TriAya's Group: SHUT like dog on steak, sorry! (Page 39)

Have fun Beth and good luck. 

Hey, Mighty Manatees!

Yeah, we've been a bit quiet lately--I've had a week so full it cut into my BT time, gasp--but some fantastic accomplishments. Beth, so much warm love and good wishes for your move!

So, the half mary ... um ... I am in very good spirits. Here's the RR:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=102860&posts=1#M1192479

I just hit SEND on my laptop and booked 3 nights and 4 days in Disneyland next month.  (Mar 8-11)  We were going to wait until the kids were older (2 and 5 now) but my dad will be down there for work and instead of him flying up here to the cold north, we are meeting him there for some Mickey Mouse and hopefully some sunshine.  My sister and her son (2 yrs) are also coming, so it will be super fun, albeit brief.  I'd love to have more time to track down some BTers, but unless you guys live in Anaheim it probably won't be happening this time around.    Hopefully it won't cut into my training too much!

Speaking of training, I officially begin the Oly 16-wk plan Wednesday....it has 2 rest days per week, which strikes me as odd....but I will faithfully follow along as best I can, trusting in the wisdom of the plan.  I guess that gives me some wiggle room for vacations and weather-related stuff.  And yes, I know to keep the long workouts separated by a day or two.  Although I am going to be doing a long run, bike and a swim on the weekends.  Over two days.   I am taking tomorrow off (or so I say now).

Shawn - congrats on becoming a proud second cousin (or whatever that is when your cousin has a baby). 

It's awfully quiet on here lately...other mentor groups may gain on our awesome post count if we don't get back online!!!

Wonderful news from several fronts!

Terri--I am so excited for you. Do take it easy on breaking the orthotics in, but you will love them as you get used to them. Be cautious but enjoy the exhilaration of training.

Shawn--a delightful new life in the family! Congrats!

Leslie--good on you for planning the trip. You are such an amazing lady, with such an amazing Dad--both of you really made the other. It will be a splendid family event.

As for me, I survived today nicely--I'm sure my legs would be less sore if I hadn't repeatedly taken hot showers yesterday (I usually run a lot of cold water on my legs after races/runs, but since that had already happened all morning ...)

Anyway, I'm in much better shape than I expected, I don't have pneumonia, and will actually do some training tomorrow and (finally) resume my HIM training plan this week.

Terri, I love what you said about looking at the squall and wishing you were in it. I thought of you that day, and shortly following my nasty cramp, I looked at the rain and the choppy, angry ocean and thought even if my foot feels like it's about to fall off and it is powerfully grey out here today, I am so very grateful to be alive and out here moving. It did occur to me there were plenty of people who would give their eyeteeth to be in my very own soggy, squishy, heavy, nasty wet shoes!

Erin, lack of motivation is something all of us go through. No need to add guilt to an already bleh feeling! So what ... a year from now you won't remember missing a day of training here and there, but you will remember that ultimately you did most of the training and went on to finish an awesome race.

When I don't want to do stuff, I tell myself, (for example in running), all I'm gonna do is put my runnies on and go outside. That's all I have to do. If I still don't want to go at that point, I will come right back in.

I have done this probably a hundred times--and if I have my shoes on and am standing outside, I'll run. Once, ever, I came back in--I was sick and shouldn't have been out in the first place!

Hi everyone!

just popping in to say I'm here in PA and doing well.  I have very limited time and computer access at the moment, so I won't be around as much as I like.

I'm hoping I will get my laptop soon and that will solve my evening access

I hope everyone is doing well!

Here's a post for the count!

Have done half of my first day of Oly training plan's workouts.   Still need to ride the trainer, but will do that while hubby is bathing the kids later tonight. That way I eke out more time in the day for ME.  ****Evil laugh!****  I wish it would stop raining and being cold.  Wahhhh, winter is annoying.

On a happier note....my in-laws are taking me shopping wherever I want tomorrow for my birthday--and I get to buy a (drum roll please) WETSUIT!  Hopefully.....I am in contact with a local tri shop......they have some in my size at 40% off right now......so we will see what happens.  Last year I was talked into a beautiful purse that I'd never spend that much money on (but I do use it daily)...so this year it is about something I will use a lot!  The in-laws also just got one more jetski, so I can swim along with it before the lake even gets warm!  I am so freakin' spoiled, it is sick.    By the way,  my birthday is Sunday, so you still have time to get my gift in the mail.....hee hee.

