Lone Star Sprint Triathlon 2008 Report

** Warning **

Try to ignore my patch of grey's Oh and that I look like sausage in super tight casing

Thanks so much for all the congratulations! Rita thanks for my cute tri socks! Anna for my rockin' card! All the emails & texts I got! I felt so loved!!

Well, here it is the report. I had to wait a couple days because when I finished it all seemed like a blur. It has been coming back to me in scenes, the past couple of days. It is a little (ok a lot) lengthy so grab a cup of coffee. I want to share too many details, but I also want to be able to come back and read this to learn and grow from. I say grow from because I fell in love with this sport. I thought I would do this tri, and get my fix to say I did it than continue with my running with some cycle/swim cross training. After all running has always been my first love before I could even run. I still love running, it is even my favorite part of the tri, and not just since that means the tri finish line is nearing. I will post some of the rest of the year goals later this week since I am feeling a new found motivation and determination.

I woke up Thursday morning feeling much improved from the night before, and by Friday morning I was feeling fantastic. I don’t know if it was all the adrenaline, antibiotics, and excitement or what, but I was gracious for it nonetheless.

We went to my parent’s house on Thursday evening since they are about 35 minutes from Galveston versus my 1 hour and 40 minute commute. They are out of town so there wasn’t a loud Cuban gathering, me being the loudest, LOL! Shane took off to be at my beck and call Friday. He made sure I didn’t do anything but chillax most of the day. In the afternoon our dearest friends Vince & Rita met up with us to head to Galveston get my packet, find my transition area, and attend a first timers seminar. The seminar was really helpful. I really had no idea how to even rack my bike. They gave us step by step instructions, plus went over some of the rules to follow. It was very informative. I even won a raffle at the seminar. A Zoot transition towel it is suahweet. Well, here is the truth on how I won it. They were asking who had a birthday this week, and who came from the furthest distance, blah, blah. The lady doing the seminar was Jana Landry from Ironbabe Sports that puts on the female tri here in our area. She was pointing at her shirt promoting it and thinking what other category she can come up with to distribute a prize. I said aloud, “How about if we are already registered for your super sprint in June, which I am.” My friend Rita kind of put her head down, like yep that’s my friend. Jana than gives me a thumbs up, and hooks me up! I guess I am pretty bad about the freebies, HAHAHA!

Shane, Lil’ Buster, Vince, Rita, my sister Mel, her boyfriend Greg, and I had a great pasta dinner at Carrabba’s. We had to wait over a 1 and a ½ to be seated, but it was worth the wait. It was delish! It put me in bed a lot later than I wanted to be. I got in bed at 11PM, and than did not fall asleep till 2:30AM. I kept replaying this imaginary video in my mind of me doing the tri, going over each step. In my mind it played in slow motion like clips from the Kona Ironman from the NBC special…LOL!

The support team had an early wake up at 4:30AM. It was drizzling all the way down to Galveston. I got pumped up seeing a lot of the cars with their bikes mounted. It let me know, this is it the real deal. At, that point my stomach fluttered till the bullhorn. Shane, filled up my tires, and I grabbed all my gear. We walked over so I could get my body marked. I don’t know why I was looking so forward to that, but I was. It was like I was branded as a real deal triathlete.

Than there were kisses, hugs and off to transition area I went. My rack was on the row with all the first timers. I gotta tell you a lot of those peeps did not seem like first timers. Maybe, it is just because if they didn't have their jaws clinched and a shit look on their face. I consider them experts.HAHAHA! I met my bike rack neighbor, Cami. She asked me how to rack her bike so, I helped her. We shared how nervous we were while spraying ourselves with Pam. I decorated my lil’ area just like they had taught us in the seminar, all organized like my compulsive self!

It was now 6:45AM they called all the athletes to head to the dock about a 1/3 of a mile away. There were about 13 waves before my wave could get in the hold. Shane, stayed with me for a bit, and Mel braided my hair. Shane swears I had tears of nerves at this point, but not one ever rolled out of the eye that means no tear no cry! He left me there a couple hundred yards before the dock. I saw Cami, and we talked training, and just getting pumped up. We decided we would jump off the dock the ladder wasn’t tough enough..LOL! We met another first timer Jen and they told the female first timers to get ready. The women rumbled, hooted and hollered! We jumped in to the 69 degree water with the sun shining. The water felt fine just a quick stutter breath when I came up. We swam about 15 yards to the start, and that is it we were off.

