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Foster Kid
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I love ordinary people. The different events and races I participate in afford me the opportunity to connect with ordinary people, who upon conversing with are actually always extraordinary in their own right. In September I participated in Raquel’s Wings from Decatur Bicycle Rally. Raquel’s Wings for Life is the nonprofit that sponsors this event. They transport cancer patients of Wise County free of cost to MD Anderson in Houston Texas via plane. This allows for a quicker round trip for ill cancer patients.
The course was two, hilly 51-mile loops. When I got to mile 62, I was told I wouldn’t make the hard six-hour deadline. They asked me to turn around and head back–which was a 20-mile trek. I turned around and at mile 75 I knew I had gone the wrong way when I hit the freeway. I turned back, but at mile 76 my gear shift fell off of my bike and my back wheel locked up. I was lost and my bike was broken but luckily, I contacted race support via Facebook, and someone was able to locate me and send a SAG to pick me up. A short while later, a kind gentleman in a black truck greeted me with a cold bottle of water and loaded my broken bike into his truck. This man was a seemingly ordinary volunteer, but I found so much extraordinary about him from our conversation on the way back . He thanked me for attending the ride and told me how he found the fundraiser several years ago as a means to notify the community of his services. He cared for his mother with cancer for many years and discovered the significant need for a service to transport sick patients to Houston for treatment. At the time, he was a commercial pilot for Delta. He quit his job and began transporting people to and from Houston for their treatment. While he makes significantly less money than he would if he still flew for the airline, the joy and life satisfaction he gains from being in service to those in need is priceless. And almost in a moment of serendipity, as he is telling me his story the phone rings. On the other line is one of his past clients. This client had a rare cancer and only a 1% chance for survival. Inspired by the generosity of the man I was sitting next to (and others like him), the cancer survivor too decided to pay it forward. That man obtained his pilot’s license, purchased a plane, and now too helps transport patients to and from Houston for treatment (and volunteers at this bike rally as well). Before saying our goodbyes, this kind gentleman asked me one final question: “Do you know what’s the most ironic part of this story?” I looked at him waiting for a response as he shared, “I too was diagnosed with cancer.” Being generous and kind won’t save you from having negative experiences, but they can help you find positivity as you move forward and a caring community to support you through it. “Choose to see the world through grateful eyes. It will never look the same.” Doe Zantamata Until Next Monday…
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The day before I was set to compete in my eighth-full IRONMAN race, there was a record high of 100 degrees; I knew I needed to be mindful of hydration. My focus for Friday was to get hydrated, load up on carbs (my favorite part), and stay out of the heat. Steve met me for lunch, we dropped off my bike and run bags at the transitions and relaxed at the hotel for the remainder of the evening. Although I had completed seven full IRONMANs prior to this race, I still had some nerves, and my mind would consider questions like will it be wetsuit legal? Will my bike work properly? Will I be hydrated enough? I even had a dream the night before that I brought two right-foot shoes for the run (crazy how the mind works…)! Saturday–the day of the race– I was up early eating carbs and drinking coffee to wake and fuel my body for the day ahead. I needed to be out of transition by 6:15 am, so we headed out prior to that to drop my things and air up my tires. With Steve, I walked the one-mile route to the swim start, and when it was time to line up for my swim start, I gave him a kiss and was off! SWIM As always, I was anxious about the swim. The conditions did make it wetsuit legal, so I decided to take advantage. I wore a full wetsuit, which was a great decision. The first .6 miles was upstream followed by a turn to finish the remaining 2.4 miles. The river didn’t have a current, so that didn’t impact my swim. However, I am incapable of swimming in a straight line to save my life, so I was all over the place. After passing three bridges, I found myself climbing up the steps out of the river with a finishing time of 1:40:45. I gave Steve a kiss and then took a long walk to the changing tents. Along the way I stopped to lay down and get my wetsuit removed. When I walked into the tent I put on my helmet, bike shoes, and ate my beloved PB&J sandwich. After that, I grabbed my bike and carried it to the line. My first transition time was 9:48 and then I began my ride. BIKE I began my ride excited; I was overjoyed to see Steve and Marty cheering me on. The bike course started with a ride through a park. My fellow riders and I noticed our wheels were making awful noises. We suspected we had flat tires, but a volunteer at the end of that road told us it was pitch from the trees to the road and not to worry about it. At mile 30, a fellow athlete fell from his bike. I stopped and stayed with him until I knew he would be okay, and then I was off again. After that I met a new friend, who I talked with for the next 15-20 miles. Before I knew it, I was at mile 57, which meant it was my lunch break. I stopped to refuel on PB&J and other snacks. Then I was back on my bike to finish the second half of my ride. The route was hot and windy, but I prevailed (and so did my bike–thank goodness)! 