also a pioneer-era cabin that we walked through.  The kids were absolutely stunned that that was once someone's entire house.  The placard on display explained that the family that originally lived there had 13 children.  Good gravy.  For sure that generation was made of stronger stuff than ours'.  

It was nearing 3pm when we decided to call it a day and begin the drive back home.  The kids did great on the trek back.  Luke fell asleep for a few minutes, which wasn't surprising since they'd gotten up at 6am and had a full day of walking and pedaling.  We got home just in time to order pizza for dinner, which tasted especially delicious after the weekend of crummy food we'd had.  I can't remember what dessert I celebrated with that night, but I'm sure I had some and I'm sure it was tasty.  

So that was it.  Another triathlon in the books.  I haven't decided yet whether it will be my last.  I don't think so, but good grief it is hard to balance and extremely time consuming to train for three different sports, even when it's "just" a sprint distance. It also leaves me no time for weight training, which is a major contributor to both how I feel about my body and keeping my weight down.  It sounds counterintuitive, but I've discovered that I'm always heavier when I'm training for tris or half marathons because A) I'm hungrier B) I think I deserve to eat whatever I want and C) my muscle tone, and therefore, my metabolism, is lower.  So we'll see.  For now my plan is to start lifting again and keep up a baseline of about a 10k run.  I'll likely continue swimming at least once a week because it is so good for the body.  Cycling, however, will probably be the thing that goes by the wayside for now.  It's dangerous as well as inconvenient.  It takes a lot of time to get to a safe course that offers long distances.  

I don't know what race I'll sign up for next, but for now I'm going to sit back and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.  I trained for four months straight and missed less than five scheduled workouts that entire time.  I dealt with near daily back pain towards the end (I believe from biking).  I sacrificed a lot of time, logged a lot of miles, and said a lot of prayers ("Dear God, please send a breeze."  "Dear God, please don't let that car hit me.")  And most importantly, I didn't drown.  Always a plus.

Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment from our weekend at Callaway:

Audrey and Luke in the big Callaway Chair on Robin Lake Beach

Audrey and Luke in Robin Lake

The acrobatic show put on by FSU students

David took this shot of all of us lined up for the swim start.  That's a lot of folks!

Trying to clear my eyes after the swim...

or just in deep prayer thanking God for letting me live.

Feeling pretty good as I headed out for the run

Crossing the finish line.  It never gets old!

After the race with my best cheerleaders

This picture means the world to me.  There is no way I could do any of my races without the 

support and patience of this crew.  They sacrifice time, sleep, and comfort to 

endure my workout and race schedule and I do not take it for granted.

You know what's fun after a triathlon? More bike riding!  

At least I had a little help pedaling this time!

Outside of the Butterfly House.  Because standing inside in that heat for even 

one more minute was not an option.

Stained glass art of the four seasons inside the Callaway Gardens chapel.

Inside the pioneer-era cabin

My beauties among the beautiful hydrangeas

Triathlon #3 - June 3, 2017 in Greenville

My friend Kara and I were supposed to do a triathlon together last summer, but after her Guillain Barre diagnosis and subsequent temporary paralyzation, plans obviously changed. As she regained her strength, we knew it was a must for this year.  Because that's Kara...why just learn to walk again when you can kill it with a swim, bike, and run?!  

We began training in our separate cities, comparing notes, sore muscle complaints (that bike seat!), and training plans. Four months of hard work later, we felt ready.  Mostly.

We headed up to Greenville the Friday before and met her husband and family at a local hotel.  Our husbands stayed with the kids at the pool while we went to go pick up our race packets.  As we were walking out of the YMCA, we saw a roped-off section leading into the woods.  WAIT just a minute there, mister....was this a TRAIL run?!  Oh lawdy.  Trail runs do NOT mix well with my once-broken ankle and they sure as heck aren't ideal for Kara.  We tracked down a race volunteer and asked him about it.  He replied that "only the first 1/2 mile is trail...and it's not 'technical'" (I discovered later that that meant a lot of uneven terrain, roots, rocks, etc.)  Welp, it was too late to turn back now.  

We nervously headed back to the hotel and hung out by the pool for a bit.  We discussed dinner options and settled on an Italian place that had gluten-free options and good reviews. After the kids dried off and changed clothes, we headed out.  About ten minutes into the drive I thought it would be a good idea to attempt to do call-ahead seating and discovered there would be about an hour wait.  Obviously that would not work well with five hungry kids.  We rerouted to a different spot and got seated within ten minutes.  It was a great dinner full of lots of catching up with surprisingly few interruptions since the kids were at a booth behind us.  (Our apologies to the family on the other side of them.)  We surprised Kara's oldest daughter and Audrey with an ice cream birthday treat for their June birthdays. There was enough for all five kids to eat a gracious plenty and everyone left with full, happy bellies. 

