You are enough, more than enough, you matter!

This is a raw blog post tonight. I couldn’t help but write this. These thoughts and feelings stem from some personal things I’m working through, recent stories I’ve read, and things others are going through. I was lying in bed, ready to go to sleep when this feeling of dread overcame me, what if I didn’t exist anymore? In the small picture, it would matter, in the bigger picture, maybe not? We’ve all been there. At various stages of our life. The “Why am I here” ? question arises, “do I matter”? We all ponder this. Even me. Some may look at me and think, based off of social media posts or even interacting with me in person, that I would never have these questions. I’m here to tell you I do, did, on several occasions. Life can be challenging, things happen, it’s not always pretty. We don’t always see ourselves the way we think we should be. Everything around us tells us how we should look, act, feel, who we should be friends with, what types of lifestyle we should lead and if we don’t fit into that, there must be something wrong with us. I’m here to tell you it’s all a bunch of BS!
We are each here for a reason even if we may not always know why at all times. What we can also be sure of is that whoever we are is enough, more than enough. Life will continue to be challenging, ups and downs, don’t get stuck, don’t get buried, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back to being you.
When I post on social media about all the things I’m doing, don’t think for a minute that I might not be having a bad day or be upset that someone or something didn’t work out the way I had hoped. I reach inside and pull out the positive, it’s not always easy. Sometimes no matter how you look at something, from every angle, it just doesn’t have a bright side, but then you spot it, that one little corner and that’s where the positive energy comes from. Pull it out, feed off it, share it.
I’ve been learning that the best way to be truly happy is to be authentic, help others, and not try and fit into some box society thinks you should be in. Your fitness journey, relationships, lifestyle, personality doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. Some people may not understand it, may be intimidated by it, doesn’t matter. Understand that they are going through their own journey. Don’t apologize for yours. You’re your own person and you do make a difference in the world around you. You absolutely matter! Keep being the best you! Look for the positive!


Let’s go through this journey together and hold each other up and help each other out.

Hugs,
Lori

Your transformations inspire me. It's why I love what I do. Thank you!

I was reminded again last night why I work hard to put together fitness programs, workouts, and classes for all of you that will work for each and every one of you. I sit down each week and carefully think about each of you, your goals, your fitness levels and try and come up with something that is challenging, yet fun and something that is going to make you feel great about yourself, because you are all awesome! For the past three weeks BYC has been running, literally, a Train to Run program. The idea is not to become the fastest runner in town, I mean if you do, hooray, if you don't, that's good too. The idea of the program is to get you interested in running as a form of exercise that hopefully you don't hate and to give you something you can set goals to, like running/completing your first 5k.
This program isn't exactly new, I ran it a few years ago. I had nearly forgotten about it until one of my bootcamp students started talking about how she'd like to get into running. So I dusted it off and we got started. This is a small group, however the encouragement they give each other is huge! When I see them complete what I set out for them after they swore they couldn't do it, its amazing!
Your transformations of attitude and mindset as well as physical are what inspire me to keep working with your best interests at heart. When I hear things like: "I did that", "I feel so much more confident", "I want to run my first 5k", "I don't have that same fear of falling", "I noticed I have muscles", makes me continue to love what I do. You are all Fitness Rock Stars! You can do it!  Keep up the great work!

Thank you for continuing to be my inspiration!

Yours in fitness,
Lori

Are you a superhero?

Hi everyone,
I posted this a couple of years ago and decided to re-post as I think we need to continue to be superheros in our own way.

Wonder Woman, Thor, Justice League, the Avengers, we are living in a world where we are drawn to these movies, because, yes the action and CGI are amazing, but in uncertain times, we deep down wish that these superheros really existed in our universe. That these beings with special powers who want to save mankind could swoop in and make everything alright with our world. But what is a hero, what do all of them have in common?

