Journey to IRONMAN: To Find it, You Gotta Dig

The triathlon lifestyle is a hardcore one.  As I immerse myself in the culture and the people involved in this sport I am becoming acutely aware of how incredible the people who call this a life are.  And I am one of them.  I LOVE this sport, I LOVE the people I am meeting, I LOVE the drive and that there are always people better, stronger and faster than you.  I love how there is camaraderie and teamship in this sport, but put us out in a racing space and we will leave each other in the dust.  Strong makes strong.  

Following the Half IRONMAN I was searching for that next big event to get me over the post race blues.  I found it in a big group bike ride going from Mesa to Payson.  The 80 mile trek is a doozy with over 7500 feet of climbing.  Not to mention that we had to leave at 3AM to beat the heat.  You can call yourself officially crazy when you are up at 1:30AM.....by choice.....for a bike ride.

To be honest I didn't exactly train for the ride and went into the event fairly under prepared.  The longest ride I rode was 50 and I have never gone beyond 62.  BUT, like I said before.....I knew I could do it.  It's a mind game....I know I'm strong enough.  I just knew I might have to dig deep to find it.

My girlfriend Bridgit and I hung onto each other  for the entire ride and man was it a challenge.  The first 50 miles were glorious.  Cool, fun, just the right amount of climbing.  Then I got tired, my toes were going numb and cramping, the sun came out and started pounding and then the hills just kept going up, up, up.  

There is an invincibility myth about triathletes.  That somehow we just have this innate ability to do big things.  Okay, we are fit and driven, but we aren't super special people.  We just know how to dig.  There inevitably comes a time in a race, a training ride, a run or a swim when you are tired, fried and just flat done.  On the surface you literally have nothing left.  "I can't" starts to swirl in your head.  This moment happened twice on this ride to Payson.  So much up.  Both times I mentally cracked and had tears......"how am I going to finish this?"  I didn't know, but this is what I did know: I was going to keep pedaling until I either fell off the bike or got to the top.  And I got to the top.   

I came into the final water stop 11 miles from the end exhausted, cramping, tired and HOT.  The volunteer smiled at me "You only have 11 more miles to go and its all uphill!"  You have got to be kidding.  I started and after a couple miles of heavy climbing, the hill got in, got in my head.  3 miles up the hill I stopped.  Reset. Shared some camaraderie with Bridgit and together we made the collective choice to keep fighting.  Lets do this.  I dug....and I found the will, the strength and the fire to go.  7 miles later we crested the final hill and rolled into Payson.  My legs did it.  My body did it.  My body is strong.  My mind is getting there.  The ride wasn't easy.....not by a long shot, but I dug deep and I found it.

I hope my girls understand this concept as they watch me.  Life is an endurance sport and there will be days where you just don't think you have what it takes.  Everything will tell you "I can't" and you will come to a metaphorical hill bigger than you've seen.  In a defining moment you will look up and say "No way" or you will turn inward, silence the negative voice, dig down past the "I can'ts" and "No ways" and find it.  That it that gets you over hills and obstacles, through valleys and dark spots and up 11 miles of climbing in 100 degree weather after 65 miles in the saddle.  That "it" is what leads to glory, to empowerment, to a world bigger and more full of possibilities than you ever could imagine.  But to find it......you gotta dig.

Three Amigos

"Life is like a camera.  Focus on what matters and you will capture it perfectly."

Many photographers might balk at photographing kids.  Not me.  I love it.  Kids are so real, so fun and so honest.  They smile so effortlessly and their smiles are so genuine.  The way it should be.

We had a rare treat this past weekend to go up to the mountains for some R and R at our friend's cabin.  Yes it was cool enough in the mornings to wear our jackets and YES it was absolute heaven.

These three girls have such a good time together.  Miss Katie is such a sweet heart and has such a mothering heart.  She takes such great care of little Evie and is only too happy to help her with whatever she needs.  Her compassion is great and her heart super big.  Lily and Katie spent most of the weekend playing veterinarian and horses.  Evie spent much of her weekend attempting to play while managing to disrupt much.

