Made one decision, thinking on another

Okay, Sarah told me about this one. It will be taking place at Moody Gardens in Galveston on April 1st. Registration does not open until November 1st, so I have time to decide. This group is also putting on the Longhorn Triathlon Festival in Austin at the end of September. That is one JohnnyTri is thinking of doing, also.

Decisions, Decisions!!

On another note - I finally broke down and bought a tv. I had seriously thought about taking Mr. Jamoosh up on his offer, but I just couldn't wait. But you never know, I have 30 days to return the thing!!

Class

Yesterday was another long run. 18 miles in glorious Houston heat and humidity. But it got done, that is the important part. I started strong (in my mind anyway), stayed strong most of the way, fell into a slump for a bit, recovered, then finished semi strong.

The one thing that kept popping in my mind this weekend (first during the run, then today during the ride) was the huge difference in social classes in a span of a couple miles.

Our run route consisted of running from Memorial Park to the George R. Brown in downtown, then coming back and then going into River Oaks before returning back to the park.

While trudging along the bayou on the way to the GRB you pass a number of homeless people, either sleeping on benches or amongst the trees. But it is when you get into downtown the numbers increase drastically. They are wandering the streets, sleeping against buildings, clustered in parks, etc.

Then, less than 5 miles later on the return trip you are passing multi-million dollar homes with 3, 4, 5 car garages with cars that cost several thousand dollars sitting in them. Some houses are gated with their own private security guard and have huge lawns with gardeners trimming hedges and mowing the grass.

As my running buddy and I are looking at these mansions we wonder - where do these people get all their money? Is it inherited? Does it come from screwing others out of their retirement (Ken Lay)? Is it from oil?

And what do they do with all that space? You would need to do a lot of entertaining to want that much space. Or have tons of kids.

Don't think I am saying anything bad about the people that live in these places. If they can afford it they can certainly do what ever they want with their money. Besides they are supporting a lot of other people with their grandioseness - gardeners, pool boys, cooks, nannies, house keepers, etc.

I just find it amazing that within the span of a couple miles you can see people with nothing to their name except for a couple plastic bags of stuff to seeing huge mansions (because you rarely see the people who live in them) with elaborately landscaped gardens.

Anyway, I did 35 miles on the bike today. The highlight was riding amongst the headstones and monuments in Glenwood Cemetery. What a beautiful cemetery with some very beautiful trees.

Intent

Okay.

2007 is the year.

It is the year I will attempt my first half-iron distance triathlon.

For those of you who do not know, a half-iron consists of a 1.2 mile open water swim, 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run.

Now which one?

I would like to do the GulfMan mainly because it is close to where I live, I have friends who would be willing to do it with me (Sarah says she is in) and it is early in the season. I am just hoping that it takes place this year. Last year the previous organizers were basically kicked out and they brought in new organizers at the last minute. Lots of confusion, so who knows what will happen this year.

My number one choice for a half-iron (right now, anyway) is The Grand Columbian Triathlon, but that is later in the season so it will have to wait. Maybe I could sign up for it anyway. We'll see.

One of these days I would even like to attempt a full Ironman. One of my friends (Liz – 14:52:55) completed Ironman Arizona this past April and another (Consuela – 12:45:30) completed the Quelle Challenge Roth this past July.

My first choice for a full is Ironman Coeur d'Alene, but by the time I am ready to sign up for one – who knows what I will choose.

Anyway, that is my intent. I figured if I put it out there in blogland I couldn't renig.

Wish me luck!!

What is WRONG with me?!!!

Registration: Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon & Houston Press/Smart Financial 5K
Purchase Date: 09/11/06
Category: Chevron Houston Marathon - 26.2 Miles
Event Date: 01/14/07
Name: Jill

Just Not Feeling It

This evening I went down to the basement at work for the ball class I have been taking for the past month or so. All was good. It is not the most challenging class, but in helps tone some of the areas that aren't that tone and it warms me up for some running.

So after class I head over to the treadmill, get set up and start going. Tonight I decided to try to use the mp3 player on my phone to see if I liked it better than watching the tube. So I fiddled with that for a couple minutes, played a song, it finished and other songs didn't start up again. I fiddled with it some more then shut the thing off. It wasn't working for me.

And during this time I am speeding up to run then slowing down to fiddle then speeding back up and then slowing down to fiddle again. Not helping the rhythm much.