A hero is defined as:

he·ro
ˈhirō/
noun

1. a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

So based on that definition of a hero, one does not have to be able to fly, shoot lasers from your eyes or webs from your hands, or have super gigantic muscles and smash things.
Let's take a look at who some of these figures actually are. Superman and Supergirl are from another planet, Thor comes from another universe from the Gods. Wonder Woman, Black Panther and Aquaman are of this planet, but also have connections with the Gods. Spiderman was bitten by an irradiated spider, giving him special abilities and The Hulk was caught in a gamma radiation blast that makes him a green smashing machine when angry. Batman and Ironman are both ridiculously wealthy humans with no special superhuman powers except that they have the resources and knowledge to create with technology superhuman suits and gadgets. These commonalities run throughout the superhero universe. They are from other planets or universes, they were created by the Gods or connected to the Gods, they had some kind of accident that gave them abilities or they were created here by the use of knowledge and technology. These things make them special, but what makes them a hero? As the image states above, they all want to use what they have for the greater good and it all starts with a kind heart. Those qualities make a superhero a hero. 

Are you a Superhero? What qualities or abilities do you have that you can use to make the world a better place one small or big piece at a time? What do you do everyday that makes someones else's day just a little brighter? Do you smile at everyone you meet, do you lend a helping hand or let someone know they can count on you, do you make a donation to an organization that is doing good work, or call your politicians when you think they need to vote a certain way? You don't need a cape or mask or super abilities to be someones hero. A superhero shirt might help, just kidding. You don't need to be wealthy in the monetary sense. You just need the desire to use who you already are to work for the greater good using kindness.

List one thing below in the comments section that makes you a superhero. I look forward to seeing what everyone is doing to make this world a better place in their own special way!

Now, if you do want to add the hulking muscles or ability to run, swim, or smash like a hero, then let's get down to business with the following workout:

3 Sets 12-15 Reps for each exercise, use your desired weight

3-5 min warmup (rowing/running)

1.   Side to side wide squat

2.   Squat with Arnold hold into a press

3.   Chop lunge

4.   Reverse lunge-hammer curl-front kick

5.   Mountain climbers

6.   Deadlifts

7.   Bear crawls

8.   Single arm row-triceps kickback

9.   Pushups

10. Regular crunch

11. Reverse crunch

12. Plank 30 sec each

3-5 min cool down

Be a Superhero today!

Yours in Fitness,

Lori

5-Day Body Blast Challenge Ramped Up!

Last year I challenged you to take the fitness 5-day challenge. I know many of you took this on, rocked it and have done it a few times throughout the year. You're awesome! The original challenge was a 5-day circuit completing the circuit once on day one and ending up with five times through by day 5. We kept it simple using body weight movements and no equipment except a mat.  It's time for a new challenge.  I've taken the original workout and ramped it up! The idea is the same. Complete one round of the circuit on day one...add a round each day until you are doing 5 rounds on day 5. This workout is meant to be done every other or every two days.

Are you ready?

Warmup

10 jump squats
10 alternating plyo lunges
10 bear crawls
10 crab crawls
10 spiderman pushups
15 triceps dips
20 step ups
10 burpees
10 double crunch (reg crunch and reverse crunch)
10 up/down plank

Stretch

I'm posting the original workout below so you can do them both. Post your comments below or on the BYC FB page https://www.facebook.com/BYCLoriMurphy/ on your progress!
Let's do this! I'm working out with you and will post my progress along with you!

First fitness 5-day challenge:

Warm up

10 squats
10 walking lunges
20 jumping jacks
20 mountain climbers
10 pushups
10 triceps dips
20 high knees
20 butt kicks
20 bicycle crunches
30 sec plank

Stretch

I know you can do it!
Yours in fitness,
Lori

Pushing yourself to your limit

First off happy to be back! Let’s face it, I’m a terrible blogger. Ha! That’s okay, it means I'm busy doing stuff!
So how many of you want to do something, or you even start something and then get to a point and say...”I can’t do it?” We’ve all been there. The thing is, you can do it. You need to commit to whatever that thing is, start it and then when you reach that point where you want to give up, throw in the towel, stop or just plain quit, you need to remember why you wanted to do this in the first place, reach deep inside and know, really know that you can finish. Maybe it's not the finish you were envisioning, but you finished it, you completed it, you proved to yourself you wanted it, committed to it, focused on it and did it!

