The Making of a Trophy Wife

Still Rockin' & Rollin'

2009-10-11T15:08:00.002-07:00

I haven't updated lately but things have been going great since the race. I'm still out there running and training. Since my summer race plan fell apart there's a few in December, January and February that I've got on my radar. It's been a little harder to get out to run because the weather has been cooling down but the last couple of weeks I've gotten out for my "long" run with some motivational realizations.

Last Saturday I slept horrible - funny how that happens with a 4 year moves into your bed and uses your back and face as a drawing board for the night. Also it was pretty cool out. But I got to thinking about a friend of mine Amy who is relatively new in my world, but she's blown me away with her amazing strength. I met her when she was newly pregnant last winter and over the summer I got to meet her again on a bike ride or two (think much further along than "newly pregnant") where she just kept going. We've also been friends on Facebook for some time and every time she posts she's gone for a run, a swim, a ride, spin class - I'll remember from my pregnancy I was being a lazy mess sitting on the couch. Amy makes me want to workout more - there are no excuses when this 7 month pregnant woman is going to do it. Then tragedy stuck and Amy, at 36 weeks pregnant, was diagnosed with breast cancer. From there things seemed to move in a whirlwind - she was induced a couple of weeks later to a beautiful baby boy to compliment the 3 year old she already had, then 11 days after that she had a double mastectomy then started chemo treatments. So my thought last Saturday was I should go run because I can. Run for the people who can't and wish they could, like Amy, run should, God forbid, I find out that I can't tomorrow. And with that thought I got out the door. And I was wrong, it wasn't too cold and I wasn't too tired. I ran because I can. But wait - Amy then proceeds to kick some more ass - I come back to a response to my Facebook post that read that I was going to run because I can, from Amy that says that I inspired her. She decided to go out for a run herself that day. This woman is made of stuff I've never seen before because she is wicked strong - mentally and physically. I truly hope that I continue to get to know her better and hope some of what she's got rubs off on me.

Today it was super cold - okay not as cold as yesterday when Jay went for a run (18 degrees F) but it was still 26, and I knew I had to go out there and do it. Today's thought was, "I'm not going to get any better sitting here at home" and out the door I went again. And again, it wasn't too cold. I just need to keep pushing the confining limits of my comfort zone - not move out of my comfort zone, but make that comfort zone so big that it's all encompassing and there's nothing I won't do.

Wonder what will get me out the door next weekend?

Food has been fine - I've determined a plan for maintenance, I think, for my issues with sugar. I realize that abstinence may work for the short-term, but it's not really the life I want to lead. I want to be able to indulge in the occasional treat - I just can't do it daily or multiple times daily. I realize that I may come back to the point that I'm not better than an alcoholic and I need to abstain, but I'm trying to find something that works for me. And that plan for maintenance looks like this for now. I get one treat a week, I can earn a second one after my long run/brick workout on the weekend and I can have one on holidays/birthdays. I came up with this plan a couple of weeks ago and somewhere decided that I could go ahead with that - even though I'd said I was going until my birthday with no treats (for a total of 55 days with no junk in my trunk - with the exception of after my duathlon race). But the interesting thing is that I still didn't for the first two weeks have any treats. This week I shared a few bites of 2 desserts with 5 friends at girls night out, and I shared a carmel apple (a seasonal must in my world) with Jay and Megan.

Habits change into character. -
Ovid

Race Report

2009-09-28T05:43:00.007-07:00

Yesterday I completed my third Duathlon. Hard to believe it was only my third one, seems with all the talk and training I do for duathlons that I would have done lots more, but unfortunately this race season wasn't all that I hoped it would be so yesterday was the first and only duathlon I had this race season. I just had a rough summer and couldn't get back on track. But no worries - I'm already looking ahead, continuing my training and thinking about the winter series.

I thought this morning that I should do a race report - then I realized that I don't really remember it very well. That race really pushed my limits and I think I have blocked most of it from memory. Something like child-birth . . . if women really remembered how hard it really is they wouldn't do it again. So here are the high-lights of what I do remember. . .

- I was in the bathroom, or not paying attention, when they announced the start of the race - they called everyone over to the upper parking lot - away from the transition area. I thought we were going to get a little pep talk, reminded to play nice and sent back to our transition area to start. But after we got over there and the first couple of waves started out running I realized I was sadly mistaken and thankful that I was in the last wave. So I ran back to the transition, being sure to leave my timing chip outside, ripped off my sweatshirt, and raced back to the start line.

- I started running - saw Jay and Megan cheering for me. I ran a little further and saw a shirt I recognized - the same Venus de Miles shirt that I have - then looked up to see who was wearing it to find Gaye cheering for me. A little beyond that I saw Sonja too cheering. It was so great to have so many friendly faces in the crowd.

- I knew for a good part of the run that my friend Leslie was right behind me and I run much better working to stay in front of someone than I do trying to pass some one, so that was good. After a bit I realized that I was running right behind a woman who was setting a great pace - a bit faster than I'm used to but she was so consistent and I was feeling okay that I decided to go with it. I tried to disregard the fact that she had a 65 on her calf - which meant that she was almost twice my age, but it was all good. After a while I unfortunately lost her - I don't remember how. Did I pass her or did she get too fast? So it was just Leslie and I for the rest of the run.

- I remember getting to the transition area for the bike, Leslie was right next to me. I remember thinking I was doing pretty good with my transition and then next thing I know Leslie is headed out and I'm still getting ready. Wish I knew what she did. I finish getting ready and head out - and I head the wrong way so I get turned around and get out the transition the right way and have hopes of catching up with Leslie on the bike, but I know she's fast on the bike, but it's something to focus on.

- I see Leslie at one turn around point and I'm not too far behind - I see her again later and I'm even further behind -so I find something new to think about.

- I remember getting annoyed with people all over the road and several times standing up in the pedals going up a hill just for a burst of speed in attempts to get around some people.

- I love my road bike, I remember last year doing this race with my hybrid mountain bike and just struggling. This year I was passing lots of bikes, even some road bikes.

- For the last 4-5 miles of the ride, I played cat and mouse with an orange bike which was a good distraction.

- I felt completely unprepared for the second run. As usual my legs felt super heavy, like I was running through mud. I knew this last 2 miles was going to be a grueling mental and physical exercise.

- I made it past the first mile marker and then without a conscious thought I started walking. I was disappointed but went with it for a few seconds and started running again. I had one other point that I was starting up a big-ish hill and I decided to walk the hill. Then I started running again. Then the finish line was in sight and I just wanted to hold on until the end. Which I did.

- Coming up to the finish there was Jay, Megan, Gaye, and Sonja all cheering. I called to Megan who came out and I she thought would run with me to the finish. But she had other plans - she took off in a sprint intent on beating me so I found some extra kick I didn't think I had and did mange to finish with her.

- At the finish I was handed my medal which I hung around Megan's neck. Megan asked me why she got a medal and I immediately felt choked up and ready to cry, when I thought about all she was to me and how she got me started on this path toward a health life. Thankful she didn't realize that I never answered her question.

- My official stats are 182nd place (out of 312 - so not last!), I was 35th in my age group (not last there either 64 of them). My total time was 1:42:43. I ranked 232 and 218 in my runs respectively, and I ranked 136 on the bike. All in all, pretty good - not much to compare it to, but setting the bar high for when I do.

- After the race it was good to catch up with Gaye and Sonja and to get some lovin' from Jay and Megan. Jay kept commenting on my bike portion and how fast I was, asking how many people did I pass and so on. I really don't remember it, but was happy that whatever I did I was apparently impressive.

But what was truly impressive was my friend Susan who did the race too. This was her first duathlon and I truly have never met a more positive person than Suz. She is always happy, she likes everyone, and has the best outlook. I don't think I've ever heard her say a disparaging thing about anyone or anything. Susan decided early this year (or maybe it was longer ago than that) that she was going to do this duathlon - I guess she figured that if I could do it then hell, anybody could do it - little did she know how right she was. So Suz got a road bike, she started running, she started biking, she was kicking ass and taking names then BAM!! she got a stress fracture in her leg - no running for at least 6 weeks. But she never cried "Uncle". She buyed her time, she concentrated on the bike, and when her leg was ready she started back slowly and smartly with the running again. And yesterday she was AWESOME!! She had a smile on her face the whole time - which I can not say the same for myself and afterwards she said that there was not a single point when she was miserable and just wanted it to be over - which I know with absolute certainity that I can't say either. And the best news of all . . . she wants to do it again!!!!

Congratulations Suz!!!!

I'm Going to Cheat

2009-09-24T05:49:00.003-07:00

I haven't cheated yet. In the past 23 days I have not had any junk in my trunk: no ice cream, no cookies, no cake, no chocolate, no candy and so on. But I will cheat in my quest for 55 day of no junk in trunk. That has been decided. Sunday. This Sunday, I will cheat. I will get up before the crack of dawn. I will pack up all my gear. I will drive out to what will feel like Kansas. At 8 am I will start my 2 mile run. When I'm done with my 2 mile run I will bike for 12 more miles. After that I will again run for 2 more miles. Once I have completed all of that I will have a cookie at the finish line and I may even go out for ice cream that night after dinner. And I'm going to not feel bad about it for one stinkin' second.

And then I will continue on my quest with no junk in my trunk until my birthday cake.

I will be 38 this year. Lance Armstrong just turned 38. See so I'm actually younger than he is so there's no reason I can't be out doing the things he does. And actually I'm a little freaked out about this 38 thing. Because I don't feel 38. I don't act 38. I don't look 38. So I'm thinking that somewhere in the time and space continuum there has been a major screw-up. But no matter.

It's just a number anyway and if paid attention to all the numbers in my life I could be one seriously depressed woman. I have no idea what I weigh anymore - best thing I did from this summer's no sugar challenge was give up the scale and I haven't looked back. Love it! You look in my closet and there are so many different sizes, but they all fit the same - clothes manufacturers suck - not my problem. I buy what I like and what fits. I don't know exactly how much money I have, I have enough to pay my bills and meet my needs with a little extra on the side - that's what I need to know. I know how fast and far I can run. I know how fast and far lots of people run and I'm pretty far down there. But I also know that I didn't used to run at all and couldn't make it 100 yards without gasping for air and that's not me now. I don't know how many calories I eat everyday, but I know I probably eat more than I should. That's okay because I know I used to eat a lot more than I should.

So I chose to pay attention to the really important numbers. 1 - completely amazing, supportive and loving husband. 4 - the age of my daughter who changed my life and I can't live with out. 2- the number of legs that I have that allow me to do so many cool things I never used to do before. And while I don't know the exact number, I know I have a lot of friends that I love, that love me, and I count on everyday in various ways and hope they feel they can count on me too.

So I totally suck at math but I'm pretty sure that adds up to one extraordinary life which I'm proud to call my own.

Random Vacation Thoughts

2009-09-16T05:07:00.002-07:00

We spent the last week on a little vacation/roadtrip to and around Southwestern Colorado and rather than some long report about the trip here are the highlights:

- My trunk remained free of junk. As of today I have 16 days with no junk in my trunk. No ice cream, no chocolate, no desserts, etc. REALLY REALLY sucks on vacation. I need to figure out moderation.

- I really am a cyclist at heart. I was looking a lots of roads along our trip and thinking how I'd love to ride them on my bike. I learned about a bike race called the Ironhorse which races the steam train going from Durango to Silverton. It takes the train (which we rode) about 3 1/2 hours make it's trek. The train route is shorter but slow through the mountains. The road route is long: 50 miles, and steep - roughly 2400 ft of elevation gain landing you in Silverton, CO just over 10,000 ft above sea-level. (By comparison I live at 5800'). I drove the road the next day and I really think it'd be fun to do this ride. Happens in late May. I need to work on my hill climbing skills.

I also drove from Ouray, CO to Telluride and back - and I kept thinking what an awesome ride that would be - especially since much of the road was brand-new and oh so smooth.

- Jay took the rough route from Ouray to Tellride. He ran a race which is 17 miles over 4x4 jeep roads. The run is call the Imogene Pass Run. 1200 crazy people sign up for this race and Jay came in at 100th place. He was really happy with how he did and felt great afterwards. Epecially excited to beat one of his Nemesis: Fred. Fred and his twin brother, Ed. Do all these same races that Jay does. Ed is really fast and isn't even close to Jay. Here's the trick: Jay's mom went to school with these guys. So they're like 65 years old and on top of that Fred was in an accident when he was younger and never supposed to walk again. And yep, Jay beat him - by 40 seconds. It was proud moment. Love to give him shit about this.

- I was sick most of the trip coming down with a cold. So along with that and the vacation I didn't workout one single time.

- I Love, Love, Love Ouray - I'm going to start buying powerball tickets and figure out how to live there. I will be going back - often. And with my bike.

How we spent our Holiday weekend

2009-09-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

Perfect!!

2009-09-08T05:06:00.002-07:00

If you click on the cartoon you can see the rest

Thanks, Gaye!

Expectations

2009-09-06T05:58:00.002-07:00

I've been struggling for weeks now in my training as far as running is concerned. I just can't seem to have a decent run. I keep going back to earlier this summer when I was nailing 6 mile runs - and then following them up with 15 mile bike rides. Then I got sick for the month of June and it all went to hell. Now I can't run 3 miles without stopping to walk portions of it. I'm so frustrated since I now know that 6 miles are possible, and my legs are capable of going that far but so far distance has eluded me.

The main problem with this is that on September 27th I'm competing in the DuWop Duathlon, which I did last year and was my first ever duathlon/race anything and got me hooked on the sport. And now that the Venus de Miles ride is over, I really need to buckle down and get in some brick workouts. But based on my training of late, I've resigned myself that this year's du is not going to be pretty and it will just be what it'll be and there's always next year.

And that was the frame of mind I was in when I started my workout yesterday and headed out to our neighborhood lake which is has a 1 1/2 mile trail around it. The plan was to run the loop once, then ride my bike, which I chained to the fence and had my transition area in the back of my car, for 5-10 miles, then come back in run another loop around the lake. My other mindset was I was going to take a page from Sonja's Ironman game plan and have a big smile for anyone and everyone.

So I get my "transition area" all set up and walk/warm-up out to the start of the loop. My thought is that I have no expectations for this workout and it could very well be hideously ugly, but even I should be able to run 1 1/2 miles around the lake (although I still remember a time when I couldn't even come close to doing this). So I run. I run very slowly. My only strategy is go get around the lake without having to walk. Unfortunately there isn't but one person to smile at for a long time. Finally toward the end there are a couple of girls running together that get a big smile and "Good Morning!" which I think shocked them and that was fun. And then I realized that I get to ride soon - which got me very excited and kept me going. I run all the way back to the car so my total distance for the run ends up at 1.57 - and at an average pace of 11:48. Like I said slow, but I made it.

But now the fun starts, I get to ride. I'd decided that I was going to ride in my running shorts and that I was going to just put my day-glo yellow riding jacket on to keep my upper-body warm (note for subsequent workouts: take Garmin off BEFORE putting on jacket), got my helmet on, gloves on, and changed into my riding shoes. Now the shoes were going to be interesting. My shoes are pretty new and since I'd gotten them I'd been experiencing some calf and knee pain. So after the Venus de Miles I decided I need to move my cleat (the little metal piece on the bottom of my shoe that allows me to clip into my petals) back. So I'd moved them all the way back - whereas before they were all the way forward - but I'd never actually gotten back on the bike since then to try them out, so this was going to be a fun experiment. And, of course the first problem was that I couldn't get clipped in because it's all done by muscle memory and feel, of which I had none. But I eventually get it worked out and have an almost immediate feeling of "Wow! This feels so much better!"

The ride was great, twice I revised my planned route to make it longer. I love my bike - it's almost unnatural, but, I never want to stop riding, and I want to avoid that last run. I threw in a big hill - on which I felt very strong, which I'm crediting to the new cleat position and I really felt it in my hams and glutes, which is where you should feel it (unfortunately I felt it for the rest of the day too). Along the ride I had lots more people and cyclists to smile and "Good Morning!" including the two girls that I'd seen earlier on my run - which I think came as more of a shock to them since we were at a completely different lake/park and this time I was on a bike while they were still running. But alas, all good things must come to an end and I ended back to my car. My ride ended up being 8 miles.

I transitioned again back to runner girl, and ran from the car out to the loop and headed around the opposite direction to shake things up a bit. I smiled and "Good Morning!"-ed one guy who said "Good morning, how are you?" to which I responded, "Great!" It really is fun to be the annoyingly happy person out exercising. It was later in the day now and a lot more people were out walking their dogs and running the loop so that was fun. But the most "fun" was that my legs felt crazy. My muscles were still very much in bike mode and it was like I was trying to run through mud. It'd been a long time since I'd done a brick of running after riding since the last du I trained for was all running first. And I don't know that I have ever been more acutely aware of my hamstring and butt muscles. I felt horribly slow and that I must have looked like complete moron form-wise. But I kept going and was shocked each time I looked at my Garmin to see that I was at a good pace. After about a mile, my legs were starting to feel somewhat normal again and I settled in for the last half mile with a bit of excitement that I was actually going to accomplish this workout.

And that's just what I did, I finished it and finished strong - all the way back to the car again. I was so stinkin' proud of myself. I did it!! I had no expectations of having a good workout and it was my best in weeks. It felt good to know that I'm not that far off from the distances for the Du Wop which are 2 mile run/ 12 mile bike/ 2 mile run. And I'd just done a 1.57 mile run/8 mile bike/1.66 mile run. And somehow I'd managed to pull off a faster pace on my second run of 11:26 (versus 11:48).

I walked around the parking lot drinking some water and cooling down, reveling in my accomplishment and realizing that my grin was no longer forced. I was on such a high that when I was back in the car and saw that my Dad called I didn't cringe (I knew it was about a fight I'd had with my sister earlier in the week and I've been dreading this call from my dad -knowing my sister would tell him about it, he'd feel in the middle and he really didn't need to be involved) I called him back on the way home. Assured him that whatever was decided about the issue was fine, and when he tried to defend my sister's actions, I told him calmly that I really didn't want to talk about it and I was over my sister at that point. And we got off the phone happy with each other and most importantly - I was still in a great mood. I got home and was Chatty-Cathy talking non-stop to Jay (poor guy) and the adrenaline felt so good rushing through my veins. And that mood kept with me for the day - and thankfully for Jay the talking didn't.

Now I'm just nervous about keeping this high going. We're going on vacation later this week for 5 days - Jay's running over a mountain pass (Imogene Pass) next weekend and we're taking a long weekend to explore the southwestern portion of Colorado. But again it'll be whatever it'll be.

6 days down of no Junk in my Trunk.

Local Girl Does Good

2009-09-04T14:45:00.003-07:00

I'm in the midst of Day 5 of getting the Junk out of my Trunk and I've been successful thus far. Today I've been tested and I remain victorious! At lunch we went to Sweet Tomatoes, which has a yummy sundae bar, with frozen yogurt (vanilla, chocolate and swirl), chocolate and carmel sauce, sprinkles, nuts, and cookie pieces. And I had none thank-you-very-much - even though this is typically one of my favorite things about going to Sweet Tomatoes.

So it occurred to me that frozen yogurt is just methadone of the ice cream addicted. Think about it.

I also was tempted by the offer of chocolate and I just kept on walking. I do so much better when I "Just Say NO!"

Only 50 more days to go!!

Running and Eating

2009-09-03T04:31:00.002-07:00

I've lived through 3 days of no junk food - been some stressful things going on which has made me want junk food, especially yesterday after I got off the phone with my sister. But I've been good - well except for that beer - but that's far from being my problem.

Speaking of problems. I have 24 days until my next dualthon and I can't seem to run. I finished up with work a bit early yesterday and threw on my running clothes and stopped at a new section of the Highline Canal I'd never run/rode before. I don't know if it was because I was running at noon and it was hot (87), because I hadn't eaten since breakfast (forgot my mid-morning snack in my hurry to finish up work early), or if I just am still sucking. I couldn't keep out of Zone 5 - anaerobic is not good when you're running. I ended up doing way more walking than I wanted - cause I wanted none. In 24 days I need to be able to run 2 miles and then after biking for 12 miles run 2 again. And right now, it's just not looking good. See for yourself. . .

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Highline Canal

Shared via AddThis

No Junk in My Trunk

2009-09-01T04:57:00.003-07:00

My latest challenge to staunch my addiction to junk, sweets and treats began yesterday and will last for 55 days - when I'm going to break my sugar fast and have some birthday cake and ice cream.

I didn't have any troubles yesterday, save one minor craving that jumped in my head for cookie dough. It went away quickly enough when I realized how absurd it was . . . until later that day when I was digging around in the refrigerator to discover a package of those break 'n' bake cookie dough squares, that I'd totally forgotten were in there. Oops! Maybe not that absurd after all, but I didn't eat them so it's okay.

Sadly this also means I'm counting down the days until my 38th birthday - which I try not to get too hung up on because I sure don't feel that old. It's just a number, it's not a reflection of who I really am.

Currently the plan is to allow myself some sugar (hopefully without the binging) from my birthday until November 1st -yes, that gets me through Halloween - when I will start up again. I haven't begun to think how brave I can be through the holidays. One challenge at a time.

Piece o' Cake

2009-08-31T08:48:00.012-07:00

Yesterday was the Venus de Miles ride and it was a ton of fun. The weather was perfect, except for a few minutes when it got really overcast and I was afraid we might get rained on but other than it was nice and cool. The route was no problem, there were a few hills but nothing major. The route also was a bit shorter than 35 miles according to my Garmin -32.13, which includes a mile from the hotel to the start. It took us 2 hours 23 minutes, for what that's worth since it's not a race and we were just out to have a good time. 2 weeks earlier when Heather and I did 35 miles it took us 2 hours and 42 minutes and we weren't trying then either - but I guess we got faster in our not trying from an average pace of 12.7 mph to 13.5 mph.

Saturday afternoon my friends Suz and Heather met up at my house and we loaded up bikes and headed for the party town of Longmont (not!) we found our hotel, figured out where we needed to go to get to the start line the next morning, and went to have dinner. We ate at this great place called The Pumphouse, recommended by Suz's aunt - and it was yummy, sorry it's not closer. After dinner and we were going to try and hit a movie but there wasn't enough time to get to the only theatre in Longmont and the only decent sounding movie playing. So we headed back to the hotel moved the bikes inside the room and after finding one of the three movies Heather hadn't see yet from the 30 some available we got in our pj's and watched Duplicity which had us all utterly confused.

In the meantime, the second half of the crew (Leslie, Jenny and Jenn) showed up who were behind us since they stayed in Denver to run the Skirtchaser 5k that evening. Oddly enough they also went to the Pumphouse for dinner and then they were all exhausted and went to sleep in the other room while Suz, Heather and I finished trying to make some sense of Duplicity before we went to bed

The next morning we got suited up in the kits that Tokyo Joe's had provided us and headed down for some hotel breakfast . . .

Then we pumped up some tires . . .

And headed to the start . . .

We took a pic of the team to send to Larry at Tokyo Joe's to thank him for his generousity in donating our kits for the ride . . .

We ended up at the front for the start from taking that picture and realized that everyone lined up behind us. So at the start, Leslie and the Jen's were off, Susan ended up some where behind us and Heather and I were stuck in the mddle wondering what to do next - we decided that going and trying to catch up with the first group was the safer option rather than trying to slow down in a tidal wave of riders to see if we could regroup with Susan - so we shifted into gear, knowing we'd catch up with Suz at the first rest stop. I didn't hear it but Heather told me that has we were cruising by everyone at a pretty good clip to catch up with the first group in our matching uniforms that she heard some women talking as we passed, "Oh, there go the pro's." That made me feel really good and wished I'd heard it myself, but it also made me laugh . . .yeah that's why we're doing the 35 ride instead of the 65. Yep here we are, the pro's . . .

The ride was fun we saw some good costumes, some odd things, and ate some good treats. The first leg was no problem, and the first rest stop was really unnecessary except to go to the bathroom, and to regroup with Suz who wasn't too far behind.

The second leg was definitely more hilly, but nothing too bad, the area around Longmont is beautiful and I can see why a lot of cyclists go out that way for some long rides. Heather, Suz and I regrouped again where we needed to cross onto Hwy 36 - Suz had minor mechanical difficulty, her chain fell off in mid-hill - UGH! So she just walked it up the rest of the hill, how frustrating. . . In the group waiting to cross onto the Highway someone was saying the that we only had one more hill.

They lied. The next few miles were rolling hills, but again nothing too killer and actually no real downs, just up until it leveled out and then up again. I rode the middle and had Heather and Suz in my sights at most times. Then it was back across the highway and downhill the rest of the way. There was another rest stop - with some awesome chocolate. Truffle brownie combination things which I could have stayed and eaten all day. . .
Oh and we regrouped with the first group again. . .
It was home free to the finish. I had to laugh though at one point we're riding along about 25 miles in and Suz says, "20 more to go" I think she's insane, talking about something else, or even worse at math than I am. We're blocks from the finish and she says that her GPS is saying we only went 18 miles so far. After we're done she's showing Leslie (who she bought the Garmin from) and turns out the Suz was looking at her calorie burn for the ride and not mileage! But nevertheless we were done . . .
and we grabbed some lunch . . .

