Personal Mono-log

I AM A TRIATHLETE - I've been saying this to myself for a few weeks now, and I've recently realized why this phrase makes me so excited:

The last several years were hard and stressful, and I lost a bit of myself along the way. The past year, Paul, and then I, began training and competing in sprint triathlons. When I'm running, or riding my bike, or swimming across the lake, I FEEL POWERFUL! The fact that I'm a mother of 4 and still competing makes me feel even more energized. I realize that I could be a serious competitor if I spent LOTS of time training, but for now I will content myself with squeezing in little workouts here and there amidst my busy schedule as a wife/mother.

Becoming an 'athlete' again has re-opened a door in my life that has been left floundering and unfulfilled. I really think that my personal and family life is much better because I am doing this.

I may not be first-in-line to cross the finish line, but I'm not far behind - and that fact makes me smile.

My training has consisted of running for 25 minutes 3-times a week - Anastasia has been instrumental in making this possible. I USUALLY bike once a week on Saturdays, and I've only recently started swimming once a week for about 20 minutes. It's not much, but it's all I will give for now. I love it. I feel alive. And I hope you'll forgive my strong desire to mono-log ;-)

Both Paul & I will be competing in the Quad Cities Triathlon this Saturday. There will be over 700 participants. We'll be swimming 600 meters in West Lake, then biking 15 miles, and then running 3.1 miles. My stomach is already a-flutter with excitement and nervousness. This is the biggest triathlon I've competed in, and I hope I'm not the only one NOT wearing a wet-suit!

Wish us luck for this weekend, and I'll let you know how it turns out . . .