Thank You Dear Stranger

This afternoon when I logged into Daily Mile (for those of you not familiar, it's like Facebook for runners, triathletes, etc - they call it a social training log). Anyhow, I logged into Daily Mile after lunch and saw I had a friend request from a girl named Ashley in Austin that I do not know. A lot of times I get friend requests from people I don't know, sometimes I accept them, sometimes I don't. {A lot of times Daily Mile suggests friends for people}

However, she had included a personal message in hers that made me feel like a rockstar. It said:

"You seem like a total bad-ass. I would love to follow your triathlon training as I think it would help inspire me."

Needless to say we are now friends. [dear Ashley, thank you for your kind words. although many days I feel like that is far from the truth. but you made my day]

Exactly what I was thinking...

After I wrote my blog post yesterday, I came across another blog which echoed my thoughts EXACTLY on the subject. It was weird, I felt like I could have easily written that post - and turns out she did an Ironman recently too. Check it out below. It was comforting to know I am not the only one who feels this way sometimes.

http://alexaharding.blogspot.com/2010/08/hello-burnout-my-name-is-alexa.html

Happy Wednesday! There was a cooler breeze on my run this morning...it was awesome. I hope it's not a tease and that we may be kicking the 100 degree temps soon!!

Hi

My blog just woke up.

Sorry for my lack of less-than-exciting posts. I've been very, very busy. This is always a busy time of year at work, and will continue thru the end of October (3 Special Events to produce in October, yikes!). Not that I mind, it just puts the blog lower on the totem pole.

Running is going great. I love training with the Cross Country team at Southwestern. Love it, love it, love it. In fact, I have a hard time sleeping the nights before Tues/Thurs workouts because I am so excited and nervous (because I don't want to finish last!!). Dan says I am probably more excited about running, than the actual team members are. Probably true. A few observations after this mornings run with the team: 1) This will only make me faster. I work my BUTT off running with those boys. 2) Wow, I'm lucky to get to have this opportunity. Never take that for granted. 3) I bet I weigh more than every single one of those boys. Seriously. 4) Wow, they are good guys. Instead of ignoring me, they talk to me and cheer me on. This was unexpected. I can't wait for Fall racing season to see how my times improve.

Swimming is going well. I'm still in the pool 4-5 times a week, and have been working on my speed. Swimming is so technical that I don't know how much faster I'll actually get, but I'm still putting forth the effort.

Biking has been non-existent since the Saturday before last? To be honest, I just don't have the desire. I could make the time - I certainly did it for Ironman training - but it would cut into other things - like family time, time with friends, books I want to read and general rest - and, I am just not willing to give those up right now. To be honest, I'm getting a little burnt out training for triathlons. Biking is so time consuming and is becoming more of a chore than fun for me.

With one on triathlon - Longhorn Lahf-Ironman- left in the season (I won't start Ironman training until December), I think I am going to switch my focus to 90% running, 10% triathlon. While Longhorn initially was going to be my "A" race, I've changed my mind and am just going to do it for fun. I have no doubt I can complete the distance with minimal bike training (once per week); I've done this race the past 2 years, it can be done, I'm just changing my focus. I'll have plently of time to re-focus once I'm training for Ironman again, but for now, I'm just going to have fun. As my coach told me, "Don't worry about it - If all is good at work, home and with your health then we are in good shape..."

I'll still run a lot, keep up with my swimming, and get bike rides in when my schedule allows. But here's a motto I'm going to keep: Only do things that make me happy. If it doesn't make me happy, then don't do it. And certainly don't do something because someone else wants me to do it. Sound selfish? Too bad.

Dear Weekend, I Love You...

