That Time I Got My First Tattoo

Yes, that quote applies to you!  How many things have you wanted to do but give yourself a million excuses and outs from it?    This year has been a breakthrough year for me.  It's been a year of choosing to embrace life in ways I have always wanted to but have said "no I just couldn't" in the past.  

I didn't go crazy or have a mid 30 crisis.  I just said yes to some things I have always thought would be cool.  

Like....become an IRONMAN

Like.....shave my head.

Like.....get a tattoo.

I have wanted to get a tattoo for a while now, but have been waiting for the perfect moment, memory or significant event to do it.  My 2016 as a whole has been the event and with the fantastic start to my IRONMAN career still fresh in my mind I could think of no better time to do it.

So....7 days after IRONMAN I marched myself right into the Living Canvas Tatoo shop and had Andrew tattoo my wrists.  I went by myself and did not waiver once.  I was absolutely ready to do this.

I will admit that it was more painful than I originally thought it would be so I ended up needing to be horizontal to manage it, but once I got that under control the experience was fun!  I tattooed both of my forearms.  A bold move some may say, but this year has all been about living and doing things boldly.  Plus, I wanted to see my tattoos when I am in aero on the bike.

The body will achieve what the mind can believe.  I put the M dot with the Believe because in order to achieve anything, you must first believe that you can. I have believed that I could be an IRONMAN for years.  It was natural to put them together.  

Andrew nailed it.  He captured exactly the simplicity and fun I wanted in the font and the design.  I LOVE my tattoos.  More than that, I LOVE that I marked this epic year with something permanent.  Some day I hope my grandkids ask about it.  I hope I get many chances to tell my 2016 story.  

I'm also not done (sorry Mom :) ) and I look forward to chronicling more IRONMAN feats in the future.

Lessons from an IRONMAN Journey

WOW, it's been a month.  One month since I flew across the finish line to claim my rights to the IRONMAN title.  Time has flown by and yet every day when I come into my office and see my medal and IRONMAN board on the wall I can't help but smile.  You CRUSHED it, Bethany!  I did, I look back on that day and am in awe of myself.  I came to play November 20th and had a blast doing my thing.

I have had a lot of time of reflection and I will admit, I am smack dab in what  the triathlon community calls the "IRONMAN Blues."  It's real and kind of hard to explain.  I love being back with my family and having once again that strange commodity of time and energy, but I miss the grind, the focus, and the goal chasing.  It's such a critical time of rest and recovery and I have so much on the horizon, but it's hard and weird.  Again....its just kind of hard to explain.

A couple of months ago I started writing down all of the lessons that IRONMAN was teaching me.  Such a big and involved journey revealed a lot about life, myself and my thought patterns and I think it's time to run down the list:

1. It truly WAS worth it.- The time, the energy, the sacrifice, the tears, the pain, the waiting.  I wouldn't change any of it.

2. Doing hard physical exercise is good for the soul, and the mind.

3.  Progress, NOT Perfection.

4. Someone will always be prettier, smarter, stronger or faster than you.  Accept it, love yourself and be the best version of you.

5.  Don't eat the whole elephant, its babies, and its grandparents.  You just can't handle that much on your stomach.

6. Good food is costly on the wallet, but poor food is costly on the body.

7. Don't waste good energy on anger, or politics, or finances, or worry or........just don't waste good energy.  Trust me.....you need that stuff.

8. If you want to find out who your friends are......train for an IRONMAN.

9.  SLEEP. Never underestimate the power of sleep.  If you do, it will catch up to you and you will fall asleep one day and not be able to move for 17 hours.

10. Take care of the small stuff.  If you don't..........it WILL become BIG.  Whether this is in relationships or your body.  I had a minor foot problem that I addressed.  I uncovered a potentially debilitating issue, but caught it and handled it early.  Don't run from the little stuff.

11. Stay in the moment- don't miss the joy and learning here, fretting about what's coming.

12.  You can ride 100+ miles on a bike all by yourself. You really can.

13.  Some days suck.  Just miserably, demoralizingly suck.  Embrace the suck.  Tomorrow is a new day.

14. Trust your coach. No really, give your dream to your coach and then fall back with your eyes closed.  Even when you doubt, trust.  Even when you are challenged......trust.  Trust your coach.

15. Do what you love.  If you have to hit the snooze button you don't truly love what you do.

16.  Find your tribe, your commrades, and your training community, but remember, you must do you.  You must stay focused on your journey and your goals.  You will have company, but you will also travel alone.  Find peace with that and learn to embrace the quiet of your mind.

