A Family Event

Sticking with it

2010-04-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Even though I haven't been posting it, rest assured that I HAVE indeed, been sticking with my plan to lose weight. Unfortunately, my measurements are at home and I am at work right now so I can't post all of those. However, I do have my weight, fat %, and bmi. And, I am proud to say, I am making progress. So, here it is:

Weight: 168.2 lbs (7 pounds lost)
fat%: 40.0% (down 3%)
fat mass: 67.3 lbs (8 pounds lost)
lean mass: 100.9 lbs (1 pound gained)
bmi: 26.3 (down 1.1)

While these numbers are still sobering (before having kids I was 140 lbs and 22% fat), I am happy to see that I have made an improvement already. I do have to question the validity of the fat% numbers as it varies significantly based on the time of day. I have a Tanita scale that measures it but it obviously is not as accurate as having it measured with calipers. In the evenings it says I have a fat % of more like 33% but I always weigh in the morning so that is the number I am using. When I get close to my goal I will get real measurements done.

I am going to go for a walk now because I really want chocolate and am not going to allow myself to give in.

Accountability starts here

2010-04-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

And what am I going to be accountable for, you ask? My weight. Yes, the dreaded weight that seems to only be going up up up in the past 4-5 months since Ironman. I am finally forcing myself to make a 100% effort at losing some weight.

Step one: announce to everyone you know that you are trying to lose weight. The last thing you want to do is fail in front of your friends.

Step two: Track progress. So, I have 10 measurements plus my weight, body fat, and bmi. Totally humiliating to post this where everyone can see, but I am going to do it. Here goes.

Weight: 175.2 lbs
Fat: 43% (75.3 lbs)
Lean Mass: 99.9 lbs
BMI: 27.5 (right smack dab in the middle of the OVERWEIGHT category)
above bust: 36.4"
bust: 41.1"
below bust: 35.2"
waist: 37.5"
hips: 41.7"
Butt: 41.9"
Thigh: 22.8"
Calf: 14.8"
Upper Arm: 12.8"
ForeArm: 8.3"

So, there you have it. Not very pretty. Below is my goal:

Weight: 145 lbs
Fat: 24% (35 lbs)
Lean Mass: 110 lbs

So, essentially, I need to lose 40 lbs of fat and gain 10 lbs of muscle to reach my goal.

LIFE

2010-03-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

Wow. I'd say that life gets in the way but if you think about it, that's really just life itself. I started writing this thinking that I was going to whine and complain but I suddenly realized that I love it that way. Seriously.

Work has been so busy lately. I spent all last week in Connecticut doing supplier audits. And while it was fun and I learned a LOT, I missed my family every minute of it. I am such a homebody. I love my kids. I love my husband. I love spending my free time with them.

So, about all that training that I was supposed to be doing. Yeah, right, haven't hardly started it. So that means this year will have a max distance of a 1/2 IM. I've had to give up on the idea of of having a coach this year since I had to make some unexpected repairs on my truck. Instead I am putting together training plans for both myself and Jake. I am hoping that we both can do a 1/2 this year. So, the *current* plan is the Redman 1/2 for me and the Longhorn 1/2 for Jake. I guess we will have to see how this works out.

Motivation and plans

2010-01-31T20:15:00.000-08:00

the current plan: TexasMan 1/2 IM in May and either 1/2 or Full IM at Redman... I'm thinking it might need to be the full. But I'll have to wait and see how the training for the first 1/2 goes.

Motivation Found

2010-01-20T07:24:00.000-08:00

After a hard hour (actually, 68 minutes) on the elliptical last night my motivation has returned. Now I just have to decide on my big race for the year. Will it be the full at Redman or an attempt at a PR at Longhorn? Still have some thinking to do on that. I might still have a fraction of a life if I only do the 1/2.

I still feel like I need some redemption for Cozumel though. It is really disappointing to have all that hard work end that way, being sick and not being able to race my best. I still have a couple months to decide what I want to do. Either way, I better get my butt back on my bike and back in the pool.

Not much going on here

2010-01-19T13:46:00.000-08:00

I still haven't found the motivation to sign up for anything or commit to anything at this point. Ashlynn has a gymnastics event the same morning as the ultra that I was considering doing so I get a free pass on that. It's probably for the best as I really haven't been running much anyway.
I am just enjoying spending time with my kids.

The year in summary

2009-12-31T19:43:00.000-08:00

Wow, I can't believe 2009 is over. It was definitely a roller coaster year for us with trying to fit in all my training for Ironman, all the training races, and of course, Ironman itself. Although the final outcome of all that hard work was not what we had hoped for, it was still worth it. I have greatly enjoyed this past month with extra time to spend with my girls and know they have enjoyed it too. I spent today painting Mackenzie's room and baking cupcakes with Ashlynn.

I have not set any huge goals for this next year and don't really want to pick anything that requires and many month commitment like an Ironman race does. Right now I am looking at doing an ultrmarathon in February and not really sure what else after that. Jake keeps talking about me doing Redman but I am not sure I want to make that sort of a commitment. Thankfully, that is a race that I can sign up for later so I can wait and see how my training goes and sign up at the last minute.

It will be interesting to see what all 2010 brings for us.

Christmas Begins at the Sunderbruch House

2009-12-18T19:25:00.001-08:00

I decided that my kids are getting too many gifts to be able to open them all on Christmas morning so I decided to let them start opening them tonight. We are going to do one per night for the kids until Christmas. Tonight we opened the gifts from Granny and Papa (my Grandparents) and my girls got the CUTEST pj's ever!!! Many thanks to Aunt Amy for helping Granny pick out gifts. The girls absolutely loved them.

Starting to open gifts

"what does Ashlynn have?"

"A Tu-Tu!!!!"

the 'share' gift that Mackenzie insisted on opening all by herself and cried if Ashlynn even touched the wrapping paper.

thankfully, Ashlynn was so enthralled with her new ballet jammies that she was a good sport about letting Mack open the share gift.

Ashlynn got to open the card from Granny and Papa since Mackenzie opened the share gift. You can see that Ash is already wearing her new jammies.

