Painful

You know that painful, aching, empty feeling in your gut you get when you're excited? (Ok maybe excited isn't the right word for it. Maybe scared out of your mind, stressed, nervous wreck feel is a better description for it.)

It started last night. This dull ache right under my ribs. This feeling that I'm not ready and that I've forgotten everything. The plan was to go to bed early and get some rest and hopefully be over this wicked cold that I've been fighting all week. Instead, I went into the bathroom and frantically scribbled down everything I could think of that I needed and that needed to be done before we left to stay the night at my mom's.

Please ignore the wet tri suit hanging from the curtain rod

 

That seemed to help calm my nerves until I talked to Bike Mom at church. Then it started again and its slowly getting worse. Luckily Momacita and Grigio (My Mom and Stepdad) is letting us crash at their house otherwise I would be worrying half the night!

 

Well...We're here. We've eaten a delicious pasta dinner (thanks Big Man!) and Little Man is sound asleep in the pack and play. And what you might ask am I doing? Guzzling gallons of water and posting on my blog. Pretty much anything I can to keep my mind off the race! The pain has subsided but I fear a recurrence once I try to go to bed.  

 

I've learned that there are only 2 only women in my age group, which means a medal for sure but I'm not happy with just a bronze medal, I want at least a silver, if not gold! I was checking my old times and I drove the bike course and I'm fairly certain that I can cut 10 minutes off my time without too much effort (which means a 37 minute finish) but what if I could cut 7 more minutes off and make it a 30 minute finish and what if I take first in my age!?! SEE? SEE! This is why I'm getting an ulcer and this pain won't go away until tomorrow after the race. My stupid brain won't shut off! AAAHHHH!!! 

Sick

Guys I am Sick! I don't know if its just a fall cold or the start of the flu but I don't like it! Moms should not get sick! Especially moms who have Triathlons on Monday! I was feeling strong and ready to kick but at the Murray Tri but now I'll be lucky if I can make it around the course. I'll be there mucus or no mucus but we'll see how well I do.

Limits

Ok! We all know I love to swim. I could swim all day and be happy! Its not a workout for me, its my down time, my release. Now biking is a different store. As much as I LOVE to swim, I hate to bike. I don't know what it is. Maybe its because its an actual workout. It pushes me! I like to think of myself as a strong person, mentally (most times) and physical but I think the truth is I hate to push myself. I hate that feeling when things are hard because that's usually when I stop, but I've made a decision that you don't get better until you push yourself!

 

I have to tell you that I have done a few things in the last 2 days that has challenged me! Yesterday I road my bike to the chiropractor to pay Big Man's bill and decided to go up the "Domino" Hill (I call it that because its the road just south of dominos). The Domino Hill is a beast! Its a 1/3 of a mile long and rises 80 feet in elevation in that time. I've done this hill with Bike Mom and her family but I don't think I've done it alone and I know I've never made it to the top. Well I DID IT!! It kicked my butt and I need a water break at the top but I DID IT! Then today Bike Mom and I went for a ride and did the 4th North Hill. This is another monster hill and I think its worst than the Domino Hill. Its .4 miles long and rise 78 feet in elevation. Almost as steep but longer! I've NEVER attempted this hill (Even when I was 12 and had a paper route on the hill. I just walked up it!) Then Bike Mom made me go up Center and down Canyon Road, which is a 1.2 mile gradual climb of 119 feet. I am so glad that I'm pushing my preconceived Limits. I'm glad that I have a bike beast friend, that I have to push me to do things I've never thought I could! Are you pushing your Limits? 

I Can't

Lately I've been telling myself a lot of can't. I can't run that far. I can't swim that fast. I can't bike up that hill. When you start telling yourself those things, eventually, you start to believe them. I have told Bike Mom over and over again "I can't run a mile! There is NO way I can run that far without stopping!" I even tried to run around my block (about 1 mile) and made it about 1/2 way. I had my proof! I CAN'T do it!