By the time we let the oldest girls exchange birthday gifts and got everyone settled down in their own rooms, it was after 9 o'clock.  Since they'd had a full afternoon of swimming, they fell asleep pretty quickly.  David and I were a different story.  My race jitters were running rampant.  I finally settled down, but then woke up around 2am.  I read for awhile and eventually fell back asleep around 3:30ish.  The alarm went off at 5am and I got up and quietly got ready in the dark.  We woke the kids up about 5:30am and they were surprisingly pleasant.  After grabbing some fruit and yogurt at the continental breakfast, we loaded up the cars and went to the race site.  

Kara and I got "body-marked"  (still a favorite part - it just feels so hardcore!) and put our chip timer anklets on and then set up our transition area spots.  I was still incredibly nervous, mostly about having such an attentive audience for the swim portion.  David and the kids had never seen me do the swim before...they'd just shown up along the bike route for my previous races.  The athletes began lining up poolside and we listened to a few last minute instructions from the race director. We got in semi-order of fastest to slowest  (since it's a pool swim, they let athletes jump in one at a time every 5 seconds or so according to their swim time.)  Kara was a good bit ahead of me so I was able to see her swim and then run over to give her a high-five as she exited the pool.  

All too quickly, it was my turn to jump in.  I started off passing a lady right away, which I think was my first mistake.  I was going way too fast.  As I came to the end of the first lane (which was 50 yards instead of the 25 I'm used to training in), I came up for air and gulped in a huge amount of water.  As in, lungs FULL of water.  

Now. If you're new to swimming or are just unsure how lungs work, you may not know that lungs full of water is no bueno.  

Hindsight sure is 20/20 isn't it?  Because I know now that what I should have done was stop right there, grab the wall, and wait as long as it took until I regained normal breathing. But I didn't do that. I pushed on.  And quickly realized I was in trouble.  I could not catch my breath and I was now in the middle of the deep end.  I kept going, trying to regulate my breathing and calm myself down.  I swam with my head above the water, trying to catch my breath.  My mind was racing.  I grabbed the rope and started treading for a moment.  I really thought I was going to have to get saved by a lifeguard or get out and quit.  It was HORRIBLE.  I could not get my brain or my lungs to chill out.  And my kids were watching. 

Finally,  I remembered what my swim coach once told me about flipping over and doing backstroke if I had to.  I did that for a minute and finally felt ready to try freestyle stroke with my head down again.  By this point, though, my mental game was toast.  I felt completely defeated, humiliated, and incapable.  Try swimming and breathing normally when those thoughts are racing through your mind.  On the last lane, I caught glimpses of Luke standing poolside holding up his little sign for me.  "You will not quit or fail in front of these kids," I told myself.  If you ever doubt what a difference a cheering section can do, don't.  I finished the lap, wearily climbed out, gave David a "that-nearly-killed-me" glance, and then ran to the transition area to get ready to bike.

It took me a few miles on the bike to shake off what had happened.  I finally just had to tell myself that it was over and it was time to focus on the next task at hand.  I did well on the bike, breaking my top speed record by nearly 10 mph when I hit close to 35 going down a hill.  Honestly, that was probably too fast and a dangerous call, but I was determined to make up as much time as I could.

I finished the 15 mile bike and came into the transition area in a much better mood than I'd left it.  I had a hard time racking the bike because the people on either side of me had left no room (serious triathlon faux pas).  I finally got it, grabbed my running belt and race bib, and ran out towards the trail.  It was tough and a lot more "technical" than they had let on (at one point I had to jump a small creek...it was very small, but if you have to jump anything, I'd say that's at least a little rough!)  It was shaded, but pretty hilly.  I reached the usual point of a race where one side of me is begging the other to let me walk and the other side is refusing.  Yes, it's as schizophrenic as it sounds.  I thought I caught a glimpse of Kara up ahead of me, which pushed me through another couple of minutes.  It turned out not to be her, but the mirage helped tremendously.  

