My First Mini Sprint

My attitude going into this race was SO completely different than any other race I've ever done.  I'm usually a stress mess - I let the race get to my head and I psych myself out.  But this is why it was different:

1.  This is my first race since December 31 - Beat the New Year.

2.  I've been battling this stupid stress fracture since January 2010 and consequently haven't run a consecutive 3 miles (I usually have to walk a bit in between each mile to give my ankle a rest).

3.  I've never done a triathlon before.

4.  I felt like I really didn't "train" that hard for this race (these past few weeks I've been so preoccupied with getting a gazillion articles of clothing sewn).

 I had an open house last night for all my children's clothing ans Scentsy, but was able to get to bed by 9:00pm.  Oh....it was so nice to sleep!

I went and picked up the babysitter at 7:00am and Tim and I headed off to the Orem Rec Center.  Though it was warm, there was still a bit of chill in the air.

We dropped off our bikes in the transition area, picked up our race packets, timing chips and got our arms and legs numbered (that by far was the coolest part of doing a triathlon!  I felt totally official).



We went back to our bikes and I started watching all the "PRO'S" hang out by their gear.  I felt like such a fish out of water - I had NO idea what I was doing!



 We went for a quick potty break (having to take off all the layers of clothes over a swim suit was a PAIN).

We took a quick spin on our bikes.  It felt good to warm up, but then I started to think how out of shape I really am!  How slow I am on a bike and what a terrible swimmer I was.

My main goal during the run was to help Tim run a consistent race.  But silly me, I didn't bring my Garmin and they didn't have mile markers.  I felt OK during the run, but I could feel that my lungs were sucking air.  Definitely need to bump up the miles.

As I rounded the corner to the finish...I kept thinking "I still have to bike and SWIM".  But quickly took off my shoes, put on my helmet and swore because Tim was already gone.  So I ran through the transition area and clipped into my peddles.

When I train on my bike, I am SLOW SLOW SLOW!  But today, I was a lot faster.  I consistently passed people.  We had to go up this GIANT hill on 400 south in Orem.  Though it was hard and I was really sucking air, but I didn't die and was able to recover quickly.  That was a real confidence booster.  We had to do the bike loop twice.

 I quickly dismounted from the bike, threw my gear down and headed to the pool.  Running in a swim suit to not fun! That swim was the STINKEST thing I've ever done.  There were so many people in the lanes and I kept getting kicked and hit.  In the shallow end, I ran faster than I swam.  My goggles were constantly foggy and my contacts were getting messed up.  I just kept thinking, 5 more laps to go, 4 more laps to go....But then I was done.

 Tim was at the finish with his parents. He finished 3 minutes ahead of me.  I'm so competitive, who cares if he is my hubby, it made me mad he beat me!  I told him to was "GO TIME" at the next tri!

We dried off and got dressed.  They had posted the results and I had to do a double check.  I placed 6th in my AG - but there were 3 of us that finished at 1:13:00, so if I would have been 2 seconds faster, I could have come in 4th!   Given my training for the past several months, I feel ok about the race (I can definitely run and bike faster).  I definitely want to do another tri!

Run:  25:35
T1:  1:54
Bike: 34:04
T2:  1:17
Swim: 11:03

Total:1:13:55

Hotels

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to stay in a hotel in Salt Lake.  Thankfully, Tim has oodles of hotel points and we are able to do this fun adventure.

The kids had fall break awhile ago, so we headed up on a Friday afternoon.  We took a tour of the Conference Center.  Carter was quite confident in his asking questions to the tour guide (we need to work on our tact though!!).

We had a picnic dinner at the park and even played with one of the Utah Jazz players and his family.

We swam in the pool and fully participated in the hotel's "happy hour" of popcorn and soft drinks.  We rented a Red Box and watched a movie.

An "all-you-can-eat" breakfast is definitely a favorite.  I think Abby ate 5 bowls of Fruit Loops - she kept saying how yummy they were.

I love how we leave all the work behind and 100% focus on being a family.  No dishes to do, no toys to pick up, no taking out the trash, just playing and having fun.

Then it was home to do yard work :)

Order

This post is dedicated to Tim.

I guess you could call Tim and I a bit obsessive about being organized.  Everything has a place and it that place it should be.  Not to say we don't make messes or that there aren't piles in our house (those piles would belong to me and they drive me nuts), but in general there is order flowing through the house.

While I've been sewing, I've let things go.  Breakfast dishes will sit in the sink until dinnertime.  Folded laundry sits on top of the dryer waiting to be put away.  Shoes need to be put up on the shelf in the garage. That little piece of paper on the floor needs to be picked up.  All the bits of thread and fabric need to be vacuumed up.

