Catching Up with Kelly

I've been running with Kelly twice a week for years. But since I've moved about 30 minutes away, we don't get to run together as often. But a hot running date with Kelly at 7am on a Saturday morning? I'm all over it. Here are some photos from our Saturday run. We run through Watercolor and then through one of those creepy neighborhoods where they have a few houses that are 80% done, have full infrastructure and even have lawn guys that still take care of it. Oh yeah, and it's been this way for about 3 years. If I was homeless, I know where I would go and stay!





So a good friend of mine is following her dreams. She quit her pretty high up white collar job and is moving to Coast Rica to be come a certified Outward Bound guide. I am so excited for her I can't stand it. But, I'm going to miss her. She is the one who pretty much got my hooked on this crazy ass sport that we are addicted to. So if you had the opportunity to follow your dreams, would you?

I'm not going to lie, I've always wanted to live on the beach, the opportunity was there so I jumped on it. My sister was offered a job for a year that moved her to South Korea a few weeks ago, and she jumped on that as well. All of the doors are there, we just need to decide which one we want to open up and walk through I guess :)

Oh yeah, the Weather Channel is in our area for the week. Usually when they are here, we tell them to go home. The last few times they where in the area it looked like this:




It's usually never good when the Weather Channel comes into your area. But thank goodness they are just here to 'enjoy the weather'.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Wet Suit Mess? I have the solution!

I've been really getting into the the track workouts lately. Lots of 400's and 800's - but does anyone else feel 'un-natural' running those short distances? When I run on the road - it feels so natural. Everything just flows. But on the track I feel like a freaking robot. Coach is promising I'm hitting the times spot on and my form is great - but still it feels funny. Thankfully he gave me the most amazing thing ever called 'the foam roller' or as I like to call it 'the man of my dreams'. I asked Mr. Foam Roller to merry me last night. But he just looked at me with a blank stare :)

We are still rocking out the open water swims. I feel so blessed to be able to drive a few minutes down the road and have a beach right there just waiting for me to jump in. Yesterday the surf was very rough, but we still got in a pretty stellar swim. Even a few spring breakers tried to jump in with us. Ha! Crazies.



Talking about cold water...I found this GREAT bag to store my wetsuit, both wet and dry:


(I know, the photos don't do much justice)
It's great because it holds not only my wetsuit - but my goggles, cap, towel, etc. I found it at a surf shop - but it's by a company calls SCS. Check it out of you are looking for a new 'non messy' wetsuit bag.

Random photos:
Best. Coffee. Maker. Ever.

And they are on sale at Target right now!

Also, a container of this seemed to fall into my cart the other day:

YUMMMM!!!

First race of the season is a week from today!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

Bike Vacation

After our ride this morning - Lisa's bike and the princess decided to take a vacation.





Started the day with a great ride - worked - and then ended the day with a chilly open water swim. It's 7:30 and I am ready to go to bed! :) Hope everyone had a great day!



Random thought -
Did anyone else not know that if you have Netflix - you can watch WEEDS and DEXTER right from your computer!?!? I know what I'll be watching next trainer ride!!

Really?

No words for this sweet store I saw today -



...yes, there is a store out there called 'tight wad'. Ha! And if you click on the photo to enlage it - you'll see an amazing unicorn blanket.

Just a bit windy....

Today the alarm went off at 5:30 - rain. Lots of rain. Back to sleep. Woke up leisurely and enjoyed my Sunday morning, planning on getting the first part of my brick done on the trainer. But the trainer? The rain has stopped so why not go out and enjoy the sunny weather? Oh yeah, because it's GUSTING 20-30mph. Awesome. But Jim, Karen, and myself decided to brave the hurricane like weather and ride outside.




At one point Karen and I had to actually get off of our bikes and walk them because the gusts where so strong we where blown into the shoulder. We looked at this ride as a character building ride :) But the way back - much better.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!!

If you live in the Tampa Area....

I know, I know. I've neglected the blog for the past week. Being on the road since Sunday for work - well, at the end of the day I zone out to some quality reality tv and fall asleep. Specially with time change! Not only did I lose an hour - I lost another hour because I was in the east coast time zone! Talk about confusing.

Anyway - I was heading home from St. Petersburg Beach - and guess what I came across??



Trouble! Thanks to KC at 140 Point 6 Miles I was introduced to this crack. But the store was awesome! They did have some IM stuff - but it is also a kick ass tri store. I was in there forever chatting with Hunter, the store owner, who was very awesome. He said to come by on Saturday for their grand opening because they are giving away an entry to a 70.3 event AND a full IM. WHAT!?!? Which one I ask? He came back with "anyone you want to do". Holy cow. So if you live in the Tampa - it might be worth your time to swing by the shop. Check out their site: Ironman360.com

Thankfully I didn't spend a years salary - but I did pick up this beauty:


I LOVE fun suits - and I could not pass this one up. BUT I don't know if I want to wear it until after IMFL. I don't want to be a 'poser' in other athletes eyes. But the suit is so awesome - I don't know if I can wait until NOVEMBER. Thoughts on this?

