The Ironman Life

My first trip to the Big Island

For as much as we all bitch about it... most of us really do like it or we wouldn't be doing it. I think a man once said "If you're willing to sacrifice everything, you can have almost anything." What I think he was trying to get at, is that everything, and I mean everything, comes with a price.

When I think back on my life thus far (all 29 years of it!), I can see pivotal points where I made a decision to go down one path or another. I don't think it was that I analyzed each way so much and tried to make a "wise" decision (I would like to think this, but it probably just wouldn't be true). What I really think happened is that I had good parents and good people around me, not just for days or month, but for years. Sure, my parents divorced when I was two years old. Sure, I grew up with my mother as my primary care giver. Not only do I not think I was "scarred" by this, but in some ways, it was good for me. My mother was the very best parent she could be under the circumstances. While she was getting her PhD I got to spend time with my grandparents, which molded and shaped me even further. My father was in contact the best he could, seeing me for a month in the summer, and then ever other Christmas I would fly out to California for a couple weeks. I had coaches that became like father figures, and taught me about life, God, love, and sacrifice to make things happen. When the times to make decisions came, it was innate, I had good role models. That's what it's all about. It was somewhat nature, but definitely nurture that prevailed. Thank God for good parents, they make us who we are and we owe them more than we will ever repay...and that's the beauty of it.

Mom & I with her 10k trophy - Nice Hair Mom - Very Groovy :)

Roads diverge, and we are forced to choose constantly. Some decisions are bigger than others, but we do the best that we can.

Two years ago my husband and I were on the Big Island after I did a food show and had a few days for sightseeing in Kona. I remember driving along the miles of black lava rocks, white stones etching messages into the hearts of those who passed by. I stood at Kailua Bay and watched the waves come in, and I saw the sign in Kona for the Ironman World Championships. I looked over and said "I will be back here one day Kyle, and I will do this race." I had one triathlon to my name, and I was not afraid to dream, nor should you.

When I choose this road last November, it was like it was already chosen for me. Everything I did and prayed about seemed to fall into place. I started training slowly but surely. The Holidays came and went, and I did not get discouraged. I tried not to think to far ahead when I was on the trainer for Saturday after Saturday. We booked our flight to St. Croix, and on January 1st I made a note - St. Croix or Bust!

Through that race, and this season I learned so much. I've learned about myself, and about those I train with. I've become so close to my masters swimmers and my long ride buddies, often times I spent more time with them than I did with Kyle.

Some things I've learned, just to name a few:

- How to get stung by a bee in my shirt and keep riding
- How to burp and cough underwater (these are important!)
- How to use baggies for simply everything.. and I mean everything
- How to drop my cell phone from my jersey going 30 mph downhill (end of that one)
- That I can get ready in 5 minutes
- That I can out eat my husband in certain circumstances
- That I will cry after a certain point with no food
- That I can talk for hours upon end about absolutely nothing if left to do so, especially when training with men, they just listen.. God Bless them..

Ok.. in all honesty, I did learn those things.. but I learned a few others too.. like

- People you've never met (aka blogland) can be so supportive and lift you up through kind words - thank you!
- We are all so much alike, and want the same things
- No one is immune to being hurt, or scared or having any kind of issue - so support them in any way you can because soon it will be you
- Regardless of age, or anything else, there are such great people in my community that I would have never met if it wasn't for triathlon - they rock
- That I am strong, and I can handle way more than I thought I could
- That I will finish this thing, no matter what happens, I will finish!

Everything does come with a price, but you don't have to give everything else up for it. We shouldn't have to, and most of us don't. There are things that are far more important than triathlon, or racing, and I think even through the training, we learn that. The reality kind of shines though. We get so much more out of all of the experience than just crossing the finish line.

My husband, my friends, my family put up with a lot of tiredness, hunger, hurried phone calls, things being lost all the time, and bitchiness (sorry, but it's true), for me to get to this point, but I hope, to all of us, this experience will bring great joy.

I know it sounds trite, but I do love the Ironman life. Now let's see if I can actually go do one! Ha!

Autumn Leaf Festival 5k & B.O.T.T.

