Reflections of KJ

Not All That Different

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:27:00 +0000

This past Saturday I competed in a Sprint Triathlon. It was the 3rd one I have done this season. I did my very first triathlon last June. I have to admit that I’m kind of hooked on them. If I was 20 year younger I’m sure I would be doing an Ironman distance in place of the Sprint distances.

In the past couple of months I have had the opportunity to encourage a few different people that are attempting or considering doing their 1st triathlon. I found out that the receptionist at my chiropractors office is training to do her 1st one this summer and I have shared some pointers with her. I have talked to a couple of different people that workout at the Y at the same time I do and they have been asking me questions because they are considering doing one as well. And then there is how I got hooked up with a complete stranger to do some training swims in Lake Tye. Because she has a couple of young children she can only do it late one night or early (6am) on Saturday mornings and was having a hard time finding a swim partner.

Kyle and I were talking the other day about my “competitive nature”, how I’m not out to win at any cost but I’m there to do my own very best and to help others do their best. That is one of the things I like best about doing triathlons. It is about encouraging people along the journey. It about letting those that are struggling that they can do this and to not give up, that is what gives me the greatest joy doing triathlons. Until this weekend I just thought that is something in me, but now I realize that is how all triathlete’s are.

On Saturday sustained 2 injuries during the run portion of the race. About ½ way through the 5K portion of the race I pulled an abductor muscle (or more commonly known as a groin pull) and then 500 yds from the finish line I twisted my bad knee. So I was obviously struggling. I ran as best I could at that given time and I’m sure it wasn’t pretty. As each of the other athletes passed me they all shouted out encouragement. Some of these were just weekend warriors as I am and others were very intense skilled athletes, but each and every one of them seeing the struggle that I was having were supportive and pushing me on to finish. Encouraging me and letting me know that they understood the effort. I crossed the finish line with a small group of friends, family and other athletes cheering me on.

Even though I placed 2nd in my age group, it is those words of encouragement that I remember and will remember in my next race and any more going forward.

Philippians 2:1-3

Impatiens

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Sun, 08 May 2011 21:36:00 +0000

The sun is doing its best to come out today here in the Pacific Northwest. It has been the wettest and coldest spring on record so that is quite the pleasant surprise. Who knows we might even get warmer than 55 today.

Todays is Mother’s Day, and I truly hope that all you Mother’s out there have a blessed day and that today and every day you family celebrates you.

The last six Mother’s Days I had the opportunity to share them with my mother as she came to live in out here and I became one of her primary care givers. I remember last Mother’s Day my mother wanted to just enjoy the sun and flowers on a perfect warm spring day. I pushed her around the grounds and the surrounding neighborhood in her wheelchair to look at all of the flowers in bloom. We sat in the courtyard and we made calls to my sisters and other family members so my mom could talk to them. We sat and talked about the difference in the flowers here versus what we used to have in Michigan. It was a good day and I am happy we had it.

My mom loved Impatiens and one of the things that my sisters and I always did for my mom on Mother’s Day, was to plant them in the containers where ever she lived. I called one of my sisters yesterday to wish her a happy Mother’s Day, knowing that today would probably be too difficult and she said she was going out today and buy impatiens and plant them in the containers at her house this year. I told my husband today, that if it was warmer I would have done the same, but with the weather we are having they would probably not survive.

Maybe in a week or two I will plant some impatiens for you Mom.

“Behave Yourself”

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 05:58:00 +0000

I’m sitting here on an airplane writing this. On the airplane from returning my mom to her place of birth and the place her remains will stay.

I couldn’t get into reading this flight and decided to watch the movie that is playing, Secretariat, and about half way through the movie the owner of the horse has had a stroke and about to die and his daughter is sitting beside his hospital bed telling him all about the hours and all it was accomplishing.

It was at that moment that the tears started to fall. I started to replay the memories of my mother’s last days. The last conversations we had, the last thing she ate (my french-fries from McDonald I brought for my lunch). We both knew our time together would not last long and yet, we didn’t discuss it. It just was. A couple of week before we had taken care of the logistics, she told me exactly what she wanted. She knew.

I want to know why it is on an airplane that I can let the emotions and the tears fall?

I spent pretty much the 78 hours of her life here on earth at her bedside. The last time she spoke was when I was holding the phone to her ear and she was talking to my sister and niece and she told them both she loved them. The last time she tried to speak, she mouthed the words: I Love You, to me.

