Part 2

ugly me

Part 2:
This is a behind the scene’s story from my point of view. And it was not so “smooth and beautiful” at all. In fact, I was in a bit panic mode (my husband might say it was definitely big panic mode).

My husband had been preparing for the Flying Pig 10K handcycle race which was the very first pilot program for handcyclers this year. Since it was the very new program, both Organizer side and participants side had some uncertainty about the race day. We had a 10 min staggered start at 7:00am then regular 10K runners started at 7:10am at the same start line. We were given special parking spaces which was closed for public near the start line. Because handcycle athletes needed to get on their own handcycles from their wheelchair.  We were told the access way and the direction to the lot beforehand. It seemed all set and looked good to go.

Our plan was getting out van from the valet parking service at the hotel where we stayed on the day before, at 6:00am. Unexpectedly it was very chaotic and busy at the valet area. (Who knew it was too crowded to get our own van? Ouch.)  It was so unpredictable about the situation there. It made me super nervous. I was mumbling to myself “This can’t be. This can’t be happening. Oh, no, no, no. How can I bring my husband to the start line on time? How?” I was trembling but there was nothing I can do or fix. I just waited and prayed. Just awful minutes to me. I knew I must have kept cheerful for my husband one hour before the starting. Things were difficult to me.

Eventually we were able to get our van and off to the parking lot at 6:15am. It was supposed to be “smooth and no-problem” to get to the parking lot. The road we had to go through was blocked/closed shockingly. I was panicked more. My husband managed to go through because we really needed to go to the lot next to the starting line. My nervousness and panicking mind-status were pretty high, I was too busy worrying about “letting my husband be ready for the race” that I couldn’t put on a smile at all. Thankfully my husband is always the one who could keep calm even at this “emergency situation”. He got on his handcycle, put his bib on, and moved to the starting line on time, he did put on a smile. I was just relieved at this moment thinking “ok, my job is done here. Now, my husband gotta enjoy it. That’s it.”
I’m pretty sure I looked awful without a smile. But I gave him a big hug wishing him the best of luck. I was simply happy that he was ready to go at the start line on time.

If you know me from the past, yes, I had to have my-alone-time, my quiet-time after having nervousness/panic in my mind. So it was all good to me that I headed alone to the 1st bridge to watch the race before it started. My mind got settled, cleared and calmed. Then my mind was able to switch to “the happy-cheerful mode” 100%. I was ready to cheer. Wheeew. 

Now, I’m thinking back about everything on the race day. I can tell it was a great experience to me including all my positive/negative mindsets.  I learned a lot indeed. 

If you ask me “Will he compete again?”, I’d answer “Yes, I’m sure he would.”  I’m not sure about which races though.  I want to say that I’d be better to prepare, better than this time. wink wink 

photos from the day before. There was the big expo for athletes. We were able to explore inside. Bonus exploration was watching the mural titled Tree of Life in the Federal Building in Cincinnati. It was a calm day before the excitement indeed. 

FYI:
https://artoncampus.lib.miamioh.edu/web-of-life

We LOVE Charley Harper's mosaic murals. These two places are so so special. We are proud of our biology building in Miami University!!