Some words about me

San Antonio Marathon 11.13.11

2011-11-19T11:54:00.000-06:00

The Tuesday prior to race day was my last quality workout before the big day...three miles at MGP...with about 1.5 warm up and cool down...a small group of us who were still left (as SA is the last of the fall marathons) gathered at our usual spot outside of Rogue to chat a bit before heading out to run...the talk was all about the weather...apparently it was going to be hot on race day...people we chatting about what they were going to do and what was going to be different...now if you are one who races you know that as soon as there is a weather report that touches on your race day you begin to obsess over it...you check it daily...sometimes multiple times a day...you check several different weather sites just to make sure that your trusty bookmarked site is giving you the best predictions...and then you talk about it with your training mates...

for some odd reason...i'm one of those athletes that only half listens to the talk that is going on...i do not check the weather..okay only once a few days out to make sure i have the right amount of clothing planned...but that is it...why you ask? well...there is nothing that i can do about the weather...i can't will it to be colder or warmer or less windy or less wet....i can only adapt to what it's going to throw my way...i know how to do that...

so it was going to be hot on race day...i trained this season through days that were 104 degrees...i ran long runs for 6 months starting at 5.30 in the morning just to finish before it hit the 100 degree mark...humidity was also high all summer...lots and lots of heat....lots and lots of salt pills...and lots and lots of fluid...i had that under control...

my training had been solid...consistent...strong...injury free...and i successfully ran 7 20+ mile runs 19 without pumping gel in me every five minutes... i ran several weeks at 60 miles...several more at 50...i felt really strong...and like i had achieved a new level of running...i was ready to kick butt in san antonio...

i was nervous leading up to the race...i had goals...time goals and other goals...that i had trained very hard for...and i was keeping my fingers crossed that it would fall together come the morning of the 13th...

j and i had driven down saturday morning after my 20 minute shake out run...had an easy, uneventful ride down went right to the expo...spent about 15 minutes there...got everything i needed...and checked in early to the hotel...after a carb heavy lunch...we walked down to the river walk...found some overly expensive mediocre coffee and settled in to some chairs...me to go over my race plan and maps again...j to write some more of book #4 that he had intently been working on the past few weeks...on the river walk it was warm but felt a bit of a chill in the breeze...i was hoping that a cool breeze would stick around...spent some more time reading and relaxing until dinner of takeout pasta from a spot that had a 2 hour wait for a table...takeout was just fine with me...overheard someone say the night before the marathon was their busiest of the year...i believe it...

in bed before 9 and actually got some sleep...not super great...but good enough to feel well rested...morning breakfast...1/2 cup big bowl cereal 1/2 cup oats, almond milk and strawberries...and coffee of course...checked the weather one last time 55 degrees...yeah! i even put on my sweatpants to walk to the start line...it still might be okay...out the door just before 6.30...we walked out the door and i was hit by a wall of humidity...ugh...i looked up and saw a haze hovering around the second story of all of the buildings...we walked though gear check...found my corral...i stood in line for the bathroom...and sat on a curb...by that point i was sweating...so i took my pants off...but kept my sweatshirt on...

hung out on the curb...hit the bathroom a couple more times....drank my vespa...off with the sweatshirt...one more bathroom break...and it was time to go...it took about 8 minutes to get to the start line...they were stopping groups of people letting the group ahead run for a few minutes...then letting the next ones go....there were supposed to be volunteers leading the corrals...but i never saw any...when it was my turn to go i was in the second row...kind of a cool feeling :) and off we went...

i took the first mile super slow...i knew a lot more people were running the half marathon...and coach and i had discussed that a lot of people would pass me at the beginning...i was okay with this...i was not going to go out too fast...was smiling and feeling good...hit mile 1 just over 9.00...a little slower than i had planned but not a big deal at all...i hadn't gone out too fast and that was one check off the list of goals for this race...good!...next few miles were uneventful...i was hitting my goal times and feeling really good...yeah it was humid...but over cast so that was a plus...the miles were ticking along 8.30s...getting a little under 8.30 it was going well...through the split with the half marathoners...at about 11...i was feeling good....

but then felt the chills...grr...not a good sign for this early in the race...i had taken 2 salt tabs at the start and had 2 an hour for the rest of the race...i was taking two cups at every station alternating water and cytomax...dumping some water on my head to keep the core temp down...by this point i was starting to have to battle the sun...the clouds were dissipating and the sun was coming out in full force...the humidity had dropped (i learned later it was at about 96% at the start of the race!)...by the half i was down by 4 minutes...by 17 i was down by 6...my time goal was out of reach...but there were still other goals to reach for..this was going to be a race of mental toughness

at this point a tightness in my hamstring was pretty persistent...my mantra for the next couple miles was loosen up loosen up...i heard quick-light-feet repeat a few times as well...trying to change up my stride...quicken the pace a bit to give some relief to the tired muscles...my splits were getting slower and slower...and the shade was getting smaller and smaller...and it was really hot...the race course was a mess...there were people walking and wobbling all over the place...volunteers couldn't keep their hands full of water cups...i grabbed some off of tables a few times...city buses were placed all over the course for people to jump in an cool off...it was tempting at a few points...people were spraying hoses at runners to try and cool us off...they were handing out salt...not electrolyte tablets...just plain salt...like those packets you get in your fries...that was weird...

i had never seen so many runners so beaten down...the majority of people were walking...i was "running" it was not pretty but i was running...by now we had gotten back to a segment of the course where it was out and back on the same road...i looked at those going out...and felt some sympathy...they had about an 8 mile loop out that way with no shade...i heard a guys say "we must be getting close to the turn around" oh...he had no idea...i was so surprised by how many runners were still going OUT...i was thankful to be headed back IN...

at some point the half and the full joined back on the same course separated by a fence...i think it was about 3 miles to go...i was suffering...i grunted out loud a few times...just that grrrrr keep running...finish this race kind of frustration...then i saw amy, jess and cheryl...amy jogged up along side of me...and i had to do everything in my power to not cry... "keep it together" ...thanks amy..she always knows what to say...i was just so frustrated...sad and angry...i knew i had let her down...and let myself down...but it was not for lack of trying...that is for sure...

got my head back together...and slogged out the final 2.2 miles...getting more and more excited as i got closer...just because i knew i could stop...and get something cold to drink...someone had ice at the final water stop...i could not have been happier with that...turned the final corner...and went UP what felt like a huge hill saw a few teammates (thanks guys!) cheering....and hit the finish line (arms up!) done...4.07.00

not the 3.40 i was going for...but also not my worst marathon...i don't think i could have finished with that time had a not had a great training season given the conditions....of course i'm pissed that the stars did not align for me last sunday...but here are somethings that i am proud of...
-consistancy in my training
-huge mileage milestones
-that one 24 miler matt and i ran together where we had a HUGE strong finish
-running a 4.07 on a really crappy day
-not going out too fast
-hitting my nutrition spot on

so now what...i have some time before i start training for IMWI 2012...i know i will again run a marathon with the goal of a 3.40...i'm pretty fit...and there is one here in Austin in a few months...hmmm....it's a thought...

Dusting off this blog

2011-09-12T18:32:00.000-05:00

I know it's been forever since i've done anything over here...so this post is as good as any...I've signed up for ironman #3...Ironman Wisconsin September 9th 2012....i love that the nickname is IMmoo...and one of my facebook friends just informed me that it's rated the second hardest IM....awesome :) BRING IT!

Reflection on 5 days of Food Stamps

2011-06-11T14:21:00.000-05:00

I began this assignment with a plan of how I was going to be able to make it through the week while at my rotation and in my fourth week of marathon training. I knew that I needed to have a plan in order to make everything work together. Typically I write out a week’s worth of dinners and use that as the bases of my grocery list. I estimate possible leftovers then add additional items to the list to fill out both lunch and breakfast. I did the same for my week of food stamp meals however I was much more conscientious of what I was going to add for breakfast and lunch due to the cost associated with my typical choices.

One of the major changes to my normal routine was one shopping trip for the week at HEB. I normally shop at Whole Foods and get most staples, fruit and vegetables on one day I typically will go to the store at least one other time to pick up something else like fresh seafood or other item that does not keep well. This past week I only shopped Sunday for the remainder of the week.

Lunches normally consist of leftovers or big fresh salads (mostly bought from the Whole Foods salad bar when I am working at the office). I knew that this was not an option for this week as I would be at Cedar Springs. I decided to make a bulgur based salad with chickpeas and veggies dressed with a red wine dressing for my lunch for the week. I also added a few slices of bakes tofu to the dish to add some more protein. Both recipes I found on the Snap website. I portioned out the tofu and salad for the week in five to go containers and was all set for lunches.

Breakfast was also changed during this week. I normally have a smoothie with oats and spinach added after I workout and a mid morning snack at about ten. This week I went for something I knew was affordable and hopefully sustain me through to lunch—oatmeal. I added peanut butter and banana to it in order to make the meal more balanced.

I found most of the recipes that I used for dinners this week on the snap website with some slight variations. The arroz con pollo turned out to be a big hit with the addition of some oregano and a jalapeno. Typically I don’t use recipes when cooking dinner. This week I felt that it would be best to follow some from the snap site due to cost savings.

While the plan got me through the menu planning, shopping and some preparation it was defiantly not a fool proof option. Most of the time I am fine having the same things a few times during the week, but not being able to have a choice for my meals this week made me reject both my breakfast and lunch by Wednesday. On my run Wednesday morning all I could think about was how much I didn’t want oatmeal and what did I have that would fit my budget so I could have something different. I ended up with a one egg breakfast taco that made me much happier. Lunch Wednesday turned out to be peanut butter and jelly since I couldn’t do another day of the bulgur salad. It seemed so strange to me that this rejection of my own food occurred. Most days out of the week I have the same smoothie over and over again while I have plenty of options around me. When I was restricted with my choice (ie only oats) I wanted nothing to do with it.

It was interesting to me to be working in an eating disorder facility during this experiment. I felt that I could begin to understand the prison that restriction is. It was also difficult to pass up a cupcake that was offered due to a birthday in the office. When my five days were over I was seriously craving many of the foods that I had to say no to during the week.

It was also rather difficult to maintain proper nutrition for my marathon training. I was not able to have my normal pre run snack, recovery drink, typical amount of food and my electrolyte replacement tablets. I run about six days most weeks and meet with my group one of those days for a quality workout. This Tuesday’s quality workout was really lacking in quality. I came to the run knowing that it was going to be tough. I didn’t have enough time to get in a snack between my lunch and my run. While normally I would have popped a gel I did not have that option this week. Also, I had been drinking water all day as I do normally however my food stamps meal plan lacked the electrolyte replacement tablets that I put in every other liter of water. I was a little nervous of the consequences of that move. We had a six mile run Tuesday evening and it was the hardest six miles I have run in an extended period of time. By the end of the run I was experiencing symptoms of heat stroke and dehydration. I was glad that I was familiar with the signs and symptoms and knew what to do to get through my workout. I really hope I don’t have to try that again.

I don’t think that the diet that I followed was nutritionally adequate for the week. It was lacking in vitamins and minerals while I even made an effort to add vegetables and fruits where I could. I know that I am not the typical food stamp user and was thankful for my knowledge of cooking during this process. I know that my culinary background was helpful in stretching the budget and using the carbohydrate base of most of the week’s dishes like a blank canvas and squeezing in nutritionally dense foods where I could.

This project was just as difficult as I had imagined and even more difficult than I thought it would be in some respects. I knew that it would be difficult to work on a budget, but I was able to overcome that and get some variety in for the evening meal. Aspects that were more difficult than expected were the repetition of foods and the lack of adequate quality as well as quantity for my training. I am glad to have done the experiment and had fun coming up with creative dishes based on the snap recipes I found. I’m sure that the three others that I ran with on Tuesday are glad that I can get back to being the one who doesn’t mess up her nutrition and has solutions for their nutrition issues. Now I’m headed to Whole Foods to restock the pantry.

Day 4

Breakfast: two egg breakfast taco with spinach= $0.74

Lunch: left overs + apple = $1.53

Dinner: Turkey Burger and baked sweet potato fries= $2.08

Day 5

Breakfast: oatmeal with pb chopped apple and cinnamon= $0.42

Lunch: left overs + apple= $1.82

Dinner: homemade mac-n-cheese (nondairy) with broccoli and not dogs=$2.36

Total for the week= $20.09

total i had to spend =$21.90

lets go celebrate with the $1.81 i have left :)

Day 3

2011-06-09T08:24:00.000-05:00

on my wednesday morning run...i thought about breakfast...and the thought of the same oatmeal again was not at all appealing...so i decided to switch it up...which is strange because normally i would choose oatmeal but knowing that i kind of "had" to choose it made me not want it at all...so i made an egg/spinach/salsa breakfast taco and crossed my fingers the cost was okay...it was almost $0.40 more than the oats but i was happy for a change...

same thing happened with lunch...so it was pb+j with veggies and an apple...which turned out to be not filling enough...i'm starting to get how it would have to work in order to stay satisfied...it's keeping it carb heavy...as i had been the first two days...

Breakfast: egg, spinach, salsa, tortilla=$0.94
Lunch: pb+j on wheat, 1/2 cucumber, 1 normal carrot, 1 small apple=$0.57
Dinner: arroz con pollo = $2.13
treat: 1 liter sparkling water $0.53
total so far =$10.96

Day 2

2011-06-08T08:25:00.000-05:00

I knew now that the hunger level was going to be okay...so i knew that i could get through the next days...but i was a little worried about how my workout was going to feel with no electrylyte supplementation during the day or pre run...i had made sure to save my apple from lunch for an afternoon snack to help the run...but unfortunatly i never got around to eating it...by the time i did i was on my way to run practice so that was not a good choice either...mild dehydration symptoms by the end of the 6 miles....made it through strides and strength...then home for something...and fast...turned out to be left overs from last nights pasta (it was just sauce left) so i made more noodles to go with...and added salt...

Breakfast: oats+PB+almond milk+banana (i ate as a morning snack) $0.59
Lunch: bulgur salad + Tofu - apple (i never got around to eating) $1.03
Dinner: left over sauce (i counted all ingredients in yesterdays total)+noodles+spinach= $1.25
Total = $2.87
running total =$2.87+$3.92=$6.79

The remainder of Day 1

2011-06-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

so i was a little surprised that i left some oats in my bowl this morning before heading out the door...i thought about saving them and packing them in my lunch as a snack "just in case"...i've been worried that my meals would not be satisfying...i decided to not and see how things went...

i started a new rotation today at a facility that does partial hospitalization...i was not sure of the particulars...like was it okay to pack my lunch or did i need to model behavior for patients....i packed and decided to go for it...

turns out this was a good option...worked through lunch and was satisfied (i was surprised)...i even saved the apple i packed for a later afternoon snack

Lunch: bulgur salad + 2 slices baked tofu + 1 small apple = $1.53
Dinner: spaghetti w/sauce + salad = $1.80
Total for the day = $3.92
Recipes i am using are below...they are from the snap website....and i have altered some slightly...if anthing significant is done i have factored that in to the cost of the recipe...

Baked Tofu

-i subbed 1/2 tsp sesame oil for the vegetable oil

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 minced clove garlic or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger (optional)
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 package (16 ounce) drained tofu, firm or extra firm, water packed

Italian Broccoli and Pasta

Ingredients:
2 cups fettucini noodles, uncooked
3 Tablespoons chopped green onion (also called scallions)
2 cups broccoli florets
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 can (14.5 ounce) stewed tomatoes
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese--

-I cut out the cheese here

5 A Day Bulgur Wheat

Ingredients:

1 medium chopped onion
1 cup chopped broccoli
1 cup shredded carrots
1 small chopped green pepper - may use red or yellow pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley or 2 Tablespoons dried
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 1/2 cups dry bulgur
2 cups chicken broth, low-sodium
8 ounces canned, drained chickpeas

-i added some red wine vinegar and used veggie broth and subbed olive for canola

Food Stamps Day 1

2011-06-06T08:25:00.000-05:00

Today starts five days of living on the amount of money one person gets in food stamps...$4.38 per day $21.90 for the five days. As students of nutrition we are striving to see if nutritional adequacy can be met on this amount of money. I have to say that my grocery cart yesterday (in preparation for the week) contained very few fresh fruits and veggies....we shall see how this goes...

one tibit i wanted to share a 6 pack of ramen is $0.89....6 packs for 89 cents...WTF....don't worry i left them right where they were...you don't even want to know the sodium content...yikes

Breakfast: 3/4 cup oatmeal, 4 oz unsweetened almond milk, 1 Tbs peanut butter, 1 banana = $0.59

over due update

2011-04-30T09:24:00.000-05:00

i know that it's been way too long since i have updated this blog...and i feel like it's time...after my first four weeks of clinical nutrition work at the level one trauma hospital i transferred to SMCW 25 miles north....it's a level two trauma facility and i got a lot of experience with critical care nutrition...i was actually surprised at how much i liked that kind of work...though there are aspects of working in a hospital that are very difficult....there are a lot that are very rewarding...i could see myself doing clinical work if the need was there...it's not my first choice but it is an interest of mine...

after the clinical rotation it was on to food service management rotation...i was also placed at the same hospital for this rotation SMCW....however my daily routine would be very much different than it was during clinical...first, i had to be there at 6am...that would change to 5am a few weeks later...it takes about 30 minutes to get there...and takes me about the same amount of time to feel awake enough to drive...so that means waking up REALLY early...i was learning how to manage the patient food service side of the cafeteria...after 5+ years of experience managing busy restaurants this was a really hard rotation for me....i was bored...really bored...it was like managing a really slow cafe with a really limited menu...i did a lot of making up patient trays as their orders came in to keep myself entertained....which was fine..just i didn't feel at all like i needed my brain for this rotation...most of the other girls had been placed in school food service (public schools) and i think that would have been even harder for me...the hospital is contract managed...meaning the cafeteria and the patient food service is run by a food service company...and the management works for that company rather than the hospital...there were 4 managers for ~25 employees (patient, retail, operations and general managers)...i was shadowing the patient manager...so there was not a lot for me to do...

i was the line cook for a week....the production cook for a few days...did a high end catering for 16...handled many mini employee crisis that occurred....became friends with a lot of the employees...smiled and was calm in the face of a corporate employee who couldn't see beyond corporate guidelines...and generally just helped where i could see a need...apparently this was amazing to the hospital...the staff gave me a really nice thank you card, i got a certificate for a free cupcake from an employee and one made me home made Vietnamese egg rolls...yum...it was nice to know that i made an impact :)

that rotation ended yesterday! yeah! finally moving on to things more my speed now...my next rotation will be at the student health services building at UT...i will be working with a dietitian who does health promotion...i don't know yet what that means but we shall see...and it does not involve setting an alarm for 3.45am....or driving 50 miles a day....

also during this last rotation i got a new car :)...which i love....it's a honda CR-Z....a two seater, six speed manual transmission, hybrid....i love it...i had to fill it up with gas for the first time yesterday.. and i was a little disappointed that it had the same number of miles as my civic would have had per tank....however, as i was filling this car up for the first time...i found out that i have a tank that holds 2 fewer gallons than the civic...that made me smile...over 40 miles to the gallon...woot

and last but not least i finished my first history class which was self paced on line through UT...yeah!...the final was three hours of writing....actually writing with a pen in a blue book at a testing center...my hand hurt for like three days after...but i did great and am happy to just have one last history and then i am totally done with all of my course work...and will be graduating this summer after internship is over !!!!

so that is the long/short update that is overdue...hoping that my schedule eases a bit with the next rotation...and my history class flies by...now on to enjoy the weekend with my in-laws....and a second cup of coffee...

