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

Speed Ride

Ah the joys of a new tire- my last one was shredded on one side, so it would bump out, rub against bike, etc. I swapped out tires with my husband (who runs mostly now) and it felt awesome! It was humid but I was happy with pace.

8.3 miles 32 minutes

Extra Ride

My goal is 3 rides a week- hills, speed, distance. I rode last Sunday (22nd), Tuesday, Thursday, and again Saturday! Good thing too because my Paleo diet has gone way off track with Amelia's chocolate birthday cake.

27th- swim in Barton Springs:)
28th- 12.6 miles 54 minutes

Misadventure

Today's ride was... an adventure of sorts. Started off very nice, cooler weather, no dogs chasing me down. Towards the end of the ride I was really struggling. I thought the wind that was coming from the north-west had taken a toll or not riding a long ride for a couple weeks, etc. Then I noticed my front tire didn't seem balanced, it was skirting out to the sides. I stopped, and it was flat, very flat. I was only a mile away from my car at this point so I tried to just add some air to the tire, rode a minute or two and it was totally flat again. I took a sip of the last of my water and sat down. I was tired, warm, and frustrated. But, at first I was also eager for a hands-on lesson of changing a tire. Will had "showed" me how to do it before, but to save time out on the road he always did the actual changing. A few people offered help, but I said I had it. I was wrong. Finally I called Will almost crying, when I wasn't saying loudly things like "I have no idea what you are talking about!" Anyway, after 10 minutes or so of this I decided to ditch and hide my bike and walk in my bike shoes the mile to my car. Will offered to come get me but this made me feel like I was doing something.. and nothing could feel worse than sitting there, helpless on the heat of the road. Luckily, soon after I began the walk a couple offered to drive me to my car. We are about to go outside and get my bike and Will is going to sit at a distance and give me instructions. So, my lesson today- learn to take care of your bike if you are going to go on long rides by yourself. I feel very grateful the flat didn't happen at mile 15 in the boonies.

26.4 miles
1 hr 51 m

Fast ride

Today is normally my long ride, but due to Amelia getting an award for being on the "distinguished honor roll list" (95% higher cumulative gpa) this morning, and then some not as noteworthy disruptions (pest control appointment), I had no time to ride until late afternoon. We have movie night Tuesday night, so I had to go in the heat of the day. Handled it better today then Sunday though.

Ride: 7.8 miles 30 minutes

Home

We got home last night from an unexpected trip to Utah. My grandmother passed away last week. Of course, it was heart wrenching and emotionally difficult. Surprisingly, it was also beautiful and inspiring. The service was about her life, I remembered things, I learned things. I saw lots of pictures. She was an amazing woman. She was great with kids, great with me growing up. I found out why: she raised her younger siblings after both her parents died. Then she raised her own three boys. She baked bread, grew a garden, kept a clean and organized home, while humming, joyful and 100% present in what she was doing. She also hunted and fished; she was competitive and tough. She loved being outdoors.

On another positive note, I found out my sister Cheryl might get a road bike!! I'd love to train separately for a ride, then ride it together. She has been doing some tough spin classes.

Today's ride was tough- getting used to the heat and humidity.. or maybe it was the last 2 days driving.

Intervals (hills): 11 miles 45 minutes