She Sought Out to Lose 7 Pounds. She Is About to be "Ironman."

Triathlon has a way of sneaking up on people.

At first you don't even entertain the thought of doing one. It's not for me. It's for athletes. I could never do that.

Until one day.

You think it is perhaps, possible.

(Even though secretly you don't really think it is.)

(But then you think, "Well what if it is?")

This year, I was privileged enough to witness triathlon sneak up on a dear friend of mine in the Tri-Warriors. Watching her go further and further and faster and faster has been an amazing ride for us spectators and well, I'll let her tell the rest of the story. A guest-post by Eve, fellow Tri-Warrior ,in which she discloses all her secrets to success on the road to Ironmom. (Ps. Yes. You can do it.)

Team Barrett!

Approximately two years ago, the action plan was set in motion to get off the couch and lose 5 to 7 vanity pounds. A few short jogs later, a friend asked me to run a local 5k with her. Why not. I remember Celia Dubey was the race director/announcer at my first race. Her motivating words fueled me to a strong finish, as well as inspired me to train harder to become faster. And so it began... 22 pounds later and my training plans and race goals are all over the map, quite literally.

Next stop, a marathon. Within six months, my best friend of 20 years dared me to take the next challenge, to complete a full marathon. She had completed several marathons in several states during the course of her running career and just knew I'd enjoy the thrill of victory. Indeed, she was correct. My first marathon was truly spectacular, Berlin, Germany. The family enjoyed the European vacation, as well. I completed three marathons in three months that year, qualifying for Boston on the second. Mission complete; I was officially addicted to endurance running.

During this same time period, another friend introduced me to a very different challenge, the world of multiple-sport, triathlon. February of 2010 marked my first mini-triathlon, Y-Tri, then my first sprint in April, Escape From Ft. DeSoto, followed by my first half iron, MiamiMan, in November. The bug was so strong, the full iron distance called my name. Training for marathons and triathlons was now simultaneous.

Many people ask me, what's your secret? How do you find time to train while running a business and raising a young family? Here's the short, easy answer: Jim. Although it's true a great swim master's coach can improve your swim, a properly-fitted road or Tri bike can increase your rpm's, and the right pair of sneakers can prevent blisters and go the distance, there's absolutely no better piece of Tri-gear than 150% support from your spouse when you're a triathlete in training.

Jim is a one-of-kind, irreplaceable support system. Once a goal is set, he tediously researches, selects, assembles and maintains all tri equipment in the Team Barrett arsenal. As long as we are willing to train, Jim will always make sure our equipment is 100% on race day. Not only does Jim manage the gear, he also handles the logistics, which includes race-entry confirmations, packet pickups, packing the van the night before, getting us all up the morning of the races, double-checking our inventory before we roll out, coordinating the hotels and restaurants at the various race event venues, taking photographs as we race, and cheering us to a strong finish. He does this selflessly, with not a single complaint...just extreme pride for his family.

When the decision was announced, and accepted by the family, for Mom to compete in an Ironman-distance race, it was Jim who diligently worked to find just the right books, magazines and Web sites to inspire and motivate me to a strong finish. His management roll in the business has doubled due to my temporary hiatus while in training.

He's constantly immersed in scheduling my work and training hours so there's no conflict. The first 10 weeks of training was fairly straightforward, but the last 20 weeks have proved to be somewhat of an obstacle course. The day before my next-scheduled training session, he's busy juggling my routes, trying to locate training partners, and performing preventative maintenance on my gear.

Needless to say, he's accomplished it all with incredible finesse. He's meticulously planned every detail of the upcoming 10-day France trip and left no stone unturned.

The kids have also stepped up to the task by picking up the slack around the house by expeditiously completing more chores with no extra whining. They listen more attentively, watch more closely, and as a result, have grown into wonderful young people, fantastic students AND competitive triathletes this year.

Although the early mornings sometimes wear on them, once we're in the van, they ask for the Team Barrett power song, FloRida, "This Club Can't Handle Me", to be cranked. It's adorable.

Triathlon and racing is our family passion at this point in our life. It takes a high-level of commitment from each and every individual on the team. We all work together, cheer each other on, and in the end, we share memories that are priceless and forever.

We incorporate traveling into our plans whenever possible because that's such a bonus. My best memory thus far, Space Coast Marathon 2010, my BQ. As I approached the 26-mile marker, Kylar and Kynsey anxiously awaited my arrival and each grabbed a hand to run in with me that last .20 miles...the hardest part of the race, if you ask me.

Jim was ready with camera for the Kodak moment. Sensational! Our family bond is stronger than I could ever imagine, and this is what the sport has done for Team Barrett.

MyRaceragz.com put together the fun family shirt we sport at each other's events. It sums our family up, united. We truly understand the slogan, the family that "tri's" together, stays together.

Eve is racing Ironman France later this month. She is READY!!! GOOD LUCK EVE!!! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!! Wear your cape proudly girl!


By the way. I told you it's never really about the weight-loss.

How to Like Running, by Christie O. (Happy National Running Day!)

A couple of weeks ago, I was perusing my "searches" to see how people got here and someone got here by typing in "How To Like Running."

Bahahahaha!