CHLOE'S EDIT - ok. I'm going to save the suit until after the race. I'm going to hang it on my fridge or over the TV - something like that. And I will use this as motoivation.



Random Photo:

Check out this sweet surfboard we found at a pawn store on the beach.

Yeah...I need a cab

...Did you not listen to the voicemail the first four times you called!?! THIS NUMBER IS NOT A TAXI SERVICE! Really? I guess before I got my new work/Iphone number, it was for a taxi. And people saved the number from the last time they visited the beach. But I've had this number for seven months now and have not been getting as many calls (actually, none at all) until spring break rolled into town. Every single one of those guys will be getting a wake up call shortly :)

I was pretty pumped about a track workout this morning - but this is what is going on outside right now:


So between people needing taxis and the now non existent early morning track workout - I've been up since 4. Guess I'll clean the floors.

Happy 311 Day everyone!

What do you watch?

Trainer ride morning - blah...4:15 alarm goes off and by 4:30 I am on the saddle. But sometimes is just has to be done to get the workout in. What do you do to entertain yourself while on the trainer? I typically find a season of something to get on nextflix. Something that I will get excited about and only allow myself to watch while on the bike. (I know, weird - but it keeps me going). Currently my dvd of choice is Weeds..ahhhh. I love that show. You just never know what is going to happen next. But I have also gotten into Dexter as well as True Blood.

What do you watch to get your ass excited about a trainer ride?

Random note - I'm going to have a product review up soon! Yeah good biking shorts!!

Off Roading

on our tri bikes. Yep. It happened again. The last time I rode with this crew on a Sunday we ended up shimming across a 'partial' bridge with our bikes. This weekend? Dirt/clay off roading. We had a few minor spills where the sand got deep, but thankfully we where only on this road for a mile of our 55 mile ride.

No sure what was going on with my camera on this shot


And we also ran into a pretty nice road closure as we cheered on the tail in of the runners coming in from a local half marathon:


So coach has me doing this 'out of the saddle' riding. Which sucks. Big time. Holy cow can i feel that goodness in my legs. It's no secret that cycling is my weakest of the swim/bike/run craziness. So I guess I'll have to get used to my butt not sitting on the saddle.

A new round of spring breakers came in this weekend. I'm off to the beach to see I can find any abondended beach chairs!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Sunshine

Very random post that has NOTHING to do with running, swimming, or biking. :)

Finally today Big J and I where able to take advantage of the wonderful weather we've been having...until Monday. When it's going to rain and be cold again. Today it was pretty darn cold - but the sun was out and the gulf was flat. So we went out and got after the Bull Reds. I'm not going to bitch too much about the cold weather...because it's going to be hot as well here soon enough.





And then there is the super creepy house...on an island...and there is no way to get into it.


Random stuff -

Who watches the bachelor? I'm not a huge fan - it's been off my realty show radar for quite awhile now so I really have no input. ANYWAY -I guess a girl from Panama City Beach has some very good dirt on this guy. It should be interesting to see how this all unfolds.

And in other random reality tv news - The Situation is going to be here for Spring Break! Fist pump. We will be sure to get all Jersey Shored out and stalk him down. We already have our spray tans on and outfits ready:

(this picture kind of stresses me out...do people really dress like this?!?!?)

No more random running

Kelly: "Hey Chloe, want to go on an 8 mile trail run Saturday morning and then have coffee?"

Old Chloe: "Sound good! See you there!"
New Chloe: "Let me check my schedule, I have to bike on Saturday"

I don't know about you guys, but the people I train with - I also thoroughly enjoy their company. We have a great time training on weekends, and then going for coffee after. Maybe a jump in the gulf if it's hot or go for a bloody mary if we're really feeling good.

Anyway, with this new thing that I have...called a coach...I don't have that freedom to randomly do whatever. It's ok, it is just a change I have to get used to!

I'm currently having Olympic withdrawals. Yesterday at 7pm - I automatically turned to NBC to watch some more curling. Yes, I got hooked on that game. It reminds me of a game that if I played - I would get better with every glass of wine consumed. So cheers to curling. I will find a team to join in the Panama City Beach area. But not until after lent.

On that note - oh I miss my wine. Big time. Thankfully there is none in the house, or else I would be in trouble. It's been two weeks - if I can make it this far, I can make it until easter. But easter no doubt will be a wine and beach day. (Yes, I'm already planning)

In honor of the Olympics, I would like to give a shout out to two of my fave athletes:

First - Julia "save the drama for your mamma" Mancuso. I think she is awesome and an amazing skier. She was labeled 'the under dog' compared to a certain someone on her team - but totally rocked out in her tiera.


Second - Bode Miller. Just because he's awesome. And made a killer come back. Oh yeah, and he's hot.



Hope everyone is having a great week - and if anyone is interested in starting a curling team, let me know. I'm in....after lent. :)