Well, I am blogging from my Louisville hotel room! I woke up at 5 (after going to bed at 8 pm) and decided to go ahead and get up for the day. Better to be on race schedule and take a nap this afternoon than to get all out of whack.
All kinds of emotions and thoughts as we arrived in Louisville. I could tell that Paul was sad not to be racing this year. I am sad that he is not racing with me too. The extra training time was nice, but not having my best friend out there on the course will be hard. Watching him & the kids make signs for me was really cool. I know I have said it before but I truly do have the best husband in the world.
He has given me the training time to accomplish my goals, given me pep talks when I am doubting myself, helped me fundraise for Garrett's Wings and most of all put up with all my wacky emotions and whims over the last 8 months! So, I here's to my husband & best friend!!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Proof that I do swim right!
LOOK AT THAT STROKE! I was in the paper today (yay!) Read my cool story here:
Monday, August 25, 2008
The talk
Mary Sunshine (a blogger on the Team Louisville Board) posted about having "the talk" with yourself. That talk that identifies what you will call on when it gets hard and your body wants to stop. I mean every bone in your body wants to STOP NOW.
Last year my talk was about proving myself. It was about empowering myself, determination, having fun, sticking with it, being a powerful, strong role model. I was all about - PAIN, WHAT PAIN?! I will keep positive and prevail!
This year is so different. The journey of doing this race to honor Garret has given me such a different perspective. This year my talk is about determination, keeping going when it's hard, feeling the pain, dealing with the pain, and then going some more. When it gets hard, I mean really, really hard I will think about Garrett holding on as long as he did, then I will think about Renee and Scott, and how they get out of bed every day. Every month they face another anniversary of Garrett's death. Every year, for the rest of their life they will face Garrett's birthday. I am so proud of how they have dealt with their grief, how they turned their sorrow into Garrett's Wings and created hope for other families.
So, this year, bring on the pain.
Last year my talk was about proving myself. It was about empowering myself, determination, having fun, sticking with it, being a powerful, strong role model. I was all about - PAIN, WHAT PAIN?! I will keep positive and prevail!
This year is so different. The journey of doing this race to honor Garret has given me such a different perspective. This year my talk is about determination, keeping going when it's hard, feeling the pain, dealing with the pain, and then going some more. When it gets hard, I mean really, really hard I will think about Garrett holding on as long as he did, then I will think about Renee and Scott, and how they get out of bed every day. Every month they face another anniversary of Garrett's death. Every year, for the rest of their life they will face Garrett's birthday. I am so proud of how they have dealt with their grief, how they turned their sorrow into Garrett's Wings and created hope for other families.
So, this year, bring on the pain.
Friday, August 22, 2008
94 women
So, there are 94 women in my age group this year (that's up a lot from last year). Top half would be great, which means I need to come in 47th or greater. Any of the folks that have heard me speak about goals before are going - HEY KATI, that's an external goal, you can't control what other people have done to train! That is correct! So, my #1 goal is to finish the race and have fun. #2 is to match or beat my time from last year #3 is to be top half of my age group. If you all are tracking me and see 12 hours on the screen when I finsh (very unlikely, but if all the stars align & everything goes perfectly it could happen) know that I am doing a very happy dance!
For all those that would still like to donate to Garrett's Wings (by the way, again I must say thank you so much to all those that have already donated!! It means the world to me & to Renee and Scott!!) there is still time, all donations must be in by next Friday (8/29) you can donate online HERE. Or email me at kati2kids@yahoo.com for information on how to send a check.
For all those that would still like to donate to Garrett's Wings (by the way, again I must say thank you so much to all those that have already donated!! It means the world to me & to Renee and Scott!!) there is still time, all donations must be in by next Friday (8/29) you can donate online HERE. Or email me at kati2kids@yahoo.com for information on how to send a check.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Taper madness
So a week from today I will be in the van barreling towards Louisville. So far taper has been alright, a little nerve wracking since I have a bunch of things to wait for: the race, my newspaper article STILL has not been published to aid me in my fundraising (at this point I'm not sure it will help w/ my race but it will help get the word out about Garrett's Wings), we don't have class assignments OR SOL scores yet.