Before heading for home.

At one point during the ride I'm struck with the thought of what I'm doing and who I've become. I'm now someone that gets a group of girlfriends together to go do a 35 mile bike ride. 5 years ago, I didn't even ride a bike, and I couldn't have gone 5 miles without being out of breath. And I sure didn't have these amazing women around me to share in this journey with me. It's great to have all kinds of friends for all the moments of your life, but it just goes to show that if you suround yourself with the type of people you want to become - so you shall. I'm very proud of myself and my accomplishments and I'm always looking forward to the next adventure.

A good time was had by all, and I think next year I can talk everyone easily into a longer ride. But for now the focus switches back to running - One month until the DuWop Duathlon!

Laundry

2009-08-28T17:48:00.003-07:00

This is what laundry looks like in a house were two people live and workout pretty much every day.

We have a special hamper for just workout clothes because we use special laundry soap that really helps get rid of stinky sweat smell, called Penguin Sport Wash and helps take care of all that quick-dry sport gear which you're not supposed to stick in the dryer either.

This is what about a week looks like at my house :

Not too shabby

2009-08-28T12:54:00.003-07:00

Just did my grocery shopping for the next week . . .

30% of my food bill was produce

29% was protein - eggs and meat

The rest was a few canned goods (ie tomato paste, kidney beans), Jays bagels, Megan's Texas Toast for French Toast, Toothpaste and dairy - yogurt, OJ, cheese, and etc.

Thinking that's not a bad breakdown.

Team Tokyo Joes

2009-08-27T06:56:00.004-07:00

Only 3 days left until Team Tokyo Joe's hits 35 miles of the streets of Longmont/Boulder. I'm very excited and think this will be a lot of fun. Aid stations along the way are said to have chocolate!!! Anyone can ride 35 miles with chocolate to fuel them right? I'm already thinking of the 65 miler for next year!

Actually I know that I can ride 35 miles, since my friend Heather and I went out for a test run a couple of weekends ago and it was no problem - we threw in a couple of good hills, so the only worry at this point will be the hills along the route on Sunday. We even had a flat tire, Heather's, along the way and we stopped and changed it like pros - thank you Sonja! And considering that same weekend Lance Armstrong was in the Colorado mountain town of Leadville (think 10,000 feet above sea level) doing a 100 mile mountain bike race (along with kick-ass trainer & friend Cyndi!) and he got a flat tire and didn't even know how to change it! But he still won the race by something like 30 minutes - on a flat tire! But I've decided I'm having another flat tire party and inviting Lance. Oh and there was that one minor point where I tried to kill myself, by coming into a roundabout way too fast. How I stayed upright I have no idea, although the guy that happened to be behind Heather and I commented that it must have been my athletic skill and agility. I liked him. Don't we look impressive though.

Then speaking of chocolate, I'm done. I'm going sugar-free again (in terms of junk food) again starting August 31st. I will not have any junk food, sweets, or treats again until October 25th (my birthday - a girl has got to have birthday cake and ice cream, right?) These 55 days will be known as "No Junk in the Trunk".

I went sugar-free over the summer for about 30 days and I felt great, my training was fantastic, and I just felt great . . . that is until I got sick for about 3 weeks straight and all was lost. And now I'm back to being a sugar addict.

I don't know if my training was doing so well because of the lack of sugar or not but I know it didn't hurt.

So if you want to join me in making a change in your life too I'd love the company. Katie, has said she will join in - but I'll leave it up to her to explain what she's decided to give up. My friend Amy, has already given up the sugar this month - Go Amy!!!

Textbook Case

2009-08-20T04:28:00.002-07:00

I saw this this morning on an email I got from Active.com - this is me to a T - no wonder I have problems. Guess I just need to get faster.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

What It Is: Pain and stiffness around the kneecap

You're at Risk: Women who run a 10-minute-per-mile pace or slower

Why: Ideally, your kneecap glides smoothly in the groove at the end of your thighbone. But because women have more flexible joints and a more extreme angle from hip to knee (called the Q angle) than men, their kneecaps are more likely to fall out of alignment. Pain intensifies at slower speeds because the knee goes through less range of motion, putting more demand on a smaller area of the joint.

Prevent It: Strengthen your quads, hamstrings, and glutes with squats and lunges to stabilize your kneecaps and help keep the pelvis level while you run.

Others at Risk: Runners who overpronate, have flat feet or high arches

Schedule change

2009-08-18T07:01:00.002-07:00

After 4 years I'm going to make a change. For the past 4 years my office days have been Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today I have officially decided to change them to Mondays and Wednesdays. The reason for this change is that Megan will be attending school 4 days this year and by doing that it effectively kills my ability to attend my favorite spin class. She now has school that day and the drop off time is 15 minutes after spin class starts.

I'm very thankful that the attorneys that I work for allow me such great flexibility that I can make this change.

So my work and workout schedule will now look like this (does anything else matter?):

Monday: Work from 9:30 - 1:30 then 4 pm yoga with my fav spin instructor

Tuesday: 10-11 CWW Running Team (I'll have to tell you more about this later)

Wednesday: Work from 9:30 - 1:30 then some recovery work in the afternoon

Thursday: Ride if the weather's nice, maybe a chance of fav spin instructor @12:15 (which will mean running from class to pick up Megan at 1:30 sweaty and stinky), or 5 pm Spin class with my favorite personal trainer and close 2nd favorite spin instructor

Friday: Circuit training with Amy

Saturday: Long run with the CWW Running Team

Sunday: Upper body, a circuit, Ride outdoors - or rest

Fingers crossed that this new plan works! It gets kicked into action on August 31st - at which time I think sugar will be a goner yet again. (More to come on that later too.)

An Oldy but a Goodie

2009-08-14T09:32:00.002-07:00

The following is a post I originally did back in March 1, 2006. I repost it today as we get ready to head down to Colorado Springs so that my husband can run his 6th consecutive Ascent. Since late post Jay's running accomplishments have continued to increase, his running has gotten even faster, the distances longer, the weather for the Ascents have gotten even worse (including last year when there was a snowstorm which turned around the majority of the runners, except those very few quick ones, including Jay that made it to the top - where Jay reported it looked like a triage unit of hypotherma victims. Thankfully he was okay), and he's even that much more of a freak - but you got to love him. I do.

Jay is officially registered this morning for his 3rd Pikes Peak Ascent. For those of you how don't know the Ascent is a foot race from starting in Manitou Springs, Colorado at the base of Pikes Peak to the summit.

The first year Jay ran the race, he had to be in the 2nd wave of runners because he didn't know how fast he could do it. (They estimate that to complete the Ascent, a half marathon, that you take your best marathon time and add 15 minutes.) Jay had never run a marathon before. Jay ran that first race, in which it was snowing at the summit in 3 hours and 45 minutes, meeting his goal to do it in under 4 hours so he could be in the 1st wave.

Last year, it was pouring rain and miserable out and Jay completed the race in 3 hours and 43 minutes. Thankfully my in-laws were at the summit to pick him up so he didn't need to wait around to ride back down in a transport van. He just missed a massive hail and lightening storm which endangered and stranded a lot of runners.

This year his predicted finish time is 3 hours and 15 minutes.

I, his self-appointed trainer and coach (those who can't do teach, right?), have convinced him to set up his goals and map out his training runs planning for the Ascent which is at the end of August. Last year, I impressed upon him the same, but he managed to ignore me for several more months - that and something about a new baby in the house, lack of sleep, blah, blah, blah.

The thing that always gets me about Jay and his running is that he is so freaking good without even trying. Jay started running several years ago when I decided to try running (to lose weight of course). He whined and complained about how he hates running, but went with me anyway - what a good husband. Then I ended up with knee surgery and he went on to become a very good and fast runner. He does 5K's like they're nothing. A 7 minute mile is not the completely foreign concept to him, as it is to me. As an example. This last summer I was training and training and training to get up to do the Race for the Cure 5K. Jay would stay home with Megan while I'd go run in the mornings. By the time the Race was approaching, my knees were hurting me so bad, I was back in physical therapy. We still went out for the Race for the Cure (the one in Denver is one of the largest in the country this year with approximately 65,000 participants). Jay decided that he was going to run it with Megan in the stroller while I walked it with my best friend, Denise.

This freak of a husband of mine ran this 5K, pushing a stroller and dodging 65,000 people (granted most where behind him) in under 30 minutes.

This year, Jay will also be attempting his 2nd Marathon, this time in Chicago in October - yippee, I get to go to Chicago for my birthday! In addition, he'll most likely be running the Colorado Outward Bound relay again (3rd time as well - assuming that the team survived the winter. The Relay is a 10 person, 24 hour race in September halfway across Colorado and over usually 3 mountain passes. And my husband the freak, is the anchor that always asks for the hardest legs - meaning those over the mountain passes (sometimes in the middle of the night). And there'll be some smaller races just for fun and training as well.

I'm so proud of him and what he's accomplished, but I'm not finished pushing him either. He is fully aware of my semi-annual speech, about how talented he is and what he could accomplish if he actually trained with some consistency and plan. And how much is bugs me when he just wings it and still places in races. I have to bust my ass to accomplish anything, I have no natural talents that I have discovered so far in my 34 years of trying, and to waste such ability just pisses me off.

But God do I love that freak!

Going Old School

2009-08-12T14:15:00.002-07:00

I added some new songs to my shuffle for my workouts and decided to go a little deep:

1) Black Betty by Ram Jam
2) Smooth by Santana
3) Radar Love by Golden Earring

And I have to say the best descent song out there is:

Stone Cold Crazy by Metallica

I was coming down Deer Creek Canyon (steep 2-lane mountain road). I climbed for 1 hour (which was not the top) and turned around and came down for close to 20 minutes at top speeds of 35 mph. Stone Cold Crazy comes on and it was perfection! As my friends that have ridden with me will readily attest - I love descending and have no fear. I live for the speed.

I Am Iron Girl

2009-08-10T14:19:00.003-07:00

For those who are familiar with the Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osborne song - Iron Man, you will understand that I could not consider the title of the 5k race that I did on Saturday without in a deep voice saying, "I am Iron Girl". But I digress, before I even start. This past Saturday I ran the Alfac Iron Girl 5k in Denver City Park. I'd heard it was a good race, our plans changed and we were actually home for the weekend, some girl friends of mine agreed to do it with me and the next thing you know I was registered.

Friday, I did hot yoga for the 2nd week in a row and for the second week in a row, my calves were really tight. That doesn't happen with not-hot yoga, so I don't know what's going on there, but come Saturday morning I woke up and I knew my knee was not my friend. It was stiff and achy, but screw it - who needs a knee I have a race to run.

So I get my most comfy running shorts, my favorite running socks, my only running shoes, decide on a shirt that will keep my the coolest - I wonder what to eat since I normally don't eat before a 3 mile run but I normally am back before the 8:30 start time of this race. I decide on the good ol' stand-by of toast with PB and Honey. Jay gets himself ready, we both get Megan's stuff ready and then I rudely pull her from her nice warm comfy bed and put her in the car and we head off to pick up my friend Christen and go to the race.

The only weird part about the race is you had to "build your own goodie bag" but the line moved quickly and it was worth it for the nice shirts they were giving out (however, NEWS FLASH: It is not necessary to have pink shirts for women's only events. Really. I am collecting far too many pink shirts, and I don't care for pink. Although as Jay points out I could have a bunch of white shirts like he has.)After we build our goodie bags we find our friend Megan (aka Big Megan as not to get confused with my daughter Megan - which is such a bad nickname for her since she is this tiny little petite thing, but Old Megan, just doesn't seem right either)

We looked for our friend Sonja, but didn't see her before the race and we were nowhere near the front of the pack at the start line where she was lining up. We chatted for a bit after choosing where to line up at total random, were quiet for the National Anthem and then the gun was off and immediately we got split up. I saw Big Megan once again for a split second and lost her again until an out and back after the 2nd mile. Right when I thought I'd totally lost Christen, I realized she was running directly in front of me, but I was breathing too hard to say anything to her and eventually she was gone too. I saw her again at the out and back portion - we high-fived and that was it until the finish. I did spot Sonja once about a half mile in - she was at about the 1 mile marker across the park and looked to be in about 4th or 5th place. Other than that it was just me for the run.

I'd wished I'd brought my music but I entertained myself with people watching, wondering what some people thought wearing jean shorts to run in, avoiding those people that would race pace me and then I would pass again while they were walking, and being thankful that I didn't run the Mother/Daughter division with Megan as I passed more than one Mother/Daughter duo with the daughter crying and wanting to quit. Jay and Megan made it around to see me at 4 different points around the course, and I looked forward to each time seeing Megan on Jay's shoulders shouting, "Go, Mommy, Go!"

I keep glancing at my watch and noting that my pace was too fast, but I seemed unable to do a damn thing about it. The negative splits that I had done so well at my last 5k would not be happening for this race at all.

But in the end I crossed the finish line, without having to stop and walk once - which was impressive given the number of times I considered it. And I got my first medal! I've never done a race before that gave out medals.

Big Megan, Christen, Jay and Megan were all there waiting for me - we congratulated each other and then got down to business: breakfast.

All in all it was a fun race. I was shocked when I got home and looked at my 5k time from earlier this summer to find that I beat it by 3 seconds, despite how awful I felt. A new PR! 34:18.

Now back to bike riding - Venus de Miles is on August 31st. 35 miles here we come!

Flat Tire Party

2009-08-07T03:47:00.004-07:00

This post is not about beer, not entirely, that would be FAT tire - but I did have one (2 drinks in 2 nights, I'm such a lush!) . . .

In November last year I bought my road bike, because I got tired of being passed all the time on my mountain bike. Now I get passed all the time on my road bike, but that's besides the point. So now I'm out there and I'm riding for longer distances on this machine that little by little I'm getting to know a bit better. I know how to clean and lube it and make some minor adjustments. And, in theory, I know how to change a flat tire. I used to patch and fix my tires all the time on my Schwinn when I was 10, but somewhere along the line I lost that confidence.

So some girlfriends and I took a Women's Basic Bike Maintenance Course at REI a couple of months back and again I heard, in theory, how to change a flat tire. But I'm one of those people that until I actually do it and get my hands dirty - I don't feel like I've really learned it.

This realization led me to think that I needed to have a party where my girlfriends come over and we sit around, drink beer and practicing changing out flat tires. And finally, this week . . . that's just what I did.

I sent out an invite to my fellow bike chics and was excited that Susan, Gaye, and Heather could all could make it. I ordered pizza, had them bring their kids so they could keep my kid entertained, and then the best thing of all happened - we got an expert to join us. My friend Sonja - athlete extraordinaire (read: winner of 1/2 Ironman Rage in the Sage, currently training for full Ironman Canada in 2 weeks, invited to the Triathlon World Championships in Australia, and on and on and on) - joined us as well.

Sonja was awesome and such a great teacher she walked us through it all was very patient with all of our questions, gave us lots of hands on experience (as evidenced by the fact we were all covered in bike grease by the end of the night). Also, I want to give a shout out to all the kids, all 7 of them, they were amazingly well-behaved and left all us mommies be so we could learn our stuff - they made full use of Megan's giant playset and I never imagined that having all the kids there would have worked as well as it did. Thank you.

Now I feel totally confident if and when I get a flat tire on the side of the road that I will know exactly what I need to do to fix the problem and keep on riding - and it doesn't involve sitting around waiting for a boy to show up.

My Concerts

2009-08-05T05:04:00.004-07:00

Last night I had a great time out with some girlfriends, we drank (yes, even I tried my first ever Cosmo - thanks Megan!), we laughed, we toasted Suz's birthday and Julie's (we miss you!!!) and the question came up about first and best concerts. And I didn't know (but I was close I guessed my 2nd as my first, had to laugh when I was reminded of my very first concert), but the truth is I don't remember my past very well and I need some nudging and reminders. So this morning I dug out my "box of memories" and pulled out all my concert tickets in there and this is what I've got in chronological order ('cause I'm anal like that). Also at the end is a couple of concerts I know I saw but the ticket stubs are MIA.

06/16/86 - Krokus/Keel, Colorado Springs City Auditorium
09/28/87 - Motley Crue - McNichols Arena, Denver
02/12/88 - Def Leppard - McNichols Arena, Denver
04/03/99 - Whitesnake - McNichols Arena, Denver
07/30/88 - Monsters of Rock, Mile High Stadium, Denver
08/13/88 - Def Leppard w/ Europe - Red Rocks ** Best place to see a concert
02/22/91 - Scorpions - McNichols Arena, Denver
05/04/91 - Slaughter w/ Firehouse - Air Force Academy Fieldhouse, Colo Spgs
07/11/91 - Guns & Roses - McNichols Arena, Denver ** Worst Concert
11/24/91 - Queensryche - McNichols Arena, Denver
06/26/93 - Lollapalooza - Fiddlers Green, Denver
10/16/95 - David Bowie w/ Nine Inch Nails - McNichols Arena, Denver
08/31/98 - Jonny Lang & Buddy Guy - Red Rocks
08/17/99 - BB King Blues Festival - Fiddlers Green, Denver
07/30/01 - Eric Clapton - Pepsi Center, Denver
08/14/01 - BB King Blues Festival - Fiddlers Green, Denver
08/13/02 - BB King Blues Festival - Fiddlers Green, Denver
08/07/03 - BB King Blues Festival - Fiddlers Green, Denver
08/01/04 - Van Halen (David Lee Roth) - Pepsi Center, Denver
08/16/05 - BB King Blues Festival - Fiddlers Green, Denver
02/14/07 - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band - Pepsi Center, Denver
04/03/07 - Kenny Wayne Sheppard w/ the Blues Great - Odgen Theatre, Denver

I know I've also seen:

Kenny Wayne Sheppard at the Fillmore w/ Mark Selby ** Best Concert Ever
Dokken at the Paramount - reunion tour
Nickelback at Fiddlers Green
Areosmith at Fiddlers Green
Van Halen w/ Sammy Hagar
I feel like I've seen the Scorpions a million times but maybe cause the were opening acts and I remember that Great White opened for someone.
I know there's more but my stash of ticket stubs nor my memory are revealing them to me this morning.

* edited 9/28/09 - remembered the Bob Seger Concert

Do I stay or do I go

2009-08-04T11:38:00.002-07:00

You know how sometimes you've been away for so long that you don't know how to come back? There's so much you should have said but didn't. Do you try and make up for all that lost time or just start fresh. Or do you just decide that it's better to leave things alone and walk away.

I'm so sorry blog. I didn't mean to blow you off like this but I did and I don't know if I should try again or just cut ties and go.

Hmmmmm. . . .

2 weeks later . . .

2009-06-15T05:32:00.002-07:00

Two weeks ago all was going along fantastic, my training was near perfect, my intake of sugar was non-existent and then BAM! Life hits.

My 4 year-old daughter got sick with a bad cold (who knew snot could come out your eyes???) and so that severely hampered my ability to do much of anything. I couldn't go to the gym because she couldn't go into the Kids Club and come evening time when my husband would get home I was so exhausted that I just didn't have the energy myself to go workout. But I couldn't blame her cold for long but soon it was my cold, as well. Which I can say that I'm still trying to get over today but at least I know I'm finally back on the way up. So since the 1st of June my workouts consisted of that Monday - I did an hour of recoery cardio (yawn, boring, hate it), Thursday the cold had hit but I was going stir crazy and put her in the jog stroller and went for a walk/jog to the RedBox to get her a movie and back (1.9 miles), Friday Megan was doing a bit better so she went to Kids Club and I went to spin class. Spin felt decent at the time but was a huge mistake and I felt HORRIBLE from that point on. Sunday we had the Elephant Rock bike tour which we'd registered for weeks ago, thank goodness we'd only registered for the 7 mile family ride. I made Jay put Megan's seat on his bike and after that 30 minutes of exercise I came home and napped for 3 hours. Then by Friday I was starting to feel a little human and went out on a bike ride with a couple of friends, one of which is very pregnant, so I knew that would force me to slow down, which I needed. And that felt so good just to get out and was a huge plus for my mental health that I went again with another friend, who is just starting to ride and again would force me to slow down, on Saturday. Saturday night I actually slept through the night for the first time in over a week! So this week I'm going to try and ease back into my workouts again.

But wait, wasn't I training for a duathlon? Why, yes I was. And no, I didn't do it. It was a really hard decision to make but I decided that pushing myself for 2 hours for the race would set me back even further and it was best just to get over this cold and start training for the next one. I was pretty depressed for a few days last week, making that decision, being sick, and everything else I'd had to cancel over the past 2 weeks: 2 facial appts (the original and the reschedule), a shopping trip with girlfriends, a girls night out, many workouts, work, group bike rides, etc.

So my goal is to run for the first time since May 31st this coming Friday for 2-3 miles and just see how much ground I've lost. Then I can start looking for the next race.

And finally, SUGAR. The 33 days of no sugar have come and gone. How did I do? Not too bad, considering. I made it 23 days totally free and clear. On the night of girls night at the Melting Pot I had a 7-up since I could feel the cold coming in my throat, but I did not have any of the chocolate fondue. Over the next 2 weeks I had countless glasses of Diet 7-up since that's all that ever seems to sound/feel good when I have a cold and lose my voice(which for me is a given with any cold). I also with absolute purpose went out to DQ one night because my throat hurt so bad. (I did ended up going to the doctor at one point last week because my throat was so swollen I couldn't eat anything solid - no strep just swollen glands). And I caved the night after Elephant Rock and had some Frozen Yogurt when we went to dinner at Sweet Tomatos that night (although I didn't have the cookie that came with our lunch after the ride.) I'm sure there were some other bites of sugar that happened over the last two weeks that I'm forgetting - but all in all not too bad.

So what now? I did have some birthday cake on Saturday at a friends and a mini Snickers (not even funsize) that'd been in our freezer for weeks (end of day 33), I've had a bite of Megan's cookie at Tokyo Joe's on Sunday. So I think I will see what a renewed attempt at moderation looks like, now that I know I can survive without it. But what I haven't done is weigh myself and I have no intention of doing so. I plan to leave the scale in the cupboard and have decided that other numbers are more important to me: pace, speed, distance, races, workouts, friends (not all necessarily in that order!)

21 days done

2009-06-01T14:40:00.004-07:00

I've been dessert, candy, treat, sugar free for 21 days now and what am I craving most in 12 days??? The scale.

Not ice cream, not a cookie, not even creme brulee. I want to know what I weigh. That seems so wrong and I don't think it's really had any effect on my weight. Nor has all this training I'm doing. Some clothes fit a little bit better but I'm not seeing any significant changes but then again I was the last one to see it when I'd lost the weight equivalent of a 3rd grader.

I've decided I can't weigh myself before my race on Day 33, the last and final day of this challenge, because that's what I need is some emotional baggage before a big race. But then if I don't then I can't weigh until the next morning, so does that mean that I can't eat any sugar after my race? What a sad, pathetic person I am to even care and perhaps I should just never weigh again.

Seriously, think about it: my training is kicking ass, I feel great, I've gone 3 weeks without knowing and what difference does that make?

A lot, actually. I think I, like most women, are so attached to that number on the scale that we can't think straight regardless of what it says. It's above the magic number? Oh Crap! Stop eating! Get to the gym! More exercise! Bust out the fat pants!

The number below that magic number? Wow, Nice Job! I think I'll reward myself with this Twinkie. I can handle it. I think I'll skip the gym today and buy some new clothes in a smaller size that I know I'll be wearing soon.

And heaven help us if it is on the magic number. What?!? Still? What about all my hard work? I didn't even have seconds last night? I'm so depressed I think I'll watch TV with a box of Ding Dongs.

So enough of my inner turmoil, but think I have to say I'm leaning toward the not weighing at all - ever, ever again and one day I'll just get over myself.

So I had to steal this from Katie:

This what Laurie looks like 5:30 am before a 5 1/2 mile run and 15 1/2 mile bike ride:

And this is Laurie after:

Not as dramatic as Katie's but it was fun. And speaking of fun, I won't say that doing the run/ride brick is fun, but it does seem to be getting better, a little tiny bit. And I did find I was looking forward to it and a little bummed that I had to wait until Sunday to do it because I didn't have time Saturday morning. I've got 12 days until my duathlon and I'm feeling really good about it - not that I'll win, place or be anywhere near the front, but that I'll finish, have fun and be proud of my effort.

Feeling a Mid-Life Crisis Coming

2009-06-01T06:47:00.003-07:00

And it will probably look something like this:

Days 16 & 17

2009-05-28T13:23:00.002-07:00

Guess I should have posted again sooner looking at my last post looks like I was totally about to bite it off the back of the wagon and be dragged behind for a few 100 feet. But rest assured that all is well - I'm still a sugar addict, but I'm still clean after 17 days. I'm halfway there!!!

