I love this race. I love so much about the Ironman Augusta 70.3. It was my first 70.3. I know a TON of people who race or spectate. It's my kind of course: down river swim, not much elevation on the bike, and a flat spectator friendly run.
I've done it twice: 2014 and 2016. Both races were remarkable in their own way.
This year, after deciding to not do Ironman Chattanooga 70.3, I thought I would do Augusta. I chatted with coach and explained that I just wanted to get through it. Not race per se. Just do. He thought it was a poor idea. He advocated (hard) for me to step away from training for the sport and to try something new. I'm so glad I listened to him one more time before we parted ways as Coach-Athlete. He's was so right I would have been utterly miserable today.
Instead....B and I went down to Augusta (because why not? We still have 13 more days until our wedding...) and supported friends and strangers and hung out with my favorite sister-wife.
I hemmed and hawed about going. It's a decent drive. We really do have things we could/should be doing. But the energy and feels from hanging out with friends and being around a race like this is almost indescribable.
Saturday night we met up with friends for dinner and decided to swing by St. Paul's pasta dinner just to see who was there. And to no one's surprise, I got to see more than a handful of familiar faces and answer a few questions like, "What rock have you been hiding under?" "Are you racing?" Ummm... no. I ran 3 miles for the first time in months last week. I don't think a 70.3 is in my immediate future.
Unfortunately, I think I missed pictures with Susan and Amy, but it was great to see everyone!
Back to hang out with our hosts for the weekend and we laughed and told stories for a few hours before finally going to bed.
We got up nice and early Sunday morning to be around transition and swim start. The nerves, the energy, the enthusiasm. It's race day! We were able to help a bit with newbie questions as well as get morning clothes bags dropped off.
After the pros took off we went and watched a lot of friends head out on the bike and then honestly had some chuckles watching the bike mount line.
For those who don't know, you can not get on your bike until the "mount line". It's a safety thing. I have always gone past the line, TO THE SIDE and then got on my bike. For some reason today, a bunch of people ran right to the line and STOPPED in the middle! This caused a lot of confusion, bumping, and awkwardness. A lot of shoes were left on the bike, but these folks seemed to have difficulty getting their bikes moving to then get their feet in...lots of wobbling. I've never done it this way because, well, I don't have the skill set. I'm sure it was high stress for the participants, but from the sideline it was chuckle worthy.
From there we walked most of Augusta looking for a place to get food. Surely there are food trucks in Augusta that would be willing to operate on a Sunday morning. I'm sure they'd do very well!
B and I spent a few hours on the course around mile 3 (on the first loop) spotting our friends, ringing cowbells, shouting into a megaphone, and generally just out there making noise for each athlete that passed by. Some athletes looked strong and some looked like they were having a tough go of it. (Biking too hard, being off on nutrition, reacting to the heat, or just not prepared enough for what the day was giving them). It's always funny how long it takes some one to realize you know their name because it's printed on their race bib or on their kits.
It wasn't a complete waste of time as far as the wedding is concerned. On the way home we worked on a list of All.The.Things we still need to do. Spending the weekend with my tri family refreshed my sense of being. And, well, I ordered a new pair of running shoes. Fall has to come around eventually, right?
I'm a triathlete. I started blogging when I began my trek to hear the words, "Shawna you are an IRONMAN!" in 2014. The journey continues. I invite you to follow along as I discuss everything and anything that happens along the way which most recently involves going from glaringly single to soon-to-be stepmom.
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Who am I...
Side note: I wrote this back in May and never pressed publish. I think I know why. But I reread it today and I think it's time. Today's edits are in italics.
For those of you following along from the beginning, you know what the answer used to be: Shawna is a single triathlete. Why single first? Because most of my best stories revolved around single life. Plenty of responsibilities, plenty of people counting on me, but when push came to shove I did what I wanted when I wanted. I've reviewed the pros and cons before of being single v not being single. This isn't the time to debate which is better. The grass is greener, blah blah blah. Triathlete was clear. How many times did I say to one of you directly or indirectly, "I can't I have to/I'm going to train."?
But today....Today I am not single. I am not a triathlete. I'm not an office worker. I'm not a coach. So who am I? I have no idea.
I have some new labels that I'm not quite sure how I'm doing with them:
Fiancee: I get to plan a wedding and all that comes with it. We are officially "shacking up" so I keep our fridge and freezer stocked with food. I make sure the clothes get washed and sometimes I even fold them. I'm trying to stay on the upkeep of the house. Trying my hardest to not be anything close to a bridezilla, I'm having trouble asking for things from others. I'm not used to anyone doing anything for me. I have always just taken care of myself. If I wanted a birthday party, I planned it. If my car needed something, I paid someone to do it. I have never counted on anyone to do anything for me as it wasn't really an option; I have friends who would lament that their significant other didn't XYZ for them, and all I could think was, then do it for yourself. Now I'm checking with someone else before I book travel or agree to go out to dinner after an event. (2 months till we say "I do!" Holy crap the invites have been mailed, my dress is being altered. This is really happening!)
Nonracing Triathlete: I'm sticking to not starting HIM Chat because I've done a crap job of keeping my fitness/endurance up. If I jumped in the river a week from Sunday I would just be in for a complete sufferfest. I have some workouts still scheduled for me, and now I look at them as mere suggestions. I've given myself permission to completely rearrange them and hell, cut them in half. Sometimes I have a good reason, more often I don't. I've never seen so many yellow and red boxes in my training peaks before.
