Tri-als of Shytrigirl

Training again - hopefully!

2009-06-22T09:45:00.005-07:00

So. Yeah its been a while. Its been a little more difficult to adjust into a new lifestyle than I realized, but I think I'm there.

Work life: I finished my first year as a teacher and survived. My sups are pleased and hired me back next year, plus they asked me to teach summer school. I was torn between, I've never had a summer vacation since I was like I a kid, but since I earn a teacher's salary vs. and engineering salary and there is a serious drought that is going to affect our ranching income ...I guess I could use the extra dough. No worries though I put them all on a self paced computer program that should sharpen their skills in regards to the state test thingy that is so much more important than anything else. I like teaching, and I think in general the kids responded well to my methods. I look forward to next year when I'm not so freaked out about all the crap I have to do on top of actually teaching.
My engineering business has been clipping along at a pretty good pace until recently. I'm making enough that the incredibly huge difference in take home pay from two engineering salaries to one level one teacher salary and ranching income is manageable. Its pretty slow right now, but lots of things are slow right now. I'm sponsoring a coed softball team, to get my name out there a little here in town. Also playing on the same team, but that is something I'll talk about later.
My Boys: They are growing so incredibly fast. I tell them all the time to stop, but they refuse to listen. They are finally pretty proficient on their bikes, so we are going on little bike rides together. We're spending time fishing and swimming at the lake, and they are getting better at both. I'll have to post pictures - later.
Training: I've been trying to stay on track with at least a running program, but have been unsuccessful. I'd do good for a couple of weeks, then something would upset my schedule and I'd find myself unable to get back on track for a week or more. I haven't ridden my bike in almost a year, until the other day I went riding with my boys. I forgot how much I enjoyed riding. I mentioned above that I'm playing on a softball team. I've been unbelievably sore from running the bases that it has really bothered me. So I sat down with my calendar and the calendar of tri races for this year and tentatively picked a race in the fall that I could train for. My schedule is kind of crazy because of all the extra stuff I have to do to earn my "real" teacher's license plus I wanted one that was kind of easy and had a small swim, because the drawback to where I live now is that there is no real pool to train in. I live less than 20 miles from a lake, but that limits my swim training to warm months and I have to coordinate with my family or friends so that I don't go by myself - which is not a safe idea. So my goal race is the Cotton Country Sprint in Leveland, TX in September. I came up with a training plan that focuses mostly on running and biking. I've gotten week one completed, so help me stay on track and get through to September 19th.

That's it for now.

So...yeah - not doing much training...

2008-10-06T18:38:00.004-07:00

So it is two weeks until the end of first quarter, and I'm kinda starting to feel like I'm getting into a groove. I'm the tutoring genie at my school, so I don't get home early, and I get to school early 'cause I'm a freak and just like to do things that way. I'm enjoying it though, so not complaining. I figure when the time is right I'll get back to training. I still want to, but need to get used to my new lifestyle.

I'm losing weight though. My eating habits are good, especially with my new job as have no time to eat, and have not been bored, which usually leads to snacking.

Well - I need to get the boys in the shower and off to bed.

Just a Tad bit Busy

2008-09-03T18:43:00.003-07:00

Oh my gosh! It has been over a month since I've posted.

so let me just say, that I've always respected teachers and never thought they were lesser than I because they taught versus designing bridges or something (except for all my history teachers that were actually coaches and did nothing to teach me history except pass out crossword puzzles). But now that I've walked a few miles in their shoes - I have a new found respect for them. This is hard work!

So I've been trying to keep up with all the stuff I'm supposed to do as well as figure out how to teach algebra to 6 periods of students who don't know their multiplication tables - can barely figure out how to use a calculator...seriously no wonder this district's math scores are below pathetic.

Anyway trying to keep up with my new job, plus all the requirements I have to fulfill to earn my real teaching license - the few engineering projects I have outstanding, regular mom/wife stuff in a house that we're still trying to get livable.. I've done absolutely no training.

Rather than worry about training, I'm concentrating on getting into a comfortable routine in everything else. I'm sort of playing around with the idea of getting back to running and sign up for a 5k this winter sometime, but all in good time.

So I'm a bit busy, but things are good here in the Tuc!

Tucumcari!

2008-07-31T06:01:00.005-07:00

We are here! Even though we are living among a tower of boxes, with half a dozen new windows piled up to be replaced, and a living room floor that is about 1/3 covered with flooring and 2/3 exposed concrete... we are here - finally after a year and a half of waiting.

So where and what is Tucumcari?

Tucumcari is located on the historic route 66 (I-40) and focuses its tourism appeal around that little fact. It is approximately 110 miles west of Amarillo, TX and 170 miles east of Albuquerque. It is Population of about 5, 989 according tot he 2000 census.

According to the Chamber of commerce website, "We welcome you to get your kicks in Tucumcari (pronounced TOO-kum-kair-ee,) the Heart of the Mother Road and the Gateway City of Murals. Nestled on historic Route 66, Tucumcari has more than 1200 motel rooms. Two lakes within half-hour drives, a golf course, world-class Dinosaur Museum, and Historical Museum. Legendary Route 66 motels, National, State and Historic Scenic Byways make for fabulous photo opportunities. There are beautiful murals, grand mesas, gorgeous sunsets, and striking monuments, and so many special events throughout the year. Because we are "The Gateway to New Mexico" for travelers on I-40 and US 54, and the intersection of State 209 and 104, we invite you to stop a while and make it "Tucumcari Tonight, Tomorrow, for a Lifetime!"

You can read all about the origin of the name, etc here. There is not much driving the economy here other than agriculture and lately that hasn't been too great as we've been in a drought for several years. However we've gotten some good rain this month and everything is green and lush and the irrigation district has promised some more water soon, so everyone is preparing their fields for winter wheat. We are just growing grass hay this year, but now that we're here Jeff has plans to try other grazing type crops - we'll see.

Bottomless Lakes Triathlon Race Report

2008-07-14T12:19:00.003-07:00

I did it! It sort of feels like my first race, as it is my first race in a year. I don't have official results yet - but based on my inaccurate watch (that I tend to forget to push the button) I finished in about 1:20.

The swim - I used a shorty wetsuit, cause the water is kind of chilly. I started out with the pack and think I started a little fast, so I told myself to chill a little and get into a groove. Was a bit surprised when I started passing a couple of folks. The swim was great and I finished in like 11:11 which is most likely a PR for me - yeah (can't wait until official results are in). Jeff was surprised too and said that I usually come in with the last 3rd of the group, but this time I came in in the first third. Cool!. In transition I realized how much I may have pushed it in the swim as I was a little dizzy trying to get my bike shoes on, but did okay and headed out. I started up the dreaded hill and was breathing really loud, but kept on pushing it. I passed two gals (who I was sure got worried about me having a heart attach as i was breathing so loud) and as the hill slope started to flatten I almost passed a third when I tried up-shifting and lost my chain. I thought - crap and started to stop, then I thought - what am I doing I'm clipped in! Then I came to my senses unclipped, then stopped ( it like - pants first then shoes - unclip first then stop). I put the chain on and kept on biking. First time out with my aero bars (yes I finally managed to get them on by myself before the race). I didn't have time for a road test, but figured that I didn't have to use them in the race if it felt awkward. But I did a little and it will take some getting used to but my hands are looking forward to me using them more as it was great taking the pressure off of them ( of course other parts are not as thrilled as my hands). Anyway my bike time, I'm sure is a bit slower than in the past as I'm still catching up in my training, but I feel pretty good about it. I was a little out of breath coming into transition and tried to run my bike to the rack but was sucking wind, so I walk/ran. I switched gear and headed out on the run. I had a side stitch right away and tried heavy breathing, walk/run, drinking water - all the tricks and it just didn't budge - but I got used to it (huh?) and kept on running. It wasn't as hot on the run as last year, which was a big help and since it is an out and back I could see who was behind and I wasn't last - yeah! Finished the run strong and headed to the refreshments. Grabbed a slice of watermelon (that was like the best tasting watermelon ever) and a bottle of water walked back over to the lake where my boys were playing and walked in and joined them.

Later GeekGirl and a friend of hers joined me in the lake and we sat in the shallows and cooled off and chatted while my boys tried to shoot us with their water guns.

I feel good about the race. Got the anxiety of racing over with and am looking forward to my next race - which I don't know when yet, but maybe September. The out of breath thing just indicated that I'm still catching up wtih my training, but overall I feel good about my results. We left after lunch and took our load of stuff to Tucumcari. I left my bike, and bike shoes there. I just won't have time to ride for the next three weeks as we have a lot of work to do to get moved. I'll focus on running and try and get some swim time in for now. The boys were sad that we didn't get to stay the whole weekend, but I promised and Jeff agreed that we'd be back next year.

A little nervous.

2008-07-10T15:30:00.002-07:00

Okay so Saturday I'm doing the Bottomless Tri in Roswell. I'm trying to ignore the little bit of anxiety that is simmering just beneath my consciousness. To help with my denial (not!), I lose my bike shoes! I am not a person that loses things, forgets things yes, but loses things - no that would be Geek Girl. I get up Tuesday morning to to a quick bike session on my trainer and I can't find my shoes. The last time I was on my bike was a week earlier (hey my training program, not yours) where I did a brick workout and used my friends house as my transition area.

Oh - they're still in my bag! Nope - bag is empty clothes have been washed and miraculously put up. I search the house. I'm currently driving my mother-in-laws single cab dodge ram instead of my normal car - we traded for the month, so that we can use two trucks to haul trailers full of our crap to Tucumcari. I search the cab of the truck. Nothing, behind the seats, under the seats - nothing. I go back inside and get Jeff up - to help me. Why I don't know other than I wanted someone to feel my pain. I'm the one that finds stuff. I'm convinced it is in the genetic makeup of the males species to not be able to find stuff even if it was a snake and biting your... anyway I digress.

Okay - must have left them at my friend's house. Call her - she's a compulsive/obsessive house keeper - No go - not here. She'll look again. Later that evening after work, I start tearing the house apart (did I mention we're moving - my house is already torn apart- now double torn). Nothing. I look in the truck again. Nothing. What the heck! Now we are considering my options because I live in podunk and can't just run to my local bike shop and remedy the situation. I have another pair of bike shoes - no cleats. I could call GeekGirl and plead my case and have her buy SPD cleats and meet her before the race (she's coming by the way). Jeff suggested removing my pedals and replacing them with regular pedals with toe clips that I have on my MTB. Ugg! I'm freaking out - inside of course.

Next morning as I contemplate which option to pursue during my morning run - I decide to check the bed of the truck. Now - I did do a cursory look - I wouldn't have put them in the back, but my friend might have and I can't remember who had what when she helped me load my gear up last week. So I finish my run, climb in the back of the truck where there is a storage box - nope not in there. And three tires - one is crap the other two maybe spares for a trailer. I move them around and what do you know - my shoes!!! How the heck did they get under the tires? I really don't care, I'm just glad I found them, cause now I have no excuse to chicken out of the race - the first race I've done in a year. The same race that ended up being my last race last year. The race that every time I start running during a brick workout, I convince myself I'm not ready. The race that has that hill at the start of the bike.

It will be fine, gulp. It will most likely be hot and humid because its been raining like crazy down here all week. Muddy camp ground, mosquito's and humidity. But I've got water guns, water floaty things, buckets and shovels for sand castles - the camping/playing with my boys part I'm definitely ready for. so are they - "Is this the day we go camping?" They've asked everyday this week.

See you on the flip side, unless I lose my bottom at the bottomless lakes Triathlon.

Quick Post!

2008-07-02T09:40:00.001-07:00

It looks as though our house is really going to sell this time – my confidence level is at 85% - each week closer to the closing date my confidence level has risen, so if all continues to go well my confidence level will be at 100% by closing at the end of July.

Looks like I’m going to be changing careers, or more like adding a new career. I’ve accepted a high school math teaching position. I’ll still be practicing engineering on the side through my business, but I’m going to try a spell at this teaching thing. I have no idea if I’m going to like it or not, but it’s a steady paycheck and I can do anything for a year.

Of course with all these major changes happening right now, I really don’t have time to do the Bottomless Triathlon, but I’m going to do it anyway – Jeff encouraged me to do it. But after the bottomless, my training will reduce some as I just don’t have the time to do much – but maybe my life will settle back into a new routine in August and I’ll start looking for races in September (maybe) and beyond.

June totals:
Swimming: 8800 meters
Biking: 87.4 miles
Running: 21.25 miles
Strength: none
Lbs lost: 10
Trips to Tucumcari: 2 – no wonder we are behind.

Lead Legs

2008-06-16T08:36:00.003-07:00

Okay I’ve been training consistently for two and half months now. I’m showing improvement on all fronts except my running. For six weeks now every run session has felt like I was running with lead in my legs. At first it was my whole body, it was like “So you’re running again – just like that, no whole body conference to discuss this madness – you just up and decided to start running? I’m upset about this decision especially since I was not consulted first, so I’m not going to participate in this madness with you.”

Then my body warmed up to the idea a little, but my legs just couldn’t hack it. Seriously it has been very frustrating. I started thinking about what I did back in the fall of 2006 while I was training for the Polar Bear Tri. Although I had bike issues with that race, the run was a breakthrough run, and then I survived the tough run course of the Alpine Tri later in March. What was I doing back then that seemed to be working for me? Well I had upped my running days to three days a week, and because it was winter I was doing my bike training indoors on the trainer with “Suffer-O-Rama.” How I hate that spinerval, and you already know how much I enjoy running so adding an extra day of fun (sarcastic tone here) is just a peachy idea.

But you know what? Here are two thoughts (that are basically the same thought) that keep popping into my head. First a quote out of a Bicycling magazine article, “ Do what you hate. You hate hills; ride hills.” The gist of the article was how to get better on the bike. Then the second thought, which is on a card that I carry around - a suggestion from the Beck Diet Solution – "Do it Anyway! Even if I don’t feel like using a diet skill, (or running extra) I have to do it anyway. If I do only what I feel like doing, I won’t be able to lose weight and keep it off (or get better at running)."

So I’ve started spinning to “Suffer-O-Rama”, I’ve only done 1 full session and 1 partial session so far, but this morning there was a noticeable difference in my running – most of the lead was gone. With this revelation, I just rearranged my schedule so that I can fit a third day of running in along with more “Suffer-O-Rama.” We shall see.

Oh and by the way... I've lost 5lbs.

Interesting Week

2008-06-06T14:44:00.004-07:00

So Monday it was 108 degrees, and my A/C in my car quit working. I have a 30 drive home on the highway. Nothing like having the hot, desert wind blowing through your hair and getting that one-armed tan in June. The boys went to sleep - I just listened to the wind and looked forward to arriving home to our cool house.

But fate didn't' see it my way. A little fire started earlier in the day less than a mile from my house, and the fire fighters from the area attacked it all fierce like with their trucks and planes, like this baby that I took a photo of from my front deck.

Never fear even thought the fire was a tad close to our house, that we've been trying to sell for a year and a half now (evil thoughts did pass through my mind), the wind was in our favor and we were not in danger. Although one of these planes apparently clipped a power line and we were out of power until late that night. So we hung out on our front deck in the shade and breeze and watched all the activity. It was neat to watch the planes in action.

In other news, I started implementing a new diet. The thing is that I've tried various diets, South Beach, Adkins, etc. and although they worked, until I got tired of not eating this or not eating that. I like food. I like pasta, I like cereal, I like meat, chocolate chip cookies, milk - so it is difficult to deprive oneself of these things. I also know that I am an emotional eater - I eat when I'm stress, depressed, bored, etc. So I got to thinking a few weeks ago, is there something out there than can help me deal with the emotional part. I mean I know how to eat healthy. I know how to reduce caloric intake to lose weight. I know all this stuff, yet I have that moment of weakness and blow it, then I beat myself up for making a mistake which makes me feel worse which allows me to blow it again - Anyway so I started looking for a book or something that addressed the mental aspect of this problem, and I found a few. I've read through them and picked one that I want to work through.

Its called The Beck Diet Solution, and it essentially uses cognitive therapy to help you "train your brain to think like a thin person." Basically Self talk - you counter your own negative thoughts with positive thoughts. It is a six week process with day to day instructions. It involves writing note cards to carry around with the reasons I want to lose weight, responses to sabotaging thoughts and so forth. She has you pick the diet and a back up diet to use - so the program is not a diet in itself just a exercise of mental training. I'm telling you this because I've looked ahead and soon I'm supposed to find a diet coach. This person is just to be someone to encourage and help you stay the course. I have a friend here that I will designate my coach, but I thought that I might share a few things here that I'm dealing with so that you can also be my coaches. I've decided not to go on a particular diet so to speak, as I mentioned above I enjoy food and don't want to deprive myself of the things I love. Instead I decided to just decrease my caloric intake to 1,500 calories. My back up plan is to bump it up to 1,800 if this becomes to restrictive. I don't know what my average intake was before and frankly I don't want to know, but as I've worked on this 1500 calorie deal all week, I can tell you it was a lot more than 1500 - but my scale could have told you that.

Doing this means I have to track my food intake and actually plan ahead, but thanks to the Internet you can get nutritional info for everything. In addition I am followings some steps from other diets, books I've done/read but just one at a time. The 1500 calories is a big challenge right now, but by trying to get at least 64 oz of just water in my system is helping me decrease the amount caloric drinks. Also just so you know, the 1500 calories are to be spaced out over the day. I mean I could have one heck of a meal, but that would backfire. So I'm spreading it out over the day.

So how does this work with my triathlon training? Well we'll see, but I'm confident that it will work out and if I need to make an adjustment then I'll make an adjustment. Last summer while I was still training regularly, I hit a plateau in my weight loss. I was increasing miles, but the weight was just sitting there, so I probably increased my calories as I was increasing the training. This is probably one of the many reasons I fell off the training wagon.

So there you go. Wish me luck - no wish me success. Thanks!

May Totals

2008-06-01T13:24:00.004-07:00

Okay.... Thank you for your support. You'll be happy to know:

I made reservations for a camp site at Lea Lake - the site for the Bottomless Tri. I even filled out the form, wrote the check, addressed and sealed the envelope, just need a stamp and I'll be as good as registered.

Now for the Month's totals:
Swiming: 6400 meters
Running: 15 miles
Biking: 24.8 - pitiful
Brick sessions: 1 (Yuck!)
Strength sessions: 1 (I think)

Never fear - I have a training plan in place now, so Lord willing, June will show increased distances all around.

Friday Update...No wait its Wednesday already!

2008-05-28T13:45:00.002-07:00

Memorial Weekend interrupted my normal Friday posting and we took an extra day off which puts me now mid week.

Memorial Weekend update:

Annual family branding weekend at mother-in-law's ranch.
53 calves branded -
I'm still the queen of breakfast.
Didn't have to "push" calves this year, as SD's best bud came up to help. He brought his two little ones with him, so for most of the day I was kid watcher over 6 kids {two 9 year old twin girls, one 5 almost 6 year old (mine), one 2 4 almost 5 year olds, one just turned 4 year old - 3 girls and 3 boys} one with off and on help from one of their aunts and grandma. They all behaved well and got along great. We all had fun!

While in the area I went down to our "weekend" home in Tucumcari and painted. - two rooms to go!

Also had an interview for a teaching position... don't ask how I did, I really don't know. Talk about fish out of water - we'll see how well I swam in a few weeks.

Triathlon related items: Still haven't signed up for the Bottomless yet. I have my reasons, they are silly - but silly or not they area sabotaging my efforts to register for the dumb race.

I've lost a lot of ground, and although I'm trying my best to "start over" I'm having difficulty accepting my lost ground. So part of me does not want to do a race I've done before because I will inevitably compare the results and I don't want to be disappointed in myself. I'm a perfectionist, I'm competitive - especially with myself.

For example, there is a big hill right at the beginning of the bike leg. It took a lot for me to crank it up that hill last year, but I did it. I'm not sure I can do it yet. Currently my average mph on my rides has dropped at least 2 mph from my mph this time last year. I've been trying to write it off as wind - as it has been windier than usual (or so it seems) this year, but my last ride it was dead calm and my average mph only inched up 0.8 mph from my previous windy rides. I'm not even going to talk about my running - yuck.

So pick a race you haven't done before you say. I've thought about it except last year we made the whole weekend a fun, family camping trip with lots of swimming and playing in the sand and napping and fishing and just having a fun time together - the family is sort of looking forward to doing it again.

I will eventually sign up because:

a) the family needs an excuse to have a fun weekend, lately we've been just work, work, work. If I sign up for the race - that weekend is taken and we might as well pack up the camping gear and our swimming trunks and make it a weekend.

b) regardless if that hill wins or loses, whether I walk or run, I need to commit to something so I have a goal to train to, followed by the finish line that motivates me for the next race.

Have I talked you in to it yet?

Friday Update.

2008-05-16T15:25:00.002-07:00

The only thing out of the ordinary that has happened since my last post worth blogging about is... I spent Mother's Day weekend with my Mom and Dad. It was a really good and fun visit. My youngest decided to fall ill over the weekend with an ear infection and other sinus related stuff, but very fortunately for him and me, his Grandmother is an awesome NP that happens to specialize in pediatric ENT among other stuff. In fact she was just honored by her colleagues as an” Outstanding Nurse Practitioner." (I'm sure I got my acronyms wrong... if I did - sorry Mom.) So anyhow he got examined by Grandma and doctored up. He's much better now. Everyone was feeling better on Sunday and so we spent the morning at the Zoo having a great time. It was early enough that the crowds weren't there and cool enough that the animals were very active. Fun. Nothing like spending mother's day with your mom.

Let's see - oh and Tuesday was my 13th wedding anniversary.

Other news:
In my new career adventures, I ran across a woman that seemed so familiar to me, and then it finally dawned on me where I knew her from. A few years ago I spent one very enjoyable spring coaching 10/11 year old girls’ softball. This woman's daughter was my star pitcher. Ready for the shell-shocker... I coached the team the summer before my first son was born... My son turns six this summer... My star pitcher is graduating high school this month. OMG! I feel old.

Triathlon news... - none. Because it was our wedding anniversary this week, my husband was out of town - JK. Well out of town, but not because it was our anniversary - I don't think...
Anyway because he was out of town - uh not much training this week. I did try to find the local bike repair guy. I was hoping he just moved to a different location in town, but sadly he either quit or relocated out of town. So welcome back Nashbar.com - and now I've got to find my bike repair bible - I think it is in a box that has been moved to Tucumcari... I have these aero-bars that I've had for 6-9 months now that I really want to put on my bike, but that means I need to remove these extra set of brake levers. I'm sure I can figure it out, but it's kind of like taking shirts to the laundry - sure I can wash and iron them, but it is just easier and less time consuming if I just pay someone to do it. Of course if it came down to what would I rather do - iron my shirts or work on my bike - that's why God made T-shirts.

I haven't signed up for the Bottomless yet, but the registration form came in the mail a couple of weeks ago and its sitting right there looking at me...

Re-Introduction

2008-05-05T14:01:00.003-07:00

Hi.

I decided to start over. If you are a new reader, or an old one coming back, I didn't want you to get bogged down in the last 6 months to a year. Things got depressed and very untriathlon related. Now that I'm in the middle of starting over - sort of- career-wise, I thought that it would be best for me to start over triathlon-wise as well. Starting over seemed less overwhelming than trying to catch up. So let me re-introduce myself...

ShyTriGirl:

Shy: It is the best way to describe me in one word. It is not a disease, it is who I am. Sometimes I get hung up on this personality trait and call it my thorn in my side. Truth is - it is who I am, and if it wasn't for us shy people - who would you folks have around that would actually listen to you chatter all day long.

I can stand up in front of people and speak and make presentations - it is just not something I enjoy at all. Basically when there is a lot of people around my batteries lose charge quickly. If it is just you and me and we've known each other for a while, then my batteries charge up. It may take me 3 or 4 races to finally come over any introduce myself (just ask GeekGirl), but that is why they invented email and Blogs.

Tri: I'm a stress eater. I'm prone to depression. I may be in the Athena category for life. I started training for triathlons a couple of years ago, and found that it was an exercise regimen that I seem to stick to. Its challenging, it takes will power, and I don't have to worry about being all social with my team. Its just me, myself and I out there, and it doesn't matter how slow I am - my only true rival is myself.

Girl: Self-explanatory although I will say that I am a tomboy through and through. Thank God I had boys.

So there you go a quick re-introduction...

Upcoming races:
None... well I plan to sign up for the Bottomless Triathlon in July, but other than that one I'm not sure. Part of the reason for my lack of race season is because I'm still hoping to move. Yes for you old readers come back, my house has not sold and is not likely to sell for a while. No worries - we will just take life one-day-at-a-time. Meanwhile we have plenty of time to work on our future home (we call it our weekend home). It is a fixer upper and we are taking our time painting and fixing it up.

Another reason for the lack of races has to do with the theme of this post - starting over. My last race was a 5K on Thanksgiving last year. After that race I sort of didn't run much at all until March - the end of March. I also hadn't been on my bike since October. Needless to say I lost my base, so I'm building it back. The swimming is good - I've been consistently swimming 2 days a week during the whole "drop off the face of the earth" period, although I haven't been building endurance just working on strength and technique.

April was a good, consistent month (my first in many)

Swimming: 7,200 meters
Running (or run/walk/puke): 16 miles
Biking: 41.5 miles
Strength Training Sessions: 2 - I know, I know. I don't know what I don't like more - running or strength training.

That's all for now. Thanks!

I Jumped Ship!

2008-03-23T18:54:00.004-07:00

I took a leap of faith and resigned my position. Friday was my last official day as an employee, so I guess tomorrow is the first day as my own boss. I'll be working as a contractor to my current employer to finish out projects, and I've landed myself another job as a contractor for a few months. I'll be out pounding the pavement to keep the work coming, and if all else fails there is always Walmart.

For a person that likes the comfort of knowing what to expect each day, this is a big step for me. It is not a decision that I took lightly, in fact it has been at least 6 months in the making - probably more. I guess it took months of uncomfortableness and misery to finally make me willing to close my eyes and take that leap.

Where does triathlon fit into all of this? Unfortunately I've lost a lot of ground and gained back a lot of the weight I lost during my first two years of triathlons. So - I start over. The great thing is, my new boss...well she's going to let me set my own schedule.

Stay tuned...

Still in a Holding Pattern...

2008-02-15T15:09:00.002-07:00

Well nothing has changed since my last post... over a month ago. Nothing I love more than hurry up and wait.

Let's see...On January 10th I was certain that in a few more days I would know if I was to jump out of the boat and swim or just hang on and ride the rapids...well those few more days turned into a week or two and now here it is mid February and I still don't know. Lots of outside influences keeping the decision from being made. I'm ready to jump, but don't know yet if now is the time. It would be nice if I know by the end of this month, but no promises.

Oh and I was pretty certain that my house was sold. So certain until the 4th of this month; we now have a new realator.

I'm pretty darned convinced that my career path and my house selling are tied together by the Almighty. I'm pretty darned convinced that the Almighty is preparing me for something and that He's not quite done prepping me.

I'm pretty convinced that although I feel like I'm going to go crazy, that I won't and that some day like all trials and tribulations that we go through - once this is past I will look back and shake my head, and say well that wasn't as bad as I tried to make it.

Triathlon training. What's that? I've not done so good. My excuse is that my life has been in such a state of flux that I've not had the focus. But really - I just got used to sleeping in and keeping warm under the covers. Plus I've been sick - okay only one week this year - then the pool was closed on Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.... I did finally go running one morning this week. It wasn't too bad - now if I could just get on my bike. The swimming is good for the most part. I have been pretty consistent about twice a week. Someone light a fire under my behind and challenge me or something. I'm going to try and watch the Ironman championship on NBC tomorrow while I'm painting my other house that I may get to live in someday. Maybe that will inspire me - its what did it 2 years ago...(Ironman not painting - although I have this love/hate relationship with painting - its one of those mindless jobs - but its a job that my perfectionism really pops out and is a good thing.)

That's all for now.

I'm back...maybe

2008-01-10T19:30:00.001-07:00

Its been awhile, I know. I have been very preoccupied and that may not change for a while. I don't want to reveal anything yet, because you never know who's reading.

I have lost touch with my blogging friends, and have been trying to catch up a bit tonight. One interesting thing I've noticed is that many sense that this year is going to be a year of change, and I too feel that big change is in the air. I am a comfort zone junkie, and am usually resistant to much change, but I must say that I am so ready. Last year was - well...not great. I don't even want to review it other than I enjoyed watching my boys grow one year older. But even though it was a miserable year, it prepared me - made me uncomfortable enough to seek change and take a leap of faith that I might not have otherwise taken if I was comfortable. (I can't wait to share, but I don't want to get the cart before the horse... a few more days and I'll know for sure)

I'm not ready to think about triathlon or other athletic type goals for this year until I know how things are going to pan out. I have a feeling that it won't be a year of multi-events. One reason is that if what I've been preoccupied with does go through, the dough for the events will not be as readily available, and we've got a wedding in Florida to attend in October. I've been thinking of maybe doing one A-race this year - late in the year so I have time to train and not train and train again. Any suggestions? I'm sort of thinking of looking into an event in Florida in October near Lakeland...

Anyway - short, but just wanted you to know that I have not dropped off the face of the earth. Most of my reader's already know what is in the works, the rest of you, if you are still there, shoot me an email and I'll spill the beans, otherwise I'll update you all when I can.

Catching Up.

2007-11-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit behind in my blogging, and since I gave my sister a hard time for not keeping up with hers, I need to take my own advice. I meant to write a "I'm thankful for" post Wednesday night before the big day as we were planning on heading up to my folks early Thursday morning, but New Mexico weather as it is changed our plans and we got on the road Wednesday afternoon to beat the first winter storm of the year. Because of this sudden change in plans I also decided to be a bit spontaneous - not the normal nature of this shytrigirl - and sign up for a 5k, so I have a short race report to share too. But first my be-lated what I'm thankful for.

