Fat Tuesday!

Heya peeps!  It's Fat Tuesday!  Ya know, the day before Ash Wednesday where everyone eats and drinks themselves silly in anticipation of giving up all their vices for Lent.  It sounds like fun to me, well at least until the day after part.  Just kidding.

I am not all that religious and I was not raised Catholic so I have never given anything up for Lent.  Every year I consider it but in the end I always end up thinking I would feel like a fraud if I tried to act like a Catholic just to give something bad up.  I should just be doing that normally.

Here is my list of things I should give up for Lent...

1. Coffee
2. Booze
3. Candy
4. Baked Goods
5. Bread
6. Chocolate
7. My cell phone

With the exception of my cell phone, I really don't over do that much on this list all that often.  Yes, I do have 2-3 coffees/lattes a day (which is more than I should) but I no longer drink soda so nanna nanna boo boo!

Sunday is Valentine's Day!  I've bought the kiddos their gifts (I always get them something small and a small box of chocolates).  The thing I love about Valentine's Day is that it means we are half way through February!  Oh how I long for March.  March in Wisconsin is a crap shot weather wise.  We are likely to get a few 60-70 degree days, a few 0-10 degree days, a couple of good snow storms and maybe a thunderstorm or two.  It really is interesting but it does get warmer!  I am looking forward to getting back outside on my bike.

(the view on my run)

(Lake Loop Path lunch run)

My runs have been cold lately.  Nothing like coming back in to find your butt is frozen, LOL.  Winter makes me tired and want to stay in bed under my electric blanket.  Please spring, I beg you, please come soon!

Winter Wonderland

It's snowing in Wisconsin... it's winter so I guess it's supposed to do that.  I hate snow.  I mean I really hate the snow and cold.  My hubbie loves it or we would not live here (I long for Arizona or California).  But I digress, this is the view from a window at work today.

I can take cold (for the most part), I will run in cold.  The other day I ran when it was 18 degrees out.  It wasn't even that bad, but I refuse to run when it is snowing.  I do not trust myself not to go down in flames.  It gets slick and people aren't the most trustworthy when it comes to removing ice and snow from sidewalks so I prefer to know what I am stepping on.  As beautiful as snow is it hides the dangers that lie beneath (sounds like a horror flick trailer).

(me after my cold run I look like I'm in shock)

One of my favorite bloggers (Shut Up + Run) lives in Colorado and she writes a lot about getting out and running in the snow and cold.  I have found her advice priceless from the tips and tricks to the recommendations in gear.  In fact, I have used many of her recommendations with stellar results.  My one piece of advice...

GO OUT AND RUN!  TRY IT FOR 10 MINUTES, IF IT SUCKS STOP!  IF NOT SOLDIER ON, YOU WILL FEEL BADASS BY THE END!

I am hoping to run tonight, I am praying the snow lets up and the forecasted freezing rain never appears.  But if it does I will stay indoors and bike.  Ugh, I hate riding indoors.  Nothing like going nowhere forever, but it does make for great mental preparation.

Today I realized my first triathlon of the season is less than 16 weeks away, my half is less than 20 and Ironman Wisconsin is just under 32 weeks.  OMG!!  I need to get more consistent in my training and definitely more serious about my eating.  This is not going to cut it!!

Welcome to January!

Some may dread January and the New Year's resolutions that come with it but I love them!  I love seeing the posts on Facebook about people trying to change their eating, or exercising, or even just their attitude.  People see the New Year as a time to start fresh, I don't think it has to be January 1 but if a certain date gives you the motivation to make a positive change in your life then use it to your advantage.

(Just kidding!)

Triathlon training started in full on Sunday.  Yes, I waited until January 3rd to get my ass moving.  What??  I can't be blamed, my new coach didn't have my workouts in Training Peaks until then.  ;)

Since then I have swam, biked and ran. I will continue to put myself through this nonsense until the tri season is over with in September,  

On Sunday I took my best dog Charlie out for her first run with me.  I didn't know what to expect.  I thought it would be torture.  I figured she would stop constantly to sniff of try to run too far ahead of me.  But in actuality it was awesome.  She would stop and run ahead but a slight tug on the leash and she was right back with me.  She lasted the whole 5 miles and as a bonus she was tuckered out for 2 days!  She is a ball of boundless energy so I think it was win for everyone.  

