Born Again Athlete:

Not so good training week

1.Left track early on Monday; it started late, so only got 40 minutes of running in.

2. Missed track and ballet on Wed because it was cold and rainy and I just went home and ate something warm and climbed into bed.

3. Did only 2000 meters of open water swim instead of 4000

4. DID NOT RIDE AT ALL ON SATURDAY. THERE I ADMITTED IT. I STAYED IN BED ALL DAY, EATING CHEETOS AND QUESO AND COOKIES.

5. Run on Sunday was in the Silicon Labs marathon relay. I ran the first 12 K and was going to run the whole thing, or last 20+ miles for my long run. I started having bad left hip pain (more hip flexor than ITB) and left ankle pain, so stopped after 13 miles. Now my back hurts - what did I do to myself?!

Hope this week will be better.

My saving grace in regards to not being too worried about Florida is that I did a half-Iron (Buffalo Springs) early in the season without too much training, and also did a century ride in June without any difficulty.

Still...it makes me feel guilty and depressed when I don't do most of my training right.

Also, I ate WAY too much candy last week.

Also, boys suck.

the end.

Oooh, haven't posted for a while. 7 1/2 weeks until IMFL!  How did time pass so quickly? I am very excited because a caravan of T3 teammates are going to volunteer. yay- lots of cheerleaders!

I feel much more confident this time, well trained. I know I'll finish. I would like to finish faster than IMAZ, but I know you can't predict the day, so I will be happy finishing well. I am still a little afraid of swimming in the ocean. 

I feel very strong these days. I felt a "bump" on my arm a few months ago, then realized - that's my tricep muscle!

Hit me baby! See, triathlons are fun!

I look skinny here.

Thanks to Gordon again for his photography skills.

Austin Triathlon - my favorite race of all time and third time doing it. This post is also subtitled 'why I didn't break the 3 hour mark' or 'Excuses, excuses'

Short and sweet of it: 3:21 last year, 3:08 this year.

I think I'm destined just to be a slow swimmer. No matter how fast I try or how good I feel, I still go about 2:30/100. Now, this is much better than I was before training, when I was about 3:00 per 100.

Excuse 1: I had to readjust my goggles and then my timing strap felt loose, so I was too afraid to kick too hard.

T1: 5:29! (usually, is 2-3 minutes) What you talkin' about Willis?!? I pulled a rookie stunt and totally forgot where my bike was, after running down the whole length of transition area, then running back, I found my bike. Eeep.

Bike was pretty good. Averaged 19.1. I really hate when you piddle back and forth with a man who is so afraid of being chicked. If you don't like being passed by a girl, then ride faster than me!!

Excuse 2: I have to admit, I had acute stress disorder symptoms on the bike due my recent fall. I felt kinda afraid of going fast, actually sat up and rode my brakes at time and took the turns very slowly. I hope I get over this.

T2: 3:02! (usually less than 2 minutes). Again, forgot where my stuff was. Aiya.

Run was pretty good! Averaged 10:06 per mile! oooh- so close to breaking that 10 minute goal. And here is excuse #3 - my bra came undone during the run. Seriously. It is one I really like because it zips up the front, so easy to get in and out of. I don't know if my buxom bosoms overwhelmed it, but it came unzipped and I had to stop and discretely try to redress myself on the run course.

Still fun. I hope I don't get an infection from swimming in town lake with my bike wounds.

My new nutrition plan

   Yes, that is a rat. Not a real rat.

It is a gummy rat.  Hee hee - I find so many ways to amuse myself.

  All those Clif bloks and other solid nutrition are basically just gummy candy. Why pay lots of money, just because it's marketed as sports specific?

I really considered using this. The whole rat is 240 calories - perfect for 1 hour of nutrition. I thought it'd be funny to race with a rat in my mouth. Cool race photos, you know? I wouldn't mind freakin' out some spectators and other racers.

I don't think I'll use it though, only because it didn't taste very good. It sorta tasted like a marshmallow. Maybe if I can find the red ones, those might be better.

I made panzanella!

instead of working out yesterday. A way to use old leftover bread. I wanted to make bread pudding of course, but not really the season.

Minced shallots (you can use red onions)
Diced tomatoes.
Fresh basil
Mixed together the above and add extra virgin olive oil and vinegar. I used both red wine and balsamic, but you can either one or the other. Add some salt and pepper.
Add old dry bread.
Mix together. Yum

Amounts? Just some of everything - how's that for exact. It's best to cook without a real recipe, don't you think (except for baking of course.)

I think next time I will add some cucumbers.