Run 1            Transition 1       Bike                              Transition 2         Run 2

Me with my (crazy) triathlon friends:

I was so proud of my running times, but honestly, mostly of my bike time! The course was very rough – bumpy pavement and lots of turns – but it’s the fastest average on the bike I’ve ever done!  I love running the most…but I’d highly encourage fellow runners to do a duathlon for an added challenge.

I registered for a local 5k in June.  It was cheap, and I hadn’t done a 5k race in forever!  (Okay. I looked it up thanks to www.onlineraceresults.com and it was actually 2006. And I got a 23:33 overall time, which I was very happy with).

So I wanted to do this race because it was so cheap, in my town, and I wanted to see what I was capable of.

Well….

I was thrilled with the results!  I felt like I was going to vomit in the end, but seeing my sister and her sweet kiddos kept me going.

I don’t consider myself a “fast” runner.  And I’m not saying that to fish for compliments, I just am not that athletically inclined and don’t think I’m “good” at anything sports related. I was always one of the last kids chosen on a team in gym class But this race did make me feel good. And having some of my favorite fans to cheer for me along the way?  Well, that was icing on the cake.

Do you view yourself as an athlete?  I was a choir girl in high school, so for awhile I had a hard time saying “I am a runner.”  Then I figured…..9 half marathons and 3 fulls makes me a runner, right? No matter how fast I am.

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To people who think Indiana is "Flyover Country,” let me tell you differently: I have lived in Indiana (Indianapolis) my whole life, and I’ve seen prettier parts of our state in the past few weeks than I’ve ever seen in those 31 years.  Plus, we are friendly here.

Yes, it is travel season.  A typical day starts at 8 a.m. (or 5 a.m., if you are me and prefer to workout in the mornings) and ends at around 9 or 10 p.m.  I’m sooooo tired.  But I LOVE my job.

I am SO sorry I am behind in most of your blogs.  I am Catholic and am feelin’ the Catholic guilt, so please pay me no mind..  But I miss you all, and you’ve been in my thoughts the past few months!

Even though it was my second tri, it was my first open water triathlon (the swim portion for my last tri was in a pool).

In a way I felt more confident going into this race because I had one under my belt.  But I’ll be honest….I was a tiny bit disappointed as I crossed that finish line.  Let’s look at the negatives and positives of the race:

Positives:

- I practiced two open water swims prior to race day

- I had been on my bike more (maybe 5 or 6 more times?)

- The weather wasn’t going to be 40 degrees like it was in April!

Negatives:

- It was raining – no, POURING at the start of the race and during the swim, which threw me off

- During the swim, I lost this;

…..which is the timing chip that is velcroed to your ankle.  I tried to tread water and get it back on – yeah, that wasn’t workin’!  So I swam over to a lifeguard on a surfboard and got it back on. 

- I lost the chain on my bike as a I got started….and I have no idea how to fix it when that happens! (I know, I know….I am going to learn).  Thankfully after looking around with a panicked expression, a spectator came to help.

- It was my first time riding my bike on wet roads…on a hilly, curvy course at that!

Here’s how my first tri compares with my second:

Triathlon 1: (400 meter swim, 10 mile bike, 3.1 mile run)

Triathlon 2: (500 meter swim, 10 mile bike, 3.1 mile run)

So definitely room for improvement in the swim and bike, but at least my transitions were awesome this time? 

I hope you’re all having a great summer so far!  I’m going to post a recap of my second (!) triathlon, but here is a quick picture update of the last month…..because, if you’re like me, you prefer pictures to words, anyway. 

Mother’s Day

Trip to the Children’s Museum with Reid (isn’t he getting so big?!)

Fort building with Aunt Holly

Indy 500 with my dad

Sailing….

First open water swim route!

My birthday….

“Better Than Sex” Cake….OMG

Birthday celebrations 

Second triathlon!

Just playin’

And the most exciting part….

My sister, Kelly, is preggers again!  My 6th niece or nephew will be here in January – SO EXCITED!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Yes, I am still alive. 

My job has been pretty busy, and, well, life in general!  And every time I take a break from blogging, it takes a lot to get me back into it, I guess.

Anyway, first I will start off with a recap of my triathlon last month!

I didn’t have anyone there to take pictures, but here is a before and after shot.

Me and my friend, Steph – she is training for a half Ironman in July!

Steph, my friend, Bruce, and me post-race

I kind of felt like a bad ass with the numbers on my arms.

I had no idea what to expect, other than being slow in the pool. 

I was, indeed, slow in the pool, but that particular day was also FREEZING!  We came out of the pool and ran outside into 40 degree temps and heavy winds.  I will never forget that run from the pool to my bike – soaking wet and freezing cold!

I tried to transition as quickly as I could….it helped that I borrowed my friend’s tri suit.  I threw on my jacket, bike shoes, and helmet and took off on the bike.