When I came out of the woods and up to the road, our cheering section was there waiting with their signs and cow bells.  I gave them a wave and turned out onto the road to pound out the 2.5 miles that I had left.  In the distance I saw Kara coming towards me (the real one this time) and nearly burst with pride.  It was so amazing to see her doing this race after all that she'd been through.  I had seen her paralyzed in ICU then clawing her way back in rehab and now here she was just a little over a year later doing a triathlon.  Awesome.  Tears welled up as we passed each other and high-fived.  "You can do this!" she shouted  "If you can do that bike course, you've got this run!"  I returned a "You're almost there!  You're doing great!" and kept plugging away.  It wasn't a bad run, but it definitely had some hills.  I didn't have my music for either the bike or the run, which also makes a huge difference. Being stuck with your own thoughts is a lot more mentally challenging than if you have a distracting podcast or a good beat to listen to.  

I reached the home stretch and saw Kara with our crew waiting.  I crossed the finish line, hearing them cheer and the announcer say my name.  Thank you, LORD, I'd made it.  We circled up and compared notes about the course and our experiences.  I told them about the horrible swim and they listened sympathetically.  We looked at our results (I was last out of the 9 in our age group, but expected that...)  Later Kara's husband showed me these meme and I died laughing:

A perfect depiction of my experience during that swim.  But I'd made it.  I hadn't quit and I lived to tell about it.  We went back to the hotel for showers and then out for a celebratory brunch at Cracker Barrel.  The kids entertained each other while the adults talked.  We wrapped up and headed out to the "front porch" to say our goodbyes.  I squeezed Kara and told her how incredibly proud I was of her before we peeled away and loaded up our van. The kids were as sad to say goodbye as we were, but we promised to get together again soon. 

David, the kids, and I headed to Greenville to spend the afternoon tooling around the city. We went to Falls Park on the Reedy, which was gorgeous.  We walked trails around there and then a little through the city before going back to the van and driving to a little toy shop the Taylors had recommended.  The kids each got $5 to spend on a souvenir and then we went to a Mast General Store, which Kara introduced me to in Asheville.  We browsed, grabbed an ornament for our travel tree, and then crossed the street for ice cream.  It was a sweet ending to a great weekend.  We walked back to our van, buckled up, and got on 85 towards home.  All of us turned in extra early that night, but not without first thanking God for our sweet friends and a good race.  He'd gotten me through, no doubt, and I was incredibly grateful!

Here are a few pictures from our weekend:

The kids table at dinner on Friday night

I've never been so happy to touch the wall!

Heading out for the bike ride and trying to clear my head from that swim

Nearing the finish line...as if you couldn't tell from the expression of joy on my face. 

Love my cheering section!

Finished!

Falls Park on the Reedy

Outside an art studio leaving their mark on Greenville

In front of a cool local toy shop

Ending a great weekend on a sweet note with an ice cream treat

July 2016 Recap

I'm crazy behind on posting and it's driving me nuts, so I'm going to give a short recount of July in hopes that I can hurry and get August written this weekend as well too.  I have some serious catching up to do if I want to avoid this being a record-low blogging year, but one step at a time...

• For the 4th of July weekend, we went tubing on the Chestatee (it is a super calm section and we tied the kids' inner tubes to ours...they did great!), saw fireworks with friends from small group at a local park, and did our usual family reunion at David's Great Aunt's on the actual 4th.  It's always great to see everyone, although they and their children sure do keep getting older.  Glad that's not happening to us.  

• Audrey wrapped up her very first soccer season.  We are so incredibly proud of her and all the lessons she learned about being a team player, sportsmanship, and running towards the ball even if everything in you is scared and telling you to run away. The highlight of the season was when she got hit hard in the face and then got right back in the game and played on.  She was as tough as nails!

• We got to soak up a lot of extra grandparent time this month:  we went to the movies with my mom (The Peanuts Movie for $1!) and then AJ spent the night with her, the kids spent the night at David's parents, and my dad and stepmom came over for a visit.  Huge perk of summer to get that extra time with family.

• David and I went kayaking on the Chattahoochee River.  We did it for the first time last year, but this time we started out going downstream and then rowed back upstream at the end.  And yes, it did prove to be as tiring as it sounds, especially after I'd done a brick workout that morning.  But it's always cool to break out of the rut and do something different and adventurous like that together.  You just gotta remember to keep your mouth shut to avoid the E. Coli.  (Kidding.)  (Sort of.)

• We went out to dinner to a cool local spot and then went bowling with our small group.  I came in last by far, but I knew this about myself ahead of time and it was still a really fun night.  

• AJ had art camp for four mornings one week with a buddy of hers.  Each day the teacher led them in doing a 16 x 20 canvas painting and a craft, all with a circus theme.  She enjoyed the art itself a lot, but I think there was a decent amount of down time that made her a little bored.  We'll see if it's a repeat thing next summer.

