What A Difference A Race Makes

It's been 3 weeks since the big CapTex Triathlon where I completed a one mile open water swim across Austin's Town Lake. **I have one week left for you to donate, so go to my donation link to the left and do it now! I'm back in training (race to be determined) and I swam last night for the first time in 3 weeks. I'm less than thrilled to be back to the pool facing all the bad side effects of the chlorine. At least I'm not swallowing it now. I must say showing up to the first day of training was alot different this round. I can remember the evening of February 16 like it was yesterday. I was driving to my very first swim feeling the impending doom of wearing a tight fitting Speedo over my super white body as well as that oh so attractive swim hat in public. I was so sick to my stomach all I wanted to do was turn around and go home. Last night I showed up to the pool in my new, super cute, red & black, Nike swimsuit as a "veteran triathlete." As you know, looking the part is my number one priority. This time the only thing I was worried about was my awful bike short tan line that will probably never even out. Those big white rings around my thighs certainly don't help out in the appearing thin department. Last night, a whole new group of trainees arrived. They were obviously feeling very self conscious and worried about what they had gotten themselves into. One of those self conscious people was none other than my hubbie, Bradley P. He walked out in the Speedo I convinced him to purchase by assuring him he would look no different than any other guy there & I was right. Apparently there is no difference in the way a girl feels walking out in a Speedo and the way a guy does. Girls wonder how fat they look and why the suit doesn't cover more. Guys wonder why the suit has to be so tight and "revealing." It's also the one true time that a guy has to deal with the "muffin top," which I personally feel is small, sweet victory for chics dealing with the muffin top issue on a daily basis! There is one common thread between the guys & dolls. Both promise themselves they will never ever eat again because the roll of flab around your stomach is so embarrassing you can't get into the pool fast enough. As soon as that swim is over, you are so hungry and that promise goes right out the window. Oh, well. C'est la vie! All one can do is try try again!

The Swimsuit

My swimsuit fashion has certainly evolved over the years. When I was in high school and college, I would have never entertained the idea of wearing a one piece swimsuit and I can assure you that a swimsuit with a skirt was absolutely not an option. My stance on this fashion decision has been dramatically altered due to two distinct factors: 1.) I no longer have the body of an 18 - 21 year old and have long since given up trying and 2.) You can't do an open water swim in a skirt and especially not in a bikini! That's right. I will be swimming in open water - not racing in a swimming pool - the day of the triathlon. Specifically, I will be swimming in Austin's Town Lake, which I hear is quite chilly on Memorial Day so I'm hoping for blue skies and RAINBOWS. Swimming is the first leg of the triathlon. I will be swimming 1 mile followed by a bike ride and ending with a jog and it will all be worth it when we (me and all of you that are supporting my efforts by donating) get to give Community Partners of Dallas a big fat check! In 1993, Community Partners of Dallas opened the Rainbow Room which meets children's emergency needs for resources, including clothing, shoes, formula, diapers, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, birthday presents and school supplies. These items are distributed through the Dallas County caseworkers. Since it opened, the Rainbow Room has served more than 90,000 children. Community Partners of Dallas has been so successful with this program it is now being replicated across the state and is currently underway in more than 130 cities in Texas. You can be a part of keeping the Rainbow Room a success by supporting my swimming efforts. Can't decide on how much to donate? How about donating 1 penny for the 5280 grueling feet I'll be swimming across Town Lake. That's $52.80 for all you math wizzes like myself! Ladies, this is so much easier than going swimsuit shopping. Just click & donate! As always - If at first you don't succeed, try try again!

Reality Check!

Well, reality has completely set in. I realized what I've committed to doing is so far beyond any level of athleticism I may possess that it's laughable. I'm training for the "Olympic" distance triathlon. The word "Olympic" should have been my first red flag especially since it is synonymous with world-class athletes. What this boils down to is I will be swimming for 1 mile, biking for 25 miles and running for 6.2 miles in that order. Through my rigorous training, I've determined I'm approximately a little less than the halfway point on all three of the activities. It takes me an hour on any one of the three activities just to make it midway. World class athlete I definitely am not. Terrible at math I definitely am. I keep calculating how long I will actually be competing in the race. At the rate I'm going it could take me 6 hours to finish it! Hopefully my math is off - way off. So I'm turning my thoughts from this little "mini crisis" I'm mulling around in my tiara adorned head to something much more positive. Did you know that Community Partners of Dallas has a program called Kids in Crisis? This program provides emergency funds for transportation, housing, enrichment activities, clothing, therapy and medical expenses for children in relative care or in their own homes. Kids in Crisis serves more than 5,400 of Dallas County's abused and neglected children annually. Now I can do that math and the reality of it is Community Partners is making a huge impact in the lives of a lot of kiddos. Speaking of checks, this is a really good time to write one. Do some simple math like $1.00 for each mile I will complete. This equals $32.20 for those math challenged individuals like myself! Always Remember - If at first you don't succeed, try try again!