I did it! I really, really did it!

Yesterday was RACE DAY.  Something I started on a unspoken challenge, and I DID IT.

It's been a wild, crazy ride but it was fun.

Let me back up a bit first, bare with me.  Our last weeks of classes rolled by and suddenly we were at the end, time is a sneaky thing.  I went along with training and felt pretty good with everything, I knew I wouldn't break any land speed records but I knew I had come along way from the first class.  I had a minor hiccup with an ear infection which landed me at the doctor's twice but I still felt good about it, it was an inconvenience but not that big of a deal.  The last class we did a practice "triathlon" and I am glad we did because I learned a few things that would come in handy.

I started the swim and was doing good, then I began to pay attention to the others in the pool, and not myself.  Big gulp of water and some aspiration, so coughing ensued.  Ever cough under water?  Not pleasant.  So I learned to only think about what I was doing, look at the line and concentrate on yourself.  Nothing good ever comes from being nosy!   The practice bike and run went as expected, so I knew I could do this and felt so good about it when I left.

We had a week between the end of class and the race, she gave us our instructions, train until Tuesday or Wednesday, take it easy on Thursday and Friday.  Hydrate, eat natural sugar and some carbs, that kind of stuff and said she would see us there.

Now I had a wild week, work was crazy,  but I did all she said.  Thursday morning I woke up and my leg itched and I had this bump, which I thought it was bug bite.  I went in the bathroom and looked, HUGE welts all over the backs of my legs, on further inspection the welts were all over the back of my body!  WTH?!?!  At first, I thought it was a stress reaction (I am anal after all), I have had stress reactions in the past, but usually I reserve them for births and deaths.  As the day wore on, it got worse, one on the bottom of my right foot actually hurt so bad, I had a hard time walking.  I was freaking out.  After much thought, I realized it was not a stress reaction but a reaction from the Amoxicillian I was taking for my ear infection.  Even if you have taken Amoxicillian 100 times you can develop an allergy the 101st time and apparently this was what was happening to me.  So it was Benadryl time, every 4 hours like clockwork, Oatmeal/Epsom Soak and then bed. Friday morning I woke up and my eye felt funny.  The hives were better on my backside, but had now moved to the front of my body, new welts on my thighs, tops of my feet and my face.  One huge one on my right eye and on my ears.  I am like "What fresh hell is this?!"  Benadryl again every 4 hours and by 2:00 pm, it caught up with me, I was a zombie and just plain high, but they were getting better so I suffered through the zombieness. Took a bit of a catnap for about an hour and by 06:00, I was feeling better.  Decided to lay off the Benadryl for the rest of the night and hope it worked.

Got my gear all checked over, made sure my bike (all 34 lbs of it) was in order and loaded it up.  Lost my car keys, had a panic attack over that, found them and felt foolish for freaking out.  Bathed the 4 yr old, got his clothes ready and it was time for bed.  Got it in bed, said a prayer and prepared to sleep.  NOTHING happened, no sleep for me.  To keyed up.  So I laid there forever and eventually dozed off.  0500 am happened way to quick and it was go time and my hives were mostly better, so YAY for that.  Had some coffee, made some breakfast, knew I couldn't eat it,  so I packed it with the plan of eating in the car.  Composed myself and got my clothes on, left last minute instructions with hubby about care of previously mentioned 4 year old and I was off.

Got to Y and there were already some people there, getting ready, I looked around and I thought, "Holy SH&T, I am really doing this!"  The next hour or so flew by, I alternately felt excited and sick the whole time.  Met this really nice lady, named Kathy, who was in transition next to me, and she helped me figure out what I was doing.  It was her 2nd tri, so she was a little more experienced than me.  Before I knew it, it was meeting time and then we were lining up to go.  My start time was 0838 am, and when I first saw that I thought it was going to drag, but it didn't.  I got my good luck kisses from my baby and then time FLEW.  We watched the swimmers as they made their way through and then it was my turn.

