STEPH SPRINT FULL Let's do this thing! StephSprint group FULL! (Page 32)

"Right now I am trying to get her to blow bubbles, but she is not getting it."

When my kids were learning to swim (about the same age -> 2 1/2), the coach told us to get them to blow bubbles in the bath when they are having a bath..., use anything, including a straw, to get them to understand how to blow bubbles and get them used to putting their face in the water.  This is often the biggest struggle.  I agree with the other guys when they say 'have fun!' it's important that she has fun at the same time, and learns that swimming is fun... 

Suzanne

Kuddos to you for supporting your friends, and a big congratz to them for their successes.

Please keep these inspirational stories coming.  

Thanks for the tips guys, both for teaching Sarah to swim and race day.  I like the sounds of hte splash game and the straw is brilliant.  

Can you believe I do not have any GnR in my library... W T F ... How is this possible?? This could be a problem.. I may have to tear the house apart looking for the CDs, but I am thinking all of them got lost in the moves. UGH!

Skibumm

I like the way you think.. 7 the new 6..  Pretty soon 8 will be the new 7. 

Cheers

I am so bummed. Got an email today from Iron Girl - the swim Sunday is likely cancelled due to high bacteria levels in the reservoir. Obviously, I don't really want to swim in a body of water with unsafe levels of bacteria, but I want to SWIM! I want to TRI! If the levels haven't gone back to a safe level (apparently the runoff from the storm last week caused the increase) it will be a duathlon instead of a tri. SO not what I signed up for, trained for 7 months for, lost all this weight for. I have another tri scheduled for Sept., but that means I'll likely just get one tri in this year. I so wanted two. I just want to cry! 

Ok. Vent over. At least in typing. I'm still venting in my head.

Amy,

This is the unfortunate side of pollution in our  lakes, mostly due to run off and people not picking up after their pets.  Living in a small lake community this is something we go through on a regular basis. Typically we have a beach or two that is closed after a big storm. Our lakes are small, shallow and almost all are interconnected. It seems the run off washes all the crap (in the literal sense) off the streets and yards and into the lakes, which causes a bacteria bloom.  For us this typically lasts only a couple of days.  We retest the lakes two days after a failed test and in most cases the bacteria is back with in normal levels.  There have been some instances, a beach may be closed for a week, like after a hurricane, but I have never seen it span two weekends.  

 Hopefully they will retest the water tomorrow and get good results back in time to make your swim a go. 

Amy,

Me being my normal curious and lazergetic took a look at your events web site:

This was posted:

Update 7/17 - great news, the beach is back open.

Read more: Boulder http://www.irongirl.com/Events/Boulder.htm#ixzz20ylYO9Kf

:-)

Whoohooo! I just got an email from them saying the same thing and came here to post my excitement! I am so happy it's back on.

That's what happened here - the goose poop got washed into the reservoir after the storms (it's a pretty goose poopy place to start with!) and so they closed the beach last Thursday. I'm so glad it only lasts a few days! Whoot!

Great news about the event being reopened Amy!!

Steph- I always end up paying the 'day of' registration because I'm always on the fence about whether I'm going to enter a race or not. Pre reg. is a good way to commit. Especially if it is +$200 now.

Got my 7 miler in today. Paced 10 minute/miles but ended miles 6 and 7 with 8 min and 7ish min respectively. WOW. Didn't plan that one (OK, maybe I pushed mile 7 toward the end a little bit), and thought maybe my watch was broken at first. Feeling good. There were several people running on the path today, and I was encouraging all of them with clapping and inspires when we passed. I know they felt awkward at first with some stranger cheering for them, but it was cool to see them come around and get big smiles on their faces even if the rest of the time they were suffering. I think I would have had as much fun just sitting in a chair next to the path clapping and shouting at them.

Favorite tunes/music:

When I train it is techno all the way.  I prefer the likes of Tiesto for hard long runs. Pod casts keep the play lists new and I dont have to plan or prep play lists. 

For races I go in a complete opposite direction.  Blues and Big band, and sometimes the swooners. I need something to bring me down and keep me calm and relaxed.  Otherwise my nerves get the better of me.  

So the other day I decided to go to the local sports store and pick up some stretchy laces.  A word to the wise, when you are a man, dont go to the sports asking for stretchy laces.  Two big goons will pop out of know where, take you out back, hang you by your ankles and shake you until your man card falls out.  They are known as elastic laces... any way.  The ones they had sucked. The clip wouldn't hold the laces tight so I had to return them and ordered a pair of Yankz.  I am hoping they will be here in time for Saturday, but I doubt it. 

Steph: 

That is awesome that you will be able to see Chrissie tonight.  Will she be presenting or just hanging out? Make sure you get that autograph!

NICE!

I’ll play the playlist game – my ipod features a wide range of tunes from the Beach Boys to GnR with a smattering of things like Black Eyed Peas and Kevin Rudolph.  If an emergency arises, I do have Eye of the Tiger on standby. Haha

Marcus & Amy – Best wishes to you both for great races!  Picked up my packet today and got a pretty purple swim cap. LOL I’m sure the men love it.  Best part about this race – the 6:30 am start (and the 5 minute travel time from my house!).

Steph – U r a rock star. Int’l, HIM AND the Chicago Marathon?  Inspiring. Whatever kool-aid you’re drinking, I’ll have some.   And don’t forget to get a snapshot of the neverending Chrissie Wellington smile! What a great ambassador of the sport. 

 Heading out for 1 more cross-lake OWS and then ‘rest’ days.  

Terri

Hey Terri,

Good luck to you too.  I pick up my packet tomorrow night, but it looks like I will be sporting a purple swim cap too.  Imagine that.

And good luck to you Amy. 

Good luck to all of you and race smart. Kill it, but don't overkill it too soon out of the gate. And I can't wait to see some purple cap pics.

Tonight's workout: S/B/R. Wasn't going to R but felt like it was a little reward for the S and B. Nothing too crazy, just the right amounts. Saw my boss while B'ing in town. He said "Don't you get enough exercise at work?" Not wanting to increase my workload for tomorrow, my response was " I get PLENTY of exercise at work, but this is different."

back on track!  3 days in a row training... I feel much more like my routine is back, and things are moving in the right direction again!

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!!

Sounds like your boss is a pleasure to work for. 

I got my Yankz yesterday .. woot woot.. got em on my sneaks already. 

Side note - just want to say what a great site this is.  So much positive feedback everywhere and this group is really awesome. HAGW everyone. 

Terri