Week 2

2011-01-29T18:02:00.000-06:00

I can't believe how far i have come in a week working at the hospital...Today I was walking home from the hospital and I was smiling. I was proud of what I had accomplished today and what I have been able to learn in such a short period of time. I'm no longer nervous to find a nurse or talk to a doctor. I also seem to no longer hesitate when I walk into a patient room. yesterday I gave a low fiber diet education to a Spanish only Pt with the help of a translator. It was totally on the fly and great. I have also been working a lot with enteral nutrition and getting really comfortable with understanding who to put on what formulas and rates and goals. Good stuff.

I get attached to some patients and i really want them to pull through...or i want to see how their issues get resolved and sometimes i just want to know their stories. I love running across the people who are really wanting to learn more about nutrition or the dr or nurse who is also really interested in how nutrition is going to help a patient get well.

I still feel like i have too much to do in a day/week/month and i am trying to learn how to say i don't have time. i sometimes envy people i see out for walks or playing football in the street thinking to my self i wish i had time for stuff like that...and i guess i would if i didn't do all the other stuff i do outside of internship like having a job and doing some other nutrition stuff and saying yes to more than i should.

this coming week will be an exercise in doing that...in saying no when i can because honestly i just don't have the time...i like my sleep, and my yoga, and my run/ride/swimming and spending time with j and the catz....all of that is really just as important to me...this will be a process and i am sure i will have some failures along the way (this week counts as one for sure) but i will try...

now off to do some relaxing and shutting off of the brain for a few hours of girl movies, chocolate, ice cream and chit chat with a few of my lady friends...much needed...

Practicum...the Beginning

2011-01-18T20:34:00.002-06:00

Today I started my practicum...it is the last step in the process to becoming an RD...well technically the second to last step if you count the RD exam that i will sit for this summer...anyway...it's getting really close to the end of things...and i am really excited about it...at this very moment it's tough as i don't know what my schedule is going to be...and it's hard to plan life and training around a non existent schedule but as my professor said to today " i basically have your a** for the next semester" ah...well fine...i'll get there...

but it was fun to be back in action so to speak today dusting off the cobwebs of enteral nutrition and nutrition assement and lab values and whatnot...at this point it's all new beginnings...and i'm ready..bring it

2010 Exercise Totals

2011-01-04T18:35:00.000-06:00

Swim: 91 hours 135 miles
Bike: 150 hours 2400 miles
Run: 195 hours 949 miles

I spent just about 18 days swimming, biking and running in 2010.

yoga, core and other exercise not counted in totals...

decisions

2011-01-03T17:21:00.000-06:00

it's been a little while since i have last posted...and that by no means indicates that nothing is going on...since my last post here are some highlights...had a super time in seattle...flew back to austin to attended AC4D final presentations for the quarter...they rocked...was in austin for 36 hours then flew to arizona...hung out with my parents...got a pedicure (my first!)...saw two bob cats two days in a row...had christmas...baked 150 cupcakes for the engagement party of two friends...who surprised all the guests at the party by getting married!...attended the going away party of a good friend...reconnected with other good friends...did Bikram (hot!!) yoga twice...and actually made it past midnight on new years eve...amazing..

while all of this has been going on i had been thinking all along that come jan 3 i'm back on the training wagon gearing up for the 2011 tri season here in austin...as the day got closer...i got a little more apprehensive...and over the weekend i was down right jealous of some other friends who are taking this year to step back from all of the racing and let life fill in the blanks...

this month brings about a lot of changes...it's the end of my classes and the beginning of my internship portion of my program...j started his new job...and everything feels fresh and new...so falling back into the same old workout routine seems off to me...not to make this sound like some light decision...because if you know me...you know that i take my athletic commitments very seriously and to change my mind about a goal i set and the training i was going to do...it's a pretty big deal...and of course full of emotions...sigh...someday i won't cry about _everything_

so tonight i am off to my lil neighborhood yoga studio to get back in there and settle my mind and see where it takes me...i'm going to try and follow the tri training plan for the week and see how i feel about it all to make sure i am not just feeling the apprehension of starting a regular training plan after having 2 months off of rigid scheduling...we shall see...

Vacation!

2010-12-17T16:58:00.000-06:00

i have been having a really nice time on my few days of vacation in Seattle...day one was a run along the bay...a doughnut at top pot...an exploration of pikes place market...a lunch of delicious oysters at elliott's on the pier...wandering around shopping....a moment at the spa...drinks at zig zag with an amazing bartender....and a drink called the pengu...apparently from WWII...it was so delicious...discovering gin that is not clear....a delicious dinner of grilled octopus with chickpeas to start and tagliatelle with mushrooms as an entree...yum!

day two has brought more exploring...spent some time on the bike in the hotel gym this am...then off to a local bagel shop for breakfast...a quick walk through the market just to get to the other side...and then to the aquarium...where i watched the sea otters play for a long time...and totally dug seeing into the waters around the Puget sound...giant octopus! weird....then to pioneer square where i just wandered around and found the utilikilt store....i totally want one...then to sitka and spruce for lunch...i had clams with cannellini beans and swiss chard..wow...super awesome...now just a little chillin at a local coffee shop...maybe some space needle....then sushi...

i'm loving all of the food explorations...and walking...and of course loving the fact that it has been sunny the whole time here... :D

hard to believe

2010-11-29T20:33:00.000-06:00

it's hard to believe i am in my last week of classes for my program...at the beginning of the semester i never thought i would make it to the end of this...for more than one reason...but here i am...friday marking the last day of classes....with my last final exam on the 14th...and since every emotion manifests in the same way for me...it kind of makes me shed a tear...because i am so very happy to almost be practicing in the real world...very exciting

oh dear

2010-11-21T22:50:00.002-06:00

i may need to be seriously restrained from signing up for IMAZ tomorrow...

E.S.Y (east side yoga)

2010-11-20T07:54:00.000-06:00

i have been pushing my body hard this year...i started last January training for IMCdA in June...took two weeks off and trained for MCM from July through Halloween...i know that lots of other folks out there are doing multiple IMs and marathons...but with my schedule of school and internship and well actually wanting to get some sleep i know i just can't push it much past an IM and one marathon...but really the first week of November i was tired...really bone dead tired...

each night i slept hard...i slept 8-9 hour...and would wake up feeling like i had about a 10 minute nap...Starbucks was my friend...i stopped several times at the one on campus just to get me through my classes...and i am so not usually needing more than my morning coffee...and did i mention food...i was ravenous...

it was pretty amazing how abrupt the change to recovery mode was...and man i could tell...so i decided to make a change...i scrapped the race that i was going to do in early January...and joined east side yoga...which is about 6 blocks from the house...it was time to try and open up some of these muscles that have been so tight...and time to just listen to the racing of my mind...and time to breathe...

i joined the second week in November...and went every day the first week...i had forgotten how much i love yoga...and how absolutely restorative it is to me...i'm in my second week and have totally felt the difference in my whole body....my mind is more calm, clear and focused...i am more relaxed...i have been able to say no to things because i know that it will make me feel frantic again...i have more flexibility and openness in my hips...and i feel like i have restored my normal organ function with some of the deep twists i have been doing...

in one class i did a hand stand...all be it assisted by my teacher...but wow...i can tell you it's going to be amazing when i can get that into my practice...i know that i am going to start training again but i really am going to be diligent about keeping yoga a part of the mix...it is as good for my mind as it is for my body

MCM Race Report

2010-11-08T20:45:00.001-06:00

i'm sitting here, staring at the blank screen trying to figure out what it is that i want to say about my race...i want to grab details of the day that lead logically to the end, but i can't really grasp those details...there are days when you set out on a run, a ride, walk on stage to perform, clear your throat to give a presentation and the magic just happens without you even having to think about any of it...j has described this as flow...you get up...load your power point deck...then an hour later you are getting asked brilliant questions and people are engaging with your ideas...yet you have no idea what it is you actually said...it just worked...

while there is flow...there is also its mirror image...it's a run, a ride a performance that just doesn't go the way that you practiced it ten thousand times before...there is not one catastrophic event that happens to throw the day off course...it's again some sort of magic that shifts everything a bit out of favor...you cannot point the finger at one thing...and yet it's not a total blow out either...it just doesn't work...and really you wish there was a particular reason...

i wish i did have a particular thing that i could point my finger at...i have a feeling that i can look and look and never find it...

the day began well enough....mom and dad and i walked about a mile from my hotel to the race start in the chilly dark...it was great to spend pre-race with them...watching the sun come up...watching all the runners wander in from different directions...comparing the start line with chicago last year...just seeing how the day begins...i was squished in the corral and ready to go...it all started out just fine...really slow crowded first mile...totally expected...saw michelle! wow...she passed me...and i just wanted to make sure i didn't exert too much in the beginning...hit mile one just about 9.30...ok not horrible...but also not great...there were some hills in the first section of the course and i had planned on being a little slow through there...and hopefully making up for that in the end after mile 20...

but well...it all just started to add up on me little by little...felt good through those first hills...then hit a road block at mile 6...it was a pace group...and a one lane road...literally no where to go...on the right was a wooded hillside on the left was a 4 foot tall stone wall...totally beautiful area to be running in...leaves changing....trees...park...totally pretty....but all i could do was get frustrated...and more and more pissed that i couldn't get around this group....finally made a big right turn...up a hill and i could get away...really...that really made me that upset...i was so happy to be less packed in...through a really pretty neighborhood...and recognized a few places from having driven around the day before...made up some time on a few of the down hills...and was coming up to the half feeling okay....and then i hit the half and something was going on...

i wish i knew what it was...but we were out on a point...along a road that was not shaded....sun was up...but it was in the 50's maybe at that point...but i started getting really hot...by the turn at the half i could feel myself not keeping a straight line while i ran...i knew that i was in trouble...but i kept saying it will pass... i did have a thought out there that i was going to either fall over and have my first DNF or was going to get tossed in medical after i crossed the line...

i started grabbing multiple waters and powerades at the aid stations...to make the sloppy run a little better but i ended up feeling sloshy...but just for a few minutes....then i would feel better...so that makes me think something was off with my hydration...odd for me....but i can happen...all the while i was telling my legs to pick it up...but they were not listening...and i am not one of those people who just gives up because it hurts...i was really trying to make my legs turn over but i just couldn't...i resolved to let go of my BQ...and hope that maybe the third time i try will be the lucky time...

by 16 i knew it was done...i was not even going to PR...and i just needed to stick it out and complete the race...no matter what the time was...so that is what i did...at this point miles slip by...in and out...i am aware of some...and not of others...there are a ton of spectators along the mall...but i am not looking around...i am looking at the ground...just shuffling along...waiting for the bridge from hell...and sticking with the nutrition plan as best i could...

saw jessica just after the mall...she was looking happy and spritely...i was happy that she was having a good day...i know how much she wanted a BQ...and she was going to get it...i thought to myself at that point...do i just not want it enough?...and i decided that was not the reason that i was not having a good day...and just kept running

the bridge is as bad as everyone says...not only is it like 2.5 miles long...it's up hill for a lot of the way...and there were literal...2 marines on the bridge in the middle cheering...i did not allow myself to stop running...i kept running....and people were dropping like flies around me...finally got off the bridge and in to crystal city...

i was so happy to see something other than a bridge...and i knew i was about 4 miles from done...so i started to get a little bit happy again...i was waiting to see the pentagon...ben i thought of you as i was running on the bridge just past the pentagon...it made me smile...finally made the turn into arlington cemetery and the marine memorial...and up the "hill" at the end...yeah it's up...but it's not anything to be worried about...and then finally crossed the finish line...in 4.11...10 minutes slower than my first marathon...but much much more of a mental toughness day than i have experienced in a long time...

made my way through the masses of people back to my hotel and my family...can't thank my family enough for all of the support over the weekend....Bec and Josh had a brunch on saturday...big family dinner saturday night....then everyone was out there cheering all day for me...mile 10...16...right before the hill at the end...you guys were great...and i really could not have done it without you...it's nice to have the carrot of family at the end of the race...

so...it's been a week since my race...and all i have been doing is sleeping and eating...sleeping 10-12 hours a night the whole week after the race....makes me think i have been running on fumes for a bit now...i have been putting a lot of stress on myself for the last hmm...year...but this last three months or so have been especially bad...but i really didn't slow down to notice...again i can't put my finger on one reason why i didn't have the day i wanted but i have to give a nod to the pressure i have been under...i know that, at least, was a little contributor..

for now...i am officially not racing until 2011...time to finish the semester...exercise when i want for how long i want...and just try to give my body and my mind some time to heal and restore...a BQ will come...just not this year.

one week to go!

2010-10-23T17:15:00.000-05:00

as i posted on FB..this time next week i will be in DC making final preparations for race day...i have gone over my race plan with my coach....i know what i am going to wear, eat, drink and think on race day (and before and after)...i know how i am going to feel before, during and after the race...i know that i am going to be supported not only by the huge crowds at the race, the Marines....and my family...both my mom/dad/bro/sis-in-law/2 nephews AND my husband's mom/dad/sis/bro-in-law!! woot! thanks guys!!

i am having a bit of a hard time getting my head around the fact that it is so soon...however i am getting excited...did my last long run this morning...it just happened to be HUMID and warm...but that is okay...race day will be what it is...and that is all i can ask for...

one way that i know i am ready...and ready to be done is how i keep thinking about mornings when i won't have to set my alarm...i know it won't last long but i hope to have a few weekends of that before i start training again..

and the pressure is slightly less in terms of Boston qualifying too...i am still going for it...for absolutely sure...but Boston is already sold out (it sold out in 8 hours)...so this is for 2012 :D

medium crappy run

2010-10-15T21:47:00.001-05:00

(my shoes)

thursday is medium long run day...for me this means waking up at 4.15am...feeding cats....making coffee....checking email/school stuff...packing my lunch...hopefully i have packed my change of clothes the night before...getting running clothes on leaving the house by 5am and driving over to Barton Springs to get in my 6 ish miles plus 3x10 push-ups and 3x30 second strides...soak in the springs for 10 minutes...shower/change/drive home...hop on my bike and be on campus all before class at 8 am...

i really love my thursday runs because they habitually have been on my own...in the dark...and quiet of pre-dawn austin...lately though my runs have been noisy...only due to my silly overactive brain...but this week...i finally had a much more quiet mind...however...my body was speaking up loud and clear...and in totally random and weird ways...

my head hurt....i've had a headache for like a week...everyone says it's allergies...idk...my throat hurt...also attributed to allergies (i have never had allergies before but again everyone says you get allergies in austin)...my right ankle hurt (wtf...really? why!?)...i had to take my hair down out of my normal really every waking minute of the day hair style because it felt wrong?!!!...sorority girls in nike shorts and date dash t-shirts were passing me on the trail...i felt sluggish...and on and on...

my whole run i was thinking about coach amy's post about the pre-race melt down...i've not had mine yet.. (hang on baby it's coming i know)...but i kept thinking that this was the pre-race meltdown in run form...and i guess all in all i am much happier to have it now...than on race day...and to feel crappy and slow...and still pull out 9ish minute miles feeling like sh*t...but still the run in this form is no fun...

however, as i posted on FB thursday after said run...sometimes even the bad runs are good for something...and they are...for me it's about metal toughness...i could easily have cut the run short...stopped...walked it in...but no...i didn't...i did what i set out to do...and that was a good thing...

so even a medium crappy run can get you one step closer...

just a note to self

2010-10-06T21:15:00.002-05:00

3.40 = Boston

you can do this...

i'm okay....

