One heck of a week!

This has been one heck of a week.  We were in Chicago for the 4th of July and were super excited to get home to our fur babies, Sophie & Leia.  Little did we know what we had in store for us.  


Long story short, Sophie has been a sick little thing for the better part of a year.  Her disease causes her body to be unable to keep its protein.  With the help of Texas A&M Vet Hospital, she's made great progress and was feeling better than ever.  We had just been given the green light to extend her regular visits with them from 6 weeks to 8 weeks.  


Sunday night, Sophie squealed like I had stepped on her when I gave her meds....something I've given to her hundreds of times with no issue.  We decided she needed to go in as we suspected a tooth issue.  Sophie's physical exam looked fine but our favorite doctor, Dr. Waugh decided to do some blood work.  They found that Sophie's WBC count was incredibly low (like well below the low end of the normal range).  Sophie stayed in ICU for two days before being sent home.  In addition, she had two bone marrow biopsies done where they basically use a very small hand drill to get what they need.  Thankfully, Sophie does not have lymphoma like we suspected but she does have something serious going on and we don't know what.  She goes back to A&M tomorrow for another ultrasound, this one around her heart as they want to rule out some type of infection there.  They suspect she has some sort of autoimmune disease and if they start her on those meds and Sophie does have another infection, it could kill her which is why they need to rule this out first.  They don't expect to find an infection around her heart but it's better to be safe than sorry.  Thank you all for being so understanding as we posted pics of our little angel!


After a week spent worrying and crying (a lot), I was not looking forward to my race today at all.  I had prayed the weather would suck so I could have a reason to miss it.  At the last minute (well after getting my packet), I knew I needed to do this race so I could snap out of my depressed funk from the week.  I'm SO glad I did!!  I swam the same distance I covered at CB&I 2 minutes faster so was thrilled.  My bike was somewhere in the 18.8 - 19.5 range (online results said 14.1 but was incorrect as I rode 16+ miles in 51 minutes and that does not equal 14.1mph thank you very much).  The run continues to be my nemesis which is really unfortunate because for the longest time, the run was my best event.  While the official results show a much slower pace, my actual pace was about 11:40min/mile.  That bugs me a bit but at the same time, I know I'm working hard to improve and I am showing improvement.  I'm also still working on dropping some more weight which WILL help my run.  I need to continue to be positive and just work hard.  I WILL get there.  


As always, special thanks to my two most committed cheerleaders:  Keith & Hannah!  It is so nice having their faces out there.  And I really wish I could've witnessed them 


So there you have it....a very eventful week. Next race will be August 5th at Bridgeland.  It's my last sprint of the season (don't worry, I have an Oly & Half Iron coming up) so I'm very anxious to go out with a bang.  And by "bang" I mean go out with a run that is a little closer to my old times.  Anything in the 10min mile range would be perfect!!!!!


Have a great week!  

Running with my bike out of T1.  Look at that form!  LOL!

Oops, I did it again....

Very rarely will you find me quoting a B. Spears song but in this case, it’s fitting.  On Wednesday, July 11^th, I signed up for my second Ironman race!!! I don’t think this comes as too much of a surprise to those of you near & dear to my heart as you’ve heard me talk about wanting to do another one for pretty much the last year. 

I never thought I would be “one & done” but at the same time, I wasn’t convinced I wouldn’t be.  Following the inaugural race, I was sad my training was over and eager to do another one. I held off though as I knew 15+ hours of endorphins were probably to blame for the desire to do it again.  As I focused on shorter distances, I found I really loved my new found free time and discovered things like Pinterest, chalkboard paint & spray paint.  I made cakes for my niece & nephew and pretty much did whatever I wanted.  Alas, all good things must come to an end.

As IMTX 2012 approached, I wished I had signed up.  I knew then there was no way I would miss out on 2013.  And then of course, all the drama started w/ the race itself.  Would it happen again?  Would it remain in The Woodlands?  Nearly 2 months after the 2012 race, we got our answer and registration opened at 11am CST.  I was logged in and signed up by 11:06am. 