Start of the ALF 5k (I'm in purple - one of my favorite colors - see, I'm um girly and stuff)

The leaves are starting to change into beautiful hues of red and yellow, and the smell of fall is in the air (literally, it is, I smelled it today on my bike!). It was a wonderful weekend at the Clarion ALF festival and after a week that almost tried to kill me from long hour and lack of sleep, I was still able to pull things together with a little help from a supportive husband and lots of prayer!

By the time I arrived home on Friday night at 9:15pm from traveling for work I was spent. When I say spent, I was like knock down, dragg em out, almost falling asleep while I was driving, went the wrong way home from Cleveland for 8 miles before turning around, tired. I don't know if I have ever been as tired in my LIFE! Kyle could hear the distress in my voice among the bitching, and was kind enough to have ice cream and a new MP3 player (which I had broke from sweating so profusely during my long run on the treadmill on Wed) waiting when I finally got home, so I was incredibly grateful. Way to go husband...you rock.

Anyway, I was having serious doubts about the race at that point. However, I decided to just hit the hay and not worry about it. It was just a 5k right? Only about 1/200th of what I am about to do in a week and six days (I know this because of that dang counter on the blog.. a little TMI now that we are this close).

I slept like a rock and woke up feeling excellent. I had a very laid back, relaxed feeling as we headed over to the race site to meet up with 300 of my closest friends and fellow ALF'ers. I did a long warm up because the last thing I wanted was to pull some dang muscle at this point, and lined up feeling ready and determined to have a great race.

As we started I got right behind Jayson, the women's cross country coach at Clarion, and his lead runner Erin. Erin is a great runner and an All-American to boot. She definitely should pursue running after college. I think this is her last year of eligibility. During last years race, I only hung with her until the first mile, then she was long gone. This year, I decided to give it a go and see what happened. I made a decision early to not look at my watch for heart rates or splits as I knew I might be above an beyond what I was used to doing based on my effort level and breathing, but no mas... all that mattered was that I gave this my best effort and let the chips fall where they may. Low and behold, Erin was still in my sights, as was Jayson at the one mile, and then I held on till the two mile mark. I started loosing a little ground and was about 10-15 seconds behind each of them as we climbed a grade into town. The entire time I kept telling myself, "no limits Kim, no one says what you can and cannot do, just believe" and I did. I was going to PR today, even without looking at my watch, I could just feel it in every bone within my body as I ran. Coming down toward the track where we would finish I saw my husband and Mom waiting and I was excited to know I would be done after one short lap around the track!

Almost to the track! I can feel the finish coming and IT IS GOOD!

As I crested the first curve I heard times being called in the sixteens and I thought someone must have made a mistake. Honestly, that was impossible. I'm in good shape, but I don't think I'm in THAT kind of shape! I watched as Erin pulled away from Jayson and I tried to make up ground, but I could tell I was going to be behind by 100 feet coming into the finish. I could see the clock, and I could hear the announcer telling me to push it into the finish!! I crossed the line and I was so happy to have given it a serious good effort. These are the races that make you stronger!!

Tired at the finish, but a happy camper!

Erin was the first women, and I was the first "open" runner (aka able to receive a cash prize) so party time it is folks!! It was nice to work toward an incentive to share with my fellow triathletes, and maybe even have enough left over to buy a few things at the expo. I'm so thankful for this little race. Afterward, I ran into many people I knew from high school, and the community in general. It was awesome. They are even starting a running club so hopefully that will be something I can tap into when I am back home in November.

Oh--and I just found out that Oscar kicked my butt during the first 5k of his 10k race! Geezz Oscar.. what did you eat before the race! Let a girl in on the secret! Wow!!!

One, Two and Three! Girl power baby...! Great job to all who raced!!

So, that's the story morning glory!! I hope it is a good sign for the upcoming weeks.

Oh - so you're wondering what BOTT is huh.. Well, that is my new saying for BRING ON THE TAPER. I know many of you don't like it, well, I put in the work, and I LOVE IT.. I am ready to get a little r & r and attempt to pack this week which I am dreading already. Seriously, how much do I have to pay for someone to come do this for me? I can do $30.00... so worth it.. please. Email me a packing resume if you are interested, including references that say you didn't forget anything when you packed for your last races. Thank you for your interest.