Good thing I have RETAIL THERAPY to calm my nerves. Who needs a shrink when you have a credit card? : ) I have shown better restraint than last year, but I am one more day of waiting away from a new helmet, maybe a nice pair of socks . . .
Good thing I have RETAIL THERAPY to calm my nerves. Who needs a shrink when you have a credit card? : ) I have shown better restraint than last year, but I am one more day of waiting away from a new helmet, maybe a nice pair of socks . . .
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The bridge
There is a bridge over the Roanoke River that I ride over often while riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I dread crossing this bridge every time. It is high up, all that is separating me from crashing to my rocky and watery doom is a metal railing. Now I know how to successfully cross the bridge, I just keep looking straight ahead to the end of the bridge. If I can just keep my eyes on the end I am fine and actually enjoy zooming across one of the only flat sections of the parkway. Here is the rub, I always seem to take my eyes off the end and look down. That's when the panic sets in.
As I was crossing the bridge yesterday I was thinking of how much my IM training & taper is like that bridge. If I can just keep focused on the race and positive thoughts I am fine. I know that at the end of this journey there is success waiting for me. I know it. BUT, it seems that I keep looking over that edge and letting the doubt and negative stuff take over. I haven't done enough, what if I am slower than last year, I haven't raised as much money as I wanted to, and on and on. That's when the panic sets in.
So, for my next 2.5 weeks I am going to try really hard to keep my eyes on my success. I know how to get to the other side, how to stay positive, how to keep that panic at bay. Just don't look over the edge.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
TAPER!
Well, taper begins today. I am glad, but as always feeling like I should have done more . . .Oh well, at this point it is what it is. The big bummer is that with taper I have to cut back on calories : (!! I love my eating!!
I was talking about taper w/ one of my clients and he reminded me that my taper is still a lot of exercise for most. I will probably be at around 10 hours this week, down to 6 or 7 next and almost nothing the week of the race. I guess it's all about perspective!
I was talking about taper w/ one of my clients and he reminded me that my taper is still a lot of exercise for most. I will probably be at around 10 hours this week, down to 6 or 7 next and almost nothing the week of the race. I guess it's all about perspective!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Doing Great Things
I was on the bike the other day (it seems all my great revelations are on the bike huh?) and was all grumbly & beating myself up about the race. I actually said to myself - man, I thought I was going to do great things this year at Louisville. (thinking I was going to train for a 12 hour race) I used my "this is not helping" techinique and low and behold - I realized that I HAVE done great things already this year.
On a hike the other day I asked my 8 year old daughter if my IM training has been easier on her this year. She said it has been much easier this year. I told her that one of my goals for my training this year was to be a better mom & be a better Ironman at the same time. She told me that I HAVE been a better mom this year. (I ofcourse cried)
I asked Renee (Garrett's mom) to write me some little inspiring messages to read during the run part of the IM. I was good and did not read them yet, but her note on the outside said (I made Paul hide it & the others so I wouldn't peek, so I have to paraphrase) you are Garrett's legs, he tried and tried but they failed him every time.
No matter what the finisher clock says, I've done things a lot greater than a 12 hour finish over the last few months.
I am $700 short of $3000, which is the absolute minimum I want to raise (I want to raise $15,000 but time just hasn't been on my side) through the Janus Charity Challenge Donate $10 or $100 now, whatever you can. Help me continue to do great things.
On a hike the other day I asked my 8 year old daughter if my IM training has been easier on her this year. She said it has been much easier this year. I told her that one of my goals for my training this year was to be a better mom & be a better Ironman at the same time. She told me that I HAVE been a better mom this year. (I ofcourse cried)
I asked Renee (Garrett's mom) to write me some little inspiring messages to read during the run part of the IM. I was good and did not read them yet, but her note on the outside said (I made Paul hide it & the others so I wouldn't peek, so I have to paraphrase) you are Garrett's legs, he tried and tried but they failed him every time.
No matter what the finisher clock says, I've done things a lot greater than a 12 hour finish over the last few months.
I am $700 short of $3000, which is the absolute minimum I want to raise (I want to raise $15,000 but time just hasn't been on my side) through the Janus Charity Challenge Donate $10 or $100 now, whatever you can. Help me continue to do great things.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
