Thursday Thirteen - the B'day Edition

13 things I'd wush for my b'day.... (outside of being surrounded by love, family and friends)

1) The perfect tri short and with that free race enter for every race I wanted to do.

2) Meet Oprah, Dr. Oz, Ekhardt Tolle, Jillian, Bob, Steve Gunn and okay, what the heck, the Obamas... all of them.

3) A world with no hate.  Seriously... I'm not just playing "answer the pageant question".  There's some eff'd up stuff going on right in Houston's backyard

4) To know fully that my Daughter and be smart, safe and sound long after I've left this Earth.

5) That all those I love know how much a part of me was inspired by a part of them.

6) To master what it means to be :"in the moment" all the time.

7) To be able to figure out what it is I need to do with my life. If I can't figure out what to do with my life, then do something to help others.

8) To really, truly forgive.

9) Of course, a million dollars... Heck!  Who am I kidding? $100k would suffice.

10) That my Mother quits smoking and takes care of herself.

11) That my sister could have a housekeeper full-time so her kids don't have to grow up like we did.  Not that it was bad growing up at the dance studio, but there's so much more to do as a family..

12) That my Ironman Florida friends swim like fish, ride like they stole it and run like the wind... all the while being safe and enjoying the fruits of the year long training. 

13) Get my T-roid under control, drop the last of this weight!

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!

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Speed Workout

Did my speed workout last night.  It was okay.

We do our speed workouts at the high school track.  The band was practicing last night.  It was quite the challenge to keep my own pace, while listening to their street beat.  I looked down at my watch and saw me running and 8:20 pace, but that lasted all of a minute.  LOL

I tried.  Running with the drum core in the background is like rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time. :)

I have a 25K Relay this weekend and my only goal is to do better than I did at the last relay.  I'm okay if I don't get a sub 13 again, I just want to be well and race my race.

My tri club friends are off to Ironman Florida.  I'm really bummed I couldn't make the trip happen so I could volunteer, but life gets in the way.  I admire the dedication and courage of every one of them!

I"m going to be putting my AED certification to work this weekend.  I'm a little nervous about it, because heaven forbid we really need to take more action than just drink coffee and wait.  But I have the certification and it makes sense to use it!

Wordless Wednesday

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Wordless Wednesday

Some Good News!

Finally got my sub 13 (12:54) pace on a long run this morning.  9.02 miles.  The farthest distance I've run in my life. :)

I needed this so bad after last week's disaster at the HHM Relay.  Beautiful weather, nice and cool.

Changed my nutrition this morning too.

1 c. coffee
1 pc. wheat bread
1 egg
.5 oz Cheese

2 Hammergels -- 1 in each 10 oz. bottle MIXED with water.

I felt good and strong the whole time.  Groin was noticeable, but not painful, definitely on the mend. 

Where I'm At...

I've been horrible about blogging with any regularity lately; could be a reflection of my state-of-mind these days. 

My slight goin injury is doing better -- it didn't bother me at all during or after the HHM Relay.  I have a 9 mile run tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes after that.  I'm optimistic.  <---- about something anyway!

Darren is registered for his first run!  He's doing the 5K Turkey Trot and I'm doing the 10K.  I'm excited for him -- and the fact that we actually get to do something, somewhat, together. :)

Thanksgiving plans are to stay at home this year and I'm grateful.  Darren was somehow able to get his Mom to come here for a week.  I am so happy Cassie gets to spend more than just a couple days with her Nanna... she'll be thrilled. 

The scale has krept up 8 lbs in 10 days. and seriously, with no good reason.  I am so bloated, it is ridiculous!  I'm having trouble keeping focus and my hair is so dry I really just want to rip it out.  I think part of the reason I've not been blogging is because I'm so frustrated with this Thyroid BS and I just want to feel better.  I feel like it's all that's on my mind these days. And if that's all that's on my mind; that's all I'm going to write about.  And I hate to focus on the frustrating and feel so negative all the time. *sigh*

So, with that said, my Chrio is going to do this test on my neuro transmitters, general vitamin levels and cortisol levels.  If my cortisol levels are high, it could be creating a secondary problem for my thryroid.  I have to collect urine and saliva at home on Sunday and then send it in... we'll see how it compares to my annual bariatric bloodwork. 

Oh, yeah, I'm coming up on my 3 year surgiversary.  Whoopie.

So having committed to doing the Olympic Distance in April for the Lonestar Triathlon Festival, I am going to work with some coaches to train more efficiently.  I get out and swim, bike and run, but I really don't know how to do it efficiently, and I know I could be doing it better and yielding improved results.  When I started to search the I'net for info, I just get overwhelmed.  More to come on this. 