As those of you who have hung in with me through this year have come to realize that I'm going through a bit of a rough patch. I've been overwhelmed, stressed out, and emotionally exhausted from just my work environment. I'm now on a quest to not only change jobs, but ultimately change careers. All of this is causing me to step out of the comfort zone and move (hopefully forward). Which has also caused me to have to confront myself and my demons and my thorn in my side - depression. Depression is a cruel state of mind. It lies to you. Makes you feel like you are all alone. It puts blinders on your eyes, ears, heart, and mind. And it makes you become someone that isn't always pleasant to be around. But what I have realized in the moments that the fog has lifted, is that all that stuff is just emotional stuff, not reality. The reality is - I've got quite a lot going for me, and that is what I'm thankful for this year.

I'm thankful for family.
- My children continue to amaze me. My love for them overwhelms me at times, when I realize just how much I am capable of loving them.

- My husband is my rock. He does not understand my self doubt and my constant battle with depression, but he none-the-less stands by me and encourages me in all my endeavors. He constantly tells me how beautiful, how smart, how wonderful I am.

- My mom is my biggest cheer leader. Even when I hurt her in my venting, she still stands by me and cheers me on.

- My dad is also my biggest cheer leader. I know that he's right next to mom cheering me on.

- My brother and sister - both have been good sounding boards and full of empathy and long distance hugs. I'm so glad we have become such good friends.

I'm thankful for friends.

My friends have been so good to me and I've taken them for granted so much. Many are people that I would have thought unlikely to be my friend, but because of that unlikeliness they are that much more dear to me.

Mark, Royce, Roque - Thanks for thinking I'm the smartest and coolest woman you've ever known.

Doug - You are too generous, thanks for checking up on me in my lonely office.

Mike - Thanks for thinking so much of me, and standing on my side.

Mary - You are such a generous, and kind person. Our ships will come in.

Dennis - I miss you.

Lisa - Thank you for your prayers. I think this is a start of a good friendship. And thank you for being spontaneous with me and braving the cold. It was fun.

Misty - You've been so generous with your advice and support in my triathlon endeavors and then stepped up to the plate in a big way with my changing career endeavor.

Toni - I believe Providence brought you back to Carlsbad... Thank you for "getting" me.

I'm Thankful for My Life.

I live in a free society. I have a good paying job that puts more than enough food on the table and a roof over my head. That my job may not be the greatest, there are people that would give anything to have it or one lessor. My children do not know hunger or cold, do not have anxiety about where they will spend the night or what will happen to them in the night. In this season of giving, please remember those that are less fortunate than you. It could be the troubled kid next door, the single mom down the street, the widow that faces Christmas alone for the first time, the homeless under the bridge, the friend or relative facing an uncertain future as they endure another chemotherapy treatment, the parents whose child is away at war, or any number of people that we come into contact each day. When we get down and focused on our own troubles, sometimes the best anti-depressant is to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Hobbler Gobbler 5K Race Report:

So I wanted to do this race back in September or October and was trying to talk my sister into doing it with me, but schedules, logistics and all of that stuff didn't work out. We finally made plans to travel to my parents house on Thanksgiving Day as did other members of my family to which we planned the big meal for Friday. Then the weather started looking bad, and worse, and finally we decided to head up early to miss the storm and not risk driving in hazardous conditions or missing the whole thing all together. Wednesday morning I headed to Carlsbad for a swim and a half day's work, but ended up swimming, cooking in the office, talking to friends, and watching the weather. Then I checked with the hotel for adding an extra day to our reservation, then checked with race officials about race day registration. All was set, so I headed home to pack, finish cooking and pack all the warm race gear I have. On our way out of town I called Lisa and we toyed with the idea of doing the race, waiting to see how we felt in the morning. She called me at 7:30 am T-day morning and all systems were go. It was cold though, local news said 29 degrees with a wind chill of 20 degrees, but the sun was shining and there was no moisture.

She picked me and all of my layers up and we headed over to the race, froze to death walking to the registration booth, freezing our fingers and ears off registering, warming up in the car while waiting for the start, but having a good laugh at our craziness - see photo above. Then at 9:15ish we were off. I quickly warmed up and kept my eye on Lisa for about 1.5 miles, then she was no where to be seen. The course - hilly. Its difficult to train for hills down where I live. The course - higher altitude, its difficult to train for high altitude where I live. My competition... well there was this guy wearing khaki's and a coat with the hood on who ran/walked the entire course. Seems that he was using me as his signal to run. I would catch up to him and sometimes pass him while he was in his walk phase, then he would start running and pass me. I wanted to cuss, but I didn't. We did this for two miles. I finally passed him for good somewhere after mile two, because I didn't see him again until after I finished and we were headed to the car.

The last mile was hard. I was spent, and I battled the urge to walk a lot. The walk side won a couple of times, but the run side prevailed for most of that last mile. I got pretty warm during that last mile, as the wind was to my back and I was working pretty hard. I debated de-layering but was worried that if I stopped to de-layer I wouldn't get started again. So I just sweated and unbuttoned as much as I could. One final hill to the track that was at the top, and then one loop around the track. Not too bad, except that you were totally exposed to the freezing wind on the track. So here I was tired, wet and now freezing my butt off again. Oh well. I picked it up the last 25 yards or so and finished strong for a time of 36:08. Not my best 5K time but not my worst. Although this is my first stand alone 5K race, so I now have something to shoot for or compare too. I'm glad I did it, even though I had second thoughts before the race, during the race at each hill, and during the last 400 yards. Lisa had a good time too. We didn't stick around to socialize or cheer as we both were cold, and our families were waiting. I think if it wasn't for Lisa going with me, I would have chickened out. Thanks Lisa.

I got to work my soreness out on Saturday morning when I joined Geek Girl for a spin class that was tough, especially since I haven't been on a bike in a while. Got to meet the Dread pirate too, and boil until I was well done in the spa- but no sore muscles...

Overall my weekend with my family was very good, and it was a bonus that I had time to actually socialize with my friends too. It was a good holiday!

Misc.

2007-11-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

First - Some halloween pics. A Pirate and his Spider... The spider costume I made for my youngest last year, but he was too scared to wear it. So this year, he was ready. Notice the skeleton earring - the pirate wouldn't wear it, so the spider thought it would be a nice addition to his costume. Spraying my youngest hair black, really changed his appearance, or was it the face paint...

Nothing else has changed, other than I'm busy writing cover letters, ordering transcripts, and making several versions of my resume.

I recently emailed a woman who I've worked with a little when i was still at WIPP. She owns her own engineering company in Hobbs, and I've admired her since I first met her. It took a couple of trys before I finally sent it, but the letter briefly explained my predicament, and asked for her advice about staring my own business.

She responded briefly to let me know she wants to get together with me and talk, but she made one statement in her email that sort of made my day. You know its one thing when your family and friends say nice things about you, but i guess it really makes you stop and think when someone you don't really have a relationship with but maybe admire, makes a compliment. Here is her brief statement that made my day. "Please know that many people at WIPP had great respect for you. We all felt that you were stymied there."

Finally. The pool in Carlsbad opened two weeks ago. I've had to shuffle a little with my schedule, but I'm back in the water at least two times a week again in the morning. Yeah!

A Little Inspiration

2007-10-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

Things have been...not great. Work has gotten worse. I don't want to elaborate except to say that either they are trying to make me quit or they are just plain stupid. So I'm at a cross roads and being forced to step out of my comfort zone and choose a path. Its rather scary, I'm confronting my personal demons that I've been successful in keeping hidden for a few years until now. I'm feeling a little bit like a lone ship lost at sea being tossed and torn, and I'm feeling sea sick.

Fortunately my mom, whose feelings I unintentionally hurt through some of my venting here in my blog, has done only what a good mom can do and rallied behind me and is cheering me on. Something she's done a lot of throughout my 37 years on this planet. Recently she reminded me about paul potts. My brother sent me a link to this video a few weeks past, but after watching it again in my current state of self doubt and fear of falling flat on my face if I step out of my comfort zone and take a chance, Mr. Paul Potts has become a hero to me or at least an inspiration.

How I'm feeling right now, or to stick with my ship metaphor, this feeling that comes in waves - crashing down upon my weather worn deck, I would not have had the courage to walk out on that stage. But I have in the past and I will again- maybe not a stage as big as his, but that stage or my stage has been there many times. I've walked out on it and did my fair share of shining at least in my heart. Sometimes I walked up and down the steps to that stage multiple times before I finally held my breath and went for it. Its hard, extremely hard at times, for someone like me to take that chance, to risk failing. I have to take the same advice that I tell my kids - "pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again; you'll get it just keep trying".

The fact of the matter is that I have to take that chance, risk it all because if I don't I'll stay in the same place that I'm at right now and be miserable. Let me tell you it it miserable - Walmart Greeter is tempting... I don't want to stay where I'm at - I unheart my situation.

So lately when those waves of self doubt and fear of failure come crashing down threatening to sink my ship, I watch the video of Paul Potts and I cry because he stepped out of his comfort zone and made his dreams come true, and I'm not a big opera fan, but his voice is beautiful probably more beautiful because it is reverberating in harmony with his heart.

PS. Mom - how about Paul Potts CD for my birthday gift?

2007 Balloon Fiesta Report

2007-10-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are not familiar with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, check out their website. My parents live in Corrales, and on Saturday Corrales seemed to be the landing field for several balloons. We opted not to go down to the park to watch the mass ascension, mainly because of the time, temperature and the massive amount of people. My little guys probably would have froze to death, but we wandered around Corrales and got a spectacular view of the balloons.
My mom (the hatted women in the photos) and I walked my little one's legs off ooing and ahhing at the balloons. My mom really likes the balloons and is just like a kid during the fiesta.

We were fortunate enough to be near three balloons that landed in this one lady's pasture, she invited us in and the boys got to see one up close. Even though the morning temps were a bit cooler than us desert folks have been used to, the overall weather all weekend was beautiful. You couldn't ask for better weather.

Sunday morning, my mom and the boys went balloon seeking again, while I went for a 3 mile run with Lisa. It was nice to run with someone, and her pace was good (hopefully she didn't slow down for me). The balloons were much higher and sailed further, as this was their last day. It was awesome to run and have some colorful sky's to look at and distract from the task at hand.

Seriously...# 2

2007-10-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

As I was dropping off my youngest at daycare today, a poster caught my eye on the bulletin board by the door. I see it every day, but today it hit me. The poster was about domestic violence, it said something like "Domestic Violence...Don't make excuses." What hit me was how fortunate I am.

I've been down in the dumps because from my selfish perspective - my life sucks right now. My job is not the greatest on earth, and I work all the time, my house won't sell, I can't plan anything because I don't know where I'll be living in 6 weeks, etc. So I've felt stuck and I hate feeling stuck, but...

How totally selfish and self absorbed have I been. I mean seriously I have been blessed in so many ways - I don't even realize the half of it.

I live in the free-est country on earth, where I am allowed to pursue my dreams whether it be go to engineering school and become an engineer, or if I want go back to school and become a teacher or whatever I want to do...where I'm free to go to any church I want and not risk being killed or imprisoned because I'm a follower of Christ.

I had loving parents that didn't beat me or do other horrific things to me.

I have a wonderful marriage. My husband doesn't abuse me or my children. He supports me in whatever endeavor I can imagine - asked me the other night when I was going to write that best-selling novel (I hadn't even thought or talked about that crazy idea in years). He makes me feel like I'm the smartest, most beautiful woman in the world. He can make me laugh even when I'm yelling at him or crying for no reason at all. Even when I'm nasty, mean to him he knows that its not him I'm lashing out at but that he's just a convenient target. Oh how I take him for granted...

I have two wonderful, healthy boys. And yes I wish life circumstances were different to have allowed me to stay at home while they are still young, but I've put every ounce of energy and more I have into making my time with them worthwhile - not spoiling them, but loving, disciplining, and teaching them. They appear to be well mannered (most of the time), well adjusted little boys. I rarely get complaints about their behavior, most of the time I get compliments and praises.

I have my health. Granted I am not at an optimum weight, but everything else is peachy - blood chemistry, blood pressure, heart, lungs, etc. I've finally got a healthy hobby that will help me stay healthy and help me get to that optimum weight once I figure out how to stop stress eating.

Sure my life is up in the air right now - I've been in the "we're going to move" mode for 9 months or more now, yet I haven't moved. I've packed and sorted all the stuff I haven't used or don't plan to use - I'm down to maybe 1 box probably two boxes of books ( I'm a book-a-holic - love to read, love to have books all around me - I've packed many, many boxes of books). Actually I'm kinda liking the less stuff feeling, except for my books - I miss them. Anyway the point is - I have a roof over my head, and I'll have a roof over my head when I move. I'm not stuck in a low rent ghetto somewhere worrying about getting shot by a drive-by shooting or my kids being sucked into gangs or drugs. I can up an move anywhere I need to and still be able to afford a decent roof over my head - even if I lost Jeff.

I could go on and probably should - just to pound into my head how blessed I am and to stop moping around and whining about how stuck in a rut I am. I am still extremely frustrated with my current situation, but it will resolve itself -maybe not in the time frame I would like, but it will resolve itself. I will be moved and experiencing the next chapter in my life soon.

So thank you for praying for me and please don't stop - And I'm sorry for being such a downer. I will strive to look up everyday instead of down, but I need to have you help me be accountable. Slap me upside the head every once in a while and refer me back to this post.

I'll try to get back to talking about my training - as I seem to have trouble getting motivated to get on my bike and indoor trainer - we know I haven't had time on the weekends for long rides. I'm looking forward to GearGuru a.k.a Geekgirl's subtle offer to buying me one of these so I stop griping about the lack of pool time I get to utilize. I'll try to bore you with my tales of my pre-dawn runs by counting the number of shooting/falling stars and other fascinating tidbits of info that only those who also run during the predawn hour can appreciate.

I live in a desert, that's my excuse.

2007-10-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't been in a pool or done any serious swimming in 6 weeks or more. The reason, well the only pool available to the public in Artesia is the high school pool. I've complained about this before, but they have unfriendly hours - M-F 6:30 - 7:30 am and T&Th 6 - 8pm. I work in Carlsbad (35 miles away) I drop kindergarten kid off at his school at 7:30, and am in the office shortly there-after. So the 6:30-7:30am is not doable. The TTH evenings is what I've been surviving on since April of 2006, when the Carlsbad High school pool closed for a six month remodel job that has now lasted 1.5 years. They had to bus the Carlsbad swim team to Artesia last season, and if they don't hurry their going to have to do it again. Anyway, right around the beginning of school is when the problem really started. The high school aged life guards have their after school activities which means they can't work. That leaves two (on a good night) adults that only get paid $6 an hour to watch me and maybe a couple of other folks swim or water gossip, i mean jog. So they have been closed more than open in the past couple of months. I was able to snag about 40 minutes of swim time this morning because, a. its my day off, and b. my Mother-in-Law is visiting as watched the boys while I tried to remember how to swim, but really until the Carlsbad pool opens, I'm a dry-lander.

But if and when I ever move to Tucumcari, the pool situation may be worse. Tucumcari has one public pool, but its an outdoor pool so its only open in the summer, we'll see if they are friendly to us lap swimmers. We will be only 20 minutes from Ute Lake, so i can get some open water time in during the right times of year. San Jon is a little community about 20 miles from our soon to be house, and they have a pool, but we'll see what their schedule is and all that.

I guess I'm either going to have to be a duathlete or really improve my running and cycling speed to make up for my drowning swim legs. Hmmm.

In other news, my mental state is much better. Its amazing how much anger helps keep my depression at bay. Work - same, nothing changed other than I'm hoping my co-worker in Tucumcari can hang tight until I get up there and we sit down and have a serious discussion abut what we we're going to do if we decide to quit or not. He had a rough week, just more unpleasantness directed towards him.

Training has been consistent - I'm doing well with my running 3 times a week. Don't know if I'm improving or not, but I'm at least in a groove. Bikewise - I'm back on the indoor trainer at least once a week, but I may bump that to twice on the weeks that I know I won't get a long ride in. I'm hoping for a long ride this weekend - Jeff is home. Next weekend is a bust, but I'll be in Alb. to visit my folks and do the Balloon Fiesta thing. The following weekend I'll be in Tucumcari to close on the house up there - we may spend the weekend cleaning and such, then after that I don't know. Until the house in Artesia sells, we can't really move in up there, but there is some work that needs to be done so maybe we'll get that done before we have to move in.

I haven't raced since the Bottomless Tri in early July. I miss the races, having a goal to work towards, etc. I don't think I'm going to do the Defined Fitness Duathlon in Rio Rancho in November this year, because everything is still up in the -air. Although, Jeff came home and ate lunch with us today and was in an especially ornery mood. He was talking trash and made the comment that he could beat me in a dualthlon without any training. I'm half tempted to sign us both up just to make him eat his words, but I know that he was just trying to get my goose. I mean I know he could probably beat me if he trained for it, but to go cold turkey and run a 5k twice, with an 18 mile ride in-between. He plays basketball twice a week - that's it. He hasn't been on a bike since July and that was maybe a mile and that was to ride with our 5-year old who wanted to try out his new birthday present. The Duathlon is in Rio Rancho which is at a higher altitude, plus it will be hilly. Tempting, but not realistic. After writing this, I'm sort of thinking of reconsidering doing the race myself. I mean it is in my 6 week window (see explanation below), but I haven't hardly ridden my bike much in 2 months. I'd have to buckle down on the bike training. I don't know if I'm ready to do two 5k's. I ran 6.5 miles once back in July, but then fell off the running wagon, then gotten back on but only slowly... Ugg! What am I trying to do to myself.

Back to reality, I'm hoping to do the Polar Bear, but it depends. I only plan 6 weeks out at a time. I figure each day an offer could be made on my house. If an offer is made on the house and accepted, then it will be at least six weeks before we close... so every day its - well I know I'll be here for six weeks. And then there is the pool issue or lack there of. You people that live in urban areas, don't know how good you have it. Sure I don't have the crime rates, the traffic, the noise and all the lights - but you have you're gyms and various pool options, and running trails and biking trails, and running clubs and biking clubs, oh and even your master swim thingys, and sports stores that carry biking stuff and triathlon stuff, have brands of running shoes that runners wear - not just Nike. Thank God for the Internet.

Writing this is cutting into my nap time, so I'm off to snooze - thanks for reading.

Byrd's I Engineering....maybe, maybe not...

2007-09-30T06:26:00.000-07:00

So - I've not fallen off the face of the earth, but it has felt like it. I've had some struggles - mostly inner struggles, but I'm dealing - and I've got prayer coverage now too.

The tough thing about being a shy, non-confrontational, hermit-esk type person who's also a parent is that I can't withdraw into myself when the world starts hailing down. Sometimes I find it difficult to deal with the crap that is bogging my mind down while trying to be an effective parent.

The bad thing about this is that I'll catch myself being less patient, or quicker to anger, then I'll beat myself up for taking things out on the boys or being too weak minded to compartmentalize the world... so this just adds to my stress.

The good thing is that because I'm aware of my responsibility to my boys, I can't withdraw completely. I used to do this before I had children and it is not a healthy response. Often after I withdraw completely, I have trouble coming back out.

Jeff works wonders for my mental health. He makes me feel like I'm "it" - you know. Its hard to be self deprecating when your best friend and lover makes you feel special. Plus he can always make me laugh - one of the things that first attracted me to him - But because of our eminent move (or not) he's been gone every weekend since the last weekend in August. Weekend's are family time (and long bike ride time)and mom's decompression time. So - its been tough.

Two weekend's ago was pretty rough, but a neighbor called and invited the boys over for the afternoon on that Saturday... I dropped them off and got on my bike for the first time in over a month. I was only going to ride for 1.5 hours, and I told myself not to beat myself up if I my average mph dropped a bit. At the 45 minute mark I was real close to 12.5 miles, so I decided to finish the 12.5 miles. My average mph wasn't too bad considering the time off the saddle. I did hit a wall at mile 18 and had to push myself to keep going - my butt and shoulders were killing me. I completed 25 miles, in a little over an hour and a half - averaging 15.1 mph. Not too bad in my estimation - I was sore all week - mostly my shoulders and back, but the ride did me some good.

Then, last Monday at work I was sucker punched.

I was born in the year of the Dog according to the Chinese calendar. One of the characteristics of the Dog - loyal. Usually - ok most all of the time due to my no-confrontational or actually fear of confrontation I usually just lay down and take it. Quitting a job is something that I just don't do - or I'll agonize over it for a while - because I'm loyal or maybe I'm just scared of change. Monday morning though, I was so angry - if we weren't in the middle of trying to relocate - I would have quit. Walked out and never looked back.

Let me give you some background before I finish explaining what happened. I'm a child of working class parents - well they were when I was a kid, now they are white collar, but regardless of what kind of work they do, they are work-a-holics. I was the kid, who's folks never made it to very many games or plays, or stuff like that. The reason being that my folks were always at work. Real big self image buster...I vowed to myself that I would find a career that allowed me to be there for my kids. Later in life I met Jeff. He's one of the most confident people I know. Many people complain that he's just cocky, but its not cockiness it just pure self confidence - it drive me nuts sometimes. He honestly doesn't understand my self doubt. I've never understood that - I mean I made better grades than he did, have always had a better and/or higher paying job than him - yet I'm the nut. His brother and sister are the same. So what's different - In my opinion it is how we were raised. Jeff's parents were always there supporting him in his stuff, mine were always working. Yes there is a lot more to it than that, I have an alcoholic parent, my folks divorced, etc. He had a basically trauma free childhood.

Anyway my point is that I want to provide my children as much stability and self confidence as possible. Originally the plan was for me to stay at home while our children were young. I wanted to do this (still want to do this), then Jeff's dad died. This changed everything, as we now considered taking over the family ranching business. Out of all of Jeff's siblings we were the most able and willing, but it meant that I now had to work - forever. The family ranching business is not a million acre spread with hundreds of head of cattle operation, no we're talking 100 head maybe a few more if we can afford to lease more land to put them on. You sell one time a year, the rest of the year you spend the money feeding and caring for you herd. Its not a money making venture, but you can make a living if you know what you're doing - 100 head could be equivalent to a 25-35k salary. So as you can see, we kinda need a supplemental income. Plus there is a lot of expense just getting to that point where the ranch will make a consistent salary.

So I get pregnant and I'm working for Washington Tru Solutions at the WIPP site. They introduce a flexible schedule, work 4-9's or 4-8's and reduce your salary by 10-15%. Perfect (or as perfect as I could ask for), so I started working the 4-9's and having every Friday off. That Friday was my day with my kids(I've fought with my Mother-in-law over this day). Having that day made my week, it was/is worth gold to me. Then due to an insecure, male, non-engineer boss - who decided to tell me I make too much as it is when I asked for a promotion because i was doing the work of two engineers since my counterpart retired several months before, I found another job. All be it a lower paying job, much lower paying, but it had some perks - I would be doing real engineering vs wasting tax payer dollars pretending to be an engineer at a glorified garbage dump. The company had an office in Tucumcari which was a lot closer to the end goal of Jeff's family's ranch. I might now get to continue being an engineer instead of stuffing envelopes and living next door to (or with) my mother-in-law. My commute was cut down from an hour one way to half an hour one way. And finally the company offered me the same schedule that I was already working.

So for 2.5 years I've worked my 36 hours plus I've been available on my day off for questions from clients and or other co-workers (many times equating to 40+ hours). In emergencies I've made arrangements for my kids and came into the office or to the field. I've carted my kiddos to the field when the situation warranted it. No complaints - lots of pats on the back. Then Dennis dies, and the non-engineer owners outnumber the engineer owners and they decide to require all professionals to work 5 days a week. (Why would an engineering company want non-engineers to be owners?) No research to determine what the industry does, no open discussion with the employees that currently work alternative schedules to work out issues - just because.

Their reasoning - 1.0 "we've had complaints from clients", uh - what complaints? My clients know my schedule and know how to get a hold of me.
2.0 "Well its not fair to the other employees." Okay, well if we sat down and worked this through, say researched the industry and came up with some proposed schedules that would work for everyone, maybe we could make it fair to the other employees.
3.0 "We might get sued if we didn't allow another employee to work an alternative schedule" - uh you might get sued anyway if me and the only other person working an alternative schedule that was also granted this schedule as a condition of employment decide to sue you. Oh and don't get me started about the guy that works from home - I might sue if you don't let me work at home too.
4.0 "We offer flex time, so if you need to take your kid to the doctor or something..." Yeah - your flex time policy - not very defined so my alternate schedule could be considered flex time. And if I take my kid to the doctor on my day off, I don't have to use my vacation time to do it.
5.0 "Every body's got kids and they work 5 days a week." Did you know that the schools in Tucumcari and surrounding area only go to class 4 days a week? Every body's kids are in school on Friday's except those of us who live (or hope to live) in Tucumcari. And the only other person that has an alternate schedule - live and works in Tucumcari... I thought this was a family friendly employer.
6.0 "Well its just not fair and we want to be a fair employer and we could get sued." Yes... yes you could, lets see you recent track record - umm you laid off two women over 55 in the last 3 months, one of which asked for a transfer to another office in which you declined the transfer and then hired someone else to fill the empty position. Oh and that woman, 3 months from retirement. Now you are threatening to force two people who work 4 days a week as a condition of their employment to work 5 days a week on the grounds of client complaints -of which none are documented, and by touting fairness which I can blow holes into and I'm not a lawyer, I don't even play one on TV. Oh yeah and did I mention that I am the only woman engineer in you're entire company,- I don't like to use that as a trumph card, but push me hard enough and I will.

So this non-confrontational, shy, hermit-esk type person, confronted the CEO and basically won -for now. He said he'll champion my cause to the other owners, so we shall see if that will do any good. Meanwhile...did I mention that I have my own company - I had to put it into hibernation mode when I joined this company, but me and the other guy in Tucumcari are plotting... So uhm, well I guess the moral of the story is don't mess with the shy girl and her babies, cause there is nothing like a bit of serious anger to get one out of depression and into survival mode. This shytrigirl may just focus that anger and bide her time and put her current employer (or one if its offices) out of business some day. Yeah and sponsor herself in her races and be able to write them off as advertising and marketing expenses... I'm not committed to anything yet. I know I will leave this company as soon as I can unless they force me to leave sooner. I'm seriously considering becoming a teacher, but I also seriously considering starting my own company again. We shall see.

In the meantime... so would somebody please buy my freaking house and 10 acres in Artesia!!!

One step closer...

2007-09-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

Okay - it is not official until I see the money, but 233 of our 243 acres is under contract to be sold. That means we can now concentrate on selling our house and 10 acres - a much more appealing prospect both the buyers and bankers. We also decided to make an offer on that little 2 bedroom house in Tucumcari - contingent of course on the land deal closing. Its livable, but needs some love and care and a couple of Engineers living in it with architect relatives to help it realize its full potential. The main attraction really is all the out buildings - we need all the storage we can get. And my favorite - the "bunkhouse" which will be my training room. Anyway its cheap which will help our transition from two steady incomes to one steady income and one smaller seasonal income - plus I really am going to find a way to get out of this line of work as much as I can and find something more fulfilling once we get settled in - so a small house with a small payment is very attractive to me.

So there is light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel is still uphill. SD is going to be making trips to the big Tuc every weekend for a while, possibly until we are completely moved, He's taking a load of his stuff and working on the farm equipment. He's hoping to bale one crop of grass hay this year, which should be sufficient for the winter and maybe have a few extra bales to sell - he's hoping to cut in two weeks.

Meanwhile between him being gone every weekend, not having any races to shoot for, getting used to being a soccer mom - my training has fallen all to pieces - which is not good for my mental health. I haven't been to the pool in a month - partly because of work, and soccer and partly because it seems to be closed a bunch - don't get me started on that one. I also have not been on my bike either - due to soccer - SD being gone until late Sunday evenings (no baby sitter). Its set up in the trainer, but I just haven't been real thrilled to do the indoor thing when the weather is so great, although days are getting shorter. But I have been running in fits and spurts. I was on a pretty good role, then got one of my allergy induced colds, and fell off the wagon - and have been trying to get back on that wagon for two weeks.

Anyway - I'm not going to fret over this lack of training issue. There is too much other stuff to fret about. I'm going to do my best to run at least 3 times a week, and try to get back into the pool once or twice - and the trainer. I'm sure that I'll take a trip or two with SD when I can - but there is a lot of soccer between now and the end of October - he is only 5 and doesn't really get it yet - but we made a commitment and we must stay true to that commitment - he may not learn much about being competitive yet, but we will learn about what it means to be on a team. Besides its really fun watching a bunch of 5 year olds kick a ball around. I am planning on spending the last weekend of the Balloon Fiesta with my folks next month, I hope that I can do that - as I miss them and I need a break from all of this. Plus even though my training is really not training at this point, when this rural gal goes to the big city - she likes to go and drool over all the cool gear that she doesn't need, but Geek Girl probably already has...

As I realize that I'm posting this on 9/11 - It is interesting to think back. That day - I was playing hookie from a job I hated. Jeff was in New York State. After locating me still at home sleeping in - he informed me what was happening and that he was going to try and find a way to get home - He was able to rent a car before everything closed and drove 36 hours straight to get home. We were living in Carlsbad and he was still working for a consulting company out of Houston and travelling a lot. We were trying to start a family, but it was proving to be difficult because he was never home. Family has always been most important to us, and that day helped solidify mine. He walked in the door after driving over 2000 miles in 2 days and said that he doesn't know what he's going to end up settling for, but he's quitting his job and staying home. So here we are 6 years later, with two small children (5 and 3.5) and living and working in small town America - soon to be living in even smaller town America in a smaller house. That was a terrible day and the world as we knew it changed forever. I'm not trying to say that I'm glad that it happened, because I believe that Jeff would have eventually made that decision. I guess I'm just thinking about how memorializing something like this helps us remember those we lost - of course and those whose lives have been greatly affected, but also all the little good things that has come out of such tragedy.

All Fired Up

2007-09-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite songs when I was a teen was "All Fired Up" by Pat Benatar. I still like the song, especially the chorus.

All fired up
Now I believe there comes a time
All fired up
When everything just falls in line
All fired up
We live an learn from our mistakes
All fired up, fired up, fired up - hey

So - remember what I said in my last post. "The fact of the matter is, that you aways feel so helpless when you’re in the middle of something trying, but when you’re on the other side and looking back, you think huh – why did I get so worked up over that – every thing always works out one way or another."

Well.....................stay tuned..........