2010-09-29T05:40:00.000-05:00

so i guess today is deserving of an update...i know that i have been neglecting my blog...and for the three of you that read it....sorry...i have very little time these days to just relax and reflect...i do a lot of thinking about blogging and not a lot of actually doing it....but the events of today make me want to get this up there...

anyway...you may know that i am a student at UT austin...today i was on campus during an odd situation that is the nightmare of every college kids parent....there was an armed shooter on campus...i happened to be in class....taking an exam when we got the first text message update that there was an armed suspect on campus at the library...i finished my test...and walked into the main hall of my building...as they were locking all of the doors...we could move about the building but were on lock-down...the kids who were in my class all went to the computer lab in the basement of our building...i did homework...the rest of them got on the local news sites to get live feeds and updates as to what was going on...

it was amazing to watch the news spread...one of my classmates said she got a facebook message from her friend who is on some sort of mission trip in Africa somewhere asking if she was ok less than an hour after we were put on lock-down...

the whole situation was very surreal...helicopters buzzing the buildings...cops running by the windows and tanks rolling down the street....weird...i was surprised actually that i was affected by it as i was in a computer lab about 4 blocks north of the situation...but it really just....as i put it to a friend later in the day...tinted everything a slightly different color...i really did feel off the rest of the day...

it is always sad when something like this happens...and it will draw many of my classmates closer together...and generally the whole campus...and it also makes me realize that there are still people out there not getting the help that they need...if you need help...don't be afraid to ask...it's okay

Last Semester of Classes

2010-08-25T21:06:00.000-05:00

Today was the first day of my last semester of classes...I'm taking five....government (yeah required okay), nutrition research/writing, medical nutrition therapy II, advanced food systems management, and my first clinical/practical course that involves a 3 hour a week shift in a hospital learning the ins and outs of being a hospital dietitian...three classes today two tomorrow...and so far so good...

i am already thinking of my topic for my writing class...i'm hoping that my prof is cool with me doing something sports related...i think so since her masters was in exercise phys. so that is a good start...i actually have been trying to decide on a topic for this paper for the whole summer...and i think i have it nailed...we shall see..

so far only one conflict with my travels for MCM on 10.31...i have an exam on 11.1 that i will be missing...hoping i can work it out...if not all it means is that i will be taking the comprehensive final at the end of the semester...no big thing...but i like to avoid finals as much as i can...

keeping my internship at whole foods for about 10 hours a week through this semester as well...i think all in all i am going to be busy...which i like..but i am also going to have time to kick some school butt...and hopefully pull off another semester of university honors....

it's hard to believe that i am starting my last semester of classes...and i will be and RD in less than 11 months...werd...bring it on UT...i'm ready to kick it through the home stretch...

The Lab

2010-08-22T09:54:00.000-05:00

Saturday was the run called The Lab...it's a race prep run...a dress rehersal for the big race...and since i am running a fall marathon...and since 98% of the road running races that happen in austin happen in the winter (much cooler!)...the lab was my first test of how my training has been coming along...so yeah i was totally nervous going into it...

i have been feeling really good lately...yes some runs rule....others are like gutting out the last five miles of an ironman...but all in all things have been going well...coach amy has taken great care of me getting me back to running while still recovering from CdA...for that i am super grateful...so physically feeling good...mentally nervous...85 degrees and about the same % humidity at 5.30 am on saturday i was ready to go...

first 2 miles were slow and a super easy warm up...the next 12 were at marathon goal pace (MGP)...my MGP is 8.23 per mile...amy's advice was this...you may not run one mile at your actual MGP, but you want your average to be close to it...the last 2 miles back to rogue were to be cool down...

here are the splits:
1+2: 20:00
3: 9:18
4: 8:49
5+6: 16:50
7: 8:12
8: 7:55
9+10: 15:49
11: 8:50
12: 8:27
13: 8:46
14: 8:15
15+16: 21:00

overall giving me 8.25 per mile for the MGP miles (3-14)...i will totally take that...i felt strong on the first 6 at mgp...was feeling the effort through 9 and had a few HTFU moments during the last segment...all in all i am proud of what i did on saturday...a much needed confidence booster...and a good mental battle too...

Wow....

2010-08-09T22:44:00.001-05:00

I'm having a hard time coming to terms with how i felt in boulder....

i arrived on thursday...literally dropped the bags off at the hotel....the st. julien (amazing!!)...had a pit stop...washed my face and ran back down to the lobby to meet Roger, Allison and Dechen to go have some dinner...had a fabulous time over beers and veggie burgers (for me) and a huge plate of ribs (for j) chatting with my newlywed friends and there precocious little guy!

Friday morning i slept in! 6.45am! ha lol....i suck at that...saw j off to his conference planning...and was off to a local cafe for a curry bun and an Americano....Allison swung by the hotel to pick me up and we went out to Indian peaks...and hiked to about 10,000 feet....gorgeous views...and great conversation....but i think the best part was that Al had to park the car and i watch Dechen for like 5 minutes all by my self...it was amazing....i did good.. :D

Friday night was dinner with the IdxA crowd...finally got to meet Kendra...hey girl!...but they all went out to a meet up and i went back to the hotel...and tried to sleep against the background of a Latin band playing at a wedding in the courtyard beneath my window...they finally became unplugged at 10pm....so late i know!!

Saturday morning was long run day...i got up at about 5.30...and ran as far as i could along a path until it stopped...it was hands down the most amazing run i have ever done...i had a huge grin on my face the whole time....and after i reached the top of the trail and was running back in to town...i had a really hard time holding back the tears...(it's tough enough to run at altitude....then try crying, running and altitude all at once!!)...the run was just that beautiful...hard to explain...but utterly crushing and uplifting at once...

after a stretch, ice bath and several cups of coffee i met roger/al/dechen at Lucille's for breakfast...delicious despite the wait...then off to the farmer's market...where i could have shopped for the week...and gotten my knives sharpened!!

then in the afternoon we all went swimming at the reservoir...a 70.3 was being held out there in sunday...so there was a lot of activity out there...but we found a nice spot with some other friends and did a bit of swimming....a little out and back open water action...complete with boat fumes...and chop but overall a fun swim :D

saturday night was dinner at the kitchen...i was giddy...and loved every second of it...prosecco with hummus and flat bread....oysters with a shallot vinaigrette...Colorado brook trout with a fresh corn relish, Allison's duck egg!...roger's hanger steak...and a dessert that was amazing...light and decadent all at once...fresh local strawberries, bits of meringue all folded into some lightly sweet Chantilly...totally yum...

sunday....early recovery run with 3x15 push ups....then shuttle to the airport...and back to reality by 2 sunday afternoon...

hard to believe the mtns are real...hard to believe what i feel is real

Boulder!

2010-08-06T18:18:00.000-05:00

in boulder

my very favorite sound in the whole world...water!

so totally cold! probably water temp in the 50's

view from the bed in the hotel...uhm yeah

SNOW!

Dechen and Allison!! on our hike :D love you guys!

your friends

2010-07-27T16:45:00.002-05:00

it's a really good thing to tell your friends that you care about them...it's even better if you can show them.

good day 2x

2010-07-22T18:28:00.002-05:00

well i guess that would be more than that since i am alive and healthy but two extra good things happened today..thought i would share...

1) after a two year battle with the powers that be at UT i finally got transfer credit for a freshman comp class! that took way too long and way too much effort

2) i found an ipod touch this morning at barton springs bathrooms...i called the guard house when i got to work and let them know...this afternoon i got a call from the owner's grandmother...we made arrangements for her to pick it up...the best part is this...the girl who lost it is 11 and from LA...she said to her gran...well i guess i am never getting that back...and her little sister who's 8 said...this is austin...you will get it back...and sure enough... :D her gran said...what a great lesson for both girls ...that made me really happy...

good day...and it's not even time for dinner!

Training Again and Stuff

2010-07-20T16:44:00.004-05:00

After two weeks totally and completely off...full of wine and cupcakes and eating a lot...i am back to training...this time for Marine Corps Marathon 10.31.10

coach amy gave me a great (revised--as i am still on the mend from Ironman) schedule that included my very first long run back...10 miles last saturday...and as a matter of fact...i took it easy and had fun...it's always hard to start up with a group that has been running together for a few months but i met some cool folks and hopefully will find some good running buddies

so four days of running, one swim, one bike...i'm hoping to throw a core class in there somewhere but giving myself a little leniency in this case until i figure out a good place to stick that...

very excited about my new MASI single speed...i have been riding it to my WF internship and really anywhere i can...it's fun and pretty...oh the photo is not my actual bike...mine has a black chain...and a set of flat bars up front with one (rear) brake...hurray for super sale at mellow j's bike shop...what fun

other than that i have been cooking/baking and keeping up with my nutrition focus...generally keeping myself busy...and catching up on some good reading...including but not limited to Food Matters, A Homemade Life, Endurance Sports Nutrition, The China Study, New Good Food and Ratio...my summer reading list rules

IMCdA 2010 Race Report

2010-07-06T17:37:00.007-05:00

I know it has taken me a really long time to post this...and i am going to try to keep it short and sweet...uhm unlike some others (whom i love really and won't mention!!...i'm just not that patient...i have books to read!!)..but i want to remember the details so here goes....

Pre-Race

Wednesday:
ETG and i arrived in CdA without much travel hassle and fairly easily found our house(s)...dropped our gear and headed out to explore the town and load up on groceries...arriving Wednesday and leaving Wednesday was really ideal...gave us enough time to settle out of the travel and get prepared without too much nervousness...Dustin B arrived a little later in the day...and i cooked dinner for the three of us...two more housemates arrived later that evening...and the last of those racing arrived in the wee hours...

Thursday:
8am swim with the group...water was like glass and just about 60 degrees...perfect..loved it...then off for a 15 minute run along the first part of the course...felt good...glad to get the legs moving....weather was perfect...did some stuff around the house...mostly what we did was eat...every few hours...i think Jeremiah had about a dozen bagels in the days leading up to the race...check in was a breeze...picked up bikes after eating some more...i was totally shocked at how calm i was the whole time...i think being the cook for the house made it all that much more normal for me...i was able to be in my element (in the kitchen) and not just sitting thinking...i needed that...thanks housemates for letting me cook...

Friday:
8am swim with the group...followed by a bike ride on the first part of the bike course...swim was REALLY choppy this day...which was not fun...but i did what i had to and just put my head down to swim...did a lot of hopping out of the water and diving back in to see how that was with waves coming at you...not the best...but i knew that i could do what i needed to if the swim was going to be choppy...glad to have a day like that pre race...ride was awesome...totally beautiful...i was excited to see how the rest of the course was...if i liked the first part...the rest was going to rule...more eating...then drove the bike course in the family truckster with Jim in the driver's seat...glad i was able to check it out...i was paying attention to tight turns and some of the downhill segments that actually looked more scary to me than the up hills...but i like hills...so...yeah...i know...i'm sick..

Saturday:
Am swim with the group again..and another quick run...chop was less than Friday so that was good...we were really good at swimming for like 3 minutes then bobbing in the water for a while to chat...then swimming again...drove Chrissie crazy i am sure...but a lot of fun to hang as a group in the water...again the run felt great...back to the house to eat...surprise!...then time for bag drop...again...much more calm this time around...just doing what i had to do to get ready...my bags were light...just enough for minimum transition...weather was looking on the warm and sunny side so i didn't worry about anything warm in my T1 or T2 bags...long shirt and gloves in special needs but that was it...

Sunday:
Race Day!!! woot! i was actually able to sleep...like no issues at all...so that was nice...woke up make coffee...ate a z bar...in bed with coffee...check my mail...and lazed about for a bit...toasted a bagel...jammed it up...strawberry :)...ate that...ate another z bar...drank some water...got ready...remembered to body glide the appropriate places (i NEVER remember this!!) pulled my nutrition from the fridge and off we went...i liked the little parade of us walking to the race site...did what i needed to do to my bike...added two rear bottles, filled the aero bottle...stashed clif blocks in the bento box...topped off the tires...checked breaks and was done...hmm...this all seemed too easy...but i didn't question and moved on to the next task...

dropped run nutrition in the T2 bag...dropped off the very light special needs bags...hit the potty (a real one!)...then to find Chrissie to get in my wetsuit...walked down to the beach...and walked right to the far left...right near the buoy line...i felt very uncrowded over there...i think me and etg were about 3 people back from the water...Erin, Dustin, Dustin, Joe, Miah...were all there...Erin commented on a few cute boy butts...pretty sure i did the pre race pee...and then we were off...

a few really good smashes to the face right out of the gate but i was expecting this...so i just kept swimming/fighting to get to the inside of the buoy line...once i did...it was (sort of) smoother...i actually was able to draft a bit off of a few people...i think a lot of that had to do with me actually being able to see the people in front of me...a few more good decks to the face before the first turn...i actually thought to myself at one point...hmm that will be a black eye in the morning...and then..well came the turn...

TOTAL MAYHEM...seriously...i have never seen it this bad...people actually body surfing on top of other people...crawling on peoples shoulders to get by...shoving...yelling...dunking...awesome...kayaker yelling at us to the next turn which we could not see AT ALL due to the angle of the sun...finally started to fight/swim again until that turn...got yanked a few times by the ankle...nice...then was able to get back into the inside and felt some relief...but could feel the fighting was making me tired...not much issue getting to the exit...up and around the mat...but saw the clock read 40...hmm...not what i wanted...but i also heard chrissie in my ear...don't let your swim time get to you..also recalled Noah's advice that was the same...don't let the swim time get you down he said...i knew loop two would not be any faster...but i tried my best not to slow down...

the buoy just off the beach was even worse for me than the start...but i didn't worry about it...i just did what i needed to to get to the turns...about the same at the big turn...less body surfing this time...and i was actually able to swim (under) around the last turn buoy...so that was good...cursed myself a bit as i got out of the water...6 minutes slower than i wanted...but i was not going to let that get to me...i fought the good fight out there...and i was going to kick ass on my bike...

swim: 1.26

T1:
got wetsuit stripped by some experts...and thanked them a million...loved it!...grabbed my bag...saw Chrissie and Jim!! yeah!!...into the tent i went...there were a bunch of ladies getting ready outside of the tent...i thought that strange...i walked right in...asked for help...plopped on the ground and let my volunteer help me...she dried my feet and put my socks on me (she commented on the smallness of my socks)...she read me my note card (mind over all...)...handed me my helmet and i was out the door...

T1: 4.23

Bike:
called out my number to a volunteer...but i was able to find my bike before he did...i had scouted my tree...my helping find my bike branch...(good tip...spot something when you drop your bike that is not going to move as a reference)...and was running to the exit as quick as i could...past the mount line a bit...on my bike and out on the road...gave a yell...man i was excited to be on my bike...i even called out " i love my bike...woowoo"...i really do...not kidding...felt amazing to be riding through town...i giggled as i got aero about 100 yards out of transition...remembering Joe was making fun of me for being aero all the time...and i was off...

had issues as i did in IMAZ with a bubbly stomach...but i knew it was just swallowed air from the swim so i got it out of my system any way it wanted to go...knowing this time that it's just air...made me less worried about my system...i know that this is what happens...had some thoughts about asking Chrissie about breath control...then just settled in on the bike...

i can't even tell you how much of a blast i had on the bike...wooping it up with the crowd in town..totally enjoying the views out there in the hills...totally kicking ass on the hills...and smiling the whole way...caught up with Dustin s. Amy and etg out in the hills...tried to grab brad and Dustin b out there too but they were both just a few minutes in front of my out there...kept me pushing though :D

nutrition/hydration were perfect on the bike...i know that i have issues with getting solid (or even gummy) food in my system so i had enough in my liquids to keep my calories even...but that means i needed to be spot on as soon as i got running..i had no buffer there...that would prove rough...and i kinda knew that going in...so i was trying to get prepared...i knew this was going to be hard...but i tried and tried to get those shot blocks in and just couldn't...i bike with my mouth open...to breathe...because about 99% of the time my nose is stuffy when exercising...so...if i am chewing...i am not breathing...i would rather breathe really...

bike ended as it started...me with a huge smile on my face...8 minutes ahead of my super A goal on the bike...i was so happy!!...i actually felt a ton better this time around than in IMAZ...i really didn't want to get rid of my bike at all...we had a great ride...and well it was just time to move on

Bike: 6:07

T2:
found my bag just fine...and hopped into the tent...called out for a helper...there were plenty just hanging out...not many racing girls in the tent...avoided a few chairs that were used as port-a-potties...found a dry one and had my helper dump out my bag...she read my note card (believe that you can trust that you will -love Amy...thanks Amy!!!!!) and got me into my running shoes, handed me my nutrition and hat and i was on my way

T2: 2:43

Run:
well here comes the fun part...(lol)...i knew the run would be tough from the get go...no matter how fit you are its hard to start running after a 2.4 mile swim and a 112 mile bike ride...i was ready for it though...i had a plan (f-ing run) and was going to get through it...and make the best of it...i knew it was going to hurt...and it did...but i had a plan...mentally tough...mentally tough...

headed right out of transition on to the run...this is the part we had run in prep...i knew exactly how far it was...and knew that i was just treating this part as a bit of a warm up...hit the turn around...and a potty stop for just a second...i did a little trickle on the bike to have some relief (hi mom!! i know you love to hear this part :0 )...but was happy to finish the job out here...and got back to running...i was sipping my nutrition (4h45m in the bottle with shot blocks stashed in my pockets) and could feel that i was not AT ALL wanting to take it in...got out to what Chrissie called "the bulk of the run" and realized that i needed to do something quick or i was going to bonk hard...think think think....WTF can i do to get this nutrition down...i was grabbing water and hoping that i could alternate it with the bottle and that would be easier...no that didn't do it...ran up the hill at the other side of the turn around...and it finally dawned on me what to do...really if you have done and IM you know that feeling...you have no idea what is wrong or how to fix it..then a few hours after you are done you say...wow that was totally obvious...yeah...IM brain is what i like to call that....

here was the big huge amazing solution...wait for it....

