Mad Manatees Mentor Group - VERY CLOSED!!! Sorry! (Page 10)

I was going to comment on the the lack of new year's races for some  or if there are a race to do they are alcoholic in nature  and say that's not a problem here in the Bible belt causing they are several races and all are church sponsored. 

Then I saw Yanti's post and totally lost my train of thought.       

Derailed by the goddess again.....  

Not that I mind one bit.

Details? Who needs details?

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I actually hash from time to time and everyone else is drinking so much they never notice I don't. Plus, running with drunk people means it's kind of my pace and style.

Good Golly, you are part angel, part devil So, what was going on? Don't make me use my imagination...

You should!

Part of the festivities for my niece's wedding tomorrow (she's the one wearing all the flowers). We had a very non-traditional traditional "bridal shower," which in Java is actually literal ... there's all these rituals and each person bathes the bride-to-be with a dipper and holy water.

I think my sister stole the holy water and we all made up our own rituals, which for everyone else included a lot of booze. I did competition doggypaddle in the pool while they boozed. Troof.

Oh, and my sister got video of me doing that drill (earlier day) so I'll post that sometime with points and explanations.

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I'm having Christmas morning withdrawals...post-Christmas letdowns...whatever you want to call it

But as fun as the last few days have been, I'm very ready to get back to my routine. Swim and bike tonight...Yay!

This was on our after dinner walk last night. Acutally, it was probably more of a stroll than a walk

Ah, that is right, you are at the wedding! Too Cool. I wish them all the happiness and a long time together. Have fun and try not to get everyone in trouble.

Exercise is an excellent antidote to post-event blues (Unless a major race was the event, in which case only signing up for another one truly helps).

Sounds (looks) like a wonderful Christmas weekend!

Sounds/looks/feels like something I'd like to be involved in.

Competition doggypaddle? Oh yeah, you'd be great at it!

Hm. Perhaps not the bits you were referring to?

Eh. I suppose whatever bits you let me hear/feel/see  even if it's just the doggy paddling. I'm as good as you imagine. 

*Wait, this is THAT thread isn't it? It's not? Oops.

This is the Cavorting Naked and Wet with Hot Models and Other Holiday Frolicking Thread. What thread were YOU in?

Oh, yes, you are right. I was thinking of-uh-another website entirely I guess.

I just got so damned lucky. We are going to Austin again for SXSW in March and it just so happens to fall on my step-back week for marathon training. SO DAMN LUCKY! 

Also, I got the Boston trip all booked. We are going to fly into NY and do a little sight seeing before heading up to Boston. Going to catch a Brooklyn Nets game while we are there too (thank you Jay-Z.) I'm pretty excited just to see Barclays Center and a ton of other architecture. Notably the High Line (http://www.thehighline.org/). Which is the REAL reason I even want to go to NY. 

Starting to plan lots of fun stuff in Boston, too. Fenway and the Sam Adams Brewery (not necessarily in that order) are high on my list. 

Sweet! Any idea on who will be at SXSW? I have heard it is a great festival.  I have an ex-coworker that moved there some time ago and she loves it. How long are you in NY?

Everyone who is anyone. When I went last year that is what my cousin told me and I didn't believe him. Now I do. Literally, the unofficial SXSW is larger than the official SX. We are talking bands playing in the bathrooms of venues, in alleyways and on the roof of the parking garage. And not just nobody bands. BIG names, or names that are about to be big. 

The festival is unlike anything I have ever been to. Did I mention the majority of it is free, too? Free food and booze too. 

This is me throwing knives there last year:

NY will be 3-4 days. Not enough, obviously but I really want the trip to be about Boston. We will give NY the attention it deserves at a later date. 

That is what I've heard. A bunch of freebies and really cool names.

NY doesn't deserve as much time as you might think. Unless you go at Christmas time. There are additional things to see at that time of year.

Yeah ... but it's a big city with a lot to offer. I am a HUGE lover of public transportation, street art, sketchy dive bars and could easily spend 2 days each in the Guggenheim and MOMA.  I'm not so much the girl who just wants to go shopping on 5th ave. If ya know what I'm sayin'

But I feel ya. I think I can be satisfied with a few days. 

