fun stuff

monday morning...was not up early as yoga is over for the time being...so no am workout...but got a text from erin about the lunch time swim at courtyard...yeah i was down...it was a beautiful sunny day so i said what the heck...we shared a lane and did T1...i felt like i was swimming against a current the whole so that means i need to be doing more swimming...i know i know...i'm going make a habit of one swim workout and one barton springs workout a week...

monday night was a run in the hills...many more people this week...and not a super cold either...since we only had one run w/o this week...logan gave us the option of a hill or track workout...and much to my happy surprise we vote for hills...5x800m hill repeats...yummy...had a good workout even though i was the last one out there again...but i guess that won't be for long since IMCdA training starts monday...

tuesday i met mark and amy at barton springs for a swim...it was chilly out...but was supposed to get warmer...did three and a half crack laps...so about a mile..nice...then a nice hot shower to warm up...

was home for a while and it was so nice out that i figured i would go for a ride...my first ride since ironman...nothing exciting just loops on south mopac...but ended uo riding about 26 miles...dead-on average of 18.1...

then met up with ed, joanna and beth for a nice social run around town lake...checked out some of the new construction on first st...finally it is done....and it looks nice too...

home to make spaghetti sauce, turkey meatballs and salad for dinner...j and i watched some movie about brazil special police...i fell asleep...until justin stopped over...have a few drinks here then headed out to rio rita...with him and jennifer...had a couple too many g and t's but hey...i don't do that all that much these days...so it was fun...yes...vacation is treating me well

15!

sunday was long run day...it was a chance for me to see if i could actually motivate to run 2x7 mile loops on the trail...i decided to start from barton springs...just because i can't seem to get my head around starting from the rock again...yet...got out on the trail at about 7.15...and felt like there was no one out...ran on the south side to start (i usually go the other way) and felt really good on the first loop...pretty fast but not super fast...good and steady...on my way back around i saw mark and amy!...yeah...

stopped for a quick drink under mopac and i was off again...split my watch when i got to the trail head to barton springs...7+ miles 1.08 sweet...my goal was to negative split the second time around...but really a lot of it was to not dig myself into a mental "this is so hard" hole...so just being happy at the finish would have been an improvement over last weeks run...

actually felt pretty good on the second loop was keeping up just about the same pace...and then i stopped for water...i really just should have kept running...it was less than a mile and a half to where i was parked...but i really needed a drink...when i started back up again i felt that same weird thing in my left knee, my tight hamstring and my mood went south...then something happened where i just kept running and picked up my pace and felt better...finished strong but alas not a negative split...1.10 on the second loop...*sigh*

grabbed my recovery drink out of the car...and stretched for a second...saw mike and sally...starting out on their run...went in and soaked...yeah...came out and saw chuck and his wife just heading out on their run as well...nice...it was a very good miles to friends ratio for sure...

had a lesson in bike cleaning...logan taught me how to take my cassette apart and make it sparkle...nice...spent several hours at the PTC scrubbing up the rocket ship post ironman...i think i washed all of the gunk off of her so we should be ready to ride this week...out in the world...

then home to make bread...erin came over to watch the process...mmm...multi-grain bread from cooks illustrated...it's an excellent recipe..

j and i roasted a chicken, made oven fries and garlic bok choy for dinner it was very tasty...and a little bread because i can't resist when it is warm out of the oven

saturday we rested?

so off days from sports are not off days...i spent my saturday doing the shopping for groceries...many hours of yard work...some hummus making and some other good and tasty cooking...i made seared tuna, green beans dressed with a greek style sauce and quinoa pilaf...yum...all to get prepared for sunday's big run

the day after

so i know that a lot of people talk about this and you have probably heard it a million times but i am going t tell it to you again...because this is how i feel...christmas is not about giving stuff that you don't need to the people that you love just because the retail market tell you that you have to...so what matters to me is not the stuff it's the traditions and the kindness...so on days like the 26th of december and the day after thanksgiving...i boycott consumption...truly i don't buy anything...not even a stick of gum...and it makes me feel good...and refreshed from the gluttony of mass market holidays :) (sorry for the rant) moving on...

after what felt like a glutinous two days...i decided to go for a fast short run to get my miles in for the day and to see what i could do...i didn't feel like driving so i ran from home...down to the trail then to the east side of the trail...because i never get to do that...and i really like that side of the trail...and it was light out since it was later in the day than i normally run...boom...i rocked that 5.5 at some where close to an 8.30 pace...damn....that was hard and i have to keep that up for 26.2 miles...uhm...yeah that is going to be some work...and it's time i get focused again for my next goal...

after my run i cleaned up the house and put stuff back to normal...finished a few recipes for erin's cook book and got ready for our lesson...man...i had a lot of fun cooking soup at erin's and teaching her a few tricks...i love that soup looks like it is hard but really is super easy...and yes i think it is perfectly fine (when you are first learning or want to make something fast) to use store bought broth...really it is very good these days...

after cooking with erin it was time to cook with j...he had spent the afternoon making a table...a table to go in the studio that is not quite done yet...but man is that a sturdy table...he did a great job...and i am very proud of him and his new table building skills...our cooking project was moo shu chicken...i found a recipe on epicurious for moo shu pork and we adapted...and we decided we were not in the mood to make the pancakes...so we sub-ed in flour tortillas...even better than the pancakes since you can shove more in!...oh man...it was a super great recipe...and really not that hard...as with most asian cooking it is all about the prep work...and if you have a husband like j around...it is even easier...he's the chop-o-matic...love it...

ok so it is time to focus here people...cut out the treats...add back the veg...get lean and get fast...here we go!

24 and 25

coach chrissie was nice enough to have a special edition of core on wednesday morning...all other workouts were cancelled for the day...but the 12 days of core were on in full force...it was a fun workout...hard as usual but a lot of fun...i love that more than half of the group did not have to be a work or school but we all got up for the workout and then headed to magnolia for breakfast...mmm blue berry whole wheat pancakes...and lots and lots of coffee...

after breakfast i headed over to barton springs and watched the swimmers, chatted with my mom and sister in law said hi to meredith and soaked in the sun...met up with chuck for a 6 ish mile run...it was really nice to run with chuck...it's been a really long time since we ran together...i love spending time with friends doing the stuff you love...

had a mellow rest of the day enjoying the warm weather and the sun...it has been a really long time since the sun has been out...and it is amazing how much my mood is affected by that...anyway we dug through the wood pile and found lots of good scrap wood for building shelves and other stuff for the studio...

there is a tradition in my family of a super delicious snack spread on christmas eve...usually pretty late like 11pm...with lots of good wine...and then we open presents from each other...doing "santa" gifts on christmas morning...so in keeping with this tradition...j and i had our spread of snacks...but made that our dinner...yum...watched a movie and called it a night...

woke up in the morning and called my fam in the burgh to say happy christmas...they had been up for hours already and were eating breakfast...guess that is what having little guys is all about...i totally remember my parents giving us a time that we could get out of bed...but we would have been awake most of the night just waiting and waiting...j was still asleep...

