Friday, April 27, 2012

It's go time

It's official.  Today I signed up for my first ever Olympic length triathlon.  I am freaking out!  Hopefully, this will be the medal that I earn when I finish the race.  Last year, Kristi and I decided that we would step up our race distance and attempt our first Olympic/International distance race.  We were set to do the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon, but after finding out the date of the race(K's family has a reunion that weekend)and being shocked at how damn expensive it is to participate we decided to search for other dates and venue's. 

We found the Maple Grove Triathlon and we loved the date: August 25th.  That means ample time to train for the event, it is likely to be warm water since it is the end of the summer so no need to purchase or wear a wetsuit, and the price was perfect so that we could sign up for Chaska River city Day's triathlon (sprint distance) as well and still come out ahead of where we would have if we would have signed up with lifetime fitness. Win/Win!

We are looking at training schedules online and it puts everything into perspective.  K said, "Holy Shit, gets right down and dirty doesn't it?"  I had to laugh out loud because it is what I have been fearing since we discussed doing the longer length tri and now we have no choice but to do it. 

It's go time...this Sunday we are getting down and dirty and beginning our 16 week journey to our race day.  Wish us luck!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

What are you reading?


I am an avid reader.  I go through books almost as quickly as I go through underwear.  I finish one book and I am on to the next one.  Sometimes, this gets confusing because I haven't fully processed the previous book when I start a new one.  Because I read so much, I sometimes find it hard to choose a new book to read because I have read everything else that is out and popular right now.  I find myself browsing the books for sale at our local library for titles that I haven't heard of but like the synopsis of on the back cover.  I borrow books from my friend Sara's library, yes...she basically owns as many books as a library and there is a really great selection.  Mostly, I start reading books off of another persons recommendation.  Enter "Fifty Shades of Grey."

My friend K, who is not much of a reader said that I absolutely, unequivocally must read this book.  While sipping an espresso martini at her house the other night, she selected a chapter from book 3(it is a trilogy)for me to read.  I found myself entranced by the words on the page, pausing only to take a sip of my drink and blush as I looked up and saw both her husband and her watching me read this steamy chapter.  Oh.My.God.  This chapter is amazing.  The writing is superb.  I loved the way that the author can portray a private moment so extremely well that it seems as if she is inside of your head.

I went home and immediately purchased the book on my Kindle.  I have read half of the book in one day.  It is that good. I cannot wait to read all three books.  I am aware that this type of book may not be for everyone as the content is quite explicit.  So, if that is not your thing simply disregard this glowing recommendation :) 

Happy reading friends!  What are you reading right now?  I'm always looking for new books!

Monday, April 23, 2012

What a crazy few weeks!

I realize that I haven't posted in quite a while.  Well, actually it has been something like 24 days, but man have they been a busy few weeks.  I suppose I could bore you with all that has been going on in our lives, but I'm sure you have better things to do.  So, I will just give you some highlights of the best of the best and the not so good(because we all love to laugh at other peoples' shitty days sometimes right?). 

Easter was fabulous...mostly.  We met family for brunch and then went to my sisters afterwards for some fantastic hordevours, an egg hunt and sweets...lots and lots of sweets.  Do you know who ate them? This girl.  I felt like a rock star...until I didn't and I regretted every minute of loving every minute I was downing chocolate cake, cupcakes topped with frosting and sugar and many many mini cadbury eggs.  Lets just say on Monday I did not feel quite myself.




I bought a triathlon bike!  I have been looking for a bike for a while and was bummed out because I felt like I was not going to find a bike in my price range that would fit me properly.  I had almost given up on the idea of racing this year because I was not going to go back to riding a mountain bike especially since Kristi and I had talked about doing an Olympic distance tri this year.  My friend Dan had been watching craigslist for me and he found an amazing deal on an amazing bike.  I bought my Quintana Roo from a woman named Ann(whom I ran into during my Get Lucky race...what are the odds?)and I couldn't be happier with the bike. 

