My journey

I wanted to share just a bit of my journey into the world of triathlons.

After the birth of The Princess, I slipped into Post-partum depression. Months and months later, after trying various drugs and therapies, I thought I was "cured". Better, so to speak. I got on with the every day routine of having 2 kids to care for, and a sweet, hard working husband.

But I couldn't lose the extra baby weight from the last pregnancy. I tried running and although I was successful (by my standards, not anyone else's) I didn't like it. Too hard on my knees, and honestly, it's boring. And I wasn't losing weight.

I tried a personal trainer for 6 months. We only met twice a week, and while she was good, it wasn't what I needed.

And still, I hated my body. It was a constant thought of mine-how overweight I was. It did not occur to me at the time, but I was fairly obsessive about it, which is not normal. Not normal at all. I went to bed every night thinking how I hated the way my pj's didn't fit like they used to, and I woke up every morning, thinking what am I going to wear that fits? It took Scott to point out to me that my obsessing was not healthy, or normal. That bit of advice, however correct he was, was not well received.

It took several trips to the OB/GYN before I realized what he had been telling me all along: I was depressed and I needed to be on meds. So I started on Lexapro.

And an amazing thing happened: I was interested in life again. I was able to start something and finish it. I wasn't so moody and angry all the time. Now, this wasn't an overnight change. It has taken months.

How does all of this fit into my triathlon training? I was ready to begin exercising again, and I wanted to do something other than running (whether on the treadmill or outside on the trail). Now that I had "me" back (welcome back, me!) I was ready to try something new and challenging.

The opportunity came up for me to join a group of friends who were training for their first (or second) triathlon. We were provided with a 12 week exercise guide and I jumped in. It was intimidating at first, as my friends are the type of people who enjoy running marathons. I enjoy sitting on the sidelines and cheering on the marathoners.

I discovered that I love to swim. In the beginning, it was my worst event of the three (swimming, biking, and running) but now it is my best and my favorite. I have worked my way up to 1200 yards at a time during practice. 1200 yards, people! I could barely finish half a lap when I first started!! Look at me! I have accomplished something and I like it!!

The bike leg is now my worst event, but I'm working on it. I think most of it is mental: I get out there on the road by myself in a race and I start telling myself how tired I am, how windy it is, how hilly the road is.

Physically, I can do a sprint triathlon. Mentally, I'm still working on parts of it.

I'm currently training for my third triathlon. It has even crossed my mind that m a y b e next summer I could try an Olympic triathlon (longer distances than a Sprint).

I have not lost much weight (which can be very distressing if I let it be) but I have toned up and slimmed down. I've lost a dress size, and now feel so much more confidence in myself.

I'm a triathlete! Me! The one who was so terrible in sports in high school. I held the title of "Benchwarmer" for several years. Me! Who has never ever ever been good at sports, has found something that not only I like, but I'm good at!

Which brings me to karate. I LOVE karate. It requires a lot of practice, but it's so much fun. Karate also led to my latest discovery, which is not so good.

I look like SpongeBob.

Seriously. The karate studio has floor to ceiling windows and I was staring at myself during warm-ups the other day. And I realized that I look like SpongeBob. Large shoulders (swimmer's shoulders), then I taper off. There is no distinguishing waistline--just my yellow karate belt where my waist should be. *sigh*

So, I'll keep training for tris, and hopefully, I'll lose my SpongeBob-ness.

My favorite job

I love being a mom.

Yes, there are challenging, pull out my hair moments. There are also the gross me out, this is going to make me vomit moments. But, really, I love it all.

I enjoy driving my kids to their activities/camps/practices. I don't enjoy the fighting, but I do like listening to them giggling in the backseat. Those giggles are precious, sweet moments that I tuck away in my heart. Then on the bad days, I pull out those memories and those giggles and I remember that I DO love these kiddos and they really are sweet, kind, fun people.

I like going in and meeting their teachers/coaches, and finding out what they've been up to all afternoon. I like seeing their artwork, seeing where they sit, who they like to sit next to.

I like hanging out in the school library and talking to other moms. I like helping students find the book they are looking for. I like getting book recommendations from 5th graders.

I like arts and crafts projects...even the messy ones. Glitter everywhere. Marker on the table. Smiles on my girls' faces. Artwork I can hang on the fridge, or in the hallway, or in my bedroom.

And I love the snuggles that I get from a sleepy child who needs some one-on-mom time. Or the sweet little hand that grabs mine as we walk through the parking lot.

This is the best job I have ever had. And the toughest. And the most rewarding. It's not easy by any means. Especially when the girls can't get along. Especially when I'm a grouchy bear. Bu, really, it's amazing.

I was designed by God to be a mom.

The Persistent Princess

Learned something about The Princess this past Sunday at church.

The sermon was titled, "Learning to Pray...the Jesus Way; A Seminar on Prayer". It was based on Luke 11:1-13, but the part that caught me was based on verses 5-10. It's the Parable of the Persistent Friend.

Persistent is a word that describes The Princess perfectly. She can wear you down.

I had an "ah-ha" moment during the sermon. Pastor Ted was explaining that the persistence of the man led to his neighbor giving him bread so he could properly entertain his guests. The man banged on the door of his neighbor's house over and over, eventually pulling the man out of his bed. And he got the bread he was seeking. He took it home, and properly entertained his guests. He was not shamed because he was persistent.

That, as the pastor explained, is a shameless persistence. It is asking, seeking, and knocking until there is an acceptable answer.

That's how The Princess lives her life. She will ask questions over and over, seeking the answer that she knows is there. She will rephrase the question, turn it around, ask a leading question, ask another question. She gets frustrated with you if you don't have the answer she is looking for. She will not stop until she is satisfied with the answer. "I don't know" is NOT an acceptable answer.

As much as this personality trait wears me out (on a daily basis) I love her for it. And I pray she applies it to her spiritual life.

The sermon notes ended with this, "God wants us to ask often and to be persistent - if we can expect a reluctant man to give what was needed, how much more can we expect our God to give us what we need?"

And now, I apply it to my life: I will be persistent in my prayers to handle this sweet Princess the right way. I will persist in loving her, even when I want to scream and give up. I will ask Him over and over and over for guidance and wisdom to raise this beautiful child who has an amazing story to write with her life.

And I expect Him to give me what I need.