I've been amazed at how good I've been feeling during my workouts lately. I think this is the first winter that I've really kept up this well with working out, so it seems foreign to me to actually be in some sort of shape at this time of year. Most noticeable are my runs. I am the type of person who has one or two good-feeling runs a month usually. Every run in the last 2 weeks has been great, so I am very optimistic about this! Not only have the runs felt good from a physical condtioning standpoint, but they have also been runs that have taken me out of my comfort zone - something I'm starting to get used to, as this whole training process has done many times already.
In the last 8 days, I have run in a bunch of snow and in a rain storm. Although I may sound like a wuss, I never would have done that before - I would have been inside on the treadmill (and probably not run as far as a result). It's just a little step, but as they say: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
On another note, the RAGBRAI route was announced this weekend. I'm still dealing with the idea that I'm not going for the whole week. But I think that I've got a decent plan on how to make it all work out... I think I can get some of the aspects of a "real" RAGBRAI without compromising any of my training. Actually, I'm kinda looking forward to a different ride this year.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Speaking of Colorado...
No big exciting news to report. Training is still going well. I'm starting to really enjoy my every-other-week massages, almost to the point where it makes me a little nervous to actually do the IM because I won't have such a great excuse to get them on such a regular basis! Next weekend is the Ames and ISU Triathlon Clubs' Training Clinic. I'm really looking forward to hearing the great tips from Nick on nutrition and heart rate training. I'm even skipping the BRR (Bike Ride to Rippey) Ride that same day. It's kind of a mini-RAGBRAI and something that I really enjoyed last year. The tri clinic will be fun, but I can say that I'll be looking very forward to doing the BRR Ride again next year. Mom heads to Colorado tomorrow to meet her grandbabies. The flood of pictures is sure to follow! Speaking of Colorado...
Roehr sent me the pictures that we took out in Colorado last October. It's been a lot of fun looking over them and remembering the awesome time we had. We saw some of the coolest parts of the country at the best time of the year.
The aspens were so gorgeous! We took lots and lots of pictures of them... so cool!
The obligatory Coors Brewry shot:
Roehr sent me the pictures that we took out in Colorado last October. It's been a lot of fun looking over them and remembering the awesome time we had. We saw some of the coolest parts of the country at the best time of the year.
The aspens were so gorgeous! We took lots and lots of pictures of them... so cool!
The obligatory Coors Brewry shot:
This last shot is just for my mom. I've been shopping for my first digital camera, and she keeps telling me not to get one with any "fancy" features, because she basically thinks I don't have the skills to take very good photographs. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but I don't think this is so bad...
Monday, January 23, 2006
There S'Now Way Out
I am thankful for these last few months of training - the time since I signed up for the IM until now. There have been so many things I've learned about myself and what works best for me, interms of training. If I would have had to start training right after away last September, I think I would have set myself up for disaster. Maybe disaster is too strong of a word to use, but it still conveys the idea. For instance, my training is going to have to take a bit of a backseat to my real life - the part that brings the money in for things like, say, food. In my line of work, I have the ability to set my own hours for the most part, but I have developed a client base that has grown to be relatively profitable. Now I am finding that these profitable clients can (and should) dictate my schedule more than anything. That said, I've learned that swimming is working into my schedule very well on Mondays and Wednesdays. And strength training works in great on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And I love a good run on Mondays, even if the weekend workouts were tough - it is just a great way to get me centered and back on track for the week. When Fridays roll around, I am ready for a break (mentally more than anything), and it has worked out great to just not do anything on Fridays and just get ready for the longer runs and rides of the weekend. That had led me to decide that my "real" training schedule (which is to begin in 3 weeks) might be in need of a little make-over before I even get started on it. It's just one more reason I'm glad to have a degree in Exercise Science. At least I have some idea of how to move things around so I don't screw too much up and still get the same volume of work into each week.