How to Train in a Hotel

Yes, Yes, I’m still alive. This week our company is meeting in Cleveland since everyone is from around the country and we only see each other to go over sales, new products and other projects every three months. The exciting town of Cleveland is on tap every September. Actually, I’ve been quite impressed with the few times I’ve been outside to see actual sunlight for about 15 mins in between the meeting and dinner. Its a nice city with great restaurants. The days go like this..

Meeting start 8:30am

Lunch 12:00-1:00pm or 1:15pm

Meeting end 5:00pm

Dinner 6:40pm – 9:00 or 10:00pm (yes, that’s right.. minimum two-three hours)

We eat VERY well, but unfortunately, I always end up not getting enough sleep because I get up to workout while everyone else sleeps in until the last possible minute before starting the meeting. I’ve done that too, but not now, not in these final weeks. Now is the time to excute. Now, is the time.

My week is a bit different this week workout-wise because I am running a 5k this weekend and Coach was kind enough to say “YES” to this whole idea and allow me to work this race into the schedule. I seriously think I asked him about it 3 months ago! It during our hometown festival and I have a title to defend. Last year it came down to the final 20 meters on the track, good fun. The best part is, it has a little prize $ so I am hoping to win a bit of pocket change to help with a shin-dig I insist on having in Hawaii!!

Don’t worry, you’re all invited. You’re not competing – so what. Fly out just to watch and come to the party. I can’t promise the food will be good, but there will be drink and other triathletes, what else do you need?!

I feel it is necessary to show you how to travel and train so here you go.. just to prove it..


The bell guys thought I was crazy, but I assured them.. I was. Pretty Cervelo on the trainer at the Hyatt. See, I do laundry on the road Mom. Are you proud??

Drinks and lotion, the essentials for getting ready in the morning and staying hydrated.

Night Vision & Zen Swimming

Somebody turn on the light earlier ok.. it's freakin dark out there at 6:00am these days. Last year my Dad got me one of those reflective vests that look like a construction worker and a little light to carry and I though, hum.. nice gift, when will I use it though? Well, I'm using it baby. It was PITCH black out this morning and I had trouble seeing enough to get out of my own driveway because of all the trees. Luckily, the moon has been all full of itself lately and it's like natures big nightlight! Plus, it's good for my night vision (not that I am planning on using it in Kona, but I will if I have to!).

The speed run was decent.. it hurt a little, but it always does. Yesterday about this time I was starting to freak out a bit because I had "the feeling." What is "the feeling" you ask? Well, Kyle will tell you that it is a very bad thing and requires immediate pre-cautions. First, you start drinking insane amounts of water. I think yesterday was the first time my urine has been clear in months!!! Then, you take vitamin C like it is a drug, since it's water soluble you just pee it right out - no problemo. Pop it, wait an hour, pop another one. I think I got around 2000mg in me in about 3 hours! Then, you minimize all other stress, eat dinner and go to bed ASAP. Last night I was in bed at 9:15 which has to be some kind of record (other than the night the power shut off, maybe I should just have someone pretend to shut the power off on me ever night so I have to go to bed, yeah.. now we're talkin). My immune system is a very touchy thing. The feeling involves general tiredness, sore throat, scratchy throat and possibly aches and pains in the neck & shoulder area. A few of the symptoms started to creep up and I was like "NOOOO - not this time, not now" So, I laid the smack down on it, and I woke up a little later this morning and check how I felt before heading out to workout. All systems go, speed run on tap.

I made it to the pool too, but I was late since I got up a bit later than usual. That being the case, I only got about 2700 of my 4500 yards. You know what, I was feeling great too. The kind of swim where you are just going and the arms are turning and the breathing is rhythmic and you are all over it. It was effortless, 300's, 400's, 500's and I was loving every second. I was zoning out and it was Zen swimming all the way. I only catch it every once in awhile, but when I do it rocks my world. It was a pity I had to call it, but I did. Plus, I thought lets not over do it if I might be getting a touch of something. Better to do a bit less and not get it right??