17.  IRONMAN is an individual achievement but a village sport.  If your village supports you fully it is a treasure beyond measure.

18.  IRONMAN is a distant call that beckons you away from your spouse.  Give it too much power and it will become the "other man" in your life.

19.  Trust your coach.  I know I already said it, but it truly bears repeating.

20.  When all else is failing, BELIEVE you can.  Just believe.  The body CAN Achieve what the mind can BELIEVE.

21.  Positivity is a choice.  Living bravely is a choice.  Living Bravely Positive when you are Completely Exhausted is a choice.  Choose wisely.

.....and Lastly.......

  The Journey is the reward. Every bump and bruise, every mile and step, every morning in the pool and evening on the bike.  Every moment spent dreaming and every night spent wondering is part of the journey. Every friend you meet and fall you take, every moment, every good day and every bad day gives meaning to your journey.  Journey well.

Jingle Bells

Evie Frances had her first Christmas program at her school the other night.  I am so grateful for this little preschool that we are a part of and how it has played such a big role in my girl's lives.  Last year Evie had to sit in the pews while Lily performed and this year Lily got to be the support for Evie.  

My little Evie has been practicing her songs for the past couple of months and the one I have heard on repeat is Jingle Bells.  Her rendition is absolutely the best:

"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all da way. Oooona fun,  had a farm, ei ei O, HEY!"  Its just been the best!

Of course little Miss I'm-in-charge spent much of her time shushing everyone behind her that she forgot most of her motions.  I couldn't help smiling.  Yep, that's Evie.

Evie LOVED being the center of attention and her smile was absolutely so big when she looked out and caught her family looking at her.  She did her best to participate in the music, but just watching her interact with her classmates and have her moment was enough for me.

Evie's Christmas program was everything it should be and I am so thankful this holiday season for these 2 amazing women who have given their life and time to pour into my little giant.  Mrs. Baer and Mrs. Mansfield are the most amazing teachers and Evie is such a blessed and happy little girl. She is thriving this year and learning that in order to fly well she must first learn to tame her wings.

Longmires 2016

It's that time of year again.  That time when yet another year comes to a close and we look with hope on a new one just popping over the horizon.  I always love the end of the year because it is the best time to reflect.  Life is grand and glorious and let's face it.....each year is filled with boatloads of memories to remember and things we hope to forget.  2016 was no different and this year was a BIG year.

I am so incredibly grateful for this man that I chose to do life with.  We celebrated 12 years together this year and I for one was hit with the reality of, "Holy cow.....its been 12 years?"  In many ways we have matured into our 12 years of marriage and yet there are still those wonderful parts of our marriage that remain constantly new and young and fresh.  

We still have an amazing ability to make each other laugh and fall in love with each other even amidst the chaos of our big and beautiful life.   We are constantly morphing and growing our relationship and this year has stretched us hard.  My dream of doing an IRONMAN smacked us right in the face and taught us both so much about the unyielding power of sacrifice.  Bob willingly gave up a lot this year, and stepped into an all-around role that demanded much more than he had bargained for. He did this all with amazing humility and grace.  I, on the other hand, stepped all into training for an IRONMAN, giving far more time and dedication than I had originally planned for.  The Lord blessed me with an opportunity to dive fully into IRONMAN with a coach and it is only because of this man's unwavering and selfless love and support that I was able to embrace it in all of its time and energy sucking glory.  

He is amazing......and we are amazing together and I simply am grateful to have married a man that doesn't fear greatness and the effort needed to get there.  He truly is the IRON in my IRONMAN.

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Speaking of IRONMAN, I am an IRONMAN!  I did it.  I completed my goal race of swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 and running 26.2.  It was an incredible experience and I discovered that I have a real talent for endurance.  I LOVED training for the race and the experience of IRONMAN was amazing.  While I am ready for a non-IRONMAN year, I am super excited to set my sights on IRONMAN Boulder 2018.  I simply had an all around successful year of racing.  I started the year off tackling a sub 4-hour marathon and ended my racing calendar with IM.  I spent most of my year either training for racing, racing, spending time with my family or doing my other love, 

photography.  I am ever so grateful for my incredible clients that once again entrusted their pictures to me.  It's a blessing and something I do not take lightly.  I am looking forward to many more weddings and family photos next year.  I might even use some of my down time to hone some new photo skills. 

