What's in a Name?

9.25.2009

the mayhem

I think we are finally entering normalcy for the family. Since school has started we have been adjusting to a lot of new schedules and new responsibilities while maintaining a lot of our commitments from summer. This has been a challenge. But I think we are finally starting a period where our lives will slow down.
We still have school and preschool (with two carpools to juggle each day while trying to get Isabel her requisite naps) and Devin has homework most nights. We still have soccer for Alex twice per week, baseball for Devin three to four times per week and the random play dates, doctors appointments and volunteer duties.
However, our guests have left, my triathlon is done, Isabel had her ear tube surgery, and much of the 'back to school' craziness (which was compounded when I offered to be Devin's Room Mom) has passed. While most of those things were wonderful (we certainly LOVED having our visitors, and I really felt like all my training paid off for my race), we are all ready to take a communal deep breath and relax.

9.20.2009

my race report

I did it! After taking time off to get pregnant, have another baby (number three) and nurse a broken leg (while said baby number three was merely three months old and my 'big helpers' were three and five respectively), I trained for and competed in my eleventh triathlon. It was a lot of fun, and it was a lot of work. I followed a pretty challenging training plan for this race, but I am quite proud that I didn't get as crazy about training as I have in the past. I guess I have finally learned that putting the needs of three or four other people before mine will not ruin my race. But I definitely put in the effort and it paid off.
My swim was okay. Solidly okay for me. I came out in the top quarter of the women in a time that was a little more than what I would have liked. But I felt good in the water and it was pretty uneventful other than jockeying for position at the turn and at the end. My bike was a little more interesting though. One of the downsides of being a decent swimmer is that you come out of the water with, and sometimes in front of, a lot of really strong triathletes. Then when these competitive athletes make their comeback move on the bike they can be so focused (or so unconcerned with others? maybe so out of breath from the swim?) that they don't give you the courtesy of a shout out as they pass. Sometimes this is no big deal, but one woman came within six inches of my handlebars without so much as a "boo". But rude bikers aside, I had a really strong bike. I can credit my fast time in some degree to the unleashed Rottweiler at mile twelve who decided to run along with me for a block or so. He certainly helped to shave some seconds off my time, as I shot by the bikers in front of me like they were on a leisurely Sunday ride instead of mid-race. My run was about what I expected. I would have liked to go a little faster, but I did fine. And I could not keep the smile off my face during that run! I just kept thinking, "I'm back! I'm doing it! I am so excited to be racing again!!" I finished the half mile swim, fourteen mile bike and three mile run in one hour and forty minutes and placed fifty-third out of one hundred sixty-nine women.
If this keeps up, I might have to change my blog name from Midpack Mama to Top Third Mama. =)