Alleluia!

Hark the herald angels sing school is back in session.

Yesterday was Carmella's very first day of first grade. Check out my big girl and her big girl desk--cubby and all. Pencil pouch and her very own scissors. Wow. I, have a first grader.

Beau started prek today. I became Ryan's secretary and spent my day running errands and becoming very acquainted with the fax machine. I even wore the proverbial much too short skirt for my new position. This was, of course, after I had run 10 miles.

Yesterday Carmella was very cooperative about the first day pictures and even asked me to walk her to her classroom. She did have a lot of supplies to take in. (And getting said supplies involved a scavenger hunt. I'll spare you the details since others have already been privy to my pre-sharpened #2 pencil ranting).

But she quickly grew tired of me and my little camera.

Once I entered the classroom she got really mad and was ever so politely whispering for me to leave. I pretended not to hear her. Tehe.

She finally reached the point where she flat out refused to look at me. So I went onto chat up her class mates and introduce myself as "Carmella's Mommy" and ask them about their summer and if they liked ponies or batman. Carmella shot invisible lasers out of her eyes at me.
Then Beau and I went across the hall to talk to our neighbor's child. He was not embarrassed of us and a few kids from Carmella's class last year even said hi to us.
This morning, Carmella was quite clear about me just dropping her off and not coming into the school.

After we dropped Carmella off yesterday Beau was, of course, pissed off that his school wasn't starting. He spent the morning making a million messes, dressing in weird get-ups and playing "house" with Lola.

While I vainly tried to clean and do laundry I learned that Beau's version of playing "house" is a lot different than Carmella's.

Carmella was devastated when she came home from school. She scolded Beau for hurting the dog and immediately collected all markers, crayons, pencils and pens and hid them. Beau now has to ask Carmella for even a pencil and she makes him hide in the linen closet while she goes to her writing utensil super secret hiding place and gets him one. And Beau doesn't even argue or question it.

This morning Beau was very excited about his first day. So we, of course, did the first day pictures again for him.
He had to first run around the yard really fast. This was probably the first time since camp that he put his tennis shoes on. He explained that needed to make sure he was still fast in them. Apparently this is important.
I had to drop Carmella off first and then Beau so he was pretty mad about that but got over it when we got to the "Happy School"--what he calls his school. Such an optimist this kid.
Beau was thrilled to see his buddy Parker and rushed over to give him a hug and tell him all about is new notebook-- I had to buy him one because Carmella needed one. Parker, however, could have cared less about the notebook but was glad to see Beau.
And immediately he was too busy building something and making new friends to be bothered to even say goodbye to me. So no tearful drop off's for me. And that, is a good thing.

Here's to happy and smart school year guys!

Not Happy

Edited to add offical results:
Swim: 6:10 (4 in AG)
T1: 2:06
Bike: 42:09 18.5 mph (8 in AG)
T2: 1:27
Run: 23:54 7:43 pace (gross)
8th in AG
39th overall
Offical time: 1:15:45

WARNING: Bratalie bitch-moaning and belly-aching ahead.

Reader discretion-- and sympathy, or gosh, even better, empathy-- advised.


Please forgive me this. I think I need a day or so and a little perspective before I do full write up for the Acworth Women's triathlon. I have my nose a tad out of joint and I know it is dumb and I know I just need to relax and I know I just need look at the big picture. But today I can't.

But to answer your first question: Yes, I had a blast. I did have a ton of fun and the people were awesome, the race very well organized, and I didn't drown or fall off the bike but I let myself down and I am having a hard time getting over it.

I even got to meet fellow ATL bloggers--Wes! His cute little wifey Dee Dee, Andy and even my Ms. Anon commenter.

I know I shouldn't feel all disappointed, but I do! So I need a day or 2 to sit back and find the good points because I am having a hard time getting past my disappointment and I know it is misplaced.

I don't have my official results but here is what glancing at the preliminary results posted after the race said--this is from memory so don't hold me fast and hard to this.

Swim: 6:10 for 400yards.
I am fine with this. The swim was easy and I was frustrated I couldn't go faster. I ended up catching the wave that went ahead of me and I accidentally swam over a few ladies. I am so sorry and I hope everyone knows it wasn't intentional and I wasn't trying to be aggressive. Just trying to swim and go go go.

Transition: No idea. Forgot to look. But I was not fast as I felt it was more important to get it right than forget something. I had already overslept (please note that I have never overslept)that morning so my chi was totally fucked from the get go. There was no running in and out of transition on my part.

The Bike: Right at 42 minutes or just under.
And I was happy with it. The bike was much easier than I expected.

Transition: Again I was slow and trying to be methodical but nonetheless forgot to remove my helmet and was not alerted to that fact til I had left the transition area. I tossed it over the fence after a brief moment of debating whether or not to run back into transition and put it back. Think I made the right call.

Run: So embarrassed. 23 and way too much change (hangs head in mortal shame).

UGH!!!I. Could.Not.Get.It.Together. First mile was ridiculous--8 something. Huh? WTF? I really tried to push it but when I hit the 2 mile mark and Garmin said 15 minutes I knew I wasn't going to meet my goal. Then I lost the signal and had no idea where the finish was and the I was at the finish and it was over. I saw the clock as I crossed and it said 1:25. I was totally heartbroken and then Steph (who, I think, had a phenomenal race) finished and reminded me that we hadn't started until 7:40 so my time was really 1:15. I think I was 38th over all. Steph was 39th (you go you silly sandbagger!)

And I know I shouldn't be upset with that. And I'm not, completely. I am just so pissed about how I fell apart on the run--a freaking 5k!!! I run more than a 5k almost every time I run. I've done bricks after the bike that were 7, 8 miles and run faster than I did today. I just feel like I really put forth the effort in my training--especially for the run--and I expected to perform as such and well, it didn't happen. Obviously, I had too high of expectations of myself.

So yeah. Give me a day or 2 to get happy. Be positive.

