This is the beat of a new ambition: I'm thankful for thanksgiving and coaches

Thanksgiving always gets me a bit emotional- (as if I'm not always emotional enough hah).

I love the time to take a step back and reflect on really how privileged I am. Heres a quick post on my Thanksgiving outing with the family and also my reflection on how thankful I am to have my family- and coaches- always supporting this strange journey I've got going.

My Grandma's house has got to be one of my favorite places in the world. The early mornings are usually misty and quiet. I always like to think I am straight out of one of the Bronte sisters' novels.

"Grandma's house"- which is actually a fish dock nestled in a little outlet of the Columbia river----about an hour Northwest of Portland.

My mother and I got to spend Thanksgiving morning on the HS track that she grew up on in Clatskanie, OR. We planned a super quick trip to the west side to see family- and of course couldn't miss the opportunity to run somewhere new and fresh (not to mention BEAUTIFUL).

My mother didn't get to join me in my workout- but was quick to volunteer walking the track to keep me company. She seriously is superwoman.

Her small town track was PERFECT. Loved having trees as a backdrop for a change. The air on the west side of the mountains just feels different. There's a bit of a cold bite to your face, rewarding you with a chest full of mountain air. Running on the west side always makes you fee cleansed- both physically and emotionally.

It was SUCH A BEAUTIFUL morning for a speed workout. Everything just seemed perfect- the sun, the air, only if my legs were with me on this one....hah theres always next time :)

Afterwards, we went down to the local coffee shop and chatted with the owners for a bit. Something about small towns helps time slow and appreciation grow. People start to look different, and conversation seems to deepen. I sometimes wish the world would just slow to this pace, to see how beautiful everyone and everything can be.

Finishing up the run. Love the sun.

Being Thanksgiving in a small town my mother and I got on the topic of being thankful for our coaches throughout our youth.

The youth in small towns like Clatskanie seemed to have two routes to be taken- sport- or mischief. I know for a fact, that with how much energy I had, without swimming I could have gotten myself in some big trouble.

We got to talking about how much our coaches had impacted our youth. My mother said she still views her basketball coach from HS the same as she had almost 20 years earlier- a great mentor and positive adult role model. She still keeps in contact with him via Facebook (oh technology).

I then got to thinking about how much my coaches have impacted my life.

Im so thankful for my long time coach Todd Stafek- (with the swim team that I've swam for for 17 years and counting). Todd has not only taught me how to swim, but how to fight, to work towards extending my limitations. He won't let me give up on something just because there's a possibility that I might fail. This has gone for everything in the pool, and as setting me up to be a positive contributing person to society. I now get to work on deck with the legend on a daily basis (3 hours to be exact EVERYDAY....haha)

My coach Hillary Biscay taking the WORLD CHAMPION title in Ultraman yesterday in Hawaii. She not only smashed the women competition, but only allowed this one man to beat her----2OA. She really is the Smashfest Queen leading from day one only to extend her lead the following three days.

I also am very thankful for my coach Hillary Biscay. The last couple of years have been made a lot more positive with her whole hearted mentoring. Literally the best thing I could have done with my triathlon pursuit was hiring Hillary. She's been with me through one of my most unstable and uncomfortable life changing years- and has kept my chin up and looking forward towards the bigger picture the entire time. She inspires confidence- while challenging me to feats I would have never dreamed of attempting on my own. I can't wait until my turn to make her proud. I proudly wear my smash visor on every run I take off on.

I am also thankful for my turn to be this mentor for these outstanding kids. The Channel Cat kids are such an amazing group of young people- they truly enhance every day I get to work with them. This is a shot of them during our hour long dry land session- after they had just got done swimming close to 8k. Studs.

On an un-related note: the cat and I enjoyed cheering for MD this weekend. NC State smells.

AND I figured out how to take panorama photos on my phone. Kinda cool.

My sister sent me a picture of a painting I had done for her in HS. I forgot how much I had liked it. I really would like to find more time to paint.

That AND read! I am having an obsession with Fitzgerald currently. I just started Tender Is the Night and I am instantly in love.

He's got such a beautiful way of saying the simplest of feelings. "He looked at her and for a moment she lived in the bright blue worlds of his eyes, eagerly and confidently." On F.Scott you speak straight to my heart.

And to finish....

This is definitely what I love about my family. We probably spent close to 10 minutes trying to get a shot of us all in the air at once. If I were super gutsy I would post the video...we are not the most graceful of bunch, us Viuhkola's.