I guess it was more of a boredom thing than a PMS thing. I've been really busy since Tuesday following Memorial Day weekend and sugar hasn't really been an issue.

I did have one - OH SH*T! moment today when I realized that next week's Girls Night Out will be at the Melting Pot and that means no chocolate fondue for me - WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO?!?!

Also this week, I don't know if my training has really reached a peak, or this no sugar thing has really started to take effect, but I have had an awesome week of training so far. I had track practice on Tuesday night and blew away my assigned goal times by almost a full minute for each of my 1k intervals and then on Wednesday I felt strong enough to add in a second lap for each of my sprints into my weight/cardio circuit workout that - normally I only do one and last week because I was feeling some knee pain I did the eliptical instead. Today I got up at dawn and went for an hour and half bike ride which was such a great way to start out the day. I hope it's not so much a peak as a new level since I don't need to peak 3 weeks before my race - that would suck!

On my ride today I was struck by a few random thoughts:

- My bike still needs a name, initially it was White Lightening but that doesn't feel right. I Love Rock & Roll came on the tunes and I thought I should name my bike "Joan". Joan Jett. But I'm not sure that's girly enough for my bike - it's pretty damn girly looking. Then after I about hit my 4th bunny rabbit of the morning I decided that "Bunny Basher" was probably a better name.

- People who workout in the morning are a happy bunch of people - lots of "Good mornings" and smiles to and from all the other bikers, joggers and walkers I saw out today.

- I'm really liking a quote that I've heard a few times in the last few months from the actor, Will Smith: It's easier to stay ready than get ready.

Days 14 & 15

2009-05-26T06:09:00.003-07:00

Hi my name's Laurie and I'm a PMS'ing Sugar Addict who hasn't had any freakin' sugar in 15 days!! What the hell was I thinking?!?!?

Let's just say this weekend was a bit tough and I don't see any relief for a week or so. Not sure how much of the problem is PMS and how much of it was that I had too much down time this weekend. I don't do well unless I'm busy - I am a big time boredom eater. And all weekend Jay was working on the house getting it ready for someone to come paint the exterior. It took way longer than he figured and so we didn't end up doing anything this weekend. I spent the entire weekend watching and taking care of Megan and waiting for him to be done. So not a good thing for me.

Going into Day 16 and I will stay busy and strengthen my resolve - I'm about halfway there.

Days 11, 12 & 13 & Tokyo Joe's

2009-05-24T05:48:00.008-07:00

13 wasn't so unlucky, I may still be a sugar addict but I'm still clean.

The last few days weren't bad, but this is starting to get tedious. I'm tired of saying no. There have been a lot of cookies that have passed in front of, rather than into, me. We went to one of our favorite places for dinner/lunch, Sweet Tomatoes, which is a big build-your-own salad, pasta, soup bar and they have a frozen yogurt machine for dessert and I love that after my meal but I said no since I'm not doing substitutes either and I know frozen yogurt is still yogurt with a lot of sugar in it, real or fake.

Yesterday was my big workout day where I ran again 6 miles, and this week followed it with a 10 mile bike ride. I didn't do the same hilly route that I did last week, which helped considerably I'm sure. I still didn't feel strong but I wasn't stumbling the last mile either. So I'm still holding to the plan of keeping this distance each Saturday (adding bike miles) until I feel more comfortable. I have 2 more Saturdays to train before the next duathlon, The Big Sky Duathlon. The distance for that is a 2 1/2 mile run, a 15 1/2 mile bike, and another 2 1/2 mile run. My working theory is that if I keep running 6 miles and work up to a 15 mile bike that I'll be fine. The bike route is very flat and the bike is my strength so I'm not worried about that. And the 2nd transition to run doesn't worry me since I'm so warmed up at that point it doesn't hurt my knees. And I'm thinking (dangerous territory, I know) that if I'm running 6 miles and biking consistently leading up to the race that the race will actually seem easier than what I'm doing now. I will let you know in 3 weeks if my theory holds true.

What I can't seem to figure out it where that runners high is and where all the energy I'm supposed to have after working out goes. On Saturdays after my long workout I'm done for and good for nothing for the rest of the day.

So enough of that stuff now on to the most exciting thing to have happened in a long time. First a little back story: Some friends of mine and I all take a spin class together on Wednesday mornings, over the winter we each got a road bike. I made a pitch to them a couple of months ago that we all do this women's only bike tour at the end of August called the Venus de Miles which is not a race but just a supported ride. They have 3 distances 32, 50 and 62 miles - I was campaigning for the 50 miles but the 32 miler was agreed upon on since at least a couple in our group hadn't even ridden a real bike in years before buying their road bike. So here we are all signed up for this ride and starting our training and I hatched this plan that we should all have matching jerseys for the ride and be a team. I first spoke to the cycling director at our gym since we all have that in common, but while she was excited and understanding she did not think the owner of the gym would go for donating jerseys to us at this time. So then our spin instructor suggested some places that do custom jerseys, but I was hesitant to take on the challenge of thinking up an idea and then designing something that everyone would agree on.

The one day after spin class when we make our fairly regular trip to Tokyo Joe's for lunch, it hit me while I was ordering my ever-yummy Nikko Salad that Joes has a their own pro-bike team so I asked if they sell their jerseys. She said no, not in the store, but I should email Larry, The Man, at Tokyo Joe's and ask him. I thought that sounded a little crazy, emailing the president of a company, but for some reason when I got home I did just that - I sent him a very short email simply saying:

A group of friends of mine and I are doing the Women’s ride up in Longmont at the end of the summer called Venus de Miles and are looking for a cool jersey for us all to wear to be a “team” and we were thinking a Tokoyo Joe’s jersey
would be cool, since we are largely fueled by our addiction to Nikko Salads. Do
you sell your jersey’s to the public,and how can we get some?

I didn't even expect a response but I got one the very next day saying:

Fun ... Tell me your sizes and we'll see if we have some of last year's team jerseys for you all.

So after a few more emails back and forth - sometimes more than a couple of weeks apart, making me think that the whole thing had fallen apart - I went on Friday to my favorite Joes location with one of my "team", Heather, and was handed a bag full of pro team jerseys AND shorts - just like their team wore last year!! I can't believe how very cool the whole experience has been and how great and generous the Tokyo Joe's company to a bunch of strangers. I was already an addict for their food (love me some Nikko Salads and MoJoe bowls) as is my husband and my 4-year old daughter, but I will be singing their praises even louder now and proudly be wearing my new gear.

It does exist!

2009-05-22T07:05:00.002-07:00

Ever have a memory of a place that you swore you'd been to as a child and couldn't remember where it was. I have this it was fairytale garden and I remember a pair of red shoes that danced by themselves in this big Plexiglas cube and a frog prince that spit a fountain of water out at you when you walked by - oh the wonderful things that sticks in a child's memory. Well I swore I'd asked my family before about this place and nobody knew what I was talking about making feel like I was going crazy with these memories. But last week when sitting down at the table with my whole immediate family I asked again and my mom immediately knew what I was talking about and I made her write down the name of the place Marchengarten in Ludwigsburg, near Stuttgart, Germany (my dad was military and stationed in Stuttgart)

I'm not crazy!!!

SEE!!

Day 10

2009-05-21T16:24:00.002-07:00

I'm still clean, but I had a real urge yesterday for a blizzard from DQ (Katie does that count as an drive-thru no-no? Some have drive thrus.)

Last night I did my first ever club ride, which was actually pretty fun. I'd gotten a sitter so my husband could join me - interesting what our idea of a date has evolved into over the years. I rushed around in the afternoon getting tires inflated, gear loaded and bikes on top of the car (a feat for me which requires a step stool) then I got dinner made for the sitter and little one and finished making our beds since I'd washed sheets and mattress pads earlier in the day. Jay came home changed clothes while I was prepping the sitter and we were off. The meet up point was only a couple of miles from our house and if it wasn't the first one and I'd had some idea what to expect we would have just ridden over there (but then of course that would be the day that Jay got stuck at work on the phone with a client or something).

It was a very small group - told they are usually much larger but in all there were 5of us - I was the only girl - go me! We headed out and I spent the first couple of miles chatting with the leader and then realized I'd forgotten to turn on my nifty new Garmin so which was a minor bummer.

We headed down C-470 to the Chatfield Reservoir which is a pretty easy downhill most of the way despite a strong headwind. We cruised up to the top of the dam back around and back up and over then headed for home. There was one part where I thought the crosswind would blow me off my bike, but I didn't have to worry for too long because it became a headwind again - how is that possible both coming and going?? By the end I was pretty tired and ready to be done (I am so not an evening workout person), we'd gone 20 miles (got some work to do to be ready for 32 miles at the end of August, but I can do it), ridden an hour and a half, gone through 1,217 ft of elevation gain, and burned more than 850 calories. And my first thought as we finished? Man, a DQ Blizzard would be so great right now!

Needless to say, or perhaps I do, but I did not have any ice cream - I was thankful that I'd made dinner beforehand so we had something to heat and eat after we got Megan to bed (unfortunately it wasn't a very good recipe and I won't be using it again).

So the next question is - Do I feel brave enough to try one of the hill climb rides? Well do you, Punk?

Day 9

2009-05-20T13:19:00.002-07:00

Yep, it's still me and I'm still a Sugar Addict. I've made it 9 days now and no desserts, sweets or treats.

Last night I turned down dessert that came with my meal (as well as the free glass of wine that did too - but see Day 6 as to why that's so not a big deal). I'm starting to think this is a little easier than I anticipated it being. I think it's easier to abstain than to moderate yourself. I still have 24 days to go but I have no idea what will happen after this. I'm interested to see where this experiment leads. Do I: A) continue to abstain, B) make some attempt at moderation again C) take it to a new level and include other sugar sources? I'm pretty sure it's not going to be C, A doesn't sound like much fun and B sounds like a recipe for disaster.

On the fitness front I didn't work out at all - unless you consider a whole heap load of housecleaning. I missed track practice to take a friend out for dinner for her birthday and I'm thinking at this point I'm not going to make this one up - give my legs a little recovery and pick it back up next week. Still have my long run/short bike planned for Saturday. Today (Day 10) I skipped spin class, which I love and hold sacred - but in exchange for my first attempt at my gym's outdoor group ride. I got a sitter and Jay's coming too. But I'm a little nervous, less for how I'll do since I've never done a group ride, but more because I sacrificed spin class and it's looking a little like rain.

This is me!

2009-05-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Quote from Runner's World Newbie Chronicle's article:

The only thing running hasn't changed is running itself. I would have guessed that by now it would be easier for me to do. It isn't. People say the run gets easier, but people say aliens abduct you in the desert too.

Days 6, 7, & 8

2009-05-19T05:02:00.004-07:00

Hi, my name's Laurie, and I'm a Sugar Addict. I've been clean now for 8 days.

I survived Day 6 which involved a 6 mile run + some bike brick workout, followed by my first ever ice bath (thanks Gaye!), Megan's soccer game, a birthday party and a BBQ - all without eating any sugary crap. Although of note, which I wouldn't even note except that Jay burst out laughing at me, is that I had an alcoholic beverage (some Mojito in a bottle which was nothing like a real Mojito) at the BBQ. Yes, I know that alcohol is pure sugar - but I'm not too concerned with my alcohol consumption since I have one drink approximately once every 2-3 months. That is really not where my problem lies. Earlier this month at Girls Night Out - I didn't drink anything but water while everyone else did, but I did indulge in the cheesecake and chocolate cake with everyone else. I've figured out that I don't like, in general, how alcohol makes me feel or perform the following day - I have not, however, learned that valuable lesson with ice cream and cookies. And for the record, I knew that my next day was a rest day, I'd busted my ass during my workout that morning and the drink wasn't even very good - I would have rather sampled one of those little cheesecake cupcakes or cookies that people had brought, or chased down the ice cream truck with the rest of the kids.

Day 7, Sunday, was easy no issues with the exception of when we went to lunch at Tokyo Joe's I have to start letting Megan have her cookie that comes with her kids meal. She usually doesn't eat it after her meal and it ends up in my purse and forgotten by her, but found and then eaten by me at a later time.

Day 8, Monday, I was too freaking busy to even consider stopping to eat any crap. But I did go to the grocery store and wasn't swayed by anything on display - although while waiting for my turn in the checkout I was looking, not so much longingly as curious, at the display of chocolate bars. And I was disgusted by the BBQ sauce (Jay uses it like most people use ketchup and mustard) to discover that the first ingredient in most brands was HFCS - really? Gross!! I knew it was full of sugar and not good for you but really, first ingredient is Corn Syrup. Nasty!

So I move on to Day 9 - plans to go out to dinner for a friends birthday, but nothing else too scary on the agenda - or maybe the fact that it will be any easy day should be a concern - too easy to slip into mindlessness and pop a little sugary goodness in before I realize what I've done.

So I leave you with my update from my run on Saturday. I ran 6 miles - I have never run that far in my entire life - my previous PR for distance was back in January of 5 miles (then I stupidly fell of the running wagon and have had to build it all back up again). And if 6 miles wasn't hard enough for me I decided to really try a different route out and mapped out a route with a lot of freaking hills (easy to do when you live right at the base of the foothills west of Denver) - I must have my head examined. My mile times for the whole run were terrible ranging from a "best" of 11:33 to a pitiful 12:53 at the end. My last mile had to look very interesting to anyone looking out their window watching me stumble my way back to my house. I felt like I was a drunk just trying to get one foot in front of the other, then at one point my iPod blessed me with the BeeGee's Staying Alive, and you just can't help but get some strut in your step when hearing that song - so picture a stumbling drunk, being dragged by a Border Collie leashed to her waist trying to imitate John Travolta. During the run my inner conversation was either: hearing my husband and his brother talk about their running (and my sister in law's) on the car ride to The Springs on Friday - my sister in law runs the slowest of the three which is still at least a 7:30 mile, and wondering how the hell people can do that (my best ever was a 10:32, which I'm very proud of as it was the 3rd mile of a 5k, but my goal is to hit single digits one day) to the other extreme of just amazement at myself that I watched, almost out of body, as I just kept laying it down - one foot in front of the other without stopping, not once, not on the really steep hills, not when I was so exhausted that I didn't think I could do it again but my legs kept turning over - for which I'm very proud. But one question - when the HELL does this "runners high" come that everyone gets so damn excited about???? I think I felt it for about 2 seconds when I stepped into my garage after the run, but it was gone again while I put on my helmet, bike shoes, etc and left again for a quick 15 minute ride. Afterwards I was just too sore and exhausted to be proud of my effort - this Saturday will be better!

Day 5

2009-05-16T05:18:00.003-07:00

Hi my name's Laurie, and I'm a Sugar Addict. I've been clean now for 5 days.

Day 5 was easy, no problems. I went to Colorado Springs with and had lunch with my family, at my favorite burger joint - Conway's Red Top (featured as one of the few good guys in the book Fast Food Nation). Saw my mother-in-law and my grandmother-in-law (both of whom I love!) and then it was back home, where I got a nap in the car. (Jay drove, he and his brother went to play golf with their mom and grandma for Mother's Day - so I was in the backseat with Megan.) I desperately needed the nap, I didn't sleep well the night before, my legs were aching - but I can't believe I wasn't craving sugar to give me the energy boost. I also didn't workout yesterday (missed yoga, bummer!) because of this trip to see family.

Today, Day 6, is the one I'm worried about - huge workout (for me) planned followed by Megan's soccer game, my pnephew (pseudo-nephew - best friends son) 3rd birthday party, and then some friends of Jay's housewarming/BBQ for dinner. Lot's of opportunity for sugar and I suspect I'll be dragging for most of the day. I'm hoping for a nap between birthday party and BBQ if I need one.

Day 4

2009-05-15T04:44:00.002-07:00

Hi, my name's Laurie, and I'm a Sugar Addict. I have been clean now for 4 days.

Yesterday was pretty easy no real cravings so not too tough, until about 8:30 last night and I got hit with a horrible headache, which I don't know if it was related or not but Sonja who is doing this with me was complaining of headaches yesterday and today - so I have to wonder if it's related.

My biggest problem seems, right now, seems to be the not weighing part of this - I've been good for a few days now - I have to see if it's made a difference. I'm so glad I put the scale away because I could easily see me absentmindedly stepping on it to see and being totally disappointed when it doesn't show any change.

Yesterday was Megan's last day of school - one more year and she'll be in Kindergarten! I skipped out on work and went to the morning activities and then while they were having playground time/lunch ect for last couple of hours I went to the gym to snag a quick workout. I really wasn't feeling like it since my legs from the knees down are nagging me, (But not the knees!!) so I thought that I'd go a little easy. I did, for the first time on my own, the workout that the personal trainer at my gym, who kicks ass in duathlons, gave me. It involves weights interspersed with running the track or the back stairs. I didn't push the sprints too hard but still feel like I got a good workout and I'm starting to see my biceps coming back now that I'm finding time in the weight room again since all this endurance athlete crap started. And I told myself I only had to do 20 minutes if I didn't feel it - because I really wasn't but I was there for an hour and did some really good stretching after which I wish I could say this morning made a big difference, but no.

Funny story from Wednesday - I was getting dressed for spin class (and trying not to go step on the scale), and the weather here is now hot that I'm running out of clean tank/racer back tops so I opt to wear this black LiveStrong shirt that Jay got me a year or two ago which I never wear because it's weird to me to wear a black shirt with black bike shorts - I feel like I'm back to my stoner days in high school. But I put it on, figure what the hell, I'll be out of it in a couple of hours. I walk into the gym and Julia is working behind the counter (beautiful redhead with legs of steel that I covet, who is a real life roller-derby queen), she takes one look at me and says, "Wow, you look buff in that shirt." Too which I drop my jaw, recover and say, "Thanks, this is my new favorite shirt."

Day 3

2009-05-14T04:41:00.003-07:00

Hi, my name's Laurie and I'm a Sugar Addict. I've been clean for 3 days now.

And day 3 was tough! By Wednesday afternoon I'm am so beat down, exhausted and tired because I have track practice at 6 on Tuesday nights and then I go do Spin class in the morning 15 hours later which hasn't given my legs much time to recover (and boy was I feeling Tuesday night's sprints in my legs when walking into Spin today). Add on top of that this week my husband is out of town on business and so I'm single moming it (I don't know how all the amazing single moms in the world do it - I bow to you!).

After Spin I took Megan to the Art Museum for a kid's play date painting thing they were doing, then we walked a couple of blocks to the Court of Appeals so I could file something for work then walked a few more blocks back to our parking garage, stopping in a good sunny spot to have some sandwiches that I'd packed.

Then it was off to Target for a few things and MAN! was it tough wandering around the food section and past the checkouts with all those sugary sweets there for the taking. I did manage to get what I needed (and a few things that I hadn't planned on) without buying any sugar. I found that although I've limited my abstinence to dessert-like sweets that I'm looking at labels more with an eye toward sugar now more than I did before - for instance Spaghetti Sauce: sugar, sodium, so much crap you don't need - why!?!? I also wondered about the couple of other things I got that weren't on my list: a new purse for summer (I'd been thinking I needed a little bigger one since I seem to carry more during the summer - water, sunscreen, snacks) and the underwear I really like was on sale (but probably didn't need). Did I buy these things because I couldn't buy sweets, because I was tired, or would I have splurged and got them anyway?

At Target I got a couple dozen roses for Megan's teachers since today is their last day - and that's what she wanted to give them. I looked at vases but they cost as much, if not more, than the flowers. But I came up with the brilliant idea of hitting a second hand store, which we did and got 2 giant vases for $2 each. One last errand of the day to pick up our goose down comforter from the dry cleaner to pack it away for the summer, and by the time we hit home I was beat and hungry. But I had to take care of the roses before I could sit, then put away the groceries. By the time I did finally sit I soon realized I need to eat because I was starving and that wouldn't be good for my addiction.

I rallied for a bit after dinner and sent Megan outside to play in the backyard while I tried to clean the house - got the TV room done, started on my office/front room and the belt in the vacuum broke so I spent the rest of the time I had fixing that (loving that I'm anal enough to have had a spare.) Guess the kitchen floor will have to wait - yet again.

Last night after I finally got Megan bathed (paint in the hair from the art museum) and to bed (geez did we pick some loooong stories from the library this month) I was exhausted. I finished cleaning up a couple of things - sent an email to Sonja - my sister-in-strength-against-sugar and went up to bed to read (The Book Thief by Mark Zusak) and fall asleep - partly in fear that if I went the TV route that I would eat something I shouldn't.

Hope today, Day 4, I'm rested and don't have to struggle as much as I did yesterday.

Day 2

2009-05-13T06:15:00.002-07:00

Hi, my name's Laurie, and I'm a Sugar Addict. I've been clean now for 2 days.

I made it again through the day without any sugary crap passing my lips but I am amazed at how automatic the urge is. I had to go to this awesome little gourmet food place yesterday to pick up my knives that I'd dropped off for sharping and they have the most amazing dessert counter and I'm driving there and in my head pops the thought - hey, I'll just get a cookie while I'm there. And I had to stop myself and say no. I did though decide to get a sandwich for an early dinner before track practice. I'd never gotten a sandwich there before and turns out they come with a little bag of Kettle Chips, a cookie, and a mint - all of which went in the trash.

After track practice (which I worked very hard and was very proud of my times) I got home, got Megan to bed and sat down to watch the finale of Biggest Loser and I wanted a treat really badly to unwind with. Instead I found some leftover pork tenderloin with orange salsa and had that instead and I was fine. The world didn't stop turning or swallow me up.

I told my husband yesterday, via email what I'm doing, and I got the typical marathon runner response: Ok, just don't cut out all carbs. You are an endurance athlete now. You will need them. A man of so few words, but love him!

I also told my BFF, since her son's 3rd birthday party is Saturday and I figured it was easier to explain now than on Saturday when I turn down cake and ice cream - she was happy for me but not ready to take that step herself.

On to Day 3!

Day 1

2009-05-12T06:58:00.002-07:00

Yesterday went fine, no problems, but I think this is the hyper-vigilant stage. It's when this isn't so new and starts getting old and tedious that I will start struggling. We'll see how long that takes - I'm guessing soon. The only struggle with my addiction that I faced yesterday was with some Cheetos. After my ride yesterday I took my daughter to Subway for dinner and she got some Cheetos. I managed to not get a cookie or Sunchips. But it was really hard not to just pop one of those day glow orange nuggets of goodness in my mouth, but I stayed strong.

I have also found by my post yesterday some sisters in solidarity to fight this addiction along side me, which is awesome. It feels so good not to do this alone.

So since I don't have too much to report on the sugar side, I'll throw in a brief race report for a 5K that I did this past Saturday. It's was called the Highline Canal Run, which is along this beautiful trail that runs all the way diagonally across Denver. Last week a friend of mine asked if anyone wanted to join her for the 5k, I was intrigued since it is a beautiful place to run and I had actually done this race one time before back in 2003 - before children, finding the true meaning of fitness, and all this other stuff. I toyed back and forth between doing the 10k or the 5k and ultimately decided on the 5k since I was not feeling like I'd had the best week training wise (and I've never actually run 6 miles - but I'm getting there - hopefully this weekend). But so I did the race with the plan in mind of start slow, finish strong and I feel like I did just that. My final time was 34:40 and my first mile was 11:28 - I did not feel strong at this point and this felt really slow, my second felt better at 10:56, which excited me since I've never run less than an 11 minute mile, and the third mile I really decided to step it up, but several times questioned this strategy thinking I shouldn't have tried to step it up for the ENTIRE 3rd mile, but I did alright. At one point I came up on a water station and 2 women walking away from it and just as I was about to pass them they started running - the same pace as me so suddenly we were 3 abreast and I was part of their conversation which was annoying to me so my choices were slow down, which I didn't want to do, or speed up, which I wasn't sure I was capable of doing, but I dug deep found enough to sprint out ahead just enough to be in front of them. I was still close enough to hear all their conversation but I didn't feel like the 3rd party in it. I had decided to make a big push when I could see the finish for the file tenth mile of the race and just as I saw it and was ready to find an extra gear, the women behind discussed and also decided to sprint -- totally blowing me away. It was so anti-climatic but I gave it what I had and finished strong with a third mile at 10:32 - which I had no idea I was even capable of. Single digits splits here I come! Oh yeah, and my friend Megan blew me away too beating me by at least a couple of minutes. The most exciting part of the race, however, was afterwards when I looked back at my time from 2003 and saw that it was 43:44 - I'd beat my time by 9 minutes!! I feel like I've come so far and this just proved it. I love that I'm in shape enough that when someone suggests that we do a race or something else physical that I can jump in and do it without worrying if I can finish or not.

Breaking up with Sugar - Day 1

2009-05-11T05:18:00.006-07:00

Time for a change of gears. I'm not making any progress on my 10/10/20 challenge and I've realized that I need to follow my own advice. Whenever I'm asked about how to lose weight or make changes I say start small do one thing at a time don't try to do too much. For example to get started or back on track pick one thing a day and focus on just doing that so day one, get to the gym. Next, add one thing, so day 2 (or week 2 if that works better for you) is to go to the gym and drink 8 glasses of water. Then day/week 3, add another, go to the gym, drink 8 glasses of water and eat breakfast every day.