A dusting of snow was forecast for last Friday. That dusting turned into about 4 inches by the time all was said and done (stranding Royce in Ames for an extra 24 hours). But that didn't deter Team Vardo from a 6 mile run on Saturday morning. We went slip-sliding towards the north and over to Ada Hayden park for a run on the upland trail. Normally this trail is a crushed limestone/gravel-type trail. With 4 inches of the white stuff on it, it was more like icy marbles. Thankfully, that was only about 2 miles of the total run. It was another great run for me - two in the same week!! If I'd had to run on my own, I'd have slept in for sure. It was great to see 8 other faces to join in our little snowy adventure.
Tonight was actually ANOTHER great run - this time on the treadmill, but I thought I could have gone forever again. My swim was darn good today, too! I think I'm just in the zone!
A dusting of snow was forecast for last Friday. That dusting turned into about 4 inches by the time all was said and done (stranding Royce in Ames for an extra 24 hours). But that didn't deter Team Vardo from a 6 mile run on Saturday morning. We went slip-sliding towards the north and over to Ada Hayden park for a run on the upland trail. Normally this trail is a crushed limestone/gravel-type trail. With 4 inches of the white stuff on it, it was more like icy marbles. Thankfully, that was only about 2 miles of the total run. It was another great run for me - two in the same week!! If I'd had to run on my own, I'd have slept in for sure. It was great to see 8 other faces to join in our little snowy adventure.
Tonight was actually ANOTHER great run - this time on the treadmill, but I thought I could have gone forever again. My swim was darn good today, too! I think I'm just in the zone!
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
One of THOSE Runs
Tonight I had one of those runs...
... one of those runs where you feel like you could go on forever.
... one of those runs that make you wish that tonight was your race.
... one of those runs where everything else doesn't exist.
... one of those runs that is unexpectedly great even though you thought you might be really tired, but it turns out you're not.
Sorry to be so philosophical, but a good run will do that to me! The weather was cilly but not too cold, nothing hurt, my heart rate was under control the whole time, perfect!
I even had a good swim today. Today's scheduled workout was for a mile swim. It was actually a good test for me to try a little distance work since "learning" the Total Immersion way. That went really well; it took me about 35 minutes. I can't wait to see what I'll be able to do in 8 more months!
So, I had a dream about the IM last night. It was pretty strange (as dreams tend to be), but I think that it made a few statements about how I feel approaching this thing. The swim (in my dream) was just an out and back. There weren't more than about 20 of us doing the race and at the halfway point, we stopped for some shrimp and cookies. I said it was gonna be strange... hang with me. The second half of the swim was with a current and we just kind of coasted the rest of the way into T1. The swim was WAY easier than I thought it was going to be and I felt great after it (must have been the shrimp and cookies!). When I got into T1, I suddenly realized that I didn't have my running shoes, I hadn't packed any special needs bags, and nothing was quite as it should be. But, the best part was that I never freaked out about it. I decided to head out on the ride and just take things as they came to me. I could run in an old pair of shoes that I happened to have sitting there. Things did not have to work out just as I had planned them for me to have a successful race. It wasn't about not having things exactly where I needed them, it was more about dealing with the problems that were in front of me with the best reasoning that I could muster. And I think that's how I'll need to view the race... there will be things that will be way out of my control, and I will be faced with lots of decisions along the way. What I decide at each step will make or break my day.
... one of those runs where you feel like you could go on forever.
... one of those runs that make you wish that tonight was your race.
... one of those runs where everything else doesn't exist.
... one of those runs that is unexpectedly great even though you thought you might be really tired, but it turns out you're not.
Sorry to be so philosophical, but a good run will do that to me! The weather was cilly but not too cold, nothing hurt, my heart rate was under control the whole time, perfect!
I even had a good swim today. Today's scheduled workout was for a mile swim. It was actually a good test for me to try a little distance work since "learning" the Total Immersion way. That went really well; it took me about 35 minutes. I can't wait to see what I'll be able to do in 8 more months!