At that moment, I heard nothing, and I saw nothing but the water in front of me and I knew I had this.  I started and I was confident, all I saw was the water in front of me, only heard the sound of my bubbles and I went.  My husband tells me I passed people, I don't remember that at all, all I saw was line on the bottom of the pool.  About half way, a young boy passed me, which was fine, but then he slowed way down, and then his foot hit me in the head.  Every time I tried to go around him and the swimmers in front of him, I couldn't because there was someone coming.  Frustration ensued, I literally growled under water, I picked my head and looked around looking for another way around and nothing, so I sucked it up and just kept trying to pass, never could find a way  around. At the end, there was serious bottle necking and rather than waste my energy I just stood up and waited, apparently I was pretty pissed about it, because Adrian said I threw my arms up.  I remember looking at Tonya and Rich and telling them I couldn't get around, and them telling it was OK, just keep going,  but I don't remember throwing my arms in the air.

Out of pool and on my way, I am still pissed, but I see Adrian and hear my friend Lori screaming and it is alright again.

In the transition, I get ready, I don't even dry off, I have to waste precious seconds putting on my gloves because my bike is heavy and I pull hard on it and it will tear the skin of my palms if don't wear them, ( happened before) and I still have some hives on my palms and they are sore and itchy too, that morning I contemplating  not wearing them, but made the executive decision that I needed the protection or will be miserable if I don't, so I put them on, throw on my helmet and shoes and am off.

I dread this bike ride because I know how heavy my bike is and how hard it is going to be, but I persevere and make a joke with the traffic cop about how the ambulance with the lights on makes me paranoid.  I pedal my heart out, but I know I need to save some energy for the hills coming up. I begin reciting a cadence on a 4 count, "I hate this bike", it keeps on me on a rhythm that serves me well.  I get to the first hill, it is not steep but it is steady and long and I know it is the hardest for me because I have done it before and it is the one that always gives me trouble.  Half way up I decide I am stupidest person alive and I am never doing another Tri again.  I curse myself a thousand times for not getting a road bike.  I get up the damn thing and I see cars getting ready to turn so I tell the volunteers to let them go, because I need a second to let my feet touch the ground and get a drink.  They ask if I am OK, and I tell them yes, I just need a second, I count to 30 in my brain as I drink and I am off again.  I keep it steady because I know there are 2 more hills coming and I need to be ready, I get up them slow and steady, doing my best and I even pass someone on the second one, I am kind of impressed by that.  I know after the second one, it is the last big challenge for me, the rest is just miles and I am about half way done.  I got this, I am no speed demon, but I am consistent.  I know if I shred myself on this 34 lb bike, I will have nothing left to run with.   As I come down the last stretch, I decide it's not that bad and I would do another one and that hey this is kind of fun, then I remember I have to run.....

I come down the entrance and I am worried I am last, there are people loading up their gear to go home.  I even ask "Am I the last?"  Then I see my cheering section, my hubby, my son, Lori, Abby, Tonya, Rich and my in laws and I am OK with being last because they believe in me and I realize the rest is just details.  Give Tonya a high five and get to the dismount line.  I get off the bike and I am a little jelly legged but I feel OK, my heart is full.

I literally throw my helmet on the ground and I throw my baseball hat on my head and grab my water bottle and I am off again. I am still a little wobbly and I know it will take me a minute to get my "sea legs" so I just start off slow.  I increase a bit and keep consistent pace, as my personal goal was to run the whole thing with no walking.  I am not fast, I am slow,  and I know it but I keep going.  I am amazed at all encouragement of the people who are coming down when I am going up, it actually makes me smile and I pretty much keep the smile the whole time.  It is hot, but what is some more sweat at this point?  I get to the aid station turn around and see the kids there, I get the water and pour it over my head and tell them, "I worried about being last, but I realize I don't even care anymore."  They were so cute, "You are awesome, you are doing better than we would", I know they have said this a million times today and I don't care, I am happy.  I pick up my pace a bit, and I see the man I spoke to at the pool, he is in a wheelchair, he has just swam and and hand biked and is doing it.  I ask him if he is OK and he says he is, I tell him he is awesome and keep going.  I am at the last bend when I see Martin, he took the class with me, and he has to come to check on me, my heart is even more full now, he and his wife are just plain GOOD people and he wanted to cheer me on, he runs with me(after he has already run his race) until we get to concrete and stops at his wife, who at this point is just screaming my name, giving me encouragement and telling me to go,  and I go, giving it every thing I have left, and I get across the line, it is so quick, I almost miss it. I know I am almost one of the last finishers but I do not care, I finished what I started.   Much encouragement, congrats and high fives and then I see him,  the little blond boy who stole my heart 4 years ago, and he is crying, he runs to me and I just sit with him in my lap right there on the concrete and hold him and talk to him.  He has been miserable all morning, they thought he missed me, and he was hot and tired.   Turns out he wanted to race WITH me.  When I explained it was for grown ups, he said, "I would ride on your back."  You know what?   I would of done it, carried that 50 lb, 4 feet tall little boy with me, if I knew he wanted me to.