Oh, and one more thing: I am not discouraged. At all. Just feeling a bit vindictive. That time? Yeah, it's going down!
Tri tri and tri again. Right?
Aw, see I'm already getting my shawing back.

Jitters and Reminders

Tomorrow is my first triathlon. I am not worried about any of the distances themselves as it is only a sprint and in almost every work out I do I exceed the distance of the swim, bike or run on a regular basis.

I think I am nervous about silly things.

In the swim I am fretting over the creepy lake bottom that I will have no choice but to touch with my bare feet as I run in and out of the water. I am worried I will swim way off course. I am worried that to prevent such a thing from happening I will lift my head 5000 times during the short quarter mile swim that I will drag my time out to 3 times what it usually takes for me to do in a pool. Oh and Ryan and his brother Patric tried to scare me that I also had to worry about this fish getting me. Creepy fish but that is the least of my concerns.

Sigh, see the sort of support I get from my family?

For the bike my worries are more warranted. I am not speedy on the bike and even though I am not terribly speedy on the swim or the run either I am comfortable and confident of my abilities in those areas. On the bike not so much--and this was even before I clipped in. Don't get me wrong; I love being clipped in. I love how I can power up a hill but I am also very conscious that I am always about 5 seconds away from a potentially embarrassing situation-- or worse, seriously hurting myself. Proof of this would be when I went for my first organized group ride on Thursday and I fell over in the parking lot before we even started the ride and landed on my ass. Ass, as well as my ego, is still bruised. How's that for first impressions?

So yeah my time on the bike for this tri is not looking as promising as I once thought. I think I am capable of hitting the bike in under 40 minutes but I will just be happy if I can do it in 45 minutes. Just ask Steph about my talent on the bike. She is still laughing at me for how much I brake on the downhill. She was, understandably, none too happy when she was behind me on the first big downhill on our group ride that by the time we reached the bottom of the hill we were almost at a complete stop and had to start the uphill with zero momentum. What can I say? I have a serious and well founded fear of road rash.

Oh, and I am also totally worried about mechanical difficulties on the bike. Especially since I have no idea how to remedy them and I think I am just the sort of person who would get her first flat tire during her first race ever with a bike. That is just how I think things work for me. But I am trying to banish the negative thoughts and just think it will not happen to me tomorrow. I am, honestly, visualizing success on the bike. I am willing it to happen.

I am not really worried about the run. My only concern is the heat tomorrow and what effect that will have on my pace. I have been consistently hitting under 22 for a 5k on the treadmill (and in most races) for awhile now. Ideally I'd like to see a sub 21 run but I just don't know. I've been practicing by the doing the 2nd mile at a 6:30 pace in my training runs and then backing off for the final 1.1 mile. If I can maintain a bit faster pace for that last mile then a sub 21 is totally realistic. But then again my fine tuning has been in the air-conditioning on a treadmill and tomorrow morning I think we will be blessed if the temp manages to stay below 90 degrees for the race. This past week of code red and 100+ temperatures isn't making me hopeful though.

So basically I am peeling myself off the ceiling by reminding myself that this is my first triathlon. And just like my first marathon my expectation should be to finish. Arghh, but you see, like my first marathon (where I ran a 25.6 training run and 2 other 21+ training runs) I am more than prepared to finish. So my expectations are a little higher for myself. A month ago though I was eyeing a sub 1:15 finish, but like Steph my super secret time was really a sub 1:10. Now, I think to be fair to myself--so I can finish happy-- I need lower my expectations.

So here are my 3 goals:
To finish.
Under 1:25
Ideal will be anything under 1:20.

You want a further breakdown?

Okay for the swim I just can't imagine it taking me longer than 10 minutes unless I somehow manage to get lost on the course. I think around 8 minutes is pretty realistic and anything under that will be ideal.

The transitions I will let the minutes fall where they may. I honestly have no idea what to expect there. Hopefully I will be quick and my experience with always trying to get 2 kids and myself out the door will help expedite me though transition. We'll just have to see if that experience is applicable or the reverse happens because I often find that when I only have myself to think about I get totally flustered.

Bike time, again, anything under 45 minutes and not busting my ass or getting a flat tire and not dropping my chain I will consider a bang up success. Heck, lets just say that if I finish the bike in one piece I will consider it a success.

The run, as I've said, sub 21 minutes is the ideal. Sub 22 or just around there will be okay too. Anything longer and I will absolutely think of it as a failure.

So there you have my predictions, my worries and my hopes. And I just keep telling myself, reminding myself that most importantly I need to have fun.

And lastly, here is how the rest of this week's workouts ended up:

Thursday: Group ride and run afterwards. The bike got shortened (according to Steph) to 14 miles. It was slow and despite the heat I thought pretty easy as we had lots of rest breaks in waiting to regroup. The run was ridiculously steamy so I took it easy. Steph say that was 3.04 but I went a different way so mine was either that or the full 5k. And I have no idea how long or what the pace was. I was just looking to run.

Friday: 4 mile run on the treadmill in just under 31 minutes. Then I swam for I don't know how many meters--less than 1600 but more than 1000 (I lost count).

Totals:
Run: 20 miles
Bike: 39 miles
Swim: about a mile (including Sunday's open water practice swim)

On Getting Phat (or is it just fat?)

Sigh.

I so hate the taper.

I feel all squirrelly and out of sorts and I worry that this decrease in exercise is going to make me balloon to unseemly proportions.

Really I should be welcoming the opportunity to allow my body to recover a little and build itself up considering the continual abuse I put it through but I don't. At all. I hate it.

And instead I worry that I am getting fat; fatter by the second and it is all I can do to keep myself away from the gym, truncate my workouts, or at least lower the intensity.

And while I am sitting idly by, watching my waist get wider, my skin look thicker, I am also astounded that with this lack of exercise comes all this time. Really, I don't know why I am surprised about that because it seems obvious enough but I am honestly surprised by all the time I have when I am not working out.