The Drama continues

2007-08-27T16:17:00.000-07:00

So this shy, non-confrontational, hermit-esk type person – does not like drama. Drama is what usually occurs when women work together – fortunately I chose a male-dominated career (for now) and have not had to work together with many women – on the few occasions where I have worked with women – well I hid behind my shy nature and just kept my head down. We did have some of that kind of drama here in the office very recently, but the main drama queen finally moved on to greener pastures.

You all know that I’ve been dealing with the drama of watching my boss battle cancer – a battle that he finally lost or won depending on your perspective.

But the drama I’m referring to is not the superficial stuff of hormonal women working with hormonal women… or the drama of watching a colleague die; it is the drama of being stuck and not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

My company has been unsuccessful in hiring anyone to fill the empty positions here in Carlsbad. In fact the writing on the wall is so blatantly obvious that everyone that could has bailed. All that is left is myself and my secretary. She’s decided to try and hold out until December when she can retire and get her social security. She figures that if they lay her off before then, it will only be a couple of months of unemployment that she’ll have to endure or enjoy… Me – I’m going to move someday – I have an office waiting for me in Tucumcari… Finally the company told us that they are closing the doors, the date is dependent upon my move.

Meanwhile, I am working by myself with very little support. With today’s technology it is pretty easy for people to work together long distances and I’ve been doing a lot of that in recent months, but its like now that the cat is out of the bag about this offices fate – my projects (that make money for the whole company) are not important anymore and I get put on the bottom of the priority list. You know how much this shy, non-confrontational, hermit-esk type person enjoys trying to smooth things over with worried clients when the reality is – I’m not very confident that the help I’m being promised is really going to happen?

Plus on the home front – Jeff, my easy-going, ever the optimist husband that always helps me out of the black depths of my own pessimism – is depressed. He’ll never admit it, but I’ve never in our 12 years of marriage or 17 years of knowing him experienced this kind of pessimism from him. “Well with the current Mortgage problem, we’ll be lucky if we move in the next two years.” Yes we are both very frustrated with the fact that we are still here and not in Tucumcari, but the reality is one just doesn’t sell a house and 240 acres overnight.

Wow… so I think I need to start something like Mary Sunshine does – some kind of ten positive thoughts or something to help me keep from sinking in the bog of hopelessness. The fact of the matter is, that you aways feel so helpless when you’re in the middle of something trying, but when you’re on the other side and looking back, you think huh – why did I get so worked up over that – every thing always works out one way or another.

So 10 things I’m thankful for:

1. Jesus – he’s always there – even when I turn my back
2. Jeff – He’s still the bestest friend I’ll ever have, and no one can make me laugh like him, and he thinks I’m the smartest, most beautiful women on earth.
3. My boys – I can’t imagine what life would be like without them
4. My health – I take it for granted so much
5. My mom – she drives me crazy, but she is one of the strongest women I’ve ever known – she chose life for me when it would have been so much easier if she didn’t
6. My dad – he stepped up when the bio. dad didn’t.
7. My brother and sister – for loving me despite my shy, non-confrontational, hermit-esk type personality
8. Having the opportunity to know and have a relationship with all of my grandparents and some of my great-grandparents
9. For the few good friends that I have, the kind that you may lose touch with for a while, but can always just pick up where you left off when you do reconnect.
10. Having the opportunity of knowing and learning from Dennis. He was a good man that left a legacy of excellence.

In Loving Memory...

2007-08-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

My boss, mentor, and friend Dennis Wagner passed away this morning after suffering from Lung Cancer for over 8 months. Although I am sad at his passing, I'm relieved as I know he is no longer suffering. He was a strong, faithful Christian, and suffered through this awful disease with much grace.

He will be missed greatly by all that knew him, but as for myself I know I will see him again someday.

Decision.

2007-08-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

Well...you guys know I've been training for the F-1 triathlon at the Bottomless Lakes. After the 2nd unsuccessful weekend as far as training goes, and with hints that next weekend will be just as unsuccessful - I've decided not to sign up for it. Basically our life is too busy right now.

SuperDad is making trips to Tucumcari about every other weekend - he's taking a load with him each trip and while he's there, he's trying to get all the farm equipment back together (taken about for hauling) and running, so that he can get some hay baled before the end of the season. This is important because a.) he's already paid for the irrigation water for said hay, and b.) the hay bailed should be enough to get us through the winter without having to buy hay. This equates to $2,500 savings (+/-).

Also, there are these folks from California that are showing a bit more interest in our place that any other person has thus far. Next weekend, should be their 3rd trip out to look. First trip they wanted to see the land, 2nd trip they wanted to see the house - this trip they want to be shown the property corners. So we've been busy around the house - last weekend I cleaned the inside of the house like nobody's business. This weekend I helped SuperDad load our stock trailer with an unbelievable amount of fire wood we had scattered about, and mowed, chopped weeds, picked up trash, etc. SuperDad worked on filling one of many holes in our dirt road with more dirt - we've gotten so much rain this year, our dirt road has really gotten out of shape. And finally in the few hours of daylight we had left we tracked down the property corners, so that I could show them to our prospective buyers.

So I'm thinking, if these folks decide to make an offer - we most likely will jump on it unless it is a joke. If that happens, then we've got 30 very busy days to get moved - and we'll need every spare day we can gather to get that done. Even if they decide not to buy, Labor Day weekend is coming and we could use the weekend before, aka race weekend, to load some more crap and take a trip up to the Tuke, so stopping for a race would not be helpful to that endeavor.

Plus - thanks to parents in general for raising children with no work ethic - I've had one swimming session in two weeks due to no show lifeguards. How frustrating, so I don't feel ready for 800m swim - I'm sure I could do it, I would just not be as prepared as I'd like to be. Also due to our busy schedules - trips to the lake have been few and far between this year, so I haven't gotten to even swim out there.

Let's hope that me bowing out of this race will appease the real estate gods (tongue in cheek) and these folks will buy our house and 243 acres, especially before the housing market gets even worse. Anyway I'm going to focus my training for the Defined Fitness Duathlon in Rio Rancho in November, and if I get a chance - maybe do the Cotton Country Sprint Triathlon in Levelland, Tx next month - Stay tuned...

Tagged!

2007-08-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

So I was tagged by Lisa, who would like me to share some personal stuff with my huge readership. As a shy person, I'm a little nervous about putting myself out there - here it goes!

Jobs I've Held:
In order as best as I can...
Baby-sitter
McDonald's - queen of the drive thru
Janitor - at my church
Summer Intern - Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation
Dorm Resident's assistant
Summer Intern - Colorado DOT
Summer Intern - Sandia, National Labs
Coop Student - Dow Chemical Company
Structural Engineer - Dow Chemical Company
Senior Civil Engineer - WIPP Site
Project Manager - Engineers Inc.

Places I've Lived: In order
Canyon, TX
Oklahoma City
Denver
Clovis, NM
Albuquerque, NM
Portales, NM
Clovis
Hobbs, NM
Los Alamos, NM
Las Cruces, NM
Tulsa, OK
Greeley, CO
Houston, TX
Richmond, TX
Houston
Carlsbad, NM
Artesia, NM
Lord willing soon... Tucumcari, NM

Movies I can Watch Over & Over:
A League of Her Own
French Kiss
The first Star Wars Trilogy
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Outlaw Josey Wales - the Indian is hilarious

My guilty pleasures:
Reading for hours on end (mostly mysteries)
Chocolate Chip cookie dough
Margaritas
Reading while standing in long lines
Reading on airplanes instead of talking to complete strangers - unless I've had a margarita, then I'm all talky, talky
Reading during my lunch breaks - before I was introduced to the blog world, now I read blogs during my lunch breaks
Reading multiple books at one time
Reading while making chocolate chip cookies - then reading while eating all the dough
Of course all of this reading took place before children, now I'm lucky to get a whole chapter in before I nod off to sleep.
Shows I enjoy:
I don't have a lot to choose from because all we have is rabbit ears - ask me why sometime
How I met Your Mother
Gray's Anatomy
House
24
Men in Trees
Places I've been on vacation:
Vacation is almost a foreign word in my life, not that I wouldn't mind vacationing, its just that there so much other stuff that has to be done on my time off... But
I've been to various New Mexico state parks to camp, fish, boat, water ski
Various Wilderness Areas in New Mexico and Southern Colorado - backpacking
The Boundary Waters in Minnesota - Canoing
Derricks, AR - my grandmother's childhood home
Various state parks in south Texas - camping and fishing
Corpus Christi, TX
Ruidoso, NM
Fort Collins, Co
Las Vegas, NM (not really on vacation, but...)
Recent years we've spent our vacation at my mother-in-laws branding calves, fixing fence, and other various assortment of ranching activities -

Favorite Foods:
French fries
Mexican food
Chocolate chip cookies
Milk - between me and my 3 year old son, we consume at least 1.5 gallons a week -
Anything my grandmother cooks - especially apricot fried pies, cherry cobbler, her fried potatoes are the greatest
My goal is to learn to cook like her without killing myself and hubby with heart disease before she passes on. I do pretty good when I have the time, which is never...

Websites I visit Daily:
Various blogs
Wells Fargo
eBay
half.com

Body Parts I've injured:
nose - broke when I was 2, as I apparently fell of my wheeled pickle
knuckle (the big one at the top of the hand, beginning the index finger) on my left hand - from my high school catcher days. My hands were too small for a catcher's mitt, so I used a regular glove for a while, then upgraded to a first- baseman's mitt.
Bruised hip and leg - trying out my clipless pedals for the first time. I thought I'd play it safe and just click in one side while standing in place - I fell on top of a tool box, the first time - the second time I moved the box and fell flat on the concrete floor - anyway...

Awards I've won:
I made the north/south all-star softball team in HS, made the top 10 list of the highest batting average in the state in HS
Dean's list in undergrad all but one semester (that one semester is Jeff's fault)
a few Athena sprint triathlon medals

Nicknames I've been called:
Suzy - only my parents, siblings and grandparents call me this - no one else is allowed
Suz
Baby
Mama

Susan - which is not really a nickname but a sign of the majority of society's inattention to detail, such as the proper pronunciation and/or spelling of one's name - I'm not sensitive about this or anything.

I'm adding a category here -
Common Phrases Uttered by other's when describing a particular personality attribute:

" Haven't been able to shut her up since she got here." Wink, wink
"Talk much?"
"You're not a big talker are you?"
"You've been so quiet, I just wanted to check and make sure you're still with us."

Tag others:
Well since the only blogging people I know have all been tagged, except my sister
I guess I'll tag her, but she's not one to respond to something like this, so don't hate me for breaking the tag chain...

Longest Distance Ever, for me...

2007-08-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

Friday night I completed my 90 minute run. The goal of this run was to run for 90 minutes in zone 2. I was not nervous about this run, didn't put any real thought into it other than to strategize for hydration.

I parked my car at the intersection of two county roads. I have distances marked out in 3 directions of the intersection - not that a particular distance was a goal or anything, because I'm focusing on time and heart rate. I have an Amphipod hydration belt with just two 10 oz bottles. I need to get some additional bottles, especially for the F-1. I also have one Nathan Water bottle with gripper, and various other plain old water bottles. The plan was to wear the belt the whole time, because it has a pouch to carry stuff like my phone and my MP3 player which is on the blitz, and fuel. I hate carrying stuff in my hands when I run, so I decided to do the first leg with the Nathan, then chuck it at the car when I go by, then for the final leg - the shortest - I'd grab my final water bottle. I had Clif Bloks in my pouch, along with a few Sports Beans, one 10 oz bottle of Blue Accelerade and everything else water.

First leg was 2 miles out and back, second leg was my familiar 3.2 mile out and back, and the final leg was a 1 mile out and back. My not really focusing on goal was to run 6 miles. The good news, I completed 90 minutes of running albeit slow, and I maintained a zone 2 heart rate. The bad news is that my feet, my lower legs, my butt, and the hips, and my back hurt. The cool news is that not only did I meet my unspoken goal of 6 miles, but I actually ran 6.2 miles plus 4 power poles (measured later to be about .3 miles) for a total of approximately 6.5 miles. I have to say that the first hour was not too bad, but that last half hour was tough because the above mentioned parts where protesting rather loudly - especially my feet. Today is my rest day, tomorrow is a 2 hour ride, but I fear that my husband who's out of town will most likely not return in time - oh well. (Edited later - he did get back in time for me to get 1 hour in before it got too dark.) I'm scheduled to do it all again next week, we'll see if I get to go swimming... stupid pool - they have no consideration for my training schedule - Jeesh!

Tri-training trifoiled?

2007-08-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

This week was the first of two tough training weeks - for me - queen of Sprint Tri's forever. I've been looking forward this week for a while now. Strange how I now look forward to torturing my body like most folks look forward to Fridays. Anyway, I planned a trifecta of sorts starting on Tuesday through Wednesday looking something like this: Tues - AM: 45 minute run at zone 3, PM, 60 minute swim zone 4, Wednesday AM: 45 minute bike, Zone 4. The entire week has me getting up early for something, ie 45 minute zone 2 bike Monday am, then the Tues/Weds trifecta, then a 45 min zone 2 run Thursday am, and due to life getting in the way, a 90 minute zone 2 run Friday am. I decided on Monday that instead of doing the am run on Tuesday, I'd do it in the afternoon on the Ocotillo Nature trail here in Carlsbad. I decided to do this after getting some encouraging words from my new hero Pirate and having a little bit of La Luz envy. So the Ocotillo Trail is kind of a super, mini La Luz - 230' elevation change in 0.9 miles, and we're talking max elevation of 3440'... okay so its nothing even close to La Luz, but it is a hard, short run. I did bottom to top in about 15 minutes, mostly in zone 3, some zone 4. I then went back down to a section of switch backs and went up and down two or three times and then back down to finish the 45 minutes. It was torturous and my legs where definitely protesting, and I was basking in the pain. I initially planned to do this at lunch time, but ended up doing it at 4:30 and it was overcast and cool, so not too much of a heat workout, but I'll take it.

Next was my attempt at an hour of swimming. I was psyched. I had a bunch of 25 yard sprints, some build 100 sets, some build kicking sets - it was going to be tough. I raced home, dropped off the boys, said hi to Jeff put my suit on and raced to the pool, only to arrive at an empty parking lot. What the.... so after a temper tantrum during my drive back home, I spent the evening cleaning my kitchen. So.Not.Inspiring.

I did get up and perform my Suffer O Rama Spinerval for 45 minutes, but I could not get to Zone 4. I felt like I was going to die, but didn't get even close to the dieing heart zone.

So my dilemma is - do I do the planned swim tonight (Thursday - assuming they're open) which is an easy 30 minute recovery type swim, or do the missed killer hour swim? Also since it is taking me two days to write the post, my very early Friday am 90 minute run, can now be done in the pm - yeah! Leaving me with a rest day on Saturday, and a two hour zone 2 ride on Sunday - if Jeff gets back in town before dark - please get back at least two hours before dark.

I have to say, that although my running has not gotten quicker lately as my focus has been not on speed and distance, but heart rate and time... it has been ah... do I dare say it... sort of, but not really, well okay a little more enjoyable... This morning for example, I started my 45 minutes at 5:15 - dawn is just beginning so there is a twinge of light, but there were rainclouds in the east over the Pecos River and a lightening show. The first half of the run I had my back to the East, so I missed the lightening show, but as I turned around it was closer to 6 and more light out, except the storm had moved more northwesterly. The clouds were rolling, and black, and the lightening was still far enough away not to worry about. The breeze was cool and refreshing and the smell of rain was permeating the air. It was beautiful. I made it to my car in time though as it started sprinkling just as I opened the door, which very shortly turned into a full fledged rain. My pace was slow, my heart rate was right on target(when my HR monitor decided to cooperate) and I felt good despite the torture I've put my legs through so far this week. Even my run up Octillo trail was enjoyed, a little.

Ode to silence... and other stuff

2007-07-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

I was contemplating how much I enjoy the sound of quiet. Its probably because I'm a mother of two boys ages 5 (as of Thursday) and 3.5. Quiet is a rare thing around my household - sure, but I enjoyed silence before I was a mother. I think maybe its because I'm always talking to myself in my head. Always - about everything, the normal stuff - what to cook for supper, the running grocery list, how to solve the most recent problem(s) at work.... I work through everything - read the entire menu and then rationalize my top three choices and try to narrow it down to the best depending on a number of circumstances - I second guess myself all the time about what I wear, what I say, did I do the right parenting move there or why did I lose my cool there, or... I talk through phone conversations before I actually make the call. I do the same thing before an important meeting or confrontation. I do not handle confrontation well, without preparation. I relive the confrontation, meeting, important discussion in my head after its done - over and over. I could go on, but i think you get the point.

I don't care if this is normal or not - because its just me and I'm used to it. There are times when I get fed up with myself and yell at myself to just shut up, but I forgive myself pretty easily and start chatting in my head again.

I live out in "the country" and there is probably 1/4 of a mile or more between me and my next neighbor - still too close sometimes, but for the most part its pretty quiet out here. The wind blows most of the time, typical of New Mexico, but there are times when it is just still. If the boys are not here or they are asleep or at least quiet for a few seconds... you can here a bird chirp, or just nothing. I crave those moments. My mind is still for that moment, and my whole body, mind and all just stops and tries to absorb as much of the peace out of the quiet moment as possible.

As a teen I was fortunate enough to get to go backpacking in the wonderful wilderness of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Many trips were with my church's' youth group. Lots of good memories there, lots of good times, but there were times when I would get away from the group and find a spot to just sit and listen to the quiet. I miss those days (just some not all of those days).

Training is not quiet. When I'm running or swimming, my constant conversation ceases as I'm concentrating on the activity, but my breathing is so noisy. Sometimes the sound of my breathing in either activity just bugs me. Not too often just every now and then. On my long runs I try to have music, which is a nice distraction, but most of the time its just me and the pavement and my breath. I make it a rhythm, breath in two, breath out, two ,three, in two, out two three. In swimming if I'm not hearing and feeling my bubbles, it is a big indicator that I'm holding my breath. I find when I'm concentrating on a particular drill or trying to focus on one motion, I'll involuntarily hold my breath.

Cycling is different - probably why I enjoy it so much because the conversation is welcomed and its just a good time to think.

Anyway - just pondering silence a bit today....

Heart rate zones... I'm scrapping trying to run in zone 1, It was bothering me and I was worried that I wasn't getting any real benefit out of it and worried that I'd pickup some weird gait that would set my running back even further. Now when my plan says zone 1, I read it as Zone 2. That means my swimming has got to pick it up a notch. This coming week is a tough week, and I already have to figure out how to change it around to work with my schedule. So much for best laid plans... I haven't signed up for the F-1 yet, and I'm using the excuse that "we might be moving." Well - maybe, but probably not - so I'll admit that I'm a little scared. Its the running, kind of the swimming, but mostly the running. Its five miles, broken up but still five miles, and its going to be hot, very hot. I'm sure I can do it, well maybe not yet, but its going to hurt regardless. Geekgirl's going to be doing an Ironman in like a month, Dread Pirate is going to be doing La Luz Trail Run in like a week. Well - okay so Geekgirl is kind of my nemesis cause I beat her once, so I figure if she can do an Ironman ( and I know she can and will finish), then I too can do an Ironman someday when my parenting obligations are as light as hers and I can take a summer off, and [enter more excuses or qualifiers here], but Dread Pirate is like my idol, I mean La Luz - give me a freaking break - I'd be lucky to walk the trail without hitting my max heart rate.... Anyway so maybe I can do 5 miles split in half with a bike ride in-between. I'll be last - as slow as I swim and we're talking 800m this time, and even though my bike leg is decent, its not awesome enough to gain me enough ground not to be passed in the first run, and definitely the second run. But being last is not what's bothering me the most, its the run - will I be able to do it and not want to cry the whole time. Or.... am I making more of this than it is, something I'm known for...

Anyway just rambling -

Heart Rate Zones.

2007-07-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I took a few days off after the Bottomless Triathlon, to think about my next race and an associated training plan. I've had some motivation problems, especially with my running, since it just hasn't been much fun lately. I decided to change my focus, but in order to keep my focus changed I needed my training plan to keep me focusing on the right target.

So I revisited one of the books I used when I first started training last year. His plans are all time and heart rate zone oriented. Last year, I pretty much bagged the heart rate stuff because I couldn't stay in the appropriate zones, and came up with my own zone to work in. Then my training slowly evolved to focus more on speed and distance, which I think has helped my cycling a lot, but has just frustrated my running efforts.

So I picked one of the plans in the book, then researched and fiddled with the heart rate zones for a while. My trouble is that if I use the typical formula or a variation of to find my max heart rate (220-age) and then multiply it by the appropriate percentage, zone 1 seems way too low. I know there are ways to try and determine your max heart rate, but they all sound a bit too painful for me - plus they all highly recommend having a partner to help - uh anyone volunteer to help me find my max heart rate at 4:30am? It would be ideal to have one of those VO2 max tests, but lets see a.) I live in Podunk nowhere and 2.) I am not made of money - so.... I took a look at my peak and average rates from recent races - decided to make my average race peak rate my 80% max and back calculate the remaining zones. Here are my zones after doing this:

Zone 1: 102 - 123; Zone 2: 123 - 143; Zone 3: 143 - 163, Zone 4: 163 - 183. Zones 2 & 3 are about right,but I still think zone 1 is still a bit low and zone 4 may kill me if I actually get up to 183.

Okay- so week one of my 6 week plan goes like this (adjusted to my schedule and available pool times - of course):

Day 1: Planned - Run 30 min. in zone 1; strength train. Actual - Ran 30 (~2 mi, but I'm not counting), AHR = 123, no strength session (too much laundry and dirty dishes).

Day 2: Planned - Swim 45 min. zone 1. Actual - Swam ~37 minutes finished my 1200 yard workout, AHR = 91, ended up chatting with Aquaman for the remaining time. Got invited to go for coffee sometime - Jeff was amused.

Day 3: Planned - Bike 45 zone 1; strength train. Actual - Biked 37 on indoor trainer listening to music in headphones until youngest awoke, AHR = 117, strength trained in the pm.

Day 4: Planned - Swim 45 zone 1. Actual - swam 45 min finished 1450 yd workout, AHR = 114.

Day 5: Planned - Rest. Actual - Day 6 workout - Ran 60 (~ 3.75 mi, still not counting), AHR = 132.

Day 6: Planned - Run 60 in zone 1. Actual - Rest

Day 7 Planned - Bike 60 in zone 1. Actual - to be determined.

Observations: I can't run in zone 1. I tried, obviously from my mileage - averaging 15 min/ miles or more - but I'm not focusing on this... Trying to keep my heart rate down was to my legs like running downhill slow - after my hour run, once I stopped my knees spoke up. So either I should just walk for the zone 1 sessions or perform some kind of walk/jog or try and stick to a rule I found in my heart rate zone research and keep my HR less than 130 and use the Gunnar Borg's Rate of Perceived Effort scale - zone 1 equates to and RPE of 10 to 12 (fairly light exertion, just starting to break a sweat). I must admit though, that my long run was enjoyable as I didn't fatigue, or cramp, or have to yell at myself that I was not quitting. I watched the sun rise & enjoyed the coolness of the morning.

After my first swim session, I was worried that I couldn't swim in Zone 1 either but on the other side of it, even though my RPE felt about right. Maybe this is a key to my slowness in this leg? My second session I tried to kick it up a small notch and was successful.

My bike session I worked on keeping high cadence. I found that if I kept my cadence above 80 my heart rate stayed in zone 1, but if I got to 90 or higher I jumped into zone 2. Need to compare this with my outdoor session I hope to get today.

Next week's training is very similar except I have one swim and one bike session in zone 2. Then week 3 - 5 we kick it up both in zones and volume...

Thoughts?

Stupid Blond Stunts.

2007-07-17T15:19:00.000-07:00

Thursday last week hubby had a doctor's appointment in Carlsbad in the afternoon, we decided to have a family outing after I got off work while we were in the same town. Upon leaving the restaurant Jeff informs me that he locked his keys in his truck, and blames it on being distracted by the boys. This is not something Jeff does, this is something I do a lot - lately, I almost have Ace Lock and Key in my cell phone memory. Anyway he has this elaborate plan based on previous experience at his work.

He tells me to drive home, find the spare clicker, and try and unlock using the remote via telephone. Huh? Don't forget that home is 30 miles from Carlsbad. So me and the boys drive home. I find the clicker, we try it over the phone. Nothing. We tried it using the land line, hmm try the cell phone he says. Whatever! So we try cell phone, nothing. Bummer, okay see you in a few. I load the boys back up and we drive back to Carlsbad with the key. He calls me as I'm leaving, "try again up on the highway." We get crappy cell service at our house (good wireless Internet, but crappy cell - same company go figure). Okay so I pull over on the highway when I get 5 bars on my phone. We try again. Nothing, except the locks on my car seem to be unlocking, but this doesn't sink in to either of us. So I continue to drive to Carlsbad.

As I pull into the parking lot I start clicking to unlock his truck - nothing, except my locks going crazy. OMG! I realize how stupid I really am. The clicker I use is square shaped, Jeff's is kind of hour glass shaped, apparently the spare clicker to my jeep is also hour glass shaped. Huh?! The spare key on the other hand is obviously the same shape as my jeep keep. Doh!

Time to call Ace Lock and Key - NO! I drive back home, find the correct clicker and once again try the remote via telephone. Nothing. So back to Carlsbad again with the correct key.

I did the math in my head. From my recent experiences with the Ace guy, it would have cost $45 and maybe 45 minutes to unlock the truck. My jeep gets 16-17 mpg, but lets make it easy say 15 mpg. 60 miles round trip from home to Carlsbad and back times 2 trips (first trip home doesn't count as I had to go home anyway) - 120 miles at 15mpg = 8 gallons of gas times $3.30 a gallon = $26.40. At ~ 2.5 maybe 3 hours. Oh and I got a ticket on my last trip home because apparently I crossed the white line, but since I wasn't drunk, he was just checking to make sure I was alright, and by the way where is your current insurance card. Priceless!

So who was more blond? Jeff for locking the keys in the first place, me for getting the wrong clicker, or Jeff for also not cluing into the wrong clicker, Jeff for not biting the bullet and calling Mr. Ace guy, me for not adamantly suggesting he call my friend over at the Ace place, or Jeff for coming up with the clicker over the phone idea, me for choosing a family dinner over my swim workout? The good news is that neither of us got angry at the other, we just dealt with our stupidity. Now we can laugh about it - and so can you.

Bottomless Lakes Weekend!

2007-07-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

We planned to make a mini-camping trip to incorporate the Bottomless Lakes Triathlon. Originally we planned to mosey on up the road on Saturday morning, and spend the day playing and resting and spend the night at the campground in our new (to us) pop up truck camper. But we did not factor in the Alien festival in Roswell. Those freaks know how to boost their local economy... so we began to worry about our chances of getting a camping site, so we tried to reserve a site - only to be told all reserved sites where reserved, and that meant we had to gamble on the first come, first serve rule of camping. I called the park ranger and we talked odds, then Jeff and I came up with a plan B, and Plan C.

Plan B was for me to take myself and the boys up to the state park Friday afternoon and try and land us a camping site, with Jeff to follow with truck and camper after work. Meaning we'd spend the entire weekend camping.

Plan C was to try and get a camp site at Lake Van in Dexter only ~15 miles away and then come over to Lea Lake for some fun in the sun on Saturday, and back on Sunday morning for the race.

Fortunately due to a good Thunderstorm in the area Friday afternoon, Plan B worked like a charm. So we spent Friday evening exploring the various lakes and driving the bike loop, and Saturday morning fishing a little at one of the other lakes, then a whole lot of swimming and playing in the water the rest of the day. This day also included a long nap for all in our air conditioned camper. What a totally relaxing and fun weekend.

So Sunday morning was the Race, if you've read Geek Girl's account then you get the idea, other than I'm kind of honored that she was worried about me. Hee Hee. I didn't have any expectations for this race other than to do better in the swim. I wanted to go easy to the turn around and pick up a little on the way back. I knew that I had no chance of beating Geek Girl, since she swims way faster than me, so I was my own nemesis this day. I didn't hold back at the start of the swim, and washed around in the washing machine for a few minutes before everyone left me in the bubbles. I just focused on smooth swimming. I caught up with Carol McGuire (she may be a slow swimmer but she makes up for it everywhere else , 1:05:34)at the buoy and thought - wow she's a slow swimmer too, so I decided to try and keep up with her and maybe draft a little. Didn't quite get close enough to draft, and eventually I lost her as she drifted to my left. After that I just keep my eye on the buoys at the end and kept straight. Got out and practically arm wrestled myself trying to get the zipper to work on my new- shorty wetsuit - need a little practice. Decided to get completely out of the wetsuit before leaving the concrete.

Did the T1 thing and hit the bike loop. Big hill right at the beginning, but I muscled up it, then it was rolling hills and some serious downhill. I like the bike leg, because it is the only portion that I feel "fast." I know I'm not real fast on the bike yet, but I'm getting there and it is a good mental boost before the dreaded run. I dropped 6 folks before coming into T2, of course I think 3 of them passed me on the run.

Did the T2 thing and hit the run. The hot run. Good thing it was only 4k vs 5k - like it would have really mattered. It was just hot. Its hard to run when you really despise running and it is hot. I had my belt with my water in it, so I used the aid stations delightfully cold water to try and cool down. Came across Geek Girl near the turn around and she tried to encourage me by telling me about the breeze once you turn around. And it was better on the trip back due to the slight breeze, but I had a side cramp the whole way back. Before the race, Jeff was trying to help me with my running. He told me when he used to run, that once he got into the groove of the run then he was just think about other stuff. So here I am running with a side cramp trying to think of other stuff. "Hmm, Jeff said think about other stuff. What should I think about... well when I get home later today I have to face the disaster area of my house that hasn't been cleaned in like - ever. No that thought is not helping..., uh well there is work - no, okay let me try to imagine the additions I want to make to the house in Tucumcari that I can't buy yet because I don't have a buyer for my place here... no this isn't working for me, so breath out, two three, breath in, two, breath out, two three..." Finally the finish line was in site and I kicked the last 50 yards are so. Done - yeah. Times = 12:59 swim, 33:48 bike, 32:39 run, Total = 1:19:26

I have to figure out how to get my run a little faster. I can't do much on the swim because of my limited pool time, which may actually become a worse problem once we move, so I've got to get my bike and my run faster. After the race I took my stuff back to the camp site, the boys changed into their suits and we played in the wonderfully refreshing water till lunch time. I took a small break to find out who won what. Didn't figure I'd get anything because when they don't have a master's Athena group, GeekGirl and others always hog the medals, but much to my surprise I landed myself second place Athena. Cool.