I used to love running, but I don't right now. I'm living in unfamiliar territory with the promise of relocating. If we are relocating soon, why get too comfortable here. I can't run far from our front door because it just isn't safe (unleashed country dogs, no shoulders, no sidewalks). I have about 30 minutes from the front door and then I'm running in circles with nothing much to look at. I haven't found a pool that is remotely convenient. I do think there is decent cycling, but I don't know the roads and I have a (ir)rational fear of getting lost. My network of who I can go out and play with here is minimal to nonexistent. My weight is up so unsurprisingly my pace is down. As much as training is an individual event, I miss the social aspect.I love being out with others or at least being out in the same place as friends. My friends are over an hour from here, unless there's traffic and then it can take 2. (I'm still barely running 3x a week for about 30 minutes. I got into the pool for 1000 yards last night for the first time in forever. I haven't had my bike off a trainer since maybe April. B and I are signed up for the Kiawah Marathon in December. Training should have started last weekend with an 8 mile run. A couple of weeks ago B said the nicest thing to me. He told me I didn't have to run Kiawah with him. I'm still hoping to do the half.)
Step Mom/Bonus Mom: The kids live with us 9 days a month: weekend, school week, weekend. And for these 9 days, my world turns inside out and pretty much my entire schedule revolves around them. I know many of you do this already. Some of you are even thinking: "You knew what you were getting into. You aren't working a day job, what else are you supposed to be doing? Big deal, my entire life revolves around others' schedules. Quit your bitching." I don't really think I'm bitching so much as just pointing out the stark change in life as I knew it to be. As hard as upending life is for 9 days, I'm am glad we have them with us for more than every other weekend. I have really gotten to know them since we get to spend real time with them. I think I am getting better at this. I used to ask them what they wanted for dinner and now I tell them what we are having. There is always at least 2 tried and true options on the plate and potentially a 3rd they may or may not like. It's eliminated me feeling like a short-order cook. Thisisfive (she turns 6 in a couple of days) and I made homemade cookies and frosting last week. She loves the KitchenAide, but it might just be because it's pink. B-minor has successfully pinned me at least a dozen times and has gone from uber picky eater to trying foods and liking many of them. I'm not taking full credit for that, I know a lot is maturity, we are just giving him the opportunity. We are staying consistent with rules at our house and it's helping. He is gaining confidence and skills on his bike (he was barely riding last spring) and she is getting it together. Almost ready to work on ditching the training wheels. (He loves trying new things on his bike and she ditched the training wheels in July!)
Lacrosse season is done in a week or two. I'm not consistently training. I don't wake up and leave the house for work. I thought about a part time job, but I can't figure out how to do that and keep the schedule we have set up for the rest of 2018. We have vacations with the kids, weekends away for just us. Come fall we have the wedding and honeymoon. There isn't a place that's going to hire me that will let me take one week off a month so I can be "mom" to two elementary aged kids that can't take the yellow limousine to school from our house (or they would!). I have contacts for babysitting, but they are all over an hour away, and time v. money, it's just not worth it. (I found employment that will work with my schedule. I am cleared to substitute in Gwinnett County and the Kyle Pease Foundation has given me an opportunity at grant writing from the kitchen table!)
I'm struggling with who I am. My identity has changed seemingly over night. Last night I turned to B and told him I need a new hobby. I mean shopping Amazon Prime is a hobby, but not one we can really afford right now. Although, I have a bunch of canning stuff being delivered this week and we'll see how that turns out. He asked if I wanted to get back to tennis and I thought, yes! It's active, social, etc. Now to find a team up here in the countree. I have no interest in losing my friends down south, but I need to find a way to connect up here. Maybe I can volunteer. (We have moved and settled, so I am still working on sorting out some connections here. We went to a group run, but then had to miss the next 2 with prior commitments. I am currently trying crossfit.)
Feel free to throw out some suggestions. Truth: It's hard to adjust to a new place when you are being told you are going to move "soon". (It's time to settle in as B and I both really like the part of town we are in. Well, the hills are kind of a bitch to run.)
Please don't jump on me for not being over the moon with joy at my lot in life right now. I know I signed up for it. Just because I volunteered, doesn't mean I REALLY knew what I was getting in to. Yes, the kids are wonderful. Yes, I'm thrilled to marry B. Yes, I have a great person who is supporting me and I don't have the stress of finding more employment as the lacrosse season ends. Yes, I'm healthy and we have plenty of food in the pantry and fridge and outside freezer (I COOK FOR COMPANY, come visit!!). Change, even good change, can be really freaking hard.
Finally, B always reads my post before I publish. As I told him, I don't know if I'm really writing to share, or just getting this off my chest.
(This entry was originally written in May 2018. I was in a really rough place. I think I've turned the corner. I love the life I'm leading, but it isn't what I was expecting and I had no idea what I had signed up for. I'd really like to thank those of you who have listened to me, kept faith in me, and most importantly, those who let me cry on their shoulder without judgement or at least without doing the judging in front of me.)
For those of you following along from the beginning, you know what the answer used to be: Shawna is a single triathlete. Why single first? Because most of my best stories revolved around single life. Plenty of responsibilities, plenty of people counting on me, but when push came to shove I did what I wanted when I wanted. I've reviewed the pros and cons before of being single v not being single. This isn't the time to debate which is better. The grass is greener, blah blah blah. Triathlete was clear. How many times did I say to one of you directly or indirectly, "I can't I have to/I'm going to train."?
But today....Today I am not single. I am not a triathlete. I'm not an office worker. I'm not a coach. So who am I? I have no idea.
I have some new labels that I'm not quite sure how I'm doing with them:
Fiancee: I get to plan a wedding and all that comes with it. We are officially "shacking up" so I keep our fridge and freezer stocked with food. I make sure the clothes get washed and sometimes I even fold them. I'm trying to stay on the upkeep of the house. Trying my hardest to not be anything close to a bridezilla, I'm having trouble asking for things from others. I'm not used to anyone doing anything for me. I have always just taken care of myself. If I wanted a birthday party, I planned it. If my car needed something, I paid someone to do it. I have never counted on anyone to do anything for me as it wasn't really an option; I have friends who would lament that their significant other didn't XYZ for them, and all I could think was, then do it for yourself. Now I'm checking with someone else before I book travel or agree to go out to dinner after an event. (2 months till we say "I do!" Holy crap the invites have been mailed, my dress is being altered. This is really happening!)