I have a feeling the blog will be back in full force soon.  Now, all my races serve more of a purpose to me.  With the addition of this race, I’ll be adding Oil Man Half Ironman to my schedule as well as a spring Half Ironman (location TBD).

I already have goals bouncing around in my head.  Obviously the first goal is to finish.  Doing an Ironman in the temps we have down here in late May makes it a challenge and just because you’ve been there done that, doesn’t mean you’ll do it again.  Even so, I’m confident I can achieve whatever goal I set and am looking forward to challenging myself. 

Training will be different this time around too as I’ll have a different coach than I did for IMTX 2011.  I’m so excited to see what we can accomplish over the next 10 months.  Also, Keith will be with me on all of my long rides as he is very excited to help me train for my next Ironman.  I’ll have new training partners too which I’m excited about (although I’ll definitely remember all the fun I had on long rides with Michelle and my last few swims with Dee leading up to IMTX). 

So there you have it.  With the swipe of a credit card and the punch of a button, I’ve done it again.  And this time, I’m thinking it’s going to be an even 
more memorable ride!

I mean really, who wouldn't want this feeling again?

Heavy sweater right here!

No, that's not just a "healthy glow".  That is sweat my friends!

I do love living in Texas and in all honesty, the heat isn't SO bad.  I mean, it could be way worse (knock on wood).  


Training this weekend has been a major sweat-fest.  When you're riding, it's deceiving b/c you don't notice the sweat until you stop.  That's when you realize you're a soggy mess.  But when running, it's clear very early on.  


I started my long run this morning fairly well hydrated and of course, dressed appropriately for the conditions.  Granted, I started my run nearly 2 hours later than planned.  I literally slept about 3 hours Friday night so knew I needed to rest my body.  Thankfully, I had no trouble sleeping last night and decided to take advantage of a few more hours of much needed rest.  I probably won't make that mistake again.  :)


When I tell you I was soaked, I'm not even exaggerating  I tied my hair up in a tight bun and still managed to fling sweat from my head with nearly every step.  I guess the sweat could've been coming from my eyebrows.  I was wearing a new pair of running shorts (Lulu of course) and they were soaked through in about 2 miles.  No, I didn't wet myself.  As I passed other runners, I wondered why many of them weren't sweating like I was.  "Oh, they must not be working hard like I am" I thought.  No, they just aren't sweaty-Betty's like me.  


I of course carried fluids with me and had to refill twice along the run.  I finished off my water bottles in record time, another sign the temps are seriously on the rise. 


I do have a love/hate relationship with sweat as I can be embarrassed yet proud at the same time.  I don't know, something about sweat tells other people that you are tough and you are strong.  It also tells them not to get too close b/c you also smell like a goat!


Happy Sunday & happy training!

I remain confident that Christie Brinkley sold her soul to the devil.

I have a few complaints about aging. 

• ·       You gain weight easier.
• ·       It’s harder to lose weight.
• ·       Wrinkles? Wtf.
• ·       You get dry spots you never used to have and the ladies at the nail salon tell you it’s b/c  you’re going “up” which obviously is a reference to aging.
• ·       You don’t get honked at anymore by young hotties unless you’re in backwoods Texas.
• ·       The mousey brown color of hair you once cursed is now far preferred over the gray that keeps popping up.
• ·       Developing ailments you never suffered from in your 20’s or even early 30’s (allergies, heartburn, sensitivity to certain foods, flatulence)…who am I kidding, I’ve always been a pooter!
• ·       All the actors/celebrities you thought were hot when you were young are getting old which only reminds you that you’re getting old (Harrison Ford, Ed Harris, Steve Guttenberg…yes, I thought he was cute, Tom Selleck, Mark Hamil, NKOTB…well let’s face it, Joey got WAY better with age).
• ·       Some body parts start to head south.  I guess body parts know folks like to go to Florida to retire so they get a head start?  All joking aside, I’m happy to report that my body parts haven’t started traveling south yet but I have a feeling they’ve started packing…….
• ·       Your “baby” brother is turning 30 this year which means he in fact is no longer a baby.
• ·       You find yourself saying things like “back in the day” or “when I was your age”….remember how obnoxious it was to hear that before?
• ·       Understanding the need to dress age appropriately…where’s the fun in that?