Now, you'd think I would put all that time to good use--like catch up on laundry, organize my closet, or clean out the kitchen cabinets-- but I don't. Instead I sit around eating and fretting over getting fat and wishing my race was here so I can hurry up and start training for my next goal.

I am such an idiot.

So here is how my taper is going this week:
Sunday: I had planned to run at least 6 maybe 10 miles but I got outside for my 2 mile warm up jog with Lola and it was so muggy and already 88 degrees so my 2 mile warm up because my run. So 2 miles. Then I did my 10 minute open water swim in the creepy lake.

Monday: 25 miles on the bike at around a 17-18mph pace.

Tuesday: This kicked ass: 8.2 miles on the treadmill in an hour. But what I most proud of is the 7 miles that came in at 49 minutes and 48 seconds. You can see that it doesn't take much for me to impress myself. I'm easy like that--a slut for myself, a sure thing.

Wednesday: Again with the treadmill: a 5k in 21:51 and then jogged it out to the 5 mile in under 40 minutes. Walked another 5 minutes just to cool down. I was not impressed with myself but just happy that I got it done as it took a little convincing my legs that they could run. I guess I impressed myself too much the day before. I guess that is what you call . . . well, never mind. Not polite. Let's just say I was little worried that I had wasted myself with my little run on Tuesday.

So I have brick (bike/run) planned today, and I want to get in this week another 4-5 mile run (this time easy) and a mile swim. I plan to do nothing on Saturday.

So my totals for this week should be something like 20 miles for the run, 45 for the bike and a mile or so for the swim. That is okay for a taper I think.

What's next?
Cranking up the miles.
Yeah baby! Marathon training officially starts next week. . .

Powder Room

This post is for Harriett. She is Lala's sister. She wants to see the recent renovation that Lala did to the powder room. Harriett lives in Texas and therefore can't just come over and see powder room for herself. And of course she and Lala are so technologically unsavvy that me posting pictures on my blog is easier than tutoring them both in downloading, uploading, attaching and emailing photos.

Little background for those not in the know:

My parents have been doing lots of renovations to their house. Pretty much since they had the house built in 1984.

There is always some renovation going on in the house but in the past few months there have been more than usual because my sister is getting married--like I did--in the Goat Memorial Gardens and the reception is in my parents' house.

Goat Memorial Gardens?

They are called the Goat Memorial Gardens because there was a goat massacre in 1998 and all the goats --except Vincent Van Goat (He only had one ear as a result of an incident with a dog)--were slaughtered by unleashed dogs (people, leash your dogs). And since then my parents have no longer owned goats and turned the front field into a garden. I got married there and in September, so will Pookie.

Questions? Everyone brought up to speed?

Okay, so current renovations have included but are not limited to:
The new paint and molding on the outside of house (completed).
Stone front patio (completed).
The interior venetian plastered (in progress).
New molding in the interior (pretty much complete, not painted)
Enclosing the catwalk (completed but not painted.)
Tiling the staircase. Okay, really, rebuilding the staircase (incomplete).
Painting various up stair rooms (incomplete).
Redoing one of the upstairs bathrooms and the downstairs powder room (both complete).

So, here, for you dear Auntie, are the powder room pictures
What is hard to see in these pictures in the finish on the wall. There is real silver leaf. It actually looks brownish in these photos but it is silvery grey in real life. It is very pretty. Lala did it herself.

Pop did the plumbing.
And put in the floor.

And the crown molding.

Lala did all the decorating and picking stuff out.

If they get the stairs done I will post pictures of that too.

Clocks a ticking guys. September is closing in . . .Dum dum da dum, dum dum da dum, dum dum da dum, dum dum da dum dum . . .

Om

Om . . .
Om . . .
Om . . .

Yeah, right.
No worries, Nat's no Buddha. I got no Dharma. I know no Tao. Heck, I barely have a handle on when, where and how. Forget about enlightenment, truth and the way.
But today I clipped in and became one with my bike. So I'm at least making it down the path a little better. And rather than "om" my mantra went more like this .... wheeeeee!!!!!

It was fun. It was great. I felt free and fast.
Sigh.
But I wasn't: an hour 24 for 25 miles at the Greenway. Flat, but a bit curvy and holy crap it was hot as Hades--98 hot humid degrees. Bless me the shade. Bless me.

Wes bailed on me. The bastard. He ended up having to work so no Silver Comet Ride for me. Boo. Maybe next week.

Ryan also failed to bring his promised tools home. So I went to Lala's and raided Pop's tool museum and set to work on my bike renovations myself.
And before I completely lost my patience (see, no Om) I successfully moved the bike seat. All.By.My.Self.

On my way to the Greenway I stopped by Roswell Bikes and the guys there happily helped me make my bike adjustments. Get this. They even put air in my tires--apparently you are suppose to do this regularly. Who knew? Sure has heck not me since my tires have been unpumped all summer. I have never put air in them. I thought you just waited til they went flat.

The cute friendly bike boys also oiled my gears--God, that sounds so sexy--and adjusted my brakes, moved my handle bars... cue music

They put the pedals on for me too and even gave me a little lesson on how to use new pedals in the parking lot. That was not so sexy. I felt like how I felt the day Pop took the training wheels off my bike. I was glad I did not crash into a car today like I did when I was 5. At least with age my coordination has improved slightly.

After all those adjustments Lance is a completely different bike now. Wait, wheeeee!!!!!!!!!

So it was good ride and I can't wait to test my spiffy new pedals out on the road and see what Lance and I can do to some hills. Probably about what we were doing before: getting our arse kicked.

Yesterday Ryan and I had an adult day at the lake. The kids were off visiting Callaway Gardens with Bubbles and Poppy. Ryan was kind and let me get my swim in before we sat in the hot sun and drank too much beer and well, the rest is none of your business.

Here is me doing my virgin open water swim. I swam for about 10 minutes. It wasn't spectacular-- just okay. The lake is so dirty. Note to the ladies: white bikini not a good idea for lake swimming.