I’d only been on my road bike (clipped in) about 4 times prior to the race, so I was still a little scared during all of the twists and turns!  It was super windy but I was okay with my bike time.

Then came the run.

I felt like I was HARDLY moving at all.  It’s true why they call them “Brick” workouts – your legs feel like, well, BRICKS.  I remember seeing the one mile marker and SWEARING it should be 3.

I was so happy with my run time, at least! 

Swim (400 Meters): 11:02.6

Transition One  – 3:38.4

Bike (10 Miles) – 36:51.7 (16.3 mph)

Transition Two – 2:16.2 

Run (5k) – 23:35.7 (07:35/mile)

Overall:  1:17:24.6

For my first triathlon, I was pretty happy with how it went.  Sure, I wish I could have been faster in the swim and bike, but for not really doing it much to prepare, I was pretty pleased!

I promise to catch up on your blogs and lives soon – I missed you all!

- Celebrated the first birthday of my sweet nephew, Reid:

- Hung out with new friends and enjoyed lots of laughs and TONS of good food:

- Biked 37 miles and ran 3.5 miles Sunday!  (Whoa….)

- Didn’t learn my lesson about sunscreen….

- Went on a blind date with a very sweet (but short ) guy…..we will see.

- Enjoyed WARM…no, HOT weather.  Summer, I am so ready for you.

- Made this bean salad recipe recommended by Lee…..SO good!

What’d you do this weekend?

In short, it’s an obsession with healthy eating.  Crazy, right?  I mean, how could eating healthy be a BAD thing? 

Eating healthy by itself is actually a VERY good thing.  But when it gets to the point where your diet is so limited because everything you eat has to be perfectly healthy, then it is a problem.  (Much like how exercise can become a bad thing when you become obsessed with it).

There have definitely been people in my life who would probably fit this bill.  And I will be honest – it’s very difficult for me to be around them. 

One of my friends has certainly become obsessed with eating only organic, non-processed foods without any artificial sweeteners or coloring.  She makes me feel incredibly guilty for drinking an occasional Diet Coke or eating a “regular” granola bar every once in awhile.  I feel like she is very judgmental of people and what they eat/drink.

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I know with my past history, it’s better for me to not take eating/drinking so seriously or strictly, as it only leads me down destructive paths (EDs are all about control).  So for now, I just limit my time around people who have those obsessive habits, and surround myself with those who can live a little.

Me, Kristy, and my friend, Nina and her daughter Lucia….we got together last weekend and made LOTS of yummy, delicious food – even Nutella cupcakes!  (Nina went to culinary school and is a phenomenal cook).

I feel like I’m to that point where I’m getting better at saying “no” to things that involve those people who are bad influences.  And it feels damn good. 

I went with my group of friends yesterday and we rode about 20 miles (in 25-30 mph winds! holy crap) and then ran about 5 miles.  We finished the ride in a little under an hour and a half, and the run in about 43 minutes. 

My friend, John, is actually a photographer and rigged his camera on his bike.  How cool is that?  That is me at the beginning of the video….scared shitless I will fall off my bike again. 

But it was a success….no falls!

I had SUCH a great time with them.  It ended up being a beautiful day (about 75 degrees and sunny!) and I loved being able to enjoy it outdoors.  Despite my awesome new sunburn tan line:

 That’s hot.

I was so, SO hungry and ready for a yummy dinner….and quickly came up with this creation:

I was at my parent’s (they are in France!  I am jealous) eating their food for free watering their plants, and had to improvise since they didn’t have pasta sauce.  I combined pasta with Laughing Cow Cheese and Pesto.  WOW, is all I can say.  I cannot WAIT to have this again!

Is the weather warming up where you are?  I hope so!

Last week was just a crazy week at work….I put in almost 60 hours and just didn’t have time to keep up with blogging.  I promise to catch up with your blogs very, very soon!

I will start by filling you in on a new class I took last weekend.  One that only involved a mat, your body weight, and a chair.

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I should have known with a place called “Brick House Fitness” that I was in for a real treat.

My roommate found a class she’d taken the week before called “Seductive Chair.”  I’m always up for something new, and so I agreed to come with her last weekend.

Basically, the class is like boot camp with a chair.  It is INTENSE.  You are constantly moving for an hour (no breaks), and you do everything from high knees, to push ups (with your feet on the chair), to tricep dips, to – yes – lap dances on the chair. 

All I can say is, I was sore for 3 days after this class!  Everything from my arms to my hamstrings hurt. 

But I definitely plan to go again!  I’m a big music person, and the music they played there was AWESOME.  I loved every single song (mostly rap…..LUDA!).  You can bet I’ll be back to this class. 

What’s the most unique fitness class you’ve ever taken? Or would like to take?  They also have pole dancing classes at this place….that is next on my list!  It really is supposed to be an amazing workout.