This was a pretty good week for training. I got in some good run and some solid swims. I got in zero bike rides...partly due to my bike being in the shop earlier in the week, partly due to other evening commitments and partly due to I just didn't feel like it. :)

I'll wrap up with some of the more memorable moments from my week:

• A guy wearing a red flowered speedo and a snorkel lapped me during my Tuesday swim. Yes, a snorkel.
• No power for 3 hours Monday night when it's 100+ degrees out, no candles or flash light so it's pitch black in the house and $300 worth of food we just bought sitting in a refrigerator that does not work since the power is out.
• Coming home from my morning run several times this week to find my sweet basset hounds sitting at the window, paws on the ledge waiting for me. :)
• Feeling so completely excited and motivated after training with the Southwestern Cross Country Team on Thursday.
• Two great back-to-back swims on Thursday and Friday. That never happens to me.

This weekend will be lighter in world of training. It's Dan's last weekend "golf-free" before his season begins, and one of my last weekends without a race (September and October I race A LOT). I intend to take advantage of the family down time. It will include sleeping late, a run, having a leisurely brunch, watching a movie, playing with the dogs, having a late lunch, pool time, and a very lazy evening with friends at our house. I initially planned to ride on Saturday, but changed my mind as I did not want it taking up my whole day. After all, a brunch, a nap and a lazy day never hurt anyone.

Best. Morning. Ever.

This morning was the first day of training with the Southwestern University Cross Country team and it was awesome. I loved every minute of it, and can't wait to do it again. Training with them made me nostalgic for college...I heard one girl complaining about school, and I told her to enjoy every moment of your college experience. It will fly by and soon enough you'll be in the "real world" and wishing for those days back.

I was so excited about training with them I couldn't sleep. I kept waking up every few hours and checking the clock to see if it was time to get up yet. I don't know if this makes me weird or dedicated.

In the past I've trained with the women's team, so I warmed up down to the park with them. After we did drills, Coach Smith suggested that I train with the men this year. I was really nervous for a few reasons: 1) I did not want to finish last; 2) I did not want to finish last and have them all think I did not belong there; 3) I knew by running with them they would run harder so they didn't get "chicked." I worked hard today, and it felt great. I didn't finish last (or even second to last!) and my goal for the season is never to finish last in a workout...someone has to finish last, but it won't be me :).

Anyway, it was a great morning, and I feel very honored to be able to have the opportunity to train with them!

Back to School

Tomorrow I go "back to school." Well, not really, but I sure wish. I wish I could get paid to go to school. I'm good at that.

Anyway, this Fall I will be training with the Southwestern University cross country teams. Coach Smith is a friend of mine, and has graciously offered to let me train with her team. I'll be training with them twice a week when they do their speed (quality) workouts. This starts tomorrow. I am SO excited. Not only do I get to be coached by a 5-time Olympic athlete, I will get faster by training with some good athletes [and I'll push myself harder because who wants to get smoked by a young punk].

Now if only I could go home and take a nap after the workout like they do...

Monday Karma

I meant to post a somewhat lengthy post/update earlier but let's recap my Monday:

• Didn't sleep very well which led to a very lethargic run this morning. I was fighting to maintain my easy pace.
• Get to office and see someone has helped them self to one of my nutri-grain bars. How do I know this? They left the wrapper RIGHT ON MY KEYBOARD. Odd, I thought, but whatever.
• Turn on my computer and it appears they've also helped themselves to my computer which now has a VIRUS! Call IT and wait for it to get fixed. Lost everything that was saved to my desk top.
• Find out the food/computer thief has also stole bananas from the office down the hall and gone through someone else's files. What the .... not to point fingers but it has to be the cleaning crew... last week a camera was stolen... annoying...
• Get to the pool to swim during lunch and someone was in my usual lane. I am one of like 2-3 people who use that pool and we all have our specific lanes we use. It's a private pool. It's never crowded. But someone was in my lane (even exclaimed by the lifeguard "someone is in your lane!). So I got stuck in one of the crappy lanes with a weird current.

So, that's my Monday. Go away bad karma, I wave my middle finger at you!!

