Train Endure Achieve Matter

Okay, so I've fallen a bit behind in my blog posts but, not to fear, this train is still rolling. I am just a little weary! This past Saturday, we ramped up the mileage and did a 20 mile jaunt on the bike near the American Tobacco Trail. It was a beautiful ride I must say...

I took this pic as we were passing Lake Jordan. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning! Shortly thereafter, though, I lost my chain. Yep, I think I dropped my gear too quickly and, as a result, the whole thing went kerplunk as in spinning air and going nowhere fast. Uh-oh. I knew I should have taken that biking basics class the other weekend. Seriously, if you are thinking about doing road biking, it's a good idea. Anyway, I did the only thing I could do at that point and threaded the chain back on and thankfully it worked. Close call though. This time I tried again to stay with the lead pack but I just couldn't keep up. It landed me in the middle of the pack with another rider who rode just behind me. Thankfully though, the rest of the ride went pretty well (minus the gun shot) in the not too distant field. I picked up the pace a little and waved my arm just to be sure. Then came the run. It was totally flat but dang if I didn't do an 8:50 mile for 2 miles!

I did however miss Sarah Cowles's first soccer game of the season since I was at the training. Mommy guilt is a factor here. That hurt a little. I knew there were going to be sacrifices and there have been. I miss dinner/bed every Tuesday evening and Saturday mornings. I have been preoccupied with training and fundraising but I am okay and my kids are okay and Jason is fine. We are good. After training Saturday a.m., I drove to VA with Sarah Cowles to send my brother off to Bulgaria. It was good to be with family and especially spend one on one time with SC.

I take Sundays off....ahhhhhhhh

On Monday, I made another 5:30a.m. spin class! It is probably not my favorite form of exercise but it gets the job done and the best part is that I am done by 7a.m. just in time to start my real job  ;-)

Last night (Tuesday) was swim practice. Ooh, la, la...I have to admit I think I started feeling a little sorry for myself this week. I mean. This training is tough! I started doubting myself about being ready for the event even though we're several months away from the big day. Can I really swim a whole mile? We're swimming 50+ laps at practice but with quite a few breaks, too. And then, we're a small team. There are ~6 of us that are training consistently together. But sometimes that means you're alone for most of the bike ride or run or sometimes the swim. I start feeling sorry for myself and want some company but then I start thinking of why I am doing this. Why I am training. I think of Mary Anne and how much she would give to be here on this Earth being out of breath and tired. I also think of the patients and survivors (Ed! and Patti!) who have fought so hard to get better and beat cancer. And then I look at my wrist band and it all comes back to me: Train Endure Achieve Matter. That's why I am doing what I am doing through the ups and the downs. Go TEAM!