Swim: 15:06
I started off nice, staying on the side closest to the buoys on my left. I felt calm, and relaxed. I really never got trampled on; just a few kicks here and there. I guess that is the sweet thing of a first timer’s wave. I started getting tired, and for some reason threw everything I learned out the window. WTF!? I had windmill arms with my neck up like an ostrich!! I remembered to count the buoys to keep myself orientated to where I was. I talked to myself in my head a lot. Telling myself to keep going, don’t stop just get to land. I did finally, and they had a lot of crew telling you where to stop, help you stand up, hold you for a second while you gained your balance again.

T1: 3:55
I came out of the water really disoriented. I didn't know where I was, what I was doing. I did remember to unzip the suit and pull it down to my waist. I remember seeing the family cheering me, and Shane saying, “are you OK?" I am pretty sure I looked somewhat lost. Next, I was lying on the ground having my suit stripped. It was a pretty good distance from where we came in. I tried to run to the transition area. I just could not run. My head felt floaty like. Shit, I remember that I could barely walk.

Bike: 48:58
It went well the first 6.5 miles I hit a max of 22.3mph, and just felt strong. I was passing peeps continually. I lost my voice a bit. My on your left became a bit squeaky. The last half we turned to seawall by the ocean. The wind picked up, nothing uncontrollable, but defiantly difficult to manage for this spin class chick, who gets most of her rides done indoors! I was putting forth a lot of effort with little results. I keep playing tag back and fourth with Jen. I got drafted in for the last two miles. Where was that USAT official when I needed her? The drafter said, “I am not going to pass you.” This draftee said, “Nah your just going let me do the work.” I am almost shocked how relaxed I was on the bike, even riding deep in the drops. I guess I left all my nerves out in the bay on the swim. I was happy to arrive at the transition, after hammering it out as hard as I could.

T2: 1:40
I jumped off the bike, and took off running to my rack, and took off like a bat outta hell sucking on a GU. The legs, yea I dint feel ‘em at all. They were there, but it felt like I had no control of them. I figured the harder I run the quicker the feeling would return.

Run: 38:36
After ¼ of a mile running so hard, I was spent. I did a little jog/shuffle slow and steady. I saw Jen at this point. She was walking, saying she was going to walk it in. I told her no way, shuffle with me we will get there a little faster. We talked, and shuffled our way to mile 2. At mile 2 as we got closer to the water, I got the wonderful second wind. I told Jen I was feeling good, she said hammer it out, Viv! That is her saying, and I loved it! The last mile came at 11ish, and felt great! I was there I could here the crowd, and I heard my name Vivian from Spring Texas, is coming to the finish line. I clinched my fist, and felt like a champion. My family was standing there screaming for me, and giving me lots of cowbell!!

Bib 920 Vivian CXXXX Spring TX USA 34 F 1:48:18 Overall 134 Division 54/102

After stumbling around for 10 minutes I went to the party area, and saw Jen. She had a cold beer, and told her friends that she ran only because of me. Can you believe that I got her through the run. She had her buddy get me a cold beer, and we toasted to the fact that we were now triathletes!! I did not get to see Cami. I looked up her time, and whoa Cami was a runner, honey! She averaged 6:45 min miles and place 2/102. I posted a comment on her time page, and she commented on my time page that she will see me at the next one :-) I went to the food line, but had no appetite at all. My sister forced down some oranges and a bagel with peanut butter on me. We hung out for the awards ceremony, and saw the 1st place overall finisher Michael Lovato. My, God this man was an Adonis! I may have been dead tired, but never to tired to notice hotties. LOL! , and he was a good sport gave a little interview. He came off like a stand up guy. Lovato finished the course under an hour. Lovato’s wife would place 2nd the next day at the 1/4 iron distance.

We stopped off for Chinese food, and I must have been out of it since I ate a fortune cookie with the fortune inside. I forgot to pull out the paper…eww! When we got back to my parents, I chilled on the couch for a couple hours than I had mad crazy energy. I did laundry, cleaned out the car, reorganized all my gear, read blogs, and did dishes all while Shane was passed out...LOL! I was sore everywhere, but woke up Sunday feeling great with just neck pain. Do you think it had anything to do with the terrible form on the swim, ummm duh?! We went and had my celebratory dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, my favorite while watching the basketball game. I had a rough time sleeping last night. I think I finally crashed out at 4AM last night, and got 3 hours of sleep. I kept replaying the whole event in my mind. I have a lot of ideas on what I want to work on, and will post that later. I think I have bored you guys long enough!

