FLA 70.3

It seems I can't go more than a couple weeks without a vacation to plan. My sister called on Monday & said, "Did you know the FLA 70.3 is at DISNEY?" *Keeping in mind here we just returned from our disasterous Disney Marathon 3 weeks ago. Sure, I knew & even wanted to do the race b/c 2 of the girls that are doing Louisville (IM) with me (I also coach both of them) are doing that race. I was sure my darling husband would not go for another trip to Disney.
Wrong! We have now totally changed our schedule for the 08 season to include FLA 70.3.
Updated schedule:
Angel's Race 4/13 - C Race
Smith Mountain Lake 5/3 - C Race
FLA 70.3 5/18 - A race
Louisville IM 8/31 - A race

We will be looking for either some century bike rides or an international distance race in late June/ early July to add to the list.

My NEW Bike

My new bike matches my tattoo!! What you should first know is that I LOVE my tattoo! I waited and waited to have a good reason to get a tattoo and finally decided that the IM was my good reason. I got the fleur de lis in the middle of the M Dot to represent Louisville, the location of my first IM. My tattoo is big, bigger than I expected but I LOVE it. I get all kinds of flack for having a tattoo, having such a large tattoo, putting a ‘brand’ on me, blah, blah, blah. As I said, I love my tattoo, it reminds me of my inner rebel and it reminds me of that perfect and wonderful day last August when I could do ANYTHING.

So, imagine my delight when I arrive to pick up my new road bike, a sleek 45 cm. Cannondale six13 Feminine and it has - right in the middle of the top tube - an abstract little swirl that matches my tattoo. Now I love my bike too! It represents a new chapter in my life.I have always been afraid of biking, outisde that is. I could ride on the trainer forever. Cars, bumps, deer - there are endless number of things waiting to make me fall and get hurt outside. But this year is different. I have decided to become a biker. I will overcome my fears, or atleast quell them and ride outside to train. I will learn to LOVE and look forward to my outside rides.

I have set my goal at 4000 miles in 2008. That is 2000 miles more than I road last year. It is a lofty goal, but now all I have to do is look down at my top tube and remember that I can do anything I set my mind to & I have the tattoo to prove it!

Marathon Recovery

I’m not sure what will take longer to recover, my body or my ego. The WDW marathon was a hard lesson in humility for me. This was my first complete fall apart race. For the very first time I was truly not sure if I could physically finish a race. Don’t get me wrong, I have wished for many a flat tire and secretly thought a twisted ankle would be a blessing during a few tri’s in my time but I always knew in the back of my head that I would finish.

As the miles wore on and I was reaching for something - anything to get me through those God awful last few miles I tried every mantra and inspiration I had used during the IM. “I am strong” “I am stronger than this hill” “I will finish the IM in PERFECT TIME” - NOTHING!! I thought about my friend that was struggling through the loss of a child and the strength she has shown - still I was barely pushing on. Finally I remembered a shirt I had seen at the start of the race - “It’s better to finish DEAD LAST than not to finish at all.”Somedays you just survive - other days you thrive. Training & racing will surprise and humble you with both.

Now, off to get on the bike. . . IM season has begun today.