Running with a bottle of wine.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Not Triathlon Related!!
Ok. I have to talk about this great product. I know you've all seen this 'informational' about the clip that holds your bra straps back when you have one of those crazy strappy tops on. Well - my sister found something close to that at the FREAKING $1 STORE yesterday. Best purchase ever. I HATE wearing strapless bras, and this totally solves the problem for most tops. Get it. Well worth the $5!!
Squids, Flashing, New Shorts, and Rock of Love!!
This past week has been pretty uneventful. Work, train, work, train...so on. But Jason did learn a new skill. Squid fishing. I know - sounds kind of gross. Which actually it is. Squids gross me out - kine of like jelly fish. But they are really cool to look at. Anyway - Jason heard a rumor about a certain spot to throw a cast net and pull in some of these lovely little critters. Needless to say - we had fresh calamari! OMG. It was wonderful. How knew that something that looks like this.....
Could turn into a wonderful treat that looks like this..
When I first started dating Jason - a friend of mine called him 'Salty'. He surfs, fishes, and can turn anything he catches into a wonderful dinner. And I like to drink wine and watch him cook. Pretty darn good couple :)
Yesterday we had another Ride/Run brick up in Bruce. According to my 'spring break license plate review' I think Wisconsin and the university of Auburn are on break this week. The weater was kind of 'iffy' but we said screw it. If it rains, we get wet :) But no rain issues, the temp was perfect and we had a great group show up. So the 50 miler was a great ride and then run felt awesome. I know I say this every time - but for riding less then a year, the rides are starting to feel better and stronger every time we go out for a long ride. I've also been working on my nutrition on the bike as well.
Anyway - some random notes about the ride. Awful car accident. We're not sure what happened, we caught the tail in of the clean up. The cars where smashed and all of the airbags where deployed. A one of the riders husbands drove by shortly after it happened and said that there was stuff everywhere and white sheets where out. Which is never good. Thoughts and prayers are with the spring breakers friends and family. Drive safely everyone!!
On a lighter note - some people where so excited about Panama City Beach, that they just could not keep their shirts on. Man. I hate it when that happens. Ha! Crazies! I guess they are training for the wet T-shirt contest!
Grandma was not paying attention - and almost took out four of us by driving in our side of the lane! Crazy Grandma! If you can't see - you really should not be driving!!
One final note about the ride - I have some new Craft tri shorts! Whoohoo! A bit more padding in the middle area then the Zoots that I have been wearing. So the 'girly bits' where pretty happy on the ride yesterday!
Picture after the ride. My eyes look like I've smoked a few pounds of the green!!
It's Sunday! Guess what is on tonight? Rock of Love Bus! This one is gonig to be awesome. Hello? They are brining in the Ex's! YES!! Drama! You know - my life is pretty drama free. So that is probably why I get sucked into these crazy shows! There is also some new show on after which I'm probably going to be addictied to as well. Ahh. I love Sunday night TB!
New Orleans is knocking on my door! I'm getting so excited! It's going to be so much fun!!! I'll start talking more about that with in the next few weeks!!
Could turn into a wonderful treat that looks like this..
When I first started dating Jason - a friend of mine called him 'Salty'. He surfs, fishes, and can turn anything he catches into a wonderful dinner. And I like to drink wine and watch him cook. Pretty darn good couple :)
Yesterday we had another Ride/Run brick up in Bruce. According to my 'spring break license plate review' I think Wisconsin and the university of Auburn are on break this week. The weater was kind of 'iffy' but we said screw it. If it rains, we get wet :) But no rain issues, the temp was perfect and we had a great group show up. So the 50 miler was a great ride and then run felt awesome. I know I say this every time - but for riding less then a year, the rides are starting to feel better and stronger every time we go out for a long ride. I've also been working on my nutrition on the bike as well.
Anyway - some random notes about the ride. Awful car accident. We're not sure what happened, we caught the tail in of the clean up. The cars where smashed and all of the airbags where deployed. A one of the riders husbands drove by shortly after it happened and said that there was stuff everywhere and white sheets where out. Which is never good. Thoughts and prayers are with the spring breakers friends and family. Drive safely everyone!!
