Happy New Year!

Celebration:  In the spiritual tradition I follow, dark comes before light - a day begins with the eve and the year begins anew as it cycles down into the cold and quiet. Today is the first day of the new year.   In my devotions last night, I was overwhelmed to reflect on how much love and joy I've experienced in the last twelve months as I've thrown myself into my passions: my family, triathlon, art, and life coaching.   Happy New Year indeed. 

Countdown:  OMG - the countdown says 5 days (and 15+ hours) - but still.  Remember when the number 5 in the countdown was preceded by numbers like "36-" and "24-" and even "6-"?  I'm a little freaked out because our last two real workouts (yesterday's and today's) have been rained out.  If the weather clears we may yet get our longish brick in, but it might "only" be a pool swim (while wearing a wetsuit) and a trainer ride (while watching football) today.   And then we hit serious taper mode:  easy indoor spins, a three mile run, a short swim.  Then nothing.  Then race day.  I'm to the point though that I'm excited about the race.  Glad that it's almost here.  Ready to see what I can bring to it.  Calm enough (for now).  <-- I'm sure that part will fluctuate a bit but we'll see.

Goals:  Seems like now is as good a time as any to post my goals for B2B!

• Be present, take it all in
  
• Finish injury-free (Oh - I really, really want to finish!!)  
• Pie in the sky time goal: 8:11 (An hr swim, a 4 hr bike, a 3 hr run, and 11 minutes of transitions)
  
• More realistic time goal: anything before the 9 hour cutoff!  

Other Goals:  These are my goals for this week leading up to B2B

• Try not to worry about things I can't control (like the weather, or when Shark Week starts)
  
• Pack calmly but not obsessively
• Eat well
• Rest and sleep
• Hydrate
• Foam roller and gently stretch
• Envision myself enjoying each segment of the race
• Spend time with the people I love and thank them for their support
  

Journey:  This has been such an amazing year for me.  A year ago today I was still trying to breathe in and out on a regular basis after the gut punch of losing the court case.  So much of what I had planned about the way my life would go went completely sideways.   And yet, here I am with a new career, new directions in my art and writing, and pushing a new horizon (=the half iron distance) for my triathlete self.  However it turns out next Saturday, I'm so grateful to have had this point to focus on as all the other pieces came into alignment. 


Social:  I don't really know how to be social and meet up with all of the many blogger peeps who are going to be at B2B.  We'll be there on Thursday night but not in time for the athlete's kickoff dinner.  Friday night I'm pretty sure we're going to be trying to stay calm.  Maybe Friday day at the expo or walking around?  I'm likely to be one of the few athletes with a pierced lip - so if you see me - please say hello!!  Once I figure out what I'm going to wear I'll try to post a picture so all you fast peeps can cheer me at the finish line.  :D

TODAY I LOVE:  Bit O'Honeys (unfortunately!!)