So the big race is less than 25 days! Winter slowly rolled by, spring stirred life back up again and the summer days are so perfect they're going by like the speed of light. It's the final countdown. And I have no idea how this will roll out yo! Last year was pretty decent and my strategy was to prepare as much as I could and just let the rest happen. Might as well go with that strategy again. No worries, I'm going to get an 'A' regardless. I'll either do 'A'mazing, 'A'verage or 'A'wful. Of course, I want and plan to pursue the first...but I'm much more relaxed without expectations...so we'll see how this adventure rolls!
Training and planning for the race and the trip has been fun and has kept me busy. I'm excited yet slightly nervous to race with fast folks and travel around Europe for a few weeks. Me and my backpack and the world. Yeeeehaw! I'm learning about international racing and backpacking and all sorts of other stuff along the way. One of the hardest part is keeping that balance between planning and not planning travel adventures. I know I need to plan for the race and the majority of spontaneity needs to wait till post race. Even then, how much spontaneity do I want to have? As of now I'm leaning towards a lot, but of course I want to check specific adventures off the bucket list at the same time.
Speaking of spontaneity, I thanked my mom pre Mother's Day, so I'll thank my dad post Father's Day. Speicher. The name given to me by my dad. The name I get to represent while swimming, biking and running alongside others from up to 50 different countries around the world. I'm proud of my dad, my grandparents and all the other Speichers. I respect them and want to make them proud. My dad has literally and figuratively given me the world. He has coached me, helped me with school and work, taken me on the best vacations and day trips, timed my swim meets, fed me pre-race dinners and transported triathlon gear at 5am. He encourages me to respect others and myself and to live life to the fullest. No matter what type of problem I have, whether it be mechanical, physical or emotional, my dad is there to help me fix and overcome them. My dad has taught me how to get through anything, work hard, follow my heart and never give up. He's like a rock. He is fine with being quiet, as I am as well. There's nothing wrong with silence. Silence is fantastic. Listening is a pretty good result of silence. My dad works hard and leads by example. Remember when you were a child and thought your parents could do anything? I still think my dad can do anything. I love using my dad's old tent, the car tools and bike he has given me and his old harmonica song book. During my travels, I'm looking forward to getting the compass/whistle contraption back out that he gave me when I went to China. Those things remind me of where I came from and motivate me to make my dad and the rest of the long line of Speichers proud. The best part is...I know he'll be proud whichever "A" I get. I'm lucky to have parents that have unconditional love. And I'm lucky I realize that love.
A dad is someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.
A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes,
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.
A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
has faith in you even when you fail,
and shines with pride when you succeed...
-Unknown