·        

Why oh why must we gain weight??

Reading labels completely sucks.  But if you don’t do it, you’ll definitely be consuming a lot more of something that you don’t want.  Keith & I were out buying some groceries this weekend and while we waited in the ultra-long checkout line, I decided to take a look at the labels on the candy bars.  O M G.  I have to admit, I have been guilty of grabbing a 3 Musketeer bar b/c I thought it was the lesser of all the candy evils due to it being a little lower in fat.  I never looked at the sugar content.  Holy crap balls.  I vowed right then & there that I would never have another full size candy bar.  Keith had grabbed an orange soda so I glanced at that label. I kid you not….there were like 70+ grams of sugar.  We already knew sodas were bad but were downright shocked by that number.  Keith made the purchase anyway but I was still in shock.  Lately, I’ve been allowing myself a Dr. Pepper after a good long ride.  Well, that treat will no longer happen.  Well, Keith & I actually agreed we would get a small one and share it.  That way we don’t deprive ourselves but we also don’t sabotage everything we’re trying to do.

Keith sent me a picture of his snack while he’s driving to Fort Worth….a bottle of water and a bag of Baked Lays.  I know there are better options than the Baked Lays BUT this is far better than a candy bar and Mountain Dew or a bag of Funyuns.  WTG babe…proud of you!  The title of his message:   Trying to be good sucks.  Loved it!

We went to dinner with my family last night and while Keith indulged in the ‘ritas, I ordered my first skinny margarita.  The fact that it was on the rocks and made with Patron made it much better.  Thankfully, I’m not a huge ‘rita fan so swearing those off for life is no biggie.  BUT, the big deal is wine.  Thanks to Keith, I’ve become a wine-o.  We love wine.  We can easily polish off two bottles at dinner.  Those days are now gone.  We have agreed that we will start ordering by the glass or have the strict rule of no more than one bottle on the weekend but only if we’ve had tough workouts.  Ok, I know, we should be good here but trust me, this is a HUGE sacrifice for us….especially him.

So yeah, that’s what we were up to this past weekend.  We blew off our race in Sugar Land Sunday.  Hannah was going to be our runner but was going wedding dress shopping with her big sister.  Luke was happy to run for us but as I thought about it more, I didn’t want to sacrifice a long workout for a 300m pool swim.  By bagging the race, we were able to go truck shopping, get a bunch of random stuff done, etc.  I got both long workouts in easily.  Successful weekend if you ask me.  

Next up you ask?  Well, I have a race on July 15^th in Pearland, TX.  Before that though, we’ll be headed to Chi-town for a fun 4^th of July with the Buttenob family!  Oh, I just received confirmation that I got my lottery entry for the Houston half so will be running my 6^th Houston race come January 13, 2013. Woo hoo!!!  Luke also got his lottery spot for the marathon so he’s excited too.  He’s actually going to be training with a coach thanks to his awesome sisters & Keith for going in on coaching lessons.  

That is all for now.  

Will someone please turn off the Fat Albert theme song!?!