It's sort of ironic because I'm pretty sure I never in my life posted about "How to Like Running" since, you know, I have trouble liking running myself.

In fact, only recently have I really actually begun to enjoy running.

Don't get me wrong though. It still hurts. But only now have I come to a place where I feel (mostly) good during running as opposed to feeling good when I'm done running. And the longer I run, the better I feel! (Go figure on that one!)

I've gotten faster and seeing your work pay off feels really good and also makes you want to run some more (go figure!)

And oh, look!!! It is actually National Running Day today (surprise!) So I figured I'd share how I got to this happy place I now feel about running by posting my tips on "How to Like Running!" So here you go:

How to Like Running, by Christie O.

1. Run with friends. Save up all your good stories and gossip (I know, you don't gossip, no one does, but you know.) problems needing advice, etc for a nice long run with a friend so you have LOTS to talk about. Maybe you'll even run into one of these on a trail and have something to talk about forever more when referring to past running experiences.

2. Runs are more fun with beer involved. And by that I mean some beer AFTER RUNNING. Remember: not running WHILE drinking. Not running AFTER drinking. Drinking AFTER RUNNING. (That part is key.) So try a Run for Brews which is a group run that starts out at a taphouse or sign up for an organized run like in my area we have a Taphouse 5k that starts at the taphouse and ends with free beer. Those are lots of fun. Just remember that you may have very likely driven to the location of the run so make sure you can drive home. Mkay?

3. Look hot while running. Go ahead, wear lipgloss. Knee highs! A ROCKING HEADBAND! (Updated to acknowledge my male running friends out there!) I fully support anything that builds my confidence before a run, whether it's a cute running outfit, lipgloss, an awesome drifit shirt that says "Motivate Dominate" on it like my husband says, whatever. The better I feel the better I run, the end.

4. Flounce! Everything's funner while flouncing. If you're wondering what flouncing is, picture how your body would be behaving if you were running in a tutu. You'd be flouncing. Flouncing is fun. I love to flounce. If you're a man, you might be against flouncing. That's ok. You can move onto the next one.

5. Sharpie Up. This one's more useful (read: socially acceptable) in a race situation, but hey, whatever works, right? Put motivating words on your arms that will swing by when your running arms are pumping, draw some happy faces on there, symbols whatever. Go crazy. It'll come off someday so go ahead. Mark yourself up.

6. Talk someone who's never run before into training for a run so you can selfishly have a running partner. At first they might hate you. They will think you're crazy. But you will all feel so good when you're done and accomplished (and having a toast at the end.) And you may just have fueled a new addiction for someone. You "do gooder" you.

7. Holidays off???? NAH!!! Run on holidays! Put on your bunny ears on Easter, do a Mother's Day 5k, do a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, dress up and run on Halloween, do a memorial run on 9/11, races are fun but they're so much funner on holidays. And running for a reason other than just to run is an added bonus.

8. Geek out. I know running's supposed to be the cheapest sport but really it's fun to have a Garmin watch to track your pace and your distance or a heart rate monitor to show you how hard you're working or a Nike foot pod thingy or great music or podcasts on your I Pod. Yes sometimes I look like I'm hooked up to an EKG when I leave the house with so many wires, but I like having all my information at my fingertips.

9. UNGeek out. On the flipside, some of my greatest runs have been on the days I forgot all my techy gear. At first I am bummed. But then when it's finished I was glad to have not been hooked up. And come to think of it, that's when I think I actually started to enjoy running for the clarity it gave my mind and the natural rhythm my body would make and the natural beat that would drum in my head. Holy moly I think I'm thinking fondly about running right now! I must actually like it!

10. Run in really cool places. Yes, there are sidewalks right outside your door probably and you don't have time to drive to run. But so what. Go find yourself the places a tourist would want to run in your area. Go find the really pretty trails or the paths along the water. Mix it up!

11. Plan a vacation around a run. Or plan a run around your vacation. Do you have friends who live in California who run or don't run or maybe could be coerced into running? Find a run in California and make them do it with you. Or perhaps, just make them take you to the Golden Gate Bridge to run when you visit California. When I went up to New York, I made my friend meet me at 5 a.m. at the Brooklyn Bridge because I've always wanted to run it (let me tell you -- it was incredible!)
 My husband and I ran the Vegas Strip during our trip out for a birthday party (still needed to get in our long run!) last summer. We followed our long run with some blackjack. That's the way to do it!

12. If you hate running (or ESPECIALLY if you hate running) KEEP RUNNING! I beg this of you. Because when I ran my first 5k, it was about 40 minutes of hell. Over the years I revisited running and eventually kept at it. I watched my body evolve from all jiggly on the treadmill to keeping a pace for 30 minutes. I am not a natural born runner, but now I at least love to do it. It took years. Sure I had to add biking and swimming in there for peace of mind, but the point is, I got better and now I do actually like it. So in conclusion, it is possible for anyone to eventually grow to like something they hate. Ha! I'm proof.

Now (ironically) I'm off to go run some intervals!

Are you going to run today? You should! Because it's National Run Day!

Have a great day today! Come back and tell me about your run!

How to Make a Tutu (A Tutu Tutorial) (See Below for TUTU GIVEAWAY!)

Most of you know by now that I love to run in tutus.

It's just what I do. I love it!

