BRB 1/2 Week 2

The plan:
Monday: 3 miles & Yoga (2 miles in the rain in 43:33 TIRED LEGS! and a rockin' yoga class)
Tuesday: Cross train (bike or swim, depending on the weather) + weights
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday Cross train (bike or swim) + yoga
Saturday: 5 miles
Sunday: REST!

Goals:

1. Go from walk 1 / run 1 to walk 1 / run 1:30
2. Water, water, water, and more water
3. Get them all in early, b/c once the babies are awake it's probably not going to happen!

Baton Rouge Beach Half Mary Training: Week 1

Planned:
Mon. 3 miles (Didn't get my lazy bum up early, so it didn't get done. FAIL!)
Tues. off (walked 1 mile)
Wed. 3 miles (in 60:47... it's a start) R 1 min/ W 1 min
Thur. 3 miles (massive leg cramps. 1 1/2 miles in 30 min. on treadmill.OUCH!)
Fri. Yoga and weights (just yoga. I <3 yoga!)
Sat. 4 miles (didn't get up...)
Sun. bike for 1 hour (did my 4 miler in 73:30 - 18:32/mile. IMPROVEMENT, BABY! :))

Nine weeks to go! I have to make every mile count and keep a positive attitude. Self sabotage is not going to get me this time!

Info on BRB 1/2

So, I was thinking...

I am one to set lofty goals... I can think of many more times that certain goals have not come to fruition than have, but even if something you work for doesn't happen the way you see it happening, the journey there is usually worth it. With that completely non-descript rambling, here are my latest goals in regards to swim/bike/run:

Aug. Mountain Lakes Triathlon
Sept. Star Physical Therapy Triathlon
Oct. Cedars of Lebanon Sprint Triathlon

I want to run a half marathon each month between the months of October 2009 and March 2010, leading up to the big kahuna: the FULL Country Music Marathon in April 2010. As of now, these are the half marys I am looking at:

Oct. Murfreesboro
Nov. The Outter Banks
Dec. St. Jude's
Jan. Callaway Gardens
Feb. Mercedes Marathon
Mar. The Disney Princess
April: CMM

With the exception of the Disney Princess Half and the Outter Banks, each race is w/in 4 hours of the house and an overnight stay w/ friends or a comped room using Brandon's fabulous hotel points. I can do it. I will do it. I owe it to myself to work towards each race; logging the miles, blisters, sweat, aches, pains, joy, satisfaction, and PRIDE that will come with the miles. I will be a marathoner and triathlete.

Now, who's with me?

Bonnaroo "Training"

This past weekend was my first Bonnaroo experience. For those of you who may not know what the Roo is... well, it's a festival that more than triples this small town's population for 4 days and brings huge music groups to the middle of nowhere. I LOVED LOVED LOVED the entire 4 days. My personal favorite was Buffet. This country girl is a beach bum at heart and he has a gift for making me feel as if sand is between my toes and an ocean breeze is on my face. He played a "surprise" gig, in that he wasn't on the schedule and they announced his performance a week or so ago. Seriously, the absolute highlight of my Roo weekend. Other acts I saw and enjoyed were Snoop Dog (seriously, a great show... what I could see through the haze ;)), Wilco (I didn't know any of their songs, but really liked what they played. In fact, that's who Pandora is playing for me right now.), Public Enemy (Flave-a-Flave!), Merle Haggard, Phish, Bela Fleck, Springsteen, & the Beastie Boys.

My friend and neighbor, Michelle, and I worked in a lemonade & pretzel stand for our tickets. We had so much fun people watching and talking to our customers. Our stand was in the middle of the Other Tent's field. The main acts there were African and Bluegrass. It was great listening to such different music and jamming along to the steel drums. We definitely met some interesting people with interesting "accessories" and stories! We had offers for things other than to pay $4 for a lemonade and learned a lot about people from all over the world; even as far away as Japan. It took that guy 70 hours to get here!