So that was my journey.  In my life I have done a lot of things, some good, some bad but this...this is definitely in the top 10 of the things I am most proud of.  To some: they may say "It is just a mini sprint, why are you so proud?" To them I say,   I am proud because: 

I discovered how much I am truly capable of.  

I discovered that there is truth to the saying: "if you want it bad enough and work for it, it will happen." 

I discovered that my cheering section is awesome.  

I discovered that I am loved. 

I discovered that even though you are in competition, there is still room for encouragement. 

 I discovered that my husband believes in me. 

 I discovered that my little boy thinks I am Superwoman and that he believes I could carry him on my back for 11 miles.  

I just get it now.                                                                                                                        

Until next time.

It all started with laughter.....

One night at dinner I casually mentioned to my dear, sweet, supportive husband that our friend (and hubby's cousin) Tonya (http://www.tonyaallentri.com/) would be hosting a triathlon (mini sprint) training program at our local Y.  He asked if I was going to sign up for it and I said, "I thought about it."  His response, giddy laughter. Well that just pissed me off hurt my feelings.  So guess what I did?  I signed up for it as soon as it was available.

Now I am not Sally Fitness, never have been, I do the gym thing a couple times a week but I don't have marathon sessions.  I walked some, did some weights, stretched a little.  I gave it effort, or I thought I was giving it some effort.

Found this on: https://www.facebook.com/richardallenfitness

Now I knew about the sessions before they became available, so I got a bike and I started swimming a bit.  The first time I got in the pool, I thought I was going to have to be rescued by the lifeguard.  One lap, yes,  One lap was all I had in me, I was panting and coughing (because I tried to drink the pool) and I thought Holy crap, I am never going to be able to do this.  Now I have not swam with a purpose in many moons, I mean many, many moons.  When I was younger, I swam a lot, lived in the pool and was good at it.  There is much truth to adage, "If you don't use it, you loose it."  So I basically had to learn to swim all over again.  Called up Tonya got some pointers from her, read a bunch of stuff, watched YouTube and slowly built up my confidence and each time I went I did one more lap.   I also wear contacts, so I spent a lot of years with my eyes closed under water so I also worked on becoming more comfortable with my face in the water for an extended period of time with goggles on.  (Make sure you get good goggles, there is nothing worse than having your goggles leak!)   The first night of class she wanted to see how we were swimming and I did it!  I was no speed demon, and I still wasn't super comfortable with my face in the water, but I did all she asked.   I didn't drown so I was pretty excited considering a month previous I could only swim ONE lap.  This past Saturday morning,  I headed in was able to do, a few warm up, some drills, set and few to cool down.  Don't ask me how many, because I am terrible at keeping count!

Found this on: https://www.facebook.com/richardallenfitness

The next class, she wanted us to run, now I suck at running, always have.  I have often said I was born with anti running gene.  I flirted with running off and on for years, I just can't make myself love it.  I was determined though, I had also been practicing in the weeks before the class so I didn't make a complete fool of myself. to be truthful, just a little bit because I really don't like to run, it was more of a ralk (run, walk).  I did my best to keep up with them, but I quickly found out that wasn't happening because I would either die or at the very least cry in front of strangers so I slowed down.  When I had to,  I walked, when I could,  I jogged.  Again, I am not a speed demon, in fact,  I am the slowest,  but I am progressing.  When I started this, it was all I could do, to do a .10 of a mile, and that my friends is not a joke.  This morning I did 3 miles, slow, but I completed it with no walking at all.  I have also figured out that I have to completely concentrate on the task of running for some reason I can not multitask on this.  So if you see me out there, just wave and keep going because I can't chat.

Found this on:http://teenamonteleone.blogspot.com

Then we biked, now this was what scared me the most.  I love to bike as a kid, I burned up the roads of my little town.  As an adult, nope, it hurt and it hurt in some seriously tender spots.  When I got off the bike, I felt like I had given birth to an elephant.    So I got some handy,  dandy biking undies, (Me and bike shorts? No, thank you) that I could put on under my shorts and much better.

