I’m so very lucky. That’s what I spent this weekend thinking about. Life is pretty darned good.
I spent a lot of my life feeling very sad most of the time, so now I am hyper-aware of those times when I am decidedly NOT sad. When, in fact, I am happy. This weekend . . . happy.
Saturday, my team had an “on-your-own” swim at Aquatic Park in SF at 9:00 am, so I decided to go a little early and get a run in ahead of time. The sun was out, the day was warm, people all around me were getting their fitness on. After the run, I met up with teammates at AP and had the longest swim I've ever done, a solid 2 miles in 71 minutes. I felt pretty proud of that. After the swim, I learned that a teammate had brought coffee and bagels for us to enjoy. This was the best day!
Other things that made Saturday amazing:
My chest felt tight with my joy at the day. There’s just so much good in my life. Here’s another list (because lists are good) of all the assorted goodness:
Sunday, amazingly, more joy. We had a double brick up in Yountville: 30 miles of riding, 5 miles of running, and repeat. The folks who have a race coming up sooner than mine did a triple brick. I was done before 2:00 pm, but slower teammates and those doing the triple had a longer day. It didn’t matter, we waited.
It was 109 degrees in the sun, but we spread out our mats on the lawn of a park under the shade of a few redwood trees and talked and laughed and stretched and cheered teammates in. What makes Team in Training good:
There are plenty of reasons to be less than happy. For instance, the current BART strike is making my commute 80-90 minutes rather than the usual 35. This is not ideal, when I have so many better things to do with my time.
There are lots of people around me struggling with very hard things right now. Maybe they are fighting cancer, or maybe poverty, or violence. I empathize with them, and spend my work time filled with the mission to make other people’s lives better.
But when these times come up when I can see and reflect on my own happiness, I have to grab it and revel in it and share it, and hope that by doing so, it grows and impacts others.
So very lucky -- to get where I’ve gotten and be where I am and do what I do, and to have all of you along with me in this journey too!
I spent a lot of my life feeling very sad most of the time, so now I am hyper-aware of those times when I am decidedly NOT sad. When, in fact, I am happy. This weekend . . . happy.
Saturday, my team had an “on-your-own” swim at Aquatic Park in SF at 9:00 am, so I decided to go a little early and get a run in ahead of time. The sun was out, the day was warm, people all around me were getting their fitness on. After the run, I met up with teammates at AP and had the longest swim I've ever done, a solid 2 miles in 71 minutes. I felt pretty proud of that. After the swim, I learned that a teammate had brought coffee and bagels for us to enjoy. This was the best day!
Other things that made Saturday amazing:
- Warm enough for a sun dress, no jacket
- Managed a beach change into the sundress without scandalizing tourists or teammates
- Lunch outside (Outside! In SF!) with teammates
- Arnold Palmer with lunch, mmm, summer
- Sports Basement shopping spree where I bought: 1) the running shoes that will take me through the Ironman; 2) adorable brown wedge sandals; 3) cute top; 4) running shorts with little pockets in them that are short-short, and make my legs look long-long; and 5) much nutrition.
- Mani-Pedi back in Oakland
My chest felt tight with my joy at the day. There’s just so much good in my life. Here’s another list (because lists are good) of all the assorted goodness:
- I have a good job that pays me well enough that I don’t have to worry too much
- I live in a place so extraordinarily beautiful that even after 10 years here (officially, in August!), I still feel pride and surprise and wonder when I’m out and about
- I have old friends I love, and new friends to get to know better
- I’m healthy
- I’ve found activities that challenge me and sometimes suck but are always good (by this I mean triathlon. And also dating.)
- I get to be outside on weekends training and pushing myself to new heights
- I have a bed that is extremely comfortable that I love to curl up in at night
Sunday, amazingly, more joy. We had a double brick up in Yountville: 30 miles of riding, 5 miles of running, and repeat. The folks who have a race coming up sooner than mine did a triple brick. I was done before 2:00 pm, but slower teammates and those doing the triple had a longer day. It didn’t matter, we waited.
It was 109 degrees in the sun, but we spread out our mats on the lawn of a park under the shade of a few redwood trees and talked and laughed and stretched and cheered teammates in. What makes Team in Training good:
- Camaraderie
- Team spirit
- Support
There are plenty of reasons to be less than happy. For instance, the current BART strike is making my commute 80-90 minutes rather than the usual 35. This is not ideal, when I have so many better things to do with my time.
There are lots of people around me struggling with very hard things right now. Maybe they are fighting cancer, or maybe poverty, or violence. I empathize with them, and spend my work time filled with the mission to make other people’s lives better.
But when these times come up when I can see and reflect on my own happiness, I have to grab it and revel in it and share it, and hope that by doing so, it grows and impacts others.
So very lucky -- to get where I’ve gotten and be where I am and do what I do, and to have all of you along with me in this journey too!
Week 33 Mileage
Tuesday, June 25 Cardio - 1 hour (elliptical) Wednesday, June 26 Run - 35 minutes, 3.75 miles Core - 20 minutes Thursday, June 27 Bike - 1 hour 30 minutes, 20 miles Friday, June 28 Rest day Saturday, June 29 Swim - 1 hour 15 minutes, 2 miles Run - 55 minutes, 5.75 miles Sunday, June 30 Bike - 3 hours 15 minutes, 59 miles Run - 1 hour 50 minutes, 10 miles | Totals: Swim - 1 hour 15 minutes, 2 miles Bike - 4 hours 45 minutes, 78 miles Run - 3 hours 20 minutes, 19.5 miles Cardio/Core - 1 hour 20 minutes Total - 10 hours 40 minutes |