What's this? A race report???

Shocking, I know. Pick your jaws off the ground because Irondiva is doing a few small races here and there this year.  I haven't totally thrown in the towel to my competitive bone!!!  :)

But I wasn't so much competitive this race as I was happy with how it went!

Here's the story...

So  few weeks ago, Tom and I decided that we were going to look for a fall half marathon.  I love fall half marathons.  There's just something about them that make me smile.  We run a mid-distance run of 10-14 every weekend so it's not really a huge change from a normal weekend, but I love the crisp weather, everyone nervously chatting at the start, the bling at the end, etc.  We found the Allstate 13.1 Atlanta and decided to sign up.  Karen later told me that she had run it last year and really liked it.  That's the funny thing about Atlanta races... I know nothing about any of them, but can always find someone who has done it to get the inside scoop.  I figured it would be a fairly good size race based on the fact that they have them all over the US.  Perfect...

A week before the race, Karen was doing a giveaway on her blog for a free entry so I told Matt to enter, knowing that he's training for a marathon.  It fit in his schedule perfectly and as luck would have it, he won the entry!!!  So yay... I would have Karen and Matt there as well.  See... I already love racing in Atlanta!

Matt and I decided to run the race together since I've been slow and he's tapering for his big race, giving each other an out at any point if the other was going too fast (ha... that wouldn't have been me) or too slow.  I knew Tom would be a speed demon and I couldn't keep up with him.  I was just hoping to see Karen at the start and now am kicking myself for not setting up a meeting point with her because I never saw her. 

Sunday morning was beautiful - the perfect crisp day I had hoped for.  Tom and I were cozy in bed and I'm not going to lie... it was a little hard getting up at 5:30 to go run (especially since Tom stayed up to watch the Buckeyes put it to Nebraska the night before).  But I love this saying and it's what gets us going...

Matt and I lined up around the 2:00 mark.  I've been running fairly slow these days with the hills and whatnot.  I told Matt that I would like to be around 2:05.  He asked if I was good at pacing (ha... no) and asked if I was using a Garmin (again... nope... not my style).  He was so he could keep us on track.  We started out right on a 9:30 pace.  The first 3 or so miles were up and down, a little crowded, a little dark.  I couldn't really get into my groove.  But by mile 6, I was feeling great and we were consistently running right on pace.  All of a sudden I looked an we were at mile 9.  WHAT? :)  That's the awesome part about running with someone.  We talked about some great stuff - family, our values, reality tv (are you guys addicted to Breaking Amish like we both are???), racing, training, the future.  It was so great and made the miles just fly.  Before long, we were at mile 12, Tom had looped back to run to the finish with us.  Matt was feeling awesome and although I know he could have gone ahead, I think he played it smart with a marathon in two weeks (which he's going to rock... go wish him well here!)

Remember how I had hoped to run a 2:05, although I suck at pacing and wasn't wearing a Garmin?  We ended up crossing at like 2:05:34! :)  I would say that was perfect pacing!  Not close to a PR for me, and I loved it.  It was a fun race, I got to spend time getting to know Matt more, and I felt good the whole time.  And it was a GPR... a Georgia PR. :)

The race itself was great - amazing support, great course, music throughout the course, organized aid stations, a great finish line and pretty awesome bling!

If there's an Allstate 13.1 near you (LA, Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, and New York), I'd sign up.  You won't be disappointed!  But run it with a friend.  That'll make it even better!

This coming weekend, I'm racing again (gasp) at REV3 Anderson.  I can't wait to see my teammates and race another amazing Rev race!!!

Awareness

Sometimes we just meet someone who strikes a certain chord with us.  Maybe they have a special talent, or a special personality, or there's just something that stands out.  And we want to help them.  Maybe because their heart is so amazingly big.  This is a little story about that.

Everyone knows I'm a member of Team Rev3.  We're an awesome group of athletes if I may say so myself, but we all seem to have big hearts.  We want to help where we can.  We have partnered with the Ulman Fund and that's kind of like our team's little baby.

But back in maybe August, one of our teammates reached out, telling us about a lady named Donna.  I don't know Donna personally, but her story and her amazingly big heart struck a chord with me.

Donna has a nerve disorder called Charcot Marie Tooth disease.  What, you haven't heard of it?  Yeah, I hadn't either.  But, CMT is the most common nerve disorders out there.  Donna shared a little bit of her story with us, let us know that September is is CMT Awareness Month and asked if we could help get the word out.

