Persevere

I suppose it's time to write a blog post considering I have so much going on.  I just finished my 6th half marathon, bought my first bike, aaannnnnddd signed up for a triathlon! Ahhhh!  I can't believe I actually am going to do it.  Am I scared to death? Yes.  Am I having heart palipitations? Yes. Am I going to do it anyway?  Heck yes! (said in my best Napoleon Dynamite voice) 
The way I look at it I can't expect my students to do things that are unfamiliar and scary to them unless I do that myself.  I started taking Master swim over 2 months ago just so I could do a tri.  Yes, swimming is hard, but the saying goes, "It never gets easier, you just get better" and I have found that I have gotten better.  Not mastered, but better.  I have found that to be true with many things in life so one must persevere. 

The half marathon was great.  It was a pretty run through the mountains.  It was a net downhill but there was quite a bit of uphill, as well.  I got a new PR, which is always good.  Now if I can just get under 1:50.  There's always another goal, another mountain to climb.  That's what keeps life exciting and keeps us going, isn't it?  If you're not an athlete, maybe it's a new job, more kids, or a bigger house.

The bike was...interesting to say the least.  The first time I rode it I fell over about 4 times in a parking lot because I didn't know how to get my shoe unclipped from the pedal.  It was stressful and frustrating.  Again, I remember kids at school, especially those who struggle.  It's not a good feeling knowing that you are doing something wrong but can't figure out how to do it right.

I was scared to get back on the bike after that but I knew that it hadn't been that bad falling and was nothing I couldn't handle.  So, I got back on it a few hours later.  My sweet, patient friend, Jenna, talked me through getting my shoes clipped in and clipped out.  Guess what?  I didn't fall once and it was FUN!  I know that there will be more tumbles on down the road but for now I am comfortable riding the thing...and that's just what I'll have to do for 16.3 miles in Lenoir City!

Courage and perseverance have a magic talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into the air. ~ John Quincy Adams

Here's my new bike :)