My girls are so happy in the mountains and I am so grateful that we have such awesome friends to hang out with.  I hope these three little ladies will continue to grow in friendship and make many more memories together.

I Didn't Cry

I just can't resist a big smile on my face as I write this blog.  My Lily Grace started Pre-K today.  She has gone to school before but this time its different.  She is full time, Monday through Friday, 9 to 1:30.  The schooling sky is the limit and today she took off......  

and she did it exactly how I am raising her.  Strong, brave, confident and assured.  She was the first kid in her class today, walked right in without even a backwards glance at me.  No....I didn't cry.

I quite literally skipped with joy.  So VERY proud of my little girl.  Bold, brave, sassy Lily.  Man my smile is so big.  I am not a parent who cries about my children growing up.  No, I don't wish their life away, but the world is so big, opportunities so great, places so worth seeing and people so worth meeting.  My job is to ready them for those amazing things.  I rejoice about it!  Life is so worth living!

As Lily bravely walked into her class today, it was poor little Evie Bee who shed the tears.  At first I thought it was about missing Lily, but then realized Evie wanted to go to school too.  She would have walked right into the class, sat down next to Lily and started attempting her letters.  Oh it was hard to say goodbye to big sissy.  It's not your time yet Bee....

It's Lily's.  

This kid is so full of life.  She is so intense and sees the world as only Lily can see it.  She is a fighter and a lover with a just enough gumption and guts.  She never holds back and goes big on everything.

My sweet and spunky girl,  I cannot tell you how happy I am at watching you embrace this new chapter in your life.  You are so brave and beautiful.  Go, BE, DO.  I am your biggest fan. I will always be here cheering you on!  

A million squishy hugs

Mom

My Sanity Saver, The Zoo

I loved the zoo as a kid, but not as much as I love the zoo as an adult.  Seriously everyone, the zoo?  It's like a little haven of wonderfulness out here in the Arizona desert mixed in with some splash pads and a coffee shop.  It's perfect, perfection and such a happy place.

This Summer was a doozy.  I knew it would be.  Being in a new place without our friends and family close was going to be rough.  That coupled with the intense heat was going to make it even more seemingly unbearable.  I knew it.  So when school dismissed on May 23rd I had that sinking feeling...."Oh Lordy, what in the world am I going to do all Summer with these kids?"

So we broke down and bought ourselves a zoo membership.  WORTH. EVERY. PENNY. I am sure many of you are thinking it absolutely crazy that the outside zoo is perfect in the summer out here, so let me paint a picture.  The zoo out here is a literal oasis.  The temperature difference from the parking lot to the interior of the zoo is 15 to 20 degrees.  Large trees and lush foliage coat the zoo, misters, air conditioned exhibits and shade structures cover nearly every inch.  It offers 2 fantastic splash pads one of which has a slide and water cave to run through.  It has been designed as an oasis and is!

The zoo has been our life saver and on some days life giver to this hot, sometimes bothered, gotta keep sane Mom.  With a membership we go in the mornings for a couple of hours, see 2 or three animals, pet the sting rays, run in the air conditioned Orangutan exhibit, find the mountain lions, play in the treehouse and run around in the splash pads.  It allows us to be outside (something VERY challenging to do in the Summer out here), get our exercise and learn something.

Our favorites are petting the stingrays, playing in the treehouse, seeing all the snakes (yes....my girls love seeing the snakes...go figure), climbing the Giraffe lookout, seeing the Orangutans (there is a new baby), checking out the mountain lions and chilling at the splash pad.

Every time we go I always want to take my big camera, but the reality of being a single Mom against 2 kidlets makes it nearly impossible.  Between the jogger, shoes, juice cups, lunch, snacks, blankets (yes, you read that right), diapers AND wipes, swim diapers (2 of those. What is it with water and pooping?), swimsuits, towels, sunscreen, water, my membership card, my wallet, my phone and myself, whew, the camera is just not feasible.  Then one day Grandma came for a visit and I realized how powerful man on man defense is. :)  So I brought my big camera and captured some of the favorites from the zoo.  If you put me where Grandma is in all of these you can pretty much sum up our summer experiences!

