Moms In Motion : Connecting Moms Through Fitness

Just do it! It is Nike's slogan, but it' has always been the way I've lived my life. For better or for worse I have never spent a long time thinking out and analyzing some decisions. If I had spent a lot of time deciding to do the triathlon I might have talked myself out of it.so much time to commit, could I do it, swim in the ocean!??? I like a challenge and I like to keep life interesting by trying new things and pushing my limits.

A triathlon is something new for me and when I was invited to join, without even thinking I made up my mind to do it! Once I had made up my mind to do this I had to see if my family would be behind me in my effort. Could Steve and the kids put up with Suzy doing yet another sport? I shared with my children that I am doing this to challenge myself. I told them how I am a little frightened at the prospect of swimming 500yds in the ocean.

I want to try something that is hard for me. I want to work and find some measure of success. I want my children to know that everyone has fears and for them to see me meet them and eventually (I hope.you bet I will!) conquer them. I want them to know that a challenge isn't just doing something new. Challenges don't come easy, a challenge is something that takes work and is sometimes a struggle. Take risks and see how you can grow and learn from it! My hope is that I might show them that they can face their own challenges and I might become more aware of how they feel facing theirs.

As I began swimming I was surprised to find it to be even more difficult and challenging than I ever expected. I love sports and athletics and I've been lucky that I've been able to participate in a variety of them throughout my life. I've snow skied, water skied, surfed, kayaked, biked, run track, played soccer, football, racquetball, tennis. I've never been an amazing athlete, but I've always been satisfied with my accomplishments. When this swimming thing came along I thought I would "just do it!" But it didn't come easy! I was disappointed. I thought, "I should be able to just do this!" Usually I embrace a challenge, but for the first time things weren't falling into place fast enough for me. Swimming brought me closer to fears and self doubt than I was ever willing to let in. I couldn't "just do it!" My confidence and my ego have taken a few hits. But what I wanted was a challenge and I am proud to be facing it.

Challenges and risks that truly are a challenge are pieces of life that really bring me strength and growth as a person. Figuring myself out, and how I need to think and feel in order to succeed and feel confident is an exciting, interesting and difficult process.

What have I gained from this experience? Well, all through life we can be thrown a curve here and there, unexpected crisis pop up when we least expect them. The curves life has thrown me in the past are behind me now, but there are sure to be more ahead. Training for the triathlon has given me insight to myself and made me really think about how to do things, how to conquer fears and challenges. The inner strength and confidence that is growing with the outer strength will always be there to draw upon when it is needed most.

To be part of Moms in Motion is multifold in its benefits. I love for my daughter and my son to see women competing, achieving, and just being active! To set a goal and work hard to reach it is so completely satisfying. Having other women to share the trials, triumphs and challenges of training is rewarding and comforting. I've learned that it is ok to draw on the strength of others in order to find it inside myself.

To feel the camaraderie of 80 women who are not that different than my self reassures me that no one is alone on this earth. We all struggle to balance our lives, nurture our children and our marriages, make sure there is milk in the fridge and clean socks in our drawers and still find time to take care of our self. This is a great journey to be on.