Family demands

My wife USUALLY does not say much when I go out to train.  She hates it though when (according to her) I make such a commotion getting out of bed, preparing my pre-workout meal and getting my gear and myself ready to leave. 


She's an insomniac, a light sleeper and finds it difficult to go back to sleep once awake that sleep is a precious commodity to her.  The over the counter sleeping aids like melatonin and antihistamines don't work on her.  I on the other hand can sleep with a snap of your fingers and can sleep through the baby's crying.  (Can but don't if you must know :-) )


My wife's ears would beat the best motion sensors and burglar  alarms out there.  No matter how quietly I slink out of bed, she always manages to wake up.   


This is why should she want to go to the mall or watch a movie sometime during the day, I have to make sure I am awake and alert. Running and biking for 2 hours or more is no excuse for being tired and sleeping through the movie.   Same thing goes for the little lady.  Should my daughter want to play with me, there is an unwritten rule that I have to pick her up, carry her, run, crawl, sit, squat inspite of the sore quads, hamstrings, calves and arms.  This is why I don't need a gym membership as I get enough upper body workout from carrying my daughter around.


Its either that or rummage in the garbage pile for my bike, swim trunks and running shoes.

Musings of a beginner triathlete..

Having finished my first sprint triathlon, I was all caught up in myself :-)

One morning while training in the neighborhood pool, I spied a teenager struggling with her freestyle.  Her kick and balance were off.  After my sets, while I was stretching in the lane next to her, she approached me and started a conversation.  (I swear! She approached me first!)  Turns out she was practicing for an exam in her physical education class.  Her exam entailed her to swim 25m in the streamline position and just kick and not use her arms.  A tough call for her seeing her current skill level and given that the exam was in 5 day's time.

I saw that her balance was way off and tried to make some suggestions.  I wasn't really sure of her age so I erred on the side of caution and just demonstrated and described what she was to do.  :-)   After 15 minutes of working with her, I  finally bid adieu as I had to get ready to go to work.

As I was exiting the pool, she asked me "Thanks sir, are you a coach?"

Of which I responded, "Nope, I'm a triathlete."  and then casually walked away.

Water

Like water, our lives are in a period of constant flux and movement.
But unlike water, not all of us are moving forward.


Racing has taught me to keep on moving forward.


May I continue to be like my birthsign.


These are my attempts to preserve my failing memory for my daughter to read when she is older.


May I always do her proud as she does me proud.