New Races, New Team, Lots of Fun

I have been a busy, busy teacher the past few months. It's been a whirlwind of working 12 hour days and having very little time to myself. I feel like I'm getting better at making sure I am not working 12 hour days and going home at a decent time. I'm not working out as much as I would like but at this point it's better than nothing.

For Christmas my husband bought me a membership to a local triathlon team. Our first clinic/meeting is today and it's for swimming. I really wish it was for running or biking, those two events could use a bit more TLC on my part!

My mom and I are running our 2nd race of 2011 at the end of March. It's a half marathon and I would really, really, really enjoy a half PR once and for all. The only PR I keep getting in that distance is each race gets slower! Now that is not something to be proud of!

We also signed up for our second marathon, the RnR Seattle. We had planned on doing the Seattle marathon this past November but both of us being back in school proved too much for adequate marathon training. So, we jumped down to the half. It was a bit difficult to finish as I was only running once a week. I don't recommend it!

This summer I plan on two 70.3s and a few sprint tris in the mix. I haven't signed up for anything yet, but probably will in the next month or so.

Happy training and racing!

First Grade Here I Come!! Exercise, Where Will You Go?

Fabulous news! I just got a job Tuesday afternoon as a first grade teacher. I'm excited, nervous and looking forward to starting the year. But wow! I have a disaster of a room to organize and plan for the little ones to be successful and it is taking me a long time and it only feels like I have only made a tiny dent in my work.

Needless to say I haven't worked out since last Sunday. I ran 8 miles in preparation for my half marathon on Labor Day (which is also my 33rd birthday!) and that is all the running I've done. I guess it looks like I'll keep my record streak of half marathon times getting worse instead of getting better ;)

I worry that a lot of my exercise this summer will go by the wayside because of work. I need a plan to keep me in tip-top shape while being the best I can be at school . I know one teacher is a swimmer and we have talked about going once a week to the pool down the street to a master's workout. That's good. School is also by a great running trail. While I think running at lunch will be impossible, it's something I can do after work and then return to work if I need to.

Really though, it's too much to think about! Oh yeah, I also have one more tri of the season, an Olympic distance. And I haven't been on my bike in weeks. It will be fun... real fun! Wish me well blogger peeps!

I know some of you are teachers, how do you fit it in exercise in your schedule?

Cherry On Top Award!

Thank you Java Joggers for the award! It made me smile! For accepting this wonderful award I must answer some questions and pick 6 other recipients for this Sweet Reward!

#1 Answer this question: If you could go back and change one thing in your life, would you, and what would it be? Hmmmm, I think I would have been more competitive with my swimming. I really had the potential to at least get into a top swimming school. But neither my grades or my swimming were a top priority back in the day. I was much more into socializing and having fun! I'm glad I had fun, but should've concentrated more on trying to get into a Division one school. But I love my life and I am glad I actually got the chance to swim in school for two years.

#2 Pick 6 other people to pass this award to, and then let them know that they're winners.#3 Thank the person that gave you the award.

Cate @ Cate on the Run

Kate @ Clean Eating Machines

Stephanie@ In Steph's Shoes

Runblondie26@ Meet me on the Corner of Peach Tree and Peach Tree

Athena Misty@ Athena Diaries: Tales from the Back of the Pack

Abri@ Absolutely Ridiculous

Your Other Hobby

What is your hobby other than health and fitness? Someone asked this question on a message board and I responded with nothing.I thought to myself "All I do for fun is health and fitness related". It took me a few days for my brain to really think of an appropriate response. There are certainly more things that I do frequently that I really enjoy. So, one of my other hobbies is reading!


I used to watch TV every night before going to bed, even had a TV in my room. Then I got married and my husband COULD NOT sleep with the TV on. So I had to make some changes. I started reading every night to calm my brain. I often only have to read about 30 pages and sometimes I even fall asleep with the book in my hands. I no longer need a TV to lull me to sleep. Here is a list of books I have read so far this year, links included if you are interested in a more thorough review!

1. Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins


3. Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella

4. Le Divorce by Diane Johnson

5. Women, Work and the Art of Savoir Faire by Mireille Guilliano

6. Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs.

7. Endurance Weight: Getting Lean for Peak Performance by Matt Fitzgerald

8. New Rules of Lifting for Women by Lou Schuler

9. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

10. Under the Dome by Stephen King

11. The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

12. Brain Rules for Babies: How to Raise a Smart and Healthy Baby from Zero to Five By John Medina.

What are your hobbies?

Ironman Canada! Here I come!

No, not to race but to spectate! I am really excited! My cousin who is an amazing athlete will be participating in hopes of qualifying for Kona...again! She just aged up to the 50-54 age groupers and will have to come in either first or second in her age group and I'm sure she will do it! She has been doing triathlons since before they became so mainstream. She really is my HERO!!

Part of me wants to take the plunge and just sign up when they open up registration. But right now I just can't fathom the cost to sign up for such torture! I think the registration fee for an M-Dot race is at least $500! Not to mention the time spent training. I think I'll give myself another year with Half-irons and some Olympic distances and then I'll try it. But there is still that itch to just say "F" it and sign up! Gahhhh! My husband would kill me! Did I mention that we just bought a car too?

I'll report back with a spectator's P.O.V. after the race!

Happy Training!

Omaha, Somewhere in Middle America

My husband and I are leaving on Thursday for a trip to visit his family. We start off this amazing mid-western adventure flying into Chicago. Oh, how I wish I could stick around and check out the city. I've only ever been to the airport. Then we hop on another plane to Peoria, Illinois and from there to a tiny town called Galesburg. Thankfully, my husband's grandparents live in a neighborhood with a nice pool where there are lap lanes always open. Because there is nothing else to do in this town, we will be spending much of our time at the pool.

After our stay in Illinois it's going to be a lovely 5 hour drive to Omaha. We will see LOTS of corn on our way to O-Town, it's so exciting! Since it's so hot there I probably won't be running outside at all, but thankfully the downtown Y is very nice and if you are a member of a Y anywhere else you get a few complimentary visits. So, again needless to say I'll be there probably every day.

I was really hoping there would have been a race for me to do. There is a triathlon in Omaha but it will be during the weekend we will be in Illinois. Plus what a pain to send my bike there for a sprint tri. So, no racing for me, just lots of swimming and hanging out by a pool!

Next year I vote for a family trip to somewhere with access to an ocean. Perhaps, Hawaii, or maybe even Australia.

Just to put it out there, does anyone know of a tri team in Omaha that does any open water swimming anywhere? Not even sure where they would do it, but thought I would ask!

Triathlon Pendant Giveaway

Not from me but from Amanda from Run to the Finish! Check out her blog while you enter the giveaway!