“He
who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
The
year has begun as a mixed bag. Fortunately
it has been more good than bad, and it is only the beginning of the year. This is my year; I am throwing down the
hammer in all aspects of my life, not just with my racing.
THE GOOD:
I
have not one, but 2 sponsors for this year’s race season! CycleOps/PowerTap asked me to come back as a
sponsored athlete for 2014 and I was recently chosen by Hammer Nutrition. I am very blessed and humbled that such
incredible companies would choose me to represent them. They both sell amazing products that I use
and offer incredible customer service.
CycleOps is known for their bike trainers and virtual training
software. PowerTap is the brand to
choose if you are in need of a power meter.
PowerTap even offers power on a budget with the PowerCal. I own a Fluid 2 trainer and use the PowerCal.
Hammer Nutrition has some of the best fueling, recovery, and supplement products on
the market. I use many of their products
and can attest how well they work. My
favorite supplements are the Premium Insurance Caps, Mito Caps and Race Caps
Supreme which makes up the Daily Essentials Kit. They serve as the foundation for my
supplement program. My favorite fueling
source is Hammer Gel in peanut butter flavor.
It gives me the energy boost that I need with a touch of protein.
If
you have never tried or ordered directly from Hammer Nutrition, CLICK HERE to
receive 15% off of your first order! The
15% does not include shipping. All of
their products come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. And when you call, you will not be placed
into an annoying phone tree, you actually get to speak to a real person – a person
that is very knowledgeable about all of the Hammer products! So yah me for having 2 awesome sponsors.
THE BAD:
Since
the beginning of January I have been fighting a very bad case of bronchitis, or
what I like to call the crud. The crud
has lingered for a month and I am just finally getting back to my old self. Unfortunately the crud caused me to miss 4
days of work and multiple days of training.
Missing 4 days of work wasn’t too bad since I have a back-up who can do
my work when needed. In regards to my
training, I don’t have a back-up, and training for Ironman Mont Tremblant is
not going to train itself. My coach and
my mentor had to talk me off the edge because I was freaking about how much
training I had missed. I know for me to
be successful at IMMT, I need all the training I can get, especially in the
water and on the bike. In 3 days I will
have exactly 6 months until IMMT. I’m
trying to keep myself calm, but it’s hard to do when I feel as if my back is
against the wall. I know I am placing unnecessary pressure on myself, but that
is how I am.
THE UGLY:
Even
though my mom is on two Alzheimer’s medications, the disease has progressed
recently. Not to the point that I feel
concerned about her living on her own, but to the point in which I have
realized that her medications can only do so much. Recently she has been referring to one of her
deceased brothers in the present tense.
I don’t even try to correct her because all that would do is upset
her. I just let her talk and wait for
the right time to change the subject. I
am just praying and hoping the disease keeps progressing at its current slow rate. The medications that my mom is on are allegedly
effective for 2 years. This is year
number 2.
One
of the things that have helped me to cope is my neighbor’s cat, Sophie. Sophie is a beautiful tabby cat that has
adopted me. Sophie’s owners keep her
outside, so she is kind of the neighborhood cat. She would usually visit me when I would pull
up in my driveway. I would let her jump
into my vehicle with me and I would hold her for several minutes. At times she would try to come into my home,
but I wouldn't let her. In the past
month it has been very cold and Sophie has been outside. My husband, Mr. Adams, decided that we needed
to bring her inside.
Sophie
has been visiting with us ever since. I
love all animals, but I have never considered myself a cat person. Sophie has changed all that. She follows commands, is very affectionate,
loves to play, and knows when I am feeling down. Sophie refuses to use a litter box, but she
will go to the door to let me know when she is ready to go out, and stands by
the door when she is ready to come back in.
Surprisingly my neighbors have not come looking for her. Mr. Adams and I went to speak to the owner
after the first night we kept Sophie.
The owner was not alarmed and was rather cool about it. I know sooner or later I will need to meet
with the owner and discuss transferring ownership to Mr. Adams and me. We have both grown attach to her and love her
very much. She is part of our family.
I
am still raising funds through the Alzheimer’s Association’s Athletes to
Alzheimer’s to fund research, care and support.
If you would like to help me reach my $10,000 goal, please CLICK HERE.
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