I'm realizing out loud that I have a serious problem and I need to take some serious action.

I AM ADDICTED TO SUGAR

Hi, my name is Laurie and I am an addict. I can't go a single day without sugar, be it chocolate, ice cream, cookies whatever. At least once, if not two or three, times a day I eat some sort of total crap.

I will now focus solely, well that's not entirely true, but my main focus will be to accomplish the task of eating no CRAP for the next 33 days. Between now and after my dualthon on June 13th, I will be detoxing. I will be continuing my training, getting ready for my duathlon and, I will not feed myself any CRAP.

Giving up sugar I have learned this morning a totally loaded issue that isn't easily addressed. Do you eat fake sugar? Do you eat basically normal food that happens to have sugar in it? And I have to tell you that I've spent the better half of the last 6 hours trying to figure this all out and I am so overwhelmed that I just want to sit and eat some CHOCOLATE, have a good cry and take a nap.

So obviously I'm making this too complicated and here's what I'm going to do for me, because really it's all about me. For me to be successful over the next 30 days I will refrain from eating any outright crap. Sweets, treats, etc. with real sugar or fake. This means no ice cream, no chocolate, no cake, no cookies, no candy, no cheesecake, no diet soda, no creme brule, and so on.

I will also not weigh myself over the next 33 days. This has nothing to do with weight loss really and I don't want to interpret anything I see on the scale as a positive or negative result of this goal.

Now what happens next do I skip the chocolate part and just go cry and take a nap or do I go workout?

8/10/20

2009-04-27T05:40:00.003-07:00

It's been another week and the scale has still not moved. This week I can't say that I'm terribly surprised. My compliance had dropped down to 75%. I started off well but then by the middle of the week, I lost my focus. It wasn't all out but it was not mindful. (Just now wondering how much has to do with the decision mid-week to try and sell our house and move to a different neighborhood - must check my stress level).

Again though, or rather still, my training is kicking ass. I'm feeling really good about that - so I have that to hang my hat on and feel good about.

This week I got a ride in on my road bike for an hour which included some great hill work. I ran track practice and actually hit Coach's goal for one of my 800m "sprints" - it hurt and the next/last one suffered for it. I followed track practice with a great spin class on Wednesday where I was definitely pushing. I did a good full body workout in the weight room on Thursday. Came to find inner peace and lots of stretching in yoga on Friday.

Then the highlight of the week is that I ran 4.5 miles @ a 11:09 pace. Which is awesome for me. These track workouts (or the fact that it was cold and misty out and I was numb and wanted to get home) are paying off. I distinctly had the thought as I was running the last few hundred feet that I was happy to be done, but I wasn't done. I could do more. So I'm already planning a 5 mile run for next weekend.

Yesterday several of my friends and family did a local run called the Cherry Creek Sneak and Megan and I went out to cheer them on. (I didn't run because Jay called this race as his own first and neither of us were willing to run with the jog stroller). I'm so proud of everyone that ran. My friends Leslie and Suz ran their first ever 5k race and completed the entire run without stopping. I saw some of the women from my women's running group who all did well. Jay, in typical Jay fashion, ran the 5 mile race and burned up the course breaking his goal of 35 minutes by running quicker than 7 minute miles. My sister in law also ran the 5 miler although I never did see her but her times show that she's a speed demon as well - she was only a few minutes behind Jay. I was happy to see everyone running, have a good time and meeting their goals - but I felt left out so I'm looking at a race coming up. A 10k it's in a about 3 weeks so that gives me ample time to build up to my first 10k race.

I would like to do a duathlon that's coming up on the 9th, but my training just hasn't been there. the format is run 5k, bike 18, run 5k and seeing as I haven't even run 10k but once in my life and that was months ago - I can't image going out and doing that in 14 days while throwing in an 18 mile bike ride. A bit disappointing that I didn't get myself ready for this one but I am realizing as I'm building my distances back up again that I need to keep this up and reap the rewards. If I just keep going who knows how far I can go.

And lastly, in the spirit of pushing myself I'm very excited that my gym's outdoor bike rides are going to be starting next week on Mon and Wed evenings. I have no idea if I can hang or not, since I know there are some hardcore cyclists at my gym, but it's no different from track practice. I may be at the back of the pack now the only way I'm going to move up is to keep going and pushing it. (Just need to figure out the childcare piece since it's an outside activity there's not nursery - but I've got some irons in the fire.)

So I will continue to try and clean up my diet while keeping my training in high gear.

9/10/20

2009-04-20T06:49:00.003-07:00

The first week has passed in the 10/10/20 challenge, hence the title "9"/10/20. Now you may be thinking well, if she changed the weeks why didn't she change the weight - good question. The answer is because I didn't lose any weight.

I am disappointed and a little frustrated. But I also know that the scale is a piece of crap that should be ignored and outlawed, and that by doing a challenge that seemingly the entire outcome of success will be derived from whether or not I lose 10 pounds, I'm asking for nothing but heartache.

What I do know is that I worked my ass of this week, workout-wise, and I have nothing to regret in that regard. I worked out 6 days this week. I did miss yoga this week, but replaced it with cardio since it was just a timing issue that I couldn't make the class. I ran a total of 5 miles this week, which I haven't run that much in longer than I care to recall. I ran my fastest ever mile. And I burned just over 2400 calories. Nothing here to be ashamed of at all.

I also know that my food was cleaner than it's been in recent history as well. Which could have something to do with why I didn't gain any weight. I was shooting for 90% or better compliance with food and workouts. Workouts was 100%, but Food came in at 88%. Not too shabby, but not 90% or better. Out of 26 mealtimes I had this week. I had 5 non-compliant meals that shook out like this:

4/15 # 2 - Cookie after Tokyo Joe's
4/16 #5 -1/4 Quesadilla at Chili's (salad had over 2000 mg of sodium!!!)
4/17 #3 - Noodles Mac & Cheese @ Playdate w/ piece of zucchini bread
4/18 #5 -Spaghetti w/ Salad and lots of breadsticks *tasted good, weather terrible, driving and out all day
4/19 #6 -Popcorn at the movies

So it's pretty easy for me to see here that I do fine, until I go out to eat. Tokyo Joe's is very healthy Japanese place only here in the Denver area - but after my yummy Nikko salad Megan's cookie from her kids meal was sitting there next to me half-eaten and I ate it. We went to Chili's one night after the gym in the pouring rain and I ordered the Quesadilla Explosion Salad, all the dressings on the side. I ate only half the salad, I only ate 1 piece of the Quesadilla on the side (which was gross) and the next morning I felt dehydrated and gross. I looked online and that damn salad had over 2000 mg of sodium - I don't know how much of that was the Quesadilla I didn't really eat or the dressing that I only had part of the vinaigrette - but yuck! Then there was Megan's leftover Mac & Cheese from Noodles when we were at a playdate that was just easier to eat than my own lunch. Followed that night by binging on Pillsbury breadsticks at dinner. Then there was popcorn at the movies - I need to just learn it's possible to go to the movies and not eat popcorn. I do get no butter, but I love the seasonings they have now and I know that's terrible sodium as well!

So I see some room for improvement on the food, which I will definitely work at this week. But all in all I feel good about my week because I know I'm headed in the right direction and making positive changes.

Motivation

2009-04-16T05:31:00.002-07:00

Motivation is a big deal. Without it you're not going to get very far before you just quit. People, including myself, talk about it all the time. I need to get motivated. I am so motivated by so-and-so. I wish I could find something to motivate me. And so on, always searching for the pull of motivation.

Well, I've discovered a secret which I'm willing to share will anyone willing to read this blog. The secret is to BE the motivation. That's right folks, the trick is to be on the flipside.

Recently have I realized that that being the push of motivation rather than being pulled t be motivated is the key. I've had the extreme pleasure over the years to be told that I've motivated others to get in shape after seeing my progress. It's ever so humbling when you're told that you are helping someone else make changes in their life and that's not a position I find I take lightly. In fact, it pushes me even more.

Think about it: Have you ever had someone that you really looked up to, idolized, admired, whathaveyou - fall from grace and/or disappoint you? It has happened to me and I find that it shakes my inner core to some extent and question what I'm doing. Well, what you would do if you were that person that is motivating someone else to make positive changes in their life? You sure as hell wouldn't willingly let them down. In fact, I suspect that you'll find, like me, that you step up your game a bit.

Remember when you were in grade school and you got to be the line-leader? You always walked a little straighter and held your head a little higher than your buddies behind you. It's the same concept here. Someone is looking at you to help guide them as to which way to go and you don't want to let them down.

So I want to thank everyone that has ever told me that because of something I've done or said that they have felt I motivated them. Because that works like instant karma for me and comes right back and pushes me to be even better.

The one caveat to this plan is that over the years that I've learned that you can't motivate who you want. You simply need to get out there and do your thing and be someone that others will look toward, but not everyone you want to will take your lead. I have family and loved ones that I just can't seem to get to recognize that they can make changes that will lead them to a healthier life. In fact, sometimes it really pisses me off. These are people that I love and damn it can't they take care of themselves so that they will be around for a very long healthy life for me, for my daughter! It angers me when I see these people not taking care of themselves and I see that they are robbing me of time I will get to spend with them in the long run.

I have taken this anger and done two things with it recently: 1) I have turned it back on myself - when I don't take care of myself, don't others have the same right to feel angry with me? and 2) I realize that you never know how long it will take someone to ultimately make that crucial decision to start changing their life, and I can't stop now. I have to continue being a role-model, day in and day out, because if tomorrow is their day - I want to be there for them.

So I want to close with thanking just a couple of the many people that have pushed me:

Suz - you are a rock star! You have just taken the challenge and run with it and you blow my socks off day in and day out. Several times I've prepared myself to see that you quit or gave up and you haven't yet once: you just keep coming and coming. I can't express how in awe of you I am, and wish that all those loved ones that make me angry could see you. Thank you !!!

Janie - You never fail to tell me what I've done for you. But I don't think I return the favor nearly as often as I should. You have lost such an incredible amount of weight, it's staggering, I will never get out of my head that picture of you holding those big giant bags of fat, representing the fat you've lost. And you haven't quit, you keep chasing those goals and dreams, and I know you're going to get there. And I don't want to call you out - but you're no spring chicken :) (of course neither am I anymore) But you're showing me that age is just a number and you can lift heavy at any age. My only compliant about you is you live too damn far away!

Katie - I don't know what I would do without you to "talk" to day in and day out. I constantly find it odd that one of my best friends I talk to by IM everyday. I love knowing that you're always there to keep me in check. And you are always out there one, or more, steps ahead of me: Running faster and further than me and now you're training for your first triathlon. I happily will continue to try and catch up to you!

Strangers - the kindness of strangers. Through this blog, on the street, in the gym: random people have made my day but giving me just a few kind words. It helps me to remember that you never know who's watching. I, by no means, have all the answers and am just getting there by dedication, trial and error. And I try to be mindful of how these strangers stepped out of their box and took the time to extend kindness to me and return the favor to at least one other stranger a day.

What you want to be eventually you must be every day.With practice, the quality of your deeds will get down into your soul. - Frank Crane

10/10/20

2009-04-14T08:46:00.002-07:00

I've started a new challenge entitled, "10/10/20" and for those of you who know me you know that I'm mathematically impaired (which is why I married a math-savant so I don't have to do anything related to numbers) but that is not the purpose of this challenge despite the name.

In the next 1o weeks I will lose 10 pounds for my 20th HS reunion.

And this is how I plan to do it:

Training

Mon- LBWO/LISS 30 min (50-70%)
Tues- Run/Track Practice
Wed- Spin
Thurs- UBWO Weights/Core Conditioning
Fri- LISS 30 min (50-70%)/Yoga
Sat or Sun- Run and/or Brick

Food

1) 90% Compliant
2) Lean Protein w/ every meal
3) Have Fruit or Veggie w/ EVERY meal
4) No eating anywhere that has a drive-thru
5) Always pack no less than 2 meals in car for emergencies (Tuna Pouch/Fork w/ Apple & PBJ w/ Carrots)
6) Nothing white
7)
8)
9)
10)

Now this may not seem that hard, to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks, hell people on the Biggest Loser lose that in a week. But it's not so much that it's hard but it will keep me focused on the food - my Achilles heel. I can train all day everyday until the cows come home, but god help me when they do come home they'd better have some serious amounts of ice cream, cookies and other crap for me to eat!

Note that the training plan my change up a bit. I've just decided to have a personal training session with a trainer at my gym that's an awesome duathlete and she said that with one session she'll give me a strength day workout that will go along with my cycling and running goals. So looking forward to that.

You'll also note that I left myself room for 10 rules for the food portion of the challenge, but found after a day of thinking about it I only came up with 6. Six that I can stick to which is all that really matters after all. Most of the rules are straight from Precision Nutrition (they have 10 rules but some are so basic for me that it doesn't constitute a change). I'm leaving myself the option of adding 4 more, if I see the need later.

Yesterday was my first day in the challenge and I am 100% compliant - which is a good start.

Today I also registered for two events: The Venus de Miles (a 35 mile bike ride) in August and the Colorado Wild Women Duathlon (2 mile run/12 mile bike/2 mile run) in September.

I want to get some more races committed throughout the summer, but I know now that I can commit to those and once I get my legs under me for running I'll have a better feel for what else I can accomplish and when.

Playing Catch-up

2009-04-10T05:51:00.002-07:00

4/7 Tues - 4/9 Thurs

I know, I know I vanished and that usually means that I've fallen off and under the wagon, but that's not exactly the case here. It's just been really busy and I haven't had the time or inclination to post.

Tuesday was my new all women running groups' first Track Practice and we did 2x3x300m and it wasn't horrible and I actually felt that I did better as I went along and got more warmed up. My friend, Suz, was with me and our whole goal was do do our 2 sets before the speed demons of the group completed their assigned 3 sets and we celebrated as we barely accomplished that goal. But we know that by the end of the summer we'll look back and laugh at how hard this was and how far we've come.

After track we went out for a little girls night out, our normal group was very small that night due to other obligations but Christen joined us after, since we couldn't convince her to join us for track, and we went to a great place that Suz had just discovered were we all had yam chips and guac while waiting for our super healthy yummy salads, and split a piece of Oreo cheesecake three-ways after.

I don't know if it was an evening workout, too much iced tea (caffeine) with dinner, or the fact that I didn't read before bed like I do every night to wind down (because Jay was already asleep and I didn't want to turn on the light) or all three but I couldn't sleep and when I did finally get to sleep Megan fell out of bed and woke us up and I couldn't get back to sleep.

Wednesday morning was spin class and Kathy R. decided that it was power day and that her goal was to make us spin regulars sore -great, just what I needed after track practice. But I made it and burned a very respectable 460 calories - my goal is always to hit over 400, 500 is outstanding.

The great news of Wednesday is that 3 of my friends from spin class have all agreed to my evil plot to do a bike tour this August and we are signing up for a 35 mile ride. I was hoping for 50 but met with some resistance so I'll argue that one next year. And we are going to take a women's bike maintenance class at our local REI later this month to learn how to fix a flat and other important mechanical know-how for our new bikes. Fit friends make working out so much more fun!

Throughout the rest of Wednesday I started feeling pain in my left upper inner thigh (groin?) and it got quite painful. Don't know if that was something from leg weights Monday followed by flow yoga, Tuesday track or Wed spin or a combination of it all. But it hurt throughout Thursday too but so far seems to be okay this Friday morning.

Also throughout Wednesday I twice sneaked a cookie during the afternoon, I knew I was tired and looking for a pick-me-up, which of course wasn't working and then at 7 that night I just succumbed and had a whole cookie binge - but was still tired and now not particularly happy with myself. I should have gone to bed early but got into watching Biggest Loser off Tivo and stayed up later than I should have.

Move now to Thursday. Food was better, save 1 little chocolate egg from Megan's school party and some Sunchips. My workout was terrible, I went to Core Conditioning class and did a little cardio before and after (I mean little, like 10 minutes before and after) but I just was blah and tired. I was tired all day, my patience was nil, Megan was driving me insane, and I just wanted to be alone. I called Jay and told him to stay after with his running group and have dinner with them because I was putting Megan, who had woke up 2 hours early that morning, to bed early, so no need to hurry home. But he did anyway, and I locked myself in our room to be alone and ended up falling asleep and waking up almost 10 hours later. I was tired!

So now it's Friday morning - I really am not looking forward to the gym, but the Easter Bunny will be in the Kid's Club, there will a party and Easter Egg hunt for the kids all at 9:30. Problem is my yoga class isn't until 10:30. Do I really want to be at the gym for 2 1/2 hours (max I can leave Megan in Kids Club) so she can do her party and I can do my yoga? What do I want to do with myself for the hour before yoga? We'll see what happens.

Also today is Jay's birthday!! Finally I'm not the only 37 year old in the house (although this week I feel older than that!). We got a sitter and are going out to some steakhouse tonight that he wanted to go and tomorrow we'll have fancy breakfast (French Toast, probably) so Megan can celebrate Daddy's birthday with him.

So looking ahead to my Friday:

- I WILL show more patience.
- I WILL make Jay's butter cake for his birthday.
- I WILL eat healthy for all the times when I will struggle with that this weekend, given the celebrations.
- I WILL take time-outs for myself today as I need them.

Truckin' Along

2009-04-07T05:04:00.003-07:00

Monday 4/6

Well it wasn't a perfect day, but I can see I'm making progress. I did have a cookie in the morning, the one I carried around in my purse all day Sunday without eating. But while grocery shopping I got really hungry, so I ate it. (I did manage to by-pass all the yummy treats in the bulk bins at Sunflower Market, but now in hindsight maybe I should have bought, oh I don't know, an apple? Sheez, I just don't think sometimes!) Also I had 3 or 4 of the Almond Honey cookies, after Jay and Megan finished making them (they are really tiny, which is still no excuse for that many).

Workout was 30 minutes of lower body weights, low weight, high rep. Still trying to figure what's best given all the biking and running I need to do so that my legs are so sore from weights to do the cardio training I need to do. But then I did an hour of flow yoga which really got me sweating. The only bad news is that I managed to strain my right big toe while stretching my toes out before class stared, but it'll be okay - I hope!

I did mediate yesterday, which was funny. I realized that I'm usually really anxious when I go into the other room and set on the floor and start to read the mediation for the day thinking of all the things I should be doing and need to get done instead, but soon after I find that I don't want to get up and get back to what I need to do and I'd be happy and content to see there on the floor all day. I can't wait until the weather is nice enough and I can move my practice out to the back deck, then I really may never come back.

I only bought healthy food from the grocery store (except stuff for Jay's birthday cake/butter pound cake, the home-made ice cream that we're in charge of for Easter, and a couple of treats for Megan's Easter basket).

I did get some reading done, but my computer usage was a little higher than I would have liked. I don't know why I get so sucked into a couple of sites and can't just check them once a day.

I saw my therapist yesterday for the first time in weeks. Nothing to earth-shattering. She seemed to do most of the talking, which was sort of annoying, but told her I want to jump on this food issue and so she gave me an article to read that she'd promised me last time and asked that I start a food diary to bring with me when I see her again in 3 weeks. Her thoughts aren't necessarily that there's something sinister in my past that makes me eat, it's just that I've built such strong habits/behaviors around eating that like water flowing, my eating continually goes back to the easiest route, which is the one I've always done.

Looking forward to Tuesday:

- Today is my running clubs first Track Workout of the year - ACK!

- Today I WILL continue to eat healthy, which is always more of a struggle when I go into work which I haven't figured out exactly why yet. But today I go back after a week off. I'll be taking Megan's teachers at school a good number of those cookies to reduce the number in my house.

- Today I WILL check my websites only 2x today, no more!

- Today I WILL finish "Naked in Death" and start "Long Lost"!!!! Not really a goal, just excited.

- Today I WILL start a food diary, as requested by my therapist.

Come on Boots!

2009-04-06T05:13:00.004-07:00

Sunday, 4/5

After the day was over I felt like an episode of Dora the Explorer, and was singing to myself as I went to bed, "I did it! I did it! I did it, hurray!" (Oh, the evil ways that having a toddler twists your mind!)

I got through the whole day without eating any junk food! I can't tell you when the last time I accomplished that feat. Not everything I ate was as high in nutritional value as it could have been but nothing laden in sugar. And it's just small victories here that I'm looking for. I managed to accomplish this while carrying around a cookie from Tokyo Joe's in my purse (from Megan's kid meal at lunch), there being refrigerated cookie dough in my fridge (I believe 9 remaining mini cookies from my cookie fest on Friday), and that Megan and I made cookie dough last night (a recipe that I've been wanting to try for at least a month that's been hanging on my fridge from Eating Well magazine for Almond Honey cookies: no sugar, lots of honey, whole wheat flour). Megan and I will bake them up this afternoon and we'll see if I can control myself (guessing that depends on how good they are, although Jay was licking the spoon and foretelling how great they were going to taste.)

I also went to spin class, meeting my friend Suz there, at 8 am and did great. I burned just over 500 calories, which is great. I'm usually about 400. I could feel my legs, I'm guessing still from Wednesday's duathlon. And my neck and back are still hurting me - not sure what's going on there.

I did mediation in the morning and the passage that I read first was very insightful. In essence it said that you can't outrun yourself. There are people that leave jobs, marriages, towns hoping to find something better somewhere else, but things will never change until you make the change within you. I need to make the decision to eat healthy, to figure out why I slip back to poor eating habits, to keep up my training, to be happy and content. So throughout the day I would think to myself, "It's all you."

I did also manage to stay off the computer more than usual and amazingly, I finished the book I was reading. That makes me very happy, because I didn't particularly care for it and now I can move on to something else.

So since it worked so well yesterday, I'm going to do it again today: Looking forward to Monday:

- I WILL buy only healthy food at the grocery store (with the exception that I have to buy stuff for homemade ice cream to take to my in-laws for Easter and Jay's birthday cake)
- I WILL eat healthy.
- I WILL spend more time reading and housecleaning than on the computer today.
- I WILL plan my workout for the gym and give it my all.

Kid in a Candy Store

2009-04-05T04:56:00.002-07:00

Saturday 4/5-

Today I ended up making the decision to not workout, which I'm actually okay with. My women's running club was meeting this morning for a fun run, and the weather forecasters were forecasting a blizzard. The blizzard wussed out to barely a couple of inches at our house, but the winds were bitter cold. Also, later in the morning I started having severe neck/back pain like I'd strained something - I have no idea how. But it was a day of Icy/Hot, Hot corn-filled pillow, and Advil, but in the end I'm okay with my decision.

To fill the day and do something fun as a family we decided that it would be a good day to go on a tour of Hammond's candy factory in town that I'd been wanting to take Megan. It was alright, but after you've been to the Jelly Belly Factory, like we did back in December, we knew that it really couldn't compare. But what we did do better this time was not go nuts in the store afterwards like we did at Jelly Belly. We each picked out one thing, unlike the hundreds of thousands of Jelly Beans we bought and still even have at home. I "only" got one Milk Chocolate Piggyback, which is essentially a turtle (I LOVE carmel and nuts), granted just one of them was the size of my palm.

But the good news is that is the only junk food I ate yesterday. I can't say that everything else I ate yesterday was at the height of nutrition (ie. Jay's multi-grain banana Belgium waffles w/ butter and sugar free syrup, Pei Wei for lunch (where I opted for edamame and no Crab Cheese wontons w/ my Honey Seared Chicken and brown rice, and Fish Tacos for dinner at home were pretty good for me (recipe from Nutrition Action Health letter).

So no training, but good resting (and I did use the foam roller for my legs like my massage therapist recently told me I needed to start doing to help with adhesion of my muscles that could start causing me knee pain again with my running. Ouch!)

Eating was more conscience.

Life was Extraordinary - I love when we go do something fun as a family together on the weekends. And I got a nap!

Looking ahead to Sunday:

- Spin class at 8 am.
- I WILL eat healthy.
- I will medidate in the morning.
- I will spend time reading rather than wasting time on the computer.

Kickin' it Old School

2009-04-03T15:25:00.003-07:00

The first Quarter of 2009 is behind us and rather than figure out how much money I lost in the last Quarter I thought I'd be better off seeing what I gained in the last 3 months. At the beginning of the year I set out my Life Plan and now is a good time to check in and see how that's coming, or not.

My desire to grow a mediation practice has taken off, but my wish to develop a daily yoga practice has not. My desire to control vampires in my life: ie time, emotional, and money suckers has gone well, not very well, and off and on respectively.

My determination to live nothing less than an Extraordinary Life is going very well I have been very happy of late with my family and home life, I'm not out doing all the things I wanted, yet. But I'm truly enjoying what I am doing: long bike ride as a family one Saturday, sledding the next (got to love the Colorado weather here).

