living life

Tuesday evening my ride was a little different from most others I've recently had. You see, the sun was shining! The wind, while there, wasn't gusting! I wasn't going to be frozen to the bone due to the cold and wet weather I've been riding in as of late! I felt great, rode hard, and had my fastest ride yet! All these wet, soggy rides have been referenced by others as character building. I think my character is a few layers deep by now.

After my ride, I stopped by a grocery store, picked up something 'to go' and headed to masters, which runs from 8:30-10p. We do, however, have access to a few lanes from 8p for those that want a bit of a longer swim, which I've never done. 

Sitting in the car, eating my pseudo dinner, coach pulls up and sees me sitting there, and waves for me to come out. Busted. Hanging my head a little, I got out of my car, ready to explain that I'd be in after a while, still dressed in my cycling shorts and jersey. 

Coach: "Mel, are you OCD about working out or something, you coming back from a ride to swim?"

Me: "Not OCD Ian, I'm living life, and loving it!" As my face begins to glow...

He knows about my history of seizures because of forms I've filled out upon registration, my dizzy spell in the pool one night which freaked me out, and my bit of fear of flip turns.  (Upcoming post about this too, by the way).  But I now had the opportunity to tell him a little more. He now actually saw the bumps on my forehead from the screws, he asked questions about my surgery, and I explained what all of this means. This, the cycling, swimming, running, all represents the freedom and independence during the years when I couldn't do anything. Already a mother, I couldn't have a bath by myself for fear of drowning, crossing the road alone endangered my life, and cooking muffins resulted in burns to my fingers when I took the tray out of the oven, mid-seizure, without oven mitts.

I'm feeling and hearing the wind around me as I cycle (cautiously, of course) alongside cars. I'm running... away from a life of no passion, no goals, and towards pushing my mental and physical limits, trying new things, and meeting amazing people. I'm swimming, without a constant fear of drowning from seizures, I'm in the middle of a lake! I have a life again! 

Swim workout was the following: Warm-Up: 200m free, 200m kick, 200m pull, 300IM

Main Set: 1500m timed set -- 27:50! HUH! I never thought I'd be able to swim that long in a steady set!! HOLY COW! 300m easy, 150m alternating free/choice, 4x25m, up free, back IM order, 8x25m free sprints

Left the pool, confidence boosted having covered the distance of this Sunday's race. Coach was standing outside of his car, and called me over.

Coach: "Mel, you impress the hell out of me, girl. Now that I know what I know, I cannot tell you how much of an inspiration you are. So, it's kind of like a miracle you're here."

He went on to stroke my ego just a little more, and explained that he's been wanting to submit an article in a local newspaper featuring some of the women in the club, specifically one lady who started with the masters at age 59 unable to swim a length two years ago, and is now part of the tri club, and will do her first this year. He asked for my permission to include a write up about me.

It's heartwarming, to say the least, when I get this kind of feedback. I never thought my story would touch anyone, and it wasn't really until I started putting my thoughts into words that I realized how insignificant these activities are to one person, how they can be taken for granted, but what they represent to me.

I don't expect people to understand, and it really doesn't matter. One of my best friends  from school, thinks I'm crazy, and would be the first to tell you that the "old Mel" would not have been doing ANY of this.

I'm just glad that I am! :)