On a lighter note - some people where so excited about Panama City Beach, that they just could not keep their shirts on. Man. I hate it when that happens. Ha! Crazies! I guess they are training for the wet T-shirt contest!
Grandma was not paying attention - and almost took out four of us by driving in our side of the lane! Crazy Grandma! If you can't see - you really should not be driving!!
One final note about the ride - I have some new Craft tri shorts! Whoohoo! A bit more padding in the middle area then the Zoots that I have been wearing. So the 'girly bits' where pretty happy on the ride yesterday!
Picture after the ride. My eyes look like I've smoked a few pounds of the green!!
It's Sunday! Guess what is on tonight? Rock of Love Bus! This one is gonig to be awesome. Hello? They are brining in the Ex's! YES!! Drama! You know - my life is pretty drama free. So that is probably why I get sucked into these crazy shows! There is also some new show on after which I'm probably going to be addictied to as well. Ahh. I love Sunday night TB!
New Orleans is knocking on my door! I'm getting so excited! It's going to be so much fun!!! I'll start talking more about that with in the next few weeks!!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Huge step...
..at least for me. I love to swim. I've been swimming forever. Triathlons that are wet suit legal - we'll I'm one of the crazy ones not wearing one. Along with the old men in the Speedos. We've all seen them. You know who I'm talking about. Mentally, I think to my self "Come on old man - I can see your butt! Retire the suit from 1980 and get a new one".
Anyway - for New Orleans, I've opted to wear a wetsuit. Mostly because it will be freaking cold. And the swim is in Lake Pontchartrain. So Lisa P. was nice enough to lend me one of hers. I'm pretty excited. Kind of freaked out. This weekend sometime a few of us are going to go for an open water swim in the gulf just to 'get the hang of it'. I just hope I can get it of in transition! We'll see how it goes.
Here is a picture that Gina dug up from middle school volleyball. Ahh..the days when we all had bad hair.
Oh my - and another great 8th grade one. I think Barbara and I where dancing. Nebraska shirt? Wow. How do you like the socks and Nike sandals? That was so the style back then!
Anyway - for New Orleans, I've opted to wear a wetsuit. Mostly because it will be freaking cold. And the swim is in Lake Pontchartrain. So Lisa P. was nice enough to lend me one of hers. I'm pretty excited. Kind of freaked out. This weekend sometime a few of us are going to go for an open water swim in the gulf just to 'get the hang of it'. I just hope I can get it of in transition! We'll see how it goes.
Here is a picture that Gina dug up from middle school volleyball. Ahh..the days when we all had bad hair.
Oh my - and another great 8th grade one. I think Barbara and I where dancing. Nebraska shirt? Wow. How do you like the socks and Nike sandals? That was so the style back then!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Finally! Beach Weather!
What an awesome weekend! Friday I was all about heading to the pool after work. But after a brain dead afternoon (seriously, I could not function at all!) I decided to meet a few friends over at the art gallery in Rosemary Beach to check out a mural painting expo called The Art Miles Mural Project. Murals are being painted all over the world to promote world peace. Once all of the murals are complete (this is a 12 year project) they will be wrapped around one of the pyramids. It was pretty awesome. And yes, they did have wine. :) And no. I did not see Lance :(
Saturday morning we had a great ride planned. Driving up to Bruce I was a bit stressed out because the sun had not burned off the fog. But once the sun came up - we where good to go. It was the same as pretty much every weekend ride. Lots of guys and just a few lovely ladies. Missy and I just cruised along and got in around 50 miles at a 16-17mph avg pace. I had not seen her for awhile so it was great to catch up. She have a few Ironman and 1/2 Ironman planned for this season (IMKY, IMAZ) - so she's just getting back into the swing of training. It is just so pretty riding up and down through the countryside. One of these days I will bring my camera so share some of these amazing views. And oh yeah, the sweet tan lines are back. I love biking tan lines. They just give my tan such character. (Please catch the scarcasm on that!)
But I would like to throw out this open letter to spring breakers:
Dear Spring Breakers Who Where heading down Hwy 81 on Saturday morning:
Thank you for being our cheering section on our ride. Thank you for cheering us on instead of yelling at us like the snow birds do. We know that you are so excited to start your spring break on our wonderful beaches and that on Hwy 81 when you saw us, you where just finishing up an 8 hour drive. An 8 hour drive that will end up at some of the most beautiful beaches in the world for and a week of drunkenness in Panama City Beach. Have fun. Be safe. Don't trash our beaches. And please don't ask me if I would like to go to a foam party.