I still need to work on my eating.  For the past month I have been eating far too many carbs.  As a WLS girl, I need to remind myself to be protein focused.  I also need to cut back on sugar (I've been getting headaches like mad lately).  I post everyday (I try to) on Obesity Help's "What's on your Menu RNYers" and I find that keeps me more accountable.  I love those ladies!!

Not Feeling Very Christmas Like

Blah... I feel blah.  Maybe I haven't eaten too many cookies or maybe its the lack of sunshine lately, but I feel crappy and crabby.  My workouts are suffering and I know it.  I always feel better after I work out but lately just getting myself to the starting line has been a chore.

I continue to swim twice a week, run once and week and bike once a week.  I have been slacking on weekends due to lack of time.  I teach swimming lessons to littles and for the past 15 weeks its been both Saturday and Sunday.  I work a Monday thru Friday 9-5 and then I work both days on weekends.  It has just become too much.  I am beyond happy that this weekend is my last 2 day teaching weekend.  Beginning in January I will teach Saturday mornings and Mondays after work.  Whew... that will help.

Ah.. January... the time of New Year's Resolutions and endless hoards at the gym!

I actually like seeing so many people at the gym, I love how enthusiastic and determined they are.  I also know that many will not continue to go past the first few weeks into January.  But there will be a few that make it a habit and continue to soldier on.  Those are the people who make the January madness worth it.  Yes, I will bitch about having to park a mile from the entrance but I know it for the greater good.

January also begins triathlon training.  First race is in early May.  I love having something to work for.  Bring on 2016!  This is going to be an epic year!

PR and Masters Swim

Thanksgiving was a fantastic weekend.  Relaxing and enjoyable, not to mention very fattening.  We visited the in-laws, baked, put up Christmas decorations, went to Mockingjay II, and of course went shopping.  My favorite part of the weekend was Thursday morning!  I ran the Eastbay Turkey Trot in Wausau WI.

I didn't know what to expect with this race.  I knew it would be small (they cap the number of entrants at 1500) and I thought Wausau was pancake flat so I figured I would be nicely set up for a PR and maybe even a sub-30 min 5k.  

I got there WAY too early.  They were just setting things up when I got there but I didn't want to be late and I still had to register.  I waited for a while in my car and then went and registered.  Swag included a long-sleeved Adidas shirt and a 3 pack of Nike sport socks.  Not too shabby.  My bib number was 1297.

After registering I went back to my car and played on my phone for an hour (see, I told you I was early).  At about 8:10am I headed toward the starting line.  At 8:25 we all lined up.  I wanted to PR this race BAD so I decided to line up 3 rows from the front.  Not the best idea, the horn went off and I sprinted out with the fast runners.  Luckily I realized what I had done and slowed down after about 200m.  My garmin says I started the race at a brisk 6:21 min/mile.  WAY TOO FAST!

I slowed down and watched hundreds of runners pass me.  I got into my own pace and soldiered on.  I did not expect the hills.  Ok, so they were bridges not hills.  But they were up up up.  I haven't trained on hills in a while (although I need to start because there are some doozies during IMWI).  The only good thing about the uphill was the downhill.  Whee!

It was supposed to be cold (35 degrees) and raining.  To my delight it ended up being around 42 and misty.  Almost perfect running weather.  The course was well laid out and there were volunteers at every intersection.  Very nicely done by the Eastbay peeps!  Right before the 3 mile mark is the second and last (Thank goodness) bridge.  Up up up!  I was struggling by then.  I knew I needed to keep my pace up if I wanted to come in under 30 minutes.  I hit the 3 mile mark and looked down at my watch.  OH NO!  I was at 28 min and some.  I had under 2 min to finish my last 150 meters.  I started to really push.  I felt like I was sprinting.  As I crossed the finish line I stopped my Garmin and I had managed a sub 30 min 5K!  WHOO HOO!  