One funny story about a customer: this guy asked for extra sugar in his lemonade. It's already mixed and comes from a huge barrel. All we did was squeeze a lemon and add ice to make it look pretty. So I squeezed and mixed his up, he takes a sip and hands it back to me to "add some more sugar". Sure, buddy, whatever you want... @ the same time I am making change for someone else I take his cup, put it down under the counter, pick it back up and swirl it around and hand it back to him w/ his "extra" sugar. He takes another sip, his eyes get really big and he says, "Yeah, just like I like it!" Then throws a tip in the jar and bee-bops off. Hilarious! Perception is reality, huh? :)

The Roo was an absolute BLAST; I can't believe I waited so long to go, but am SOOOO glad I did! Thanks, Andy, Sheryl and the CHS Soccer booth for our ticket in. We will SO be there next year. Til then, this chic is back to reality... Kisses, hugs, dirty feet and playing hard w/ my babies, tri training and trying to organize this house. Loving life and looking forward to our next adventure!

Truckin' Along

Week one of triathlon training is solidly behind me and I'm holding strong(ish) in week two. Well, that could be a lie... I'm surviving and thoroughly enjoying my workouts. I've even become an early bird (GASP!)! It's SOOO much easier to set my alarm for 5:45, get up, and get out the door before anyone turns over than it is to try to get something done later in the day. I know that chances of me getting in an afternoon or evening workout are slim to none. Going to bed by 9:30 isn't hard, especially when I can barely hold my eyes open!

Things I've learned while training:
1. Multiple showers a day are good... and fast!
2. Gears on a bicycle exist for a reason; to make life easier. Learn to use them and love the bike.
3. Body Glide is my new BFF.
4. G2 Gatorade makes me so sick, it's ridonkulous!
5. Cliff Bars keep me full from post workout until lunch.
6. Rednecks in big trucks swerving towards me are @#$#@%#$^ not funny.
7. Dog chase = all out sprint.

This past Saturday I volunteered at a local tri, the Mach Tenn. It was SO great to be able to tell everyone "Good luck & have fun!" after body marking them. And such a blast to cheer on my tri pals coming out of T2 and heading out for their run. The not so fun part? Who knew my quads would be SO SORE from doing squats to write on legs??!?! (And what's the point of men shaving their legs?) Holy hale, I'm still working out the soreness! :P

In non-tri news, my first Bonnaroo Festival is coming up in a couple of days. I am STOKED!!! I'm working in a lemonade / pretzel booth Thursday and Friday from 11-6 and then have the rest of the weekend to see: JIMMY BUFFET, The Beastie Boys, Phish, Merle Haggard, and Snoop Dog!!! Yee Hawwww, baby!

Our summer is in full swing. We are finally settling down into a good routine as far as playing outside, working in the garden, playing in the sprinkler, NOT watching tv, and enjoying down time. Nice, quiet, peaceful, fun, full of giggles, long naps, and love. What more can a mom ask for?

Workouts for the week:
M - 53 bike / 1 hr swim (almost died, called Brandon to bring my inhaler, AND got lapped by the guy who uses a floaty. Nice.)
T - 24 run (w/ babies in jogging stroller = HOT!)
W - 70 bike / 1 hr swim (goal: not coming close to death or getting passed by floaty friend)
T - 32 run + BONNAROO
F - 44 swim / 88 bike + BONNAROO
S - BUFFET @ BONNAROO
S - 44 run

My run is definitely my weakest aspect. Right now I'm doing a run 1 / walk 2 routine. next week I'm going to up it to 2/2 and see how that goes. HOPEFULLY I'll find my muscles helping me out and chop lots of time off as I truck along.

Till next time,
The Parrot Head

Cheat Day & Run, Mae Run

I've found that my "cheat day" (when I relax a bit on the eating and enjoy a glass of wine w/ dinner) is a good day... it's the next morning that I have to pay for it! Ugh! Yesterday we got lunch from Jiffy Burger (a local greasy-yummy-mom-and-pops place) and I enjoyed a cheeseburger, seasoned fries and a Dr. Pepper... plus a butterfinger and NO water what-so-ever. Not a good decision at all! I made it through my back-to-running run this AM2 miles w/ run 1 / walk 2 combo) but now am feeling each greasy bite. YUCK! Lesson learned; don't over do the cheat day and certainly don't have it the day before my long run.