A day later the last thing I said as I kissed her forehead and prepared to go and take a much needed nap (that I never got) was our normal departing routine. What do you say to someone that is living in a nursing home? I would say, “I love you and behave yourself”. Her reply,’ Luv You Too’, never came.

She Led

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:38:00 +0000

My mother loved to dance. When I was in High School and College my parents used to go to Dinner Dances at the local Eagles Club. They would move around the dance floor with grace and elegance doing the Jitterbug, Waltz and other dances from their era. My mom also danced with others, her dance card was always full and I don’t think she ever turned anyone down. She could dance with anyone, even someone that absolutely had no right to be on the dance floor. She moved around the floor with ease and grace always enjoying every minute of it.

My mother was a born leader. She truly had a gift for leadership. She could get people to do things that they thought weren’t possible. She could assess any situation and come up with a plan, and a mighty good plan at that, with seemingly little effort.

My mom was a High School Graduate and started working for the State of Michigan as a switch board operator. Yes, the old style, plug the cord into a panel, switch board. When she retired after more than 30 years she was the District Manager responsible for 1/3 of the counties in the state. She had a few college classes under her belt, but never completed her Degree.

She served in the Eagles Organization on many levels and including serving on National Committees. She would have went farther except for the effects of Parkinson’s disease took its tool and limited her ability to more.

She moved into a nursing home, because of the Parkinson’s a couple of years ago and almost immediately started serving the Resident Council for that facility and on the State of Washington Council for Resident rights. Some of the Staff at the Nursing home called her Madame President.

This last Monday my mother passed away and even in her death she was a leader. In that last weeks of her life she made all the plans and arrangements and made sure everyone knew what her wishes were. She defied all the norms and died on her own terms. We were jokingly calling her Frank Sinatra because she did it her way.

Today she is doing the Jitterbug in Heaven, free to move without pain, her physical limitations no longer in the way.

It was funny to watch when my dad would dance with someone other than my mom. He always seemed stiff and awkward during those dances. Such a contrast to when he danced with my mom. You see, he really didn’t know how to dance. She Led!

Johnny Mathis

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:27:00 +0000

I was thinking about Johnny Mathis today. I guess he was one of the 1st artists I ever listened to. He is one of my mother’s favorites and she bought his original album in 1956 and would play it while working around the house after putting me in the Johnny Jump up hung in the door way. She always told me that as long as music was playing I was a content baby and would sit in that thing for hours.

I remember listening to his Heavenly album in grade school. I know that album is somewhere in the stacks of old LPs that my sister has stored at her house.

I once got a handshake from him a few years ago when he sang here in Seattle; I think that was in either 2004 or 2005.

The chance encounter started in an airport. I was standing at yet another gate in O’Hare Airport waiting to catch a connecting flight to bring me home to Seattle. Up walks an older man in his flannel shirt, Levi jeans, baseball hat pulled down low. He sits quietly in the chairs after learning that the flight would be delayed for a few minutes. It wasn’t the man that made me take notice; it was the group of men around him. If they weren’t already all talking on their cellphones, they immediately pulled them out and started making calls. They were all dressed in the latest trends, lots of bling and black. Four men in their 30 or 40s, very much in charge and important, you know the type.

Once I realized they were with the older man I looked at him again and sure enough it was Johnny Mathis. Now he had seen me look at him and recognize him. I just smiled at him and looked around to see if anyone else had recognized him. They hadn’t and that had been his goal. I went back to what I was doing and waited for my turn to board the aircraft. Soon after that they started boarding and he was ushered toward the gate by his entourage and that was that.

Or so I thought. As I boarded the airplane he was sitting there in first class. I went to go past his seat he stopped me took my hand, looked me in the eye and said thank you with all sincerity. I went to my seat and the flight made it to Seattle with no problems and as I was leaving Baggage Claim to get my ride, he gave me another nod of acknowledgement.

That memory isn’t so vivid because he is a star, but because of his sincerity. I can only imagine how tiring it gets to live a life where it is hard to just be you. Lord, let me see each and every man, woman and child for who there are.

Circle of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:04:00 +0000

I’ve spent the afternoon sitting next to my mother’s bed as she sleeps. I wonder how many days or night she has done the same for me.

