triathlete #57
ta da! ok, the very exciting news about the triathlon – well, first let me say that tomorrow, May 3rd, is DAD’S BIRTHDAY, and i wrote about it for the flyer version of this column. they’re going to be at the cardologist, food fantasies, recycled records, wienerdog, and at other places where you’ll only see them if you know me personally, like the place where i do massage and my sister’s salon. i also wrote about the triathlon in even more depth, but i have to share this one bit of information with you –
but first, let me say this – it’s CALLED graceuncensored, but i’m finding it more and more ironic that it should frequently be called GRACE CENSORED. i feel like i say so much more here than i did when i was in a newspapaper, but still, it’s such a small fraction of the stuff that goes on in my head and in my life and in my heart, all the time. constant motion, and too much drama inside my brain. not necessary.
but censored it’ll have to be. just the way it is. because really, only christine has a pretty full viewing of all that’s inside my head, and she’s been through a lot in her own life, so she’s very tough, and can take it. as opposed to everybody else, whose heads would explode, which would be quite messy.
anyway, the BIG NEWS – in the triathlon, i WON FIRST PLACE in my age category! unbelievable, i know. COMPLETELY unbelievable. i still can’t believe it.
i do have to say there weren’t that many women in my age category. i’ve been told repeatedly that i shouldn’t mention this, but of course i can’t help it. but i’m still proud of myself, albeit shocked that this happened. perhaps the other women were missing some limbs, i don’t know.
there were 95 participants in the tri, and i came in 61, which was a little disappointing, despite that fact that i barely managed to stay afloat when swimming, and felt like i was slogging through much of the event. so B., formerly known as MNB, and that’s all i’m going to say about him, so if i mention “B.” in future writing, you’ll just have to know that that’s who i’m talking about, and if you don’t KEEP UP, well, i’m not going to help you out.
Anyway, B. and i were standing around waiting for the results. i was hoping he’d do well, i was figuring he would, because he’s been in some serious and hardcore triathlons already. He came in NINTH overall. yeah, 9th. very impressive. Plus the fact that he hadn’t even done much training at all the entire week before because of too much job stuff going on. but he came in 9th! AND he came in 2nd in his age category, which was highly impressive, because all the guys about his age are very competitive and rabid about competing and fast and lean and mean.
so when they were announcing my age/sex category, i was wondering how fast those women must have been, but then they said, “FIRST PLACE, GRACE SMITH.” B. kept saying he wished he’d had a camera to capture the look on my face. I don’t recall ever being as surprised by anything. i went up to get my certificate, still thinking, there MUST be another grace smith around here someplace.
i have to admit it gives me a slightly new perspective on life. this, plus the empowering workshop LAST sunday are making me feel more…empowered. for at least five minutes, anyway, until the reality of everything comes crashing back in at me…or at least my own warped view of reality starts working on my brain.
i just never knew i could beat ANYBODY in any athletic thing. i mean, really, if i was to play a game of kickball, i wouldn’t be any good. i might be able to kick the ball, but that’s about it. it wouldn’t be like softball, where i’d duck to avoid getting hit in the head, and theoretically it might be fun, but i’d still suck at it. and duck duck goose? the harsh reality – i’d always get caught, i’d be perpetually It.
But this, this MONUMENTOUS achievement of winning, has made me see things in a whole new light.
whew.
i have a very busy week ahead. i sort of injured my arm because of the severe thrashing about while swimming, but i have a heat pack on it now and took some motrin so hopefully i’ll get through my many massages without having to have it amputated. because that would slow me down CONSIDERABLY in my next triathlon.
i hope you had a good weekend. besides the triathlon and the unexpected hostess ding dong, mine consisted of eating and going to the symphony and eating some more and playing the violin (very badly) with mom and B, who played the flute and guitar and sounded much better than me. and also i saw “bye bye birdie” which was quite entertaining and fun. PLUS i was awarded a delicious bottle of red wine AND a (thankfully very small) box of chocolates because of my Great and Unprecedented Athletic Achievement.
I wish it was earlier now, so i could go to bed early, but i feel that there are still many things to do before i sleep.
ok then. i hope it’s not SNOWING where you are.
grace learning to deal with the pressure of all this athletic success.