Life: 2021
This next season of my life will require new levels of courage, confidence & consistency from me. I feel, I will not allow fear to hold me back. I want this. I deserve this. And I’m determined to have it. - Faith Broussard Cade @fleurdelisspeaks
Today is Day 1. Day 1 of chasing a big giant goal of completing Ironman Florida. We have 309 days until we stand on Panama City Beach to start the 2.4 mile swim. By we, I mean Synthia and me. I met Synthia on a run at either the end of February or very beginning of March. She was running with her sons and we kept leap frogging each other. I started talking to them and next thing you know we are exchanging phone numbers to run together again. Next thing you know, we have signed up for an Ironman race. Just in case you are unaware of what this distance covers, it is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 run. It must be completed in 17 hours or less. Everything about this goal is magic to me. Even considering that I can do this seems like a fairy tale. I’ve allowed fear to drive my decisions for years. Deciding to go on this adventure was a hesitant, okay let’s do this!
We have been training for a few weeks now. Today, truly was day 1 in both our minds. I came up with the brilliant idea to put our training to the test. Let’s do a triathlon on New Year’s Day. Of course, Synthia is nearly always an enthusiastic ‘yes!’ We tossed around ideas for distance. She came up with idea of 20 laps of swimming, 20 miles on the bike and a 1 mile run. This will be our 20 + 20 +1 = 2021 workout to start the year.
Driving over to the gym, I was not in the mindset I needed to be in. I found out yesterday that a dear co-worker more importantly a friend had passed away. Chuck was such a wonderful storyteller and gave great life advice. He had lived in this world for many, many years. He definitely had the experience to back it up. I was at a meeting that he was hosting the day my divorce was final. At the happy hour portion, I was looking out at an Arkansas lake thinking ‘okay, I’m now divorced.’ Chuck came over and talked to me. He shared stories of his past which made me cry with laughter. I think I was meant to be at that meeting at that moment to hear his stories. Every conversation with him was entertaining even when it was a serious matter being discussed. Many tears were shed yesterday for Chuck. I am and will miss my friend.
As I entered the gym, I started to get in the mindset of what needed to be accomplished. I was beginning to let go of the thoughts that would hold me back. Synthia and I started our swim leg of the workout. Swimming is not easy for me. Really, any athletic endeavor is not easy for me. I am a person that is not naturally gifted. It takes work. A lot of work. We got through the swim and time to get our cycle gear on. Let me tell you putting on a pair of tri shorts and a sports bra when you just out of the pool is hard. No matter how dry you think you are those particular items will tell you differently. Upstairs for the bike portion. It was cold and rainy today so it was best to complete everything indoors. The bike was great up until the last 2-3 miles. At that point, I was just ready to be done with the bike. We high-fived and off to the treadmills we go! Thankfully, the run was uneventful. Running a mile, it should be uneventful. Again, we high-fived and were done! As we celebrated our victory today, I saw a lady on a treadmill walking. She smiled big seeing us celebrate and of course take a selfie. Seeing a perfect stranger smile at us celebrate was well worth the effort today.
Day 1 is done! We have many more miles to conquer before we stand on the sandy beach in our wet suits and brightly colored swim caps. I know we will be ready. We have made a promise to ourselves to cross that finish line. I assure you we will feel every bit victorious the same way Shalane Flanagan did when she won the NYC marathon on November 5, 2017. As she approached the finish line, she yelled F**K YES! F**K YES!! She was the first American woman to have won in 40 years. I am so proud to say that many hours later the same day, I crossed the same finish line at the NYC marathon. On November 6, 2021, four years and one day after I crossed that finish line, I will cross another one. Yes, I will say F**K YES!!! No doubt through the happiest and hard fought tears of my life.