I even rope my friends into doing it with me!

It's seriously a blast to dress up a course in this way.

I normally make my own and a tutu tutorial here at my blog is long overdue. Because it is no-sew, it is SO easy, and it is SO cheap! In most stores you can get the tulle for just over a dollar a yard, so you can have a custom-made tutu for just around $15 and it's so much more gorgeous than in the store.

(About half that price for a children's tutu).

 

So without further ado, here is my VLOGGING tutorial on how to make a tutu.

If you just want the instructions, here is what you'll need. Feel free to refer to the video to see what the heck I'm talking about!

Ingredients:


1. 10-12 yards of tulle any color. If using 2 colors, use 5-6 yards of each color. You can use the spool kind like in Michael’s or the tulle by the yard from a fabric store. I prefer by the yard because it’s easier to cut.
2. 1/4 inch elastic, 3 yards
3. scissors
4. measuring tape or ruler
5. chair or pillow

Directions:

Measure your waist. Then measure the elastic to match the size of your waist, minus 2 to 3 inches, and cut there. The elastic is stretchy so you don’t want it the exact size of your waist, you want it a little shorter so that it doesn’t fall off. Tie the elastic around a big pillow or around the back of a chair. It’s easier to put the tulle on this way. Then, cut the tulle in 6 inch strips about 2 1/2-3 feet long. Time to put the tulle on the elastic! First fold a piece of tulle in half. Then put the folded tulle behind the elastic, the round part at the top and holding the ends of the tulle together, pull the ends up through the “U” shape (around the elastic), and pull to make a knot. Do this with each piece of tulle, all along the elastic until you’re done!

To fasten, take the two ends of elastic and tie together for a pull-up tutu OR tie a pretty piece of ribbon around each end of the elastic and tie it together in the back. The end! Again, if you have any question about how to actually put the tulle on the elastic, check out the video or leave a comment below.

NOW, I am actually giving one away over at The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans! It is that one up there in the video, beautiful, homemade and PURPLE!! So go to there and enter!

Happy Saturday!

Mantra Monday: Dispel the Rumors.

The I Love Mother's Day 5k

Well I did it.

I pr'd my 5k yesterday, the "I Love Mother's Day" 5k in Palm Harbor. I broke into the 27 minute range by 1 SECOND!!

That's right, I was at 27:59 and damn it -- I was NOT going to see 28 minutes on my watch as I sprinted toward the finish!!!

I was not!

I fought for that second!


And made a little tiny man real proud of me. Hell, he'd have been proud if I were last.

 So the first mile I did in 8:35! The second mile I slowed a little and looked down and at one point was in the 9:30 range but then the 5k leaders passed me and I saw that they were breathing hard and it didn't look easy for them either, so I figured a little pain in the last mile was not going to kill me right? I mean, the faster I go the faster the pain ends anyway!

So I maintained about an 8:45ish for a little while in the last mile and sprinted toward the end!

Which means I was somewhere in the 8:30-8:34 minute range FOR A WHILE! Not for the whole thing, but for a LOT OF IT!


happiness.

 Why is this a big deal you ask?

I'll tell you why.

Because I spread rumors about myself, to myself.

I tell myself lies.

It's a constant fight to believe in myself. And I don't mind fighting it if eventually I will become the winner.

Because once upon a time I believed I was not a runner.

And then I believed I could run. Just not very fast.

And then I believed I could run comfortably at a 10 minute pace for a while.

And then I believed I'd never break the 10 minute pace. Ever. Simply because I was not made for it.

Throw in a couple tough races in a row where I didn't do as well as I had hoped I would and well, a girl mightcould just start to stop believing in herself. (Did you follow that?)

And that's just tragic.

So today I'm dispelling the rumors that I can't break the 10 minute barrier. In fact, I'm dispelling the rumors that I can't break the NINE minute barrier!!

I'm also going to dispel the rumors that all my races SUCK because this one, by far, did not. For once.

In fact, St. Anthony's didn't even suck. Because you know why? It's a tough course and a tough race and I had a hernia-ish thingy going on (which still bothered me, even today and right now) but just because a race is hard and I didn't finish in the time I wanted to doesn't make it suck. It doesn't even make it an imperfect race.

It just makes it a race.

That's what races are.

That girl right there in the pink is in full Ironman training. 140.6, baby. She's awesome and she inspires me.

And today, this is what I was.

Happy.

For every reason in the world.

The next race is sprint tri on June 6th. And I'll be ready for it.

I hope everyone had the best Mother's Day ever! What did you do??? And what's YOUR mantra for the week? Join me every Monday and set the week up right!

* * *

Florida friends: I'm giving away a family four-pack of tickets to Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3! Click here to enter!!

Mantra Monday: Believe

Do you ever have a post in your head, words to write, but you can't get them out? They're swirling around in there in no certain order?

I'm hoping I can make a post out of this.

We'll see when I get to the end.

Look at our awesome tri group up there, those are the Tri Warriors.

They push me to train hard. They push me to keep up. They push me to believe.

In the last chapter of my latest freakout on myself (There is no Spoon), I had gotten to the point where I was tired of saying "I can't" and making excuses for myself. I was tired of holding myself back. I was tired of not believing in myself.