Last year I had committed to my very first triathlon. I registered and had no idea what I was in for. I knew it would be challenging, but I trained for it and was confident I could complete it and not only that I decided that I didn't want to go into it with the "I just need to finish" attitude, but with a clear finishing time, which I met, to the minute! Did I have the moment of "what have I gotten myself into?" YES! I had many of those, but once the race started, my thought process changed. As soon as I went over the swim timing mat, I was all in, literally. I took on the triathlon, like anything else. I started it...I would finish it. It was helpful to have others all along the way pushing me, telling me to keep going, almost there. I needed to tell myself the same thing, just keep going until you run over the finish line.

This year I have signed up for my second triathlon and having completed the first, absolutely know I can do this! There will be changes, an open water swim for example, which I'm a little nervous about, but I know that my head will be in the game as soon as I plunge into that water.

I am being faced with a new challenge this year, however, this one is really pushing me to my limits and has made me "almost" want to quit. I ran the National Women's 8K last April and decided that I would sign up for the half marathon in 2019. It's now 2019 and we are a month away and Yikes! I've never run a half marathon, I've never run a 15K or 10K race. I've stuck to 5K & 8K. Those are not half marathon distances, at all, nowhere near it. Again, I've had the "what was I thinking?" moments. I continued running through the winter, although not as much as I'd of liked. It was cold out there this winter, AND I hate treadmill running! I figured I would need to up my running mileage. I knew I could do 3 & 5 miles so I started going 4 & 6, then I made it to 7. Ok, well that's half-way there. What was next? Umm 9 or 10 miles. I've only ever run 8 before, once, I think. So I set out this past Wednesday evening with the goal of running at least 9 and hopefully 10. I broke it down to 1/3rds. Do the first 3 miles, then you only have (2) 3 mile blocks left and so on. Sounds simple enough...
Ha ha. Right! In my first block of 3 miles I was already slow. I run with a beats-per-minute music and I wasn't even keeping on pace from the beginning. I felt like I was already doomed. But I kept at it. Somewhere around mile 4 I got side cramps and the thing that sucks about those is not only are they painful and make you want to walk, but the only way for me to really get over them is to keep the running going so I get into a breathing rhythm. I pushed on and finished the first loop of my course. I finished it with a new strategy. Keep running and only look right in front of you, don't look too far ahead, it will only discourage you. So I tried that. I could still feel myself getting slower, but I pushed on. Again at some point I needed to slow down and walk a bit. One thing I will never, ever do is stop completely. I will always keep moving forward. Mile 6, mile 7, made it to 8. Anything more than this will be a first for me, so whatever I do now will be an accomplishment. Mile 8.5, that was it, I'd lost steam. I was tired, it was getting dark/late. I was on my way home now. Couldn't quit, still needed to get home! Walk a little, ok, run. Just hit mile 9! Most I've ever done! I walked the next .75 miles until I was just .25 from home and just wanted to get home so started running again. 10 miles! I had done it. I was feeling beat up, tired, wanted to throw-up. Everything hurt. Got myself home, drank some water and just sat down. Couldn't move, stared off into space. I was spent. My only thought was "How am I going to do 3 more miles in the race?" "I'm doing this half, but never signing up for another one, no way, no how."
I went to bed, I didn't even eat. The next morning I was actually feeling fine. Yes, my legs and core still were sore, but I had some energy back. I always find it amazing how you can push your body until it almost collapses, and yet, it probably could still go more and how quickly given rest, it will recover. It's our mind that gives out first. During my run I had to play my own version of Jedi mind games. First it was stop looking at all the cyclists quickly streaming by you, you can't go that fast, you're running, not on a bike. Don't worry about the people running past you, it's not a race. Yes, keep looking at the cherry blossom shuttle stop signs and make the next one and the next one after that your target. Keep looking on the ground in front of you, one step at a time, don't worry about what's in front of you. It'll be faster to get home if you just run there. Always pushing. Moving forward. Not throwing in the towel. Not quitting.
I will need to do this run again before the race. Oh joy! I have given some thought though on what might help me feel better and be more successful. Running this mileage NOT on a day that I've already walked to/from work (5 miles). I mean when you think of that, I did 15 miles on Wednesday! Making sure I'm hydrated. Maybe NOT running the day after I've done a workout like swimming 1,100 meters (Tuesday).
The half marathon is in a month. I CAN do it, finish it, and maybe in roughly the time-frame I'd like. Those are my goals. I will dig deep and pull out everything I have to run the 10 miles and then the last block of 3 to complete the half marathon. It may not be pretty and I may be dead to the world the rest of that day, but I will have finished and known that I didn't quit! I will have accomplished a goal. I really may not sign up for another half, but this one will be in the books for me to go back and say, "yeah I did that."