ICE...

yes really...that is all it took...i found some ice...and had the brilliant idea to squirt my nutrition into the ice...i know i am so smart...there you go...i was sucking that stuff down like it was nobody's business after that...and lo and behold my run splits picked up...duh

i knew while i was out there that i was going to miss my reach goal...but i was really okay with that...i was still thrilled with my bike time...and stoked that i had figured out the key to my run nutrition (when you are out there it feels like you have won the lottery...everything is just SO much easier after that)

saw Amy (looking super strong and cheering for me...i think i tried to cheer for her...i was doing it in my head at least)...etg...cheered as much as i could...and saw the whole rest of the crowd...Miah...we exchanged words...(in a nice way)...Joe, Dustin and Dustin, Jennifer, Erin, Marissa, Cheryl, Matt (ass kicker! sub 11 that one...damn kids)...and then there was brad... :)

we played leap frog for the first part of the run...and then i saw Chrissie at one point coming through town...she said "he's 30 seconds up"...and well sorry brad it was all over at that point... :D i found him...passed him...encouraged him...and tried to keep him behind me...sometimes this is what you need to keep you in the game when you are reaching the upper miles of the run during an IM...thanks brad!! i owe you a beer...and Jill too for cheering for me...

so then...well i was having this race in my head...just moving forward...hit the 10k left mark....tried my best to pick it up...and run and run...and not get smashed by drunk spectators...waited and waited for the "finishers far left second loop keep right" volunteer...while i waited i was feeling the blisters on both little toes from having wet feet all day (one eventually fell off...my first!)

found that volunteer and was elated...saw Jim....tossed him my hand held bottle...(SOOOOO happy to be free from that thing) and ran free as a bear can on to Sherman...and could not wipe the smile off of my face...waved my arms to the crowd to get them to cheer me on more...hear a lot of "go GIRL" out there...(never have i been cheered on that much just for being female...23% women out there that day :)and totally soaked in my time running down Sherman...dudes decided to pass me there...and you know what...if they had that much left to pass me that fast at the end of the race...i knew they didn't leave it all out there...and you know what...i KNEW i had given that race my all...and i was PROUD of what i had done that day...and i am still proud of that race...i crossed that finish line...smiling with my arms in the air...STOKED to have a 9ish minute PR...but even more excited for the athlete i have become...and the JOY that racing gives me

(yes j i am crying as i write this... :P)

Post race:
found a few folks...Chrissie, Miah, Joe, Dustin b...had a massage...which was totally surreal...shared a space blanket with Miah...was totally dazed...saw etg cross...got a photo with her...yeah!...became totally freezing and walked back to our house alone in the dark...which was perfect...showered...bundled up...ate cheese free pizza with the house mates...and crashed...sort of...

very similar post race experiences...not being able to sleep...hungry at weird times (3am etc) up early the next day...all that good stuff...and well...that was race day...

i think i will have a post race post tomorrow...

race n stuff

2010-06-29T09:13:00.003-05:00

so i will write a proper race report when i get home...but yesterday ETG and i went down to the race expo for one last look at the finisher gear (nothing all _that_ great) and happened upon the posted results...

2097 people finished the race

i was 688 out of 2097

i was 20 out of 108 in my age group

so that made me happy...now...i hope my blisters on my toes get better soon...and my quads stop throbbing...but other than that i am a happy lil bear

and today...

2010-06-27T05:42:00.001-05:00

we race... :D

so far so good...

2010-06-25T23:35:00.002-05:00

CdA has been really amazing so far...lots of beautiful houses and yards with soft soft grass...great weather...laughs...nerves...more laughs...and lots and lots of eating...with a tiny bit of training thrown in...oh and lots of trips to the bathroom...mmm...hydration!!

i have been keeping my self in my realm of normalcy by taking over kitchen duties...whipping up grilled salmon and asparagus...to a dozen eggs scrambled...to orzo and peas...topped with some lovely grilled chicken...it has been fun and VERY relaxing to cook for our house full of IM athletes and sherpas...and it has been super great not to have to be eating out every meal every day...making my belly a happy beast...

workouts have been good too...day one was swim/run...glassy water and cool temps for the run...day 2 was swim/bike...not so glassy...more choppy making the swim a bit of a fight...but it's just a different style of swim...must remember that i am a strong swimmer...i need to put my head down and swim...and just keep moving forward...bike was amazing...super nice wheels (thanks again carrie)...and awesome views of the lake...

our major entertainment of the day was driving the bike course...didn't look like anything i have not done before in austin...so that was nice to see with my own eyes...though there were a couple of screaming down hills with some quick turn action that i will need to pay attention to...but wow...what a beautiful course...

now...off to bed to swim/run in the morning...cheer on my friends racing france and western states...and stay off my feet and try not to get nervous...it's almost game time...eeek!!!

Final Prep

2010-06-22T17:26:00.002-05:00

I'm in the process of my final preparations for Ironman #2...the bike is shipped, my bags are packed...flush out massage done...motivational note cards are being written (by me and others..thanks!) and the boarding pass is printed...now it's just travel and take it easy before the big day on sunday...

i'm really going though waves of nervousness and excitement but generally very calm at the moment...i am hoping to hold on to that as we approach the weekend...i have trained well and consistently...i have made gains and moved forward in my training and in my fitness...i have found much more balance with school/friends/husband/training this time around...so the whole process has just felt a little more relaxed. less stressful and more fun...and really just ready to take that fun though my IM day

Sure i have goals that i am scared to say out loud to many people...i'm drawing a blank as to what 58 degrees feels like (the lows here in ATx have been in the high 70's)...and what it's like to wear arm warmers...but i am also excited to overhear over confident/under trained dudes brag about past races...check out all the new IM gear at the expo...and relax in what i am told is a totally beautiful area of the country...

so i will hope to keep you all (the three of you) who read my blog..posted as to my adventures in Idaho...but if you want to catch me race day it's #2210 :) let's do this!!

for my pops

2010-06-20T21:55:00.002-05:00

today is father's day so this post goes out to me pops...

i really don't think i could be a few days out from my second ironman (with a little bit of confidence and a lot of will and mental strength) without my dad cheering me on from the sidelines since the age of 5...well probably before that too but i can't really remember much before then ! ...driving me 8 hours away to attend soccer camps and tournaments and generally (okay specifically!)telling me to follow the ball and get my head in the game...

thanks pop for all the encouragement along the way :D...can't wait to give you and mom a call a week from today after i cross that finish line for the second time!!

Here We Go...

2010-06-09T19:25:00.003-05:00

It is the beginning of taper...the rest that comes before the big race...and the time to really start ramping up the mental aspect of the training and preparation...this is when (even more than before) i begin to visualize each portion of the race...trying to walk through all of the steps mentally...in as much detail as i can...down to the lap of the chilly water on my feet...the smell of 2000 athletes in neoprene...the sound of the water against my ears...and perhaps earplugs...the sand on my toes as i get out of the swim...and on through the race...i literally close my eyes and try to "see" where i will be and feel how i want to feel....

feel strong, steady and solid up that middle section of hills, fast and fresh as i cruise through town...smell the freshness of the not so humid air...and even a little bit of a chill on my nose as i climb the hills for a second time...attending to my own race...chomping my shot blocks, sipping the liquid nutrition...calling for water at the hand up...rolling strong back into town and through transition...watching for a second as i hand off my bike...shouting my race number...

transitioning to the run...the feel of my hand held bottle on my arm...the lift of my knees as i run, the steady breathing pattern, the breeze off the lake...head up and lifted tall...shoulders relaxed as i move into the second loop of the run...reaching the turn on the hill...the lift as i am on that last 10k...the turn on to Sherman avenue...and...those final moments...where time cannot slow down enough...where you want to stop running and listen to all of those cheers...where all of those people (physically there and at home glued to computers) are screaming for you.....and you alone...no matter if they think you are crazy...amazing...or just plain weird...

i try as much as i can to imagine all of that as i sit in line at the grocery store, or hang out at the end of the lane during one of my last swim practices, or stretch after run practice...and if it feels this good visualizing...it is going to be _amazing_ on race day...

rookie :D

2010-05-12T21:56:00.003-05:00

in 2008 this was my very first triathlon...i did the race again in 2009 and improved my time by 2 minutes...and in 2010...i finally placed in my age group...third...but still...it's something...i was thrilled...i was even more thrilled to see the 7.09 minute pace on the two mile run...

it's these things that make me think that i am going to be okay on june 27th...(i hope)

A whole different weekend

2010-05-02T21:49:00.003-05:00

this was one of the most bitter sweet weekends...after my trials of training last weekend i felt some sweet sweet redemption this weekend...and one very bitter bit that was kind of like a cocoa nib in the frosting...not quite smooth...but still pretty tasty none the less...

friday: 8.30am exam...that i was more than ready for...not sure of the grade as of yet...(weird totally deja vous at the moment)...but was fully distracted by j hopping on a plane to sweden for 6 weeks...i know i missed at least two just for the distraction...hey...what is a girl to do...still more in love than the day we married...i can only be super thankful for that...so school then packet pick up for saturday's ride then work then farm pick up then home...to do much neglected cleaning...and a bit of egg shell waiting for the text at 2.47am letting me know my love was safely on land...

saturday: shiner ride...about 100 miles to shiner texas (where shiner bock is brewed)...point to point ride so i had to make sure i had someone to drive me home...logan offered...and as usually did not disappoint as a traveling companion...last year there was a head wind and some nasty weather...i made sure to pack my good luck smurf (that my bro gave me) in hope of good weather...and we totally got it...perfect tailwind most of the way there...my sad sad average last weekend turned in to a 97 mile ride with a 20+ mile-an-hour average...much redemption

i hammered hard...just to test a few things...testing actually taking in less calories on the bike...and kinda testing how really pushing the legs would feel the next day...had fun...dodged fuzzy caterpillars the whole way...and just enjoyed riding my bike (thanks to zane for my re-fit)...after pulling in at the brewery i showered, recovery drink, veggie burger, and fresh beer-ed until it was time to go...a super relaxing and nice time in the (allergy full) shade of an oak somewhere in the middle of texas...it was one of those just right afternoons...and i was good and didn't let homework get in the way...

fun fun ride home with logan...he kindly kept me hydrated...and showed me the sights on the way home...(uhm not often do you see a watermelon spitting arena)...got home early evening...ate as much as i could...and promptly slept like a lump...

sunday: 5am texas time...is about noon in sweden...did a skype chat with j...so so very nice to be able to see each other...something so much better about that than talking on the phone...he's got a cute apartment...and a bike and seems to be doing well...a huge sigh of relief from me...and he was happy that brownie cat didn't want to be anywhere other than in my face :D

the off to run with etg and amy b. 18 miles for me and etg..2h45m for amy...i put it out there that we could do 18 in 2.45 and i was right ;)...very solid run...felt strong and with it...and with my head in the game...again even though i had a good run last weekend...this just kind of solidified the fact that i _have_ been training up to this point and it really might be possible to do an ironman in 8 weeks...(crap!! 8 weeks!!!!)

you know...it feels really good to have had such a solid training weekend...with solid homework after being productive and grocery shopping...and having lauren over for sunday roast chicken...

sigh...feels good....thanks friends for that...i needed to feel that this weekend...

Galveston Race Report

2010-04-26T16:14:00.003-05:00

Swim: First of all the swim was actually going to happen (unlike the day before where the sprint and Olympic distance events turned in to du-athlons because the water was too rough)...so that was good...but it was to be my first ocean open water event...and not one that i was looking all that forward to...in the past few weeks i had been thinking a lot about the CdA swim...and how it can be rather unpredictable in terms of conditions...so i was a little focused on how my swim would go in galveston...

the wind was picking up at race start (7am) and my wave didn't get in the water to go until 8am...the wind had totally picked up by then and the water was rather choppy...but didn't look too bad from the dock...i stood on the edge of the dock for a second...and the jump was rather high...but jump i did...wow...hot and salty and brown..awesome...and well as i surfaced...much choppier than it looked on the dock...with this i was not all that pleased...swimming...well what ever it was over to the start line...i could feel my self getting a little nervous...the chop was over my head at times...then a lifeguard boat would zoom by with a triathlete on the back of it (always an unpleasant sight) and that didn't help matters...

i did manage to de-fog my goggles...get a clear and open space in the water at the front...and calm my self down...what really calmed me down was the voice of coach amy saying "put your head down and swim" and that is what i did...it was not pretty and for damn sure not my fastest...but i was a huge boost to be calm...collected and swimming the whole time...in rather rough and salty water...the first leg was ok because we were parallel to the chop but after the turn which put you on to the longest stretch of the swim the waves were hitting me head on...i only twice got a nose/mouth full of sea...and really tried to spit when i could just to get it out...yuck...i knew i wasn't going fast...but i was plodding along...finally made the last turn...and headed in to the shore...i managed to pass people in other waves and only got passed by a few caps from the wave behind me that went off 3 minutes after...

but i must say my biggest accomplishment was not freaking out...and getting through some of the roughest water i have ever been in...and there was no sea sickness either...i was very happy about that...not happy with the time...but i will take it

44.31

T1:

awesome wet suit strippers and cheering from Mo, michelle and others...thanks guys!...smooth fast transition...and i got a huge cheer from Chuck as i mounted the bike...thanks for being there chuck!!

2.47

Bike:

i just couldn't get it together on the bike...and that was really sad...my bike and i are usually really good friends...but on sunday we had a fight...before we even got out on the main road i launched my nutrition and had to stop and get it...note to self...time for new cages that don't launch bottles...got up onto the seawall and rode...head wind going out so i was really hoping for some help from the wind coming back...but that was not the case...anyway...was hitting 18ish on the way out...but started to feel my lower back complaining early on in the ride...the past few time i have been riding...especially the flat stuff...i have been getting some serious low back pain...so much so that i can't be in aero anymore after it starts...i kept forcing my self to get back down...but would eventually have to get back up and re adjust try and scoot around on the saddle to find somewhere i was not in this amount of pain...nothing was working for me...it was really tough to try and get in some hard cycling when i was grunting in pain...i managed to get my nutrition down...made the turn and was looking forward to some help from the wind...

no such luck there...the wind was exactly the same both was on the bike...no fair...we turned at 28...i started feeling a bit better as we approached mile 35/40...but what i had done was switch to a big big gear and stand up for about a minute and hammer...get in aero until i couldn't stand it anymore and repeat...finally i was hitting the 22s that i had wanted to see on the bike...so i did that the last 20ish miles...it was a real head game at that point...i knew that all my time goals we shot...and i was thinking about calling the bike shop as soon as i crossed the finish line to get booked for a fit asap...got in off the bike...and was very glad to be....

3:03

T2:
very uneventful t2

1:57

Run:

if you have ever done lonestar you know that the run is mind numbing...and that it was...4x3.275 mile loops around moody gardens...i just really wanted to focus on not loosing count of laps so i did a lot of "you are running lap two you are running lap two" in my head...

felt a little bloated/belchy coming off the bike...and of course felt all compressed in the lower back...but i tried to stand tall and find my stride...the T3 tent was right by run out...and so i would pass it 4 times on the run course...a good marker to count...ran comfortably out to mile one...looked at my split...it was 8.30something...i said well i have had a not so great swim and a very disappointing bike i might as well lay it all out here on the run...i felt really good on the run for 3 of 4 laps...there were lots of people out cheering ( a pro or two said some kind words) and lots of friends out cheering...again chuck and kristen, george and suzanne...lots of t3 peeps...and lots of blue on the course...

totally steady on the run...i was really happy at least one thing could go my way...4th loop i started getting a bit of the goose bumps...i had been carrying my hand held with nutrition and i was getting water at every stop...took 6 salt tabs on the run...but never stopped to pee...so...something was off there...goose bumps passed after i took the last salt and got down some more water...but i totally could feel the last lap was slower...logan gave me a shout as i came into the shoot and adam actually gave me a shout out over the PA...i was happy to be done...and happy with my run...

1.54
(my PR in the 13.1 is a 1.48 not attached to a tri so that made me smile)

this was not my best performance in the half distance...but i did learn a lot and feel like i accomplished a lot in this race...of course i am disappointed i didn't pr on a course known for such things...but i was able to swim in major salty chop, mentally overcome serious back pain on the bike...and pull out a pretty ok half marathon...

big shout out to my travel buddy ETG...always fun...and thanks for driving :D

again

yeah i know

2010-04-20T21:30:00.003-05:00

i suck at updating my blog...i thought i would be so good...but i really have no time...i'm busy...

here is what i do

m-f: workout-eat-school-eat-school-eat-work-workout-sleep
sat-sunday:eat-workout(extended sessions...last week 4.5h sat 3.75h sunday)-eat-eat-homework-eat-sleep

repeat... :D

recovery week

2010-03-11T21:15:00.001-06:00

am i training enough?

observations

2010-03-05T03:42:00.002-06:00

my observation of my little life this week...is that sometimes the anticipation is much more stressful than the actual execution...this week is a perfect example...i had a minor freak-out last friday just thinking about everything that i had to get done...but here we are at friday...and well...it hasn't been so bad...though i made sure to be very organized...and to do the things that popped in my head when they appeared and not put them off...(like pack workout bag with nutrition etc)...mostly it can and will all get done...like this freaking early 18 mile run...happy friday :D

uhm week 7...

