New Trails, Happy Tails

I really miss running. I love to run on trails. Being surrounded by nature, its smells and the precious quiet time to sort through my thoughts. Nothing can really replace running, but I've developed a fondness for walking and hiking trails. I realized this week how few trails I have actually explored. In the past I would run the same routes week after week, month after month and year after year. Heaven forbid I stop for a moment, open a gate, close it and explore.
I had no idea what I was missing.
It is amazing what you see, when you slow down and walk.


Bella waiting for me to hurry up and catch up so we can go cow hunting.
Zola has already raced up the trail leaving Bella and I lagging behind.

Aquatic Surprises

One great thing about being a triathlete is that you always have three sports to train. If your body is broken in one sport, you have another option.

Usually if I am not racing triathlons, you can find me at a 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon or some trail run race. Running has always been a religion of sorts, for me. Since the age of 13, I have chosen running races as my recreation of choice. Its been hard not being able to go run or race when I want to. Although I have had set-ups over my career that have come in the form of injuries, I have always known I would be back. This time, I don't know if I will be back to competitive running but I'm not wasting anytime worrying about that though. I can swim and bike!

Saturday I did something I have never done before. I signed up two open water swim races held back to back at the Lake Del Valle Aqua Challenge in Livermore, CA. I swam the .5 mile and 1 mile swim. Going to Lake Del Valle was a real treat. Not only was it a beautiful place to swim and to hang out, but I was able to meet new people and spend time with athletes. I was especially touched when friend Tilden Moschetti made the drive from San Francisco to come out and support me and some of his other friends. Thanks, Tilden!



There were a lot of brand new triathletes training as part of a Team in Training group as well as many seasoned swimmers. I had no expectations for either swim other than swimming to finish the event. A nice surpise was placing 2nd in the wetsuit division in the .5 mile and 3rd place in the 1 mile. It's not about the awards, but it IS fun to win something to represent your efforts.
Understand I have never 'placed' in a swimming event, so this was like winning the aquatic lottery!

I was tickled to share some post race laughs and conversation with fellow pro, Eileen Swanson and her hubby, Reid. Eileen ripped it up and won the 2 mile swim and Reid won his age group in the 2 mile as well. Reid was just as surprised as I was to win a medal. Naturally we were all smiles. Aquatic surprises do that for you!

Thought for Today

"Let us be of good cheer remembering that the misfortunes
hardest to bear are those which never happen."

-James Russell Lowell

Red Disc of Happiness

This week I went in for epidural cortisone injections to relieve pain and inflammation in my back. Unfortuneatly this is not the first time in the past year that I have undergone the procedures, but I think I intend for it to be my last.

After meeting with my doctor, a physiatrist who specializes in conditions like mine, he suggested that I try injections one more time to get some relief. Understand that these injections don't fix anything, but serve more as a band-aid. The idea being, in my case, to gain some pain-free time so I can work on strengthening the back and core some more. Yes, I have already tried this before, but sometimes you have to retrace your steps and try again.

Rather than concern myself too much about the outcome. (ie, Will I be able to train and compete again as I once was able), I have been taking everything one step and one day at a time. Of utmost importance to me, has been a refocusing of all my energy to everything positive. I've always been an eternal optimist, but I can honestly say that pain has a way of leaching those positive vibes from deep within.

Over the past few months, as I have watched my body deteroriate and expand, I have experienced those positive energies turn to more negative energies. Clearly that is no way to pull one's self together! So...I resolved to see only the positive and be the vibrant personality that is the real me. Not the down in the dumps, busted up triathlete that I was feeling like.

So much of feeling positive and being positive is surrounding yourself with that which brings you joy. For me, being outdoors and spending time with my furry friends is among the chart toppers. Everyday this week my husband and I have been going to the local dog park with our chihuahuas, Zola and Bella. Admittedly we have to keep a close eye on the girls as other larger, canine park visitors might mistake them for a tasty (albeit bony) snack. Still, it is worth everything to watch Zola chase and retrieve her red frisbee.

It's quite a sight to see a small chihuaha race with all her might to retrieve the flying red disc. It makes me laugh and it makes her appear to be the most fulfilled dog in the world. Zola's red disc of happiness is wonderful medicine. It give me joy to see her loving life and it reminds me that were I able to train, I would miss this opportunity to share the time with her, Bella and Philip.

I was able to get in the pool for some splashing around yesterday. I won't say I did 'just X" or 'only Y' as I might have in the past. What I accomplished was a U-turn in attitude, a reversion back to the old positive me, but with a new appreciation for what a red disc of happiness can be.