I am reflecting on the last month, but specifically the last couple of weeks. I need to be candid, my brain is um foggy. I'm not going to be as clever of a writer today. I am going to probably leave out lots of stories but here I am!
The last time I blogged we were waist deep in the throws of remodeling at RNB (Rogers n Brachmann) for our move on March 22. My triathlon was March 15th, exactly one week before the big move.
The timing was not great but as I say in life, it was happening this way for a reason... I knew I had to dig deep...
The timing was not great but as I say in life, it was happening this way for a reason... I knew I had to dig deep...
I will start with my triathlon, Superseal 2015, Coronado California.
For those who know me personally, know this little tid bit already. I lived in Coronado before moving to Minnesota. It is my old stomping grounds . It is one of my most favorite places, the sand is so soft, the beach is so vast and the vibe is simply good. It is where I brought by babies home from the hospital. The race was on the same stretch of highway that I pushed their jog stroller to get back into shape after each pregnancy.
For those who know me personally, know this little tid bit already. I lived in Coronado before moving to Minnesota. It is my old stomping grounds . It is one of my most favorite places, the sand is so soft, the beach is so vast and the vibe is simply good. It is where I brought by babies home from the hospital. The race was on the same stretch of highway that I pushed their jog stroller to get back into shape after each pregnancy.
March 14th we loaded up the truck and headed down to Coronado. I had chosen this particular triathlon because of the location (very flat) and because I got to see many dear friends that live on the island. Mentally, I felt as thought my life would be coming full circle in a way, my old life as a Seal Team wife and my life now. I thought coming back to visit Coronado for my first triathlon benefiting Naval Special Warfare Families/Kids would be a perfect way to bring the two together.
I need to say that I was filled with excitement, anticipation, anxiety and oh the butterflies!!
Saturday after I picked up my race packet, we drove through our old neighborhood : ) on our way to the teams where we were meeting some friends. Mitchell and Jack hadn't been to the Teams since we moved in 2005. Although they spent plenty of time there in their little years while Scott was still active in the Teams, they were really looking at things for the first time. Their dad dedicated his entire military career serving this country in the Seal Teams. It seemed natural to now come back and allow them an opportunity to get a better understanding of what it meant when they would say that their dad was a Navy Seal.
An old friend was able to take the boys through the compounds and explained to them Team history and what the Seal Teams were and are all about. It was fascinating to observe since things have changed so much since we left. After Seal Team history 101 was completed, the boys , being boys wanted to go out to the 'O'course. 'O' = obstacle.... and boy are they big....
I loved how the Hotel Del showed up on our GPS
Rick explaining how they had to jump to get to the top... didnt happen...not quite tall enough yet..
There were safety rules in effect... only able to climb to the middle of the cargo net... he was not going to have to climb up and talk one of them down in his jeans and flip flops..... : )
I was proud of Mitchell on this one. He overcame his fear of heights, well, not really, he was really scared but he did make it all the way across and back down...
this was the first obstacle they took on, Mitchell was the only one tall enough to scale across the wall... he was definitely nervous since it doesn't look like he is high off the ground, but he was...
so ya wanna be a frogman? 
The grinder...
Jack wanting to stand up where the instructors lead PT.
After we spent the afternoon with Rick and Mickey we were off to have dinner with other old dear friends. Lori and Jeff I have known for over 25 years. Dinner was amazing and Jeff decided that he would do the tri with me! After a few beers, he was all in!!.... when we got back to their house, he pulled out his wet suit, got his bike ready and was needing to do some laundry before the early wake up ...
We were having such a great time at dinner, I didn't even think about taking my phone out and getting pictures of all of us! Have you ever seen those sayings, about being in the moment... that's exactly where I was... enjoying all the laughter and company of great friends that I hadn't seen in over a decade. Although we were are all a few years older, it was like no time had passed and we picked up where we had left things so many years ago!
Later that night at the hotel, the butterflies started to kick in.
.jpg)
I had to be at the transition area at 5:30 am.
I began thinking about the swim... You see, when the boys were little, I didn't like them playing in the bay water. It is typically a bit more polluted. But as life is, the EXACT WATER I DIDN'T ALLOW MY KIDDOS IN AS KIDS, I WAS NOW SWIMMING IN FOR MY TRI!!! Yup, absolutely hilarious! Talk about full circle...sheez...
The morning came quickly.... we arrived at the Silver Strand Beach which is where the transition area was set up. I saw Jeff in the darkness with his arms folded shaking his head.... this is a bad idea.... this is a bad idea....I was laughing.... thinking, no really it is gonna be a great lets make some memories!
I welcomed March 15th from my transition area
.JPG)
As I waited patiently for my wave to come I was quiet on my towel and observing the many waves that went before me. I watched different participants techniques... taking it all in
My mindset was this... Swim .. Bike... and Run. Enjoy myself, smile and be thankful when I cross the finish line. Don't think about my times.... enjoy the journey and all the hours I spent preparing for this very day.
Here is a funny little story... I thought ya know, I should probably make sure that my goggles wont leak during the swim. I will take a quick swim before the start whistle and make sure I was good to go.... I walked into the water and submerged myself.... what I quickly realized was that there was ZERO VISIBILITY, I mean ZERO!!!
When our wave started lets just say, I got kicked in my face more times that I want to remember and had experienced the strange feeling of adults swimming directly into my side body because of being disorientated!
I figured out quickly to separate myself just enough so the kicking would stop. then I swam... not thinking about how gross the water was .... I kept thinking just don't swallow....ick...
