Camp Flowers

Today instead of doing the boring old 'Bruce' ride as we call it - we decided to hop onto the IMFL bike course. A few riders (who are doing IMFL and IMAZ) rocked out 80 miles, while the rest of us kept it fun at 40+. I was so excited to take out the new QR and see what she can do on a course that is not full of turns.

The weather was great - nice and overcast, low humidity, and just a bit of rain towards the end. So needless to say, it was an amazing ride. I'm still loving the new QR. And, to every ones surprise - parts of 388 are newly paved! whohoo! It was like Christmas! Camp Flowers (random name for a road) is still full of cracks and bumps - but 388's goodness more then made up for it.


And can I mention the zoo of animals we saw? Horses, deer, a huge dead snake on the side of the road, a peacock (seriously), and a few HUGE goats. Gigantic goats. One hopped out of the back of a truck to check us out. Random I know - but unfortunately my stealthy photo skills with the Iphone have yet to be mastered on the bike. But don't worry - I'll practice. So for those of you doing IMFL this year - keep your eyes peeled for the random side shows on the bike!

Lately my energy has been kind of on the low side. I don't know if it's because my training has taken a back seat for the past few weeks as I get used to my new work schedule or if my diet is just off. So this week I have decided to try a few things:

1) Get back into my 'pre new job/move' work out routine. I'll have to get up at the butt crack and plan to get ready for work at some training partners houses - but it can be done.

2) Pay more attention to my vitamins that I take. Specially taking Iron as well as Omega-3's every day.

3) Work on my diet when I'm on the road. With the new job - I'm not in an office so I have to really plan my meals. I don't eat fast food - but I'm not the healthiest road eater either. I also need to get out of the habit of eating a powerbar as a replacement for lunch! So as I was at Wal-Mart today (ugh - I know. Specially the one on the beach) I found this -




The thing that I'm pointing at gets put in the freezer - so your salad stays cold! The salad goodness stays divided until you are ready for it to be mixed so everything won't be soggy! BEST. IDEA. EVER. I'll keep you posted on how everything goes this week!

I am getting super excited for everyone who is getting ready for Kona! The energy can be felt over here!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!

Twenty Nine

Yes. Twenty nine years ago today, Jack and Paula had Kathryn Chloe Elfrink. And I'm happy to say - this is the last birthday that I will be celebrating. I'm not going to turn 30. :) I'm going to stay in the 25-29 age group for the rest of my life!!

Motivation

motivation (plural motivations)

Willingness of action esp. in behavior
The action of motivating.
Something which motivates.
An incentive or reason for doing something.

I seemed to have lost mine. If you find it - please sent it my way.

Thanks!

XOCHLOE

Roadies...

In the Panama City Beach area we have a yahoo group for bikers, so pretty much any day you can find someone to ride any distance with. Usually I stick to the normal 30A group that I've been riding with for the past year. But Sunday so many people where out of town for 6 gap, Augusta, the 'Intimidator'..etc..that I had to find another group to ride with. I was ITCHING to take the new sweet goodness out for a spin...and boy did I take her out.

Random comment - I'm SO FREAKING SICK of the free credit report.com guys.

Anyway - I rolled up to SamsClub to meet a couple of roadies for a quick 30 mile ride. They like to call it the 'be back in time for church' ride since most Sunday rides go on FOREVER. Please remember these few important points in regards to the ride:

1. I have never ridden with these guys
2. I have never ridden this route
3. LOTS of turns involved (example - going around dead ends and neighborhoods)
4. These guys are old school hard core roadies
So pretty much - if I continue to ride with these bad asses - I'll have fire coming off of the back of my back tire very soon! But I fell more in love with new bike. Thankfully they did not drop me like a stinky bag of garbage and I got in an awesome ride. And I was home in time for the Sunday Morning Show on CBS and a cup of coffee!