It was really shallow here and I would have preferred it been very deep. I completely freaked after I finished and my foot hit spongy creepy lake bottom. So gross. I am cringing just thinking about that. I don't know how I am going to deal with that in the tri but I guess I will find a way.

And here is me practicing my very rusty butterfly. Oh God I suck. I can't believe that use to be effortless.

What else? Counting down to tri:
Training? Check. Practice open water swim? Check. Outfit? Check. Fix bike? Check.

Tell me, why is it that now I am more freaked out about all this than I was when I started training. I'll tell you. Ignorance is bliss. Knowledge is the death.

Deep cleansing breath.
I can do this. Om, Om, Om . . . .
Tell me that when I cross the finish line on Sunday I will be back to saying wheeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still Life With Half Full Glass Set Next to Allen Wrench

I did not have a stellar week.
And I think that is okay.
I mean, it will have to be.
And yes here is where I am being an optimist, a positive person who is trying not to see a half empty cracked and broken glass but rather an almost full and rimmed in a fine silver lining glass: At this point I don't think I am going to make any real fitness gains in speed or strength for the triathlon NEXT Sunday. Wow. It is almost here.

Here is the recap:
Sunday: 16 mile bike at the river in an hour.
Monday: 4 mile run outside
Tuesday: 11 miles outside, 1200 meter swim, thwarted gym bike
Wednesday: 7 miles on the treadmill in 51 minutes: 1650 swim in 30 minutes
Thursday: 22 miles on the gym bike in an hour-- hills between level 13-15. Ugh. I suck.
Friday: Gym brick. So proud I got this in because I felt yucky. 13 miles in 37 minutes on random, levels 10-13. 5k on the treadmill in 23 minutes jogged it out 4 miles to finish in 32 minutes. This 5k was 2 minutes off last week's 5k. Suck. I guess this is what happens when you don't take a rest day in 2 weeks.

Charlie, guess you were right, but I still don't plan on a rest day until Tuesday this week.

Saturday: Ugh. So. Crappy. The first mile is always ridiculously bad for me but usually if I make it past that I start to feel better and get into my run. Did. Not. Happen. Yesterday. It was just plain awful the whole time. 5 miles in just under 40 minutes. An almost 8 minute pace is pretty crappy for me on the treadmill.

Run: 31 miles
Bike: 51 miles
Swim: 2850 meters

So today I plan to run this morning --just slow and easy and this is because that is the only way it will get done. No optimism there. Then Ryan and I have a day planned at the lake. I hope to convince him to take me to a beach or someplace where I can get in a swim and not worry about getting run over by a boat. He thinks I need to practice running in and out of the water too but I think he just wants to see me running around in my bikini. Anyway, my plan is just to swim for 10 minutes or so. I figure 400 meters won't take me that long so I should be covered for the race.

Tomorrow I have a long bike ride planned with soon-to-be-brother-in-law. I have the pedals, or rather the lack of pedals, to put on my bike so I can clip in. And the spectacle that will be me on the road tomorrow falling here there and crashing everywhere should prove very entertaining for Wes tomorrow.

See, Wes, what I can't do in speed and stamina I will make up for in a little side show of bike performance art. I really hope you don't see this post til after our ride tomorrow so you won't chicken out on me.

Along with the pedals I am also planning to have Ryan make a few other adjustments on my bike with his tools. I was going to do all this myself but Ryan all the sudden became very interested in my bike at the first mention of me "fixing" my bike. The interest registered exactly like how it does when Lola hears me say "treat." The word "fix" apparently has the same effect on Ryan. It was like I could see the visions of tools dancing above his head as I spoke about lowering the handle bars, putting pedals on and moving my seat back.

Geez.

What's up with that?

I should mention that Ryan has shown absolutely zero interest in my bike or even hearing about my training rides all summer but fixing my bike and playing with his tools? Apparently he is all about that. In fact, I only mentioned in passing to him my plans for bike renovation. And since then he has pretty much asked me about it everyday-- promising me that he will remember to bring his tools home and wanting to know whether or not I have gone by my parents to pick up the pedals.

Very suspicious, huh?

But here is what I think all that is about: Clearly, it is about a man wanting to keep his woman down. He just doesn't want me knowing how to work any fancy tools because, well, everybody knows that a woman who has her own tools and knows what to do with them . . .

Well, let's just say it begs the question of what use is a man then?

More Much Better

That is what my little word magician Carmella says about things that are superior-- they are "more much better."

It is as if she can't decide which is the correct adjective or maybe she is just showing off she knows them all.

Who knows.

She was a very early talker who before she was even a year old was dazzling us with her confidence of words. Many times her eagerness to expand her vocabulary has resulted in whole new words and phrases. We call these Carmellaisms.

And there are a gazillion Carmellaisms that I-- and others-- have adopted. I, I mean we, know the obvious thing to do when she says something incorrectly is to correct her but instead we are so charmed by her creativity and the cleverness of the mistake that we just adopt her wordage:

Pocket Purse for pocketbooks?

Lick a Che for Chick fil a?

Breakfast clown or rope meat as an insult?

Freaking out like ice instead of a very plain "meltdown."

"I do not love that" for something completely distasteful.

"Barnacles" or "Chicken nuggets" instead of damn it. Those were her suggestions to me this morning while I unloaded the dishwasher and broke a wineglass in the process and muttered "damn it". I've heard her say both before but hadn't realized that she was purposefully substituting them for damn it. At least with Carmella the do as I say not as I do has worked.

Okay so you get the picture and the long of the short of this post was to say that my workout yesterday evening was more much better than the previous workouts this week. I hate doing workouts in the morning but I prefer to do them in the morning because otherwise I spend the whole day fretting that I might bail on an afternoon workout.

After procrastinating and 600 pep talks we finally got to the gym yesteday at 5:30. And here is where I have to say that I am lucky for my kids because they love to go to the gym and often I would just blow it off if they didn't expect to go and the fall out of skipping (read tantrums and theatrics) is worse than torturing myself for an hour on the treadmill. To further illustrate this point: just this second Beau came to me wanting to know what we were doing today and told me he wanted to go to the gym 3 times today--as he held up 10 fingers.