At least last week was a good workout week. Maybe that's why I am so friggin' tired:
Totals -
Swim - 7,893 yds
Bike - 84.80 miles
Run - 57.01 miles

Yeah, I Know...

I suck at updating my blog...I thought I would be so good...but I really have no time...I'm busy...

Here is what I do:

m-f: workout-eat-take care of dogs-eat-workout-eat-work-workout-sleep

sat-sunday: eat-workout-eat-workout-take care of dogs-eat-sleep

repeat... :D

Oh yeah - my latest plan - 4 marathons in 4 months.

The Plan:
November 2010: San Antonio Marathon
December 2010: Dallas Whiterock Marathon
January 2010: Disney Marathon
February 2010: Austin Marathon

Let the running begin...

Pizza

If you work in Corporate America, you better like pizza. In fact, this should probably be one of the questions on the aptitude tests given to fifth graders. Children who don't like pizza should be steered toward jobs to be a teacher, doctor, lawyer (for a small, non-Corporate America firms) or a garbage man. I guarantee that these kids will not grow up to like Corporate America if they don't like pizza.

Pizza Haters would not like working in Corporate America because everyone likes free food. Free food is always (we will say 99.99999% of the time) better than any food that you could have possibly paid for. And if there is free food around, most self-respecting (or in my case, un-self-respecting) people will eat the free food.

And this food is always (we will say 97.9999% of the time) pizza.

This is the third week in a row that there has been an announcement about free pizza in the breakroom at work. This is also the third time I have declined said pizza. Apparently, I am a Pizza Hater. Which is only somewhat true. I just don't eat it very much and never for lunch (doesn't settle well for evening workouts, no need for more detail than that). However, If I had to pick between pizza and donuts, I'd pick pizza. You see I am a donut hater (there have been a lot of those around lately too).

***UPDATE: Also, unlike the quickly devoured pizza, there is an overwhelming amount of leftover melon in Corporate America. On any given fruit tray, the grapes and strawberries are snatched up immediately, only to leave all this disgusting melon festering in self pity and low self-esteem. Nobody likes melon. Why do we insist on putting it on a fruit tray??

Michigan Bound!

Today is my Friday, hooray!

Headed to Michigan in the morning for my cousin's wedding. Looking forward to the merriment and cooler temps. Goal is to get a 10 mile run in on Saturday morning, which means it will have to be early since hair appts for the bridesmaid's are at 9 am, which also means I must be somewhat of a party pooper on Friday and get to bed by 10 pm.

Hopefully I will not return from this trip 10 pds heavier...must not have more than one, okat two, pieces of wedding cake...

Happy Anniversary (And Reasons Why I Love my Husband)

Happy Anniversary to my Iron Sherpa! Three years ago today, we tied the knot. Now, this could get a little sappy, but really, I must brag for a little bit. Oh, and the reasons are included, but not limited to, the items listed here.

Reasons Why I Love My Husband:

10. He doesn't complain (at least not much) about the all the things I cook that stink up the house (which is all the time). Namely brussel sprouts if you were wondering.

9. He loves to sit outside all day with me...sometimes we go to the park, sometimes we go running or biking, sometimes we go to the bar, sometimes we go to the pool...it doesn't matter. But a gorgeous day means we are outside. However, we did waste one of the most beautiful days of 2007 inside Bed, Bath and Beyond for 4 hours registering for wedding gifts...painful.

8. He let me get two (high maintenance) dogs, and doesn't complain that I don't pick up their poop like I promised I would.

7. He is hysterical. Probably the funniest person I know.

6. He looks super hot in just a t-shirt, shorts and a baseball cap. Oh, and in his Texas (not UT) running shorts!

5. He is such a good friend - to me and to everyone he meets. This is a good thing because I am generally pretty evil...they say opposites attract?

4. He comes to pretty much all of my races to cheer me on, and never complains, even though I know it's super boring.

3. He is the best Iron Sherpa ever and I owe much of my Ironman success to him. He is my chauffeur, photographer, cheerleader. He listens to me babble on about my training schedule and my bike and my nutrition plan. He commiserates with me when I have a bad training session and celebrates with me when I have a good one.

