This morning I woke up to a kangaroo outside my room. In
Australia. Last week in Vail, Brian skied
You could say the past 3 weeks have been a bit busy… And as
I’m sitting here on the plane back from Australia, I am doing my best to stay
calm, as it’s been 6 days too long since I’ve held sweet Dallas and I miss my
boys. Go plane go.
And now a recap:
In early February, Dallas took his first flight to my parents
place in South Carolina. It’s funny traveling with an infant because they are
so strict about everything on the plane, but they let your child just lay cross
your lap. In SC, he finally got to meet his cousins for the first time and was
showered with constant attention. Now more than ever, I wish we lived closer so
cousins could grow up together and do what cousins do.
The next week was out to San Diego for a week at the Olympic
Training Center and a cycling specific Paratriathlon camp. I was hesitant to go
because it was 4 nights away from home and that seemed like a lifetime.
Not to
mention that I wasn’t in top shape and I didn’t want to hold the group
back with my slow cycling times. I talked with Brian and he both
encouraged me and reminded me that he and Dallas were behind me on the
dreams of Rio and that we were all in this together. So, I boarded the
plane with a few tears off for a few days away from my family for some
good training. I hope that as Dallas gets older he sees me with these
big dreams and makes some of
his own. When the time comes, I'll be his biggest cheerleader. But for
now I'm lucky to have Brian and Dallas behind me as I pursue mine.
outside
for the first time since last June. There were tough rides, time trials, amazing coaching and I got to spend some quality time with some of my Team USA teammates that I missed last year. I came back home confident that I was one step closer to where I needed to be with my training and that eventually, I would get there.
The next week was a second flight for Dallas, this
time out to Vail, CO for the amazing week with the Vail Veterans Program a yearly highlight for Brian and I. If you are a frequent blog reader of mine, you’ll remember that last year in Vail we got the call that our house was on fire and most of our belongings were gone. Like it did then, the program put things in perspective and reminded us how much we have to be thankful for. It’s
remarkable to see newly injured veterans all out on the bunny hill the first
day and then seeing them at the top of the mountain by the end of the week. I
never cease to be inspired.There was some extra excitement this year when Brian went off a jump he probably shouldn’t have jumped off of. I mean, Brian has skills and all, but this ‘jump’ was more like a small cliff. I saw him in the air, I saw his skis cross and saw the aftermath of him, his skis and poles, as he tumbled down the hill. Not a pretty sight and even less pretty when we got the xray and saw
that he
had chipped part of his glenoid bone. The jury is still out if there is any
muscle damage and we are hoping there is no need for surgery. On an equally
exciting note, while waiting for Brian’s xrays in the ER, Dallas rolled over for
the first time. Apparently he knew we needed a pick me up and the exam table
just felt right…
My friend and fellow wounded vet, Dawn, brought her 11 month
old out to Vail and he and Dallas got to hang out. Here Dawn and I were, having
met 10 years ago in the halls of Walter Reed, and we were back in Vail, with
our kids, skiing down the mountain together. In a few years we’ll be out on the
slopes with our sons, teaching them to ski too. We also got to hang with Boston
marathon bombing survivors Patrick and Jessica and their service
dog Rescue,
who Jake did his best to un- train. And the always great Cheryl Jensen, Dan Riley and Dave
Rozelle. It is always was a week to remember.
And that brings me to now, my flight home from Australia
where I just competed in my first triathlon in 9 months and another step back
on the road to Rio. As a quick reminder, making the Paralympic team takes a few
things. First, you have to earn points by getting into specific ITU races and
doing well. The better you do, the more points you get. But in order to get
into these specific races, you have to have a certain amount of points and a
world ranking that will get you on the start list. Yes, it’s confusing.
One of the first races of the season was ITU Sunshine Coast
right outside of Brisbane and I needed to race well and earn some points so I
could get into other races this year. It was going to be a ‘quick’ trip to
Australia, and the thought of being away from home for 6 whole nights was not
ideal. There were 7 Team USA athletes that were racing and 4 of us were from
Dare2tri. My good friend and fellow Tri2 athlete, Hailey, was among the group
along with Levi and Tom from Dare2tri.
We got to Australia with a few days to spare before the
race. Along with getting adjusted to the weather, the time and getting some
workouts in, we made a trip to the Australian zoo and got to check a few things
off the bucket list. Hold a koala, check! Take the #worldsbestselfie with a kangaroo, check!
Act like a complete tourist, check!
We also found the worlds best coffee shop and spent many
hours there with our flat whites and long blacks chatting with the locals. If
you are ever in Sunshine Coast go to the Bean there done that espresso bar. You
won’t be disappointed.