We are Team Rev3.  ABSOLUTELY.

Here's a little about the disease:

• It affects nearly 1 in 2500 people
• It's not usually a deadly disease
• People with CMT have difficulty transmitting signals to their muscles because of genetic problems, resulting in muscle atrophy of the feet and hands and then progressing over time throughout the core
• Some people impacted by CMT are in wheel chairs, some in legs braces, and then there are people like Donna who appear "perfectly normal" 

Donna told us a little about what the day in the life of someone with CMT is like... there's the not knowing what your future will be like in terms of mobility, there's the uncertainty of knowing how fast your disease is going to progress, there's hope for a cure, there's knowing that you have a disease that appears invisible to some,  there's the fatigue that comes with it, and there's the desire to go fast, but knowing you can't because of faulty nerves.

Donna sent us all shirts from the CMTA which is the sole single focus organization actively supporting the search for a cure for CMT.  They currently fund over 50 different research initiatives in the search for a cure for CMT.

For Donna, and all of the people out there suffering with CMT, I hope that September has brought awareness to people throughout the world who don't know what the disease is.  I hope that science brings hope for a cure.  I hope you know how amazing you all are!

To learn more about CMT, visit their website.

The power of perception

I haven't talked much about my workouts lately, but Coach Sharpie is keeping me busy. I'm in a drill phase...  learning a lot of things that I probably should have known after 5 years of racing, but never really did (I guess that's the power of a coach.  Hum... who would have thought?)

In any event, as I swim and bike and run, I am constantly thinking to myself "I am getting stronger.  I'm am getting better".  And often during my drills, I think to myself, "wow, I feel so smooth right now".  And then it hits me...

It doesn't matter that I'm rocking a sparkly Rev suit that makes me feel like a super hero:

I'm pretty certain I look like this when I'm swimming: 

And when I run:

Ah, the power of perception.  I guess as long as I think I look good, and fast, and smooth, that's all that matters.  Right?

:)

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.

The anniversary of my 29th birthday...

I have a way of spoiling gifts from my husband.  When I know he's bought me something (for my b-day, anniversary, holiday, just the heck of it) and he's making me wait to get it, I'm horrible.  I will whine, beg, plead and annoy him until he can't take it anymore and gives me the gift early. Case in point...

Don't mind my cold chicken looking fingers...

That's my birthday present.  My birthday is tomorrow.  I got the ring last night! :)  My husband is the best.  I mean, I thought my new bike, our casino trip, and anything that I'll buy this weekend when I use the excuse "but it's my birthday" to go shopping was my gift (that's totally a valid excuse, right?).  Never did I think he'd get me an amethyst ring that I've been drooling over!  It's perfect... what girl can't use some bling?

And it totally makes me feel better about turning 31.  Yeah, I'm young, I know, but for some reason, this year feel like the first birthday where I sound old.  I got the best b-day card from a family friend that had a teacher on the front doing math at a chalk board.  It said "29 + some more years = 29" and then the inside said "Happy Birthday to an expert in girl math".  So here's to the second anniversary of my 29th birthday! (Thanks Barb and Chuck for the card... totally made me laugh!)

A few other randoms:
* I'm way behind in blog reading.  I think my google reader was at 108 this morning.  I'm scared to look where it's at now.  I'm hoping to have some couch/laptop time this weekend and will get caught up, I promise.  I miss you guys...
* We got hit with the craptastic ice storm on Tuesday night.  Our power went out around 4am on Wednesday and didn't come back on until 7pm that night.  We saw 47 degrees on our inside thermometer. Fun times in Ohio!
* I'm still loving the people watching at the gym.  I think I'm going to start a blog installment about what I see each week.  I even have guest people watchers who are keeping me updated on what they see.  If you see anything crazy, funny or just not right, let me know and I'll include it.  This week, my friend Lori texted me the following "Today's people watching highlight... the teenage girl who felt the need to obviously roll her mesh shorts up to juuust below her butt cheeks, but didn't feel the need to get her super long super sweaty hair off her neck and pull it up.  Because she MUST have been warm... I mean, why else would she make her shorts that short? ;p"  Classic high school gym goer! Thanks Lori for the laugh!
* Trakkers news - I've updated my side panel with more sponsors (they keep rolling in... pinch me anytime to wake me up people!).  I've included two discounts that YOU can take advantage of.  The first is for $10 off any REV3 race and the second is for 15% off at All3Sports.  Great deals and you benefit from me being loved! :)  It's a win-win for everyone!  Take advantage people... these are awesome deals!