So, I had a dream about the IM last night. It was pretty strange (as dreams tend to be), but I think that it made a few statements about how I feel approaching this thing. The swim (in my dream) was just an out and back. There weren't more than about 20 of us doing the race and at the halfway point, we stopped for some shrimp and cookies. I said it was gonna be strange... hang with me. The second half of the swim was with a current and we just kind of coasted the rest of the way into T1. The swim was WAY easier than I thought it was going to be and I felt great after it (must have been the shrimp and cookies!). When I got into T1, I suddenly realized that I didn't have my running shoes, I hadn't packed any special needs bags, and nothing was quite as it should be. But, the best part was that I never freaked out about it. I decided to head out on the ride and just take things as they came to me. I could run in an old pair of shoes that I happened to have sitting there. Things did not have to work out just as I had planned them for me to have a successful race. It wasn't about not having things exactly where I needed them, it was more about dealing with the problems that were in front of me with the best reasoning that I could muster. And I think that's how I'll need to view the race... there will be things that will be way out of my control, and I will be faced with lots of decisions along the way. What I decide at each step will make or break my day.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
An Aunt's Got to Brag!
Just a few more photos!
Here's the whole, happy family getting ready to leave the hospital. I've been practicing and even without a good look at their faces, I think Sophie is on the left.
Cooper and his first introduction to Lauren (on the bottom) and Sophie.
Lauren (on the left) and Sophie in their too big clothes!
This might be my favorite picture! Sophie (on the left) and Lauren in a very rare situation... her eyes are OPEN!!
Sophie (on the left) and Lauren prepare for their first ever car ride home from the hospital. I wish someone would bundle me up like this whenever I have to go out in the cold!
I talked to Steve and Tina last night and it sounds like everyone is doing well (although pretty tired). Sophie is pretty quiet most of the time and looks most like Tina. Lauren has a Vardaman face and does most of the crying. Thankfully, Tina's mom comes today to help with the babies and allow S&T to get some rest. Have little fear that more pictures will follow soon!!
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Beyond the Babies
I am so loving my life as an aunt. Although I haven't physically laid eyes (or hands) on them yet, Sophie and Lauren are two of my most favorite people in the world. They are beautiful, cute, adorable, precious little mircles from God. Thanks, God!! I'm sure that it won't take long (if it already hasn't happened) for the people around me to get sick of me talking about them all the time and showing off pictures. No one has told me to stop as of yet, so here's another one (from their third day)...
But, beyond the babies, I have still had a lot of work to get done. I've been working on getting ready for the Dam to Dam training group to start again in March. The training calendar is all put together. Now, it's just a matter of making my training schedule work into that somehow. It should work out okay for at least half of the spring. I had intended to do my long rides on Saturday and long runs on Sunday (per the schedule), but the running group meets on Saturdays, so for a while, I'll be doing things a little backwards.
I'll be going to Madison with a group of triathletes from Des Moines in June for "Epic Camp Madison." It will be a weekend of workouts on the actual course starting with a century ride (100 miles) on the bike course, followed by a short (relatively speaking) brick run on Saturday. Then Sunday is either a 6.5 or 13 mile run on the course followed by a swim in Lake Monona. Should give the rookies in the group (me!) a good taste of the course and a great series of workouts with some veterans. That will occur the weekend following Dam to Dam (a 20K), so I'd be smart to schedule a kind of easy week in between.
I've also determined the list of triathlons, races, and rides I'll be participating in this summer in addition to the IM:
June 3, Dam to Dam (or for the non-swearers in the group: Darn to Darn) 20K (12.4 miles)
June 17, Quad Cities Triathlon (sprint distance)
June 24, Pella Dutchman Triathlon (international distance)
July 23, Spirit of Racine Triathlon (half IM)
July 23-29, RAGBRAI
I'm kinda sad to miss the Iowa Games tri this year. It was the first one I'd ever done and I've done it for the past 3 years, but it is the same weekend as my grandmother's birthday party. The only part I won't miss are all hills and heat from last year!