 
 

 

 

Isn't that the truth? I "tried" and it was hard so I stopped trying. But that is lame! You should never give up trying. Monday, I went to the pool and swam 1/2 a mile and wanted to practice my T1 Transition (going from the pool to the bike) but it wasn't working. As I walked to my can, I decided to go for a run. When I started it sucked! I hurt and just wanted to walk but I told myself "You can run for 5 minutes! You know you can go that long! Push it! You can check the time at that light pole!" When I got to that light pole it had only been 3 minutes (I'd gone .4 miles but only 3 minutes)! Dang it! Keep running! But that's not far from the 1/2 way point of he Murray Tri. If I run until .61 miles, I can turn around and THEN I'll walk! When I got to the 1/2 way point, I was going downhill so I felt good and kept running. When it got hard again, I was almost to that light pole so I ran to that light pole. When that was downhill again so I was feeling good so I told myself get to that Parking Lot and then that sign and the I was feeling good and I could see my van. I wanted to get there and then I wanted to finish strong so I RAN and could you believe that I ran the whole 1.22 miles in 11:36!!

 

I can't believe it! I accomplished 2 things that I've never done before, that I've said I Can't do. I ran a mile (even better 1.22 miles) and I at an almost 10 minute mile!! I was the one who told myself that I couldn't and like a dummy, I believed me! Well, NO MORE! I will push myself! I will do things I've thought I couldn't and if I still can't do it this time, I will accomplish it next time!

 

 

Great Friends

I have been spending the day, pondering (It's Sunday! Go with it!) about the great friends that I have! I have been so blessed by the out pour of love and concern my friends have for me and my family, since Big Man was hurt. Tons of concerned comments have been posted via text and Facebook, hundreds of offers to help (I'm sorry if I brushed it off with a "We're fine!" I'm working on accepting help), and on 3 different occasion we've had friends insist on bringing us dinner (which I finally accepted). We are truly blessed to have so many people who love us! My heart is full and I say with sincere gratitude "THANK YOU!"

From my family to Yours

Lazy Man Challenge

Almost 4 months ago, I saw THIS post at the Pass the Fresh Blogs. I LOVED the idea! I had already committed myself to doing an Ironman in 7 years so build up to it sounded lovely! I (some how) talked Bike Mom into doing it with me. I was so excited to have something to push me. It was great! We both finished a Full Ironman in the 2 weeks (Note! Don't wait until the last week to ride 100 miles. You will be walking funny for days! I can attest!)

This is the day I finished the PTF Triathlon.

Don't mind the Swim Suit shot of Bike Mom and I

 

Bike Mom and I loved it so much we started a Facebook group and so far we've accomplished 1 challenge with the help of friends and today we start our second! I LOVE this challenge! When you first think of an Ironman, you think, "WOW! That is a lot of distance!" But then you start moving, riding, and swimming and before you know it, you've completed a sprint and then an Olympic. I love having something that push me and better yet, a great group of people who are encouraging and just as happy when you complete a goal as you are!

Life

Since Big Man's fall last Saturday, I haven't had much time to workout and train. Its sad because I love it (and when I say Love I really mean hate doing Love when I'm finished)! Taking care of my hubby and boys is more important than training. I was able to get out and get an almost 3 mile run in on Monday and Tuesday I swam for 1/2 a mile but my heart just isn't in it. I can't turn off my brain, just zone out, and run. I'm too stressed about Big Man and if he's comfortable, if Little Man woke up after I but him in bed and if Big Man had to some how lift him out of bed; I worry about the medical bills that I know will be arriving any day, and if there is enough money on the flex card to pay for it (Bless you flex card! Best invention!) I need to get invested again. And train my little heart out because not only do I want to finish this Triathlon but I want to place! I want not only beat my last times but slaughter them. My times weren't THAT bad (except my T2 and run times. They were awful!) and I feel stronger this year by far than I did then! 18 more days to train! 18 more days to get stronger! Let's do this!!

Silly Me

Remember THIS post about my good friend Dr. Pepper and our sad but well needed Good-Byes. Ha! That is funny! That I could think that I could let it go! When I'm stressed, I need soda! Dr. Pepper is my drug of choice and with the local gas station less than 500 yards away, its too much of a temptation! One day, I will say goodbye for good but not today! Today I have my friend back and he is back and BIGGER than ever!

Hit and Run 5K

A couple of months ago, my good friend SA told me about this awesome 5K that she found. The Hit and Run 5K is a mix of a 5K and the show Wipeout.

 

 

I was all for it and so was Big Man! He hardly ever wants to run with me so when he said that he wanted to do it, I signed up right then! Fast forward to the weekend. Mr. Man had a sleep over with his cousin at my brother's house. Big Man, Little Man, SA and I all slept over at my mom's house. We were so excited! My cousins CC and TE signed up with us so they met us at my mom's house on Saturday morning and we were off (Grandma watched Little Man for us).

 



Here is CC, SA, and TE on our way

 

I'm excited for the race!