I finally find my groove then start getting hot. I forgot to turn on the fan. So after 10 minutes I stop the treadmill to turn on the fan. Back on the treadmill and back to running.

Then someone leaves the room and doesn't shut the door. I continue going, but the open door is bothering me, so I stop, get off, shut the door, get back on, start running again and then say the heck with it. I am just not feeling it.

So I slow down the pace, increase the incline to 6 and go for a nice long walk while watching NOVA.

Hey, it's better than just quitting altogether and going home.

Remember

Always Remember the Ones Who Have Fought and the Ones We Have Lost

Fun Times

Saturday was a cut back day - and I soooooooo loved it! We only had to run 2 hours, and then it was back to the park for a post-run party.

I headed out with a couple running buddies and I was not letting them slack off. I wanted to get at least 10 miles in so no dwaddling at the water stops and no extra long walk breaks.

We did fairly well, but there were a couple times when I had to take the whip out!!

On the way back we started seeing the winter group which was doing 8 miles and had started about 45 minutes after us.

One highlight was seeing Miss Tiggs, and to prove that I was happy to see her I yelled out a greeting and think I woke up half of River Oaks!! Oops. Forgot that it wasn't even 8:00 yet! Oh well, friends are worth it!

We finally made it back to the park and that is when the fun began!

Adult beverage "we only had to run 2 hours" party!!

I put on a dry shirt and assembled my ingredients. Most everyone else was carbo loading with beer. But not me. I needed to replace my electrolytes and get a good dose of vitamin C.

I was making Bloody Mary's!

Ice in the cup, some vodka, some mix, a wedge of lime and a pickle spear and we are set!!

Yummm!

Then the socializing began.

And after and hour or so the rain decided to POUR. We hurriedly packed everything up and headed to Biba's for a solid breakfast.

Next week - 18 miles!

Today I did 43 miles on the bike. Good times. Fun people. Great morning.

BTW - how many of you are planning on the MS150 this year?

Withdrawals

My TV died on me two weeks ago and I just haven't been able to get myself to part with several hundred dollars for a new one.

I would rather fork over that kind of cash on a Garmin Forerunner 305 and some new running shoes and some aero bars and some real fancy bike shorts and some new tri shoes and a cool tri suit and a swiMp3 and an iPod and ... (you get the picture). And you know what - I would still probably have some money left over for some other little treats.

But no - I want a TV. I am starting to go through withdrawals. My magazines are all getting read. My stack of unread books is getting shorter (that is another thing I could use that left over money for - to restock that stack).

But the new season is about to start and I might go nuts if I can't watch CSI (Las Vegas - of course) and Grey's Anatomy.

What to do, what to do?!

The hardships of living in the 21st century!!

Gulfman

They do not have any details about 2007 up yet, but I am hoping it is still happening. There was a big brouhaha over it back in March.

If history repeats itself it will be on April 1st.

Who is with me?!! I am talking about the Half-Iron, in case you are wondering!

Why do I do this?

As one is training for an endurance event, many might ask themselves "why do I do this?"

And why do I do this? Why do I get up before the crack of dawn to go run 18 miles, bike 40, swim a mile or two? Why do I pay all this money for equipment and race fees? Why do I dedicate so much of my time to training for an endurance race and then when it is over wonder what's next?

A couple years ago I was in a rut. I would go to work, come home, watch tv, maybe go out with some friends and then repeat the process the next day. I had joined a gym, went for a while, then stopped. It was boring!!

I decided I needed to get out there more and get my body moving. I joined a softball league and that helped. But I still needed more.

One day I was perusing through the local Leisure Learning catalog looking for classes that I might enjoy taking and saw a class for marathon training. That sounded interesting. I then received a brochure in the mail from Team in Training and decided to check it out.

After the information meeting I signed up for my first half-marathon (which was later changed to a marathon). I diligently did my weekly training runs and made it to most of my long Saturday runs. And in January 2005 I completed my first marathon - Houston. And then I turned right around and signed up for my next - Austin in February 2005.

Then I signed up with TNT again, this time for an Olympic distance triathlon. I trained diligently again. And again I completed what I set out to do - the CapTexTri in May 2005.

Then I signed up with TNT again (do you see a pattern here?!). I was planning on the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2005. But injuries happen, so that was a no go.

But even before the doctor had given me the okay I had signed up for my next event. This time it was the MS150 - Houston to Austin. And while I was training for that I was already signed up for the Shiner BASH and America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride.