Though I've been getting a lot of sewing done, my life feels a bit out of order.

I've had to stop several time and just get a few house things done.  I can't concentrate when things aren't where they are suppose to be (I know...just let it go...but I can't).  I love the scripture about having a house of order.  I truly believe that everyone (in the Barlow family) is happier when we have order.

Talents

I knew that raising children would not be an easy task...actually quite difficult.  I knew raising three children of the same age would generate comparison between them.  I knew that there would be emotional sadness when someone would be invited to a birthday party and someone else wasn't.

We had our first "real" comparison meltdown last week.  It has been on my mind constantly.  Worrying and wondering how I can make my children know how individually important they are.

The meltdown was over someone being on a different level reading book at school.  That morning, I had asked that child to give our family prayer before we left to school.  That child specifically ask that they would remember words in their book and be able to move up a reading level.  That was my first sign someone was upset about something.

Oh, the tears that were shed that afternoon.  The "I'm not as smart as" or "why can't I be like that" comments that spilled out at the kitchen table while doing homework.  My heart truly ached for my sweet child that sat on my lap.

We had a long talk about how everyone has God-given talents.  Some are good readers, some are good at arts or sports, some are good at making friends, but we are each different.  Our Heavenly Father designed us that way because if we were all the same, we couldn't learn and grow.  But it is so hard for a 6 year old to understand this concept.

Since then, we've had a few more tears shed.  These sweet spirits that come from heaven are so tender.  They want so much to please and to feel important.  They are aching to be emotionally built up and to shine.  It is my job as a parent to make sure all this happens.  There are days when this task is so overwhelming.  Though they are triplets, they are so different.  Their needs and personalities are so different.

I can only imagine what it will be like when we have teenagers!

A Date for Lunch

I have a friend who checks her kids (one by one) out of school and takes them on a lunch date.  I think that is a FANTASTIC idea, so I swiped it!

Today, this handsome fellow was my date:

When I check him out, the front office lady called on the loud speaker to their classroom that Carter was being checked out (I guess that is REALLY cool to have all the classmates hear you are leaving).

He came charging down the hall with a smile the size of Africa across his face!  How can you not be excited to go out to lunch with such a happy guy?

We went to Subway (they would all choose Mcdonald's, but I can only handle that grossness every so often).  The Subway lady asked if he was in 4th grade!  He kept saying how cool he was now!

He chattered non-stop about school, Junie B Jones books, and mostly Star Wars.  It sure was fun to share a few minutes with him alone.

(Well this faithful sidekick was there too, but she was busy slurping down her orange drink):

Thanks Carter for making my day!

Rain Rain Go Away...

It finally went away in Moab and we had a sweet ride on the Slick Rock trail. 

Pulling into the parking lot of the trail can be a bit intimidating!  There are cyclists (and "dudes") from all over the world with some sweet gear.  Then there was us (I guess we had sweet gear too according to Tim)!

Regardless, we had fun riding, no one got hurt, kids were having fun at home and there was sunshine!

Arches National Park

Slick Rock Trail Head

Tim and Blair ready to ride!

Tim and I enjoying the red rock beauty!

Rain Rain Please Stay...

Life has been a bit "busy".  In the midst of all the craziness, Tim and I had a weekend get-a-way to Moab, Utah to mountain bike Slick Rock (a world famous trail...full of technical tricks).  But it is raining like cats and dogs.  You can't ride a slick rock in the rain....it is too slick.

So we are relaxing in the condo with our good friends watching movies.  Who watches movies on Friday at 3:30pm?  Really....who?

I don't feel cheated of a vacation, because it is the most relaxation I've felt in a long time.  Sleeping in, going for a run, driving through beautiful national parks, and hanging out with good friends.

See, I've been in my sewing room for approximately 3 weeks now sewing like a mad lady.

I was invited to sell some handmade children's clothing at a Christmas boutique.  While buying fabric for this boutique (I had 20 bolts of fabric at the cut counter...that poor employee), some lady asked me what I was planning on doing with so much fabric.  "Sew lots and lots of clothes", I replied.  She mentioned that she owned a consignment store just down the street from my house and would I bring some samples by.  Sure thing!

Meanwhile, I received a package from a children's pattern designer to sew her samples for the Houston quilt show.  Her new patterns and fabric line are amazing and it has been a treat to see the latest and greatest fashion!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE to sew.  It is amazing to take a bolt of fabric and turn it into an garment of clothing.  It hasn't been stressful at all.  I've been sewing clothing that has expanded my sewing skills.  Stretched my limits.

Plus, I decided to become an independent Scentsy consultant.  Their scented waxes are delish!  So my bi-annual open house is coming up and I've been trying to get ready for.

So many tender mercies and blessing!