Wish us luck!!

Miss Chris designed these for our shirts tomorrow. We will be ironing them on tonight.

Way Cool!

http://usaattacked.com/100_years_of_pictures.htm

Have fun!

Bike Gods

The Bike Gods are out to get me!! I swear!!

First was the fall on Sunday. They were getting back at me for not being on my road bike for several weeks. And not only that – it was for running reasons. SHAME!!

Then this morning they remembered that I have another running event coming up which translates to - I will not be on my road bike again for a couple more weeks.

No consideration was given to the fact that I ride my mountain bike every day to and from work. Day, night, wind, rain – I am on my bike. No that is not good enough for them. I need to be out there more. Paying more attention to the bike. Training more on the bike.

Even when they know I have signed up for the MS150 and that I will start my tri training in earnest after Thanksgiving. No, not good enough.

And to show there displeasure they turned their back on me for a brief second. While I was riding my mountain bike. On a gravel path. Around a corner.

In that brief second of ignoring me the bike slipped and........WIPE OUT!!

The hand is a little gouged, the elbow is a tad bloody and the entire side of my leg has a beautiful case of road rash (or is that gravel rash?!).

I promise Bike Gods, not to ignore you again.

PLEASE forgive me!

1 more week to #4

I so wanted to run on Saturday morning, but it was not to be. I had water duty. But it was okay. I would make the most of it. On the way to my designated station (Waugh and Memorial - the bat bridge!) I stopped off at Starbucks for a peppermint mocha. Yummy, but most importantly it was hot because it sure was windy and chilly out there.

As I am parking Ginny and Anne show up with the water and Gatorade and we set up. Then the wait for the runners begin. I have nothing to do because I did not come prepared. I should have brought a magazine or book, so instead I open the car doors and blare Christina Aguilera on the stereo (I just love her new cd). So, in case any of you were around that area on Saturday morning and were wondering who that crazy lady was dancing on the side of the road - that was me!! Hey - the TNT folks got a kick out of it and that is what matters!

After the last of the participants came by it was off to the park for some shrimp. The coaches from fall and winter season put on a shrimp boil for the runners. Fun times.

Then it was home for a nap because I was really worn out from all that dancing!

Once the nap was completed I took off for my 10 miler of the day. I ran around the golf course, did 2 laps around Rice U then retraced my steps and walked the rest of the way home once the watch beeped 10 miles (not very far from my apartment complex). I stopped at almost every water fountain and walked about a minute every mile. The Garmin says I did 10.08 miles in 2:06:13 at a pace of 12:31 with an avg HR of 158 and a max of 170. But when I uploaded the same information to MotionBased it says I did 10.64 miles in 2:06:13 at a pace of 11:51 with an avg HR of 157 and a max of 170. Which one do I believe? I really want to believe the numbers from MotionBased! (wonder why!)

This morning I aired up the tires on my bike and took off for the LBS and a nice 30 mile ride around Houston. It sure has been a while since I have been on my road bike. Felt good. Except for when I didn't unclip fast enough and fell over (was thinking I would go through the intersection but changed my mind at the last minute). Just call me Grace! My right knee made initial contact with the pavement and is nicely bruised and skinned. And the left leg has a nice bruise close to the knee where it whacked into the bike frame. Only major damage was to my ego. I swear - I can be such a klutz!!

Once I got back home I put on some very thick socks to warm my feet up while I made breakfast. It didn't work. I had to have a nice long soak in a hot tub to get the chill out of my body. It is not like it is cold here or anything, I just couldn't shake it. Guess I should have worn my sock liners. Next time.

Tomorrow is ball class and I will have to do my running during lunch the next couple days because my nights are full (yeah - it happens every once in a while!!). Then on Friday I am off to Tulsa and marathon number 4. I just keep saying to myself that I did the same thing back in '05 and did just fine and shaved 20 - 25 minutes off my previous months marathon time.

Pics

Quilt Show


One of the quilts on display at the International Quilt Festival. This one reminded me of a wheel.


I really liked this one because of all the colors, and that it seemed pretty random.


For all you dog lovers out there!


And the rabbit lovers (that includes me!!).

Glenwood Cemetery


One of the interesting monuments at Glenwood Cemetery. So modern.


This is a HUGE Live Oak tree in the cemetery. There are cables all in it helping support its mammoth limbs and to help protect it from lightening strikes.


I just loved this little gravesite. It is sitting on the side of a hill and is decorated up wonderfully with plants, chimes, windmills, Halloween decorations, etc. I am assuming this little girl died from cancer because of the LiveStrong bracelets on the wrist of the monument. She is obviously loved and missed.

Happy

I said I would go to the park for some speed work with the group Wednesday – but it didn't happen. On the way there I stopped off at a local gas station to change my air filter. I had tried to change it the night before but I could not undo the screws. The dang mechanics at the last oil change place had used power tools on the things and tightened them so tight I could not get them to budge. Ticked me off, to say the least.

Well, two broken screw drivers later at the gas station and they finally were loosened – they had to get the power socket wrench out. See, I told you they were tight – it wasn't me being a weakling! After that I told the guy about driving down the highway Monday morning and my TCS (traction control system) and check engine light coming on and my car shifting down to third gear and the D4 light blinking. He ran a diagnostic for me and told me I was having problems with my transmission. What JOY!