Jeff woke up Sunday morning feeling a bit under the weather, and it basically got worse as the day went on. After the awards ceremony I took him and the boys back to camp. Put Jeff to bed, fed my face and the boys, then headed back to the lake for a couple of hours of playing in the water and sand with the boys. Then we broke up camp and headed home. Turns out Jeff had some 24 fever thing that kept him home on Monday. Other than that little set back, the whole weekend was wonderfully fun and relaxed.

My next triathlon is ? I'm debating on doing the Formula-1 Triathlon at the end of August back at the bottomless lakes. Possible move withstanding, I'm a little chicken of the longer swim and the two runs, that second run is going to be just as hot if not hotter. I want to, yet scared to. Hmm. What do you think?

Just Stuff.

2007-06-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

Since my fan base has been knocking down my door waiting for a new post - NOT. I thought I'd attempt to piece one together. Gosh - a week ago I was heading to Mosquero with the boys. Dropped them off at Grandma's and went to Wagon Mound to look at their sewer system again. Yes I am a civil engineer and am getting pretty good at making your poop go away. I took pictures of Mills Canyon.

Lets see approx 1.5 miles down an 8% grade to cross the Canadian River, then approx. 1.5 miles back up an 8% grade to the other side. This will be a training ride sometime in the future - a personal milestone in my aspirations to be athletic.

After we finished looking at the poop station, we headed to Las Vegas for lunch - where my colleague (also an old college bud) decided to make it a working lunch. Are you kidding me! All I do is work, work, work - you think I want to work while I'm out of the office on a trip and get to go to a restaurant... Once I transfer to his office, I'll have to kick his butt back down to reality...

Then I headed to Tucumcari via Highway 104. I mentioned this trip last time, but I'm rethinking riding up or down to Trujillo because there is no shoulder and several blind curves, but other than that stretch, I could see me doing some training rides along this road.

After looking at the little house that may or may not be, I headed home to spend a couple of nights with my man by ourselves. He left Saturday and noon with a load to Tucumcari and picked up the boys and brought my babes back to me Sunday. Meanwhile I took a ride near Hope, NM on Saturday, and did my long run (4 miles- long for me you marathoner and ironman freaks) on Sunday. I'm telling you as I'm slowly, and I mean slowly working my mileage up on my running, I'm not liking the running any better. I did 4 miles straight for the first time with no walking on Father's Day and it kicked my butt, I paid for it for a couple of days. This run took me so long, SD called on the cell to make sure I wasn't lying in a ditch. So I did it again this past Sunday, and it was a little better, my pace was a consistent 12min/mile, but I'm telling you when I finish the run and start contemplating about becoming just a cyclist... is just me putting too high expectations on myself to quickly, or the fact that my weight scale keeps telling me that its all for nothing, or the extremely high humidity that we've been experiencing lately, or what!

I'm not quitting, but man is my motivation is being attacked. In other news I actually got 1900 yards in Tuesday night in my swim workout. That is a milestone given my pool predicament. I felt like lead when I got out. Anyway - I finally signed up for the Bottomless Triathlon. I decided to rent a wetsuit for this one, but may be out of luck as the founder of wetsuitrental.com passed away and the company has taken a week off. I'll be lucky if they rent me one on such short notice when they get back online next week. Oh well. I swam in Horsetooth Reservoir last year without one, and didn't freeze to death, plus the air temp here will compensate. I just kinda wanted that little bit of buoyancy since the lake is a bit deep.

I guess that is all I have for now, meanwhile back to my twisty, turny, slippery, scary yet fun life! P.S. we may (don't have a contract or earnest money yet) have 233 of our 243 acres sold. If this truly happens... means we can list our house and 10 acres, which should sell a lot easier. It also means we can make an offer on the little house, but it all comes down to "Show me the Money!"

Just Training.

2007-06-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

So nothing exciting to report here, had a good training week - only missed my indoor bike session because I forgot to turn my alarm clock on. On Saturday I drove down the road a ways to get some hill action in, and I have to say it wasn't as challenging as I'd hope. Who in their right mind would make a comment such as this. I guess I'm truley triathlonized. Next weekend I've got another spot in mind, and no peeps at home to make me worry about time spent away doing my stuff - not that they seem to mind, its just the mental game thing my own mind plays on me.

I bought this swim workout book from TriSwimCoach.com to help bring variety and focus to my swim workouts. Its cool, except the shortest workout out of all 50 in the book is 2350. Now I know all you folks that have access to child-free gyms with varying hours for lap swimming and such are scoffing at my 2350, but with my two nights a week in a public pool that borders on gross lately... I am lucky to have 50 straight minutes to swim. Lucky if I don't have to share a lane with a aqua gossiper (heavy set women that sort of casually float up and down the lane and move their mouth more than their limbs) or George, a.k.a aquaman. So I've had to take the ole pencil and cut these workouts in halves or weighted halves in order to get from warmup to cool down in 50 or less minutes. It sucks and I hate you people that have unlimited resources in your traffic congested cities. Ahem...

Anywho... one little problem that has plagued me the last couple of swim sessions... foot cramp. Usually my foot wants to cramp upon exit of pool, or during the 15 minute, traffic free drive home. Lately it has happened mid length, and I flail around trying to get to the wall where I have to contort myself so that I can put pressure on said foot using the wall, since I'm too short to stand up on the bottom with full weight.

Jeff is currently on a campaign about my hydration or lack there of, and asks me - how much have you drank today. He attributes cramped foot to dehydration. If it happened during a run or bike session or race like it almost did at the Milkman, I'd like to attribute it to electrolyte imbalance. In the pool, I think it is just my normal weak arches. The reason he's on this campaign is that I get leg cramps at night often. Not everyday, but every once in a while. he on the other hand does not get muscle cramps except once in a blue moon. He drinks a ton of liquids, tea, sugar-free cool aide,and I have to consciously think about drinking something. I might nurse a 12 oz glass of tea or water throughout the evening, where he will consume a half gallon in the same time frame. I'm sure he has some valid points, but as I've been a salt-craving maniac since starting this triathlon stuff, I have to think that electrolytes are part of the equation too. Any thoughts?

This week I'm headed up north to Wagon Mound again. I've arranged my schedule such that I should be able to get everything in except maybe Thursday night's swim. I'm leaving Wednesday and taking the little guys with me, then leaving them with Grandma while I head home Thursday evening. Jeff had already planned to bring a load of crap to Tucumcari, then go get one of his mom's tractors and bring it down to the Tuc to unload all this stuff and other stuff he'll be bringing. So he'll be gone all weekend and bring the boys home Sunday. I'm excited for my little break from the peeps and just don't know exactly what i want to do first - okay second 'cause first I'm going to sleep in past 6:30am.

I have not idea what to title this...

2007-06-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

because I have no idea what to write, but I feel like I must update because I keep giving my sister a hard time because she is rather behind in updating her blog.
Here are a few things.

I've just about convinced Jeff to team with me in the Defined Fitness Duathlon in November in Rio Rancho. I think he might do the bike leg. He has 21 weeks to get ready, increase his mileage from 0 to 18 miles. I've helped him out in that his bike is currently getting a major tune up at the local bike shop that is never open. Okay it is barely open, but just barely. This means that I've got to get my running up to 6+ miles as my leg or legs will be two 5K with an hour or so in between.

Of course he's got to find the time to ride in between slowly moving a ton of our or actually his crap, er stuff to Tucumcari one trailer load at a time, working, playing basketball twice a week, finishing up little odds and ends around this place, branding - feeding cattle, driving to the ends of the earth to buy used farm equipment (currently on his way to Nebraska for a hay baler). Of course our place could sell at any minute and we'll be working all waking hours for a while to get ourselves moved. It makes me tired just thinking about it. I won't be disappointed if Team Byrd doesn't make an appearance this year, but maybe next year we'll be all moved and settled in and in between T-ball and other actives we'll give it a try.

My next Triathlon in my sights is the bottomless Tri at the bottomless lakes near Roswell. I am of course waiting until the last possible minute to sign up because or the potential move that is looming over our heads. Jeff had a developer friend come out Wednesday and take a look at our expanse (243 acres) and he said he'd mull it over and let us know his thoughts on Monday. Also we have a neighbor who is currently leasing our land for cattle grazing that is interested in buying 235 acres. If they get their financing, then we'll sell to them, and then try and sell the house on the remaining 7 acres. This will be more attractive to folks, and will probably sell fast. Maybe, just maybe we'll get this done sometime this summer.

Meanwhile, there is a little house w/ some out buildings on 5.5 acres within a quarter mile of our farm in Tucumcari that is for sale. It is little, but livable and easy to add on. The existing out buildings are a big plus as we need all the storage we can get. The farm has a nice shop and that dumpy single wide trailer - but the shop needs to be functional not a store room. The dumpy trailer can be storage, but we have a lot of stuff - trailers, equipment, tools, just stuff that really needs to be protected as much as possible from weather. Anyway I'll be headed to Wagon Mound again in two weeks, so I'll go through Tucumcari and take a look at the house myself, but we can't really do anything about it until we have at least earnest money on something here. Its hard to be patient, but I know it will work out the way it is supposed to.

In the mean time, I've taken a week off from training other than one trip to the pool. I'm trying to come up with a training plan to get my running up to 6 miles and maybe a teeny bit faster, plus preparing for the Bottomless and maybe the Midland tri and/or the F-1 tri.

That's it for now.

Milkman Triathlon Race Report.

2007-06-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

The results are posted. I analyzed them and am starting to feel better about my times. A few things I guess I’ve taken for granted at the last couple of races.
This was a regular triathlon, meaning swim first and run last. Man, I forgot how hard it is to run last. Plus they advertise this race as the Best of the US New Mexico State Championship and the best d0 come out. Check out the results and just look at how many names are associated with Los Alamos. Seriously I think they need to give all of us locals an altitude handicap to make it a more evenly distributed race. Also look at how many are not in the Athena class. Come on are we going to let those skinny, oxygen deprived Los Alamos women stomp all over us… apparently so.
But I think the biggest thing that contributed to my overall feeling of dissatisfaction over my performance was that Geek Girl was not there. I guess I’ve used her as a gauge to my performance, and I had no gauge this time. Her excuse for not being there… something about the taste of the water in Lake Van – what’s a little alkaline taste, and she had to do some silly little half iron in Arizona that was supposed to be a cake walk. Poor excuses if you ask me.

Here is the breakdown.
Swim – I swore it was longer than last year, but I checked times among some other folks that were there last year and their times were comparable, so I guess it was the same length. I’m just a slow swimmer, which was evident in the Jay Benson when I was dropped in the pool by almost the same number of people I dropped on the Bike course.
I’ll try not to dwell too much –
Last year’s swim time: 14.33.9. This year’s swim time (with wetsuit): 13:59.5. Delta = 0:34.4 – pitiful.

T1 – okay I have to give myself some major credit here – I rocked my transitions!
2006 T1 = 3:19.5 (no wetsuit); 2007 T1=1:48.4 (with wetsuit); Delta = 1:31.1!

Bike – I knew there was a hill, but I forgot that it was basically the first half of the ride. Plus this year the wind was in my face going out and last year it was in your face coming back and stole some of the down hill momentum. Last year I did this on a mountain bike, this year my road bike. My average speed is good, but I guess I expected to more here.

Last year’s time = 58:52.1 (avg. speed 12.7mph); this year’s time 48:02.1(avg. speed 15.5 mph); Delta = 10:50.

T2 – I remember Jeff saying – “Good job, Baby!” as I left T2. The tone was that of I’m impressed. I know now why he was impressed. Check this out.
2006 T1 = 2:09.1; 2007 T1=0:53.4 (smoking!); Delta = 1:15.7!

Run – I had a side stitch for 2.5 miles. Hydration!! I have been using a camel back during the bike in all my races – because I have hydration issues. This race I opted not to use the camelback to reduce my transition time. I justified this decision because I knew they give water bottles at the turnaround point on the bike, and I basically just hydrated in the lake. So I put my bottle holder back on my bike and had a bottle of water ready to go. I drank maybe half of it. At the turn around I didn’t need water so I refused the free water. I also knew I would wear my fuel belt on the run and could hydrate easily during the run. I also had Cliff Bloks during the run as well as my own water, but it was too late. So I had to walk a little to relieve the stitch pain. At the 2.5 mile marker I vowed not to walk any more and by the time I got back on the pavement at the Lake the stitch miraculously disappeared, so I was able to finish strong. Still – it is way harder to run after biking than swimming after biking, and it was hot, and… I’ll stop complaining here.
Last year’s time = 40:54.6 (13.2 min/mile); this year’s time= 37:43.4 (12.1 min/mile); Delta = 3:11.2.

Last year’s overall time = 1:59:49; This year’s overall time = 1:42:26; Delta = 17:23.

Still was the only under 40 Athena this year, so I walked away with a first place trophy.

The really cool thing about the whole race was that not only was Jeff and the boys there, but Dennis and his family where there along with another coworker and his wife and some of our neighbors. Dennis and his wife really got into the cheering mode as they had posters and a cow bell (see them in the far right of the photo). It was pretty cool and I was very honored to have him there. They didn’t stay for the awards ceremony, but I had the announcer tell all that I dedicated this race to Dennis, and the trophy I won for him is sitting on his desk today. So despite how I feel about my performance, I am honored to have raced for Dennis. I know it meant a lot to him, and that is the only part that mattered about this whole race.

Brief Update

2007-06-03T14:42:00.001-07:00

I'm waiting on the official results, so I'll just say a couple of things about the Milkman here. I beat last years time, but I had an off race. Can't really put my finger on what the trouble was, still thinking about it. Dennis and his family were there along with a few other friends - its cool to have a cheering section.

I promise more later with some photos -

It's On!

2007-06-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

It all comes down to this
You take your best shot, might miss
You take it anyway
You're gonna make your move today
Got the will, you'll find the way
To change the world some day
Grab this moment before it's gone
Today's your day

It's on and on
It's on and on
It's on and on
Today's your day
So c'mon bring it on

And the view will never change
Unless you decide to change it
Don't feel like it today
Just show up anyways
And though life will take you down
It only matters if you let it
Get up, go through, press on
Today's your day

It's on and on
It's on and on
It's on and on
Today's your day
So c'mon bring it on

And though you want to quit
Don't think you can get through it
You've come to far to walk away
It's not gonna be today
And no matter how you feel
It's what you do that matters
This is your moment to be strong
Today's your day

It's on and on
It's on and on
It's on and on
Today's your day
So c'mon bring it on

And no matter how you feel
It's what you do that matters
It's your moment to be strong
Today's your day

It's on and on
It's on and on
It's on and on
Today's your day
So c'mon bring it on
-Superchick

Tomorrow - Milkman for Dennis - Bring it!

8th Annual Memorial Day Branding Weekend.

2007-05-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

Since SD’s dad passed away in April of 2000, at least the two brother’s and their families make the pilgrimage to their childhood home and ranch to brand the current year’s “crop” of calves for their mother who still manages the ranch. This is the same ranch that me and SD are moving closer to in order to take over the management responsibilities as well as grow our own herd. This weekend was the 8th annual lazy J B slash Memorial Branding weekend. I believe we branded 50 calves (+/-) this year.

My main responsibility for the weekend was breakfast, and since my mother-in-law lives out in the middle of nowhere, there is apparently no reason for curtains, so I’m wide awake when the sun rises and shines in my face – so why not get up and cook breakfast and prepare the eggs the way I like them…

So we drove up there Friday night, and Saturday as the gang began gathering the home pasture’s herd after breakfast (Mother-in-Law’s herd is divided into two groups.) I prepared for a solo trip down (70 miles) to Tucumcari. The farm that we own down there has a old, dumpy trailer house that may have to serve (please Lord, no) as temporary abode while we prepare the site for our new home (a new double wide mobile home). So I arranged for a coworker’s son to show up and do some serious cleaning, ie removing all carpeting and associated yuck and dirt. While down there I noticed a little house for sale within a half a mile or less of our farm, and the wheels started turning. I spent the remainder of Saturday tracking down realtors and scoping out potentials in the vicinity (anything to keep me from having to spend a single night in that dumpy trailer). I found two potentials.

I took my bike with me and did a tough brick session on the road that will soon (hopefully) become my main training route. I didn’t start until about 12:30 and it was already in the mid 80’s with a nice breeze. About 5 miles north from our farm State Highway 278 crosses the Revuelto Creek. There was a nice place to park my vehicle off the road and under some shade trees. It was here that I set up my transition area and began riding north up out of the creek bed. The planned session consisted of a 15 minute ride, 10 minute run, rest 5 min., repeat 3 times. On the 3rd and 4th repeat the 4 minute rest is eliminated. I only did 3, as I was getting a bit hot when SD called on the cell phone at 2 pm to check on me and ask me to pick up something at the local ranch supply store. Before I left town, one realtor called me back and we made arrangements to look at one of the potentials on Monday.

On Sunday it was my turn to help with the branding of the south pasture herd. I hadn’t been involved in the branding since my boys were born, so I’m a little out of practice and I don’t have established tasks, so SD out of the kindness of his heart talked me into pushing. Let me try to summarize the branding process. First you gather the whole herd, which consists of mamma cows and their babies. Cows graze on pasture grass throughout the year. In the winter when there is no grass, they are fed hay. We supplement their diet with “cake” which sort of resembles dog food in color and is sweet due to the molasses contained in it. The cake has nutrients that the cows can’t get from the grass. We have a feeder mounted on a truck and we drive the truck into the pasture and dump an allotted amount of cake out for the cows. This is done daily or every couple of days depending on the condition of the grass. The horn is honked to let the cows know that chow has arrived, so they have learned that the sound of the honking horn means food. They love cake and come running.

This is also how we gather – we start honking the horn, but we don’t dump any feed until we get the whole herd into the corral. Once everyone is in the corral we separate the calves from the cows. We load the calves up in a trailer and take them to the main corral in the home pasture. Once in the main corral we push them into a small pen that has a chute at one end that ends at the branding “table.” The process is to get a calf into the chute and into the table contraption where they are restrained and flipped on their side at about table height. Then they are vaccinated, ear marked, ear tagged, de-horned, castrated if they are a bull calf, then branded.

Then they are released into the main corral. After all the calves are branded, we load them up and take them back to their mamma. One person’s job is to keep everything loaded, ie vaccine in the shot, tag in the ear tagger, band on the bander for the castration. Two people are doing all the stuff, operating the branding table, performing the branding, ear marking, ear tagging, vaccinating, it usually takes two pair of hands to castrate. This leaves one person to be in the pen and pushing each calf into the chute – me. At first this doesn’t sound too bad, these are baby cows, their cute and there’re little (between 150 – 350 lbs), but they kick and stomp and do whatever it takes to get out of the chute. You have to keep you hip in contact with their backside and their butt turned away to keep from getting kicked, then when you get to the end of the line – they stop and you have to push, twist their tail and push to get them to go in. Fortunately I was only kicked twice, stomped on once and climbed the fence several times – didn’t get pooped on too bad either.

Needless to say, I did not get another training session that weekend. We looked at the first potential house and decided that it is most likely potentially no. We’re going to have to look at the second potential by proxy, ie good buddy and digital camera. We’ve already like the second potential based on the few pictures and description on the website, but timing is everything, so who knows.

The Milkman for Dennis

2007-05-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

On June 2nd I will be participating in the Milkman Sprint Triathlon. Back in January of last year, I decided to try out this triathlon thing. The Milkman was my first ever triathlon, and I achieved my goal of finishing. Because this was my first race ever, it has a special place in my heart. I have been looking forward to doing this race again to measure how much I have improved in one year.

For a while now I’ve been contemplating dedicating one of my races this year to Dennis, my boss who was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in December. He immediately started with an aggressive Chemotherapy treatment which has been hard on him, but he has endured with much grace.

Because the Milkman is a special race for me and because it is relatively local (Dexter, NM); I’ve decided to dedicate this year’s race to Dennis. He has been an inspiration in many ways to me , both professionally as he is a brilliant engineer, and all of our clients respect him and have expressed their concern for him as well as how much they miss working with him, and spiritually as his Faith has not wavered but has increased during this trial.

My triathlon training has many moments of discomfort, and there have been times when the thought of Dennis spurred me on. I remember one particular training session – I was running 4 miles in awful wind – my calves were hurting and I was asking myself why I was doing this to myself. I really wanted to quit, but I told my self to dig deep and keep going – it was at that moment that I closed my eyes briefly and an image of Dennis popped into my head. Then the tears came for a few minutes, but I kept running because I could - where Dennis struggles to take a resting breath.

So anyway I wanted to encourage you to come out if you are in the area and watch the race. It starts at 8am and will probably be done by 10 - 10:30. They start folks in waves and there are all kinds of abilities so I’m sure there will be plenty to watch. Last year I was the only one in my division so I got first place even though I finished next to last. This year I know I’ll do better and if I’m lucky get another medal.

Here’s last years times:

Total Time: 1:59:49 Swim leg: 14:33.9 T1: 3:19.5 Bike leg: 58:52.1 T2: 2:09.1 Run Leg: 40:54.6

Here is my predicted (conservative) times for this year:

Total Time: 1:35:30 Swim leg: 12:30 T1: 2:00 Bike leg: 45:00 T2: 1:00 Run Leg: 35:00

So if you’ve got nothing planned, please come out and cheer me on as I race for Dennis at the 23rd Annual Milkman Sprint Triathlon starting at 8am in Dexter, NM at Lake Van.
0.5 km swim in the lovely Lake Van following by a 20 km bike (12.4 miles) following by a 5 km run (3.1 miles).

Thanks for the support and keep Dennis in your prayers

Lets Talk Numbers...

2007-05-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

Since a certain person seems obsessed with numbers, especially the number 12 for some reason, I'd thought I'd talk about a few numbers.

In 4 days, I traveled approximately 1001.25 miles (more if I count the driving around in Albuquerque). 15.25 miles were running, biking and swimming in the Jay Benson Triathlon.

On May 12th at approximately 8:30am, me and my two boys headed north 276 miles to Coralles to spend Mother's Day weekend with my Mom and Dad. SD stayed behind because my journey did not end in Albuquerque, but continued on to Tucumcari and beyond for work purposes. On May 13th I participated in the Jay Benson and apparently I beat someone by a mere 12 seconds. Ironically this day was not only Mother's Day but my 12 year wedding anniversary. Hmm weird how the number 12 keeps popping up. This is my 2nd year of triathloning, and the Jay Benson was my 8th triathlon; 4th reverse triathlon; 1st triathlon in Albuquerque; 1st time I was ever made aware of beating someone by 12 seconds. More about that later.

On May 14th, I traveled 198 miles to Tucumcari with my boys to my future office to help finish a presentation that my team was giving later that night. My mother-in-law who lives approximately 70 miles away in Mosquero, met me there and took the boys for the day. That afternoon I then drove approximately 163 miles to Wagon Mound to give a presentation to the Village council. BTW - our presentation rocked! Then I said goodbye to my team and headed 54 miles directly to Mosquero to spend the night with Mother-in-Law and boys.

On a side note, if you are looking for beautiful and challenging places to ride, then stay either in Las Vegas or Tucumcari and ride along NM 104. No shoulders, but no traffic either. Very Beautiful and some serious hills. Or If your staying in Las Vegas drive up the interstate to Wagon Mound and ride along NM 120 to Roy, NM - beautiful and challenging with no shoulders, but no traffic.

On May 15th, we said goodbye to MIL and headed 131 miles to Clovis to spend a few hours with my grandmother. After lunch and some chatting, we then headed the final 164 miles back home. Talk about endurance.

Now for the race Report.

Saturday evening - the 12th - I met up with Lisa. We headed to packet pickup, then checked out the new Performance Bike store, then had a good meal both in food and conversation (yes I can converse from time to time). Then Sunday morning I drove us both to the race, I have to say I really enjoyed the time spent with her - I especially enjoyed one particular wetsuit story, but I'll leave her to tell it. Anyway the race start was delayed approximately 30 minutes due to the number of participants and security issues getting through the gate of the air force base. Ironically, I originally was not going to run with my fuel belt as I felt it would be cool enough and the water at the aid stations would be sufficient, but as time passed it was getting pretty warm. After they delayed the women's start by 30 minutes, I headed to the car to get it and filled both bottles. Ironically, I used the fact that Geek Girl used hers in the last race we were in together to help me decide to use mine in this race.

After watching the men start and the fast ones return, we ladies started. I was close to the front of the line, and was passed by what felt like the entire crowd before we even got out of the parking lot onto the road. Lisa and her friend were out of sight after about twelve steps. I wasn't planning on trying to keep up with them as I knew their pace was way beyond my pace. I passed a few walkers and basically got into rhythm. My heart rate was a bit higher than I would have liked but I attributed that to getting caught up in the race at the beginning. I concentrated on breathing and lowering it. Ironically I never even thought of Geek Girl as I was running, as I assumed she was already ahead of me. I arrived at the halfway point at the same time the volunteer took down the water cooler. The ladies behind me were threatening revolt, and it was tempting to take a drink right at that moment, but I decided to wait a few paces because I didn't want to get pummeled, but I was definitely doing a mental pat on the back for my decision.

It was in T1 that I encountered Geek Girl. She said something about seeing me on the bike or good luck or eat dirt and die, but my heart rate was such that it was difficult to process language much less keep moving forward, but I did process enough to realize I was ahead of her again. It probably was that tidbit of information that propelled me through the bike course. Knowing that she was coming. I didn't look back the entire time afraid I would see her breathing down my neck, and I did indeed hammer the bike leg. In fact my heart rate, which was already high from the run, climbed up more. I dropped so many people that I stopped counting them after oh lets say 12. It was an awesome ride, wind, hills, flats. I flew - 16.9 mph, can't hardly believe that.

T2 would have been a little faster if I didn't forget to take off my sunglasses. Doh! If it wasn't for that little snafu, maybe someone would have been obsessing about maybe 32 seconds. Anyway the swim is where I lost some ground. I was beat - literally in all sense of the word. I was exhausted, and I was kicked, grabbed, scraped. I think the first 200m was a lot faster than the last because i was trying in earnest to pass without blocking others from passing me or crawling over me. When I saw Lisa pass me I was a bit deflated, but endeavored to endure. Finally I made it to the end, had to climb my tired butt up the ladder and out across the mat. I swear the ground sloped dramatically away from the pool because I kept trying to either crash into a support column or fall on top of the volunteers trying to take my chip off. I wasn't even thinking about Geek Girl when she tapped me on the shoulder and said "you beat me." I think that was the icing on the cake of a great race for me. I grinned and high fived her, knowing that I now have an official rival.

Overall, it was a great race. I had estimated my best finishing time to be around 1:35, so I surpassed my expectations. Although my swim needs some work, due to my lack of swim time availability I'll have to just make up for it in run and bike improvement. I also would like to point out that I do not have highly technical underpants, sexy socks, have a fancy tri-bike (not that she has hers yet), aero bars, zipp wheels, racing flats,a Garmin, and I am not a vegan in fact I'm a rancher's wife which means I consume lots of beef (not that I'm promoting one over the other except that if you eat more beef I might be able to afford more of the aforementioned items). I also do not have a Sweet Baboo or Mini Baboo that races with me, but I do have Super Dad and Team Byrd, who were all absent from this race. So does this warrant a 12 second deficit? Of course the rub in all of this fun poking is that despite the fact that I beat her by twelve seconds, since we are in different age group categories, she walked away with 1st place hardware and I earned last place in my division.

My official time with splits:
Total Run Pace T1 Bike mph T2 Swim
1:32:46 32:06 10:42 1:51 44:13 16.9 2:14 12:24

One thing's for sure, I'm wearing my fuel belt next time if not for the hydration it provides, at least for its melting power...

Stay Tuned...

2007-05-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Jay Benson Sprint Tri Race report coming...

Should I or

2007-05-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

Shouldn't I - that is the question.

Okay I bought new bike shoes. I've been having toe numbness issues forever, but basically resolved myself to the fact that I will always have numb toes - then I woke up one day and told myself - No - why should I suffer, maybe I just need different shoes or a different size. I haven't been complaining about this because well... I've been complaining about a lot of other stuff. Anywho...

During my trip to Albuquerque in March I was able to try on a few pair, then we took a quick trip to Midland and I was able to try on some more. I debated over which pair for a while, then decided to take the plunge and buy a pair. Happy Mother's Day!

They arrived today. Now then I know I should wait until after the race this weekend before I start using them, so I have plenty of time to tweak and get the cleats in the right position, the shoes to the right tightness, etc. But I'm so tempted now that I have them in hand, to go for it. I only have one indoor session on the bike planned for this week, but is that really enough to get all the tweaking done in time. Probably not. From recent experience of trying new gear/components for the first time during a race and not being successful...the practical side of me is saying, just one more race... but the toes are begging.

I know what your going to say. Just buy another pair of cleats and take both pairs of shoes. yeah well I thought of that too late, and I live in the land of nowhere, so I can't just run down to my local bike shop and buy and pair. Especially since my local bike shop that opened last fall is closed all the time because I think the guy who runs it has a drug problem...

I know, I know just wait, but should I or shouldn't I?

