T-Minus 17 DAYS

I am just $197 away from my goal of $4,100!!! This has been such an incredible experience and I can't believe the race is only 17 days away. Last night we had our last team swim practice and we simulated an open water swim. It was so fun, the point is for us to get a sense of what it will be like to be swimming around hundreds of people. It's crazy. But I can't wait. I am actually more scared about the biking than anything. My bike is really old, and it doesn't have a quick release lever for the tires...I am so scared to get a flat. But I am going to dedicate myself this weekend to learning how to change my tire.

I DID IT!

WEll, my play was a huge success. It was extremely personally transforming -- I learned so much about myself and about what I am capable of as long as I put my mind to it. But it also transformed the lives of the 14 women involved. For example after seeing the show, Emily's (one of the actresses) dad decided that he would pay for her to go to school. The play also brought the audience together as they got to share their stories during the open mike following the play. It feels amazing to inspire others and I can't wait to create something else.
But as a result I raised $2,772!!! Bringing me very close to my goal. Now all I have to do is finish the training. In a little over a month I will be in Flordia!!! I can't wait.

So...I didn't post for over a month...
Here is a recap...February was a really, really tough month. I found it hard to train on a regular basis and the extremely cold temperatures made me want to hibernated. But I got through it and I feel really strong for battling the elements. As the weather begins to get warm, I am extremely satisfied to know that I can train through anything.
BUT more importantly, I decided to direct a play called THAT TAKES OVARIES! to raise money for LLS. If you live in Chicago, you must be there. It is a blast. March 20 and 21, 8pm at National Pastime Theater. Tickets are $20 and they will SELL OUT so get in touch with me to reserve your tickets today.

things to not forget again

Now...I love that we get a free 3-month membership to Bally's while training. I do not however love Bally's. It is swarming with 20 something, toned, perfect bodies and I mean swarming. I have never been there when it isn't crazy. Usually when I go to swim I can get away from all the craziness, but yesterday I went to bike (because Chicago finally decided to have winter) and I had to wait in line to use one of the bikes. Then I realized that Bally's doesn't give out towels for your workout. I thought that this wouldn't be so bad, until about 20 minutes into my workout. I was sweating like crazy and totally embarrassed because the other 20somethings in the gym don't seem to sweat. I just kept reminding myself that sweating is normal, it should be celebrated even. So I kicked the 40 minute bike rides ass, dripping sweat and all. But I won't forget a towel next time.

okay...to be perfectly fair to Bally's, some of the locations do have towels and plastic bags for wet swimsuits. But NOT the Diversey and Clark location.

motivation

The best motivational qoutes so far...I swear I repeat these to myself when I feel like I can't keep going.

"float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. your hands can't hit what your eyes can't see."

"weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."

"pain is nothing, pain is in the mind. if you can walk you can run."

"love life, engage in it, give it all you've got. love it with passion because life truly does give back many times over what you put into it."

"every accomplishment starts with the decision to try."

"success is how high you bounce when you hit the bottom."

City Running

Today on my break at Time Out I went for a run. Running in downtown Chicago is always an experience. Dodging people, cars, and lights. I totally feel llike I am in a Nike ad and I understand where the phrase 'just do it' came from. Today I forgot my sweatshirt when I left for work and I could have let that stop me from running on my break, but I sucked it up and ran in my tshirt. It was freezing, I couldn't feel my elbows or hands. But I pushed through it. I think I am really gaining a mental strength, running for 30 minutes on my own doesn't seem that hard to me anymore. And I am running faster and harder than I ever have before. I find I have a more intense determination to push myself than I have ever felt before.

On Saturday, before our group run we had a TNT moment and one of the girls talked about her friend who passed away from Leukemia the day after Christmas. It was so inspirational to hear her talk about her friend. I get goosebumps whenever I think about it. Raising this money is one of the coolest things I have done so far in my life. It means so much to me to think about all of my friends and family who have been so generous in donating, not only money but time and inspiration. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

the drills actually matter!

I had a swimming breakthrough! Originally I really wasn't too worried about the swimming component of the Triathlon...and then I went swimming. Apparently swimming doesn't quite come back as easy as riding a bike. Needless to say, the past few swim trainings have been TOUGH. I have an old habit of keeping my head up and breaking that has been difficult. But anyway, the other day I was swimming and suddenly everything clicked. All the drills we do, they all made sense and I was actually swimming like a real swimmer. I was just zooming through the water and I wasn't exhausted! Now I look forward to my next swim training. I still can't really imagine what swimming in open water will feel like with hundreds of other people by my side. CRAZY.

AND GUESS WHAT! I have raised $1,025!!! Woohoo! What an amazing feeling!