i went to barton springs...where i met up with logan....for a nice mile swim...it was great...a really nice way to start out a really nice day...IM training had me swimming at the springs in the dark so this was my first day light swim there in a long time...it is so beautiful and clear...and the fish are getting really big...i loved it...

home to eat cinnamon rolls (thanks betsy!) drink more coffee and open gifts from my folks and my brother and sister in law...yeah....thanks guys...j and i listened to charlie brown christmas ate too many sweets and thought about what songs to get with our itunes gift card...

i hopped on the bike trainer for an hour and j played out in the yard...we just relaxed and had a nice mellow day...our neighborhood was nice and quiet...i caught up on my fitness magazines...

in the afternoon we had what has become a tradition on chirstmas day...smoked salmon and scotch...j and i had christmas one year with my folks out in AZ...after we had gotten back from a nice hike in the late morning we sat on the back patio with salmon and scotch...yeah it's really a great tradition...so j and i kept that one up :)

later i cooked a yummy meal...taddies and neeps with sauteed onions and chanterlles, wild alaskan salmon or fillet of organic beef crusted with rosemary, garlic and crushed black pepper, and an arugula salad with cucumber, radish, onion and avocado...it was great...

watched rescue dawn...it was a great christmas...

tues

am swim practice...again just two per lane...it was cold outside but i really like it in the pool when it's cold...also like barton springs when it's cold too...i had a really great workout...sometimes swim workouts for me are really long and i get tired very easily and just want to quit...i never have but it happens more in swim workouts than in any other workout...i know it's because swimming is my least strong sport...it's not that i don't love it...i love being in the water...just doing my thing...but i am still getting used to actual swim practices...when i signed up with T3 in june i had never done a "real" swim practice...and was totally scared to...i've since gotten less scared of the workouts...and have improved a lot...but still have a way to go...i was pleased with my pulling at this workout...i think that it was partially that we didn't have to do a lot of fast pulling...that kills me...hopefully all the push-ups in core are going to do good things for me this year...

decorated my rosemary tree with j in the afternoon...we have some tiny ornaments and a very small seet of lights...it looks nice...maybe i will post a photo for christmas...

tuesday night we went to wahoo's and hung with chuck and his wife, amy, amy, paul and jeremiah...totally good times...finally got to hear paul's version of IMAZ... :) and they had some great news...besides getting married in vegas...congrats guys!...i'm happy that i got to hang out with everyone again...just missing ed and ros...maybe next time...

last yoga monday

for a while that is...it was the last of our 6 week session...besides it being freezing in the PTC the practice has been great...i have really enjoyed it and am looking forward to starting it up again in the new year...

when i got home i was super excited to discover our lil brownie was home...the dr. called at 6am for an update and said she was discharged and ready to go home...so j went to get her in his jammies...ha...i would have too...she seemed much more like herself...and that was amazing...they sent her home with three different medications...an antacid, a pain med and an anti-biotic...yikes...j and i gave her the pain med at 8am as instructed and i was to give her the next two at 12...hmm...yeah no luck there...i tried and tried but needed many more hands for that...j got home from work early so we and four hands were able to get the antibiotic down...wow...what a trip...she seems to be doing really well...very thankful for that

monday evening was a run workout...this being a holiday week...and the "off" season i figured the workout was going to be sparsely populated...and it was cold...i was right...there were only three of us...we had a good short fast workout...then home to make pizza...catch an episode of the wire and early to bed...the stress of trying to give the cat her meds was enough for me to need some extra shut eye...

sleepy sunday

after about 2 hours of sleep...returning from the kitty hospital...having to leave brownie there for treatment...i got up to go run 13...my plan was to run the 7 mile loop on the trail then meet up with the group for a loop on scenic...if i was feeling it...but i started a little later than i had hoped...got to the trail about 20 after 7...knew i would have to push it if i wanted to meet up...and thought better of going outscenic since if i was needed for brownie assistance i could get back quicker...so i opted for loops on the trail...finished seven in an hour and 2 minutes...then instead of going out for another 7 loop which seemed at the time way too tedious i did a congress loop...was going to do an out an back to get the 13...but i was mentally really done when i got back to the rock...too emotionally drained from the day and night before...so i called it good and went home to be with j...

erin was sweet and called to say it was ok to push back our cooking lesson for the week...much appreciated...i wanted to spend time with j and betty cat...and think good well thoughts for brownie...we had gotten a call from the vet that said her fever had come down...and she was resting comfortably...earlier she had a very sensitive body...and a pretty high fever...we were glad that she was on the mend...

we spent the day reading and writing and just being together...it was very nice...made some chocolate pepper cookies...latkes and a roasted chicken...i made beets and greens for my self...and added applesauce to the latkes...j opted for plain...

we were hoping brownie could come home sunday night but the dr wanted to make sure her fever stayed down so they kept her over night...i couldn't believe how cold it was too...we had to wrap the plants again...went to bed early...woke up later to the sound of freezing rain...ught...

saturday...the new friday...

well...at least in my world for a little while...saturday is my off day from working out...and thus my day to go the grocery store...do stuff around the house etc...i was tempted yesterday to go for the ride since it was warm...like 70's warm and it is a ride that i really like...out to the gas station in Kyle...but i hadn't slept in all week...and well it was about time...

had a nice morning...then to whole foods...then home...then a much needed chat with sis-in-law...then j got the farm share...baby beets...three small cabbages...other lovely winter greens like arugula...some citrus...

i made apples sauce and roasted two turkey legs for the dinner i was making...got the dish all put together and into the oven...cooked some collard greens...yum...and dinner was ready...sat down with j and started a movie...then boom!...and the power was out...yikes...from the sound of it a transformer blew somewhere very close...so we finished eating in the dark...lit some candles, cleaned up and decided to turn in pretty early since we figure things were not going to get back on until late...

woke up about 1.30am to the sounds of our cat brownie throwing up...if you have ever had a cat you know that this is a very yucky sound...so we were on watch to see how she was doing...tried to get some sleep...but decided to take her to the emergency vet at about 2.45...she was not her self and needed something to make her feel better...as a said to j as we were waiting for the dr...i'm glad that i run so much because i would have never known about this place had i not done a thousand runs past it during IM training...they were very nice there...and it turned out that she had a fever and was very uncomfortable...per dr's recommendation she was put into the kitty hospital overnight with IV fluids, some anti-nausea medicine and some pain meds too...dr called this morning around 6 to let us know that her fever had come down really well and that all of her x-rays and blood work looked normal...so now we just need to make sure that she is getting something to eat...and hopefully some other normal functions as well...

uhm agility?

yeah...i don't have that...friday morning run workout is "new"...well new to me...i have been looking forward to going to this workout since it was added to the t3 schedule several months ago...but at the time...friday was my off day...and i was not about to add another workout...when i was already doing yoga on my off day...and catching up on homework, and laundry and groceries and...yeah...so...i was totally stoked for the workout...and was super happy with it...it was tough and fast and my heart rate was up and i was sweaty...and you know what that felt great...really really great....