Mack has claimed the Little People minivan for herself

Look Mom, I can drive it!

Ashlynn dancing for us in her new ballet pajamas. She was so happy!

Mackenzie in her new jammies with her Little People SUV that we dug out so that she would share the new Minivan. And of course, she has Scruffy the Dog too.

My girls showing off their new gifts.

Ironman Cozumel Race Report

2009-12-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

Well, the tears are done and I am not as mad anymore about the outcome of my race. I will start with a few important lessons learned.
1. Never travel outside the US for your first time when you do your first IM. Too many firsts all together never add up to a good thing.
2. International travel with a 3 year old and an 18 month old is hard enough already, why add a bike box and suitcase full of race gear to that whole mess?
3. Always stay someplace where you can cook your own food. This would be my downfall.

Although my first two lessons learned made the logistics of traveling an absolute nightmare, it was nothing that couldn’t be overcome and in the end didn’t affect my race. I’m sure it was interesting watching 3 adults try to schlep 2 kids, 2 carseats, and 8 carry-on bags (for 5 ticketed passengers) on and off an airplane. It was even worse when you then added in the 7 checked bags and bike box! But we managed it and I can laugh about it now. OK, so the race is what you really care about.

Thursday morning I went to swim practice and the current and chop was brutal. I was left seriously doubting whether I could finish the swim course under those conditions. Friday the conditions were so rough they wouldn’t even let us in the water. Saturday was a bit better and I decided that even if it took the entire 2:20 to do it, I would be able to finish the swim. My bike and run practices leading up to the race were uneventful and gave me a taste of what the winds would be like, but nothing that I hadn’t anticipated. By lunch on Saturday I was confident that I would finish the race.

Saturday evening I was hit with what I thought was just a bad case of nerves. Took some tums and hoped for some sleep. Sunday morning was no better and I told Jake I thought maybe I had eaten something bad. He convinced me it was nerves and drove me to the swim start.

The swim was FANTASTIC!!! Getting in and treading water until the start made you aware of the current and you had to swim a little to stay in the same place. Otherwise the current would pull you back a little. I tried to find a place away from everyone but I couldn’t seem to get any space. I was able to get about a 5 foot radius of open water and decided that would have to do. I never heard the gun/cannon go off. We thought we were supposed to start and people were yelling to go go go, but no one moved. A few minutes later the washing machine that is an IM mass start began and that was my clue to get moving. It was so strange to be able to see the divers underwater keeping a close watch on us. I’ve never swam in such beautiful water before and this was by far the best part of my race. I got kicked, hit, a few times but nothing that would ruin your day. It went by so quickly and I remember smiling as I ran down the dock to T1 thinking OK, this is going to be a good day. Heck, I was out of the water in 1:28!!! By far my best open water swim ever!

I started the bike in great spirits, saw my husband and kids a few miles down the road, and was on to great things. For the first 45 minutes. Then the nagging cramping in my mid-section came back. I tried to ignore it and focused on my nutrition plan. Maybe I just swallowed too much salt water and it would go away in a few minutes. Time to take some salts… or throw them up, darn that’s not good. Ok, try again, and this time they stayed down. It’s also good to note at this point that my heart rate monitor decided to stop transmitting! I have trained every day using heart rate and had my entire race plan based on HR, and now, no HR. I left it turned on and it would intermittently pick up my HR, but nothing consistent and nothing of real use. I was going to have to race based on PRE. That’s ok, I tell myself I can do it.

I finished the first loop right on pace where I thought I would be and although I was having trouble with my stomach, it wasn’t having a huge impact yet. I noticed that starting the second loop I was a bit slower and the stomach pain was getting worse. This lap SUCKED. I got off the bike 3 times, couldn’t push myself at all without severe stomach distress, and finally decided at the end of this loop that I would have to change something, ANYTHING, if I was going to finish the race. At this point I cut my nutrition in half hoping that I had stuck to the plan well enough so far that this deviation the last portion of the bike wouldn’t kill my race. After all, what difference would it make if I stuck to the nutrition plan but didn’t make the bike cut-off?

I see Jake for the 3rd time on the bike and tell him it’s going to be close on the cut-off and he says that I can do it which of course makes me burst into tears. I don’t want to let him and the kids down so I tell myself that under no circumstances am I to get off the bike until I reach T2. The wind has picked up significantly on the far side of the island now making that 15 mile stretch from just before Punta Sur to Mezcalitos even more challenging than before. When I finally reach Mezcalitos and turn towards town, I tell myself it’s going to have to be race pace for the next 45 minutes to guarantee I make the cut-off. I made it with 15-20 minutes to spare! My legs actually felt pretty good coming off the bike. I just wish I could say the same for my stomach.

Out to the run and the crowds are there to push you on. My goal is to run 13 minute miles for the first ½ of the marathon to give myself a little buffer on the second ½. This includes walking the aid stations and works great for the first mile. Then I make my first bathroom stop. After that, it’s 13-14 minute miles for a few miles until the stomach cramps return. Ok, run until the cramps get too bad and then walk until they go away. This is how I finish the first loop. I head out on the second loop with the same plan but notice that I am walking a lot more now. I look at my watch and think well, as long as I maintain this pace, I should just beat the cut-off. Doesn’t leave much room for a buffer, but at this point, anything is better than nothing. By the ½ marathon point I know that things are not looking good. I have lost count of the port-a-potty stops (with no TP by the way! That was just GROSS!) and even walking is causing major intestinal issues. I remember Jake saying that the coke on the course at IM Arizona helped calm his stomach and I am desperate at this point so I try it and end up throwing up on the side of the road. Ok, back to water. I try walking the next mile and just sipping water, hoping that slowing down will help. After another trip to the port-a-potty I realize that my race is over. I am doubled over on the side of the road trying to catch my breath just from walking. I flag down a passing police car and ask to be driven to the med tent.