I am SO grateful for a little desert oasis called the Phoenix Zoo and look forward to many more days spent enjoying its fun.

New Wheels

We said goodbye to our Xterra this month to say hello to our new Prius.  Funny story how it all worked out and No, we were not in the market for a car (said anyone who ever went to a dealership).

Since moving out of the mountains and inclement weather to the Valley of the Sun, the use for an SUV with snow tires has diminished.  We are also becoming increasingly aware of how costly the use of gasoline is and have been dreaming of the day when we can plug our car in instead of fueling it up.  Alas electric technology is not quite there for people with our budget but the idea of a hybrid car has always enticed us.  I have been fairly resistant solely because our Xterra was paid off and I wasn't ready for a car payment plus our SUV has been so helpful for many projects.......

Lily Kissed our Xterra goodbye.

Exhibit A.........Bob transported over 3 tons of dirt for our backyard in it.

But I was willing to look.......so we went out for date night to drive some cars. We drove the Nissan Leaf and while all electric, simply didn't have the range for a family car.  Then we went to Toyota.  I love the Prius, always have.  I think I primarily love it because it is a small car with a hatchback instead of a trunk.  After driving it we went inside and were introduced to our sales guy. He gave us all these numbers and Bob said No.  Not buying a car. He sweetened the deal and Bob said No.  He gave us a nice trade in value for our car and Bob said No.  He then asked what would get us to buy the car today.  Bob gave him this crazy low monthly number and I was for sure we would be laughed out of the dealership. 

But we weren't.  Bob's negotiating skills kicked in and over 24 hours worked us into a brand new car with a smokin' deal.  In fact between the car payment AND monthly gas costs for this 50mpg car we will be paying less than the monthly cost to fuel our Xterra.  It was quite literally a deal we couldn't refuse.

So we kissed our Xterra goodbye and brought home our Prius.  It fits our family perfectly as well as our lifestyle.  There is plenty of room for the 4 of us plus bike carrying capabilities and room in the back for everything else.  I am grateful for the change and for the blessing of a new car.  I am also grateful I married a man who doesn't mind the haggle and has mad negotiating skills.  

Journey to IRONMAN: I Registered.....

......to Volunteer.  I know, not the announcement you were looking for, but an important one none the less.  My IRONMAN....its a journey. I will reach my destination.......but not without several steps along the way.

Volunteering in this year's race is a BIG step.  Why you ask?  Because it gives me top registration opportunity for next year, my year.....the year I accomplish the IRONMAN.  It also gives me first hand opportunity to feel it.....without doing it.  Ever want to be motivated to complete a race?  Go attend one.  The spirit, the glory, the joy, the drive, you can't help but be inspired to cross that finish line yourself.

I am volunteering in 2 different ways during the November 14th and 15th weekend this year.  I will be in the information tent one day for about 4 hours and at the Run Aid station 1 on the day of the race.  I chose these two spots specifically for 2 reasons.  1.  I want the information :)  I surmised that if I had to give information I better know it!  Good stuff for next year. and 2. I want to see the athletes first run aid stop after transitioning.  I want to see their faces, see their pain, see how they handle the beginning of the final leg of their course.  I am also volunteering early in the day so I will get to watch all of the elite pros run.  How cool is that?

I am really excited to volunteer because it will mark the weekend that I register for my own race.  I am coming for you IRONMAN.  

Achieving IRONMAN takes planning, purpose and intentionality.  I am using this time before I begin heavy training to read and learn all I can about nutrition and what it is going to take for me to get across that finish line. I am cycling a lot and trying to up my distance and toughen up my tushy.  I am running, not with intensity, but with purpose. Each day brings me closer.