It came with a really cool LOOKING seat that had the QR emblem embroidered onto it.  Unfortunately, that is where the "cool-ness" stopped.  I spent 90% of my three rides on that seat hovering over it.  Not good.  It was a freaking torture device.  So, I began my search for a new seat.  I got my seat from a guy who just happens to be a triathlete and has completed an Iron man race(so awesome).  Meeting him and hearing about some of his experiences has really motivated me to continue training hard and pushing myself toward my own goals.  Who knew that Craigslist was such a social place...or is it just me? 

Kristi and I will be doing two triathlons this year.  Chaska Rivercity Days Tri, which is a sprint distance in July and The Maple Grove Triathlon in August which is an Olympic distance.  I am a mix of emotions about the longer course.  Even though I know that I can totally do that distance, it still freaks me out because I remember how hard the run last year was for me.  I literally had to talk myself through the entire thing.  The thought of having to double that distance is mildly unnerving.  I will be fine and it will be a great experience.  The goal is to simply finish. 

So, here is where the not so good starts...The past two weeks have been filled with sickness in our house.  On Sunday two weeks ago, Bennett and Bria both started running fevers that quickly turned into nasty stomach bug type illness.  They were both down and out for four days.  We missed an entire week of school and my poor babies felt completely awful.  I was scared every second of every day that I was going to get whatever funk that they got.  I washed my hands raw and tried to spend most of the nights out at the gym away from said germs.  I was hopeful that Avery wasn't going to get it.  She was completely fine....until, she wasn't.

Last Sunday, while I was blissfully enjoying a massage that my bestie got me for my birthday Avery became ill.  She fell asleep and started running a temperature.  Then, she began the stomach bug stuff.  Oh shit.  Literally.  She threw up non-stop from 6pm Sunday until Tuesday morning when she was so lethargic and had kept nothing down that I decided it was time to go to the ER.  We took her in where they gave her Zofran for the nausea and then pushed IV fluids.  I was amazed at this new technology they have for starting IVs.  It was painless!  They took a syringe filled with medicine and it literally explodes on her skin(no needle involved).  It immediately numbed the entire area and the nurse placed the IV without Avery feeling a thing.  I was super impressed.  We were there for a few hours and they sent us home.  She napped and woke up feeling great, yet she was not really interested in drinking anything.  The thought of it was making her feel sick.  Eventually, she started taking a turn for the worse again.  She woke up at 11:30am screaming and writhing in pain.  It was horrifying.  So, I took her back to the ER where again they pushed IV fluids and sent us home with a prescription for Zofran.  This time everything changed for the better...finally.  I was so worried for her.  It was Friday and she was supposed to compete on Saturday with her dance studio.  I told her that it was up to her if she thinks that she could go.  She missed the entire week of school and dance and I wasn't sure that her little body was ready to dance. 

Friday night, Avery decided that she was going to dance on Saturday.  We got all packed and ready to go.  Saturday she competed for the first time this year and she did wonderful.  I am so proud of my spunky girl who rallied to be there for her team.  My mom and sister came to watch her and we all had a great day!

Thursday night Bennett and Bria started Soccer.  This is their first year playing and we were hoping that they would completely enjoy it.  It rained all day on Thursday, but the practice was not canceled.  We bundled them up complete with gloves and hats and headed out to the field.  There were a ton of people out on the fields and the twins were excited to get their jerseys.  We learned that our team is the Lynx and they are lime green & hunter striped.  Our coach is a youth coach who is 14 years old and he is AMAZING.  This kid had all of our little kids laughing, giggling, and having the time of their lives out on the field(unlike a few of the other teams who had dad's yelling get the ball! get the ball!).  I am so excited to watch all of their little games and practices and for the twins to finally have an activity to call their own(one that their big sister has to be dragged to every week).


We are looking forward to a busy spring filled with soccer, dance, school festivities, triathlon training and the promise of a wonderful summer.  What are you looking forward to?