Saturday 6/25- Hills

14.1 miles in 57.19
I repeated a steep hill on my ride 5x!

"Speed" Ride

10.4 in 39 minutes

Heat Warning

It's getting into the 100s here in Texas, and as it is above average for this early in summer, there is a heat warning out. So, I was out riding close to 8am yesterday. I think it was still close to 100 and VERY humid, and even the wind from the south felt warm. But, I did it! I really enjoyed the dry crackle of the corn and the smell, which is hard to describe..a dry smell like Fall time interspersed with chives and other growing things.

I am so grateful for our refreshing pool; without it I would just hibernate all summer in the air conditioned house!

27.79 miles in 2 hours

"Fast" Ride

Well, I tried;)

You know it's hot when you LOVE, love the strong wind even though you feel like a turtle on your rabbit ride.

10.4 miles 39 minutes

Sunday's Ride

13.5 miles 51 minutes 44 seconds

Live Every Day Like It Is Your Last

Healing Experiences: Swimming in the beautiful, clear water at Barton Springs (with lifeguards) and in our pool (now constantly watched).

Last Sunday my family saw a 10 year old girl almost drown. Last I heard she is in a medically induced coma. It was heart breaking. Only now, a week later, am I moving forward a bit out of the grief and regrets and and trying to learn something from this.

I want to forget; I never want to forget.

I will never again take my eyes off my children swimming, and I will look for the subtle signs of drowning in others. I wish I had known beforehand how very, very quickly and quietly a drowning can occur.

I have learned to be more wary of natural bodies of water; my overconfidence stemming from a lifetime spent swimming safely in oceans and lakes. My children will never swim in murky water again. (Thanks Mom and Dad for keeping us safe and having us wear life jackets).

I am hopeful that my children may be more cautious in water as they enter the teen age years.

I will not let self-doubt delay me from following my first instinct; I am so sorry I was not there sooner.

For a lot of this week, I felt literally weighed down with grief. It has been difficult to go to sleep, though I try so hard to focus my thoughts on something else images from Sunday haunt me. As time passes though, I feel more and more energized and on fire.

I will not take a day for granted. I will try to let small things go, and just love. I now feel deeply how fleeting our time is. I will not put off things I want to learn and do.

I will do all in my power so that if an emergency situation ever comes out of nowhere again, I will be ready. Yesterday, I got certified in CPR and first aid again for my postpartum work. I will keep current certification.

I will learn to swim faster and dive farther. I will become stronger.

I will tell all parents I come into contact with how quickly this can happen, how vigilant they must be. I will share tips for safe swimming. Please visit: http://www.colinshope.org/Resources/Safety/Documents/drowningtips_2011_english.pdf

My one ride last week... Thursday, June 9th: 14.1 miles in 49:55 (Pushed it; trying to clear my head.)

Hills/Intervals

Well, I burnt out early today. I was going for an hour. Okay, I won't repeat the weather again. I know, I know, I live in Texas. That may have been a factor, but I think the speed did me in... I did about as fast as my "fast" pace but searched out and climbed every hill- and a steep one two times. I really try to power up every hill and that makes this work out a great interval workout!

9.8 miles 38 minutes