I get by with a little help from my....dog

I am going to lose some major cool points for this post (if I had any to begin with). But, go ahead. Call me crazy. I can take it.

It's been a trying week at work, as will the next few weeks. Too much too do, and not enough time, money or help to do it. But it still needs to get done. Pretty typical work scenario. I'm telling you honestly that I don't know how I ever made it through life without my basset hound Flash. Yes, I know this sounds completely looney, but it's true. And, yes, I have two basset hounds, but Flash in particular has such a strong personality that always seems to turn my frown upside down. He has the ability to make my mood go from bad to good with the wag of his tail.

So, this post is dedicated to you, my sweet basset hound Flash!! Thank you for helping me get through the work week with a smile on my face!

Words can't describe my love for you Flash, Flashy, Flash Man, Flashy Man, Flashter, Bubba, Flash Toby, Asshole (only out of Dan's mouth), Buddy. It doesn't really matter what I call you because you are mine for ever and ever. You never have a bad day and every day is a lottery winning day. The worst part of your day is when we leave you alone but regardless of what our day brings to us, you always greet us with a big smile and lots of kisses. You make our day better because you let us know how grateful you are to be alive and you really do appreciate the little things in life..like having food, clean water and a bed to sleep in at night.

It doesn't matter if it is 6am or 2pm, you never let me down and you follow me everywhere I go . You don't even think twice about jumping my lap and watching whatever junk I have on TV with me and I love you for that (the Old Man complains about my TV shows!).

You keep me company when Dan is out of town and errands around town are always fun with you as my passenger. You keep us laughing with your distinct personality and hilarious actions.

Flash, Dan and I couldn't imagine our life without you (and your sister) and we love you so much.

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Anydog, my training has not taken a hit like I thought it might this week...although I still need to get on my bike tonight...and I will miss a swim tomorrow since I'll be in Austin for training...but you do what you can do!!

Back in the Saddle...for real this time (?)

I don't know if people read my blog for humor, inspiration or voyeurism; hopefully not training advice, but here's some advice - suck it up Buttercup!

It's what I've told myself this week in order to kick my own ass back into triathlon training. I'm making myself get on the bike 3 times this week - shorter rides on Tues/Thurs evenings, and then a longish (max of 60 miles) ride on Saturday. After my 50 mile ride last Saturday, I realized that the next time I get on my bike need not be on race day! The 50 miles I rode on Saturday went fine...however, 50 miles seemed LONG to me...it used to be nothing, and left me wondering how in the hell I ever did 112 miles (and how I will do it again next May)...ouch. So, I will try to cram in some bike workouts in the short time I have before the race.

And, I remind myself: Discipline is remembering what you want.

Back in the Saddle

After about a month off from biking, I will be back in the saddle tomorrow. It's actually a forced back in the saddle, but I need it. I will be riding in the Rip Roarin' Ride in Liberty Hill tomorrow - still debating between 65 or 50 miles. I signed up awhile back, so I feel obligated to go ride. Just going to take it easy and enjoy the scenery.

I'm hoping the ride tomorrow will motivate me to get in some rides over the next three weeks...otherwise Longhorn 70.3 will kick my butt (even though I keep telling myself I am doing Longhorn just for fun, I still don't want to suck).

Sunday I will be racing in the Silicon Labs Marathon relays. I think this will be my 4th or 5th yr in a row doing this race? I'm doing the 10k leg and on a team with some fast people so hopefully I won't let them down!

Happy Friday!

Love This

Saw this. Love it. So very true.

Can you picture me wearing a tutu? I didn't think so.

I am thinking about taking ballet lessons. Just because. I have the grace and flexibility of an elephant, however, so methinks it would be quite a challenge.

I'm going to look into it anyways. I had said I wanted to use the off-season from Ironman training to do something different...

Country Roads 10k Race Report

Bad news: I did not win the race on Saturday. I was 2nd female overall.
Good news: This was the fourth year I have run this race, and I ran my best time on this course.
Even better news: I scored a trophy, and a gift basket filled with goodies including a bottle of wine and two wine glasses.

I finished the race in 41:43, which is a good time for me, so I was pleased. And, it was a hilly course but I felt strong on the hills so the training I have been doing is paying off.