I remember the time I had major abdominal surgery and I almost didn’t make it. The surgery lasted 8 hours and was only supposed to have lasted 1. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks and it should have only been 3 days. I wonder what went through her mind during that time as I drifted in and out.

I’m sure there were times when I was young that she has taken a damp cloth and wiped the tear stains from my cheek or rubbed my arm to soothe me. I wish I remembered those times.

What do they call it “The Circle of Life”?
Thanks Mom.

Book Review: The Confession – John Grisham

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:38:00 +0000

John Grisham is one of those authors that I can’t wait to read his latest work. This book came out last week and I waited until this past Monday to buy it so I would finish the one that I was currently reading. It was hard to be in a number of airports on my previous trips seeing this book on the shelf and not buying it. I knew I would be leaving on a trip again on the 8th and would save it for then. The Confession – John Grisham addresses the whole system around the death penalty and guilt or innocence.

Book Cover excerpt:
For every innocent man sent to prison, there is a guilty one left on the outside. He doesn’t understand how the police and prosecutors got the wrong man, and he certainly doesn’t care. But how can a guilty man convince lawyers, judges, and politicians that they’re about to execute an innocent man?

Personal Reflections:
Oh man. This was intense and well worth the price of buying the hardcover version. You can believe that this actually happened, what a story. There were two very different endings that I thought were coming and it was amazing how John Grisham actually wrapped it up. I almost gave up reading this author a few books back, but this one will definitely get me to buy his next.

Book Review: Her Daughter’s Dream – Francine Rivers

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:30:00 +0000

This is second in a 2 part series that is loosely based on the author’s own family and the mother/daughter relationships through the generations. Francine Rivers ability to accurately describe the history that the stories are set in are her trademark. Her Daughter’s Dream – Francine Rivers is another amazing book.

Book Cover Excerpt:
In the dramatic conclusion to Her Mother’s Hope, Francine Rivers delivers a rich and deeply moving story about the silent sorrows that can tear a family apart and the grace and forgiveness that can heal even the deepest wounds.

Personal Reflections:
This is another book that brought both tears and healing in my own life. The story takes many turns and it is always hard when it doesn’t turn out the way you would love it to. I highly recommend this book, not only from the historical benefit, but from the pure pleasure of the read.

Book Review: Her Mother’s Hope – Francine Rivers

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:30:00 +0000

It has been 6 years or so since I 1st learned of Francine Rivers. I was visiting a friend in Illinois and we went to the book store and she highly recommended the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I bought it that day and we spent the rest of the day in her family room next to the fireplace both reading. Now that is a close friendship, when you are both content just to read, share popcorn and have some tea. No need to entertain each other. I got an email from Amazon.com that Francine Rivers had released a new book. I was leaving on vacation within a few days so I headed out to Barnes & Nobels to see if I could get the book. I go there and found out that the new release was actually part 2 of a two part series and I picked up the 1st of the series, Her Mother’s Hope – Francine Rivers.

Book Cover Excerpt:
Heartbreaking news from home strengthens Marta’s resolve as she moves to England and eventually to Canada. There, she meets handsome Niclas Waltert, a man just as committed as she to forging a better life in a new place. But nothing has prepared her for the sacrifices she must make for marriage and motherhood as she travels first to the Canadian wilderness and finally to the dusty Central Valley of California to raise her family.

Personal Reflection:
I love the depth of the history that Francine Rivers includes in her novels. You know that she has spent hours on the research and you feel that you are actually living in another time at another place. This book details the impact that a mother has on a daughter. I have not always understood my mother and the way she raised us. I have gotten the opportunity over the last five years to be one of my mother’s care givers I have come to realize a little more about her own background and how it impacted the way she raised us. Hardship has a way of molding us in many different directions. This book is a page turner and I am so glad I didn’t have to wait to read the sequel. If you start this one, be ready to get the second one pretty quickly or it will drive you nuts.

Book Review: Safe Haven – Nicolas Sparks

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 20:47:00 +0000

Nicolas Sparks is one of those authors I found via an airport book. The 1st book of his that I read was Six Weeks with My Brother, a true store of the journey he took around the world with his brother. After reading that, I fell in love with his style and the depth of character development in his writings. Now I have read every one of his books and watch anxiously for each new release. His lastest is Safe Haven - Nicolas Sparks

Book Cover Excerpt:
But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

Personal Reflections:
This one was very suspenseful and didn’t end the way I thought it was going to. As I said, the characters are so believable and you just get sucked into the story. I enjoyed this book and it might just be one of my favorites that he has written.