I can do this and so can you. So the next time you are on a quest to do something, have started it and just aren't sure you can finish...keep pushing yourself. Whatever it takes for you to keep going until the end. You can and you will!

Stay strong and motivated my fitness friends!

Post your accomplishments in the comments below. Let me know what you almost gave up on, but didn't because you knew you wanted it and kept working at it!

Yours in fitness,
Lori

Because You Can Fitness

The year of tri-ing new things...what are you waiting for?

Ever wanted to...fill in the blank. What have you wanted to do that you've never done before? Why haven't you tried it? What is holding you back? Is it something you don't know how, don't have the time (or think you don't), a fear you haven't overcome, something you are worried you will look silly doing? We all have those thoughts when we think about doing something new and lots of times it holds us back from something that we might actually enjoy, like or even be good at.

I have gone to new places, tried new things and overcome fears while doing them. Growing up I was a pretty shy kid and even as I became an adult, I struggled with doing new things. I remember that I wanted to fit in with any of the groups of kids in school. I got along with most everyone, that wasn't the problem, but I didn't really belong to any groups. By high school though something changed in my attitude and I got it into my head to tryout for everything, or at least it felt like that. I tried out for basketball and cheerleading, I auditioned for parts in a couple of school plays and for a solo part in chorus. I didn't get any of them, but I did act in a different part of a couple of plays and I did sing in the school chorus. Trying out for these things terrified me.  I was really disappointed that I hadn't gotten any of those things, but I can look back on and recognize that what may have seemed easy for some people, I had overcome the fear and tried.

Unfortunately by college I had lost some of that I can do this attitude. I think there are some factors that play into this, up until this point I knew most of my school mates, now I was faced with all sorts of new people, and I think as we get older the fears get larger. Now embarrassment comes into play more, the "what if I look dumb in front of these people". I had to overcome the speaking in front of a group, because we had to take speech class, I felt pretty good if I could do a speech on something I liked, but other things I was less familiar with, didn't have a passion for, was much more difficult. Most of my classes I didn't really have to face any obstacles, but two things do stick out in my mind. One class we needed to drive the school van with a boat trailer on the back and successfully drive in, turn around and back it up. I really didn't want to do that, I was scared I wouldn't be able to do it, I'd look dumb and my classmates would laugh at me. So I somehow got out of it, I think by saying I'd already done it. Now, this would have been a very handy skill to have.  The other one, was for another class where we had to perform the shoot don't shoot drill. I was absolutely terrified. I got out of that too. I kind of wish I had done that one also. Who knows, maybe I would have been good at it.

As I've gotten older, I've traveled all over the world and tried lots of things, knowing that if I didn't I'd miss out and I didn't want to miss out on something that could be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Sometimes it helps to have people around you that want to do those things too, so there is the encouragement and knowledge that you will have an experience you can share.

When I decided to become a personal trainer and group exercise instructor I needed to overcome the speaking to groups of people, cause how could I teach a class otherwise? And for certifications you are tested on doing just that. Funny thing I still get nervous sometimes, but that's okay, it just means that I really want to make sure people are getting the best out of what I have to offer.

