Mad Manatee Mentors 2013: CLOSED (exc/ Pop Tart bribes) (Page 123)

Originally posted by ArielLIlB Bike crashing, yikes! Very glad you are ok but for some scratches and bruises.  See, this is why I ride my bike so slow - 25 mph is just too risky   Yeah, that's why...

My top speed so far this year is 52 mph.  I love, love, love to go fast.  It's so exhilarating.  

I'm actually considering getting a larger front chain ring, just so I can go even faster on the downhills.  

What is the top speed you have hit?  

For me, I get uncomfortable in aero at about 43ish, and move my hands to the horns.  Last year I would move my hands to the horns at about 35 mph.  I can average about 21 - 23 mph (without wrecking my legs) on a flat for 2+ hours

*knock knock knock...* 

Fachmie, I've found the Manatees!!  

Deep breath... Yanti told me the passwords are Pop Tarts (I had already figured that one out) and DOOOOO EEEEEET.  I tried to bribe her with pop tarts (well, the virtual kind which I'm pretty sure just ended up with her swearing at me for NOT sending actual ones), but I was told that I was already a Manatee and to just come by and introduce myself as I've been lurking for quite some time, but just too shy to actually say anything. 

So... hi! 

Name:   blueyedbikergirl / Monica

Story:  I've been pretty athletic all my life from a very young age (my mom still likes to bring up my days in Tiny Tot Tumbling) - national/olympic level rhythmic gymnast, won provincials with my basketball team, then won provincials with my beach volleyball parter before pretty much giving it all up and being quite sedentary... and gained a lot of weight in that process.  I've broken my back twice, had my right knee reconstructed twice, and gone through a 10 year battle with cancer that left me with no reproductive parts since 2007, though thankfully all of my checkups since then have been clear *knocks on compressed particle board with a lovely wood-like veneer finish*  I went through a fairly nasty breakup with my then husband in 2009 and somehow decided to get active again - and even though I didn't have a bike and I hadn't been in the water to actually SWIM in years, I signed up for a triathlon.  It kicked.my.azz.  But I was absolutely hooked.  It's also the time that I found BT, and started chatting to a few folks on here.  Fast forward to June 2010 and I flew to Chicago to meet some BTers... one of whom ended up making quite the impression on me - so much so that I moved to the UK in February 2011 to be with him.  He got transferred back to Chicago in May of 2012, and so I followed in June... we got married last July, did IMAZ together in November last year, then went to Vegas to have a proper ceremony with friends, family, and a fat Elvis. 

Family Status: Married!  No kids, no pets... heck, it's sometimes a miracle that we're still alive.   

Current Training: Following the Be Iron Fit plan and in week... something.  I'll have to check on that.

This Year's Races:  Lake in the Hills, Pleasant Prairie, AG Nationals, maybe Rev3 Cedar Point HIM, B2B full distance

Body Composition:  My body still works, no matter how it's composed - I'm gonna try to keep it that way. 

That's about all... Pop Tarts!!   

*knock knock knock...* 

Fachmie, I've found the Manatees!!  

Deep breath... Yanti told me the passwords are Pop Tarts (I had already figured that one out) and DOOOOO EEEEEET.  I tried to bribe her with pop tarts (well, the virtual kind which I'm pretty sure just ended up with her swearing at me for NOT sending actual ones), but I was told that I was already a Manatee and to just come by and introduce myself as I've been lurking for quite some time, but just too shy to actually say anything. 

So... hi! 

Name:   blueyedbikergirl / Monica

Story:  I've been pretty athletic all my life from a very young age (my mom still likes to bring up my days in Tiny Tot Tumbling) - national/olympic level rhythmic gymnast, won provincials with my basketball team, then won provincials with my beach volleyball parter before pretty much giving it all up and being quite sedentary... and gained a lot of weight in that process.  I've broken my back twice, had my right knee reconstructed twice, and gone through a 10 year battle with cancer that left me with no reproductive parts since 2007, though thankfully all of my checkups since then have been clear *knocks on compressed particle board with a lovely wood-like veneer finish*  I went through a fairly nasty breakup with my then husband in 2009 and somehow decided to get active again - and even though I didn't have a bike and I hadn't been in the water to actually SWIM in years, I signed up for a triathlon.  It kicked.my.azz.  But I was absolutely hooked.  It's also the time that I found BT, and started chatting to a few folks on here.  Fast forward to June 2010 and I flew to Chicago to meet some BTers... one of whom ended up making quite the impression on me - so much so that I moved to the UK in February 2011 to be with him.  He got transferred back to Chicago in May of 2012, and so I followed in June... we got married last July, did IMAZ together in November last year, then went to Vegas to have a proper ceremony with friends, family, and a fat Elvis. 

