The Friday Fifteen

1. I've seen several postings and articles recently asking why do you do triathlons (or run)? I do it to raise money for cancer research and increase cancer awareness because I lost my best friend from childhood when we were only 33, this past December and it sucks. I started because I wanted a goal for my workouts, motivation, but really it was a tough time in my life with Angela battling cancer and our moving to a new city when I hadn't really wanted to move. It helps me run away from and then somehow muddle through my problems. I love feeling my body move. I love discovering I can go farther and farther (even if it's not necessarily faster) than before. I've met amazing and inspiring people in the triathlon world who make you want to do more and be better both in speed and in life. It lets me be a better wife and mother because I work things out and have something I love doing.

2. Why is a popular question in our house. The girls like to ask why about everything. This morning it was why do Mommy and Daddy have to work. Somehow I ended up explaining supply, demand, and how basic economy in daily life works... at an elementary level, of course.

3. I'm always amazed at what my children understand. They're 3 and they get stuff and later explain something to you showing that they understood what you talked about a week ago.

4. That's probably why people who say "oh they (kids) don't understand anyway" annoy the heck out of me.

5. I love how my children find joy in the easiest things and beauty in everything. It reminds you that life is more than working, paying the bills, getting to the next item on the to do list. Ladybug showed Angelfish a tree out the window this morning on the way to daycare and gushed about how pretty green it was. I hope they never lose that sense of wonder and appreciation.

6. It's funny how I have a great time out with friends and completely miss my children at the same time. I guess that's part of being a Mom. I've often missed my freedom and ability to do what I want when I want, the spontaneity I so loved about life before kids. Yet, when I pay attention to what's going through my brain, I don't mind being tethered by my Angelfish and Ladybug and wouldn't have it any other way.

7. Kids should come with warning labels about their addictive properties... in that you become addicted to their loving you and your loving them back. There is nothing better than a spontaneous hug or a kiss on the cheek or their blowing you a kiss or throwing you a hug as they run past you. Even if they have sticky hands with peanut butter or honey or food that used to be in their mouths.

8. Somehow this is not nearly as wonderful when the children are not yours.

9. In the hall at daycare this morning, Angelfish and Ladybug started running. Angelfish said "We're doing our triathlons, Mommy."

10. Some people say that my children have no idea that I do triathlons and that right now it doesn't make an impression on them as a good example because they're only 3. See #4. I think they get it. If I were to stop doing triathlon they would eventually forget because they're only 3, but they get it.

11. I hope this weekend is a nice one so I can take the little ladies swimming.

12. I also hope that tomorrow's 6 miles of hill repeats in Clermont ends early enough that I'm home by 9 am... we have a birthday party to go to for our neighbor's son. Ladybug has been making him pictures for his birthday all week at school. We are all looking forward to the party because we really think our neighbors and their little boy are wonderful!

13. Sunday's brick - a 50 mile bike and 6 mile run - has me a little nervous. It was super hard for me to get it done last week in the heat once we got to the run. I did it the day after a rest day. This week, it's the day after 6 miles of hill repeats and it's a little shorter.

14. I really need to get better about hydrating on the bike before September 27th. Although my training buddy and I put in our "order" for the weather for race day during last week's brick. We'd like weather in the mid 70s with slight cloud coverage during the swim and bike, and light (but only light) rain during the 2nd half of the run. That way the roads will be dry for the bike but we'll be cooled during the run. We'd like the river water to be smooth with no current to swim against too. Oh, and we'd like the hills during the bike to be smaller than they appear on the info we've seen for the race. And we'd like to kick some major booty time wise. Not too much to ask right?

15. Going back to why. I do triathlon for my kids. I do triathlon for me. I do it because it makes me feel alive and sense that wonder and appreciation that I sometimes miss in life and that I always want to share with my hubby and my kids. I do it for those who can't and these days I wonder why I didn't do it sooner!