Even cutting a workout short is unacceptable because if I show up in the gym nursery too soon they balk and yell (read embarrassing public tantrum and flailing about on the floor) at me that they are not done playing. While Beau has a fit Carmella will politely suggest that I should go lift some weights or run some more.

Yesterday though I apparently stayed a satisfactory amount of time because they both praised me for the long playtime they had when I came to collect them. And I too was spent but happy with my "playtime."

I got in 7 miles in exactly 51 minutes on the treadmill and walked it out to the hour. A girl in the locker room queried me and went on to praise me for my speed quite loudly in front of the other ladies in the locker room. I did blush a little but also swelled a bit too. So much that my head barely fit through the doorway to the pool. Admittedly, I was beat but her laudations seriously rallied me and I swam steady for 1650m in 30 minutes. Of course the laps could be off in either direction since I am a horrible counter once I get much past the 1000 meter point.

So today I feel more much better and I am headed out to the gym here in a bit to ride the bike--I mean, unless I can convince Lala to watch the crazies.

The Subtle Power of Suggestion

My sister gave Beau a Spiderman costume for his birthday.
He loves it.

As he loves everything everyone got him.

Seriously, everyone who gave him a gift should feel it was money well spent as he has divided every second since his birthday equally among all his new toys--yes, Dee Dee, even the camo rainboots. He has worn them every.single.day.

Anyway, he just came to me asking me to turn the Spiderman costume to the evil side. He told me he "likes to be bad."

Don't I know it. Don't. I. Know. It.

He also told me that he was going to wear the costume to his 4 yr old check up today because that? That would keep the shots from hurting him.

Ah, to be 4 again and believe in superhero powers.

Tired

I am tired this week. My workouts have been sucking. Not sure what is up. I mean I think they have been sucking but it could just be a case of me expecting too much and me thinking I am better, faster, stronger etc than I really am.
It is probably that.
I am sure that is what it is.

Sunday was understandable. I had a touch of the flu. Too much Chandon will do that to a person. Sunday morning I hit the road with Lance for the first time in awhile. After being a mouse on the wheel it was nice to be out on the open road. I rode down by the river and into Martin's Landing for an hour.

Cranked out 16 miles and was disappointed that it wasn't faster. But I will say riding a bike with a touch of the flu is much easier than running with a touch of the flu. I'm just glad I got some workout in even it was less than stellar.

Monday wasn't my fault completely. Lala was watching the wild things while I did 7 mile loop. They stopped me at 4 miles and convinced me lunch at Booby G's was better than running the last 3 miles of my loop. So I met them at Booby G's for a salad.

I considered finishing my run after my salad and while I figured I would be fine I figured that misery would be my companion since it was midday, 88 degrees and humid as a hairy armpit. Vomiting was a distinct possibility. So I told myself gym in the afternoon. Unfortunately that never happened.

Side note on Bobby G's: Beau loves Bobby G's, as does Lala and they always want to go there. Lala goes for the hot dogs. Beau likes the hot dogs too but really it is the tattoo machine that is the big draw for him.

Yesterday I ran 11 miles but it was a lazy 11 miles. The first 8 or so were fine but then after that the walking began. I'm not sure what is going on but I think it is dehydration. I've been doing a lot of these 10/11 mile runs every week since; one, I don't have the time to run any longer than that and two, the stamina to want to run in the 85+ heat just isn't there.

Every one of those 10+ milers the last mile or 2 has been pretty awful. It would seem that 8 miles is my limit without water but in my mind it seems pointless to stop and get water when I only have a few miles to go. I know I could stash but then that takes planning and time away from running. I also am not going to carry water for a run. Stubborn, stupid--I know.

Since I haven't swam yet this week I headed to the gym in the afternoon. This also proved a bust. I forgot it was Tuesday. Which means there is aquafit at 6 pm. My plan had been 45 minutes bike and then 30 minute swim. But since there was the class I had to do the swim first. This isn't a big deal it just wasn't the "plan" and I also don't like to be on the bike wet at the gym. Just feels creepy.

I changed and got in the pool. The swim started out fine with a 400 warm up and then I decided to do the 10 x 100 meter workout in 2 minute intervals. I blew it all in the first 100 meters with that one coming in a under a minute 20. I will say it felt amazing and powerful. I rested the 40+ seconds and then went for another. The second came in at just over a minute 20. Good too but I was done. I wasn't fully recovered for the 3rd 100 when the 2 minute mark came around. That one came in at a minute 30. The 4th 100 I started late as I couldn't catch my breath but it still came in at a minute 30. I decided that was enough 100's and decided to just finish up with a steady swim. After 400 meters I was done.

I changed and went upstairs to do the bike. I made it 4 miles on the bike (level 12, random) for a total of 12 minutes. Went back downstairs, stretched and left. Just feels like the whole gym was a waste.

This morning I have to take Beau for his checkup-- so no am workout. I am hoping I can get it together for a 10k on the treadmill and half hour swim this afternoon. I feel like a slug. I know my workouts haven't been lazy but I am not powering through them as I usually do or I think should be at this point. And that is what is bugging me.

BeauPOOLooza IV

Our wild thing turned 4 Saturday.

We call Beau's birthday Beaupalooza because his birthday parties have been such wild and crazy bashes--I mean for a kid's birthday party.

His first birthday I had at the house and had about 20 kids and 40 parents. It was just your run of the mill play yard games--A little Croquet maybe?Badminton anyone?-- and run around and just be silly party. The party started at 11 am and the last guest left at 1 AM--see that? It is not a typo. That's right, it was a 12 hour party for a 1 year old.