the weather has been so up and down lately...like monday...i went to run practice in the evening wearing running tights, under armor short sleeves, long sleeved tech shirt, a fleece vest, a hoodie and another light fleece on top of that...a hat and gloves...seriously...and i had a pair of sweat pants on for core work before...and friday...shorts and a t-shirt...and i was hot and sweaty...anyway...we (four of us) did a lot of speed and agility work...working on the little muscles that don't get worked running in a straight line...i knocked down a cone at one point...not knowing that when this happens you get to do push ups...oops...but hey...maybe i can actually get stronger in the upper body this way...hmm...

so between these sets of drills we were running 5k pace laps on the track...oi!...the fog was thick...it was creepy and cool...i tried to work on my stride length and my arms...and occasionally knees and butt kick feelings...i still have a lot to work on but i am feeling that i am doing some stuff right some of the time...anyway...great workout...love that all of the 4 run workouts that i am doing a week are different from each other...a lot different from each other...

the rest of the day i started going through all of the food magazines that have piled up over the last 6 months that i have just not had anytime to read or comprehend...ripping out recipes and reading some of the more interesting articles...then i installed flash on the lil lenovo...to watch some alton brown...i love his show...and would love to have his job...anyway...watched a few episodes to get an idea about a few things...and watched one where is baked a whole fish in a salt crust....looked so good...i know totally unappealing to j...so would have to maybe do it for a dinner party...where we also had brisket or something else that he would like...

then friday evening was T3 ladies night at Laura's condo...a very modern and cool and hip place in south austin...she had tons of wine and beer and food...i brought some cup cakes...double chocolate espresso cupcakes...vegan all the way...but you would never know...yum...we decided a lot of things...(well maybe the wine did)...we need to do these things more often...it felt amazing to be in a room full of women...who i really only see at practice...getting to know who they are outside of triathlon...it was refreshing...and i learned that my friend erin w can do magic....so cool...very excited to see more...maybe we can trade cooking lessons for magic shows...

home not too late...to make sure j was feeling ok...not sure what he's got...but i know part of it is looking forward to a few days off next week...and hoping that he is able to take some of that time to be out in the yard...tinkering...and relaxing...he needs it just about the most out of anyone i know...yeah weekend

oh yeah....and i got my school grades...well on-line anyway...four A's and one B (chem of course...curses)

back to spinning

nice hard morning spin workout...i really like the morning spins where you don't need to fight anyone for a trainer...our "rest" between sets was squats off the bike...feel the quad burn...

got home and started cleaning...the kind of cleaning that is not normal weekly stuff...like at one point i was scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush...really did that for most of the day...then made cupcakes...

i have a ladies happy hour tonight and thought that double chocolate espresso cupcakes would be perfect...they turned out really tasty...yes i did have a sample :)

break is treating me well so far...but i should be taking more naps

wednesday track action

am core workout...not quite as crowded as last week but still pretty full...had a great workout...i really love this one and i am glad that i keep it a priority in my training schedule...it really helps all sports...and it's fun to watch us all grimace when doing crazy moves that chrissie makes up...so that was fun...

then i met up with x for a late morning long breakfast at bouldin creek...i'm still in love with their scrambled tofu...and still unable to duplicate it...as always nice conversation...and good to catch up..

went to eco-wise to grab a few cards...i like it there...they have a weird selection of stuff that i find very austin...

did some stuff around the house...then got an im from j...he was coming home early...one of his co-workers had come to work recently with strep throat...and pretty much got the whole office sick...yeah nice...so j came home...not feeling well...but continued to work...just laying on the couch covered in a blanket....drinking oj...made him some asian chicken soup...hot and spicy style...to help clean him out...then it was off to the vet

brownie cat needed to get her ear rechecked and get a booster shot for the feline leukemia vaccine...the vet is never fun for kitties...but she was very well behaved...ear looks much better...she got some meds for the other ear but that was just for yeast no infection...yeah!...

then off to my first track practice since ironman...again...i was nervous about my performance...how i would be feeling...but ended up feeling good...legs wise...we were working 400m repeats...logan said sets of four...marathon training 4x4...ugh...16 repeats...but once i got started i felt like i could do that if need be...turned out i didn't need...since logan started helping me improve my form...i don't take advantage of what little leg length i have and i shuffle pretty badly...and as anyone training for a running event knows keeping a stride rate ~90 is perfect...mine is like 105...too fast...so we started working on a few things to help correct some of these issues...so a lot of my repeats i looked very weird....or at least i felt very weird...trying to exaggerate the movement...a few times i could feel it happen...i could feel what high knees...a slightly longer stride and leaning forward were doing...i felt light and fast...but alas those moments were very fleeting...sigh...the rest of the time i felt like a new born giraffe with cement blocks for feet...yeah...graceful...

i am really lucky to have had such amazing coaches in my training here in austin...i realize that putting in the effort is noticed...and a welcome thing for a coach to see...i really appreciate all of the time logan has been spending on my run...it is so nice to have someone really care about my performance and where i want to be...and really starting with coach amy...i have not been afraid to ask questions about drills or workouts or even the weird questions about chamois butter and tri shorts...i have been reflecting a lot lately about my coaches...and i am very grateful to all of them for what they have done for me this tri season...it has been amazing...

a post for ed

tuesday i got up...i worked out (swimming in the cold)

i came home...did a bunch of stuff (this time unrelated to school work)

later i made a really great dinner and watched (insert movie title here)

first run, first day of break

monday am yoga at the training center...week 5 of 6...so sad...i love yoga in the morning on monday...it reminds me that i have been forgetting to breathe for the whole week...and starts my new week off right...was feeling a little sad in the morning...still thinking about erin...but it was nice to be among teammates who understand...catherine gave jane and i each a heart shaped rock from arizona...that she had found out there...man...that was really touching...not only do i have rocks from some significant points in my life...my mom had rocks on the window ledge of the kitchen that i always look at when i was doing the dishes at home...so there is something very comforting about an arizona rock...thanks catherine....very very cool...

i spent the day typing up recipes and digging through my cook books to work on erin w's cooking lessons...i'm having so much fun...i'm finding stuff that i forgot about...that i wanted to or used to make...love it...digging through vegetarian cooking for every one i found that split pea soup recipe that i love so much...mmm...making that...it's going to take another day or so to get everything typed up...but it is so much fun...

made some tomato sauce in the afternoon...so good...used a recipe...sort of...that i found on epicurious...you add two cups of arugula at the end of cooking...we got two huge bags of arugula from the farm share this week...yum!