Today marks the official day of my training ~ YEAH! I love having a plan and working the plan. It really leads to small and consistent results, which lead to HUGE results. So the plan, well plans, really are a mixture of http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/ 's Novice Oly Tri Three x Three plan and http://www.runnersworld.com/ Beginner's Run, leading to the Novice Half Marathon plan. My goal is to FINISH two sprint triathlons by the end of the season (late Oct)&do three half marathons by my 31st birthday (Oct, Nov, and Dec). I also want to do the Jack and Back for MS which goes from Franklin to Lynchburg (to the Jack Daniel's distillery). I have an aunt (not technically, but close enough) who has had MS for close to 20 years and a couple friends from church who are living w/ it, too. Plus, it's going to be so great to bike through the back roads of TN for two days just chatting and enjoying the peak fall week. GOOD STUFF!

Lofty goals? Heck yes! Possibly too much? We'll see how it goes, barring injury I'll make it through, get much more fit than I am now, and have a WHOLE LOTTA fun doing it!

Tomorrow is Hadlee's surgery date. She's going to have tubes and have her adenoids removed. Lord willing this will put an end to all the ear infections that have plagued her life for the past two years. I think she's averaged an ear infection every 5 weeks since she was 18 months old. My poor baby. So, if you could say a little prayer for her (and mommy, too!) that'd be great! We have to be at the surgical center at 8:30 and will hopefully be out by lunch. Her surgeon said she should feel back to normal in about 24 hours and that we'll have to make sure she wears ear plugs anytime she's near or in water. I'm nervous and anxious about the surgery, but so happy to know that her main source of pain will be GONE.

This week's plan is as follows:
Monday: 24 swim / 48 bike
Tuesday: Run 1 / Walk 2 x 10 + Zumba (if HAH is feeling up to going anywhere)
Wednesday: 32 swim / 53 bike (Master's Swim will be an hour long)
Thursday: Run 1 / Walk 2 x 10 + Zumba or weights
Friday: 40 swim / 80 bike
Saturday: REST!!!! (Enjoy cheering on and volunteering @ the Mach Tenn Tri.)
Sunday: Run 1 / Walk 2 x 10

Good Lawd. It looks intimidating all laid out like that, but each morning my phone alarm goes off and tells me what to do... you eat an elephant one bite at a time, right? :)

Here's to healthy babies, fabulous surgeons, lots of water, and safe training.

Happy Sunday Peeps.

A New Beginning

I've been thinking the blog and it's purpose over for quite a while now. I knew that I wanted to share certain parts of my life that would hold me accountable for things: saving money, spending less, simplifying, focusing on bettering myself, tri training, and embracing each day as a gift. Thus, the change in the title. While being a mom is definitely the greatest gift I have ever been handed, it doesn't define me completely. Sure, there will be cute little stories and memories about our everyday life, but that won't be only topic I write about for my ever dwindling audience of 1.4 readers. :)

So, what's been happening lately? Well, I was given the option of staying at home with the babies (read "not tenured") and boy-howdy did I jump on it. Now, the reality of having one income is really starting to set in. I've found myself thinking out and planning every little detail when it comes to spending money: can I go to town less than 5 times this week? do we really need to have the air set to 70 when 74 is doable? yes, gymboree is having a sale, but do the babies need anything? sure, we'd all like to have new bathing suits, but can last year's suits work? how many ways can i cook one meat that's on sale to keep it fresh and save money on NOT eating out? ... so many different details that I have NEVER taken into consideration before. My "job" now is to make sure that things are flowing well at home and I am taking that role very seriously. There is a complete paradigm shift that I had no idea would come. People tell you, but like going from a couple to parents, it's definitely something you must experience in order to truly understand! So, the journey begins...