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| He's cute, I think I'll keep him. |
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| My fitness chart. The sever drop is after MCM 17. |
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| Throw back race photo of me and the Running Husband. |
Lacrosse season is done in a week or two. I'm not consistently training. I don't wake up and leave the house for work. I thought about a part time job, but I can't figure out how to do that and keep the schedule we have set up for the rest of 2018. We have vacations with the kids, weekends away for just us. Come fall we have the wedding and honeymoon. There isn't a place that's going to hire me that will let me take one week off a month so I can be "mom" to two elementary aged kids that can't take the yellow limousine to school from our house (or they would!). I have contacts for babysitting, but they are all over an hour away, and time v. money, it's just not worth it. (I found employment that will work with my schedule. I am cleared to substitute in Gwinnett County and the Kyle Pease Foundation has given me an opportunity at grant writing from the kitchen table!)
I'm struggling with who I am. My identity has changed seemingly over night. Last night I turned to B and told him I need a new hobby. I mean shopping Amazon Prime is a hobby, but not one we can really afford right now. Although, I have a bunch of canning stuff being delivered this week and we'll see how that turns out. He asked if I wanted to get back to tennis and I thought, yes! It's active, social, etc. Now to find a team up here in the countree. I have no interest in losing my friends down south, but I need to find a way to connect up here. Maybe I can volunteer. (We have moved and settled, so I am still working on sorting out some connections here. We went to a group run, but then had to miss the next 2 with prior commitments. I am currently trying crossfit.)
Feel free to throw out some suggestions. Truth: It's hard to adjust to a new place when you are being told you are going to move "soon". (It's time to settle in as B and I both really like the part of town we are in. Well, the hills are kind of a bitch to run.)
Please don't jump on me for not being over the moon with joy at my lot in life right now. I know I signed up for it. Just because I volunteered, doesn't mean I REALLY knew what I was getting in to. Yes, the kids are wonderful. Yes, I'm thrilled to marry B. Yes, I have a great person who is supporting me and I don't have the stress of finding more employment as the lacrosse season ends. Yes, I'm healthy and we have plenty of food in the pantry and fridge and outside freezer (I COOK FOR COMPANY, come visit!!). Change, even good change, can be really freaking hard.
Finally, B always reads my post before I publish. As I told him, I don't know if I'm really writing to share, or just getting this off my chest.
(This entry was originally written in May 2018. I was in a really rough place. I think I've turned the corner. I love the life I'm leading, but it isn't what I was expecting and I had no idea what I had signed up for. I'd really like to thank those of you who have listened to me, kept faith in me, and most importantly, those who let me cry on their shoulder without judgement or at least without doing the judging in front of me.)
Thursday, March 29, 2018
I Lost That Lovin' Feeling....
I've been battling through training and race prep for a while now. Coach saw it. Others saw it. I was in denial. The world of triathlon was and is my social outlet. These people are my friends, my confidantes, my support.
I have come to dread training. I like to run. I like to swim. I like to ride. I am tired of monitoring heart rate, pace, cadence, watts, etc. I have a ride coming up this weekend and I'm not dreading the distance, but I don't want to do the 'work' intervals. I just want to ride. A friend last year told me I was making this stuff too much like work and that was sucking the joy right out if it, he was right.
I felt pressure to carry on because because I can. I am physically able. I am healthy. I have the time. I have found the funds. There are others out there for so many reasons that can not. They would trade places with me in a blink of the eye. I can do all this stuff, so I should. But I don't want to.
I think part of it is I have a coach who I hired to push me to my greatest potential. His job is not to accept mediocrity from me. I didn't hire him to just get me to the finish line. I hired him to help me get to a stronger version of myself. Right now, though, I'm feeling okay being just whatever version of me wakes up in the morning.
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| Maybe I'll buy a t-shirt. It would match my Adultish tee. |
These thoughts and emotions aren't new. I've been here before. I almost didn't start IMChat. This year, I think I'm going to act on them. I'm going to pull out of HIM Chat.
I do not have a good answer anymore when I'm asked, "Why do you do this?"
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| When you don't know your WHY, it's hard to endure any thing. |
Since 2013 I have let my hobby rule my life and it's time to shake things up. After telling Coach what I wanted to do, he supported my decision and asked, "What do you need from me as your coach?" B and I had already talked about this and I had my answer ready. "I want to be trained as a runner who cross trains. I still want to do Triathlon Wednesday because I love being in the Bank with everyone and I still want to swim a couple times a week as I'm making progress and I don't want to lose it all. I don't want to lose an entire day to cycling unless that's what I decide I want to do."
I'm hopeful to grab a couple local tris this summer if they fit in our schedule. We will most definitely be on the sidelines of HIM Chat volunteering/cheering. (and hopefully Augusta, and IM Chat, and IMWC, and IM Florida, etc.)
In the mean time I am going to:
- Keep doing the 3 sports because I like them.
- Get ready for a winter marathon with B and friends.
- Plan a wedding.
- Maybe pick up heavy things and put them back down.
- Maybe restring my tennis racket.
Most importantly I'm going to rediscover the joy of being fit and active.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
I Have a Favorite Grocery Store....
Yesterday was my birthday and for the first time since maybe 2012 or 2013, I didn't plan out my day around a workout. I had no interest in swimming 4400 yards, or cycling 44 miles, or running for 44 minutes or 4.4 miles. I was just going to turn 44 as quietly and gracefully as possible.
B took the day off and we spent the day being foodies in Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC.
43 was a good year for me. I started it in (what I thought was) my dream job as a collegiate lacrosse coach. I became the winningest coach in the program's history and was honored by my peers as the conference coach of the year. I spent the summer traveling for work, getting to know B, and training for my 3rd Ironman. In late summer/fall B and I were engaged:
Less than 2 months later I retired from Ironman with a hell of a PR in Chattanooga.