then it was off to run practice...throughout the day the temperature had been dropping...i woke up to about 40 degrees and by the time i went to running it was in the low 30's very strange for this town...so i layered and layered...and added a hat and gloves...core was cold...even after a warm-up lap...but i was starting to get warmed up by the end of it....during our main set of hills...i began to remember how much fun it is to run in the cold...good practice

i think going to that run was a real mental hurdle...and i was successful...my legs did remember how to run not at the ironman shuffle pace...and i mentally wanted to be there...and that is a good sign...i'm thinking that this training cycle...and this marathon are going to be for erin lahr...just a personal dedication to my fallen teammate who will be greatly missed.

and of course i checked my chem grades one last time before bed...they were posted...all i can say about that is pray for a curve...not exactly what i had wanted...but it's in the past now...hello organic chem !

what a weekend...

saturday was the final push to study for chem...woke up late-ish for me...had two cups of coffee...breakfast...then i was going to study but found that the house was too much of a mess to concentrate...so the cleaning happened first...j pitched in...and it went fast...and it made me happy to study in a clean house...we left the huge pile of laundry...it was clean it just needed to be folded...we both hate this job...it would happen later...

got down to business with the studies...took a break to watch Ironman World Championship on TV...weird A) to watch TV B) to watch TV in the middle of the day...weird...but it was a good mental break...met up with a friend from chem at 5 to just go over some final stuff...we studied for about an hour...then got coffee...then it was time..

the exam went surprisingly well....this scares me a little...i took my time...and did the calculations a few times to check my answers...stayed...checking over all my other answers until about 9.30...then i was done...woo...very happy....had a celebratory gin and tonic (or two)...and went to bed

sunday...i needed to get a run in...but was enjoying my morning...so i put it off for a while...and just relaxed for a little...wow...that never happens...i hadn't run since wednesday so i wasn't going to run 13...i decided to just run 6...and see how i was feeling...it went well...not fast...my quads were still feeling a little sore....seriously...it has been an insane recovery from core class...so i made sure to ice bath when i got home...

did groceries with j at whole foods...yum...then got to hang out with erin...we are going on a cooking journey together...i'm very excited...looked over some of the recipies that she had cut out to get a feeling of what appeals to her...checked out her pantry and equipment...to get a feel for where we were starting from...very good potential...pulled at least 5 cookbooks down off the shelf when i got home...ready to mark and alter so we can start cooking next week...oh yeah...

i was feeling super great...and went online to check out home my teammates had done in the dallas marathon...and the worst thing happened...this is really sad...one of our teammates...who was 29...collapsed at mile 21...and could not be revived...she died just before noon...i'm totally shocked...confused and saddened by this...it freaks me out that this could happen...so of course i am going to schedule a physical and make j do it too...i still have to try and wrap my head around it all...for now...i am remembering the spin classes we did together...the night a z-tejas when we had some drinks...and the time i spent with her...my thoughts are with her husband...and all of her family....

spent the rest of the evening with j...and he gave me a new toy...a lil lenovo ideapad s10...10 inches big and about one pound...if you have ever seen the one laptop per child machine...it's about that size....tiny and amazing...next semester's note taking is going high-tec...and it's blue and super cool...

we made a yummy dinner together...tackled the huge pile of laundry and just enjoyed hanging out...

training log

so my training log (beginner triathlete.com)is looking pretty sad these days...there is a little graph that is generated when you add your workout data...it's based on the amount of time you work out..by the week...then it shows four weeks of data...one column per week...imaz week is still on there...so that one looks good...but the next two well...let's just say the little bars are not very high...that said...we are back to it on monday...(yeah!)

so what it looks like is all of coach logan's workouts...mon, wed, fri, sunday...run days...with yoga, core a swim and a spin thrown in for balance...and i'll be done with school...finally...next week and ready to work on getting back (or i guess feeling like) in shape...no more lazy bear...that said...

had a really fun time at the T3 tacky party last night...some people pulled out all the stops...some didn't even do a thing...but it was fun to see...lots of wine, beer, snacks...and really bad gifts...and yes i got myself a chia shrek...oh yeah...

went over to evan's for his party after the T3 shin-dig...hung out there for a bit..and stayed out until 12.30 seriously i have not done that in who knows how long...i liked that jennifer kept telling me (a little tipsy i think) that i am much more fun now that i'm not training...hey what can i say...i get focused...

so i'm very excited that after tonight i will be done D-O-N-E with school...but i must wait until 7pm for my test...going to get a bit of cleaning done...then buckle down for the studies...one last day...wOOt...

chocolate cake

cinnamon caramel chocolate cake for the T3 tacky Christmas party...

core and a run

wednesday is core day...this day was insane...there were about 40 people at the training center...crazy madness...and the workout was tough....my quads were sore from all the squats in the afternoon...totally...

after core...i studied chem (while doing laundry) from 9-2 yeah! i'm almost done with this class and will be a happy girl until o-chem starts next semester...eek...

amy stopped by for coffee and a chat before she was off to coach...i'm so happy that we have been able to see each other more now that my training is not so intense...

i tried to get back to my work...but my head was not having it...so i decided it was time i went for a run...so i did...i went down to the trail...started at a place i never do...and ran the congress loop....felt pretty good out there...and that was a relief...i was worried that i was going to be burned out from running...but really...i love the training...so that is good...

home for a little more studies before making dinner for j and i and watching an episode of the wire...then early to bed

first "real" workout

tuesday morning swim practice! woo hoo...was in my usual lane with the usual ladies...nice to be back...three out of the four of us were/are in recovery mode so we made the fourth go first... :) and we just drafted lala...actually felt really good out there....i wasn't sure how much i would be feeling the swim but i dug it...not too much pulling so that made me happy...i wasn't trying to break any swim records...i was just swimming on effort...getting back into it...

home to study chem again...i feel a little like i am getting somewhere with the review...and going back over what we did earlier int he semester makes me say...hmm....why was this so hard when we first learned it...i'm on acids and bases again...and seem to get it this time...still have to work some problems to refresh my memory but i'm feeling more confident this time around...

had a meeting with chrissie and mo to discuss my training over the next months and year...they are down with my plans to run the marathon...and have vineman as my A race next summer...a few shorter races between those two...and longhorn in october...if my school schedule permits i would love to go to CdA with the group when they race...so that i can volunteer and sign up for '10...(did i just say that) if not...i think i will sign up from home...who's in???!...i need to look at the calendar but that is my thought...

stocked up on vitamins at whole foods on my way home...studied some more...made stuffed shells and salad for dinner...yum...and watched the freezing rain fall...then that turned to snow...i am totally amazed that i was wearing short sleeves and a t-shirt at 2pm...and by 11pm there was snow...there was actual snow on my car....in texas...weird...

yoga monday

i went to yoga at the training center monday morning...we are on week 4 of a 6 week class...i had a great session...it made me realize how much i miss doing yoga once a week...i'm hoping that we can extend the weekly session at the PTC and make it a regular part of training...if not i think i am going to fit it in at home...there is a feeling and a focus that i get with yoga that i don't get with anything else...i have a hard time with the practice of meditation because i have a hard time with stillness...but the focus on the breath and the movement...combining the two...does something really amazing in my body...felt really great after class...

