Wednesday, June 30, 2010

I'm still here!

Sorry for the delay in posts! I've been 'burning the candle at both ends' for the past week. Work responsabilities last weds - Saturday have really held me back on my normal 9 hours of sleep which has been killing me this week. Thankfully, this does not happen too often, but when it does I'm like a freaking trainwreck. Sleep is so important to this girl. :) I was at a convention in Orlando for work - and I don't know if anyone has ever been to the Orlando Marriott World Center, but it's like a city. HUGE. And being the good marketing rep that I am, heels where very important to every outfit. Needless to say, on Saturday my feet hurt worse then after running a marathon. No blisters (I made sure of that..thank you Dr. Scholl's) but just sore.

In other news - our beaches are still 'kind of' clean I guess. It's still hit or miss with the oil. Pensacola Beach was hit pretty bad last week (as I'm sure most of you have seen on the news) but the currents and wind have been working in our favor over here in Panama City Beach.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Hoo Ha Product Review

So our beaches are still clean in Panama City Beach, well, most of them. Big J did not have an afternoon trip booked - so we had a fishing date. I could not think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon. It was hot, but there was a great breeze keeping us cool.
*Just a side note - I know I've been talking about the oil quite a bit, but it's a pretty big deal for us. And everyone else on the gulf*
Here are a few photos:

Yumm...Red Snapper!

Jason looking smoking hot

Earnie rocking out the Spanish Mackerel

Perfect waters of PCB

So let me tell you how excited I was to open the mail box yesterday and find a bunch of these:

Ahh...the Hoo Ha! Perfect timing for my long ass brick I had on the schedule for today. I was so excited about trying this product out - that I had a dream last night that I left the house with out it! Anyway - today a bunch of the local roadies put together a ride about the same distance I needed. I'm not sure about the roadies in your area, but ours push it to the next level of speed. One of these days I would love to keep up with them, but right now not so much. Spcially since I ran 13 miles yesterday morning.

So Burk joined me with the roadies and we got in a great 55ish miles ride with a TON of hills. I say 'joined' the roadies - we saw them a few times. But with the excitement of seeing how the Hoo Ha would work - I just wanted to get a good ride in. And let me tell you how good it was. This stuff is amazing. The texture, smell, and how good I felt at the end of the ride just put a huge ass grin on my face. I've used several chamois creams, and this by far is the one I am going to use from now on.

So ladies, if you ever have that riding 'discomfort' (which you know you do!) try out the Hoo Ha Ride Glide. It's all natural, developed by women for women, has a nice and refreshing smell, and will keep you going when before you where ready to hop off of that bike.

Anyway, after my totally enjoyable ride, Burk and I had a 5ish mile run. Hot and tired, I was ready to get home:


Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Veggie Smoothie

Do you eat enough veggies? I'm SURE that I don't. With work and traveling as much as I do, finding a 'healthy' salad quick can be challenging at times. So what is the best and easiest way to get your veggies in? Veggie smoothie. I came across this a few weeks ago and love it. I can feel the difference, specially in the morning when I have it for breakfast. It's fast, simple, and very good.

This is what I start with:


Spinach, purple cabbage and carrots as the 'base' veggies. But you can use whatever you want. About a cup of almond milk - or you can use soy. And then fruits of choice. Right now it's strawberries and blue berries for me since they are in season.


I usually add the veggies and almond milk first and blend while I cut up the fruit

And once you add the fruit - I throw in some ice as well:

I know the color is not very appetizing - but it tastes awesome and it will make you feel awesome. ENJOY!

Random photo:
I was getting my toes down the other day and saw this:

Way to go disney. Hit every market.

Also - has anyone else seen the new Lady Gaga video? I did for the first time this morning - and it totally weirded me out.

Good luck to everyone who is racing this weekend!!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Chloe + Heat and Humidity = Love

That is what I keep on telling myself. It's been hot hot hot here. This morning I had a pretty killer brick that I decided to knock out by myself. There where a ton of great group rides today - but I know myself way too well. If I bike with a group, I will not run after. Plus I needed to start REALLY early so that I could be finished no later then 9:30 and melt to the sidewalk.

Here is what the FJ read this morning when I left:

I decided to make the 30 minute drive to Seaside to do this brick for many reasons. The top ones being:
The views from the bike:


The Trail run after (sorry, no photos) with nice, cold water fountains scattered throughout along with shaded trails for about 1/2 of the run. There is also an amazing farmers market where I was able to pick up some amazing food.

I know I've talked about Seaside before - but it's a 'high end' beach area. So after I finished my 4+ hour brick I decided to hang out in the shade for a few moments. With the large amount of tourists in the area, some odd looks where thrown my way. Whatever - I got in a killer workout and felt awesome. And I sweat alot:


But even with the heat - I felt amazing. My body is finally getting used to it and I'm really working on nailing my nutrition/hydration for these long training days - which are only going to get longer. Thank goodness for Hammer Endurolytes and Heed. To be honest, I was really nervous about the 6 mile run today after my 3+ish hour ride today. The ride just felt too good and I thought that feeling would go down the toilet once I started to run. But once I got going - a huge grin came across my face and I knew I would actually enjoy hitting the trails.

For those of you who have a Publix Grocery Store in your area - they have Gatorade on sale - 15 for $10!!

DON'T FORGET! Clearwater 70.3 will be on NBC tomorrow (Sunday) at 3pm Central Time! Clear your schedules or set your DVR!

Oil Spill Update:
Bay County's first tangible landfall from the Deepwater Horizon accident is not tar balls or oil plumes. Instead, it was a suspected piece of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded and sank off the coast of Louisiana in April.

