New Perspectives

Third post in one week! I'm blog-happy this week and it's no doubt because of all the wonderful things I have to absorb.

Firstly -- all the LLS Love & Support. Thank you to everyone who reached into their pockets and wallets on the 1st of the month to help us BREAK the $5k mark! Not for any reason but out of your generosity and kindness. I had no type of deadline or minimum to reach on that day. I simply asked, and you gave. And it's a true testament to what great friends, family, colleagues and even mystery donors (yes, anonymous friend, I'm still trying to find you!) I have in my life. THANK YOU!! You are heroes and are helping to save lives.

Secondly -- I've learned the importance of perspectives. How they often change, shift and grow in your lifetime. And it's crucial to take a moment every now and again to look back and see where you've been.

On the 1-year anniversary of my very first marathon (which took place on March 22, 2009 in Rome, Italy), I will be in the midst of completing my first Half-Ironman Distance Triathlon on March 20, 2010 at Lake San Antonio, CA. It's just remarkable to me how this becomes possible. How you can go from barely being able to run a mile, to completing a marathon; to not having swam or biked since the age of 7 to swimming up to 2,000 yds in one night (our weekly swim workouts) and climbing 3,500 ft on your very first road bike (two weekends ago) months later.

As I mentioned in Monday's post, it's the Coaches, Mentors, Captains, Staff & my Teammates that I see day in and day out that push me to get to the 5-6 trainings per week. And it's this will and determination they've helped me to cultivate that get me to finish each challenging day. And I am just so thankful.

I had a definite IRON UP moment last night. It had been a long day at the office and with my hour-long commute from SF to the East Bay, rain, chilly temps (relatively speaking; I know you East Coasters venturing out to ski right now are skeptical of me), I just wanted to go home and stay there. To change into my cozy wear and curl up in front of the t.v. and do nothing (which feels the best after a long day). Despite knowing I had a swim workout waiting for me. Not to mention, Phil, who was also planning to be at the pool. As I wavered on whether I felt like going back outside, I ate my Gu Chomps and just started moving. Started breaking out the swimsuit, goggles and cap. Just going through the motions. Before I knew it, I found myself walking to my car and getting to the pool parking lot. I got out of my car and felt that brisk air again and it started to sprinkle.

The lot was nearly empty. Aside from the usual swim and dive teams, there were no lap swimmers but for Phil and I. I dis-robed from my fleecy parka and jumped right in to get warm again.

What I didn't realize back during the wavering (read as: lazy) moments of the evening, was that I would go on to swim 2,500 of some of my best yards in the pool. I found myself pulling and catching for longer periods of time than I had before (meaning, swimming consistently at "Level 6-7", rather than 3). I picked up new things with my stroke and truly felt powerful. So had I not gotten my rear in motion to get to the pool and iron up, I would have completely deprived myself of this experience. It was even pouring rain at one point -- our tri bags and water bottle tops getting soaked on the pool deck. I got out of the pool after about 1:15:00 and shivered upon returning to that mild wind and drizzle of rain. Only instead of feeling regretful or resentful to be outside, I felt so fulfilled and accomplished to have completed what I did.

It's in those moments that I feel truly proud to be on IronTeam and to be committed to something as big as training for an Ironman. Because now, as I sit in front of the PC, clearly dry, warm and out of the rain ~ I feel that hint of a fatigued muscle here or there, which is a reminder of all the hard work. And in turn, every yard, hour, mile and push I've given and endured adds up to the results I get to see after our marker sets and truly being tested to see what we're made of.

So as we gear up for another return to the open water this weekend, and with Wildflower Weekend and our heavily-anticipated Halfway to Iron Camping Trip (March 19-21) around the corner, it's important to keep this perspective. To remember the tough moments. The ones that test you and get you to either waver, not make it (sometimes), and complete and conquer what you set out to do. Because that's how you get to see progress and growth in who you are and who you can be.