So, during the week I put my Mantra to work. "There is no spoon."

Whenever my mind would wander to "I can't do that..." or some other variation of such sentence, I'd finish it with, "Well why the hell not?" Those boundaries I had in my mind (certain predetermined miles per hour for running or biking or times or lengths for swimming which were "safe boundaries" for me), I erased them. I wiped the slate clean.

Yes, over the past couple years I've certainly come far and certainly pushed my boundaries (going from couch to whatever..) and I see that. I'm thrilled to be doing what I'm doing and breaking through the previous limitations I had set for myself.

But no matter how far I get, I notice that I never fail to make an endless list of excuses for myself. For why I don't think I'm good enough or for why I can't keep up. Back when I was told I was crazy for setting my sights on a triathlon, I did it anyway. But now that I'm doing them I want to do them well and no one is telling me that I can't do them well. EXCEPT FOR ME. Plenty of people can say something to you about what you're able to do and make limitations for you but YOU are the only real person who has control over whether or not you listen and whether or not you follow it and it's YOUR VOICE that speaks the loudest.

And what is that voice saying?

"I'm not built for running... short legs... my torso isn't big enough, something to do with the breathing and lung capacity, not a swimmer, I can't do that blah blah blah blah blah."

Honestly, the chatter in my head is exhausting and really quite ridiculous, really.

Last week I told myself to just shut my hole already.

I can't take it anymore my head hurts I'm sick of hearing the excuses I'm sick of talking bad about myself I'm sick of talking bad about myself to others I don't deserve that no one deserves that the chatter is too loud and frankly it's just exhausting to hear it over and over again!

So after the "There's no Spoon" post, I settled on one word.

Believe.

Amazing things happen when you believe.

Amazing things happen when you believe there are no boundaries.

So here are some things that I couldn't believe but after a week of no boundaries, I do. And you can picture a "sassy" me doing my best Martin Lawrence impression at the end of the sentence when saying, "Buh-LEE DAT!" (or "believe that!" in 'non sass') And maybe some snaps in a Z formation too..

I can't believe I was going 23 miles an hour, for a while, and I wasn't going downhill! Buh-LEE DAT! (snaps here.)

I can't believe I swam, stopping only while my goggles filled up with water, in water over my head, for a while, without freaking out about the fishes or breathing or anything! Buh-LEEEEEEE DAT!

Also I can't believe I did it confidently strong and somewhat fast! Buh-LEEEE DAT!

I can't believe I can feel stronger when running from my core and that all those minutes (hours?) of plank and pushups are paying off! Well Buh-LEEE DAT!

I can't believe that fear is dissolving and excitement and adrenaline is replacing it! That the child-like fearlessness is renewing itself! Buh-LEEEEEE DAT!

I can't believe that I'm starting to see lines where abs should be! Buh-LEEE DAT!

Honestly, it's scary to believe that you can do anything. Anything is a much larger vastness than a safe predetermined boundary.

When you look off into the distance toward anything, it's daunting! What will you come up against, what's out there trying to thwart you, and then, what happens after anything? More of anything?

Everything takes practice, perhaps believing in yourself takes practice too.

I also think it takes getting mad at yourself first. And me and myself had it out last week.

I'm glad we did, too, or I'd still be shuffling along wasting time and making excuses.

At the very least, anything you do should begin with believing in yourself.

I think I'm up for it now.

* * *
What's your mantra this week? Join me on Mondays when I try to start the week off right (or make sense of the complicated!)

Leave your mantra in the comments or post about it and leave the link in the comments below!

Bondis for Babies! Calling all Bondi Bands Lovers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My baby isn't so "baby" anymore.

He's turning 5 next month.

I love that he turns 5 in the same month that we walk every year in the March for Babies. His birthday is always a reminder for me of how precious he is, life is, and babies are. How prematurity can change everything and everyone.

I've written a lot about my son and his prematurity due to my preeclampsia. His early arrival (6 weeks) fueled my passion to support other mommies of premature babies. I'm now a part of a group called Mommies Little Miracles, which does just that.

This year I'm joining the Fight for Babies once again, by supporting the March of Dimes on their mission to fight to get every baby to get their 40 full weeks, to ensure healthy pregnancies for mommies everywhere, and supporting families traumatized by prematurity.

I'm raising money by selling my favorite thing in the world! BONDI BANDS!

Bondi Bands are one of my workout, running staples. They're light headbands that wick sweat away from your face, that actually help me shield the sun from my head in the middle of the day, and they say some of the coolest things in pretty much every color. I wear: SHUT UP AND RUN.

I also wear "You can and you WILL," "Tri," "Om Nom Nom" (with a picture of a shark on it) and "FOCUS."

I have all of those in my collection to sell and many, many more, take a look:

(you can click on the picture to make it larger. The "Triathlete" one says, "Failure is not an Option." Some of my favorites pictured are "Looks like walking, feels like running" and "Pain is inevitable, misery is optional." I have two of each message and I have two different colors of each.

I also have about 50 beautiful bedazzly ones (just some of them are pictured here):

I will keep taking pictures of these and posting them.

I am selling the Bondi Bands for a minimum of a $10 donation (that includes shipping.) I say "minimum" because if you give more, it all goes to the March of Dimes, so feel free to give as little or as much as you want!