 

We made our way there and spent a lot of time waiting for our wave to start. I think the Blue wave was running late. That kind of stole away so of the excitement but as we moved closer to the start line I started to get more and more excited! There was a great MC at the start line. He had us laughing and dancing and high fiving strangers, which helped a lot! I was still bored and took lots of pictures.

 

I can see the start line

 

The Whole Crew
(I was looking right into the sun and couldn't see)

The Awesome MC

Lets start!

My Handsome Hubby Big Man

Silly SA

 

Getting to know Strangers in line

 

My Lovely Cousin TE

 

Let's get Running

 

Then we made it to the front of the line and took off! The first obstacle was a short way away. We got there and was ready to tackle it!

 

This one is called Slippery Slopes

 

SA made it!

Big Man made it!

 

 

And that's when it happened. Big Man was sliding down and the slide is a big blow up slide. He slides down and then gets bounced once then twice and then landed POW! right on the concrete. It knocks the wind out of him and screws up his back and he can't move. The stand by paramedics come and puts him on a back board and in a neck brace. I'm crying and he's trying to make jokes so I won't be too worried. By this time I've sent the rest of the crew on ahead to have fun on the other obstacles, TE calls me to let me know that she has her phone and I can get a hold of her if I need to and I tell her that we are going to the ER in an ambulance. 

Big Man in Good Spirits in spite of the Pain

 

We head to the LDS Hospital, which I've never been to but is quite nice, and Big Man heads to get a CT Scan. I was able to sneak out and call everyone to let them know what was going on. I cried again and Big Man smiled and apologized and gave me lots of kisses. I love this man but I hate hospitals and would be happy to never go to one again!

 

After the pain pills, waiting for the doctor's report

Making the calls outside and hating being there

 

Turns out he Big Man bulged 2 discs in his back and should be on in a few weeks. I'm glad that he isn't more seriously injured! Let's all hope that this is the last trip to the hospital I ever have to take but with 2 boys I seriously doubt it!

She's a Brick

On Saturday, Bike Mom and I, got up early (like still dark, no sun, 5:30 early) and did a brick workout. For those of you who don't know, a brick workout is not a Commodores song.

(I really want one of these outfits)

No a brick workout is when you do 1 workout and then immediately do another. Usually its a Bike-Run workout but could also be a Swim-Bike. Its really important to get your body used to going from bike to run. 2 years ago, when I did the Murray Tri, I hadn't done any brick workouts. I had visualized every transition before my race. I would bike to the dismount line, jump off, run my bike back to my rack, drop my bike gear into my bucket, and run out of transition. When I actually jumped off the bike and into transition, I could barely walk let alone run. I had Jelly Legs, BAD! Now I know the importance of brick workouts!

Back to Saturday! Bike Mom and I got up absurdly early and headed off on our bikes (her lovely road bike and my old mountain bike). We had decided to go to the catch basin, a little over 8 miles there and back with my detour back to my house for my head phones. Its a steady climb of about 266 ft all into a head wind. It took us about 40 minutes to make the climb. I will tell you, that it was mostly my fault. I was hating it. The worst part way as I was climbing the last 30 feet (Bike Mom was already at the top), 2 mega bikers came flying up and passed me, so discouraging. I wanted to stop and I wanted to go a different (flatter) way but Bike Mom motivated me and I am happy to say that I made it the whole way. The trip back was lots quicker and a lot more fun! We made it back in only 17 minutes. We were flying! 

I tried to get Bike Mom to just do a little bike route and then run (you know, build our way up) but we did the long route and man were we feeling it (there may have been a few tears of pain)! Decided to run around our block (about 1 mile) but only ran about half before we had to take a short walk (only about a block). It was hard but we were feeling good after and finished off with a .5 mile walk. We did the 1.6 miles in 22 minutes. Not what I hoping for my race time but I've got a month to work on it! 

I'm so glad I have a good friend like Bike Mom to push me on the bike (I really do greatly dislike the bike) and I'm pretty sure she's happy to have me push her on the run!

Saying Good-Bye to an Old Friend

Guys! I had to say good-bye to one of my best friends today. The friend that was there for me through thick and thin, the good times and the bad, for parties and for everyday events. I had to say good-bye to my dear, sweet friend Dr. Pepper (well...carbonation in general). The more I think about it, the more I think that the reason I was having such a hard time on Wednesday is because of my love of the bubbly stuff. And I know a lot of you are saying, "Yay! That stuff was killing you!" I don't care I love HIM!! (Say this in the voice of a teenage girl! It will make it better I promise!) Like a smoker that loves those nasty sticks but has to give it up, I have to give up my good friend! Seriously guys! I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't swear, I don't play violent video game. My only vise is Soda and now I have to say good-bye! I'm going to go listen to Tim McGraw's "My Old Friend" and cry into my bottle of water! (Water! AH!)