Monday’s Workout:
5 Mile Run (12:42)

It Happened !!

Hey Guys, I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend. I wanted to let you all know I felt better by Friday, and was able to complete the triathlon! It was difficult, but like the say the pride will outlast the pain. I hope the pain part goes away soon, cause I am feeling a lot of pain, and pride. Here are the #'s and I will post a report when I feel alive again :-)
Love you all for the encouragement I have felt from all of you!

Bib 920 Vivian CXXXX Spring TX USA 34(WTF I'm 33) F 1:48:18 Overall 134 Division 54/102

500M Swim Time
15:06
500M Swim Pace
3:01/M

T1 Time
03:55

12.5M Bike Time
48:58
12.5M Bike Pace
15.3mph

T2 Time
01:40

3.1M Run Time
38:36
3.1M Run Pace
12:27/M

Badluck Shleprock

That's me these past 8 days. I am trying to think positive guys, I really am. I would even on occasion consider myself optimistic, seriously. I went from this dazed and confused allergy state to full blown cold this afternoon. I went for my first workout yesterday in ONE whole week, and it was scary. I thought I had lost my fitness. I did 20 minutes on the bike followed by a short 5 minute run. That is all I could hang. My heart rate was way higher than it has been in months. I stayed at about 95% of my max and sweated(is that a word?) my insides out. I went back today for a 20 minute swim, 28 minutes of spin class with 10 minutes of running. I left the gym with my hands shaking. I thought I was hungry, maybe? I went home, and I tried to force some food down my throat. Hint one, that I am sick since I never have to force food down my throat it just voluntarily jumps in all day long. I was cooking dinner just now, and felt my whole body ache, and not the soreness from working out aches so I took my temperature it is 101.8. I am working on the mindset by telling myself I am tougher than some girly man cold. I am waiting for Shane to walk in the door to hand over SAHM duties, and I will be crashing out for the night.

In other Shleprock news, the weather for Saturday if I make it. Is scattered thunderstorms in the 70's with a 4-5 ft chop in the bay with some nice 15 to 25 mph wind gusts.

Dazed & Confused

I hope everybody had a very nice Easter weekend! I still feel crappy like an allergy daze with my eyes almost swollen shut. I went to the Dr. this morning, and he gave me a cortisone injection with some cortisone nasal sprays. So, if anything I can roid rage my way through this triathlon on Saturday.

I went ahead, and went to the open water swim clinic on Saturday because I knew my fear would probably get the best of me next weekend if I didn’t pop my open water swim cherry first. My sister and her boyfriend Greg went with me. There were several people there and they all looked like professional triathletes to me. I swear I was the slowest fattest triathlete there. I learned a few things in the seminar, but the more this guy spoke the more nervous I got. By the time I got in my wetsuit I was a babbling sack of nerves. I think I almost cried.

That is when Greg and Mel gave me this pep talk to get on with it. Once, I got in the water the fear left as quickly as I peed in my wetsuit…Ahh! I did the swim, about 350 meters. It was part of next weekends course, but it will vary by not looping back but heading straight out and exiting on another side. I learned I do swim a straight line, and that there are a bunch of peeps that don’t. There were also people who swam like eels, just smooth swimming. I finally did see some of my caliber athletes which was comforting. I could tell this allergy junk has gotten the best of my physical self. I felt really winded towards the end, and also lost my form. I did a lot of head raising, and breathed more like every couple of strokes instead of every 3 to 6 strokes. I know I can’t workout today, still not feeling up to it. I hope for some short BRICK workouts tomorrow, and Wednesday. I now fear that my performance will not be where it was during training. At first, I wanted to set a goal of finishing under 1:45 at the tri now I will take a just a good ol’ finish. Although, I am hesitant of sharing my wetsuit whale pics :-O



Here are some pics of the open water swim with a short video.

That is my classic nerves face, clinching my jaw

There I am pep talking someone else into the swim. I got brave quick!

Telling myself, the sooner I finish the quicker I can go home.