2010-03-01T08:14:00.002-06:00

i can't even believe that i have been training for 7 weeks so far...seems like we just started...good week this week and a rockin' weekend...saturday ride started out COLD...but warmed up quickly and ended with sun and high 50's...had fun with the 70 miles...rode a new saddle or test rode i should say...and adamo...made a huge difference...it was a bit too wide in the nose so i am looking into if they have one that is a touch more narrow...but i am totally amazed how my body felt....open in the hips flat back and no lower back issues even on the long ride...felt much more like i was using my glutes to ride...in a good way...

sunday run was also good...15 in the books there...and i had fun...was ready to be done at the ends but never got to that really low point that happens sometimes when we start to go a little longer on the runs...i have been working on liquid nutrition for the run...this seems to be working for me...but we will see...good steady pace...no land speed records but i'm happy with it...

regular week training was good...no major issues thus far...think it's time for new running shoes...but have a lack of time this week to get to the shop for new ones...one more week on the nikes i guess...now...on to week 8!

busy!!!

2010-02-23T08:23:00.002-06:00

not going to be long...just wanted to recap the weekend...friday was long run day since lauren was moving and i wanted to go out saturday night....5.30 am 13 miler around campus...nice steady run chatting with logan...never felt too hard...but was happy to be done....quick shower and food then off to school...home at noon then off to the internship at whole foods..interning there four days...and one with meredith...yeah!...it was my first week at wh foods...nothing too exciting...but just getting to know people and figuring out where i fit in...

saturday ride was rosedale ride...weather was warmish and misty rain...started with the 20 mile loop just to be sure the rain didn't get worse...it didn't so we headed out to do the 45 miler...me and jim were out there together...fun to ride somewhere different....last 5 miles were tough....wind started to pick up and i was getting tired...

sushi and drinks out saturday...yum...and a little too much fun...but fun none the less...

training seems like it is going well...keeping a good focus on my daily nutrition...and recovery nutrition too...doing a behavior modification for a class and will be cutting sugar from my diet starting today...keeping the training foods the same but nothing in the daily diet with more than 10g sugars on the label or sugar (or any sweetener product) in the first 5 ingredients...we will see how that goes...

now off to study for a test...we!!

rather odd week...

2010-02-15T07:10:00.003-06:00

my poor mom has been getting hammered with snow...and my dad had been in arizona (getting his fair share of atypical AZ weather too)...and schools and everything else in the North had been canceled...so i did a lot of chatting with mom this week just to make sure she was able to get out of the house and that she still had power...thank goodness she could and did...

j flew from a conference in savannah to seattle for a meeting then back to austin mid-week...he hopped on a flight a day before the rest of his co-workers...and i bet he was glad (i know i was)about that...because everyone else got stuck in seattle until late friday...

i got a cold...and took one open water swim out of the workout schedule this week...and we were on a recovery week so hours were a bit less...that worked out really well...suffered through the sniffles but nothing too bad...great long ride and run this week...

got an internship on friday with Whole Foods...i will be working in there Quality Services department and in their Healthy Eating department doing a wide variety of nutrition related research and whatnot...i'm very excited about this opportunity...

so now i have two internships, school full time, ironman training, family, husband and two cats...oh yeah...and i have some friends out there somewhere too...i was just saying to j yesterday...i feel sometimes when i am not busy i don't do the things i need to do very well...like if i don't have too much to do i do everything lazily...weird...

ran the austin half marathon yesterday...and had a really great run....felt strong and solid the whole way...i started with the 3.50 marathon group (8.46 pace) just so i would not go out too fast...and so i could see how i was feeling....head cold is still hanging around but i am on the up and up...but you never know how this is going to hurt/help the run...toughed it out through the first 5k trying to get around the people who start way too far front for the pace they are going (read three groups of 2-3 walkers starting near the 3.40 pace group)

hit the turn down south first back into down town and started to open it up...i felt really good...and just hit a comfortable pace and stuck with it...it will be interesting to see my 5k splits...i never got bored on the course and kept thinking about how i felt running 3m a few weeks ago...i was struggling...and yesterday i was just having a blast...i really was running this as a training run...rather than trying to race it...so i guess having no expectations was good...

hit the turn for the half/full split and was still feeling strong...but this is where the hills really hit...one was just tough! my car needs to be in 2nd gear going up this hill...funny to run it :D...finished the race with a huge smile on my face....i just had so much fun...ended up running a 1.51 (3m a few weeks ago was 1.48)...with an 8.33 pace that never felt hard...i guess it helps that the day was just perfect...cool (33) ok cold to start....then sun and much warmer at the finish...

walked through got my shirt, medal and some chips and water...grabbed my dry clothes...put them on...hopped on my bike and was home by 9.15am...good way to start the day..

this week will mark some changes...mostly schedule stuff...we will see how it all goes down...

i have issues...

2010-02-08T19:33:00.002-06:00

still i have issues with perfectionism...lame i know...i was mad at myself this weekend because i got a 92 on a test when i probably could have done better...and was ticked for a bit that i missed a question on a quiz...because my brain wasn't functioning when i got to class this morning...just having an off morning i guess...and this all put me in a not great mood today...

but all was saved by a little run practice...got there a little early to get an extra warm up in...and really attacked the hills tonight...thinking well i can get this right...

i know...i need to relax...i try...really i try

week 4

2010-02-08T13:27:00.002-06:00

i can't even believe that we are a month into training so far...well my stomach can believe it...we are getting to the hungry phase of training :D

this past weekend was finally a good weather weekend...the week was a bit of a challenge since it just rained and rained and rained...and now is raining some more...saturday was a little chilly to start...but warmer than we have ridden in lately so that was nice...and by the end to the ride the sun was out...i had my gloves off and arm warmers off too...it was great...

i also had a really great ride...went out to do the dam loop (57 miles) with PLENTY of hills in the middle and end...(that picture really is the dam i rode over) well and beginning too...i wanted to push it on the hills to see what i had...man...it was fun...i get stronger and stronger each time i do this ride...i remember doing it at the beginning of IMAZ training and thinking that the hills never end...and this time around i was just cranking up them and pushing through...

i felt the burn seriously on the last big climb from mopac up southwest parkway to william cannon...always a tough one...and i had a rear brake rubbing my tire...which made the top of the hill even better :D

got through my first accounting assignment, got an a on my first nutrition test, and watched three movies intended for much younger age groups...did a nutrition analysis of my gluten free three days and had a dinner out with some friends at vino vino

also had a pretty good run on sunday...15 miles....10 on the road then some more on the trail...was pretty done by the end of it...my legs were tired...and like i said to ETG when we were out there...i just didn't have the same spring in my step when we got done...we were rewarded with great coffee and breakfast tacos after...

all in all a good week and weekend...but with a little something missing...don't worry...he's back home in a few days... :D

week 3

2010-02-01T21:24:00.003-06:00

so it was kind of a big week....monday was a baking class with peter reinheart (wrote bread baker's apprentice among other things) with amy and a few of her friends...so much fun...meeting the baker and having him match the him i had in my mind....always refreshing...

tuesday was tattoo day...it's big...and not done yet...but a work in progress to finish out my left arm...so far...i love my tattoo artist....scott ellis from triple crown on the east side...and i love the work...bamboo...panda bears...lotus flowers...puts a bit of a dent in my swim training (a week out of the pool) but all of this has been discussed with my coach and artist... :D

training has been going well despite the really cold weekend weather...i was able to borrow erin's computrainer and with carrie's help got it up and running for a three hour ride on the virtual 3d IMCDA course in the comfort of my guest room/tri crap area...sunday was 10-11 maybe 12ish miles on the town lake trail then out to the green belt for a cool down of trail running....a quick hi to mark and amy at the start of the town lake loop....too cold to stop and chat(sorry guys!)....like 30...and someone yelled "it's snowing" as we were finishing...ok a few flakes in the air...i would not consider that snowing...

hamstings were tight all week...post 3m half and track practice so i have been careful to roll...ice and heat when needed and when i can...

this week...test one...assignment one...things are going...

training week 2 review

2010-01-25T04:44:00.003-06:00

school week one and IMCdA training week two is in the books...and it was a good one...school is going to be a lot of fun this semester...i hooked up with three other girls in my nutrition education class that all are interested in sports nutrition and we are trying to do our presentation for Rogue Running...this friends is very exciting to be able to do a presentation that is actually meaningful for my future as a dietitian...very fun...

training was good as well...had my first spin that really knocked me on my butt...in a good way...swam a lot...and ran the 3M half marathon...i really had no goals for this race...i have not been doing any kind of run training since early october...and with the healing of my sprained foot (we are at week 11) i have not been pushing it to do three runs a week...the past two weeks were one hill/track workout and one long (sort of) run at a very conversational pace...

so not much expectation here for 3m...and really i wasn't even sure i could beat my time from 2 years ago....but i went out and ran it...and had fun...it was tough with the start being delayed almost an hour due to high winds knocking down road blocks...and shivering in the starting area with 5,000 other people...but was happy to run once it started...i found the 1.50 pace group very easily...and just hung out there...the pace was comfortably hard at points and comfortable at some points...and well hard at others :D ...overall it was a good race...as it was not my A race i didn't leave it all on the road but i didn't slack either...was surprised every time i saw someone i knew cheering out on the course...yeah thanks!

so i stuck with that group and i figured i would pick it up in the last 5k if i was feeling super great...i was not feeling super great but picked it up none the less...at mile 10 i had started to feel a blister developing on the ball of my foot...i could tell it was not going to be small...and for some reason i was really very HOT though most of the run...but we hit duval and i wanted to run faster...so i did...

saw a huge group of t3 peeps right at the turn to campus...yeah!...and was able to pass the 1.50 pace group...pushed it down the last 100 meters...and finished in 1.49.23 (8.21 pace) not bad i thought for not really running since october...i had to check my time from when i was marathon training two years ago and it was 1.48.58...i'm happy even though there was no pr...hitting with in 25 seconds of that time made me happy...

now the blister is huge and makes me walk funny...let's hope that heals fast

i like swimming...

2010-01-20T20:41:00.003-06:00

i have battled swim practice since IMAZ training...and this time around i have every intention of liking swim practice...and the more i do it the more i like it...and i think that spending 3.5 hours in the pool was helpful to me overcoming my swim practice angst...i really DO in all honesty LOVE swimming...but i am still only starting my third tri season of ACTUAL swim practice...thus not used to the practices like all those who grew up on swim team...i grew up swimming...but it was more about playing around than laps in the pool...so that is a good thing :D

in the process of developing my own breakfast cookie (ala erin baker's)....so far it's super delicious...but has too much fat (dang coconut), sodium, and needs more substance...so there is going to be a lot of tweaking...but for the moment i have some yummy cookie dough that is going to get baked and given away....ha!

saw coach amy at whole foods today...yeah!...and thought of a great topic for a PhD in Nutrition/physiology...the connection of injury to health/nutrition...yeah cool...

day 2 of school was good...two nutrition classes that are both going to be very useful...education/counseling and medical nutrition therapy (think nutrition and diabetes treatment)...tests start in two weeks...ha!

and so it begins...

2010-01-19T21:06:00.003-06:00

i guess we can go two ways with that title....today was the first day of the semester...so school has begun...accounting and advanced nutrition today...tomorrow is medical nutrition therapy and nutrition education and counseling

and today was the first workout where i could feel i was working harder than i have in a while...mo was calling out cadence numbers and at one point i just totally laughed...there was no way i could hold them...muscles (quads!)were burning...and i loved it...even though it was hard...i know it is worth it...

this morning's swim there was a 10x100 pull...i have decided i am no longer afraid of the pull...this is a good thing...and i am finally starting to keep up...mostly...swam with a great lane...we were without coach but found some workouts in the pump shed...i guess our am coach went to the other pool...we just changed days so it is understandable...it was packed though...

this does not mean that my arms don't feel like they are going to fall off...because they do....but i no longer want to get out of the pool when i see a pull set...oh and i got new goggles...i am hoping that i don't have raccoon eyes for the rest of the day from them...we will see

now...off to bed so i can get up and do it again...i really do like having a schedule :D

last week of break...

2010-01-17T19:33:00.002-06:00

so this is the last week of my fabulous winter break...it really has been a much needed mental refresh...i have been able to read over 10 books...get my two foot stack of back logged magazines down to just a few issues...go camping in the coldest weather i have ever been camping in...make some new recipes from said magazines and cookbooks...figure out my training schedule for the next six months....sign up for most of the races i will be doing in 2010....visit my parents for christmas in arizona (where i got a swim workout in on christmas day...how nice is that)...swim 10k in the pool (today!!)...get an appointment for a tattoo that i have wanted for three years...clean the house more than once....pet lots of cats...hang out with friends...take a lot of naps...and really just relax for the first time in a year...

while i have been frustrated (sorry j) that i had not been able to run at the pace and distance i had been in october...i have been able to get to some run practices and modify the workout a bit to make sure i am not hurting the foot i am supposed to be healing...(my pt says we are clear for 20 miles a week)...lately i have really been enjoying turning the pace down...and not being totally spent after a long run or track practice....now this does not mean that i am not working hard...believe me...i am...but i am working on my form more and keeping and holding it through the whole run...trying not to hunch forward...and just to relax and enjoy running...ETG and i ran our first "long" run of IMCdA training this friday....in the 50 degree rain at 5.45 in the morning...it was one of the best runs i have had in a long time...totally conversational...and really just a nice way to start the day...the trail around town lake was almost totally empty (there was a D. Ficker sighting!!!) and of course with great company...and a grapefruit/cranberry carboom...(omg soo good!!)

this last week of break is/was week one of IMCdA training...and i have successfully completed it...and it feels really good...today was the annual T3 100x100 in the pool...last year i was sad that i was not able to participate...so i was stoked when it fit into my schedule this week...and even more stoked that i was able to complete the distance...it is really just a challenge to see if i could do it...i tend to get bored with swim practice...but i did it...yeah 10k in the pool....6.2 mile...ha! makes that 2.4 mile swim for IM look easy...ok not really...

i have decided a few things about training this time around...and i am going to stick to them...i need to relax on my long runs...like i said before...it makes running so much more enjoyable...i'm not going to kill it every run practice either...i think this is going to help me not reach that point of fatigue where you just cry because you are so tired... :D and well i am going to be more diligent about my daily nutrition...and i am going to find a breakfast that works for mornings of the long stuff....carrie gave me a few erin bakers breakfast cookies...those were very yummy this weekend...i wonder if i can get them here in town somewhere...

so yeah great break...and great start to IM training for the second time around

Bandera Weekend

2010-01-10T18:06:00.003-06:00

about 6 months ago coach logan (the run coach for T3) said he was going to be camping at bandera for the weekend of his first 50k trail race...i was IN...i have not been camping since i really don't remember when and would be on break and not yet in training for IMCdA and thus free to drive around texas and watch people run in the woods...

as the weekend approached we found out that the low temps on friday and saturday were going to be in the single digits or low teens things were getting a little scary...not just for our camping plans but for the runners...there was a 25k a 50k and a 100k...with over 600 runners registered (the most they have ever had) well there is no way that 600 people were there racing...but those that did were challenged and well had a lot of fun (despite the weather) as far as i can tell...and thanks to logan's awesome pop-up and ETG's fabulous company (and a gas powered generator and a heater) we had a great weekend...

it was so nice to be out in a spot where you looked up and saw so many stars...even the 10 degree morning trip to the potty was worth that sky...and to see friends and coaches and mentors rock out a big trail race was worth a chilly nose...for a weekend without cell service or internet or even a shower...sometimes a break from all of that makes you realize what is really important...and it was a good way to clear my head and push the reset button on things before intensive training and the semester starts again...

mer and paul both placed in the top overall in the 50k (yeah!)...then mer went back out on the course to pace a 100k buddy to the win for the women...we saw the top two men come in racing the 100k in 9h and 15m about...and we saw the last person come in this morning....23h and 45 minutes after starting the race....running half of the race in the pitch dark and 15 degree night...more guts than i have for sure...

missed j and the kitties...but a super fun weekend...and tomorrow am we are in the training mode...and ready to focus on a sub 12 IM :D...we will see!!

mandatory end of year post

2009-12-31T17:24:00.002-06:00

so i have been neglecting the blog lately...and not for lack of things going on...but just because i haven't really much felt like writing things...just because it felt like too much of a chore to put down my book (fiction not text) or magazine....(mostly food and running/tri)....but here we are at the last day of the year and the mandatory end of year post is here...

this year was so fast i can't even believe it...part of that had to do with the full year of school including two sessions of summer school that were just madness with no break...i learned a ton... and made university honors in every semester so far that i have been at UT...got in to the internship program through UT that i really wanted...20 were accepted out of the 160 that applied...yeah...school was good this year...

tri and running stuff also was good...hit PRs in everything that i did this year...but was short of goal times in 70.3 and marathon...but that being said...this was only my second tri season and second attempt at the marathon distance...while not hitting goals is disappointing no matter how much you PR i still had great GREAT experiences racing...racing vineman 70.3 in CA was awesome...minus the 10 minute halt of racing due to a tree falling on an athlete about 8 miles in on the bike course...it was amazingly beautiful...and j and i getting to have dinner at the French Laundry after the race was a dream come true...(minus the overwhelming service it was perfect)...running the Chicago marathon with my cousin somewhere in that HUGE pack of runners with most of my mom's side of the family watching was also amazing....and making a goal for 2010 to get all of the fam at MCM :D...it was awesome to run with that many people no matter that i didn't hit my time...