I finished the swim and got out of the water with some cramping in my calves.... I shuffled my way back to the transition area... T1 wasnt too quick but I kept moving..
.jpg)
Off I went.... 26 miles on the Silver Strand....
The bike was harder than I imagined. In all honesty I felt like I was a pretty strong biker... I started to doubt myself when others were seriously whizzing by me.... I was averaging 17 mph... with crosswinds... it felt like I was standing still.... crazy... humbling....26 miles....hard...
.jpg)
I got off the bike and the heat wave that had come over Southern California was in full swing.
I had watched a few You Tube Videos about transitions. How the most challenging from a muscular perspective was from the bike to the run... T2.... Mentally, I remembered this and was not going to push myself the first 2 miles of the run.
I saw Jeff when I was headed back for T2... I asked him if he was ready to run... he looked at me... said he started to run about 1 mile and said... f'** it, it is WAY to hot... . We bumped knuckles and I said I'm going to go run and finish what I started.... I was off, slowly...
The first two miles were softer sand, so I didn't push myself. Mentally, I was talking to myself about how I needed to let my legs get used to running. Allowing my body to slowly and gently get used to jogging. I also was thankful for all my hours teaching hot yoga. My body was used to being in heat, granted not quite like this but I was willing to tell myself many things to get away from how sucky hot it was....
Every step I took, I was thankful. I passed landmarks on the trail that reminded me of times pushing the boys in their strollers. It made my heart and soul happy and at peace.
The finish line came ..... I did it, .9 mile swim, 26 mile bike and 6 mile run...
.jpg)
I believe I said while crossing, holy shit it's hot, someone handed me an iced wash cloth and I went to drink a much deserved beer...
What an adventure it has been. I have proven to myself again that taking small steps towards a goal is something that can be achieved by all. I was able to train for and complete an Olympic distance triathlon in 12 weeks.I look forward to more triathlon's in my future, ( Malibu in Sept ) just not right now... At the moment, I'm in unpacking mode and wrapping my mind around that we are heading off to Maui on Sat! Some yoga and time on the SUPs are on my agenda. Time for some much needed rest and recovery...
Wishing you all the best,
We were having such a great time at dinner, I didn't even think about taking my phone out and getting pictures of all of us! Have you ever seen those sayings, about being in the moment... that's exactly where I was... enjoying all the laughter and company of great friends that I hadn't seen in over a decade. Although we were are all a few years older, it was like no time had passed and we picked up where we had left things so many years ago!
Later that night at the hotel, the butterflies started to kick in.
I had to be at the transition area at 5:30 am.The morning came quickly.... we arrived at the Silver Strand Beach which is where the transition area was set up. I saw Jeff in the darkness with his arms folded shaking his head.... this is a bad idea.... this is a bad idea....I was laughing.... thinking, no really it is gonna be a great lets make some memories!
I welcomed March 15th from my transition areaMy mindset was this... Swim .. Bike... and Run. Enjoy myself, smile and be thankful when I cross the finish line. Don't think about my times.... enjoy the journey and all the hours I spent preparing for this very day.
Here is a funny little story... I thought ya know, I should probably make sure that my goggles wont leak during the swim. I will take a quick swim before the start whistle and make sure I was good to go.... I walked into the water and submerged myself.... what I quickly realized was that there was ZERO VISIBILITY, I mean ZERO!!!
When our wave started lets just say, I got kicked in my face more times that I want to remember and had experienced the strange feeling of adults swimming directly into my side body because of being disorientated!
I figured out quickly to separate myself just enough so the kicking would stop. then I swam... not thinking about how gross the water was .... I kept thinking just don't swallow....ick...
I finished the swim and got out of the water with some cramping in my calves.... I shuffled my way back to the transition area... T1 wasnt too quick but I kept moving..
Off I went.... 26 miles on the Silver Strand....
The bike was harder than I imagined. In all honesty I felt like I was a pretty strong biker... I started to doubt myself when others were seriously whizzing by me.... I was averaging 17 mph... with crosswinds... it felt like I was standing still.... crazy... humbling....26 miles....hard...
I got off the bike and the heat wave that had come over Southern California was in full swing.
I had watched a few You Tube Videos about transitions. How the most challenging from a muscular perspective was from the bike to the run... T2.... Mentally, I remembered this and was not going to push myself the first 2 miles of the run.
I saw Jeff when I was headed back for T2... I asked him if he was ready to run... he looked at me... said he started to run about 1 mile and said... f'** it, it is WAY to hot... . We bumped knuckles and I said I'm going to go run and finish what I started.... I was off, slowly...
The first two miles were softer sand, so I didn't push myself. Mentally, I was talking to myself about how I needed to let my legs get used to running. Allowing my body to slowly and gently get used to jogging. I also was thankful for all my hours teaching hot yoga. My body was used to being in heat, granted not quite like this but I was willing to tell myself many things to get away from how sucky hot it was....
Every step I took, I was thankful. I passed landmarks on the trail that reminded me of times pushing the boys in their strollers. It made my heart and soul happy and at peace.
The finish line came ..... I did it, .9 mile swim, 26 mile bike and 6 mile run...
What an adventure it has been. I have proven to myself again that taking small steps towards a goal is something that can be achieved by all. I was able to train for and complete an Olympic distance triathlon in 12 weeks.I look forward to more triathlon's in my future, ( Malibu in Sept ) just not right now... At the moment, I'm in unpacking mode and wrapping my mind around that we are heading off to Maui on Sat! Some yoga and time on the SUPs are on my agenda. Time for some much needed rest and recovery...
Wishing you all the best,