Book Review: Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 20:08:00 +0000

This is another one of those airport books Eat, Pray, Love; One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India, Indonesia – Elizabeth Gilbert. I had seen the previews for the movie starring Julia Roberts and was somewhat intrigued, but I’m not a big movie fan because usually the only good parts are in the previews. I actually looked at this book about a dozen times before I finally purchased it.

Book Cover Excerpt:
In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want – husband, country home, and successful career – but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and what she found in their place.

Personal Reflection:
That excerpt from above reads almost like my own personal testimony (without the husband) and how I went on my own personal search for fulfillment when I had all the outward signs of success. Unlike Elizabeth I found the true fulfillment in Jesus Christ. But the book is an interesting read. The writer has an interesting style of describing the characters she met on her journey. Because of her style I will probably read one of her other books. It was a nice read.

Book Review: Without a Word – Jill Kelly

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:51:00 +0000

I enjoy reading, but it seems like most of the time I’m busy with life and don’t take the time to sit and read. Lately, I have been doing a bit of traveling so I have taken advantaged of all that air travel to read. I’m going to spend the next few days posting reviews of the books I have read this fall.

The first book is Without a Word – by Jill Kelly. I was in the airport when I saw this book and decided to purchase it. It is a habit of mine to wonder through the book sections/stores at airports, I have found some very interesting books and favorite authors this way. I knew of Jim Kelly because I am a fan of football, but I really didn’t know about him and the struggles of his family.

Here is an excerpt from the jacket cover:
More than a memoir, this book contains a mother’s heart--- pieces of precious, journaled memories engraved on the author’s soul – as well her long journey from resentment to forgiveness as a wife. Here, too, are intimate reflections from Jim and from those who walked with the Kelly’s through the shadow of death and into the light of hope. Without a Word transparently shares it all: The heartbreaking moments… and those Jill would love to relive. Moments that add up to a time filled with unimaginable pain…and indescribably joy. Moments that silently transformed the hearts of every member of her family… and changed their lives forever. Moments that may even change our heart and life, too.

Personal reflections:
I have to say, I’m not sure I would recommend reading this on the plane as I did, it was intense and the tears flowed, but yet I couldn’t stop reading it, I just dried my eyes on one of those scratchy airplane napkins and keep reading through the blur. Jill and Jim Kelly are truly transparent in this book, not only about the struggles of having a child with a terminal illness, but about their struggles as a husband and wife and as individuals. I wouldn’t call this book ‘fun’ but I am glad I read it.

Veteran Day – Thank You

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:34:00 +0000

This week I am in meetings with representatives from the Global Leaders in Technology that have gathered to set standards and guidelines for technology for the next 3,5,10 years and beyond.

I sat back last night and just listened as small groups gathered over coffee. Yes, there are people here from the USA, but there are also many other nations represented here: Japan, Taiwan, Belgium, Spain, Russia, France, England, Chili, Argentina, Israel, India, Korea, China… All of them are here to determine the face of technology in the future. Free to travel to this country to exchange ideas for the betterment of us all.

Ask yourself the question; what if there wasn’t a sort of diplomacy? What if the world was ruled by dictators? Would this open exchange of idea occur?

I personally want to thank all the Veterans today. Thank you for the freedoms we have, for the freedoms this world has. Those of you who have served; you who are now serving and those who died serving are true heroes.

THANK YOU.

I Wish You Knew Her When....

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 01:15:00 +0000

I wish you knew her when she could run. She ran beside the bike teaching us to ride a two wheeler.

I wish you knew her when she would bowl; it was so awkward because she bowled left handed and bowling with her right hand, she did carry a 190+ handicap.

I wish you knew her the day she a chaperoned for my 3rd grade trip to a farm and sat on a stool and milked a cow by hand. I was so proud; no one else had a mom that could do that, it even impressed the farmer giving the demonstration.

I wish you knew her when she taught us how to body surf in 5 ft waves on Lake Huron one warm August day. We came back to the cabin that night with sand in places that it shouldn’t be and exhausted from laughing and playing the entire day in our clothes. You see we were out on a drive and had not brought our swimsuits. She couldn’t resist and we all just jumped in with our clothes.

