Put on your big girl panties/ augusta 70.3

Yep. That's right, ladies and gents.

It occurred to me this weekend that if you buy your big-girl panties then you have to leave behind your training pants, bloomers, and little girl underclothes. If you want to be a big girl, then get it ON and get it AWN.

Well, uh, I tried. I tried my best. I had a good cry about the gators and the dark water in my hotel room. I MADE myself get in and swim my heart out. And thus, I showed up in "Hotgusta" and put aside my pride (again). But it wasn't GREAT and I was handily out-run by the big girls. Sure, I outperformed a third of the field, but I don't look back. I look ahead.

Ok, so all was not lost with my 7th place finish at 4:34. But dang it was a hard day's work out in the pouring rain. And as I looked down the road to see two women in front of me, I thought, "surely, they can't bike that hard and then run WELL." Hahaha. I was so mistaken. They sure did.

I am so incredibly impressed with the women on the race course. Jessica Myers, Magalie Tissere, Desiree Ficker, Amanda Lovato, Tamara Kozulina, and Claire Horner finished in front of me. They were awesome. So much for Augusta being a B level race in the pro field. These women had it AWN.

I'm not thrilled with my day but I'll take it and carry on. Lots more to work on. 7th place seems to be the 2010 refrain for me. The bigger question on my mind is can I grow into my big-girl panties and carry on like this, or will it soon be time for "Depends" undergarments?

breaking through

Woohooo! I finally sense a bit of fitness coming my way. Now isn't it about time, since it's freakin' AUGUST already!??

Off to Timberman soon and then to Augusta 70.3 For some crazy reason I signed up for IM Arizona- and I'm not very adept at the full IM distance, despite my age-group Kona adventure. It should be VERY entertaining. : )

I hope that by this point in your season you find yourself happy, fit, and still hungry for a bit more competition. Race season's not over yet.

Big shout out to my new kit sponsor- Kiwami. Heaven! I'd say it's like racing without a kit but that's too scandalous. No chafing. No ouchies. Just lovely! hahaha. do check it out! www.kiwamitriathlon.com/

Let your guards down

How much strength do you have?

You can measure it in watts, velocity, reps, and race results, but really...

How much inner strength do you have?

Do you have the guts to let your guards down and to be vulnerable? Do you have the strength to be weak and to place your trust in somebody or something else???

Recovering from injury: it's a tough road, but I"m on it. I"m not afraid to be slow, temporarily, because I will rebuild stronger. I'm 38 years young and wiser for it. I know my limits but I'm not afraid to test them. Or at least I have to believe so. What gives me more faith are my athletes and their breakthroughs, and one in particular is on my mind.

Today I found myself BEYOND inspired by one of my adult swim clients who is simply, utterly determined to learn how to swim. He is indeed, afraid of the water. Each week, he shows up, ex- collegiate football player with impressive muscle mass and strength. And each week he learns that none of it translates into comfort or skill in the water. He often surfaces panicky and startled, awkward in the water as he tries to changes positions or submerge. But he is on a mission to swim. And it's amazing!!

Adam puts himself on the line, holding my hands as he glides, even, and we're just barely past blowing bubbles. Little kids swirl and swim around him, gliding effortlessly as they stroke, float, and play. Meanwhile, it takes him five attempts to do a surface dive for an object on the bottom.

Yet the look on his face when he manages the smallest things gives me more inspiration than the entire rest of my training week. His small victories, like gliding and retrieving objects after many attempts are unbelievable statements of determination and faith. In fact, they are gigantic victories over his fears and limitations. He simply won't give up and that's all there is to it. Wow. Couldn't we all do with a dose of that faith and strength?

When was the last time you dared to be less than perfect? When was the last time you did something without any fear of looking foolish or out of place? How do you get there from here?

Try. I dare you to let your guards down and try. : )

2010 pro season, first stop White Lake Half IM and then on to 70.3 Buffalo Springs. Not afraid to try.

In the boot

I'm sidelined. I'm injured. I'm healing. I'm frustrated. But I'm thankful.

CAUSE IT DIDNT GO PIIINNNGGG!!

I'm talking about my achilles tendon. It didn't tear. Phew!

But what a dirty word to runners- achilles.

My physical therapist, foot doc, and coach ganged up on me and intervened. They put me in a boot to immobilize my injured foot. They stopped me from killing it and I'm so thankful. But for the record, it took 3 men to wrestle me into a boot. ; )

So race season is pushed back a couple of months. It'll be interesting to see what I can bring to early season April and May prep races. Heck, it could be downright humiliating! But hopefully the only thing I hurt is my pride. : )

See you at Belews Lake tri in NC and White Lake half IM. Then let's get it on for 70.3 Kansas in June and 70.3 Buffalo Springs in balmy Lubbock Texas.