2012 Race Calendar

It's time to start thinking about the 2012 Race Season. I already have quite a few races planned. I am not nearly ready for my first race (the PF Chang's full marathon), but my husband is "running" it with me so I think we will take it easy and walk/run the course to stay injury free).

January-PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Full Marathon
February-Ragnar Del Sol
March-Phoenix Half Marathon (I was going to do the full, but there's no full course in 2012)
March-Tri for the Cure? (I am hoping I can do this, but I have a conference at work that day, so we'll see)
April-Marquee Half Iron Triathlon
May-open
June-open
July-open
August-open
September-Nathan's Olympic Tri
October-Soma 1/2 Iron tri
November-Women's Half Marathon November-Ironman AZ!!!!!
December-Recover!!!

I am hoping to fill some of those open months with a full marathon and some shorter tri's. Here's to a year of racing and prepping for Ironman AZ!

Meet Scott - aka "Fat Boy"

Hey everyone!  I wanted to introduce another fun Ironman in training.  Meet Scott!

I met Scott on BeginnerTriathlon website a couple years ago.  Debb, Scott, Leah, Kiri, Keeley and I trained for about a year gearing up for our Ironman races.  Debb and Scott took on Wisconsin this year while Leah and I tackled Ironman Arizona last year. 

Scott ran Ironman Wisconsin this year and fell short due to hydration issues.  He is going to give it another go next year with Debb.  His blog is listed below at http://trainfatboy.blogspot.com/  For the record, Scott has lost a lot of weight so I think Fatboy is a misleading name!

Go SCOTT Go!! 

New Training Bike

Hubby and I bought a Lemond Fitness G-Force Upright Training bike today.  (Merry Christmas!)  I'm pretty excited about it.  It can be adjusted similarly to your road bike and has computerized training programs to help you work outs.  The bike can also track heart rate, watts, and all the other goodies.  The best part about it is that we bought the floor model and got a smokin' deal!

Home gym now has bike, nautilus free weight bench with pullies, jump rope, resistance bands and exercise ball!  We removed one giant shelving unit and took it over to my mom's place today.  She has a new home with a lot of extra space.  She was kind enough to let us put some stuff in her garage!  I'm going to move items over that we don't use alot but can't quite toss.  Once I do that I just need to rearrange and organize the shelves a bit.  It is looking good so far!  We also need to put in more mats, a TV and radio system.  I'd also like to paint and put in a big old fan too! 

It is exciting!  I'll post photos later. 

A rambling blog update

Hello ladies - Sorry I've been MIA.  Lots going on with Christmas and the new job.  Here is my update. 

Well, I've been at work for a few weeks and I LOVE my new job.  It is fun to use my brain in a different way and I am really enjoying the people.  I drive to work every morning thinking how lucky I am.  The only down side is that I am having a hard time figuring out a new schedule.  I was able to go for 1 run during work hours and it was beautiful.  I thought I'd be able to squeeze in more but it hasn't been easy to do.  There has been lots of holiday lunches that have taken up normal work time.  The Tribe has a rec center but I haven't made it over there yet b/c I'm trying to get things done quickly.  Hopefully it is a good gym with nice equipment.  I hear there is a shower there too. 

I know my big problem is that I'm a night owl.  I tend to stay up until midnight (sometimes later) and get up around 6:00 a.m.  I would love to get up early and try to get my workout done.  I know it is doable.  I did it this summer with Annette.  The early morning workout will be my best option if I want to meet my goals for the year. 

They say it takes 30 days to create a habit.  I need a good habit.  My goal is to get up at 5:00 a.m. and work out.  Luckily my husband wants to do it too.  We are going to fix up our 3rd car garage stall, add some equipment to go along with the nice weight bench already in there.  It will take some organizing and paint but it has potential to be nice.  I'm excited to take on this project with my honey. 

Oh, a friend gave me a Garmin to try out.  (310?)  It will be interesting to see how I like it.  I need to get ready for heart rate training with our Ironfit book.  I'm excited to try it.  People LOVE their garmins!

To be honest, I have been really disappointed with my 2011 work out season.  I have skipped races and have been pretty unmotivated.  In the first part of the year, it was b/c I burnt out from Ironman.  The second part of the year, I found excuse after excuse not to do things.  2012 has to be better right?  I did a 2011 overview and wrote some goals for 2012.  I'm sure I'll be expanding on these goals in the next couple of weeks. 