The expansion of my reading from quantity to quality has improved and I have read my banned book (Catcher in the Rye), I just received my Classic book, Walden, in the mail today as well as I have Jane Eyre downloaded on audio and waiting for me, all that is left is a Pulitzer Prize winner. The quantity doesn't seem to be hurting in the progress as I'm already at 18 so far this year.

My inner athlete is just now starting to poke her head back out which is the point of the title of this blog. I got sick for two or three weeks, it was bitter windy cold out and I just wasn't motivated to workout that hard and now I'm really starting to realize the price I'm paying for my slacking off.

A few more pounds than I'd like to admit have crept back on. My steadily increasing mileage for running has decreased. My muscles don't look as strong as like. And my diet - sheez, my diet. My diet is a mess. The saying that you can't out exercise a bad diet is so true, but even more true when you aren't even training as hard as you're capable. So it's occurred to me that I need to go back to basics for a bit. Confess my sins and get my self back on track. And it starts now before I slide anymore. (Actually it started on Monday, but I just now am blogging about it).

Monday 3/31 -

-I did the treadmill at the gym - I walked for .2, I ran for a mile, I walked to .5 and then ran a mile.
-Sure I ate some junk food, just don't remember what.

Tuesday 4/1 -

-No April Fools Day here - I did not workout. I had my first ever child/husband free day and I chose not to go to the gym. I did go get a massage and enjoyed myself.
-Ate Sunchips w/ lunch, Ate Ice Cream in afternoon, Ate Ice Cream after dinner.

Wednesday 4/2 -

-Weight 136
-My friend Suz invited me to join some other friends for a duathlon at the gym, for which I have to admit that I was very nervous of my ability to complete giving my serious lack of training, but I'm proud to admit that I did do a 2 mile run on the track, 12 mile stationary bike ride, followed by another 1 mile on the track. Still amazed I was able to complete this!
-Ate Ice Cream after Dinner

Thursday 4/3 -

-Weight 138
-Core Conditioning class. Didn't stay for spin or any extra cardio - long day and I was dragging before I ever got to the gym.
-Ate Ice Cream after dinner and went to bed early.

Friday 4/4 -

-Weight 137.5
-45 weights, Bi, Chest, Tri, Back. 1 hour yoga.
-Eaten a number of mini chocolate chip cookies. Went to make a protein shake and yogurt was moldy.

So here it is the good the bad and the ugly. The buck stops here, if I'm going to be in any shape at all do the races that I want starting with one on May 9th!

That gives me one month to be able to run a 5k, followed by a 30k (18.6 mile) bike, followed by another 5k and I'm not even sure at this point that I can do one 5k, let alone two. The bike never bothers me, but that second 5k, I don't think I have nearly the reserves to dig deep enough for that one yet. But I'm not sitting on my butt anymore. I got to get moving and start training and eating like an athlete!

Songs that Rock my Workout

2009-03-31T05:55:00.003-07:00

I ended up on a forum today at Dailymile which I can't say I was shocked to see was started by Leslie called "Songs that Rock Your Workout". Now this is something I can totally jump on board with. I'm not a huge music person, and I think that because I pretty much hear all music with an ear to whether or not it would be good to workout too, because that's pretty much the only time I listen to music. And I must also say here that since switching to the world of Ipod at Christmas , my workout/music world is just that much brighter and shinier - I love it and I love Itunes (most of the time). And so with that, here are some of my favs:

1) Lose Yourself - Eninem
2) Champion in Me - Three Doors Down
3) For speed work/pick me ups: Animals - Nickelback & Stone Cold Crazy - Metallica
4) Toughened Up Normal Songs (ie Marilyn Mason -Beautiful People/Tainted Love and Dope's You Spin Me Round)
5) Nickelback, Nickelback, Nickelback!!
6) John Mellencamp - Authority Song, Crumblin' Down, Paper in Fire
7) Disease - Matchbox Twenty
8) Harder to Breathe - Maroon 5
9) Fallin' - Alica Keys
10) Fighter - Christina Aguilera
11) Bon Jovi - It's My Life and Have a Nice Day
12 ) I Don't Want to Stop - Ozzy
13) Live Wire- Motley Crue
14) Lovin' Every Minute of It - Loverboy
15) Paralyzer - Finger Eleven
16) Get Stoned - Hinder
17) Spanked - Kenny Wayne Shepphard/Kid Rock
18) Steven McQueen - Sheryl Crow
19) This is how the Heart Breaks - Rob Thomas
20) Turn up the Radio - Autograph
21) Voodoo Child - Hendrix
22) Wicked Sensation - Lynch Mob
23) Youth Gone Wild - Skid Row
24) Stayin' Alive - BeeGees
25 ) Why can't I be you ( 2006 Remix)- The Cure
26) Firehouse's album Firehouse - I've got 5 of the songs on my Shuffle
27 ) Joan Jett - I don't give a damn about my Repuation, I love Rock 'n' Roll, Hate Myself for Lovin' You

And from this thread I was reading have a list of about 30 more songs that I want to check out that other people liked!!

Please share your favorites too - I'm always looking for a great new music find. I know most of my music is of the Rock genre but if you had told me a year ago that my all time favorite workout song would be by Enimen I would have told you that you were smokin' crack. So you just never know!

For Susan

2009-03-30T14:43:00.002-07:00

I was posting for a while every week what the totals were on my Heart Rate Monitor and then I think about the same time I got sick I quit doing it and haven't cleared out my totals since January 19th. So today I finally cleared it out and here's what 40 workouts look like (keeping in mind that some times I forgot my HR monitor so it's not a complete picture) but:

59 hours 11 minutes 47 seconds of working out
for 13525 calories and an average of 4 workouts a week

The 4 workouts a week is really a bummer, but I know a lot of this time I had a cold and just felt miserable so my workouts were lacking (or were just yoga to feel like I was doing something). I know I generally average no fewer than 5 days a week, and I'm back on that rotation again now.

How a Washer and a Piece of String Changed My Life

2009-03-19T05:26:00.004-07:00

There is a lot of talk in the fitness community about Positive Mental Attitude (PMA). And while I agree with the concept 100%, it's not always the easiest thing for me to do personally.

This past weekend I had an opportunity to take a class at my gym from a sports psychologist who trains athletes on just the mental aspect of their sport. There were about 10 of us in the class, including my husband, one other couple and the rest were women (who I imagine have the most trouble in general with positive self talk).

The class started off with introductions and then a quick exercise which I would say was worth my time and fee alone. This exercise, that anyone can do on their own, is a simple yet powerful one for anyone who doesn't think that even the slightest negative thought has an effect on their actions.

We each were given a pendulum (in our case it was a metal washer tied to the end of a string - but any weighted pendulum would work) and we were told to hold our string between our thumb and forefinger with our elbow resting on the conference table. We were to hold our hand still until our washer stopped moving. Then we were to continue to hold our hand still and simply think to ourselves, "Washer, move left to right. Washer, move left to right." and to my utter amazement the washer began to swing, yet my hand was not moving. Then we were to think to ourselves, "Washer, stop moving." And it did!! Then we thought to ourselves, "Washer, move back and forth." And yet again it started to sway back and forth. I snuck glances at my hand and it was not moving. In my peripheral vision I could see other washers around the table also swaying. Again we commanded our washers to stop. Then we told them to go in circles, which it did, then in larger circles and, of course, it complied.

The instructor explained to us that this happens because even though our hands aren't moving we are generating thoughts which send signals and fire nerves through our shoulders, arms and and hands and so that on some microscopic level we are in fact moving our body so the washer move according to our thoughts.

So to put this exercise in perspective. Whenever I'm out there running and I'm feeling like I can't do it, I'm tired, and I want to stop - even though I may not actually stop I am sending impulses through my legs that are saying stop and parts of my body are, in fact, stopping. Which, as you can imagine, can't help my running and the feeling of "I can't do it, I'm tired, and I want to stop." This would apply to anything: cycling, lifting, yoga - whatever. This was an extremely powerful lesson that I can't shake from my mind and I would encourage everyone to try.

The rest of the class was good - it could have gone much longer than the hour that it was scheduled, and did go a bit over. Affirmations were a big point, and suggestions on how to stop negative thinking and how to replace it with positive/effective thinking.

And one other thing that I found particularly useful was that saying something like, "I won't stop running" is not actually helpful. Your mind apparently pictures things when you think them and there's no picture associated with "won't" or "don't" or "can't" so your minds eye is seeing you stopping running. Or "I can't miss the ball" or "I don't know the meaning of the word quit." has you missing the ball and quitting.

So now I'm a believer, not that I wasn't before, but I'm see just how dangerous my thinking can be to my goals and I'm making a mindful decision to change that thinking.

Book Geek

2009-03-17T13:40:00.003-07:00

Most of you all know I'm a total book geek. I love to read books, listen to books, talk about books, smell books, review books, touch books, even fall asleep with a good book. Well I also love to get free books, and especially advance copies of books and over at "On My Bookshelf" I have a chance to finally win Megan a new Llama Llama book (thanks for turning us on to those, Suz). How cool!!!

Accomplishment

2009-03-16T12:26:00.004-07:00

Today I pushed myself and did a bike ride (only like my 4th on my new road bike) and went for 20 miles, the first half of which was essentially all up hill and then, of course, that means I got to go screaming back down on the return trip (while listening to the BeeGee's Staying Alive!) and a serious headwind. But I had a blast and am so proud of my accomplishment and pushing the confines of my comfort zone.

I love the person that workouts like this make me.

Testicular Fortitude

2009-03-15T07:35:00.001-07:00

Another great ad from Pearl Izumi:

NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN HUMBLED BY JOGGING.

If all we want to do is feel good about ourselves, jogging is the ticket. It doesn’t challenge us. It doesn’t test us. I t doesn’t exact a physical or psychological toll. Worst case scenario is, jogging may cause mild perspiration on color-coordinated sweat suits. But if we’re willing to push ourselves into uncharted territory, a place littered with broken bodies and remnants of the human psyche, running may be what we’re looking for. Without question, it dishes out more heaping helpings of humble pie than any sport we know of. Little wonder that so few people have the testicular fortitude to lace up and run like an animal.

Freakin' Brilliant!

2009-03-14T05:13:00.002-07:00

After the better part of a month being sick I'm getting back into my meditation practice and I've been starting most meditation reading one of the very short chapters in the book, " Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life" and then I sit to meditate and reflect on what I just read.

Yesterday, my first day back to my practice I read a chapter on Walking Meditation that fit so perfectly with a book/audio that I've been reading/listening to on ChiRunning (by Danny Dryer) but what struck me most in this chapter aside for reinforcing the mindfulness you need to pay your body when moving whether it be running or walking is this quote:

If you miss the here, you are likely also to miss the there. If your mind is not centered here, it is likely not to be centered just because you arrive somewhere else.

Mindful Eating

2009-02-27T16:05:00.003-07:00

I just finished reading an amazing book that I highly recommend to anyone and everyone who ever has had, or currently has, food issues. The following are a just a few notes that I wanted to put somewhere to remind myself.

Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food by Jan Chozen Bays

Zen masters recommend eating until you are two-thirds full. The Oknawans, the longest-lived people in the world, call this practice hara no hachi bu, which means “stomach eight parts full.” It means never to eat to capacity, to leave a little room in your stomach. A Japanese proverb says that eight parts of a full stomach sustain the man; the other two parts sustain the doctor.

Feed and check in with the seven hungers:

1. Eye Hunger
2. Nose Hunger
3. Mouth Hunger
4. Stomach Hunger
5. Cellular Hunger
6. Mind Hunger
7. Heart Hunger

Be present for at least the first 3 bits or sips when you begin to eat or drink.

Other resources for additional reading:

Eating Mindfully: How to end Mindless Eating and Enjoy a Balanced Relationship with Food by Susan Albers

Zen of Eating: Ancient Answers to Modern Weight Problems by Ronna Kabatznick

Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch

True Self

2009-02-01T06:46:00.003-07:00

I seem to be constantly amazing myself lately and loving most every minute of it, and who I'm becoming.

I started right before the new year "trying to achieve a higher level of consciousness" by spending 10 minutes everyday in silence with hopes that it would grow into a mediation practice. Well, I have now, without missing a single day in over a month, started each day with a cup of tea in a quiet room sitting on the floor, reading one chapter of the book Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life (which are about 2 pages long each) and then just sitting reflecting on what I'd just read or nothing at all. I sit for at least 10 minutes and I don't know if I'm meditating or not, but I genuinely look forward to it every morning. I feel that it has had a huge calming effect on me because it sets the tone for the day rather than my usual up and at 'em style of hitting the ground running. I am also able to draw on that feeling later in the day on occasion and calm things down. I've also had a couple of epiphany's of sorts that have helped me look at things from my past differently that have bothered me for years.

I also find myself simplifying my life so it is less chaotic. I am always very intrigued by these articles and shows that I see about how people have given up their materialistic lives and gone back to simpler times of making/growing/bartering for their needs. There is definitely a part of me that longs for that. I've always been fascinated by stories of people in the late 1800's/early 1900's living on the land with their closest neighbor a half day's ride away. I don't think I could give it all up and do that but I do think there are things that I could do. (I've been asking for years for my husband to let me raise chickens in our backyard - as a cost saving measure considering how many eggs and chicken we eat - but he's been a firm NO! so far.) But I find I ask myself regularly now - Do I/We/Megan really need that? And more often than not the answer is no. Therefore I find I run a lot fewer errands. In fact I don't even remember where all I used to go but it seemed like I always had a list a mile long of places I needed to go.

And on the fitness front I expanded my comfort zone (Thanks - Jen). I went for a "fun run" this weekend with a local Women's Running Club. I was so afraid that I would be the slowest one there (I wasn't) I would be embarrassed because I couldn't run as far as they would plan (I did) and that I wouldn't know what to talk about with a bunch of runners (I did). I had a great time I'm so glad I went, it was a great group of women I talked to so many nice people (who's names I don't remember!). There were definitely a portion of the women that were faster and further, there was a middle of the pack, there were slow runners, and even a couple of walkers. I went out with the slow group who planned to do 3 miles. My speed was perfect for this group and the first mile or so just fly by while chatting with different women in the group. I found a few women that do duathlons, they were even talking about starting a du training group! After about the first mile I found myself at the front of the slow group but not wanting to pass since I had no idea where I was going. Three of us cut off of the group and headed back to the hosts house a different way which involved a long hill - which I need to get practice on and then it was time for big bowls of oatmeal with lots of different toppings and socializing. I came home and told J all about it and filled out my application to join and will drop in the mail on Monday.

I'm learning that if I just get out of my way: let my true self shine through and not who I think I should be or live in fear of what will happen, I really like who I am and I'm so much happier.

Chilly Cheeks

2009-01-18T06:31:00.002-07:00

Race Report for Chilly Cheeks #2, Saturday, January 17, 2009:

I was feeling fine about this race until Thursday morning and I just woke up with butterflies and freaking out about what I should wear for the race. All week was good, I was doing great with my food. It was really easy to eat well this week I just thought of it what I ate as my fuel for the race and it was really easy to not eat a bunch of junk and stay hydrated. I keep going back to something I read on Kirstin's Armstrong's blog a while ago which really struck a cord with me. She essentially said: For all I expect out of my body you'd think I'd be more picky about what I put into it. Brilliant! But back to Thursday morning: I just sort of started worrying, I hadn't even stressed too much when earlier in the week my friend Kelly backed out of the race due to a nagging injury and I was back to doing this by myself. But I commented on Facebook about my nervous and my friends responded and were great and talked me down. I went to yoga on Friday morning and was at peace - it would be fine.

I was by myself, although in the interest of full disclosure I did "know" Cyndi, one of my spin instructors was going to be at the race (she took 3rd in her age group last time so I knew I wouldn't be seeing her on the race however) and I did "know" Gaye, a friend of a friend that I'd connected with a bit via blogs and Facebook. I had told Jay that I didn't expect/want him and Megan to come cheer me on, it's boring, especially for Megan and it could have been cold. I did however ask Megan when I went to tuck her in Friday night if she wanted to go watch me race in the morning and she said, "No. I'll be sleeping." I tried to convince her that the race was later (10 am) but she insisted she'd be asleep. I think that was akin to "I'm busy that night. I'll be washing my hair."

Friday night I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what to wear. The weather was forecasted to be in the low 50's - perfect for a mid-January race, but tough to figure out what to wear. Running you get very hot and Cycling you can get very cold since you're creating a wind. Cyndi had clued me in last week to just wear my running shoes and not bother switching back and forth to cycling shoes - which made sound sense and I went with that. I easily figured out what shirt to wear on top with a top layer for cycling but the pants - that was tough. I tried on various thickness of running tights and went out at 8 pm (when the weather was in the low 50's) and walked around my driveway test out how each felt. (Yes, my neighbors think I'm crazy) I choose a favorite and packed all my other options - just in case.

Saturday morning I drank 3 cups of tea and went to the bathroom no fewer than 9 times. I ate a light breakfast of some quiche early. And I had an epiphany: I had resigned myself that I wasn't going to place well in this race, and my reasons for doing it were to keep up my training and stay focused throughout the winter and to try and improve on my time from my first/last dualthon, because let's face it - anyone signing up for a duathlon that takes place in mid-January in Denver is either seriously hard-core, elite, or crazy, or all three. (I'll let you decide where I fit, but I'll give you a clue it's not elite). But so why was I doing this, who was my competition? My competition is that girl up there at the top left of this blog. If I don't go do this race - she wins. Every race that I chicken out of and don't sign up for - she wins. Every workout that I skip - she wins. Any time I quit or give up- she wins. And I'm sorry, but this is my life now and while I still love her and everything she did for me, that's no way to live. She's had her time and now it's mine.

So I packed the car, loaded my bike, grabbed one more cup of tea and some toast with PB and honey and I was out the door.

I got to Cherry Creek Reservoir in plenty of time. And went up to get my race packet. I laughed when I saw my bib number. I was number "5". Now in most race circles that means I'm an elite or at least had done really well at this race last time. Turns out here it just means I'm at the front of the alphabet. It also meant I was in the first wave - which I was happy to hear - less time to get cold or nervous. So I went about setting up my bike and transition station then I went to the bathroom. On the way I ran into Cyndi and she gave me some words of encouragement, which I appreciated, and that was the last I saw of her. Then I rode my bike around keeping warm, watching people, looking all the elite and hardcores' really cool toys, and trying to figure who Gaye was -she'd told me what colors she' probably be wearing but I'd forgotten I only remembered she had a red bike. After a while I put my bike back, went to the bathroom again, and started circling the transition area until time for the pre-race meeting. Then it was time to get ready.

I took off my big down coat and hat that I'd been wearing to keep warm and headed over to the start line. Standing there I started feeling sick to my stomach and cold. I'd hoped the sick feeling was nerves and when they announced 2 minutes till the start I ran back to my transition station to grab my pullover, but halfway there I realized I was warm from the running so I turned around and came back to the start. People started lining up on the start line but I stayed back - no sense being in their way. And finally the horn sounded and we were off and those people in the front soon were gone. I ran for a bit being mindful to not start off too fast and keep my pace. I could hear someone breathing behind me so I knew I wasn't last, but after a time the breather came up along side me - told me her goal was not to to stop, to which I concurred - and she pulled ahead. When I came up on a turn in the course I dared sneak a look back and there was another person behind me wearing a yellow jacket not far behind me. Yellow! That's one of the colors Gaye said she'd be wearing and I figured she'd be in my wave because she's an early alphabet person too. So suddenly I had someone to "race"with. Then the other waves started hitting at 3 minute intervals and all those elite/hardcore/crazy people started flying past me.

Finally the first mile and half was over and it was time to get on the bike. I love the bike - it comes so much easier to me than the running does. I kept an eye on where Gaye was in the transition because I didn't want to lose my person to "race" with. I got my pullover on, my helmet on, but my windbreaker didn't want to go nicely over my pullover so I made a quick decision to say F-it and I hopped on my bike and was off.

I was right behind Gaye has we headed immediately into a hill. Lucky for me Gaye missed a gear right as I was coming up beside her and I was able to pass her but we passed each other back and forth throughout the bike course which was fun. This was the 3rd time I'd ever ridden my new road bike, newly christened "White Lightening", and I am still trying to figure out the gearing on it so not as smooth as I'd like but I still like it. After one loop of the bike course it was back to the transition area with Gaye just ahead of me.

I had my fastest transition time of the race because I didn't want Gaye to get too far ahead of me and I was actually able to get out of the transition area first. As soon as I hit the second run I knew I was in trouble my chest was heaving and I was already exhausted. I thought that this run was 2.5 miles and immediately wondered if I could make it. But I was determined to keep chugging along, I was not going to quit. It didn't take long but Gaye passed me. I kept thinking that if I could get my heartrate down and keep her in my sights I could catch her again but it wasn't meant to happen. Little by little she inched away from me and at some point I resigned myself that she was gone and the best I could do is keep going and maybe I could catch her on the final bike leg. The second run course was very hilly and I just don't run on hills. I know I should but I just work so hard and running period that I don't make it any tougher on myself. I will admit that one hill I didn't slow down to what would actually be considered a fast walk but I'm proud to say that as soon as I hit the top again I started running again - there was a part of me that wondered if I would. This run course was an out-and-back and so I kept looking for the turn around point and every time I thought it must be down below the next hill I was wrong and it kept going and going and going. Finally though it did appear and I headed back to the transition area. I was hurting but I kept running ( the thought of having to admit to my friends, myself and this blog that I quit was a strong motivator) and at one point I swear my right foot went numb but I have to say that the run back did seem much shorter than the run out.

I got to the transition area again - I didn't see Gaye, I took a little more time to catch my breath, hopped on my bike and after an almost dangerous encounter with some kid and his dog that decided to wander right in front of me and two incoming cyclists; I was on the road again. I biked hard but never did see Gaye so it was just me. I did enjoy passing a few people on the bike because I hadn't passed a single person while running all day. Granted those people I did pass were probably all on mountain bikes, but I take my victories where and when I can. I completed the first loop no major problems - still messing with the gearing and occasionally losing my footing since I didn't have my bike shoes on - but the big problem came on the second loop. There was a big long section of the course that was a great flat, if not slightly declined that I could just fly on (I'm learning I'm definitely a sprinter and not a climber) and as I was nearing the end of the flat I started getting a funny feeling in my left calf. While I was mentally trying to figure out what it was my muscle totally seized up tight and wouldn't let go. I have never had this happen to me before and I didn't like it. I pushed my hips back on the bike and tried to push my heels down while pedaling to stretch out the calf (while swearing the whole time - apologies to anyone who passed me during this time and thought I had Tourettes). My calf eased up a little bit so I started really pushing again just to have it seize again, I tried standing on the pedals while swearing again and that didn't help much - I really thought the swearing would be more effective. But the seizing and easing went on for a while and finally seemed to release enough that I could stop swearing and concentrate on the race. I kept thinking though that for that final 50 yard dash to the finish I would look like Igor gimping my way across the finish.

At last I made my way into the transition area for the final time I parked/threw my bike in it's spot and ran for the finish while the clock read 1:29:07. I'd done it!!!

I dropped off my helmet at my transition spot and grabbed my water bottle and went over to finally introduce myself to Gaye. (It didn't seem the right time in the midst of a race to say: Hi I'm Laurie" - lacks a little focus) Gaye's friend Amy was there who came to cheer her on and turns out that we knew each other as well from back in my Mountain Mama days of hiking while carrying Megan around. I congratulated Gaye on beating me and wondered if that meant I was in last place. It was hard to know since we were the first of five or six waves. Gaye assured me that I wasn't, but I wasn't too sure, I'd just have to wait for the finally results. But no matter - I'd beat my former self, and everyone else who didn't even bother trying, so that's all that really mattered. I enjoyed chatting with Gaye and Amy while partaking in some postrace cookies and hot coco. Gaye and I finally stopped talking and left when just about everyone else was gone and I headed home finally very happy with my achievement and the knowledge that I'd burned over 900 calories and could indulge in a few treats, guilt-free, for the remainder of the day.

My final results are (in comparison to my only other duathlon I've ever done - since improving my time was a goal - although keeping in mind they were totally different races, formats and courses):

Chilly Cheeks #2.............................................Du Wop Duathlon
Jan 17, 2009...................................................Sept 27, 2008
1.5 mile run.....................................................12 mile bike
3.6 mile bike....................................................5k/3.1 mile run
2.5 mile run
7.2 mile bike
50 yard sprint

1:29:07.................................Total Time....................1:30:6
181/190 (95%)........................Place...........................125/229 (55%)
161/190 & 163/190 (85%)....Bike Rank....................22/52 (42%)
15.4 &15.0.............................Avg Bike Speed............14.86 (Hybrid)
186/190 & 188/190 (98%).....Run Rank..................36/52 (69%)
10:45/11:11...............................Run Pace...................12:36 ***Huge Improvement!!****
69/76 (91%)...............................Sex Place................. 125/229 (55%)
1:55/1:12/2:11.........................Transition Times.......3:54.3 *** Huge Improvement!!!***

I can see that my dedication to keep running is paying off! I don't think I ever ran a 10:45 pace before in my life (thanks Gaye!) and I'm getting more comfortable in my transitions. The rest doesn't bother me since the populations for these two races were so different that they don't really lend themselves to comparisons. I also know that I need to get back to doing brick workouts and workouts longer than an hour to build that endurance. I've got 6 weeks till the next race to get ready! Let the training begin!