Love, Chloe
Sunday we where going to ride again - but waking up at 5am and feeling the allergies kicking in from the day before- I knew that I would not handle it. So I hopped on the trainer for about 2 hours and then ran a few miles. And it felt great. We have not been doing super long runs after our rides, anywhere from 10 minutes to a few miles. Just to get our bodies used to the transition.
But finally the weater has warmed up enough to enjoy the beach! Tom put on a Yoloboard expo, so Jason and I headed over there to paddle around for a bit which was so much fun. I just love taking out the yolo board. Just to be able to paddle around and be as close as you can to nature. Then we just headed down to the beach to work on getting ride of my sweet biking tan lines. Whoohoo.
Random notes:
Rock of Love Bus!! Good episode! But those bitches must have been FREEZING on the beach. And Coyote Ugly? Come on Brett - you could have at least taken them to a classier place like Club LaVela. But next week will be the best - when they pull the Ex's into mix!!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Possible Lance sighting..
possible is the key word there. He used to spend a ton of time down here when he was dating Cheryl Crow (she has a house about 4 miles from here). Anyway - a friend that I run with talked to him yesterday. Lance (or the look-a-like) was walking around Rosemary Beach looking for a place to eat and tried to get into my friends office thinking it was restaurant (Rosemary is a weird beach town and that does not surprise me)as my friend was locking up. It took him a minute to realize who he was - but is pretty sure that might be him. Maybe he'll run with us week sometime :) Haha. Anyway - just wanted to share.
Talking about biking - as EVERYONE KNOWS biking is my weakest link. When I'm not swimming after work - I usually hop on my trainer for an hour to an hour and a half and work up a good sweat. And I'm still riding long outside on the weekends. But is that helping or hurting me?
Random Pictures:
What the FEDEX guy just brought me!! whoopwhoop!
Picture of the Very Bradley Bag for Amy Exciting stuff :)
(I'm trying to give a thumbs up for Vera)
My "Easter Egg" racing outfit from Sunday
Happy Hump Day!!
Talking about biking - as EVERYONE KNOWS biking is my weakest link. When I'm not swimming after work - I usually hop on my trainer for an hour to an hour and a half and work up a good sweat. And I'm still riding long outside on the weekends. But is that helping or hurting me?
Random Pictures:
What the FEDEX guy just brought me!! whoopwhoop!
Picture of the Very Bradley Bag for Amy Exciting stuff :)
(I'm trying to give a thumbs up for Vera)
My "Easter Egg" racing outfit from Sunday
Happy Hump Day!!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Seaside 1/2 Marathon Race Report
Ok - before the race report - I need to throw this in. I was listening to a pod cast while on my trainer today - and they threw in a song called "It's All in Your Head" by Mates of State. AWESOME SONG. Need a new play list - so anyone who has any suggestions - SUGGEST AWAY :)
Ok - back to the report. It's kind of long so bear with me.
Saturday night started out awesome. Went and had dinner with a few of the people I train with - which was a blast. After looking at the weather - we came up with a plan. Lisa is training for Boston right now so she was using the race for a training run - and Frank and I really just wanted to get under two hours. Originally our plan was to hit 1:50, but since the weather was going to be killer we where not sure how it would effect our run. So we just played it by ear. The weather was supposed to be 40 something, overcast, and with BLISTERING 25-35mph wind gusts which help out with the low 30's wind chill. AWESOME.
Here are some pictures from dinner:
Frank's Mom (who I WILL be going to bingo with!)
Lisa
Frank and Henry
So after dinner - we decided to plant Lisa's car as close to the start line as possible. Somewhere to sit and stay warm! This ended up being the smartest move EVER! The race is about 2 miles from my house - so my sister volunteered to drop me off in the morning. Lisa met me up there in the morning - she ran from the house to get some more mileage in.
Race morning - it was FREEZING. (Please remember, I'm in Florida - we're not used to that kind of cold!) Allison dropped me off at the car around 6am.