j of course has done amazing things this year...too many for me to name them here but a reprint of one book and 2nd edition of that one and a new book contract...plus a million speaking engagements, conferences, travel and article publications along with editing a magazine...oh yeah and his full time job...he is utterly amazing...not only is he wicked smart and does all this stuff in his field...he rarely complains that i get up every weekend (well, and week day morning) well before sunrise to run bike swim etc...

if one thing could happen in 2010 it would be for things to slow down a little...i never knew that time could feel so fast...it is amazing...

lots of goals for racing to come...the big ones include IMCdA and MCM with lots of prep racing in between...course work will finish in 2010 as well...leaving just my internship and RD exam...so that will be a nice accomplishment too...

this down time for break has been really great and i hope to try and include more break time in the year to come...it is amazing what some sleep and lack of deadlines does...it's nice...

well happy 2010 to you all...may it be filled with lots of love and laughter and joy :D

lab results

2009-12-03T17:35:00.002-06:00

i have been posting a lot of food these days...and thanks to logan's whining i'm giving you a non food post...that is until tomorrow...so there..

had to go to the doctor just to get a check up, do some blood work and get my vaccinations started for my internship...i need one series that takes 6 months to complete so i thought i might as well start them now...

didn't like the place i had been going so i went to texas sports and family medicine...wow...overall a very good doctor experience...about a 30 second wait in the totally empty waiting room (as compared to a full waiting room of people coughing on me...and waiting 45 minutes) very nice nurses and doctors...and best of all (well after two shots uhm ouch...and blood taken) i got my lab results the next day...i am very happy with my cholesterol levels and everything else looks great too...sometimes it is just nice to know that the things i have been doing for my body pay off...

what is also really nice is that after i got the call they put my labs in the mail to me...i got them today...and i think it is so cool that i know how to read them...i learned this stuff in some of my classes...and wow...i remember and know what all these lines mean...makes me smile...

what also makes me smile is that i had my very last biochem class today...and other than the final i am fully done with all of my hard science...i have learned a lot...and finally feel like i am using my brain properly...and feel very accomplished....especially with this class...so i get tomorrow to play then it's study hard for a week with one final wednesday and one next saturday....i think i can manage...though it's hard to believe that i am actually going to get a break soon...and well...going to take full advantage of my vacation time...i hope :D

Day 5: T-Day

2009-11-27T22:09:00.003-06:00

started in the am with the traditional cran/orange muffins...then turkey and all the other stuff...which i don't even want to recall at the moment...i get (and am) full just thinking about it...

all outsourced tasks...soup, salad, pie and wine....were all amazing...i am very pleased with the cooking and wine picking out skills of my friends...

totally hilarious conversation about duck bill platypus...and kangaroo anatomy...and lessons in the pronunciation of aluminum...

great food, great time, great friends new and old...

and we had a fire...in the fire pit after dinner...i have no pictures of that to share...but it was warm and delightful

Day 4

2009-11-26T07:46:00.003-06:00

not too much to prep on wednesday...but i thought the naked bread was funny...cutting all the crusts off for the stuffing...and the cubes in a big bowl...turkey brine in a cooler with ice :) and a pie that i am hoping is really yummy...working on developing this recipe...we will see if anyone can tell the difference...i _might_ share the recipe...maybe...

thursday is the big day...eek! so exciting!

I LOVE THANKSGIVING!

Day 3

2009-11-24T12:59:00.003-06:00

today it's bread and getting the brine ingredients measured and the sweet potato mashed for the biscuits...and cleaning the house...finally a clean house...with clean floors...it has been way too long :)

my mom and i always talk about how when you are baking for just you and your buddy you can come out with an absolutely perfect pie...go and make the same thing for a dinner party and your crust cracks and the pie leaks all over the oven...this can apply to bread too...and this time...i am happy to say was not the case with my bread today...i cracked open the one that was smallest just to make sure it was acceptable...and if i do say so this is some darn good bread...and i could tell when i made it...the starter had never looked better....the stuffing (dressing whatever you want to call it) is going to be really good this year...i have a feeling

thanksgiving cooking day 2

2009-11-23T21:27:00.003-06:00

day one consisted of a huge pot of chicken broth and feeding starter...and day 1.5 was the chicken broth reduction and more starter feeding....1.75...starter feeding...today we got down to the heart of some things...cranberries x 2...one the traditional (in my house) cran/orange relish...and a new favorite cranberry ginger sauce...a cooked version....just as delicious on yogurt as it is on turkey...compound butter of sage, thyme and rosemary as well as beurre manie...to thicken the gravy...and of course...the bird came home today making it impossible to rest the 4 loaves of bread in the fridge overnight...but thanks to my tetris playing days it all fits...

dear alton brown....

2009-11-19T21:47:00.002-06:00

dear alton brown....

can i be you when i grow up..or maybe even just work as a "kitchen researcher"...i work really hard...and love food..and food science...and i sometimes...just go to the grocery store just to look...and a lot of the time i pick recipes that look really hard just because i think it's fun when recipes take multiple days to cook...and multiple set ups and more hands than i have...and words that only people who dig food would know...

anyway, i just wanted you to know that i really (even though i don't have cable...and well i don't really watch your show all that much because i don't have a lot of time...but when i do...i am all over those youtube episodes) love your show...and find that you are one of the only "modern" tv chefs that i can deal with...having grown up on Jacques and Julia...they taught me to cook...and now you....you are something that is hard to explain...peas in a pod you and me our love of good solid tasty food...that is not pretentious...just really about fresh and honest...you and me are a lot a like i think...i think we would get along...something of that nature...

just wanted to let you know...

thanks
xo
j

hip openers...

2009-11-18T07:42:00.003-06:00

i need to be doing hip opening yoga a lot more than i do...like every day...and should get a hip opener massage too...katie and i will discuss this monday...maybe i won't feel so tight if i do...guh...if it's not one thing...it's a million others...wish my body would cooperate

edit: half happy baby=good pose

uhm what happened to this year

2009-11-08T08:39:00.003-06:00

it is hard to believe that it's the second week in november...and i just ordered my turkey for thanksgiving and bought plane tickets for christmas break...and hard to believe that just a year ago i was getting ready to head out to arizona to compete in my first ironman...wow...

this week was pretty mellow...not too much school stress (a welcome break) and not training for anything in particular so i'm just going to workouts when i want...

though i found out that the nagging in my foot turned out to be a sprained ligament...which i did stepping off a stone on my front pathway...lame...it's mild...and phil the pt guru is ok if i run short three times a week...did that on thursday and it didn't feel all that great...so i'm going to wait to do more running until i get it taped...so this gives me real reason to take it easy...and focus on my bike and swim...

made it to my first spin and first long ride in awhile...it was beautiful out on saturday and i tried to hammer the 32 miles...could feel the burn on some of the hills out on bee caves...and it was nice to be back on the bike...i love my bike...

also got to swim friday morning with ETG...a birthday swim for her...and i got to draft off her...and get back in barton springs...always nice there...and with day light savings...it is light for part of the swim!

so since i procrastinated on my homework yesterday i must get back at it today...coming in to the home stretch here...and am getting really excited about that december break :)

the week in review

2009-11-01T18:18:00.003-06:00

after taking two weeks totally off from working out and not doing a thing but catching up with j and doing homework this week was getting back to business...i have made some goals...and decided a few things about training that i would like to do...

-increase running mileage...i think i just need to have more miles on my legs to feel strong at the finish...and to push like i want to push at the end of a race

-i'm going to run the marine corps marathon next october with my cousin... :) i think this means we are going to run a marathon a year and make our families come

-i'm going to run the austin half in february

-work on sport and me specific strength training...hip flexers...glutes...etc

-get back in the pool

so i am figuring out how i am going to do all of this but i started small but started so that is a good thing...yoga monday, core tuesday and thursday, a spin on wednesday and...ran saturday...the first run since chicago...short and sweet and totally awkward...but good none the less...and i ran again today...7 on the trail with some t3 peeps...tried to keep it brisk...felt great for most of it...tried to push a bit more on the last mile...and didn't have it...grr...need to do something about that...

other good stuff this week...i got into my internship program...had a nice meeting with my boss :)...went to see st. andrew's production of les mis...it was awesome...and i have had songs from it stuck in my head all week...

got a 92 on my biochem test...rocked it out...average was 72...i am _very_ excited about this...did a little dance when i saw that one!

had a great dinner to celebrate my internship program at enoteca with j and jennifer...and i got a cupcake (finally my post race cupcake!) which also signifies my return to proper nutrition post race...

still need to schedule my cooking time with amy...

and even started thinking about thanksgiving menu ideas...

lovely weekend...good end to a good week...love me some friends, family and this gorgeous weather...

Rest.

2009-10-24T07:25:00.003-05:00

Rest is something that has not been in my vocabulary since post IMAZ last November...and at the moment...it's my new favorite word...besides my forced time off last january from overuse injury...i have been training for something non stop...and i am really happy to say i have done nothing more difficult than ride my mtn. bike around my neighborhood and to school and back...and nothing that resembles a workout since running chicago...it has been really nice...i still feel some funky build up in my legs like when i stretch they are on the verge of cramping...but don't...so i'm not pushing my self to get back into a schedule quite yet...

it has been nice to not drive around to workouts after i get done with class for the day...somehow this always stresses me out...how am i going to get to spin and get my trainer set up blah blah before the workout starts...yeah it bugs me...so not feeling that has been really really nice...guess i need that mental break too...it makes my homework all seem that much more manageable when i am not training 18 hours a week...hmm funny how that works...

i have been cooking a bunch and well i love that so it has been great...indian lentils with butternut squash, 8 grain bread, spaghetti squash topped with marinara and baked (yum!), banana muffins, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, pasta with arugula, chicken, mushrooms and caramelized onions...yeah i have been having fun...

so this coming week i think i will pick some workouts and go to them...or not go to them if i don't want to...nice to have that option...and i will figure out my off season...register for classes...and hopefully find out about my internship (still holding out hope that it comes in the mail today)...and continue to embrace the rest

Chicago Marathon...race report/race weekend

2009-10-14T07:29:00.004-05:00

I arrived in Chicago on friday after class...direct flight...then hopped on the L to get to my hotel downtown...i love the train...really love it...it was easy to get to and fun to ride...and surprisingly empty at 5pm on a friday...hopped off at state/lake and walked the three blocks to my hotel...i had been texting with my cousin and we had planned to meet up to head to the expo after i dropped my bags at the hotel...

did just that...met at niketown on michigan ave...THE michigan ave... :) and hopped on a shuttle to the convention center where the expo was help...wow...massive, huge expo...never have i seen one that big...we grabbed our packets and shirts and walked around to get our fair share of free stuff...some free silk milk and greek yogurt...

my cousin found a sweet marathon fleece...i found a "will run for wine" t-shirt :)

back on the bus...and out to rosebuds for some wine and pasta...had a really fun dinner with jennifer and j.r....then it was off to bed...

my folks arrived in the morning on saturday...had a nice breakfast with them...then me, mom, dad, my cousin, his wife and my uncle all headed down to the race start to check things out...that is where the mandatory pre-race meltdown occurred...it was totally overwhelming...imagine the biggest race you have been in (besides ny) and times it at least by 5...wow...starting corrals for like a mile and a half...just huge...mom and coach amy (from afar) helped me pull it together...but still a little freaked out...but i guess that is part of the process...it is a part that i need to get better at handling...not too sure how but we will try the next time around...

back to the hotel to do some homework...i had a huge project due tuesday at 8am that i needed to work on...so i grabbed in and went to hang out with my folks...watched some golf, chatted and got some work done...totally the afternoon i needed to help my head...

saturday evening was a big family dinner at this really delicious italian place...got to see a bunch of family i have not seen in a long time...and got to see a few famous chicago spots on the walk there and back to the hotel...(there was a long line for rick bayless' restaurant at 4.30pm...cool to see)...hung out a bit with the fam at the hotel then off to bed by 9

slept ok but not great that night...lots of noise outside (everyone noticed that it was loud out there...of all the nights!)...got up at 4.45...coffee...oatmeal...try not to freak out...child's pose for a bit to breathe and calm myself down...then dressed and down to the lobby...oh...it just so happened to be 32 degrees...i have not been near temps like that since last January...yeah...i had on a lot of layers...

mom dad and i walked down to the race start...about a mile away...there were lots of other runners doing the same thing...starting to get exciting...hit the port-o-potties a couple times on the way there...no lines...still clean...was hoping to find a good spot in the corral where my folks could be close by...i wanted to keep my clothes on as long as possible...didn't want to spend my energy shivering...found a perfect spot...i could sit on the curb...mom and dad could be on the fence next to me...worked out great...hung out there for a bit...they made the announcement that the corrals were closing...we were getting close..shed some layers...tossed them to mom and dad...corrals closed...shed more layers...then people started hopping the fence...scaling a 6 foot chain link fence to get into the starting corral...because they were late...it was totally bizarre...not just one or two people...at least 15 or 20 right where we were standing...no regard for the people around them...weird...

shed the last of my layers and started to move towards the center of the corral...looking for some pacers...never found the signs...just the pace numbers on the backs of people...chatted with two girls next to me...glanced to my left...the guy next to me was going to the bathroom...right there...eww...national anthem...start of the wheelchair division...i was shivering...nervous, cold and excited...then we started moving...actually jogging...3/4 of the way up to the start line...then stopped...all the while dodging piles of clothing...shed my last layer...was down to shorts/t-shirt/gloves and regular hat...(turned out to be a perfect choice)...and we were off...

like usual...people were running like crazy out of the start...the whole going out too fast thing...will get you every time...it felt weird to be running in this huge crowd of people alone...i wasn't running with a friend or a group from my team...my cousin was out there somewhere...and a few other folks i knew...but really it was just me out there running my race...and i was ok with that...

it felt really good to just finally start running....it is the anticipation of the run or the race that kills me...thankfully i was just running...and that i did...i started with my gel flask and a little 8oz bottle of water so i could avoid the first few water stops...that worked well...

the crowds were amazing...the crowds of runners...where we had to shuffle around corners just because it was packed with people...the crowds on the sides of the streets three and four deep in most places...and the sights of really all of chicago...i was having fun...and so far running well...

i had planned on 8.40/high 8.30s for the first few miles just because of the people...i knew it would be tough to settle into my pace in these miles...and i did what i set out to do...though it was hard to see mile markers in the first few...i saw 2k split my watch and saw i was on target...after that i tried to settle in on 8.35s and take that through the half...the sun was shining and i was running well...saw my fam at mile 1...and then my folks somewhere about mile 12...still feeling good...hit the half at 1.52...right on target...now it was time to think about picking it up...and for some reason (looking at my results) this is the 5k that i slowed down? really not sure what was happening...i was not feeling bad at this point...i remember some rollers...but nothing major...lots of people...just running...but not fast enough (as i see my splits)...maybe i was happy with the half numbers and relaxed a little too much...hmm...don't know...

i started thinking pretty intently at this point about how i could make my goal time...i was trying to find 3.40 pacers and stick with them...but i never found the big group of them...i was stuck around the 3.50 people...at the 30k point i was able to pass them and that felt like a real mental breaktrough...i was excited...i was going to keep picking it up...and i was going to catch my pacers...then...well...i had to hit the bathroom...this was a huge blow...when i got out...i was again behind the 3.50 crowd...and couldn't get around them...grr...

hit 35k and realized (i think i knew it before this point but this is when i let myself realize it...my quads were pretty cramp-y...i had taken some salt tabs...but was not convinced that was going to help) i couldn't hit my goal time...so i decided to just run...run the best i could at that point...try to finish strong...and end up where i would end up...

ditched my gel flask at this point...somewhere around 38k and just ran...tried to enjoy what was around me...and kept saying it will hurt less if you run faster...i would for a bit then i would slow down...it will hurt less if you run faster...pick up...then back down again...was feeling slow at this point...feeling like there were a lot of people passing me...frustrated...but still happy to be almost there...almost done with my second marathon...saw a 3.40 pacer run by somewhere around here...she was hauling...there was no way i could have kept up with that...just kept running...trying to keep the quads in line...

even though i was getting passed by a lot of people i was happy that i was still moving...there were a lot of people on the side of the road stretching, walking trying to move...but just not able to...i was still moving...and kept that up...

so i was looking at the bright side during that last 5k...it was a total straight shot at this point...i was still running...and i was about to complete the chicago marathon...it was kind of nice to be able to get over my not hitting my goal time even before i was done running...or at least i was hoping that this was the case

turned a corner at mile 26...and there was a hill...i just laughed...it was a bridge overpass...but totally funny to run an almost completely flat course...and have a "hill" at mile 26...cruel...smiled and ran that last .2 to the finish...it is nice to finish with a smile...

not what i wanted...but still pretty good...

2009-10-12T07:14:00.002-05:00

race report will come later...but here are some stats...

Chicago Marathon 2009

42,000 participants
i finished 9111 over all
i was 2179 in the women
and 469 in my age group

about a nine minute pr

total time 3.52.55
solid...but still room for improvement :)

Then, you get to run..