They take me to the tent back at the run turn around, where the medic takes my blood pressure, says something quickly in Spanish that I didn’t catch, and I am immediately surrounded by 4 or 5 medics trying to find a good vein for an IV and asking me a ton of questions. The ambulance ride seems like a distant dream now. I was freezing cold but hot and sweating at the same time, don’t ask me how that is possible, but it is. I felt like I was still running a marathon and couldn’t seem to catch my breath so they put an oxygen mask on me. The medic keeps saying something about the hospital and finally I realize what she means and argue in broken Spanish to be taken to the med tent at the finish line so that Jake can find me.

After an hour or so in the med tent, 2 liters of saline (and I probably needed more), oxygen, and a nap, I was allowed to stumble out of the med tent. I couldn’t see Jake in the stands so I picked up my bike and gear bags and found an open spot in the plaza to sit and wait for him to find me. I could see the finish line and heard them announce the final people as they came in. I cried a little, more so when I had to tell Jake what happened.

After a few days of reflection, immodium, and pink death (pepto bismal, which I have to be desperate to take), I feel a little better about the way the race ended for me. I talked to people who have done several other races and they compared the stretch into the head winds with the 12 mile climb at Lake Placid. One guy also said he would do Louisville twice in a row before doing Cozumel again and ranked this as the hardest IM he’s ever done. I picked Cozumel b/c I thought it would be an “easy” course, not that any IM is ever easy. But it was flat, and I thought I would have a better chance here. In the end, I have heard people say that the winds on Sunday were some of the strongest the island ever sees. I guess for me to make it as far as I did given that I started the day sick is a pretty good accomplishment in itself.

A few things to note about this race (and other thoughts):

1. Mosquitos…tons of them. My kids and I are completely eaten up.
2. It was nothing like IM Arizona in 2007 (Jake’s IM). This was the only IM I had experience with and was what I thought IM was supposed to be like. I so want to race Arizona now.
3. Supposedly a spectator friendly course, but only if you want to spend the whole day at T2. The local taxi drivers made a ton of money off this event as that was the only transportation for much of the event since there was no parking at T1 so spectators couldn’t drive there. T2 was hard to get to in anything other than a taxi so if you had to make trips back to your hotel it would cost a lot of money.
4. All gear bags and bikes had to be picked up immediately after the race, not the next day.
5. The expo sucked. Only one T-shirt style, nothing in kids sizes, just a really crappy selection.
6. Where the heck was that crappy expo after the race? I thought it was supposed to still be there the next day.
7. I heard nothing but bad things about the med tent. The first aid on the run course was decent and they were able to start my IV on the first try, in the dark with only a flashlight. Of course, it took what seemed like 5 minutes for them to find a good vein, but at least she only stuck me once. I give her credit b/c my veins are always hard to find. But the quality of care changed once I reached the med tent at the finish line. Then it was just poor quality triage where they tried to boot you out to free up a bed as quickly as possible.
8. The special needs stops were a mess. Countless stories of bags being lost. This is easy to understand given the chaos and lack of organization during the dropoff of the bags.
9. Some of the taxi’s are SCARY!!! No A/C, seatbelts not working right, can’t open windows…. I was sitting in the back of a van with my kids and Mackenzie was wimpering b/c it was so hot and there was no airflow. Poor baby was probably about to get sick. The driver barely kept it on the right side of the road and I found myself praying to God that I hadn’t DNF’d only to die in a taxi ride to the airport.
10. Where the heck are the emergency exits in the convention center??? The room that our mandatory pre-race meeting was in only had one exit and it took 20 minutes to get out after the meeting. Imagine if there had been a fire in there!
11. You can’t flush your toilet paper in the toilet, you are supposed to put it in the trash can… GROSS.
12. Severe lack of toilet paper in the port-a-potties. I’m sorry, what the HECK is up with that?
13. The roads for the bike course were in great condition
14. The section of the bike course with the head winds was BEAUTIFUL!!! You are right on the shore and can see the water almost the entire time
15. The swim is unbelievably clear
16. The locals really try to support the race, lining the streets cheering as if it were the Tour de France.
17. The city really tried hard to make the course enjoyable for us. They even removed speed bumps in town so we wouldn’t have to slow down for them.
18.It really makes you appreciate being an American

Longhorn 70.3 - Just a long training day

2009-12-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

Saturday
Totally not motivated to go for a 2 hour ride but I force myself to drive to transition. I walk down to the swim course and count the buoys. I have no intent of swimming even though it would probably be a good idea. I haven’t used my wetsuit in months and hope that it still fits. Maybe I won’t even wear it. Yeah, right, I’m a wimp when it comes to the cold, I’ll definitely be wearing it.

Ok, pull the bike out, discover that my skewer has come apart on my front wheel, search the truck for the spring, put back together. Man, I really don’t want to ride. Glance at the map, and head out. After about 10 miles I realize that I am slightly lost and I have been riding BIG hills, hills that I hope are not on the course. I find my way back to the park, my legs are trashed already, and I am not in the mood to run. I throw the bike back in the truck, put my running shoes on and run to the port-a-potty… good enough, that’s enough running for today. I throw the last of my gear in my gear bags, drop off all my stuff and drive the course. Time to go get cleaned up and take the kids to my sister’s apartment for dinner.

Just as we are getting out of the truck, Ashlynn gets sick. Uh-oh.

Sunday – Race Day
I wake up with my typical pre-race nerves and tell Jake that I don’t want to race. I don’t need to do an ironman, I can skip this race and cancel the trip to Cozumel, I don’t care. He tells me to get over it, my sister’s are already on their way to the hotel to watch the kids, and I am going to race. He gives me that, “don’t make me kick your butt” look and I agree. Just then Ashlynn wakes up, says her tummy hurts, and throws up again. Ok, now I have an excuse to stay. I can’t leave my sick 3 year old with her Aunts that she barely knows. Besides, they shouldn’t have to take care of a sick kid. Yeah, right, that excuse didn’t work either.

Jake stays with the kids (so Ashlynn has someone familiar) and my little sister drives me to the race. I try to tell her that it’s not necessary and that we can skip it, but she kicks me out of the car at transition and tells me she doesn’t want to see me again until after I finish the race.