I'd like to draw your attention to the links at the top of this page. If you haven't taken the time to read Roehr's blog yet, please do! She finished her first marathon a week ago and did VERY well! She has been quite an inspiration to me (and many others) over the last year(s). Team Satisfied has also recently updated it's blog. Though not inspiring to really anyone, it can be good for a coule laughs as we learn to tolerate life in the non-RAGBRAI weeks of the year.
But, beyond the babies, I have still had a lot of work to get done. I've been working on getting ready for the Dam to Dam training group to start again in March. The training calendar is all put together. Now, it's just a matter of making my training schedule work into that somehow. It should work out okay for at least half of the spring. I had intended to do my long rides on Saturday and long runs on Sunday (per the schedule), but the running group meets on Saturdays, so for a while, I'll be doing things a little backwards.
I'll be going to Madison with a group of triathletes from Des Moines in June for "Epic Camp Madison." It will be a weekend of workouts on the actual course starting with a century ride (100 miles) on the bike course, followed by a short (relatively speaking) brick run on Saturday. Then Sunday is either a 6.5 or 13 mile run on the course followed by a swim in Lake Monona. Should give the rookies in the group (me!) a good taste of the course and a great series of workouts with some veterans. That will occur the weekend following Dam to Dam (a 20K), so I'd be smart to schedule a kind of easy week in between.
I've also determined the list of triathlons, races, and rides I'll be participating in this summer in addition to the IM:
June 3, Dam to Dam (or for the non-swearers in the group: Darn to Darn) 20K (12.4 miles)
June 17, Quad Cities Triathlon (sprint distance)
June 24, Pella Dutchman Triathlon (international distance)
July 23, Spirit of Racine Triathlon (half IM)
July 23-29, RAGBRAI
I'm kinda sad to miss the Iowa Games tri this year. It was the first one I'd ever done and I've done it for the past 3 years, but it is the same weekend as my grandmother's birthday party. The only part I won't miss are all hills and heat from last year!
I'd like to draw your attention to the links at the top of this page. If you haven't taken the time to read Roehr's blog yet, please do! She finished her first marathon a week ago and did VERY well! She has been quite an inspiration to me (and many others) over the last year(s). Team Satisfied has also recently updated it's blog. Though not inspiring to really anyone, it can be good for a coule laughs as we learn to tolerate life in the non-RAGBRAI weeks of the year.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Monday, January 09, 2006
Twins are Twice as Nice
The twins have arrived!
Lauren Ruth was born at 5:59 tonight, weighing 5lbs 8 oz and Sophie Elizabeth was born at 6:00 tonight, weighing 4lbs 13 oz. Mom, Dad, and both girls are doing well!
Pictures to follow as soon as I get them!!
Lauren Ruth was born at 5:59 tonight, weighing 5lbs 8 oz and Sophie Elizabeth was born at 6:00 tonight, weighing 4lbs 13 oz. Mom, Dad, and both girls are doing well!
Pictures to follow as soon as I get them!!
Saturday, January 07, 2006
It's All Coming Together
Since my New Year's shopping "spree," I've been spending some of my free time reading my new "Total Immersion" book. On Wednesday, I finally had a chance to try out some of the techniques. I hadn't read far enough to learn the drills, but I did get the basic ideas. My first lap across the pool using the TI idea was awesome. It really is WAY more efficient and economical. The basis of TI is using more of your core (or "swimming from your hips"), rather than making your relatively weak arms force yourself through the water. The other TI main point is to become more balanced and stream-lined (fish-like) in the water, cutting drag and becoming more relaxed. Whatever the idea, it works! I just need to practice it a lot more. It's easy to do for about 25 yards, but when I get the least bit tired, I kind of regress to the old, more taxing form.