I wish you knew her when she would dance the night away. The two step, fox trot, waltz, jitterbug, she was so light on her feet and could follow anyone, and I mean anyone, even a bad dancer. My stepdad never danced before she met my mom and no one believed it when they watched them together, it was because she led.

My mom made a new friend at church yesterday. She was sitting waiting on me to take her into service unable to do it herself, confined to a wheelchair because of the effects of Parkinson’s disease. I watch them talk and chat and share stories about husbands and kids. I think about the fact that people here in Washington have only known my mom since she has been in a wheelchair.

My mom’s mind is still sharp, she laughs easy and if you ask her she knows most of the words to any song out of the 50s. I wish you knew her when…..

Proverbs 17:6

You Eat There?

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 22:43:00 +0000

Recently I was helping out at an event at church and I didn’t have time to go home and have dinner before had so stopped at McDonalds and grabbed myself a cheeseburger and a large iced tea for dinner.

After things got going I was walking around with my McDonald’s glass and the rest of the tea when someone stopped me and asked” you eat McDonalds?” She said this in all seriousness. She explained the statement by saying that from my fb (Facebook) post about training, she thought I only ate healthy. Boy is that a wrong perception. Now I don’t hit McDonalds all that often and not nearly as much as I used too, mostly because of time, but also because I do somewhat watch what I eat.

Here is what I have learned in the last 2 ½ years of working out: “What you eat determines your size; Exercise determines your shape.” Think about it, even if you are doing strenuous workouts for a couple of hours a day, you probably only burn between 600 and 800 calories an hour. So unless you are eating less than 1200 calories a day, you are not going to lose weight without changing your diet. If you do just diet you will lose weight and have a flabby body left. Exercise tones the body.

I have lost 3 sizes by changing my habits, portions and adding exercise. I find it interesting that for the last year I have changed my type of exercise and reduced a size, but didn’t lose any weight.

Our physical bodies parallel our spiritual bodies. Our Spiritual diet determines our size; our spiritual exercise determines our shape. If most of our reading/watching is filled with stuff that really isn’t good for us, or if we gorge on only Christian materials and never put them into practice, we will get ‘fat’ and have ‘clogged arteries’. Unless we put our Christian beliefs and teachings to work we will remain soft and flabby.

It doesn’t take much to change; it only takes the determination to make a change.

James 2:21-23

Commitment

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:36:00 +0000

Let me introduce you to Harold and Irene*. I see them every Sunday and Friday’s when I am at my mom place. They sit together and sometimes Harold greets us and talks about the day’s events of just life in general. Often on Sunday afternoons you find them both napping quietly. No one bothers them and everyone just lets them be together.

You see Irene lives in the nursing home and Harold comes to spend the day with her. Irene can’t see any longer and is unable to talk. I’m not sure Irene is really aware of her surroundings, but it doesn’t matter to Harold, for him it is about being with his wife, for better or worse. He misses her being at home with him and misses the conversations they used to have. He is lonely at home these days and goes to bed each night alone. He sits with Irene just to be with her, to try and give her a sense of belonging even though they are apart more than together.

I watch Harold and it is then that you begin to see what is meant in the marriage vows: “until death due you part.”

I think any couple considering marriage should go and find a “Harold and Irene” and understand what a commitment is.

Ecc 9:9

The Honor of Time

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:23:00 +0000

Yesterday was the 4th of July, a day when we celebrate the birth of the USA . The celebrations usually entail getting together with friends and family for BBQs and attending parades and other festivities.

I was part of a parade again, walking with a group supporting my brother-in-law that is an elected official. I love being in parades and ‘smoozing’ the crowd along the way. This year was a little different for me , I spent a good part of the parade holding back tears. Not tears of sadness but tears of thankfulness and honor. This year we were placed in the parade right behind a flat bed truck carrying approximately a dozen WWII veterans.

I would be walking along and all of a sudden you would hear the applause start, the people seated in chairs at the side of the road would stand and honor these men for all that they did for this country. You would see the Vietnam vet standing in salute with tears in their eyes.

I had a chance to chat briefly with these men all whom are well into their 90’s and all who you could see were blessed to be part of this great country.

If only we could take the time the other 364 days of the year to honor those men and women with our time, just time to have a cup of coffee or a brief visit. Find a Veteran and find out their name and give them the honor of some time.

