My second attempt at a sprint triathlon was much smoother than the first. I never felt like I might drown during the pool swim, I kicked it up a notch during the bike ride and cruised right through the run. I honestly think I should get a minute handicap for each week of my pregnancy, which would nicely shave 15 minutes from my 1 hour 34 minute finish. I have found a new sport to love and improve upon.
Triathlons are intimidating simply because your age is written in permanent marker on your calf muscle. Your race number is written on your arm, but that one only indicates where you are self-seeded for the swim. For example, if you say you can swim 500 meters in 5 minutes, you would probably be seeded in the top 5. I'm around 11 minutes, so I'm usually about half way back in the pack.
Anyways, back to the age written on your leg. So, there you are, standing around waiting for everything to begin when you start taking stock of your competition. And you think, "That girl can only be 18. She's so skinny and look at that great rear." But, your gaze drops and sure enough, she's 30. Oh crap. And then you think you spot someone your age, and you're thinking, "Her arms are so much more toned than mine." But, thankfully, she's 50. Wait, you're not thankful for that. You're going to get your butt kicked by someone 19 years your senior. Needless to say, there's a lot of anxious sizing up going on.
When it's all said and done, it's really just a thrill to be a part of something so exhilarating. And it's helping me to come to terms with this stage of my life. No more partaking in cocktail happy hours. Browsing the internet for travel destinations has turned into browsing for cribs and strollers. I am going to be a mom. But, I will still be a race participant, just a little slower and wider than before.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Staycation
My British friends always referred to vacations as "holidays". As in, "We were on holiday in Paris." I think it's charming, but when we recently decided to stick around OKC during the hubby's time off from work, it was difficult to consider it a vacation, much less a holiday, so I'll use the recession "it" word - staycation.
With the impending purchases of nursery furniture, jog stroller, car seats, etc., etc., etc., we thought it prudent to send our regrets to a Baku friend, who is getting married in South Africa. Since last November, we swore to be at the wedding, but it's not in the stars for us. A staycation in OKC is just as cool as Johannesburg, right? I've never been to South Africa, so I cannot give an absolute answer. Here's a few highlights from our staycation:
On a typically windy and hot summer morning, we loaded up the road bikes and drove to the new OKC river trails, just on the outskirts of Bricktown. The trails are continuous (read, no road traffic) for 13 miles. Flat and fast. Except, as previously stated, I'm not that fast. It was flat and sort of fast. I'd recommend the trails for moms with strollers (take a buddy, it's desolate!) and road cyclists needing an easy ride. It was a little stinky near the Stockyards, where unfortunately, the river is extremely shallow and the boggy mud mixed with cow aroma is enough to make you want to breathe with your mouth closed. Little shade is provided, it is Oklahoma after all, but there is plenty of parking and a few porta-potties along the route.
On another extremely hot summer day, we ventured out to Acardia, only a few miles outside of Edmond. Lunch was at Pops, a classic 1950's diner. Hamburgers were good and milk shakes were even better. That's all there's to say about that.
And no staycation is complete without a trek to the Great State Fair of Oklahoma. We're old, so we went early in the day, ate sugar-overloaded cinnamon rolls, gigantic corn dogs and some type of deep-fried cookie dough. Ummm, no, I did not ride any bolt-missing roller coasters. Again, we're old, so we simply walked through the buildings overflowing with all sorts of vendors. We slopped our way through the barns of sheep, goats, cows, horses, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some other farms animals. We left before the carnies got really out of hand.
And off to home we went. Where the perfect part of a staycation is an afternoon nap.
