Oh Happy Day-Luray Swim fest-Luray,VA-6/18/2016

Oh Happy Day when Jesus washed my sins away.

Yes! Here I was with old Negro spirituals in my head. They comfort me when I am scared. Guess what? It was one of those days.

I signed up for this event after attending Swimfest Ft. Ritchie with triathlon buddies. One thing I noticed is I had sufficient ability to participate in this but no OWS experience. I promised myself I would go home and sign up for OWS lessons. I did! Two weeks after my first lesson with Traci, I found myself standing at the starting line of a Swim fest.

I had no family or friends who could attend this event so I went alone. I was scared. But I just sang a line in one of my favorite songs, "Ain't no need to worry what tomorrow gonna bring, it will be all over in the morning."

The start gun went off and I let every one go. I decided in that moment, I will finish and learn. I stayed in the back and focused on one buoy at a time. I claimed victory at each buoy. I got a little off course but with the guidance of a kayaker, I was redirected toward the finish.

Then I turned and could see land and the finish. I was so happy. I did not change my stroke at all. I just continued and Bam!! Sweet land! I made it. After 3 yrs if swim lessons and 2 OWS practices in 2 weeks before this event, I completed my first OWS.

Yes! A picture is worth a 1000 words. Pure joy!

Comments

2021 Fort Ritchie Olympic Triathlon

General thoughts about the Fort Ritchie Olympic Triathlon and the race experience. On August 1, 2021, I participated in a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 6.2 mile run. If you want stats, splits, watts, etc. you will find none of it here. Why? It’s not what is important to me in participating in triathlon. It’s not my why! I signed up for the local race in Cascade, Maryland because I knew it would challenge me mentally and physically. My expectations were to finish and learn. This race was not wetsuit legal and a USAT championship series race. I knew it would bring out some spectacular athletes from the area. But I also knew this, I have never swam in open water without a wetsuit. Never. Stacy motto- Safety first. I will not put myself or others at risk for me to race. I quietly spoke to the race director and he nodded that I could do the race but would not race in my...

Grit- Road to Chicago Olympic Triathlon

Definition Grit in psychology is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual's passion for a particular long-term goal or end state, coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective. This perseverance of effort promotes the overcoming of obstacles or challenges that lie within a gritty individual's path to accomplishment, and serves as a driving force in achievement realization. Commonly associated concepts within the field of psychology include "perseverance", "hardiness", "resilience", "ambition", "need for achievement" and "conscientiousness". This is who I am. Stacy the Grit. Yes, I could spend a lot of time talking to you about my finish time and what I could improve upon yadda yadda yadda but anyone who reads my blog knows that I rarely focus on the outcome. I focus on the process. I focus on how did I arrive at a specific point and time. I focus on the jour...

Goals: A healthy lifestyle has no finish line

As a coach, I get many questions on exercise, weight loss, running, etc. All are great questions. However, I find myself asking clients the same question. What is your goal? General health and performance goals share many commonalities. To meet healthy lifestyle or performance goals, both require the following: · Defined goal · Nutrition balancing · Exercise · Consistency However, there are some key differences between general health goals and performance/sport specific goals. · Goals- Is your goal to “get healthy” What does that mean? Does it mean lose a few pounds or run a marathon? Be specific. How do you plan to measure your success? This is important. Why? Some people say they want to “get healthy” without defining what that means for them. Define what healthy means for you. Write it down. If ...

The Journey

Search This Blog