The Perfect Weekend

2009-01-12T07:36:00.003-07:00

The last three days had to be about perfect. (And I ain't talking about food here).

I think it started Thursday night. Megan had been sick all week and my workouts this week were difficult to impossible to get in. But I asked Jay if he could come home a little early so I could make it to the 5 pm spin class and he did. I got to class, which was taught by a trainer at the gym that I knew did the first duathlon in the winter series that I missed due to Megan's ballet recital. (She took like 4th place) I told her I had finally signed up for the next one on the 17th. During class she did a special race set just for us. Also during class I was having some issues with my bike the resistance was all screwed up I could either be at like a Level 3 or a Level 7 there seemed to be no middle ground and the tension on the left shoe clip was really loose. About 5 times throughout the class during sprints my foot would come flying off the pedal, which I think was very entertaining to everyone behind me since it was akin to running really fast and tripping. Unfortunately the last time was a little worse - I was going super fast and the momentum was just in the right spot that I pitched forward when my left foot came off and slammed my right leg into the handle bar and this is what it looks like now Monday morning:

But no matter - I came home feeling great. I'd set a PR for calories burned in a spin class: 623, in 1:13 with a max heart rate of 190. And I was so relaxed for the rest of the night that I just had a great time putting together puzzles with Megan (she's so stinkin' smart!)

On Friday morning Jay asked what I had planned for the day. I sort of cringed inside since Megan had been sick all week and was just started to feel better and I was afraid what he was going to ask of me. But when I confessed that I didn't have much planned he told me that he had an hour long massage scheduled for himself around lunchtime from one of the women that come to his office every other Friday and if I wanted to I could have it instead and he'd take Megan to lunch. Did I ever?!?! So I went to hot yoga (and was 1/2 an hour late! I forget that's an hour and half long class) and then I went for my massage which was WONDERFUL!!! I'd pulled my hamstrings from a workout on Monday morning and this was just what the doctor ordered.

Friday night Jay and I had a sitter scheduled and we went out to a really nice dinner at the Vesta Dipping Grill where I'd wanted to go for a long, long time. Dinner was good and dessert was AWESOME!!

Saturday morning I checked my email to find that my friend Kelly who did the last duathlon with me had just decided to do this one coming up on Saturday the 17th with me too.

I went for a 5k run which didn't feel particularly good probably because I ate a ton of rich food and had a glass of wine the night before, but I struggled through. I came home and jumped in the shower. As I was getting out of the shower Jay came in and told me that my friend Kelly had just called to see if I wanted to go for a bike ride. Kelly is an amazing cyclist and all-around athlete, so I couldn't pass up a chance to go out with her on my new road bike, so I was off again. By the time we finally headed out the wind had really picked up and the head wind was pretty brutal. I felt terrible and was struggling to keep up - which I only could do because she either hung back for me or waited up for me at various intervals. But when it was over I was very glad I went. I got on my new bike for the 2nd time (both in terrible wind), I learned some more to suck it up and get out weather-be-damned, and I got to catch up with Kelly who I hadn't really talked to in a long time.

My BFF, Denise, and I had plans to go to the movies on Saturday but she very graciously agreed to move our date to Sunday so I could go ride with Kelly. So on Sunday, Denise and I went to the dollar theatre (now really $2.50 - but I'm so cheap I use the BOGO coupons on the back of my grocery store receipts! I learned to be even cheaper too -while I was waiting by the concession stand for Denise to arrive I saw some woman come in with a folded up popcorn bag from a previous visit. I thought that was pretty cheesy way to get a free refill, but apparently if you bring back the bag they charge you only 50 cents for a bag of popcorn! Two movies and a large popcorn for $2.50!) But I didn't get any popcorn so I still don't have a bag - I just snuck in some hot tea. (free from home!!) Anyway, Denise and I saw Secret Life of Bees which was amazing! We'd both read the book a few years ago and throughout the movie we were both dabbing our eyes and blowing our noses.

So then I hurried home spent a quick hour cuddling with J and watching football before he had to leave for a business trip to Calgary. I was so sorry to see him go. I felt so pampered over the past few days, but I feel in a much better place and better prepared to single mom it for the next few days. And I have to say that it feels like a law of physics right now - a person that is happy stays happy. And it's a whole lot easier to use that momentum to let the little things go.

The Weekend Update

2009-01-07T09:02:00.002-07:00

It's been a week and I think I've been doing pretty good on my life plan:

- With the exception of today (so far) I have spent about 10 minutes in silence and have started re-reading a book I bought years ago called Wherever You Go, There You Are: Minfulness Meditation in Everyday Life. Some mornings get interrupted by Megan waking up, today I needed to jump into working since Megan was sick last night and I knew I was going to be hurting to get work done. (and I essentially didn't work all last month so I have some catching up to do). But so far so good - it's such a struggle to keep "present" without just zoning out or my bigger problem, my mind wandering off to conversations past or things that need to happen going forward.

- I haven't started doing Yoga/Sun Salutations each morning. I knew when I wrote this it would be hard. My mornings are so hectic between 5 and 9 am - I get up to get as much work done from home as possible and then I change hats to the stay-at-home-mom as soon as Megan's up to get us out the door for the day.

-Vampires - still addicted to the computer, but being mindful about it and trying to cut out some here and there. Emotional drainers - none really this past week. Money Wasters - since the new year we have only eaten out once for lunch and not at all for dinner (unless you want to count last night for Girls Night Out, but Jay and Megan stayed home. But I don't count that.)

- My list of things I've always wanted to do is growing and growing as I remember and think of things. I do need to start writing them down though since I'll forget again. This obviously, like all goals is a life change and won't be accomplished this year alone, but haven't actually done anything extraordinary this week.

- I've had one smoothie in the past week (Monday) and it was good, would have done it again yesterday (Tuesday) but the blender was still dirty and I didn't feel like washing it by hand in order to make the smoothie.

- I trained on Saturday like an athlete - I took my newly purchased running shoes and set a PR (Personal Record) for distance: 5 miles!!! The word of the day was Mental Fortitude. I'd done 4 1/2 the week before and the last time I'd done 4 1/2 miles was in October of 2007. So I'm excited about that - but I felt it that's for sure.

- Monday I did a 2-fer. In the morning I went and did a CrossFit style workout for legs. After running a mile on the treadmill I did: 50 air squats, 50 calf raises (90#), 50 leg raises on ball, 50 squats with 45# bar, 50 stiff leg deadlifts with 45# bar, and then 50 1 legged squats (per leg). Then I went back to the gym that afternoon for flowing yoga - which was tough on some of the balance move since my legs were toast - and my hamstrings still are!

- Other than that the workouts weren't anything above and beyond the ordinary - but consistency is key. Today is just one of those days - Megan is sick so no gym for us today.

- Food isn't what I would call on par with an athlete at this point - I'm still fighting the sugar cravings that took over again during the holidays. But I'm getting closer.

- I signed up this morning for the Chilly Cheeks duathlon - so I'm going to push myself to go out there and do it - weather be damned. Just please don't be snowing or windy!

- I've ordered my copy of Catcher in the Rye from Bookins and when I searched for the book the Cliff Notes came too, so I figured might as well and got those too.

Sacrifice

2009-01-07T06:04:00.000-07:00

IF YOU RAN WITHOUT SACRIFICE, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU JUST JOGGED.
Running hurts. It always has. Woolly mammoths didn’t just roll over onto a plate and serve themselves up to prehistoric man with fries and a shake. They had to be caught - and running down woolly mammoths was a bitch. Guess what? Running is still a bitch, but one with a purpose. It teaches us that good things do not come easy. It teaches us that hard work will be rewarded and laziness will be punished. Don’t expect to learn those life lessons from running’s shiftless stepchild; jogging. Next time you suffer on the roads or trails, suffer proudly. It means you run like an animal.

2009 Life Plan

2009-01-02T07:09:00.003-07:00

Here it is, I definitely feel myself headed in a different direction this year and it feels great! I've been working on the outside for the past 3 years, now I'm going to get healthy on the inside too.

2009 Life Plan
Your Only Obligation in Life is to Breathe

I. Achieve a Higher Level of Consciousness
- Spend 10 minutes every day in silence – grow into a daily meditation practice.

- Continue to grow and expand yoga practice
... Develop habit of performing Sun Salutations each morning

- Control Vampires
... Time suckers, i.e. computer
----- Set limit on computer time/turn off computer
... Emotional drainers, i.e. negative thoughts
----- Continue seeing therapist
... Money Wasters, i.e. eating out
----- Develop Plan for eating out for lunch less often

II. Don’t Settle for Anything Less than an Extraordinary Life

- Do those things I’ve always wanted to do
... Visit RMNP for the Elk Bugling (Sept/Oct)
... Go to the Sand Dunes
... Start Rock Climbing again

----- Actually attend climbing events now that I found a group that meets regularly
----- Take Megan out climbing

- Be an Athlete/Live like an Athlete
... Train for and Complete Events that sound fun and challenging
----- Duathlons, 14’ers, Snowshoeing, Rides
... Eat like an Athlete
----- Restart daily afternoon protein smoothie habit

- Expand my Reading to include Quality not just Quantity
... Read at least one banned book (Catcher in the Rye?)
... Read at least one Pulitzer Prize winning book
... Read at least one “Classic” book (Thoreau? Walden?)

Year-End Check Up

2008-12-27T21:16:00.006-07:00

At the start of 2008 I created my annual Life Plan and so now is the time to see how things went. Did my life go as according to plan? And if not was it better or worse and how can I use this information to help in making my 2009 Life Plan.

Life Plan for 2008

Health and Fitness:
1) Drink at least 64 ounces of water/tea a day

. . . Nope I still don't drink enough fluids every day - but I do pretty much drink just water, tea, or seriously watered down Crystal Light anymore. Soda, diet or not, is such a rarity anymore I'm happy to say. But still need to work on finding the key to this drinking thing.

2) Run a 10K

. . . Nope, but I did do a duathlon which involved a 12 mile bike ride and a 5k run. I'll call this a plus, because it got me so excited to do more events which was more than I expected out of this goal.

3) Brush Teeth 2x a day everyday

. . . Nope, not this one either. It's better but still rare that I'm not so exhausted by the end of the day that I just fall into bed. But a recent thing has started which I hope to continue until it's become a habit is flossing daily.

4) Weigh 125 or less

. . . Nope, didn't get here - but I did get my Body Fat percentage down to sub 18% for a while this year during the PN course, which is cooler because that meant I was packing some serious muscle. No idea where it is now, but I need to get back in the habit of tracking this so I know where I'm at. I'm basically happy where I'm at so that's a plus. Numbers aren't everything.

5) Get the legs I’ve always wanted

. . . Well, this is difficult to say. What I meant when I wrote this was lean, muscular legs which meant I got past the final frontier for fat on my body and I'm not there yet. But when I look at my legs now I see them so much differently since I started spinning, running, cycling and doing this duathlon and training for others - I see these amazing machines that do things that I never thought they could and I'm so freaking impressed with them that I'm more than willing to forgive some cellulite and smooshy fat if they keep me moving like they have for the past 6 months or so. Rock on, Legs!

6) Eat dinner at home at least six days a week

. . . I would say that this is a true statement. We still eat lunch out a lot, but we've been really, really good about eating dinner at home most every night. Finally I can say yes!

Personal/Intellectual Growth:
1) Read/Listen to 50 Books

. . . Absolutely!!! I've read or listened to 59 books this year and have today to finish the one I'm on for a nice even 60.

2) Take time for myself (that’s not at the gym) at least once a week.

. . . This is still a struggle and I've been thinking already of how I want to try again to tackle this one in the new year.

Relationships:
1) At least two dates a month with Jay

. . . Yes! There was a period of time when I went on strike over the summer with this one, but we worked it out, came to an understanding and we are back on track (which reminds me I need to start looking at January for getting a sitter for our date nights next month.)

2) Spend at least an hour a day with Megan uninterrupted

. . . No, I can't say that I've been as good with this as I'd like. I need to refocus and regroup on this one as I still think it's really important.

3) Have evenings when the television is not on before Megan goes to bed

. . . Yes, it happens. No, it doesn't happen often, but it did happen last night and was a blast.

4) Eat dinner at the dinner table more often

. . . Sometimes we do better than others. I don't remember how bad it was when I wrote this but I don't think we do too bad now.

6) Plan at least one night out a month with girlfriend(s)

. . . Abso-freaking-lutely! I established the 1st Tuesday evening of every month as Girls Night Out and it's worked out great. Not everyone can make it every month, and we cancelled this month because the holidays are so crazy, but I'm so glad that I did this. I also created a Book Club where we meet the 3rd Tuesday evening of every month and it's been so great to have another evening out as an adult. It just goes to show that if you want something, you have to do something about it.

Career:
1) Join a professional Paralegal organization

. . . Done! For the good it's been, but I did it.

2) Decide if the stress is worth the paycheck -or- If I can be just a stay-at-home mom
3) Look for another job, but only take one if it’s perfect
4) Work only the number of hours a week that I’ve agreed to

. . . 2, 3, & 4 - Done!!! I no longer work for the woman that was driving me insane, I work for a wonderful woman now, along with a second attorney and contemplating a third and my work life is just grand!

Financial Health:
1) Save 10% of our income

. . . Done!

2) Pay off Home Equity Loan

. . . Done! Then as a reward for paying off early they dropped our line of credited by 3/4's - like we're the ones that screwed up so badly. Damn lenders.

3) Have $10K Emergency Fund

. . . Done!

4) Fund Roth IRA’s to their annual maximum

. . . Nope, was working on it and the stock market crashed so now we just started buying a couple of stocks we were interested in on our own and figure we can't really do any worse that the brokerage firms right now with losing our money and it's been kind of fun.

Well, it appears that in all areas of my life besides Health and Fitness I've done really well, which is not at all how I feel. I feel great and that I've come so far this year as an athlete that I'm somewhat in awe of myself and my accomplishments and can't wait to see what I do next year. After all, I trained for and completed a duathlon, I took a 3 month nutrition course, I joined an awesome gym, I've discovered yoga and enjoy my practice, I've discovered spinning which has led to cycling that I love and I'm good at, I've started running again - not far or fast, but without the terrible pain from before.

This is a Life Plan and Goals - it's not a strict set of instructions. You have to be flexible and venture off course. If I had stuck to the 10K plan, I would have never discovered duathlons.

Chart your course and seeing where it leads you - I'll be sharing my plan for 2009 very soon. I wrote this post initially a few days ago and was struggling a bit this time. I'd written that the inspiration hadn't hit me yet "except in a couple of key areas, but who knows - this year may have a narrower focus. After all, I'm feeling good about my career, intellectual growth, and financial health."

Well this morning upon waking - when I have all my best thoughts - it hit and I wrote it down, now I'm going to live with it for a day or two, tweak it and then I'll let you know.

The Best Gifts of All

2008-12-27T20:35:00.002-07:00

I had a wonderful Christmas and I hope everyone else enjoyed their holiday of choice as well. I got a lot of great presents: lots of cycling gear and gadgets for my new bike (which I hope to actually get out and ride one of these days), I got these bowls that I really wanted and didn't think anyone would actually get me and I'd never buy for myself, and J and I got each other Ipod shuffles to join the 21st century and even managed not to get each other the same color.

But I got a couple of other things that weren't wrapped and I must hold in my heart and not my hand. The first one started out a gift from Janie - my competition in the Meltdown, PN classmate and Canadian counterpart - that I got in the mail on Christmas Eve. I didn't even know she knew my address! It was this very cool ornament from Nova Scotia (New Scotland) where she lives. The thought of her taking the time to pick something out, search out my address and send it to me meant so much to me, but just when I didn't think it could get any better the email response that I got back from her blew me away and completely had me tearing up:

I wanted to send you a gift - I'm hoping we can continue to become
better acquainted. We seem to think and do a lot of things alike and that's
cool. I have a lot of respect and admiration for what I know of your
accomplishments through your blog and facebook. Having done similar things
myself, I know some of what you've been through and the personal strengths and
struggles you've had. Some days just reading your blog can turn my day
around because you're going through the same things and you've got the guts to
talk about it whether its good or bad. No matter, its always
inspirational. Thank you. I've had a tremendous life-changing
journey in the past 3 years and sharing and communicating with people like you
helps me realize that in this big old world I'm not alone in my quest
for health, fitness and maintaining youth.

I haven't even responded to her email yet, because I don't know what to say. She'll see this post first and hopefully that will explain my delay.

I experienced a Christmas Miracle . . . my father came to our house again this year on Christmas Eve and was here on Christmas morning to see his granddaughter open her presents. After lunch we sat at the table for a long time talking during which my NRA member, card-carrying member of the Republican party, Rush Limbaugh loving - father brought up the Big 3 Auto bailout which initially had me rolling my eyes, because we just can't discuss politics since we are on the opposite sides of just about every issue - this year was exceptionally bad as we all know how heated the election was this year. But I was about to tune out when I realized that my father and I were actually on the same side of a political issue! I can't remember that ever happening before. It was a very pleasant change which I enthusiastically acknowledged and then quickly changed the subject as not to encourage any further political conversation.

I got a very green velour sweat pant/jacket combo with a very nice compliment. J's grandmother who lives in velour sweat outfits apparently got this new outfit and it shrank in the wash and was too small for her and as "the smallest person they [J's mom and grandmother] know' it was passed on to me. For the record I tried it on - it was actually still too big in the waist but not too bad, but J just kept looking at me with this look that said - you look like my grandmother, so I put the clothes in the Goodwill bag but I tucked the compliment away for a rainy day.

Lastly, has been the numerous looks of joy, shrieks of excitement, and countless giggles and belly laughs that I've seen from Megan these past few days as she's fully enjoyed every second of Christmas only as a child can.

The Nail on the Head

2008-12-24T06:39:00.002-07:00

Kristin Armstrong's blog is probably my favorite blog and I know I've told you before you should be reading, but in case you haven't listened, this is from her last post and I don't think I've heard it said any better, I know I have a lot of lessons that I can learn from this:

And here we are, a week away from Christmas, days away from Hannukah,and
the pace of the season threatens to outpace us. I came to the conclusion
that a great way to honor Erin, to honor each other, to honor ourselves and to
honor the intended spririt of the holiday season is to give ourselves
Grace. The grace to listen to our bodies when we are tired. To enjoy
an extra cookie, or three. To huddle up in cold weather and snuggle our
children instead of begrudging our lost workout. To take time to savor the
chaos and the onslaught of relatives, knowing that soon enough things will
settle back to normal and the only thing that will stand out is the reflection
of how we spent our time. To hug our grandparents and listen to their
stories. To let the kids wrap the gifts, decorate the cookies, sign the cards,
and string the lights without our 'help.' To stretch out with a good book.
To leave dirty dishes in the sink and linger at the table. To sleep in or stay
up late. To include someone who feels blue this time of year. To allow our
greatest gift to be our presence, in the moment and in our hearts.

She's a Brickhouse

2008-12-21T11:06:00.002-07:00

I have been so unmotivated to workout this week. I hate this non-stop below freezing crap. But I rallied this morning and went to the gym to workout, because there still is the next duathlon in less than a month and Jelly Bellys, chocolate covered macadamia nuts and Christmas cookies aren't going to get me there.

I went to the gym (rather go run in 4 degree temps this morning) I went with the plan of running 4 miles. I just can't lose that the distance now that I did it once. It seemed really ambitious given my recent laziness but aim high, right?

I got on the treadmill and although I was in shorts and a light sweat drying shirt I was still HOT after about a half a mile. I decide screw it, I don't care what anyone thinks (most of all me) and I took my shirt off and ran in my sports bra. You got to do what you got to do to meet your goals, and if it's run half-naked then go for it. Shortly after than I slowed my pace a bit - I realized it was more important that I get to the end rather than how fast I got there. Shortly after that I rethought my goals and dropped it to 2 miles.

As I ran my way to 2 miles, I hated that I'd lost so much that I'd gained. So a new plan emerged and at 2 miles, I jumped, gratefully, off the treadmill and onto a spin bike. I rode for about 15 minutes keeping my heartrate up the whole time ( the bike doesn't bother me - I don't really train for the bike - I can do that forever it seems, or at least as far as I need to go so far).

Then the plan shifted again and as I finished on the bike I jumped, longingly, off and onto the treadmill again and ran for another mile. I felt really proud of myself and happy for the accomplishment and that I didn't just quit and go home after 2 miles. If fact, I stayed a little longer walked it off on the track and then went and stretched. While stretching I had a very enjoyable conversation with some other women at the gym.

So the next duathlon is on January 17th, the format is 1.5 mile run, 3.6 bike, 2.5 run, 7.2 mile bike, 50 yard dash. I think today's training was a good step in that direction. From here I will keep my motivation up and not lose anymore ground.

For about an hour of working out and stretching I burned just over 600 calories.

This week I worked out a paltry 4 days/4:40:19 and burned 1641 calories (I don't even want to think about how many I ate!)

Today was a good day.

Head Case

2008-12-18T07:06:00.003-07:00

Well, I did it. I've thought about it for the past year, probably off and on for a majority of my adulthood. But spurred on by Katie, who told me she was thinking about it (and did it!) I decided it was time to get into action myself. What is it that I've done exactly? Well, you know that I've become a fit, strong, and healthy woman physically. I've done this by trying several different things, like going to Phat Camp, hiring a personal trainer, building an amazing online network, taking a nutrition class, joining a hiking group, setting goals, entering races and competitions, etc. Now, I've taken the first step toward a holistic view of a fit, healthy, strong and will start working from the inside, as well as, the outside. I saw a therapist, a psychotherapist for the first time this week.

I plan to continue to go for as long as I continue to feel the benefit of this type of "workout". Isn't this the ultimate "workout". I get to go and work it all out! The first session was good, I got a good feel for the woman that I choose. I did my research before meeting with her and felt her experience was a good match to handle my kind of crazy. I liked her personally, felt comfortable talking to her and enjoyed that she had a sense of humor - very important for the people close to me in my life.

I went in with three things that I wanted to start working on:

1) Food - of course, I want to have more control over stressful, boredom and emotional eating, an end to the mindless eating and the food that calls my name (why does brocolli never call my name? Or a nice grilled chicken breast? But those damn cookies have me on speed dial!)
2) My family - the family I grew up with. Don't most of us have family issues that need a little help, if not your own (like my husband that grew up with the Cleavers) then your inlaws.
3) There are just some things that not everyone needs to know :)

The first session was pretty much background and on how I got to this point, so no major breakthroughs yet - not that I expected that. Unfortunately because the of the holidays I don't go back again until mid-January, but I'm looking forward to it.

This one too . . .

2008-12-17T15:56:00.001-07:00

Probably August 2009 - http://www.venusdemiles.com/index.html

You can change a flat tire. You can fix a toilet. And you can make one mean margarita. Created for women by women, Venus de Miles is Colorado’s first women’s-only bike ride. We invite you to ride, in the spirit of challenge and in the spirit of charity in support of Greenhouse Scholars, an organization providing mentorship and scholarship support to high-performing, under-resourced students. We invite you to become a part of this Colorado first and only—because you’re a woman, and because you can.

Where You’re Going
So let’s be clear about one thing…this ride isn’t a competition. It’s all about doing your personal best, whatever that may be. Nobody’s keeping time of the event, so if you need to take a minute and catch your breath, do! However you ride, you’ll still come out a winner.
Venus de Miles has two rides to choose from, both of which start at Prospect Park, Prospect New Town in Longmont.
35-Mile Route
The shorter route is a 35-mile loop, taking you up through Hygiene, past the Foothills Reservoir and then down through Niwot before heading back.

65-Mile Route
The second, 65-mile route also takes you through Hygiene and Niwot but then turns west, venturing through Lyons and Jamestown.

If the rides sound tough, don’t worry—there are plenty of stops along the way, with refreshments and bike repairs at the ready.

Thinking outloud

2008-12-17T06:26:00.006-07:00

I'm starting to think of goals for the coming year - which now for me now includes a race schedule. (How did I get here? This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife. Oh wait! I AM the beautiful wife!) So thinking outloud looks like this:

I am planning on this:

Saturday, January 17, 2009 :: Denver, Colorado: Chilly Cheeks Duathlon Series #2
Race Name Chilly Cheeks Duathlon Series #2
Sprint duathlon Run 1.5 miles, Bike 3.3 miles, Run 2.5 miles, Bike 3.3 miles:
Location Cherry Creek State Park

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And this:

Saturday, February 28, 2009 :: Denver, Colorado: Chilly Cheeks Duathlon Series #3
Race Name Chilly Cheeks Duathlon Series #3
Sprint duathlon Bike 10 miles, Run 4 miles:
Location Cherry Creek State Park

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This would be a challenge, do I have time to get up to this distance running?

