So much of triathlon-ing is about transitioning. And I don't just mean that clumsy rush from swim --> bike --> run (but more on that in another entry). Simply opening your schedule (and your mind and your sore muscles) to swim and/or bike and/or run every single day (okay 6 days a week, but that 7th day of yoga is WELL earned) is entirely life changing. Leaving work by 6pm (knowing that I'm doing so to push my body to various - depending on the week - levels of pain) is no easy task.
So far, just two weeks into this ride, I am feeling INCREDIBLE. I'm feeling like myself again...battling hills on the bike, swimming just one more set of 100's and running a teensy bit faster than the time before! I'm not sure where I inherited my ever-yearning taste for adrenaline and competition...In fact, my folks are back to biting their nails off every Saturday and Sunday morning waiting for my call to let them know I'm still alive. It goes a little something like this -
"Hey Mom," I'll say. "Oh thank God, are you okay?" she'll gasp (putting me on speaker phone so my dad can listen in as well). "I'm fantastic!!" I respond. "No, you're crazy," Dad chimes in, "Okay we gotta go" they say relieved. CLICK. "Alright see ya," I say to the dial tone.
After this, I assume they breathe again and resume their weekend...until the next time. If I don't call them by 2pm, I fully anticipate a search and rescue squad hunting me down as I replenish electrolytes and inhale burrito(s). When I told my mother, I was doing the Big Kahuna Half Ironman, she choked back tears and said, "Please...don't...Please...no," as if I had just committed to embark on the Bin Laden manhunt. I tease them, but in all honesty, I'm so lucky to have the most supportive family a girl can ask for! Despite their fear that I'll get swallowed alive by a seal, or fly off my bike when I'm charging down a hill, or fall in a manhole while running on Crissy Field, I've grown to count on and appreciate their endless support. I know they'll be holding their breath for 7 hours out in Santa Cruz while I'm racing (and for this I apologize to them in advance...).
Beyond that, I'm so humbled and grateful to those of you who have contributed to my fundraising efforts. I couldn't have possibly imagined how amazing it'd feel to get that "donation notification." Most people who've contributed to the cause have been touched on a very personal level to Leukemia or Lymphoma. It's hard to stomach how many people have suffered or lost a loved one to a strain of blood cancer. I'll be sure to honor everyone that my friends and family have acknowledged through their donations on my fundraising page (all of whom are some of the strongest people I know). To those of you who haven't contributed yet (and YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE), I encourage you to visit my page and contribute to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in any way feasible. Find out if your company matches and turn that $25 contribution into $50!
ANYWAY, I made the right decision in joining Team in Training. Here's why - the PEOPLE. Woah. Every single person I've met on the team thus far is freaking awesome. And when 50 (ish?) people group together to swim - it's a SEA of awesome (okay a pool for now...). I thoroughly look forward to building lasting friendships as we all support each other in reaching our personal triathlon goals.
Y'all are amazing for reading my blogs. Want to be SUPER DUPER AWESOME? Click HERE!
Until next time.
Love,
Renata