I'm off swimming

70%

Thank you so much for all your well wishes, and knowledgeable advice. I really appreciate all the advice and support you offer. I have more confidence about this tri now after all your comments. I feel a lot better today after 2 days in bed, luckily my MIL was on spring break too, and took Lil' Buster for a couple of days. I am still a bit congested, and a bit cloudy feeling from all the pseduephedrine. I am going to take it easy today, but stay out of bed most of the day just to get used to being upright. Depending on how I feel tomorrow morning I will decide on the open water swim clinic.

I want to publicly thank SWIGZ for replacing my hydration bottle. I purchased a SWIGZ hydration bottle at the sporting store a couple weeks back, and when I went to use it there was a hole in the bottle. I had thrown away the receipt, and the store would not take it back. I sent the hydration bottle company an email, and they were generous enough to replace it, and send me a couple extra. This bottle has two compartments, and it is convenient for longer runs or rides. I fill one side with Gatorade, and fill the other side with water...yada,yada,yada, I love it!


Has anyone else been sucked in to this March Madness?!? I usually don't follow college basketball, or NBA for that matter, but did some bracket picks for a fellow blogger's great charity cause. So, I find myself cheering, and cussing at the TV in my best nasal voice.

I was watching The View one day of my sickness, and Tracy Ullman was on doing the best Renee Zellweger impression. I found the clip, but you have to go forward about 1 minute & 1/2 of crap before you get to the impression portion of the clip.

I hope all of you have a fantastic holiday weekend!

Seabrook Lucky Trail 1/2 Marathon Relay Report

I will start by saying, I am totally sick…I think! I don’t know if its allergies or just a monster wicked cold coming. I really have not been knocked on to the bed like this in a while. Marcy, I know what your thinkin’ homie! I just know I am congested and runny at the same time. My head feels like a hot air balloon, and I don’t know if I am sore from swimming or flu like soreness. My workouts sucked yesterday, I was spent after 300 yards, and cut spin class short. I never cut spin class short, are you kidding, and have those other peeps look at me like a quitter…NEVER, but I did!

Here are my concerns, and I hope you guys can help me with it. I had 5 miles on the schedule today, 8 miles on Friday, and my last long ride on Thursday in addition to my first and only open water swim before the race this Saturday. I am in bed now feeling like all my powers are leaving me. I know I HAVE to do that swim on Saturday. I HAVE to. I can’t go in to this tri with never swimming in the open water, much less the ocean. I mean the only thing I have done in the ocean besides peeing freely, is tread water. Will, I still have my powers for this tri if I skip my runs, and maybe this bike ride tomorrow???? My times have tapered this week, but not a full blown taper till next week. I now have fear for this tri. I hate this feeling that I have worked so hard, and now have a chance of complete failure.

Now, on to the Seabrook Lucky Trail ½ Marathon Relay report. I felt great; Anna (her report) did really well. I don’t even know what she was worried about with this race. I went second so it was HOT (high 70’s) when I started, not very hot it surely gets hotter here, but it is the hottest I have run with longer distances. Last summer I was still doing walking/running intervals trying to achieve a full 3 miles without walking. I think that is what caused my running outta gas feeling towards the end.

It was a wonderful course, with lots of aid stations fully stocked with water, Gatorade, oranges, bananas, Vaseline, wet towels, and lots of cheer!

The after party had massages, a delicious cook out, music, and lots of chairs. I will definitely be checking out in doing the full ½ there next year. I don’t mean to sound like a race snob, but you start sorting out the crappy events from those worthy of a repeat, and this got 2 thumbs up in my short event book!

I also got my first lil’ medal…YAA! The pictures I pirated from Anna’s blog. Thanks Anna, for being an awesome paparazzo, and a fantastic relay pard!

Seabrook Lucky Trail ½ Marathon Relay
6.61 Miles Time 1:22 Avg Pace (12:33)
Mile 1 (12:20)
Mile 2 (12:26)
Mile 3 (13:18)
Mile 4 (12:19)
Mile 5 (13:01)
Mile 6 (12:10)
Mile .61 (7:22)

Tuesday’s Workout:
BRICK
28 minute swim
(1) 100 yd (1) 500 yd (4) 50 yd sprints (1) 100 yd
29 minutes of spin class

Peak Nerves

It seems like forever since I have come to the blog or checked on my supportive peeps. I have been thinking of some of you. Like, I can’t wait to check out Mendy’s blog and see how she did at the triathlon. I have gotten beyond tired, and until this wonderful 10 hours of sleep last night I have been a total bitch. I am so tired with all this training this past week that it is seriously affecting my nerves. I will list a few things that have irritated me that usually don’t even faze me. Please don’t hate me because of it, just sharing how working out too much can affect me.