home to study chem for several hours...i started at the beginning of my notes for the semester...reading through them and the old homework assignments to try and figure out what was going to be on the final...then at 1pm i went to the review session put on by my prof...he basically told us what was going to be on the final...and that was sweet...so now i know what i need to focus my studies on...i was surprised how few people were there...

then it was time for a massage...went for the deep tissue/sports variety to try and get some of the junk out of my mussels...i had no idea that my shoulders were so tight and beat up...she worked hard at trying to flush out and re-align all of the different components of my shoulders and flushed out the arms and legs...those were a lot better than i had expected...she said...you will be sore tomorrow in the shoulders...yeah...no joke...

stopped at the coffee shop to see ximena on my way home...always nice to see her...and nice to catch her on her way out the door...late but on her way home...good monday for sure...it would have been better of j wasn't in houston...

weekend (not) training

got up saturday to bake the bread i had started the day before...and while on my second cup of coffee made sourdough pancakes with the left over starter...seriously these are the best pancakes...

drove over to the training center to con some one (with my second loaf of bread) into putting my pedals back on my bike...hey i know...one step at a time right...ha!...the team had done an indoor spin so i knew peeps would be hanging out...chatted with michelle (yeah! hadn't seen her since the post imaz gathering and was nice to chat w/o too much wine :O) logan, mo and some other team-mates...nice to see everyone...

home to get the farm share and to whole foods for the other groceries....then home again to cook indian food...oh man...this was some of the best stuff we have made...rogan josh...w/chicken instead of lamb and sambar with black eyed peas, sweet potatoes, turnips, eggplant and home made sambar powder...soooo good...still in search of curry leaves...

watched wall-e and went to a christmas party...stayed out way late for me! 11.30 i know...such a party animal...

sunday up early and off to decker to bike escort the double decker peeps (two 13.1 mile loops of a very hilly course) i escorted Derick (sp?) who ran the darn thing in under 4 hours...totally impressed...we chatted a lot along the way...i think he was happy for the distraction...he did awesome...saw coach amy, mark, chuck, jeremiah, some of last years rogues, emma and megan and cindy too...nice to see so many folks i knew out there...and my 26.2 mile ride at ~7mph was good....i was on the bike again!...it worked i worked...all is well...think i might try a spin sometime...we will see...

opted for a no study weekend as reward for two very solid A's (one -1 and one a 102) on my tests friday...hung out and read the back log of magazines that i have...played in the yard trying to get some of the leaf debris up...and just relaxed...it was very nice...j and i had our traditional sunday dinner of a roasted chicken...some veggies from the farm...and watched atonement...a super nice weekend...

tuesday it is

so i'm meeting with my coaches on tuesday to go over my next few months (maybe the year?) of goals and see what i need to do to reach them...i'm excited to sit down with them and chat about my race and my racing future...i'm so happy that i have such great coaches and such a great team to train with...i mean in one tri season i went from nothing to an ironman...nice...

i still haven't run yet...and i am kind of putting it off...i'm going to be a bike escort for the Double Decker run on sunday...so that is just a nice slow 26.2 mile bike...just to get the body back on the bike...and was hoping to hit up some of the mid-day swims next week since i'm in reading days before my final...i'm going to need some really warm pants if i'm going to hit up the morning swims...brr.

had a wonderful celebrate my last day of class lunch with amy at the whip-in...that place rules i highly recommend you check it out if you have never been...it will surprise you for sure...i must say yum and yum again.

so this weekend and week...it is all about cooking, getting my eating back in check (we are POST-ironman now)...relaxing, picking up a white elephant(?) gift...baking a cake for the christmas party...and studying for my chem final...sounds good to me

sore from core

woke up this morning (at 7...i know...i'm lazy) and i am totally sore from the 1 hour core workout wednesday morning...how can i be feeling this way...oh i must get back to training...i can't believe that i feel like a lazy person after having done an ironman less than two weeks ago... *sigh* guess i am on of the freaks...

so i am going to attempt to run either this afternoon or tomorrow morning to see how i feel...i will not subject anyone to this run...because well i just don't know what is going to happen...i'm going to just take it easy and see how it goes.

finally picked up my bike from the shop wed. afternoon...all is well...and my nutrition bottles (eww i know) were actually not that bad...i'm happy to have rocket ship back...i'm going to take her out this weekend...i'm volunteering to be a bike escort at the decker race...i am going to escort one of the runners of the double decker (a full very hilly marathon) should be a slow pace ride (since i am keeping up with a runner)...i'm hoping it's not too cold...

here is a shout out to coach logan....happy birthday!!...woo woo...

and here is a question for you...i'm attempting to lose a few "bricks from the truck bed" and am in need of some higher protein breakfasts and snack suggestions...things that are real food and not cliff bars or anything in bar form...not ready for that yet...oh and i need to cut out sugar, sweets, soy ice cream and all that other stuff that ironman training lets you eat...i am still going to allow one small square of super dark chocolate per day...it's good for you...i swear...i'm studying nutrition....i know these things

what now?

so long before ironman i decided that my next event was going to be the austin marathon...i was just going to run it...train a little but pretty much run on the fitness i had from ironman...well of course things change...and now what i really want to do i go kick the austin marathon's butt...and do my very best to hit a time goal that seems utterly ridiculous... 3.40

some of you know what this time means...some don't...i'm too scared to say it out loud...argh...ok never mind...it's my age group time to qualify for the boston marathon...crap...i said it...if i don't make it i don't make it...but hey it's a goal...one that will not go away even if it doesn't happen this year...man i never thought i would ever say that...funny how things change...

so this week (my last week of school) is, i think, the last of my total rest...then it's time to get back on track...get my running speed up (waaay up)...and see what i can do...

IMAZ 7

after crossing the finish line i got my medal, space blanket, hat and shirt...got my picture taken...saw my parents...my dad gave me a little box (my very own m-dot necklace!)...i found j and my in-laws and headed over to the food tent...charles was there too...he said "what do you need" at that point i really had no clue what i needed...he got me a water...then i was walking over to some tables...i couldn't tell if i wanted to sit or stand or what...some one brought me a coke on ice...that was the best thing ever...i wanted more...some one brought me more...

i was so happy to be surrounded by my family...it was such an amazing moment to be there having just crossed the finish line of an ironman...with them...then my personal cheering squad arrived...carrie, rhonda, alisa and catherine all with very kind words and big hugs and smiles...got updated on where the rest of my team-mates were out on the course...i heard it...but none of it really soaked in...everyone was out on the run and that is what i needed to know...

j had already gotten my bike and transition bags taken care of...carrie brought me my dry clothes...and put on my warm-ups and sat for a bit soaking in the moment...then i started to get really tired...and was ready to eat real food...so we gathered everything up...and shuffled me to the car...which thankfully wasn't too far...i said bye to my family...and j and i were off...