I made it out for a 5 mile run this week and then joined Team Vardo for 6 miles this morning. My heart rate was WAY out of zone, especially at the top of the Ontario Street hill. That meant a minute or so of walking for me. I felt much better after my HR returned to more appropriate levels. Actually, I don't think that I've ever had my HR so high since I started wearing a heart rate monitor. Regardless, I'd almost forgotten just how much easier it is to run with other people. I can be sure that my run wouldn't have been quite as successful without my friends and Lucky, the black lab who sometimes joins us!
I spent some serious time this weekend and week preparing my schedule for the summer. Roehr and I spent a few near-panic moments on the phone after I had added up the potential mileage for the summer. From first glance, it looks like I'll hit about 130-140 miles of swimming, about 750-775 miles running, and 2600-2700 miles biking! Calm down, Mom! I'll be okay!
I'm gonna have a busy summer of driving, too. I haven't taken the time to add up the additional miles on my truck yet! Looks like I'll be heading to Madison at least 3 times to ride the course, once each in June, July, and August. I'll also be in the Quad Cities for a tri in June, in Chicago for a VERY special birthday party in July, and in Racine, WI for a Half IM the following week(right before RAGBRAI).
Roehr is tackling her first marathon tomorrow morning in Orlando, FL. My email is set up to receive periodic updates for her at various points along the course. She is very well-prepared, and I know she will have a great experience. Now, if I can just talk her into taking a week or so off to recover before she jumps back into training for the IM.
Latest news from Colorado is that Tina is going in tomorrow to be induced. That means I'll be an aunt sometime Monday! The most disappointing part of this busy summer schedule is that I won't have the opportunity to go back to Colorado to see the girls until the fall. But, after this is all done, I'm sure that Roehr and I will be making another trip to Colorado in October for some R&R and hiking. And S&T and the girls will be back in Chicago in July for the birthday party.
I also had my first massage this week. This IM is such a great excuse to get regular massages and chiropractic care. Expensive, but good.
I made it out for a 5 mile run this week and then joined Team Vardo for 6 miles this morning. My heart rate was WAY out of zone, especially at the top of the Ontario Street hill. That meant a minute or so of walking for me. I felt much better after my HR returned to more appropriate levels. Actually, I don't think that I've ever had my HR so high since I started wearing a heart rate monitor. Regardless, I'd almost forgotten just how much easier it is to run with other people. I can be sure that my run wouldn't have been quite as successful without my friends and Lucky, the black lab who sometimes joins us!
I spent some serious time this weekend and week preparing my schedule for the summer. Roehr and I spent a few near-panic moments on the phone after I had added up the potential mileage for the summer. From first glance, it looks like I'll hit about 130-140 miles of swimming, about 750-775 miles running, and 2600-2700 miles biking! Calm down, Mom! I'll be okay!
I'm gonna have a busy summer of driving, too. I haven't taken the time to add up the additional miles on my truck yet! Looks like I'll be heading to Madison at least 3 times to ride the course, once each in June, July, and August. I'll also be in the Quad Cities for a tri in June, in Chicago for a VERY special birthday party in July, and in Racine, WI for a Half IM the following week(right before RAGBRAI).
Roehr is tackling her first marathon tomorrow morning in Orlando, FL. My email is set up to receive periodic updates for her at various points along the course. She is very well-prepared, and I know she will have a great experience. Now, if I can just talk her into taking a week or so off to recover before she jumps back into training for the IM.
Latest news from Colorado is that Tina is going in tomorrow to be induced. That means I'll be an aunt sometime Monday! The most disappointing part of this busy summer schedule is that I won't have the opportunity to go back to Colorado to see the girls until the fall. But, after this is all done, I'm sure that Roehr and I will be making another trip to Colorado in October for some R&R and hiking. And S&T and the girls will be back in Chicago in July for the birthday party.
I also had my first massage this week. This IM is such a great excuse to get regular massages and chiropractic care. Expensive, but good.
Monday, January 02, 2006
New Year's, No New News
The past few days have been so busy with random stuff that I didn't get a chance to write a "New Year's" post, and for that I apoligize. I awoke this morning to a sound that is not heard often in Iowa in January: a pouring rain! Since I love rain storms I was psyched. But then I realized that the rain would delay my planned outdoor morning run into the afternoon or potentially the treadmill.