When we were living on LI, we did a lot of trips in. I admit, I'm jaded. Broadwayy is cool and all, but after a bit, eh. Museums are nice, Central Park is nice in an odd kinda way. It is cool to see the financial district, nice to see where my money goes to evaporate. I have no need to go to the Statue, or big buildings and such. Just not my thing. Now, a few days eating in Little Italy, that is worth the price of admission I LOVE real good Italian food. My wife has spoiled me.

ETA: Knife throwing, WTF!

Dude, it's Texas 

Yeah, I got family there. Houston (yes, that's his name) was in the NFR this year.  If you want a good time in Texas, try a wedding that involves a nationally ranked rodeo cowboy. Some of his rodeo friends were, um, lets go with rowdy.

Eeeeeks. Sounds like a good time! I actually wasn't sure if I would like TX, or more important, if TX would like me. I don't even know if you can count Austin as officially experiencing it. 

Yeah, I'm not sure if Austin qualifies as part of TX. But it is firmly independent, and if there is anything that signifies TX, it is independence.

 Hi all!  Been away for a few days, have been catching up, but only on page 3!  It will take me a couple days to catch up on all the posts and new Manatees, but welcome to all!

NAME: bcraht, Kirsten

STORY: I have always been an athlete, right from soccer at age 6.  I played soccer, basketball, volleyball in high school, as well as track and field right into college.  Injured my shoulder and had to quit (I did mostly Javelin and Shot Put).  Continued soccer until I turned 30 when I blew my knee.  Started playing hockey (less foot planting and twisting).  I have always wanted to run a marathon, and in 2009, while watching The Biggest Loser, decided if they could do it, so could I.  It took me until Oct 2010 to get there, as I battled some injuries.  Continued running, ran a HM the next year, and have since run 2 more HM. 

I live near Vancouver, Canada, and I remember when I first heard about IMC.  I though OMG those guys are crazy, I want to do that!  That was way back in 1983.  I thought about doing a tri every year, but never really knew where to start, so didn't.  Then last year, I really started to look into it and found BT.  Now here was somewhere that had some good info for a newbie!!  I did 4 sprints, and Oly and a HIM last year, as well as two HM.  My ultimate goal is IM.  I signed up to volunteer for IMC this year with the thought of signing up to race next year, but after some though, I decided I wanted to wait and train an additional year before taking that on.

I, like one of the Jonathans, had a less-than-active mentor group my first time around.  What a change the Manatees was!  I have gotten so much out of being a part of this group--mentoring, friendship, sass, harrassment, and that push that we all need sometimes. 

FAMILY STATUS: My partner and I have been together for almost 6 years.  I have a 17 year old step-son.  We have 3 Staffordshire Bull terriers and 2 cats.  My partner, while supportive does not swim or bike.  She does run--agility with the dogs.  She and our little baby dog have been invited to compete in the European Open Agility Championships in Belgium next summer.

CURRENT TRAINING: Just maintenance right now.  Swimming 2x per week, running 3-4 (although not of late, been dealing with an achilles issue), biking 3-4

THIS YEAR'S RACES: UBC sprint, Spring Fling Sprint, North Shore sprint, Lees Trail sprint, Lake Wilderness Olympic, Scotiabank HM, Surrey International Music HM, Calgary 70.3, Energizer Night Race 10km.

2013 RACES: I have to sit down and figure this out.  As mentioned, we are going to Belgium at the end of July, so I have to work around that, both timing and finances.  My blog has a list of potential races.  I am wanting to do another HIM this year for sure.

BODY COMPOSITION: Ummm, I dunno.  I have been trying to lose my belly fat for a few years, and it doesn't want to leave.  Honestly, I don't worry too much about my weight anymore, I find that as long as I eat well and continue training, it takes care of itself.  I still get on the scale now and again, but not every week.

Looking forward to getting to know all the new members, welcome!