Back in the Saddle...Again

A few months back I decided to have all my posts on this blog bound (thank you Blog2Print!) and call it done.

Let's face it, I hadn't written since February 2014, a lot of the weight I had lost had been "found", and my last effort at a triathlon had been an abysmal DNF.  Not only was it a Did Not Finish but it was almost a Didn't Even Start.

A DNF is still trumped by a DNS.

In the months since that November morning when I allowed a big, fat, bloated, DEAD alligator gar to turn my triathlon into a duathlon, which later ceased at a 26 mile bike ride, I have done some soul searching.

Training for these events takes time.  Time, effort, dedication, desire.

I wasn't ready that day.  I wasn't even close to being ready.  Billy told me so.  A good coach is supportive, and honest.  I had used every excuse in the book to not put in the time I needed.  I arrogantly believed I could rest on the work I had put in and complete a half Ironman distance, 70.3 miles, triathlon.

So, I hit the reset button.

I could stop training and find something else to fill my time, or I could start back over.  Fortunately for me, busy season was just around the corner so I had some time to think about it.  I had finished my weekend of running for the inaugural Natchez Half (three races in two days - 1 mile fun run, 5K, and half marathon) and had no future events scheduled.  If I never competed in anything again, who would know?

Me, that's who.

Part of bring a Type A personality is finishing what you start.

But I was still hesitant.

In March I rode in our annual Belles on Bikes event.  I only did the 16 mile route but I did it without training.  And I realized how much I missed riding.

 I missed the beauty of the Natchez Trace, the peace, the tranquility, the wonders of God's creation.   Just me and my bike, rolling through the countryside.  I truly wanted to get back out there and ride; ride like the wind.

The very first triathlon I ever did was Rocketchix.  (You can read about it here http://deanneislosingit.blogspot.com/2013/11/youll-never-know-until-you-tri.html
 I enjoy all the events sponsored by the RFK Foundation, and wanted to support them in a venue change this year.  LSU couldn't accommodate the race and I wanted to be a part of it in the new location.

Even if it meant breaking my personal vow to never compete in an open water swim again.

So, I signed up, and training began this weekend.  It is a Sprint distance - 300 m swim, 12 mile ride, 2 mile run.  Race Day - July 29.

Not trying to please anyone other than myself.  Not trying to prove anything.  Still trying to achieve the perfect balance between work, life and training.  If my only mission in life was to prove to myself that I actually could complete a triathlon I could have stopped trying years ago after I crossed that finish line.

But something inside was left undone.  Triathlons can be an addictive sport. I don't know how far I'll go; how much I'll push myself.  I know I will stop one day, but it will be on my own terms.  Not because a dead fish got into my head.