The next year I did a repeat of the run around and be crazy party but started the party later at 3pm. This was the year Beaupalooza was coined. I even handed out t-shirts a la frat party style that said Beaupalooza 2005! And again, the last guest left around 1am. And in true frat party style a few of the guests returned the next day to cookout, finish the keg and eat leftover birthday cake. A 2 day party for a 2 year old.

Last year for his 3rd birthday we had a Pirate bash at the pool-- again the party found its way to my house and finished up, I guess, around 1 am. I seriously don't remember.

So this year we just had a regular old pool party with silly games and running around, and oh yeah, swimming.

And yes, again, the party ended at my house with the last guest leaving around 1 am (you know who you are and we love you and we wouldn't want it any other way!)

I should also tell you that it rains every year for Beaupalooza but always clears up just enough for the party. As mentioned here it really does rain every time I plan a party outside. It even rained on the morning of our wedding.

Our wedding was in the garden at my parents' house. It cleared up and proved to be an incredibly perfect and beautiful day but some of the guests did have to help dry off the chairs. Anyway, my point is that universe tries to get me down by raining on my parties but it never works! I don't even cry anymore when I wake up on party day and it is pouring buckets.

On the subject of buckets. . . I had buckets for every kid to decorate. I made the mistake though of giving the boys their other party favor--swords--at the same time. So the boys were not the least bit interested in my little craft. They wanted to fight. So I decorated their buckets for them.

I gave all the girls mermaids and they were interested in decorating their buckets. I actually had to take the buckets away and make them go play. So, for the record, girls like to do crafts at parties and boys like to fight.

The tennis courts became the battlefield as the kids chased each other around with the swords and the bubble guns Poppy brought.


New this year to Beaupalooza we had some fun games and prizes.

We had the Shrek vs. Donkey relay race. I think the Shrek team technically won but it didn't matter because EVERYONE wins a prize at Beaupalooza.
We had the biggest splash contest. I can't remember who won for the 4 and under group but Carmella and Harrison had to have a jump off-- twice. Harrison proved the biggest splasher but again, it doesn't matter because EVERYONE wins a prize!!!!

After a fancy meal of hotdogs and potato chips we had a dance contest. My CD with the Hustle, the Macarena, the Electric Slide, the Chicken Dance and Cotton Eye Joe would not play.

Which is quite unfortunate because I had spent 2 hours the night before watching Youtube and perfecting the Hustle and Napoleon Dynamite's version of Cotton Eye Joe. You can view it here to get an idea of how it might of looked. Just substitute me in a bikini and some roller girl shorts doing these cool moves:

Sigh, I know you are disappointed that I wasn't able to break that out. I do it so good too. But no worries. The time I spent practicing was time well spent as I now have a new dance to showcase at Pookie's wedding.

So instead of all my organized dances the kids broke it down and wowed us with some never seen before freestyle:
Beau and Livi won for the littles.

And I think Austin was the clear winner for the older crowd.

Again EVERYONE got a prize and this time a tatoo.

Then more swimming.

Cake!

And popsicles:
And then the big present. . .

And then ensued much squabbling over, and falling off of and getting little fingers run over.

And then there was much crying and whining as we put the cool new toy in Poppy's car and put an end to all the fun.

We packed it all up and took it back to our house just before it began pouring. Beau opened one final present and after some more playing with every single toy I have in the house and a picnic of pizza the kids piled into my bed for some Scooby Doo videos. And I finally got to sit down and finish a cocktail and a conversation--all firsts for me that day.

Great party guys!

Thanks for coming and be sure to mark your calendars for next year!

Oh, and you can view all the photos from this year's Beaupalooza by clicking right here.

Oh, and last week's totals:
Run: 40 miles
Bike: 61 miles
Swim: 2000 meters (oops, too short)

On Flexibility and Resistance

After my time trial post my soon to be brother-in-law emailed me with some tips. Wes is a bike guy. A fast bike guy at that, so when he speaks--which isn't often-- I listen. Especially if it is free bike advice. He, like my Ms. Anon commenter kindly pointed out to me that perhaps I did not have the resistance hard enough on the bike at the gym since my RPM were way high. Wes said a bunch other kind and helpful things but the bottom line was basically "Nat you ain't pushing hard enough on that bike at the gym."

So the gym bike and I had a come to Jesus conversation yesterday and I basically got my ass kicked. Uhm, yes Wes and Ms. Anon, you were right and I am not worthy. I was being a total pussy on level 8. I've been schooled.

I kicked it up to level 15 and it was hard as shit. I had to get out of the saddle on most of the hills. I kept the RPM at max 110 for the flats and around 60 for the hills. I am too scared to go higher than level 15. I think 15 is just hard enough. My heart rate was also up but only in the 130-145 range. I think it should be more in the 150 range for the bike but I am just guessing here. It may have been and possibly the HR monitor just doesn't work very well as I was sweating buckets. It was gross. The watts were a lot higher too-- I think like in the 180's--I can't remember but it was much higher than last time. But here is what I don't get: my mph was the same. How is that possible if my rpm were less? I still finished at 22 miles for the hour.

Is it a resistance thing?

The bike is very confusing. Running? Much more simple.

Anyway, after the bike I had wanted to swim but only had 20 minutes left before the kids' time in gym hock was up and that just isn't enough time for me to change, swim and change again. So I did something I have been very bad about doing since I started all this triathlon training. No it wasn't weights. I have actually managed a few weight sessions this summer. It was stretch.

When training for marathons I always work in stretching after a run on the treadmill and when I do weights. I have been good about stretching my quads, hammies and calfs daily but the past 2 months I have completely eschewed my stretching routine that I usually do 2-3 times a week during the rest of the year.

So yesterday I sat down on the mats at the gym (after I did my calf stretches on the stairs). I went through my usual yoga poses and I noticed right away I was very, very tight. But as a runner I am use to tight hamstrings so I wasn't too worried. Then I switched and tried to pop into a left split. Not even close. This surprised me because I can always do a left split. So I tried the right split--which is usually harder but I can always get it too. Nope, not even close. It was embarrassing. I looked like a guy who was worried about smashing his kickstand. For shits and giggles I tried the middle split which I had worked on all last year and had finally gotten it back. It is gone too.