• I did my second triathlon and lived to write about it here.  

• We went to visit Kara and her family for two nights towards the end of the month.  With all that she's gone through lately (she's doing incredibly well, by the way), it was an especially sweet trip this year.  We did a LOT of hanging out and catching up while the kids played and the guys went golfing.  We also squeezed in a boat ride to see the Purple Martin birds come in to nest at Bomb Island on Lake Murray that evening.  Once Audrey and Luke gained some courage, the kids took turns jumping off the back of the pontoon boat.  As the sun was setting, the birds were flying overhead, and the kids were laughing, I sat back and took it all in.  It was one of those "YES.  These are the 'good ol' days'" realization moments.  It is a rare and precious gift to have an entire family that your entire family gets along with and I'm so thankful for it!  

• I tried water skiing for the first time!  We all went out on David's parents' boat one Sunday afternoon and I gave it a try.  I got up the first time and each subsequent time, but no one really told me what I needed to do once I was up, so it didn't last long.  The first time I leaned too far back and the second I leaned too far forward.  The third time I'm not really sure what happened, but it sure didn't feel good when I fell.  Since I was less than a week out from my tri, I didn't want to push it too hard, but I'm glad I finally gave it a shot. 

• David and I celebrated our 12 year anniversary with some serious yard work.  As I wrote on the before/after picture I posted on Facebook, some anniversaries you celebrate with fancy gifts or tropical getaways and some anniversaries you work shoulder to shoulder in 90+ degree heat sweating your faces off to get a job done. As long as we're together and on the same page, it's all good.  (Next year I vote for the getaway.)

So that was pretty much July!  Great month of a lot of summer memory-making fun.  I'll update on resolutions in next month's recap, which hopefully will be following soon.  

Triathlon #2

A couple of weeks ago I finally completed my sprint triathlon.  It was a 400 yard swim, a 16.8 mile bike ride, and a 5k run.  I've been working towards the goal since my super sprint in May, but trained for that since November, so really it's been a 9 month road.  Yes, I trained for it longer than some people train for Ninja Warrior or, say, a baby.  So you can understand why my fists clench when I talk to people who minimize it or point out that they don't train much for that distance.  "Really?! That's so GREAT for you!"

It was about an hour away in a city called Clarksville, which is near Toccoa.  My nerves were pretty calm as I woke up early that morning and made the drive up there.  That is, until I exited the interstate and drove up and down some pretty massive hills on the way to the aquatic center.  I kept reminding myself that they were simply "rolling hills"...nothing to fear.  

Thankfully the heat wasn't nearly as terrible as I feared it might be, though it was humid.  I checked in, got body marked (still so cool), and started setting up my transition area.  I chose a spot next to a friendly looking lady and struck up a conversation with her as we laid everything out.  As I kneeled down to lay out my socks on top of my shoes, the entire back rack came crashing down, nearly missing taking my head off.  Within seconds, there were about five guys at our aid, pulling my bike up and resetting the bars.  It hadn't hurt us or any of our equipment thank the Lord, but it was definitely a close call!  Man would I have been mad if I'd had to bow out due to a concussion I suffered BEFORE the race!

With everything set, I did a final bathroom stop and then hit the pool deck.  These races that this particular company puts on are pretty small and informal.  As such, they don't take silly things like published start times too seriously, so those of us doing the sprint (there was also a super sprint and a kids' tri event) lingered in a line and chatted.  There were about 15-20 men and only 5 women doing the sprint.  (I'm not going to lie - that felt pretty cool.)  We listened to the race director outline the bike route and remind us that we had to do two loops around it for the sprint distance (in case the giant "2" they wrote on our hands wasn't reminder enough.)  Finally, at 8:15, he said it was time to begin.  I was near the back of the line with about four people behind me (all of whom I checked with at least three times to make sure they didn't want to go before me.)  The director staggered everyone one lap behind each other and it wasn't long before it was my turn to get in to pool.  

I took a few deep breaths and then as soon as he gave the signal, I pushed off the wall.  About 3/4 of the way through, I was gaining on the woman in front of me pretty quickly.  I didn't want to pass her, though, because I'd been insistent that she go first.  (It was the exact opposite of my first race, when the lady behind me was gaining on me and it pushed me to go faster!)  I took the opportunity to pace myself and attempt to simultaneously remember my technique while also not thinking too hard about it and relaxing.  I finished just behind her, climbed out, and ran to the transition area which was very close by.  As I got ready I reminded myself to slow down and take some extra time.  My first transition at the super sprint had been a hurried mess, so between the experience and my new bike bag for my phone, this one went a lot more smoothly.  I pedaled out and was on my way.