So, that was the day so far. I've gotten tons of work done today and now it's time to long bike tonight. I'm starting to "gather" for Kona.. I think it will help to pack early. So, I'm giving it an effort. No promises. Oh and I made a good smoothie for breakfast - check it out..

Frozen Strawberries, Myoplex protein shake (choc), banana (already in there), blueberries & peach/apple juice. It was way decent!!

In Focus

Do you ever think about your life right at this moment and want to burn it into your memory for the future? Do you ever think, when I'm 80, I'm going want to sit back and talk about how that felt, or what this or that was like?

I might be the only one. I don't know. It's something I think about quite often and actually try to savor the feeling and the moment even though it is quickly passing by. The weeks turn into months, and when it seems like summer will never come, it comes and goes before I can barely blink. The leaves are starting to turn along with the weather. Each day it gets a bit colder, and I know soon it will be time for warm apple cider, Halloween party's and autumn leaf festivals.

Why all this reminiscing? I suppose it's related to turning another year older. It probably also relates to what K said the other night about how crazy this year has been. I don't know if I would have told myself this at the beginning of the year, if I would have really believed it. All the changes, all the schedules, training, and busyness. I will always remember the spring/summer/fall of 2008. It's been a year like no other, and the year isn't even over yet! At times, I've wanted to throw in the towel, toss up my hands and say -I'm out, too much. Yet, I never do. Even though it's crazy, somehow you will look back on it with fondness when your bones are brittle, and your not able to do half the things you used to or would like to anymore. Part of me will want all the crazy back, just to do it over again because I would know at that point it would all come together and work out.

It's good to put things in focus and to think of how you might feel about them later in life. I don't want to miss a second of this training and hoping, and wishing, and praying for a good October race. I might never be doing it again! I'm lapping it all up, taking it all in, and even trying to enjoy the insanity. It makes my life interesting and complex. I like it hard. If it wasn't tough, I probably wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much!

So, speaking of in focus. My new camera is awesome! I'm now in the experimental stage and for your viewing pleasure, I have taken a couple of pictures today! Nothing awesome, but just to let you in a little bit at a time into a day in the life...

Birthday Flowers there on my desk! Aren't they pretty! They are from my friend Ann! Thank you for thinking of me! I wish they would last forever!!

My lunch today (blueberries, hummus, butternut squash lean cuisine, yogurt, thin crisps (for dipping in hummus, and banana - Oh and string cheese). It's a smorgestboard of randomness! What can I say! I didn't eat all of this though - I know you were about to freak out. I just put it out there "in case" I felt like it!

Happy Birthday To Me (um.. belated)

I had a great Birthday yesterday (Sunday)!

The day went like this:

8:00am - Long run, which went well. 2 hours and 30 mins wearing a black long sleeved turtleneck. It was 75 degrees. Yep, bring it on.

10:45am - showered and eating blueberry pancakes. Does it get any better!! Oh yes it does - Kyle made them for me. Oh yes, AND did the dishes. Talk about making me a happy women!

12:30pm - napping. One of my favorite pastimes. I don't do it that often but when it comes around, baby it is good!!

1:00pm - opening gifts! I got a camera which I will use to post ample pictures to my blog! Prepare youself because you're getting pictures!!!

1:30pm - time to get up, head down to the bike shop with K to drop my cervelo off for it's final pre-race tune up.

3:00pm - dropped off the bike at Big Bang Bikes and oh yes, it's ice cream time!!! Can you say - brownie Sunday. Yum, double yum.

6:00pm - We have dinner reservations at Siba, Mediterranean cuisine. To me, that means pasta - which these days, is an ever day staple! I love pasta.

8:30pm - We had a huge wind storm and all the power went out. It was creepy and the wind was blowing about 60 miles an hour. It was as close as I have been to being in a real tornado! It was crazy! It was also kind of cool to light candles and not have anything to do!

