Triathlon here we come!

I met my running/walking group from school this morning for another 5K. It's really neat to see all the people that said there was no way they were going to run a 5K or workout or anything, getting out there and moving! There is one girl, who never works out, who just completed her second race. Her husband has the biggest smile on his face, full of pride, as he runs in with her each time, it just melts my heart!

I did okay on the 5K, nothing too outrageous as my friend and I were going to do our practice tri. We headed over to the lake, and the water was freezing! After arranging with a fisher-family to keep an eye on us, we headed out. Ummmm.....I am a strong swimmer, but I did not like my face in the water. My friend was paddling away, and I was doing the sidestroke. She would turn to breathe and I would ask her if it was time to turn around. Then she started laughing because I was floating along and staying ahead of her and coming back around. I finally put my head in the water and it wasn't too bad. I probably would have felt better about it if there were more people out there with us. Plus there was a no swimming sign, and I'm kind of a rules girl. On the way back I did fine, and I was over my fear...sort of...but stayed with my friend cause I wasn't about to be separated and have something happen, even if we had our fisher-family watching us.

We ran in from the swim, transitioned to the bike and took off. I was not doing well with my clips for some reason. I make it up the huge hill, into the ride a few miles, and I look down because I stop moving. My chain had popped off, and I panicked. I was trying to figure out what to do, I couldn't unclip, and over I went......right into the gravel. My friend's husband was following us, and he hopped out and came over. I just put my hands over my face and told myself not to cry! He got me to move my foot to make sure it was okay and then he unclipped me and got the bike off me. He helped me up and fixed my bike for me, I wiped off the blood with a towel and hopped back on. The rest of the almost 12 mile bike ride was uneventful, thank goodness! I did switch back to my tennis shoes and I am having Gunner drop my bike at the shop to get my old pedals put back on! I don't want to do that again for a little while. Funny thing is that I haven't fallen like that in a long time and this was my first time with the clips, but it scared me enough that I am good for a while. Oh well.

We finished up the ride, dropped the bikes and ran or at that point shuffled for a mile. We were proud, happy, and tired. Our first tri is in 15 days, and I feel good about it....and hopefully their lake is a little bit more inviting to me than the one here!

So now I know I can do the entire thing, and I am sure my adrenaline will kick in and keep me going as well.

This week: training x2, swimming, gym, running x4, 50 mile bike ride on Saturday, 10K obstacle course on Sunday. Oh yeah, and a ball on Wednesday night! My friend told me to wear my road rash with honor--my dress has spaghetti straps, so I am sure I will make a lovely impression.

The girls and I are going to have to go get pedicures this week, so maybe Monday? And if it ever stops raining, I want to load up the kids and take them for a bike ride. Pretty soon it will be so hot here we won't want to do anything outside!

Junior was running around yesterday with a blue fairy wand, a green vest and a pink glove on courtesy of his sister--"I'm a witch!". His birthday is coming up, I see army trucks in his future...

P.S. It's storming and Em is camping. Poor baby!

Where did the day go?

I took off today so that I could take Ab's to her doctor appointment that we have been waiting for, forever. I got up and the phone rang.....her doctor canceled, again. I was furious! I tried not to shoot the messenger, and I managed to get across how much we needed to see the doctor. She understood my urgency thankfully. Of course the doctor didn't get that, so I ended up calling back this afternoon, and she put me on hold so she could call the doctor at home. The doctor finally called me back, and we got things straightened out with Abs. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing for my baby girl now.

We did manage to return the RV to Gunner's parents and try out the new mexican restaurant in the mall. It was okay. I LOVE mexican food. My plate was hot but my food was not. My taco was stale, and rice and beans didn't come with the meal. I would at least try it again before I would veto it altogether.

I got my bike shoes adjusted, and almost fell over in the car wash parking lot while the guy came out to watch me try them out. Smooth move. I forgot I was clipped in and put on the brakes.

