Give it a TRI

Nearly a year ago my Dad got me a subscription to Runner's World Magazine. He gave it to me knowing I would eventually love it, even if the feeble one mile runner me didn't see the great value at the time. Over 1,000 ( yes,1000) miles later the loud monthly "thump" of the subscription landing on our living room floor sends excitement down my spine and I eagerly steal the first moments I can, to crack it open and see what new pearls lie inside.

From yummy new recipes, best shoes for my feet, training guides for a new challenge, in depth stories about crazy races in Africa, personal triumphs, all the way to etiquette questions answered by "pros." The magazine was more than a welcomed treat it was a manual of sorts for this new lifestyle.

Last month the mailman was faithful to squeeze it through the slot and send me running, just like many months before. And just like before I snagged it up and read away. However, this month a very short story, one page in fact, caught me off guard and I haven't been able to shake it since.

Kristin Armstrong often writes a nice personal story about every other month. They include things about her friends and their running adventures or even her first Boston Marathon experience. Perhaps her most popular read was when she interviewed her ex husband and friend, Lance Armstrong, after he finished last years New York Marathon.

Always enjoying her small tales I read away only to be rocked by her words and stirred by her perspective.

She's the mother of two little twin girls and a a son. While getting her daughter ready one morning , the five year old remarked how her sweater made her look fat. Armstrong delved into the tragedy that a five year old knew the "F" word. She wrestled through her struggles with raising her girls to be strong and her son to recognize true beauty. She refers to her running as a way for one to get more comfortable in their own skin, to grow strong and courageous, to overcome the ridiculous pressures of growing up in this "perfect" world, and how she hopes her children can learn those traits from watching her run.

It's a great article and feel free to read the entire thing at this link.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-369-374--11979-0,00.html

There was one line that I couldn't get out of my head. It was as if the Lord was parenting me when I read it and it could have been my name.

"Grace and Bella, will you have any idea how lovely you are when you try?"

Oh, Lord, thank you for loving us. Thank you for loving that sometimes we "just try." Yeah, maybe we can't walk on water, but what a joy we are when we go ahead and get out of the boat.

Personally, I feel a daily defeat from the overpowering weight to be "perfect." Perfect teeth, perfect hair, perfect weight, perfect response, perfect friend, perfect daughter, perfect mother, perfect wife, sister, neighbor, runner, biker, church member, house cleaner, driver, bill payer, house owner, shopper, chef, leader, follower,.......... perfect Lacy.

I read these words and knew the Lord never called me to be perfect, he just wanted me to know how lovely I am when I just get up in the morning and try. Not try to be perfect, but just try.

I have tried to implement this sweet sentiment into my daily life and use it as motivation to keep pushing when it gets so hard at times.

This phrase played through my mind more times than I can count, today especially.

Today was a day of trying, or TRI-ing, if you will.

After much fret and over analyzing, I got the nerve to sign up for a triathlon. Yes I can run, but swimming and biking are a whole other story. And then there's the added bonus of attempting these feats in front of people. And not just people, but people who are good at the previous stated events.

But I tried and how lovely it was.

Kenton tried, Michael tried, and my Dad tried as well.

2007 Mud Water Triathlon and Duathlon

Triathlon

750 Meter Open Water Swim

20K Bike Ride

5K Run

Duathlon

5K Run

30K Bike Ride

5K Run

Kenton 1:36:09

Lacy 1:37:43

Michael 2:05:19

Randy (Duathlon) 2:13 Second Place in age group!!

FIVE Years!

It's been five years already!

Can you believe it? I barely can!

Independence Day

Wednesday was the official one year mark for me. Last year on the fourth, I ran my first run. I woke that morning fretting over the fun run, the one mile. I can't believe how one year flew by. How one mile grew to an eventual 26.2 and a passion that won't cease. I ran that one mile with the prodding and encouragement of my Dad, I can't thank him enough for the nudge, look what it's done for me. Thanks Dad. You've been my biggest fan and greatest encourager through it all. What a gift, to be challenged and pushed on such a consistent basis. An opportunity to see what your made of, a chance to succeed, a chance to fail, and chances to get back up and try it again and again. Running has changed me and I can't wait to see what happens this year.