Quick update

2007-05-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

Work: same
Training: Good
Outlook: Up and Down…

Training summary:

Last week I doubled up so I could get more rest – huh? Yeah I rested Monday (was supposed to do core work but didn’t). Tuesday pre-dawn 35 minute run consisting of 10 minute warm-up, 15 minute hill intervals, 10 minute cool down. Tuesday evening – 1200 yards – lots of drills. Wednesday – rest and core work that evening. Thursday pre-dawn 45 minute “Suffer-O-Rama” indoor bike set. Thursday evening 1200 yards – main set 3-200 with 45 rest. Friday evening after saying farewell to SD and the boys for the weekend, ran 4 miles in threatening thunderstorm weather, averaged 11:30 minute miles. Probably not a smart thing to do since it was lightening, but it was awesome regardless.
Saturday am biked 15 miles with average speed of 15.6mph. Sunday – Rest. Monday I had to drive to Las Cruces and back for work. I took my running stuff and on my way back just west of Hope, NM I pulled over and ran 3 miles along some rolling hills. The first 1.5 miles was all climb ~ 78 vertical feet. I averaged about 12 minute miles. Tuesday was a work day from the fiery furnace, and I didn’t get home until 7 – so no time for swim. Wednesday am I skipped my indoor bike session – still exhausted from Tuesday. This morning I argued with myself for 15 minutes before I realized I was already awake – 45 minutes of Suffer-O-Rama. I hope to hit the pool tonight and have a productive training weekend as I should taper next week before the Jay Benson.

Items of note: Sore left leg issues – specifically left glut, and left hip flexor or something in that area. This is been a recurring issue for a couple of weeks. The soreness is not debilitating, just noticeable by the end of a run and for a while after – also it’s a little sore on the bike too. I’ve been trying to keep it stretched when I can. So is this my left leg catching up with my right leg (I’m right handed), or have I picked up a funny running gait? I don’t feel like I’m running funny, but then I also feel like I’m the fastest woman in the world when I’m running the dark by myself too.

Seriously!

2007-04-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

Work is really getting in the way of my life. The last three weeks I've gotten minimal training in. I'm talking maybe one run, one swim, and maybe one bike session a week. One week I was so desperate to get some training in, I had a meeting that lasted until 7:20pm in Artesia. I risked getting a speeding ticket as I rushed to the pool (that closes at 8pm), changed, jumped in and just got as much distance as I could before they pulled me kicking and screaming out.

Plus work has taken so much of my time, that it is imperative that I spend as much quality time with my family as I can, because they are my number 1 priority.

I look back to my life before I changed jobs. When I occupied space at the WIPP site - bored out of my mind, watching my gray matter turn into useless jelly. Why didn't I think about triathlons then - heck I could have probably done most of my dry land training while at work. No one would have even noticed. (seriously - the WIPP site is a good concept, with good science and engineering, but they need to cut the work force out there by at least 50% - and save some tax payers some money)

Now I have a challenging job, where I'm using my education and learning a ton and working my posterior off. If i wasn't a mom - which I'm not complaining about - I could work longer hours guilt free - go for a spin after work, etc. But I am a mom and that is the most important thing in my life and i love it - even the sleepless, messy nights. (not the whining - I hate the whining).

Anyway I've got three weeks until the Jay Benson Tri. I've signed up - spent the money. My mom is excited that she'll be there to watch. Plans are made. I have to go. I want to go. I just may not wear my watch or check the results afterwards because it will make my competitive nature sad.

I think I've got two more weeks of hell at work before things might lighten up. I'm probably wrong about that. We maybe hiring someone in the next three weeks, so soon I might have some relief. Knowing my luck, as soon as work settles down our place will sell and it will be a mad dash to pack and move. (we are packing and moving stuff as we can, but we or Jeff has a lot of stuff (nice word for junk) strung out all over the place. This guy knows how to wheel and deal and trade and find cheap stuff. Its useful stuff for someone who's a rancher and farmer and needs stuff to build other stuff, or farm equipment or parts for farm equipment, or parts for something that he might need someday...but I digress - and I have a ton - maybe more of books stuff, stashed, piled - everywhere - so we all have our rat pack issues.

So I need a quick, and dirty, yet not too time consuming 3 week training plan to get me back on track for the Jay Benson. I'm so exhausted from work, that my pre-dawn workouts are sort of fizzling. I'm tempted to double up on my swim days with rest in between. i had one day like that last week - I ran in the morning and swam in the evening. I was going to try it again on Thursday only bike on the trainer in the am and swim in the pm (my pool is only open on Tue and Thurs evenings) but I forgot to turn my alarm on.

I don't mean to whine about work - especially since I can't stand whining. I'm just so overwhelmed right now and my boss who was diagnosed is not doing very well at all. I sort of expect him to pass on after his oldest son graduates high school this May - just a gut feeling. It will be tough on us as the company is small enough that we're a close knit bunch, but I believe he's ready and i hate to see him suffer so much. I feel guilty for complaining because he knows what kind of stress we're under and is trying to help - bless his heart, but my work load will pass and my life will go on - and tomorrow or next year I'll be complaining about how I'm missing my training because of soccer practice and little league.

During one of my long runs back in January or early February, I was suffering a little - you know at that point where you really want to quit, but know that you have to play through pain to get better. When I'm in the middle of one of these moments, I yell at myself "Find it! Dig deep and Find it!" What I'm telling myself to find is that little modicum of will power to push me through. During this particular run, when i was telling myself to find it, I closed my eyes for a split second and Dennis (my boss) flashed into my mind. It was him with his little scull cap that he's been wearing since he lost his hair due to the chemo. Tears welled in my eyes and I admonished myself for wanting to quit such a trivial thing as running, when he would give anything to be able to walk without struggling to breath (lung cancer). So i guess that is where i am right now. trying to get over my little pity party about how tough my life is right now, when there are people all around me fighting to live theirs.

Wow - where did that come from? I guess I needed to work through it. Sorry didn't mean to get so deep. I think I might dedicate one of my races to him this year. I don't think the Benson, I'd like to dedicate the Milkman - but it is only two weeks after the Benson and you know my training issues. Maybe the Chile harvest in Socorro. I'll think about it.

Yet another week

2007-04-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

Well lets see...

I've got another cold - that's four this year.
Work has been hell - that's status quo since boss was diagnosed. (Can some experienced civil engineer decide to move to Carlsbad, NM for a crappy paying consulting job to help me out here!)
Weather has been weird, cold, then hot, cold, then hot - apparently status quo for this spring
{According to the weatherunderground.com average temperatures for March and April are:
March
Ave. Max. 69
Ave. Min. 33
2007 Ave. Max 73

2007 ave. min 43
April

ave. Max 75
ave. min 38
2007 ave. max to date 71
2007 ave min to date 42
Interesting... so what am I complaining about!}

Training plan - totally awesome spreadsheet - nothing grandiose - totally not following due to first three items.
Husband's health - very good - so good in fact he is on another fishing trip this weekend.
Property sales status - laughing joke of the year. Need a new game plan.

Boys - great, fun, ornery as heck,can't imagine life without them even when I'm knee deep in whining, time outs, and spankings
Blue factor - just tinges now and then.
Eating habits - totally messed up. When I'm bored I get the munchies, when I'm blue I eat to try and feel good, when I'm feeling good and exercising regularly I have good habits. Now I've noticed that when I'm stressed like I have been lately at work- I don't eat. Can't win for losing.
That's it -
"Got to have Grace under Fire"

PS - someone remind me to call and sign up for the Jay Benson -

What a week I had...

2007-04-07T14:54:00.000-07:00

But I'm not going to elaborate here other than to say we had a heart related scare with SD, but all turned out okay so far. He's having a stress test Tuesday as a final check. As you can imagine, it put an interesting spin on the week.

On another more positive note - sort of, I'm considering buying a wetsuit. I've talked myself out of it before because right now I am only doing sprint races, and the races that are open water are in the summer which means warm water. But with the weather we're having lately, its not just Colorado Geek Girl, its 30 and icy here in the desert this fine April weekend - SD is currently building a fire in the wood stove as I type, I'm getting a little worried about the water temp getting warm enough for practice prior to the Milkman. SD said, "you should just get one." Is he cool or what? Of course he may be trying to get me to get off his back about losing weight, increasing exercise, watching what he eats...see previous paragraph.

So the researching begins. Any tips and info from my vast audience (not) would be helpful. One thing that bothers me up front is the sizing charts. I sign up for the Athena division for a reason, so my weight and corresponding height are not optimum nor do they correspond with the size charts. Do I buy one like I buy panty hose - weight vs height, or vice versa. Obviously I need to try some on - like that is an easy task here in nowhere'sville. Also what exactly am I looking for - there is believe it or not a Dive shop in Lovington - even smaller than here, but they are a Dive shop not a tri shop. I tried on a shorty there last spring before I could even run 3 miles straight, but I don't know much more about wetsuits now than I did last year and I know they don't know that much about triathlons - so I don't know if what they sell is appropriate.

Training meanwhile - I ran 4 miles yesterday and for some reason am very sore today. Today was my long bike outside, but due to the weather - forget it. Maybe it will warm up tomorrow.

Happy Easter!

Sully Super Sprint Race Report

2007-03-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

Nestled in the foothills of the Fort Davis Mountains in South Texas is the little town of Alpine. At an altitude of approximately 4,500 feet is a quaint little town with a quaint little university, the Sul Ross State University.

And so we traveled south across the Texas border through the Chihuahuan Desert, up through the Fort Davis mountains, over Wild Rose pass enjoying the harsh beauty of south Texas. The Yucca were in full bloom indicated the recent spring rains. It was a beautiful drive, a neat little town, and a pretty little campus to hold a challenging triathlon.

5am I awoke to the sound of thunder and shortly after a downpour with lightening - will they cancel? If they don't how should I layer... I talked SD into dropping me off early so I could get a good spot in the transition area. I was there at 6:30. A whole hour of people watching - but I was not nervous. It had stopped raining, and started to clear up. It was cool and sunny for the race - perfect.

The run: A three mile jaunt through the campus. Very hilly at least for this flatlands girl, but I surprised myself as I finished in 33:26 - that is roughly 11 minute miles - my best run time yet and this with some serious hills.

The Bike: A 15 mile out and back along hwy 90. A few rollers, but nothing too bad. I felt strong on the hills, though towards the end my legs were spent but I pushed through telling myself I didn't need to save them for anything. Bike split = 1:00 - you do the math. There was a short, steep hill back to transition and I had just been passed by a lady who was now pushing in a big gear, so I dropped to the smallest ring and passed her into T2 (competitive nature literally kicking into high gear).

The Swim: 360 yards of nothing but will power. I was still sucking air after my big finish off the bike. it was a bit of a walk/run uphill to the pool. My shoulders complained loudly. Note to self - seriously stick with the upper body strength training - I must hold a lot of my weight with my arms during the bike leg. So I dragged myself through the pool - sucking wind, shoulders and upper arms, not to mention spent legs complaining loudly, but I endured to the end. Swim split = 9:48:67.

Official time: 1:46:26 - First in my age group. It was a good race. Well organized - folks were nice. I'd like to come back and try it again. My body is so sore - especially my legs. The only other triathlon to date that I might have been as sore was the Xterra I did in Colorado last year.

Fan Club: It was good to have my boys there. SD didn't get crazy with his new megaphone - thank you. The boys got to walk along side the pool and wave at me when I came up for air (which was a lot). They were filthy so they had a good time playing in the dirt and mud.

I've been debating whether or not to talk about my performance compared to a certain other fellow blogger, but to be fair she has been ill for a while - so really the comparison is not fair. It did boost the ego a bit when I passed her on the run. She caught me on the bike, which I was expecting, but I passed her back on a hill which was probably not a strategic move on my part because it was close to the end and my legs were running out of juice. She passed me again and that was it. It was good for me, but like I said she's been ill so it wasn't a level playing ground. She'll smoke me the next time we race together. Still... am I spreadsheet worthy yet?

Next up Jay Benson Tri - on my 12th wedding anniversary.

Alpine or Bust!

2007-03-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

So I'm headed to Alpine, TX this afternoon. I was originally going to go solo, as SD has several weekends that he's going to be out of town and wanted to stay home to try and get some work around the house done. But - the forecast may dampen those expectations, and he asked if he and the boys could come along. I know he's itching to use his new megaphone. I considered it briefly - I was looking forward to the solo drive listening to my music and having self reflection time, but I know how much I'll miss my cheering section tomorrow - though it could be raining during the race and they'll be sheltered in the pool bldg or truck. Either way I know having them around helps my nervous factor.

Case in point. During last year's Socorro's Chili Harvest Tri - there was such a long wait to start the swim that I hung around with the athletes, then meandered over to talk to SD and the boys, then wandered back over to the athletes. I was wearing a HRM. While standing around making small talk with strangers, I noticed my heart rate was around 90. When I was near my family chatting my heart rate dropped to around 70. SD has always had that calming affect on me. I need him to come hang out in the office - especially after the week i just had...

Anyway - who am I kidding. I'll take my fan club over my music any day, plus I know I'll sleep better tonight with them there with me.

Wish me luck!

I Love to Fly.

2007-03-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I had a brief hiatus in my cold, I sat out on my deck in the morning and soaked up some sun while enjoying coffee and a good book, then that afternoon I went for a 25 mile ride. That ride was wonderful. I'm thinking that maybe it was the therapy needed during my blue winter months...
This weekend my cold turned sinus infection is about gone - thank you antibiotics. I've got the weekend to myself, but unfortunately I have to work most of today... so I'm debating whether to run this morning, and ride tomorrow or ride both days or...- my training schedule the last couple of weeks has been a make it up as I go, thanks to not feeling 100%. I'll let you know what I decide.

I love to fly!

Yet my wings are not fowl-like feathers,
But circles of man-made metal and rubber

Still I fly.

The wind rushes by tingling my skin;
Soaring high for as long as my legs can spin.

I fly high.

My mind soars as daily burdens are lost
In the noise of the wind that silences those thoughts.

I fly long.

The miles tick by as I push for more
Separating myself from life's everyday chores

I fly free.

I'm tethered to earth by mere inches on road,
As long as my heart pumps the farther I can go.

I love to fly!

My goal met, I yearn to keep going.
Yet two little voices I hear calling.

I fly home.

My flight to the nest is bitter-sweet,
but my body is revived and my mind is free.

I want to be in a Corona commercial - not for the beer, but the beach...

2007-03-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

So I'm sick again...I'm not going to dwell on it here, other than to mention that this is becoming old. I mean a cold a month for the past 3 - kind of ridiculous. I took the warning signs and ceased all physical activity and opted for the most sleep possible, yet here I am with yuck in my sinus'. I'm taking all kinds of prescript allergy meds - in case you guys are thinking I've got some allergy issues - cause ya I think I've got some allergy issues too, but a lot of good the meds seem to be doing.

Anyway... the weather forecast for the weekend looks promising, so I'm thinking I'll go for some rides both days - to help get back on track.

I've been thinking a lot about warm, sunny beaches lately. The only beach I've ever been to was in Galveston, Texas. Not really the type of beach shown on the Corona commercials. I've never been one to want to take a vacation just to lay around and do nothing on a beach, but lately the warmth and boredom sound rather appealing. Anyway no vacation in the near, distance future as I have too many deadlines at work, and I need to save my vacation for the big move - whenever that will be. So those of you taking a break - even if your just staying home during the upcoming spring break... think of me.

Better.

2007-03-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

I'm better but its still been a little blue around here. At one point I actually considered throwing in the towel. I've gotten so many comments both online and off about my sleep schedule - comments like "I don't know how you do it", comments about others waiting till their children were older and more self sufficient before training for tri's, etc. I thought maybe I'm forcing too much too soon. I had one particularly low weekend when the wind was blowing horrifically. Stayed inside all day listening to the sand blasting the walls of my house, seriously considering quitting - not because I really wanted to, but because of the toll on my body, and the strain on my mind.

Then I thought about my life right now, and realized that triathlon training is the only thing I do for me. I work full time because of our plans to take over the mother-in-laws ranch in the next couple of years. This ranch is not a huge operation that brings in thousands of dollars - its small time. It takes money to make money, and ranching doesn't make a lot of money, but its what my husband wants to do. In time, we might get into a position where I can consider a career change that may be more enjoyable. We're kind of doing this a bit backwards, originally when we got married the ranch was something we were going to assist financially from afar, but my father-in-law became ill and passed away unexpectedly almost 7 years ago and decisions had to be made about the fate of the family ranch. We decided together to step up.

Of course had we known that this was going to happen, we probably would have done things differently in those years prior to Jim's death - maybe had children earlier or something along those lines, but that is what makes life interesting I suppose. So know I have two small children that I love to death and regret not being able to stay home with them more. I spend the majority of my time being the best mom I can to them hoping I raise them to be happy, self assured and responsible, contributing members of society.

I'm also still a wife and have my wifely responsibilities to tend to as well. Honestly I haven't been doing such a great job at this lately. Thankfully I have a patient and forgiving husband, but I really need to focus a little more in this area so that my husband continues to be the patient and forgiving. He's my best friend, and really my only close friend I've had in the last few years, but i haven't been such a great friend to him... another reason i considered throwing in the towel, but he supports my training so much I know he wouldn't support me quitting...

So yeah - I'm a bit lonely and starved for companionship - especially female companionship - as we all know that no one understands us gals better than another gal. Its difficult building relationships when you live in one community and work in another. I can't even attend Wednesday night church because it starts at 6:30 and I get home between 6:15 and 6:30. I've tried to figure out a way to do it. Have sandwiches in the car for the boys to eat on the way home, and go straight to church instead of home, but it always comes back as too much. It would be too much to try and squeeze in in an already full day not to mention full week. The upcoming move (as soon as our place sells here) will solve a lot of these issues - my commute will drop from 30 miles to 11 miles one way. I'll live, work and be merry in one community. Jeff and I will be in the same town most of the time, so he can help cart the boys here and there. Currently I take them with me to Carlsbad. They go to daycare and preschool there while I work,and I pick them up and take them home. The reason for this is - I'm five minutes away from them if they get sick or something. Its hard, and sometimes Jeff's got to leave work early and drive the 30 miles to pick them up or something if I have a work obligation that goes beyond the daycare hours, but it works for now and I feel more comfortable with them being near me. When we move I won't have to carry all of the burden...

So I looked at all of this and realized that triathlon training is the only thing i do for me. I need it. It is the only exercise regimen that I've stuck to. I'm healthier and happier (in general) than i have been for several years. I can't quit this. I can't train for anything longer than sprint distances, because I don't have the time or energy to do it. 4am is the cutoff, I'm not getting up any earlier! I can't expect to make mountains of improvement in a short amount of time either, because 1 - its not realistic, 2- I don't have the time or energy to do it. I'm going to focus on making little improvements - a few seconds shaved here - a bit stronger there. I adjusted my training schedule to give myself more rest and recovery. I only get up at 4 am 2 times a week now. The rest of the week it is 5 or 5:30. The nights of my early wake up I go to bed as soon as i put the boys down. The other nights I'm trying to focus more on Jeff. I'm only running twice a week, swimming twice a week, and biking once - thanks the windy weekends. On my days off I'm committed to napping. I've revised my race goals back to just finishing and being pleasantly surprised when my times improve. I'm trying not to compare myself to others or catch up with Misty (she's training for an Ironman after all).

Three successful weeks of this so far. I've not hit that proverbial wall during my runs. I'm able to ride through the whole spinerval at the same gear ratio as the video without having a heart attack. I feel more rested and less blue. I'm noticing improvements. I've shaved about 15 seconds off of my 100 swim time. My legs are getting bigger - not necessarily a good thing as far as my jeans, but they'll look good in my tri-shorts and they'll carry me longer.

The journey to this point these last few months have not been fun, but I guess I needed to make the trip. I'm sorry that this blog has been so depressing, but it has been a good outlet for me. Winter is almost over, the days are already getting longer, and the wind will stop - it always does. I'm looking forward to going to Alpine. I hope the wind gives us a break and it is warm enough for me to show off my legs. If Jeff brings his new megaphone - I'm sorry. Of course knowing him... my face will be red in transition not necessarily because of my heart rate, but because of the combination of Jeff and the megaphone. Jeff is already looking forward to my first tri of the season... Depending on how he behaves, I may have to take back my thank you to brother-in-law Dave.

Headed to Alpine, Texas?

2007-02-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

Okay so I made this really cool training schedule to get me to the Sul Ross State University Triathlon in March. Although it looks impressive on the spreadsheet, due to the blue plague, other viral disturbances, and the overall yuckiness of winter I haven't been following it that well, but I still was looking forward to participating in the event. Then SD scheduled a fishing trip to Lake Amistad for the same weekend.

He was apologetic and was willing to try and reschedule, but I decided that as supportive as he's been in my endeavors that he was owed this trip at the very least. I was bummed, and have been trying to decided on another event. Meanwhile I've slipped a little more from the training schedule.

This morning I voiced my overall bummedness to him " I really was looking forward to going to Alpine on the 25th." "25th, of March?" He asked. "Yeah the same weekend your headed to Amistad," I replied. "No I'm going the last weekend in march the 29th, 30th, 31st and 1st of April. The triathlon is on the 25th?" He asked. "Yeah," I said wondering how we got our wires crossed. "Then you can still go!" - Oh crap I thought - I can still go but I've only got 5 weeks to get my act together and get ready. Yeah - I think.

The Course Distances: 3.1 mile run, 15 mile bike, 360 yard swim. So what to concentrate on? The Course Description: "A rolling course run with a few rises or small hills interspersed through beautiful Sul Ross campus and adjacent campus community. Bike will be out and back course on Highway 90 where a personal best is possible. The swim will take place at the Sul Ross Pool, a heated indoor facility."

The swim is a no brainer. The bike sounds flat, but I haven't been outside on two wheels since December, and the windy season has already showed its ugly head around here. The run sounds like hill work may be prudent. Anyone out there have anything to share about this course? Anyone out there planning on going?

Okay blue plague, lingering sinus type viruses and father winter - give me a break. I need to make my spreadsheet proud or at least myself happy by check marking stuff.

On another note - I'm thinking about working on my overall diet. Not diet in the since of restricting calories, but diet in the since of overall nutrition. The catch is that I'm not going to become Vegan - I'm a rancher's wife - nuff said. Chicken is more of an occasional change in pace, but obviously (rancher's wife) beef is the main course most nights. I must also inform you that the beef we consume is directly off of the range. Meaning that it is very lean. No standing around in a feed lot getting fattened up for the grocery stores. I haven't bought beef in a store in at least 10 years. Anyway another item - is that I live in small town America. Walmart is basically the only choice as far as grocery shopping - there is an Albersons where I get my fresh fruit and veggies from time to time. Final point - I don't have a lot of time. If you've read my blog at all you know that I really don't have time to cook anything extravagant. Got any ideas? I keep potatoes out of the house because they are a huge source of empty carbs and I love them too much. I use olive oil spray a lot. Fresh fruit more than fresh veggies, but again that is thanks to Walmart whose produce in my experience is inferior and doesn't last very long. Frozen veggies over canned usually. Try to buy and consume whole grain wheat. I feel like I'm setting myself up for some lectures, but I'm willing to listen - as maybe I can glean some good info or maybe some recipes.

Happy Birthday Kat!

2007-02-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

Today is my baby sister's birthday, and rather than send her a normal greeting card I thought I'd dedicate a space on my Blog for her. I got this idea from Lisa, and hope she doesn't mind me borrowing the idea. Since my sister is 30 today, I thought I'd share 30 things about her that you probably don't know.

1. She has beautiful auburn hair, that she can do anything with.
2. Her personality is true to her hair color, as she does have a temper.
3. Her blue eyes turn very green when she is angry.
4. She is very loving - which when we were young translated into touchy-feely-clingy, which of course annoyed me, and my "don't touch me" demeanor annoyed her.
5. She is very intelligent
6. She is very artistic
7. She sings very well - I always thought she should have pursued that talent more
8. She harmonizes like a pro
9. She can scat better than most Jazz pros
10. She swims like an Olympian - I aways thought she could have gone that far
11. She broke at least one high school swimming record that I know of
12. I was there when she did it.
13. She got tired of swimming and ran cross country during her senior year
14. I may have her convinced to try triathlons
15. Maybe at least as part of a relay team
16. She has the will of a competitor - nerves of steel, ice in the veins
17. She is an inspiration to me
18. She says I'm an inspiration to her - I don't know why
19. She drives like a grandmother
20. I don't think she's ever gotten a speeding ticket.
21. She and her husband throw crazy parties - especially during the month of February to celebrate their birthdays
22. She's always wanted bigger breasts
23. She pierced her belly button once
24. She conspired with me on many occasions to cheat at monopoly to beat our brother
25. He still wins
26. We didn't get along much when we both lived at home
27. After I left for college, whenever I'd come home we ended up staying up most of the night talking.
28. She is not shy - in fact the complete opposite of me.
29. I wish we lived closer to each other.
30. Her big sister is very proud of her.

Happy Birthday Kat!

Running Hills.

2007-02-12T19:34:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago - no it was maybe three weeks ago, when I came up with this great idea for getting some hill training in on my runs. I live in a relatively flat area, and decent hills to run on are around, but not within a reasonable driving distance during my small window of training time. But nearby is a water crossing. A water crossing at least in my part of the country is where instead of building a box culvert and keeping the road at roughly the same elevation, the road takes a big dip down into the draw that drains through there - they usually reinforce the surface of the road in the bottom with concrete vs. asphalt. This makes it fun to drive if you are a small child in the back seat who's mother likes to go just fast enough through the dip to make the stomachs of her little ones jump...Anyway I thought that this would be a good training device as well. So for three weeks, I've been thinking about it and this morning I gave it a try. It was my short run - 30 minutes, so I parked far enough away to get a 10 minute warm up, then I ran 10 minutes of hill intervals up and down, back and forth in the big dip.

For the first 3 minutes it seemed too easy. Maybe the dip was too short and i wasn't really getting the benefit of pain that I wanted, but then I started feeling it just a little but not too bad, heart rate was up legs were getting a little tired, but not bad. That was at 4:30am. About 12 hours later, my calves mainly the outsides and a little on the insides not the middle part (I don't know the terms without looking them up, but I can design box culverts with my eyes shut) started telling me that I did work them a bit earlier in the day. I'll do it again in a couple of weeks only go a bit longer on the interval portion. Next Monday is sprinting telephone poles...

On a side note, I'd like to mention that my sister's birthday is Friday. I haven't forgotten, but it sneeked up on me, so I won't get a card in the mail in time. I decided to send her a birthday wish via my blog, so I am currently composing it and will post on Friday (I hope). But I wanted the world to know that my baby sister is going to be 30. It doesn't seem possible, she was 12 when I left home for college, and I've been accused on more than one occasion of treating her as if she were still 12. Well - she's a very successful career woman who is happily married and enjoying her first born baby, who happens to still be my baby sister. I'm one proud big sister. Love you Girl!

Warning - part of this post is about Poop!

2007-02-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

Okay - so I'm tired of whining, and I'm ready to laugh. I hope this story makes the corners of your mouth turn up a little.

3:30am - my 3 year old wakes me up. I sit up and pick him up to take him back to his bed when i realize he is not wearing any pants or underwear. "Where's your pants?" No answer. "Did you pee in your bed?" "No," he whispers. I'm thinking he did and how I so look forward to changing sheets at 3:30am. In his room with just the night light on, I feel for wetness in his bed - dry. I find new pants and underwear, dress him put him pack into his bed with some milk and some music. I find his previously worn underwear and do a wetness check - dry. His pj pants are still in the bathroom I check for wetness thinking he dribbled a little - common occurrence with young, potty trained boys. Dry. Huh?

Didn't spend much time thinking about it and went back to bed. Only to be woke up again 30 minutes later. "Whats wrong," I ask. "I want to sleep with you," he whispers. "No you have to sleep in your own bed, like a big boy," I say as I get up again and carry him back. Fortunately he stills has his pants on this time.

It wasn't 30 minutes later and he was back. This time I was convinced he had a stomach ache or nightmares or something, and I frankly didn't care to keep repeating this, so I let him climb in bed with me. He went to sleep and while I was dosing off - my husband decides to get up and get ready for his day trip to Tucumcari. We had loaded a stock trailer full of mostly his crap, some of my crap that we haven't used in a while. He took said trailer and oldest son. All I can say is that I'm glad its me not him that gets up at 4 in the morning to train, because it were him - he'd be dead. He can't get dressed in the dark. He can't sit in a chair to put his socks on, just the bed. Maybe he has no clue how quiet I try to be when I'm getting ready for a training session, because he's never been woken up. Anyway... Even though I was awakened by my sweet super dad, three year old wasn't.

They left and I dosed back to sleep wondering if it would just be for 30 minutes as my three year old consistently wakes up at 6am. I woke at 7:45 with a crick in my neck, and shortly after the three year old woke up.

After my first few sips of coffee I asked him what happened to his pants last night. He proceeded to tell me he "pooped in my bed." Scary music is now screeching in my ears. OMG did I make my son sleep with a turd, I'm thinking as I practically run to his room.

Fortunately - no turd is found, and I reexamined his underwear in the light. Yes there in the light were signs of said poop. I'm still not clear on the story, and will probably never be as we are talking about a 3 year old. Either he did poop in his pants while in bed and then took care of it. Or he woke up and pooped in the appropriate place, but since he is 3 the whole wiping concept - well we're still working on.

Now that I've started off my day with a bit of motherhood humor, plus the sun is shining - I'd like to say thank you to the few of you that keep coming back and commenting on my blog - especially when I'm down in the dumps and whining. I'd like to end this post with the lyrics of a song that tends to hit home when I'm stuck in a funk.

Touch - by Layton Howerton

A thorn, a rose

A blessing I suppose

An all seeing eye

Not mine to question or wonder why

For the hem, of Your garment

Lord, I am reaching up

In just one moment

You can remove from me this cup

So Lord, I am asking

And I am praying

You said seek and ye shall find

Oh, in my suffering

I am knocking

With all of my heart, soul and knuckles combined

For Your -

Touch

Your grace and mercy

Love and pity

A miracle, a sign

Lord, I claim Your promise as mine

Through the very finger of God

We are healed by Him

And I choose to be a victor, not a victim

So Lord, I am asking
And I am praying
You said seek and ye shall find
Oh, in my suffering
I am knocking
With all of my heart, soul and knuckles combined
For Your -

Touch

Blue...

2007-01-31T20:49:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about it. Trying to decide if it is lack of sleep, over training, stressed out or what that is affecting my training. I wanted to blame it on the sleep. Its an easy excuse. In fact I started writing a post where I lay out my day hour to hour to show the public just how pathetic my sleep habits are, but as I wrote it down I realized that my schedule is basically the same as it was a year ago when I started this craziness. If anything I'm getting more sleep because my youngest child is past the "building immunity" stage and is finally sleeping through the night more consistently. So I really have to stop the complaining about lack of sleep, sure 7-8 hours would be wonderful, but that is not possible at this point in my life. Of course I'm getting over my second cold in 30 days, which points to low immunity which points to lack of rest...