This year I have consciously decided though that this will be the year of tri-ing new things. My first triathlon was one of those things and if you want to read about my road to triathlon I wrote about in my last post. There were lots of new things about that, but I got up my courage, trained for, completed and found the whole experience amazing! So much so I'm ready to go for it again.
I finally got a tattoo, I'd only been talking about it with my sister for years. And last weekend I finally tried paddle boarding. Yeah I know, why did it take so long? I don't know. I had wanted to try it, looked like fun. I remember when I went from canoeing to kayaking, I had actually resisted trying that. I really don't remember now why, but eventually I did it, loved it, bought a kayak and now go all the time, well as time allows. So I decided to try paddle boarding, but I decided I would do it by myself. I was afraid of falling off in front of someone. lol Silly, I know. I think my biggest fear was getting on and then standing up. So I searched on YouTube (they have everything) how to get on a paddle board, watched a couple of videos and then felt this was something I could manage. I took myself to a place that I'd gone with a friend kayaking the weekend before and rented one. The attendant had me kneel and said try it that way for a while. I did and then when I felt a bit confident, I tried standing,  I was wobbly, but managed to do it, then back to my knees. I went to a really calm section of water and went back and forth from knees to standing and sitting. I stayed out on the water for 2.5 hours! Came back home and ordered an inflatable paddle board. Oh and by the way, I never fell! I can't wait for my board to come so I can go again!


What we need to keep in mind is that all those things out there that you see other people doing, they all had to try it first. Everyone has been in the same position you are for that first time. And so you fall or trip or get scared, it's ok. You tried. I went snorkeling with manatees with someone and this person doesn't swim. This was their first time trying this. It didn't work for them, but I was proud of them for trying. Maybe it means another time it will work for them, or maybe they don't want to try again. It's okay, if they had never tried, they would have never known.
Don't let those moments pass you by, try them, who knows, maybe you'll really enjoy them and then your life will become even fuller.

Here's to trying new things!

-Lori

My road to my first triathlon

This past weekend I completed my very first triathlon! This was the inaugural Women's Philadelphia Triathlon. It was an incredible experience and I may actually compete in another one.😲
How did I get here you might ask. What made me want to  compete in a race with three disciplines? Good question. This journey actually started several years ago, like 7 I think. I was still a member at the local YMCA and had made friends with  a couple of ladies that decided we should start running races and also that if we were already doing that and swimming and spinning that we should compete in a triathlon. I was on board with that. Why not, sounded like fun. I did run my first race, an 8k with one of my friends and was signed up to do another race in New Orleans, that I ended up not doing. That was my only race I've ever not done once signed up.

Somehow the idea of doing a triathlon got lost over time. One of my friends has been consistently competing and is a triathlon rock star. I then left the Y and the triathlon idea lingered but I didn't put much effort into doing one. I continued with some small running races every year, usually one or two a year, and always 5K's until this year when I ran another 8K. I can't remember how it happened exactly, but I had started looking around for a triathlon that looked good for a newbie, that wasn't so popular that it would be full of elite competitors and that wasn't too far away. And going on the theme of not so popular, I didn't want a triathlon that I might actually know anyone competing. I know that sounds really strange, but it's that weird feeling of, I don't want someone I know to see me do something for the first time. I kind of had that same thing when people said maybe we should come see you, when I did this one and I said sure, just don't tell me until after that you are here. lol
There were a couple that sounded interesting, but I just couldn't commit. Then I happened onto this one. It sounded perfect. It was new, women only, pool swim and only 2.5-3 hours away. I signed up. I decided if I was going to race a tri this was my best option for my first one and it turned out no one I knew was going. I had also entered into the Just do it (Thanks Nike) phase of my life. My just do it things included traveling to a friends beach resort in The Dominican Republic by myself, getting my first tattoo, signing up for my first half marathon (remember my second 8K, this was the first year for that event along with a half marathon, so I decided I'll do that next year. Yikes, but I have time to train.AND doing my first triathlon.

