turn around friday

Yesterday, I experienced my first live swim meet!  So much fun and I got to hang out with such a lovely family to watch an amazing girly.  The timing worked out that after I went shopping with my mama I was able to go and got there in time to watch her in both events.

side note: while shopping, I found boots!!!!!!!!!!! (i’ve been looking for boots since I got home in December and finally found them!) and another running skirt! and sunglasses and a cute jean skirt to go with aforementioned boots! I’m just a tad excited. Plus, they were ALL on sale/very cheap!

back on track: I live in Minnesota and we have lots of lakes so I swim and know how to swim well, but I never swam competitively.  Seeing the girls totally rock it out in the pool was impressive.  Diving was intense. I kept catching my breath whenever a head would stray to what my eye considered near the board. I didn’t really know what was going on or the scoring, but I did find out that my girly improved her times! Woot woot!

After it was done, I couldn’t help but compare it to tennis. I played tennis throughout high school and college. See, you can’t really measure exact improvements like in swimming.  Sure, you can see how many serves you got in, forehands, backhands, etc. But, there’s a beautiful thing about tennis….

it’s not over until it’s over.

Every single point is a chance to turn it all around.

Many games I would rally back after being down.  I tend to like the long…two hour games.  I could have lost the first set and then won the next two. You could be down 0-6, 0-5 and 0-40 in the last game and you STILL can turn it all around.  It’s beautiful. It’s challenging.

I can’t help but tie this into how God keeps giving us chances to turn around. To do a 180 degree turn and walk toward Him.

He’s waiting for us. He’s already won the battle.

Every single decision or step or moment can be turned into a game changer.

There’s so much beauty in that.

I am so thankful for being able to turn it all around

to be in the same game but turning it around

turning it into glory

making it all about

Him.

—

did you play any sports? see any other parallels or lessons that pop out? 🙂

p.s. happy friday!

p.p.s. why, yes, that is roddick and federer up there…and yes, i did get to see them and others in person!

tri-happy

Saturday is here! Normally, I leave the weekend free of blogging because it’s the weekend!  But, I thought I would make an exception because I have some fun pictures to share.  Not to mention, letting you all know that I got to put a little big check on my 2010 list.  Actually, I’ve had this on my “to do” list for quite a while and even pony-ed up during debriefing from my internship last year by letting all my interns know that I planned on completing one before doing a few other things. So, what did I do!? I completed a triathlon!  In lieu of competing in one and spending a ridiculous amount of money (some were like $90), I decided to save my money and make my own course. Here’s a little proof.

This would be my nervousexcited face with a “Am I really doing this?”

my attempt at getting a picture of my super cute swimsuit. took me forever to find one but I love it and i LOVE wearing swim shorts. if you had told me 5 years ago that i would think a bikini was immodest to wear…i would have laughed and said it’s just fine–not anymore! hello, change!

my little transition station. complete with my beautiful bike and bike shoes (i LOVE being clipped in). plus, i’ve got my bag full of stuff (towel, bike shorts, running shorts, camera, cell phone, running shoes, bike helmet, bike gloves, ipod).

why, yes, that is a creepy fake swan that gets to swim with me today…at least he keeps away the geese.

now this. this is beautiful. i seriously love lakes in the summertime. water like glass that is perfect for water skiing or wakeboarding on or well…swimming for 20 minutes. did i mention that i didn’t train for this part of the triathlon? at least i did a bit of swimming at camp. but yeah…..definitely should have! probably should have trained in general…

this would be my smile that means i’m so incredibly thankful that the swim part is finally done! I am so not a swimmer compared to biking and running. love it, but it wore me out!

and this here. is my I’m so tired, but I’m done look!!!!

Swim: 20 min.

Bike: 53 min. (12.4 miles or 20k)

Run: 27 min. (3.1 miles or 5k)

What did I learn?

• God provides cute little things to keep me going–like watching a bird swoop down to eat a fish while I’m swimming…at least it was a little bird.
• Swimming is hard. really hard. refreshing, but the time sure goes slow.
• I love creating new paths and ways to go with God–I biked a totally new trail.
• My legs felt so weird when I started running. I’m pretty sure that little 5k felt longer than the 20k I did before, but I finished while running in the woods which made my heart happy.
• Tweeting while doing things helps provide little goals and encouragement.
• When I’m focused on God and doing things with God, quitting or walking or slowing down may fleeting cross my mind, but leaves quickly.
• Gotta love the…what’s next/now what? that comes after completing a goal. Yeah, I’m achiever at heart.
• My body may be tired, but my heart is happy.

My Days Are Full

Last weekend provided a much needed breath of fresh air.  The rain tends to be a downer during the week, but during the weekend the weather thus far has been absolutely gorgeous!  Today, Sunday, I woke up without an alarm kind of early, which was nice.  I knew I was going running, but then once I got dressed I decided to make it a 10k.  I ran the first 5k went great and I had a time of about 27 minutes.  Then I gave myself a bit of a break and walked for 4 minutes and then ran the rest of the 10k.  I finished under an hour–my goal!  Felt great and I ate oatmeal with brown sugar after drinking a lot of water.  Then we had planned to go on a picnic on top of the mountain at around 11:30.  So, we hiked up Everest and ate lunch and laid out in the sun.  The view was gorgeous and it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.  To top it all off, we took a dip in one of the ponds (I miss lakes…) and now we’re going to make enchiladas for dinner!  There’s my day for you….how was yours?

love heart on top of the mountain

feet!

“The Club”

When I start a sport, I want to be part of “the club.”  People in the club not only look the part, but really know what they’re doing from equipment to training to clothing.  Part of being in “the club” consists of working hard and striving to be the best at the sport.  This drives me on like none other.  I want to bike fast, swim fast, swing well, and put in the hours to do so.  Now with many sports multiple clubs form to accommodate the different levels.  For example, in biking one finds the recreational bikers, the commuters, the cyclists, the triathletes, ect.  (FYI: I made up these “titles” on the fly).  Each “club” has different expectations, a different look, and a different purpose.  Since I’m a crazed sports addict, I usually prefer the competitive, hardcore, intense “club.”  I want to jump right into all the aspects of the hardcore, intense “club” in whatever sport I’m participating.  Hence why I invested in a sweet awesome bike (I rode it tonight and am still in love…maybe it needs a name? suggestions?).  I also doled out the cash for sweet awesome dorky bike shorts and a jersey that matches my bike.  All of this to say that I felt like part of “the club” tonight.  While I was biking along praising the Lord for the gorgeous night and the ways He’s worked in my life recently, the other “hardcore” intense bikers with their padded shorts nodded and gave me the knowing look–the look that says, “Sweet. You’re a cyclist too.”  I ate it up.  The camaraderie and encouragement that comes from these moments empowers me to pedal harder, go farther and find more joy as well as continue to excel at the sport and learn more so that I can become an expert.  In the same way, when I interact and see other Christians, I am propelled to crack open my Bible, dive into prayer, and fight the good fight.  I heard a testimony tonight that gave me renewed encouragement and drive to live every aspect of my life with passion for God including the times spent on the road while wearing the awesome dorky bike pants.