I missed first place overall female by like 3 seconds. But, I was a good 15-20 seconds back at mile 4, so I made some ground the last two miles...think if the race had been a tad bit longer, I could have caught her. Oh well.

I was actually pretty nervous when the race started. Several of the women took off like bats out of hell (I was six women back after Mile 1, which I ran in 6:30). I thought I was either going to get my butt kicked, or they started out too fast. Luckily it was the latter, and I starting picking them off between miles 2-3.

Overall, it was a great race and worth my trip to San Marcos. Looking forward to racing the Marathon Relay on Sunday!

my winnings!

Ready to Race

I'm racing tomorrow. My first real "road race" of the Fall season. I both nervous and excited. And damn thankful I do not have to swim or bike before the run.

I am racing the Country Roads 10k in San Marcos. I missed it last year, but have raced it the three years prior, including winning it the last time I ran it in 2008 (by winning I mean first overall female not the whole darn thing). No pressure or anything. Would I like to win again? Yes, of course. But, you never know who is going to show up at these races. So, it all depends. My goal is to run a strong, solid race and finish in the top three among overall women. I will let you know how it goes.

Run training is going well. Still loving running with the Southwestern team. Funny story about that, but it will have to wait until later because I am short on time.

TGIF. After the race tomorrow, I plan to spend the rest of the weekend relaxing (besides a long run on Sunday, but that is fun for me :). Hooray for the weekend!

Things You Can Do Over the Weekend When You Don't Spend 4+ Hours on Your Bike

In an attempt to view the cup as half full rather than half empty, I title this post "Things You Can Do Over the Weekend When You Don't Spend 4+ Hours on Your Bike." Of course, I logged another "0" miles on my bike this week, and instead of riding 65 miles on Saturday like I had originally planned, I will let you in on the great things one can do over the weekend instead of spending several hours on your bike.

• Meet up with friends after work on Friday, relax, catch up, and not worry about rushing to get home and eat dinner and get in bed for an early ride the next day.
  
  
• Sleep until 8:30 am on Saturday, both run and swim AND still be home by 11 am.
  
  
• Watch your alma mater beat Georgia at home for the first time since 2000 (GO COCKS!)
  
  
• Take the dogs to the park. And to a soccer game.
  
  
• Watch 3 movies (Letters to God, Time Travelers Wife, Solitary Man)
  
  
• Go grocery shopping and get the laundry done.
  
  
• Catch up on DVR'd shows.
  
  
• Start a good book and finish 3/4 of it (The Island by Elin Hilderbrand)
  
  
• Run 18 miles on Sunday and feel great because you were not on your bike for 4+ hours the day before. Also, get a better run workout in half the time it would take you to get in a bike workout.
  
  
• Play fetch with the dogs. Mutiple times.
  
  
• Catch up on your sleep.

So, bike or not, it was a great weekend. I still ended up with big mileage last week - 65.63 miles running, 10,150 yds swimming. It was my highest run week so far, but my legs feel good.

Happy Monday.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to the best training partner around!!

My Weekend in Pictures

While I would love to provide a recap of what a great weekend I had, work is crazy busy again so I will summarize my weekend in pictures. Highlighted by a birthday party for my sweet basset Flash, and the Austin Triathlon Relay! It was a great Labor Day weekend indeed!

Our Relay Team for the Austin Tri!

Running the last relay leg!
Finished!
With friends after the race!
My birthday boy, Flash!
Two bassets ready to party!
Cake time!

Mojo

Yeah, well, I still haven't really found my training mojo. I feel somewhat fat and lazy, but happy. I think I have my basset hound Flash's syndrome: living a life of eating, sleeping, lounging in bed, eating, napping.

I've been running and swimming a lot...but, biking, well not so much. I did ride 50 last Saturday, and am hoping for another 50 this weekend, but not sure that is going to happen. Between a birthday party for my dog (yes, you read that right) and the Austin Tri relay on Monday, packet pick-up for the race on Sunday, and company in town for the race, I am not sure where biking will fit in. And, I'm okay with it.

On another (non-training note), I would like everyone to send my husband Dan an email and let him know that they think we need to adopt the basset hound below. His name is Hush Puppy, and looks like the sweetest dog ever. He's currently boarded at a vet (with the Austin Basset Rescue), but they need to find him a home fast. Dan told me no, but please all bombard him with emails and texts until he gives in. I thank you kindly.