Kelly and I made the decision to start making our long runs on Monday morning. This works out perfectly because I work from home on Monday's and Kelly has the day off. She's training for a few ultras (and can I please note that she is a KICK ASS runner..hello..3:06 marathon?) and I'm rocking out the mileage for the ING Miami. So this works out perfect. We got an a GREAT 15 miles today at an easy 9+ min pace.

This brings me to a random thought...I feel so lucky to everyone that I am able to train with. My running/biking/swimming partners are amazing - and I don't think I would do any of these workouts with out them! Even when I've had to much wine - and could possibly still be a bit drunk - I will drag my ass out of bed because I know someone is waiting for me to hammer out a few miles. I consider every single one of them a great friend...even in 'non-workout' clothes :) Ok. Enough with that sentimental stuff!

Congrats to everyone who raced this past weekend - and Augusta? I might have to do that race next year just to do the swim!!

Hello Lover....

So. I finally did it. After months and months of searching - I found the one. Say hello to...well, give me some time on the name...



She will be taken out on her first spin tomorrow - so I'll keep you posted on how she works out!!

Lobster Fest 2009

Gotta love Panama City Beach. Talk about stellar people watching all day on Sunday! Hadley, her family and myself headed out to Skooners 'the last local beach club' to check out the crazies who crawled out of the woodwork as well as the LOBSTERS! For two days - teams would go out and scuba for these tasty creatures and catch them by HAND! Are you kidding me!?!

Umm...there is no way in hell is would stick my hand in a hole and pull out that guy. But oh man...they taste so good.

Our friend Tim's team ended up winning with a whopper that topped the scales at 10.3 lbs! Congrats Tim!


On the training front - Jason and I have been shopping around for a gym. I'm not a fan of dreamills (except for speed work - they can be helpful with controlled speed) but I do like to lift. I'm not going to lie - I can't stand the gyms where they try to sell you all kinds of crap and make you name your first child 'Golds Gym' if you sign a year contract. And if you try to break your contract - oh man. You don't even want to go there.

Anyway, Hadley came across the 'LORDS GYM' (no lie) close to our house. It's not huge - but they do have a few treadmills, basic machines, and free weights. Perfect. AND they don't charge. Yes. You read that correctly DON'T CHARGE. They just take donations. I would much rather donate money to a church then to pay for bottled water and the he-woman's salary at the front desk at other gyms. So - if you are shopping for a gym in your area - see if you can find the Lords Gym. You'll feel pretty darn good when you leave. :)

Happy monday everyone! Have a great week!!

XO

Love the heat

Who ever had the excellent idea to start the 10K race this morning at 8am was on crack. I have never been sooooo freaking hot racing. And can I throw in there was no shade? And that for a part of it - we where directed to the wrong way? So the lead runners had to turn around - after running about a 1/2 mile off course. After that, I knew it was just going to be a training run.

The inaugural SunRun (I should have taken a cure from the name!) was this morning. A few of us got together to help support Gulf Coast Community College and brave the heat - and enjoy the post party. They had the awesome $25 a day beach rental chairs(the cushioned ones!) for us loung on along with a ton of food and a photographer that would take you photo - print it out (with the SunRun logo) and give it to you. YES. You read right - GAVE IT TO YOU. Take that ASI photography! Karen won the 10K overall, I was 6th (third in age group) and Jeff pulled the over all masters in the 10K. It was a fun morning - and even Jason came out to cheer us on :)





But other then that - nothing too exciting going on on the training front. Just running with some swimming and biking thrown in. I'm really getting excited about the ING marathon in Miami (or possibly another one closer in Jan)and just trying to get on a training schedule with the new job ...which is going awesome :)

For IMFL Jason and I are going to have a homestay - which we area very excited about. I ran into a friend of mine today who helps bring the athletes and homes together - and mentioned that we might be having a swiss pro. I CAN NOT WAIT!

Congrats to everyone who raced this weekend!!!