My friend Cara drove down from the great white north (i.e. Minneaplois) for the weekend, and since she is deathly allergic to the cats here, she drove straight past Ames to stay with our friends Betsy and Bryan (and yes, I do think it's "cute" that Besty and Bryan (B&B) let us all camp at their house this weekend, with Betsy cooking us breakfast each morning, making it "B&B's B&B). Friday after work, we met up with B&B and Cara in Johnston and we ate a fabulous dinner of chips and dips with a side of chicken enchiladas. Bryan even went to the store so we could have a dessert of strawberry and cake batter (who knew?) ice cream. We played 20 Questions and laughed til about 11pm when we all finally passed out due to over-consumption of food.
I tried to get a run in on Saturday morning before all the craziness of the day set in, but I felt terrible on the run right off the bat, so it turned out to be just a 3 miler, rather than the 6 miler I had intended. I believe that event just further proved my theory (others might call it science that has already been proven...) that what we eat really is what we use as energy, and poor eating will result in poor performance. Although I am a student of performance, I tend to not really take things of this nature truly to heart until I experience them firsthand. And, although I've been an athlete for years, I think that I always chalked up my "crap" days to things other than diet. But as my diet has evolved in the last 3 months or so, I can more clearly see the direct coorelation. Perhaps that could be Resolution #1: Eat better, and eat better on a more consistant basis.
As I have ventured back outside (because I cannot tolerate any more hour long runs on the treadmill), I have noticed that my closet does not contain the clothing necessary for outdoor winter activity. I must have just been hibernating indoors for the winters of the last 10 years, waiting for the phone to ring with a job offer that would "force" me to move to Hawaii (and I'll continue to wait for that...). That said, one of my goals for the weekend was to procure some new running clothes.
Betsy, Betsy's friend Julie, Cara, Sparkle, and I went shopping on Saturday, each with our own goals. We went to the "new" Jordan Creek Mall to try our best to meet those goals. The only store there for me was Scheel's and everything was full price and not exactly what I was looking for, so I basically left the mall empty-handed. Oh, except for Cara's purse, which I literally sprinted through the throngs of people to retrieve after Cara left it next to a chair in the middle of the very crowded mall. Thanks to a very nice man who saw the desparate look on my face when I made it back to the chair and it wasn't there. He said someone had just taken it to the security desk. We got the purse back with nothing missing. Only in Iowa...
We got everyone back to B&B's house and Sparkle and I decided to hit one more store to get what we needed. Super Target, here we come! The clearance racks in the "fitness" area turned out to be my salvation! I bought 4 shirts for a grand total of $26.44! Granted, one of them is going back, but still, what a deal!! New Year's Resolution #2: Don't buy ANYTHING unless it's on sale!
Pacified by my purchases, we got back to B&B's to get ready for our New Year's celebration. Cara, Sparkle, and I drove south out of Des Moines to a party at our friend's Brett and Melissa's new house out in the middle of nowhere. We met up with Sid and Sparkle's friend, Dana, who is visiting from North Carolina. After a tour of the new house and piles of cheese, crackers, spinach dip, and brownies, we settled in to watch the end of a movie and then Big Jim's Polka Show on RFDTV. After about a half hour of polka, we could see that it might be time to move on to the next party. After a quick in-and-out at the Cumming Tap, located just off the main drag in Cumming, Iowa, to procure a beverage and a souvenir, we headed back towards B&B's neighborhood, where a friend of Sparkle's and mine (Jeff, who also happens to own a competing truck accessory business in Des Moines) lives, just 3 blocks from B&B's. To us that meant we were within walking distance of our beds and didn't have to work out driving responsibilites anymore. Turns out that the party was in full force when we got there, but they still needed a little help from the girls from Ames to really take it to the next level!
