This Cobblestone Path

Content. Confident. Calm. Three words that sum up my emotions in starting the 2018 race season.

Content. The past few months have included a fairly regimented routine that balanced work, training, commuting, and family time. Being disciplined in executing this routine gives me contentment knowing that I’ve done everything possible to be as ready as possible.

A normal work day looked like this:

4:00 AM - Wake Up
4:30 - drive to Springfield
5:30 - Master’s Swim at Drury University
7:30 - Work at Springfield-Greene County Health Department
11:30 - Run or strength workout
1:00 - back to work
4:30 - drive home to Branson
5:30 - Bike workout on trainer or strength/stretching
7:00 - dinner at home with the hubs and pack bags for the next day
8:00 PM - bed

All this would not be possible without the support of the hubs, Grayson, and bosses and peers at work!

Confident. Despite the limited training hours, my coaches at Leborne Coaching have done a phenomenal job focusing our training on quality work versus quantity. Physically and mentally, I’m feeling stronger than ever. Knowing swimming is my limiter, I’ve worked closely with world-class coaches at Drury University to learn how to swim, refine technique and get stronger. I have only been “really swimming” for 8.5 months and have seen great growth. The real test will be when the gun goes off! My grandmother (JamJam) recently gave me great advice. She said, “Just keep swimming, honey. You never know. Someone else may get caught up in a buoy line.” LOL. Thanks JamJam.

I’m also confident because of the confidence my community has in me! My team SBC Athletics, support crew at A&B Cycle, buddies at Kuat Racks, strength trainer at the Meyer Fitness Center, chiropractor at Active Life Chiropractic, and many more friends are in my corner cheering and constantly sending positive vibes. This confidence is energizing!

Calm. This confidence also keeps me calm. When I reflect on the journey I’ve had to get here, I see how the highs and lows have paved this cobblestone path to realizing my dream of being a “pro athlete.”

Just the other day, my friend’s 10 year old daughter, Emma, put things in perspective. We were talking about her upcoming float trip on the Buffalo River. I told her I did a lot of hiking around the Buffalo in 2016. Emma said, “You’ve done everything! When did you have time to do that?”

Me: “ I wasn’t training or racing in 2016, so I did a lot of hiking, floating and camping with Grayson.”

Emma: “Why didn’t you train or race?”

Me: “I thought I was done with sport.”

Emma starts laughing hysterically!

Me: “Why are you laughing?”

Emma: “Because you won the Ironman* last year! You only trained for a few months and then won!”

*referring to my placing at IM70.3 Cozumel as first overall AG female, 6th overall female.

Gotta love the insight of a 10 year-old!

This perspective fills me with gratitude for the people who have spoken truth into my life and picked me up out of doubt and fear. One of my greatest champions has been my church community at Bloom Church. When I gave up on my dreams, the Church was there holding a torch to reignite my fire and purpose. Because the Church has been this solid foundation, I’m partnering with Bloom for the 2018 season to give a portion of my winnings to the remodel of their new home which will increase their capacity to continuing lighting the community on fire for Christ!

The 2018 race season is here! I’m ready and excited to continue watching this cobblestone path be paved as I step forward in confidence.