The swim: My lack of motivation carries itself out to the swim where I stop swimming several times are the beginning and seriously consider quitting. After about 800 meters I finally commit to the race, find a draft, and finish the swim. My swim time is very slow but that is ok, at least it is done. Heading into transition, I hear Jake’s voice and look up to see him, one of my sisters, and the kids. Ashlynn has made a miraculous recovery and they are there to cheer me on. I get hugs and kisses from my girls and from this point on, the race becomes fun.

The bike: Not a whole lot to say about the bike. I rode my anticipated pace. There were no surprises since I drove the course the day before. I stuck to my nutrition plan. I actually had a good time. I did make the realization that I need to be a faster cyclist if for no other reason than to have some good looking backsides to stare at and pace off of. Most of the people at the back of the pack just aren’t as good looking (myself included, I am sure). I see Jake at one point on the bike and finish right when I had planned. Now time for the run.

The run: Well, the run is what it is. Again, no real surprises. Given the hills and how much walking I did (aid stations and up hill) I was happy with my run. It was just ever so slightly faster than PrairieMan which I thought was good since that was flat and this was HOT, sunny, and hilly. A few clouds would have been nice. Finishing my 2nd lap, I see Jake and Ashlynn. He tells me where Mackenzie and my sister are and runs off to hang with them. They are right at the start of the 3rd loop and I stop to hug my girls. Mackenzie cries for me when I leave so I turn back, pick her up (getting her covered in my sweat… yuck for her), and run a little with her in my arms. I kiss her one last time, promise to hurry back, and hand her back to Jake. I can hear her cries for “Mama” and that motivates me to get this darned race DONE. I finish right when I thought I would and was able to cross the finish line with my girls.

All in all, it was a good training day and actually an enjoyable race.

Racing in the Rain

2009-09-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

What is there to say about a race where it rains from beginning to end and the warmest (and dryest) part of the entire race is the swim? The short story is that the race sucked from beginning to end. The long version is below.

0400: The alarms (yes plural) go off and I grudgingly get out of bed. I’m sure 4 hours of sleep is not what my coach wants to hear, but that’s what I got. I slowly eat my breakfast, drink part of my coffee, and put the last few items into my transition bag. Dear husband loaded my bike into the truck as well as all other essential items. Seriously, I think I am incapable of loading my own truck. Yes, I am spoiled.

0500: Leave the house. Darn, running late already. It takes an hour to get there and I wanted to be there at 5:30. Oh well. Don’t really care. The rain is seriously coming down and I don’t want to race. Start praying for lightening. Maybe Jack will cancel the race.

0600: Park the truck. I need to use the restroom. It’s dark, the restrooms are not lit. Find a flashlight… it’s eerie in a dark park restroom by yourself with only a flashlight. Why am I doing this? Would Jeanne think I am a wimp if I went home? Can’t let her think I am weak. What if it rains at IM Cozumel? Better get used to it now.

0630: Transition… WTF? There’s a river of run-off water in transition. Put all gear inside garbage bag, pray for the best. Thank you Jake for thinking to pack the garbage bags for me. Again, where would I be without him?

0700: Shouldn’t we have had the pre-race meeting already? Where is Jack? I’m freezing!!!

0730: Here’s Jack…my wave should have started already and we still are doing pre-race meetings. Bike course is shortened to 42 miles. Ok, one less hour out there. Good. I’m going to get into the water to warm up. Ahhh, it’s at least 10 degrees warmed than being in the air.

0805: I still haven’t started racing yet! I’m getting hungry and have nothing with me. Not good. I knew I should have packed an extra clif bar.

Race Start: We are joking that we should all swim really slow to miss the swim cutoff. It’s hazy, raining, and I can’t see the buoys. I pull my goggles down (prescription goggles) thinking that will help me see. I still don’t see the yellow turn buoys. I also can’t count how many buoys are between the turns. Oh well, I’ll just have to find a good draft.

Swim: Lined up where I wanted to, in the front, better chance to get a good draft. We take off and within a minute I am getting pummeled by an older guy. Darn it, that’s the third time he’s hit me in the head, I slow up, give him a good shove in the ribs, and try to find a draft. Here’s a good draft, I think. Nice, relaxed, staying off the hip of my draft, everything is great… why is there a kayak in my way? Where are the buoys? Darn it, my draft sucked at navigating. Now, where did she go? The least she could do after leading me off course is pull me back on course with her. No such luck. I’m on my own and that is how it would be the rest of the race. The chop made for some interesting navigation, especially since I couldn’t see more than one buoy ahead at a time. Finally, though, I finish the swim. I’m not the last person out of the water, I’ve even caught the slow people from the previous wave or two, so I’m thinking *maybe* my swim wasn’t too horrible. I look down at my watch to confirm my thoughts and realize that I never started the timer. No big deal, it’s a training day, right. Up to transition, I’ve prepared myself mentally for an excruciatingly long T1 as I pull on my wind breaker, find my shoes in the garbage bag. Hey, at least they are dry, for now. I forgo socks which I have never done before, but I really didn’t want wet socks on the bike.

Bike: Dang, my heart rate is high. Why is it so high, I’m hardly even pedaling. Ok, settle down, breathe, eat something. Remember what Jeanne and Ahmed said, it’s the first ½ of the bike that will make or break your race. Don’t push too hard here. Keep your HR within training pace. Finally things start to settle down and I can focus on riding again. First lap is nothing special, it’s wet, cold, but no worse than I expected. Second lap I think maybe I’ll push a little harder. I’d like to find a port-a-potty but don’t see any on the course. There’s someone standing on the side of the bridge, trying to flag me down. I wonder what he needs. I’m not in a hurry so I stop. He needs a CO2 cartridge so I dog one out of my saddle bag and hand it over. Someone else would do the same for me, right?

Lap 2 finished without any incidents. I really wish I could find a port-a-potty. Oh well, let’s keep going to lap 3. Make it to the aid station and the thought of picking up another water bottle is too much of a reminder that I REALLY need to pee. Ok, I know I said I would never do this, but it is time to pee while on the bike. I think I can do it. Maybe. It’s cold and raining, it will wash away. I laugh as really, that might has been the highlight of my day. Finish lap 3 and go for a run.

