Tri for Steve

For months now, Liz and I have been training for a sprint triathlon. Today for the first time I feel confident in my ability to finish. It's a good thing -- our race is in two weeks!

We will swim, bike and run on Sunday, May 1, in the Historic McKinney Kiwanis Triathlon.

The day before, Cooper will compete in the Historic McKinney Kiwanis Kids Triathlon.

We're participating in memory of Steve. Can you imagine how tickled Steve would be to see his 9-year-old son cross the finish line after swimming 100 yards, biking 2.5 miles and running half a mile?

And I know Steve would be proud of my training -- I often have his voice in my head as I'm practicing. (Surely by now you all know that I'm not a natural athlete.) Today I swam my best 300-meter time -- 6:19. I was really pushing myself, and the last lap was difficult. But I thought of Steve and how much he cheerfully endured to just extend his life a few months. Then I swam a little faster.