Stronger than the thoughts

What a weekend! It was a busy one in regards to my training. Saturday was had our first long bike ride. 25 miles round trip, along with a run part way around Lake Hodges. I'm not going to lie, I had my doubts. Each time I got tired, on the first leg of the bike ride and thought about how I had to go back. I made myself stop and appreciate what I was doing at that moment. There were times I wanted to quit, especially going up "damn hill". Damn hill is a steady incline uphill for approximately mile and a half to two miles. It was there wher I had the hardest time, and started doubting my ability to get to the top. I had one of my mentors Lisa riding with me, and she kept encouraging me. And as cliche as it sounds, I also kept reminding myself how Tyler, Raul, Virginina, Van, NoJo, Cousin Roy, and the many others going through their cancer treatments didn't have a chance to stop when they became uncomfortable. It didn't make going up the hill any easier, in fact it made it harder, (side note, tears don't make riding a bike up hill very easy.) I did stop at one point and walk my bike for a while, and that pissed me off. eventually the hill leveled out and I started on my way again, only to be surprised by yet another incline. Thankfully, that was the top of the hill, and all that was left was a short down hill, and then I reached the transition area, and off to the run I went. (after refueling and rehydrating myself). I walk/ran 2 miles. hit the porta potties that were there, and then started my trek back to the starting point.
The second leg of the ride wasn't as bad as the first. (there were no tears) It helped that for a while I got to ride with Jay (an assistant coach), and he was riding his bike back after falling on the first part of the ride, and was riding with missing low gears. It was also good to talk to someone who had also lived in CT for a while, and we compared notes about the differences of CT and CA. He also complemented me a few different times on how (even though I wasn't going fast up hill,) I never slowed my cadence down (speed of pedelling) uphill. It made me feel like I knew what I was doing.
After that crazy bike ride, I swore my thighs were on fire and were going to make walking a bit difficult for me. So I had planned on using some of my marathon training and stop at the store for some ice (and chocolate milk) and take a nice cold ice bath once I got home. However, it turned out that we were right by the water, and myself and a few others decided to take a plunge in the ocean. It was cold! but once our feet became numb it was great. It was also a good indicator of what would be in store for us on Sunday.
Sunday was our first open water swim with our wetsuits. All I know, is that I am forever in debting to the person who invented wetsuits. It's amazing how those things work. Our open water swim was difficult, each time I put my head in the water (with my goggles on) I couldn't see anything, and it was difficult to swim with out seeing. I've gotten so used to wearing my goggles and seeing where I'm going in the pool. So I kept my head out of water, Which by the way is completely useless and makes swimmer in the water a gazillion times harder. We swam out to some of our support staff hanging out in kayaks in the water. And then swam back. We had to find some buddies to swim with and stick with while out in the water. So in order to push myself a bit I stuck with two others that were a bit faster than me, and I attempted to stay with them for as long as I could, and really I didn't do to bad. We did that twice, and then we got to "play" in the water, the coach wanted us to try to catch a wave and have it bring us in. Needless to say, body surfing for this east coast gal isn't so easy.
As I continue to put myself in situations that are outside my comfort zone, I learn how important it is to not let the negative thoughts that creep so easily inside my head to get to me. I am stronger than those thoughts!