Hello, Tippy Cup!!! If you were at my 30th birthday party, you know full-well what Tippy Cup is all about. Jeff's friends LOVED us and you can be sure that they will share this game at their next party. Resolution #3: When in doubt, play Tippy Cup!
We were home and in bed by 2am. Since I was about the only one who felt just fine when I woke up, I grabbed the coupon out of the morning paper and drove over to the Sports Authority in West Des Moines for one more try at my shopping. I hit the jackpot there... I got 3 more shirts, some underwear, and a bag I've been needing for my trips to the swimming pool for $83. Right next door was a Border's bookstore, and I had a 2 gift certificates (one from my birthday and one from Christmas) to spend there. I bought "Total Immersion" (a book on swimming), a calendar, and another book for a whopping $2.45. Thanks Steve & Tina and Sonja! As I was getting in the truck to leave (Sparkle had called and she needed to get home to her sofa/bed ASAP, as the hangover was starting to take hold full-force), I saw an old friend come out of the Sports Authority.
He is the one who originally got me started on doing triathlons and we even ran our first marathon togther. It was great to catch up with him. He was pretty excited that I am doing IM Wisconsin. Back in the day, we had talked about doing IM Lake Placid together, but that never panned out. Maybe I inspired him to get back into triathlons like he inspired me the first time... I guess I'll see if he shows up at the Iowa Games tri this summer.
Still feeling great, I managed to get an hour in on the bike last night and I am looking forward to hitting the pool this morning and hopefully getting back out for a run later today.
As I look back over 2005, I have learned a lot about myself from a personal, spiritual, physical, and emotional level. But I feel very good about the progress I made in all aspects of my life and I can 't wait to use those life-lessons to become who I am to be in 2006.
On a side note, as of the time of this posting, I haven't heard anything from Steve and Tina. The next time I hear from them should be immediately following the birth of the twins. My cell phone is never more that a few feet from me, so I'll be able to grab that call as soon as it comes! I think Tina was kind of hoping that they'd be here by now, but we are all thankful that she has been able to carry them as long as she has! Every day is better for them, although more uncomfortable for Tina. Hang in there, sister!
My friend Cara drove down from the great white north (i.e. Minneaplois) for the weekend, and since she is deathly allergic to the cats here, she drove straight past Ames to stay with our friends Betsy and Bryan (and yes, I do think it's "cute" that Besty and Bryan (B&B) let us all camp at their house this weekend, with Betsy cooking us breakfast each morning, making it "B&B's B&B). Friday after work, we met up with B&B and Cara in Johnston and we ate a fabulous dinner of chips and dips with a side of chicken enchiladas. Bryan even went to the store so we could have a dessert of strawberry and cake batter (who knew?) ice cream. We played 20 Questions and laughed til about 11pm when we all finally passed out due to over-consumption of food.
I tried to get a run in on Saturday morning before all the craziness of the day set in, but I felt terrible on the run right off the bat, so it turned out to be just a 3 miler, rather than the 6 miler I had intended. I believe that event just further proved my theory (others might call it science that has already been proven...) that what we eat really is what we use as energy, and poor eating will result in poor performance. Although I am a student of performance, I tend to not really take things of this nature truly to heart until I experience them firsthand. And, although I've been an athlete for years, I think that I always chalked up my "crap" days to things other than diet. But as my diet has evolved in the last 3 months or so, I can more clearly see the direct coorelation. Perhaps that could be Resolution #1: Eat better, and eat better on a more consistant basis.
As I have ventured back outside (because I cannot tolerate any more hour long runs on the treadmill), I have noticed that my closet does not contain the clothing necessary for outdoor winter activity. I must have just been hibernating indoors for the winters of the last 10 years, waiting for the phone to ring with a job offer that would "force" me to move to Hawaii (and I'll continue to wait for that...). That said, one of my goals for the weekend was to procure some new running clothes.
