SDRC Splash & Sprint Triathlon

As I push through life I have found that I expect a lot of great things from myself. Getting to that point is never clear or something I'm willing to do at the moment. A triathlon has been a goal of mine for quite a few years now. Why has it taken me so long to compete? I rode a bike as my main form of transportation for 21 months on my mission. Clocking in over 35 miles a day, 110 degree weather...in a suit. When I returned home I didn't want to look at another bike. I finally overcame my hatred by burying it deep inside me and found myself on a road bike. To my surprise it is actually quite enjoyable.
To move on with this story, I found a local triathlon to cut my teeth on. Started training. Then came race day. Anticipation is high. Had I practiced my transitions enough? Was I physically ready? Typical triathlon race order is SWIM, BIKE, RIDE. Something I didn't expect was the mental game I had to play. Not with others but with myself. You see in competing in one event is bliss cause you know when you are back, you are done. A triathlon is like crossing the finish line and everyone saying, oh, just kidding...twice. Very incredible but I felt very tenebrous at times.
Swim: because it was in a swimming pool we swam a serpentine swim pattern. This means we had to swim in the pattern of a snake throughout the pool. Underneath lane lines. We had to submit our swim times to be placed in order of fastest to slowest. We were spaced 10 seconds apart. I ended up passing about 4 people in the pool.
Transition 1: I had just got done swimming 400 yds and jogged to my bike. As I sat down I thought to myself, I wonder if anyone would notice if I stopped now. Then I heard everyone cheering so I strapped on my helmet, grabbed my bike and started down the road.
Bike: The bike race is 13 miles. They didn't stop traffic so we had to dodge cars.
Transition 2: very simple. Put on your running shoes, take off your helmet (if you want) then take off running.Run: 5k. Depression sets in about a 1/4 mile into the running portion when you cannot hear anymore cheers and its just you and the road. Thoughts came into my head like "what are you doing?" and "seriously, why are you still running?"
Crossing the finish line is like no other feeling. To know I just finished 3 events and don't have an ounce of energy left is incredible. Absolutely SENSATIONAL. I feel like a comedian on an emotional roller coaster.
I don't have the split times yet. I came in with a time of 1 hour 17 minutes and 29 seconds. I now have a base to build upon. Anyone care to play?

Giraffes

My mom and I took Jack to the zoo today. On the way there we explained to him where we were going and what some of the animals were that we would be seeing. He repeated all of the names but got really excited to see the giraffes. All through the zoo he would say "where giraffes?" We had lots of fun seeing all of the animals, but of course it is more fun to see Jack's reaction.

Jack didn't like turning his back on the giraffe, even to take a picture.

Jack and Grandma.

Names

Last night while Jack was in the bath I decided to try and get him to say the names of everyone in our family. The funniest was the fact that he referred to all of his cousins as baby or in Andrew's case yeah-yeah (no idea where this came from). The hard names he just reverted to another name. Anyway I got a kick out of it, so hopefully you do to!

Girls Night Out

It's Tea Time!!

My friend Sarah invited me to a Girl's Night Out Tea Party. This group of women started getting together every month a couple of months ago. I am glad to be invited to join!! This month we went to the adorable little Tea House in Farmington (that is sadly closing it's doors on Saturday) for a English Tea Party. Complete with scones, lemon curd, cucumber sandwiches and some yummy fruity herbal tea. Everyone got all dressed up and spent a night having fun with the girls!! Thanks Jenny for putting it together!!

Sarah and Sarah

The Group (minus a few who left a little early)

Memorial Day Fun

There is nothing like a big pool party to kick the summer off right. My uncle Chad had a Memorial Day Family BBQ at his house and it could not have been a more perfect day. There was yummy food, and lots of family to talk to, with some swimming and tennis thrown in too. When Jack's Grandpa went to play tennis Jack wanted to play as well, so he picked up a racket and ball and ran over to play. He tripped on the way over and skinned his knee really bad which resulted in a sad little boy for at least a half an hour. Eventually he joined the kids in the pool though. There was a diving contest with some of the adults. Sean participated and got to show off his gymnastics skills. It was a fun day!!

The girls chatting away, I am trying to console Jack who had just tripped.

Grandpa, Jon and Ava.

Jack recovering from his fall.

Sean doing a front handspring.

Aunt Pam playing with the kids in the pool.

Jack getting back in on the fun.

March or May??

I just came across this picture, it made me laugh so I thought I would share it with you. The reason why it is funny is because this picture was taken just a week ago. Still not getting it? It is in the seventies here and Jack insisted on wearing his rain coat and winter hat to play outside. Poor kid was sweating when we got him to take it all off.

Happy Birthday...

...to me!!! What a fun week it has been! I haven't had to cook once, thanks to my family and friends wanting to help celebrate my happy day (well week). And it is not over yet! Sean is taking me out tonight for some shopping, dinner and a movie!

I am going to see how long I can make this birthday last!

Jack helping light the candles

Jack licking the frosting off of the candles, before they are completely lit.

Jack helping mommy blow out her candles.

Geez...

It has been so long since I blogged that I nearly forgot how. I need to get better. I guess that the good thing is that not much has happened, all accept for one sad bit of news. Matt, Melissa and Gabe have left to return home to Omaha. They were here for four months while Matt had a clinical (I think that is what it is called) at TOSH in Murray. We were all sad to see them go so far away again. Jack still searches Grandma's house every time we go up there looking for "Ga."

Matt, Melissa and Gabe

The night before they left we did manage to get a family picture taken.