Philippians 2:29

RACE DAY

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 04:29:00 +0000

By noon today, all the gear was put away, the body markings had been washed off, the wet clothes were in the washer and we were on our way to lunch. It was hard to think that all the work for the last 10 months was over. I don’t want this to be over this quickly, I even tucked my finishing medal in my pocket to take with me as assurance that today actually happened.

After months of training, I completed my 1st Sprint Triathlon today. I had started training hoping to finish, then it became a goal to finish in less than 2 hours. In the last few weeks I had set a personal goal to finish in 1:45. I was feeling good about what my body was able to do.

I held back tears as I made the final turn back into the park towards the finish line. I held it together and as I crossed the line there was a large digital clock showing my un-official time as 1:19, I could hardly believe my eyes. They hung a medal around the neck of everyone as they crossed the line. It was more about finishing then about winning. I gathered up my gear, packed it back into my bag and headed for the car. I stopped to read the official results that were being posted as people finished. I found my name and saw that I had finished 148th out of 300+ finishers. I was 4th in my age group with a time of 1:07:16. I almost fainted when I read that I have finished in just over 67minutes.

Over the last couple of weeks I have had more than one moment of panic when I thought about what I was planning on doing. But it would be for only a moment because I knew I am ready. I trained hard physically and mentally for this challenge. I have kept the triathlon in perspective and balanced my life around it. I have handled the disruptions in training and the setbacks from illness and injury.

I didn’t get to this point by saying what I couldn’t do. I didn’t get to this point by watching someone else do all the work. I didn’t get to this point by only talking about it. I had to set the goal, have the faith to reach the goal and put in the hours and sweat to get to this point.

When I started working out for the very 1st time I made the following notation in my journal: Hopefully this will work for me so that I 1) get in shape, 2) get my attitude in a better shape, 3) get motivated about other things.

I can honestly say that because of the last 20 months of working out I have achieved all of these. I have dropped 25 lbs and can maintain it, I look at life as an opportunity and not a challenge and I am motivated in many areas including one of my hearts desires to complete a triathlon.

Psalm 71:7-8

Tri Minus One

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 02:54:00 +0000

I started this week with a plan, a plan of rest, nutrition and hydration. It turned out to be a week of improvising. I ended up with a minor medical problem that has forced more rest more then I planned and all but eliminated any of the training I was going to do. My taper turned into a halt. I did get in a workout on Monday and Tuesday but just couldn’t do one the rest of the week. My wings are clipped at least through the weekend and then we will play it by ear from there.

I still would like to get one more run in and at least one more swim in a lake with the wetsuit. Not sure if it will be possible. But what I do know is that I will compete in the triathlon in exactly one week and I will complete it. I know that all the training I have done to this point has made me ready. Now it is more about me being ready mentally than it is physical.

So as I rest and prepare all my gear and continue to work on nutrition and hydration, I will be flexible and improvise and attempt to get those last workouts in when and if I can.

Jeremiah 29:11

Tri Minus Two

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:42:00 +0000

Along this journey there have been some funniest moments but this afternoon was probably the strangest. We have new neighbors moving in and I wonder what they thought as I stood out in the rain in my wetsuit as Kyle hosed me down. I needed to practice taking a wet wetsuit off and transition to the bike and then to the run.

For our older neighbors this would just be another one of those “what are they doing now” moments. They have watched me hit golf balls in a bucket while in a leg cast, watched me weed the garden while on crutches and other various not your typical activities. So for them to watch me run around the house in a wetsuit, strip it off, put on shoes and helmet and take off on the bike in the ran only to return 15 minutes later, park the bike, remove my helmet and take off running just seem normal for me.

On Friday I had a moment where I realized that I was within reach of completing this journey. It made me pause for a moment of panic. Yes, I had a catch in my stomach when I realized how close this is. But it was only a moment because I know I am ready. I have training hard physically and mentally for this challenge. I have kept the triathlon in perspective and balanced my life around it. I have handled the disruptions in training and the setbacks from illness and injury. With less than 2 weeks left it is now time to focus on Rest, Nutrition and Hydration. It is the little things that will make the biggest impact now.

So as I do some significant taper and work on the last of the little details it will be an interesting week.