B and I found our wedding location and we traveled to DC with the Kyle Pease Foundation for the Marine Corp Marathon. That event was a real struggle for me physically, but was most likely my strongest mental day yet. I shaved off about 10-15 minutes from the year before. Go #TeamNaomi!
B and I merged our families together for Thanksgiving and for Christmas we saw (almost) EVERYONE. Wedding planning was in full swing and I prepared for another lacrosse season as a coach instead of a ref.
Then things changed. I was released/resigned from my coaching responsibilities. Huh.
B took the day off and we spent the day being foodies in Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC.
43 was a good year for me. I started it in (what I thought was) my dream job as a collegiate lacrosse coach. I became the winningest coach in the program's history and was honored by my peers as the conference coach of the year. I spent the summer traveling for work, getting to know B, and training for my 3rd Ironman. In late summer/fall B and I were engaged:
Less than 2 months later I retired from Ironman with a hell of a PR in Chattanooga.
B and I found our wedding location and we traveled to DC with the Kyle Pease Foundation for the Marine Corp Marathon. That event was a real struggle for me physically, but was most likely my strongest mental day yet. I shaved off about 10-15 minutes from the year before. Go #TeamNaomi!
B and I merged our families together for Thanksgiving and for Christmas we saw (almost) EVERYONE. Wedding planning was in full swing and I prepared for another lacrosse season as a coach instead of a ref.
Then things changed. I was released/resigned from my coaching responsibilities. Huh.
- It was for the best.
- It was a blessing in disguise.
- When one door closes, another door opens.
- [[insert your favorite here]]
I landed on my feet because that's what I do. I took a day and threw myself a lovely pity party and then I called all the lacrosse assignors I knew (for officiating) and got back on the schedules. B and I evaluated options and sped up the process of shacking-up officially. I needed to yield my house as paying 2 rents just didn't make sense. I moved to the counttree. Adulting is hard.
Some days are great, some are difficult. Just like when I did have a steady full time job. So the question has been, "What are you looking for now?" The answer: I'm not. I'm completely LOVING being back in the middle of the lacrosse field with the Zebras. I'm trying my hand at some contract work. I get to cut back on my schedule when B and I have the kids and spend time with them before and after school. I'm taking the break I wanted back in November 2016 but instead went straight from one job to the next. Oh, and B calls me a semi-pro triathlete because I have a little bit more time to train.
So cheers to: (in no particular order)
- being 44
- being a step mom
- being a lot less stressed
- being in love
- being happy
- being content
- accepting my lot in life right now and being very, VERY happy with it.
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| I LOVE Aldi... seriously, I do. |
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Letting Go...Moving Forward...
My Facebook memories reminded me this week that this week in 2009, I told a very important person in my life I no longer wanted to be with him. I didn't want to see him anymore. I needed to move on as we were never. ever. going to be what the other person needed or wanted. It took me a good bit of time to get over him, to move on. I mean years. I think that's reasonable when you break up with someone who has been more than your best friend for 7+ years.
While I moved on, I still held on. A small piece. I've moved multiple times since that date. Some moves by choice, some not. I always moved this item with me.
This little trinket box held a guardian angel, a four-leaf clover, a heart, and some seas shells. Oh I love seashells! It was a gift he gave me in 2004 when I drove away from NJ and headed to GA. It has moved from NJ to Roswell. Roswell to Marietta. Marietta to Orlando. Orlando to Roswell. Roswell to Marietta. It survived the fire of 2013. It then traveled from Marietta back to Roswell (a different house this time, not my sister's!).
This box has sat on my night stand. It's been on my dresser. It's been in a drawer. It's been on a living room bookshelf. Most recently I just found it in a room I rarely go in, on the top shelf of a bookcase I rarely look at.
See, I'm moving. Again. But this time, even though the timing is off, the change is welcome. I'm moving in with B.
I moved on YEARS ago but I always held on, just a bit. Today as I begin to pack so we can start bringing things north I'm throwing this away. It is time to completely let go and move forward.
Life has been quite a roller coaster so far this year and I'm thankful for it.
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
A Tale of Seven Christmases....
2017 was the first time EVER in the history of my world that I had a significant other in my life that I was spending 12/25 (Christmas Day) with. There have been some fleeting guys of the past over the holidays but no one I actually spent thee day with. Even being Jewish, I have cultivated my own traditions for the day over the past many years. The most important to me is spending Christmas morning with my sister's kids. This is the tale of how we, yes We, made it through Christmas 2017.
Our first Christmas so originally named "Early Christmas" was held on Saturday 12/16. Lil B and This is Five were headed out of town with their mother for Christmas so we hosted an early celebration. The night before we had Forced Family Fun and decorated gingerbread ornaments and watched old school Christmas cartoons.
On Saturday after Lil B's basketball game and I got back from campus from touring a recruit, we settled in with my sister's family for lunch, present unwrapping and then playing with presents.
I can't tell you how great it is that my entire family has so warmly and openly accepted and embraced not just B but the littles too! We love watching my niece and nephews be so kind and patient with their newly acquired 5 and 8 year old cousins.
We then had a week to prep for the rest of our celebrations that would all happen in the span of about 28 hours in 2 different states.
It was disappointing but probably for the best, that our engagement photo shoot was delayed on Saturday 12/23. We started our day off a little calmer and we got an hour earlier start on our trip up to NC. We even had time to stop for Lexington BBQ and tour through B's alma mater.
After a 7 hour trip up north, #2 and #3 were in our sights. Christmas Eve was being spent in B's home town with his folks.
We woke up the next morning and went out for a run. Waving, wishing drivers passing by a merry Christmas and decked out in fun head bands. Had we been home, we had been invited to a couple fun runs. Since we couldn't go, we had to make our own!
#2 was at B's dad's house on Christmas Eve. It was a house full of people I had never met and they went out of their way to welcome me and even laugh at some Dad Jokes. I mean, I had a new audience and a few glasses of wine... A short visit there and we were headed to #3.