Bethie my love--so glad to hear from you, and we know you're stormin' PA like a happy Manatee! Where are you staying? Do you already have a place? Hint: get some of that ready-made cookie dough and bake some cookies, then it'll fill the place with a great smell and it'll be home.

Leslie--drooling with envy. Already my wetsuit from last year is too baggy in the midsection, which is great, but that means I need a new one!

HOWEVER ...

It's official, I've gained weight. I don't know how much, I don't own a scale, but I had to enter into serious negotiations to get into my swimsuit this evening ... none of my other clothes fit differently, and it's just been washed, so maybe that's it, but I am CHAGRINED! Plus, my face feels fat. So ... not sure what I'm going to do, but there will be some changes!

Edit: Hey, maybe my wetsuit will fit again

I think your tri shorts and top will be fine, your team javelin uniform? Just rinse it well after the race.  Being dressed makes transitions much easier.  I prefer open water swimming, so am probably going to make good use out of the wetsuit.  I have got it all worked out now, and so hopefully by tomorrow at this time, I own a wetsuit. Then really, there's not much else I am lacking!  I can't even let myself fess up to the amount of triathlon gear I have obtained in the past year.  Scary!!!!  But well worth it, well worth it!!

Yanti, aren't you in love?  It's fluffy love weight and it will go away, especially with the exercising you've been up lately.  Just take it easy on those delish desserts I keep seeing pix of!!!!

I ended up doing the indoor cycling class at the gym tonight instead of riding on my trainer.  I just needed some other peeps, I guess.  So, I hit the gym twice today, and Spencer hit the daycare twice.  He did not want to leave.  Crazy! My oldest won't even go in the door any more.  Such different personalities.

Great job on the swimming Shawn.  Yes, it is all baby steps.

So this is where all of the cool kids come and hang out

I have been a potter for quite a while now and practice a technique called "Raku", which is a Japanese technique for glazing and firing earthenware ceramics. Raku is a pretty severe process that includes removing the piece from the kiln when it is red and glowing and then reducing it in a low oxygen environment before quenching it in cold water. Needless to say, the success rate is pretty low. (Most pots will crack or break and even explode)

I have found that training and racing has a lot of similarities to practicing Raku which loosly translates as "Happiness by Chance". Many times you come away more than a bit frustrated or at best with less than satisfying results. (Sort of an exercise in delayed gratification)

Once in a while though, you end up with something of true beauty that you cherish. Of course, measuring success by just finish times hardly ever satisfying.

It seems that you all have had the great fortune to meet someone along the way who is a real one of a kind. If you find yourself in a place to call her friend, then you are truely lucky.  I had the good fortune to spend a bit of time with your mentor and had a few minutes of what you get to experience on a daily basis.

It is no suprise that when I look through the roster of folks here, that many of you are just as energetic as your mentor when it comes to sharing your time for the good of the group.

Train Well Cool Kids

Waterdog, it's been obvious since day one that we have a truly amazing mentor, and we totally appreciate and love her!!  I am secretly hoping she moves to Seattle so we can hang out.    Thanks for stopping by the cool kids' group--always nice to have visitors.  Do you have any pictures of Raku that you've done?

Now, a triathlon question--sort of--I was in spinning class last night and we did a lot of aero riding, which is good.  However, I find that being busty, I can't really ride very fast in that position, as 'the girls' got in the way a lot.  It was quite amusing.  Is there a way to adjust the bike so that this doesn't happen, or am I doomed to never go aero until my girls either shrink away or I find some sort of super mega support bra that hasn't been invented yet??

I get to go wetsuit shopping tonight, woo woo!!!

Hey all, I just wanted to stop by and apologize for being MIA again . . . work just keeps getting in the way of my life   We are swamped . . . I was struggling big time, earlier this week, with the stress of worrying about work killing my training plan or sending me back gaining weight.  After a great talk w/ a good friend I'm feeling much better and more in control, though I still am not sure how to make my schedule easier.  I have been getting in workouts, and plan to continue to, one way or another.  We don't REALLY need sleep, do we?   I haven' t had a chance to read anything in here or log workouts - I'm gonna go try and do some now, before I lose the info in my watch (and my memory) LOL!  Hope you all are doing well . . . I miss keeping in touch with you all!!!  Hoping to find time over the weekend to catch up in here.  Can't wait to see what AWESOME workouts you all have been getting in!

Renee