I try very hard to not write too much about weight stuff.  I mean, we all have our insecurities (even the idiot girls who look perfect EXCEPT their one big toe that kind of does something crazy).  Since IMTX, I knew I had put on weight.   Not a ton or anything but enough that my clothes fit a little too tight and a few cute things I bought when I lost weight, didn’t fit anymore.  No big deal though.  I’ve always been one to lose weight quickly when I start working hard.  Yeah, that may have been the case in my early 30’s but certainly not in my late 30’s….close to 40’s.  Anyway, I try not to get on the scale b/c I basically hate scales but I decided when I started to “diet” I would have to.  Well, I got on the scale and the number I saw was shocking.  Of course, I assumed the scale was wrong.  I mean, I wear a solid size 8 there is no way I could weigh THAT much.  I know what some of you folks are thinking….as I gained weight, I stretched my clothes out.  Maybe.  Possibly.  Well, I’ve bought new clothes recently and the sizes I’ve purchased have all been S, M or 8.  Ok.  What else could account for such a large number on the scale?  Big bones?  Ugh, I’ve been told that before.  I don’t know if some folks actually have bigger bones than others.  I took a look at my wrists and they are pretty damn small so I don't think I'm big boned.  Next?  Muscle weighs more than fat.  Yes, it does indeed BUT I don’t think I’ve replaced a significant amount of fat w/ muscle yet.  So after exploring every possible reason as to why I weigh what I weigh, I’ve decided that the only logical explanation is that I have some sort of tumor in my stomach that weighs a shit-ton.  Yes, a tumor is why I weigh this much.  Perfect. 

I had an immediate freak out after getting on the scale and decided I was not going to eat anything but water and cucumbers for the next 4 weeks.  After about 10 minutes, the voice of reason started to make its way out of my head.  Weight is just a number (a large number for some of us).  A size 8 is not fat.  So if a size 8 = x number of pounds for me, so be it.  I’m going to stay the course and keep trying to eat healthy and keep working out.  If I look & feel good and am healthy, I’m not sure I can ask for much more.  Yes, I still want to drop weight but I’ve also realized that maybe the initial number I had in my head isn’t very realistic given the way I’m built.  I mean, if I got down to the number that’s in my head, I think I would end up a size 0 and that’s just not what I want. 

Streaming thoughts...not as good as streaming music :)

The past month, I’ve worked super hard to get into a routine that doesn’t cause me stress.  I’m happy to report I’ve been successful so far but know the true test will come when the distances I’m racing start to increase.  I figure though that if I can get the schedule down pat now, it will be easier to stick to later.  I just really want to avoid the stress I felt when training for Ironman Texas 2011.  So what’s the secret to my routine?  Well, nothing really other than I just try to plan a week ahead for everything.  Yes, I am fully aware there are some things you can’t plan for but when you work full time and you have a coach, you can plan for probably 75-80% of each day.  I sit down Monday morning and look at what’s on the work calendar for the week ahead and then I pair that with my training schedule.  I block out when I think I will do my workouts and then I block out some “me” time.  This is usually my commute time and the time in the evening when I’m done working out, showered and just relaxing.  I used to try to catch up on whatever I didn’t do the day before (or week before) and found that I was just going from one “to do” to the next.  So much like a missed workout, if I miss a chore/to do, I don’t try to make it up.  

I forgot to mention in my last post that Keith’s 3^rd oldest daughter (Emily) got engaged!  Emily’s fiancée, Daniel, is a really nice guy who clearly LOVES Emily.  An official date hasn’t been confirmed/announced but we have a pretty good idea of when it will be so stay tuned.  Congrats to Emily & Daniel!  And as if that news isn’t big enough, Keith’s oldest daughter just announced she is expecting bambino #2.  And as if THAT isn’t news enough, I’m going to be an auntie again!  So for those of you keeping track, that means there will be two babies joining our families come December….yes, the girls are due a mere 5 days apart.  Holy Batman, Robin!

So Trader Joe’s opened.  Keith & I popped in after a quick trip to Ace.  I kid you not, we were in there 45 seconds before bolting.  It was a nuthouse.  Lines to the back of the store.  I wonder if folks realized there were no lines at HEB.  

   

And in other news, registration for IMTX 2013 remains delayed.  I read an article recently that sure makes it sound like it will stay in The Woodlands but until I see that in black & white, I’m not getting excited.  Patience is not one of my gifts so you can imagine how well I’m handling this.