The first night I got the bike, I thought I would ride down and get our paper.  I was all cocky too. It's not that bad I thought as I pedaled down the drive and then I turned to start back up and OMG, I thought I was going to die.  I just knew my lungs were going to pop out my chest, and my heart was going to rocket out of the top my head!   In fact, I actually had to stop for few moments.  I did not remember it being this painful as a kid!  Again, I kept at it. One more lap, then a mile, then another, each time just a bit more.  Last Thursday, she led me on a 9 mile ride and I did it, with a lot of sweat,  but no swearing.  I even did the horrible hills (horrible to me anyway) and I was able to keep going.

I am currently using a mountain bike, which is not designed for road biking, it is heavy and I feel like I could give it more, but she can't take anymore.  I am currently looking at road bikes, but I just had to replace my air conditioner (a must in NC) and my dryer less than 2 weeks apart,  so we shall see if I can pull it off.  So if any of you know of a good road bike that won't kill me, that is cheap or free, let me know!

Found this on Pinterest,  but no one to give credit to! 

 For biking and running, I do at home either early in the morning or at night, I live in the country and we have a really long driveway and a nice trail leading over to another road so that serves as my training ground. It is safe for me to do alone without worry of cars or snakes (snake season here in NC) and there are elevation changes.   I just go back and forth and use an App to keep track of my mileage.

My running buddy.

I find that I quite enjoy this training, it gives me an time to myself, and I feel much better.  I have gotten over the guilt of taking an hour or so to compose my thoughts, either on a bike, running or doing laps.  For a long time, I felt terribly guilty about taking time to myself. Why?  I have no idea, I just did.

I have lost about 12 pounds in the last 3 weeks, due in part to the sweat fest I participate in and I am also making better choices about what I put in my mouth as well.

 I have learned I am much more capable that I gave myself credit for. 

 My goal in this in the beginning was to finish so I could shove the medal up show my husband I could do it, but as the weeks have rolled by I have come to realize it is not that important. I really want to do this for me, to know I can and know that I DID.  Will I do more?  Can't say for sure but,  I am enjoying this........

Until next time.

Grandparents: The people who replace your parents

My son loves his grandparents.  Plain and Simple.  I do too,  for that matter.  They are wonderful people who have taught him so much.  He only has one set, my parents both passed away so I guess that is why I feel strongly about him spending time with them.  My husband swears they are not the same people who raised him, they have been replaced by some sort of aliens who give him anything he wants!  He says, "I don't know who they are, but they are not the same people who raised me."  It is probably true, they would of never allowed my hubby to DUMP the toy box out and string toys from one end of the house to the other or eat ice cream in living room.  I guess that is why grandparenting is so much fun, you don't get the blame for spoiling the child, the parent do. How many times have you heard, "his grandparents spoil him so much and let him do whatever he wants"?

 Never.

Never ever.

Nope, not ever.

They teach him so much, spend time with him, let him roll around in the sand, dig in the dirt, and be a little boy and I am thankful for that.    I did this project on Easter Sunday, it took like 30 minutes and they will have these forever.

This is my favorite.

3 Generations. Nana, Papaw, Daddy and J
 Jordan has pollen all over his hands from playing with the spring blooms.

I had a good relationship with my grandparents, I was always at their house and learned a lot from them and have many fond memories of them.  I was 12 when they passed away (3 weeks apart) and to he honest it did leave a void in life, I missed them terribly and still do.  I do not have one picture of myself with them, not one, so I wanted to do this for them and him.  Hubby also loved his grandmothers, he lived right next door to one, so needless to say he was always at her house, he still speaks frequently of them, so this project was close to both our hearts.

Until next time.

Goodbye to Clementine and Hello to Spring

My love affair has ended, it was intense and emotional, but I had to say Goodbye to Clementine.  Clementine (the 1966 Chevy Truck I found in my FIL's pasture) has been sold for restoration. The county in which I live is going to start adding the value of unregistered cars/trucks to property taxes so my FIL decided to let her go, as well a "Buck" the 1976 Chevy Truck he had.   While I am happy she will find new life, I am sad my muse is leaving.  I did go over and say Goodbye and take some final shots of her before she went on to her new life.    I got my first commissioned piece from her, a Chevy Lover from Idaho commissioned a 24x36 Black and White portrait of her.  It was beautiful, and he was so happy with it.  I must admit I was very nervous about it, but it came out wonderful and is now hanging in his office.  I am currently on the hunt for a new muse, still love the old "rustic" cars and trucks, but also find myself looking at old barns and buildings that have been vacated.  I may do a project of the older, vacated architecture in the county I live in.  I love old wood barns, not many people build those anymore, they favor tin.  Which I guess is economical but I love the look of a wood barn.

