ANOTHER WORD I HATE

We have talked about how much I hate the word can’t. Last week, I found another word that shall from this moment forward cease to exist. That word (cover the kids’ ears) is the word doubt. Thanks to Jim, I attended my first open water swim with Coach Dana Lyons and the uber athletes of Finish Strong Racing. These amazing men and women have completed more Iron Man races and other major athletic events than years I have been alive. I could not figure out why I was nervous on the way to the Lake. I mean, I have been swimming in rivers and lakes my entire life. Maybe it was stuffing myself into a wetsuit for the first time in my life. Maybe it was not wanting to completely embarrass myself in front of men and women who would laugh at the pathetic third of a mile I would swim. (They didn’t.) I don’t know what it was, but the second I started swimming, that ugly thing called doubt crept into my brain. It is the same word that appeared after the Light the Night Walk and after my first couple of bike outings where team members had to bring cars to pick me up on the side of the road. Let’s just say my swim that day was UGLY. That is being kind. Jim was in a kayak next to me and kept calmly telling me to relax. Difficult when you cannot see or breathe! Okay. My first open water swim is now out of the way. Maybe simply for comic relief, but Dana has been gracious enough to allow me to attend the weekly open water swims through the CB&I. Now that I have erased the word doubt from my vocabulary, my future swims promise to be most enjoyable. Thank you Jim, Dana and Finish Strong Racing for the encouragement and support!

Get rid of the words can’t and doubt from your vocabulary. They only slow you down!

Good luck, KEEP TRYING and my best,

-Trace

ADDENDUM/PROGRESS REPORT

As I suspected, last night's open water swim was AWESOME! It is so important to try the unknown before it matters! Bring on the swim!