112 miles done, with a time of 7:08:14. I completed the second transition in 9:28. A volunteer took my bike, and I went into the tent to eat another sandwich and put on my shoes and hat to prepare for my run. I walked out of transition and started with a shuffle (slow jog) to get into my running rhythm. RUN Overall, the run went well. I was very hydrated and found myself stopping several times to use the restroom. I drank fluids and occasionally grabbed a snack (potato chips never tasted so good) at the various rest stops. I didn’t feel very hungry, so I chose not to eat much. But because it was warm, I made sure to take in fluids whether I wanted them or not to stay hydrated. I enjoyed the scenic course, and I relaxed as I ran and took it all in. Around mile 16 I made a new friend, and we finished the last ten miles together. Great conversation always helps. I hit the final bridge and kicked it into high gear. I completed my run in 5:01:47. "Pollyann Keller...You Are an IRONMAN!" Finish time: 14:10:51 I completed another race and pushed myself out of my comfort zone again. I couldn’t have done this without my amazing hubby. He is my rock, my biggest fan, and supports me in any endeavor I choose. “Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living. If you’re not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you're not demanding more from yourself-expanding and learning as you go-you are choosing a numb existence. You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip.” -Dean Karnazes Until Next Monday...  In 1989 October was declared National Domestic Violence Month. Like domestic violence itself, I believe this is a lesser-known fact of life that deserves our attention. October is also breast cancer awareness month and there is so much attention and support for that (notable) cause. I mean, even a running back for a football team will adorn pink shoes for the cause. But why, when three women are murdered each day in a domestic attack by their boyfriends or husbands (Domestic Violence Information) do we not talk about (and raise funds to mitigate) this pervasive issue?
I am incredibly passionate about domestic violence. As a child I witnessed severe domestic violence in my home. Unfortunately, I have also experienced domestic violence in my own, early relationships (post to come). Now I see it daily in the work I do for the state. As a social worker, I see how domestic violence impacts communities and exists in EVERY community–regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. The abuse rarely (if ever) stops at physical abuse. Instead, the abuser also employs emotional abuse and controlling behavior. The victim of domestic violence often experiences physical injury, psychological trauma, and sometimes death. The systematic pattern of domestic violence often acts as a generational curse that is repeated and accepted and some will experience it throughout their lifetime (from the same or multiple different perpetrators). Children who are exposed to domestic violence in the home, more often than not also experience physical abuse. These children are also at a significantly higher risk of developing mental and physical health problems in the future. And because hurt people hurt people, children who witness domestic violence in their youth are often more likely to be physically violent in their own relationships (the cycle continues). So why, with so many people impacted by domestic violence and the growing issue of abuse in the teen population don’t we talk about domestic violence? Domestic violence is often something that victims suffer with quietly. They may conceal marks and bruises with makeup or clothing. Or they may excuse or hide certain signs of controlling behavior. 9 out of 10 victims will not speak out on their attacks from their partner. The victims may be traumatized, scared, or even feel as though they deserved the abuse. But as a society, we can become more aware and contribute to ending this pervasive and devastating problem. We can be the village. We can trust our gut and ask questions. We can offer help and support. We can donate to causes or volunteer for events aiming to help those seeking to escape domestic violence. We can protect victims, support survivors and help create a world free of violence. “I raise my voice- not so that I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard.” -Malala Until Next Monday... I never much liked the expression of “living life without regrets.” This statement is often uttered with a sense of superiority and toxic positivity, almost as if living with regret at all is inferior or problematic. But lord knows I have regrets. Having regrets doesn’t mean that I hold onto past tensions or negativity. Instead, I acknowledge these regrets as a component of my unique life, created by many experiences and events (some good, many complicated). In fact, having regrets has helped me in my pursuit of bettering myself.