Over training - that statement makes me laugh. My training so far this year has been real hit and miss, sure I've had intense weeks and yes I did have two days a week where I essentially worked out in a different discipline every 8 hours, but my weekends for the most part have been almost completely training free. I've changed the schedule up a bit so that I get more than 8 hours of recuperation between sessions, although I have yet to complete a full week of workouts. It can't be over training.

Stress - I'm still thinking that this has at least a little bit to do with it. When you are in a stressed environment, your muscles don't relax. Unrelaxed muscles IMHO would possibly need more recovery time - maybe? The work situation is getting better as we've been juggling projects for 6 weeks now, and everybody is closer to being on the same page. I've still got a lot of projects of my own that I'm working, but I think I can see a tiny little speck of light down there at the end of the tunnel.

I actually think my training problems are linked to two different things. Those of you that know me or are good at reading people through their blogs, may have figured out that I struggle with depression. It is a mild depression and it has plagued me since my adolescent years. Like many people, I get a bit blue in the winter. It is somehow related to sun exposure. If I can get out in the sun and fresh air - it helps my outlook. Some of my depression is hormonal - enough said about that. I think some of it, at least right now, is due to the fact that I am pretty isolated. My life revolves around my work and my family. Not much time for other social interaction, and even though I am slightly introverted :-) I still need that interaction - not getting much girlfriend time.

Okay so I'm a little depressed, but I think I also have put too much expectation on myself with my training goals. Basically I want to get fast and get fast right now darn it. So when I see no improvement, I get frustrated. I know better. I know it takes time, but sometimes - well , okay sometimes I just want to be really good at something. That is a childish statement, I know but I can't help but think it every once in a while. It is hard to see yourself as others see you. People can tell you that you do a good job, or you are a great mom, or whatever, but without something to measure for yourself - you just wonder. A race is an easy measuring stick. You know how fast you can run, but the fact that it is easy to measure - makes it easy to be that much harder on yourself. Anyway - hope you're following me as I sort of dive off a deep end here.

So I've got to ease up on myself a little, both in the physical and the mental realm and figure out some training goals that are challenging yet realistic - maybe some little short term goals to give my self confidence a boost here and there. I've not done any training since last Thursday due to this cold I have. It is on its way out and I've gotten some extra rest in - thanks to my closet care taker husband - shh don't tell anyone. I plan to start back on the training path Monday, and even though it has been unusually cold and wet this winter - this is New Mexico and spring is just around the corner.

A Little Stress?

2007-01-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

I bombed out on my run today. This is the second week that I've had a bad run. The first half seems fine, then I run out of gas.

I was thinking about it this morning as I was struggling during my second half of my run. Have I created a training schedule that is too much? Am I getting sick? Could work be affecting my training?? It is only Wednesday and here's how it has gone this week. Monday the alarm went off at 4am. I got up and felt less than 100% - sore throat, a little congestion. Decided to get back in bed for an hour. Good choice as it was icy that morning. Tuesday morning - alarm goes off at 4am, and I lay there and debate with myself about my morning session for 15 minutes... get up and barely get through 35 minutes of my 45 minute spinerval (Suffer-o-Rama). My heart rate spiked and I actually felt a little nauseous. Got off the bike and stretched for the remaining 10. Went to the pool last night for the first time since the Polar Bear and swam 900 - with the main set being 4x100 with 1 minute rest. Was a little winded, but my times hadn't slipped. It felt good. Got up at 4am this morning, bundled up and went for a run - ran out of gas...

Last week had a similar scenario only without the pool session, but had a great long run on Friday...

Since my boss was diagnosed and has been out of the office, my workload has increased considerably. I haven't been working more hours per say, as I have been managing my time very well - although a lot more is packed into those hours. My stress level has increased considerably as I'm making decisions on projects I'm not very familiar with. I feel I'm managing the stress well, as the exercise is a good way to relieve the stress. But maybe I'm not getting enough recovery time due to the stress? Not relaxing enough at work to allow the muscles to regenerate? Increased stress = higher fatigue and my sleep habits have not changed, ie I'm sleeping well but only 5-6 hours a night.

I think I'm going to alter my training schedule for the next 4 weeks and see if that helps. Currently I'm running on MWF mornings, indoor biking TTH mornings, swimming TTH evenings, supposed to have a long bike on the weekend - but weather and scheduling has prevented that so far. Plus trying to get core workouts during the days at work (took my ball to my office) that has not been successful as I seem to be running from the moment I walk in until the moment I walk out and don't realize how much time has passed until my alarm goes off in the evening.

I'm considering changing it so that I run MF am, core TTH am, swim TTH pm, indoor bike W am, indoor bike or long bike on the weekend.

Getting more sleep is probably needed, but is next to impossible - as there just aren't enough hours in the day to be a full time engineer, full time mom and wife, and train for sprint distance triathlons, oh yeah plus my hour commute every day. I try to get naps in on the weekends, but as we have a ranching business, and are trying to sell our place - weekends are full too.

Anyway just working through the issues here, hope I don't sound whiny. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Until next time....

Tag You're It

2007-01-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by Lisa.

This is how it goes
1. Find the nearest book.
2. Name the book & the author.
3. Turn to page 123.
4. Go to the fifth sentence on the page. Copy out the next three sentences and post to your blog.
5. Tag three more folks.

Okay - you guys know how busy I am, so first of all I didn't want to hang this thing up, but I tried to cheat and wait till I was at home with free time to blog - well that isn't happening real soon, so then I decided to try and do it during my quickie lunch break - unfortunately that means I'm going to bore you guys to death...

Nearest book: next to the final draft of a "Preliminary Engineering Report for Otis MDWC & SWA by me.

sentences 6 through 8:

"Alternative No. 2: Purchase one additional public water supply well. The additional water would not only provide needed backup for the existing supply but would also enable the Association to resume selling memberships once additional water rights are obtained. This would most likely involve purchasing a farm with its associated well and water rights."

So now I have to tag three people... okay Colorado Corner, Geek Girl, and Jbmmommy

on a personal note - going out of character and bragging a bit - check out this news article. for those of you that don't know me - trying to get up the gumption to meet someone on my own initiative is difficult as my blogger name suggests - right Geek Girl? So you can imagine how difficult it was for me to be the presenting engineer during a very heated and controversial special session of the city council. Right before the presentation I was self talking - telling myself that if I can do triathlons, I can do this.

Brag List

2007-01-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me just say... AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Work has been busy - understatement of the New Year. It has taken me three days to compose this post.

Boss is fairing okay, starts second round of Chemo on Monday...

Okay - now to the goodies.
I got:
1. Blackburn TrakStand Fluid Trainer. Thanks SuperDad - I love you!
2. Cool Tifosi Pave sunglasses that actually arrived early enough I got to try them out during the Polar Bear. Thanks Secret Santa - only the best brother in the world!
3. Sure to be used heavily "The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair for Road and Mountain Bikes". Thanks - Mary from work!
4. Some silk long johns for those cold runs and rides - thanks Shytrigirl - your Awesome!

Now I'd like to take some time to share with you the cool gift that SuperDad got from his Secret Santa - my brother-in-law. The following note was included with the gift kit and it explains the gift perfectly. He put a lot of thought into the gift, and although it is for SuperDad it obviously was for me too. Thanks Dave!

Update...

2006-12-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Ours was fun and relaxing. After I posted last week, I got a terrible head cold that resulted in a yucky sinus infection... I'm better now, but I've gone 10 days without training or any form of exercise... that will change today.

Anyway - My boss is home after his first chemo session. He's supposed to stop in today for a few minutes. Also the CEO of the company practically begged (my exaggeration) me to stay in the area for a while. Meaning that if in the off chance that our 240 acre ranchette sells in record time (not!) that he will pay for a rental to keep me here for a few months. At least I know where I'll be for the next few months.

In my free time (ha, ha), I'm working on my winter-to-spring training plan. Santa was good to me and I got an indoor bike trainer, so I will be able to keep my bike training up during these dark days. I did not get a spinverval DVD - so suggestions would be helpful. Oh yeah - although I haven't melted it down yet... I may actually return it, but the quick release binder bolt is off for good, and the seat position has be reset.

Status...

2006-12-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

My boss was diagnosed with cancer this past Thursday. He's in Stage 4 and started an aggressive first phase of chemo this morning. I work in a very small office (5 including him). Our office is one of 5 scattered around the state. All in all the whole company has maybe 30 employees. I say all this to help you realize what kind of impact this diagnosis is on our office and our company. I've been expecting this for a while, as I've had a gut feeling that his persistent cough over the past year is much more than just allergies...

Anyway - he is also one of those folks who averages 60-80 hour weeks and keeps a lot of info in his head. So we're trying to figure out how to fill the gap (hopefully temporarily, but realistically- permanently).

Also our house and land are now officially listed for sale...which means extra effort will have to be made to keep it some what clean until it is sold.

I say all of this to inform my readership - that my blog may be neglected for a while... although I may still use it to vent my frustrations and emotions of dealing with this new chapter in my life. I plan to keep training and I have a tentative 2007 race schedule in mind because after almost a year of this triathlon stuff, I now need it. I was in Walmart the other day (not my favorite place in the world, but the only place to shop in my world) trying to remain calm and friendly. I actually imagined myself running or biking and the quiet solitude I get during those training sessions. I will need these times more than ever for the next few weeks.

Please keep my boss, Dennis, and his family in your prayers. Also please send a prayer or two for me every once in a while. Our impending move is now more complicated than it was supposed to be, as I'm an now very much needed in my current office as well as the Tucumcari office. Its nice to be needed, but hopefully not torn in half.

In case I don't get a chance top post again before Christmas, please have a Merry one and take a moment to remember it is not about us, but about our Savior and Lord - Jesus Christ.

Polar Bear Triathlon - Lessons Learned

2006-12-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

I told my husband I'd let it go, but I guess until I work through it here I can't let it go.... be forewarned this may be long.

Lessons Learned:
1. Don't try anything new during a race (this should be a Duh!, but I had a blond moment).
2. Full pedal stroke = efficient power; hardly full pedal stroke = serious lack of power and extreme rage.
3. Listen to that little voice in your head that says - "I'm not too sure about this..."
4. In the grand scheme of things.... its just a race against yourself.

Report:
I was not nervous. I've thought about it a lot since Saturday morning, and I realized that I was not nervous before the race. Even while waiting in the security check point line forever... even during the security check point line while waiting forever when I got a yucky nose bleed. My husband started to get a little nervous... but I just made a mental note to take a bunch of tissue in case it started again during the race.

It was probably mid to upper 30's, overcast with a very slight breeze that had a chill, but it was not cold! Yeah! I set up my transition area next to Drew Cary and his not participating pals. Walked the path to the pool, found the ladies room, listened to the pre-race briefing, walked back to my transition area and got kicked by Drew. Yes kicked. He was doing some knee-jerk type stretching and kicked back his foot right as I walked up. Smack into my shin. He apologized and I said it was my fault for walking up behind him (behind a mule is what I thought, but I'm not Geek Girl, though I imagine being more brazen like her.)

Wandered over to the pack congregating at the run start. Noticed two or three girls wearing a lot of pink. One girl - I wasn't sure if she was a competitor or spectator as I thought she was too "put together" to be a competitor, but who am I - I can't even remember if I brushed my teeth before we left the hotel. The proverbial "Go" was shouted and I started in the middle of the pack. A first for me, since I figure I'll be in the back anyway might as well start there. Not this time, as I was feeling confident and decided to start in the middle of it all. Sure I was passed by probably the majority of the crowd, but I felt good. It wasn't very long into the run when I realized I was keeping pace with one of the pink girls. Louisa was only wearing a pink sweatshirt and not trying to win a modeling contract so her company was a nice distraction. She was nice and chatty, didn't seem to mind me not being the chatty type, but I did good and tried to respond with intelligent sounding noises. We kept pace together through mile two where I bid her farewell and picked up the pace. Yes I wrote that right, I picked up the pace at mile two. I felt great, exhilarated - think I actually had an epiphany at least as far as my overall thoughts and feelings about running. I passed at least three people and ran into transition with a smile on my face. Jeff said I looked a lot better, no red face, no stiff running form I keep trying to focus on that and not the next part... Oh yeah, and Drew was sitting next to his bike eating a bananna - Dude this is a race, lets go. I'm sure he passed me on the bike though, because almost everyone passed me on the bike... I'm trying to let it go.

The bike. I came into the race knowing that my bike leg would not be as strong as it has been for me in the past. I focused on the run during the last 8 weeks of training and just tried to maintain on the bike. I knew it would be slower. I did not know it would be this bad.

Okay - I come from a mountain biking background. Mountain bikes have a quick release on the seat. The reason is really for adjusting your seat per your terrain - not for taking it off and putting it in your locker (so I've heard). Anyway one day before I got my bike carrier, I was trying to stuff my road bike into the back of my Jeep Cherokee without putting the back seats down because I had to haul my bike and my toddler boys at the same time. I got it in, but the seat was an issue - if it had a quick release... are you following me here. So I ordered a quick release binder bolt, it arrived last week. I opened the box and immediately installed it on my bike. I had trouble getting it tight enough (first warning sign). I worked on it more and felt okay. Didn't really think about it anymore until Saturday morning in the hotel. I've been having a bad rash of flat tires lately, and was more worried and preoccupied about having a flat during the race, so I spent the little free time I had on Friday before we headed to Las Cruces, changing yet another flat and making sure I packed enough CO2 cartridges to get me through the race. At the last minute I grabbed the original seat binder bolt and packed it (the fact that I thought about this was my second warning sign).

Saturday morning before we left the hotel room I asked Jeff if he could move the seat of my bike. He's a big, stout boy and he said it was fine. The fact that it was bothering me that morning was my third and final warning sign.

The beginning of the bike leg was a long downhill, and I was feeling good. I was worried about getting cold on the bike leg and was realizing that this was not going to happen. I passed a girl on a mountain bike right before the first hill. She immediately passed me on the hill, and I started wondering if something was wrong. A few miles later I really started to feel like something was wrong, but I could quite figure it out. I kept glancing down at my tires checking for flats, but that was not the problem. A couple miles later I wondered if maybe my seat had slipped. I stopped and sure enough it had. I pulled it out and re-tightened and started again. Only for it to keep slipping. Do you know how hard it is to pedal up a hill when your seat has bottomed out. Not only does it hurt, it is the most frustrating thing in the world. You pedal your heart out with no results.

I think most of the last half of the 30k was a long, gradual hill. One of those hills that looks like it should be flat, but must be a hill because you are working so hard with no results. About mile 15 I was so angry with myself. I was envisioning stopping, picking up my bike and hurling it into the ditch. I got over myself and didn't hurl my bike. I just accepted fate and kept doing the best I could do in the circumstances I was in. I finally made it back to transition where my anxious husband was waiting. Even he knew something was wrong... Although I was not cold, my feet were both numb, so after stripping down to my shorts and sports bra I hobbled to the pool.

Oh the relief! The water was so warm. I jumped in and swam a relaxed 400. I concentrated on my stroke and not my time. I did not get out of breath and I did not have to resort to breast stroke.

Final unofficial time 2:18:something. This one is definitely on the race calendar for next year. I may weld my seat post in place for it, but I'll be back. Oh and you are all invited to my melt down party. One little quick release binder bolt has crossed the wrong Shytrigirl!

Control Freak!

2006-12-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

I know I am. I can't help it. It is in my genes. I don't like my Mother-in-Law help me in the kitchen, because she doesn't fill the dishwasher right, she doesn't put stuff up where it goes. I mean seriously isn't it obvious that the little forks don't go in the same slot as the big forks? I not quite as hard on my mom, but she's probably where I got my control freak genes from. She at least makes an effort to keep the forks separated.

Anyway when I feel like I'm losing control, or I'm out of control, it stresses me out. I know and I strongly believe that in the big picture I'm not the one in control, but we're talking about my perception here... Sometimes though I think I start to freak out before control is really lost, which is what I'm doing now. So I'm going to work through this and get my perspective back on track.

Friday's I don't usually work. I'm supposed to be working at home, but I usually get my time in in little pieces over the whole weekend. This Friday I've got to go to a bid opening for one of my projects, and prepare a recommendation for the City council. This should be a no brainer, but this project is cursed. This is the second time we've gone to bid, the city has limited funds - its extremely possible the bids will be too high if we actually do get any bids this time. Plus I've got a doctor's appointment that morning for the boys, and I live 30 miles from the doctor and work. So I've been debating about driving back and forth for the two events, how to handle the babysitting - bring them in with me to Day Care - leave them with a neighbor...then I start freaking out about missed naps, then we're leaving that evening for Las Cruces for my race the next morning - Oh yeah and I've got to do laundry, figure out and pack my gear and clothes for everyone else. Are we going to eat on the road, or should I pack something. Oh yeah and I've got to get a new tube and change a flat on my bike, and... should I go swimming tonight or stay home and get some of this stuff done because my Friday is pretty much screwed up. Ahhh! I was going to leave early today so that I could get some stuff done before heading to the pool, but alas this is going to be a day from hell and I've got a late afternoon meeting that will not be short and so leaving early is no longer an option. Work really gets in the way of life. Oh yeah - need to check and see if I won the Lottery...

Deep Breath.

Okay obviously I need a stress release, so I have to go swimming. I'll just do a quick 400 and head back home. The neighbor will be happy to watch the boys tomorrow afternoon, so I've got time before the doctor's appointment (because we get up so early anyway - thanks to youngest son) and in between (hopefully) coming home and leaving for work again to pack. If the boys miss their naps it will probably be a blessing as they will sleep for most of the trip to Cruces tomorrow night. Screw packing something to eat, trying to be supermom is an unrealistic expectation (ha ha). I'll pick up some tubes today, and I can probably sweet talk SD into changing my flat for me or we can do it at the hotel tomorrow night.

The weather looks good so far. Looks like 31 degrees with a 3mph wind from the SSW, that is doable. No blizzards in the forecast. I'll ponder over my gear selection during my day from hell today, so that I can be an efficient packer. I'm feeling better now that I worked through this. The alarm sounding in my head -"Danger, Danger Shytrigirl, Danger"- is fading. Pray for good bids, quick doctor visit, good weather, and safe driving.

Is it Winter Yet?

2006-12-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

So we got snow down here in the Desert Wednesday night. I missed my last (probably) opportunity to run in warm pre dawn temps (upper 20's to mid 30's) Wednesday morning because of sleep issues, as I opted to sleep in and try to add an hour to my almost two I got that night. Yes last week was another week of sleeplessness due to various reasons previously posted among others.

That night we had a blizzard. Yes it was windy as hell, snowy and down right cold. We probably only got an inch or two (this is the desert after all). Anyway it hasn't warmed up that much since the storm. I opted to skip Friday morning's run too as it was 18 degrees out, but vowed to make it up on Saturday and get my long bike in on Sunday. Low and behold, Saturday morning comes with a viscous north wind. I paced the house for about an hour or so debating on getting out in it. Finally decided to suck it up and do it. It wasn't too bad other than it was extremely windy and cold. I got home with an "ice cream" headache, but faired well otherwise. Just got in the shower when my surveyors called with some "concerns", so ended up getting back out in that awful north wind for another couple of hours anyway.

Sunday it was beautiful. Cold, but beautiful. Before church, Jeff and I moved hay. He picked up a trailer load for his mom a few weeks ago, and she brought her trailer this weekend. We had to move it bale by bale from one trailer to the next. Fortunately these were old bales so they only weighed about 35lbs vs 50lbs for green bales. Good core workout. That afternoon I layered up and got on the bike. Put in 21 miles. It was probably 35 degrees with a slight breeze out of the NE. Cold enough that I had snot issues the whole time; won't go into details. At about mile 15 my feet had had enough and started to protest by hurting. I was having some slight numbness in the toes - typical of my long rides, but they started proclaiming loudly at mile 15 that it was not the typical numbness...it was cold Darn it! Needless to say the last 5 miles were uncomfortable and it hurt like heck to hobble into the house. Fortunately SD was there to the rescue and lovingly rubbed warmth and feeling back into by frozen feet. Everything else stayed relatively warm, so my mission this week should I choose to accept it... to find thin, wool socks or silk sock liners. Finding these items will be difficult as I live in rural America where Walmart reigns and athletic stores are few and far between, but I will search none-the-less as I've got 6 days till the Polar Bear.

Oh I must mention this... My Mother-in-Law is here this weekend to help us celebrate my youngest's 3rd birthday. Can't believe he's three already, but... Anyway I was gone for about an 1.5 hours on the bike. As I was getting my feet rubbed by SD she asked me if I rode to the highway and back. The highway and back is almost 7 miles. I almost laughed, but caught myself as I thought that it wasn't very long ago that it took me about an hour to ride to the highway and back... so instead of laughing I just said, "I rode 21 miles." Hers eyes bugged out and she gasped "21 miles!" It was the icing on the cake.

Wish List for my Secret Santa

2006-11-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

This post is specifically for my Secret Santa or others who want to get me things triathlon related.

Dear Secret Santa,
I've tri-ed my best to be a good girl this year, and if I'm on your good girl list would you please consider some of the following items to bring me.
In no particular order...

Fist Gloves size medium

FuelBelt size XL

Road ID - If this strikes your fancy, email me for the pertinent info to have engraved.

Profile Design Airstryke 2000 Aero Bar or Profile Century Bar - you can find these at Nashbar.com or Performance Bicycle - or if you have cool local bike shop in your area...

Bike Headlight get the highest candlepower you can afford. It needs to be able to fit on an oversized handlebar.

Aqua Sphere Kaiman Jr. or Small swim goggles. I have a pair - these are awesome, but you know how things wear out...

Wind Resistant Biking Vest like this or similar. Size L.

Illuminite makes cool stuff here are a few things I like - Beanie or neck gator or cap

I wouldn't mind trying a pair of these sunglasses or some with multi-lenses

Also if you can find a pair of size 9.5 Saucony 3D Grid Hurricane 7 shoes in your price range - grab em! or at least tell me about it so I can grab em.

Oh yeah I'd love to see this What It Takes movie.

Or check out the books and/or video reviews from Trifuel.com for some training/inspiration type material.

These are just a few ideas...LOL

I'll add more as I think of them. I linked to particular web sites, but feel free to shop around. Also you can check out TriPorts.com for all kinds of ideas. Since you are were you are (secret Santa who lives in the state mostly underwater), there may be some cool bike or triathlon specific shops.

Added 12/1... Lap Counter

Thanksgiving Weekend Report.

2006-11-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

Not really Triathlon related, but who cares.

When Jeff and I got married we alternated holidays with our respective families. I think a lot of people do this and it is a fair system. As time has passed, holidays have just become too... well not fun- at least for me. The whole family thing - lets face it - is overrated. The Walton's are gone. Holidays are for kids. I have lots of good childhood memories, some not so good, of time spent with grandparents or aunts/uncles at a particular Thanksgiving or Christmas. Now that I'm a mom - I see how much work can be involved into making said holiday memorable, and I think memories can be made without so much work. I'm not just talking about the work that goes into the food preparation, I'm talking about the work that goes into traveling, sleeping in a strange place, getting along with everyone, sharing bathrooms, the remote...

Last year I got fed up. I'm known in my family as the peace-maker. I didn't ask for this job, its just part of my personality and my "I wish my family was like the Walton's or the Engels" pipe dream in the sky. I told Jeff that now that we have children, we're going to do fun stuff on the holidays. Whose ever family's turn it is to spend the holiday with - well they are invited, but that is it. Oh and Christmas - at least until Santa is outgrown- is at home because how else can Santa find you on Christmas.

This Thanksgiving my little family - Jeff, the boys and myself headed to Lake Amistad for the long weekend. We took our boat and stayed in a friend's RV that he keeps down there. Prior to our trip, I baked a ham (we're having Turkey for Christmas), cooked a butt load of pinto beans, made some chili to go with some of those beans, baked cookies and brownies and packed it all up. Noon on Thanksgiving Day we tied off on a little island, let the boys throw rocks, and wade in the water then we had chili and beans with tortillas and chocolate chip cookies. Back at camp that evening we had our ham, beans, cheesy hash brown potatoes, and apples. We slept in, explored the lake, and various shores of the lake. We played in playgrounds, watched movies, and ate cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Jeff caught enough fish to satisfy the bug for a little while, and we had lots of stress free fun. Came back refreshed with tanned faces and are already brainstorming for next year's trip. It was still a lot of work preparing for the trip and cleanup afterwards, but we did not experience crazy crowds at airports or malls, traffic was light as not many head to Del Rio, TX for the holidays, and there were not family issues other than the normal stuff of 3 & 4 year old antics.

Although it was tempting to take my bike and I would have had a scenic ride, I left it at home for the sake of quality time with family. I did get in a long, slow run on Friday that was chocked full of hills believe it or not. I'm trying to figure out now, how to salvage my training plan as I have less than two weeks until the Polar Bear Tri. I'm resolved to the fact that I will have a slower time as I've not spent much time on the bike since The Stealth Tri and my average speed has dropped. I also have not gotten as much pool time as I liked since the Carlsbad Pool did not open as scheduled and work and life gets in the way of Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I have been extremely consistent with my running and hope that at least my run time will be improved. I guess I'll make that a goal for the race - improved run time. The rest is there for the experience.

I Love This State!

2006-11-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

Despite the windy nature of the state, I still love living here in New Mexico. It is so diverse both in topography and in people. Work took me North last week to Wagon Mound of all places. I spent Thursday night in Las Vegas and headed up the road to Wagon Mound the next morning. Drove home that afternoon. I was by myself so I was able to look out my windows instead of looking towards the backseat (where the little ones are strapped in). I love that area up there - rolling, grassy hills with he Rocky Mountains in view towards the west. I love how you go from grasslands, to cedar covered relief, to grassy plains with Cholla interspersed, to mesquite and yucca covered dessert. I've traveled the central to eastern side of the state quite a bit in my lifetime, I've been to the southwest portion a couple of times, and the northwest a couple of times and would like to explore more of the west side some day. Each region is so different from the others - makes traveling more interesting.

In addition to enjoying the terrain during my trip, I also noticed that I view things with a triathlon eye as well. Driving between Romeroville and Pastura along U.S. 84 pre-1937 Rt. 66, there are signs pointing to Anton Chico and Pintada. My thoughts as I passed these little turnoffs like these used to be - I'd like to drive that road someday to I'd like to ride down that road sometime. Also all my planning and packing ideas/attitudes have changed as well. Pre-triathlon me would have looked forward to sleeping in and dining well during my overnight stay at the Historic Plaza Hotel in Downtown Las Vegas. Instead I packed my running gear, planned my morning so that I could get a 48 minute run in before I had to leave for my meeting in Wagon Mound. I was on the streets of Las Vegas at 6am Friday morning, enjoying the change of scenery as well as the fact that it was no cooler than my normal morning runs have been. The change in altitude (+3000 ft) didn't seem to bother me, but it was a hard run do to the numerous elevation changes, ie hills a lot of them.

Aquaman!

2006-11-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this guy for a while now, but during this past Thursday's swim I actually was formulating this post in my head. Okay, so Aquaman is this older guy that swims every Tuesday and Thursday evening at roughly the same time I swim. He wears a long sleeve compression shirt or something like that and it is yellow, the only thing he has in common with aquaman. He also wears compression shorts and black goggles with grey tint - no cap. He does not drill or do varying timed sets (as far as I can tell). He just gets in and swims - very slowly. Okay I have been really working on drills for the past 4 weeks, trying to improve my form. I've been working on Total Immersion drills, and for those who are familiar these are intended to be done in a slow, relaxed manner. I am also the queen of consistency as my 100 times is consistently 2:30 give or take a few hundredth. This is slow - no Olympic gold hopeful here, just consistency slow. I lap Aquaman during my drill sets.

The problem is his form, I do not claim to be an expert, but from my limited knowledge of swimming technique, his form stinks. When he freestyles his arm enters the water and basically stops. I think he just lifts his arm out of the water, slaps it into the water, then lifts it back up again. His kick - practically non-existent. He also swims the butterfly for almost a 25 yard length, usually finishes the last 10 yards with breast stroke. His version of the butterfly is that of a suicidal butterfly. His breast stroke - he does not fully stroke - we're talking quadriplegic frog here. I do not mean to critize; in some sense I actually admire him. He keeps coming and swimming every T&TH and doesn't care what his stroke looks like or what others think. Unlike me, who constantly wonders/worry what other's think about my style and efficiency. The pool manager finally asked me what the heck I was doing - after about 3 weeks of doing a lot of underswitch and zipperswitch drills. She was very complementary though; "you look so fluid and smooth." "I can tell you are getting faster." This boosted my ego a bit even though the clock is still calling me the queen of consistency slow.

On another note - what is up with the wind? It is November, my least favorite month, and the wind is blowing like it is March making this month even more miserable. I delayed my bike workout until this morning, due to the fact that the dirt was already being blown to Texas by 8am yesterday morning. The goal was to get in as long of a ride as possible before church. It was beautiful and calm, but cold. By the time I gathered and donned enough layers it was no longer calm but slightly breezy. No problem, I was so worried about freezing my backside off that the breeze did not bother me. I stayed warm and for the first half of the ride - no complaints, then I turned around to head home and what the heck, but the slight breeze was now a decent gust. Nothing like riding against the wind all the way home. I was comfortable temperature-wise until I turned around and the breeze chilled my perspiring self. I got home and hit the shower and much of my normally white body was that patchy red color and all the fat areas were ice cold, and I live in the freaking dessert. I hate being cold. I think what irritated me most besides the fact that the wind always gets windier during a ride, is that I'm riding the first half unaware of the wind that is pushing me faster - so I'm feeling real good about myself and patting myself on the back for how fast I'm riding, only to turn around and wonder for the entire length of the ride how fast I would have ridden if the wind wasn't pushing me. I kept telling myself this was good practice, that the Polar Bear could be windy. Later that morning while I was making record time getting ready for church, SD asked what I wanted for Christmas - "A bike trainer!" Yes a trainer would be nice on these cold, windy days, but also on those days that I miss training because he's out of town and such... Need advice on what to look for in a trainer...

