Sunday, October 19, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Unforeseen Consequences of Working with Kids
In a previous blog, I mentioned that the favorite part of my day is when I head off to the Tutt branch of the Boys & Girls Club to hang out with my kids for a couple of hours every afternoon. Like most things in life, however, nothing comes without cost.
In the past couple of months, I have gotten the stomach flu and two colds (I'm currently battling my latest cold). Since I normally get sick once every six months, I can't help but see a direct correlation between being around kids and illness! I'm starting to see my kids like Charles Schultz's Pigpen character, only surrounded by a cloud of viruses instead of dirt. Like Pigpen and the rest of the Peanuts gang (with the obvious exception of that bratty Lucy), however, my kids are so completely lovable that I can't help but return to them, despite the risk to my immune system.
In the meantime, I am keeping the training light and at a low intensity while I get rid of my delightfully phlegmy cough. I'm also getting a bit of a kick out of my new husky, laryngitis voice (though it is not so great for getting heard over rowdy children). With only a few weeks of training left until the end of the season, it is difficult to sit back and wait to be healthy before resuming my training. I do know from experience, however, that the easier that I take it, the sooner I get healthy and that the sooner that I am healthy, the sooner I can train. I do admit, however, that I find myself nostalgic for the days when I could take any old OTC medication to clear up my symptoms. Oh NyQuil and Robitussin, how I miss thee...
In the past couple of months, I have gotten the stomach flu and two colds (I'm currently battling my latest cold). Since I normally get sick once every six months, I can't help but see a direct correlation between being around kids and illness! I'm starting to see my kids like Charles Schultz's Pigpen character, only surrounded by a cloud of viruses instead of dirt. Like Pigpen and the rest of the Peanuts gang (with the obvious exception of that bratty Lucy), however, my kids are so completely lovable that I can't help but return to them, despite the risk to my immune system.
In the meantime, I am keeping the training light and at a low intensity while I get rid of my delightfully phlegmy cough. I'm also getting a bit of a kick out of my new husky, laryngitis voice (though it is not so great for getting heard over rowdy children). With only a few weeks of training left until the end of the season, it is difficult to sit back and wait to be healthy before resuming my training. I do know from experience, however, that the easier that I take it, the sooner I get healthy and that the sooner that I am healthy, the sooner I can train. I do admit, however, that I find myself nostalgic for the days when I could take any old OTC medication to clear up my symptoms. Oh NyQuil and Robitussin, how I miss thee...
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Dallas (the city, not the show)
I'm headed off to Dallas tomorrow for the Lifetime Fitness US Open Triathlon. With a big prize purse up for grabs, many of the best triathletes in the world will be toeing the start line at this non-drafting, Olympic-distance race. Some might even say that the field is "stacked". Since I have been travelling and racing the past couple of weeks, I am admittedly a bit nervous about how I will perform. Since I felt better this past weekend than the weekend before, I'm hoping that the pattern continues and I feel phenomenal on Sunday!
In addition to having the opportunity to race against the best, I also get to go to Texas for the first time. I'm not sure what to expect other than cowboys, big trucks, big hair and oil rigs. I will be there in the company of my Dad, aka number one fan. As long as I remember ear plugs to counteract the snoring, he makes a great race buddy. He was there for me at the start of my career, driving me to my very first races, and I hope that he continues to follow my career with the same degree of support until the day I retire. As a team, we've come a pretty far way from watching everyone in transition, comparing notes and trying to copy what the experienced triathletes were doing!
In addition to having the opportunity to race against the best, I also get to go to Texas for the first time. I'm not sure what to expect other than cowboys, big trucks, big hair and oil rigs. I will be there in the company of my Dad, aka number one fan. As long as I remember ear plugs to counteract the snoring, he makes a great race buddy. He was there for me at the start of my career, driving me to my very first races, and I hope that he continues to follow my career with the same degree of support until the day I retire. As a team, we've come a pretty far way from watching everyone in transition, comparing notes and trying to copy what the experienced triathletes were doing!
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