The Dust is Settling . . .

Change can be so difficult and so uncomfortable, yet so exciting. I have felt more alive, challenged, freaked out, engaged, and fired up than I have in  a long time.  Leaving was excruciating.  There were so many unknowns, it represented a very definitive closing of a big personal chapter in my life, and of course I was questioning why I was leaving a perfectly good situation and a great group of people . . . but deep down I knew that the solid friendships weren’t going anywhere and that there was a reason that this door opened for me. Sometimes we don’t know what’s behind that door, but we just have to trust it.

Adios Atlanta (proceed with caution; lots of red, puffy eyes to follow) . . .

I kept crying and told Coach Matt that he better not forget me. He calmly replied that my face was stuck on his car,  so that was unlikely.

Had a really hard time saying goodbye to this punk.

Luckily, he didn’t have much time to miss me. I made a quick visit back to the A this past weekend and squeezed more into 2 days than should be allowed, including announcing the fab Peachtree Sprint Triathlon on 2.5hrs of sleep.  Passion for the sport doesn’t sleep! 

No tears this time. The sadness of leaving is now replaced by the comfort of knowing that good friends don’t go anywhere, even if you change zip codes. Can’t wait for the next visit!

I promise to whip out the big girl camera at some point and take some real pictures of this awesome place I call home, but these are all from the Blackberry.

The drive across country really highlighted my capabilities as an endurance athlete.  I was diesel! It was a fun couple days, and this was the best part:

During all the new job training, travel, and moving, my mom kept Shaina for me. This was our “reunion” one very windy night in Albuquerque.  That’s her tongue under my nose.  I love this picture.

What would I have done without this woman?  My mom has been so supportive, so helpful, and basically her typically amazing self. Here we are at Sandiago’s, the cool little restaurant at the base of the Sandias, overlooking the city.

The disaster of a moving company that I hired is responsible for the likely ulcer that resulted from days of no communication, complete lies, and huge extra charges 8 days past when they promised they’d arrive.  The hotel became home for a while, but the clowns finally showed up and I moved into my sweet little crib in the foothills. MI CASA ES SU CASA!

The altitude has been humbling, to say the least.  I finally got some respite running at a less freakish altitude this weekend (as my new buddy Vanessa says, “There’s just so much oxygen!”), but little by little I’m getting used to it.  This was from one of my first solo rides. I’m not the type to snap pictures on every training ride, but I was the dork who had to take a picture with these fab views in the background. I just couldn’t believe how lucky I was!

 

Climbing up the big hill on Tramway back home, this is what I get to look at.  How could I possibly complain about a six mile climb when this is staring back at me?

 

And this is my mom embracing the New Mexican culture at El Pinto.

Work has kept me super busy and I get to see lots of cool little corners of this state.  I am totally overwhelmed at times but completely LOVING this new challenge and excited about what I can create out here.  Triathlon training, however, has taken a backseat for a while.  I simply couldn’t do it all and train for 70.3 to be competitive at the pro level while trying to hit the ground running in this territory.  I am totally ok with it. I am so lucky to have this opportunity and I want to shine.  Racing will be there, and for now I’ve got a rigorous SPRINT TRIATHLON training plan that I’m loving!! Yep, just going to finish the year with a couple short races. It’s doable, and in 2011 I plan to pick up the training and get back on the 70.3 scene.

Oh, and I promise to post pictures of all the great swimming pools out here . . . once I find them.  (Quit cringing, Matt!!)

And I promise to be a bit more consistent with postings moving forward, because there aren’t enough useless blogs to keep you all entertained out there. ha!  Thanks for checking in, and I hope that everyone is loving life, feeling challenged, and enjoying the blessings that we are all so lucky to have. Whatever those blessings may be, recognize them!