Updates and Lessons Learned

Well, internet friends, a blog post has been way overdue. I could waste your time writing pithy paragraphs detailing the myriad of reasons why I have been absent. But, frankly, it boils down to the fact that my heart was not in it. I would read these amazing posts and feel inspired to write, but then the rhythm of life would drone on an on and I would mindlessly join in going through my daily motions.

Since I have been gone, several notable things have occurred.

First ~ I did get my sunny yellow card that stated all was well with the samples from my mole colony. I initially felt pretty good about receiving the card until my follow up appointment for my perpetually chapped nose in which the “no friend of mine” dermatologist told me that the results on my moles were actually inconclusive, but the surrounding tissue they biopsied was fine…..and I should really come in every 6 months for another butchering checkup. I guess on a positive note, I should mention that my nose is finally cleared up after I got to treat it with a steroid. Unfortunately, it was just a topical steroid – (Just kidding!)

Second ~ School is out for the summer. Now, those without children probably do not think this is notable, but now I am on as entertainment, referee, chauffeur, cook, maid, and social director 24/7. In addition to making it nearly impossible for me to double up training days unless I make friends with my bike trainer (and during the summer months that is just cruel and unusual punishment), I cannot manage to keep the house somewhat clean or the refrigerator stocked with enough fruits and vegetables. Who knew that my children could finish of an entire seedless watermelon in one day or consume a large bag of baby carrots in a “15 minute snack”? One day you are going to see a story on national news about a mother going ape-crazy after she was asked for the millionth time what was for breakfast/lunch/dinner? The news stream will show four children will sad faces and empty dinner plates while in the background I will be curled up in a fetal position rocking back and forth muttering “No, you cannot have a snack. We just had lunch. Dinner is after lunch and we have not had lunch yet. Dinner will be at 6:30 like it always is. No it is not 6:30 yet…….” Or something in that genre.

Finally ~I did my first race of the season. Kansas 70.3. It was not good. If you want a really good report visit here and I could not be happier for her. My race was not that race. I will give you the Cliff Notes Version of my race.

1. Left Thursday night. Kids Sobbed. Capt'n D stuck to my leg like glue. Needed to be peeled off. Drove away with tear stained faces burned into my memory. Guilt.
2. Got up really early Friday. Drove 10+ hours. Arrived in Death Valley with humidity (Kansas). Ran 40 minutes. Became dehydrated. Knew I was in trouble. Enjoyed good food and even better company. Called home. Capt'n D covered in hives. No I Son knocked the wind out of himself at the babysitter's. Cheese fell off bike and scraped knee. Guilt.
   
3. Slept in on Saturday. Enjoyed delicious breakfast. Facebook chat revealed hives were gone. Informed that Mr. Spie had big presentation next week and kids needed to go with him to office for couple of hours. Guilt. Got lost (as always) going to race site. Perspired profusely. Drive bike course. Panicked. Got lost going to hotel. Went to bed. Death Valley 90 degrees. Wisconsin 58 degrees (at 10 o’clock at night)
4. Race Day. Got up early. Drove to race site without incident. Chose not to bring wetsuit. Swim suddenly wetsuit legal (water temperature suspiciously dropped from 81 to 77.5 degrees overnight – must have dumped in a lot of ice!). One of a handful without wetsuits. Swam slow. Biked lots of hills. Wore out ¾ of the way through the bike. Began to realize I am in trouble. Cannot run. Cramping. Drink Gatorade and water at every water station. Run/walk course. Kindness of strangers garnered me a salt tablets and a 20 minutes later a little more pep in my step. Finished. Disappointment. Drank lots. Did not go potty until 4 hours and multiple drinks after the race. Called home. Swiss Miss has stomach flu. Guilt.
   
5. Monday. Got up early. Drove home. Arrived home to a more pleasurable climate. Capt’n D has stomach flu. Spie will never be able to go away for four days alone ever again. Guilt.

Please kind reader, do not draw the conclusion that I regret ever doing this race. I had a wonderful time with my friends and their wonderful kind family. I have the memory of Chrissy Wellington giving me my medal and I uncovered some serious flaws in my nutrition. I also learned that I really am a "Northern climate" girl.

And, although I am filled with guilt every time I leave my brood, I know that my children are also learning many things during my away races. They learn that people, even parents, are multifaceted. They know that I have many interests and passions and sometimes one interest takes me away for a bit, but that does not mean that my other interests (No I Son, Swiss Miss, Cheese, and Capt'n D) have dropped in the rankings. My kids also learn about training hard for a goal, taking risks, and disappointment. They also learn how to dust themselves off, learn from their mistakes, and to continue looking forward rather than back.

But, I keep hoping that the biggest lesson they learn when I travel for my races is that Mr. Spie is actually capable of taking care of their needs too!