It seems an eternity since I sat at the keyboard and put my heart and brain together on the page. The year is drawing to a close and my emotions are mixed as to what I want my goals in 2014 to be. I am unusually conflicted, but grateful, and amazed that I have so many options to choose from. Balancing triathlon, road racing, agility and perhaps obedience is going to be a challenge; but I cannot say I have ever been in a place with this much opportunity waiting for me to seize it.
2013 has been an outstanding year for personal goals and accomplishments. I "smoked" my personal best in Sprint distance Triathlon in August. A few weeks later I put my foot at the start line on an agility course for the first time in six years. I won't ever forget standing next to my amazing partner Stetson, and shedding a tear of anticipation as I heard the automated timer say "go" that morning in Blue Springs, Missouri. And so a new career between woman and dog was borne in that moment. Lastly, I finished my fourth half marathon in October.
Some of my favorite pictures from this season of triathlon, road racing and agility follow.
AKC agility at Wills Park in October (Alpharetta, GA)
In the past two days I have bounced into recovery with the typical spirit and abandon that anyone who knows me well would expect. I'm feeling good and looking forward to coming off antibiotics Tuesday so I can run with Stetson on Thursday, and hopefully be in the pool Friday morning.
As I begin to breathe freely, I believe I can start to focus on the goals for 2014. What do I want to accomplish this year personally in road races and triathlon? What do I want to accomplish with Stetson in agility and obedience? Those answers will be resolved in the days to come and my plans will be laid.
Sweet dreams for 2014, I know not what they are today, but I am excited to take off on the journey to their fruition. I have gained much in 2013 and I will not look back with any regret, but I look forward with dreams to answer.
2013 has been an outstanding year for personal goals and accomplishments. I "smoked" my personal best in Sprint distance Triathlon in August. A few weeks later I put my foot at the start line on an agility course for the first time in six years. I won't ever forget standing next to my amazing partner Stetson, and shedding a tear of anticipation as I heard the automated timer say "go" that morning in Blue Springs, Missouri. And so a new career between woman and dog was borne in that moment. Lastly, I finished my fourth half marathon in October.
Some of my favorite pictures from this season of triathlon, road racing and agility follow.
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| Acworth Women's Tri August, 2013 |
Handsome guy practicing some start line "stays" at the Triune Agility trial in Blue Springs, MO
Mist on the lake and a wild turkey during an early morning run in September at Lake Jacomo in Lee's Summit, MO
AKC agility at Wills Park in October (Alpharetta, GA)
A cold fall run on Kennesaw Mountain this fall
Recovery run at the Chattahoochee River just before the Athens Half Marathon 2013
Athens Half Marathon - knowing the finish line was doable even though I was still recovering from a strained hamstring...
Then the bottom fell out, I got sick. I crashed for five weeks. When I go down, thunder rolls. I do nothing lightly and illness is no exception. The previously strained hamstring was healing; but my head, ears and lungs were fighting me for every second of my waking hours (and many of those I should have been sleeping) to find relief.
During vacation on Hilton Head over Thanksgiving, four weeks into the illness, I began to feel better. But the dry cough that kept me up at night, and resulting fatigue was only manageable because I was on vacation without the demands of maintaining a normal lifestyle and schedule. I went to a Minute Clinic on Wednesday this week because my physician was booked until next week. It was determined that I had infection in both ears and sinus. Thankfully my lungs were clear, but my blood pressure was at the breaking point of Stage 2 Hypertension. I was prescribed antibiotics and given a stern warning that if my blood pressure wasn't normal in a week, an appointment with my primary care physician was immanent. I have already been in touch with my PCP and am keeping them informed of my progress as I track readings twice daily. Yesterday my readings were almost normal and just barely tipped the Pre-hypertension level.
Hilton Head beaches will always be at the top of my favorite running places - it was the first time in weeks that I felt good enough to strap on my heart monitor and take Stetson for a run. We didn't go particularly long, and it was cold with a strong wind, but I don't know of any run that ever felt better to me than this one. I have a strong connection to this island, there is a part of my soul that belongs there. Somehow, the surf and wind always find the places deep within me that need mending and they are able to sew them together once again.
In the past two days I have bounced into recovery with the typical spirit and abandon that anyone who knows me well would expect. I'm feeling good and looking forward to coming off antibiotics Tuesday so I can run with Stetson on Thursday, and hopefully be in the pool Friday morning.
As I begin to breathe freely, I believe I can start to focus on the goals for 2014. What do I want to accomplish this year personally in road races and triathlon? What do I want to accomplish with Stetson in agility and obedience? Those answers will be resolved in the days to come and my plans will be laid.
Sweet dreams for 2014, I know not what they are today, but I am excited to take off on the journey to their fruition. I have gained much in 2013 and I will not look back with any regret, but I look forward with dreams to answer.
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