And now I am training for the Chicago Marathon and the Route 66 Marathon. And then when those are complete I will probably sign up for the Houston full or half marathon and then the Mardis Gras Marathon. And I just might sign up to do the MS150 again and I would very much like to do the Gulfman Half Iron Triathlon. And you just know that a Ironman is on my list of things to accomplish!

So I ask myself - why? I especially asked myself this question these past two Saturdays as I was nearing the end of my runs and all I wanted to do was sit down and take off my shoes.

Last week another participant asked our coach "Remind me again, why I am doing this?" But before she could answer, Desie (our honored team mates mother) responded "because the research money raised by LLS saved my son's life."

This would be true for me during other seasons, but this season I am not raising money. I am mentoring and cheering on everyone who is. But this season I am taking a break from fundraising. This season I am running just for me. And I am asking myself "WHY?"

There are all the obvious answers -

So I can eat what I want.
So I can lose weight. (hmmm...the first answer doesn't really go with the second!!)
So I can tighten up those abs.
So I can enjoy the outdoors.
So I can meet new people.
Because I can.
To make people proud of me.

The list can go on and on.

But you know what?

I think I do all this training and sign up for all these events for the challenge.

The challenge of pushing my body to the limits and then beyond.
The challenge of a new PR.
The challenge of doing something no one thought I could (even myself).
The challenge of overcoming all my mental hangups and all my physical limitations.

That is why I do this.

For the challenge.

A couple quickies

I tuned off the alarm and the light. Still woke up at 6:00. Said the heck with this and went back to sleep. Woke up at 7:00. Said the heck with this and went back to sleep. Woke up at 8:00 and have been up ever since. I remember the days when I could sleep until 10, 11, 12:00. Not anymore!!

After I get up, I meander around, get on the computer, talk on the phone, do a little reading and then think - the heck with waiting till the middle of the week, let's step on the scale now.

And you know what?

I HAVE lost some poundage!! The scale wasn't lying to me last week! It was actually telling me that I was doing something right! That's a shocker! Now, if I could only remember what it was.

Poundage

Yesterday was 18 miles! My feet were so sore and my legs so tired after that run. But I survived.

The day started pretty good. The temperature was much cooler than last week, but at 6:00 in the morning the air was muggy. The humidity started dropping as the sun made an appearance, but then the temeperature started going up! Nothing like last week, though. Overall the weather was great compared to what it has been.

As I was doing a little stretching and drinking at the mile 15 water stop my coaches commmented on how it looked like I had lost some weight. That is always nice to hear! I did step on the scale last week and it said I had lost some poundage, but I have a hard time believing my scale. It has lied to me in the past!! I will get on next week sometime and see if it is still telling me the same thing.

No blisters this week. I made sure I wore my double layer socks. And I put on extra lube to help with the chafing.

Next week is a cut back and the schedule only has us running for 2 hours with a stretching clinic afterwards. That will be so nice!!

After the run a couple of us went for breakfast (2 eggs, dry wheat toast, grapefruit, and a blueberry pancake with a little syrup), then it was home for a foot soak. Warm, cold, repeat. Not sure if it helped, but it felt good.

All afternoon I was contemplating if I should go for a bike ride this morning. I just knew my legs would not be up to par to keep up with the fast people. I set my alarm for 6:30 just in case.

And wouldn't you know it, I woke up at 5:30! Part of the blame is the light I have programmed to come on around that time. The other part - I am just too used to getting up early on the weekends! Tomorrow - no alarm and I am turning off the light (I will let you know if it helps).

Anyway, I got out of bed around 6:30, dressed, brushed the teeth, pumped up the tires and headed out the door. I took it easy all the way over there and was thinking I might just only do part of the ride and then head home.

But I didn't. I kept up with the group. Back of the pack, mind you, but I still kept up. At one point I was leading - going between 20 to 21, then what happens - Robert (the local bike shop guy) goes flying by me and the rest of the pack just has to keep up with the break away, so I am back to the back of the pack.

Dang, what I wouldn't do for that kind of power. I am working on it. The legs are strong, but they could be stronger. I just need to rid myself of poundage. That would make a world of difference.

We finished the ride and I rode over to Einstein Brothers and picked up a honey wheat bagel with lox, reduced fat cream cheese, tomato, extra red onion and extra capers. YUMMMMMM!!

Here I am talking about wanting to rid myself of poundage and look what I am eating!!

I ended up doing 36.5 miles on the bike today. Not too bad, considering.