No Rain

This morning, I couldn't sleep--the rain woke me up, so I decided just to roll with it. It was too late for me to do a trainer workout, so I hopped on the 'mill for a few early miles. I did a few pickups in there, and it felt good to get the legs moving fast again. I'm excited to get these legs moving fast. Often.

Got everyone somewhat dressed (Jackson was still in his PJs, but had brushed his teeth and eaten breakfast, so I'm calling that a victory nonetheless) and fed and out the door by 7:05am, which is always quite the challenge. With the rain, I didn't even try to straighten my hair...no sense wasting THAT time. Time is precious to me right now, and it's been quite an insane past month...all good things, but still a little stressful at times. It will settle down in a few more weeks, but for now I need to work out early and plan on working while I eat lunch and trying to stay as focused and organized as possible.

The kids were all pretty subdued today, as they usually are when it rains like this. All day long. A steady, steady rain...not a downpour, but definitely the kind that you know isn't a passing shower. They complained and said how rotten the weather was. Some were a little sleepy, but can you blame them? 54 and rainy just makes you want to put on your PJ pants and have a nice bowl of soup.

(Or, in my case, attempt 140.6 miles.)

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
I like watching the puddles gather rain

I drove home and let the iPod do its magic. It must have sensed my frazzled state of mind, and it didn't disappoint with a nice mellow selection. And I noticed the temperature on my dashboard--54 degrees.

54 degrees on a September afternoon. No matter when it occurs, I always pause just a bit when it's 54 degrees and rainy. Because no matter what, I am instantly transported back to that September day. The one that was 54 and rainy. All day.

I just want some one to say to me , oh oh oh oh,
I'll always be there when you wake
you know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I'll have it made


This song came on next--the song that I would have as Track 1 on the soundtrack to my senior year of high school. I smiled a bit, alone in my car. No rain. Rain all day. Water seems to follow me wherever I go, and it's always sort of been like that.

but it's a great escape...escape....escape

It's been four years since I had my Iron summer. I think everyone finds something unique in Ironman, and for me it was the realization that I was a lot stronger than I ever thought I was. I've carried that with me since, and it's helped me through some difficult things. I trust that it will help me achieve my goal in May, but if I don't, I know that the lessons I learned on that cold, rainy, September day will help me dust off, lace up, and do it all over again.

That day was far from perfect, and it was far from what I hoped to accomplish on paper. But that day was still magical nonetheless. And every time there's a day that's 54 and rainy--not the scattered shower rain, but the kind that followed me on the hills in Verona, on the streets in Madison...that collected on my garbage bag as I took step after step and slowly moved toward the finish line--I am reminded.

I am reminded of what is inside of me, and to some extent, what's inside of all of us.