The race brought competitors from around the world and our
Tri2 division had 5 women in it. Myself, Hailey, Kim from Canada and a girl
from Japan and Spain. We had never raced against the girls from Japan and Spain
and were anxious to see what they could do.
As the race neared, I started to get a little nervous. It
had been 9 months since my last triathlon,
having Dallas and I wanted to prove to myself that I was still in the game. I
went into the race with the goal of being on the podium and a reach goal of
being within 5% of the first place finisher. By doing both of those, I would
earn points and be one step closer to being on the national team and additional
funding for my races. But most of all, I was excited to get back out on the
race course, to wear the USA uniform and to race for the love of the sport.
A quick race report:
The horn went off at 9:10 and our group was off. I finished the swim in 2nd behind Japan and headed out to 5 laps on the bike course. Spain passed me on the last lap and I went into 3 laps of the run in 3rd place. Hailey finished the bike and came back from behind running down all 3 of us to take first. It was a hot day, both my quad and calf were on fire an on the last lap I was still
behind Japan and
Spain. A half mile from the finish I caught Japan. I was honing in on Spain and
ended up finishing only 18 seconds behind her. I like to think I would have had
her with another lap but I was spent. To the point that I couldn’t even sprint
to the finish. I crossed the finish completely exhausted and unable to take
another step forward.
both my goals had been met and I was thrilled. Hailey
and I gave each other high fives and hugs, both being equally proud of each
other and our race. We will be great competitors for each other this season,
but off the race course, we are great friends and that friendship always comes
first.
I only had 9 weeks of training since
having Dallas and I wanted to prove to myself that I was still in the game. I
went into the race with the goal of being on the podium and a reach goal of
being within 5% of the first place finisher. By doing both of those, I would
earn points and be one step closer to being on the national team and additional
funding for my races. But most of all, I was excited to get back out on the
race course, to wear the USA uniform and to race for the love of the sport.A quick race report:
The horn went off at 9:10 and our group was off. I finished the swim in 2nd behind Japan and headed out to 5 laps on the bike course. Spain passed me on the last lap and I went into 3 laps of the run in 3rd place. Hailey finished the bike and came back from behind running down all 3 of us to take first. It was a hot day, both my quad and calf were on fire an on the last lap I was still
behind Japan and
Spain. A half mile from the finish I caught Japan. I was honing in on Spain and
ended up finishing only 18 seconds behind her. I like to think I would have had
her with another lap but I was spent. To the point that I couldn’t even sprint
to the finish. I crossed the finish completely exhausted and unable to take
another step forward.
I was helped into a chair, given some water and relished in
the moment of being back. I. was. Back. And I was completely thrilled with my 3rd
place finish, which is not something you’ll often hear me say. But after
missing most of last year, having a 3.5 month old and training for 9 short
weeks, I was pretty dang proud of myself. A 3rd place finish AND
within 5% of Hailey’s time,
both my goals had been met and I was thrilled. Hailey
and I gave each other high fives and hugs, both being equally proud of each
other and our race. We will be great competitors for each other this season,
but off the race course, we are great friends and that friendship always comes
first.
It was the closest the Tri2 women had ever been
with Japan,
Spain and I finishing within a minute of each other. Other Tri2 women that
weren’t there, will just add to the great competition. The road to Rio is going
to be an exciting one and I’m happy to say I’m back in the mix. I learned a lot
from my first race back and what I need to work on and I can only get faster
from here. It’s gonna be a challenging, fun year, proudly wearing the USA
uniform with hopes of Rio. As my good friend Patty put it, it’s the
#mommyroad2rio and it’s a good road to be on. Oh, and I got bit by a bull ant
sitting in the grass after the race. That hurt.
When I get home tomorrow (or today? I have no clue what day
it is) things get to slow down. I have some travel
planned but nothing like
it’s been. Brian has his bachelor party next weekend,because if I forgot to
mention with all this other stuff, WE ARE GETTING MARRIED IN MAY! So wedding
plans are in full swing.
My next race is in May in Monterrey, Mexico the
weekend
before the wedding and I’m happy to have 6 solid weeks of training before then.
My days will be comprised of just that, swimming, biking and running, and
spending time with my boys.
Jake is still learning to love his little brother but we
like to think he’s warming up to him. Well, maybe. And I am so fortunate that
Brian is such an amazing dad and that I have them both to go home to after
being away. Not only that, but that they believe in me enough to let me go
chase my dreams.
So there you are. The life of a girl on the #mommyroad2rio.
Until next time,
PEACE OUT!