All you have to do is email me about which one you want (christieo at averagemomswearcapes.com) and we can arrange the donation through paypal or snail mail, whichever is easiest for you.

Now, if you do not want to purchase a Bondi Band but you still want to donate, you can donate directly to my March of Dimes page!

No amount is too little and I'm headed toward a $1,000 goal, so will you help me get there???

The prematurity campaign is more than a cause to me, it's my passion.

I would give anything in the world to save another mommy and baby from the emotional devastation of prematurity and the physical devastation that prematurity can cause.

My baby made it through ok.

So did I.

But millions and millions of others won't and I have friends to testify to that, I watch their children as toddlers still fighting the effects of prematurity. It breaks my heart and I will forever champion for moms and babies, for as long as I live.

Please help me in the fight against prematurity!!

Bondis for Babies!!!

Running Makes Me a Better Person

My head was hot.

I was all fired up like a caged animal.

I had eaten like crap for days. And had a few too many while I was at it.

Even though it was a rest week, there was no exercise in the forecast, even if I wanted to.

My furrowed brow was out permanently.

Everyone was acting crazy or maybe I was acting crazy in response to somewhat normal (and that's what I'm leaning toward).

Either way, I was at my limit and I needed to get out of the house stat. Just for 30 minutes.

My window appeared in the form of 40 minutes before eating dinner and just a few minutes after getting out of the shower, a most inopportune time. But there was someone to watch the kids for a few minutes and even though my hair was still wet this was it. Take it or leave it. 

I dried my hair, threw on a tee-shirt and pants and literally ran out the door for a 30 minute run with my dad.

I jogged slowly around my sister's quiet North Carolina neighborhood while my dad walked and ran. We found a loop and I sprinted around it as he rounded the corner and then I slowed and we jogged together for a while and then we'd spot a loop and I'd sprint while he jogged or walked and we'd meet up again.

And there came that point somewhere around 15 minutes in after the burn goes away where you feel like you can go forever and ever and it was magical.

All of a sudden our 30 minutes was up but I wanted longer -- so much longer.

But we returned and my head was clear again.

I felt whole.

My patience returned.

And I decided then that running makes me a better person to everyone and it reconfirmed to me why I do it.

I need it.

And it needs me.

Ever Want to Run a 5k, But You're Scerred? Here's a Review of Race Day.

It is dark.

Your alarm clock has woken you up (for the second or third time) but you’ve been half awake all night anyway, it’s just time now to drag yourself out of bed.

You can’t believe you’re awake this early. You are exhausted but not.

You’ve laid out all your clothes already including your race number, maybe you’ve even bought a new outfit for the occasion: It’s Race Day. And it’s your first.

You try to eat a decent breakfast, maybe a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter or oatmeal and a banana but your stomach is in nervous knots so you do your best. You have coffee, some water, but still, you’re nervous.

You grab a GU.

It’s time to go.

You arrive and you park and it is still dark and you’re wondering where all of these people came from and how they all knew about this day because it is their race day too. They all look like “real” runners. They think the same of you too.

You feel like everyone is staring at you and that they all know it’s your first time which they don’t. They are all just as nervous as you.

You are amazed by the number of people who surround you right now, people of all shapes and sizes and ages, there are jogging strollers, elderly people, families, even amputees. Everyone around you is about to run a race before most people are even awake and the energy is exciting and it pumps through your veins.

You’re amazed at how friendly everyone is, chattering excitedly about the weather, the course, you wonder why it’s called a “race” and why it’s a competition because it’s really a community of we’re in this together.

You now have a new bond with a couple hundred (or even thousand) of your new best friends.

You take your place at the starting line, sort of in the middle, toward the back because you’re nervous. It is almost time. You turn your I-Pod on and get ready.

This is what you’ve trained for.

This is why you’ve dragged yourself out into the neighborhood day after day, out onto the treadmill, to the gym, all of that sweating and questioning yourself and digging down deep to find what you got. The moment is here and it is now.

It is time to run.

You have your best race. Or you have your worst.

But whatever happens, you cross a finish line and the finish line means so much more than a simple line that you’ve crossed. It’s a goal you’ve set, a mountain you’ve climbed and a boundary you have just pushed.

You’ve just run your first race.

You are hot and sweaty and it hurt to get there, but you’re curious now. How far can I go?

The sky is the limit.

* * *
What was your first Race Day experience like? Never ran one? This week we're giving away a shot to run one over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. Just so you can experience it for yourself. Head on over to the Sisterhood for your shot, we'll pay for it! If you've been looking for an excuse to do it for a long time this is it!

Workout Wednesday: Barf, Shrinkvivor, Triathlon, and the Road to Disney

Well you already know I barfed after my long workout on Sunday. That was a first.

Promptly after that I got goiters the size of softballs in my throat.

We call them goiters but really they're swollen glands and by "we" I mean me and my sister who say, "I got goiters," and we know what we mean.

So now I got goiters. (Boy isn't this a lovely blog post. Who leads off with barf? I do. Twice.)

Apparently after long runs or workouts, your immune system gets really low and you should avoid everyone and everything for up to 72 hours or use hand sanitizer like it's going out of style. Somewhere in that 72 hour window, I got goiters.