This bike route only involved two turns, so it was a lot easier than the first race.  The hills were indeed rolling, but not bad.  The only one that was really monstrous was right after we turned around to come back, which was tough because you were doing it from a dead stop.  There were a good many racers already on their way back in and I shouted "Good job!" as I kept my eyes peeled for David and the kids.  Like so many other situations in life, I've learned that you can distract yourself from your own issues if you reach out and encourage others.  I spotted my crew just pulling into a church parking lot and David jumped out to wave to me.  He got back in and they drove past me on the route and shouted encouragement as they went to another spot to wait.  It turns out they didn't realize I was only on lap one of the route due to our late start, so they got to see me several more times than they expected.  At one point I shouted that I needed water and David had some waiting for me when I returned from my loop.  It was so special to have them there as my cheerleaders...and not to nearly die in front of them like I did last time when I missed my turn!  

After finishing the bike ride (all in all it was okay, though it did get a little boring doing an out and back two times), I pulled into the transition area to rack my bike.  The kids and David were waiting and were able to come right over to say hello.  As soon as I stepped off, my knees nearly buckled and I felt that "jelly" feeling that triathletes always refer to.  It was unexpected, because I never got it during training.  Then again, this was the first time since May that I'd gone swimming and then biking, plus the hills were small but more numerous on this course, so maybe that made a difference.  As I picked up my hydration belt to clip-on, I let out a small "Ugggg" at the thought of the 5k I was about to do.  Later Luke asked me "Mommy?  Why did you make that noise when you picked up that thingy with your water on it?"  Because I was dog-tired, son, and about to run three more miles.  That's cuz why.  

I set out, gave the kids high-fives as I passed them again, and tried to ignore the cramp in my side.  The running course was all inside of the park/baseball complex, so I didn't have to worry about watching for cars, which was nice because I'm not sure I would've had the presence of mind at that point.  I nearly turned too soon when one of the course directors thought I was already on my second lap, but I figured it out and got back on track quickly.  I cranked up my music and played all of the mentally distracting games I could think of, but it was getting hard to ignore that I was tired, it was hot, and my legs were shot.  Finally, after what seemed like forever, I turned to do the final stretch to the finish line.  Of course it was uphill and took a LOT of mental coaxing to talk myself out of crawling.  I remember plodding up it, looking over and seeing David and the kids cheering, and taking out an earbud so I could hear them because I knew it would be what I needed to push me over the line.  I crossed it (wasn't able to sprint though) and the volunteer at the end hung the finisher's medal over my neck.  Glory be, I'd made it.  Thank you Lord!

I walked around, trying to get my heart rate to slow, while chatting with my number one fans.  They were so proud of me and it made me feel like the biggest superstar in the world.  As my mind cleared, I knew two things without a doubt:  1)  That I hadn't left anything on the course (meaning, I pushed myself as hard as I could, which is a good thing) and 2) That I would've stopped and walked some of the run if I hadn't had those two little pairs of eyes watching me and cheering me on.  

I changed clothes and we stuck around to see the results.  Turns out I finished first in my age group!  ...What's that?  How many people were there, you ask?  Well...let's just say I didn't wait around for the awards ceremony and medal because I didn't quite feel like I earned it.  :)

We headed home and celebrated a lot the rest of the day, mostly with food and sleep.  On the way back home from our nice dinner that evening, I turned to David and said, "Dude. I did a TRIATHLON today."  He laughed and said, "I know!  That's crazy!"  

It was and still is so surreal.  I had trained so hard and so long.  I thought back to all those early winter mornings driving 40 minutes roundtrip in the dark to the indoor pool.  All those Saturday mornings doing brick workouts.  All those days on vacation I got up and drove somewhere to get in my swimming or biking workouts.  All the bargaining with God to keep me alive and then the profuse thankfulness I'd whisper breathlessly after finishing another workout without dying.  All the time and the planning and the sweat invested.  And now it was over.  I'd given it my best and I'd finished.  It may have been slow and ugly, but God carried me through and now I feel like I have officially earned the title of triathlete.  We'll see if it ever happens again, but for now, I'm going to rest with a week off and a lot of chocolate.  A LOT of chocolate.  I think I've earned it.  