~The “cucumber lady” in spin class next to me who gave me the hairy eyeball when I was panting while she was sweat free, she did not once increase the resistance on her bike.

~The “noodle lady”, who insisted on paddling around width wise in the pool, while I was doing laps, so that I would have to run in to her at least twice.

~The “shoulder a-hole”, who assumes the shoulder, is a right turn lane in traffic. Hello, there are signs posted every ¼ mile stating, do not drive on shoulder, and bike route! He almost hits me, and made my heart fall into my stomach.

I am so ready for this week easing into a taper, and next is a full blown taper. Whoop!

Below, are some pictures of my last workout with swim Coach Michelle. I did it with the wetsuit and tri clothes to get used to swimming in that getup. I will tell you that wetsuit made me go a faster or it could have been the Starbucks double skinny latte I had right before. Speaking of skinny, you will not find that in these pics. You will find that for some reason I keep a goofy smile on my face while swimming. HAHAHA! I used the Pam spray liberally, thanks for the tip Coach Liz. It made a world of difference!

I also did a ½ marathon relay race this weekend. I will tell you guys about that later, don’t let the anticipation get to you. LOL! I apologize for not keeping up with you all these past few days. I am going to try to catch up on guys tonight or tomorrow.

Peak nerves workout summary:

Wednesday’s Workout:
Run 4 miles (12:08)

Thursday’s Workout:
AM/Swim 60 minutes
(1)200yd (1)800yd (6)200yd (8)100yd (6)50yd sprints/breath control (1)100yd
PM/Cycling road bike 90 minutes
20.5 miles (13.6 mph)

Friday’s Workout:
Swim 25 minutes
1 hour spin class

Saturday’s Workout:
Run 6.61 miles (12:33)

Today’s Workout:
BRICK
Cycling 37 minutes
Run 4 miles (13:39)

Recovery pace I think. My left leg calf muscle is tripping.

Peak A Boo

It is Tuesday of peak week training for the tri, and I'm knackered right now (thanks, Lisa & Mendy for that word). Instead of feeling that my endurance might be peaking it is my appetite that has peaked. Seriously, If I am not exercising, I am eating or sleeping. Oh, and being a Mom, and a Mrs. Suzy Homemaker (well sort of, I can empty the dishwasher in record times).

Monday's Workout:

3 mile run

Nothing like lighting showing up at mile 2 to put some fire in your ass. The splits were still crappy, and I blame it on 20lb drenched pants. Oh, I ran in my new Brooks shirt :-) Thanks again Meredith. I am sure I will post pics of me modeling it soon, since it is my new fav!

Tuesday's Workout:

70 minute cycle

50 minute swim

(1)200 yd (1)800 yd (6) 200 yd (6) 50 yd sprints (4) 25 yd breath control

Swim Coach Michelle said she was going to give me a peak workout, and she did not hold back. This is my last week working with her since to quote, Marcy the hubby is not made of money bags! Thursday, I will swim with my very flattering tri attire(yea, right) to get comfy with swimming in a prophylactic, LOL!

With the wetsuit over it

She also made a point of stirring up all kind of waves in the pool. I am getting so comfortable in the water. The water is just beginning to feel like second nature. I will have a chance to swim the open water course at a clinic the weekend before the tri. So, we shall see how second nature it is to me than.

So, while taking a picture of my tri clothes; I look at my nightstand not to see a nice tube of KY Intrigue and a adventurous toy, but this collection assembled including a nice economy size of muscle rub.

On, a totally different note Lil' Buster's 5th birthday pirate party adventure was a blast. The kid had been counting it down on his calender for a month, and he was not disappointed. He enjoyed every minute of it!

Chafed & Tanned

Hey guys, so sorry I have been treating the blog like the Secret Sex episode from Sex & The City. That one was on the other night, and reminded me how much I *heart* that show. Speaking of shows, congrats to my fierce cutie Christian on winning Project Runway!

