My life on a very small towel

It's been a big 12 months for me. My pink baby turned 5 and started kindergarten. My blue baby is about to turn 3 and still loves his Mommy. I quit my job to stay home with the kids (again). Did I mention we moved to a new place (again). I began training for a triathlon (again).

Out of these things, the one that consumes most of my energy is training for this triathlon. It started back in May as a fleeting conversation with a neighbor. "I'd love to run with you, would you consider training for a triathlon?" She gamely agreed, and soon there were 4 of us training regularly together, but all told, there are about 7 of us neighbor-ladies working toward this thing. And it all culminates tomorrow.

So my recent life's work is currently on display on a very small towel. That's the amount of space you get to put whatever you might need for your race. "How much can you need?," you might ask. Well, since a picture's worth a thousand words, I have included one here. I also thought a list would help highlight what's going on my towel tomorrow morning, as well as a few items that won't quite make the towel, but will be every bit as important in helping me reach my goal.

Let's see, starting from the yellow disc front & center and moving clockwise:

1. My Champion Chip - A device used to "officially" track my finishing time in each leg. I purchased this at my first and only other triathlon to commemerate the big accomplishment. I think I have only used it 2 other times in the 6 years since I got it.


2. Cold medicine - Yes it's true, I feel the children's cold catching up with me, but I'll be damned if I am going to be stopped by a piddly little cold. I'll just medicate it away for a few hours and let the reality of the illness hit me when the sore racing muscles set in.


3. Peanut butter granola bar - Breakfast (there are also some "waiting snacks off-screen" - but more on that later).


4. Cell Phone - Just in case!


5. Dry clothes - For post race.


6. Water bottle - to be filled with orange gatorade in the a.m.


7. Helmet - With requisite race number attached (yes, I am #390 out of 600 - why because I suck at swimming. You are ordered by the speed it takes you to swim 100m and I am slower than a dog. There are lots of women your grandma's age - I've seen them with my own eyes - that have numbers far lower than mine. God bless those ladies! I hope I am one of them some day. That said I will need some snacks and some warm clothes, also offscreen, to hold me over until I am allowed in the water a full 1:16 minutes after the official race start).


8. Running sneakers - With tie-less laces, love those, but I am so clumsy I am not sure they make getting my shoes on any faster!


9. Beach towel - Not usually recommended but I would like to wipe some of the water off post-pool so I don't turn into a bicycling icicle.


10. Warm shirt with race number - This is to put on over my wet bathing suit when I come out of the pool and get ready for the bike ride. I am also bringing a jacket because it is going to be a frosty 45F out tomorrow!


11. Running tights - Ditto above. Hopefully my legs will be warm enough to not cramp up.


12. Biking gloves - The cold wind combined with the narrow metal of my bike handlebars make these a necessity. I will probably even keep them on during the run to keep from getting frostbite (kidding!).


13. Ear muffs - Seriously, the girl who walked us through the race this afternoon actually recommended them. These aren't your puffy elementary school earmuffs, they are specifically for athletes. And, YES they do fit on under my bike helmet, thank you very much!


14. Bike shoes & socks - Please pray that I do not need to unclip unexpectedly or my poor little bike is going to end up with some serious scratches as I still need more practice with these torture devices of efficiency.


15. Swim Cap, Goggles & Elastic Band - I bought a funky purple leopard print swim cap so that M will know who Mommy is if she can manage to get into the pool area to see that part of the race. Swim Cap is a necessity, so I have a backup white one in case this one breaks. Yes, a broken swim cap has happened to me before and no swim cappy, no swim. I have tried but my hair makes it impossible to see or breath when it's not held back by this torture device of hair control. The cap has managed to significantly shorten much of my hair along my neckline, something I once did on purpose in high school with clippers!

And that's about it! Phew! Oh! Also not shown onscreen is my bike. The bike is highly critical as they don't let you do the cycling part without it, so it's best to bring one of these.

And that's all, the results 5 months of running, swimming and biking at the crack of dawn all rest on the items stacked on this little towel and me crawling over the finish line tomorrow, if necessary!