hittin the trails...

Part of the reason for the title of our blog using the word "racing" is also to talk about our goals and journey in our training for physical (biking and running) races.

(o man, what a little diva!)

Parker introduced me to biking early on in our life together.

My first mountain bike experience was just a few weeks into our marriage, and it wasn't pretty.

Lets just say there was a certain tree that did not like me very much. ouch.

He then got me interested in road biking, which also resulted in the lovely scar I still sport on my knee 5 years later. ha.

Parker and I did our first triathlon together 3 years ago, and though I literally almost drowned, and was at the end of the hundreds of people finishing....I finished. I will blog about it another time, but next to delivering a baby, and breastfeeding for 15 months and counting,

finishing the tri was one of the biggest and hardest accomplishments I have ever set out to do.

And now Im gonna do it again! (big sigh.)

I am learning to build my confidence in biking, and running and swimming too.

I have a bike of my own now and don't have to use Parker's, and I am learning that I love it!

(sweet little A enjoying the outdoors with us today!)

All that to say...today I hit the "training trails" with Parker (and Abigail in tow of course!)

We drove south of here to a state park with great mountain biking trails and a great lake to run around. Parker is doing an Adventure Race next weekend (paddling, running, biking, and a mystery event...oh so fun!), so he hit the trails with his bike, and I took A for a jog in the stroller.

If you don't live in our part of Texas, then you don't know...but it was GORGEOUS today!

Abigail loved being outside, she is definitely made for the outdoors

just like her mama and daddy.

She made her voice shake as I ran with her in the stroller, and every few minutes I would hear her giggle at the fact she was moving fast.

Much better than listening to music on the ipod.

My desire is to share my journey of training with you,

as I know it wont just be about improving distance or time.

(which for me it just about doing it at all...maybe someday I can worry about improving time and such!)

It will also be about self-discipline, building confidence in myself, overcoming fears (of falling and of failing), and learning that I can do it. It wont be perfect, or even pretty. I may even get another scar, but then hey, maybe I can have one for each knee! anyways.

I know this sounds silly, but I think that training for this is something the Lord has put in front of me to do. I know He has a lot to show me about myself through it. And about Him.

That HE is my Sustainer, my Carrier, my Protector, my Breath every day.

June 5th. 11 weeks from now. ahh!

Hopefully it will be another proud accomplishment in my life!

I will keep you posted (haha...such a blogger thing to say) on how things are going, and welcome any encouragement!

Thankful right now for the gifts and blessings in my life. Thankful for Gods restoring of my health (read more about that here.) Thankful for another reason to lean on His strength!