Alright, I'm off to stare at my finger with my ring on it.  Honesty is the best policy!

Another Random's Update

Just 'cause I'm feeling super random today...

• Thank you all for your encouraging words on my last post about being self coached. And I appreciate the suggestion to move my rest day to Monday. During my race training schedule, I'm the laziest person in the world on Mondays. For now unfortunately, I think I'm going to need the break after the two days of intervals. I'll probably adjust things as I go.
• Speaking of training... I am meeting the hubby on our trainers in T-minus 40 minutes for our first bike interval workout of the year. I think he's going to take pleasure in my torture. I don't' know why. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger - right? Right?
• Beth wrote a blog about optimal race weight the other day. It's from the Racing Weight Book that is sitting next to my bed I'm reading. According to the little formula that Mr. Fitzgerald lays out, to be at my optimal racing weight, I have to lose 18 pounds. Um... well... okay. Maybe I'll shoot for my "almost optimal racing weight". In any event, Beth and I are going to do this together - aren't we girl?
• Speaking of weight... I gained some weight over the holiday. I usually get uber depressed about this. This time, I just sucked it up, put on my big girl panties (literally) and am taking care of things. It's amazing what eating well again can do for your mind and body (although, I'm missing my cookies. There... I admitted it) I feel good.
• And speaking of food - we went to Panera today. YUM. I love their Asian Chicken Salad. It's sooooooo good. And I get to meet Meredith tomorrow for lunch at Noodles and Company. Remember... the crack mac and cheese dealer that I love. :) Yeah, don't think I'll be doing the mac and cheese, but you just never know.
• I ordered my Kestrel today. Another inanimate object to fall in love with! :) I'm so excited... she's going to be a beaut!
• Oh, I also ordered my new Avia's. I went back and forth with whether or not I should get the Bolts which are the racing flat or the Lite III which are the cushion. I decided to not be all crazy and stuff and got the Lite III's. I think it was a smart choice. For now.
• Being on Trakkers is like Christmas. I like Christmas. Our sponsors are amazing!
• REV3 and Team Type 1 have partnered up for this year. Super exciting for both parties if you ask me. Here's the article if you are interested. And yes, I have a vested interest in both parties, but whatever - it's still exciting. :)
• So Team Type 1 is running across the country this year. Running people... 3000+ miles. There are 10 guys, all Type 1 diabetics. They will start in California and end in New York on World Diabetes Day. My hubby is managing the "race" per say (it's not an official race - he is forming the route and everything) and the guys. It's going to be awesome. These guys are amazing. I'm hoping to be there at the start, and at the end. Probably along the way a little too.
• Did you watch the Bachelor the other night? Yeah, we didn't either (ha... yeah we did). I always make a prediction of who the desperate man or woman will pick. I have a good track record going on. I chose the girl that got the first impression rose. I was *this* close to picking the girl who slapped him when she got out of the car or the girl with the fangs. No. Not really. But he did keep them both didn't he?

What's random in your life now?

Whew...

It's all sinking in - the fact that I'm going to be part of an amazing team, that I'm going to have some amazing sponsors, and that I better work my tail off to have a great season. Nothing like the motivation of 40 great teammates! :) A super big thanks to Carole and Charlie for giving me this opportunity! And a big thanks to Meredith and Chris too - love you guys!

So a little more about the Trakkers stuff (tell me to shut up if it's too much... I'm on a little excitement high so I won't talk about it forever... I promise!).

First, we race the Rev3 series. I'm super excited about this because I've heard such amazing things about the races. Honestly, I haven't heard a single negative! Tom and I were planning on doing one of them before Trakkers came along, but now I'll add a few more to the list. I'm planning on doing the half in Knoxville in May, the half in Portland in July (which I'm totally excited about since I've never been to Portland!!!!) and then the half at Cedar Point in September. And maybe if I'm good, I can convince the hubs to take me to Costa Rica in 2012 for my birthday! HA! Come join us... it's bound to be a great time!!!

We'll be riding Kestrels this year. Don't know much about Kestrels??? Check out what the winner and runner up in IM Cozumel were riding!!! They are amazing bikes and I've heard nothing but praises for them! And while I have a ginormous place in my heart for Flica, my Orbea, I'm super excited to get one of these bad boys (or in my case bad bitches...)