First Triathlon

Last Saturday I did my first triathlon.  As I keep saying, whether it will also be my last remains to be seen.  It was a very short one...a super sprint to be exact.  In case you are like I was six months ago and are totally clueless about triathlon distances, here's a crash course:

The levels go as follows: super sprint (distances vary.  Mine was 250 yd swim, 8 mile bike, and 2.25 run), sprint (again, distances vary, but most are around 400-600 yd swim, 12-16 mile bike, and 5k run), then olympic (distance is 0.9 mile swim, 25 mile bike, and 10k run), then half-ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 half marathon run), and finally ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 full marathon run.)

After typing out those other distances, it's hard for me not to feel deflated about my accomplishment.  But I have to remember that I worked really, really hard to accomplish that measly ol' distance and I'm proud of it.  

As was the case with the hare-brained idea of half marathons, Kara was actually the one that planted the thought in my head that I could do a tri.  We decided we would attempt one together this summer.  She'd done a few sprints pre-kids and her husband does them pretty frequently, so I felt good about having her coach me through the training and process.  Of course, with her GB and then CIPD diagnoses, she won't be able to join me this year.  But knowing she would give anything to be healthy enough to meant I had absolutely no excuse to whine or quit.  

Towards the end of November, I decided that given my previous history with swimming, I had better start clocking some pool time.  I made up my mind that I was going to go every Monday morning until April and then I would either decide I couldn't hack it OR I would begin going Mondays and Wednesdays.  Knowing myself, I made it a one-time, non-negotiable decision.  This was not going to be something I debated over every Sunday night.  If I left it open for self-dialogue, I'd skip at the first sign of inconvenience.  So, every Monday morning, the alarm went off at 5:25 and I would get dressed and drive over to the closest indoor aquatic center nearly 20 minutes away.   Honestly, I'm nearly as proud of that commitment as I am of the race itself.  Between late November and early April, I only missed four Mondays:  one because David was out of town, one because they were closed, one because I was sick, and one because I was visiting Kara.  

By early April, however, I realized I was not making good progress at all.  It had become torturous for me to drag myself over there week after week and not see much improvement.  But I knew I didn't want to throw in the (beach) towel until I'd tried everything, so I signed up for three private swim lessons at Swim Atlanta.  Boy, was that the right call!  After the first, I finally had hope that I'd be able to do the race after all and by the third lesson (with personal workouts in between), I'd swam the race distance without stopping.  I was so pumped.  But also extremely nervous because this meant I was going to do the tri!

I registered and kept plugging away at my training.  Most plans call for you to squeeze in two workouts of each sport per week.  It was not easy to spend 80 minutes on the road a week just getting to and from two swim workouts.  I would usually swim Monday, bike or run on Tuesday, swim on Wednesday, bike or run on Thursday, and then do a bike plus run brick workout on Saturday.  A week and a half before the big day, I did a trial at the aquatic center, which also had paths around that I could bike and run on.  I knew I would feel so much more prepared and be able to relax a little if I went ahead and proved to myself that I could do it.  It was tough and the transitions obviously weren't as smooth as they would be on race day, but as I expected, the mental mind games calmed down after I got it under my belt.  

The week of the race finally came and it was a really busy one.  I stressed about getting in enough workouts and whether I'd tapered too much (and by too much, I meant I was stressing over taking an extra rest day.  CALM DOWN, NERVOUS NELLY.)  I checked the forecast over and over again and in the days leading up to the race, the rain kept pouring down.  How cold was that water going to be? Would I wipe out on the bike?!  On top of all that, my cycle and hormones were a wreck too, which did not help physically or emotionally.  I talked myself down and decided as long as the race was on, I was doing it.  I'd obviously be wet from the swimming and I'd run half marathons in the rain, so as long as I could steady myself on the bike, it would be fine.  I prayed for good weather and started my packing checklist (triathlons require a lot of gear!)  When things are uncertain and stressful, this girl likes a list.  :)

I woke up Saturday morning around 5am and put on my two-piece tri suit (basically a tight tank with a built-in sports bra and bicycle shorts with extra padding in the seat.  SUPER flattering, but there's no time to change from a swimsuit.)  I checked and double-checked that I had everything and then started the drive over to the location, which was about 45 minutes away.  I packed a light breakfast and ate it when I got closer.  Registration was set to begin at 6:30am and don't you know I was sitting in that parking lot by 6:20am ready to go like a newbie nerd.  