So, he resets the computer and I go home to dig through all my papers on my car. And what do I find – an extended warranty for my automatic transmission!! Thank goodness!!

The next morning I drop off the car at the dealership so they can check it out. This is when I was told they might not be able to do anything since the codes were cleared from the computer because what I had written down on a slip of paper was not good enough. Not too happy, to say the least. But he said they would check it out anyway to see if there was still something in the computer or to see if they could make the light go back on. Well, no to both of those but they were still able to come up with something so I have a new transmission on order. Back to happy.

And to celebrate I went to an Indian restaurant for lunch with people from work. And after work I went for a four mile run around the golf course to burn it all off. The first loop (2 miles) I did in 22:45. The second loop was completed in 21:45. Nice negative split! Made me happy! What a nice way to end the evening!

Bloggie Friends

I forgot to mention I met a couple bloggers in my post yesterday.

First was JohnnyTri out at Iron Star. I was wandering around looking for the volunteer coordinator and there on the side lines was this guy in a red visor. I said "Johnny" and he turned around, so it must have been him. We introduced ourselves and chatted a few, then it was time for me to get on with my volunteering duties.

The next blogger I met was fellow 2006 Chicago Marathoner TxRunnerGirl. Here we have been e-mailing each other details about when we will arrive, phone numbers, etc. but don't meet up in Chicago. No, we finally "run" into each other running along Memorial this past Saturday! I recognized her from her marathon pics so I promptly called her by the wrong blogger name! She still stopped! That was so kind! I do not think I will do that again!

Okay – next on the list are Vic and BunnyGirl!

What have I been up to?

Well, that cold I came down with after the marathon put me out of commission for close to 2 weeks. Biking to work was difficult enough, if I had added running to the mix I would have probably coughed up a lung!

So instead of running I drove SAG for the TNT cyclists’ 100 mile ride on Oct 28. What a beautiful day for a ride. I met up with the group at 7:15 out at Katy Mills Mall and set off around 7:30. The coaches had scheduled breaks every 20 to 30 miles, but I made sure I was available every 10 to 15 just in case something came up. And while I waited, I sat in the van and read my book. It was GREAT!! One of the highlights of the day was the wagon train we came across – they were practicing for the Rodeo.

I had planned on going to look at the stars with some friends after that, but figured it would be better if I stayed home and rested up for the next day.

On Oct 29 I volunteered at the Iron Star half iron triathlon. I told the guy in charge I didn't want to be there too early so he put me at the finish line. I arrived around 11 and was given the back-up to the back-up timing device. What I did was punch in the number of the triathlete when they crossed the finish line so just in case the first and then the second timing mat failed there would be a record when the participant finished. Yeah – loads of fun!! But it was interesting. I saw the first guy to cross the line just under 4.5 hours and the last two participants to cross around 9 hours before the mats were picked up. There were still a couple participants on the course (I saw them when I was driving home), but the time was past. I felt so bad for them. They had come this far, but still had a mile, or 4, to go.

I saw a couple people I knew cross the finish line. Dr. Jordan – my vet, Nathalie – fellow TNT mentor, and the most inspirational was Bill and Dana Sue – TNT Honored Teammate and TNT mentor/coach and husband and wife. Bill participated with me and my fellow teammates in the CapTexTri in 2005 and has gone on to participate in numerous other endurance events. Dana Sue has raised thousands of dollars in honor of her husband and other cancer survivors and victims and qualified for Boston in her first marathon. They crossed the finish line together at Iron Star holding hands. It was an awesome sight!

After that is was back home for some more resting. But it was to no avail. I called in sick Tuesday and Wednesday because I had to get better by Thursday – Michele (my bonus mom) was coming into town for the International Quilt Show.

It worked a little. My coughing fits were not as severe or as often.

I picked up Michele at the airport on Thursday night and we came back to my apartment where we had dinner and prepared for the next day of wandering the GRB looking at all the goodies they had to sell (fabric, sewing and quilting machines, patterns, crafts, beads, etc) and the quilts on display. My feet sure were hurting by the time the doors were shut that night!! We came home with a few items, but Michele was a little disappointed she hadn't bought more!

Saturday morning I decided to attempt to run again and made it over to the park by 6:15. A little late, but it turned out to be a good thing because someone needed some assistance. Anyway – I ended up doing 11 miles and had a great run.

After that it was back home. After getting ready we headed over to Glenwood Cemetery to check out the trees and grave stones. I got sucked on by tons of mosquitoes and bit by fire ants. What joy!! We then took a drive through The Heights, River Oaks and Memorial Park, had fish tacos at Los Cucos, did some shopping in Highland Village and then went home for movies and a light dinner.

Sunday we did some more looking around and shopping. We then headed back to the quilt show for the final hours and to check out some of what we had missed the first time around. After that is was back home for a nice relaxing dinner.

The next morning we were off to the airport and said our goodbyes. I really enjoyed having Michele visit.

Since I wasn't feeling horrible anymore I went to ball class that night and yesterday, during lunch, I went for a 3 mile run around Rice. Finished in just under 33 minutes, which is pretty good for me! And, of course, I went and did my civic duty and voted last night. Tonight I am off to Memorial Park for some speed work with the group. Maybe I won't do too horribly in Tulsa.

I will post some of the interesting pics from my outings tomorrow.