Run: Nothing really to report here. Walk the aid stations, run the rest. Portions of the course are completely covered with water and my feet get soaked before I’m even a mile into the run. Oh well, keep going. Pass a few people, get passed by a few. Hit the turn around. Ok, now I’m just sick of being out here. Still running well, super slow, but still sticking to the plan and not hurting too much. 4 miles left, need some company so I coax the guy I am passing into running with me. It helps pass the time. I notice that each time I start running after the aid stations that my knees are starting to protest. Almost done, and it’s only a mile at a time anyway, no big deal. My running buddy decides he needs to walk more so I continue on my own. Finish line… where is everyone? Jeez, what a sorry finish. No one is even there, not even under the tent. Take my chip off, grab a finisher’s shirt, a slice of pizza (at least there was some left), and go pack up my gear.

3 months later

2009-09-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

Yes, I am in the rotation. Have more to write, but first must post my race report from PrairieMan aka "Racing in the Rain"

Been too long

2009-06-10T11:09:00.001-07:00

I haven't heard anything about the engineering rotation yet although they supposedly made their decision last week. At this point, I just want an answer, doesn't even matter what the answer is.

As far as training goes, I've taken about a week off for an ankle issue. The question is, does this ankle issue have anything to do with my Biom running shoes? I don't really know the answer to that one. But, I did go out and buy another pair of shoes and will rotate between the two and see what happens.

Can't write more at this point, too much work to do....

Annoyed

2009-05-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

Ever come across someone who thinks the world owes them something and whines and cries until they get their way? I have a coworker like that. Because of some strings pulled when she hired here, she was able to apply for a promotion earlier than normal. The promotion review board denied it saying she wasn't qualified. However, she has a much higher opinion of herself and went to the VP of engineering's office to yell at him for an hour until he gave her the promotion. How crappy is that? So much for everyone getting fair treatment.

Now we are starting a new rotation program at work for a few select people. I just found out today that she applied for it. So, I have to wonder, will she get this too? Now, this next part is mean of me, but I have to say it. Given the fact that she knows a LOT more about this rotation program and the selection process than anyone else (including our managers), I have to wonder whose butt she has been kissing. Literally. Ok, that was mean, I know.

But seriously, I have to wonder what was going through her head. When you BARELY meet the minimum quals for a promotion (and only because of strings that were pulled) you shouldn't be surprised to have your application rejected. The fact that she was willing to berate upper management until they caved speaks volumes about her integrity and character. It also speaks a lot about the character of the management we have here. Did he not think that caving in to something like that would raise questions about WHY he was inclined to overturn the decision of his review board? Did he not think people would wonder what she has on him (her being 26, he being 50ish) that he would feel compelled to do what she wants? It's amazing the rumors that have been floating around here. So far I have stayed out of the conversations, but I still hear them.

So, now that she is directly competing against me for this rotation program, I am wondering, will she have an unfair advantage? How did she find out all the details to the selection process when my boss doesn't even know the info? And did she not think that from now on, any accomplishment that she may have (even if earned and well deserved) will be questioned based on her previous actions?

Open water swim - Mass start

2009-05-09T20:21:00.000-07:00

Why is it that mass starts are so unnerving? I can handle being in open water, and can swim 1/2 decently (albeit slow) in it. But put me next to another person and forget it. After about 100 yards I have to back off and get some space. I am not normally a claustrophobic person so I don't think that is it. But then again... Frustrating.

To the A$$hole driving the red Dodge Ram that almost hit me

2009-05-08T09:56:00.001-07:00

Stop signs are there for a reason. Usually, when you approach a stop sign, you stop. Or at least slow down and check for on-coming traffic. News flash: Bicycles ARE on-coming traffic. Had you bothered to look up whatever you were laughing at with your passenger, you would have seen me. I saw you. I saw the front end of your big red truck as it nearly ran me over.

Even if there hadn't been a stop sign, which there was, and you would have seen it if you were paying attention to driving like you should have been. But even if one hadn't been there, you were exiting a parking lot, turning right onto a road, so you are supposed to yield. Had you bothered to do this, I would not have had to swerve across 2 lanes to avoid being hit by you.

Furthermore, as they teach in drivers ed, and is law in many states, when making a right turn, you are supposed to turn into the right lane on the road you are entering (likewise, left turns go to the left lane). I realize that someone who can't be bothered to even yield at a stop sign would not remember this, so I am trying to inform you of it.

I will not bother to tell you about the fact that you could have severely hurt (or killed) me had I not noticed that you have no brain, are completely incapable of following the rules of the road, and a complete jacka$$ for not even stopping (or slowing down) to make sure you hadn't clipped me. I will not tell you about the families that have been ruined by selfish drivers like you who think the rules of the road don't apply to them. Instead I will make this wish:

I wish for many police officers in your future. I hope that every corner you go around has another patrol car waiting to pull bad drivers over. Should you turn out to be an upstanding citizen who just happened to be having an off day, this wish of mine will not cause you any harm. However, if you are the dumbsh!t that I think you are, then hopefully you will get your just reward.

Sincerely,

The cyclist in the yellow jersey that you probably never saw because you weren't paying attention.

the last few days

2009-05-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

I just started working with my new coach, Jeanne, from Playtri. It helps having a person that I have to admit what I've done/not done. Friday was my first official workout from her.

Friday: Swim: total 2000 yards. All things considered, not too bad. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to hold my goal pace without too much trouble.

Saturday: Bike test and bike fit. The bike fit was enlightening. I never knew that the free float in my speedplay pedals was a bad thing.

today: supposed to be a 2 hour ride. I did about 1:45. The wind out by my house was brutal and I just couldn't make myself do any more today.

My legs are pretty worn out right now but I think that is a good thing. I need to look back at my schedule for this next week so tha tI know when to ride my bike to work.