I got to bed early, and was able to get up in time to do 6000 yards this morning..! Nothing like 3 some odd miles of swimming to wake you up! It went well, but why so long? Do I ever double my marathon amount and just run 40 miles? Do I ever need to double the 112 and do 224? Nope!, but not true with swimming. Who knows! Not me, I just do what's on the schedule! I know I need the practice!

So, I am officially aging up. Watch out 30-34 because I'm coming in! Make room (just kidding, I know those girls are tough! They'll probably kick my hiney!)

Insanity..

I see insanity on the horizon

I read once that insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. Sometimes, we just can't help ourselves, it's in our nature and haven't you ever heard the saying "try, try again."

This brought me back to a race a good friend had at Wisconsin last weekend. He was completely prepared, he had exceptional training, and went into the race ready to pull off a big PR or something of the like. I was completely convinced that he would do it. I knew in my heart he was capable of it, and unless something major happened, he probably would. That's the scary thing about Ironman though, you can do all that, and still have a not-so great day (according to our own personal goals). His swim was pretty good, his bike was decent, but on the run he began to cramp (and had never cramped previously) and despite taking salt tablets, massaging the cramp, and trying to stretch and walk it out, he was not able to run much at all during the marathon. He's a great athlete, and with 5-6 months of training, that was his day.

I can't help but wonder what type of person it takes to be an Ironman. Yes, he finished, yes, he is an Ironman, but the disappointment was evident. It wasn't the race he wanted to have; it wasn't the kind of experience that gets you raring to go for more.

Yet, though it all sometimes, we are willing to do this, year after year. We may train for an entire 8-9 months for essentially, one day. Sure, we might race other races, but all in all, it is, and has to be, about the IM experience. It's the big one, the one that supersedes all of the other races. It's the trump card that can turn a so-so season into a success, or a great season into something left to be desired and something we will think about many times again until the next years racing season begins.

We have to be crazy right? We really do have to be insane in some ways. We put all this time in, we make the sacrifices, we do all the preparation to avoid potential pitfalls and issues, and yet we could still have a not so great race. I don't care if you are a seasoned pro, or a newbie, no one is immune. It could happen to anyone. Still, we press on. We might question why for awhile, but usually the images of "what if" start to creep back in our minds and make us want to sign up for another race, maybe even another IM. We're not people who give up easily, even when bad races come. We're do-ers, we're optimists, we're not willing to just hold on to the past - we want the future, and we want it to be bright and filled with PR's, podiums, and Kona slots.

I guess it brings me back to my friend. He mentioned he might not want to do another IM. I told him its WAY to early to say something like that. I feel his pain, and I'm right there with him although I would rather it not happen to me - the chances are, if I do this long enough, it probably will. Our wills are strong though, and hopefully, we will draw on a larger perspective and try to learn what went wrong to use in the next season, the next race. Letting those thoughts get the best of you, to me, that is what I would call failing. No one failed in that race, I don't care if you crossed the finish line first, or last... they are ALL Ironmen & Ironwomen.

Some people might view what I did today as insanity. Sometimes it felt like it to me! The roads were wet, the forecast was ominous, and I viewed today as a good chance to practice real Hawaii training. I wanted to see just how tough I really was at this point. How do you test that? Well friends, you get on your trainer for 5 hours and 45 minutes. I'm sure people have done more, but I haven't. My longest trainer ride was about 3 hrs 30 mintues. Needless to say, I knew this would be a bit tough. At about 4:30 I started really regretting my decision, but I wasn't going to back down. Seven soaked towels, 183 ounces of fluid, and three movies later, I was done and I felt I was the better for it. I learned a bit about my nutrition plan in the heat (and hot it was, no fan, this is Hawaii in my living room people), and my run after actually felt decent (which is a surprised because I was pretty sure my legs were left on the trainer when I got off).

I could all this, do everything right, and still not have a decent race (well, by my standards) in Hawaii. Yes, I will enjoy it regardless, yes, I will consider a success if I finish. If I have to walk the marathon though, I'm not going to say I won't be disappointed because it would be lie. I guess we have trust enough, believe enough, and hope that things will work out. If they do, wonderful, if they don't well, hopefully we learned something we can take with us for next time. I don't think the concept of insanity can be applied to Ironman. We have to keep coming back and we will keep coming back - hoping for better results, but doing this because most of all, good or not-as-good, we love it.





