On Your Mark...

Well, I'm at it again. Packing my gear, washing the workout attire, getting ready to leave for a quick trip to sunny San Diego, via Atlanta.

Yes, as I purchased my tickets at the last minute (and I live along the cultural mecca and populous-filled Gulf Coast), the price was exorbitant. So instead, tomorrow I'm driving to Atlanta, staying with uber-blogger, fellow teammie, and all around Wonder Woman, Kellye, and flying so Sunny San Diego on Thrusday.

Wonderful!

And then...

And then....

Hhhmmmmmm....

And then I train with uber tri chick, Liz "Smallie Bigs" or "Biggie Small" Fedofsky. The name doesn't matter, as I'll be hanging on for dear life all weekend. (LONG weekend, as it's 5 days...) Her hubby Chris, and a few other really fast people will be there.

Good Times!

I feel honored to have been invited, am still trying to wrap my brain around the idea that Liz Fedofsky - a pro triathlete that I have looked up to for so long - has invited me to train with her in San Deigo.

I am scared. I am nervous. And I simply don't know what to expect.

It's not so much the fear of being surrounded by amazingly talented athletes that has me going: no - its the fear of what I'll do, how I'll respond while training my butt off. I can't control how fast or how strong everyone else is. But I can control how I react, what my response is.

I know the biking will be tough, the training will be a real big kick-in-the-rear. But I'm ready. I want to take the leap. To embrace the challenge. Through training with fast people (ladies of Camp HTFU!!!), raising the level of challenge and of my own expectations - well, only then can I truly improve.

I want to be pushed.

I want to work hard.

I want to climb, to perservere, to survive.

I'm willing to drag myself through the depths of my own fears - of climbing huge hills, of getting dropped off the back of a fast group, of running solo behind Liz as she scampers up a canyon, of swimming in the open ocean where sharks lurk - in order to grow mentaly and physically stronger. I am grateful for this opportunity, am still pinching myself at this chance...

I read with great interest in Liz's last adventure in Elfin Forest, while climbing Mount Palomar. And I fully expect to see Dumbledore on the side of the road, waiting for me around each and every bend. Last time I invited Dumbledore to hop on my back - it was painful, it was incredible, it was amazing. No - it wasn't easy - but life very rarely is.

So tomorrow, I depart. I get to meet Kellye and her wonderful husband and family. We'll eat cake, celebrate Gracie's birthday, and good times will be had by all. And after that - well, I'm off to San Diego.

If anyone sees a blond-haired girl on a red Giant somewhere in SoCal, purple faced and yelling about "Dumbledore" as she pedals at 50 rpm going 5 mph - pull over to the side of the road and offer her a word of support. But don't let her stop. Tell her the peanut butter cups and peanut M&Ms are at the top - just around the corner. And then sit back and watch as she keeps going.

Because rest assured - I may be slow - but I'll give it my all. Even if Peanut Butter Cups and Peanut M&Ms aren't involved.

(If you want to find me, I'll be here on Friday.)