Lonestar Triathlon...I'm signed up for another Half Ironman

So yesterday I sat down and signed up for the Half Ironman this year for Lonstar in Galveston. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I want to go out and not let this half beat me up. Conroe was rough on me and I just can't let something do that to me. So I have a better since of what to expect during this long day. Thank God!

And since I have had a hotel room reserved since November...Thanks Alison!...I guess I thought I had better get my butt in gear and just get signed up and deal with it. It is mid point for the IMCDA training. So this will really tell me if I can hack it or not. I think I can and will!

Week 2 of IMCDA Training

Since I posted for week one, I guess I feel like I should do it for every week. Not only do I think that this will be a motivating thing for me but it will also help me keep track of things on a weekly basis.

So this week was an odd week. Things at work were super busy with quarterly sales kick-off meetings and tons of people in and out of the office.

Monday: Swam at lunch
Monday Night: Spin Class
Tuesday: Run with Gilbert
Wednesday: Did nothing but eat all day
Thursday: Spin Class
Friday: I should run, ok, I will do a few miles
Saturday: 50 Mile bike ride
Sunday: 11 mile run

Looks like I need to start my yoga and make it to my Wednesday night run class! Thank goodness sales kick offs are only once a quarter!

Week 1 of IMCDA Training

Monday kicked off the first of many workouts for IMCDA training. I have to say, getting back into working out again is going to be exhausting, but it is so worth it. I've been such a slug for the last two months.

So, for the first week here is the training log...

Monday - Tempo Spin Class
Tuesday - Spin Class and core
Wednesday - lunch swim and run with Gilbert and core
Thursday - Spin and core
Friday - day off from training
Saturday - 40 mile ride with group
Sunday - 9 mile run with group

All in all, it wasn't to bad of a week. Swimming was so hard...my foot has been hurting me...and well I'm just sore and tired.

Preparing for the next 6 months of my life

There have been a few of us gal pals that have traded our workout schedule for what we think will get us through the next 6 months of our life...freaks me out just thinking about it. I feel mentally ready to start a new chapter in my life and by that I mean, tackling an IRONMAN!

Over the next six months, I will do a lot of swimming, biking and running in hopes to cross that line and be able to hear my name called out and that announcer tell me, "Shawnda Freeman you are an Ironman!"

Sunday it will be laid out in front of me...that is everything I'm going to have to do to get to the start line to make it to the finish line.

I hope I can stay sane through this whole process, get plenty of rest and be able to spend some time with my hubby in the process.

What have I got myself into?!?!?

Thoughts for the day...

Today has been one of those days...or should I say one of those months...maybe a little of both. I had to make my way to the doctor to get cracked and adjusted as I have some sort of pinched nerve in my shoulder. God only knows how that happened. As the day goes on weird things just keep happening. I'm accused of things...people want answers that I can't give...man, will this drive me to drinking or what.

I end up leaving work about an hour late and I ran off and forgot my lap top at work. Now, I have to drive all the way back to work tonight, and get it along with a box for some Christmas gift that needs to be wrapped up.

And to top it all off, I've been in the worst mood today. I don't really feel like talking much to anyone. So I came home and had a shot and a glass of vodka and cranberry in hopes to wash it all away. It probably won't happen but you can drink and hope for the best as I like to think.

And why do people insist on wanting you to admit to things you didn't do! Come on! And the pressure people put out...give it a rest. When I'm done, I'm done...End of story. And why do I have to admit to something I didn't do? Seems logical, right? Maybe not, I have no clue.

The Bachelor - Andy Baldwin

So as cheesy as this is going to sound, I'm still going to post it. On Thursday night, Andy Baldwin from one of the seasons on The Bachelor was in town recruiting doctors to come and join the Navy and be a doctor there. Since we have a Navy gal in T3 she was showing him around and brought him into T3 for a workout.

I arrived setup the bike and didn't do much else. I got on the bike early and talked with a few people and guess who is now sitting behind me starring at my back and breathing down my neck...yep, Andy. Poor guy had to look at my big arse in Spandex the whole freakin class.

After class, pizza arrived and everyone mingled with each other. We all were cheesy and had to have pictures made with him. Go figure.

Anyway...in all, he was a really nice guy who is a doctor in the navy, does triathlons and well is super good looking.

My new running experience...Gilberts Gazelles

A few months ago, I wanted to try something different...a new running group to see if there could be someone out there to help just improve my running where I'm more comfortable. I decided against it during my half ironman training as there wasn't much time for anything. So I decided that I could do it in December and January and see what happens and see if I even like it.

I started Monday night with Gilbert's Gazelles. Let me start out by saying the first phone call from Gilbert was awesome. He is funny and super motivating. He invited me to attend his core boot camp and I did. It wasn't bad at all. Then he told me to show up on December 1st to start the first night of running with his group. It was a track workout with some circuit focus. Not to bad, we do this in T3. He is all about form when doing everything and doing it the correct way...what a concept. I then went to run on Wednesday night. We were to do a 1 mile warm up on the trail and then a 2 mile timed tempo run. I was already having cramping problems in my calves so I knew this was not going to be a quality run that I wanted. But I managed to to do a 10:10/mile pace for a total of a 20:20 2 miles. Not bad...i just know that I won't be able to hold that for 13 miles. So about the last 100 meters I see Gilbert waiting for me. He starts walking towards me. He makes me sprint this portion of the run. All I hear is faster, pick up the knees, faster, swing the arms, faster, pick up the knees, swing the arms...ahhh...finally I'm done.

All in all it was a great experience and I'm happy I joined the Gazelle's. He has an incredible story of how he made it the the US and how he became the runner he is today.