With the impending purchases of nursery furniture, jog stroller, car seats, etc., etc., etc., we thought it prudent to send our regrets to a Baku friend, who is getting married in South Africa. Since last November, we swore to be at the wedding, but it's not in the stars for us. A staycation in OKC is just as cool as Johannesburg, right? I've never been to South Africa, so I cannot give an absolute answer. Here's a few highlights from our staycation:
On a typically windy and hot summer morning, we loaded up the road bikes and drove to the new OKC river trails, just on the outskirts of Bricktown. The trails are continuous (read, no road traffic) for 13 miles. Flat and fast. Except, as previously stated, I'm not that fast. It was flat and sort of fast. I'd recommend the trails for moms with strollers (take a buddy, it's desolate!) and road cyclists needing an easy ride. It was a little stinky near the Stockyards, where unfortunately, the river is extremely shallow and the boggy mud mixed with cow aroma is enough to make you want to breathe with your mouth closed. Little shade is provided, it is Oklahoma after all, but there is plenty of parking and a few porta-potties along the route.
On another extremely hot summer day, we ventured out to Acardia, only a few miles outside of Edmond. Lunch was at Pops, a classic 1950's diner. Hamburgers were good and milk shakes were even better. That's all there's to say about that.
And no staycation is complete without a trek to the Great State Fair of Oklahoma. We're old, so we went early in the day, ate sugar-overloaded cinnamon rolls, gigantic corn dogs and some type of deep-fried cookie dough. Ummm, no, I did not ride any bolt-missing roller coasters. Again, we're old, so we simply walked through the buildings overflowing with all sorts of vendors. We slopped our way through the barns of sheep, goats, cows, horses, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some other farms animals. We left before the carnies got really out of hand.
And off to home we went. Where the perfect part of a staycation is an afternoon nap.
Friday, September 9, 2011
A Fork
This past spring, while living in Azerbaijan, we had a defining moment. You know the kind. You can clearly see the divergent paths that your life could take. A fork in the road, if you will. One path would have taken us to Siberia. Seriously. Siberia was to be the hubby's next posting with his previous employer. I'm always up for adventure, but come on. It's only above freezing for 2 months out of the year. And more importantly, I'm not a young pup anymore. The kid thing was a factor. I've never known whether I wanted children or not, but I least wanted the chance to try. I know thousands of women have children every day in Siberia. I just didn't want to be one of them. Looking down this path seemed like a black and white movie. Void of color. The only positive point seemed to be that I'd be guaranteed several exotic beach trips a year. They would be a necessity to ensure my sanity.
The opposite path would lead us back to Oklahoma. A secure job, near family, nestled between everything comfortable and easy. Big box stores with more than I could ever need. Houses with plenty of inexpensive square footage. Sidewalks with man hole covers. Police officers who you can trust. The masses adhering to traffic laws. But where is the adventure in all of that? I worried that easy could lead to boredom. Comfortable could lead to complacency. And the worst vice of all, mediocrity. I doubt I'll be considered a great person, but I do want to experience great things.
And with the very real prospect of Siberia looming, we chose the proven, safe path. Six months later, we are once again rooted in American life. It's a cake walk by most standards. And what a yummy piece of cake it is. The best part is that this chosen path - our defining moment- has blessed us with an expanding family. In March 2012, we will welcome a baby! You'll have to forgive me if my "travelogue" is sparsely populated with travel stories and more with journeys of motherhood. It just comes with the territory.
The opposite path would lead us back to Oklahoma. A secure job, near family, nestled between everything comfortable and easy. Big box stores with more than I could ever need. Houses with plenty of inexpensive square footage. Sidewalks with man hole covers. Police officers who you can trust. The masses adhering to traffic laws. But where is the adventure in all of that? I worried that easy could lead to boredom. Comfortable could lead to complacency. And the worst vice of all, mediocrity. I doubt I'll be considered a great person, but I do want to experience great things.
And with the very real prospect of Siberia looming, we chose the proven, safe path. Six months later, we are once again rooted in American life. It's a cake walk by most standards. And what a yummy piece of cake it is. The best part is that this chosen path - our defining moment- has blessed us with an expanding family. In March 2012, we will welcome a baby! You'll have to forgive me if my "travelogue" is sparsely populated with travel stories and more with journeys of motherhood. It just comes with the territory.
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