Betsy, Betsy's friend Julie, Cara, Sparkle, and I went shopping on Saturday, each with our own goals. We went to the "new" Jordan Creek Mall to try our best to meet those goals. The only store there for me was Scheel's and everything was full price and not exactly what I was looking for, so I basically left the mall empty-handed. Oh, except for Cara's purse, which I literally sprinted through the throngs of people to retrieve after Cara left it next to a chair in the middle of the very crowded mall. Thanks to a very nice man who saw the desparate look on my face when I made it back to the chair and it wasn't there. He said someone had just taken it to the security desk. We got the purse back with nothing missing. Only in Iowa...
We got everyone back to B&B's house and Sparkle and I decided to hit one more store to get what we needed. Super Target, here we come! The clearance racks in the "fitness" area turned out to be my salvation! I bought 4 shirts for a grand total of $26.44! Granted, one of them is going back, but still, what a deal!! New Year's Resolution #2: Don't buy ANYTHING unless it's on sale!
Pacified by my purchases, we got back to B&B's to get ready for our New Year's celebration. Cara, Sparkle, and I drove south out of Des Moines to a party at our friend's Brett and Melissa's new house out in the middle of nowhere. We met up with Sid and Sparkle's friend, Dana, who is visiting from North Carolina. After a tour of the new house and piles of cheese, crackers, spinach dip, and brownies, we settled in to watch the end of a movie and then Big Jim's Polka Show on RFDTV. After about a half hour of polka, we could see that it might be time to move on to the next party. After a quick in-and-out at the Cumming Tap, located just off the main drag in Cumming, Iowa, to procure a beverage and a souvenir, we headed back towards B&B's neighborhood, where a friend of Sparkle's and mine (Jeff, who also happens to own a competing truck accessory business in Des Moines) lives, just 3 blocks from B&B's. To us that meant we were within walking distance of our beds and didn't have to work out driving responsibilites anymore. Turns out that the party was in full force when we got there, but they still needed a little help from the girls from Ames to really take it to the next level!
Hello, Tippy Cup!!! If you were at my 30th birthday party, you know full-well what Tippy Cup is all about. Jeff's friends LOVED us and you can be sure that they will share this game at their next party. Resolution #3: When in doubt, play Tippy Cup!
We were home and in bed by 2am. Since I was about the only one who felt just fine when I woke up, I grabbed the coupon out of the morning paper and drove over to the Sports Authority in West Des Moines for one more try at my shopping. I hit the jackpot there... I got 3 more shirts, some underwear, and a bag I've been needing for my trips to the swimming pool for $83. Right next door was a Border's bookstore, and I had a 2 gift certificates (one from my birthday and one from Christmas) to spend there. I bought "Total Immersion" (a book on swimming), a calendar, and another book for a whopping $2.45. Thanks Steve & Tina and Sonja! As I was getting in the truck to leave (Sparkle had called and she needed to get home to her sofa/bed ASAP, as the hangover was starting to take hold full-force), I saw an old friend come out of the Sports Authority.
He is the one who originally got me started on doing triathlons and we even ran our first marathon togther. It was great to catch up with him. He was pretty excited that I am doing IM Wisconsin. Back in the day, we had talked about doing IM Lake Placid together, but that never panned out. Maybe I inspired him to get back into triathlons like he inspired me the first time... I guess I'll see if he shows up at the Iowa Games tri this summer.
Still feeling great, I managed to get an hour in on the bike last night and I am looking forward to hitting the pool this morning and hopefully getting back out for a run later today.
As I look back over 2005, I have learned a lot about myself from a personal, spiritual, physical, and emotional level. But I feel very good about the progress I made in all aspects of my life and I can 't wait to use those life-lessons to become who I am to be in 2006.
On a side note, as of the time of this posting, I haven't heard anything from Steve and Tina. The next time I hear from them should be immediately following the birth of the twins. My cell phone is never more that a few feet from me, so I'll be able to grab that call as soon as it comes! I think Tina was kind of hoping that they'd be here by now, but we are all thankful that she has been able to carry them as long as she has! Every day is better for them, although more uncomfortable for Tina. Hang in there, sister!
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