So I stayed on the mat and I stretched and tried a few more positions to see if I could loosen the muscles up. After 10 minutes I managed to get into the right and left splits--if only for a second, but I did do them. The middle split is a lost cause for now. I tested out my flexibility in my back too and I was relieved that I could still do a back bend even if it was much wider than it was 2 months ago.

So in 2 months I have lost a lot of flexibility. The last time my flexibility was this diminished was after I had been running for few years and had a baby. I took ballet lessons and Pilates and regained it after a year. I am hoping it won't take so long or as much effort. Ballerina I am not and I just don't have time for that. But I have always been of the mind that good flexibility is the key to injury prevention so it is important for me to maintain a certain level just so I can stay injury free. I guess I am going to have to suck it up and take a yoga class if I can't be better about doing this on my own.

Here is my update for the week. I'm a little slack. I've got Beaupalooza IV tomorrow so I've been busy in my party preparations. More about that on Sunday.

Sunday: rest
Monday: 10 mile run
Tuesday: time trial: swim 1000m, bike 13 miles, run 5k
Wednesday: 10 mile run
Thursday: 22 mile gym bike level 15 hills. 15 minutes stretching
Friday: 10 mile run. And hopefully 15 mile gym bike and a mile swim this afternoon.
Saturday: I hope to make it to the gym for a 7 mile ladder run on the treadmill and either 30 minute swim or bike. Depends on how much time I have in the morning. My goal will be to keep kids out of the house and busy until party.

Time trials

This morning my pal Steph had on her blog a link to help predict your time in a triathlon. Of course I checked it out because who likes surprises? Apparently, as much as I think I do, I guess I don't. So once I figured out how to correctly plug the times and distances in it came up with a predicted time of about an hour 14 for the Hansgrohe triathlon.

My predicted swim was 7 minutes, the bike 42 minutes and the run 22 minutes. I guess the extra 3 minutes was for transitions. Not trusting this or the times I plugged in I went to the gym this morning and did some time trials.

I did the bike first and the 13 miles came in at 36 minutes and 6 seconds. I set it for a level 8 hill ride. This is probably the least accurate of all my time trials but I think the bike will come in under or around 40 minutes.

Oh, and the bike at the gym has heart detector and when I finished I had finally gotten my heart rate up to 120. Seems like it should be higher but I have no idea how to get it higher since I feel like I am pedaling pretty hard. For comparison-- on the treadmill, after a sprint I am usually at 165 but I have seen as high as 179. I think I max out somewhere around 185-190. If anyone has any thoughts or knowledge on this I'd like to hear it but please dumb it down for me. Also, while you're at it, can someone one please tell what the hell watts are. On the bike today I saw a wattage (is that right?) range of 65 (for the flats) up to 135( for the hills). RPM's ranged from 150 (flats)-115 (hills).

So after the bike I hopped on the treadmill for a 5k. First mile came in at 7:28. I hit the 2nd mile at 13:56 and I finished the 5k at 21:06. I think I can go faster outside. Typically I run training runs slower outside than I do on the treadmill but I am always faster in a race than on the treadmill. We'll see. I do think this is pretty accurate for what I can do give or take 30 seconds in either direction.

Next I changed and got in the pool. I did an easy 200 warm up. Then I timed a 400. 6:29. Okay--honestly I was hoping for closer to 6 minutes. I rested a minute 30 and gave it another go. This 400 felt a lot slower so I was quite surprised to find that I finished it in 6:29 too. How's that for consistency?

I do think I will be slower than that for the tri because I think my flip turns pad my time. I have to be careful when I push off the wall otherwise my goggles fly off. Which brings me to my other question. Should I wear goggles for the tri? Are they necessary? I have successfully finally figured out how to get all my hair into one of those pretty swim caps. I also have masted getting my goggle strap under the cap too. Only took me all summer but I figured it out.

Okay, so according to my very scientific time trials today I can plan on a finish of 63:44 and then however long it takes for me in the t1 and t2? I am giving myself 7 minutes for the transitions so that comes in at 1:10:44. So maybe the prediction of 1:14 isn't so far off. We'll see. Come on race day magic.

Thoughts? tips? Educate me oh experienced and gifted ones . . .

Week's recap and thinking ahead

I was at the gym mostly last week so my workouts weren't a lot of fun but I got it done.

Sunday: nothing, rode back from the beach.

Monday: Already recapped here: mile swim, 4 mile run, 11 mile bike, one mile run.

Tuesday: AM swim workout: 200 meter warm-up. 10x 100m in 2 minute intervals. The first 100 I finished in around minute 20 as I had a 40 second rest period. (I used the wall clock so I don't have detailed time). I held the second 100 for around a minute 20 and then progressively saw slower times. The 10th 100 I think came in around a minute 35. Then I cooled down with 450 easy meters.
This is the day I noticed my diamond was gone and I went back to the gym to look around. Even though I didn't feel like working out I did. I rode 11 on the bike in under 31 minutes and then did a mini brick and ran 2 miles on the treadmill in 14:22. I wasn't feeling it and just left.

Wednesday: 10 mile run outside in the am. Not sure exactly how long but around an hour 25. Went to the gym in the afternoon and did the bike for 11 miles again and swam a mile in the pool, scouring the bottom, looking for my stone. So sad.

Thursday: 10 mile run in the am, this time in around an hour 20. Then rode the bike for an hour at the gym in the afternoon for 22 miles.

Friday: 7 mile ladder run on the treadmill in 52:16. Walked it out to the hour.

Saturday: Gym brick: 11 mile bike (hills, level 8) in under 31 (seem stuck with this time as I hit it every workout). Then hit the treadmill for a 10k in 45:51. I felt absolutely horrible before going to the gym and had to talk myself into the workout the whole time. Really I didn't want to do anything so I was pretty happy that I fought it out and got it done.

