Go Girl Triathon

As most of you know, I have been experiencing a shift in my mindset about exercise (you can read about that here). 

I had been toying with the idea of doing a body building competition, but I feel that for me, I couldn't do that without being obsessive of my body and constantly thinking about it, so I decided that was no longer a goal that would be pleasing to God. I changed my goal to focus on something where I could push my body so that at times I would need to rely solely on Him.

So I trained (sort of, for 4 weeks anyhow) for a sprint triathlon and did that last weekend instead.

How did it go?

IT WAS SOOOOO FUN!!! AND SOOOOO HUMBLING!!!!

A sprint tri is 500 meter swim (just a little farther than one lap around a track), 10 mile bike, 5k (3.1 mile) run. 

I have never ever swam in my life, but I figured I know how to run and I can pedal a bike, so as long as I can get through the swim I will be okay. This was a women's only sprint tri, which made me feel FAR more confident for my first one (swimming next to men scared me, but then I found out in a co-ed race, men always start first anyway).

For the past 4 weeks I swam 3 times a week in a pool at the gym for 15 minutes each time.  I would throw in a bike ride and run somewhere between 2-3 times a week also.

RACE DAY!!!

I was pretty nervous.  I stuck out like a sore thumb when I pulled into the race area and I was the only person who had their bike with handle bars sticking out of the trunk of a sports car (Phil needed my car with the carseats so I had his).  I was in a sea of Subaru and bike racks, and boy was I lost:)

I was there alone, didn't know a soul, so naturally I just watched some girl who parked next to me.  She was wearing tri suit, had a 70.3 sticker on her car and was pumping her tires very quickly (She CLEARLY knew what she was doing).

She hopped on her bike and rode to the start line, and I was right behind her; her unknowing student.

As I rode up to the transition area they lined us up and wrote our numbers on our arms with sharpie and told us to find our race number on the rack and hang our bike up (okay, I didn't know you HUNG your bike from the seat, hmmm, isn't that what kickstands are for). 

Now I needed to find someone who would let me be their next apprentice.  Thankfully the girl just beside me had done one before AND she had a coach (WHAT!?!?!?! people have coaches for these things? At this moment I knew I was in WAY over my head!)  She showed me how you line all your stuff up on the towel beneath your bike so you can grab it and go quickly at the transition.

Here is where I REALLY felt out of place.  Almost everyone there were wearing tri suits (kind of  like a two piece singlet, spandex shorts and a fitted tank top).  I was wearing a bathing suit. At least it was a real swim suit I had borrowed from my sweet friend who was a swimmer.  My game plan was to swim in the suit then throw on a pair of running shorts and a tank top for the bike and run.

At this point I figured, "what does it matter, I'm doing this and I will have fun no matter what I'm wearing...but next time, for real, I am getting a tri suit!"

  Photo taken from the Indy Star

 

They started herding us toward the shoreline.  We would be swimming in a lake, but the start was a rolling start.  So we lined up single file according to race number and every three seconds the next victim was sent to their death...I mean, you ran into the lake and started swimming!  At least the water was 78 degrees and felt like bath water!

 

 Photo taken from the Indy Star

 

Photo taken from the Indy Star

 

The swim course was essentially a square, about 150 meters straight out, 200 meters right (parallel to the shore) and 150 meters straight back to shore.

I knew the swim would be my weakest area, but I had no idea I would be THAT bad!!!

I was about half way to the first buoy when I literally paused and considered climbing into one of the safety canoes lining the course.  I was exhausted (I should have trained in open water at least once) and I was getting a little overwhelmed. 

In that moment where I was calculating if I would survive swimming even to the medical canoe, I heard the canoe guy start blowing his whistle.  Now, I know I'm drowning, but does he know I'm drowning?  I looked up to see that a girl had swam so far off the course she was past the canoes to the left.  He nudged her and sent her back on course.  Only she didn't go back on course,  she started swimming directly across the lake, perpendicular to the lane. 

Photo taken from the Indy Star

It was then that I decided, I may not know what I am doing, but at least I am going in the right direction, I am determined to finish this thing!

Freestyle swimming wasn't working for me anymore, so I switched up to breaststroke (I don't do that very well either).  I made it to the first buoy.  2/3 of the way through and I was floundering. 

Then God gave me a sign.  I looked over to see a 60 something year old lady backstroking.  I had never done that before, but it was worth a shot.  So I rolled over and without even using my arms, just fluttered my legs the entire rest of the swim. 

Ladies and gentlemen, IT WAS NOT PRETTY...BUT I DID IT.  When my feet touched sand at the end of that swim, I could not run to shore fast enough.  I could have kissed the ground right then and there!

I didn't :)

Instead I acted like a sane person and jogged to my bike, threw my shoes, shorts, shirt and helmet on and took off riding. 

Unfortunately, no one told me it was a SUPER hilly ride.  Not that it would have mattered, I hadn't really trained for the bike either, but at least I knew if I slowed down I wouldn't die like the swim.

Pulling back in to the transition area from the bike ride was the happiest moment the whole race!

I looked over to see Phil and the girls cheering for me as I came flying down the last hill (by flying, I mean I was frantically pumping the breaks:).

Now it was time for my favorite part; the run!

I hung my bike up (like a real pro) and took off running.  For as badly as I did in the water, I was determined to make it up on the run.  Actually, all I wanted to do on the run was not walk.  The surge in energy that I felt was awesome.  I ran up the hill with a smile on my face because now I was in my element.

Photo by White Ox Studio

Photo by White Ox Studio

Running through the finish line was surreal. My girls were cheering to my right and I was so happy.

