Sunday, September 13, 2015

Speed Bumps

            Speed bumps force you to slow down, whether you like it or not.  I’m in the final push leading up to Chicago next weekend, and this has been the most extended multisport season ever for me by 4 weeks.  With the volleyball season well underway (I’m the Head Coach), time has become even more limited and my windows of opportunity have become increasingly smaller.  I’m stuck on the trainer indoors during the week, but Myles isn’t the most cooperative in letting me get it done during the time that is supposed to be for naps for both kids.  I’ve been doing plenty of trainer rides from 8-9pm at night in order to just get them done, which is 1) not exactly something I want to be doing at that time of night, and 2) not at all an option on game nights.
I’ve squeezed in runs during breaks at volleyball tournaments or during JV warm-ups, and even did my 9-mile run after practice one night, which got me home just in time to get the kids to bed.  I had an 8-mile run that gave me the worst blister I’ve ever had, and I wasn’t able to run for a few days without bleeding or pain.  While I could dwell on everything I’ve missed or compromised and feel unprepared for the upcoming World Championships, I also feel really good about being able to nail my quality workouts recently.  I tell myself that speed bumps may also just be a blessing in disguise.
With kids, you learn how to be flexible pretty fast.  When our lodging in Milwaukee for Nationals fell through the week of the race, and EVERYTHING was booked, we made do, even though it meant sleeping on a church floor the night before the race.  Almost in disbelief that absolutely every hotel or Bed and Breakfast in the state would be booked, we drove for hours on Saturday night, making numerous stops, only to end up sleeping in the back of the van at a wayside.  Fortunately we were able to pick up some ice from McDonald’s (gas stations were all closed at that point) to put in the cooler with the breast milk I had been pumping all weekend – no way was that going to be wasted!  Sometimes you just have to make do with what you have and make the most of it.  You can choose to laugh or cry.  Always choose to laugh.
There will be 87 fast women from all over the world competing in my age group at the World Championships next weekend in Chicago.  The Lake is predicted to be 60-65 degrees (colder than the numbing waters at Nationals).  There have definitely been a lot of ups and downs this season, and a ton of challenges leading up to this point.  No matter how it shakes out, I plan to enjoy the journey and the experience.  And who knows, maybe it’ll be one of my best performances yet.

2 comments:

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    1. Thanks! And we miss you guys almost every time we drive by your old house (so, like every day)!

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