Oh, and my big news??? After lunch we ran down to Victoria's Secret so I could get fitted for a new bra. The girls finally shrunk! About time!!! I also had to buy new jeans so I would have some that weren't falling off of me.....Take my original size and divide by 2 and you have my new size! Hard to believe!!! I still eat, but I make much better choices, and my fudge this morning to top off my breakfast didn't hurt. (One of my parents made homemade fudge for me and homemade peanut butter cups....yum!) Tonight it is a jaunt on the trainer to make sure my shoes are okay, and tomorrow a 5K. After the 5K my training partner and I are going to run a triathlon by ourselves just to try it out. The swim is still up in the air, depending on the temp of the water. We are also hoping that it doesn't rain!

No wonder I fall into bed exhausted each night!

Still training...

I did my first tempo run on Monday with my trainer. It felt food, and I feel like I am getting faster. I still need to fit more runs in, especially since I can't run on the treadmill anymore. I don't know if I am just not feeling it or what, but I am starting to prefer the outdoors, just in time for a Texas summer!

Tonight I had training again, this time in the pool. I was worried because I told her that I was strongest in swimming, and I started to think that maybe I wasn't as strong as I thought I was. I warmed up, and she said that the only thing I really needed to work on was taking less strokes, covering the same distance in the same time. We worked on sighting, which was a pain. She did tell me that I needed to start my wave at the front and choose between the inside or the outside. It made me feel good that she thought I was an extremely strong swimmer. Maybe that will make up time in other legs!

Even though school is winding up, I am taking tomorrow off. I need a break after the last three weeks of non-stop teaching, paperwork, parenting, working out, training, and knowing what is to come, I need a day to regroup. Abs has a doctor's appointment in Temple, so I'll take her to that and then try to get in a run with Gunner and Junior.

Tonight, Junior was in his pajamas and came to me and asked me to dance with him. I looked up and he had pulled a purple tutu complete with flower petals in the
middle, up to his chest. He twirled around and then we played ring-around-the-rosey. Poor Junior. I think Gunner is about to lock up anything pink or purple. I guess I need to find some boy dress up clothes for the kiddo!

Pink Boots & Camo

The price of having sisters is that you fall in love with their pink boots. I found these bass rainboots on clearance for $5 and Abs, who hates pink, had to have them. Unfortuantely Junior now fights to wear them too. Maybe when he sees pictures in 20 years he will appreciate that he was wearing camo underwear?

Dresses, Moving, & Life

My friend Abbey and I went shopping on Saturday night and we found the perfect dress! My husband's only request was that it not be black, and for once, it isn't. Abbey was great company, always makes me laugh, and we had the best meal at the Monument Cafe in Georgetown on the way home. I'm always worried when I take someone to one of my favorite restaurants, but she either truly liked it or is a good faker. :)

Today Gunner tried to go to transportation. They have moved so many people all over Hood that I've found I often have to go from the original location to the new location, to the newest location. He'll try again tomorrow.

Of course it was complicated with a baby boy with extreme diarrhea who is now kicked out of daycare until we can get him into the doctor. Thank goodness my MIL was available today and tomorrow since half of my grade level is out because of family emergencies. He'll be in good hands, and Gunner can take him to the doctor to get checked out. It's been going on for a while, so hopefully it is not something that he is allergic to that we don't know about yet. Poor baby boy. He acts fine though, and at this point I am thankful he is still in diapers!

My triathlon training partner and I are going to do a mini-triathlon this weekend. We are doing a 5k in the morning, then we will do an open water swim, bike 12 miles, and do a 1.5 mile run. We've recruited our open water swim supervisors, planned our route, and are ready to practice our transitions. It's all in fun, and I know we will have a good time figuring it all out.

In just over a month, Junior will be three. Where did the time go?
I could just squish those cheeks
Throwing rocks instead of fishing...
Camping with his cowlick...