Family Status: Married!  No kids, no pets... heck, it's sometimes a miracle that we're still alive.   

Current Training: Following the Be Iron Fit plan and in week... something.  I'll have to check on that.

This Year's Races:  Lake in the Hills, Pleasant Prairie, AG Nationals, maybe Rev3 Cedar Point HIM, B2B full distance

Body Composition:  My body still works, no matter how it's composed - I'm gonna try to keep it that way. 

That's about all... Pop Tarts!!   

*knock knock knock...* 

Fachmie, I've found the Manatees!!  

Deep breath... Yanti told me the passwords are Pop Tarts (I had already figured that one out) and DOOOOO EEEEEET.  I tried to bribe her with pop tarts (well, the virtual kind which I'm pretty sure just ended up with her swearing at me for NOT sending actual ones), but I was told that I was already a Manatee and to just come by and introduce myself as I've been lurking for quite some time, but just too shy to actually say anything. 

So... hi! 

Name:   blueyedbikergirl / Monica

Story:  I've been pretty athletic all my life from a very young age (my mom still likes to bring up my days in Tiny Tot Tumbling) - national/olympic level rhythmic gymnast, won provincials with my basketball team, then won provincials with my beach volleyball parter before pretty much giving it all up and being quite sedentary... and gained a lot of weight in that process.  I've broken my back twice, had my right knee reconstructed twice, and gone through a 10 year battle with cancer that left me with no reproductive parts since 2007, though thankfully all of my checkups since then have been clear *knocks on compressed particle board with a lovely wood-like veneer finish*  I went through a fairly nasty breakup with my then husband in 2009 and somehow decided to get active again - and even though I didn't have a bike and I hadn't been in the water to actually SWIM in years, I signed up for a triathlon.  It kicked.my.azz.  But I was absolutely hooked.  It's also the time that I found BT, and started chatting to a few folks on here.  Fast forward to June 2010 and I flew to Chicago to meet some BTers... one of whom ended up making quite the impression on me - so much so that I moved to the UK in February 2011 to be with him.  He got transferred back to Chicago in May of 2012, and so I followed in June... we got married last July, did IMAZ together in November last year, then went to Vegas to have a proper ceremony with friends, family, and a fat Elvis. 

Family Status: Married!  No kids, no pets... heck, it's sometimes a miracle that we're still alive.   

Current Training: Following the Be Iron Fit plan and in week... something.  I'll have to check on that.

This Year's Races:  Lake in the Hills, Pleasant Prairie, AG Nationals, maybe Rev3 Cedar Point HIM, B2B full distance

Body Composition:  My body still works, no matter how it's composed - I'm gonna try to keep it that way. 

That's about all... Pop Tarts!!   

Name:   blueyedbikergirl / Monica

Now what would a two-week trip be without some pics?

waiting...

*knock knock knock...* 

Fachmie, I've found the Manatees!!  

Deep breath... Yanti told me the passwords are Pop Tarts (I had already figured that one out) and DOOOOO EEEEEET.  I tried to bribe her with pop tarts (well, the virtual kind which I'm pretty sure just ended up with her swearing at me for NOT sending actual ones), but I was told that I was already a Manatee and to just come by and introduce myself as I've been lurking for quite some time, but just too shy to actually say anything. 

So... hi! 

Name:   blueyedbikergirl / Monica

Story:  I've been pretty athletic all my life from a very young age (my mom still likes to bring up my days in Tiny Tot Tumbling) - national/olympic level rhythmic gymnast, won provincials with my basketball team, then won provincials with my beach volleyball parter before pretty much giving it all up and being quite sedentary... and gained a lot of weight in that process.  I've broken my back twice, had my right knee reconstructed twice, and gone through a 10 year battle with cancer that left me with no reproductive parts since 2007, though thankfully all of my checkups since then have been clear *knocks on compressed particle board with a lovely wood-like veneer finish*  I went through a fairly nasty breakup with my then husband in 2009 and somehow decided to get active again - and even though I didn't have a bike and I hadn't been in the water to actually SWIM in years, I signed up for a triathlon.  It kicked.my.azz.  But I was absolutely hooked.  It's also the time that I found BT, and started chatting to a few folks on here.  Fast forward to June 2010 and I flew to Chicago to meet some BTers... one of whom ended up making quite the impression on me - so much so that I moved to the UK in February 2011 to be with him.  He got transferred back to Chicago in May of 2012, and so I followed in June... we got married last July, did IMAZ together in November last year, then went to Vegas to have a proper ceremony with friends, family, and a fat Elvis. 