So what did I need for a triathlon? Well fortunately I was already swimming, biking and running, and I had a swimsuit, bike and running shoes. I did decide to get a better swimsuit as the one I had was a bit stretched out and although I used goggles, hadn't used a cap before, don't laugh too hard, I put on backwards my first time 😂 I looked into joining a triathlon club, but decided that since I was only doing one, that I would just save my money and train on my own. I came up with a plan, it wasn't as aggressive as some. I know people who train for theirs by swimming, spinning, and running a couple times a week, going for at least one open water swim and also going for a long bike ride on the occasional weekend. I was doing well if I got in one or two swims, one bike ride and one run a week. I did make sure to do a couple of brick workouts, which I had to look up to understand that it just means putting two or all three things together in one workout day. So I did a swim to spin and then two bike to runs (that was hard, legs felt tired by the run). I also trained hills on my bike, and I'm glad I did as there was one this weekend. I mostly trained with music but ditched it as it closer  because rules state NO music devices allowed. This was a little challenging and is where pep talks come in or counting one two or something to stay motivated. During this training I was still trying to keep up with my strength training which if I was teaching classes made it easy, however when I wasn't I needed to make sure I got those in. Cross training is important anyway, and just as important if you are training for any other sport. I think I did pretty well with my training and realized as the race date got closer that I probably wasn't going to improve on speed, but made sure I could feel really good with distance, so I usually trained longer distances in all three. However I did need to know my rough times for each thing and based on that set a goal that I wanted to reach to complete the entire event; 1 hour 30 minutes. I was just over that by 5 minutes, I am happy with being that close to my goal. Yes, I did set a goal, I had many people say the goal could be to just finish your first one, and I understand that is a good goal, for me though, I really wanted to put a time to it.

Training by myself turned out to be fine, I do a lot of my workouts alone. I see where training with others though could be motivational and a little more fun. Especially on long bike rides or having someone to pace a run with. Swimming is solitary by nature, it's not like you can talk to the person next to you. 😀 Being part of a team or at least signing up with someone else does make the event as a whole more fun, you have others there doing the same thing as you cheering you on as you cheer them. That is one thing I would certainly change for another one. The atmosphere at this race was AWESOME! The people all cheering for everyone automatically made you a part of a group of people none of whom you knew. That's a fantastic feeling!

Leading up to race day I was getting nervous. Not entirely sure why. I had trained for this. I was comfortable with swimming, cycling and running. I think it just had to do with logistics of the event, more than the event itself. Driving up to Philadelphia, where was I going, would I get there when I wanted on Saturday for that days events? Would I know when to be where and how all the courses would go?  Fortunately they sent out a great big athlete guide that I downloaded, printed and highlighted, yes, I still highlight. It had everything in it. Any questions I didn't see an answer to, I messaged them, and they responded right away. I also watched all of their social media videos of how this would go and questions with answers. These were super helpful. It was also becoming apparent that the people putting on this event wanted the overall theme to be fun. Yes, you had to abide by certain rules, but they wanted to make sure you didn't get so stressed out that you had a bad experience (they had a psychologist there on hand if needed) and of the 1350 registered athletes, over 600 of us were new. They completely recognized this.  By race weekend I had watched these videos, read the guide more than once, and made sure I knew where I was going. I got everything packed two nights before and rechecked the bag more than once, maybe three times, making sure I had everything. I had my plan of what I was going to wear for each thing (most people in triathlon buy a tri kit that they wear for the entire thing, I didn't and I didn't need a wet suit (score!)) I practiced taking off and putting on the different pieces, so it would go as smoothly as possible come race day. I packed everything up and drove up to PA on Saturday. The traffic made the travel time a little longer than I had hoped, but I made it just in time to check in and listen to the first meeting. I missed the open swim, which was fine and the panel, which I think was fine as well. After the Q&A, I decided to take my maps and walk around getting a feel for where each event would start and finish. I also looked at the pool and went into transition where I decided I would rack my bike the night before.We were assured there would be armed guards on the premises to watch the bikes. I also figured that was one less thing I would need to worry about the next morning. After I felt comfortable with the area and what I needed to do there, I left and went to the hotel. I walked around the parking lot to figure out my route out of the parking and onto the route back to the race. My biggest worry by this time was just parking the next morning as I was still a bit unsure of exact parking places. So I decided I would get there as early as possible, which meant getting up really early, which ultimately meant going to bed really early 😐