Ecco Biom Continued

2009-04-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

More on my new running shoes. I’ve only run in them a few times so far (I know, I should be running a whole lot more) and am really impressed. The first thing I noticed is that I no longer pound on my heel. Instead, my funning form is much more upright with a mid-foot strike. It also appears to take longer before leg-fatigue sets in. Now, as I say this, I must warn you, I am a SUCKY runner. Fatigue hits almost instantaneously. I also don’t have much of a base to speak of. So when I say that there is a delayed onset of fatigue, that is relative. I would love to hear from someone who runs much more than me and has tried these shoes.

But, let’s just say that my initial take on the shoes is very positive. I will update more once I have put some more miles on them. Also, being a fatigue engineer, I am very intrigued by the claim that they will last twice as long as conventionally made running shoes. Again, I will let you know. But if they are supposed to last 600-800 miles, it may take me a while to get there!

Ecco Biom Running Shoes

2009-04-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

Man, I just wrote a big long post on how much I love my new running shoes and the netherworlds of the internet ate my message. So, short story:

Biom running shoes are AWESOME!!! it's a totally different type of running shoe and feels very different, but good. I can't wait to go for another run in them.

A new start

2009-04-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it. I woke up early and went for a run in the freezing cold. Ok, so it was only 1.5 miles but that is better than nothing. Then I did some abs and upper body weights when I got home. Again, it's better than nothing so I am happy.

Thanks Jeanne!!!

2009-04-06T06:28:00.001-07:00

So, I got a bit of a pep talk from my friend Jeanne and have decided that I will definitely finish this Ironman journey. It's still going to be hard to fit everything in, but I will get it done. I guess that means I better get my butt in gear and keep training. I admit, I have done NOTHING in 2 weeks. But that is going to change.

Tough Choice

2009-03-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

It's time to commit to Ironman or officially quit. My Mother in law has already given me the money to book her flight and hotel room when I book ours. Now I just have to do it, except for the fact that I'm having serious doubts.

I don't fit all my workouts in already. In fact, I didn't do single thing this weekend, NOTHING. Saturday I had to go to work and then I had tickets for Disney on Ice with my daughter. Sunday we went to church, grocery shopping, cooked lunch, spent 2 1/2 hours pulling weeds, cooked dinner, put away laundry, and still haven't gone for a run. The kitchen is a mess, the floors have not been vaccuumed, and the bathrooms have not been cleaned. There's no way I have time to run when the house looks like crap.

I'm really kind-of upset about this. My husband did Ironman Arizona in 2007. Somehow, there was always time for him to train.... dinner was always cooked, the kitchen clean, bathrooms clean, etc. I made sure that he had the time to train. Now that it's my turn, I'm constantly disappointed. Even things that I have specifically asked to have cleaned... like the knobs on the cooktop (something was spilled on one and it's sticky!)... are never done. I'm not even angry about any of this. I feel completely let down.

I guess what they say about mom's is true. You sacrifice everything you want so that everyone else can have what they want. But when it comes time for you to do something for yourself, no one seems to care.

Saga Update

2009-03-29T18:37:00.001-07:00

Got it removed! And, I've already lost 2 pounds. Could be coincidence, could be water weight. Either way, I'm happy.

Good Ride Today

2009-03-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Today was the first time in quite a while that it wasn't unbelievably windy when I went for my ride. I finished my ride feeling like I had a lot left in me. I could have pushed harder, and would have, but my riding buddy was not feeling so great so I hung back with him. I know he would have done the same for me. If I keep having work-outs like todays I might just be able to pull this Ironman thing off.

The Mirena Saga

2009-03-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

I'm usually not a 'jump on the bandwagon' type person. Nor am I one to immediately blame a medication for causing problems. So I feel a little strange sitting here blaming my IUD for my recent weight gain and general feeling of crappiness. But here I go. I've been working out more than ever. I've been improving my eating habits... cut back on cappacino, chocolate, pretty much any form of sweets, watching my portion sizes, etc. So you would think that I would lose a pound or two, maybe even 5? Nope. In fact, I gained 2 pounds in one week. Add to that a whole host of other symptoms that seem match with other peoples side effects. Truth is, this stupid thing makes me feel like I am pregnant, and since I haven't had a period in a few months... well it has me worried! I've spent the money on home preg tests and it comes back negative.

So, I finally make the decision to see my doctor, and the next available appointment isn't for another MONTH. I try calling back to move the appt up, pleading my case, and get something 2 weeks from now. You know what, sorry, that's not good enough. I love my doctor but apparently her staff is not taking me seriously so I am going ot have to go someplace else. I just want to get this stupid IUD removed so that I can feel normal again.

Not a bad week

2009-02-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

This last week wasn't too bad. I missed a couple workouts but overall, I did what was planned. My run yesterday sucked but I anticipated that. I slipped on the stairs at work 2 weeks ago and my ankle is not quite 100% from that. But I still got out there and ran about 2/3 of it, walked the rest. And, since I am training for IM, I don't plan to run the entire time anyway.

My bike ride on Saturday was pretty good. I was a little slower than planned because I slowed down for friend that was riding with me. I didn't really mind though because it was rather windy. Tonight should be an off night but I may go for another run since I won't have time tomorrow.

The Happy Family

2009-02-06T11:52:00.001-08:00

Suzy, Juan, and baby Christian

Welcome Christian Gabriel Zavala!!!!

2009-02-02T13:29:00.000-08:00

My newest cousin, born Saturday, January 31. 7lbs 7oz. Perfect baby boy named Christian Gabriel Zavala. I will have to get pictures to post on here. Suzy, Juan, congratulations, we are so happy for you!!!

People losing jobs

2009-02-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

It seems everywhere you look, people are losing their jobs. Just today, my company announced that 500 people would be put on a 90-day layoff. Fortunately for me, the layoffs are at our facilities in Canada. Back in October, somewhere around 400-500 people were laid off from our Ft. Worth facilites affecting several of my friends. Again, I was one of the lucky ones. But you have to wonder if/when your luck will run out.

It's a scary thought. You have kids, a mortgage, car payments... what do you do if you lose your job? I was never worried about it before. We've been smart, we've planned for things like this, and I always thought that was enough. But all our plans assume finding a new (and comparable) job within a 'reasonable' amount of time. In this economy, you have to wonder, would that really be possible?