#3 was with B's mom. We headed out to a Chinese restaurant in Rocky Mount, NC. His mom had heard good things and wanted to check it out. It was packed, but I swear I was the only MOT there! Amazingly, Santa made an early stop that day and our stockings that had been hung by the chimney with care were now full!
We enjoyed unwrapping presents and chatting with his mom before turning in knowing we had a 4:45am wake up call.
Christmas Day arrived and I don't know how Santa does it as we were pretty wiped out after on a few hours of sleep. However, right on schedule in our Christmas p.j.s we were out the door at 5am and headed straight to my sister's house. Thankfully as the kids have gotten older, the morning has started later. I used to spend the night there as the kids would be up and ready to go at 6:30. This year we got a call around 10, checking in on our status....After a 7 plus hour drive....
#4 was with my sister and her family as it has been since at least 2001 if not before. (I missed 2009 but they came to Orlando the next day.) Kids still being kids, they unwrapped the presents under the tree before we got there, I can't blame them, but they did wait to do their stockings with us. We got to the house around 1pm in time for an amazing brunch in which we ate and ate as we had been up for 7-some hours without real food. Then presents and stockings with the neighbors and then...I napped! We put on A Christmas Story and I proceeded to pass out. I won Christmas this year as I commissioned my niece to paint a picture of where we got engaged. B loved it!
My niece who has really enjoyed cheering with us this year upped our cheer game...
After some visiting and short nap, we were headed to #5.
#5 was a visit with friends who have pretty regularly held an open house on Christmas Day, but I can't remember the last time I had stopped by. I'm sure it's been a few years. But when I got the invite this year, I knew I wanted to make time to stop by. This was a group of friend who hadn't yet gotten to meet B and the hostess was responsible for me signing up for my first half marathon. We couldn't stay too long, but it was really nice to visit with them! Old friends are good friends to keep around. It's nice when you can just pick up from where you left off. Except....their children who I used to babysit for are all much taller than me and driving!
#6 was with our sister-wife and her family. We couldn't miss spending some time with my roomie and her family. They so generously open their home on Christmas to any of their friends to come by for dinner. Besides, we really like spending time with them so of course we'd be there! Friends are the family you get to choose! After racing BB-8s around the house in which I kicked B's butt... we headed home for our last Christmas celebration.
#7 was just the 2 of us. Sitting on the couch we unwrapped our presents. We discussed that neither one of us could have fathomed 8 months ago, that we'd be sitting on the couch together Christmas day thinking of how we get to start our own family holiday traditions.
Keeping B busy all day I think kept his mind off not spending Christmas with the kids until we stopped moving. Then I think it hit him. This life is new to all of us and we are doing the best we can with each situation as it presents. We are both very much looking forward to having the four of us together for Christmas in 2018!
Oh, and one of B's other gifts was his first Marathon at Kiawah Island, December 2018. I'm either the best fiancee ever, or a jerk. Let's see how training goes!
Wishing you and yours a very healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!
Our first Christmas so originally named "Early Christmas" was held on Saturday 12/16. Lil B and This is Five were headed out of town with their mother for Christmas so we hosted an early celebration. The night before we had Forced Family Fun and decorated gingerbread ornaments and watched old school Christmas cartoons.
On Saturday after Lil B's basketball game and I got back from campus from touring a recruit, we settled in with my sister's family for lunch, present unwrapping and then playing with presents.
I can't tell you how great it is that my entire family has so warmly and openly accepted and embraced not just B but the littles too! We love watching my niece and nephews be so kind and patient with their newly acquired 5 and 8 year old cousins.
We then had a week to prep for the rest of our celebrations that would all happen in the span of about 28 hours in 2 different states.
It was disappointing but probably for the best, that our engagement photo shoot was delayed on Saturday 12/23. We started our day off a little calmer and we got an hour earlier start on our trip up to NC. We even had time to stop for Lexington BBQ and tour through B's alma mater.
After a 7 hour trip up north, #2 and #3 were in our sights. Christmas Eve was being spent in B's home town with his folks.
We woke up the next morning and went out for a run. Waving, wishing drivers passing by a merry Christmas and decked out in fun head bands. Had we been home, we had been invited to a couple fun runs. Since we couldn't go, we had to make our own!
#2 was at B's dad's house on Christmas Eve. It was a house full of people I had never met and they went out of their way to welcome me and even laugh at some Dad Jokes. I mean, I had a new audience and a few glasses of wine... A short visit there and we were headed to #3.
#3 was with B's mom. We headed out to a Chinese restaurant in Rocky Mount, NC. His mom had heard good things and wanted to check it out. It was packed, but I swear I was the only MOT there! Amazingly, Santa made an early stop that day and our stockings that had been hung by the chimney with care were now full!
We enjoyed unwrapping presents and chatting with his mom before turning in knowing we had a 4:45am wake up call.
Christmas Day arrived and I don't know how Santa does it as we were pretty wiped out after on a few hours of sleep. However, right on schedule in our Christmas p.j.s we were out the door at 5am and headed straight to my sister's house. Thankfully as the kids have gotten older, the morning has started later. I used to spend the night there as the kids would be up and ready to go at 6:30. This year we got a call around 10, checking in on our status....After a 7 plus hour drive....
#4 was with my sister and her family as it has been since at least 2001 if not before. (I missed 2009 but they came to Orlando the next day.) Kids still being kids, they unwrapped the presents under the tree before we got there, I can't blame them, but they did wait to do their stockings with us. We got to the house around 1pm in time for an amazing brunch in which we ate and ate as we had been up for 7-some hours without real food. Then presents and stockings with the neighbors and then...I napped! We put on A Christmas Story and I proceeded to pass out. I won Christmas this year as I commissioned my niece to paint a picture of where we got engaged. B loved it!
My niece who has really enjoyed cheering with us this year upped our cheer game...
After some visiting and short nap, we were headed to #5.
