A Weekend for the fit.....

This past weekend was all about the sporty types in our family { Sadly I dont get to be at dance class otherwise I could add Meg in here too}

It was the opening game for the soccer season.....a cool early morning was perfect for a team of 10/11 year olds raring to go.

We headed straight down the highway south after the game to prepare for the 1/2 ironman to be held on Sunday morning.

Again a very grey day that provided perfect race conditions for both athletes and spectators.  After overcoming a last minute dash to the transition setup, our ironman was off and swimming......then cycling.....then running.

This is number 13 for him and you would think we would have it all down pat...the watching and supporting thing! For some reason he doesn't recall spotting us at all  and we lost him on the run....
Word got to us that he had problems with his hip and knowing that he was a little undertrained going in, jumped to the conclusion that his race must have been over .
I waited.....then decided he would make contact when he could. We cheered his brother over the line and just waited.....

But somehow we missed him out there and he successfully ran across the finish line thinking that we must have had dramas that kept us from the sidelines!!!!

Anyways never a dull moment.....all finished well and we are super proud of him once more.....  
 Even more so that he was able to pull up for work the next morning like a trooper!

So I am adding to my thankful list....


* The soccer season kicking off
* Perfect race conditions
* A weekend to hang with my sister as we cheer from the sidelines
* No rain despite it being very close
* The sun appearing  as the day progressed

#1295 A solid finish for our 13 time ironman

It's A Race..

Last weekend my husband entered his 13th Half Iron-man event....

We joined the sidelines and cheered, clapped, encouraged and willed him over the line....

So proud of him...

Great that this is something that he can share with his younger brother also.

Looking over the pictures I captured for the day got me thinking....we are all in a race.....

  

Some days start earlier than others....they are filled with rumbling tummies and feeling of defeat even before we begin......but to see the sun rise on beautifully perfect conditions makes the heart beat just a little faster.....

 

The race is not run alone....in fact sometimes we have to be prepared to jostle for position...capitailse on our strengths...lead the way....move out of the pack....

We must always remember that someone is always looking out for us....they are perched on a vantage point that they can see us but we may not see them...

Sometimes there are points in the race of life....milestones ..turning points that we must recognise as a job well done...shake off the jangles now and fix our eyes on the next part of our journey...we have broken through the worst part of dipping our toes in or jumping fully in...we may be cold and numb but we are well and truly on our way...

Remind yourself that the cheer squad is still out there...poised to cheer and encourage us to go for it...

It is good to look up and have a little smile....lots of the race behind us but still a ways to go...people care and are wanting the best for us...

There is a little craziness along the way...but we all need crazy in our lives right?...otherwise we will be crushed by the seriousness of it all

The race can seem long.....for some taking a load off is the way to keep up the pace....but for others of us, the time is not yet to rest...

Always keeping our eyes fixed on the way ahead...ticking off the goals as we go...

Then just when you feel you can't do it anymore.....there are those people cheering you on again....louder this time...more excited than they have been....cause they know how hard you have been doing it...and how close you are a big achievement....one of many past and many more to come...

Race face on.....straight for the prize line....not really a finish line for most of us....still so much that lies ahaed...but a moment to realise that we are stronger than we think...more capable than we believe....

A little rest and recuperation from the busyness and the tiredness of the race we are in...is needed...in fact essential...

Most of us are never going to compete in crazy races like that of my husband but life on a daily basis can be just as rigorous for some of us.....

This race contained all sorts of ages...a wide range of fitness levels...some had big cheer squads some had a few....some sprang across the line with a lightness , some dragged their  bodies up the finish chute...they were all received with cheers and congratulations.

We all do this race of life differently...at different paces...with varying amounts of ease....but hopefully with successes along the way and a bunch of special people to cheer you on loudly and be there to hold you up for the time of recovery....

Some things I learnt this weekend.....

 1. Even though hopes were dashed heading into the  weekend......it wasn't a total bad day...

 
2. Cow bells in the hands of kids can get pretty darn thin in  a very short time.....

 3. With each year that passes interest and knowledge of the art increases...

 4. Even though it was the perfect condition for racing it also turned out to be the perfect conditions for spectating too...

 5. Not having a competing husband this weekend meant we could afford the luxury of some time to walk and sit and chat....

 6. You don't have to travel very far or for very long to grab a breath of fresh air for the busyness of the days that we walk..

  

7.I love having my camera on hand to be able to record the beauty around us

8.Life is triple the fun with cousins around...especially if you are a little guy...

 9. There is always something totally mesmerizing about the ocean...

 10. Time goes slower when you take away all the demands of everyday..

 11. How strong the genes are that tie you together as family.....

12. That four people can create more washing from a few days away than a whole week at home....

We head away this weekend every year...normally our star athlete competes but not this year....but who is going to say no to a few days away  just hanging with the family...oh and a few extra family members thrown in for good measure......

Joining in with Em at The Beetle Shack

Sunday Snippets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have just spent three days in our beautiful south........

It started with a double rainbow......

an ironman champion in the middle.....

and finished with loads of fun with family..... 

one of those rare weekends when we have the opportunity to have none of our normal routines and schedules.....we run on race time and the rest is on fun time....heading away with family adds to the excitement and joy of hanging loose.

Hope you had a loose fun weekend too. xxx

 Joining with Em at The Beetle Shack