Racing

There was a time in my life that running, swimming and biking were a daily activity. Training for a triathlon was easy, even with a full time job because all there was to worry about was Bill and I and the next race/ride. We did 100 mile bike rides, bike races, triathlons, sailboat races or surfed every weekend and could devote all the time in the world to our hobbies. We were in our 20′s, early 30′s and life was truly all about us, right??

15 1/2 years ago I found out what true selflessness was all about. I had a baby and everything I thought was my life changed in the moment they put him on my arms. All sports training came to a screeching halt and my new, welcome and much loved role as a Mother began.

For 15 1/2 years I had either a baby or a toddler in the house, and had very little time for taking a bath by myself, let alone training for a race. I walked now, pushing a stroller and chatting with friends. I carried a baby in a sling everywhere I went, and “moms day out” was a rare and precious treat. With each baby I gained weight and would try and diet it off with no success. It really didn’t matter to me. Bill loved me, I had my beautiful babes and life was good, as it should be.

In August of last year my last child started kindergarten. After being at home for so long with kiddos, you would think the transition would have been like labor….hard, painful and the separation as abrupt and startling as that last push. Instead, although full of bitter-sweet and certainly a bit of saddness (alright, on my part…daggers through the heart, on hers…she LOVED it), Bill fist bumped me after drop off. It was our salute to each other and a “job well done” signal.

And I started running like a maniac.

I did the 1/2 marathon in October of that year, my kids running with me through the finish, and then set my sights on the Enchanted Rock Extreme Duathlon in March of this year. I trained hard. My body slimmed and I could feel that former me breaking out in mind and body. I started feeling like myself again. Not that selfish, 20 something, but, well, I can’t describe it. I guess mom got a life, you know what I mean???

This race was a tough one. A 5 mile trail run up and around the Rock, a 16 mile bike ride through the big hills of central Texas, and then a 1.2 mile run straight up Enchanted Rock. If you have never been there, Google it. Just hiking up it hurts. Add the other stuff before it and you have the reason they call it an “Extreme” duathlon. My goal was to finish, and I did. The last leg was a death march up, but the view was excellent!

Goals are imporTANte so after finishing I registered for another duathlon and trained like crazy. It was a 3.1 mile run, an 18.3 mile bike, and a 3.1 mile run. Whew! I raced it this weekend and got 2nd in my age division. My 15yo was my sag support and head camera man.

This summer I am racing in some triathlons and trail races, and we will make long weekends out of some of them full of camping and family time. But I will also be heading out on my own for some, 15yo as my support man, while Bill holds down the fort here. Bill says “this is your deal. Enjoy it”.

And I am, because this new phase of life we have entered is kinda nice. Our kiddos are growing up and becoming more independant, and this is a good thing, not a bad one. It is, after all, the goal we strive for as parents. So don’t fear that last one moving on to kindergarten. Embrace it! Look at your nest as half full, not half empty……and find your former self again. You may not realize how much you have missed her….and she is even better now, stretch marks, wrinkles and all. Todo bueno!!!