#5 was a visit with friends who have pretty regularly held an open house on Christmas Day, but I can't remember the last time I had stopped by. I'm sure it's been a few years. But when I got the invite this year, I knew I wanted to make time to stop by. This was a group of friend who hadn't yet gotten to meet B and the hostess was responsible for me signing up for my first half marathon. We couldn't stay too long, but it was really nice to visit with them! Old friends are good friends to keep around. It's nice when you can just pick up from where you left off. Except....their children who I used to babysit for are all much taller than me and driving!
#6 was with our sister-wife and her family. We couldn't miss spending some time with my roomie and her family. They so generously open their home on Christmas to any of their friends to come by for dinner. Besides, we really like spending time with them so of course we'd be there! Friends are the family you get to choose! After racing BB-8s around the house in which I kicked B's butt... we headed home for our last Christmas celebration.
#7 was just the 2 of us. Sitting on the couch we unwrapped our presents. We discussed that neither one of us could have fathomed 8 months ago, that we'd be sitting on the couch together Christmas day thinking of how we get to start our own family holiday traditions.
Keeping B busy all day I think kept his mind off not spending Christmas with the kids until we stopped moving. Then I think it hit him. This life is new to all of us and we are doing the best we can with each situation as it presents. We are both very much looking forward to having the four of us together for Christmas in 2018!
Oh, and one of B's other gifts was his first Marathon at Kiawah Island, December 2018. I'm either the best fiancee ever, or a jerk. Let's see how training goes!
Wishing you and yours a very healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!
Monday, October 23, 2017
KPF MCM 2017...
Last year I made a concious decision to find a way to give back through my passion for running and triathlon. I got involved with the Kyle Pease Foundation and completed a handful of events with them including pushing Aidan through the Marine Corp Marathon. I enjoyed it so much, that after a couple of days of recovery, I was all in to repeat this year.
This year would bring about new challenges in preparation. I had only 4 weeks to recover and keep fitness at the same time after Ironman Chattanooga. I didn't have to just keep fitness, I had to keep focus. This proved challenging every day with every workout. But this race wasn't for me. It was for this year's partner, Naomi. I have a hard time brushing off a workout when it isn't just about my personal results.
Life seems to be happening a lot these days, and I couldn't get them all done. But I tried. Boy did I try. I missed things. I missed a 2 hour bike ride because I had work commitments that ate up my day and by the time I got home, I walked right past my bike (that was nicely set up in the living room) and climbed in to bed. I had to drop 10 minutes off a run because I over slept and was time crunched with a family responsibility. I ended up splitting my one and only longer run into 2, because after 11 miles in 80+ degree weather while trying to stay whole30 compliant, my legs gave out on me.
But quitting isn't an option when you push. After rehydrating, fueling, watching a 7 year old baseball game, taking the kids to dinner, and then putting them to bed; B went out to finish the last 5 miles with me even though we started them after we usually go to bed. (His mom was in town, we didn't leave the kids alone!) Had those miles been for me, Training Peaks would still be yellow.
I ask people all the time who are struggling with getting their workouts complete, or following a plan or the plan, "What's your why?". It's my why that keeps me going and it's my lack of why that is my reason for hiatus from 140.6 for a bit. I digress... but Naomi was my why for this.
So THE weekend is upon us! I've done everything I can do to be ready to push Naomi around DC and Virginia. I fundraised the best I could. It was time to celebrate the hard work and tour DC with Naomi pulling me through. With work responsibilities different this year, we were able to take much kinder flights. Last year I was on 6am flights to and from!
B and I got into DC Friday in time to hang with some of the crew for the weekend before heading out to grab some dinner. Then on Saturday morning, B and I and three others headed over to the expo to grab all the bibs and race shirts we could for the KPeasey crew. With the 5 of us, I thought it went incredibly smooth. Then to a relaxing lunch and time to get my feet up until our team dinner.
Race morning....I was nervous. And anxious. I've been achy since Chat. I have never pushed a race chair. It's 26 point 2 freaking miles!!! I don't think the distance ever gets easier for me to process.
However, I was hanging out with someone who was more anxious than me, so I tried to put forth a calm exterior and stay positive in my own head. Every one should dance to the start line, right? (You'll want volume for this.)
Marine Corps Marathon is one heck of an event. Pushing or running, I highly recommend it. The pageantry before the start, and the on course support is just simply amazing. However, it is a crowded course and it seemed even more crowded this year than I remembered it to be in the past.
Naomi and I took off when it was our turn and I ran by distance only. No data display except on the mile chirps. No heart rate. No pace. I ran completely by feel. B asked me what the race plan was...I told him it was to have fun and get Naomi to the finish line. There were zero expectations on us for a time, except to finish. We also had the honor of running in memory of Spc Tyler R. Seidman who died in a helicopter crash in August 2007 through the Medals of Honor organization.
The first few miles just kept going by. Towards the beginning, we were going up a slight hill and the elite runners were going past us. So we cheered them on and occasionally I would turn to them and tell them we would race them to the top. That got them to crack a smile. And the miles kept going by. I'm still in awe at how seamlessly the miles seemed to go by. I think about mile 3, Jeff caught us and visited for a moment before going on to finish his race.
At mile 4 we saw Brent and he checked on us both and we were great. I think we saw him again before mile 10, but I'm not positive. Somewhere on the out and back both Amy and Smitha hollered hellos from the other side of the road. At about 10 Naomi's mom and B were on the right. We pulled up to them and stopped for a quick visit. Tina (Naomi's mom) checked on her, B checked on me. We reloaded my Gu's and I told B my knee hurt and I needed water. He didn't have any on him, so off we went. Less than a quarter mile later, up came B sprinting after me...Tina had water!
We were then on our own till about mile 16. Naomi and I are yelling at the Marines supporting the course, "Oorah!". We are walking the aid stations and grabbing water. I'm trying to stay on top of my gels. Did I mention the miles kept rolling by? I gel by mileage and I kept missing the aid station I should have stopped at. So I averaged a gel about every 4-5 miles instead of being spot on the 4 like I had been doing.
