Heartbreak and Healing

I don't mean to be dramatic about things.  I am just plain surprised, shocked, frustrated, aggravated and sad all lumped together.  I guess the word devastated is what I'm looking for and this is the story behind my feelings:

A few weeks ago, my boys and I attended the WAC triathlon. This time, I didn't go to compete (so unlike me!) -  I went to support friends and teammates. My boys went to volunteer for their ROTC unit. The great thing about sprint triathlons is that they're short and sweet. Within 45 minutes of the starting gun you can expect the winner to cross the finish line. The swim, bike, run and awards are over in a matter of hours. Those hours are packed with encouragement, jubilation and triumph.

Mitch and Nick and I wrapped up our day at the race around 11am. In those few short hours --  by the time I made it home -- I had several texts asking me if I knew anything about a fatal bike accident that had occured a couple hours prior involving a father and son.   Texting back and texting others got me worried that I may know this pair - the shock occured when a school teacher from New Hanover called to tell me that David Doolittle and his 17-year-old son Trey had been hit by an impaired driver at 9:30am on River Road. Those feelings from the hours before were turned on their head.

The Doolittles and La Faves had a long, lasting and close relationship. We met David and Joy when they showed up for softball practice with our church team.  We hit it off with them immediately since our church was fairly small back then and there were many families our age with children about the same age, too.  There were about 6 couples and our families that became close through church softball, Wednesday evening dinners, Bible study, lunches out after church, Super Bowl parties, children's birthday parties, birth of new babies - you get the idea.  We were a tight group and we shared intimate details of our lives together.  We basically helped raise each other's children and lifted up each other in our marriages.

Life happens -- and over the years, we joined another church, others dropped out altogether. Joy separated from David, found an a great job and moved to Charlotte with the twins. The group eventually disbanded and pulled apart. But, those years were some of the best memories in our family that we have ever shared with others.  We will always hold closely to our children's primary years as the years we spent in such closeness with these other families.  The Doolittles were a huge part of this experience.

One of our best memories was that David wanted to know how to surf and approached Doug for his first lessons.  Being a southern California surfer, Doug was happy to teach David how to surf.  They went surfing often and David felt the divine closeness of God while surfing waves.  He used to sit back, arm around the backside of a chair detailing his latest surfing experience - how the waves were breaking, the line he took on this wave and that.  It wasn't long before Trey took to the sport.  Eventually, David and Trey were off on their own, scouting out the best surf spots around town. David joined Doug on a trip to Costa Rica - and even though he was still new to the sport, was able to catch some great rides due to his athletic abilities.

Trey and Nick were the same age and it was always wonderful to have him around. He had a bright smile, was thoughtful in conversations, always ready for fun and just an easy, good-spirited kid.  We loved him so much!  David was also very thoughtful and shared openly his feelings of salvation with me.  He was confident in his salvation, and didn't believe in the practice of having to do things to be saved. He knew the act of going to church or doing certain things didn't make him a Christian.  He believed in being saved by God's grace through His Son Jesus Christ.  He believed wholeheartedly in his salvation even though struggling in life as we all do.  He was so intelligent, athletic and loved the idea of "sticking it to the man"! I'll never forget that this was one of his favorite lines!  

I am devastated by the events of their bike accident. I am heartbroken that they won't be able to go on their planned surf trip to Costa Rica to celebrate Trey's 18th birthday. I'm angry that they were taken by a drunk and drugged driver. I'm saddened that that we will never have a chance to renew the relationship with David.  I praise God for having known them during the best years of our sons' growing up years -that will remain with me for the rest of my life.  Rest in peace, David and Trey!  I love you both and will forever miss you!

Swim for Zoe News

These last two weeks have been action-packed and full of ups and downs. This week I'll focus on the ups!

First off, my mileage [no more talk of yards, here!] is climbing! Since the start of March I've accumulated 75,000 yards! Nearly 60,000 for all of last month and about another 15,000 in the past two weeks! Holy Moly! Last weekend I did 8,000 yards. Ben and Sylvain kept me company through lap after lap in the pool!

As my mileage increases, so do the donations. I thank each an every one of you for contributing your time, money and prayers to ZOE Ministries. Our total is now $2850 thanks to our latest contributors: Tina Williamson and Ida Griffin. Tina is a tri club teammate and friend. Ida is actually a long lost Aunt from California who I've never met!  

These daily rewards are keeping me kicking through this journey. 

Thank you and God Bless....

Leanne

What It Takes to Train for 10 Miles

I've spent the last few weeks building my mileage in the pool! During the middle week in March, I did four workouts: three at 3000 yards and then THE 6000. I did the first 3000  with  the YDubTriClub  and the other two at night at the YWCA.  These swims take me about 50 minutes.  I end up doing 6 x 500's just to break it up.  I swim freestyle the first 500, then use a buoy and paddles for the next 500, and then use fins for the third 500.  I repeat that for a total of 6 x 500's or a full 3000.  The fourth swim of the week:  THE 6000.  The first time I attempted that, I overheated in the pool due to a heater malfunction.  This week, I accomplished this with excitement!  There was a lifeguarding tryout for ocean rescue while I was swimming this distance, and it gave me a lot of entertainment.  I was so glad to have a full pool while doing all those laps - it made swimming a straight line back and forth not so lonely.  I didn't feel too bad afterward, either! 

During the week of March 21st - 27th, I only got in 3 x 3000 yards!  The swims + life [so much going on right now] = weakened immune system and an upper respiratory congestion! It was not a happy week of swimming, but I was glad for the lower distance than the week before.  My head was so clogged with congestion that I felt like I was swimming night and day! That is a nightmare: having a runny nose waking me up through the night, ears plugged up so badly sounds were like sounds you'd hear in a cave, and blowing my nose constantly during the day - it felt like I never got out of a pool all week.  I tried to rest as best I could, even taking a day off work.  I am on the mend and have started back to training well again.  