Official time: 29 min 46.7 seconds

This morning I took my next step towards IMWI.  I started Master's Swim classes.  If you aren't familiar they are similar to swim team for adults.  I haven't done the butterfly in 20 years but I guess I will be doing it regularly now.  It will be good for me to be in the pool twice a week.  The people seemed very nice and the coach seemed very knowledgeable.  

Swimming makes me very hungry!  After this past weekend I am trying to stay low carb.  I've had 3 breakfasts so far this morning.  I pray I can hold off for lunch without a snack!

Thankful

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the United States.  At this time every year we sit down with family and enjoy our freedoms and give thanks for all that we have.  Then we go push people to save $5 on something we really don't need.  Gotta love Black Friday!

This year I thought it would be appropriate for me to list 10 things I am truly thankful for.  Here goes:

1) My Husband, he is a saint.  He is my best friend, an amazing father to our children, and so supportive of me in everything I do.
2) My children.  They are truly good kids.  Smart, compassionate and kind.  They drive me nuts sometimes but I love them so much.
3) My family.  My parents and brother sometimes don't understand me or even like me but they do love me and for that I am thankful.
4) My friends.  I have an amazing hodgepodge of people from different times in my life who support me through everything.  They are all so different but raise me up in different ways!
5) My co-workers.  I have been fortunate to find co-workers who are fun, kind, caring and supportive.  They are a great bunch of women (and a few men) who make work so much better than it has ever been.
6) Gastric Bypass.  Without Gastric Bypass I would still be unhealthy, sedentary and unhappy.  Gastric bypass has given me the opportunity to make myself shiny and new again (although the new me comes with stretch marks and saggy skin).  I am thankful for this opportunity every day.
7) Coffee.  Coffee makes me happy.  Without it I am a very sad person.

8) Wicking fabric.  Who ever invented moisture wicking fabric is a god.  Without this I would be a chafed and unhappy lady.
9) Online support groups.  I love my ObesityHelp ladies and the Triathlon related online groups I belong to.  They help me stay accountable and give me a much needed laugh or hug everyday.
10) My phone.  Yes, this is kind of sad.  But I am thankful for my smart phone that allows me to stay in touch with others through texting, calling, Facebook, Instagram and multitude of other avenues.  Thank you AT&T for providing me service :)

Happy Thanksgiving!  Enjoy your day!  I'll be reporting back on my very first Turkey Trot 5K.

What are you doing this Thanksgiving holiday?

Life Since Augusta

Hmm... All of my training was focused on Ironman Augusta 70.3 and I definitely had the post-race blues afterwards.  Sure the first week or two was awesome telling my story to anyone who would listen but after that I became lazy.  I didn't really know what to do.  I mean I have races on my calendar for next year but they all seem SOOO far away.  As I write this Ironman WIsconsin is 296 days away (yes, I have an app on my phone that tells me everyday).  I decided I needed something sooner...

I signed up for a virtual race.  The IronKiwi challenge, you have one month to complete the distances in a Ironman race (2.4 mile swim, 112 bike, 26.2 run).  I have all of November to complete (wait, that isn't all that long now).  I have only completed 18.2 running miles.  I need to get my butt to the pool and on my new bike.

Speaking of bikes... I bought a new one!!  I'm so excited.  Since I will be doing lots of long distance riding this year I thought it best to upgrade my bike (with the hubbie's permission of course).  Here he is... James the Jamis Tri Bike!

So, whats on my agenda?  Well, I've gained a bit of weight since Augusta due to my lack of training and poor eating.  So my goal is to get back to race weight by the end of January.  I want to enjoy the holidays without going overboard.  I would also like to run a sub 30 min 5K.

Last night I ran 2 miles during my daughter's swim team practice at 9:40 a mile.  Not bad for someone who couldn't run a mile at this time last year.

What are your goals?  Big or little?