Saturday, May 09, 2009 :: Denver, Colorado: Barkin Dog Duathlon
Race Name Barkin Dog Duathlon
Sprint duathlon Run 3.1 miles, Bike 18 miles, Run 3.1 miles:
Location Cherry Creek State Park
Start Time 7:30 AM

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I'd love to do a big ride like this. Not sure how many miles are doable and I'd want to do it with someone. Anyone?

June 7th - Elephant Rock Ride

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This looks like fun:

Saturday, June 13, 2009 :: Bennett, Colorado: Big Sky Duathlon
Race Name Big Sky Duathlon
Sprint duathlon Run 2.5 miles, Bike 15.5 miles, Run 2.5 miles:
Location Community Center
Start Time 8:00 AM

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This would be a blast - just need a partner:

Saturday, June 27, 2009 :: Denver, Colorado: The Great Urban Race - Denver
Race Name The Great Urban Race - Denver
adventure race About 5 miles. A create-your-own-adventure race!:
Location
Start Time 12:00 noon

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How can you not want to do something called Cabbage Head?

Saturday, July 18, 2009 :: Wiggins, Colorado: Cabbage Head Duathlon
Race Name Cabbage Head Duathlon
Olympic duathlon Run 3.1 miles, Bike 18.6 miles, Run 3.1 miles:
Location First Community Church
Start Time 8:00 AM
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Or there's this one that could be fun, just to try it up in Leadville (eval. 10,200)

July 19 - Du-It-High Duathlon - (5K Run/20K Bike/5K Run) - Leadville, Colorado
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I could do this, although it's a week later:

Saturday, July 25, 2009 :: Aurora, Colorado: My Way or the Tri Way
Race Name My Way or the Tri Way Duathlon
Sprint duathlon Bike 14 miles, Run 3.1 miles:
Location Aurora Reservoir
Start Time 8:00 AM
USAT Sanctioned
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This would be good - killer climb on the bike:
August 8 - Aspen High Country Triathlon/Duathlon 2 mile Run, 17 mile bike (with a 1,500ft vertical gain) and a 4 mile run in the Elk Mountain Range and the scenic Maroon Creek Valley - Aspen, Colorado -

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Some time in August is this one which I would love to do one of these years if I can get my BFF to do it. Are you listening, Denise?:

The Muddy Buddy
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And this one I really want to do again, this is is what got it all started - but this is the only information so far:

August 27 - Colorado Wild Women Duathlon - new distances this year - Aurora Reservoir - Aurora, Colorado

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This is what insanity looks like. I'm not doing it - the run would kill me, if I could even run that far. Just sharing:

Saturday, September 12, 2009 :: Aurora, Colorado: Harvest Moon Triathlon, Duathlon and Aquabike
Race Name Harvest Moon Duathlon
Half Iron duathlon Run 3.1 miles, Bike 56 miles, Run 13.1 miles:
Location Aurora Reservoir
USAT Sanct/Certif. RD

Now all I have to do is work narrow this down, coordinate with Jay's race schedule, get the money for registration fees, figure out how to ride my new bike without falling off, and get really, really, really fit!!!

Sacramento Continued

2008-12-15T12:52:00.006-07:00

Finally, I'm back to tell about the fantastic time I had in Sacramento.

We left on a Thursday, after a long delay at the airport in Denver we finally got off the ground and left the snow in Denver and landed in the fog of Sacramento. Katie, who I met at least 3 years ago on the Body-for-Life Tracker website (I think), was waiting for at her parents house for Jay, Megan and I. Katie was awesome enough to hook us up with her parents house for the weekend while they were away on vacation.

Friday morning, we took our time getting up and had a great time finding a place to eat breakfast, given the fact that the fog was so bad we couldn't see past the sidewalk while driving down the street. We did finally find breakfast and we decided to go to the Jelly Belly factory for a tour given that the weather wasn't cooperating for much else. After consulting Katie, at work, she texted us all the necessary information and we were off.

The tour was very cool and had a craving to try all the different flavors. We spent a whole lot of money in the gift shop and then it was time to see Santa, who as luck would have it was visiting the Jelly Belly Factory that day.

From the Jelly Belly Factory we hit a California icon - In 'n' Out Burger. Yummy!! (Why can't we have those in Colorado?!)

If I keep eating like that I'll end up looking like this:

Then that night it was dinner with Katie! We went to Joe's Crab Shack (what a crazy place! Jay was goosed by a total stranger right in front of us!) It was so great to talk to Katie face-to-face after years of Instant Messaging, and to have someone to split my entree with!

After dinner was probably my favorite part of the weekend. Jay and Megan headed back to Katie's folks house and she and I went out alone and found a cofee shop were we could carry on real time conversation. The evening ended too soon.

Saturday morning Katie headed back over and she and I went for a run together. We went out for 3 miles, never sure who was setting the pace but it was a good click. It was cool running at sea-level - Katie and I could actually talk with whole time. Amazing what a little air will do for you. But in the end Katie turned on the juice and beat me handily to the finish.

That afternoon we headed of to the Expo so Jay could pick up his race packet. Katie and her son Brian Jr. met us there. Brian Jr. and Megan were instant friends. We also ran into fellow blogger, and marathon runner, Leslie, but unfortunately we didn't get to talk for long before she ran into another one of her fans. (Fast forward to the end of the story - Leslie had a great race and qualified for Boston!)Check out the awesome shirt that Katie got me in this pic!

That night we had dinner over at Katie's house and Brian Jr and Megan got to play again and we got to meet Katie's husband, Brian, and her sister, Emily, then after getting a little lost on the way back to Katie's parents house it was off to bed.

Finally it was marathon day - which you can read about in the previous post. But Katie once again came to our rescue and took Megan and I around the race course to cheer Jay on, in the cold California fog. (Whoever says that California is warm and sunny, hasn't been to Sacramento in December.) Once again Megan and Brian Jr. had a great time, and were excellent cheerleaders chanting, "Go, Guys, Go!"

Sadly, the outcome for Jay wasn't what we hoped

and it was time to say goodbye to Katie so we could head home the following morning.

I'm indebted to Katie for everything she did for me and my family this weekend. I had a wonderful time!!!

Back from Sacramento

2008-12-09T14:24:00.002-07:00

This will be a short post - although it should be a long, long, long post. I just don't have the time or energy to give it the attention it deserves, but I do want to get it started.

We are back from our 4 day whirlwind trip to Sacramento. We went so that Jay could run the CIM marathon and qualify for Boston following a disappointing run at the Denver Marathon this past October. Unfortunately this run was even more disappointing. His body/legs were just not ready for another marathon so soon. He'd been battling Achilles tendinitis for the past month or so and had barely run at all. He'd worked at cross-training: swimming and biking, to keep his cardio levels up but it just wasn't enough. He's Achilles started really hurting him again about halfway through and his times were just dropping from there. Although I still couldn't be more proud, and still amazed that he finished (although I don't know why this shocks me anymore). He's ready to not think about running for awhile and heal properly. He says he wants to build up some leg strength, which means joining me for rides and weights which will be fun. Boston 2010 is still in our sights, but some more prep work is necessary first.

Okay, this is going to be shorter even than I thought - or that took longer than I thought. Off to a hair appointment now, but I'll be back to talk about why else I went to Sacramento which was awesome and wonderful! But beauty calls . . .

Genetic Freak

2008-12-02T16:34:00.003-07:00

Maybe you know and maybe you don't but Lance Armstrong, one of my heroes, is often considered a genetic freak. He's got an abnormally large heart and lungs, and incredibly low lactate levels that have helped him achieve his amazing feat of winning 7 consecutive Tours.

And how you could possibly miss this summer all the talk about Michael Phelps and the genetics that help make him an amazing swimmer? He is very tall, but with short legs and a long lean torso, a huge "ape-index" (arm span of 6'7" to a height of 6'4"), his ankles are double-jointed, and giant size 14 feet/flippers.

It's hearing stories like these that make me wonder about all the other people in the world that may also have genetic attributes that make them perfect for a particular sport, but have no idea, never try "their" sport, or just never get off the coach and therefore will never achieve this sort of greatness.

I completely get that just because you may be predisposed to a sport doesn't give you the love and passion you also need to be great, for instance my 8th grade science teacher, Mr. Bernhard, was 6'8" and hated basketball. But that's not the point here, so just forget about those people for now.

I'm very interested in sports and admire the physical, as well as the mental qualities, that it takes to make someone a great athlete. But what about all those coach potatoes who think that being double-jointed is a great party trick to pick up chicks? Or that girl who has the lung capacity to be a marathon great, but can't get over her 2 pack a day habit? I don't know why I think about them - but I do.

So fast forward to November 1st of this year. I have an appointment with my husband and a couple of friends from spin class to meet with a personal trainer at my gym to have our maximum heart rates tested. If you've ever been to a group exercise class you've heard the instructor most likely at some point tell you to find your pulse and therefore find your heart rate and see what "zone" you're in using a chart on the wall using your age. The general school of thought is if you take 220 and subtract your age that will be your maximum heart rate. That means that mine would be 183.

Well the problem with that, for me, has been that no matter what I do it seems I've shot out of my "fat-burning zone", flown past "aerobic" and I'm "anaerobic" (essentially burning muscle and not fat). I can't possibly run any slower but I'm anaerobic the entire time. Now tell me how you can be anaerobic for 45 minutes straight? You really can't or shouldn't be. So I've always felt that something is wrong.

I've had my husband wear my heart rate monitor instead of his to see if it's broken, but for him it works just fine. So then I must be broken. So I decided to find out for sure.

We start off with some baseline and basic stress tests so that she can be sure that none of us are going to keel over during the actual test. All is good and we're all pretty much at the same place.

Then we start the actual test which involves slowly increasing your heartbeats per minute while noting your perceived exertion level until you can't go any higher then do a bunch of math and Ta-Da! there you have it.

All is good and I go to to town and I finish at just above 190 beats per minute and since I didn't die that means that the max that my heart can handle is above that. I do my math. The trainer does the math. She gives it to my husband, the engineer, do the math again. I don't understand what's going on, but she calls me a genetic freak and tells me that my max heart rate is 210. Now keep in mind that Lance Armstrong's max heart rate is 201. She says that in 20 some years of training she's only seen one other as high as mine.

Suddenly things start to make sense. Before I was trying to train at 65-85% of my max heart rate I wasn't coming close. I'd even been known to get above 100% before in a really tough spin class. But now it was clear: If I could get to 190 in the test then a max of 183 obviously isn't right. Before my 65-85% was 119-156 beats per minute when in actuality it's really 137-200.

I was so excited going forward to try it out and see if I could actually workout without my heart rate going nuts. I actually even thought that running would be better since mentality it was tough to look at my heart rate monitor and see that I was working 95% of my max. So now I thought if I ran and saw it was really only 85% that would make me think it was easier, and it would feel easier.

But alas, it wasn't easier. It was harder. I found myself struggling workout after workout to try and get my heart rate up to the new levels. I got tired, wore out and just overall felt overtrained. So I talked to the trainer again and we made some adjustments as it's still not an exact science since, in part, it relys on your perceived exertion levels.

Accordingly we dropped me back down to a max heart rate 200 and things have been great! I feel like I'm right where I should be and my workouts are getting better and I'm feeling stronger. So turns out that finally, besides that we both ride a bike - Lance Armstrong and I have something in common.

Does this mean that I'm suddenly an elite athlete? Let's just say I'm not quitting my day job. I still have crappy knees and I love sugar way too much to have the diet that I should. But what it does mean is that I have the heart of an average 20 year old, and I can live with that.

Turkey

2008-12-01T18:47:00.001-07:00

Turkey and Wild Mushroom Hash Cakes

Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

Turkey Curry

--- okay this leftover turkey thing is starting to get out of hand . . .

I got it!

2008-12-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

The Pursuit of Happyness

2008-11-28T06:56:00.002-07:00

It wasn't planned but it was pretty perfect. Last week sometime it occurred to me that I'd wanted to see the movie Pursuit of Happyness but never got around to it - funny how that happens when you have a 3 year old. But I requested it from the library and since I'm so behind the times now there was no wait for it and I was able to pick it up a couple of days later and last night finally got a chance to watch it.

It is the perfect Thanksgiving movie. If you don't think you have much to be thankful for this movie will set you straight. It is also a great movie about determination, sacrifice, persistence and what it takes to pursue a dream. It was fantastic. I was choked up throughout most of it and by the end I had tears streaming down my cheeks.

I try to do a good job of remaining thankful and take a couple of minutes out of each day to count my blessings. One of which is almost always my amazingly smart husband and his job. I'm thankful that he works in the oil and gas industry and therefore, at least for the foreseeable future, there's job security. Things for him have even slowed down but people just aren't going to stop building pipelines anytime soon and who knows one day maybe people will start building refineries again. And I also recognize that because of who he is and his job, that it allows me to work part-time and take care of our daughter and part of that package is also time to get to the gym. I don't fail to understand that mom's that work full-time and single mom's often just don't have the luxury that I do and don't take it for granted.

I'm also thankful for my daughter. She has made me such a better person and I'm grateful that we can provide her with what she needs to be happy as well. Like a preschool that we love and she loves, and that knows how to spell and promote happiness.

I am thankful for my family, both biological and often more important - the family that I have created. For instance my best friend, Denise, has been my sister for almost my entire life. We meet in the 6th grade and were instantly bonded. We ended up going to different Jr. Highs because although we lived across the street from each other that street was the dividing line. Because of that we formed other friendships and by the time we got to High school we didn't do much together but stayed more with our own groups. But after High school we were back together again and then apart, and then together - just depending on the ebb and flow of our lives. But no matter what was going on I have always been able to count on her, and I hope she on me. My daughter knows her as "Auntie Denise" and knows her better than my own sister. I talk to Denise a couple of times a week, at least, and it's those conversations that help keep me sane.

I could go on and on about the good karma in my life. But the important thing is that I stop to recognize it and try to foster it by doing what I can to help others and not waste the blessings that I receive. So if you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend watching it and take time to stop today and everyday, not just on Thanksgiving, to think to yourself what you have to be grateful for. Some days it may be only a couple of things and you may start to sound like a broken record (my husband, his job, my job, my daughter, our health, our home, my family, my friends) but you never want to see the day when you don't have those things and there's a lot of people out there today who don't.

So for me today, besides my standbys I'm also thankful:

- that we even have the option of going to buy me a new bike today
- that my husband is home today from work and we can spend the day together
- that in less than I week I will get to see my friend Katie

I am Eleanor Roosevelt

2008-11-24T16:40:00.002-07:00

Yesterday I went out to do a brick workout to train for my dualthon. I planned to do a 3 1/2 mile run followed by a 10 mile bike.

I did a 3 1/2 mile run (11 minute miles which is really good for me) and my longest distance in a long time. It didn't feel great but I had the thought as I was finishing up that if I had to do 4 (what's required for this next duathlon - I would)

I then cheated a little bit, I drove back home (5 minutes)and hopped on the bike - so a longer transition than normal, but I didn't feel like messing with the bike in the bike rack on my car (and I don't like running from home since I like to run on soft trails which are nicer on my knees).

On the bike I transformed into Eleanor Roosevelt - I did that thing that I feared I could not do.

I rode over to the bike trail by my house and went south rather than north. I never plan a ride south further than taking Megan to school because beyond Megan's school is a really, really, really big long hill. I have to admit that going down the hill was really fun. But then it's up another steep hill, but not as long. I have to admit that I thought several times of whipping out my cell phone and calling Jay to come pick me up so I wouldn't have to go back up that hill. Especially when I hit 5 miles and it was time to turn around and head back home.

But I stayed strong. I enjoyed the ride down the hill I'd just climbed. And then I dug in and the climbing gods were with me - my favorite motivating song came on, Enimen's Lose Yourself, followed by Hendrix's Voodoo Child and then the next thing I knew I was at the top. It wasn't nearly as bad as I feared!

So the rest of the way is either pretty flat or a slight decline and the cycle gods were still with me - Nickelback's Animal came on and I just jammed it the rest of the way home. (That's a really short song but the momentum stayed with me for the rest of the way.)

I've been coveting a real road bike since before my last duathlon. (I ride a hybrid now, which is constantly having shifting problems.) There's even a specific one in a bike shop by my gym that I go in and drool on about once a week. I was in the store last week and my good friend who did the last duathlon with me and is a big time cyclist came in and she gave the thumbs up on the bike and the store clued me that they are having a huge sale for Black Friday, so I may have to break my streak of having never shopped the day after Thanksgiving. I just hate the idea of spending money though, but Jay is all for it - he's even looked at other bike shops, researched it online, and gone and looked at it without me. (I think in reality he wants me to get one so he has an excuse to get one too.) It's really cheap as far as road bikes are concerned at only $900, but it's not the time of year you're supposed to spend money on yourself. I wish I was better at figuring out when to splurge on myself or not - me, the lover anything under $10.

18 more days until the dualthon.

9 more days until I see Katie!!!

2008-11-23T06:07:00.003-07:00

Michelle of Alchemy gave me this award (I think to guilt me into posting again :) and also let me know she's starting the PN Course Monday - so if you didn't like what I had to say about - read her take.

Here are the rules:
Post the award on your blog
Link to me for giving it to you
Link the originating post
Pass it on to five deserving people
Post these rules for your recipients

I'm passing it on to:

Katie
SunnieJane
B
Eileen
Leslie

Pass it on to your favorite bloggers! :)

Significance

2008-11-17T08:20:00.002-07:00

I know I have said anything of really any significance lately - which has more to do with the inability to get all the thoughts going on in my head to form into something more cohesive than anything else.

Workouts are still happening, my duathlon training is still moving forward - I'm nervous though. I haven't had a great brick training for a few weeks now. There's only 26 days to go and I still haven't run more than 3 miles and I need 4.

My totals from two weeks ago were:

7:38:48 time spent working out
2580 calories burned

This last week was:
5:57:27
2213

Exactly . . .

2008-11-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

I am not one of the elite,
I am one of the persistent.
I am not a machine,
I am consistent.
I am not a god,
I am dedicated.
I am not an animal,
I am an athlete.
I am not crazy,
I am just having fun.

I saw this here and it spoke to me.

Taking 5

2008-11-12T20:43:00.003-07:00

5 of your favorite kinds of tea, (if you drink tea.)
- Green Tea
- Iced Tea
- Lipton little pyramid tea bags

5 of your least favorite kinds of tea.
- Red Tea
- Lipton little pyramid tea vanilla carmel truffle kind
- Sweet Tea

5 places you’ve been recently.

- The gym
- Work
- Cyberspace
- The Grocery Store
- My Happy Place

5 things you don’t like, that most people do.

- Roses
- Mint
- American Idol
- Talking on the phone
- Coffee

5 things you like, that most people don’t.

- G4's Ninja Warrior
- Working out
- Lifting Heavy
- Waking up early
- Cooking

Tagged Again

2008-11-10T14:45:00.002-07:00

I got doubled tagged so here goes:

7 Random things about me:

1. I would love to train for and take the fireman's physical exam - I just don't want to be a fireman.
2. My best friend and I met in the 6th grade - it's wonderful, yet scary to have someone in your life whose been around long enough to know EVERYTHING.
3. I stole a skull from my high school anatomy class - and got turned in my an ex-boyfriend. My dad still gives me a hard time about it.
4. I made a deal with my dad when I was about 12 if he let me do something, I don't even remember what, I'd get his ice tea for him for the rest of his life. He's still holding me to it.
5. I had 4 surgeries: shoulder, blew out rock climbing, knee, blew out running, eyes, once for PRK correction, once for strabismus and given birth.
6. I,like Sunnie, hate bananas but like banana bread, and love raw cookie dough.
7. Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday.

I'm not gone

2008-11-05T15:50:00.002-07:00

I haven't abandoned the blog, just nothing that inspiring to say. I'm still not 100% healthy and I'm struggling between working out and not working out too hard that I get sick all over again.

Last weeks totals were:

Time spent working out: 5:59:54
Calories burned: 2111
Miles run: 4.75
Sub/Max HR tests taken: 1
Times I was told I was a genetic freak: more than once
My max HR: 210

Not sure that's right - I'll rest in a few weeks.

Tag I'm it

2008-11-05T14:47:00.003-07:00

I was tagged by Katie, so here goes:

6 things I value

myself
my family
our freedom
nature
my friends
unconditional love

6 things I don't value

racism
pettiness
close-mindness
the inability to think for oneself
rudeness
curiosity slowing

Weeks Totals

2008-10-27T08:01:00.002-07:00

I started feeling sick on Wednesday so this week isn't looking so good:

2:41:19 Time working out
1040 Calories Burned
3 workouts missed

I still feel like crap but I'm going to the gym and going to do something today just to get moving again. We'll see if that turns out to be a good decision or not.

What I got

2008-10-26T05:46:00.002-07:00

The following is what I wrote yesterday for my final post on the Precision Nutrition site as my Lean Eating for Women class concludes today. I think this pretty much sums it up and as I've been down and out for the past few days with a cold. I just don't have it in my to make up a seperate post.

I want to give a HUGE thank you to both Ryan and Erin for all their hard work and dedication to this program, as well as to my fellow classmates. I got so much out of this class, and the funny thing is that I didn't get out of the class what I thought I would going in, but that's okay -because it's better! This was so much more than a nutrition course; it was more of a complete life overhaul.

The number one thing I got out of this class was: A higher level of consciousness.

I am present in my own life, and I'm no longer simply going through the motions. I stop and check in with myself to see if I'm hungry, if what I'm going to eat is the best for me at this time. The intensity of my workouts is greater.

This consciousness has shown up in other areas of my life as well, for example, I have had a life long bad habit of picking at my fingernails (embarrassing I know!) I would not even realize I was doing it until, I'd come out of my zone out to find any growth of fingernail was gone. But now I have had long fingernails for at least 2 month now without even trying. I now actually have to file them down because they get too long. Bizarre!

I also have many friends now that I'm proud to consider my "fit" friends. I have delved deeper into my yoga practice and feel I am reaping some great benefits from that as well. I've found ways to get in more veggies and have a new outlook on carbs. I completed my first duathlon, and had so much fun I'm planning three more. I've learned that flexibility is key and to do the best that I can at that time and ask myself what my alternatives are. I've discovered CrossFit from a couple of weeks from the Exercise Plan and fallen in love with how it helps me gain strength while building the cardio endurance I need for my duathlons - the best of both worlds!

I am a fit woman with a fit lifestyle.

Today is my 37th birthday and I can't imagine having given myself a better present than to be in the best shape of my life with nowhere to go but up.

Forgone Conclusion

2008-10-20T07:28:00.003-07:00

When you love someone their defeats become your own and it's so hard be there for someone you love when they have fallen short of their goal. You don't know what to say when you feel the loss as if it were your own. I had the unfortunate opportunity to experience this yesterday. J, my wonderful husband, ran the Denver Marathon yesterday with the very real goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. To qualify he needed to run a 3:15 race, which was no problem for him. All of this training had been perfect, his long runs (two of at least 22 miles) were at a pace that gave some breathing room to meet his goal. He felt good, he felt strong, he was confident, he even slept great the night before.

His confidence I made my own. I knew he could do this. It never occurred to me that he wouldn't make it. Now I've been a hockey fan for long enough to be sufficiently superstitious and not say "Shut Out" before the final buzzer sounds. So I wasn't making travel plans to Boston just yet, I hadn't started scouring the tourist section at the bookstore to see what all we needed to see when we got to Boston. I hadn't acted on his success but I was there - it was a forgone conclusion we were going to Boston in the Spring.

But problem with forgone conclusions is that they aren't conclusions at all.

Yesterday morning J got up at 4:30 and got ready and headed out via the light rail to the start of the race. Shortly thereafter Megan woke up and we got ourselves ready and headed out to cheer him on. My friend Julie lives along the race route and she was going to be the first to see him at mile 13 as he ran east along 7th Ave. At 8:30I got the call - she'd seen him and he looked great - three minutes early. So we hung up and I awaited her call again as he would pass her headed back down 7th.

A half an hour later the call came - right on time. I answer the phone, "Hey Julie!". The response I got was, "It's me."

"It's me." I couldn't compute. It was J's voice but he shouldn't be talking to me. Did I miss the Caller ID and it was really his phone? Don't be silly, he's not running with his phone! Why is he on Julie's phone?

He tells me something about his hamstring and calf on his left leg have completely cramped up. I mumble and fumble my words, I'm in shock - do I need to come get him? What's going on? He tells me he'll make it to me and I hang up the phone in shock.

I relay the message to J's boss who also came out to cheer him on as well. And we wait at mile 18. The excitement is gone. I'm now filled with dread and worry. I scour the runners as they go by, few at first and more and more as the time passes. Finally I see J - he's not terribly behind his time, but he's running, he swerves like he's going to come talk to me but I shoo him away with a "Don't stop! We're going to Boston, Baby!"

