I was kind of at a loss as to what to write about. But I realized that I have been training for another triathlon and haven't talked at all about it. So I thought I would take a few minutes to update you all on my training.
I'm a mentor for Team In Training this season. I'm competing in the Triathlon at Pacific Grove on September 12th. I have noticed my biggest improvement in swimming. I have been telling my mentees that improvement in training and getting in shape comes suddenly. One day you look down and you're riding 15 miles an hour instead of 12. Or you run a 12 minute mile instead of 17. Swimming has been hard for me from the get-go.
I swam as a kid. I even had swimming lessons. But I never swam competitively and I never learned how to properly swim until I started training for Wildflower. And the entire Wildflower season, swimming was a large struggle for me. I couldn't keep my face in the water. I couldn't breathe. I was completely frustrated. James, my coach, finally fixed my problem by having me breathe every time my right arm strokes. It worked. My swimming improved.
But as with everything else, sometimes I don't see what others do. But Tuesday night, I swam well. I didn't make it through the entire workout, but I did most of it. And I put in the effort required for each activity instead of swimming at one speed. I was worn out when I was done, but I felt the improvement in my swimming. It's an interesting experience, this training thing.
When I started training for Wildflower, I told Becky that I wanted to do an Ironman the year I turn 40. I'm not sure that I'm capable of doing it or will be ready to do it, but I also never thought I would do a triathlon. One thing life has continued to teach me is to never say never. I don't always like to run. I don't always like to swim. And sometimes the bike and I don't get along. But I keep going because, no matter what, I do love it. I have met some amazing people and have started to get into shape.
I am excited to compete again. I know that I'll never "win" any of the events I do. But, for the first time in my life, I'm doing something athletic not to win, but for the pure joy of doing. And I love it. So I'll continue to do it. And I will fund raise again for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society because it has given so much to me, I'll never be able to pay it back.
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