When you read my blog, I hope you get ^^THIS^^.
I don't think I've ever hidden anything. I think I've done a pretty good job of showing all the ups and downs that go along with training: the emotional highs, when I think I can WIN! And the low-low-lows-I HATE EVERYTHING.
I think it's important for people new to endurance racing, to see what we go through and understand all those crazy feelings are perfectly normal. For those of you who ARE endurance athletes, you know there are other people going through the same thing. You just ride the ebb and flow and don't get wrap up in the emotion of the minute....or second....as they seem to be when you're racing.
I was thinking about my year.
It was such an incredible, great year for me on every level.
- I cut free a few Toxic and/or just plain mean people. One in particular, I still see on a regular basis but cutting the emotional cord was everything. Not everyone is going to like you, but not everyone matters.
- I also lost a really good friend in January, out of the blue, unexpectedly.
- I met NEW, wonderful people who have become tremendous positive influences in my life. I hope to continue to get to know them during 2015.
- I finally learned the pacing side of swimming and riding (at all distances). I'm still working on the run, but I've come so far this year; further than I thought I would, in such a short time.
After SOMA, it took me awhile. I'm still recovering. There are days I feel great and days I want to go back to sleep. Whatever, I'm feeling that day, I honor. If I want to swim, I go. If I want to stay in my PJs all day and only move to eat....I'm good with that too.
Emotionally, SOMA was the closure I was looking for in every way possible. I thought when I finished, I would just be glad the season was over. (And trust me, at mile 12.1 on the run, I was MOST definitely glad I had only 1 mile until the end of my season).
This might sound weird, but I wasn't expecting to feel so great, so positive, excited and looking forward to the off season and next season.
Over the next few months, I'm running a ton of races. In a couple more weeks, I start a more sophisticated strength training regime. I love strength training so much. I am so excited to start hitting the gym.
In January, I'll be with Coach Liz for a year. The year went by so quickly. I can't wait to take everything that I learned about racing this year, into next season. When you start with a new Coach, they have to start you at a certain level or point (based on your own history). Now, that she knows me and what I am willing to do and can do, we can work to get me to that next level.
I look back over this year. I really think I gave it everything I had. When we talk about racing, you'll hear people say, "I left everything on the course."
This YEAR, I left everything out there.