Full Circle

Our triathlon Team is really great. They are all super motivated to workout, work harder, and do more. With the exception of one individual, I think all of them will make it through the recommitment phase of the fundraising, and achieve their end goal on race day. I love our routine and how it is all playing out. Craig is driving me crazy, as co-coach, with his insessant emails and chirpy "coaches notes". I say this with endearment, because he really is an awesome coach and a wonderful person, who cares immensely about this team and these people. I feel very fortunate to be his wingman, and so far, this dance we are choreographing is coming together beautifully. He is incredibly (if not nauseatingly) enthusiastic, and that is a fabulous quality. Now, if only his emails would stop...



So, training is going well among Team members. I am enjoying my double workouts between my own morning practices, and then the additional 8 miles I am running along side my 6 year old when she rides to school. She insists on riding her bike these days, in the name of "training" for her triathlon in April. We also happened to run the fitness course today after school (across the street from her campus) so she could put some miles in her new shoes. It was (finally) a nice day, not too hot, and perfect for being outdoors. The oak trees in Riverside park are immense and overbearing, awe-inspiring and magnificent. The kids ran among them after "the workout" was over. It would have been absolutely perfect, save for the fire ants that invade the property. As it is, my arm is swollen and infected from a fire ant bite from last week, so I am still a bit leary of the buggers at the park. I hate nature.



Anyway, my love-hate relationship with my swim coach continues. This week, I love him because I am pained to write he had a heart attack 2 weeks ago, and is due to enter surgery this week. Apparently the doctors told the old man he only survived because he is in great shape in light of all the swimming he does. Don has a leaky valve that needs to be replaced, so we are unsure how long he will be out for during the recovery. I am saddened to think he may or may not ever return, because as much as he kills me when he hovers over my stroke, I cannot bear the thought of him not doing so anymore.



Lastly, speaking of swimming, my girl swam in her first "real" swim meet this past weekend. There are no words to describe the joy and pride I felt to see both of my kids in Speedos there. It is true, my girl has been wearing one for quite some time now. But, to see the little guy, all 34 pounds of him in a team suit, just about did me in. He wanted to swim in the warm up lanes while we waited between events, and because we did not bring him a suit, we had to purchase a team suit from the deck. This was truly my pride and joy to have both kids in the same lane, "warming up" for the next event. Because our four year old is the spitting image of his father, I can only imagine how Marc looked at that age at his own workouts. Funny how things come full circle. I love a glimpse into the past like that, because it is somehow magical. It is like flipping through the chapters of an old book that is somehow familiar, though I have never read it before.



As if this were not emotional enough, to see a mini-Marc in a tiny Speedo falling off his slight frame, it was really very sweet to see Marc standing with Owen behind the blocks, giving her last minute directives, in his mild manner. Unlike the other parents standing over the lanes, yelling at their kids, Marc quietly reminded her that she had to touch with both hands in the 50 breaststroke, calmly asked her if she wanted to enter the water from the blocks or the deck, and gently urged her to stay on her back the whole time during backstroke. It did my heart such good to see him coaching her in this way, though she did not flinch once, and was not at all concerned that she would pull it off without a hitch. And, indeed, she did. She did great, in what was-to me-a very huge and scary meet. The way in which Marc continues to be humble and gentle, especially in a setting that he knows all too well, really just made me feel extremely at ease and happy to have such a fabulous husband and father for my kids. Now, if only he would work on getting transferred back to Cali, then I would be overjoyed.