The Race is On!

Today, I was blessed to go on a bike ride with a good friend. On  our return trip, we slowed down to watch a doe and her two fawns cross the road. Life is good and training is fun! We're gearing up for the Go Fremont County Sprint Triathlon on Saturday. I'm ready to race again!

Well, I fnally did it! I finished my first triathlon in beautiful Cody, WY on July 16.

 

Here I am on race day. I look hot at 6:00 in the morning! Thanks for the bucket idea, Theresa :)

I knew I was ready to race. I have been training for a long time to be able to compete. At this point, I was just ready to get going. I was looking around at all the racers, and thought, "How cool is this?!" Two years ago, I would have been sleeping in, mad at the world, my husband and kids for being overweight, having no motivation, not loving myself the way others around me were, and just being miserable without ever realizing how miserable I really chose to be. Wow! I am so grateful for being at that point, because I never would have made it here without having those experiences. What's even more awesome is that I learned that I get to pick how I choose to think and my thoughts steer my path. Believe me, I have my doubts and fears...

 I am smiling here, but the whole time I was thinking, "Can I really do this? I don't want to drown. Please, don't let me drown. Can I bike after swimming this hard? Then I still have to run. What the $%&* am I doing here?" (I'm an honest blogger...lol)

I know that my thoughts become things, and I knew I didn't want to drown or not finish the race, so it was time to pivot. I put the big ol' stop sign up and shifted into a state of gratitude. I started thanking everything that was happening to me in that moment. I had my daughter with me, a good friend willingly gave me two days of her time to travel with me and support me, my body is strong and healthy, and I'm here because I choose this path. Then mentally, I shouted, "Bring it! I'm ready!" Plus, I think the camo swimsuit gives me super powers.

The result? Swam my fastest swim time ever. 500 yards in 9:26. (Thanks Jill for bringing a watch!)

 I was feeling it! I knew my swim time was decent, and my confidence level soared. Cora is supporting me...still melts my heart. If you look real close, you'll notice my shoe laces are tied. Ahhh! Okay, I actually said (yes, outloud and a little panicky), "F***, I forgot to untie my shoes!" Sorry, Cora. Thanks for not repeating that.

The bike ride was awesome! I didn't really know what to expect, but there is something so peaceful and calming about it. My ego wanted me to be scared, but once I went into my "thank yous" and powered my bike in a state of gratitude, it was amazing. I did this! I created this for myself, and I did awesome. We all have this power within us to create amazing things for ourselves. 

Here I am coming in from my bike ride. 13 miles :) I teared up a few times on my ride. Very rewarding!

Time to go for a run! The 5K was my biggest worry, because I wasn't sure how my body would react. I was a little wobbly walking out of the transition, just started jogging lightly, and then my body took over. Finished the run with the transition in 29 minutes. Yes, I'm a little confused here. Wasn't sure where to go. I got it figured out ;-)

On the home stretch! I was crying. I'm actually crying typing this. It was such a powerful and empowering moment for me. I knew I had done it. I was there. I DID IT! Me. Everyone deserves to feel the way I felt in this moment, in this race, and how I feel now.

Done! Still crying and cried afterward :) Final time was 1:34:14. I want to thank Jill for taking all of these pictures. They are powerful memories for me :)

My new goal? Finish the triathlon this weekend in under an hour and 30 minutes. It's not about competing with other people. They are my inspiration. One lady finished in 1:10:something. I could be down about not being as fast as her (that's ridiculously fast by the way...lol), but I am not. This is about me, and what DO I want, not what I DON'T want. I want to push myself a little harder, because I know I can.

Today, I encourage you to recognize those moments when you're experienceing fear, panic or doubt and put up your big ol' stop sign. Stop and pivot. Instead of focusing on what you DON'T want, ask yourself what you do want and be thankful that you can recognize that, you had the power to change your thoughts, and steer yourself on a new path of DO instead of DON'T!

