IN THE FLOW

The World Championship event was a wonderful experience overall. After the event, I found myself in a sort of energy lull. I really had little motivation to get back into my triathlon training. I just wanted to run. I have really missed my long runs from back in the days of training for marathons and half-marathons. I definitely did not have the desire to get back in the water. I had thoughts volleying back and forth in my mind of "maybe you should just accept that you'll never be a fast swimmer" vs. "I can master this swimming thing. It may take a lot more time and work--whatever it takes, however long it takes." I took a week and a half off of swimming. This past week when I went to swim practice I had a heart to heart with coach Buzz. Something happened in that moment. I got in the pool and everything started to click--I let go of feeling like I have to attack the water in order to swim fast. I did exactly what Buzz told me--"be long & stretched out in the water, imagine you are swimming through a tight tube." I did it! I was swimming faster with a fraction of the effort. I was so excited and I even think that coach Buzz was excited--I think he wondered himself if I'd ever get the hang of it. Swimming is an easy, free-flowing experience. I have been so motivated to swim and to master the technique further.

LESSONS IN LIFE

In addition to my great week of swimming, I got back in routine with the rest of my training. I started back with my regular core-strength training as well as a total body strength routine. I put more miles in with my running--oh how I love to run! Did not do much with the bike as I was awaiting it's arrival from Paris--if you missed the last entry, my bike got misloaded in Hawaii and ended up in Paris, France instead of Nashville, TN. Nonetheless, I had made my plan and I was working my plan with my goals in clear focus. As noted on my race calendar, today was the McMinnville 1/2 marathon. The plan was for this to be my benchmark race since it's been a while since I've raced longer distances. Then I'd shoot to have a phenomenal P.R. in the Memphis St. Judes 1/2 marathon on December 3rd. Today was the perfect day for a race--overcast, a little chilly, but not cold--my favorite race conditions. I got up at 4:30 AM and had my Pre-Load shake. My friend, Liz, picked me up and off to the race we went. On the way we talked about our plan for the race today. We both talked about it not being a go-all-out race, just more of a training run. I should have known better. I'm a racer--get me in the environment and the mindset shift. When I walked into register and found out that there were less than 150 people running this race I knew I was here to race. I told Liz--"I think we're going to do real well today." Her reply, "we're staying for the awards ceremony." At the start-line, it was apparent that this was not going to be a very competitive field of races. I knew I was setting out to take 1st. I had a great start, great pace, was in my rythmn, feeling good, singing my happy songs and enjoying the beauty of the course (oh how I love the beautifuly fall colors). I was at about mile 5 feeling like a champ and the next thing I know I'm going down -- I hadn't plan to kiss any pavement today, but that's exactly what happened. I do not know what happened. I could have tripped on thin air, I could have come down on a piece of loose gravel, I could have just come down on my foot wrong, the racemeister could have played the invisible rope trick--who really knows (only the Man upstairs I suppose). I didn't stay on the ground long-remember I had a race to win. I get up thinking what in the world just happened. Of course, other runners are asking me if I'm ok--"sure I'm fine, just tripping over my own feet." I took a step to get back on track and that where it all ended. PAIN!!! I knew I wasn't going to just walk this kink out. Something was not right. I started walking towards the traffic cop about 1/2 mile ahead. With every step the pain was screaming at me and it was really only getting louder. I got a ride back to the race site by a volunteer, only after turning down the opportunity to take a ride in the Ambulance to the McMinnville hospital. If any of you have been to McMinnville you'll understand exactly why I made that decision. Plus, (inside joke w/ all my racing friends) ambulance rides = automatic DQ (disqualification). Back at the race site, the medic carefully took my shoe off, despite my hesitations. Oh boy! That told the story. A massive goose egg on the side of my foot. The medic said, "well, young lady, I cannot diagnose anything, but I've seen enough to say I think you've broken your foot. You'll want to get yourself to the hospital here shortly." Hooray! So I sat there in the now freezing cold with an ice pack on my foot. I had the pleasure of watching the first, second, third, ... runners cross the finish. And I easily could have been the first female to cross the finish line and that was my plan. However, what I've learned is that anything can happen to anyone on race day. There is just no guarantees and no taking any of it for granted.

Liz, is an amazing friend and after she finished the race, she got me in the car and we headed for hospital in our neck-of-the-woods. We both felt much better about that. I went through the routine at the hospital and was very blessed to be put on the "Fast Track Treatment Plan" -- isn't that fitting! X-rays showed a definite fracture and of course, not just an ordinary fracture, a rare fracture called a Jones fracture which requires surgery. They put me in a cast, gave me crutches and told me at least 10 times NO WEIGHT BEARING WHATSOEVER, absolutely no weight bearing at all. Ok, I get the picture. I will meet with the ortho surgeon on Monday and schedule surgery from there. I owe a HUGE thank you to my dear friend Liz who was an angel through this whole ordeal. I truly have been blessed with the greatest of friends and family.

I have been in a state of immense gratitude since the accident. In addition to the gratitude I feel for my loving friends and family. I am grateful that I don't have stairs at my home. I am grateful that I own my own business and that I work from home--I can work in my PJ and not have to fuss w/ make-up and my hair. I am grateful that I have a very orderly, functional home and home-office -- Thank you Emily!! I am grateful that my conference in Cancun this next week was postponed til 2006 due to the hurricane. I am grateful that my injury is not somehow worse. I am grateful that I am not in any pain and only mildly uncomfortable (the pain only occurs w/ weight bearing and movement of my foot). I am just grateful for life--I love my life. I am even grateful for these type of challenges and the lessons in life. I've been contemplating what lesson the Lord would have me learn from this--here are some of what I've come up with: it is not always about my agenda--he's really the one in charge. I may be blessed w/ great athletic talent--perhaps I should be more humble in my talent--I was not being very humble this morning about my intentions to win. Perhaps it's just time to slow down for a little bit. Perhaps it is an opportunity to focus time and energy on some other priorities. I know there are countless opportunities in this unforuntate occurence. For with every negative there is an equal or greater positive. And only after the rain comes the rainbow. I am looking forward to having some time with my sweet mother who is flying in to assist me through this next week. Thank you to everyone for your love, support, prayers, and positive energy in my behalf. I feel it, I receive it and it means more to me than you know.

Stay tuned in -- I've got lots of time to write these days.