Grateful

A year ago, I wasn't dreaming of becoming a USA Triathlon coach.  A year ago, I was knocking on doors, waiting to find which would open to a new career path.  Oh, how grateful I am this door opened. (Since it's Thanksgiving I'm probably going to use the word grateful a lot!)  

Today, I am filled with joy because not only has the door opened to a new career, it has also opened my life to spend more time with my children.  I can't describe what a huge gift this is.  I could ask for no more.  I am extremely grateful to my husband, Eric who has pushed me to make this decision.  Eric not only works more now to give us financial stability, he has worked to create a gym in our home.  This gym will allow me to work from home and spend more time with our girls.  I would understand if he thought this was just too much to do, but he has done the opposite.  The garage was his final "man space" in our home.  He has given this to me and is in the process of completely remodeling it.  It even includes an orange wall!!!

I think when you make a life change, this is where you find out who your true friends are.  I am so lucky to have many.  My friends have supported and encouraged me.  They have helped me through the days when I start hearing negative messages saying, "no I can't".  When I thought for a moment I wasn't doing the 70.3 last year, I was quickly reminded of what I was doing this for.  This wasn't for me,  it was for the kids I'm hoping to coach one day.  They would be watching!

What would I do without my family?  I'm sure there is some universal rule saying you shouldn't coach our parents.  I'm breaking this twice.  I coach both my Mom and Dad.  They are amazing and they work SO hard!  Mom has endured some "almost puke" workouts lately and she keeps coming back for more.  Coaching Mom through her first triathlon made me realize I could be a coach.  Dad is working on his golf game and overall health.  After a year of prostate cancer treatment, I feel so fortunate to meet with him a couple times a month.  He works out and most importantly, we spend time together.

Finally, my girls.  Every day I look at them and still can't believe I am a mom.  I never dreamed my life would be what it is today.  I am so grateful for their health and amazing little personalities.  They make me grow and learn every day.  They seem to know when I'm having a rough day and say, "I love you Mommy".  I love that their lives are now immersed in fitness.  Not a fitness forced upon them but a fitness they see in their role models.  I love to see them play in my gym, trying to lift weights and play, "triathlon".  I don't expect them to be triathletes, but I want to give them the tools to have long and healthy lives.

I have spent much of my past year in prayer, asking God to give me new direction.  Apparently, I'm not so good at receiving his messages because he has made this career change one of the loudest messages in my life.  I have tried so hard to see how being a triathlon coach could be a profession God would want me to do.  I always understood the meaning in police work.  Then I realized, exercise gives confidence and health.  Triathlon helps people realize "I CAN".  And so I remember this for myself to repeat on the days I am struggling, "I can do all things through him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

NYC Marathon

They New York City Marathon starts in just a few minutes.  I have amazing memories of the race I ran in New York six years ago.  Where do I begin?  First of all, it was wonderful to have friends and family there to support me.  My Dad and Deborah flew out with me and one of my best girls, Tara came from Boston.  We had fun touring the city, visiting the Twin Towers memorial, NYPD museum and touring in the double-decker red bus.  I think my favorite and of course the most emotional was the Twin Towers.  They still had a small area commemorating the fallen Police Officers and Firefighters.  I don't show my badge often but this was worth it.  The security guard let us in to get a closer look.  I hope we don't ever forget these amazing people who risked their lives to save others.

After some delicious pasta meals, it was time to race.  I will tell you now this race wasn't about the time.  I actually had an awful race.  This race was about the people.  Somehow, I met up with a Firefighter from Colorado and a Prosecutor from, I don't remember where.  We chatted a few times along the way.  About half-way through, we lost the Prosecutor and started running the race together.  I don't remember what we talked about, I don't remember the boroughs we visited.  I do remember keeping each other going.  As we got to the upper teens, we both began struggling and talking ceased.  There were miles he pulled me along and miles I pulled him.  When we got the the 20s it became a, "put one food in front of the other" kind of race.  I kept thinking, just stay with this guy.  Finally, we saw Central Park and I think I saw Tara getting yelled at somewhere along the way!  The finish line was right there.  We crossed it and gave each other a huge hug, agreeing we couldn't have made it without the other person.

I have no idea what the name of the runner was.  It doesn't really matter.  What mattered was on this day we found one of the great things about racing.  Sometimes you have a bad race, but you have traveled all the way to New York.  You are going to finish!  You meet a great person along the way and become best running buddies, even if only for a few hours!

Good luck to everyone running in New York today!