Exodus 23:20

Our Tenth Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:49:00 +0000

Kyle:

Today is the first of the major milestone anniversaries we will celebrate. The 10th anniversary is signified by Tin or Aluminum because to the pliability that they symbolize. A successful marriage needs to be flexible and durable with the ability to be bent without breaking. This anniversary is about the durability of our commitment to one another for the past decade and the decades to come.

A Daffodil is also a symbol of the 10th anniversary, its trumpet-shaped flowers represents the joy, cheerfulness and happiness we bring to each other every day.

Thank you Kyle for being “the perfect husband”, I love you.

Tri Minus Three

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Mon, 31 May 2010 03:14:00 +0000

I am taking advantage of the 3 day weekend to recharge emotionally and physically while celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. Even though we walked about 6 miles today, it is about sleeping in, taking naps and going to bed early.

It has been a very emotionally stressful week and with all that was going on I was only able to work out 3 nights and at that really only got a full workout in on Tuesday. I probably could have pushed myself to work out more, but it would have been non-productive and probably lead to an injury.

I had planned on starting my taper this week, but I will adjust my plans slightly to make up for last week. I did reach one of my goals when I ran 2.4 miles Tuesday night. This week I will only do 1.6 mile as I am starting to feel the effects of running in my bad knee and I need to make sure not to do any damage this close to the event.

I also hope to don my wet suit and do some swimming out in a lake and going on a 20 mile bike ride at least once this week on my road bike. Most of my riding has been on the stationary bike and I really need to get some saddle time in.

So as of now I am 20 days from this major goal that I have been training for since August of last year, I don’t want to blow it now.

Psalm 63:1

Tri Minus Four

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Sun, 23 May 2010 21:56:00 +0000

Relaxed a bit this week, wanted to ward off an overuse injury. I am ready for one more week of intense workouts and then it will be a new challenge, the challenge of tapering off on my training. I will push every one of my goals this week and at this time I am exceeding all of the individual disciplines by at least 10 percent.

It has been an amazing journey so far. If you would of told me a year ago that I would be able to do what I can now do physically I would have laughed at you. I would have told you that you were nuts if you would have told me that I was on track to run 2.5 miles this week. Run any length yet alone more than 2 miles.

I didn’t get to this point by saying what I couldn’t do. I didn’t get to this point by watching someone else do all the work. I didn’t get to this point by only talking about it. I had to set the goal, have the faith to reach the goal and put in the hours and sweat to get to this point.

1 Peter 1:8-10

Tri Minus Five

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Mon, 17 May 2010 00:50:00 +0000

I am resting on the couch this afternoon feeling the effects of an amazing week of workouts. I exceeded all of my training goals this week. I was able to swim 500 yds for the 1st time; I ran 3 different times and actually did 1.5 miles on Saturday after a 6 mile bike ride.

One thing about doing a triathlon is that it is a great ice breaker or conversation starter. I spent time this past week talking with a number of people that are either doing their 1st or have done a number of triathlons and it is great to have that connection. It is something that not everyone can understand, but is definitely is something that I will never forget.

Yesterday afternoon as I was limping around when I had someone ask me why I was doing a triathlon. That is a good question. All I know is that I remember watching the “Wild Word of Sports” when they would air the Iron Man Triathlon and wondering what that would be like? It has been a thought that has never left. When I found out that there were such things as Sprint Triathlons and I needed another goal for this year, I found myself saying why not.

As I tell everyone, I am not old, just more experienced.

2 Thessalonians 1:11

Tri Minus 6

noreply@blogger.com (Karen P) — Mon, 10 May 2010 02:02:00 +0000

It was a better week this week, of course it would be.

I went on my first official run in the new shoes and it felt pretty good and then on Saturday I did my first official “brick” (a bike ride immediately followed by a run) workout.

I am feeling much better both physically and mentally this weekend than I did last weekend. I hurt less and accomplished more.

This weekend we celebrated family. On Saturday we celebrated my husband’s Grandmother’s 100th birthday and then today, I spent most of the day with my mom doing what she wanted to do.

My husband’s side of the family is pretty active; there are a few runners in the mix so they were all pretty encouraging when I told them about my goal to do a Sprint Triathlon. Who knows maybe I will get Garrett to do the STP next year.

I’m still thinking that my next goal will be knitting, but things are much better this week, especially knowing that next month this will all be over.

2 Timothy 2:19