Esprit de She v.s. My bed

I was looking forward to this event very much and was hoping for a PR (sub-1:12).  I feel like I am in the best shape of my life, although I cannot seem to have a good race to prove it to myself.   I had hopes that this would be the race.

And then Friday happened.

I was at work and my body started to ache.
I felt this instant and incessant need to go to bed.
So I left work early and did go to bed, where I stayed all day.  And all afternoon.  And all evening.
I sent my husband to Subway for dinner.

I was expecting to feel better on Saturday but  I woke up in the morning and found the only thing I was capable of doing was napping.  I sent my husband to Subway for dinner again.

Around 11:30pm, I awoke because I could not breathe.  I sprung up, gasping for air, only to realize that I was choking on puke...... if you think that is gross to read, don't imagine how gross it is to experience.  And, the proceeding events only get worse so I will spare you the rest of the details.

The fact I was sick was not shocking.  Hayden had a stomach bug last week, Brenna had a stomach bug a few days later and David got the stomach bug a day after that.  On Thursday I was standing in the kitchen, cutting an onion, praising my invincible immune system for not catching the sickness.

What I do find shocking is while David and the kids were able to poop a few times and be done with it, I was inhabilitated for days.  They eat hotdogs and goldfish crackers.  I eat spinach and kale.  How does that work?

Anyway, I knew that I was going to show up on race day morning no matter what.  I was just hoping that I could improve enough to keep some nutrition inside me - and even more so, I was hoping everything would remain inside of me during the race.

I can understand perhaps pooping yourself during the Olympic trials or something - but it would really suck to be the girl who pooped herself during a local sprint triathlon.

And here is the good news:  I DID NOT POOP MYSELF!!

My warm-up, however, included simply dashing back and forth from the transition area to the toilet.  On one hand, I was grateful to be empty.  On the other hand, having an empty tank is not a great way to start a race.

My mindset automatically changed from "try to PR" to "just have fun!"  It seemed easy enough to have fun while doing something you love.  I realized while swimming from the dock to the start line, I was wrong.

Nothing is fun when you are sick.  There was not a moment of that race when I did not want to quit.

My legs were so useless that at one point on the bike, I checked to make sure my break was not rubbing.

The finish line had champagne, massages and manicures waiting for us.  Although those are my favorite things, all I could think about was my bed.

I think I was the first athlete to remove her bike from the transition area.

After I finally reunited with my beloved bed, my kids reminded me that I promised to take them to the "ice cream store."  Ice cream actually sounded really good.  On our way, we instead found ourselves at a shaved-ice food truck.  The combination of ice and sugar magically cured me!!!

For an hour.

I realize if skipped the race, I would probably be better today.  But, whether its ice cream or a race, I try to honor my commitments.  I knew no matter what, I would live to write this post.  After all, it was just a sprint triathlon, the worst case scenario was I would have to poop.

Was my race good?  Not to my standards. I was eleven minutes off my PR.
But, the $65 entry fee came with a really nice cycling jersey.   It is perhaps my favorite piece of race-swag.
And, now I can wear it proudly because it's not the race that I skipped - it's the race that I conquered while sick.

I will just feel better tomorrow instead.

Happy Holidays!

It's been a busy, yet uneventful week for us.  I had a stomach bug for nearly 8 days, and work has kept me busy.  There are no races in my immediate future, but I am beginning to piece together my spring schedule.  Right now, I am thinking about 3 duathlons and 2 trail races.   I am bracing myself for what is always the shocking sticker price to sign up for these events.

Less if a sticker shock was Christmas. I managed to get everything at consignment shops and garage sales, including a Leapfrog learning system for only $4.  I am glad that I kept it cheap because the kids were less than enthused about opening gifts.  Don't get me wrong, they enjoyed the attention - but as little as they cared about unwrapping the gifts, they cared just as little about most the contents.

Due to time restraints, we did not get around to putting up our tree. However, the presents needed to be out somewhere so I tacked up some fake pine and some tinsel.  Look at me, I am crafty!!


Brenna got a bunch of books, a new pair of shoes, a fun puzzle for us to do together and a large coloring book with crayons:


However, her favorite thing were the stocking stuffers, which included high heels, a magnifying glass, bubbles that smell like grape, and a bouncy ball that lights up when it hits the floor.


Hayden got a ton of match box cars (as he didn't have enough), new shoes, flash cards that come on a ring so he can do them by himself and lots of books. But, only one book matters - Thomas Tells Time.   He got very excited when he unwrapped the present enough to see Thomas.  And he got extremely excited when he pulled back the paper to see that there was a clock:


Hayden really likes trains.
And he really likes clocks.


Yup.


Everyone seemed satisfied, including our cat, Salty Poo. Of course I could not leave him out.
And, he may not look excited from behind, but trust me, he cannot wait to try on his new outfit.

Just don't tell him that it's really an outfit intended for a teddy bear.