So with the goiters, I have an ear infection and it all wants to be bronchitis but I have my antibiotics and I'm taking it easy to nip it before this weekend when I have a sprint triathlon and an 18 mile run. Followed by a kiddie Halloween party at my house and I'm going to be Princess Leia with the cinnamon bun hairdo. Busy weekend. No time for goiters. Definitely no time for bronchitis.

Real quick here, I'll do a quick update on Shrinkvivor (the weight-loss challenge going on over at The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans).
Dom dom dommmmmmm. (Price Is Right "loser" music played here.)

My team was banished last week to Exhile Island for being the lowest percentage of shrinkers.

Wah wahhhhh.

And if it wasn't last week, it would've been this week for me anyway because I am up an unGodly amount this week from 131 last week to 133 which is just crazy because yesterday I was down to 130 and was actually looking at a loss for this week! So how would it be that 3 pounds showed up for me this morning?

I'll give you a guess who showed up bringing those 3 pounds in her backpack. You're welcome. I still don't know why it was 3 POUNDS. She apparently doesn't travel light. I'm not worried. The three pounds will be gone by tomorrow. Ish.

Beyond that, I'd like to give my husband a huge shout out for kicking some serious butt at his first Olympic distance triathlon in a murky lake on Sunday!

Although it does look sort of pretty.

Until the swimmers kick and the splashes are all green and brownish then it's not pretty no more. And just know that there's alligators in there too. Yuck. Better all of them than me!

But he did great! Congratulations honey!

And then my camera failed as he crossed the finish line because I'm that awesome.

Next week, I'll be starting my newest feature called "Road to Disney (with a Pit Stop in Miami)" where I will be writing specifically about my Disney Marathon training each week (and my half-iron training which is really all just more preparation for Disney), from nutrition to hydration and the experimentation heretowith. So if you're ever interested in running a half or a whole marathon, stick around so you can learn from my mistakes!

Have a great day!

ps. I reviewed my favorite people ever, Girlz N Gear, over at the Sisterhood this week, so go to there and enter into the giveaway, mkay?

Mantra Monday: It's About the Numbers. It's About the Numbers.

Calories burned yesterday: 1730.
Miles biked yesterday: somewhere between 30 and 50 depending on which Garmin you used. So I'll split the difference and call it 40.
Miles ran yesterday: 9.
Water bottles drank: 4
Electrolyte bottles drank: 2
GU's eaten: 5
Time all of this took: 4 1/2 hours.
Times I puked afterward: 3
Puking afterward: priceless. (Sorry. I had to throw that in there.)
Days left until Miami-Man 1/2 Iron race: 28. Less than a month. Holy crap.

Well, there are moments I'm proud of in this even though it was not fast, nor was it pretty.

I'm proud that I burned 1730 calories yesterday and actually cannot comprehend burning this number of calories.

I'm proud that I exercised for 4 1/2 hours and promptly broke in my newly remodeled-bathroom toilet by hugging it. For a while. (You're welcome. I mean, if we're being honest here. Which we are.) Well maybe I'm not proud of that, but it is an elite club (have you ever stood at a finish line and watched people join the puke club after they've finished?)

And again, this wasn't fast.

I will continue to remind myself that this is all about numbers and not being an elite athlete.

It's just about getting it done.

The end.

And while I'm at it, I want to say a big huge congrats to Bari (Super Mom of the Month!) for becoming a half-marathoner this weekend, along with Jen In Real Life, and KIRSTEN (veteran runner!!) HOORAY TO ALL OF YOU!!

Workout Wednesday: A Last Minute Shrinkvivor Post

I'm taking a much needed break at 9:48 at night to post about my current state of workouts and my current state of weight because I am in the middle of a bathroom remodel, I've been painting and sanding and texturing all day (yes I'm Handy Manny and yes the color I chose is somewhat of a highlighter color but I swear it looks good with the shower curtain and I swear you won't need sunglasses to see it once it's all done.)

(Ps. Does all of this count as calorie burning? I sure hope so.)

I wrote about my crazy 16 mile run on Sunday (in which there was crying) and of which just so happened to coincide with the challenge of racking up the miles at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans, so coupled with my 6 mile run on Thursday, I ran 22.5 miles last week (.5 of warmup). Hurrah!

Also I weighed in this morning at exactly the same as last week, 131.5.

I know. I'm not making much progress on this challenge.

But I'm literally just focused on getting through the workouts, the next long one is a 50 mile bike/10 mile run on Sunday and it has me scared.

Scared because I haven't a clue how I will fit it in with all the stuff going on this weekend and scared because UM, IT'S A 50 MILE RIDE AND A 10 MILE RUN. (Remind me again, who does this?!)

But I've gotten through these crazy things before. It ain't pretty usually. But it gets done. I am sure it will be my Mantra Monday focus next week and I'm sure I won't be able to refrain from posting about it.

I hope everyone has an awesome week! Off to finish painting! By this time tomorrow, I'll even have a working toilet in there!

Mantra Monday: Go the Distance

Failure is all relative, really.

A person who has high expectations of themselves and falls short will most definitely find themselves a failure in their own mind. It doesn't mean they are, it just means they think they are.

