Finishing is Winning!

So most people know that since May my adventurous Aunt Cheryl and myself have been training for a triathlon. The competitive person inside of me this entire time has wanted to not just "finish", but wanted to really impress myself with my time/results amazing athletic ability.

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Well let's face it. I am a fashionista, not an athlete by design. I don't like sweating, getting dirty, and especially getting my tennis shoes dirty (stupid cross country trail!). I even like putting on a bicycle helmet instead of wearing my cute pink baseball cap even less.

The running portion of this journey has been a mental challenge the whole time. The first time I went running with Adam's cousin Tim and I told him what my end goal was but that I was only able to run for 45 seconds and then walk 2 minutes. He chuckled said...."yeah yeah...I'll fix that in a few weeks." He never yelled or raised his voice yet every time I have been running with Timmy it is always the "hardest" run I have ever been on. I can proudly say that I can run close to two miles with out stopping. Considering less than 2 1/2 months ago I couldn't run for more than 45 seconds this is a big accomplishment

In regards to the actual course for this event, I have only run the course for the 5K portion of the triathlon 3 times. To say the first time I ran it that it was hard is an understatement. The next week I went with my aunt again and I really felt good about it. This past Tuesday was a disaster. It was humid, I had ran around all day before we worked out and just really struggled through out the entire course. I am hoping this struggle has helped mentally prepare me for the 5K portion tomorrow in the full triathlon.

The biking portion of this event has been the funniest adventure I have ever been on with myself. Needless to say, I was a pool girl growing up. I lived at the pool all day and hardly ever rode a bicycle my entire childhood. I have come along way since the first practice when I met my aunt and her triathlon group at the greenway and we got on the bike and I fell over 3 times in the course of one mile. I can now proudly say I can bike six miles usually with out having to stop. This portion of the race has me the most concerned tomorrow, so let's hope the wind is on my side!

Can I just say I love swimming! :) Practicing the swimming of this triathlon has been so much fun. I think it goes back to your childhood of spending your summers in a pool at swim practice, swim meets, or hanging out with friends that just always makes me happy. I am hoping my practicing with just using my arms in freestyle these past months will help me when my legs have given out after the run and bike.

No matter your work schedule, travel schedule, any goal you set you can make the time to accomplish it. I have managed to find time to work out for this triathlon in Long Island, NY, walking with my big "sister" Wendy who is training for the 60 mile Susan G Komen walk when I am traveling in the South Alabama area, and just working out in a lot of hotel gyms.

Even though every practice Cheryl and I have done together she has told me we just need to "finish", I honestly didn't believe that was good enough until this past Tuesday's workout. If last year you would of asked me to run a 5K , bike a mile (not including the other five miles), and then swim a 400 I would of laughed at you and told you that you were crazy.

I am very proud of the major steps our group (Cheryl, Harmony, and myself) have made together. We have come a long way since that first practice on the greenway. We have learned that it's ok to have mud on your calf after you run the cross country course even though it still grosses me out. It's ok to ride your bicycle and pass a water bottle between each other and not completely crash on to the side of the road....and more importantly Cheryl can beat me swimming as long as her flippers are on! :)

I am looking forward to a fun morning tomorrow with two inspirational Mom's who continue to show me that patience with yourself, love, laughter (and maybe a few curse words) will allow you to conquer anything.

I am honestly ready to hear the words "On your mark. Get set. Go!" but more importantly I am ready to hear the voice in my head when I cross the finish line saying "I finished a goal at times I thought was impossible and this is something no one can take away from me and I am proud of my accomplishment. You are a winner Michelle!"