I hope there is a next time for my friend. It's too early to tell. I know he's strong in mind and sprit, and if it is meant to be, he will be an Ironman again someday.

The Inevitable

There was no way around it. It has been building for weeks. It was just too much to handle and eventually, it was bound to come out. I had a small breakdown. I think life had just gotten too tough for me lately, and I kept holding it inside, and pushing it down deeper, and deeper that it just had to come out or it was going to kill me.

I'm not really a crier you see. Really, I'm not. I actually can't remember the last time that I did it. I spent the last two days out of town for work though, and by the time I was driving home last night at 8pm, and somehow K and I started having some "words" because I seem to have lost a receipt and it was just too much. I broke down.

I knew trying to sell our house, while living apart, while training for the Ironman, while working 40 hours was going to be a bit of a stretch. I think without the house issues coming up, it might have been a bit more do-able. Unfortunately, houses don't work like that though. Things come up, that's what they do!

Anyway, after having a nice crying session about how I couldn't take it anymore, I felt a lot better. I think K understood the toll our little spats were taking on me and seemed to think we could pull it together for the last three weeks until we left for the big trip. If anything else goes wrong, don't worry- I'll be setting the place on fire :) Burn Baby Burn!!

I think I had this image in my mind though that I would just be able to train and everything else would just be "perfect" allowing me to focus on that as one of the more important (but not most important) things in my life. I don't know where I got this idea, but it was a good thing I learned to let go of it. Things will not only NOT be perfect, they will probably fall even further apart during this crazy time of Ironman training. No ones life, who has a life, is really like that. Many people are training with children who are, and should be, of a much higher priority than swim and bike workouts. They're doing it, regardless of challenges, changes in schedules and shortened workouts. Let me say to those people - you are an inspiration. Really, you are. You make me want to whine less, and expand my perspective. Things will be far from perfect, and that is just fine.

THANK YOU for all of the sweet & encouraging comments. I recieved so many nice thoughts and I feel the love - REALLY - I DO!! You all rock. I have real friends in blogland that care about me.. how freakin cool is that. Life is good.

The good news is that K had someone stop by last night that might be a real prospect and seemed to like the house. The bad news is that I have a 7 hour ride scheduled and the chance of rain is 70%.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Oh - by the way, I missed our Anniversary due to traveling this week. So, in honor of not getting to see K that day, I vow to have a great fourth year of marriage and to work even harder at communication, and taking care of each other. Maybe next year we will even see each other that day!! What a concept!

Why

Sometimes you have to ask yourself this. It’s the inevitable question. It comes up when you don’t know how to explain your emotions, when everything seems to be going wrong, when with one more thing you feel like you might just fall over an give up... why this, why now, why me. It’s in our nature to ask. We are programmed to ask the question even when we know there is an answer in sight.

One thing I’ve learned though, things always look clearer in hindsight. You may not understand now, but if you have faith in something more than yourself, you just might see there was a reason, even when the fog occluded the sunlight.

I write this as a person who’s living one life in one moment happy and thankful, and the next moment everything seems to be going wrong. If you think people are immune, or just because they don’t write about it they don’t’ have it too – you’re dead wrong. We all have problems, issues, challenges. We may not talk about it on something like a “blog” but we do. It’s not about how hard you hit the ground, it’s about how well you can bounce. Kyle and I, we’ve been doing a lot of bouncing lately.

As I ride around in a truck, with my husband who is not speaking to me because he is so upset about our house and everything that seems to be going wrong, it feels like an eternity of silence. At the time we want to, and need to, sell our house, it’s like money pit. Things are completely out of control. We get one thing fixed, another breaks. I swear it knows, and feels we are abandoning it. That must be why it’s revolting against us. Someone’s looking at it right now… 8:30pm on a Monday. So we had to leave. I’d like to be plopped in front of my TV, enjoying a bit of down time before the day starts again, but you “can’t always get what you want” they say. Maybe this person will be “the one” and we can stop this madness, and our house can not feel so abandoned so we can move on with our lives.