Addict?

2006-11-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

Okay - so I'm an addict without knowing. You've heard the term runner's high, well I never feel "high" in the sense of stupid euphoric feelings or whatever, but I do feel energized and have a sense of accomplishment after my morning workouts be it running or biking or swimming (back in those days I had a pool to swim in before work...). Its nice to hit the shower at 5:30 and know that I'm done with my day's workout, but I never associated all of these positive feelings with a "high". As I've discovered lately, I do have inactivity blues. I would have never thought that this level of constant exercise would affect my mood so dramatically, but wow - two days without and I'm needing prozac.

Life is so busy right now that I don't know what we're going to do if it slows down...SD was gone again this weekend hauling stuff up north and hay back home. I couldn't get my long bike ride in this weekend as I had the youngest - although I had planned on hooking the kiddy trailer up to the mountain bike and taking him with me, but we didn't get to it between everything else we did. I did get my house superclean which has a prozac-like affect on this obsessive-compulsive freak, but I was a bit down in the dumps last evening. Then up at 4am for this morning's run and whamo the sky is no longer falling. Oh - and did I mention I forgot to set my alarm... I just woke up at 4am - I think I'm entering a new dimension here. Actually to be honest - this waking up at 4 has been happening a lot. I've notice for almost two weeks that I'm pretty consistently waking up at 3:55 (only on run days) - is this the behavior of an addict? My body is hooked to the elevated endorphins and wakes itself up in time for another fix. Hmm.

This is good right. What if I miss 3 days or 4 days, will I start having withdrawal symptoms, get the shakes, have thoughts of jumping off bridges... (dry humor)
I'm stuck now. Can't quit now or I might sink into oblivion. Solution to inactivity blues - at least 30 minutes of activity resulting in zone 2-3 heart rate, 6 days a week.

Goals for 2007...?

Halloween...Week 4... Struggling...Recovery Week

2006-10-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

Okay - I knew better, but I couldn't help myself. I figured, hey four weeks of successful run focused training (okay I've missed a few strength sessions, a swim here and there, shortened a bike or two, but not missed or cheated a single run session) lets check the scale. No! You scream - Not Yet! Yes I did and no change. Frustrating as I've been stuck here for a while. Big hit to the self esteem - trying not to let it bother me, but it is.

Yes I've even had second thoughts about the Polar Bear. It will be cold, what if its cold and windy, what if... Anyway so I'm whiney and a little discouraged. Plus the Carlsbad pool that was scheduled to reopen November 1, is not going to open until the end of the year. So I'm stuck with my two nights a week when I can...
I'm worried that I'm not going to really improve much with all this running. My swimming probably won't improve much, because I can't get the pool time I need - too many evening council meetings, Halloween, SD being gone a lot..., I've cut my bike time a bit - due to the cold, and the dark and the extra running. I'm trying my darnedest to get a long ride in on the weekends - did 21 miles last Saturday. But is it enough - or will my bike performance slow... Will my run be improved at all, or enough to even notice? I'm sorry - just whining.

Just having one of those moments or several of those moments where I feel inadequate and totally out of control. I just don't have enough time in the day to get it all done. There is the stuff I want to do, the stuff I need to do, the stuff I have to do, the stuff I dream about doing, and then a few hours of sleep - if youngest sleeps all night, SD doesn't have a snoring session from hell, the dogs don't bark at coyotes all night, no muscle cramps or heartburn...

When I was in my twenties, I took life too seriously and didn't have much fun. Truth be told I was bored a lot. I hate being bored, but I think about those days with a bit of regret - I missed so many opportunities to do the stuff I want and dream about doing now. We're so stupid when we're young. I've loved my thirties and still have a few years left. I was terrified of being a mom, and now I love being a mom and wish I could be more mom and less engineer. When I turned 30, I made a deal with myself to have more fun. Its hard for a person like me to have fun - control freak, perfectionist, responsible, organized, neat freak, compulsive-obsessive. But regardless of my personality flaws, I decided to have more fun and to try my darnedest to stop worrying what the world thought about me. Working full time with two little ones 16 months apart, married to SD who's not any of the items listed above and in fact a bit of the opposite, living on very little sleep all has made me less of a freak. My house is a disaster area - yes it bothers me, but I have not time for a social life, who's going to come out into the boonies anyway to inspect my work? Its just cluttered, not gross a health hazard, our clothes are clean, linens get changed regularly, bathrooms are cleaned often - come on I have two little boys - bathrooms have to be cleaned regularly. I've learned to just let it go... and have tried to focus the compulsive-obsessive, perfectionist, freakish behavior towards training, ie this non-morning person gets up at 4am 3-4 times a week to go run in the dark. Freak.

Actually, since I've begun training for triathlons in January - I've noticed that if I miss more than one day of exercise I get bitchy and depressed. SD had to go out of town Sunday morning so I moved my rest day to Monday and my normal Monday to Sunday. So nothing Monday. Tonight is trick-or-treating - so no swimming, I had scheduled a run this morning, but SD got in from his trip way late, and was real sinusy (always happens when he flies) so last night was a snore-fest from hell night, plus the dogs, and heartburn - Zack did sleep all night, but by 4am I was beat - so I skipped. I should get back on schedule tomorrow. I first noticed this phenomenon while SD was off hunting. He left before dawn on a Saturday and didn't return until Monday evening. By Sunday evening I was being a bit of a scary mom (not proud or it, but tantrums just happen sometimes...) got a run in that Monday afternoon and boom my outlook on life changed instantly. I think there is a lesson to learn here.

It could be that today is the last day of October. October used to be my favorite month of the year - sure its my birthday month, but its more than that. I think its the whole autumn thing. October is usually so fallish - cool, yet still warm, colorful, crisp. Then I went to college, and October became not so favorite - midterm month. I figured that once I got out of school, that I could enjoy October again, but it has continued to follow the midterm theme and is usually so utterly busy that I don't have time to enjoy it. November - is not an exciting month for me. Actually it is probably the most drab month there is, in my opinion. Thanksgiving is such a boring holiday. I would just rather skip November. Although we are starting a new family tradition this year at my insistence. Juggling families - who's year is ist, just wears me out, so this year we're stopping all that family juggling thing because I'm no longer a child and perfect families and perfect in-laws do not exist and I'm going to stop pretending. We're going camping. I think we're headed down to Lake Amistad in Texas. So maybe November will get a second chance.

I think I've worked through it, so enough rambling for now.

Third Week - right?

2006-10-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

I'm so freaking busy, I'm losing track of where I am or where I'm going or where...
Anyway 2nd week went okay except I didn't get all my scheduled core training in. Not a big surprise, as I knew it was an aggressive schedule knowing my crazy life and the fatigue factor. I think I did okay until Wednesday, and then it all fell apart. Had thoughts of making it up over the weekend, but did not happen. I did get all my running, swimming and biking in so at least it wasn't a total loss. The other thing about this is that I really hate weight training. When you're running the scenery (even in the dark) changes - even if its the same path everyday. There is the weather factor, the wild animal factor, etc. Same goes with biking. Swimming can be more monotonous, but I'm usually too busy trying not to drown to get bored, but lifting weights sucks.

Even this core performance stuff just does not get me excited. Its short segments of stuff and only 2-3 days of bar bell work, the rest is using the physioball, but still. Its like ugg I have to get up early to contort my body using a big ball, I'd rather get up even earlier and go for a 40 minute run in cold weather. Ugg I have to do 30 minutes of bar bell work after getting up early for a run, working all day, fixing supper, putting little ones to bed... Gosh I'd rather sit and watch stupid, mind numbing reruns of Friends that I've seen hundreds of times because we only get like 3 channels out here in the sticks.

I'm sort of considering buying another ball and a couple more bar bells for my office. Thinking that it would be more beneficial for me to take a "smoke break" during my day of sitting in front of the computer and get a core workout in. Sounds good, but will I do it, that is the question?

Week 3 and I'm not too much better. I skipped my strength session yesterday, but got my physioball session in this morning. Swimming tonight!

Day 1 Week 2.

2006-10-16T06:57:00.000-07:00

I survived last week. Tuesday was the only day I had soreness issues. Also, I ended up swimming Tuesday evening after all, which helped with the shoulder soreness. The meeting that was supposed to be Tuesday was moved to Thursday, so I exchanged a short bike for the swim. Oh and Saturday I was up at the Mother-in-Laws, and put in a 18 mile ride with rolling hills and higher altitude. It was great! Although my scheduled core workout was blown all to heck, as I wasn't going to haul my physioball up there - its a pain to air up, so I wasn't going to deflate, then inflate, then deflate, only to inflate it again. But...SD cut wood all weekend and I helped, stacking wood is a good core workout. Nothing like cutting and stacking wood.

For the past two winters or so she's survived on burning old fence posts (she's a rancher - so we're talking lots of fence posts). So the process is, cut up the posts, throw the pieces into the back of the truck/trailer, drive over to her house, unload trailer and stack it up on the porch. Repeat until she has enough to last through the winter. Based on the areas of soreness, I'd say this process works the hands, forearms, upper arms, shoulders, neck, upper back, lower back, abs, glutes, quads,and hamstrings.

Before the bike ride I adjusted the handlebar on my bike again. I decided that this ride, since it is in the daylight, would be a good ride to work on bar position to help with the hand numbness issues. I keep trying to make my reach shorter, make sure my wrists are not flexed or hyper extended - stuff like that. I have slowly worked the bar to what I'll call a less aggressive position, thinking that a more upright position will get the pressure off of my hands. ( I don't have aerobars - maybe next year or X-mas). So if I'm sitting on the bike, I rotated the bar towards me and rode 9 miles with no success. Hand numbness started 45 minutes into the ride. During this 9 miles, I thought a lot about the optimum hand position, arm position, etc. At the turn around I used opposite logic. Thinking I keep moving this bar toward me, what if I go the other way? So I moved it to a more aggressive position. Immediately upon mounting the bike this position was uncomfortable. More pressure on the hands, which I knew would happen, but... I decided to give it a mile or two and see if the numbness occurs. Mile 1 nothing, Mile 2 nothing. It was uncomfortable riding the brake hoods - that pressure between my thumb and index finger...but this might be something I could get used to if...mile 3, mile 4, mile 5 a little numbness in my right thumb (this is new) changed hand positions relieved thumb numbness...mile 6 (wee down hill 29.9 mph), mile 7...mile 8..., mile 9. No numbness in second half of ride. Hmm. Not saying anymore, need to ride again in this position, we'll see...
The bad thing about traveling on the weekend, is that Monday morning comes way too soon. It was a struggle, I did hit the snooze button, but I got up before it went off again and was on the road at 4:30. Got my short run in and my morning core routine. Got to watch the fog come in, run through it, and watch it move out. Kind of cool. Ran a negative split... Off to a good start!

Sore.

2006-10-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

Okay this cartoon I wanted to post yesterday, but blogger.com...

I've always struggled with weight training programs - because maybe I don't like to feel weak. It doesn't bother me as much when a 70 year old shuffle walker passes me while I'm "running". I don't mind the lifeguards watching me with alarmed looks (only happens in my mind). Doesn't bother me as much when I'm passed by someone larger and more out of shape looking than me on the bike. But something about lifting weights, gets my goat.

This morning my shoulder blades (?) and hamstrings are sore. The really pathetic thing is that my strength workout last night consisted of: 2 sets of 12 for each (5lb dumbbells)- alternating dumb bell bench press, physioball leg curl (hamstrings are complaining about this one), 1 arm, 1 leg dumbbell row, split/squat lunge, split dumbbell curl to press, pushups. The pushups are supposed to be using the physioball - I can't do it. I can't really do full pushups, so I did girl pushups and suffered. Yes I am a girlie man girl.

I won't be able to do my scheduled swim workout tonight as I've got a city council meeting to attend, so I went for a short bike ride this morning and worked on peddling in circles. This helped work out most of the hamstring soreness, but my shoulder blades are protesting - especially my left one. My upper body is weak. I knew this before and I know this now, and I hope to persevere to change this.

Day 1 of Week 1.

2006-10-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

I took last week completely off. It was fine M-Th as I got to sleep in on work days, but F-S I was kind of bored. Superdad commented that I was kind of bitchy all week too. Thanks SD! Anyway during my week off I poured over training plans, and came up with a 9 week plan to get me to the Polar Bear.

It is run specific, in that I will be running 3 times a week. I have a short, medium and long run planned. Picked up some training pointers from Galloway's running book, and even though he uses mileage, I'm going to use time. I decided to use my recent 5K time average (recent meaning the last two races and some of my good race distance training times). That works out to 12min/mile. Okay so week 1's long run is 36 minutes regardless of actual mileage. The Short run is 60% of the long run, and medium run is 80%. I plan to increase time by 10% each week, except during recovery weeks. It was fun working it out in a spreadsheet, I like playing with spreadsheets. Anyway I plan to swim 2 days a week until the Carlsbad pool opens (supposed to open November 1st - fingers crossed). If that pool does indeed open then I will increase my swim workouts to 3 days. That leaves one or two days for Biking. The plan is to improve in my running and swimming and just maintain on the bike for now. We'll see how that works. Also included in this schedule is some core strengthening work. Yeah - I don't know how I'm going to fit this in my already busy schedule, but I'm going to try.

Want to see it in print? Sure you do. Everything is in minutes, except the bike which is in miles. If you are curious about my core training, I'm following a modified schedule of activities from "Core Performance" By Mark Verstegen.

Wk1
M-R22/C45 T-C22/S17 W-R29/C35 T-C22/S29 F-R36/C45 S-B18/C22 S-Off

Wk2
M-R24/C45 T-C22/S19 W-R32/C35 T-C22/S32 F-R40/C45 S-B19/C22 S-Off

Wk3
M-R26/C45 T-C22/S21 W-R35/C35 T-C22/S35 F-R44/C45 S-B20/C22 S-Off

Wk4
M-R26/C45 T-C22/S21 W-R26/S21/C35 T-S21/C22 F-R26/C45 S-B12/C22 S-Off

Wk5
M-R26/S21/C45 T-S28/C22 W-R35/C45 T-S35/C22 F-R44/C45 S-B20/C22 S-Off

... anyway you get the idea. There is always a city council meeting or something wonderful like that to mess up my evening swim schedule, so I plan to throw a morning bike in on those days if I can. Of course SD is going hunting during the end of week 2 and the start of week 3, and then later there is Thanksgiving to deal with. Plus its about time for everyone to get sick. But it looks good on paper anyway. Cross your fingers

Stealth Official Results!

2006-10-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

Official time = 2:10:36

At first I was shocked to see my swim time posted as 14:13. I mean I know my swim was terrible, but I know it wasn't that bad. Then I got to looking more and comparing their times with my times, and I realized that they included T1 time in the Bike time and T2 time in the swim. So okay - at least the results jive. Next I was upset that they had me listed as an age grouper as I would have been 3rd in the Athena division. I checked my copy of the registration form and yes I checked athena as well as my age group. Then I saw the instructions "check one" okay so I checked both and they took my age first. Oh well, then I looked at my placing again and realized that I placed 2nd in my age group! 2nd is better than 3rd any day.

I'm still slow - but I still have a lot of mass to move too. One step at a time, one pound at a time, one day at a time.

Oh yeah, and I've got yet another unique spelling of my name to add to the list. "Szanne" It is close to Shazam, which I've used in the past to indicate the difference in pronunciations of Susan vs. Suzanne. But I digress...

Stealth Sprint Triathlon

2006-10-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

Well another triathlon under my belt. Sunday was the final Triathlon of the '06 season. Interesting how far I've come. In January of this year when I started thinking and reading about Triathlons, I made a goal of competing in the Milkman Sprint Triathlon in June of '07. I figured I needed a good year to get ready for something like that. After reading "Slow Fat Triathlete" by Jayne Williams and "When Big Boys Tri" by Michael Pate. I started flirting with the idea of moving my goal up a year. I created a training plan, and called the first four weeks of the plan my "unofficial" training. I made a deal with myself, if I did okay during this month of unofficial training, then maybe, just maybe I'll start officially training. My first "unofficial" brick session was scheduled for the last day of those 4 weeks. Bike 20 minutes followed by a 15 minute run. It was hard. My heart rate was so high, and I may have run all of a half mile in those 15 minutes, but I did it.

Week 5 became my official week 1 and my goal changed - race and finish the Milkman Sprint Tri in June. Towards the end of May, I started flirting with the idea of doing two triathlons this year - working one in while visiting my sister in Colorado. Anyway here it is now October and I've competed in and finished 5 sprint triathlons.

The Stealth is another reverse tri. 5k run, 30k bike, 400m swim. The official results are not posted, all I have is what I recorded on my watch. I know I beat 4 people. This is also my first race with out my support crew, and though I didn't have any of those guilt feelings I've mentioned before - I did miss them - I really could have used their cheers between the bike and swim.

The run - I worked really hard not to blow up too fast like I did last time. So as the crowd pulled away I started talking to myself. "This is not a race against them but against yourself. The goal is to try and better your own times." I was dead last and had a good gap between me and the next person. I watched my heart rate like a hawk determined to keep my competitiveness under control at least until I got on my bike. Ahead of me was an older athena, a younger athena and a young clydesdale. The clyde started walking and the younger athena passed him, and the older athena started gaining. I passed older athena and walking clyde. Set younger athena in my sights (wait I'm not supposed to be competing here - if you believe that...) It was an out and back run, so somewhere between the 1/4 and the 1/2 waypoint the fast people started zooming by us. It can be disheartening if you let it, the goal is not to let it. I passed young athena just before the turn around and started putting space between me and those three. Then somewhere between the 1/2 and the 3/4 point this older man came out of no where heading toward the turn around. He looked like he was in good shape so first I thought maybe he was the run leg portion of a team and needed to cool off for another 5 k. Later when I saw him on his bike, I was still stunned because he didn't look like a back of the packer, so I'm convinced he started late (really late). Finished the run in about 34:56 (11.2 minute/mile pace) pretty good for me.

The Bike - Got on the bike and started peddling like crazy. I allow myself to be competitive here, especially in these reverse tri's because you don't need much legs during the swim, but you do need lungs and I'm thinking that maybe I'm going a little too hard because I'm pretty spent during the swim - more on that later. So I peddled and peddled and peddled. Good thing they marked the route with little red flags because I was all by myself for almost the first half of the out and back bike route. It was mostly flat with a little wind. Have I mentioned that I peddled? Finally the front packers started whizzing by. Interestingly enough I'm curious how closely the no drafting rules where enforced because there were a lot of tight packs in the groups returning after the turn around. I was feeling real confident at the 7.5 mile mark as I started meeting the middle of the packers on their return. I figured that they were only 3.5 miles ahead of me - I had made up for a lot of slow running. Unfortunately later I realized that the supposedly 18.6 mile course was more like 20 miles, so at that jubilant mile 7.5 the middle was actually 5 miles ahead of me. I was so busy peddling that it took most of the last 10 miles to compute that in my head, so it wasn't a total let down. After the turn around, walking clyde passed my on a downhill and just kept going - and I thought I was peddling hard. Ahead of me was two women that I was determined to pass. First was backwards helmet girl. I swear she had her helmet on backwards. As I was catching up to her, I thought about mentioning it to her. Does she already know? If not will it be devastatingly embarrassing. Would this be courteous or devious on my part if I mentioned it? Just ahead of her was another young woman on what looked like a three speed with a "girl's" frame. I'm sure it was at least a 10 speed as she was fighting to stay ahead of backwards helmet girl on the only two real hills of the route. They were definitely racing during those hills. I passed them both on the last hill and refused to look back. I did venture a casual look back on the turns and backwards helmet girl finally dropped pedal pusher girl, but I had a good lead and was putting some serious space between us. 20 miles at an average of 15 mph... I was so ready to get off the bike, my hands were beyond numb, my feet hurt, my calves were threatening to cramp (calves?). I so love coming into transition area after the majority of competitors are finished with the race. Standing around and packing up their gear. It tends to be bit disheartening. It was here as I was racking my bike stripping my gear off that those around me casually mentioned to me that the water was cold. Oh Goodie!

The swim - Cold is an understatement. It was literally breath taking. In fact I really never got my breath back. The first 50 I could not put my face in the water. I breast-stroked with my head up, I back stroked, side stroked, cussed a bit... At the end of the first 50 I had to dunk to go under the lane line. OMG! I backstroked the next 50. The next 300 I did whatever it took to get finished. I was so cold. My swim basically bit the big one. The biggest factor was the cold, but I think I was pretty spent from the bike anyway. Swim time was 12min (I can probably subtract 5-10 seconds from that because I was a bit disoriented and didn't hit the button on my watch until I was out of the water). Overall pretty lousy swim time and I'm pretty sure backwards helmet girl passed me in the pool too.

Overall the weather was great, hydration was good, run was good, bike was good, swim not so good. Post race headache - yes - 2:00 on the dot. What is up with this? Drop in blood sugar, low salts, drop in hormones, body's cruel revenge?

Next race planned is the Polar Bear Sprint Triathlon in December. This is technically the first race in the '07 season. Goals for off season training, work on swimming and running, build core strength. Hope stronger core will assist in alleviating hand numbness on the bike.

SuperDad!

2006-09-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

Quick post about SuperDad. Late last night in and amongst our insomnia (Sunday nights are terrible for that) we were discussing what to do about this coming Sunday's Triathlon. He's leaving for a deep sea fishing trip Wednesday through Saturday, and is making a concerted effort to get back early enough Saturday to jump in the truck with me and the boys and head to Alamogordo for the Stealth Triathlon on Sunday.

It is my nature to not be an inconvenience to anyone, to take care of everyone else first (I know, I know...but I'm a pleaser...). So I offered to go by myself so that he could stay home with the boys, he'll probably be tired from his trip and want to cool his heels for a while. I can only imagine how trying it must be to entertain a two year old and four year old for 2-3 hours while their mother is off swimming, biking and running. He's a champ and does it well, but still I feel guilty and am sure he'd rather be at home. I've communicated this concern to him before and again last night. I even tried to get out of doing this one, thinking it was too much with his trip, and carting the boys around again, but he encouraged me to sign up. Last night he told me that he likes to come and support me, that he tells everyone what his wife does. He said He's proud of me. Wow - how much does that mean to this shytrigirl.

On a similar note - my eldest son was pretending yesterday afternoon. "Watch me mom, I'm racing." Off he goes swimming, then stopping and changing shoes for the bike ride and changing them again for the run. At one point during his swim he stops and is breathing heavily, "got to watch out for the sharks." Sharks? How does he know my dream triathlon is the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon?

Cotton Country Race Report...

2006-09-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

I'm having trouble sleeping, so why not post a race report.

Saturday - competed in my 4th sprint triathlon at the Cotton Country Sprint Triathlon in Levelland, Texas. True to west Texas weather, the wind did blow.

This was a reverse tri, meaning you run, then bike, then swim. I'm not sure if I like this order or not mainly because of my competitive nature. My hubby, whom I might as well call SuperDad and quite possibly run coach, warned me about starting off too fast. "Don't start out too fast." I didn't, I thought. I mean I was immediately in the back of the pack. I passed a girl walking and thought - "good at least I won't be last." I kept hearing this shuffling sound and looked behind me to find an elderly man shuffle-running. Then he passed me and I saw 70 on his calf, great I was passed by a 70 year old shuffle runner - what a confidence booster.

During my training runs I've been averaging about 12 min/miles, every once in a while I break the 12min by a tenth of a second or so, but 12 has been my number lately. So when I hit the turn-around at about 17 minutes and some change I got pumped a little (regardless of the shuffle-runner). Then I was passed by Double-Barreled Athena, which surprised me cause I thought the only ones left behind me was walking girl and the sweet elderly couple. She was doing what SuperDad told me to do (not starting out too fast)and had some legs/lungs left to run a negative split. I on the other hand did not. Eventually the sweet elderly couple passed me too. At the time I was not thinking they were very sweet, and I was looking forward to passing them on the bike.

I finished the run in about 36 minutes and some change which was my 12min pace, but after the race we find out that the volunteer decided to make us work a little harder and inadvertently (or not) moved the turn-around out on us. So the run distance was 3.3 - 3.4 making my run time approx. 10.9 - 10.5. That's cool.

Remember the wind I told you about? Well 24mph wind makes a flat course equivalent to a long gradual hill with lots of noise. First race on the new bike, first glitch was the computer decided not to work. Second glitch - still having hand numbness which is more frustrating than anything, but I soldiered through. I passed sweet elderly lady (turns out her hubby just ran with her for kicks or moral support). I peddled my heart out, or maybe my butt off because that is where I felt it was in the glutes. I set my target on one bike at a time. I passed shuffle runner next, then two more folks before the turn-around. It was so windy and loud, then after turning around - nothing.

Later we drove home along that same route and I didn't remember seeing anything on the right side of the road, but the left side was familiar. Even though I took full advantage of the tail wind and cranked it, I guess I looked around more. This is where I missed my computer, cause I'd have liked to known how fast I pushed it. Oh well. I kept it up all the way back to transistion. Got off the bike and was dizzy and wobbly. Then it was like, wait - now I've got to swim?

So I swam, luckily it was only 300 yards in a 25 yard pool, so it was kind of like being on home court. Nothing to write home about during the swim other than I didn't breast stroke at all. Although my shoulders were sore from the very beginning... My overall time was 1:41:08 (I think), so I did okay. I wish they recorded splits, but the didn't and I've got to remember to hit the button on my watch. Got second in the Athena division out of two - Double barreled got first of course, at least I gave her a run for her money (not... at least not yet).

SuperDad says I've got to work on my running form. He knows a little about running, was pretty good in his high school days. Trying to recruit him as running coach. All this triathloning and I've finally peaked his interest in dualathons (he does not do water), so when the kiddos get a little bigger, maybe we'll be running together... Anyway he says that I run all tensed up. To quote him, "you look like you're running with a bat stuck up your --- and trying to keep it there." He's one of those sensitive types. He's right though I can feel the tightness in my shoulders, and I noticed during this race that I ride with tense shoulders too - could be part of the numbness trouble. Anyway there it is, and I must try and sleep. I'm going to call tomorrow and see if the Steath Triathlon is still open, if so I'm going to do this again in a couple of weeks.

The Bike.

2006-09-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here is my new bike that I've been talking about. I got this bike brand new off of ebay, partially assembled.

I finished the assembly myself, then took it to my LBS for tightening, tweaking, and truing. I've since been tweaking bit by bit after every ride.

Technical Specifications:

FRAME Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum, fully manipulated tubing, compact comfort design, rack and fender braze-ons
FORK Specialized FACT carbon, bonded carbon legs, Cr-Mo threadless steerer, Zertz inserts
HEADSET Specialized 1 1/8" threadless, sealed bearings, alloy 20mm cone with two 5mm alloy spacers
STEM Specialized Pro, 3D forged alloy, 31.8mm bar clamp, 4- position adjustable
HANDLEBARS Body Geometry Sequoia Zertz drop bar, multi hand position, 31.8 clamp
TAPE Body Geometry Bar Phat, cork ribbon w/2.5mm gel padding
FRONT BRAKE Forged, dual pivot, long reach, with cartridge multi condition brake pads
REAR BRAKE Forged, dual pivot, long reach, with cartridge multi condition brake pads
BRAKE LEVERS Shimano Sora, 8-speed, STI, flight deck compatible, with brake lever extensions
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Sora, 31.8mm clamp, bottom pull
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Tiagra, long cage
SHIFT LEVERS Shimano Sora, 8-speed, STI, flight deck compatible
CASSETTE Shimano HG50, 12-25t
CHAIN KMC Z-82 Narrow 8-speed
CRANKSET Sugino Comp, five arm, polished arms
CHAINRINGS 52x42x30T
BOTTOM BRACKET TH BB-7420 cartridge, square taper, 68mm shell, 118mm spindle
RIMS Alex AT400, 700c double wall rim, machined sidewalls, spoke eyelets
FRONT HUB Specialized forged alloy, 28 hole, double sealed bearings, QR
REAR HUB Specialized forged alloy, 32 hole, double sealed bearings, cassette, QR
SPOKES Stainless 14g
FRONT TIRE Specialized All Condition Comp, 700 x 25c, aramid bead, 60TPI, with Flak Jacket
REAR TIRE Specialized All Condition Comp, 700 x 25c, aramid bead, 60TPI, with Flak Jacket
SADDLE Body Geometry Milano Comfort Max
SEAT POST Specialized Future Shock alloy suspension seatpost, preload adjustment, 27.2mm
SEAT BINDER Specialized CNC, alloy

We'll Never Forget.

2006-09-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Been a bit busy at work, and busy fighting demons. I think the Fat Tire did a number on the self confidence, and have been trying to get out of the quagmire ever since. It was tough - yes, but I finished and wasn't last, yet... Self doubt creeped in somewhere.

Thursday evening after my last post I was back at the pool. I did nothing but stroke drills and some leg work down in the deep end. It was good. Labor day weekend I was planning on getting some ride time in on the new road bike, but it rained the whole weekend, and I didn't want my first ride to end or start badly by mixing inexperience with wet roads. I did go for a long run in the rain on labor day, and it felt great. Tuesday I was back at the pool and worked on my stroke some more and then did 8x50 on 60s rest. I got out feeling good. Wednesday morning I went out predawn on the new bike. Was feeling nervous because, 1. No headlight yet (my light from my MTB doesn't fit) and 2. First time on a road bike and was having crazy anxiety issues about crashing. I used a headlamp on my helmet for light (note to self, when using the headlamp it is imperative that you where glasses - bugs are not good for the eyes, nose or mouth). I did not crash. I took it slow just getting a feel for the bike, took note of some adjustments I needed to make and headed home. Thursday evening back to the pool and did some battle with the self doubt demon again. I warmed up with stroke drills, then swam a straight 400 yards, then cool down with more stroke drills. During the straight 400 I felt like I was struggling the whole time, and I battled that demon the entire 400 yards. My time was 9:50. On the way home I was thinking that the time wasn't too bad, so I figured what the per 100m time was - 2:41.3. Then I looked up my 400m time from the Socorro tri and converted it to the per 100m time - 2:42.5. That is a 1.2 second boost to my confidence, hopefully that demon is reconsidering bothering me.

