Wednesday, December 10, 2008

That's what friends are for...

....friends know you well enough to give you space when you need it, and push you to do things that you know you should be doing, even when you don't really feel like it.

I am fortunate enough to have 3 of these kinds of people in my life:

Jessi
Steve

Tiffany
Now, I know the last time I was in the water, but it was so long ago, I am too embarrased to say. Needless to say, my team had noticed my extended absence from the pool, and finally got fed up with hearing my myriad excuses (trip to Europe, tattoo, lazy, fat, slow, etc). So, they staged a sort of "triathlete's intervention". Rather than saying "hey lets all get together to swim!", it was more of "hey, the 4 of us are swimming this week....you tell us when". No escape this time!

Uh, what exactly is this mysterious blue thing???

We decided on Wednesday morning at 5:30. Ugh. Fear kept me from asking if we were going to do a formal workout. You see, while I have been spending many glorious months forgetting how to swim (an actual fear I have had), all three of my psychologists have been working their butts off in the pool and getting wicked fast. I don't have any verifiable evidence of this fact (probably because I forgot just where the pool is located), but knowing these 3, I am sure they are.

Fortunately, they took some pity on me and we mostly played around and laughed our butts off trying to get Tiffany's sweet new underwater camera to work. Highlights were the 4 x person synchronized breaststroke (we are damn good) and Steve trying to talk his way out of being beaten by a girl! And was I in any mood to stop the fun and games?? HECK NO!! In true hard core A+ style, Jessi did make us do a small pyramid. Probably just to teach me the hard lesson of why I shouldn't have taken so much time off. I struggled to get thru one freaking 150. Not good! But, I guess when you are at rock bottom in the pool, ya gotta start somewhere, right?!

So, why do I love my team??
- Because sometimes it is nice to be missed.
- Because it really says something when they will get up damn early on a Wednesday to come swim with me, even when I know good and well that they would rather be sleeping.
- Because they know just the right ways to motivate me.
- Because they give me just the right amount of guilt for missing a workout (or 100 workouts).
- Because without them, I would be nowhere near the athlete and person I am today.

The best team ever! Thanks for the push guys! :)

6 comments:

jessithompson said...

I know that I speak for ALL of us, when I say that the support is just a small payback for the thousands of times you have supported us. We wouldn't be where we are without YOU. Period. That's what's really great about a team - you make each other better athletes and better all around people. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel grateful for having all of you in my life.

Also, let me say this. There is nowhere we would have rather been this morning (no matter what the hour) then at the pool swimming with you. Whether it is synchro breast stroke, underwater camera photo shoots, or pyramids... it's not the same or near as fun without you there. None of us would have wanted to miss your 'first' swim back.

Over half our motive is totally selfish... we miss having you there.

Welcome back, D-Tib. Your gils are growing back as we speak.

Loves,
J. Deere

Tiffany said...

Damn that Jessi! She totally stole everything I was going to say!

She is right on all counts. I didn't mind getting up one bit this morning knowing that it was going to be your first swim in quite some time. I wouldn't have missed it for the world! To be able to pay our captain back for all of your support is a true honor! We gave you this support because we get the exact same support from you, not just in triathlon, but in all aspects of life! :)

I know you'll be back at those Sunday swims when you're ready...which I hope will be sooner rather than later because listening to Roger say "You ready? Here we go!" just doesn't sound the same when your not there!

Love ya, Timmers!

Steve said...

Is it ok to say "That's was shes' said"?

There are countless times I can look back on and know the only reason I pushed myself so hard was because of you. Having you back is definitely going to make these workouts more fun and challenging.

Looking foward to pushing each other to the next level.

Sheena (DUR) said...

Aw, look at the love! You guys R-O-C-K and you earn the A+ name even when you're being fat and lazy...ok maybe not. But great job letting these guys reel you back in. That's what the team is for, "EH"?

Phaedra Cote said...

awe, sweet post Tim....good to hear you're back in the pool!

xo,
P.

LORIE said...

You are truly blessed. Glad you're back.