...But I HATE Swimming!!!

It makes me want to cry.  It makes me want to sit at my desk and do work.  It makes me want to stay in bed. 

Give me 75 minutes in a yoga studio...no problem.  Give me 4 hours on a run...no problem.  Give me 18 minutes in a pool...I stand by the sidelines shifting back and forth from one foot to the next.

I am not afraid of the pool.  I have been doggie-paddling since I was 5!  But I HATE lap swimming.  I am so consumed with my form not feeling right.  Am I moving my hand right?  Am I lifting my shoulder correctly?  Am I breathing properly?  Am I rotating my hips correctly?  Am I using my thighs and not my knees to kick?  Am I even kicking?!!!

I am pulling every psychological trick in the book to get this baby to click for me.  I bought a new swim suit.  I have a friend meeting me at the pool so that it's a little social.  I put it on my calendar to make myself go. 

And I'm going twice a week.  And my endurance is even improving.  But I just don't like it.

Next up...I am going to hire a REALLY good coach to videotape me and explain the physics behind swimming.  I really hope this works.

Love at First Sight

It had been ten years and I was still recovering from a bad relationship.  For a long time, I was not even sure that I would want to give it another try.  However, this year, I decided to get over my fear and give love a chance.  And then, I met her...yes, HER....  I was reluctant at first, but I was encouraged to give it a shot. 

Meet my 2011 Trek Madone 3.1 WSD Womens Road Bike.

As a child, a new bike was the biggest treat.  It was the big gift you got for a momentous birthday.  It meant you were a big kid when you got to move up to the bigger bike.  It brought a sense of freedom and independence.  I would spin my wheels as fast as I could so I could come tearing down a hill as if it was my own personal roller coaster. 
But then, as a poor adult just having graduated from college, I "splurged" on a cheap mountain bike.  It made my quads ache from the inefficient pedaling, my hands hurt from the vibration, and my frustration grow because riding just no fun.

So, when it was time to purchase a bike to get me through this new stage of triathlons, I went ahead and sprung out for a full carbon performance bike.  I didn't mean to.  I had originally budgeted for half the cost and planned to get a decent aluminum bike.  But when I took her out for a test spin...  Drool...  LOVE.

I instantly LOVED riding again!

I noticed how smooth of a ride I had.  She was amazingly responsive when I took her quickly around tight turns.  In addition, when I had to climb a hill, it was no big deal.  And lastly, I was comfortable. 

The Madone 3.1 is the newest entry-level carbon bike by Trek.  The geometry of the bike is set that it's between "comfortable" and "aggressive."  The Shimano 105 groupset comes standard on the bike and is very well received for beginner to intermediate riders.  The cables in the front of the handlebars were wrapped in nice and tightly compared to some of the other bikes.  In addition, it was offered in a women-specific design, which I took advantage of because of my proportions (long legs, short torso).

I wanted to make sure that I was getting a bike that I wouldn't outgrow too soon considering the chance that I am eyeing a potential Ironman sometime in my future.  On other words, this may be a serious lifestyle change.  For all this, I think I got the best bang for my buck.  And best yet, unlike swimming, I am looking forward to my next bike ride.

Groovin' with Lance HerbStrong

While waiting for Morcheeba to come on stage, my friends and I stood on the floor of the 9:30 Club absorbing the sound of the opening act.  When you hear someone new, you just sort of stand there and try to distinguish whether it was something you like or not.  After taking in the beats for a bit, I noticed that it was something that I liked moving around to.  Chill, cool, very hip.... 

On stage were 3 guys who were remixing music and adding some new beats.  In the center stood this little guy with spikey hair.  He was having fun!  His energy and attempt to rev the crowd up really drew our attention.  You have to love someone who is clearly loving and enjoying what they do.  T and I began to joke that we wanted to BE HIM. 

Eventually, I said to my friends that if that guy made it down to the concert floor, I was going to make him my new BFF.  (Sounds a lot like my goal to beat a smurf at MCM, right?)

After the concert, we went to U Street Music Hall to dance our booties off a bit.  Sure enough, my future-BFF showed up.  I tapped T to ask, "Hey, is that the guy from the 9:30 Club?"  Before he could answer my question, I decided to make a beeline for the dude before I lost sight of him. 

Based out of Austin, TX, Lance HerbStrong has been performing together for about a year now.  Their genre is Remix/Dub/Dancehall/Electro/Downtempo -- totally fun to groove to!  Bill Sarver (my new BFF) told me that they had to keep things chill to complement Morcheeba's vibe.  I think that I am definitely catching these guys again if they come through town. 

BTW - how wild is this business card?!!!

Enjoying the Journey

As I plan out some loose goals for the upcoming months, I reflect back on how the past few months have been a whirlwind for me.  However, when I think back to a starting point to the craziness, I realize that I can keep going back further and further into a whirlwind of events that doesn't seem to have a true beginning...unless you start with Birth.  It is a thought that makes me smile.  Some moments have been up!  Some moments have been down!  But, here I am.

"Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer." (— Rainer Maria Rilke)

Appreciate your journey and realize that everything works out the way it is supposed to.  Don't fight Life -- you'll never win.  Let it move you.  Trust your gut.  And most importantly...be patient.