Is it already off season?

It's hard to believe this week marked the end of my second triathlon season. Off season has begun and I'm already struggling to embrace it. I need the recovery. I need to allow my body to heal. I need the rest. Yet I find myself being pulled back. It's hard to sit still. It's hard to embrace it. It's hard to say no to training partners, friends, challenges, short sessions, and races. Not training is sometimes more difficult than racing itself. Maybe I'm struggling because I have nothing on the horizon: no races have been paid for and nothing is being planned. Maybe I'm worried I'll let myself slip away from the sport I have grown to love. Maybe, just maybe, I'm afraid of the fact that I know I'm supposed to use these next eight weeks to rebuild relationships and pull myself out of Ironman training isolation. That scares me. I've become comfortable being a hermit and that is unacceptable. I need community and Christian fellowship. I need to surround myself with people who can pour into me and people I can invest in. I don't need to hide. I'm through with using training as an excuse. I need to be intentional. So as much as I'm dreading the off season I'm also excited about what it will bring. So what have I done my first week of off season...

I've kayaked...twice.

I've played frisbee on the beach.

I've shot skeet.

I've played putt putt (and got a hole in one).

I've studied...ALOT.

I've taken pictures of random Panama City signs that make me sad.

I've organize, clean, finished two books, started a new one, lost a toenail, fallen asleep on the beach, saw a turkey, wrote letters, chased stingrays in the gulf, saw a production of Fiddler on the Roof, ate too much, saw my godparents, called old friends, and been productive. And whoops: I ran in a 5k race. I’m a sucker for good causes and reasonable race fees. It was put on for Toys for Tots and all you had to do was bring a new, unwrapped toy. I decided to give it a shot. I hadn’t ran, biked, or gone swimming since IMFL a week ago. My quads were still shot but there was nothing to lose even if I walked. Well guess what – I ran – and got first overall female! Woot Woot.

I'm ready to see what week two will hold! I'm driving to Tallahassee tomorrow night to wake up early Tuesday and take the NCLEX. Then driving back to Panama City and flying to Nashville Monday night. Vandy will keep me busy with a week of classes and assignments. But don't worry - I'll find some time to have a little adventure.