Here's some pics from HHM:

That's my relay teamate, Steve.

There I am... in the red. 

I think this was towards the finish.

I was dying. 

Incidentally 1434 (my "shero")

is headed for Ironman Florida next week!

Steve and Cathy Starting...

Somewhere on the run, wearing tights

I should not have been wearing!  I was so effin' hot! 

Friday Fill♥Ins

And...here we go!

1. It was a dark and stormy night, all I want to do is sleep.

2. There were far too many for him, so I offered to take the books myself.

3. Rushing out, I forgot my laptop!

4. That was creepy... I think I heard a howl!

5. Shhhh... listen.

6. Here's your choice:  Smell my feet or give me something good to eat!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a "family night", tomorrow my plans include a 9 mile run and Sunday, I want to volunteer at the Ironstar Tri. 

Tardy for the Party - Thursday Thirteen

13 Random Things Under "You'd Think I'd Know Better By Now"

1)  That when something comes out of the oven it's hot.  Trying to quickly turn the fishsticks with my fingertips only ends up with me running my fingers under cold water.  Oven hot hurts, but I can wash dishes in super-hot water with no problem. 

2)  Nothing. New. On. Raceday.

3)  That I cannot make garlic bread without burning it -- it's a family gift, passed down, started by my Mother

4)  That the best intentions often get derailed and I shouldn't get flustered when life gets in the way.

5)  That when Mommy has a snack, ultimately it becomes Cassie's too.  Same goes for drinks.

6)  Only give Cassie the choice between "this" or "that".  Do not give the choices of"this", "that", "the other thing" or "that one over there."  It's painful to watch her make a decision!

7)  Internet maps are not always right.  Nor am I when it comes to geography.

8)  If I don't manage my allergies, they won't manage themselves.

9)  That I really can accomplish whatever I set out to -- it all starts just by strating and moving forward even if only in some small way.

10)  Always keep an umbrella in the car.

11)  "Right" doesn't always win.  That said, it's not always about the "win".

12)  Only fear of succeeding can keep me from commiting.

13)  That a "tight schedule" only gets tighter, so don't over commit. 




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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!

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View More Thursday Thirteen Participants and add yourself!

Tardy for the Party - Wordless Wednesday

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Wordless Wednesday

Race Report: 2009 Houston Half Marathon Relay

Let's just say the best intentions don't always pan out the way you hope. Today was a disappointment in some ways and a success in others.

I went into this wanting, so badly, a 12:50-something pace. 12:59 would have had me dancing in the streets! Something about crossing from 13-something to 12-something is significant to me. I've crossed from 14-something to 13-something and I am grateful for that. I see that 12-something on my shorter runs, so I know it is right around the corner on my longer runs, so I guess it's so close I can nearly touch it, but it continues to escape me.

So I received my "sinus miracle", in the form of a steroid shot and oral steroids for the congestion, but I just felt like the stay-puff marshmallow man. Heavy legs... I mean heavy. Evidently the steroids make for water retention. I think I drank nearly 200 oz. of water yesterday to keep from retaining, but I could feel it. I could see it. Ugh! In short, there was no more a spring in my step than a hot day in the North Pole.

I got up around 3:45, planned 4:00, but couldn't sleep. It was race-day, you know? I laid and bed and kept visualizing the clock at the finish... not that it helped. LOL I had some issues with nutrition this morning and my routine, so that caused me a little stress right off the bat.

Usually I have 1 egg, on wheat toast with some cheese. Today I decided on some oatmeal with some almond butter and honey -- there were only 2 eggs left and I wanted to leave Hubs and the Cassinator some breakfast! I had my coffee too -- along with that usually comes my mornng *moment*. No moment. I'm like clockwork. When I can't go before I leave the house I get worried it will be worse later. This is probably too much information. Sorry. I started taking an anti-biotic yesterday and was sure I would wind up feeling the effects at the race. Not the scene you want to have at a port-a-potty. :( In the end I had no *moment* today -- hmmmm.

The weather turned out to be a little warmer here than expected, so I was questioning my race apparel. I bought some CW-X tights and they were a tad too warm for today. That probably didn't help. On a good note though, I felt absolutely no fatigue in my hips or ITB -- but that could have been an effect of the steroids too. I think it was 63 degrees when I left the house, so at least I know now, what's too hot for tights.

