I've been sort of crabby around the house these last few days and pretty solice at work. After having put so much effort forth into a race where I felt completely miserable I had a hard time sleeping as my hip would simply not allow me to get comfortable so I was up most of the night on Saturday night. I watched The Pelican Brief twice and The Client once all beginning around 2:00 AM. I was registered the following day in one of my favorite sprint distance races, which I've completed every year since moving to the Twin Cities area. The Manitou Sprint is part of the Midwest Events series sponsored by my favorite triathlon store Gear West and they have AWESOME Giveaways.....Did I mention they were awesome? They give away a Zipp Wheel set, a Tribag filled with bike shoes, speedplays, a helmet, body glide, a speedo fastskin etc and they also give away a QR carbon fiber frame. All race participants have an opportunity to to win one of these great give-aways but you MUST be present to win. You might see where I'm going with this.
Considering I had little sleep and my hip was a pain...I decided to stay home and and keep my body on ice. I thought briefly - Tif you should really go, if nothing else to cheer on your Gear West Teammates but alas I made the decision to stay home and rest/sleep.
Imagine my surprise, when I received an e-mail from one of my teammates later that day advising me my name had been the first drawn for the bike frame........
long pause here to muster my composure..........
ARE YOU FLIPPIN' KIDDING ME? Seriously folks, I could have cried. Well, actually, I think I did. It was the proverbial "icing on the cake" to a weekend where I HAD BEEN super excited to race.
I've had to remind myself these past few days there are tons of people who would kill to be in my shoes, hip pain and all and what importance does a new Carbon Bike Frame have? I mean really. Of course it's extremely nice - who wouldn't want it....but there are more important things to worry about or get upset over. Losing out on a good opportunity - well - why it may suck, it surely isn't the end of the world. And maybe, just maybe, that bike frame went to someone who really needed it. (that's what I'm telling myself anyway)Why then am I feeling so blue? It's beyond me. It's just a pity party I guess. One I'm snapping out of as of today. I've got tons of things to be happy about and be grateful for and I'm counting my blessings.
Case in point - this Friday evening Mark and I are going to a benefit to help raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. My coach from Ironman Wisconsin and recently turned Pro triathlete was diagnosed a year ago with Leukemia. His wife has chosen to compete at Ironman Lake Placid as a tribute to his vitality and love for life. So far, treatment has been successful and we're all extremely grateful. We enjoy his presence far too much.
Tonight as I was preparing to send out a graduation card to a cousin of mine....I re-read the card I had purchased several weeks ago and it really had a nice message so I'm going to post it here, mostly for myself. However I hope you enjoy.
“Lemons and Roses”
Life can bring lemons and roses –
The bitter along with the sweet –
And it’s mainly the way that we handle those things
That determines success or defeat.
Enjoy all the roses life brings you,
But notice how quickly they fade,
While lessons you think of
As toughest to swallow
Can always become lemonade.
For lemons and roses are both a reward
For your efforts in every endeavor.
And to think of them both
As the gifts of a lifetime
Will make you a winner forever.
Attitude is everthing -
Good Night all
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