Totals:
Run: 40 miles
Bike: 66 miles
Swim 3 miles

I am looking to the fall and my race schedule. Here is what I am planning:
October
Silver Comet Half Marathon

I'd like to squeeze in a 10k this month too.

November
I am considering the Chickmauga Battlefield Marathon but it might be too much so I might not. I've looked at this race every year and thought about it so maybe this year will be the year I actually do it.
Atlanta Half Marathon

December
Rocket City Marathon

February
Chattahoochee Challenge 10k

March
Alpharetta Half marathon Maybe it will be better this year.
GA ING Marathon

April
And Boston if our finances change and I can afford it, otherwise I will just have to keep qualifying and will eventually get there.

Next spring I will start planning and think seriously about some more triathlons. Definitely a few sprints and some Olympics. I might even get crazy and do a half ironman next summer-- but I don't think I am full ironman material. I seriously can't wrap my mind around doing anything for that long. Joe Reger just finished his first 100 mile run in 26 hours and I just absolutely can't even fathom that. So. Very. Impressive. And, you know, I think pretty much anything is possible physically but I know me and I know my brain and I just know that I do not have that sort of endurance in me.

It is only Tuesday

And my week is already sucking.

Very bad, as Beau would say.

First, I am completely devastated that the solitaire diamond in my engagement ring fell out of the setting.
When and where and how?
I have absolutely no idea.
But it is gone.
I have retraced my steps today and, well, the world is a big place for one little diamond.
Ugh, I am so sad.
I noticed it was gone this afternoon when I was talking to our accountant. And yes, that is always a whole other heart attack.

Oh, and no. It is not insured. Of course it isn't.

See, we have so much insurance on everything else and pay-I-can't-even-tell-you-how-much for cars, house, employees, equipment and health insurance a year and never, ever have to make a claim. Of course it would be the one thing that we don't have insurance on that I lose. Of course it is! Fabulous.

As if that isn't enough my son just came downstairs dressed as a girl. Okay, that is funny in and of itself. Beau's and Carmella's costumes and theatrics are always funny. But today is not the day that I want to laugh at myself.
Upon introducing the Beau queen, Carmella exclaimed cheerfully, "Look Mommy! I put bows in his hair and helped him put on your boobs!"

See, that is the not so funny part. Because it is just sad that even my kids know I have to "put on" my boobs. Here is the picture with my boobs "put on"--backwards no less.
But you know what is bothering me the most is that they found my ugliest bra. A nude! Ugh. Told you this week was sucking.
One last picture. And what you can't hear is the "siss" sound Beau is making as he touches his ass because he is so hot in Carmella's bows and my "put on" boobs.

End bitch session.

Time to get serious

I have less than a month until my first triathlon and I've been a bit slack the past few weeks.

Last week was a bit pathetic: I got in the least that I have since I started training and probably is the least I have exercised since I had that bad bout of sinusitis and bronchitis in November. Here is the week's end totals:
Run: 33 miles
Bike: 32 miles
Swim: 1 mile

Not totally terrible and part of it was because I went to the beach the last half of the week with some of my girlfriends. Pictures and details coming soon. . .

Anyway, I went to the gym this morning planning to get back on it, the training that is--not the wagon (never!)-- and really start working. My plan was 7 hard miles on the treadmill and a mile swim. Tomorrow a brick.

Well, dumbass me forgot to charge my ipod and it was dead. No way I was running so I hit the pool for a half hour and I really pushed pretty hard. I felt super strong. Probably because this was the first swim workout I did without having run or biked before it. I really need to start forcing myself to do other swim workouts other than just swimming a mile. I am so lazy in the pool. Really. So my plan is to try this month to do at least two, preferably three, swim workouts a week and one of them being drills and sprints and whatnot.

After my swim the kids and I headed out for our errands and other work I had to do. Ryan was home for a bit this afternoon so I had the opportunity to run but it was 3 in the afternoon and just so muggy and hot that I figured I'd do better on the treadmill in the air conditioning. So around 5ish I put my kids in nursery hock and hit the treadmill for 4 miles-- clocking in 29:12. Then I hopped on the bike and cranked out 11 miles in just a hair under 31 minutes. Then I got back on the treadmill to test the legs and got a mile out in 7:18. Not spectacular but I totally had my legs back and could have done 2 more miles at a similar, if not faster pace easy peasy.

So here is what my training thus far is telling me to expect, roughly, for the tri:

I think the swim will come in under 7 or right around 7 minutes. Ideally, I'd like to do closer to 6 minutes. And I have, in the pool, many times. Open water competition is a bit of mystery for me. I hope to test out an open water swim at Altoona sometime this month and that might give me a more realistic idea of what I can do.

The bike is absolutely my weak link. I hate it. Not the bike, just how sucky I am. It is frustrating. I pump my little legs but seriously can't kick it up any more than I do. I think I can expect 17 mph pace on the bike. Maybe 20 but I doubt it. So what is that for 13 miles? Around 40 minutes? Ideally I want the bike to come in under 35 and I just don't think that is realistic at all for me.

The run is what it is for me. I have never run just a 5k but in 10k's and on the treadmill I am consistently just over or exactly 21 minutes. I definitely think I am capable of sub 21. In a tri I don't know though. Probably not. I do think the run will come in under 22 minutes.

So goal time? I hope to be under 78 minutes but ideally I'd like to come in closer to the hour mark. I don't even entertain under 60.
Is that crazy?

Totally unrealistic?

I have tried to structure my training so that at least 5 days of the week my workouts for the day exceed 90 minutes. My thinking is that anything under that will feel like a walk in the park.

I am sure I am in for a rude awakening. Sand bagger I am not.

Oh, and in other news I've bought my outfit for the sprint. I bought this suit (it is so cute!) and this skirt to snap on over it for the bike and run. I have been acclimating my ass by biking in my running skirts and Nike compression shorts so hopefully my transitions will be quick.
So yeah, my ass?
It kicks itself these days.