Once again - stellar idea. I think at one time we had 6 people + one tri bike in the car. The race started a few minutes late - no biggie. Struggled my way through 1812 people through the first mile. The wind was 'gusting' from the north west. This was an out and back course so the first 1/2 was right into the wind - and 2nd was with the wind to our backs. So I just kept on focusing on the turn around and getting a negative split.
Anyway - got into a good pace and just kept with it. I totally zoned out and just ran. It felt so good. I would check my nerd watch, AKA Garmin, every mile just to see what pace I was keeping and when I needed nutrition. The wind gusts sucked pretty bad at times - but I just kept on plugging away keeping it real with around an 8 min pace. At mile 4-5 I would work on a Tropical Hammer gel and same with mile 9-10. I have problems with inhaling the gel. It kind of makes me want to puke - so I just keep in my hand and work at it until it's gone. That way I'm able to catch a water station as well.
At the 1/2 way mark the great pace I had just felt better. Wind at my back and with a smile on my face I rocked out the 2nd half. It's always fun to see everyone else you know with the out and back races. Before the turn I saw Jim (who ended up beating out a Kona-the one who danced at the finish line this last year- guy and PR'd with a 1:25) and then Karen, his wife (who PR'd with a 1:37), Helen Libby, and another friend Jennifer (who PR'd with a 1:34) and Michael (who ALSO PR'd with a 1:36 as well!). And then on the way back I saw Missy, Lisa, Cindy, Wendy...and so on)
So cruising along with the wind at my back I just focused on the negative split. Around mile 10 I ran into Frank, who, guess what, PR'd as well(!!), tried to get him to run with me for the last three miles, but he was happy where he was. So after that I just opened up. This is where I live and train. I knew exactly where I was and how much further I had to go. Mentally I was right where I needed to be. Feeling incredible, I kept a 7:45 avg pace for the last 3.1 miles of the race. Crossing the finishing line looking like an easter egg with my orange shorts and pink zenzah compression socks, I checked my watch, saw the time, and had a tear in my eye. What an amazing race. Whatever wind! (As Melissa would say) Bring it on!
Chip Time: 1:46:28
Clock time: 1:48:15
Age Group: 10/141
Overall: 218/1812
Did I mention that this race was sponsored by Very Bradley? Yeah. Those bags. When you finish you get one. It's funny seeing all of these manly men carrying around these brightly colored bags. Or when they finish the wife's yelling at them to 'Get the pink one' or get 'Get the blue one'. Last year my whole family ran the race - so guess what a few people got for Christmas? :)
After the race is was so freaking cold - that we didn't hang around that long. We waited for Jim, Karen,Jennifer, and Helen Libby to get their awards and cheer them on - and then it was time to head home!
Helen, Jennifer, Karen, Myself, and Lisa
Karen, Jim, and Jennifer
Helen and her Boyfriend
Frank and I
But later on in the afternoon, a few of us met up for cocktails at Bud-n-Allys to celebrate!
Kent and I with our compression socks on :)
Karen, myself, and Jennifer
What did I learn from this race?
1. Bad weather does not mean you will have a bad race
2. Getting your nutrition down is very important
3. Having a great attitude and a smile on your face can do wonders!
Random thoughts:
Rock of Love Bus was in Panama City and I didn't even know! Ugh! I would have so driven the 20 min to see all of the glory that show has to offer!
Not sure if I'm going to watch Biggest Loser tomorrow. Can't quite get over the marathon thing from last week. If the producers fake that - what else are they faking? I think I'm going ot just go to the pool instead.
Ok - back to the report. It's kind of long so bear with me.
Saturday night started out awesome. Went and had dinner with a few of the people I train with - which was a blast. After looking at the weather - we came up with a plan. Lisa is training for Boston right now so she was using the race for a training run - and Frank and I really just wanted to get under two hours. Originally our plan was to hit 1:50, but since the weather was going to be killer we where not sure how it would effect our run. So we just played it by ear. The weather was supposed to be 40 something, overcast, and with BLISTERING 25-35mph wind gusts which help out with the low 30's wind chill. AWESOME.
Here are some pictures from dinner:
Frank's Mom (who I WILL be going to bingo with!)
