Time is a Thief I would Rob

Can’t take credit for that title – it’s one of my favorite lines in Lady Antebellum’s “Heart of the World”. I’ve been listening to it on repeat since I bought the CD for my parents so they could properly prepare to rock out at their concert last Sunday. They were successful. Thanks to Daddy for sharing pictures!

The older I get, the sappier I get. Hard to believe since I was pretty emotional by the time I was 12. I love everything about family time at home. Reflecting on Thanksgiving, time is exactly something I could use more of – who couldn’t? Time with loved ones is priceless.

The holidays are always filled with lots of coffee drinking, movie watching, family walks with Bogey, biking and running, icecream eating and so on. There’s always the awkward conversation where the parents and grandparents harass us for our lack of weddings and babies – because who wouldn’t want to add more people to this wonderful clan?

Here is what I’m thankful for this holiday season (in no particular order with the exception of family first)

1.       Family - this includes you, (manfriend) Kelly

We missed you (sister) Kelli (she was off livin' it up in Cozumel, Mexico)

2.       Loved ones’ good health

3.       Friends  (Ashley, Austin, Claudia, Kim, Nichole, Hannah B. to name a few)

4.       My new little cottage…in the city

5.     Washington, D.C. trip in December with Kelly – Holiday Party at the White House. No joke, kids.

Insert us below.

6.       The little baby Basinger on the way – yah for the happy parents Hannah & Brantley

7.       Bogey

8.     Our military

Hi Daddy!

This is what a hero looks like.

9.     My Sport Factory family

He’s literally family. Hey triathlete cuz.

Coach man and my partner in crime at the gym, Tracy.

10.   Faith that 2012 is going to bring lots of love and happiness

Balancing Life is Like Balancing Clipped in at a Red Light

True story: During my first ever big girl triathlon (Yes, I raced IronKids. Silver medalist in Bakersville, Calif. No big deal…) I fell clipped in while coming to a stop outside of transition – here’s the kicker – during warm-up. Thankfully, Kelli was there to help pick me back up. And by pick me back up I mean giggle uncontrollably and offer zero assistance.

Don’t cry for me…triathlon friends. I think it worked in my favor so my fellow competitors didn’t take me seriously and then I laid the smack down on them.

This is when I learned that balancing clipped in on a tri bike is tricky. Thankfully, I’ve gotten better…I also think I’ve improved at balancing life. Earlier today I had a nice chat with the Coach Man. Coach Man likes for me to come to The Sport Factory gym so he can watch/critique my run form, push me outside of my comfort zone on the bike and help me get strong so I don’t lose our regular push-up contests (wishful thinking). While these things are all helpful to my “career” as a triathlete, I have to remember those very important quotes around “career”…cough cough. Ladies and gentlemen, maybe one day I’ll race professionally, but it won’t be paying any bills.

I LOVE racing, training, The Sport Factory, my teammates and Coach Man. But, I also really really love my family, Kelly, my career and my “me time”. It’s all about setting goals and having priorities. In my life my family and Kelly trump my training (within reason – the manfriend is very supportive of my long workouts, most likely because it allows him to go play golf guilt-free). And my career obligations take priority to sneaking in an extra hour on the bike. I love my job – I’m surrounded my talented people and I get to do something I love…WRITE.

I’m slowly figuring out this balance thing…but in the meantime I think my sport needs to change from Swim.Bike.Run. to Family.Swim.Boyfriend.Bike.Career.Run. I think with the perfect mix of it all I’ll be able to stay clipped in even at the longest red lights.

As I was writing this Coach Man emailed me my next block of workouts and said "more well-rounded athletes have longer 'legs' in this sport".

Cheers to being well-rounded!

The Boys Say I Run Like A Girl, I Say "Thanks"

“A woman is a warrior too. But she is meant to be a warrior in a uniquely feminine way."

 - an excerpt from Captivating

For as long as I can remember I have always faced some sort of criticism for working out too much. In highschool, friends would question my motives for heading home early from a football game in preparation for an early morning swim practice, and to this day I can still feel whispers around me implying that maybe I run a little too much. Swimming, biking and running is where I find strength. It's where I feel most "me".

Thanks to one of my closest friends I started re-reading Captivating by John Eldredge last night. It’s one of my favorites – and I highly recommend it to any woman who is looking to better understand why she is the way she is – and how God designed her to tick in a unique and very feminine manner.

Men – this is a public service announcement for you. Read Captivating. Read it for your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister. Read it for yourself because it will most definitely save you some stress later in life when you can apply the teachings to why the women in your life are reacting to something differently than you would.

Anyways, bear with me. Since athletics plays a huge role in my life I couldn’t help but somehow connect the two. Captivating also discusses the beauty of women, which brings me to one of my favorite quotes:

Let’s be clear. I’m not saying every woman should desire to run a marathon, complete an Ironman or be a professional tennis player. But haven’t we all felt that complete feeling of euphoria when you push your body to the limits? That feeling of finishing your first long run in a half-marathon training plan, enjoying a long walk with a friend or conquering your first yoga class. How about waking up in the morning sore after your first weight lifting workout? Women are capable of amazing things. God made us to have babies for goodness sake! Our bodies are truly unique, beautiful and strong. I believe that while God encourages us to enjoy all the yummy food that this world has to offer (Dear God, thank you for white chocolate covered Oreos), He also challenges us to enjoy the strength our bodies are capable of.

Strong and beautiful comes in all different shapes and sizes, with all different athletic goals. It’s taking the beautiful body you were given and allowing it to reach its highest potential. On the race course I’ve adopted this mantra,” When I stand before God at the end of my life, I hope I don’t have a single bit of talent left. I can look at Him and say, ‘I used EVERYTHING You gave me’.”

People always argue that women are universally accepted as having more beautiful bodies. Cue all the historic paintings of naked women. There is nothing more marvelous than a strong, fierce, uniquely beautiful woman. I hope all women realize the strength they are capable of and marvel in the beauty that comes with that vigor.