i've got it good

in the spirit of thanksgiving, i've been thinking all week about how good i've got it. i mean, i have a great family. my dad has taken me in. and he and my step mom have been nothing but welcoming and loving and supportive during this part of my life. and my mom has been helping me keep my head up. and my friends and training partners have been lifesavers.

i've got my health. and my body allows me to do things that my mind doesn't always believe possible.

thanksgiving morning started with an hour and a half swim practice. the comeraderie of a group of adults that get up to be in the pool by 5:30am on a holiday is pretty unreal. and a coach that is dedicated enough to get up to give us a workout is nearly unheardof.

and from there, a group of us went downtown to join 10,000 others for 101st running of the Thanksgiving Day 10k. the weather was predicted to be cold and rainy. and it was rainy. and very wet. but it ended up being about 57 degrees when i pulled up at 8:15.

i didn't have any real goals going into this race since i don't really know my fitness and i had just swam about 4k. but the previous night, i was lying in bed and i had this spark ignite in me that was just ready to take on the racing and the big workout. and to just have fun with it.

and i ended up running a 42:10, which i was really happy about. and i had fun. and i think nearly all the men i train with beat me. but not by a ton.

and from there, i joined about 100 others to socialize at a local spot before heading home for a hot shower and taking a friend to my mom's for turkey and crazy games of scrabble. it was 5pm before i realized i hadn't eaten since 7:30am. so it was a good thing there was a plethora of food. mom made an amazing meal. and there were lots of laughs. i went to bed last night feeling really fortunate. i need to tap into this more often.

Oh, what a wild ride!

I am not one who likes to dwell on the past. But there are times in which I think it's important we reflect on past events, just to gage progress or even find some gratitude.

Today was the Flying Pig Marathon and Half Marathon. I did the half. In pouring rain. In 1:33.44, with which I'm quite satisfied. What I find more satisfying is that my feet are in pain. And my hips ache. And, well, I got to race.

I was running errands yesterday, feeling the nerves creep in, when I remembered back to a year ago and what I was doing then. I was slated to run the full Pig. But that didn't happen. I ended up getting really sick. And I was in the ER the Saturday before the race. In that instant, the nerves diminished and I was overcome with gratitude.

I can recall my dad being devastated, but also telling me that he didn't know how, but he just knew I would come out of that stronger. And in the last year, I've come to really appreciate the people that truly care about me, in a way I never knew before. I've come to find my real friends.

There have been highs and lows scattered about over the past year, but there's something to be said about going through something you really think might break you...and coming out on the other side. I'm, in no way, saying I'm some superstar. There are those who have seen tragedy I can only imagine. I'm simply saying there are events that occur that can really put things into perspective. It's not always about how fast a race is run. Or how many hours go into training. Or where we rank on the finish line. Sometimes, it's just getting across that finish line that is so gratifying. And sometimes, I'm actually grateful for those dreadful, painful, gut-busting experiences...because they build character. And strength. And they provide a very wild ride. Because at the bottom of every valley is an incline to get out. And once you've stumbled and rolled down that hill, kicking and screaming and crying, thinking your spirit is broken, never to be recovered, you find you actually have the strength to pick yourself back up and charge the hill.

So, today's race was one that didn't really matter for the books. It was one that was wet. And rough. for everyone. And it was one I was glad to be able to do. Even with the downpour and lightning, I never once thought of skipping it or sleeping in. What we do is a priviledge. Making it hurt, putting in the hours on the road and in the water and on the saddle are things we get to do. And today, I was grateful just to do that.

10 Things

Thanks to a fellow rock star at Rock Star Tri, you get to read (and see) ten things that make me happy....

1 - Meeting new people and being spontaneous.

2 - Running in the rain

3 - The gift of friendship.

4 - Long training rides with amazing people.

5 - Racing and putting all that hard work to the test.

6 - The best family a girl could ask for.

7 - My little tiny Clubby.

8- The beach. The ocean. Forests. Trees. Lakes. Sunsets. Sunrises. Mountains. umm...Nature.

9 - Looking and acting like an an aboslute fool. And laughing about it.

10 - Making new memories

There are a million more, like hearing a favorite song on the radio and getting busted by another driver singing along at the top of your lungs. Or dancing naked in the living room. And rollercoasters. Or little notes from friends just saying hi. Hearing those three little words that mean so much. A nice, soft, firm, genuine hug. Kids laughing uncontrollably. Seeing an elderly couple that still walks down the street holding hands. Doing something even I feared was impossible. Helping someone else out, even if it's just by listening.

And I think it's a healthy thing to write a gratitude list every now and then, just as a reminder of all the great things in life.

Speaking of great things and 10s, I've swam 10k so far this week...and another swim awaits on Saturday. I've also only run about 10 miles. But that is soon to change as there will be another five or six tonight and about 15 on Sunday. I won't even start with the bike...

New digs, fresh legs and the silver lining

Forgone race entry fees: $280

Medical and prescription co-pays: $1,234

Non-refundable deposit on summer beach house: $1,600

Getting out before the d-bag put me 6 feet under: PRICELESS

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The lease on my current place is up at the end of the month and it just so happens that it's time for me to live alone. Without question. As noted above, I was supposed to be going to the beach for the summer, but that is no longer the case. I searched on Craigslist all morning Tuesday and found a perfect spot. Just so happens it was the first place I called. And it's amazing! Historic and full of character. Ten frikin' windows! Two bedrooms. A spacious lavatory. A mile to the gym. Blocks to the levee. And the landlord, well, she used to be a competitive cyclist!

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I'm still resting and recovering. Coaches orders.

This weekend is the American Triple T. I'm registered. I won't be competing, but I will be attending. I will be cheering on my friends; the participating members of Cincy Express. A nice long weekend watching others suffer. I've never done this. And I quite look forward to it.

So, while resting, I've been spending some time in Hamilton, at my dad's. He's visiting my brother in Galveston, so it's quiet. It's peaceful up there. Half a mile to the river bank and a bike/run path. His yard is like a miniature zoo. There's a pond and birds and benches and cobblestone. I find it impossible to sit there and not feel God. Clubber is having a good time as well.

I went for a run along the river Monday evening. A woman pushing a stroller stopped me and asked how much I have to run to look this way. Ha! That was the nicest thing a stranger had said to me in a long time. My run was just ok. My legs were feeling a little sluggish. I was tired.

Wednesday morning, I awoke and went for a run along the same path. It was cool outside. It was different so early in the morning. Only a few walkers. The path winds through a park, a wildlife observatory area, an old field, woods, and ends at another park. My legs were churning beneath me. They were on auto-pilot, moving without effort on my part. I finished 11 miles in just under 85 minutes. I felt strong again. And all I wanted to do was lie down for a nap, but work was calling. And so I went.

And today is a new day. And there is always a silver lining. As a good friend of mine always says, "Hey, it could be worse. You could be on fire."