Training Weekend Insights

We just came back from our training weekend down at Lake San Antonio, site of the the race I am doing (Wildflower). It was a great weekend, despite some rain and camping mishaps. This is the 6th time I've been down there (3 training weekend and 3 race events) and each time I learn a bit more about the area and about myself.

So here we go (insert fanfare, but only a small one, 'cause these aren't exactly Earth shattering):

1. Wild Boar: I've always known there were wild boar on the land down there. You have to take some precaution with food and camping. It never occurred to me that you could HUNT for them! Chris has been looking for a place to go for awhile. One of my teammates stopped some hunters and asked them. Apparently it's just $2 for the day to hunt there. Mmmm mmm mmm.

2. Life is like a butterfly. On the way down there, I killed approximately 7,521 butterflies. There were yellow splotches a butterfly guts all over my windshield. There were at least a dozen of them plastered on my front license plate. When I took my bike off the rack, there about 7 full wings stuck in my bike pedals. On the way back, I didn't see any butterflies. Apparently, I killed them all on the way down. I actually felt really awful about the whole thing. I mean, they probably had just come out of their cocoons ready to great the wide world, and then SPLAT. But this TNT thing always make me think about the gift we have in our life and to be grateful for what we have. One of the honorees from another team spoke at one of our dinners. She battled Hodgkin's in her 20's and has been in remission for a while. But recently learned she was facing breast cancer, a common consequence of women treated for cancer in the 70's. She said to us, I am not angry at my doctors 30 years ago. I am not bitter. If breast cancers should get the better of me, I am still thankful for I have had a chance to live an amazing 30 years since my first treatment. So I am taking a lesson from the butterflies and from our teammate. Be thankful for the life that you have and make the very most of what you have right now.

3. Putting Self Doubt Aside. I went into this weekend, very worried and doubtful that I would be able to train at all, given my injuries and having missed so many training weekends. I had learned to stop beating myself up about that, and finally came to terms with the fact that I have had ALOT of stuff going on (bought a house, got married, moving, fundraising, training, mentoring, etc.) I am essentially overcommitted. So with that perspective in mind, I managed to put my self doubt aside and just "see what happens" with the training. I knew it was going to be a great weekend of fun, but didn't know how I would do. Turns out, I did just fine! The swim was fine. The bike was challenging, but completely doable. My butt was fine and I could even stand up on the hills without pain! The run was hard, but Molly and I did a little walk/run on the hills and got through the tough run just fine. I am realizing my self doubt often limits me in what I can do.

So there you have 3 insights of varying degrees of depth.