I had my gall bladder removed a little over two months ago, which put all exercising (other than walking) to a complete halt. Which led to me eating. A lot. Which, in turn, led to some weight gain. (Durh.) So, in working on myself, I am committing to exercising regularly (5 days a week, hopefully - more on that later this week) and focusing on food as fuel, instead of comfort. Again, a complete paradigm shift. Food has been my solace for 20 years... it all started when my mother was diagnosed with cancer and our church stepped in to help... food was more than abundant and I was more than happy to eat it, leading to an ever-growing waist line and mentality that eating = peace. Who knew it'd take me 20 years to learn that lesson?!?!?!!

Putting others first. Let me just say it: I am a self-centered person. So, putting even my children, and at times, especially my husband, before myself isn't something that I do naturally or well. This, along w/ going through my guideline from the Great Healer, is truly my main goal: To study, grow, love, laugh and learn that self fulfillment comes in loving my God and my family, in that order, and all else will fall into it's place. Remind me of that, will ya reader?

That, my friends, is it. The newly defined focus of this blog that started so many years ago. Feel free to comment on things, encourage, make fun of and laugh (or cry) along with me. I look forward to our new beginning.

Til next time,
Mae

Total shout out to T! and total non-descript ramblings

Thank you my dear friend for prettying up the ol' blog. She's all nice, shiney and new!

It feels so odd to not just log in and type: "sitting on the couch drinking coffee out of fave mug while watching my husband kick A at Lego: Star Wars the Complete Saga on the Wii". Facebook, total crack on the keyboard, y'all.

We've been home for day number 4... Friday it was, according to the director of schools, too cold to come in to work. I'm not one to disagree w/ sensibility so at home we stayed! I think our official low temp was 4. Um, yeah, burr.

Hadlee and Jack are, well to be completely honest, they are me and my younger brother, Jonathan, respectively. It's all my dad can do to not laugh himself to tears every time he's with us. I'm totally payin' for my raisin'. And truth be told, it's almost all GOOD. Sure we have days that are tough (schedules that don't completely coincide w/ life, runny noses, cutting teeth, sleepy parents who bite each others' heads off for little things like playing Wii too friggin' much or not getting off the facecrack to do something), but each day is a gift and I'm proud of the two little turkeys who are currently standing on stools "helping" cook brunch.

Last night Hadlee and I were having deep, life conversations: she's volleying for some new dolls, ya know, cuz the 98,000 she has up in the playroom aren't in the Barbie movies she's so into right now. We've come to the agreement that when she sleeps in her bed all night long she'll earn a sticker and once seven stickers are on her chart, she can choose ANY doll she wants. I was completely willing to go the American Girl route, but as of yesterday, Hadlee's decided that two Barbies from either The Diamond Castle or Mermaidia will do. SCORE! This then lead to our twice daily discussion of what we'll each be "when we're all growed up." I'm not allowed to be a mommy, teacher or runner "buhcuz you awlweady do that!" so we're going to each be mermaids, princesses and swimmers, in that order.

Jack's a little comedian. He loves hard, he fights hard, and he's a little ham all in between. Right now he's trying to peddle Hadlee's Vespa around while jamming to the Beach Boys-esque music that's playing on the little radio. Earlier he was the princess' dragon and was banished to the dungeon, and in a few minutes when he's ready for nap he'll ask for milk and cuddle up in my lap to unwind before I carry him to bed and whisper "Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you. Issy loves you. God and Jesus loved you, and thank you for being my "super fries" (super fries is Hadlee's way of saying "super special surprise") from God."

Tomorrow as we mark a new beginning on America's political calendar, I'll be thankful for the MANY blessings that have been poured on my head, excited for change, hopeful that the financial situation our world is in will take an up swing, and proud to be called Mom, Babe, Mrs. Hale, and Mae.

Thanks for stopping by my friends. Til next time,

The Running Mom