The Return of the Wet Dog

Remember THIS post? The one where I turned from Wet Dog treading water to Swimming Rock Star? Well the Wet Dog has return and with a vengeance! "Did you think I left you for good and that you would be a Rock Star from now on? HA HA HA!! Think again!" That Wet Dog climbed on my back and tried to drowned me tonight!

I went to the pool to release some stress. With Mr. Man's ear infection and Little Man breaking teeth MAN! did I need to release some stress! I fully planned to hit my 1 mile mark today! (36 laps is a mile at my pool) I usually do 1 warm up lap, 4 laps at race speed, 18 laps at slow cruising speed, 4 more laps at race speed, and then I swim easy laps until the pool closes. I usually get between .75-.9 of a mile. I wanted to get that mile! Did I? Not with that Wet Dog on my back!

I should have know it was going to be hard when I could only do 2 speed laps before I had to stop to catch my breath. When I tried to finish the last 2 of those speed laps I had to actually stop and put my feet down to catch my breath! I struggled to finish a total of 18 laps (1 warm up, 4 "speed" laps, and 13 other laps) before I threw in my swim cap and called it a day!

What is wrong with me? Was the pool too cool and my body froze up? Do my hips need to pop and weren't loose enough to get the rotation I needed? Was that Pepsi I had with lunch stealing all my air? I have no idea but if this keeps up that Wet Dog might win and actually drown me next time!

Plans Change

I had been doing really well this week (Not feeling while I'm exercising but with just completing the exercises in genral). BikeMom and I have been running everyday, going at least 2 miles everyday. We usually take Wednesdays to rest but we decided that we'd go for a bike ride instead. I was excited for this extra workout (the bike is the hardest part for me). Just about the time Big Man and I are about to go to bed. Mr. Man comes out of his room crying. Between sobs we hear the dreaded, "My Ear Hurts!" Oh NO! Just so you know, My children are super human. They can have the worst ear infection and act like nothing is wrong (My only clues are usually when Little Man does take naps and Mr. Man doesn't want breakfast) so when he woke up crying. I knew something was majorly wrong. Luckily we have numbing drops, gallons of Mortin, and a daddy that loves his boys more than sleep (BM finally got MM asleep by rocking him in the recliner)! I canceled my workout plans with SwimMom and we have spent Wednesday, sleeping and lounging on the couch. Sometime I get so busy that its great when days like today happen and I'm able to just ignore the housework and workouts and just snuggle my babies!

This is how I found both of them, asleep in the recliner

Untold Benefits

We all know that when you swim, you'll gain muscles, build endurance, and flexibility but what they don't tell you is that ALL your hair will fall out! No lies. All my hair is falling out! Now to be truthful my hair usually falls out but not this bad!! Every time I was my hair and run my fingers through it, I come always with dark clumps! And not just the first time I run my fingers through it but EVERY TIME! If this keeps up, I'm going to be bald as Big Man (he shaves his head) within the month!

Weekends are NOT my Friend

I've decided weekends are NOT my friend! All week I work hard, Swimming Biking and Running. When the weekend comes its down time! Time to sleep in (if you can call 7:00 sleeping in), relax, and spend time with the family.

 

This weekend was even better! We had a family reunion and had hamburgers, chips, salads, pancakes and sausage! Then on Sunday we had a baby blessing and had pancakes with all the toppings, bacon, and eggs! It was heaven and I didn't once think about calories or running!

 

 

 

Big mistake! My smooth, perfect swim technique turned into treading water in between gasps of breath! I can usually hold my breath for 3 strokes with plenty left over but I was struggling. I blame the soda! (I know! I know! Soda is horrible for you! It will kill you! I KNOW! But it TASTES SO GOOD!!) I usually only have 1 with dinner but I think I had 5 this weekend!! Ahhh! All the extra calories didn't help either! I felt like I was carrying an extra 10 lbs during my run! Seriously! If my "freedom" is going to make me feel like this when Lockdown (Mon-Fri) hits then I'm do with it!...Alas that will never happen! But a girl can hope right? 

 (Story of my Life)