we got chinese food (i had planned on that so i didn't have to decide when the moment was here) and a huge diet coke for me (weird since i never drink it in my regular life)...ate and showered...great shower...glad there was a handle to get in and out of the bath

i was feeling bad that i didn't stick around to watch my team-mates cross the line...but i knew they were all going to be well taken care of by our T3 cheering team...they were on my mind for sure...i was totally cheering in my mind :D but couldn't really do much at that point...so i slept for a while...woke up at 1am ate more...slept more...

and that my friends is my race report...it was an amazing experience...that i will most likely do again...(no i didn't sign up for next year)...in a different location...i am very pleased with my outcome...but it was really never about the outcome...the process of getting to this point has been amazing...and if you don't enjoy the process...the two a day work outs...the commitment to a serious training schedule...the seeing your coaches more than your friends (non training friends that is)...then i wouldn't suggest that you train for an event like this...but if that gets you excited...go for it...it is well worth it...that feeling of running down the shoot with all those people cheering...and they were, at that point, all cheering for me...was unlike anything in the world

IMAZ 6

i didn't do my usual dismount with shoes still on the bike because at that point i didn't trust my legs to work right and was not in the mood to crash at the dismount line...it all was fine except i really didn't want to have my bike shoes on anymore...not at all...but i was at my bag before i knew it and into the change tent...same thing as before...i found a volunteer as i was walking up to the tent...we walked over to a chair she dumped my bag and we were off...yeah shoes off...

the tent was a lot less crowded this time...lots of empty chairs but there were other people in there...but i didn't notice anything accept what i needed to do...and that was get out of my tri shorts...i had packed running shorts in my T2 bag but never decided if i would change into them or not...i had run both ways with training and i figured i would know when i got to T2...and for sure i wanted them...and was very happy to have them...changed socks...put on my T3 hat....got my running shoes on...grabbed my hand held water bottle and was out the door to the run...

during the weeks leading up to the big event j kept saying to me...you know it's not going to get really hard until the run...i was agreeing with him...but saying yeah after mile 13 it's going to get really hard...well...yeah...those first few mile were not a walk in the park let me tell you...i could feel my quads from the first few steps of the run...yikes...i knew to take it easy coming out of transition...and i don't think i could have hammered it if i had tried...part of that is just getting of the bike and getting on to the run...i always feel like i need a few miles to feel like i know how to run again...then my body starts to remember...

came up to the first aid station on the run...they had a cool system going...one person would run up to you and ask you what you needed...they would sprint off down the length of the aid station and bring it to you...but unfortunately at this point i didn't need anything...i had my gels (8 to be exact) on my race belt and my hand help bottle...i just kept running...this lap i was just checking out the course...it is a complex figure 8 type course that is almost impossible to understand if you are not actually running on it...so i was just ticking off miles...checking out landmarks...remembering where i was in april when i was cheering...finding it cool to see the parts of the course that i didn't see then...

and feeling like i wanted to throw my hand held bottle into the river...it was not making me happy...i was just about to cross over the mill ave bridge...and was hoping to see someone i knew to get rid of it...if not i would just toss it at the next aid station...i grabbed my electrolytes out of the little pocket...stashed it in my jersey pocket...and saw cathy and leah as i came under the bridge...sweet yeah!!!!...so happy to see them...they got the water bottle...i just kept running...figuring they would understand :) (they did)...decided to go with gatorade at every other aid station...and water when i needed to take a gel...

took my first gel at 45 minutes...realized then that i was going to have to force myself to get them down at regular intervals...under normal circumstances i take a gel in two bites (swallow?) drink some water and move on...at this point...i was just nursing the gel...so what i ended up doing was getting water+ice in a cup from the aid station and crimping the top of the cup down to make a little spout out one side...and running with that in one hand and the gel in the other...carried that to the next aid station or trash drop (if i had finished the gel)...then at the next aid station grabbing gatorade+ice doing the same thing with the cup...

now i was on the back half of the right side of the 8...getting on to a portion of the course that i hadn't seen...and yikes...there was a stable for horses or something over there...wow...not really a great smell while running...then i heard my name...it was erin (she was in a car) screaming her lil lungs out for me...that was so great!!!!...i could see the people around me looking in my direction...i was smiling...so happy...just kept running...remembering where things were that i had just run by....getting it all mapped out in my head...then i was back on the other side of the river...and running under the mill ave bridge where i saw my family again!...and was on my second loop...oh yeah...

my legs were ok at this point...but it was more like i had forgotten that they were there...and just kept running...breaking down the course into little parts...make it to here...make it to there...i would run up behind people who were walking and chatting...and realized that i was annoyed with them for chatting about Junior's grades and soccer team...i was feeling like "hey, get your head in the game ladies...this is serious business"...then i would say to myself this is the way they do things...not the way you do things...just run...then you won't have to hear them talking...all the while i am getting in my gel every 45 minutes...sipping gatorade with ice...and loosing my voice...i was trying to figure out why...and realized that i basically had my mouth open with the wind blowing in it for 6 hours on the bike...that will do it...so when i got to aid stations i would yell what i wanted "ICE!!!" and it would come out like ice but everyone at the aid stations helped me get what i needed...

T3 peeps were everywhere...i loved it...it seemed like every turn there was someone...a sign...or a big group of people...getting really excited and cheering...totally awesome to have that much support out there...and in no mans land where there were very few people cheering...yeah team!

i remember this one kid at an aid station like 15 maybe...i had missed the ice...or gatorade or something...and he said "i'll be right back" and sprinted back to where it was and ran up to find me we did the hand of some yards past the aid station...that was awesome...at one point there was a hill...nothing huge or long...but it brought everyone to a walk...i just kept running...i knew that if i stopped and walked it would be so hard to get started again that i would try and convince my self not to do it...so i didn't give myself the option...and ran up the hill...it totally reminded me of running the little grass hill near barton springs after doing 900meter repeats at faster than 5k pace...yeah coach logan!...the middle of this second loop things were tough...i could feel my pace slowing but i was still running...and that meant that i would be done faster than all these people out here walking...i really felt like everyone was walking...i did what chrissie said to do...just ignore them...ok no worries...then i saw the mile 23 marker...it wasn't for me at that point...but just like the 109 mile marker on the bike course...i knew that it would be for me soon...

and then i was coming under the mill bridge again...and saw my family..."knees up" from my mom...handed my sun glasses off to my father in-law "one mile at a time"...absolutely...and was out on lap three...oh my...i was on lap three...sweet...

just a little longer than the 7 mile loop on town lake...ok i can do that...i was trying to figure out where i would pick it up to finish strong...i was trying to think of where i could start so that i could maintain that kicked up pace through to the finish line...i had thought after crossing the last bridge...but then i realized where i was...on the back side of the first loop of the 8 and i was already picking it up a little bit...hit the 20 mile marker...crossed the top of the mill bridge and saw erin screaming for me...yeah!...and i was picking it up a little more...down and around and out along the river...getting that last gel down...telling myself that i was done with gels after that one...made it go down a little easier...just kept chugging along...

