More Pictures

I thought I would add a few more pictures of my Triathlon.  Ok a lot of pictures.

 

Setting up my “hotel” the place that I will head to after I finish each section and leave to start another.

Getting greased up with my numbers.  Race number 307 (which my Mom’s said were her favorite numbers) and my age. At the end of the day I didn’t want those numbers to come off.

Heading to the swimming area. I was so excited.  You wouldn’t have believed that two days earlier I was hyperventilating and sobbing in open water.  I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do it. 

My biggest supporter and love.  There was NEVER a doubt in his mind that I could do this (well, a little the Thursday before; when I fell apart at Folsom lake)  He was there at every transition, cheering me on and telling me how proud he was.  He ran to catch me and take pictures. That gorgeous smile never left his face.

 

Almost done with the swim.  It took longer than I thought, but I did it and I was so proud.

  

I had done it!  I had conquered a fear.  Swimming in open water, with my head in the water.

 

Getting on my bike.  I am on my way.

A little over an hour I was back at the transition area.  I was excited to start the last section of my day; the run.

I have pictures of me starting my run, but I wasn’t smiling and I look like I was defeated.  I like these photos of me finishing.  I am smiling.  I did it. However, I wish someone would have told me to take my ears out of my visor.  I forgot about that during the run.  They were getting sun burnt.

I finished.  

This is one of the reasons I did this.  My girls.  I wanted them to see there Mommy accomplished something big.  Kelsey was so proud of me.  She knew how hard this was for me and how much I had to sacrifice to get here.  I missed her field trips, last week of school parties, and the last day of school.  My girls always come first.  This was the first time in 9 years that I put myself first.  I did feel guilty and sad.  But I know that there will be more last days of school and field trips for me to do with them.  This was very important to me and because of that it became very important to them too.

My sweet proud Kelsey

Lorri Ann and I Holly and I

These two ladies are my angles.   They (and a lot of other coaches) have guided me through this wonderful process, teaching me to trust my mind and my body and to know that I can do anything, not matter what.  Around the end of March I started having problems with my colon and beyond.  I had had blood tests, CT Scans, Ultrasounds, Colonoscopy, I was sick, hurting, bleeding and scared.  There support and love never failed.  What I learned from these women was that I could persevere and that I was a strong woman.  I did it and I am so proud of myself. 

Two years ago I would have given up, and been ok with it.  It is my health, I need to take care of myself, is what I would have said.  Well this time I knew that if I gave up and didn’t push myself to conquer that mind game I was playing, it would have been the end.  I would have lost all respect for myself and I would have fallen into a depression.  I needed to prove to myself that I am that woman I always thought I was, but have been way to scared to believe it.  I was scared of failing.  Well I am no long scared.  For the first time in my life I can say with a smile and believe it – I AM PROUD OF ME. (thank you Mama Bootcamp)