Another expression that is commonly uttered that I don’t believe in is “the past is just the past and it doesn’t affect me now.” Childhood traumas and life experiences shape our character and influence our decisions (whether we are aware of that or not). Living blindly to how our past informs our present is naive and can allow us to repeat painful patterns or stay trapped in cycles that we would be better off breaking. There are many moments in my life I regret. Two noteworthy examples are marrying the wrong person (twice before finding my Mr. Right) and choosing to work for the state. However, these decisions make up my journey through life and my identity. By acknowledging them and how they didn’t/don’t serve me I have sought better opportunities BECAUSE of them. Negative emotions and feelings, just like regret, are a necessary part of the human experience. They make up who we have been, who we are, and who we are continuing to become. We need night to know light, bad to know well. We can find comfort in the fact that the negative can inspire future positives–if we choose to pursue it (and not remain trapped by negativity). So don’t deny or find shame in your regrets, use them to grow. “And all the voices, all the goals, all the yearnings, all the sorrows, all the pleasures, all the good and evil, all of them together was the world. All of them together was the stream of events, the music of life.” -Hermann Hesse. Until Next Monday… “Though some days can be a struggle, it’s important to have something that will motivate, inspire, and help us stay positive and keep moving forward.” This quote by Demi Levato rings true for me in general, but also when I think about how my Kerrville 70.3 began. My original plan to make the 4.5-hour drive from Keller was thwarted due to bike maintenance. Rather than leaving and settling on Friday, we had to do so Saturday morning instead. After loading my transition bag and picking up my bike, my sherpa, Steve, and I were on our way. I am grateful for the peaceful ride. I checked in and picked up my race packet around 1 pm on Saturday. My packet included my numbers, swim cap, wrist band, and all the usual materials. Next, we figured out the race logistics. Once I affixed my race number on my bike, we dropped it off at T1 and then loaded and dropped off my run bag at T2. Saturday evening included a relaxing pre-race dinner at a pizza and pasta restaurant across from our hotel with our good friend Ron. We enjoyed some football before an early bedtime. On Sunday Morning–race day–I woke at 4 am. Once I got a text from Ron, at 5 am, stating he was in the parking lot and ready to go, we loaded up my T1 bag and bike pump and off we went. We made it to the transition area around 6 am and Ron filled my tires (anyone who knows me knows I don’t put air in my tires or change tubes) while I laid out my towel, shoes, socks, helmet, and most-important item: my PB&J sandwich. Once everything was situated, I spent some time connecting with fellow triathletes while relaxing in the grass. We stood for the Star-Spangled Banner, and then promptly at 7:30 am the race began. I was happily in the second wave of racers. The 1.2-mile open-water swim was a struggle. This was my only open water swim of the year, and truly it is so different than a pool swim. I completed this portion of the tri in 50 minutes, which is typical for me (I can’t swim in a straight line to save my life). My first transition was S-L-O-W. As I walked up the hill, I gave Steve a kiss and then went into the transition. Between bites of my PB&J, I put on my helmet and shoes. As I was about to begin, I realized I forgot my sunglasses. I went back to my bag to grab this important item, and off I went for the second portion of the tri. As I mentioned at the start, my bike was giving me trouble. I was a bit nervous that the first time I would be riding it after the repairs would be during the race. My ride began great, and the weather was perfect, too! Then I hit my first hill. While I had no problem going into the small gear, I could not get the gear to move back up. The process of changing the gear took five, long minutes and I needed to do switch gears three different times–I felt VERY frustrated. I finished 56 miles in 3 hours and 8 minutes and was happy as I crossed the finish. Again, my transition was S-L-O-W (4 minutes and 24 seconds). I enjoyed another PB&J while I put on my run belt, shoes, and cap. Just a half-marathon left! The sun was out, and the run was HOT. At every rest station I stopped to put ice down my sports bra. Normally I find the running portion of the tri relaxing. However, on this day I could not get into a groove. I struggled, but still managed to finish strong and sprinted the last quarter mile. I crossed the finish line and was overjoyed to see Steve and Ron cheering me on. While my run time was slower than usual–2 hours and eight minutes–I took third in my age group overall with an official time of 6:17:11. After the race, I enjoyed a nice evening and post-race meal with my husband and the best sherpa ever! This race was great training for my Full IRONMAN in Waco on October. Even when I struggle, I believe in myself and keep moving forward. Until Next Monday…  |
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October 2024
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