A person who exceeds their own expectations, no matter how large or small their expectations are is most definitely not a failure in their own mind.

It depends on the way you're looking at any given situation and how much you expect of yourself, right?

Now a bolt that popped out of somewhere really important on a plane, causing the plane to crash, well, that's a whole nother story. I'd consider that a failure.

But we are not failures. We might think we have failed because we have expectations of ourselves and sometimes they are unrealistic, but when we fail to meet them, we inevitably feel like failures.

Which is what I felt like around mile 14 of my run yesterday as I'm climbing up over the drawbridge on the causeway (again) and crying.

Around mile 14 is where I stopped running because I couldn't anymore. All I was asking is that my legs keep running, but they wouldn't, they were mad. And I kept passing my car, stopping off to go to my car was a very convenient option since I parked somewhere along the middle of the bridge instead of one end or the other.

So it would have been easy.

And I almost did.

But then I wouldn't have gotten in my 16 miles. And yesterday's run was 16 miles.

I felt defeated, like I always do when I can't finish something with as much vigor and energy as I had when I started it.

I did a little walk/run sometimes but that would peter off and I'd walk again.

And the amount of time I had been out there on that causeway was getting to be literally ridiculous. I had started off when my tri group was gathered to do their bike, and I was still there when they got back, and then I was still there when they started running and I was still there when they finished and even when someone showed up really late and got started, I was still there when he finished his bike and I was still there when he finished his run.

How do you not feel like a failure when you're doing something and it is taking so freakin long that all you are is a big hot sweaty mess and you can hardly move and you're like a junked car that needs to be pushed-pulled-dragged to the nearest dealership for a trade-in?

And so there was some crying because I never thought it would end and I felt like a failure and I had nothing left so I told myself to "SHUT UP AND RUN" and instead I made it about the numbers.

I was not going to stop until I saw 16 on my Garmin. DAMMIT.

And I walked.

I walked some more.

There was a trot somewhere in there.

Maybe a short jog but back to a trot and back to more walking.

And then there was this.

(Ignore that "pace" in there, that's what it says I was doing in my pj's standing there this morning.)

The important part is the 16.

I know these long runs are looming out in front of me and they're not going to be easy but the important part is that no matter how fast or slow I go, if I am not physically broken into pieces, then I must go the distance that my plan says. And screw the clock.

I might not have done it like I thought I should. I might have been out there for the longest 3 hours and 37 minutes of my life (and let me tell you a 1/4 of a mile has never felt so long in my life either.) I might have failed in "going fast" or in "being a gazelle."

But who are we kidding, I'm not that fast and I'm not a gazelle. So I could look at it like failure and as I'm sitting here writing this, there is some element of me that is doing a pretty good job of trying to convince myself I'm not a failure (because somewhere there is always, always a part of me that wishes I had done better.)

But that number is there.

And that's all that matters.

What's your mantra for the week?

Workout Wednesday: Race Recap + Shrinkvivor

It feels pretty good to have finally had a great half-marathon I am still riding that high. My official time was 2:22, beating out San Diego's half marathon which was 2:36.

SQUEE!

I went with two girls from my tri group and we just had so much fun. There were so many people at the Disney Wine & Dine Half-Marathon, it was like Woodstock. Only without the mud and the drugs. So I guess not at all like Woodstock, but still.

We had our tutus, our stripey socks and our blinking tiaras.

It was a little weird doing a race at 10 at night because what on earth do you eat all day?!

I tried my best to pair protein with carbs and then around 5, we stumbled upon a Sweet Tomatoes which was magically delicious! A little salad, a little pasta... perfection!

We had to take a bus from the hotel to the start of the race where we got warmed up (and tutu met porta-potty) and then it was race time.

I don't have much to say about the race because I feel like I danced through the whole thing. I had my music on and I sang and at the mile markers I threw my hands in the air (and got tangled in my tiara once) and around mile 9 when it started to hurt, I ate a gel and put on some hardcore music and then at mile 11 when it got hard again, we were going through Hollywood Studios and we were passing all the stops and attractions I had made earlier in the year with my family and best friend's family and so my family and friends kept me going through mile 11 in my head.

The last mile I sprinted as hard as I could and got choked up because I knew I had beaten my other times by far (no porta potty stops during the race will do that) and I cried at the finish.

Hurrah!

And that picture, by the way is not at all how I felt inside.

After I crossed the finish, they lost my bag that I checked and my stomach was really angry with me and I couldn't take part in the wine or the dine part of the race. My insides were wrecked (you're welcome). But those things don't matter! I was still on some sort of a high no matter what.

They eventually found my bag (Dear Disney, better organization system for next year for 12,000 bags, m'kay? Bags laying all over the floor does not work.) And we hit the sack by 4:30 a.m.

The next day (or the same day, rather) there was a late checkout and a Shoney's breakfast buffet involved.

The end.

Which ironically brings me to the Shrinkvivor challenge. I'm up a pound. I won't blame the race, I'll blame the bacon.

My bad.

Looks like I'm staring at a trip to Exile Island.

But I'm ok with that. I have just over 4 weeks to go to Miami-Man and soon after that I'll be finished training for the Disney Marathon so things are just getting started for me, really. Onward down the road to Disney!

