Just Call me Flipper

Please, don't. I am just kidding. But I have decided that I hate flippers, despite the wonderful fact that they do propel me through the water much faster than my own feet ever could. But flippers give me blisters on the top of my toes (ill-fitting) and they also make me feel extremely uncoordinated. I am constantly hitting my other leg with the flipper, my ankles hurt after wearing them. And because they propel me through the water so quickly and because I can't swim a straight line, I end up hitting other people (who aren't even in MY lane!!!) as well as the lane separators. Needless to say, tonight I swam with flippers the entire hour. (Yes, I am whining--it's my blog so I am allowed) The swim went okay, I only felt like I would drown a couple of times and didn't drink as much water as I normally do. I still do not have the endurance in the water as I would like to have...I kind of get panicky. So, when I saw the ginormous digital clock on the wall strike 7:30 I was relieved to get out of the pool. Sometimes I feel like the swim portion of the triathlon will make or break me (it IS the first event). I guess this is why we train. Trying again on thursday....I miss you Lindsy!! It isn't as much 'fun' when I don't share a lane with you! (maybe that's why I feel defeated?) BUT I hope you're having fun on the beach!

Jennifer, Tracy and me!

Oscar, the running dog

I would like to begin this post by saying that there is no place like home, and home to me is where my husband and pup ("child") are. This past "weekend" after my all-day saturday class I drove to Owensboro, KY, to visit with my husband and Oscar (the dog-child)...long story short we are separated by miles because we are in a moving transition. Of course, leaving Lexington doesn't mean leaving my training schedule. So, Monday I decided to run with Oscar, who was more than pleased! Let me paint this picture: Oscar is a 10lb yorkie who is the definition of a lap-dog. But when I say the word "run" Oscar turns into a big dog who cannot get a grip because he is so excited to be going for a run with his mommy! I am sure it is quite a sight to see a 6' tall woman running with a tiny dog. But to his credit, this dog can keep up with the best and he is no sissy! He runs a 9:30 min/mile for 3 miles and doesn't whine one bit. Occasionally he will STOP and needs a little pep talk about treats and such to keep going, then we are back on the move. And after we return home and he has had his water and rest, he is back to leaping from couch tops and sprinting around the house. It was so nice to have my running partner again, even if only for the weekend.

Me and Oscar

You're a Swimmer...

...You just need to be more efficient! These are the words from our Tri-coach, Susan B. Cox. THE coach and the namesake of the triathlon that I am participating in on October 5th. These words were spoken to me after I showed her what I thought swimming was, 25 meters up then back with no break. What she may or may not have seen was the amount of pool water I swallowed as I performed this "swim." Of course I didn't want to come up choking (not to mention that the water was 6.5 feet deep so I couldn't touch-believe it or not!) because I would look like an idiot, so the water that flooded my mouth or nose was just swallowed in an effort to look like a swimmer. HA I fooled her! :) Or so I thought, until she pulled out the flippers, which in my mind "swimmers" don't use. I was reluctant to put these on because as she said, I'm a "swimmer" but one does not contradict Coach Cox. SO, I put them on and FLEW through the water. It was so fun! Tiring, but fun. I did the drills she asked of me and was able to swim in the same lane with my Lindsy (who, by the way looked like a real swimmer last night: speedo suit with matching flippers and some dang good swimming to go along with the outfit). Then Susan asked us to take the flippers off and do the same drills until we "got them right." What a difference! I was swallowing so much water and sinking and it was a mess. But I made it through my first swim practice with Coach Cox and am looking forward to Tuesday for some more pool water cocktails! Wish I had a picture of last night, but here is one of me in the pool while in New Orleans!

Week In Review (from NEW ORLEANS!)

Yes, I know....I should be partying it up in the Big Easy-- but we are taking a small break before we head back out to Bourbon Street! So, while I am "resting" I thought I would let you in on my training for the week....

Thursday was a swim day. It was interesting, to say the least. (but isn't it always??) I worked on several of the drills that Lindsy showed me when we met at the pool last Sunday and then decided to swim for real! So, I was swimming "for real" and this old man (70-80ish) got into the lane next to me. I suppose he was waiting for his wife to finish her water aerobic class with the 30-or-so other elderly women (another story completely) and decided he would lap swim. Well, during one of my many breaks I watched him swimming and decided he was moving V-E-R-Y slowly down the pool, and I wondered if I moved that slow. So, when he was about half way down the pool, I took off. 25 meters down, 25 meters back as quickly as I could without drowning or stopping. When I reached the end, I noticed the poor man hadn't moved very far down the lane at all! Poor guy. So, it seems that I may be basking in this, but I am not. Let me just say that I had to take about a 5 minute break before I could continue my swim while he kept plugging along. Seems kinda like the Tortoise and the Hare to me. (Moral of the story: I need to pace myself)

Friday, I ran in the arboretum in Lexington by myself (boo) and was really missing my BFF and partner in crime, Lindsy. I did 3 miles and it was tough. I decided to do this because I couldn't go to the TNT run this morning (New Orleans). I am paying dearly for this run, though, because my calves are incredible sore!! (HILLS SUCK!)