It was 2 miles to the relay exchange. I walked 1 mile and warmed up the last mile. My relay partner steve finished his 6.55 in about 1:10 (or close to that). I started off and felt okay the first few miles, except I was having trouble pacing myself. Normally it isn't a problem, but I'd look down and I'd be running and 11 something mile; that's not me. So as a result I would peter out quickly. Just something I noticed. I am considering that if I can run the faster 11-something pace, then maybe I should drop my intervals to 4/1 from 5/1. Maybe my average in the end would be better? Just a thought.

After the first few miles though my heart-rate was easily reaching the 170's My average hear-rate is between 155-158, like clockwork. My hope it was the unexpected heat, the meds, the adrenaline. I saw one guy down for the count with medics, so I was being careful, knowing that I was not 100% and was lucky just to be racing today.

The miles past and I just felt worse. I got the half-way point around 44 minutes and thought I had a shot at a better pace, but I really just slowed down from there.

With about 3 miles to go Cathy caught me. She was doing the individual half. She had ridden yesterday 60 or 70 miles, so today was just for the mileage. She hung with me for a while, and that's probably why my finish wasn't worse than it was. She kind of pulled me along. :)

I got my bling and a nice Asics Singlet. Slow or fast, you still get your bling. :)

Left the race and went grocery shopping; wearing my bling. Oh yes she did!

Then I came home and slept for 3 hours.

Then I got up and realized I still had to be a domestic goddess. :)

Things I did well:
- Persevered. Easily could have not gone today.
- Training. Dedication is paying off and probably the only reason I was able to do what I did.
- Downed 24 oz. of electrolytes before the race. Good girl.
- Gel'd it up every 30 minutes with my CarbBoom

Things I could improve:
- Check weather; no tights if > 60 degrees
- Go back to regular breakfast.
- Sleep. Sleep better (sickness kept me from sleeping)
- Nutrition. My nutrition sucked the day before and couldn't eat the morning off.
- Not feeling bad about a so-so performance. I didn't DNF/DNS.

In the end, some of the things that impacted my performance were out of my control. Getting sick and having the meds, probably caused most of my challenge, but it always sounds like a lame excuse. LOL

No thanks to me, Team T&L finished in 2:41 with a 12:22 pace, thanks mostly to my relay team mate, Steve. :)

Received: One Sinus Miracle

Well I got it. I can breathe through both sides of my nose. I'm off for my first official "running" event, where I'll actually run. My goal is still to come inside my goal pace, but I'm still hoping for 12:something. even if it's 12:59 LOL.

Feeling a little tired.

Didn't have my normal breakfast... had some oatmeal with almond butter. Tried this the other day to make sure it wouldn't give me any gastrointestinal upset. I was good.

Had my 1 cup of coffee too.

Still haven't had my morning moment; I hate when I don't get it before I leave... if you know what I mean!

Got my Cytomax and my Nuun. for Hydration.

CarBoom Gels for my run (4 - 1 15 mintues before, then one every 30 minutes)

Kind Bar and organic lowfat chocolate milk for recovery.

I' breaking a race day rule too; we had a cold-snap here, so I got some compression tights by CW-X. I figured the discomfort from being cold over-rode the rule, that and maybe help my IT band issues.

Hopefully I won't regret it!
Be back later!

Wanted: One Sinus Miracle

So my swim at the lake in my wetsuit yesterday was good. Let me tell you, this girl is definitely buoyant! :) That said, I found that the buoyancy kinda screwed with my stroke a bit -- I felt "messy". It took a lot of concentration. I can tell I will need to practice.

After though, that's a whole 'nother deal. I guess there was lots of pollen on the lake, or something. Whatever it was it started killing my sinuses. I woke up at midnight, not being able to breathe or swallow. Of course a trip to the local medi-clinic was in order first thing this morning.

So, a shot in the ass, scrips (steroid, anti-biotic and antihistamine) I can only hope for a sinus miracle before the relay tomorrow. I'll go, no matter what, but happens happens. Got my shot around 10 -- still have felt much relief, and it's now almost noon. :(

Supposed to go to a costume Halloween party tonight, but I'm not sure I'll be able to attend :(

Friday Fill♥Ins

And...here we go!

1. The crickets sing, and the birds chirp -- that's jacked up!

2. Welcom to wherever you are.

3. I want to get far away from the office.

4. To have the family I have; this was a dream.

5. But as for me I'll hang in there and figure it out.

6. New Jersey! That's where I come from (born in the Bronx though)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to being away from work, tomorrow my plans include Halloween Party and Sunday, I want to PR at the Half Marathon Relay!