Here's to happy thoughts my friends! Wishing you a wonderful day :)

Sarah

Share the Fat

Another post so soon? I know.
I shared the new blog with my husband, and he thinks I need to share a picture of where I was before this journey started for me. At first, I was a little hurt, because I just wanted him to look at it but not make comments. He explained his perspective (one filled with love and pride for me), and it hit home for me. I have come a long way. He's right. Yes, I said it. He is right. Here it goes...*Gulp*

Here I am at my heaviest, and I stayed here for a long time. That scale teetered dangerously close to my heaviest weight when I was pregnant at nine months. I look at this picture, and I tear up a little. Not necessarily so much of the weight, but the look on my face here reminds me of how miserable I was. Mentally and physically, I was struggling. This was 2008. My journey is still continuing and my adventures are overflowing, but it's good to remember where I started. We all start somewhere. I am so grateful that I can scroll down and see a better me. The "three year mind, body, and soul makeover" was worth every ounce of sweat, frustration, fear, sadness, and exhaustion. Why? Because, I get to enjoy the game now! I find joy in moments that used to make me so angry; I can laugh at situations and not take life so seriously; I can love my husband and children unconditionally; I can feel peace and I can always create more greatness for myself. The weight comes off much easier when the inside is where it was always meant to be.

The old feelings have, do and will continue to surface, but that's for another time. Still getting my history out there!

The difference makes me smile! This is me, and that smile is real (I even have a screaming baby on my hip, but it was still joyful).  Find your joy today in everything you see and do.

On a side-note, I biked 17 something miles today, and my legs felt like tree trunks. Pretty sure I know how that three mile run after is going to feel. Didn't attempt the run today. I'll just save it for race day...lol ;-) Bring on the 16th!

Happiness!
Sarah

The History--Learning to put myself first

I was told that my story is one I should share, so here I go! This mom of four was tired of being fat. 11 years was enough. In 2009, I decided to hit the workout scene. Not much change in weight or mindset, but I was doing it. I was exercising. In January of 2009, my sister, Mary, asked me if I'd run a half marathon in Jackson with her. It was a great spot for us to meet up and have some fun. I hesitantly said "yes." I was still 38 pounds overweight and hadn't run more than 2 miles on the treadmill. The race was in June. I had some time. I trained long and hard for six months. With the help of my husband, I could leave the kids and get 4 to 5 runs in a week. Even though I only lost 7 pounds the whole time, I knew I could finish the race. Finally, it was June! I ran my 12 mile training run 10 days before my race. I finished it! My feet were tired and my body hurt, but I did it. Within 20 minutes of returning home, my foot was in serious pain. I could not walk on it. I was scared, because I knew something was wrong, very wrong. We had to sign papers for our house, and I could hardly walk into the bank. Ethan looked at me and said, "You need to go see the doctor." I just cried. Signing papers in tears, I didn't care. My world was crashing down. How could this happen?! I went to an appointment and then got a scan done on my foot. It was clear that I had torn a tendon, and my running days were over until or if it healed. No healing = surgery. I decided to take care of it, and put my attention to new exercises. No more 1/2 marathons, but I did complete 12 miles. That is one of many firsts for me :) This mom of four was going to have to train some more!

I was told I could bike and swim as long as I kept my foot stabilized. I decided to start training for the swim and bike portions of the triathlon and hope that my foot would heal in time for some summer racing. I took adult swim lessons and started spinning at the gym. I fell in love with both activities and found a new drive and spirit for exercising. I watched my diet closer and started finding myself along the way. With the help of a good man, supportive friends, and love for myself, I have lost 38 pounds, and am in the best shape I have ever been in. 

My training was finally going to be put to use! Here I am with my new road bike that I just got a few weeks ago, and I'm 38 pounds lighter! Looking forward to my first triathlon. Signed up for one on July 16th. Here we go! I finished a 5k over the 4th. I'll blog and post pics about that soon :) My five year old just reported that the four year old was using a knife. Gotta run! It's all about balance. SELF, husband, kids, work. Happy training, friends!

Sarah (aka Mom of Four)