Destination Running: The Vegas Strip

When I was in Vegas last week, I ran my long run along the strip. 12 miles, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

It was 7:30 a.m., I was all strapped up with my water belt, gels, and we were weaving through the people on the sidewalk better known as the remnants of the night before.

Someone yelled, "Take a vacation!"

I didn't say anything back but in my thoughts, I yelled, "No, YOU take a vacation!" in my best "big baby nanny nanny boo boo I am rubber you are glue" type of way.

But then afterward it occurred to me that this WAS vacation. There was nothing in the entire world that I wanted to be doing at that moment than running the Las Vegas strip in all of it's 7:30 a.m. dry desert, zero humidity, sparkly glitzy glamorous seedy glory.

No, it wasn't always this way. Long ago, I took a cruise in which there were various means to work out including a track that wound around the whole ship and I remember thinking to myself that there is no way in hell I am going to work out because I! AM! ON! VACATION! And that meant a vacation from everything!And yes I will eat two lobster tails! (Thank you, sir, may I have another!)

As I let that lingering drunkard's voice swirl around in my head on my run, I thought about how this truly is the first time in my life that exercising has become a part of my vacation. And not a part I dread, either. It's not taking away from my vacation in any way shape or form, but instead has added to it.

Because running in far away places GIVES ME STORIES!

And I want my life to have stories!

Think about it. I get to compare the hotel pools. I get to run on various treadmills from the very old and rickety and scary, to the treadmill Cadillacs. I have learned that not a single hotel worker in the world knows how long any single one of their pools actually is and that no one really has a lane pool. That in Vegas, you have to pay $25 to use the gym unless you get lucky and score a voucher. But most of all, since getting in workouts on vacation, I have learned that running in a destination is so freakin cool.

This year, I ran that half-marathon in San Diego with Team In Training and Team Shrinking Jeans.

In New York, I ran the Brooklyn Bridge and I crossed it off my bucket list (and what a day that was.)

I ran a 5k around the harbor in downtown Baltimore with some awesome women during Fitbloggin '10.

In Las Vegas, I ran the strip.

Running in these places allows me to run in a different climate, to see different people and immerse myself in all of it and see the city in a whole new perspective.

It is amazing.

So just in case you are ever considering running the strip in Las Vegas, here is what I have learned.

In Vegas, I learned that the strip is 4.2 miles long. So in order to run 12 miles, you must run the strip just shy of 3 times.

There are some intersections in which you must cross by going up some stairs, going over a bridge and going back down the stairs.

There is also an escalator should you choose to use that instead of the stairs. I know you're asking me if we used it.

I won't tell.

Yes we did. (Is that cheating? I say no. Don't judge me.) OK so yes, it probably looked funny to see two runners stopping, stepping on the escalator, going up to the top, running across the bridge and stopping again on the escalator down. In our defense we did take the stairs a couple of times but come on! We were going 12 miles!

We started our run from the MGM Grand where we stayed, which is on one side of the strip.

When we got down toward the Stratosphere at the other end, let's just say I was glad I had my husband with me, although I was ready to open a can of whoopass should the need present itself. But be forewarned, there is a little sketcharoo-ness going on around that area and beyond. So that was our turnaround point.

At 7:30 a.m. it was 80 degrees with 20% humidity and there was a nice desert wind blowing. This was actually much cooler that what I am accustomed to and quite lovely!

There were surprisingly a large number of runners on the strip! Besides the guy who yelled at me to take a vacation, I was definitely not the only one running like I thought I might be.

There were still a lot of drunk people with beer in hand at 7:30 a.m.

Yes, Elvis was up at that hour. He's always up.

My husband did not want to stop and get our vows renewed at the little chapel near the Stratosphere around mile 4 and yes I was mildly disapointed.

There are quite a lot of opportunities to take pictures from underneath something.

And by the way, it's really cool to bring your phone and take pictures of what you're seeing while you're running and yes it slows you down a little but you know what? How many times am I going to be running the Las Vegas strip in my life?

Everyone you are with in Vegas will probably think you are crazy for getting up early and running the strip (because hello! It's Vegas!) but it really is a good time and an experience worth writing about like I am.

There is always, always, time to be an immature 10-year-old.

Sorry. I have no idea how that got in there. *snicker*

Running 12 miles in Vegas means yes, you can have the brunch buffet in Paris.

Husbands can get a little grumpy on 12 mile runs in Vegas.

It's so much easier to take an ice bath in a hotel bathtub merely because of the presence of the ice bucket and the neverending availability of massive amounts of ice.

You must put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door before you leave for your run or you risk having the cleaning people in your room when you arrive back at your room in a sweaty heap of mess.

Playing Blackjack immediately afterward gives your legs a nice long rest.

The hotel sells Advil. 

It might be better to wear comfortable shoes after your long run instead of a dress with heels.

But in case you do choose to wear heels, eventually your legs will stop screaming, it will just take a lot, lot longer, and possibly cocktails.

Cocktails are not a good recovery drink. Coach Joe would  not be happy. But if you must have cocktails, alternate water and cocktails on at least an every other drink basis.

Try to get a good night's sleep afterward. But if that's not an option, go dancing until at least 3 a.m.

* * *

So where are you on the vacation exercising? Does it make it in? Any adventures out there?