Less than a month to go...

It has almost been a month since I blogged last, and now less than a month until my first ever Triathlon! I have had some bumps in the road lately... I went on vacation for a week. I had to miss 2 BRICKS, one of which I made up and the other I didn't :( I missed one swim too. Recently my grandfather passed away. He died July 12th... it was a Tuesday (my lake swim days)... I spent the day with my family who all encouraged me to go to that swim that night... I decided that is what my grandpa would of wanted me to do... It ended up being the hardest swim ever. It is really hard to concentrate on something when your mind is not into it... I am working hard to get back on track and finish this triathlon thing with pride. My Papa Jerry would want me to keep going and do my best! He was amazed at what I was doing and I know he will be there with me race day!

BIKE: Last time I wrote we were up to a 7 mile bike ride... well this past Saturday we did 11.5 miles!!!!!!!!!!! In the area we bike, there is always going to be hills! I still hate hills, but I have learned to get through them without complaining all the time! :) This weekend was a very nice sunny day! Those days make the bike rides so much more enjoyable... I really didn't feel like I went that far! I didn't hurt afterwards! I am beginning to really like biking. I am hoping to maybe save up for a road bike... they seem so nice but are so expensive... I think it will be a fun thing to get though... on some of our training days I have other ladies tell me things like "I don't know how you get that mountain bike up those hills." lol.. I just laugh cause I really have nothing to compare it to... one day? lol

RUN/WALK: We are up to the 3 mile run/walk... I have been walking most of it... I really want to get running and I know I will be there some day... might not be for this triathlon, but I will get there! :) The point is that I am moving right?

SWIM: We are up to 4 laps which is 800 yards, almost a half mile. If I compare myself to how I was on day one, I am getting a lot better at this swimming thing... it is really hard when we are training and I am half way finished with my laps and a lot of people are done and leaving already :( Lisa tells me I need to get that out of my head... that it doesn't matter how long it takes me to swim as long as I finish! I know that in my head... I just wish I could magically be fast at it! I even wish I had a wetsuit! lol... one day? lol... I am liking the swims a little more though...

Next Saturday we are doing a mini triathlon... not sure what to expect but I am sure glad we are doing one of these. We are ready I know... but putting all 3 things together is going to be interesting! I need to get a new suit though. The swimsuit I have is a girly one with a skirt..lol... that doesn't work well in a triathlon where you got to just put your bike shorts right over your suit when you get out! So I will be looking for one this week for our mini tri!

A fellow tribabe posted an article for us to read and I copied this section that really spoke to me the most and is how I am feeling now:
"I’m not the fastest, but I’m no longer the slowest either. I’m making progress. If I quit, I’m letting my insecurities win. I’m letting the people telling me I can’t do something because I can’t run 6-minute miles, because I don’t go out and run 13 miles every weekend, because I don’t wear a size small race kit that I’m not a true runner, cyclist, swimmer, or triathlete. I won’t get better and be where I want to be if I throw in the towel. You can only go faster, go longer, get stronger by training and practicing. I’ve accepted that I can only do what I’m physically capable of right now and I must appreciate my body for it’s capability to do just that.

I can run. I can cycle. I can swim. It doesn’t matter the speed, because for so many people, they can’t do any of that. I am working one step at a time and one race at a time. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do what so many people can only dream of doing. I shall overcome."

Thanks again for reading! I appreciate all the support! I am going to work as hard as I can to get my head focused once again and finish this thing as enthusiastic as I started! :)