Bob is simply thriving and so happy with PSPC.  His work-life balance is right on par and I am ever so thankful that we made the move to the Arizona area.  The move granted us the greatest gift, TIME, and I will forever be grateful.  Bob spends most of his week in his Tempe office, but easily works from home 1 or 2 days a week.  He goes in late and comes home early on days that are needed and there is simply very little stress with his job.  It's a blessing.  The girls absolutely LOVE that Dad can be with them and  he takes full advantage of his added energy with experiments, projects and answering the never-ending call to give tickles.  He is an incredible father and I have seen the relationship he has with his girls blossom this past year.  Everyone loves Mom, sure, but they also do just fine without me.  Bob does travel with his job which has allowed me quality time to reconnect with my girls.  One thing stands firm though, Dad is WAY more fun than mom.  I run a tight ship with a lot less ice cream and a lot more making our beds. 

My girls.....oh where do I even start?  I am so glad that I chose to be a blogger because one blog or yearly letter is just too short to be able to talk about them.  My girls are bold rays of sunshine.  Together they have grown up so much this year and I have stepped away from IRONMAN and back into the role of full-time Mother to meet these new beings that inhabit our lives.  

Lily Grace is becoming a young woman.  There is so much little girl still about her, but her maturity has changed the most drastically this year.  Starting Kindergarten was equally exciting and scary as she had to enter a new school with a whole class of new friends.  Even so, Lily has easily found her place and is liked by every girl in her class.  She is "in love" with a new boy every week it seems and we have had to have more than one conversation on the "no kissing" front.  She has so much love to share and I simply love her for it.  She is curious and anxious to try everything.  Lily is still a fantastic swimmer but decided to give gymnastics a try after witnessing the "Final Five" take Rio.  She likes it most days but just the other day she asked if she could do Karate next.  Yes.....we are indecisive right now.  Lily has a tender heart and is becoming more and more aware of the injustices of the world.  Whenever we pass a homeless person on the street Lily always wants us to give something to them.  Occasionally she will cry that they "Don't have a home."  We have also been asked on more than one occasion this year if we could adopt a kid.  "They don't have a home Mommy, and we do."  True.....so true. 

Lily did her first triathlon this year and loved every second of it.  She keeps asking me when she is going to do another one and I can't help but smile....soon little girl.....soon.  She cheered me through IRONMAN and there were several days where her encouragement helped me do what I needed to do.  She is special.

While Lily and I butt heads a lot, our relationship is ever growing and morphing into a special one.  I demand much from her because I know the greatness within and she and I are slowly learning how to love each other better and yell a whole lot less.  She is determined and driven, bold and vivacious and I look with great anticipation to 2017 and watching her blossom even more. 

Evie.  I'm literally smiling right now as I write this.  I LOVE this child so very much.  Evie turned 3 this year and WOW she turned into her own ball of fierceness.  She has given us a run for our money in the past few months and will still give an emphatic "NO!" when she doesn't want to do something.  Evie started preschool this year and I am amazed by her.  She goes 5 days a week and has been completely independent and bold about it.  She has not cried at drop off once.  She amazes me.  While we have had a few behavioral issues lately one thing remains for sure.  Evie Frances knows exactly who she is and what she is about.  Every morning when I take her to school, she walks right into her class like she owns the joint with a bounce in her step and a smile on her face. 

Evie longs for quality time.  Every day our house is filled with the unending question, "Will you play with me?"  I spent so much of this past year telling her no because of training and the continual to do list, that now I am embracing my Yes.  I am still a poor playmate when it comes to imaginative play, but Evie is so forgiving and finds contentment in just having me near.  Our weeks are spent going to school, playing, running errands, playing, picking up Lily, playing and then having Daddy show up to finish the day in a pile of tickles.  Evie's life is very sweet.

Evie is everything big, bold and full of life.  She is amazing and I am ever so grateful that the Lord blessed us with her.  I am really looking forward to investing myself more in her this next year.  She is going places.

As we leave 2016 behind in all of its glory, we look with hope on the future and blessings of 2017.  Life is so worth living. We Longmires are living it well and eternally grateful for a Jesus who loves us, families that support us and a community of neighbors and friends that are doing life with us.

Here's to an amazing new year!

Evie, The Giant

This little child right here is the epitome of a tiny giant.  This little girl literally fills up a room when she walks in.  If you didn't know Evie was around.......trust me, she will tell you.  She is the biggest and boldest creature who ever did weigh 36 pounds and I have been once again humbled at how challenging parenting a giant is.