Family Status: Married!  No kids, no pets... heck, it's sometimes a miracle that we're still alive.   

Current Training: Following the Be Iron Fit plan and in week... something.  I'll have to check on that.

This Year's Races:  Lake in the Hills, Pleasant Prairie, AG Nationals, maybe Rev3 Cedar Point HIM, B2B full distance

Body Composition:  My body still works, no matter how it's composed - I'm gonna try to keep it that way. 

That's about all... Pop Tarts!!   

Wow, you're much deeper than just a pretty girl with smart a$$ answers on CoJ! ;-)

Welcome to the Manatees and congrats on battling cancer! I've never personally been diagnosed but in the last year I've lost two family members to aggressive forms and had two family members battle it successfully. I'm always happy to meet a survivor!

*knock knock knock...* 

Fachmie, I've found the Manatees!!  

Deep breath... Yanti told me the passwords are Pop Tarts (I had already figured that one out) and DOOOOO EEEEEET.  I tried to bribe her with pop tarts (well, the virtual kind which I'm pretty sure just ended up with her swearing at me for NOT sending actual ones), but I was told that I was already a Manatee and to just come by and introduce myself as I've been lurking for quite some time, but just too shy to actually say anything. 

So... hi! 

Name:   blueyedbikergirl / Monica

Story:  I've been pretty athletic all my life from a very young age (my mom still likes to bring up my days in Tiny Tot Tumbling) - national/olympic level rhythmic gymnast, won provincials with my basketball team, then won provincials with my beach volleyball parter before pretty much giving it all up and being quite sedentary... and gained a lot of weight in that process.  I've broken my back twice, had my right knee reconstructed twice, and gone through a 10 year battle with cancer that left me with no reproductive parts since 2007, though thankfully all of my checkups since then have been clear *knocks on compressed particle board with a lovely wood-like veneer finish*  I went through a fairly nasty breakup with my then husband in 2009 and somehow decided to get active again - and even though I didn't have a bike and I hadn't been in the water to actually SWIM in years, I signed up for a triathlon.  It kicked.my.azz.  But I was absolutely hooked.  It's also the time that I found BT, and started chatting to a few folks on here.  Fast forward to June 2010 and I flew to Chicago to meet some BTers... one of whom ended up making quite the impression on me - so much so that I moved to the UK in February 2011 to be with him.  He got transferred back to Chicago in May of 2012, and so I followed in June... we got married last July, did IMAZ together in November last year, then went to Vegas to have a proper ceremony with friends, family, and a fat Elvis. 

Family Status: Married!  No kids, no pets... heck, it's sometimes a miracle that we're still alive.   

Current Training: Following the Be Iron Fit plan and in week... something.  I'll have to check on that.

This Year's Races:  Lake in the Hills, Pleasant Prairie, AG Nationals, maybe Rev3 Cedar Point HIM, B2B full distance

Body Composition:  My body still works, no matter how it's composed - I'm gonna try to keep it that way. 

That's about all... Pop Tarts!!   

Hi there, Ms. Monica. Did you tell Yanti the Pop Tarts are in the mail?

Fachmie, she's actually read all 100whatever pages of Manatee blather ... crap, most of us haven't if that isn't badazz, I don't know what is. Stalking skills that might put Jo and I to shame. She also suffers through my blog, poor thing.

I call her Tangerines.

After spending the weekend inthe presence of greatness in Cairns - even age groupers in our crowd pulled some 4.30 for the 70.3 - I decided this week I need to get my azz into gear.

Started last night at the pool.  I swam at straight 1000m before squad, then did 2300m of the squad workout before hopping out.  NExt week I will do 3500m and eventually get to 4km.

This morning I threw myself out of bed at 4.30am (that is not pretty) and did a 1.05 trainer ride.

Lunchtime, throwing it down with rain and freezing cold, did a 6.5km run with some strides in the middle. 

So far i'm loving it!  Day 1.