According to U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Steve Caskey, a tank weighing 5,000 pounds with a 550-gallon capacity washed ashore near 14th Street and Front Beach Road in Laguna Beach.

Well, at least it's not oil. :)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Hoooo Ha!

The ear is FINALLY better! So on tap today was an easy run and a swim. I thought long and hard about going to the pool or the gulf. .01 seconds later I opted for the open water swim. I'm not sure why I always get strange looks when I go to the beach to swim. Could it be the swim cap? Or possibly that I have on a pink two piece that says 'YIKES' on the butt? But the beach was perfect, flat, and clear today and I got in an amazing workout.





But I'm not going to lie. I know I've mentioned this before - but I am absolutely terrified of dolphins. Specially when I'm swimming....on their turf. I know they will not hurt me and they are just doing their thing, but I do not want to be close to them. Well, today they decided to hang out by me for a few minutes. I literally thought I was going to cry. But I figured if I just kept on going, they would get bored. Which they did. Thank goodness. Dolphins. I'm sure I'll have nightmares tonight.

Anyway - Judi from Miles of Madness RAVED about this amazing product for us female cyclists:

Yes, it's called Hoo Ha Ride Glide. I am SO excited to try this little bit of heaven out. FINALLY some riding cream that is made specifically for women...and not just for balls. And the best part? I sent them an e-mail and free samples are heading my way!! I will no doubt give you guys a product review. Check out their SITE

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!!!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

How old am I again?

Friday morning I got in an excellent run and then towards the end of the day, I felt it coming on. The feeling...you know it's coming. I was crossing my fingers - hoping it was not true. But there was no doubt. It was an ear infection. Ugh.

Saturday morning I woke up and was suppose to do a 2 mile open water swim - well, that was not going to happen. But the double red flags (for those of you who don't know what that means - don't get in or else you will drown) did not let anyone get in and swim. So we hopped on our bikes and got in a 'welcome to hell' hot and humid three hour ride. Right after that I made a bee line to my dr's office - thank goodness he is open on Saturday.

This is not the most organized office - and doc like to chat. But with luck, I was the ONLY person in the waiting room. Awesome. He looked in my ears - yep. Just what I thought.
Doc: "How painful is it?"
Me: "Not too bad"
Doc: "Yet"
So we wrote me my scrips and I headed over to get them filled.
Pharmacist: "It will be about 10 min"
10 min my ass. Make it more like an hour. By about the 45 min mark, she could tell that I was dying of pain. So she pushed my drops past a bunch of old people's refills (who acted like they owned the place) and I finally made it home.

*Small rant - I have the highest respect for people who are older then me. But come on. Don't argue with Pharmicist when I get my ear drops first. I know you're blood pressure medicine is very important, but don't give me the stink eye when I'm in freaking tears, smell like hell, and can barely move my head.*


This is how bad it was. I did not even hit the shower. Drops in and I'm passed out on the couch. Riding clothes and all. Thankfully, I thought it would be a good idea to throw down some towels before I hit the couch.

But I was like this the rest of the day:


I'm better now - but man I hate ear infections. I used to get them all of the time when I was younger back in the three swim practices a day times. But I don't remember ever being in this much pain!

Hope everyone had a better weekend then I did!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Some things that I LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Getting back into the good mood/happy natured person that I am 99.9% of the time, I want to throw out some photos of things that I LOVE:

Wonderful smelling, fresh, home grown flowers that I carried in my best friends wedding:


The pool in the morning when I'm the first one there:


Receiving surprise packages in the mail from wonderful people whom I have never met in person. Sue, thank you so much for the amazing care package! I have that shirt on now!

*And if you like that shirt, check out this web site peacewithin - Rebecca has some amazing stuff!*

Fresh, home grown, watermelon after a kick ass workout:

*how about that bike grease on my leg? somehow I ALWAYS end up with some somewhere on me*

Wonderful, amazing people that I am luck enough to have as my friends:




The Princess - I know she will always be there for me!



My family:




Where I live:




I hope everyone has a great weekend and good luck to everyone who is racing!!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Reality.

I know this blog is suppose to be about triathlons, running, etc. But I just want to share these photos. Most of my 101 (HOLY COW!) followers are from all around the world - and I just want to show some photos about what is going on in the LA coast, and is inching it's way to my back yard:






I can't even express my feelings right now. Jason and I are just a mess. And do you know what the worst part is? They have not even stopped the 1000's of gallons flowing out every day into our beautiful Gulf of Mexico. I'm not trying to force anything - I just want to make people aware. We can't even watch the news anymore. It just seems like alot of bull shit to make everyone feel better. Well, this is not a lifetime movie. This is real life. I am trying my best to keep my spirits up. But it's so freaking hard...not only for me. But for everyone who lives on the gulf coast.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

View from the beach...

Here are a few views from the beach on Monday morning -




Yep- that awesome guy was passed out. With a beer in his hand.

No Oil Yet.

So today it finally happened. It's been a very very long time since I've pushed myself over the limit while training. And today happened to be the day. I met coach at the track around 5:45 this morning(Man I love having a local coach)for a whooping on the track. Track workouts are always a mental challenge for me. I know I'm going to work my ass and sweat like crazy, but they make me faster so it's worth the pain! On tap today - mile repeats. Fist pump. After the 2nd sub seven 1600 I puked. Whoohoo! But my running is feeling strong and after that minor set back - I was back on the track for some more pain. Bring it on big circle, I'm ready for you.

So - I need a good motivation book. I don't want the only thing holding me back with my races to be my brain. Any suggestions?

Happy hump day!!