TV Shows I watch...and why...

So the other night Discovery Channel came back with another great show we like to watch...Storm Chasers! We watched this last season for the first time and loved it. Pretty much they film tornadoes through the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Kinda cool to see our small towns own TV.

While watching this we came across an advertisement for a new series, The Iditarod! I don't know why this fascinates me but for some reason but it does. I think anything in Alaska and on TV I will watch...Deadliest Catch should say it all and Ice Road Truckers! Back to the Iditarod. At first I didn't think I could watch because of something happening to a dog, but man, these dogs love it. There is a woman on there who had breast cancer and has been doing this race for 26 years! She wears all pink and has all her dogs in pink harnesses also. Kinda cool to hear the stories.

So today I got online and researched this race and found out that it is $4000 to enter the toughest race in the world! I don't know that I would pay this to freeze for 1000 miles, risk breaking something, risk my dogs lives, risk my life, and did I mention it was freezing cold!

Anyway...just one more TV show I for see me being addicted to in the future. I have to find out who wins!

Saturday, October 18th Bike Ride

Since I didn't get home until about 1 am and from NKOTB and had to be up at 5:30am I was tired starting this what should have been 70 mile bike ride but ended up to be 50 miles in the end.

My best friend Alison was along for the ride this morning. We started out and it was a little on the chilly side. Oh well...we have to get this done. No waiting. We got all the gear rounded up and headed out.

I lost a water bottle at some railroad tracks and didn't realize it until about 10 miles later. I just wanted it to be there when I went back. They are expensive. And it was there on our way back!

As we made the turn at mile 25 Alison says "that horse over there looked like a bear for a minute." I was laughing and wondered what she had been smoking...not really but just funny to hear on a bike ride.

Then she proceeds to tell me she is counting roadkill today. I think the count end at 10 or more. I didn't count she did. I guess what ever gets you through a ride then you will do it.

All in all for me it was a good ride today. My lower back is not hurting any more and my legs feel great! Now if I can only get the IT band problem fixed, I'm good to go!

New Kids on the Block!

I know, I know. Most of you are shaking your head and asking why would any ever go and see these guys after how many years? I guess when I was about 10 or so they hit it big and every girl was totally in love with them and probalby had every poster, shirt and big button of theirs. They were the first "boy band" I grew up with. They never came close enough for us to go see them and I don't know that my parents would have taken us if they had come close enough.

So Friday night I lived out my childhood dream of seeing the first time ever. And let me say, it was the best chessiest concert ever. Donnie Wahlberg was "bedazzled" on every hat, bet, pants, and shirt he wore. There was more crotch grabbing and video of Donnie Wahlberg grabbing his than with Michael Jackson. Joey is still the cutest and Jordan still tries to hit the high notes and this time, he needs to not try.

They sang every one of their old songs and a few new ones.

I loved every minute of it and would go see them again in another 15-20 years if they decide to come back.

Month 5 of Half-Ironman Training

Here we are again. Another month down and only a few weeks left to go. I'm finally rounding my last week of long rides and runs. Well long rides at least. This last weekend I started my run and got to mile 3 or so and started having bad knee pains. My assumption...IT band problems again but now in the opposite leg. So I came home and iced, used the foam roller, stretched, took some meds and nothing. Monday I swam thinking I could "work" it out or something. Tuesday night I went to spin and talked with PT Vicky. She met with me after class and threw down the pain! OUCH! I am tender to the touch today but I can at least move and walk with no problems. I went to see my chiropractor for more work on it and it hurt like hell. So no running this week says the two Dr's. Fine by me. I just need this fixed by November 9th or its an aquabike for me.

I've worked so hard and logged many hours to get to this point and I really, really don't want to do an aquabike unless I have to. What a disappointment that would be after all I've done.

Month 5 has started off a little rough but I think we can have it back on track in a week or so.