Training is going well, except for a little shoulder pain in the left arm from swimming. Next week is peak week, than a lovely two week taper. I will not be one of those peeps that complains about losing it during taper. If I do just slap me silly, while reminding me how I have been looking forward to the taper since ummm...training started 12 weeks ago. On, Wednesday I tried doing the tri distances consecutively without tri ing to get a record time. I have read some people say to not do that, and others saying do it. I just had to see if I could handle the distances consecutively without dying to save myself some embarrassment in a few weeks. I learned a few things, I will bullet them to save you an me some time since this Pirate Birthday party for the Lil' Buster is tomorrow, and I am up to my ears in party planning mode.

Disclaimer: My suit not my body

The water was too cold! Even with the wet suit everytime I came up for air it was a bunch of consective shiviring breaths.

I am chafed in places I did not know I had to lube up for this kind of event.

I can not count on doing the breast stroke when I am tired with the suit.

I looked like I was a hump back whale being speared trying to attempt the flip turn in the wetsuit.

I have been off the "real" road bike for too long.

The first 6 mile loop on the bike took 38 minutes :-O

The second 6 mile loop took 22 minutes.

I felt more confident on the bike on the second loop.

I did the 3 mile run at a (11:38) pace. Really fast for me, especially following swimming 500 yards & a 12 mile bike ride.

The legs felt great after T2.

I got weird tan lines.

PIM running group started back up this week, which was sweet to be back with the group. I am in Enduros group this time around, and basically I think the goal in that group is speed work. I will babble about that more later. I hate when I am MIA for a week than can't shut up!

ROCK that 1/2 Java & Pokey!!

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Marcy & Jess with the 4 mile races!

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Christine with the 5K!

Rodeo Run 10K Report

Rodeo Run 10K Number 1563 Time 01:19:49.70 Pace 12:50

+ 2 miles at 12:59

I am on the left side of the screen with the grey cap,

pushing that Enell "no bounce"(yea right everything bounces on me) sports bra to the limit

Some lady in a green shirt cut in between Shane & I.

They must have looped all that cheering and clapping sound.

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Sorry, it took so long to post the report. Shane(hubby), and I decided to do the 2 miles before the race since we know we usually like to head straight to festivities a.k.a. food, when we cross the finish line. Shane, has quickly become my long run partner, which is nice since he knows how to set my ass straight when I get grouchy after six miles.

• This is the 10K I wanted to do when the 5K goal started becoming achievable.
• We didn't have time to eat breakfast so planned to stop for a bagel. We went to a backwoods doughnut shop that only had doughnuts. We chose chocolate iced with nuts, that should cover carbs, and protein.
• Huge event over 8000+ runners/walkers doing a 5K & 10K.
• I spotted Roger Clemens coming out of the port a potty while I waited to use it.
• There were thousands of spectators since they were also waiting for the parade to come through.
• This course was not flat like I thought most Houston events are. The 10K course went over a huge overpass over the freeway and than came back over the same route, which seemed like a mountain to me, but I kept running.
• I saw some lady running the 10K with jean overalls. The biatch was heading back towards the finish line by mile 5 while I was heading out at mile 2.5.
• It was warm in the 70's and sunny, and felt hotter every mile.
• This was the first event that I finished, and there was no food left. Not even a fourth of a banana.
• I saw my swimming coach.
• I rechecked my 1/2 marathon training schedule on Sunday, and I was only scheduled to do 7 miles. UGH! I don't know how I messed that up.

My shins are very sore today. I was scheduled for 3, but cut it short after 1 mile. It felt like someone was beating my shins with a bat. I just don't want to injure myself. I really think that hill is to blame in addition to the mileage increase. I have never ever done hill work. I hate missing a run, I feel that I will not be prepared for my 1/2 by missing runs. I have no natural talent in running, so I feel that I have to do all my scheduled runs.

We had a great, weekend celebrating Shane's 31st birthday. We have been out to dinner with family every day since Thursday. Needless to say, the scale was not so friendly on Sunday morning. The Lil' Buster's birthday is this Saturday, and we are planing a pirate party. So, I will be super busy this week, playing Martha Stewart.

Thanks to P.O.M for this word cloud link. I, also seem to talk about Nancy often, nothing but praises of course! Ironically, my word cloud has pain in bold.

