I'm All That! race report

This past weekend, I raced in the "I'm All That."

I felt so nervous and unprepared going into it. I had all these feelings of self doubt and insecurity. evil voices telling me that I couldn't do it, I'd barely eek by, I'd fail miserably...

the funny thing was, I wasn't even nervous for the Triathlon itself - I went in, and did my best (which was way better than how I did at the Irongirl - mostly because my bike didn't break!).

Things I need to improve on:

• T1 & getting my wetsuit off



• nutrition on the bike (I seriously slacked off on this because I like to take it when it's flat - which there wasn't too much of on this bike part)



• MY RUN TIME! I'm a tortiose. enough said.



• My mental and spiritual preparation. I don't think that I do enough of this. This race weekend really shined some light on the necessity of this. I think it would make me stronger mentally (which could make up a few minutes at least on the run).



• Biking hills.

But overall, I felt good finishing the race. I'm really excited to do the skinneyman next year and beat ALL of my times.

Sunday started off with the 1 mile swim, which I felt I went slow (2:11 per hundred? ugh - don't tell Eileen). but the whole time, I was steady - steady stroke, steady breathing, freestyle the whole way. So I was overall happy with that. plus, we got to ride a cheesewagon to the other side of the lake! can't beat that!!!

then came the Coon Hill Grind. to say it was awful would be an understatement. I felt so beaten 1/4 of the way up the hill, I got off of Sam (my bike) and he and I walked the rest of the way up the hill. As I passed an aspirating Kristen at the top, I said "passing you is #1 FAILURE..." but looking back on it, a weaker person would have DQ'd instead of walking next to Sam in front of all those people. I was pretty sure I had gotten the worst time in the history of that race, but then another guy got a flat tire & took last place! yay for his popped tire! I hope he comes back next year :)

So, I got over that, we ate at the Moondance (which has changed since I was last there!!!) then, Kristen, Jon and I went and walked into town from the road race start and got some ice-cream.

isn't it amazing how Ice-cream immediatly improves your mental state?

for the road race, I strapped on my Ipod so I wouldn't have to listen to the inner evil voices, put on my most inspirational tunes, and ran in Liz's world. I was so out of touch, the whole way, I though Jon was in front of me! I was so proud of him, but then I couldn't find him at the finish line & so I finally figured it out. I am still proud of him though - he did really good for not having run pretty much all summer. it was good to be standing at the finish line for him instead of the other way around. anyways - so it was about 3.2 miles in, where this song came on my ipod. its called "eleventh hour" by jars of clay. and it was so fitting - I was in the 11th hour of the race weekend, the lyrics just really fit the moment & I (almost) started balling! So, finally I had to switch to the next song, which was also fitting (I forget what it was though). Seriously, it was as if God was in there knowing exactely what I needed to hear.

So then, comes the realization: I did it. I finished the race. nevermind that on the I'm all that results I'm dead last. I'm not last - there are plenty of people that didn't even finish!!! I did it & I'm all that.

So - I figured, might as well stick around for the results ceremony - right? well, blow my socks away, turns out, I got THIRD PLACE IN MY AGE GROUP!!!!!!!!! THIRD PLACE! I placed!!!!!!! me - Liz - LIZ KEEGAN - I got third freaking place. can you believe it? Cuz I can't!!!!! Nevermind that there were only 4 in my category & the 1st one placed in the top three overall, making me 3rd place despite my time. I got third place for finishing strong. for never giving up. For sticking with it even when it seemed like all hope was lost (coon hill). I'm am so excited for next year - to beat all my times, to amaze myself again.

It is so powerful - to follow God's will, follow His call - see where He takes you. I promise, you will amaze yourself. After months or years of preparation, in the heat of the battle, it seems like its just you in your sneakers, roughing it out, He's there - carrying you through, meeting you there. If I can do it - SO CAN YOU. you will look back in hindsight, and think - look at how far I've come, how much farther I can go with God on my side.

"I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me"