Being Stretched...

So.....I've been thinking....which usually leads to DANGER! Ha! I really would like to try and complete a triathlon this year....well, really at least two-one for the experience, and at least one for a let's see what I can do. The thing is this means I must learn/develop a new skill - swimming. Soooooo this is going to take me being stretched in new ways. I realize that in order to grow and learn new things you have to be willing to put yourself out there and be vulnerable to the coaching and teaching of others and trust in not only somebody more knowledgeable than you, but in yourself so that you can accomplish said new goal.

I've never really been a swimmer. As a matter of fact when I was 3 or 4 ish years old, I came very close to drowning. I thought I could sit on a kickboard and learned a quick lesson in gravity. Luckily I had a family member near me that pulled me out, but only after I swallowed a whole lotta water. I never really had much to do with swimming when I was younger. I think I took lessons in 6th grade, and managed to pass PE class in high school, and that's about it. Soooooo why even try a triathlon? Well, good question I guess...I've been running and cycling for a couple of years now, and most people that I say that to ask "So do you do triathlons?" Uuuuh....well...I'm not really a swimmer so....blah blah blah goes the rest of the conversation. 

So it's time to put on the big girl panties and give it a go!!  Learning a new skill, and developing it can be humbling, humiliating and painful....like dumping on my first ride with clips and pedals into a flower bed infront of new friends, and then of course at least two more times that day...eh hemm yeah I'm a little bit of a slow learner ;) or eating waaaaay too much food the day before a half marathon and having to make a pit stop and forgeting to lock the porta potty door only to be opened by a hot guy runner dude! Not that it woulda mattered much more or less or been less embarassing if the guy wasn't hot i'm just sayin'. Or here's one....having to stop and tie my shoe during a 1 mile race TWICE!! yes again.... very slow learner! Ha!!  ...and these are just a few examples I could go on!

Ok! So what does the above paragraph tell ya? Maybe I should start swimming in floaties so that I don't drown myself????? I may tend to learn things the hard way...they may be unpleasant at first...or maybe the best thing I've ever experienced, but if there's anything that I've learned over the last year or two it's that if I don't try I'll never know how good life can be!!!

So hopefully in being stretched I'll end up like a Super Hero:

...Like Elastagirl in The Incredibles

And not like these two guys: 

Dude! Really?? This is why I won't try Yoga ;)

If you've been part of my journey so far....you have no idea how much I appreciate you! If you're just now coming along for the ride?? hold on because I think it's only getting better!!!!   ~later