Anyway, these are just the things going through my head today.

Not Giving Up Quite Yet

2009-01-15T06:14:00.000-08:00

I've had a little time to think and am not quite ready to give up yet. I know there are organizations that will basically pay your way if you raise money for them, so I am going to look into that. Jake also reminded me that I should wait and see what our tax return looks like although I am not holding my breath there.

Anyway, I will just have to keep trying to find a way to do this.

A Sad Realization

2009-01-14T14:07:00.000-08:00

okay, well, I just had a long post written and it erased it. so, since I'm not in the greatest of moods already, I'm not going to type the whole thing over again. Short version: I screwed up my budget. I forgot to save money for our health insurance deductible. Now I won't have the money to pay for the trip to Cozumel for IM. Strike 3, I'm out. It looks like no IM for me. Can't find the words to express how upset, disappointed, and sad I am right now.

Sick Kids = No Sleep = No Training

2009-01-14T06:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, so everyone tells you that you won't get any sleep when you have young children but I never fully comprehended what they were saying. Yes, literally, I know that they meant NO SLEEP, but I thought, "hey, I can handle this, I'm going to be supermom." Fast forward to now, Ashlynn is 2 1/2 and Mackenzie is 7 months old. Mackenzie has been sick with one thing or another for almost a month straight, and Ashlynn has started having nightmares and waking up crying in the middle of the night. I got about 4 hours of sleep last night and I'm HAPPY about it. It beats the 2-3 hours a night I've got the previous 2 nights. So yes, while everyone warned me about this, I still feel the need to complain.

Obviously, this means I haven't done any training. I went to the tricowtown meeting last night and sent Jake home with the kids. The house was a disaster when I got home. But, I will give him credit, the kids were down for bed within about 30 minutes of their normal bedtimes. Not too bad for doing it by himself.

So, hopefully I will get back to the pool tonight...

An interesting swim

2009-01-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

It's always interesting going to the gym after the new year. There's always twice as many people there because of all the people making new year's resolutions to get back in shape. Funny how by the end of the year the number is back down to 'normal'. So, I go to the gym for a swim last night and there are at least 5 x's as many people in the pool area as normal. I'm lucky, there is an open lane, so I quickly stake out 'my territory'... put my flip flops, water bottle, extra goggles, and index card with my workout written on it at the end of the lane. This usually ensures that the people who would ask to share a lane with me are serious about wanting to get a few laps in and understand the concept of sharing a lane.

I'm just finishing my warm-up when a very large lady gets in the lane with me. She's very nice and asks if I mind sharing the lane. Unfortunately, there are only 2 lanes in this pool so you are guaranteed to be next to the wall. Even more unfortunate is that her method of sharing a lane and mine are completely different. I was taught to always stay to the right, which would have put me against the wall one direction and the lane marker coming back. Instead, she took the side with the lane marker and stayed there. Okay, no biggie, I can swim next to the wall, right? Well, to shorten this story, let's just say that I forgot how much wake several people in the pool can make. And, when it's bouncing off the wall right back at you, well, that makes it just that much more fun. On top of that, due to her size, when we would pass each other, my choices were catching my arm on the wall or getting hit by her. Obviously I can't hit the wall every stroke so I would move over when I wasn't by her. Then I had to constantly look up to keep track of when I would run into her so I could move back over. Anyone knowing anything about swimming knows what happens to your form when you are looking up/forward instead of pressing your head down. Your legs drop and you have to kick twice as hard to maintain a neutral position. I stopped after I finished 1/2 of my workout. By that point my neck was sore from looking up! The good news is that all the wake from everyone did a great job of simulating an open water swim so it wasn't a total loss. The truth is, the lady was very nice and I probably should have just asked her to stay to the right so that I wouldn't have been stuck on the wall the entire time. That also would have avoided the potential head-on collisions.

The annoying part were the 'kids' (and yes, I sound old when I say this because they were probably between 18-22 years old) who insisted on blocking one of the lanes while they played tonsile hockey and grab ass! HELLO!!! This is a LAP pool, not a play pool. GRRRR.

I am going to have to seriously consider swimming with a masters group.

Not so good of a start

2009-01-07T05:46:00.001-08:00

Well, I didn't even get on the bike last night. Had errands to run after work which meant we were out during the kids dinnertime, so we stopped and ate out. By the time we got home it was 8:00, Ashlynn's bedtime (and a 1/2 hour past Mackenzie's). So, quick bath for the kids, and put them to bed and before I knew it, it was almost 9pm. After that, I was in a funk and simply refused to get on the bike.

My husband was even nice and set up my bike on the trainer for me, but the thought of spending an hour on the trainer when it was already after 9 wasn't appealing. If I had been smart, I would have done 1/2 the workout, or SOMETHING, but I didn't. Can't go back and change that now.

Getting Back on Track

2009-01-06T06:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I am officially getting back on track after the holidays. Today's plan is just a spin which I will do on the trainer after the kids go to bed. I wonder if there is anything good on tv tonight? That's about the only time I get to watch tv anymore, when I am on the trainer. Well, I better finish my coffee and get back to work!

Gotta Love Dogs

2009-01-05T21:29:00.000-08:00

Ahh, what dog could be happier than a dog sitting under the high chair of a little girl learning to eat with her hands... That's my 80 lb German Shepherd mix, Toby, patiently waiting for Mackenzie to drop something.

And this would be 65 lb Tasha, my husband's black lab, cleaning all the crumbs off the floor for me. You know, you don't realize how messy children are if you have a dog to clean up after them!