You see training is never just training. This is life. Life is messy. Sometimes, life is really tough. I’m having a hard time with our situation, but you have to keep it all in perspective. Someone out there just found out they have cancer, or lost a loved one, or their child got sick. These are the things that stop us in our tracks and make us wonder why we ever gave two thoughts to our measly situation at the time. When you are right there, in the thick of it though, it doesn’t seem that way. You wonder how you can possibly keep any more balls in the air without falling flat on your face. Sometimes, we still fall flat on our face, and I guess that’s ok too if we can get back up.

Pray for us, pray for our money pit house, and pray I can make it to the Ironman with a husband who doesn’t loose his mind, and therefore make me loose my mind. We need it. Thank you.

Black Thumb

I like to think there are things at which I can do pretty well. I can make a decent dish of pasta with shrimp and vodka sauce. I'm pretty good at keeping my house clean (well, before this who Ironman thing happened to me anyway), and I was a decent runner at one point. When we decided to sell our house, Kyle put a bunch of new mulch down and it needed, well, a women's touch you could say. It just looked, so...um bare. Like a good little Mrs. I headed right down to the greenhouse and bought us some flowers that I could plant to make it look "pretty".

There are a few things that I am weird about, one of them is flowers. My track record isn't good. I have this habit of wanting to plant them in rows or some sort of pattern. Kyle is always telling me how "weird" they look!! It must be my anal retentive side coming out. I blame my mother for that (you know you are Mom..that's not a jab - and I love you).

My other is that I am not a "nurturer" per say. Well, I am not a "nurturer" at all. I work hard, I work fast, I get things done. I'm super efficient, but not so good at remembering things like, say watering the flowers when it has decided not to rain for the last 15 days or something crazy like that (but not tomorrow though, I have a 6 hour ride, Sunday please if I am putting in my order). Anyway, I like to kill things. Well, not kill things, but plants and I just don't get along. I try, I really do, but I seem to fail. The way I see it is that the hearty ones make it, the others, I guess they just weren't fighters. Why should I be supporting weaklings out there in the yard, no rain - it's pain time, as they say on WWF!! It reminds me of natural selection (well, except we are talking about flowers and bushes and such). Anyway, I've killed quite a few things out there lately. I got the "it's looking rough" speech this week from the man. I know I'm hard on things, and I don't mean to be, but what can I say, it's in my nature.

When Kyle designed my engagement ring, one of his only thoughts was "how can I make it nice, yet extremely durable." His solution was to make it three stones that were very low to my finger (as opposed to the one high solitaire diamond) so that I could wear it all the time without catching on everything as I blew through this world like a tornado. This was a wise choice. I've worn it during every triathlon, swim practice and bike ride thus far. I would take it off, but frankly, I forget I even have it on until I'm on the start line like "well, I hope the prongs don't just decide to give out today!" So far, so good.

In other news, I'm packed and ready for tomorrow.

bike shorts- check
jersey - check
sunscreen - check
sports bra - check
helmet - check
shoes - check
heart rate monitor - check
bike - check
gels - check
pump - check
water bottles (3)- check
bars for after ride - check
running shoes for t-run - check
running skirt for t-run - check
non-sweaty sports bra for t-run - check
running shoes - check
bathing suit for 4000 yard swim- check
cap - check
goggles - double freakin check

So, there you have it. You would think I was packing for a week, nope, just one day. It only takes me a complete hour on Friday nights to clean out my dang car of the week's triathlon mess, and get all this stuff ready to set out on the journey tomorrow. Six am is going to come early so I had better see as to getting my rest. Eight beautiful hours after that, I'll be done and ready to go out to dinner with my wonderful mother who is taking me out for my b-day a week early!! They better have lots of food stocked up at Olive Garden tomorrow. Alert the chefs, a very tiny person with a big appetite will be in around 6pm. Watch out!!

What I've Learned..

Sometimes you may think you go from one week to the next without really learning much. For some that might be true. Some weeks I learn a variety of things, I just don't really recount them enough to really notice. However, this week I have been reflecting quite a bit on all the different things I've learned and it is quite the list.