Now that Spring is attempting to come to NC.  I got to photograph some people as well, Maggie a very cute, happy little girl needed some pictures done. I have been waiting patiently for a little girl to come along so I could do something I have always wanted to do, a tea party!  I love tea sets, well dishes in general.  My BFF, calls me a Dish Whore, because I just love China.  If I get anymore sets of China I am going to need a support group. Seriously, I am not even joking.

They came out so good, and her Mom loved them and so did I.  Maggie had a great time, and was so good with my tea set.  I must admit I was nervous about letting her use it.  I explained how important this set was to me, because my mother gave it to me and she was so very careful with it.  

My son also needed some updated pictures and I love to do them in Spring or in Fall.  Last week for some reason, I decided to take a different way home, not sure why, change of scenery I guess and I found this:

I knew then this was where I wanted to do it.  I have no idea what it is, don't ask, all I know is it is pretty. Thankfully, my SIL knows the owner's DIL of said fields and asked permission for me (sometimes it pays to marry into a large family!).  It is quite fragile so I promised not trample down the middle and stay as close to the edge and they were beautiful.  

J was so good, he loved the seed pods.  He was good about staying on the path as well. 

We have a Easter Egg hunt this afternoon so I better wrap this up.  Until next time and I hope you have wonderful Spring!

Busy, Busy, Busy Part II

Has it really been since December?  Time surely has gotten away from me.  Life does have a way of getting that way doesn't it?  Our holidays were wonderful, J enjoyed his Santa visit, and had an awesome day with family.  

Somebody was good this year!

We also gained a family member this year, Sofia, a kitten.  She was born at a dairy farm near a friend's house, the owner of the farm just decided he had enough and left.  JUST LEFT, leaving all the cows, dogs and cats to fend for themselves, no food, no water, nothing.  Didn't tell anyone either.  So as the cows began to bawl and jump the fence in search of food and water and the cats and dogs begin to scavenge, people took notice.  The cows were in bad shape, animal control came and took care of them, I shutter to think of what happened to them.  The dogs were taken in by neighbors and the cats found their own place to live.  7 of them ended up at our friends house.  Sofia was named by J in honor of Sofia the first on Disney and has acclimated from barn cat to house cat wonderfully.  

We lost a family member as well, our 15 year old Beagle and my hubby's BFF, Cooper, passed away in February.  One of smartest dogs I have ever met.  My relationship with Cooper was complicated, I didn't really like him when he was younger, but once I realized he was smarter than me, we got along famously and I loved him and still miss him terribly.  Hubby is devastated by his loss.  Cooper was a awesome Nanny as well, whenever J would be playing in the yard, Cooper would sit and watch, and bark if he started to wander or do something he wasn't supposed to.  He was also awesome with the puppies, since they were his I guess I should say he was an awesome father.  He would watch them and bark if they were doing something stupid, let them chew on him, let them eat out of his bowl with minimal grumbling, and he would even groom them.  He was actually a better Mama than Ella!  There is much truth to the saying "Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog."

We had snow this year, a lot of it.  I do not like snow, really, I moved from upstate NY, where we got a bunch of snow to NC mainly because they had fairly mild winters, not this year! J and the puppies enjoyed it though, so I really can't complain.

His first sledding experience, he loved it!

 J started soccer this year, he is only 4 but wanted him to be around some kids his own age and let him run off some energy.  He has no idea what is going on, but seems to enjoy it.  The first practice, he lasted about 30 minutes and then asked to go bowling!  We have stuck it out and he is catching on.  He is the only 4 year old on the team, the rest are 5-6 and in school.  He is as big as all of them though or bigger in some cases.  This is challenging because the kids expect him to act just like them, because he is the same size as them.  You have explain that he is in reality much younger than them and not nearly as mature.  The first game I was so nervous, for him, but he handled it like a pro.  He even got out there a bit.  It takes time for them to learn and he is doing well. His coach is awesome, so good with him and the kids are great too.  I am enjoying it too, I never played soccer and know nothing about so it is a learning experience for me as well. 

I guess that concludes the catch up!  Hope to keep up with this better.  Until next time.