2009-10-08T06:13:00.003-05:00

If you have been following along...you know that this week has been nothing short of insane...outline for a 15 minutes presentation, purchasing assignment that was way harder and more confusing than it ever should have been, an 8 day breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, a 15 day lunch menu (both menus with two entree options, starches, veggies, desserts add apps to the 8 day too) recipes for all of those items (yes, really) two tests, three quizzes, three...three hour labs...and three lab reports...on top of that an interview for admission in the coordinated program in dietetics at UT...where i will hopefully be doing my RD internship work...

everyone has been super supportive this week...and that friends is much appreciated...but the best was from my mom...we had been e-mailing about my crazy week...and she said something like when all this is over you get to run...yes! i get to run...a lot :D

i'm getting excited now...i think that i am finally seeing the light at the end of this long tunnel of homework...and getting excited about running in Chicago...and getting to see my family too!

now just a biochem test to get out of the way and we are ready to rock that marathon!

sauce...

2009-10-06T22:09:00.002-05:00

today i rescued the hollindaise sauce...we were making different sauces in lab...and then costing them to see if it was cheaper to make or to buy sauces...and a few other items...

my sauce was marinara...well...nothing special about that...but there was a team who was missing a partner and my team was asked to help...she was to make hollindaise...now...those of you who knew me in savannah...i used to make...12-16 pounds of clarified butter in to hollindaise sauce every sunday morning...by hand...so i have a little experience with this sauce...she...had no clue...

i stepped away to make sure my lab partner had not thrown marinara all over the floor...he had contained himself at this point so that was good...and when i got back the the sauce...it was broken and well on it's way to being ruined...but alas...super jess to the rescue...used some of my magic techniques and rescued the sauce...boom!...that felt good...chef Sharron would have been proud

Just so you know...

2009-10-05T12:04:00.000-05:00

I'm extremely nervous about Sunday...

Yeah!

mistaken identity

2009-09-26T17:19:00.004-05:00

j thought this was totally hilarious...i'm not so sure but i thought i would post any way....

so the other day about 7.30am i was in my rain jacket (green) and rain pants (black) on my bike on my way to school...on the road between my house and campus a car pulled up next to me and rolled down the window...first i thought they were going to ask me for directions...this has happened before...no big deal...no, that was not the case...here is the conversation as best i can remember....

Lady in car: why are you going away?

me: uh what?

lady: why are you riding away from school?

me: uh what do you mean?

lady: don't you go to the middle school down the street? why are you riding away from school...you should be going to school.

me: uh...i go to UT

lady: you don't go to the middle school that is the other way....are you sure you don't go there

me: uh yeah, i go to UT...

lady: (keeps talking then finally says) oh...and drives away

j can't stop laughing ... i'm not sure what i think...i mean...really...

running in the rain

2009-09-23T19:44:00.003-05:00

tonight was track night...and i was totally falling asleep reading biochem right before i left for practice...so needless to say i was not feeling super chipper...with the 61 degree weather, overcast and then rainy sky it was more like grab a quilt and curl up on the couch with a movie...but no...i went to run track...when i got there...about 5 minutes before the workout was to start it was just me and coach logan...i didn't think that many people were going to show up and in the end it just turned out to be a half dozen dudes and me...had a good solid workout...ran 2x2x2 (minutes) each one progressively faster...starting a 10k going down...even though my shins hurt (mildly) my glutes are sore (from crab walking at core class) my quad is tight (just cause it wants to be) and i am tired (well cause i do a lot of stuff) i still had a pretty good workout...felt like i could pick it up a bit when i wanted to but also did not have to kill it or rather my body didn't want me to kill it so i didn't

i had been feeling a lack of confidence in my running the past week (thanks ETG for helping me through that!) i seem to get the big dose of self doubt right before i start to taper for a race...i remember feeling this way about 5 weeks out from IMAZ...totally had no confidence that i could actually complete the race let alone make any of the goal times i had written down...well that turned out to be a silly worry...so i am hoping that this bout of doubt is the same thing...just a quick ego check to show me that hey...it could go either way so you best focus missy...and focus i will...

i have started to write up my race plan...figuring out the details of race weekend and race day nutrition and wondering if there is anyway i can get into the massage tent post race...and hoping to find a super restaurant to share with my family post race...

anyway...we are getting close...and i am getting the hang of my semester...and ducks are in their wee rows...or being herded there...

hopefully two weeks from this sunday...i will be running hard in a little light rain on the streets of the windy city...chanting for the red sox...

ha!

2009-09-17T22:46:00.002-05:00

i wanted cookies...but it was too late to bake...so i made a tiny batch of cookies dough...minus the eggs and baking powder..and well...ate it! don't tell ;o)

guilt...

2009-09-15T21:28:00.002-05:00

i'm not catholic...but i have a lot of guilt around a lot of things...like if i am working out, or eating/cooking dinner (any meal really), taking a break, watching a show on netflix or something...i'm feeling guilty that i should be studying...i know that one cannot study all hours in a day...as this is not productive...processing must happen at some point...but...i _still_ feel guilty...it's pesky...

let's take today for example...i was running a bit late after school because i was trying to cram in some studying...because i wasn't studying because i was in class...yes the class that i have a test in that i am studying for (get it??!!) so...i ended up getting home late...so i couldn't get to spin without rushing...so i got on the trainer and studied...yeah...

made/ate dinner...and took a break for an hour or so to watch a Lost on netflix...yes i am addicted...and never would have expected that i would like that show at all...and well...felt really bad the whole time...my brain saying "uhm you should be studying"...pesky brain...

don't even ask me what it is saying now...you don't want to know :| but hey i thought i should share my guilt :P

random update...

2009-09-05T18:10:00.002-05:00

so let's see...things have been happening...but nothing too insane on my end of things...just plugging along moving towards my goals little by little...

school, just finished the first full week...classes seem to be good so far...food service systems management is funny...only because we are learning what i used to do as a job...there are formal terms for things...but generally it makes me laugh to read all about planning menus and food cost analysis...thanks sharron and firefly for preparing me for this class...the lab for it is large scale food production...and some working in the school food service system...sweet!

community nutrition seems cool too...we are going out into the world of austin to volunteer and learn about food insecurity in the area...i volunteered at the east side community connection the other day...a good experience and a learning experience...and if i want to work in community nutrition ever i NEED to learn spanish...at least i know how to say peanut butter :)

biochem...my feeling for that class is still up in the air...the stuff we are learning i have learned in other classes...maybe not as in depth...but nothing is totally brand new so far...and it seems more conceptual than actual formula based calculations...that i am much better at...

my application for the coordinated program in dietetics is in...and i will be hearing in the next three weeks if i have been selected for an interview/need to get three letters of recommendation and move on to the next step in the selection process...it would be great if that happened...

training is going really well...and i am hoping to keep it that way...just before school started i had a bit of a shin issue...almost exactly what happened when i trained for austin with coach amy @ rogue (hi amy!!!) so i knew to stick to running the trail...writing the alphabet with my toes, icing, rolling, stretching...and massage...and well....it seems to have worked...i have felt nothing this week at all...makes me happy...ran 18 last sunday and doing 20 tomorrow...i think i will feel more prepared after running 20 tomorrow...i am hoping very much that it is a successful run...i need the confidence...since the last 20 miler i did was a long time ago... but i am generally faster than i was (even before vineman) and i am more focused and REALLY want to achieve my goal...not like i have never wanted to achieve any goal i have ever set for my self...i am really hungry for this one...like i was hungry for IMAZ...

what else...lots...but nothing...and that makes me happy...missing the fam...but gearing up to see them in october...at least a partial fam...thinking about finally having a little vacation between semesters...we will see...but for now...wish me luck on my run tomorrow...

and now...

2009-08-27T10:24:00.002-05:00

Yup...my fun 1.5 weeks of summer have come to an abrupt end...though i am hoping this semester is going to be a bit of a break (didn't i say this about my summer classes?!) ok well now i am really hoping this is the case...

so far classes seem good..i am taking

-community nutrition
-food service systems management
-food service systems management lab (the book for this is called "Food for Fifty")
-biochemistry
-nutritional sciences lab

i have had the first two on the list so far...today was my first day of food service...8am class...and our professor rolls in with coffee and hot chocolate for the class...and it was good coffee and i heard that the hot chocolate was yummy too...yeah, love nutrition classes

biochem this afternoon...and labs start next week...at least the pace will be a bit slower than the summer and that will be a relief...

i turned in my application for the coordinated program in dietetics today...this program allows me to intern through UT...doing rotations at different spots around town...and getting me prepared for my RD exam...i'm nervous...a lot of people apply...and there are not that many spots...i'm hoping for the best :D

now on to the reading that i have for classes tomorrow...back at it!

more baking!

2009-08-25T13:38:00.003-05:00

more baking..several dozen muffins seemed quite simple in comparison to yesterday's multi-step baking...funny how that goes!!

in two days i have used:
-18 eggs
-5 sticks of butter
-2 lb of sugar
-1 lb blueberries
-12 lemons
-lots of flour

Party Cake

2009-08-24T17:06:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Amy H!

-adapted perfect party cake from dori's baking from my home...
-lemon curd filling with lemon meringue butter cream and coconut topping

guess it stuck...

2009-08-19T13:10:00.003-05:00

found this photo today...i'm 4 in it...guess i liked to "exercise" then...dig the mickey mouse sweatbands

Sweet and Twisted

2009-08-16T16:15:00.004-05:00

Today was my first women only tri...i was going out to have fun and celebrate my being done with summer semester...and i had a great time...had a glass of wine and a cupcake after the race...i was a very happy girl..

2nd in age group...
7th overall :)

click...

2009-08-11T21:24:00.002-05:00

last tuesday night my two mile run off the bike made me feel so out of shape it was sad...i know that technically i am not out of shape but my legs just would not work for me...no turn over...very shuffle-y...no high knees or looking fast and strong...this week...well....something clicked coming off the bike tonight...i schooled that two miles...and it felt really good...at the moment...i am really liking my new training plan...it only lasts 10 weeks...but i like having a different goal...this reminds me how much i love running...and how helpful the swimming and the biking are to keeping my muscles flushed out and strong and ready to run...i have learned that there are things that i need to do to make my body ready to run 5-6 days a week...and i have actually been doing this stuff instead of doing it sometimes...feels good...and works...just a happy post about a happy workout...i will need it to look back on one day (soon) when it did not click...today i'll take it.

treat!

2009-08-10T12:19:00.002-05:00

when j and i lived in savannah...there was a fancy grocery that had gone in not long before we moved...i loved it there...more central market than whole foods...but it was the first place i could actually find ingredients for some of the more complicated recipes that i was playing around with...good Italian cured meats (for j)...baby artichokes and almond flour for me...

the one thing that totally got me every time i walked in the door was the price of the roses...6.99 a dozen...sometimes 2/$10...i loved having really brightly colored roses on the table...and loved watching them open...some would open beautifully...others would stay tight and just wilt...but it was always fun and always made me smile...i don't miss much about savannah but i missed those cheap roses...

i had to go to HEB on saturday...not my favorite place to get groceries but proximity to other stores made me do it...and at noon on saturday...mom always taught me NOT to go then...but...it was what needed to be done...i was not having a particularly pleasant time at the store..and i LOVE the grocery store...so when i turned and walked to the checkout past a display of relatively inexpensive roses...well i had to get some...and i am glad that i did...they have made me smile a lot in the few days that i have had them and they have opened so beautifully...

so while the world around me in texas is HOT and DRY...my roses are reminding me there is a time when it will be cooler...and things will bloom again...

Nutrition Experience

2009-08-05T20:10:00.003-05:00

as some of you may know...i'm interning this summer with Meredith...i have gained a lot of knowledge about private practice and what it is like to be an RD...Meredith has also given me the opportunity to do some nutrition writing...and that has been a total blast...i've written a piece or two for her monthly news letter that she sends out to lots and lots of people...and...this is the best...i got to write an article for Austin Runner magazine...and it just came out in this issue...for me this is very exciting...i am getting to write (something i love to do) about something i am really passionate about (nutrition)...and i am really excited that it makes me happy...what all this really means is...i have finally...finally...figured out that i am moving in the right direction by going back to school...and choosing the path of the dietitian...i love this stuff...and am totally jazzed to see it all happen :D wee!

summer semester wall

2009-07-30T16:31:00.002-05:00

so there is the wall in running...i'm not sure i have even encountered it...well maybe a knee high one...but TWICE i have experienced the summer semester wall...

once first session...and again...now...it's the wall where i want to throw my stuffed animals and stomp around my room in my stripey socks yelling "i don't wanna!!" i know i just need to gather up a little more strength and push through...just two weeks and a day...but at the moment...

i don't wanna!!!

wahoo

2009-07-29T19:05:00.002-05:00

on occasion i am able to get together with friends i met my first month in austin at rogue running marathon training...these guys have been so much fun to get to know...and train with and just keep in touch with...even though we are all doing different programs now...triathlon, trail running, road running, having kids etc...there is something that draws us together that i really like...we all trained for our first (ok maybe some not first) marathons together...that is something that i will never forget...a lot was on the edge of change for me at that time...and well i had finally started making decisions to become the person that i wanted to be...i was getting out of a not so great (rather down) spot in life..was moving to a new city and was training for a marathon...these guys mean a lot to me...even if they don't know it...ok they know now :)

...we need to hang out more...and well i need to make time to hang out more with people...i really like being a little social (early in the evening)...

so this evening i had the pleasure of getting together at our sometimes usual hangout...wahoo's fish tacos...yum...good food, beers (for some) and company...conversation is always easy...and well i wish that i didn't need to be studying the kidney tonight...but it makes the time that we do get together even better :)

thanks guys!

okra ...free association

2009-07-28T21:44:00.003-05:00

so j has this funny thing about free association...i will say something or he might...then 10 minutes later he's singing a song...that after a stint of 45 minutes...the same three lines or line starts to get...well...then it goes something like this..

me: OMG!!! stop singing (insert really terrible song here...tonight the theme from Weeds...yeah that song)

j: ok..ok...wait...why am i singing that song

me: because like 45 minutes ago i asked you _____ (something maybe very vaguely connected...tonight it was "can you bring me a box from work")

so long story long...here is my free association for the evening

cutting okra in the kitchen...making okra, zucchini, tomato saute to go with dinner...

me: mmm i love okra

me: yeah me too...maybe we will get more in the farm box this week

me: oh that would be great...we could make gumbo

me: gumbo...we would need file powder...we are out of that

me: yeah and chicken sausage...

me: i wonder what real gumbo tastes like...

me: yeah hard to believe we have never been to NOLA...we should go sometime...

me: yeah and find someone who makes gumbo with out butter or pork products or red meat of any kind..

...insert me day dreaming about driving to NOLA...on a vacation...with time that is not there...yeah so maybe gumbo this weekend...is it going to be less than 100 degrees??

raisin bran muffins

2009-07-27T14:13:00.004-05:00

i knew the minute i saw these muffins here i would be making them in the next day or two...thanks for returning my muffin pans Betsy...i was too stoked about this recipe...made them today as a study break...they are surprisingly light...and perfectly not too sweet...

if you like a good light bran muffin i would go with this one...though next time i will add more orange zest...they remind me of Appalachian trail cookies from sentient bean in Savannah...Liberty's secret recipe...i'm not giving that one away :P

detox.needed.now.

