NEW BIKE!

Do you like my new bike?!? It isn't the best picture because it was taken from my phone, so it doesn't nearly do the machine justice.

It is a Giant Aeryn, women-specific triathlon bike. I think it's about 5 years old, but it's been well handled and well cared for by its one and only owner, Karen Czuba. She is a doctor, turned nurse practitioner (because she wanted a lighter work schedule) who works with my father-in-law, Mike Elliott. She and her husband, Jimmy, are cycling and endurance sports enthusiasts. They've participated in many triathlons together, including at least one Ironman. And they're over 50!
They recently decided to buy new tri bikes for themselves, upgrading to Specialized carbon bikes. (The name alone makes me start to drool.) They also decided, in their ever philanthropist nature, not to sell their old tri bikes, but to simply give them away to two very lucky (and perhaps undeserving) amateur athletes on the one condition that the blessed recipients continue doing triathlons with the bikes. Jimmy's bike went to a nice, tall lady who lives in their neighborhood and whom Jimmy had been training to do tris. She was probably well-deserving of such an awesome gift.

And Karen's bike went to me.

I don't deserve it. This bike can probably do triathlons better than me, without me. It's light and fast, small and quaint. It has recently been equipped with a new chain and rear cassette. It's a serious bike, and it's beautiful.
So again, I feel I don't deserve it. Once I brought it home from Jimmy and Karen's house, I tentatively guided it inside and just stared at it. Then I prayed a prayer of thanks, for a gift as unexpected and awesome as this can only come from God. It's as if he was saying, "Happy Birthday, Heather! I love you!"

Such a serious bike comes with serious implications and forces me to ask myself at least one serious question - Do I want to continue participating in athletic events such as triathlons just for fun, or do I want to start training seriously and truly compete in some races? I made a deal: A free bike in exchange for the promise of continuing my athletic ventures. I won't go back on my word. I will train and I will try some tris. But do I have it in me to push myself to the next level? Do I have the necessary self-discipline to get out of bed every morning and force myself to strive harder, to get better? Is winning my age group in a sprint triathlon a feasible goal for me? And is it worth it?

As you can see, I'm not taking this idea lightly. I have this one last week to decide if I have it in me to be seriously competitive and whether or not I'm actually willing to work for it. I'm weighing my options, and the result of this Saturday's 10k may have a strong voice in my decision.