Sweat, Tears, and Magic

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.  ~Isak Dinesen

They say that good stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end.  I am not sure where to begin the story of our triathlon journey, but I can start at the beginning of the weekend.  The picture here is about half the triBE, those that made the morning course review.  We listened to a description of the race, oriented ourselves in the venue, picked up our timing chips, numbers, and caps, and determined our waves and start times.  And then we hugged and laughed with abandon.  It was a good morning and the excitement was palpable.  Sally Edwards took everyone through a race day schedule and then some of the triBE went out and tested the waters…  turns out they were pretty shallow and not nearly as scary as you might think. 

Later that day Nicki Drumb sent us a meditation, an inspiration to focus our thoughts, to quiet our racing hearts, if only for a moment.  I share it here with the sure knowledge that it is beautiful and powerful.   And there is more, so much more to tell you.  I’ll try to share your stories each day for a while, to tell you of each other and our triBE’s journey.  As you read these I hope you will be inspired to tell your story too. If you write it yourself, I will happily post it.  If you tell it to me, I will joyfully share it.   

These moments of wonder and beauty in our lives, they slide through our fingers like water and are gone.  I’d like to savor this one a while longer.

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. ~Loran Eisley

my sunday morning meditation:

i refuse not to tri

feel that water?

that life-giving liquid

you were born into

it means:

you are closer to the finish line

than you have ever been

feel it on your feet

this water is actually a rock

you are walking on

the rock of strength

that swims through your veins

that told you that a future version

of your self will BE a triathlete

tri BE

feel the cleansing water

lap your ankles and legs

as it moves to make way

for your perfect body

your perfect body that:

walks

sleeps and dreams

carries children and groceries

holds on

digests food & drink

moves blood

builds muscle

commands might

pulls

strokes

bikes

runs

swims

sweats

dances

laughs

hugs

i am grateful for this body

it is my soul sanctuary

it houses my heart

my thoughts

my loves

my life

i am grateful for this body

i was born from water

i am a powerful woman

so i am a powerful swimmer

i signed up for this shit

i refuse to fail

let the water

wash away

all the fear

and hush

all the noise

all the crap

all the small

all the "i should've"

all the "i can't"

i am enough

i refuse not to tri

i got here

i am closer to the finish line

than i have ever been