2009-07-26T22:13:00.005-05:00

this week has been all about a break for me...from some things that is...like my nutrition plan...lots of wine and cupcakes...a break from training...i think the most active thing i did was mow the grass (non-gas hand mower)and ride my bike to school...but unfortuantly no break from school...that is ok i don't know if i could have changed things that much and not freaked out completely...

today i just felt weird...like some one else entirely...i don't think my body likes not working out...and it's a good thing because tomorrow (monday) starts marathon training...and marathon training/racing nutrition plan...goodbye wine and cupcakes see ya in november...

and at the moment...i'm a little nervous of the goal i have set for my nutrition...but i know i can do it if i decide to...guess i just need to get through the first day as they say

cupcake detox...here we come

and please don't give me any even if i beg ;)

French Laundry...aka foodman

2009-07-24T18:47:00.002-05:00

i know that it has been almost a week since j and i had our meal at French Laundry and i have not said a word...well i have been trying to get my thoughts together and organize them into a cohesive post but i don't think i can really do that without just putting pen to paper so to speak...so here goes...

sunday after i relaxed for a bit by the pool...had a nap and j a massage...team mates started returning...Coach Chrissie had earned a spot at the 70.3 championships and stayed at the race to accept her spot...nice job coach!...so folks were returning and ben brought out the champagne and the celebration had begun...

it was really nice to sit around the pool and chat with the rest of the team and hear about their races...a lot of people had a tough day...some kicked butt...there was a whole range of races...and well, that was reassuring to me...this really was my first A race that i didn't achieve what i set out to do...i'm still processing...but i think i figured out my down fall...and well, we move on...

so after a few glasses of bubbly i was off to shower and pack up and head off to french laundry...chrissie gave me my spa treatment (scrubbing my race numbers off)...i showered off the day and put on my pretty blue dress...j and i had decided to say good bye to boon hotel and spend the night in san fran...not far from the airport (so our drive in the morning was 5 minutes rather than 2 hours)...so we said bye to the rest of the team and were off

the drive to French laundry was really gorgeous...we had a really nice time chatting and driving over the mountains...checking out vineyards and the sights of CA...and CIA west...wow that is a pretty campus...even though we drove about an hour and a half it was a lot of fun...and nice to see some of the spots where my favorite wines are grown...and made...

we arrived just before sunset...and found the pretty gardens that were across the street...they had little french laundry tags on them...very pretty...i was excited to eat what was growing there...j and i walked to the door and were greeted and went out to the courtyard to wait for our table to be ready...

the grounds were totally beautiful...roses and green green grass...there was one building that was the main spot...where all the tables were...like an old house...and two out buildings...one attached (the kitchen) and another that housed a rest room and several rooms that we couldn't figure out what they were...i guess private dining rooms of some sort...

about 10 minutes later we were brought in to the house...they took j's jacket and my sweater...and we went upstairs to our table...the first thing that we both noticed was that the tables were kind of crammed in the room...there was a 6-8 top three 4 tops and our 2 top crammed into a room that would have been more comfortable with 2 less tables...we got menus and the wine list...the wine list was maybe 30 pages long...couldn't even read the whole thing...read the first few pages...uh spendy to say the least...there was a half bottle for a grand...seriously...we found a (relatively) cheap half bottle of wine to split since we knew we were driving after dinner...

we checked out the menu...there were two options...both tasting menus and nine courses each..with a few options along the way...like choose between this and that for course 3 etc...one was a vegetable tasting...the other...not so veggie...the veggie one was not entirely veg...there was some lobster broth in there...but nothing over that...j got the meat option i the veg and we were resolved to share...well he would share with me :)

the food....well that was just fantastic...from the amuse bouche (a black pepper tuile filled with house made creme fresh topped with beet tar tare...j's with Scottish smoked salmon)...to the espresso...to the tiny diced melon...and peeled toy box tomato salad...eggplant confit...nectarine sorbet...uhm wow...my gnocchi was meltingly good...every vegetable was the most flavorful that i have ever tasted...white alpine strawberries with the cheese course tasted more like strawberries than the reddest one i have ever eaten...and the presentation was also super beautiful...the artistry of the knife work from the kitchen was fantastic...i think my favorite thing was something of j's...it was a lobster knuckle in a biriani curry with basmati rice...best Indian food ever :D

there was nothing about the food that could have been recreated...even if you studied the menu...there was just such perfect produce that you could not get anywhere else...just very perfect...and i was really impressed with the food...we were there 3 and a half hours (we were seated at nine pm) and actually had to hurry up the service since we needed to drive to SF...and hopefully before sunrise ;)

but there was something that i just couldn't put my finger on that was off about the meal...i thought that it was the four top that was across from us...two couples...it was very clear that one of the guys was trying to impress the other couple...i had thought it was his in-laws but it wasn't the in-laws...they were sitting the kid...(yes the tables were that close that we didn't even need to try to hear...oh and the wife of the trying to impress dude was having some GI issues...yeah...like we needed to know all this)...but j really nailed it the next night when we were home sitting on the porch...i was drinking cheap wine and he was having a tall boy of lone star...(love it)

the whole thing was inauthentic...the experience was manufactured...i feel like i have more of an experience at my neighborhood starbucks since each employee is a true human and does not speak from a script...the courses were timed for each table the same way...so much so that we wondered if there was a stop watch set in the kitchen for each table and course...each presented in exactly the same way...it was all very very much the same...what was really disheartening was that the waiters even asked each table the same questions to make small talk...seriously...it's strange...i think i would have liked it better if i had a story to tell that a waiter at the french laundry spilled an iced tea on me...or told me that they were working their way through school at the the Culinary Institute of America down the road...something to make it more real...more down to earth...

don't get me wrong...it was amazing to have the opportunity to eat such fantastic food at such a legendary restaurant that had launched so many chefs into stardom...and i would not change that for the world...it was just surprising that it was really cookie cutter...and forced...

oh yeah i forgot to mention my dessert...it was so cool...there was apple wood smoke trapped in a sphere of chocolate....best presentation ever...the server poured a warm sauce over the ball to release the smoke...very cool...and one last thing that was fantastic about this place was the kitchen...lots of windows...a flat screen live to per se in new york...and totally immaculate...loved it...

and no way around this...it was totally memorable...something i will not forget...thanks j and happy anniversary present to me :D

and with that...that is the race report for foodman

Vineman...the report

2009-07-20T19:34:00.004-05:00

i don't even know where to start this report...this summer has been a totally insane...i have not been able think much beyond school...so...leading up to this race has been less than ideal...it's not really the training it's more the mental training (that i really like) that i have not been able to do...so part of that brings less anxiety leading up to race morning...but there are drawbacks as well...so anyway that is the background for this...

i had a test friday after class...my prof was very cool...and let me take my test early...(thanks!) then j and i had a little time that afternoon to get ready to go...i had to pack still (so not like me...i usually do this a week before i go anywhere) and get my self together...decompress and think about my race plan...seriously...i really don't do this the day i leave...but my brain has been fried...totally...

so...our plane got in about 8.30 pm CA time...then we had a two hour drive to the hotel...would have been great and fun...but we were SO tired by that point we just wanted to be there...so we got to Boon about 11.45 and promptly crashed...

got up in the AM to grab a quick swim in the river...me and jeremiah got in and swam a bit then got out...back to boon and hooked up with chrissie and ben for a run up to the redwoods and back again...then it was time to grab packets and drop run gear, pick up bikes and do the pre-race thing...back to boon...and chrissie and i headed out to test the bikes...did a 20 minute (or so) ride...felt good...but a little stiff...

rest of the day was spent chillin around the pool...michelle came by to hang...then amy and etg stopped by and brought us dinner...(thanks for that!) then back to the room to get the race stuff together...still i was not nervous about this race...it's as if i was just going out for a big brick the next day...

got up about 5.30...made my breakfast...had some coffee...and was ready to go...chrissie, lory and i rode our bikes down to the start (half a mile from the hotel) transition was a mess...it was wicked disorganized by my standards...thanks austin race series....you make us jaded...found a spot on a rack..dudes were racked there (not the right spot for them..grr...) but hey what are you going to do...walked down to the beach...put on my wet suit...with some T3 peeps...then it was time to race...(it was nice not to sit around and stew before the race) got in the water...felt like there were a lot of people creeping in on my space...so the start was a bit of a mess...went off with the gun...was in the washing machine...i wasn't down...popped up and moved towards the line of big orange buoys and felt a lot better...then about 5 minutes later my goggles fogged and well i couldn't see anything that was not 15 feet in front of my face...so i just swam...it felt long...hit the turn...was breathing and saw that peeps around me were standing up and walking...weird...i swam faster then they did...so i swam...uneventful swim...out of the water about 36.00...not great but not bad...found my rack...got my stuff packed up (swim)...grabbed my bike and was off...found ETG...to drop my bag (thank you !!!) hopped on my bike and was off...

was odd that there was not any road closure on the bike course...very strange...but it was very pretty...first thing we road through was the Korbel vineyards...then to the first turn off...and about a mile later there was a crash...at the bottom of a hill so that was tough...momentum down...then up the hill you go...argh...about a mile later (ok maybe 5 or 8) there was a much more serious crash...i was about 50 people deep in a totally stopped pack of racers...there was a tree that had fallen on two riders on the course...screaming riders loaded into ambulances...very disconcerting...then the 100 people stopped behind the wreck were allowed to pass...we all tried to be careful but that many riders all at once is tough...we made it out ok...but it took a while for the course to clear out...i settled in to a good pace...nothing too aggressive...just riding well...

it was a weird race for me...i didn't really get into the bike until about mile 20...part of it was seeing those two crashes earlier...and well just getting settled in...saw matt on the ride...we played leap frog for a while...then i lost him somewhere in the town where T2 was...he took off...i didn't want to push it...made it in to town just under 3h on the bike...about a 19 average...good deal...

T2 was smooth and fast...saw jon on the way out (surprise)...turned away from the school...out on to a really hot and sunny run...i was already starting to get really hot in the first few miles...i kept on my plan...taking in my electrolytes...grabbing water and ice at aid stations trying to cool off...the hills were tough...and a lot of the folks i saw on the way back in didn't look all that happy...saw kevin teh and chrissie...they both looked happy...as i was about 5 miles in...they were headed back...at that point i was running by the sonoma airport..lots of planes taking off...and a good stretch of HOT road...got up the the la crema winery and was able to run through a mist station...and grab two cups of ice...that felt great...so at each aid station after i got as much ice in me as i could...in my tri-top, my hat, held some in my hands (your palms really help to regulate temp)...but could never get my temperature to come down...pushed on...my pace was not very happy...i felt really slow...and never found it on the run...i did run the whole way...pushed though those last few miles and finished with very wiggly legs in just under 2 for the run...9 minute miles average...no the 8.30 i was shooting for...but hey...

total time of 5.38...the goal was 5.30...and i am disappointed that i didn't hit it...trying to figure out if i went too hard on the bike...i never felt like i was really pushing it to hit the average i hit...nothing different than my training...or if it just was the heat that got to me...my legs mostly felt ok running...and the cardio was fine...so we learn and we move on to the next race...

jon and i had to take off pretty much as soon as i finished...he had an appointment back at the hotel...so put the bike with the tri bike guys and headed back to boon...hung out by the pool with a glass of wine after the race...took a nap on a lounge chair in the shade...great recovery for sure...

couples.tri.

2009-07-12T16:34:00.003-05:00

so kind of on a whim i decided to do couples tri today...it's a tri you do with a partner...you combine ages and combine finish times to compete for awards...

it's a big T3 team event...and a lot of fun to get out there and race with someone from the team...and we compete against each other as well as the general austin racing population...with a huge handicap i won the T3 team race with my partner last year...i never would have thought that possible...but hey it WAS a HUGE handicap...

this year i wasn't going to race...my "a" race of the season is next weekend and my bike got on the transport truck yesterday...so i was without a bike...but i made a proposition to erin...erin just raced Ironman and had signed up to race couples...the T3 team draws names out of a hat to see who gets partnered up...but i could tell she wasn't feeling like racing...so i suggested that i race for her...on her bike...and with her partner...but as my self...(no erin costume)

so yesterday we put my pedals on her bike and the race wheels...and well i tooled around the hood to see if i could ride it...it was fine and i figured it was 11 miles...so couldn't be too bad...

ended up having a great race...a 6 minute PR (i thought for some reason that it was 16 minutes...not sure what numbers i was thinking of)...good swim...i felt like i swam hard and needed to be in a swim start with people just to get the jitters out for next weekend...bike was good...i didn't push it cause it wasn't my bike...so i took it easy...and had a great run...felt really strong on the run and ran 7.40 miles for the 5k...and it was HOT out there...wow...

so not sure how we did in the team competition...but we did get first in the 80 and over age group (our combined ages)...it was my first podium finish at a tri...so that was fun...and now i know that i remember how to race...and am looking forward to that in a cooler climate...

feelin it

2009-07-07T09:09:00.002-05:00

i am really feeling tired these last few days...i think i am a little drained from the pace of summer class...i have today and tomorrow for lecture and thursday is a lecture exam and a lab exam...we get friday off...and second session starts monday...no rest i guess for me there...

since i am going to still be traveling on the 20th...i am taking my first exam for second session friday the 17th...so this weekend...i am going to be reading ahead in that class so that i know what the heck is going on for the exam...yikes...

i am looking forward to racing on the 19th but i feel like i can't even think about it yet...and i need to...i need to get an idea about how i want to race and how hard i am going to push...i have a time goal in mind...and i think that it is possible to do it...but i have not even looked at my pacing to see if i will be able to reach beyond that goal...

at the moment though my brain wants to shut down...and take a nap...

but alas it's time to get ready for class...

one good note about today...i finally got the guts to move up a swim lane...and i didn't get passed...i hung on...and will try again next time too...hope my other lane buddies are not mad...but it was time

and another...

2009-07-03T09:04:00.003-05:00

had another triathlon dream last night...

this must mean i need to get my race plan together for vineman...bike goes in sunday for a final tune up...and the training chart says "taper"...it feels like forever since i last raced...might get to do couples if i ever hear back from my partner from the T3 hat drawing...if not i might just race it myself just to get the cobwebs out...on erin's bike...since mine will be on the way to CA at that point...this is all still up in the air...but i think it would make me stop having whacked out dreams...where i am making my mom go and get my nutrition and running shoes...and etg is giving me a wetsuit...

dreams...

2009-07-02T07:21:00.001-05:00

i had a dream last night...that i was doing an ironman...and i forgot to do the bike portion...oops

Ironman II

2009-06-22T15:10:00.003-05:00

i have signed up for my second Ironman...it will be june 27th 2010 in coeur d'alene idaho...it's beautiful there...

it's nice to know what i will be doing in a year...at least race wise...

race weekend!

2009-06-18T05:18:00.002-05:00

i want to give a little love to all my team mates and friends racing this weekend...and yes that includes you jeremiah racing p-ville sprint :D not just those Ironman people...

you guys...it's going to be a great experience...you will have the best race that you can have on that day...just remember to soak it all in...

do team stuff when you want...but be alone when you want too..be safe...have fun...see you soon...as an Ironman!

cupcakes

2009-06-14T19:00:00.002-05:00

peanut butter banana cupcakes with chocolate ganache

lil update...

2009-06-14T16:54:00.003-05:00

so my mom informed me that i had not updated my blog in a while so...this one is for you mom :)

just finished my longest (distance) training weekend for vineman 70.3 in july...i felt strong...but now...tired...and not really wanting to be on my feet much...but that i guess is a given...came off a solid training week...just good solid hours putting hay in the barn as they say...had a tough yet rewarding track practice on wednesday...we did 1600, 1200, 800, 400, 400, 800, 1200, 1600...it was about 95 with a head wind on one side of the track and about 98 percent humidity...i was spent by the end of that workout...but felt good...my running has been progressing...or at least i feel like it has been since coming back from my over training hip issues...i don't hurt at all...and this makes me happy happy...

it has been great to get some solid hours in while a huge chunk of the team is in taper...they are kind of coasting in to Cd'A ironman...while i am really digging into the last segment of this training cycle...and again i get to be the last one out there completing my sets...just running longer...and that is fine with me...

did 70 on the bike saturday riding 360 out to parmer...out to leander or something...i find it funny that there are a lot of places that i won't drive but would be happy to ride my bike to...felt good out there on the bike...just wanted to hit a good solid ride and not feel spent by the time i had to hit those last three hills on 360...and well i think i accomplished what i set out to do...we had a head wind on the way back in...and that was tough...really slowed my pace a lot...but i had enough left in the tank to smoke the roadie who was trying to draft off me on the way up from the bridge towards westlake drive...ha!...

today was a 17 mile run that ended up being 18...but hey...it's ok...started around 6 at Barton springs...did the 35 loop on the trail to meet up with the group at the rock at 7.15...got there a little before i had expected to...and didn't want to stand around...so i took off on the 10 (and a half) mile loop on the road...but that darn hilly section of exposition...up shaol creek to 45th and alllll the way back down lamar...saw Elizabeth at the lamar/5th intersection :)and did that little section of the trail by the Y that goes under Cesar Chavez...back to the rock to fill my bottle...then back to Barton springs...the soak was my savior...had a great chat with chuck...good to catch up since we never see each other...

home to make some tacos, do a little work...work in the yard...laundry...baking...making a new cupcake today...just made up the recipe...we will see how it goes...it is a modified banana bread...with peanut butter...and will get some chocolate ganache on top...all inspired by the fact that i had some ganache in the freezer...if they turn out i will post a photo :) sunday cupcake reward rules!

The Classic

2009-06-08T15:44:00.002-05:00

What I did on my Summer Vacation

2009-06-05T15:13:00.003-05:00

well...it was a short and sweet vacation from school...so not a whole lot!...but some things have happened that are worth mentioning...

first, i survived my semester, completely mentally exhausted but managed to pull 5 A's and a B (let me tell you this was a B by half a point...and no there was no arguing that could have been done)...granting me University honors for the semester...yeah!

second, i took advantage of doing nothing (and trying really hard not to feel guilty about it) and napping when ever possible for more than ten minutes...

third, i have been baking a lot and actually saying yes to invitations for dinners, etc with friends...figure i better do that now...cause in 6 months i will be IM training again...i have decided to sign up for IMCd'A for 2010...let us cross fingers that i can sign up on-line

...saw the indigo girls with some great friends :D so fun!

...have been training hard and getting excited about Vineman...and the french laundry reservations we have for that evening...

...started my summer internship

...dug in the yard and moved some dirt with my new (to me) wheel barrow

and now i'm back to class...i started yesterday with anatomy and physiology I ...it's everyday with lab two days a week...we cover a semester in 5 weeks...eek...A&P II comes next...for the second half of the summer...even though this is crazy i don't think it will be anywhere near as stressful as last semester :)

happy summer!

track

2009-05-27T21:56:00.002-05:00

a month and a half ago i got back on the track (tentatively) after coming back from the over use injury to my left hip flexing muscles...it was mile repeat night...but coach being the nice coach that he is (sometimes ;0) gave me 5x800...don't go killing it he said...but i was excited to be back on the track...ran one...3.29 ok...i was ok with that...but then came the next four...there was no negative split...and this was the HARDEST track workout...it was taking everything i had to not fall off...but fall off i did...last one was somewhere about 3.39...ught...i was not happy...i remember being really upset and wondering what happened to my negative split...

tonight was a different story...the workout was 7x800...negative split the set...i did...i was so excited...and running the last one...kicking down the last 100 meters...felt good...felt not at all as hard as that first 800 that april evening...even if i thought it would take forever to get that feeling back...it didn't...and i'm going to enjoy it...now to get faster...

memorial day baking

2009-05-25T14:20:00.003-05:00

gluten free
mexican chocolate cup cakes

apple-cranberry crumb topped pie

matt's blueberry pie