Half Ironman Training - Month 4

My goodness it's been awhile since I blogged about training. I'm on my 4th month of training for my first half ironman and this week was hard on me. My back has been hurting me and I did lunges on Saturday after a spin workout and my legs were screaming at me on my 10 mile run. I was suppose to run 13 and I'm lucky I made it 10 miles. Oh well...a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

I just need to keep my runs between 10-13 miles and my rides around 50 miles from now until November and I should be good. I need to focus on open water swimming and get some distance swims in. It seems to never end with training.

All in all the last few months have been mentally tough more than anything. I've questioned why I'm putting myself through this and if I really want to do an Ironman bad enough. Then yesterday I watched a video of Ironman Hawaii and listened to Team Hoyt(inspirational father/ son team). It made me almost cry and and I had to remind myself that if this father at I'm assuming almost 60 years old, can pull his son in a raft on a 2.4 mile swim, and push him on a bike and push him in a wheel chair on a 26.2 mile run, then dang it, I can too. Why am I complaining about just having to do it on my own? They are true inspiration to watch.

Sweet and Twisted...

On Sunday I competed in my first women's only triathlon at Pace Bend Park here in Austin, TX. Let me just say it started out to be a great day. I had my Xanax the night before and was able to get a good breakfast down. I got dressed loaded up the gear and we headed out. No big deal.

We get there and get up to the race site and I go to rack my bike with everyone else and well there are not enough spaces to rack with the rest of T3...hello...we told the race director how many of us that were signed up. Oh well. I went on and just racked my bike on the next row.

We all then head down to the water to watch the race start. Charles and Ester volunteered to take our shoes and flip-flops over to the swim exit since we had to run on some rocks and grass to get to our bikes.

The waves start. Finally my wave gets to go. I positioned myself in the middle of the pack as last time I started in the front I got swam over. So I get going and two hateful girls infront of me are just swimming slow as ever. I keep hitting one of them and she finally sits up and makes a foul comment to me. I said well swim faster. I tried to go wide on either side and they wouldn't let me so I dropped the arm as hard as I could and finally swam over them while slugging them in the process. My gosh...a cat fight in the water.

I get out with muddy feet and head for my tennis shoes. I run up the hill to the bike and get on it. From there it is rocks and dirt with cycling shoes to the mount line. Not fun at all. I was just hoping I wouldn't fall or let go of the bike. I take off on the bike with the new race wheels and I'm off. These women on the bike course didn't know how to ride at all. They stayed right instead of left and they wouldn't pass anyone and would ride next to them the whole time. I had to say a few times "you have to pass or drop back."

Finally the bike is over and I'm at the dismount line. Back on the rocks and dirt. I'm hoping I don't fall. I make it back to my racking spot and put my tennis shoes on. I get going on the run and I'm feeling pretty good. My knee isn't hurting and my legs feel fresh. I make it the first mile without stopping which is a great accomplishment for me as I always walk. I stop to refuel the water bottle and get going. Jane comes up on me and we start chatting and walking. Before we know it we are at mile 2 and we are still walking...oh well, this is all for fun. I come up on the bathroom and we part ways as I had to go. From there I continued and see Karen in her wonderful blue costume and she gives me a little more water to get me to the finish line.

I cross the line and I'm happy! I had a horrible time on the swim...a good bike ride...and fun run/walk. What more could you ask for.

T3 walked away with top finishing placing along with the most participants.

2nd month of Half-Ironman Training

Well I'm officially done with my second month of half-ironman training and I have to say it is getting a little easier as time marches on. I had a come to Jesus meeting with Coach Chrissie last night about my training if I could/would be ready for Ironman CDA and what the heck we are going to do with my horrible running...all in all, we are going to work on the running and worst case, i walk most of the run in an Ironman to cross the line to still be called "Ironman". So I was super pleased to hear that and ease my nerves with everything. Thanks Coach!

My race is November 9th down by Houston and I can't wait. I'm just wondering what my reaction will be when I cross that line after just completing 70.6 miles in one setting.

I have 3 months to polish everything and get stronger and more efficient. Time can only tell if this is going to be the case.