At mile 16 I see Mike on the right and tell him I need Ibruprofen. He doesn't have any but tells me the crew is up on the right. We stop there and the crew is right in front of a medical tent and Helen gets me Tylenol. Tina checks on Naomi. B and Helen check on me. I tell B my knee hurts to bend and I can't put any pressure on my left arm or I get a shooting pain in my shoulder. It means I can't lean and steer the race chair with both arms, I can only use my right. B offers me peanuts, I say no thanks. Helen calls Brent and less than half a mile later, I'm stopped talking with him. Brent gives Naomi a pack of cookies. He tells me to eat the peanuts. I have a few. He gives me more. I say I'm good, he gets me to finish the bag. B still doesn't get why I ate peanuts when Brent told me to but not him. Duh....Coach. Brent asks about the pain so I tell him. Neither of us are all that surprised as I did finish an Ironman just four weeks ago. He shows me where to hold the chair and I assure him I already figured it out. He asked if I wanted him to find someone on the course to finish the day with me? I said NO! Naomi wasn't done racing and neither was I. I signed up for this, I'm going to finish it. I don't quit and I surely don't quit on someone else's race. Brent said he was going to be sending everyone on to the finish line, and I said that's fine. See you all there.
The last 10 miles took us a bit longer to get through than the first 10 but we were still moving. Naomi offered to share her cookies, but I was good. Right before mile 20, there were spectators handing out beer and fireball shots. Since the Tylenol wasn't dulling the pain, I figured fireball might...
Then we beat the bridge. Knowing we would finish, I now had a decision to make. Walk it in, and my knee was going to hurt, or jog it in the best I could and my knee was going to hurt. Naomi cheered me on and we walked/ran our way in. At about mile 22 there was a non-official aide station set up and they offered chips that Naomi wanted. She was great about sharing them with me also. If it's good enough for Ironman, it's good enough for a marathon!
What I haven't mentioned is I had a whistle for the whole run. Naomi had been blowing one at dinner the night before, and lost it. So I brought another. I gave it to her to use but she didn't want to. So I took it. I would blow it, and she would tell me to stop. I think it kept us both engaged in the event.
At some point, we hit mile 23. A 5K to go and our hotel is RIGHT there! I mean, RIGHT there!!! I jokingly ask Naomi if she wants to just call it quits and go back to the room for a shower and naps. She says NO! She's the boss today...so we finished it off.
At about mile 24-25 we caught up to Cynthia who was having a tough day. She walked/jogged with us a for a little bit and then we finished it off on our own.
A nice slow walk up the last little hill and then we turned the corner and jogged it in. It was time for Naomi to be a marathoner again!
We both enjoyed getting our medals and high-fiving the Marines in the finishing chute. And I don't know about Naomi, but that was the best tasting Coke, ever!
With Naomi wearing this year's medal and happy to be back in the tent hanging out with friends, B and I made our way to the Metro and back to the hotel.
Personally, I am happy to report that I barely chafed at all and that I had about a 16 minute PR over last year. It was a great way to wrap up my long course career (for now). I PR'd my 140.6 and I PR'd my push marathon.
After a shower, Motrin, and a short nap (and some tears getting out of bed), B and I went out and ate amazing Ethiopian food and milkshakes with NFG.
Monday morning when the alarm went off, B asked me if getting out of bed was going to make me cry. With that statement I had an ah-ha moment. Truthfully, there were some tears getting vertical. I'm having a really hard time getting up from an extended seated position. Stairs are not my friend. BUT...this is temporary. It's temporary! There are people for whom this is an everyday part of their life. Everyday they wake up and wonder if the pain will be so bad that getting out of bed is going to make them cry. I'm actually thankful for this pain. I'm thankful that I am healthy enough to do what I do to cause this pain and that it will go away. The extreme pain from the race has diminished and was replaced by muscle soreness. Soreness because I was able to, chose to, and had the privilege of running a marathon with Naomi. (You'll want volume for this one also.)
I want to thank Brent and Kyle Pease and Helen for allowing me to participate for a second year in the Marine Corps Marathon with the Kyle Pease Foundation. It is an honor and privilege to race in blue for you all.
If you were meaning to donate and didn't get a chance too, Naomi and my fundraising page is still active. While we met our goal, know that we are allowed to exceed that goal! All moneys raised go to supporting inclusion and furthering the Kyle Pease Foundation mission.
I will be taking next year off from the marathon distance, but plan to stay involved with KPF! 2017 has been a heck of year for me in all facets of life. Thanks for being part of it and let's see what the last two months bring!!
P.S. If you are in the Atlanta area and want to experience the wonderfulness that is a KPeasey Event, join us at their annual Bowling Party on Sunday November 12th. It is a true family event. For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, click here.
This year would bring about new challenges in preparation. I had only 4 weeks to recover and keep fitness at the same time after Ironman Chattanooga. I didn't have to just keep fitness, I had to keep focus. This proved challenging every day with every workout. But this race wasn't for me. It was for this year's partner, Naomi. I have a hard time brushing off a workout when it isn't just about my personal results.
Life seems to be happening a lot these days, and I couldn't get them all done. But I tried. Boy did I try. I missed things. I missed a 2 hour bike ride because I had work commitments that ate up my day and by the time I got home, I walked right past my bike (that was nicely set up in the living room) and climbed in to bed. I had to drop 10 minutes off a run because I over slept and was time crunched with a family responsibility. I ended up splitting my one and only longer run into 2, because after 11 miles in 80+ degree weather while trying to stay whole30 compliant, my legs gave out on me.
But quitting isn't an option when you push. After rehydrating, fueling, watching a 7 year old baseball game, taking the kids to dinner, and then putting them to bed; B went out to finish the last 5 miles with me even though we started them after we usually go to bed. (His mom was in town, we didn't leave the kids alone!) Had those miles been for me, Training Peaks would still be yellow.
