8 years ago this month I did my first and only sprint triathlon. I had done the swim training in a local pool and was pretty sure I could do the swim distance. I showed up with my son and we put ourselves in our separate age category starts. He started before me and we were going to meet after the swim to do the bike together. I had no idea at the time just how important sighting was. Because I could not sight properly, it took me almost 5 times as long to get out of the water. I remained present and determined although followed by a rowboat whose operators continually asked me several times if I was ready to get out of the water. I remained determined to do the distance and finally did. When I pulled myself out onto the platform I really felt I had done something hard! This feeling of trying something new has stayed with me as an invaluable lesson of mindfully choosing to break past new challenges and it was made even better to share such with my son. It was an absolute delight to be with my son who is a decent athlete himself. The bike ride was perfect with good weather and a great course and even though my left foot was injured I managed to hobble the 5k distance of the run to the finish. This was a significant breakthrough in terms of something new for me. I had actually planned on entering this same sprint this year but due to COVID19, there is no race. I ran my farthest run last Saturday and would be in swim shape if my local pool was still open but here I am like so many other disappointed athletes. We are all mindfully waiting for a return to some kind of normal as we train through.