Needless to say, Josh will not let me run in the French Quarter while we are here in New Orleans, but I am getting a lot of walking in. So, the exercise will be put on hold until Wednesday--hopefully it won't kill me!! But as they say in the Big Easy: Laissez les bon temps rouler (Let the Good Times Roll!). Oh, and We ARE!

Check out my Beads!!

Yummy Seafood Boil!

My husband and I on a Swamp Tour

sans iPod

I know that when you run in a race, you cannot always use your iPod. This kinda bothers me because, I hate to admit, I am slightly dependent on this small computer. When I run with Lindsy, I do fine without it but running is not so easy when I am alone. I don't know what it is, maybe it's the distraction? Maybe I like to booty-dance while I run (peps me up)? Maybe I just like to run in step with the beat. Whatever it is, I HAVE to have it! ESPECIALLY when it is 90 degrees outside and I have just worked a 9 hour day.
Today, I did not have my iPod. Well, I did, but when I went to turn it on seconds before my run, it was dead!! I had a mind struggle about whether to run without it or just go home because it was a lost cause. Only problem: I was in absolute need of a run, so going home wasn't an option. Obviously, the run won. Not only did the run win, but I was able to do 5k without stopping in the hot heat of the day! This is what determination will do for you. Of course it wasn't my fastest time (29:30) but it wasn't bad, either. Especially considering the above variables and the fact that I had to pee about 5 minutes into the run and therefore had to contract muscles for a sustained amount of time. So, I finished my run, sans iPod, and managed to not have a trickle down my leg-whoo hoo! But, I am setting that little computer to charge tonight.

ar·bo·re·tum

[definition] A place where an extensive variety of woody plants are cultivated for scientific, educational, and ornamental purposes.

This definition does not encompass the HILLS that Lexingon's Arboretum holds, but I will say that I didn't curse them as much this weekend as last weekend. I also only ran 2 miles. Here are some pics from this morning's run. Way to represent the Tri Team, Linds!!! Whoo hoo (we ARE hard-core)

"Blah" Week

Well, just as the title explains, this was a "blah" week for me. (Everyone has those, right??) I did manage to get a decent run in but it was only 2.77 miles. I was kinda disappointed because I thought I had gone at least 3!! Oh well. I swam for 45 minutes on Tuesday (drank half the pool) but didn't swim on Thursday--and now I'm kicking myself for this. I did other non-tri workout activities and concentrated on getting my fundraiser letters together and getting through this week. I have to say that being away from Lexington is taking its toll on me. I have one more week of my internship in Ohio before I can finally begin training with the Lex team during the week. I have a run tomorrow at the arboretum and then hopefully will be able to swim with Lindsy on Sunday at one of the public pools!

Who Let the Dogs Out (woof woof woof woof woof)

Let me begin this post by saying that I love dogs, but I don't love being chased by dogs. Today, Lindsy and I decided to do another ride since our swim practice this morning was cancelled (we're totally hard core!). Lindsy has a program to map out good rides, so I let her take care of that. (see below for the website of the route we took) I got a little nervous when Linds said, "This one's gonna be hilly, Neen. But you can do it." and I noted that the distance was just short of 19 miles! (refer to previous post on my feelings about hills--it IS a little different on a bike, but the feelings are still not the best) Needless to say, I sucked it up and followed Linds out onto an obviously hilly road thinking to myself that if this is the worst of it I will survive. BOY was I wrong! But it wasn't the hills that shook me up (but they were hell...). And it wasn't the locusts that seemed to dive bomb straight to my mouth (although, during the first mile I thought I would have to turn around because of them). It was the DOGS! Yep, I said it. The dogs. Who'da thought it. We rounded one corner and several dogs just appeared and chased us. THEN a beast of a Rottweiler came bounding out chasing Lindsy, with me behind it! This was a nightmare because I was just thinking, "I have to pass this!!!! How the heck am I going to get around this beast with fangs without getting my leg chewed off????" It seemed that this one particular road was full of bike-chasing-dogs! Lindsy's advice: PEDAL PEDAL PEDAL! I don't think I have ever gone that fast or had so much adrenaline in my entire life. But, obviously I am alive to tell about it. We were well rewarded for our stresses with incredible scenery of horse farms, the Kentucky River, lush greenery, and historic looking homes. Can we say beautiful?? It was a ride I will never forget. I will post pics as soon as I can! (Thank God for strong legs and beautiful scenery!)

Lindsy saved a turtle!

This is what I mean by beautiful scenery! Gotta love KY's historic rock walls

Taking a break by the Kentucky River.