Summer 2011: Day 24

70 miles of wind and serious whoop-ass.  Thanks to Jackie and Di for pulling me all the way.

It’s taken me awhile

Today I pulled my Dad’s Caring Bridge site down from my links.  I have thought about it often but haven’t been able to do it.

It’s like throwing away the left over cards from his funeral.

These are little bits and pieces that are left of him, so getting rid of them are difficult if not agonizingly painful.

To the living this is all we have left, the papers, the books, the sweaters, the tangible things we can still hold, touch and smell.  Why on earth would you want to get rid of that?  If that is gone you have nothing to hug and hold, feel or touch.  But I can’t keep these things forever.

So we plant trees to visit, to sit next to and to summon the memories.  Every time we drive around Lake Calhoun the kids want to stop and visit grandpa’s tree.

I took this photo a month or so ago.  It says so much to me.  The kids just hang’n out, playing and watching the sun set in one of the most beautiful parts of the city that my dad loved.

I find him here most.  The memories come flooding back for me in this place.  As the kids play, I know he is there taking part in it all.

Summer 2011: Day 23

PJ and her Shrunken Head project.  Today she determined it is time to throw him away.

Thank God!

Summer 2011: Day 22

jMatt graces us with his presence for a quick 30.

Summer 2011: Day 21

Spent the day in Chisago Lakes putting on a 1/2 Ironman training camp.  Great job everyone!

Summer 2011: Day 20

Started the day with the City of Lakes Tri Loppet!

Ended the day with KP’s last baseball game of the season and his best buddy Pete!

Summer 2011: Day 19

$5 to untangle the three dog chains that sit by the back step.  They are such a gnarled mess that the dogs now poop on the rocks and deck because they are only allowed 1 1/5 feet to roam.

The photo was taken 1/2 way through the job at which point he told me he thought he should get paid $5 bucks a chain.  Yeah, I agree, the job sucks.

We negotiated to 5 bucks and the doughnut on the counter.

Done deal.

Somedays

Yesterday, on an average sort of not very hard 35 mile training ride, somewhere around mile 25 my right hamstring seized up.  In fact, it was so bad, I could NOT be in my aero bars without pain shooting down my leg.

I slowed down, I sat up, tears started welling up in my eyes, it really hurt.

My other hamstring has been hosed up since last year.  It’s frustrating, my PT ditched me and says she has done all she can.  That can never be a good sign.

I ask an awful lot of my body, I know that.  To what end?  For what reason?  Would I push until it makes no sense to push any farther and damage myself?

My drive is strong.  Being an athlete is part of who I am.  It gives me an identitiy.  It has always been a piece of me.

As I rode home in pain yesterday, I realized how hard it would be for me to be sidelined due to injury.  How even harder it would be if I injured myself to the point of no return.

So with that, I take a step back for a day or two.  Listen to my body, (try to) be smart and know it will all be ok.

It better all be ok.

Summer 2011: Day 18

Miss Erika & Pip.

Summer 2011: Day 17

5:54 am.  Meet Gretchen.  It’s raining outside and we are meeting for a lake swim.  She has her wetsuit AND umbrella.

Yes, umbrella.