My third 3000 yard workout last week  immediately followed a photo shoot for the Star News. I don't care who you are - supermodel or not - there is a certain panic and anxiety created when a woman knows she's being photographed in her swimsuit!  I had to stand in the intracoastal waterway while a photographer took several photos.  He told me to look natural and relaxed..........how natural and relaxed can you be when you're staring down the barrel of a telephoto lens in a swim suit in 45 degree weather?! Especially when all you can think is:  make the smile look less like pain, suck in your stomach, drop the shoulders a little, turn the head to the right, stop shaking, please God don't let my headlights show, smile more, cross arms over belly, now hands on hips, smile again and repeat.  I'd rather double my mileage than do THAT again! Stay tuned for the upcoming article from the STAR NEWS!

BBQ Kick-Off Celebration

What A Celebration!  We held a celebratory kick-off for Swim for ZOE this past Saturday afternoon. It was unbelievably fun and lasted into the evening hours. Those coming through the door were both good friends, close friends or those I had never met before.  Doug entertained the kids with corn-hole and toss while I chatted with everyone about the swim and about Zoe Ministries.  The food was incredibly delicious and fabulous - Ben's chicken was superb right off the grill and the dishes that the YDubTriClub brought were a gift to the palate. In addition, we raised $760 for Swim for Zoe. Many thanks to all who turned out for our mission!

The most exciting thing to me about the party was talking about my swim mission, the ZOE Ministry and how it ties together.  It instilled a resolve in me when talking about how God created a love for swimming in me, and also the passion I have for the African AIDS orphans, to continue doing long swims, alone, at night when my family is home, on weekends when I could be out running or cycling or making pancakes for my boys.  I know this is God's calling for me in my life right now.  Talking about it made me feel really good!  I need prayer and much of it, if you don't mind.  I am struggling with balancing my family's needs and fitting in these swims.  I want to keep my family cheering and supportive of my efforts without them feeling sacrificed in my time and attention.  I want to do and be that which God has called me to be - Thank you all for so much love, encouragement and support of this effort!

Letting Off Steam

I'm still letting off "steam" from my swim last Wednesday night.  I got in the water at 6pm on the nose and went to town tackling the 6000yd workout - 500 yards at a time. Heavens! After the first 500 yards I was sweating to death and already overheating.  Who sweats in a pool?!

I swam 3000 straight, drank some water. Did 500 w/fins, drank more water. Another 1500 and I emptied my bottle.  At 7:25pm,  with my head throbbing, I still had another 1000 to go - 40 lengths. I didn't finish. After 5000 yards I pulled my heavy self out of the water.  

I thought maybe I was just ready to exercise since I skipped my normal difficult track workout that same morning but I couldn't really figure out what my problem was.  I went in first thing the next morning at 5:30am with the triathlon club and found out what the culprit:  the pool water was 88 degrees!!!  When we all jumped in,  it felt literally like a hot tub - of course it was a pool heater malfunction.  I will try this distance again this week.  

I'm off to rehydrate! I think I'm gonna need a bigger bottle.

Swim for Zoe - Swimsuit Edition

This week I received THREE new suits from SPEEDO! Opening the box with the swim suits was very exciting to me.  Out of all other sports that I have participated in, swimming is by far the most enjoyable to me.  I sent Speedo my sizes and top picks but when I opened the box, I realized they had sent me three suits that were even better than the ones I had asked for!

One has a black and blue pattern (hoping that's not meant symbolically that this training will bruise me up a bit) and the other is green, with a palm-like pattern.  

Have you ever been nagged to try something new to the point of doing it just to get the nagger to just quit nagging?  I was told years ago to try the new swim suits out that are made to last longer than regular swim suits.  So many people have made the case that this "endurance fabric" is supposed to work wonders in the chlorine and salt water. Unlike regular suits that end up sagging across the middle after only a couple months of wear, these suits are designed to last and last - retaining color and shape.  I resigned myself to continue wearing the regular fabric, and countered that the "drag from the sag" only made me a faster swimmer. The real issue was the cost of the endurance fabric.  I could not consider buying swim suits as much as twice as expensive when I was also spending money on great running shoes and bike gear.  

Well, Speedo has closed the case on the swim suit issue for me by sponsoring three swimsuits, two of which are made with endurance fabric and my life will never be the same! They are just perfect!  I was so anxious to try them out that I immediately went to the pool.  I hung them up after swims and they dry within an hour; the best part is, they are comfortable, too!  I'll have to keep you posted on just how long they last, but I'm confident they will perform as well as everyone has suggested. 

Now, the jury is still out on the third suit. It is the newly released LZR Race Elite Recordbreaker.  For starters, I can’t quite get into it! I know it's supposed to be skin-tight, but I couldn't even get it over my knees! I asked for advice from the Tri Club on Thursday in the pool and our coach mentioned that it often took THREE people to get the suit on! I think I might have to call Speedo for assistance. Until then, check out this official video fit guide:

Hoping you're all enjoying a taste of spring by now! 

Thank Yous!

Our goal is being met! I'm so excited to announce that we've raised $1080 so far for the ICW10!

Many thanks to Iain Fergusson and Highland Roofing Company!  They are our latest and biggest corporate sponsors.  I know Iain and his wife Becca,  and their children Sam, Lucy and Zoie through our YDubTriClub and I appreciate their help in the Swim for ZOE!    

I also want to publicly thank the Bouton family, Mike and Celeste for their large contribution to this swim.  They are great family friends whose friendship I greatly appreciate!  Thank you for all of your generous donations which allow me to focus energy and love on our AIDS orphaned children during these long daily swims.