Ten Things I have Learned on this Journey so Far

Here are some random thoughts that have crossed my mind as I continue my journey to Ironman 70.3 Augusta.

1. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to develop a triathlete.  There is so much to learn about triathlons, and I am very fortunate that I have such a great village of people who are so willing to help and encourage me along the way. 
2. It is important to enjoy this journey since no two journeys are the same.  I am having such great experiences and I am learning a lot about myself as a person and as an athlete.  Augusta will be here in due time. 
3. When it comes to training, I have to be flexible.  Life happens and at times it will conflict with my training schedule.  I have learned to prioritize and modify my workouts when needed.
4. Recovery is a key part of training that so many athletes choose not to do.  I diligently try to be in the bed between 8:30 pm and 9:00 pm so I can get at least 8 hours of sleep.  I wear recovery sleeves/socks after a hard running workout.  Furthermore, I am a firm believer in listening to my body.  If something feels off, I am backing off for the day.
5. Every workout will not result in a breakthrough, but there is always something to learn. 
6. No matter how detailed of an explanation that I give, some people will never understand why I do triathlons or why I am training for a half Ironman.  And that’s ok.  As long as I understand and I have my husband’s support, that’s all that matters.
7. I can’t do it all.  At the beginning of this journey I was managing things fairly well, but then the duration of my workouts began to increase and more of my time was focused on training.  I had to make the hard decision and step back from activities that I truly enjoyed, but no longer had time for. 
8. I have to trust my training and myself.  When I did the Tavern I was so nervous about the open water swim.  So nervous that I decided to have a Swim Angel to help me.  Even though my Swim Angel helped me to be comfortable in the water, I had to trust that I had put in enough time in the water to get the swim done. 
9. I can’t compare myself to other triathletes.  Some people are more athletically gifted than others and we all have our strengths and weaknesses. 
10. My faith is more important to me than ever.  On those days when I feel discouraged, I turn to scriptures and inspirational/gospel music to lift my spirit.  Some of my closest moments with God have been while I have been training, especially running.  I know for me to conquer Augusta it’s going to take more than just my training and athletic ability; it’s going to take He who is within me.