I ask people all the time who are struggling with getting their workouts complete, or following a plan or the plan, "What's your why?". It's my why that keeps me going and it's my lack of why that is my reason for hiatus from 140.6 for a bit. I digress... but Naomi was my why for this.
B and I got into DC Friday in time to hang with some of the crew for the weekend before heading out to grab some dinner. Then on Saturday morning, B and I and three others headed over to the expo to grab all the bibs and race shirts we could for the KPeasey crew. With the 5 of us, I thought it went incredibly smooth. Then to a relaxing lunch and time to get my feet up until our team dinner.
Race morning....I was nervous. And anxious. I've been achy since Chat. I have never pushed a race chair. It's 26 point 2 freaking miles!!! I don't think the distance ever gets easier for me to process.
However, I was hanging out with someone who was more anxious than me, so I tried to put forth a calm exterior and stay positive in my own head. Every one should dance to the start line, right? (You'll want volume for this.)
Marine Corps Marathon is one heck of an event. Pushing or running, I highly recommend it. The pageantry before the start, and the on course support is just simply amazing. However, it is a crowded course and it seemed even more crowded this year than I remembered it to be in the past.
Naomi and I took off when it was our turn and I ran by distance only. No data display except on the mile chirps. No heart rate. No pace. I ran completely by feel. B asked me what the race plan was...I told him it was to have fun and get Naomi to the finish line. There were zero expectations on us for a time, except to finish. We also had the honor of running in memory of Spc Tyler R. Seidman who died in a helicopter crash in August 2007 through the Medals of Honor organization.
The first few miles just kept going by. Towards the beginning, we were going up a slight hill and the elite runners were going past us. So we cheered them on and occasionally I would turn to them and tell them we would race them to the top. That got them to crack a smile. And the miles kept going by. I'm still in awe at how seamlessly the miles seemed to go by. I think about mile 3, Jeff caught us and visited for a moment before going on to finish his race.
At mile 4 we saw Brent and he checked on us both and we were great. I think we saw him again before mile 10, but I'm not positive. Somewhere on the out and back both Amy and Smitha hollered hellos from the other side of the road. At about 10 Naomi's mom and B were on the right. We pulled up to them and stopped for a quick visit. Tina (Naomi's mom) checked on her, B checked on me. We reloaded my Gu's and I told B my knee hurt and I needed water. He didn't have any on him, so off we went. Less than a quarter mile later, up came B sprinting after me...Tina had water!
We were then on our own till about mile 16. Naomi and I are yelling at the Marines supporting the course, "Oorah!". We are walking the aid stations and grabbing water. I'm trying to stay on top of my gels. Did I mention the miles kept rolling by? I gel by mileage and I kept missing the aid station I should have stopped at. So I averaged a gel about every 4-5 miles instead of being spot on the 4 like I had been doing.
The last 10 miles took us a bit longer to get through than the first 10 but we were still moving. Naomi offered to share her cookies, but I was good. Right before mile 20, there were spectators handing out beer and fireball shots. Since the Tylenol wasn't dulling the pain, I figured fireball might...
Then we beat the bridge. Knowing we would finish, I now had a decision to make. Walk it in, and my knee was going to hurt, or jog it in the best I could and my knee was going to hurt. Naomi cheered me on and we walked/ran our way in. At about mile 22 there was a non-official aide station set up and they offered chips that Naomi wanted. She was great about sharing them with me also. If it's good enough for Ironman, it's good enough for a marathon!
What I haven't mentioned is I had a whistle for the whole run. Naomi had been blowing one at dinner the night before, and lost it. So I brought another. I gave it to her to use but she didn't want to. So I took it. I would blow it, and she would tell me to stop. I think it kept us both engaged in the event.
At some point, we hit mile 23. A 5K to go and our hotel is RIGHT there! I mean, RIGHT there!!! I jokingly ask Naomi if she wants to just call it quits and go back to the room for a shower and naps. She says NO! She's the boss today...so we finished it off.
At about mile 24-25 we caught up to Cynthia who was having a tough day. She walked/jogged with us a for a little bit and then we finished it off on our own.
A nice slow walk up the last little hill and then we turned the corner and jogged it in. It was time for Naomi to be a marathoner again!
We both enjoyed getting our medals and high-fiving the Marines in the finishing chute. And I don't know about Naomi, but that was the best tasting Coke, ever!
With Naomi wearing this year's medal and happy to be back in the tent hanging out with friends, B and I made our way to the Metro and back to the hotel.
Personally, I am happy to report that I barely chafed at all and that I had about a 16 minute PR over last year. It was a great way to wrap up my long course career (for now). I PR'd my 140.6 and I PR'd my push marathon.
After a shower, Motrin, and a short nap (and some tears getting out of bed), B and I went out and ate amazing Ethiopian food and milkshakes with NFG.
Monday morning when the alarm went off, B asked me if getting out of bed was going to make me cry. With that statement I had an ah-ha moment. Truthfully, there were some tears getting vertical. I'm having a really hard time getting up from an extended seated position. Stairs are not my friend. BUT...this is temporary. It's temporary! There are people for whom this is an everyday part of their life. Everyday they wake up and wonder if the pain will be so bad that getting out of bed is going to make them cry. I'm actually thankful for this pain. I'm thankful that I am healthy enough to do what I do to cause this pain and that it will go away. The extreme pain from the race has diminished and was replaced by muscle soreness. Soreness because I was able to, chose to, and had the privilege of running a marathon with Naomi. (You'll want volume for this one also.)
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| 16 teams. 16 TEAMS!!! |
I will be taking next year off from the marathon distance, but plan to stay involved with KPF! 2017 has been a heck of year for me in all facets of life. Thanks for being part of it and let's see what the last two months bring!!
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| Cheers to a wonderful 2017! |
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