Things I've learned over the past week:

• More times than not, I have grease under my fingernails. So much for pretty "girly" hands. I'll have to have those later in life. For now, much of my life is spent on a bike, and fixing the bike/chain...therefore, grease is inevitable.
  
• If you paint your fingernails, you cannot see the grease as easily. It is faster than cleaning them out with one of those brush things. If we had one, I wouldn't even know where to look for it.
  
• Having to keep your house immaculate because you are selling it, while you are training for the Ironman... well.. it sucks. I need to be able to keep my dirty nasty laundry right where I throw it in my closet. The man said that I can no longer do this. Since he's not around, I thought about trying, but then again, I want to sell my house and if it smells like a big sweat ball, we probably won't. Dang it.
  
• Triathlon brings you together with people you would have never met otherwise. I've been riding with a new guy, since my other guy has been tapering the last few weeks for IM Wisconsin. He's very nice, and our paths would have never crossed otherwise. That is why triathlon is cool.
  
• I spend a lot of time in the bathroom, more than I care to admit. I just don't understand the dynamics of this whole situation. I can only imagine it must be that I am eating like I am 3 people instead of 1. It's getting annoying though. If I wanted to spend this much time in there I would be been, well, a man. They are always in there reading the paper and such. I'm sorry to be so graphic, but I think those training for Ironman should know this is a reality.
  
• I no longer care about fashion, or doing my hair. I used to need 10-15 full minutes to get ready after the morning workouts to head out of the locker room to start my day. This "getting ready time" has now been cut down to between 5-7 minutes. I spend so much time packing my gym stuff, I don't even care much about my outfit as long as it's well, appropriate for work and clothes. That's it, those are the only requirements. I probably spend more total time in the bathroom, than I do getting ready. How weird is that?
  
• It's all about perspective. A ride of 5.5 hours no longer seems that long...I'm actually happy when I see that on the schedule. I never thought I would say that!!
  
• I use hand sanitizer, I wash my hands between 4 and 10 times per day, and I am drinking out of water bottles that are full of black dots, which I am pretty sure are mold, on a daily basis. Now this my friends, make no sense whatsoever! I've got two choices the way I see it since I've been using some of these since, well, last year. I can buy new ones, or I can let Clorox sit in them for a few days, which would probably require me buying new ones since I need them basically every day.


• I love blogs. One, because I meet new friends (well, through the Internet but who cares how it's done, it's done). Two, because I get to see that I am not alone in this crazy training mess. Three, because its cathartic to get your thoughts down on paper. In addition, it helps me keep up with many friends and family at the same time. They actually seem to like sharing my journey and that is kind of cool.


• I'm starting to feel a bit prepared for Kona. With that said, I am not trying to say I am overly ready, or that I feel I am going to something spectacular there; I'm just saying that I am starting to feel confident that even amongst the harsh conditions, barring some disaster, I can probably finish. It is a good feeling after a solid three months of training, and I am thankful for consistency and support that has started to creep into my mindset and make it feel possible. Only four more weeks of hard training and then two weeks of taper baby. Can you smell it!?!!

• I have to get a new bathing suit. Mine is pretty much so loose it's like being naked. It's time to spring for one. Currently, it's so bad, I wouldn't even give it to goodwill. Not that they don't need suits, but then again, that's kind of gross anyway. They might want some one's old suit, but trust me when I say, they don't want this one. It's toast.
• I am addicted to Grey's Anatomy. That's right.. full blown, utterly, addicted. If I knew what it was like to do drugs, and I don't, but if I did, I am pretty sure it would be similar to this addiction. Since I only have time to watch limited amounts of TV, the DVD set given to me by a co-worker is rocking my world. I love it! Press the button and BAM - you're able to watch right where you left off - NO COMMERCIALS. Its "da bomb" as they say back in good old Knox, PA.

So, that about covers it. That's what I have learned this week. Work is well, training is well and I am thankful. Now, if I could just get someone to come do these mounds of laundry I have been creating.. humm...