(**With that being said though, if anyone knows someone who is looking for an amazing tri bike, I have one for sale! :) It's a 2008 Orbea Ora in impeccable condition (we baby bikes in this house as they mean more to us than most inanimate objects should). It's a size 52 (I'm 5'7.5" if that helps), red, carbon beauty. Contact me if you know anyone who would be interested!**)

Finally, we're running in Avia. I'm heading out today to test some and see what I like since I've never run in them before. I'm such a dork though and love the skull and cross bones that has been associated with them! And the bright colors. So I sound like a total girl or what? HA! I'll let you know what I come up with!

So that's the happenings as of now. Thanks everyone for your congratulatory messages - you made me feel all warm and fuzzy!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Training is going well... I finally feel like I'm back in somewhat of a groove. It's nice. I feel energized and I'm excited again. I really do feel that the down time I took, as hard as it might have been on me mentally, was really a blessing. It's funny how fast we are to question our abilities and if we are doing things right or wrong. I've learned that there isn't a perfect equation and what might be best for me, isn't best for someone else (although I must say... there are a lot of you that shared my feelings and frustrations and I appreciate you voicing those to me!)

Oh, and one more little thing... Jodi, at RunJodiRun did a Thursday Thumbs Up about me. It was fun to answer the questions and tell a little more about myself and my swimming/biking/running obsession. Head over there and check it out (yeah, I'm tootin' my own horn...) Thanks Jodi!

They like me...

I'm super excited to announce that I am officially part of the Team Trakkers family!!! I've been bubbling at the seams, hoping that it would all work out and it did. The triathlon Gods must like me!

I'm so thrilled and honored to know that I'll get to represent the green in 2011 and race with an amazing group of athletes. And I was super excited to hear that some of my blogging friends were chosen too... you sneaky little buggers!

So, I guess I should start training, I mean, my first Trakkers race is 158 days away!

WOOHOO!

The verge of something good...

Ever get some news that is super exciting and super nerve wracking at the same time? That happened today. I can't give too much information (I'm hoping to have great news sometime soon), but I'm at that point where I feel like I might be on the verge of something good. :) I'll leave you with that...

Had a great weekend. Tom's STILL sick. I've luckily recovered I think. Mostly. I'm blaming my new fleece sheets for the massive amounts of sleep that I've been needing and not a cold! And the time change - yeah, that always does it to me.

We were supposed to head to Wilmington this week for Beach 2 Battleship. Some things have come up and Tom and I aren't able to go. I'm kind of torn about this though - part of me is relieved that we don't have to do because I don't feel like I was ready to race, but the other part is sad. I was looking forward to seeing all the TT1 tri team people and getting to race alongside them for the first time (maybe next year). I know that it's smart for us to stay home though and wish all of them the best on Saturday!!!

Congrats to everyone who raced IMFL on Saturday. I love that race. I love PCB. (Maybe I love the beach more than the race, but they really go hand in hand unless you are in college!) I talked to my mom yesterday and she asked if I was able to sign up us. She caught me off-guard a little. HA! Even me telling her that I promise I wasn't doing an Ironman in 2011 and she didn't believe me. No, I didn't sign up. More reasons than one, but I'm looking forward to the break from the long training!

Speaking of racing next year and being on the verge of something good, this is tentatively what I'm looking at for 2011:
April ?? - Xenia Half Marathon
May 7 - Capital City Half Marathon
May 15 - REV3 Knoxville Oly
June 4 - REV3 Quassy Oly
June 11 - Wendy's Women's Only Tri
June 12 - Wendy's International Tri
July 4 - JCC Independence Tri
August 26-28 - Chicago Triple Tri
September 11 - REV3 Cedar Point Half

I might add a full marathon, although I'll have to see which one. Possibly Columbus, possibly Chicago. But we might do the Rev3 in South Carolina too which could interfere with Chicago. We'll see. I'm excited to do some different races and especially excited to add the REV3 series to the calendar. Tom's team has decided to do the series which makes choosing races fun for me too! I have some definitive goals that I want to reach and I think that they are all attainable with the shorter, faster races on my schedule! Yay to no more looooong Ironman hours (for this year at least!!)

Last, but definitely not least, Katherine at Forward Foot Strides named my blog as the featured blog of the week. Yay! Thanks Katherine. Stop by her blog and give her some US love (she's in Canada...)