I then walk quickly over to Mile 20 and wait again, and wait. Then I see him walking toward us. I grab Megan and rush back to meet him. He's hurting but he's determined to finish. He hugs and kisses Megan and starts off jogging again. By this point he's about 17 minutes behind pace.

Megan and I head back to the car and make our way to Mile 25 and all I want to do is cry. I know the dream is over for this year. I think about all those hours of training all those miles ran and how it just sucks when it's not your day. But we get out and wait again to cheer him to the finish and I learn something important. I come out of mine inner funk and start cheering on other runners as they go by. I notice for the first time that many of the runners have their names on their bib numbers. I start calling out their names and cheering them on - it's still their day. They put in the hours and the miles too. They deserve the be congratulated just as much - regardless of their goal. By the time J comes along, running again, I'm feeling better and I cheer my heart out as he goes by, finishing what he started.

And then it's off to meet him at the finish. I find him by the gear check and again I just want to cry, in fact I do. Amazingly he is comforting me, which makes me feel worse. How silly, but Jay explains that he's had a lot of time to process the facts that I haven't had yet. In the end he finished in 3:39 - still amazing that he walked quite a bit. (The past two years at shooting for this goal he's missed by less than 5 minutes and I think this year was worse to accept.)

We head home. He was in pretty bad shape - his blood sugar drops way too far, and I stop to get him a soda. At home he heads off to bed. But before dinner, he's reading his Runner's World again and there's an article about the Bounce Back Training Plan -voicing what I had asked earlier. Can he count this as a long run and try again in a few weeks? The answer is yes.

Now just to find a marathon in winter. Which he did 3, actually, so maybe we'll do a winter vacation this year. But now the next dilemma:

This morning I asked what he found since I saw he'd Googled the Rock N Roll Arizona marathon and he tells me that 2 of the three he found were on the same date as my January 17 duathlon and the third is Disney (read:expensive).

So I've gone from torn and not knowing what to say to debating sacrificing one of the races I'd planned to do this winter so he has another, sooner, chance at his goal. But that's a whole other post. Right now I just need to go to the gym and work out some of this funk on my brain.

Weekly Totals

2008-10-20T05:41:00.004-07:00

Last week I had 2 rest days, instead of my normal 1, so that I could be there for J and cheer him on for the Denver Marathon (post about that to come).

5 days of training
4:49:32 hours of training (compared to 4:46:00 last week)
1847 calories burned (compared to 1554 last week)
5 miles ran
11:20 long run pace
512 PR for calories burned in a spin class

Let's hear it for intensity! Workout one fewer day, same period of time, but more calories burned.

I can be happy with this. Now to do it again this week.

Boston or Bust

2008-10-17T05:00:00.001-07:00

Think good thoughts this weekend for J - we want to do Boston in the Spring!

After 836 miles and 116 hours, 38 minutes of training runs I will be running the Denver Marathon this Sunday, October 19th. For any of you that are interested in cheering me and 10,000 other runners on, the race starts at Civic Center Park at 7 a.m. I have attached a course map along with my projected times at each mile post so you can watch for me along the course. My goal is to finish in under 3 hours, 15 minutes which will qualify me for the Boston Marathon in April.

That being said. I’m taking tomorrow (9/17) off to get fully rested for the race. Please see Robert with any issues.

Thanks for all your support.

Take 5

2008-10-16T07:04:00.002-07:00

5 of your favorite recipes (both to cook/bake and eat)

1. Grandmother's Lasagna
2. Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
3. Chocolate Chip Cookies w/ Walnuts
4. Ham & Spinach Quiche
5. My birthday cake - yellow cake with lemon frosting topped with rainbow color balls

5 things that have made you laugh lately

1. Picture in an email from Janie
2. Email from Denise
3. My response back to Denise
4. Megan and just how smart she is
5. The Presidental Debate

5 things you would do if you were fearless

1. Jump from a plane (more afraid of motion sickness than the jump itself)
2. Tell my family how their unhealthy lifestyle makes me fear losing them too soon
3. Plan a trip without Megan
4. Learn to lead climb Trad
5. Go back to school to learn nutrition and or be personal trainer

5 things in your bedroom

1. A picket fence
2. Kermit the Frog
3. A stack of books I want to read
4. Mud on the carpet from where Sophie sleeps
5. Lots of old hand me down, not adult, furniture

5 things you can’t replace

1. Megan
2. Jay
3. Dad
4. Denise
5. Memories

Take5 Tuesday

Cocoon

2008-10-12T05:53:00.005-07:00

In the last couple of days, the weather has gotten significantly colder here and we've started up our furnace, I wore my first sweater of the year and pulled the down comforter out of storage.

I've been trying to prepare for these days mentally. I remember all too well last winter and holiday season. Fresh off my first place win of the Spring Meltdown I'd held on very well to my fitness gains until about this time last year when it started to slip. By the time the winter really hit and it was an all out slide until I emerged this last spring about 10 pounds heavier. I've been thinking about this quite a bit and I'm determined not do that again this year.

I just completed my first ever duathlon, the Precision Nutrition course I've been taking wraps up in a couple of weeks, and I was afraid I was going to find myself without direction and motivation right in time for the holidays. I was also afraid that when it became jeans and sweater weather that my body would be out of sight and out of mind. Clothes of Fall and Winter are not so revealing of hard-earned muscles and waistlines and therefore easier to ignore.

So I thought quite a bit about what I could do to keep me going through the winter. And, as you already know, I've found a winter series of duathlons one for December, January and February. I know I haven't registered for them yet and the weather is the only thing keeping me from doing so - I have no intention of doing a race in a blizzard (although given Colorado weather, February's race is probably the only race really at risk for that threat). So it'll be a last minute registration, but I am training as if it's a done deal.

Which includes training outside and mentally preparing myself that it's okay to race in the cold. Yesterday I woke up to a gray, cold morning with drizzling rain and a thermostat that read a mere 34 degrees. I also have very sore legs after a lazy week last week following my race and starting up the Crossfit program this week. I really didn't want to go run and the cold rain was just the icing on that cake. But I'm proud to say that I went out and I did it. On the way drive over to the lake that I like to run around I thought that this is how people who hate to exercise and the gym must feel. I haven't ever had that issue, as for me that's the easy part. But you just have to get out and do it and you might just surprise yourself, as I did.

Now a little history, I run 12 minute miles - I don't care what I do: run short distance, it's 12; run long, it's 12; run after a bike ride, its 12; run without riding, it's 12. This is one thing I want to try an improve on for the next races.

But I started out running and immediately I thought, this isn't my pace. I knew I was going faster than I normally do and I started struggling with what to do. Do I try and keep it up? And if I do will I run out of gas before I complete my planned run - which has always been my fear? I know at 12 minute miles I can get the job done regardless of what is required. But I decided to see what happens and I began doing the math in my head - I do a lot of math when I run. I'm terrible at bothmath and running and so it takes a lot of time to do simple problems in my head which distracts me from running. But I started figuring out my quarter mile splits if I were to run a 10 minute mile and adding it to my start time for running. And to my surprise I was hitting the splits right on for a 10 minute mile. So it became a challenge, I knew I was working harder than usual, but I was going to do a 10 minute mile (I know, call Nike for sponsorship, but this is about me and about doing my best).This 10 minute mile thing surprised me, but sometimes you just have to listen to your body and you find out that it's willing to take on more than you thought.

I'm happy to report that I completed the entire 1.5 miles in 15:26 and that on the cool down walk back to the car I wore a huge smile and danced a little jig.

Now, I've gotten off on a tangent which was not the point of this post which is about winter and what it comes down to is that I am a caterpillar and I've started to spin my cocoon of long sleeve shirts, sweaters, jeans, heavy coats, and thick blankets. But I will not be hibernating my cocoon, I will be working my ass off because I will emerge next Spring a beautiful butterfly who is going to fly!

The Gift you are Given

2008-10-09T07:08:00.005-07:00

I'm so glad that I set on this journey when I did. When Megan as young enough that she has no idea who her mom used to be. I've been thinking a lot in the last few months as to what sparked this, this what: motivation, drive, dedication, I don't know what I call it since I was always trying to diet and work out before but it never took before now. And I have come to believe that the primary catalyst for change in my life was giving birth to her which motivated this change. I come from an obese family and I had feelings of embarrassment, especially when it came to my mother with regard to her weight and I never wanted Megan to feel that way about me. Oh sure, I may embarrass her in plenty of other ways, but I didn't want her to be ashamed of me and more importantly I didn't want her to carry on the family tradition of being overweight.

I have often wondered if Megan had been a boy if I would feel the same way. Say what you want, but there's so much stigma about being a fat girl, that I don't think extends to boys. Girls are so cruel to each other and the self-esteem is non-existent. I've asked J about this before, and now mind you J comes from the other side of the coin - the skinny guy, the string bean, the bean pole - you know. And he said he had some ribbing in his life, especially from his frat brothers, but it was really no big deal, or maybe that's how he dealt with it.

But I think that being a girl, and knowing the torment that I went through - self inflicted and otherwise - was a huge part of what set me on this path to health and fitness. I already dread the day that Megan comes home crying because the popular girls were mean to her, or that a boy she likes was cruel. I don't think I'd have that same insight if she'd been a boy.

But for whatever reason I'm on this journey, I am thankful. And I try to remember that daily and be grateful for this gift that I have received. Accordingly I feel I must give my best everyday or else I risk sacrificing this opportunity. I don't believe that this quest for health and fitness is to the exclusion of all else, but that it is paramount in my thinking. It is paramount in my thinking in hopes that it will be second nature to Megan.

Kids are so pliable and will go with the influences in their lives:
- Megan loves Fiber One cereal (aka Rainbow Cereal- the pieces are often bow-shaped) she doesn't miss Fruit Loops that we get sometimes on vacations.
- Megan was so excited for dessert last night, you'd think we were having hot fudge sundaes - but we were just having some strawberries and raspberries that we got at the store earlier that day.
- Megan loves chicken like other kids love pepperoni pizza. Megan spent the evening running races around our house and after every couple of laps she'd stop and shout - "I won, Nobdody catched me!"
- Megan has really gotten into riding her bike since watching me race my duathlon - she loves to go "super fast" - which unfortunately a couple of days ago included around a corner causing her to wipe out. But she was more upset because I told her she had to slow down for corners and couldn't go "super fast" around them.
- When asked what she wants for a snack 9 times out of 10 she chooses fruit.
- She asks for salad and vegetables with dinner - her favorites include broccoli and peas.

I think you just have to live the life you want for your children. I often hear advice given regarding diet and exercise that you have to do it for yourself and no one else. I don't believe that's true. I believe that my decision to do it for my child was what worked for me. Which just goes to prove that not one thing works for everyone. You just have to find what drives you and hold on.

Feeling bad feels so good

2008-10-08T05:32:00.004-07:00

I got through 11 rounds of the Crossfit workout yesterday and was pretty happy with that. This morning though I'm feeling it big time! And I've come to realize that yes, 11 rounds, was pretty good, but that actually means that in 20 minutes I completed:

55 pullups (assisted 80 pounds - definitely could have dropped that some)
110 pushups
165 squats (on Smith with 90#)

This morning my chest feels like a sumo wrestler was sitting on it all night. But that's okay, my chest is part of my body that responds really quickly and I love the way it looks after a steady diet of chest exercises. (Now is only I still had the boobs to go with it!)

I looked back at the CrossFit site to see how other people fared and noted from some pictures that squats were done without weight - oops! We'll see how my legs do in spinning class today.

I'm thinking that my training schedule for the Chilly Cheeks Duathlon Series is going to look like this:

Sun - CrossFit Workout of the Day
Mon - CrossFit WOD/Short Run
Tues - Rest Day
Wed - Spin Class/Run Brick Workout
Thurs - CrossFit WOD
Fri - Yoga
Sat - Outside Brick Run/Bike/Run

Living healthy is a privilege, not a punishment.

Full of Hot Air

2008-10-07T04:57:00.005-07:00

I love the feeling of being back from vacation and sleeping in my own bed. Doesn't matter how wonderful the vacation was, how much I didn't want to leave when it was time to go, but the prospect of sleeping in my own bed and waking up in my own house is really one of those things in life that nothing can beat.

We took a long weekend down in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Balloon Fest - hundred upon hundreds hot air balloons. We've done this before once or twice before we had Megan. J's folks and Megan's surrogate grandparents have been doing this for 26 years now non-stop. They go down and crew for a balloon, meaning that they help set it up, then chase it around town waiting for it to land and then pack it up and put it away for nine days. J and I crewed when we went down pre-Megan, and it just does nothing for me. We even got a ride in the balloon which was cool for a little while then I started getting antsy from standing still for so long. Also I can't get the whole doing the same vacation every year for years - too much to see and do. But Megan had a blast, which was the point, and got spoiled rotten all weekend.

I finished a required reading book for my PN course on vacation too, which I recommend that anyone who struggles with nutrition read. Hungry by Allen Zadoff. Zadoff is a complusive overeater and this is a story of his journey of discovery. It's a very quick read, and in no means is it a "how-to" book, but I think it gave me some very good insight into my own issues, which while not on par with a complusive over-eater, I'm definitely a "problem-eater". I've gotten better in recent years, but some of his insight was great regarding the scale, and exercises to do regarding "trigger" foods. I loved how he compared his disease to that of an alcoholic, which definitely gave me some light bulb moments.

Totals for Vacation:
16+ hours in the car for road trip
Too many unhealthy meals
No alcohol
1 workout - 40 minute brick (10 min bike/10 min run/10 min bike/10 min run) followed by 20 minutes of yoga

Since I've had no time to plan my workout for today I'm going to Crossfit and doing the Workout of the Day whatever it is:

WOD 10/7/08

Cindy

As many rounds in 20 minutes of:

5 pullups
10 pushups
15 squats

"Complaining is silly. Either act or forget."
- Stefan Sagmeister

I love this email

2008-10-03T07:13:00.002-07:00

And I'm afraid I'll lose it with all my computer issues,and amazed that I haven't yet. Julie sent this to me back in December and I love looking it. I love when friends "get" you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This one is different: This is fun and funny!! But, if you don't want to participate, don't worry about it, just delete this email.

YOU fill in the blanks about ME and send it back to ME.

But FIRST send a blank one out to all your friends, including me, so we can return the favor to you.

Be honest - they're really SCARY to get back. It only takes a few minutes, so just do it!!!!

First send (forward) this survey to everyone you know to see how well he or she knows you. Second, hit "reply" and fill this survey out about the person who sent it to you and send it back to them. (be sure to change the subject line to say YOUR name....how well do you know_________________?)

Name: Laurie

Where did we meet: On a hike, at maybe Lair O' the Bear? Can't remember!

Take a stab at my middle name: The Organizer

How long have you known me: almost 3 years!

Do I smoke: No

What was your first impression of me upon meeting: You were funny and I loved your red hair

Color of my eyes: green/hazel?

Do I have any siblings: Yes, 1 sis

What's one of my favorite things to do: hmm, is it eat junk food, watch hockey, hang out with your hubby and daughter, or is it work out? Wait, your favorite thing to do is to set goals!

Do you remember one of the first things I said to you: Stop letting your kid bother my kid! ;-)

What's my favorite type of music: no idea, but I know you like Metallica

What is the best feature about me : You're funny/sarcastic and so great about keeping us all organized

Am I shy or outgoing: I'd say outgoing

Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules: rebel

What's your favorite memory of me: So many...mostly how you were so good about motivating me at the gym, and hey, that killer Apex hike where I almost died, you motivated me then too. May not have made it without you.

Any special talents: Losing amazing amounts of weight and staying on task about going to the gym longer than anyone I know.

Would you consider me a friend: naw, more like family!

How many children do I have: 1

If there was one good nickname for me, what would it be: The Goal Obliterator or my other one, The Organizer

If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing would I
bring? Your bikini, but apparently you'd have to get a new one!

What I'm thinking next . . .

2008-10-01T05:52:00.000-07:00

Chilly Cheeks Duathlon Series!

December 13, 2008
4 mile run/10 mile bike

January 17, 2009
1.5 mile run
3.6 mile bike
2.5 mile run
7.2 mile bike
50 yard sprint

February 28, 2009
10 mile bike/4 mile run

http://www.racingunderground.com/chillycheeks/index.html

Who's with me!?!?!?

Take 5

2008-10-01T04:30:00.004-07:00

5 things that make you happy.

1. Cuddling with Megan and listening to her laugh
2. Reading a book
3. Smelling the bottle of vanilla when baking
4. The smell of cool damp morning air - camping air
5. Spending time with friends
6. Rock climbing
7. Jay kissing the back of my neck
8. Fall in Colorado

5 things you would do for a million dollars.

1. The Amazing Race
2. Play Powerball
3. A job that I loved
4. Inherit from a long lost uncle
5. Be named Vice President Presidental Running Mate - NOT!

5 things you would do with a million dollars.

1. Buy land and build a house in the mountains
2. Buy a home at the beach
3. Pay off debt for my family and friends
4. College fund for Megan
5. Travel

5 things you do every morning.

1. Make Green Tea
2. Forget my Green Tea in the kitchen while it's brewing
3. Thank Jay for taking out the tea bag, nuking it, and bringing it to me while I work.
4. Write out my todo list of what I need to do each day
5. Go to the bathroom

5 things you do every evening.

1. Watch Megan sleep and kiss her one last time before going to bed.
2. Turn off the computer
3. Go to the bathroom
4. Put on Jammies
5. Go to sleep

Blogging

2008-10-01T04:12:00.001-07:00

Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few.

Despair, Inc. | 800 Interchange - Suite 102 | austin, tx | 78721

Mission Accomplished!

2008-09-29T13:03:00.014-07:00

On Sunday morning I took several minutes to channel Michael Phelps, well not really, but I did sit, mediate and listen to my ipod playing the music that I wanted running though my head during the race as my mental soundtrack. We were all up early including poor Megan, and we head way out east to the reservoir.

I was feeling really good until we got within sight of part of the bike route. Those were some damn big hills! We got to the parking area - I ran to the port-a-potty from all my hydrating I'd done. I went and got all set up in the transition area, and started talking to women here and there(This was an all women's event, which was a very cool way to go.)and everyone was so nice, excited, yet an overall sense of nervousness.

My friends Kelly and Carolyn were both there too and we finally all connected and had a chance to chat before things got underway. And here's a picture of us all fresh before the race.

Our friend Mary also came to cheer us all which meant a lot to me too. Everyone has been so supportive and it's been so amazing to so surrounded by love and friendship.

Finally it was time to get started so I separated from Kelly and Carolyn, who were doing the longest distance so they were in a different transition area and got an earlier start. While waiting for the okay to start in my transition area I ran into another women that I knew who was doing the short distance who I chatted with a bit, and strangers as well.

After lots of nervous waiting I was finally off.

The bike route was 12 miles and it was incredibly hard. The course description said it had "rolling hills". "Rolling" sounds so gentle and peaceful - WRONG - and it neglected to mention "strong headwinds", which I guess at times had to be tailwinds, but hell if I felt that. I would fight up to the top of a hill, my heart rate through the roof, and finally I would get the rush of the fast descent. Unfortunately the descents were too short and the flats were essentially non- existent. I was so worried that I wouldn't have anything left for the run, because I couldn't get in any recovery time to get my heart rate down following those hills. The best part of the bike part was definitely at about the 1/2 way point there was some group of 50 some high school-aged boys lined up along the side of the road cheering, hollering and screaming for all they were worth and it was right before/after a turn around point so I got to go through that awesome gauntlet twice!

But finally the bike was over and I headed back into the transition area with one thought on my mind - "Thank goodness for the run, I finally get to stand up straight, my lower back was killing me."

In the transition area I managed to find my spot somehow:

Now I'd said from the beginning that I wasn't in this for time and a fast transition wasn't that important to me, I had one of the longest transitions as it was - I had to go to the bathroom, you know, I can't run without having peed first!. I also took off my helmet and gloves, changed into my running shoes, took a couple of Cliff Shot Blocks, changed a short-sleeve shirt and put my hair into a ponytail. But perhaps I should have taken a little more time. I forgot to put on my knee brace and if you look closely:
I also managed to get my shirt on backwards! Which Jay pointed out to me after the race was over, which explained why it was so hot that I kept tugging at shirt collar.

The running was hard, it was hillier than where I normally run, it was concrete-I NEVER run on concrete, and I forgot my knee brace. But I was really glad that I'd learned the lesson about running my own race. At one point I caught up to the friend I knew doing the shorter distance walking along and she decided she'd run with me, that was until the first hill she started walking again but I kept going. There were a lot of walkers during the run, and several times I was passed by someone running just to pass them again on an uphill portion after they had stopped to walk, which was hard because it would have felt good to walk . . .for about 2 seconds and then I would have been kicking myself that I threw it all away - hence one of my favorite quotes from Lance Armstrong - Pain is Temporary. Quitting last Forever. The other quote that ran through my head a few times during the run is "To do any less than your Best is to Deny the Gift." And this new found fitness is a huge gift that I don't intend to waste.

I almost drowned myself 2 or 3 times at water stations by getting water up my nose when trying to get a drink before I learned to stop doing that and refusing water at the stations. I saw Kelly coming the other way at one point and we did a quick High-5. But soon I knew the finish was coming and I actually started to get a little teary, I was so proud of myself, but I had to stop that thinking because I wasn't there yet.

I finally got to the finish and Jay and Megan were there to cheer me on home,

and Megan helped me the rest of the way:

Carolyn and Kelly were there to greet me on the other side:

I had a great time, I was really stiff afterwards, particularly the knee that should have had a brace, I was really hungry yesterday afternoon and took a HARD nap. But I feel really pretty good today and am going for a massage tonight (which I was smart enough to schedule a week or so ago).

Last night I found myself on the Internet looking up more duathlons and I'm already working on the next goal. If any women, here in Colorado, are considering a duathlon, or some sort of physical challenge I would highly, highly, highly recommend this race. It was so none competitive, and there were women of all sorts of varying ages and abilities out there that everyone can feel comfortable doing their thing.

Last week's stats were as follows:

6 hrs 16 min 30 sec working out (includes 2 yoga classes
Doesn't include shoveling/wheelbarrowing 5 cubic yards of mulch
2099 calories burned
My first DONE-althon!!!

Thank you

2008-09-27T07:21:00.003-07:00

I want to thank everyone for the cheering me on for my race tomorrow. I'm sorry I haven't kept you all up to date on my thoughts and preparations during the week.

I also want to apologize to anyone in the past couple of days that have emailed me and I haven't responded. My brand-new computer has crashed twice this week. And while I haven't lost much other than more hours than I care to tally, I haven't lost any of my documents (other than the ones created on the days of the crashes) and I haven't lost my pictures of Megan. I have lost all of my emails - some weird glitch between Outlook and Comcast, and any bookmarks and contacts/email addresses that I added in the last month. So my preparations for the week have involved a lot of stress, not getting any work done, hours on the phone with tech support, and late nights/early mornings of rebuilding/reloading/resetting.

If you sent me an email - and haven't gotten a response, please resend. I'm not ignoring you!

I'm excited for tomorrow, it'll be lots of fun, and I'll be sure to tell you all about it!

Corny Thoughts and things I've meant to say

2008-09-21T07:06:00.003-07:00

Saturday's training was AWESOME!!! I rode 10 miles, and ran 2.5 miles and I knew I had it in me to go the distance. Pray for good weather next weekend!

I will not do a TRY-athlon, I'm doing a DO-athlon.

Gabby Reece rocks! I saw an interview with her in Bon Apetit magazine a couple of months ago (free magazine don't recommend it if you're looking for healthy food options). She talked about a meatloaf recipe that she makes that does things like use oatmeal instead of breadcrumbs and I thought that sounded like a good thing to try. So I went to her website and no mention of the recipe, so on a whim I emailed "her" asking for her to share, and I got a response back that same day from an assistant saying she's requested it from Gabby and will send it to me and feature it on the site. 2 days later I had it. Here is the link - it's the 3rd one down. My brush with fame.

I told you all a couple of months ago about my old rock climbing partner who I'd lost touch with, Louie, who I reconnect with to find out that he has cancer. Well, we finally were able to hook up in person this weekend and I'm happy to report that he's doing great, and well on his way to recovery. Trying now to get his strength back to get back to running, climbing, hiking and back to work. It felt so good to see him and can't wait to see him again.

Why don't princesses scare birds? Kids ask the darnest questions. But think about it, you watch all these Disney princess movies - at least you do when you have a 3 year old girlie girl like I do and at some point in every movie a bird comes and sits on their finger while they sing away. Megan for the life of her, can't figure out why whenever she chases after birds, finger outstretched in perch formation, the damn things scatter.

This weeks totals:

Time spent working out: 3 hr 39 min and 57 seconds
Calories burned: 1557
Totals do not include 2 hrs 15 min of yoga