Let me tell y'all the most unexpected thing that brought the biggest grin to my face:  After checking in, they "body mark" you.  That means they write your race number on both arms and your age on your calf.  This is so they can keep tabs on you in the water since you don't wear a race bib and to easily identify you in the event of a medical emergency.  Well, as soon as the volunteer finished putting numbers all over me, every bit of nervousness I had was replaced with excitement.  It was official now.  As short a distance as it was and slow as I would be, the day had finally come and I was about to do a triathlon.  (And did I leave those numbers on my arms for two days after, even if they were hidden by sleeves?  Yes.  Yes I did.  I figured I got to keep them for at least as long as my hiney was sore from the bike ride.)

All tatted up, I went over to the transition area and set up everything.  I went over and over (and over) each step and what it would require (T1: Exit water.  Remove swim cap and goggles.  Run to transition barefoot.  Flip bucket over and sit.  Rinse and dry feet.  Put on socks and shoes.  Put on helmet.  Drink water.  Cue up phone.  Calm heart rate.  Push bike to line.  Mount and pedal.  T2:  Dismount.  Push bike up to rack.  Rack bike.  Remove helmet.  Drink water.  Clip on hydration belt.  Pin on bib.  Cue up running app.  Eat GU gel as you run out.  Breathe.)  Shew.  See why I reviewed it so many times?!  

I chatted and joked around with several people near me.  I was put at ease that most of them were as new to this as I was.  There were a couple folks that had done other races, and I clung to their tidbits of advice like it was Gospel Truth.  One woman seemed especially knowledgable and I asked her how many she'd done.  Turns out her very first had been three weeks prior.  I decided to ease her off the pedestal.  After having someone snap my picture and checking everything just one more time, I knew I was as ready as I'd ever be and made my way over to the pool.  

They had two start waves for the swim, 7:30am and 8am, and you got to choose which one you wanted to do.  I had planned on doing the later and didn't want to go early since David and the kids were going to meet me on the bike course based on that time.  I sat on the side and talked to a woman whose teenager was doing his first triathlon.  We watched the swimmers - some expert, some looking like they had never been in a pool before - snake up and down the lanes.  I was suddenly very, very grateful for my training.  

A few minutes before 8am, I realized I had better go ahead and get in line.  I joined the end and talked to a sweet woman who had done a couple before and whose husband had done ironman races before.  She urged me to go in front of her, assuring me that she was very slow and would never catch me.  (Hold that thought.)  I got in the water and watched for my cue to begin.  Blissfully, the water was quite warm.  I was ridiculously glad about that!  At the volunteer's cue, I pushed underwater and began.  It took me a couple of laps to find my pace and I was feeling pretty good...until I glanced behind me and saw the lady that urged me to go first was catching me! Worried that she wouldn't feel the freedom to pass me, I sped up a bit.  I finished and pushed myself up out of the water.  I trotted across the tennis courts to the transition area.  One leg down, two to go. 

I made a rookie mistake and rushed through my transition too quickly.  I had a hard time fiddling with my phone and crossing the start line.  After about .25 miles, I pulled over and took 45 seconds to get myself together.  Most people do not bike with phones/headphones so they don't have to mess with them.  I probably shouldn't either, but I just use one ear and keep it down low.  I mainly use it for distance and speed updates.  Anyway, after I finally got everything under control, I started back.  It was such a small race and we were so spread out that most people I saw were on their way back in.  One lady and I passed each other a couple of times, but other than that, I was solo.  Every intersection had a police officer and every turn was very clearly marked, which I was so thankful for.  I kept wondering when I would see David and the kids and the thought pushed me harder.  (As did coming up on intersections where the cop was holding traffic for me.  I yelled out to one "Well if you're going to make them wait, I guess I better take it up a notch!"  He laughed and yelled back, "No worries.  I'll be here all morning!")

Finally, I saw David and the kids off in the distance.  Immediately I started tearing up.  I know it sounds so silly, but it meant the world that they got to see me in action after all the hard work I'd put in.  I distinctly remember back in January walking in the house after a tough swim workout just as Audrey was telling Luke, "Yeah, buddy!  Because Mommy is going to do a triathlon!"  I knew then that I had no choice.  To see them watch me realize this goal was so special.  Of course, them seeing me miss a turn?  Not quite as special.  

Yup.  I was so distracted that I drove right past my turn.  Suddenly I hear David yelling "Hon!  HEATHER!  This way!" and the cop echoing his instructions.  I slammed on my (extremely noisy) brakes.  I was now in the middle of the intersection while the cop tried to stop a car he'd just motioned through the stop sign and I attempted to turn around.  David told me later he thought "Welp.  This is it.  That car is going to take her out and the kids are going to witness their mother's death right here."  Once everyone realized I was safe and I got headed in the right direction, I apologized to the officer and pedaled by the kids again.  David and I caught each other's eyes and burst out laughing.  Oh me! 