then i was on the back of the second part of the loop...coming back along the river to the far bridge...and i knew when i got across that bridge there was just a little over a mile to go...the bridge was far (seemed that way) but i kept telling myself that i can make it to the bridge...then it was getting closer and closer...i was still kicking up my pace...then i was on the bridge...i felt at this point that i was running at a good pace...and just wanted to maintain it through the end...then i was on the "right" side of the river (where transition was) and i was on the last mile of the course...i grabbed an orange at the last aid station i passed...yum...and kept running...i was getting closer and closer and more and more excited...then the arrow for FINISH was for me....holy cow...

ran into the parking lot that i knew was so close...and heard a roar from cathy and leah..."i did it" i said...they were yelling like mad...i loved it...then i was out on the road again...to a huge roar of T3 people..."i did it"....yes you did they said...gave a few high fives...and turned into the finishers shoot..."i did it"...."i can't believe i did it"....people lined the bleachers on both sides...the lights were so bright...my hands were in the air...i was giving high fives as i was running down...and i saw the tape...i raised my hands and ran through..."i did it"

(in the photo of the finish line i'm on the big screen in the back with my arms up)

IMAZ 5

jogged over to the transition area where all the bags were...it was hard to tell where we were coming from so i just started yelling my number...and volunteers were pointing and grabbing my bag for me...i ran up my row...grabbed the bag and ran to the top of the row...where my father-in-law was volunteering and directing traffic...gave him a smooch and headed around the side of the tent...there was a bank of potties right there...no line...i was pleased...so i ducked in one...always a good feeling...grabbed my bag again and headed to the ladies tent...as i was walking up a volunteer made eye contact...perfect...she grabbed my bag and led me over to an empty chair...may i dump your bag...yes you may...she saw my note card...looked at me and said "focus" and handed me my card...nice! i think she's done this before..she held up each item in my bag letting me decided what i needed...yes arm warmers...which i almost didn't take...i was feeling pretty warm but i didn't want to be cold out on the bike...no gloves...lube yes!...shoes...race belt...helmet sunglasses...and i thanked her and was out the door...got my face and shoulders sun screened (i think this should really be a spray booth that you walk through) since i had arm warmers on and jogged down to the bikes...

somewhere near my bike....i started calling my number...and found my row...found a guy at the end of my row...said 2121 and he sprinted down to my bike...un-racked it...and started running towards me...so cool...i said thanks...and took my bike...and jogged out to the center...and out onto the bike course...i remembered from watching in april that the bike mount area was kind of tight...so i ducked to the side...hopped on my bike and mounted clipping in with eyes forward...using some of my amazing bike handling skills to get moving away from the masses...saw j and my parents and some others lining the path out to the course...so amazing to have seen so many people so far yeah....there was a guy running with his bike (he had not even gotten on yet) who had a flat...i thought happy thoughts about my bike (no flats no mechanical)...crossed my fingers...then got aero and got down to business...

the beginning of the course had a few turns in it before getting down to the main portion on the bee line highway...i was happy to have driven the course to know...ok right...left right...left right...then just get comfy...could feel that we were riding into a head wind...and told my self not to push it too hard into the wind because i could count on help on the way back in...my stomach was feeling a little bubbly...mostly gassy (i know more than you want to know...but hay it's a race report)...which happens sometimes after i swim hard...it has happened in other races so i wasn't worried...i just wanted it to go away...and i knew what i needed to do...kept my eyes open to where the aid stations were...avoided the first few staying left as people ducked right to grab food etc...as i started to climb the one hill (more like a roller on parmer...but harder out here when you are riding into a head wind...) i tried to eat a little of the bar that i have as part of my nutrition...one piece every hour was the plan...this had been just fine during training...but wasn't happening for me this day...ok i said...i have enough in my bottles for 6 hours...if all goes well that is all i will need...if not plan b was going to be gels and gatorade out on the course...good...i have a plan just in case...now focus and ride...it wasn't stomach issues that made the bar unappealing it was just too dry...and even adding water wasn't helping...i was good with my decision so i stuck to it..

my speed was starting to slow as i was climbing the hill...i was passing people...saw the leader on the bike go by the other way fast! (he was on the second half of his second lap)...looked down at my computer and was at 12 mph...ugh...reminded myself again that the way back into town would be easier...and i knew that once i hit the top of this hill that the turn was near...crested the hill saw the aid station on the left...(you hit it after the turn)...then i saw the turn!...woot!...and a timing mat...i crossed it thinking of my coaches glued to a laptop somewhere watching my first bike split come it...grabbed a water to fill up my aero bottle....tossed it when i was done...popped it in a big gear and cranked...i easily hit 25, 26, 27mph....and made up for lost time...changed up the cadence...zoom!...made it back to the last aid station before town faster than i expected so that was awesome...i decided to stop...use a potty (hoping this would help my bubbles)...before heading back into town...it helped (one bubble down one to go)...i was worried that i was going to have GI issues...that called for Imodium...but nope...i was relieved...hopped back on the bike...and was doing the turns into town...

saw the buildings on rio salado...and knew that my folks would be around there somewhere...looked at my watch...and realized that i was going to hit just under my A goal time for the lap...then i heard it..."yeah jess kolko"...the whole fam...j included was on the median....woo hoo...made the turn around by mill avenue..crossed another timing mat...and on my right...there was an explosion of cheering...the whole T3 squad was there...it was awesome...saw the folks one more time...then it was back out the way i came...

i told myself just to keep it steady like the last loop...no problems...i knew what was coming...and i knew what i needed to do...kept steady with the nutrition...kept my focus...kept doing what i needed to do...there was some interesting things going on out on the course in the second lap...i saw the aftermath of a crash...which included a shattered disk wheel...a guy in child's pose at an aid station with nutrition scattered all around him...not looking happy...a guy doing the pee off the bike thing that they do in tour de france....and a girl peeing off the bike...yeah...not subtle at all...found myself at the base of the climb...staying with the same program as the last time...sweet...took a sip of nutrition...knew i was hitting that because i was done with my first of two bottles...and i was 1.5 laps in...nice...made the turn around...grabbed water...pulled off for second...switched bottles in my rear cages...and cranked up the big gear again...

it feels good to go fast after climbing a hill...i kept wanting to tell all those people on the other side of the road that it would be ok when they made the turn...then i just started trying to guess what lap people were on...keeping my mind on the course...thinking about where my buddies were out there...boom...i was back in town...looked at a mile marker...they had three mileages on them...one for each lap...the one i saw had 109 on it...that time it wasn't for me but i smiled thinking wow...i'm going to be really excited when it's for me...

