A measley 4.5 weeks

I kicked my own ass, finally.

I signed on the dotted line.

I officially registered for my first triathlon race.
Tri Girl Sports Sprint Triathlon
300yd swim/11 mile bike/3 mile run
Humble, TX
August 14th.

That is a measly 4.5 weeks away.

4.5 weeks to get my body accustomed to biking, to building up my strength, stamina and endurance.

4.5 weeks to buy a bike- ha!

4.5 weeks to figure out what a transition is and how to do it successfully.

4.5 weeks to determine what other gear I might need.....or not.

4.5 weeks to squeeze in some open water swims.

4.5 weeks to get used to going from swimming to biking to running. One right after the other.

4.5 weeks to get my mental game together.

I kind of feel like throwing up.

I am also feeling very emotional right now.

Shocking, huh.

Less than 2 years ago, I had an infant, a pre-schooler and a kindergartner.  Those kids are now 2.5, a soon-to-be kindergartner, and a soon-to-be 2nd grader.  During the last 1.5+ years, I have gone from being a loud-proclaiming, vehemently opposed to running....runner.  I have run 3 half marathons within one year- June 2010, Nov 2010 and April 2011. 

I started a Master's Swim Class that I absolutely love with all my heart, returning to my roots of swimming of which I had pushed to the side so very long ago.

I haven't been on a REAL bike in forever and strangely enough, this doesn't matter some, but not too much.

I don't have much time to prepare BUT I do know that I will finish that race.  I'm not doing it to beat any times because hey, this is my first time and I just want to finish......and I will. 

Becoming a runner has given me so much confidence and belief in myself.  I'm not going to break any records but my own.  I am breaking free of all the things I thought I couldn't do and I am doing them and I feel fantastic for it.

More than my physical changes, I have come so freakin' far mentally.  I want to scream from the rooftops that "I can do anything".  I want to grab every woman that is on their own fitness journey- especially those just starting out- and tell them that "Yes, you can do it, too".  "Don't give up".  "Start out slow".  "You don't have to be fast, you just have to go". "Stop comparing yourself to everyone else and just compare you to YOU".  Love yourself enough to give YOU this beautiful gift of mental and physical power and strength and confidence. 

Fast- maybe not.  Endurance- yes.  Heart- yes and lots of it.

I have to thank Christie, Thea, Brooke, Erin (no blog but she's a *friend* on Dailymile and she is a total badass, completing her first FULL Ironman last year), and Sean for answering my myriad of questions about the triathlon sport.  They are my heroes and the ones I look up to.  Also, my Shrinking Jeans girls have been encouraging me for over a year to "sign up already".

This will be my first triathlon race but I am 100% certain it won't be my last.

Will ya'll take this ride with me? Will you follow my journey and give me support and encouragement and a loud Boo-yah from time to time?