Oh why not

Why not post another random blog day with lots of bullets??? :)  You know you love them

• Today is my fabulous mom's birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA!  As far as mom's go, I hit the jackpot with mine... not only has she been a fabulous mom, she's a great friend and for a girl, that's an amazing thing to share with your mom.  I'm very fortunate to live nearby, talk to her once, twice, multiple times a day, laugh with her, cry with her, and share life with her.  Hope the anniversary of your 29th birthday was a good one (and look at what a great daughter I am... didn't even type what anniversary it is!)
• My sister, who also happens to be one of my very best friends (I'm a lucky girl) and her husband are starting a very exciting journey in their lives.  They are starting the process of adoption.  I don't talk about my family's personal stuff much on my blog, but if you can do me a favor and just keep them in your thoughts, I'd be forever grateful.  It's going to be a long process, with lots of i's to dot and t's to cross.  And their success in being matched with a birth mother will be very much in their own hands.  If you know of ANYONE who might be looking for an adoptive parent for their child or someone else's, please let me know.  They are going to be amazing parents (and I'm a little biased when I think I'll rock at being an Aunt!)
• My twin from another mother and I were texting the other day and she totally cracked me up.  I was telling her that I needed to find the motivation to get out for my 11 mile run.  Her response was "Just think of it as a date with your husband and you iPod.  Time to perfect you ability to memorize and repeat lyrics".  Great advice.  But her follow up was even better "I like to break out in song and dance while running.  Makes me feel like I'm part of a musical staring ME!!!".  Oh my gosh... this is why I love you!
• I made it through that run, albeit without an iPod, but I can't confirm or deny that I didn't sing to myself at some point throughout the run.
• My Ironman Cycle post (found here) seems to have hit the right chord with a lot of people at just the right time.  I hope that it helps some of you.  I know that I'll go back and re-read a lot of my own advice as my journey continues.
• Tom and I (okay, maybe it's just me, but whatever) are obsessed with the Race Across America.  Last year at this time, I was propping my eyelids open in Annapolis, waiting to Team Type 1 to come in.  It was an exciting time, and although they didn't break their own record, it was exciting seeing the guys come across the finish line in first again.  Although they don't have a team in the race this year, I've been stalking the results to see if any of the 8-man teams would be able to break the record.  It's going to be close... but I think TT1 will keep it. Awesome... especially knowing the tail winds that these guys might have had propelling them through, oh, I don't know, the WHOLE state of Kansas.  Tell me that diabetics can't do something...
• Speaking of diabetics, did I tell you the guys are running across the country? Just because they can?  10 guys from Team Type 1 will be starting the trek in October.  I can't wait to tell you more about it.  15 days of running, starting in California, ending in NYC on World Diabetes Day.  It's not a death sentence in our family... it's opportunity!
• I'm racing again this weekend.  So excited... a local Olympic.  And I'm racing naked again.  What do I have to lose?
• And then we're heading to the casino.  We might have a gambling problem (although to my defense, I spend like $50 all night playing penny slots and am giddy like a school girl).  Oh... and we booked a trip to Vegas in September.  Post REV3 Full / Interbike.  Loving it!

Happy weekend everyone! I'm off to stalk check on the RAAM results.

First update... and 1 down, 1 to go! :)

First, an update on the guys... They kick off at 2pm PST so they are getting ready. The teams have been chosen (Shake and Bake) and Tom's on the second shift this time around so he'll probably see the 1/2 of the course that he didn't get to see last year! His first shift will start at 9pm PST this evening. He has some sort of stomach bug though which really has him down. Feels miserable. He just told me that he was going to try to sleep (since he was sick all night) and should be ready to hammer when it's time (keeping my fingers crossed!!!) Here's a picture of this year's guys...GET IT DONE BOYS!!!

So I'm not going to write a full race report of this morning's Women's Only Tri because race weekend isn't done yet (I'm racing again tomorrow morning), but I had an amazing morning. It was such a cool feeling being surrounded by women who can all call themselves triathletes after today's race. It was really inspiring to watch many of these girls participate in their first race with such big smiles. I loved seeing all the running skirts (and of course am slightly jealous that I can't run in one - don't ask...) but it was cool. And... I got to experience what a sheriff's escort on the bike feels like and a bike escort on the run feels like! :) Yep, after the swim and catching a girl or two on the bike, I was the lead athlete the rest of the day and let me just tell you, I felt like a superstar. So that will totally never happen again, but I loved every minute of it. I felt really strong out there (besides my swim which always sucks) and I was really happy with the performance! I wore my Team Marathon gear, got tons of great compliments and just had a blast! My dear friend Tracy (who is probably the most kick ass triathlete I know in person) was at the race cheering for a friend and was able to get some pictures.

Jeff Sheard and the Ultrafit-USA crew did an AMAZING job with the inaugural event! I'll be back! And I'll post stats and whatnot once they are posted and I'm done with my next tri tomorrow morning. For now, I'm off to lay on the couch, eat some ice cream and get ready to hammer it again tomorrow! Wish me luck.

And if any of you questioned how wonderful my husband is (which I'm sure none of you would do), the proof is in what showed up at my door today!

A new way of thinking

I don't know what it is about Ironman Louisville, but I'm so excited for it. Maybe it's the challenge. God knows it's not the distance or the heat or swimming in the Ohio River. Actually I should be questioning my sanity for signing up for a hilly 140.6 in August in Kentucky, but whatever. In any event, I'm really excited and can't stop thinking about it. Training officially started on Monday and kicking my own arse never felt so good. Maybe this was just what I needed to light that spark again. Ask me again in about 4 months how I feel and my answer will inevitably be different.

I biked last night on my mother-in-law's spin bike. I've never been a huge fan of her spin bike, but I'm learning to love it. I get a really good workout in on it. I sweat a lot. :) I rode for 1:10 yesterday and then proceeded to run a 25:34 5k. I really want to break the 8 minute per mile mark in a tri this year. I know I have some work to do, but it's only January.

And Tom bought me a new tri uni for Christmas. It's pink and gray. Orca. I'm in love. Now if only I could find some place to paint my bike the way I want it. I know my bike's pretty, but it would be PERFECT if it were pink and black. Just sayin'...

I'm such a girlie girl some times!

Oh, and big news - my husband is off his rocker too (which makes for a good marriage) and decided to ride with Team Type 1 again this year in the Race Across America. Another 3000+ miles on the bike for the team, with a huge record to break. Although he'll miss the first outdoor tri of the season and one that's near and dear to our hearts, I'm excited for him and will be there in Annapolis again this year to watch them come in. Let's hope it's earlier than 3am! :)