Race day started super early, but because I went to bed early, got up early, and I got to the event early meant I had no trouble parking, one more thing not to be worried about. First thing was to check on the bike and take all my stuff (helmet, goggles, swim cap, clothes, shoes etc..) and set up in the proper spot next to the bike (you mount the bike on the rack by the seat, so stuff goes under your neighbors back tire and to the left of your front tire). By then I was chatting with the people around me and took another walk around now that more signs and barriers had been set up so I could get a better feel for how it should all go. I then went back to transition and kind of hung out until 30 minutes before the swim was to start. It was picture/selfie and chatting time. People were asking the volunteers about stuff and we got our body marking done (race number on each arm and age on the back of one calf). That made it interesting to walk around and see what everyones age was.
A half hour before the swim was to start the transition area was closed and we all made our way towards the pool. About 15 minutes before we put ourselves behind the swim time sign that best fit our time for completing 400 meters, which was then changed to 350 meters due to a lane marker challenge. And we waited until it was our turn to start the swim. I met a girl who was also doing this for the first time and said they have us jump in two at a time, want to jump in with me? She was all for that, although after we hit the water I lost her for the rest of the race. Having watched from the pool deck the chaos that was the pool swim, I figured I'd just have to do the best I could going around people. I hit the water, started my strokes and just pushed on forward, between, and around until I finished snaking my way through the pool. Arms and legs collided, and at times I had to slow or stand and wait as people got bunched up. I distinctly remember about halfway thinking to myself this is a fight or flight moment and I could understand where someone might panic as it was a bit of a mess, but I plowed my way through (as nicely as I could). I had a job to do and complete.
Once out of the pool it was time for T1 as it's called. Transitioning yourself from swim to bike. I changed clothes, put on shoes, helmet, etc and grabbed my bike and as soon as I got to the mount your bike line, I did and I was off. This is my strongest discipline. I made up time, I cruised as I could although trying to remember not to push my legs to failure cause I needed them for the run, oh right, the run. There was a gradual hill at the end, so I knew I needed to keep some energy for that. I had lost all track of time in the pool, I wasn't quite sure where I was on the bike course. As strange as it sounds I remember saying to myself, oh I've never been so happy to see a hill, cause I knew that was almost the end. As I went up the hill I tried to encourage those that were struggling. It wasn't the hardest hill, but it was still a hill. Dismount the bike at the line, T2 and time to run. Ugh! This part I had trained, this part I knew would be challenging and it was. I did keep myself running the entire way and had a better idea of my time and knew I was within my goal time. I just kept going and as the finish came in sight, oh wait, that wasn't it, and came in sight again and the crowd was cheering and as I neared the line I heard my name, I just shot off like a really slow rocket and crossed over the finish line of my first triathlon! What an accomplishment, 8 years after I said I wanted to try a tri, I had not only tried, I'd completed and in my goal time! It's an amazing feeling to complete a goal that you had created and worked hard for. I have to be honest and say after the adrenalin started to wear off I almost cried. I knew all along I could do this and I knew what my body was capable of. I knew that there were family and friends cheering for me virtually and yet it was a surreal feeling to know that I had finished. When I was swimming I didn't think of anything but getting through people without causing harm. When I was biking I had time to think and told myself that I was almost 2/3's done. When I was running I was telling myself there's one mile, done, two miles done, 3 miles done and everyone else was telling me the finish is there, keep going. I walked back to transition to collect my stuff and of all the people I talked with the day before and the day of, telling me if this was their first or third or whatever. And telling me like Sarah, who jumped into the pool with me that she was runner and thought why not learn to swim and do a triathlon, or even the lady that said, I backed out of the swimming this time and will do the duathlon, and the triathlon next year. Of all those people the one lady that summed everything up for me and should be the message for everyone out there that wants to do something for themselves was a woman who said, I do everything for everyone else, my kids, my husband, my family, friends, my job, and I did this for me. It's my first triathlon and I don't remember the last time I felt like this. I did this! I said yes, you did and you did it for you! Way to go!
We congratulated each other and moved on.

This accomplishment was a long time coming, but I did it and so can you. It doesn't matter if it's a triathlon, marathon, going to the gym, vacationing by yourself, whatever goal you create. Remember you can do it, you can do anything! Live a can do, just do it life! Live a for me life! A this is my one shot life! Life is a gift, it can be long, or short. Do with it what you can in the time you are given. I'm so thankful for the opportunities I'm given in order to make the most of this gift.

Will I do another triathlon? Most likely there will be another one in my future, but for now, I train for the half marathon next year that I talked myself into signing up for. Why? Because I can!

Love and gratitude,
Lori