BIG NEWS

On April 11th, I become a softball free agent.

That's right.

I'm a free agent people.

I've got three of the best coaches around, new glove. I'm learning how to spit seeds, and I look really cute in the outfit.

What more do I need?

ok that's set, well maybe, yea, no, ok, let me think

I've never had such a difficult year figuring out my race schedule. Last year, I didn't do much with CDA in June. This year I want to do more races but not sacrifice for my Sept Half Iron PR attempt.

I'm currently registered for:

April 26th: Cherry Creek Sneak. This race is SUPERCOOL. I run the 5k at 8am and then run the 5 mile at 9am. This is one of the best races in Denver. LOVE IT! This year, the boys, my sister, and Mr. Tea are all running one of the race as well. It's a family affair people!

Half Marathon (May 17th-ish) This will be a walk/run that I'm doing with Mr. Tea. It will be his first half marathon.

June 6th: Elephant Rock 65 mile ride.

June 14th: Rocky Mountain Half Marathon. This is my first year doing this one. It looks to be alot of fun.

Sept 12: Here it is! Harvest Moon Half Iron. If the weather cooperates, I'll be shooting for a PR.

Oct 18th: Denver Half Marathon. This is my next PR attempt. Last year, I PR'd on this course by a crazy amount. I'm excited to go back again this year! I've also found that after Harvest Moon, I always do this race well.

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The one that I just can't decide on is Rattlesnake. I do this race every year. It's in August. It's an Oly and/or Sprint. You can do both, which I have and I got a WHOLELOTTA bling for doing the double. It's alot of fun.

I'm wondering if in July/Aug, I'm going to want to do another race.

Or....I could just do the Dip n Dashes. This year, the Dip N Dashes go all the way up to Ironman distance swims.

Yea, maybe that's what I'll do. They are in the afternoon. Fun...low key.

Yea. Hmmm.

I need to think a little more.

MY plan

I liked my plan.

I still like my plan.

My plan for this year was to enjoy training and become faster at the half marathon and the half iron. Then, look at 2010 or 2011 for my next IM.

I realize that I am lucky to have so many people supporting me in my Ironman adventures.

Well....

Why give up something that I am really enjoying for something that will take me off the path that I set for myself?

I don't feel like I HAVE to do Ironman. I want to do Ironman. I will do another and another and another....in the future. My long term goals haven't changed. Why would I change my short term goals if they are the stepping stones to my longer term goals?

The most important factor in making my decision: I don't feel like I have anything to prove.

Maybe that's the difference. Maybe if I felt like I have something to prove, maybe I'd be chomping at the bit.

I think there's another aspect that I can't quite put my finger on, but it sorta goes like this.

I am happier and healthier than I have ever been. I have a completely different attitude toward training than I have ever had in the past. My eating has improved a ton. I'm sleeping well.

I think I need a year or so to work my new outlook into my training. Right now, if I trained for Ironman, given the training hours, personal committment, family committment, I don't think I could maintain my lifestyle.

Next year is a different story.

And wow.

Just wait.

Because NEXT year when I do compete at Redman, I am going to be in my most race ready shape ever.

The puzzle

have you ever bought a jigsaw puzzle?

You go around looking at the pictures on the boxes, deciding which one works for you?

You go home, start piecing the pieces together. You know what it's going to look like, but sometimes it's hard to put the pieces in the right places at the right time.

I found out today that I have the opportunity to do Redman.

All the pieces are right in front of me. They fit perfectly.

Mr. Tea supports my training for another Ironman distance race.

It is in the perfect location (given our location).

It's at the the perfect time of year.

Travel cost would be incredibly low.

I now have access to Master's swim.

Training through the summer means not having to negotiate the boys' schedules.

I can train and train and train.

I know another person doing it.

Mr. Tea is excited for me to do it.
Everything fits.

Except that usually, you decide first if you like the picture before buying the puzzle.

Now, I have to decide:

Do I want to do another Ironman this year or wait as I had planned?

Do I have it in me to put in the hours?

Do I have the desire?

Do I want to do this?

It's a mixed bag

As the owner of a company, I deal with many challenges everyday that most people don't deal with. Business owners felt the pinch of the recession earlier than most Americans. We don't have a safety net. If we go out of business, we don't collect unemployment. We don't have health insurance. We work long hours. When someone calls in sick, we fill in. Even when business is slow, we refuse to lay off any workers. Sometimes this means cutting into the family budget. If it means saving a job, we never hesitate. We're not heroes. We don't have super powers. It's all about doing the right thing. There is an ethics to running a business that I think corporate America has completely forgotten about.

I would rather own my own business than do anything else.

Nothing made me appreciate that fact more than today. Today, I took Googs down to a Job Fair that was strictly for seasonal temp work (ie: summer jobs).

The executives of Corporate America need to visit a job fair. They need to see the pain on people's faces. They need to see what they have done to the AMERICAN WORKFORCE.

If you haven't felt the sting of the recession, visit a job fair.

When we pulled up, there were about 50 people outside the building. By the time we parked (a far distance away), there were about 200 people standing outside.

We got in line. As Googs was filling out his job application, I overheard a conversation.

Man: This is for SEASONAL work.

Woman: I know. Just fill out the application. If you're good maybe they will keep you on.

Man: I can't wait for summer! I need a job NOW.

Immediately, I was torn in different directions. Here's my teenage son trying to get a summer job. Here's a man trying to support a family. I look over at the woman taking the applications and she already had one file box completely full of completed applications, and the job fair had only been open for 45 minutes.

I just roll my eyes and think "Oh my god."

Then I think of the hiring managers, who will be keeping some applicants and tossing others aside. Tossing them aside as though the applicants aren't real people, with real families. But, I guess that have to do it that way....otherwise, it would just be too painful.

Frustrated, I saw the man ball up his application and walk out. His girlfriend started shaking her head.

I wanted to run after him and say, "I can help you! I can give you a job!" But I know the reality is that we just can't take on another person. Besides, I'm not that different than the hiring manager going through all those resumes. There are so many people out of work....

How do you choose?

How do you possibly value one person over another?

I want to help.

But, I'm not really that different, am I?







I don't know if Googs will be called for a job.

At this point, I hope he isn't given a position over someone who is choosing between eating and paying their rent.

My run

I slept in this morning and woke to the warmest day so far. Highs in the 60's, bright sun, and no wind.

For the first time this season, I pulled on shorts for my run. I call this the "unveiling". It's the first run, where I get to bare my bright white legs.

Rather than blind drivers with my glare, I opted to run the country.....dusty roads, weeds, grass, farmlands.

I coated myself with suncreen and head out.

Days like that really make me appreciate running through different seasons. In the Spring, I look forward to the first warm run, but in the Fall I can't wait for the first snowfall.

After a peaceful, almost zenlike run, I returned home.

I stepped in the house only to surprise Mr. Tea who stood there staring at me.

"What?" I finally asked.

"I guess it must be Spring", he replied and walked off, sipping his coffee.

I went upstairs to shower when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I was covered head to foot in dust with tear like streaks twisting down my arms from sweating. I had an array of bugs stuck to my arms and legs. Pieces of weeds and what appeared to be wheat were stuck to my shins and sticking out of my socks.

Then, the big one.

I checked the bottom of my shoes to see how many piles of animal.....uh, well....you know.....that I stepped in.

None.

It's gonna be a good day.