saw the fam at the same spot out in the road...and some T3 folks by the turn...then i was headed out on lap three...oh yeah...hit the first aid station for water and another potty stop...i was hoping to get that last bubble gone before the run...pulled up on a volunteer there...he grabbed my bike...asked me if i needed anything while i was in the bathroom...i said no...did my thing..he handed me my bike and i was off again...ironman is awesome...that kind of service is great...that stop did the trick...i was feeling much more comfortable...then i started plying games...well other people were playing games with me (or that is what they were doing in my head :D)...i was trying to get away from them....i would pass...they would pass me...i would pass...they would pass me...the i would get fed up...shift...and get out of there...did that until the hill....i was on the hill for the last time...yeah!...checked my speed and saw that i was at 14...realized that it had been easier...and thought it strange that the wind could have shifted that dramatically in that short of a time...it did...weird...crested the hill...crossed the mat...and was on my way back in!!!!!!!

tried to hit the same speeds as before but wasn't able to with the shift in the wind...i was still above 18 so that was good...i was getting close to hitting my average of 18 for the whole bike and that was making me excited...as i started making the first of the turns into town...i could feel i was tired of sitting on the bike...so i kept my gear big...and did a little biking off the saddle just for a change in position...then i would sit back down again....then back up...did that a few times...and then i was back in town...and the 109 mile marker was for me...i know i had a huge smile on my face...then i was at the dismount line...then they took my bike away...i must have looked nervous that they took my bike because the volunteer said "we will take care of it for you"...nice...and i was off the bike...6h 10m

IMAZ 4

then my dad was off to the airport to pick up my mom...they came back and hung out for a while before they went up to their house in scottsdale...i had thought that i would be just fine at this point...but i was kind of emotional...not nervous i don't think...but just had a lot of tears for no good reason...i think it was just rather overwhelming...too much thinking about what would happen the next day and not enough doing...i was ready to get started...the waiting was killing me...

so j and i decided that it would be best to just stay in the room...get room service (including a large glass of red wine...on advice from coach amy... :)...) yeah for plain pasta with a grilled chicken breast...but what was really amazing was that harry potter and the order of the phoenix was on TV..and had just started...man...that was awesome...a. i love harry potter b. it was so engrossing that i wasn't thinking about the next day c. i was able to sit down and stop pacing which was making j anxious...he fell asleep after dinner...i finished harry potter then watched the end of twister...not a very good movie...but i got to see the part where the cow flew in the air...i had never seen it before...it was also a good distraction...then i went to bed...

i actually slept pretty well...maybe that was just because the alarm was set for 3.10am...ugh...and it was time to get up before i knew it...i made some coffee and started eating...my coaches wanted me to eat ~1000 calories for breakfast...so i started with an odwalla bar...then a bagel with sunflower butter and jelly...then another odwalla bar...i got through one bar about 3/4 of the bagel and couldn't do any more...stuck the second bar in my pocket to try and eat from then until the start...also stuffed a gel in my pocket for before the swim....gathered my nutrition, my pump, wetsuit, goggles and swim cap, and a gallon of water and we were off...

parked easily and walked down to transition...i remember talking but have no idea about what...i was feeling pretty calm (i was surprised by this) and collected...i knew what needed to be done and was happy to be doing instead of thinking...checked my tires and breaks, pumped them up, put my nutrition on the bike, put on the aero bottle and filled it from my gallon, put my wetsuit, goggles and cap on the bike, gave j the pump and headed to the potty and body marking...saw carrie and catherine near the morning clothes bags and chatted with them for a while...yeah!!!...then went to get body marked by the T3 crew of girls over there...yeah!!!...then to drop off my special needs bags...saw little amy on the way over there...then saw erin!!!! (she surprised us all by coming) and richard...then saw j on the way back...all the while i had been trying to eat this bar...then i gave up...i had gotten about half done....but the thought of it was not making me happy...my mouth was dry...etc...so i pitched it and moved on...gave j a smooch and went to get my wetsuit on...

as i checked out my bike for the last time...i looked over at the fence and there were my parents...yeah!...then behind them chris, kevin and ben from T3...got suited up...shoved my clothes in my bag and was off to drop them off on the way to the swim start...gel in had i lined up with all of these other wet suited people...heard the cannon for the pros go off...and started to eat my gel...(eek! ten minutes to go!) i looked down at the gel to squeeze some to the top and noticed my hand was shaking...ok...yikes...here we go...got the gel down...saw erin...i have no idea how she got into that corral with all the athletes...looked up on the bridge and saw my parents...waved good bye and got in the water...

i screamed (like a good excited woo!)...and swam left towards my spot to start...i couldn't really comprehend what was happening...but i could feel that i had a huge smile on my face...looked behind me to see if the huge mass of people was following me...and realized i was all alone over here...ok maybe there were like three or four other swimmers...i got right up to the start line right next to the huge black ford blow-up thing...hung on to a kayak and listened to the crowd of swimmers scream as the voice of ironman told us that this was going to be a day we would remember for the rest of our lives..."do you want to be an ironman today?" then they all roared YEAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! man that was cool...then boom! i hit start on my watch and we were off baby!

on the advice of many who had done this before me i just put my head down and swam...still there was no one around me...i had open water...it was awesome...i just sighted and swam buoy to buoy...not thinking about how far i had to go or what was going on around me...just swimming...doing what i had done in barton springs...count up to 10 strokes sight...then i started making it longer before i would sight...and that seemed to be fine so i kept it about 15...as i was turning my head to breathe i saw that huge hill with ASU on the side of it and i thought wow...i'm swimming by that...and the stadium...cool...sighted and saw a bridge...ok cool going to be swimming into a shadow....then going to come out of it and see where i am...did that...and then there were all these people around...but i just kept swimming...then there were more people...then i sighted again and saw a different colored buoy....i thought no way! i'm at the first turn! sweet...got jammed up in a mass of people...popped my head up and heard "hi jess" seriously...there was charles...hi...how ya doing...weird! out of all those people there he was...paddled around the buoy...looked at my watch...(i couldn't help it...it said 33minutes)...put my head down and swam...the next buoy was not far...i tried to get out past it to turn and was able to swim that turn no problem...then i was on the way back in!

i had to keep reminding myself to focus here...to remember where i was...and to keep my pace going...i could feel my self getting tired...and i know when this happens my stroke starts to fall apart...so i kept trying to concentrate on different things that my coaches had pointed out about my swim...reach deep...watch the hand waver...don't cross the center line of the body...etc...just working on that...sighting and swimming...then my mind would wander...i gave myself a few get your head in the game talks out there...but we got it together and focused...then i could see the third turn buoy...it was still out a way but i could see it...i got excited...and picked it up...made it to the turn...and swam it...there were not that many people at this turn as the first one...then i could see the steps....oh yeah...picked it up...and drove it home...swam to the middle where there was no one...and i nice burly guy to yank me out of the water...i wobbled a bit on the first steps...got to the top saw the clock said 1.14...looked up again...saw a stripper make eye contact...point at me....point at the ground in front of him...i went for it...he pulled my suit off in like a split second pulled me off the ground handed me my suit and said good luck...then i heard my name...saw kevin, chris, ben, j, mom, dad...yikes...that was way cool...then i headed to get my bag....i was done with the swim!!!