With that hilarious detour fresh on my mind, I climbed the toughest hill on the course fairly easily.  At the top, David and the kids passed me in the car on their way to park near the running course.  I managed to make it the rest of the way without any wrong turns.  There was one section where traffic had backed up and I didn't know what to do.  I couldn't go far to the right because there wasn't a shoulder.  I knew better than to go down the middle of the road.  I heard myself say "I can't do this" and slow down.  To which some other part of me answered, "YES.  You can.  Do NOT stop."  I hugged the right side as best I could until I got through the thickest part of the back-up and the police officer saw me.  He stopped the cars so I could turn onto the next road and I pedaled my heart out to the transition area.  

The bike rack had gotten very full with a ton of kids' bikes that had been set up for their triathlon that started after the adults'.  I couldn't get my bike in until some nice gentleman had pity on me and walked over to offer a hand.  I thanked him profusely and then clipped on my hydration belt, pinned my bib, and took off with a GU gel in hand.  Two legs down and I was in my wheelhouse now:  the run.  

I passed David and the kids right after the transition area, which surprised them because I was earlier than they expected.  The kids looked so cute holding the little signs they made for me. (I may have bought the poster board and implicitly told David to have them make them...no shame.)  I had a cramp in my side for nearly the first mile, but that's where my long distance training kicked in.  Back in the day that would've been enough to make me stop, but after training for and running five half marathons, I'd let myself pass out before I would stop for a cramp.  

I paced myself and tried to really enjoy the view and the moment.  I was doing this.  In fact, I was almost done!  Towards the end of the run, I saw the woman that had passed me on the bike.  I couldn't let her beat me at the run, too!  I picked up my speed a little and gave her an encouraging "You've got this!" as I ran past.  I rounded the corner and volunteers clapped and cheered, assuring me I was almost there.  I took it up just a little, because just a little was all I had left, and I saw David and the kids cheering as I ran across the finish line.  One volunteer took my bib tear-off while another hung the finisher's medal around my neck.  

I'd made it.

There really aren't any words to describe that feeling of completion and accomplishment.  David and the kids caught up to me and offered their congratulations.  I was still in disbelief that it was over.  All those months of training.  All those stupid 6am swims.  All those awful hills on the bike.  All the running after biking when I felt like I was going to throw up.   All of it had been worth it for that very moment.  

We took a few pictures and then went back to the transition area to grab my bike and clean up.  After that we took a few more pictures.  :)  I changed into dry clothes while David, Audrey, and Luke went down to the pool to watch the kids' triathlon swim.  We sat for a while and then decided it was time to leave.  I told David that I was going to head back to the finish line to see if the results were up.  I joked that maybe I'd place by default if there were only three women in my age group!  I kissed them all goodbye as they got into David's car and headed to a friends' birthday party (if ever I'd earned a skip, it was that day!)  I made my way back over to the finish line and tried to slyly glance at the finisher's board.  It took several cycles through the results before I could believe it:  I'd placed second out of six.  WHA?!  I hung around to get my medal and tried to keep my goofy smile in check.  When they called my name, several of the folks I'd chatted with earlier very sweetly congratulated me.  I'd placed.  I couldn't believe it.  Some say second place is the first loser, but I say I'm the next winner.  :) 

On the way home I called David and told him and the kids the news.  They were as surprised as I had been!  Kara called me and left a voicemail, so I called her back and filled her in on the whole race.  She was so happy for me and I thanked her for all of the coaching, encouragement, and inspiration. After we finished talking (and we'd both managed to stop laughing about my wrong turn), I stopped and got breakfast at one of my favorite local spots near our old house since I was in the area.  When I got home, I took a luxurious shower and then sat on the back deck with my two medals around my neck like a goob.  David and the kids came home about an hour later and I let them check out the medals before we all took naps.  Later we went out for a celebratory dinner.  (Audrey wanted me to wear my medals then too, but I didn't.)  I curled up in bed that night with a chocolate dessert cup from Publix and felt very, very satisfied.

I can't believe it's over.  Admittedly I am proud of myself, but more than that, I am so thankful.  I am thankful for the health and ability to do something like that, especially when I've had such a blatant recent reminder about how fragile and precious good health can be.  I'm also grateful for the lessons that I hope my kids learned from my example:  With God, all things are possible...including getting back on track after missing your turn.  :)