I had a goal set this summer that I would participate in a Women’s Sprint Tri this September.  I did take part in training, biking, running and “some” swimming.  But I didn’t get the chance to step up my swimming training and I also didn’t do any brick workouts. So after being on vacation last week and doing my first open water swim in a lake, I decided that I am just not ready for a race like this.  I can do well with the biking and the running, but I am too afraid I will run out of gas from just the 1/2 mile swim alone.

The medal they are giving for the race is a cute charm bracelet and that sure did tempt me to suck it up and do it anyway; but I talked to my husband and kids and told them I had made the decision to not do that race that I had been working for during the summer.  It was so cute when I told them.  The kids immediate told me “you can do anything you want to mommy! Don’t give up, you can do it!”  It was so obvious to me that they listen to me and what I tell them when I encourage them to keep trying and to not give up while they are doing something hard and get frustrated.  It was so sweet that they were telling me that I still had time to train and get myself better and ready for the race.  But I told them that sometimes I have to be wise and make a decision to NOT do a race to prevent myself from getting hurt.  I wanted them to understand that I wasn’t giving up; but that I was making my decision so that I could be safe and to know that next year I will work harder towards the goal.

I am slightly disappointed that I won’t be doing this race, but I also want to stay injury free and healthy as I prepare for the Philadelphia marathon and the Dopey Challenge in January.  Sometimes the best decision is to sit out an event rather than try to do it all.

I am so happy that my running hobby is also teaching my children some good lessons in life.