Lisa
Frank and Henry
So after dinner - we decided to plant Lisa's car as close to the start line as possible. Somewhere to sit and stay warm! This ended up being the smartest move EVER! The race is about 2 miles from my house - so my sister volunteered to drop me off in the morning. Lisa met me up there in the morning - she ran from the house to get some more mileage in.
Race morning - it was FREEZING. (Please remember, I'm in Florida - we're not used to that kind of cold!) Allison dropped me off at the car around 6am.
Once again - stellar idea. I think at one time we had 6 people + one tri bike in the car. The race started a few minutes late - no biggie. Struggled my way through 1812 people through the first mile. The wind was 'gusting' from the north west. This was an out and back course so the first 1/2 was right into the wind - and 2nd was with the wind to our backs. So I just kept on focusing on the turn around and getting a negative split.
Anyway - got into a good pace and just kept with it. I totally zoned out and just ran. It felt so good. I would check my nerd watch, AKA Garmin, every mile just to see what pace I was keeping and when I needed nutrition. The wind gusts sucked pretty bad at times - but I just kept on plugging away keeping it real with around an 8 min pace. At mile 4-5 I would work on a Tropical Hammer gel and same with mile 9-10. I have problems with inhaling the gel. It kind of makes me want to puke - so I just keep in my hand and work at it until it's gone. That way I'm able to catch a water station as well.
At the 1/2 way mark the great pace I had just felt better. Wind at my back and with a smile on my face I rocked out the 2nd half. It's always fun to see everyone else you know with the out and back races. Before the turn I saw Jim (who ended up beating out a Kona-the one who danced at the finish line this last year- guy and PR'd with a 1:25) and then Karen, his wife (who PR'd with a 1:37), Helen Libby, and another friend Jennifer (who PR'd with a 1:34) and Michael (who ALSO PR'd with a 1:36 as well!). And then on the way back I saw Missy, Lisa, Cindy, Wendy...and so on)
So cruising along with the wind at my back I just focused on the negative split. Around mile 10 I ran into Frank, who, guess what, PR'd as well(!!), tried to get him to run with me for the last three miles, but he was happy where he was. So after that I just opened up. This is where I live and train. I knew exactly where I was and how much further I had to go. Mentally I was right where I needed to be. Feeling incredible, I kept a 7:45 avg pace for the last 3.1 miles of the race. Crossing the finishing line looking like an easter egg with my orange shorts and pink zenzah compression socks, I checked my watch, saw the time, and had a tear in my eye. What an amazing race. Whatever wind! (As Melissa would say) Bring it on!
Chip Time: 1:46:28
Clock time: 1:48:15
Age Group: 10/141
Overall: 218/1812
Did I mention that this race was sponsored by Very Bradley? Yeah. Those bags. When you finish you get one. It's funny seeing all of these manly men carrying around these brightly colored bags. Or when they finish the wife's yelling at them to 'Get the pink one' or get 'Get the blue one'. Last year my whole family ran the race - so guess what a few people got for Christmas? :)
After the race is was so freaking cold - that we didn't hang around that long. We waited for Jim, Karen,Jennifer, and Helen Libby to get their awards and cheer them on - and then it was time to head home!
Helen, Jennifer, Karen, Myself, and Lisa
Karen, Jim, and Jennifer
Helen and her Boyfriend
Frank and I
But later on in the afternoon, a few of us met up for cocktails at Bud-n-Allys to celebrate!
Kent and I with our compression socks on :)
Karen, myself, and Jennifer
What did I learn from this race?
1. Bad weather does not mean you will have a bad race
2. Getting your nutrition down is very important
3. Having a great attitude and a smile on your face can do wonders!
Random thoughts:
Rock of Love Bus was in Panama City and I didn't even know! Ugh! I would have so driven the 20 min to see all of the glory that show has to offer!
Not sure if I'm going to watch Biggest Loser tomorrow. Can't quite get over the marathon thing from last week. If the producers fake that - what else are they faking? I think I'm going ot just go to the pool instead.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
25-35 mph gusts of wind...
...bring it on. I freaking PR'd today in the Seaside 1/2! 1:46!! Whoop whoop!! I'll post details later. Rock of Love bus is on right now :)
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