"Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living. If you're not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you're not demanding more from yourself - expanding and learning as you go - you're choosing a numb existence. You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip."
Dean Karnazes
"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."
Lance Armstrong
BTW, I made my fundraising goal!! Thanks to everyone who donated! I raised $2780 this season, making my total funds raised for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society over $18,000!!!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
my WTF moment
These past couple of weeks have been really difficult. As I was swimming last night I wanted to think of somethings that piss me off in order to drive me to work harder in the pool. Last night I was thinking of a WTF, yes that's WHAT THE F***, moment I had last week. I was dealing with family things and then was SLAMMED with some news that was unbelievable. I'm not going to go into the details but it was something that, never in my craziest thoughts, would be something that would happen to me. It was something so beyond my world, my personality, the people that I hang out with, that it literally slapped me in the face and told me to "Wake up and get back to your real life Jane!" Luckily, it wasn't anything of my wrong doing but it was a sign to me that I needed to put myself back on the scale of balance in my life. So I began making TNT a priority in my schedule again and it really has helped. Being around such amazing, good-hearted, life-loving people was really what I needed to jump-start things for me.
With Nation's triathlon coming up in a few weeks, I was entertaining the idea of switching to the relay with a few other teammates who were injured. But as the days went on I began feeling like a quitter if I decided to do that. With all the financial and emotional support given to me these past couple of months, I was only going to do a relay? I can't do that. So I've decided to still do the triathlon, to push through these last few weeks I have to train and to suck it up and DO THE DAMN THING! It won't be fun, it won't be easy, and it will take me a long time. One thing it definitely will be though is rewarding. I know that once I crawl past that finish line, I will have overcome personal battles. I will have beaten past the struggles that I, cancer patients and anyone dealing with difficulties in their lives had to go through. Life can't be a 24/7 party that is always filled with joy. It's through the toughest times where you will be tested to build your strength. So when you have to decide whether to get things done half assed or to suck it up and push through, which one do you think you would choose?
"Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it."
With Nation's triathlon coming up in a few weeks, I was entertaining the idea of switching to the relay with a few other teammates who were injured. But as the days went on I began feeling like a quitter if I decided to do that. With all the financial and emotional support given to me these past couple of months, I was only going to do a relay? I can't do that. So I've decided to still do the triathlon, to push through these last few weeks I have to train and to suck it up and DO THE DAMN THING! It won't be fun, it won't be easy, and it will take me a long time. One thing it definitely will be though is rewarding. I know that once I crawl past that finish line, I will have overcome personal battles. I will have beaten past the struggles that I, cancer patients and anyone dealing with difficulties in their lives had to go through. Life can't be a 24/7 party that is always filled with joy. It's through the toughest times where you will be tested to build your strength. So when you have to decide whether to get things done half assed or to suck it up and push through, which one do you think you would choose?
"Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it."
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Short and sweet
Well Saturday was our first open water swim in Long Beach. The staff met early to get our own workouts in before all the participants arrived. I met up with the staff at 6:30am to squeeze into my new long sleeved wetsuit. Just as before, the wetsuit is too long for my short 4'10" body and the neckline came up to the middle of my neck and was bound to affect my breathing. 
Coach Peter recommended that next time when I put it on again that I try to not pull it up too high so that the neckline can fit wear it's supposed to. Hopefully that'll work.
So we Bernie, Talane and I get in. We just joke around and swim casually. The water is gross and I found myself spitting half of the time. I would come up and take a break and water would be dripping from my swim cap down my face and into my mouth. Thus causing me to spit.... I imagine that the Potomac won't be any better. It wasn't a great swim, more of just a swim for me to get out there and feel comfortable in open water again. I didn't freak out. It wasn't scary I guess because I could swim 10 meters to land. I probably would freak out if I swam in ocean though.
Last night Bernie and I went swimming at Echo Park and got in a good 40 minute swim. I'm trying to just build my endurance in order to get the job done. I know I will not be fast so I just want to be able to get through the race in September.
For now, the plan is to swim at Long Beach every Sunday until the race. Slowly working our way to the full length of the swim. Anyone is welcomed to join!
Coach Peter recommended that next time when I put it on again that I try to not pull it up too high so that the neckline can fit wear it's supposed to. Hopefully that'll work.
So we Bernie, Talane and I get in. We just joke around and swim casually. The water is gross and I found myself spitting half of the time. I would come up and take a break and water would be dripping from my swim cap down my face and into my mouth. Thus causing me to spit.... I imagine that the Potomac won't be any better. It wasn't a great swim, more of just a swim for me to get out there and feel comfortable in open water again. I didn't freak out. It wasn't scary I guess because I could swim 10 meters to land. I probably would freak out if I swam in ocean though.
Last night Bernie and I went swimming at Echo Park and got in a good 40 minute swim. I'm trying to just build my endurance in order to get the job done. I know I will not be fast so I just want to be able to get through the race in September.
For now, the plan is to swim at Long Beach every Sunday until the race. Slowly working our way to the full length of the swim. Anyone is welcomed to join!
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