The Power of the Internet

Last week Christine sent me a link to this e-bay auction saying it was a good read. So I went, I laughed, and then I clicked on the link to her blog. More funny stuff.

Well, thousands of other people all over the world also got a link to this woman's auction and then her blog. She is now inundated with people checking out her writings and asking when she is going to write a book. It is just amazing how one little story on e-bay can change your life.

Her blog has nothing to do with training for a marathon, triathlon or any other type of known endurance event. It just has to deal with this woman's life as a mother taking care of her six children. I guess that could be a whole new type of endurance event.

Sliding into home

So, after the fall TNT training group was finished with their run on Saturday I headed over to Biba's for some breakfast with a friend. As I am pulling into the parking lot I see Erin going past on Memorial Drive (she is training for Nike Women's Marathon). I hurriedly parked the car and ran after her to let her let know I would be there if she wanted breakfast after she was done.

I made it to Memorial, I made it across Memorial with all that wonderful traffic, I made it down the sidewalk past the Shell station, I made it to within a couple of inches of tapping Erin on the shoulder as she prepared to cross the street...then I tripped and as Erin put it "slid into home plate!" I am now decorated with skinned elbows, hands and a huge bruise on my knee - but my face is unharmed and my teeth are intact. That is the important thing.

Yep - I am most definitely a KLUTZ!!

Final Results

Not sure what happened, but they added 2 minutes to my swim time (along with most everyone else):

Swim = 8:32.7
T1 = 3:25.6
Bike = 37:28.6 17.6 mph
T2 = 1:52.1
Run = 41:07.0 13:42/M
Final = 1:32:26.2

I am IRON......

......BABE!!!

Here me ROAR!!!

Yeah, whatever, but I now have a title with Iron in it!!!

Anyway, this morning I participated in the Ironbabe Sprint Triathlon which consisted of a 300 yd open water swim, an 11 mile bike and a 3 mile run - in that order for you non-tri people out there.

The day started good - no rain. Of course it was still dark - because I had to be up and out the door before the crack of dawn. Well, this posed a problem on the drive out there. While I was on the major roads I was okay - there were street lights and such so I could see the street signs. Not the same situation out on the back roads. My only complaint about this triathlon was there were no signs indicating where to turn on these back roads. But I eventually made it and it was okay because they delayed the start and the closing of the transition area because there were lots of other people who missed the same turn that I did - even the announcer!

So, I made it to the transition and set up and got body marked then made it over to the swim start and my TNT friends. Then the time was upon us and the race was on.

I was at the back of the pack for the swim and that was not a good thing. I just could not get through the throng of women in my age group. I would get past a few, run into someone, then I would site, try to find a hole, made it through then ran into another one. It was like that the whole way.

The swim finally ended after about six and a half minutes and it was off to the transition area where I took too long because I just couldn't get all the rocks off my feet by standing up so I finally sat down to put my cycle shoes on. I need to get some tri shoes that do not require socks.

The shoes were on, the helmet and gloves were in place and then off I was. The course was relatively flat with one down hill and two small ups and there were lots of trees out in the park which made it nice and shady. I averaged 17.6 mph out there on the course which I do not feel was too horrible. Actually I am pretty okay with it.

And then it was time for the run.

That is what I was disappointed with. My training has not been the greatest and it showed, especially since I could not seem to get going during that first mile. I walked and walked and then would try to run a little but then I would walk some more. By the time the first mile was over with I was doing better but the damage was done and my average on the run was about 13:42 per mile (I will hopefully get the official results in a week or two). Oh well, there is always room for improvement on my runs!

My overall time was around 1:30:26 which I am good with. It was my first triathlon since CapTex on May 30 2005. At least I am back in the tri swing of things. And to prove it I just signed up for the Cinco Ranch Triathlon.

Traveling and TNT

I am getting a little tired of going out to eat. Not that the food isn't good, it is just that it is usually too good...and when food is too good it is usually full of fat and calories. Last week I was in San Antonio and I walked around the River Walk several times trying to find restaurants that were not too expensive but which had healthy selections. It wasn't easy, but I finally found a place that might become a regular when I have to go down there for work - and that place is Zuni's. I had their salmon dish and it was totally delish!!

Traveling also sucks when it comes to exercising. That treadmill is going to get awfully boring. I will have to start looking for good routes that are around my hotel. Eventually I will get things figured out.

Saturday was the kick-off for the winter TNT season. We are training for Houston and the Phoenix Rock-n-Roll marathon. Yesterday was the first track practice. We did butt kicks and skipping and then some speed drills. It was a learning experience, but I think I did okay.

This coming Saturday will be our first official practice and it will consist of doing the loop at Memorial Park. I remember the first time I ran the loop - it was over whelming. It was so crowded, I was unsure about the layout and totally unsure of my capabilities of making it around. Well - I made it around, I learned the layout and I learned how to deal with the crowds. And now I am helping people through the same experience. Kind of amazing, don't you think?!