Ain't Too Proud To Beg

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and Java for the stretching tips. Ahhh, I have been stretching last night, and today. I slept last night with my legs in a butterfly position(well fell asleep in that position, who knows what I did while I slept), and I feel mo' betta. Luckily, it was nothing dramatic. I am ready for the 10K tomorrow!

Guess who emailed me????

Meridith the online marketing rep for Brooks Running!! They are going to hook up this repeat Brooks shirt wearing offender! Thanks so much Brooks Running, I can now vary up my shirts..LOL!

Have a fabolous weekend everyone!

Mendy with the 10K

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Coach Bill with the TIR!

This Is A Real Pain In The A$$

Yesterday, I went to for a run at Memorial Park since I was in the area picking up race packets for my first 10K this Saturday. I usually love a great run at Memorial Park, there are tons of other runners, and the crushed gravel path is a favorite amongst many. I have been a road runner since I started, and not due to speed, LOL! I just always have run on concrete. It is what my body is used to. I run 3 times a week, and do plenty of cross training so it does not kill the body and lead to another stress fracture, but I digress.

Anywhoo, I was doing my scheduled 6 since I fell short on Monday due to lack of sleep, and fuel. For example, eating one hard boiled egg before the run, so l crashed and burned after one mile. Yada, yada, yada , so I added the other 2 miles to Wednesday's run. I felt like I was running with all I had in me. I looked at LT, (Garmin) and see I kept a 13 minute pace, which is a whole 1.5 minutes per mile slower than usual.

In the afternoon yesterday, I feet a constant naggy pain by my left hip. I pull up this handy dandy diagram and see the pain looks like it might be in the pelvis area?

All, I can best describe it as, is that it hurts on the side of my left hip, and heads toward the back of my left butt cheek. Does anybody know what I am talking about here? I know I did not get a proper stretch in after the run. I ran into Timmy. Well, I doubled back and chased him when I saw him run past me in the opposite direction. The LT shows I hit a 7:43 pace chasing him for a minute, than giving up. I didn't even know my fat turkey legs could do that?! If it was meant to see him, I would catch him later. Once, I was done with my run I saw Timmy at the stretching area. We started talking, and I ask him for the time and I had 20 minutes to do a 35 minute drive to pick up the kiddo from preschool. So no stretches for me! It's funny he said in his blog he saw me take off, and saw a blur of lavender. Meaning, that of course I was wearing my Brooks running shirt again. LOL! Maybe, the Brooks people would be so kind to send me a Brooks revelation shirt in XL in another color :-P. Hey, they gave Pokey some groovy pants.

:-P

I did go swimming today with Coach Michelle, and she kicked my booty. The hip tightened up a bit while doing 200 yds of kick board, besides that it felt otay since I mostly swim with da arms too much. Michelle says my shoulder gets red after a couple 100 yards. Who knew?

I plan to just take tomorrow off from everything, and do some stretches on the Pilate's Reformer.

Disclaimer: not me nor do I look like that while doing that

I really hope I can run on Saturday. The hubby and I were doing this first 10K together, and we were going to warm up with 2 miles since there is 8 miles on my 1/2 marathon schedule, but now I find myself in a pickle. Plus, I really don't want to sound cocky or nothing, but I was pretty sure of a PR :-o

If you guys have any tips or anything, please send it my way. I love you guys for all your support, your knowledge , and your experience.

Weekend 7 Recap

1. The hubby, and I had a nice little getaway in Baton Rouge while he was working.
   




2. I fell off the healthy eating wagon at least 7 times this weekend. I feel so guilty, and terrible about it. I sat here and PROmised I would do well, and I broke the PROmise to myself. It even included Girl Scout Cookies. I still have two boxes, may send them to Java :-P







3. I did get 7 miles done, with tough spots on miles 3-4 (dehydration). I know it was the poison cokes & beers I drank the night before. Thanks Nancy for my mile markers!






4. We saw this huge rocking chair whilst running along LSU Lakes. I really felt like leaping on that rocking chair at at that point of the run.








5. I got to hang with my online WeWa pal, Paige in Louisiana. We were quiet, and shy around each other for the first few minutes, but shortly it was like we were old friends. OK I know am still with the Brooks workout shirt, have I mentioned it's my favorite!





6. We went for a nice family bike ride on the Seawall in Galveston Island, on a gorgeous Sunday.





7. My 3 main guys, Dad, Hubby, and Lil' Buster soaking in the hot tub after cycling fun.