OK. I didn't expect to place in my age group or anything but dead last?! Out of 201 athletes, I was the worst? The slowest? The (placing fingers on my forehead in the shape of an 'L') big LOSER?! Well, Sherry and Andreas worked hard to give me a different outlook on this whole LOSING thing. Sherry said the only losers are the ones who didn't compete or didn't finish. Andreas commented on how I soldiered on despite a pronounced limp due to an aching knee. They are right, but the fact remains -- I came in last.
However, let's look back at my goals for this race:
1) Finish the race. Check!
2) Don't fall, vomit or otherwise embarrass myself. Check, check and check!
Hmmm . . . not bad. I guess I should have added a third goal -- avoid injury. In fact, had I been thinking about that beforehand, I wouldn't be about to limp back downstairs for the kids' 'icebear' to try to soothe my aching knee.
OK, so I DID finish last. So what?! Maybe that makes me a 'good guy'. Aren't they supposed to finish last? Maybe that means I'm the best. Aren't you always supposed to save the best for last? Hey, Andreas doesn't call me the 'queen of rationalization for nothing'!
All in all, it was a good day. I did what I set out to do and -- truth be told -- I did it four minutes faster than what I had guesstimated. Best of all, I had the Rauterkus boys cheering me on at the finish line. How cool is that?! So, it turns out that I'm a winner after all!
Keep chasing those goals guys! I know I will!!
2 comments:
Stephanie, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! I guarantee there were MANY people who signed up for that race and didn't even show up! Whistlestop is a TOUGH race to do for your first race. That bike course is NO JOKE!
So, congratulations on accomplishing your goals for this race! We'll soon discuss any questions you may have about racing and what you learned from this race. We'll also discuss what kind of goals you want to set for MIM.
Two things:
1. Make sure you get a good stretch in before you go to bed tonight. If the knee problem today is the same as before, make sure you do some ITB stretching.
2. If you do anything tomorrow, make it an EASY WALK. No more than 30 mins. Easy stetching afterwards. Tomorrow is for recovery from the work you put into today's race. No harm in taking the day off!
Again, congratulations on a job well done. I told you that you would do great! Hmmm. I was right again!
Cheers!
Last my ass!
It ain't over yet.
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