Home from the Holidays

2009-01-04T20:09:00.000-08:00

All I can say is WHY. Why do we put ourselves through the nightmare that is holiday travel? Here's the short version, it starts the week before Christmas with Mackenzie getting her first ear infection. So, it was a good thing we were driving to Iowa and not flying, because she wouldn't have been able to fly. However, 1000 miles with a 2 year old and a 7 month old... NOT FUN. Anyway, Christmas Eve, Mack gets thrush and a yeast infection from the antibiotics. On-call doc won't call in a script over the phone so we stop at the ER in Kansas City... 3 hour delay for that. Mack's cranky for the next few days with a low grade fever, wakes up on the 28th with a 102.9 fever... YIKES. Not good for a 7 month old! So, call the ped and get sent to yet another ER. This time, it's bronchitis and pneumonia. Yes, pneumonia, my little baby has pneumonia. Don't I feel like a crappy mom for dragging her to Iowa now (We won't discuss the number of arguments along the drive about whether or not we should just turn back). ER doc says we have to stay in town for an extra day to make sure she is okay before we can drive back home. Not too big of a deal, we are at my mother-in-laws and there is plenty of space for us, just wanting to get HOME.

Leave on the 30th, go to my Aunt's and spend the night there. Mack obviously still feeling a little under the weather as she throws up all over the kitchen floor. Thankfully it wasn't the carpet! My Aunt is great, has 5 sons, lives on a farm, isn't phased one bit by it. THANK YOU AMY!!! We finally arrive home on the 1st and let me tell you, I have never been so happy to see Texas in my life!!! I love Texas. I have also vowed that we will not drive to Iowa in the winter again unless we have 4 wheel drive, and both the kids are done with bottles and diapers.

There's a lot more to the story, much of it very funny, but I will save that for another chapter. Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Me with Ashlynn and sick Mackenzie on Christmas morning at my Granny and Papa's house.

Smiles

2008-12-11T21:05:00.000-08:00

Awww, don't they make you smile???

A Great Ride

2008-12-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

So, I spent last night on the trainer, and actually had a good ride. It's amazing what changing your bike set-up can do! I averaged 16.6 mph (very good for me right now!) with a max speed of 23.5mph. I must have made the right changes to my set-up because I could tell I had a lot more power when I was on my aerobars than what I previously had. Now I just wish I had a powertap so I could actually see the difference. Oh well.

2008-12-10T06:56:00.001-08:00

Finally, a night with some motivation! Leave it to me to be motivated by freezing weather. I’m not sure what it was, but last night I was eager to get my workouts in. I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill (I’m too much of a wimp to run in 28 deg F weather!) which was a disaster of sorts. My running sucks right now and being on a treadmill only makes it worse. But I didn’t let that stop me. Then, I got in the pool and did my entire workout. Granted, it was only a total of 25 minutes. The fact that I went out and did it was a victory in itself. My goal for this week is to simply start every workout. Because usually, if I start, I will finish.

one week down

2008-12-09T14:51:00.001-08:00

One week down, 51 to go. All I can say is, “Man, I am OUT OF SHAPE!” I am trying to keep things in perspective here but it’s hard. I am too out of shape to be comfortable on my bike right now. It’s a Kestrel Talon and it’s a great bike… when I am in shape. I wish I could find pictures of me on it from when I was in shape, I had the perfect aero position. Not so much anymore.

So here’s my current dilemma: I leave work with every intention of getting my workouts at night. But by the time I pick the girls up from daycare, drive home, eat dinner as a family, do bathtime and bedtime, I am just WORN OUT. At that point it is 8pm and I am supposed to start my workout but all I want to do is crawl into bed. And I haven’t found a way to fit it into my morning schedule yet. I only get 5-6 hours of sleep right now and that’s not really enough for me. I guess I just have to try harder.

Priorities

2008-12-04T11:58:00.001-08:00

Well, two days of training done, only 360 or so to go. It’s hard to get going when you haven’t done a whole lot in the last few years. I think back to before I had kids and how great of shape I was in. Doing an Ironman was an *easily* attainable feat. Not that there is anything EASY about Ironman, just that I knew I could do it. I had the discipline, the fitness, the drive, and the time required to do it. I lived for triathlons. Now, I live for my girls. Don’t think that is a complaint because it’s not. I wouldn’t trade the life I have now for anything. It is just different than what my life used to be.

Speaking of my girls. Ashlynn is 2 ½ and the princess of the house. She vacillates back and forth between being a girly girl and a rough and tumble tomboy and always keeps me on my toes. She is also the stereotypical “Daddy’s Girl”. We are in the process of potty training right now and that requires extra effort from mommy and daddy to stay on top of things. Mackenzie is 6 months old and is “Mommy’s Baby”. She’s the reason I didn’t do the second Ironman I signed up for. Signing up for CDA 2008 was an attempt to distract myself from the trials of getting pregnant, but it wasn’t what I really wanted. What I wanted was another baby, and I got her. Mackenzie is the sweetest bundle ever. Daddy calls her a “jabberwalkee” because she is always talking to us. And dang is this little girl mobile! She hasn’t mastered crawling yet, but she can roll wherever she wants.

I refuse to let my Ironman training compromise time with my girls. That means that during the week my training is done after 8pm when Ashlynn goes to bed. It makes it very hard to fit things in sometimes and I know I am not getting the sleep that I need. Saturdays were always my time to catch up on sleep as that is Daddy’s special time with the girls. Now, however, that is prime training time. But I can make it work.

It’s a challenge figuring out how to fit it all in and I know that I will have to let go of a few things to make it work. I am really lucky that Jake is willing to pick up the slack around the house. My problem is that I am a control freak. I am working on it though.

Getting Started

2008-12-03T13:03:00.000-08:00

This blog was inspired by an acquaintance of mine (hope to be able to call her a friend one day!) who started a blog during her first Ironman journey. I didn’t want to be a copy-cat but I thought it was a great idea, so here I am. There is no intended audience and I am really just doing this as a way for me to put what I am feeling into words. I hope that you find some humor, inspiration, or something in this, or at least enjoy reading it.

Right now I am looking at what I have planned for the next year and am apprehensive about it at best. This is the third Ironman that I have signed up for and I am praying that I make it to the starting line this time. Maybe one day I will write about the first two missed opportunities, but not right now. The issues that kept me from the previous races should not be an issue this time. All I have to contend with are my own mental demons, and those are enough for me.

So anyway, I hope you enjoy reading this. I think this will provide me with a perfect outlet for my thoughts, anxieties, and whatever else occurs while I attempt to make it to an IM starting line one more time.