Over the past 2 weeks I have been in either the principals office or have had private meetings with Evie's teacher nearly every day.  I joked the other day that I have been in more trouble in the past 14 days than I EVER was in my 16 years of school.  Well, not me, but my 3.5 year old giant of a child.  One day a little boy took her seat so she sat on his head.  The next day her best friend took her toy so she grabbed her hair and punched her.  The next day she saw an old lady pass by the playground and yelled at the top of her lungs, "RUN!  That old lady is going to kill us!"  

Awesome

The day after the old lady incident she was being so naughty with her best friend that the teacher had to put them on opposite sides of the room for the entire day.

This week she didn't like that a boy growled at her so she threw sand in his eyes.  Today a different boy growled at her so she threw more sand at his head.  

It's naughty as a 3-year-old and yet the reality is that this kid doesn't take crap from anyone.  She is a giant....and a fierce one at that.  One simple truth.......Don't mess with Evie Frances.

Evie is such a special little girl and as fearless as she is, she spends all of her days in an endless quest to make me stop to play with her.  "Mommy, will you play with me?"  I hear this all day long.  She is relentless and desires my presence in her life so much.  It's humbling and I find myself wishing I had more time and more of me to spend with her.  I also wish that I was better at just playing.   Oh Evie, how I wish that I could be a better player.  

Her giant status extends well into her smarts too.  Evie is about 3.5 going on 10 in her language skills.  Her teacher told me the other day that sometimes she feels as though she is conversing with an adult.  Trust me....I know.  

This beauty is a giant in every sense of the world and she is growing up with the boldness to match.  I tell her over and over again that she is a world changer and I have no doubt that the world may simply not be quite ready for the giant that is coming for it.  

Evie, I love you. So, So, SO much.  I love that you are mine.  I love that you are bold and willing to stand so firmly on your own.  Remember that you are a warrior.  Learn to fight for all of the right things.  Go boldly, seek Jesus and be a giant.  You are destined for greatness little girl and you are destined to be a role model for many.

The Day I Became an IRONMAN: The Finish Line

My dream.....it was coming true.  My IRONMAN finish line was here.  I chose to give the finish its own blog because it was simply its own experience. It was 2 minutes of my life I will never forget.  I remember everything.....every face.....every feeling.  It was magic in every sense of the word.  It was my moment and it was perfect.

In the year leading up to this moment, I had dreamed the finish and how it would play out a hundred times.  In all of them, I had this perfectly cheesy smile.  I was gonna stop and walk and hug everyone, but then the time came and nothing I had dreamed could have compared.

I passed that "To Finish" sign and a wave of deep emotion hit me.  My joy played out in raw tears.  Rosario, my fellow teammate saw me and ran the 100 yards to the finishing chute.  I couldn't contain my tears, "I did it."  I told her.  "I really did it."  I was simply overwhelmed and my tears kept coming.

My emotion surprised me, but frankly, I had surprised me.  My emotion came from this overwhelmed place.  You see, in all of my reading, prepping and planning for the marathon I had held onto one big reality--Not many first-time IRONMAN racers run the whole marathon.  In fact, countless articles and athletes confirmed.....you should absolutely plan on run walking the marathon.  So I honestly will tell you that I planned to have to walk.  I just told myself to run until I absolutely needed to.

And there I was.......at the finish having run the whole marathon.  I had planned to let myself walk but I just never needed to.  The body will achieve what the mind can believe.  I believed I could be one of those rookies that could run it all and I DID!

I ran into that finishing chute a new woman.  I had found someone on that course  who was more capable than I ever thought and that person I discovered was ME.

Bethany, You are incredible, You are amazing, You are strong, You are an IRONMAN.

I was able to get my tears in check and be fully present for the victory of the finish.  I came around the chute and raised my arms.  I stepped onto that black carpet with the red Mdot logos.  The bright lights seemed to spotlight just me and I had my moment.

I felt everything and reveled in it.  I flew under the finish arch, let out a victory cry and heard those sweet words.....

Bethany Longmire, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!

I came to a stop even though my body would have continued and rushed into my coach's arms.

"Bethany!  Do you have any idea what you just did?!?" She cried. "Did I come in under 12 hours?"  Her smile said it all, "Not just under 12 hours Bethany, you crushed it in 11:20!"

What????

I looked down  at my watch in disbelief 11:21:22 it read.  I screamed and hugged Dawn with every ounce of joy I felt.  We did it!  Together.  She always believed in me and I had proven her right.  I will never forget it, or her in that moment, or us in every moment that led to my successful finish.  What a year it had been.

My dream became a reality and I made my first mark on the IRONMAN world.

There is a quote in the TRI world, "The sky is not the limit.....I am."

I am an IRONMAN and this chapter of my life has only just begun.