2. He has never once complained about ending our nights at 8 pm so I can go to sleep early.

1. He calls me his angel...and we all know how unangelic I typically am.

0. Mostly though, I love him because when the alarm goes off at 4:30 in the morning, he doesn't complain when I wake him up, make a lot of noise, turn on the lights and grunt through the 10 minutes it takes me to get ready for my workout.

Okay, enough sap. But seriously, I am the luckiest woman alive.

Random Bike Thoughts

It's no secret that I have a love-hate relationship with my bike. Sometimes I want to throw it over a cliff. Other days it treats me pretty well. As soon as I get my weekly training schedule from Coach Shawn, the first thing I do is check to see how much I have to ride that particular week. Like this week, I only have to ride twice since I'll be out of town this weekend {score}

Random Bike Thoughts

• I freak out whenever I see a Chester the Molester van drive by – the utility van with no windows. I am certain they are trolling for me.

• I swear, they could bury me out there on some of my country rides and no one would know.

• When the turkey vulchers are swarming around for something good, ripe and dead, are they just waiting for me to keel over?

• I really DID need the $100 bike shorts. These feel really nice on my behind. Thank gawd!

• How the hell am I going to make it through Ironman Texas? 112 mile bike ride in Houston heat. I’m scared.

• I hate it when people/cyclists throw their banana peels in the shoulder. I still gotta ride through your crap – can you not give it a little distance?

• How does someone lose a shoe on a main road where people are not walking? I mean, not a pair, just one shoe.

• Why do I like to eat ice cream and or pizza during the Biggest Loser? I DO love to watch big people shrink. I can’t help it, it’s amazing.

• What would I do if I won the lotto? I would have a man servant, that’s what I would do. Someone to have my shit done and ready at all times. Grocery shopping done, food cooked, bike cleaned and aired up….all of it.

90 min ride tonight and it's over 100 degrees again today. uggghhhh.

you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both

and then you have: my weekend.

the good:
>I had a big Ironman-like training weekend (somewhat unintentionally): 20 mi run, 1500m open water swim on Saturday; 76 mile ride on Sunday
> I was able to work on my tan
> I did not eat out once this weekend, which means I ate healthy AND saved money
> I got to run with friends I hadn't run with in awhile on Saturday. Good company.
> I was pushed beyond my comfort zone on the bike ride Sunday, which was good for me.
> Quality time with my pups and a trip to the dog park.
> Started a finished a really good book.
> Watched Friday Night Lights.
> Got some sleep.
> Back on a set schedule [I LOVE SCHEDULES]. Training for Longhorn 70.3 started today!

the bad:
> Horrible, horrible tan lines on my back from running/cycling in the sun all weekend. Will not look good for the bridesmaid's dress I'm wearing this weekend.
> Serious chafing in weird places from my long run on Saturday. Even on my wrist. Looks like I've been beaten. Also not good for the wedding pictures this weekend.
> Only actually planned on riding 30 miles on Sunday so I ran out of water in 104 degree temps. Was dehydrated for the rest of the day, making me worthless.
> Decided to check out a new riding group on Sunday. Friend was a no-show for the ride so I rode with 6 fast men on a route I was not familiar with. It was keep up or be left behind.
> Did not run any of the errands or do any of the cleaning I had planned because I was too stinking tired from the workouts. House is a mess.
> Went to bed at 8:30 pm and 9:00 pm this weekend. Not very conducive for a social life. [but I've discovered I really like going to bed at 9 pm]
> Did not do any of the following on my list in preparation for said wedding: pedicure, manicure, hair cut, purchase jewelry and make-up. Don't really have time this week due to a work event I'm in charge of.
> Hot. Hot. Hot out this weekend.
> Finished a gallon of ice cream in 3 days. Don't judge it was low-fat.