So how did I finish? 1:28...just under my unofficial goal of 1:30 and I finished 165 overall (out of 372).  Sure my swim was just shy of 17 minutes and my bike was over 40, but my run was 25 minutes and that made me proud.

 

 

But most of all, I loved it because it was hard.  It was out of my comfort zone, I was challenged, and it gives me something to work toward.

 

 

Jamaica

Phil and I just spent 6 days in Jamaica without the girls.  My mom and sister-in-law were amazing and stayed with the girls for us so we could enjoy a baby free vacation (I think they had just as much fun with the girls too:)

It was our first time in Jamaica and we stayed at Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios.  It was lovely and we had a wonderful experience.

Giddy with excitement to start our adventure!!!

The toughest part of the trip was the 1 and 1/2 hour drive from the airport to the resort, but once we got there, they greeted us with Champagne:)

 

Ahhhh...the ocean

Relaxing on the patio before dinner, enjoying being together!

 

My favorite part of vacation...Dressing up for dinner

There was a beach party the first night we were there, complete with a bonfire, beach buffet and live music.

At the beach party there were men using machetes to cut coconuts open so you could drink the water (and rum) right out of them.

August 1st (our first night there) was Jamaican Emancipation day...The bartender was making these drinks to celebrate their national holiday.  In case you were wondering, Jamaica had formerly been colonized by Britain.

The pool we spent most of our days around

The pool looked right over the beach and ocean

Wondering around the resort, there were some cool thatched roof decks on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean and the resort.

Pretty much what we did all day

In the mornings we would go for walks around the resort

Heading to dinner at Kimonos, a Japanese Hibachi grill.

The sunset was beautiful, but eating outside was a little rough. It was really hot and humid

Getting ready to enjoy our last day on vacation right before we went sailing and snorkeling

Our last night in Jamaica

We realized that it is important to us that we continue to take trips together so we can reconnect with each other as well as recharge individually.  By the end we were so ready to see our girls, but grateful for the time away!

Hello New Exercise Mindset ~ The Present

Continued from yesterday....

This is not a story of physical transformation.  My body still mostly looks and functions the same as it always has. Mine is a story of mental and spiritual transformation with regards to my VIEW of my body.

My sole motivation for exercising was to BE SKINNY!

Thanks in large part to good genetics and a very consistent running routine, I ate just about anything I wanted and didn't think twice about it as long as I stayed the same size.  If I started to feel I was gaining a little weight, I would simply count calories.  If I wanted to eat a little more that day, I would run a little longer so I could have dessert.

Day seven is when this photo challenge began to change me. 
The task was to show the 'verse that pumps me up'. I instantly knew what verse it was for me (1 Corinthians 9:24), but as I began reading some of the other women's verses I began reflecting more deeply on why I exercise and why I SHOULD exercise.

Godly Perspective of Exercise:

First and foremost, God created me (Psalm 139:13-14 "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.").  He created me, and each of you, with specific gifts, talents, abilities, dispositions, personalities etc.  He made me with a passion for competition, a desire to push my limits, and an enjoyment of exercise.  By using my gifts He gave me I am showing my appreciation and building my relationship with him and my adoration for Him.

Secondly, to use my gifts is an act of worship.  Worship comes in many forms, and figuring out how to use your gifts to praise God is worship.  John Piper defines worship this way:

"Worship is what we were created for - to see God's glory and to reflect His glory to the world with all our heart, soul, mind and strength."

The following three verses that have really helped guided me in my transformation:

1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." 

Proverbs 31:17 "She sets about her work vigorously, her arms are strong for her tasks."

Not only is exercise a way to worship God, but being physically fit is a way to serve others.  I am able to be a better wife and mom a) because exercise does release endorphins which make you happier and b) I am strong enough to do difficult (or fun) tasks for my husband and girls (ie, mowing the lawn or painting or carrying a kid in each arm for long periods of time).

While my actual type or amount exercise hasn't changed much, my mindset and my goals have. 

NUTRITION on the other hand, is by and large the biggest change from this whole experience.  If being skinny was my motivation to workout, it was ultimately because I love (unhealthy) food so much that the exercise was necessary so I could have the best of both worlds.

When I really stopped and looked at what God has to say about nutrition (and don't kid yourself, he has a lot to say) I realized I had some changes that absolutely needed to be made, starting with my mindset.

Godly Perspective on Nutrition:

The first verse that pops into most people's head when talking about health with a Godly perspective is 1 Corinthians 6:19,

"Don't you realize that your body is a  temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.  So you must honor God with your body."

When Paul wrote this, he was actually talking about sexual purity, but the principle that your body is a temple holds true for how you feed your body as well.

FOOD IS FUEL! To some degree, the old adage, 'You are what you eat' is true.  If I am going to demand my body to perform at high levels, then I need to fuel it properly.  I may not see the effects of eating poorly now, but they will catch up with me at some point.

If Christ dwells in me, then how I fuel my body reflects how I would like to care for Him.

As important as it is to exercise consistently, God values rest as well (that's one reason why He took the seventh day off after He created everything).  Parallel that to nutrition. While we are tasked with properly nourishing our bodies, God also wants us to enjoy His blessings and pleasures in life.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.  This too, I see, is form the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment?"



Keeping my mindset in check everyday is tough.  It is hard to break old habits (I still want to be skinny, I still love ice cream). But I am constantly working to be God-Honoring in my actions in ALL areas of my life, and this is one of them.

I am excited (and so scared) to say I have a new motivation for exercising and nutrition and that is:

To honor God with my body as my form of worship!