Friday predawn I put in four miles on the run, then Saturday and Sunday I put some time in on the bike - need to get used to it and get all the tweaking done before this coming Cotton Country Tri. Anyway all this nonsense to say that I'm back.

Oh and in the midst of all of this pity party wallowing, my hubby gets a gift certificate from a vendor for Bass Pro shops. So he bought himself some cool stuff, but he got me a camelback. He's been nagging me about my lack of hydration during my racing - which is true. The last two races I got some serious post race headaches that did not go away with food, drugs or anything except serious amounts of fluid. I just don't crave fluid. Anything sweet makes my want to puke, and I have to remind myself to drink while I'm on the bike, but during the last two races I was really focused on not thinking of anything other than biking. During the run, I do get water at the aid stations but maybe drink half a cup and the rest is used as evaporative cooling. My brother-in-law suggested a camelback because the straw is right there, so its easier to just take a sip. Been riding and running with it to get used to the feel of it on my back, no issues there. Thanks hubby!

I hope to post a picture of the new bike soon, so stay tuned...

Still Tired?

2006-08-31T07:29:00.000-07:00

Went for an easy recovery swim Tuesday night and seriously thought the lifeguards were going to have to earn their pay that night. Wednesday morning went for a 20 minute run, and things are still sore. I've had like no energy all week, and my stomach keeps telling me I'm starving which is a lie that I've given in too a few times. Tonight is another swim night and I'm not all that gung ho about it.

I picked my new bike up from the shop and its ready except for the pedals. I'm excited, but not as much as I was last week when I dropped it off for the fine tuning and tightening.

I'm just tired right? Not burnt out, not yet. I've signed up for the Cotton Country Sprint on September 16th. Hopefully it will be a confidence booster, I'm thinking the Fat Tire just kicked my butt.

Fat Tire Pictures

2006-08-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

On the left is portion of the swim start or rather the wave wait. Notice the terrain. On the Right is my pregnant sister with the Eltuck Bay of Horsetooth Reservoir in the background. This is obviously after the swim, while I was on the bike. Notice the weather, it was like this during most of the race.
Here I am flying by on the bike (Not!) starting the second loop. I just "wooshed" by Jeff and my sister.
The boys doing a good job of entertaining themselves while there mother is off "exercising."

My big finish. Notice the sun shining.

Fat Tire Triathlon, Fort Collins, CO Race Report

2006-08-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

I'm still sore! OMG it was tough. I finished though, and I wasn't dead last. Yeah! I finished 91 out of 108 females with a total time of 2:47:26, there was no Athena division.

The weather - Compared to my hometown desert climate it was cold. It was 55 degrees and cloudy. It had rained the night before, and threatened rain that morning. It never rained during the race and warmed up to the mid to upper sixties by the time it was over. I think the sun was shining partly when I finished, but oxygen deprived me cannot remember. It was humid too probably at least 50%.

The swim - I was not nervous before the swim. I'm taking this as a warning sign for future events as I've been extremely nervous before other swims and did fine. This swim I had a few moments of major freaking out. I did not have a wet suit. I hem hawed around too much this summer trying to decide whether or not to rent one. Once I decided to rent one, the local (Lovington) dive shop owners were indisposed with personal health issues and the race local (Fort Collins) rentals were all booked. Horsetooth reservoir web site claimed a surface temp of 73 degrees. It probably was pretty close to that, but at the cool air temp it felt frigid. I was in the last wave so the water near the shore was pretty churned up. It was an in water start. When the gun went off I stuck my head into total brown out. I don't know if it was the dark water, or the cold water or what but I freaked. I couldn't even do a full breast stroke for a while because that meant sticking my head under water. So I did a head above water breast stroke, side stroke, little back stroke, and a lot of self talk. At the quarter mark I was able to do the full breast stroke, but was still freaking a little with the freestyle. I passed a few folks, some who started in the wave before me (each wave had different colored caps). My body acclimated to the water temp and I was able to freestyle breathing every stroke at about 50 meters from the turn around. I free styled most of the way back to the shore. They had shortened the advertised 800 meter swim by about 100 meters but made up for that with the freaking long run up hill to the transition area. This slicker than goose poop, muddy trail up was counted as part of the swim as you crossed the timing mat at the entrance to T1. Swim time – 21:31.

T1 - Transition area was not great. They had too few bike racks (a lot unstable) for the 206 participants. My area was in one corner of the orange construction fencing used to corral the transition area. My bike – leaned up against the fencing. Anyway… My feet were covered in sticky, gooey, black mud. I opted for no socks as I didn’t get all the mud off at this point, and didn’t want crud in my socks during the run. Also opted to ride with my gloves, but didn’t ever practice putting them on damp hands while also pushing the bike. T1 time – 3:29.

The bike - The whole 12 mile course was single track, which means narrow trail that makes passing or being passed rather treacherous. The first 1.5 miles or so was uphill (WTF!). The trail was muddy from the previous rain – not sloppy muddy like my mud bog post, but sticky none-the-less. My legs were burning, and I was not having a very good time. I kept thinking, what did I get myself into. The bike consisted of two loops, with the second loop being smaller. The first half or more of the first loop was mainly up hill with some flats and a few downhill sections. The second half was mainly downhill. The trail was tough. There were bike parts all over the place – mostly pieces of petals or reflectors; I did see a cog wheel from someone’s rear derailer. I was passed, but I passed a few. I fell once, almost fell a couple of other times. One guy was desperate to pass me but had trouble – actually bumped my butt when he chose me over a tree. The downhill part was fun but scary. Lots of switch backs and blind turns. You never knew what lay around the turn – huge rocks, slick wooden bridge, crashed bike, or dislodged fence. The first half of the second looped just totally sucked – uphill again and really tired legs. The second half was better as it was the downhill portion and a little more familiar. I pushed it a little on this down hill. Though – 20mph on a single track trail – kind of terrifying. Bike time - 1:30:17.

T2 – My feet and hands were so numb from the bike, I had trouble getting my socks on. I was so wet and cold everywhere and a bit disoriented. T2 time – 1:58.

The run - Uphill out of T2, give me a freaking break! Then a slight uphill along a dirt road to the trail head probably ½ a mile. Then 500 vertical climb in a half mile, no way was this going to be run. Some of it couldn’t possibly have been run even by those that still had their legs after the bike. There were sections of just rock. I think it was more than 500 vertical feet or more than half a mile. Screw it! I walked, no I hiked it. Then downhill, which I ran or just sort of skipped down hoping I didn’t blow out a knee or an ankle. Then approximately 1 mile to the finish line on the dirt road, the same dirt road where many of the other triathletes had parked most of which had already finished the race and were packing up their bike and changing their clothes or actually leaving. “Good job” “You’re almost there” “Don’t give up” I know they were being good sports and all, but do you know how much it sucks seeing and hearing these folks when I felt like throwing up? I really wanted to walk a portion of this last leg, I was so freaking spent. But was I going to walk by all of these people who already finished – NO! So I did my shuffle run to the finish. So the last few hundred yards, the run path takes you around the awards area. They had free BBQ and beer and everyone was sitting on the grass eating and chatting and here we stragglers come running around all of this, smelling the BBQ wanting to puke. But I kicked it a little and finished, almost tripped over more of that stupid construction fencing – then started hyperventilating. That was fun. Jeff was there and calmed me down without using a paper bag. Geesh I was tired. Run time 50:12.

Scenery - Beautiful!

It was a hard race. I had several moments where I seriously considered quitting, but I’m too darned stubborn to quit and I’m glad I didn’t. I would like to do this race again, but with a little different training. I’m glad I did some training sessions on those cow trails, but I needed a lot more hill training. Wet suit is a must for this one. Upper body strength training – my forearms were toast after the race and are still sore today – from hanging on for dear life on the bike. My shoulders and neck are also sore and stiff. I think every fiber of muscle in each leg – especially the glutes, IT band area, and outer calves are sore.
My heart rate monitor calculates calories burned. Total calories burned = 3,465.

I’m wanting to do the Cotton Country Tri in Levelland on September 16th, that’s a good sign right? It should be a cake walk compared to this one, plus I should be on my new road bike, but today the thought of any training is not very appealing. I have to see if it will work logistically – as September looks to be yet another busy month in the Byrd household.

My brother-in-law took some good pictures of the event and of my fan club - will post them later.

Motivation is back.

2006-08-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, so yesterday afternoon I ran two miles and surprised myself as I did them at a 10min/mile pace. Wow! Then jumped into the river for a 15 minute swim. Did a quick 7 miles on the bike this morning. We're headed out tonight, so wish me luck.

4 More Days

2006-08-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

I already know my bib number - 97, and my swim wave - 4. I'm not nervous yet, but am anxious to get there. Sorry boss, just can't stay focused this week. We're heading up Wednesday night, staying at the mother-in-laws, then arriving in Fort Collins Thursday afternoon/evening. I'm almost packed, actually all I lack is my race day stuff - and the travel food. We've got bundles of stuff we're taking mostly to leave with my pregnant sister (37 weeks). I've warned my sister about my pre-race anxiety and she's warned me about her anxiety relieving special - her homemade margarita. Only one please, and a small one. Already going to be oxygen deprived... A few last minute errands today, and we're off tomorrow evening. I'm excited, but...

I just can't get motivated to do my race week training. I was scheduled to do an easy 25 minute run yesterday morning. Typical Sunday night restless sleep (why?) made me rethink that early morning run ( I need to be well rested...). Took my running stuff with me to work with good intentions, late afternoon meeting and lots of humidity melted my motivation again. I'll run tonight after the boys go down - not! It was thundering and lightening. Okay in the morning - not! Still thunder and lightening and raining. So to the office with my running gear again and my suit, cause today was an easy open water swim. Will I commit? Will I run, then swim this afternoon? Its weather dependent as well as mental dependent. I'm already reconsidering tomorrow morning's quick ride, my excuse - Don't want to get the bike muddy again. - Lame!

I've dug myself into a non-motivated hole. The only way out is to climb or run rather. Will I is the question?

Exercise is not fun,

2006-08-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

but training is. Don't get me wrong, training does have its moments of total sucksville, but it's fun in a sick way. Getting that long run in, when every fiber in your being is screaming "I don't want to!". Noticing the improvement, either the lower heartrate, the faster times, the further distance. Creating the training plan is fun, especially if your are a spreadsheet geek. Someone recently mentioned tracking and comparing rival's times - that sounds like fun too.
But this weekend, so far topped them all.

If I wasn't training I would have turned back, in fact if I wasn't training I probably wouldn't have even gone. Since my next tri is an off road, my brick this weekend was a trail ride and run. The bike trail - the same ride to the river regardless of wind, or uphill or downhill. The trail - 1.5 miles north from my house on paved road, turn east on a rocky, caliche, crappy road for .5 mile (+/). At the fork in the road, veer right into the Brantly wildlife reserve. Head east southeast (~4 mi)toward the Pecos River. Didn't make it - mud bog. Yes it has been raining a bit lately down here, and yes I have blonde hair. Hit the first mud puddle, sprayed mud everywhere almost squeeled out loud in glee. Next - very large puddle, or rather mini-lake. Had to bail off the bike when I stopped in thigh deep water! Walked through it and continued while laughing out loud. Lots of mud puddles and a fall into the squishy stuff, and I turned around.
Talk about resistance training, try riding with 5 tons of caked mud on your tires, mashed around your brakes, on your shoes (forget clipped in).
Anyway I had a blast. The pictures don't do justice as alot of the mud came off when I went back through the mini-lake, and on the paved road. I didn't practice my transition as I had to get Jeff to take pictures, then I had to find dry socks. I did do my run with my trail buddies: Jethro, Homer, and Jo. Jethro and Homer are Catahoula/Cur and Jo is a Blue Heeler/Dalmation. Great dogs. Jethro and Homer are my buds and don't leave my side for too long. Though none of the dogs noticed the snake I almost stepped on, but that is why God gave me eyes. Not sure what kind of snake, didn't stick around to find out, but every stick, and mesquite root after that were potential snakes after that.

It gets better. Later that day I had some unscheduled weight training. We own a piece of crap. Basically it is a '79 motor home that has become our money pit. It has a tendency to leave us stranded or make us turn around and limp home on many occasion. Why Jeff hasn't sold the thing... Anyway my sister-in-law wanted to borrow it while she completes here Master's down at Sul Ross State University is Alpine, TX. She paid for the latest fix which was a rebuilt caburator. Jeff was feeling pretty confident that this was going to do it. Regardless of his confidence he decided to haul it down there instead of driving, due to logistics, fuel prices, etc. So Saturday afternoon we took our one ton dodge with the 35' flatbed trailer over to an area a few miles from home where we could back it up to an embankment of sorts and then drive the moterhome onto the trailer at a more level grade (the dove tail is rather steep for the length of the moterhome and we'd drag bottom way before we got it on).
Unfortunately the crappy side of the thing reared its ugly face. The stupid thing didn't have the huevos to get up the small incline and it blew out the gaskets, meaning no power whatsoever. So we had to assist it onto the trailer using a comealong. I chose to man the comealong, since Jeff is familiar with the engine and such and knows how hard to push the engine, when to stop,steer. Decided I'd rather have him run me over then me run him over. So I tugged on the comealong and he coaxed the piece of crap up onto the trailer. I wouldn't have been much help 6 months ago, but I was able to hold my own. My whole body was shaking from fatigue when we were done, but I wasn't that sore the next day. I'm feeling kind of proud of myself. He got it down there for her, fortunately she doesn't have to drive it. Meanwhile we've got 4 months to decide what to do with it. Jeff's latest thought - turn it into a fifth wheel trailer. Cut and weld - oh yeah!

Bitchy Lane Mate.

2006-08-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, so if you're read my Pool Blues post you know that I don't have a sweet deal with my swimming training - other than the river, but that is sans lifeguards now that school has started. Anyway...back to Artesia's pool.

Last night I showed up at the pool and the crowd was very light, although most of the crowd were in the 3 lap lanes. One lane had what I think is a family (father, mother, daughter). They are there a lot and take turns swimming lengths and such. Then in Lane two was a woman working on her weight by sort of side-stroking, aqua walking, and treading water while talking to her friend who is doing the same thing in lane 3. I chose lane three. I've seen these ladies before and last time they moved into the same lane to let me swim. Last night they were feeling surely. I got ready, put my cap and goggles on sat down on the ledge put my feet in the water and waited till she got to that end to ask if she minded sharing. But she didn't stop talking long enough for confrontational me (not) to ask.

So I debated with myself for a while, should I move over to what I'll call lane 4/5 and risk being jumped on by the kiddos? Lane 4/5 is left without lane lines so the kids can dive into the deep end. I finally decided just to force the share. I swam one length and met her at the other end, she actually acted surprised. I said I hope you don't mind sharing, but I'm going to be swimming laps. Okay she said in a sarcastic tone. Instead of following conventional lane swimming etiquette, I was forced to swim on the left side. Fine.

My main set was 16 50's with 1 minute rest. Last time I swam a set with 50's my average time was 1:06. Last night - average time 1:02. So was it the little boost of anger, or actual improvement? I hate inconsiderate people. She's probably one of those folks who stops in the middle of the aisle at Walmart to talk to a neighbor or worse on the cell phone. And we wonder why we have wars - its just our selfish nature - me first - screw the rest of you. I know I'm getting soap boxy here, but inconsiderate people is a pet peeve of mine.

In other news... I rode a 11.5 miles today in 50 minutes in the very,very dark. Note to self - replace batteries in bike light, not that it would have helped much. Also - second note to self - need more bleach, the kudjo dogs are getting brave again.

Socorro Chili Harvest Triathlon

2006-08-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm convinced that my weird dream was relating to the Socorro Tri. I had the Valle Grande experience driving to Socorro through the mountains. It was so green! Coming down from Capitan I had my first episode of deja vu, thinking that it was here not the Jemez. Then in Socorro driving the bike course through the campus, I had my second episode of deja vu. At this point I wanted to spend the night at the pool just to make sure my dream didn't come true (see weird dream post).

I didn't sleep at the pool and my dream didn't come true. In fact for my second triathlon, I rocked! (1:43:09.5) Despite my anxiety over the swim, I did well. The bike was awesome. Going out was a long gradual climb with a few little hills. I started strong and decided to go all out. I wanted to test my legs. I knew that if I had to I could walk the run. So I pounded the hills, and flew on the down hills, my average speed was 14.8 mph. I had a max speed of 29.7 oh yeah. This was all on a mountain bike with slick tires and numb hands. I can't wait to get on my new road bike (more on that later, currently I've got it all together except the rear derailer cable).

The run... no walking here! I averaged a 12.4 minute mile, and I kicked it at the finish.

Two tri's under the belt. Let’s compare:
Milkman total time = 1:59:49, swim pace = 2:54 /100, bike pace = 12.7mph, run pace = 13.2 min/mile
Socorro total time = 1:43:09, swim pace = 2:42/100, bike pace = 14.8mph, run pace = 12.4 min/mile

Wow, first time I looked at this myself...In 2 months time I really improved - even the swim. Okay I'm having a moment of self confidence boost.

Also there were a lot more newbies at this event than the Milkman, which really helped me not being the only mountain bike out there. I hope the newbies I met had a good experience and will continue to tri. Overall my experience was good, and I am looking forward to a repeat experience next year.

PS… Since I haven’t posted lately… the uphill downhill issue, the downhill really is downhill – it was just that darn wind factor that I didn’t want to factor in. Speaking of wind the weather was absolutely perfect in Socorro. Couldn’t ask for a better day.

Uphill on the downhill?

2006-07-31T07:38:00.000-07:00

So remember my "Trail Ride in the Dark" post? I commented on how during the downhill portion of the ride it was dark and I rode slower because of limited view and by the time I turned around it was lighter out so I was able to pick up speed a little. Well I'm wanting to rethink that based on yesterday's ride.
I rode the same trail only in the afternoon. The down hill was disappointing to me because I couldn't get much over 10mph. The trail consists of silty, sandy material and I kept justifying my slow speed to the probability that it was drier yesterday than before thus making it softer. Then I turned around to go back uphill and my average speed jumped to 12mph.
This makes me think that it is more uphill (we're talking gradual maybe 2% if we're lucky) down to the river. I do drop a bit before I get to the river's wildlife preserve area... maybe it drops too much and has to come back up? I mean water flows towards the river not away from it - it has to be downhill. Its messing with my brain. I'm going to have to go back with a GPS and see what the elevations are.
It could have been the breeze, though I didn't notice it until I was back on black top headed home, but I was riding perpendicular to the downhill portion into the wind... I don't know, but I do know that I was doing a brick and regardless of the mind bending experience I still kicked butt on the bike, but my body had its revenge during the run. I find that if I chant like Dora from Finding Nemo that it really helps. Just keep running, just keep running...

Weird Dream

2006-07-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

I share this weird dream because it is triathlon related. So here it goes... Its the morning of a triathlon and for some reason I'm in the Los Alamos area and the event is like in Espanola or similar( I lived in Los Alamos as a kid, so I'm vaguely familiar with the area). Actually as I've pondered this a while this morning it is more like we were up in the Jemez area and the event was down in Los Alamos, but it doesn't really matter...Anyway I'm with my husband and boys out in a pasture that is very similar to the Valle Grande in the Jemez mountains (as far as ranching goes - this would be a cool ranch to live on). For some odd reason I felt I had plenty of time to go feed cows before driving to an event. Next thing I know time has slipped away and I'm freaking out because I'm going to be late. So we start driving down to the event. Along the way there are all these people out along the road, some are biking, some are running, some are picnicking on the side of the road (none are related to the event). Anyway the event is at this university campus like area - pretty buildings, shade trees, manicured landscaping. I arrive at the pool start and there is only two people left swimming. I plead with the officials to let me start late, I don't care about winning or placing I just want to complete the triathlon. They do not let me start, so I'm bummed. My husband and I walk outside and along this walkway surrounded by university type buildings, shade trees, but I'm just so very bummed about missing the event. Then my alarm goes off (4:30).

The bummed out feeling permeates into conscious reality as I feel unmotivated to get out of bed at such an awful hour only to go run telephone pole accelerations (run like crazy from one pole to the next, then recover for the next pole, then run...)especially since I did spints on the bike yesterday. It took me about half an hour to talk myself out of bed and into my clothes and get outside. The minute I opened the front door I hit a wall of heat. It was like 80 degrees at 5am, what's up with that - usually 67-73.
I hated every minute of it, but I did it. Makes me want to quote someone else's blog -
"Get up.
It sucks.
Then it doesn't.
Go train.
It sucks.
Then it doesn't.
Always.
In that order."

Now back to the grind.

Too Big.

2006-07-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

So after 2.5 hours at Outdoor Adventures a great little bike shop in Las Cruces, Pablo and I came to the same conclusion. My MTB is too big for me. I had my suspicions as I've tried everything I could think of, or read about to try to alleviate the finger numbness. We narrowed the distance between grips a little, and raised the seat and pushed it forward. Its a little better, but I'll have to cope until I've got the dough for a new bike.

Its challenging being short. So while I'm saving my dough, I've got lots of time to find the right bike. A Terry bike would be great, but probably too far out of the budget for now. Even cooler would be a custom bike made by Luna Cycles right here in Santa Fe, NM. Maybe for my Ironman debut...

PS...if your in the market for a bike and your in the Las Cruces area, I highly recommend Outdoor Adventures, and ask for Pablo. Tell him Suzanne sent you.

Later -

Trail Ride in the Dark - Yeah Baby!

2006-07-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Rode 13 miles this morning starting at a bit before 5am. Goal was to ride down to the River from my place - dirt road/track. I haven't ridden this yet,but I have driven it several months ago. It was a blast. Challenging in that it was dark for the first half. Nothing like riding by cheap, Bell bike light on an unfamiliar trail. My first half was slower than I could have done it due to the above mentioned challenge, the second half was surprisingly faster even though it was slightly uphill. I think maybe I've tweaked enough - very little hand numbness this morning. I actually felt like I knew what I was doing.

Headed to Cruces tonight with Hubby only...first weekend in 4 years without little ones, I'm excited and nervous. Not nervous about hubby, but leaving my babies behind. I have an appointment at a bike shop there with my MTB. Hope to see if they can help me tweak the bike a bit more, and get fit for a road bike. Maybe buy a better headlight if they got one...new bike shoes? Also Jeff's going to an auction hoping to buy a tractor, but they have like 150 bikes in it, so I hope to come home with one to at least rob parts from, like a second wheel set for my trusty MTB. Hope to get some hill running in too.

PS...Blues are gone, but the pool situation still pisses me off. -Later

Pool Blues

2006-07-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

I'm posting my gripe here, because I would go unheard elsewhere as I am an unimportant citizen of Artesia. For those who don't know (and I have such a huge fan base) I work in Carlsbad and live 15 miles south of Artesia - close enough to Artesia to be in their zip code and thus be counted as a citizen. Anyway when I started swimming last year prior to my triathlon dreams, I swam in the Carlsbad Aquatic Center. This pool is lap swimmer friendly in that they had good hours and hours dedicated to just lap swimmers. So I could hit the pool before work and it was great! Then in April they closed for renovation and I am counting the days till they are back online (probably not till January). So I try to use my "local" pool when it is open. Artesia pool is not lap swimmer friendly. I don't know if there is a lack of fitness swimmers in Artesia, or if there is a lack of fitness swimmers in Artesia because the pool hours suck!

So due to my work situation and rural home life, I can only swim in the late evenings. Artesia's pool schedule should accommodate me on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8. So if I leave work on time, don't chat with the babysitter, drive at least the speed limit home, drop off the boys, change and drive at least the speed limit into town, I can almost make it by 6:30 - more like 6:45. But that is rare, so I'm lucky if I can get there by 7. One whole hour, 2 nights a week - yeah!
But.... you knew there was a but coming didn't you. Artesia's economy is booming, thanks to the oil prices and terrorism, ie FLETC. FLETC = Federal Law Enforcement Training Center where they train the air marshals, the border patrol, state police. Next to oil, FLETC is god. I support FLETC - this is not about them other than they have enough money they should build their own pool.... They use the Artesia pool quite often, so the pool is closed to the general public a lot - like 3 days a week or more almost weekly which means Thursday nights too. And I'm thinking the late evening cancellations have nothing to do with FLETC other than they had the pool all day, so why open for the tax payers for two hours that night. I mean the life guards need to have a life too right!

What a summer for the kiddos - the only pool in town not only has crappy hours, but also is closed most of the time. Oh and lets not forget their hours on those evenings 6-8, well that really means 6-7:45. The teeny bopper life guards were whistling away at 7:45 last night for everyone to get out and go home. Maybe they had a pizza party planned or something.

Thank God for Carlsbad and Carlsbad Lake. For those who don't know, the Pecos River flows through Carlsbad and they widened it and added a couple of dams (eons ago) so that it is a water recreation area. During the summer they have life guards at the "beach" which is a cordened off area for swimming. I've been hitting the river after work one day a week for some time now. So I am still getting at least 2 days of swimming in and one day of open water swimming - yeah! And its free ( since I'm not a tax payer in Carlsbad other than the occasional breakfast burrito and lunch out)!

So it works out for me the lone lap swimmer from Artesia, but it still sucks that there is such a user unfriendly city pool in my neck of the woods.

Blue Funk

2006-07-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Its my personality, you know the shy, introverted type. Always been prone to depression, and the best cure was exercise. Mom was always telling me to get outside go for a hike or a bike ride or something. So since I've started "training" for triathlons I haven't really had a blue funk.
My definition for blue funk is just that down feeling, without knowing why I'm down. Its kind of a restless, bored feeling, but at the same time not being able to find the motivation to do something. It really bugs the crap out of me, yet here I am.
Contributing factors...Well I was sick all weekend, so I didn't do any training for three days straight. I did sleep a lot which was needed, but then youngest plucked my built up reserve away Sunday night - why he does this is a mystery (no sickness, night mares, wet pants...)
Second - probably most contributing is that it is probably that wonderful, magical time of month that defines us gals as gals.
Third - work just sucks right now! My boss is just Mr. Major Negative and the whole office (all 5 of us) is being affected, and I'm about ready to throttle the only other girl here.
Finally - I think I'm just tired. I'm tired of being tired, I'm tired of driving 30 miles to work everyday, I'm tired of riding my bike and running in the dark, I'm tired of my house always being a mess, I'm tired of griping about stuff I'm tired about.

The weekend after next, Hubby and I are getting a weekend away from the little ones (hopefully). I'm looking forward to time with my best friend that I live with but hardly ever see anymore, and looking forward to extra sleep. Got an appointment at the bike shop there to work on fit issues with my MTB and hopefully find a solution to my hand numbness issue that I can't seem to figure out... as well as get measurements to hopefully help me find the right road bike, when either a)the eBay gods smile at me and put the right one up for sale, or b) my pennies get saved up.

Finally I can't make up my mind. I'm training for the Fat Tire Tri in Fort Collins on August 26th, but there are two others before that one that have peaked my interest. One is the Tall City Tri in Midland on August 5, the other is the Socorro Chili Harvest Tri on August 12th. What I'm debating is (and this is stupid) how one or the other will fit in my training schedule. Yes I am really anal and I have trouble throwing a previously unscheduled event in the middle of my nicely laid out training schedule that I've written in pencil. The other thing is that I'm scared. What if I injure myself, what if I over do it, what if I DNF and that screws up my mental game, what if... Plus then there is the money involved, plus any other excuse I can think of.

The good news is that venting a little should help, the odds of me bumming other's out is little since very few folks read my posts anyway, the pool is going to be open tonight, and I've only got three more hours to suffer through before I can see my babies again, and "you can bet your bottom dollar that the sun will come out tomorrow."

Running Cow Trails

2006-07-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

Yes that's right - cow trails. For the lay person or non-rancher or city folk, a cow trail is a trail through a pasture usually between water and green grass, but there can be multiple, and they can meander all over the place. Cows are kind of like ants in that they tend to follow each other and walk the same path over and over.
So when one is up at the mother-in-laws ranch (soon to be our ranch) over a weekend, what a great opportunity to work on trail running and riding. So Saturday morning I went for an easy and short run and Sunday an easy and short ride via cow trails. I found trail running interesting in that you are too busy concentrating on not twisting an ankle and looking out for snakes that you forget about the breathing or lack of and the scenery when you take a moment to look up is great. Same goes with the riding, though you can look around more, but you have the added challenge of wondering what the freaked out cows are going to do (run away from or run at you) as you ride towards them.
The trail experience is slower (at least for me) because in my opinion it is more technical,and I feel it is a bit harder due to the uneven and varying terrain. But I had fun even with the freaked cows, and one rattle snake I did see.

I definitely need more trail training, so this coming weekend (I actually plan to be home) I hope to borrow the company's survey wheel, and mark out distances on our 240 acres in Artesia via cow trails (its the engineer thing). I've already been riding some oil field roads in the early am rides, so plan to increase that as well. If only I could simulate the altitude... Fat Tire Tri Fort Collins, watch out!

Recovery Week and Feeling Better.

2006-06-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

After last week's post, I put in a quick open water swim and felt a little better. Then off to Albuquerque for a quick visit with the folks, grandmother and prego baby sis. The trip up there was very interesting, but it was not as restful as I would have liked, but it was a good trip. I got a quick run in from the folks house to the river and back on sandy roads (probably a mile total) it was my first run since the Milkman and it felt good. Later that day my hubby and I borrowed the folk's MTB and rode around along the river on sandy trails. It was good that I got something in because due to the not so restful weekend, and late return home on Sunday I didn't get my long ride in. In fact I didn't do anything until yesterday evening and just did lower body work with the stability ball.

Alas I dragged my sleepy, unwilling behind out of bed this morning for a short run (15 min - have to gradually build back up) and it was good. My target was to keep my heart rate at the low end of my aerobic zone (135) and I actually kept it there, in fact at one point I had to pick up the pace a little to get it up there. Before the Milkman I was happy to keep it at around 143 which was challenging - remembering back in February I couldn't keep it below 160. So I'm encouraged. I'm headed to the pool tonight, hoping for more positive stuff knowing it is recovery week and I'm not going to try and kill myself even if things feel more in-sync than last week. Now back to work!