Derby, Kansas 4th of July Firecracker Run 2007
4 Mile Start 7:30 AM. The start greeted us with sun, heat, and humidity! It was a tough run, but we all finished. I didn't manage to make the pictures, I guess I was just too fast. HA! You can see Kenton and my Dad right behind Dr. Feuille. I heard some one yell, "Slow down Lacy!" looked back to see my doctor, gave him a smile and ran on. Through the heat, I believe everyone managed a new record. I finished the four mile in 31:00, my best time by three minutes.

I'm not certain of everyone elses times, but they all were great. Michael had a great finish with baby Rayanne crossing the line with him.

I managed a 2nd place medal and as my Mom entered her first run since 1982, she received a medal for her finish in the one mile, not bad for a 25 year hiatus!
We all had a fun morning.

The evening held more and more fun.

Kenton and James concocted the "Adult Size Slip n' Slide."

All the kids and James and Kenton had a blast.

Soon it was pouring and the sprinklers were no longer necessary. The rest of us watched adoringly as they all got really dirty!
With the rain we held off on most of our firework fun until the next night. Besides, there were so many explosives going off around the Weishaar's house it was more than enough, plus it felt like we were in the middle of a war reinactment!

Judah, Kenton and I had a fun time lighting sparklers, crackling balls, poppers, spinning glow bugs, this, that, hoosker dos, hoosker don'ts (with or with out the scooter stick), and the boys had fun blowing up Judah's sand bucket.

Happy 4th of July!

Vacation Part Two

Here it is as promised, chapter two in our wonderful summer vacation.

We rolled in to beautiful Colorado Springs, to be greeted by most of the Ross'. Eventually the rest either woke from nap or returned from work and we enjoyed all of them.

We spent several fun filled days at their lovely home and their awesome city.

It was exceptionally hot (for Colorado) and we all swam most days.



Day six:

The Royal Gorge.

We traveled about an hour away to visit the world's highest suspension bridge. The views were amazing!




We rode the tram across.

Saw the animals and stubborn burros on the other side.

We walked across the bridge and watched the tiny river flow below us.

Then we rode the incline railway down to the, now, much larger river.




Day Seven:

The Barr Trail. As many of you know my Dad and I are going up Pikes Peak this summer. Kenton and I went to go check out the trail that we'll be "running" in August. Getting our butts kicked on is more like it!

One mile up took me 17:21 and I was wiped! In the Ascent we have to go up over 13 miles!!


The views were awesome and the run down was fun. I was sure glad the people walking up were kindly moving out of the way! We were flying down and plenty of times we couldn't have stopped even if we wanted to! August will sure have some great stories!


That night we all went to Mr. Bigg's Bigg City! Indoor fun galour! Judah really enjoyed playing with his friends at "Mr. Twigs."

I think Kenton and Travis did too. Even though I'm pretty sure the air cannons in "Little Big Town" were meant for kids, that didn't stop two grown men from attacking any and all who crossed their path.

Judah loved loading the gun and screaming in his best pirate voice, "Fire in da' hole!"






It was a fun time, we were all so tired!

Day Eight:

The kids played at Focus on the Family. Judah loved the Wardrobe room. He got to walk through the wardrobe just like Lucy and find the lamppost and snow and many other sights of Narnia on the other side.

Jennette was too kind and watch Judah for us again while Kenton and I went out to our new favorite store/restaurant in the world, Whole Foods Market. Ahh... all the yummy, good for you food a girl could want. Let's just say, Lacy has a new favorite food, carrot chips!!!

We spent the last night playing with the kids and especially loving up those sweet sweet faces Jaden makes!

Judah saw how much we loved Jaden's kissy face and now he tries to do it at bed time.
Day Nine:

With much lagging we had to force ourselves to pull away from the wonderful hospitality and fun at the Ross'.

We hit the road and set out for one more destination as we headed east for the flat lands.

Dodge City, KS. Boot Hill

We arrived just in time to see a real gun fight, purchase coon skin caps, and get a new family portrait.

After our walk through history, we buckled in for the last long haul of driving and bid 'ado to our vacation. Appropriately, Kansas greeted us home with a rainbow. As the sun set behind us we soon knew that there really is no place like home.