2011

PROS
New job
Family life is great
I feel good emotionally
Found Ironmoms
Weight is stable

CONS
Lost work out motiviation
Lost my #1 riding buddy to work/golf
Lost access to pool

2012

GOALS

Get more sleep

Develop a Morning work out routine

Eat less processed foods and more veggies

Improve all of my race time from past years (CA70.3, IMAZ)



Las Vegas Half Marathon Recap

Kim and Stacey at the start

This is a long time coming, but I am finally recapping the Zappos.com Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon that took place on Sunday, Dec. 4. 

The race was huge!!! Approximately 44,000 runners were there and about 38,000 of those were half marathoners.  I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be running a PR with a course that full.  The race took off in front of Mandalay Bay and continued down the strip, veering left at the Stratosphere and then looping by Fremont Street and back onto the strip to finish behind Mandalay Bay.  The best part of the course was that the lights on the Strip provided a great distraction from running.  Having said that, there were also some pretty significant drawbacks.  One, it was too crowded.  To give all runners the experience of running the strip at night, the marathoners started about an hour before the halfs and joined the halfs for their second half of the marathon.  Unfortunately, this meant that all 44,000 runners were on the course at the same time.  This meant that the course was crowded for the entire race.  I ran about .2 miles more than a 1/2, which I think can be attributed to running around people. 

Two, there weren't enough port a potties.  The starting line was crazy, so it was nearly impossible to get to the port a potties at the start.  I passed up the first set up port a potties assuming there'd be more soon.   I was wrong.  Nearly 3 miles later, there was a single port a potty, which I waited over 7 minutes to use.  That's a lot of down time for a race.

Three, the finish area was a mess.  I crossed the finish line in a pack of about 50 other runners.  It kind of ruined the fun of crossing the finish line.  Then, it took us nearly an hour to make it back to the car.  The whole area around the Strip was chaos--I felt bad for anyone who was vacationing in Vegas that didn't know about the race.

Fourth, I am not sure this was a negative, but it was odd--the race was at night and it was cold (really cold for Vegas standards and the finishers at the end were treated to some rain).  It was difficult to plan on what to eat all day and when due to the start time. 

Despite all of that, I finished in 2:28--not a PR, but if you subtract 7 minutes for the port a potties and a couple of minutes for the extra distance, it would have been!  That's surprising to me.  Overall, I am not sure I would run the race again, but I did have a great time in Vegas and was excited to see my friend Stacey and start the race with her!

After the race, we hopped in the car and took off for Phoenix--arriving home around 3:00 in the morning.  Then, I woke up the next morning and hopped on a plane to South Africa!  I had the good fortune of getting to present at a conference there and then  took a little side trip to Kruger Park.  While, I didn't get a lot of running in (I ended up being sick, the temps were high when I felt better, and I was a little afraid of crossing paths with a highly venomous snake running around Kruger), it was a great trip and I am getting back in the swing of training as of today!

Be Iron Fit - The IronMoms' Training Plan?

When we were at breakfast the other morning we started talking about training plans.  Sounds like a few people were going to use the plans in "Be Iron Fit" by Don Fink.  Annette and I ordered our copies right after we left breakfast.  I looked at the reviews and they are great.  There are 3 plans in the book.  I think the plans will cover all of our needs.  There is a Competive Plan for our little Kristin (young and fast!), an Intermediate plan, and a Just Finish plan.  The last two plans probably cover the rest of us!  My book came today and I am so excited to dive into it.

The last time a did Ironman I used a plan that was much too aggressive for my lifestyle.  I never met the goals of the day and it was very discouraging.  After glancing at these plans I think they are doable!  30 weeks of training.  I like it! 

Is everyone going to use the Be Iron Fit plans?  If so, what version?  If not, what plan? 

More photos (stolen off Johanne and Melinda's blogs!)

Here are some more photos of Ironman registration and our group of ladies.  Melinda is top (trigranny blog), some of the ladies at our breakfast meeting (Kim, Johanne, Kate, Melinda, Annette) and Johanne on the bottom.  (doing what I like blog) 

The others doing the race are Peter and Tana.  Peter is my brother in law.  He was going to do it with me originally but my sister-in-law was pregnant with twins.  Timing wasn't right.   Now he is going to join us in 2012.  He will be another local training friend for us.  Tana graduated from the law school where Kim and I worked a couple years ago.  She volunteered and was inspired to sign up.  She is fit and determined so I know she can do it.  I'll find pictures of them soon.

Kate's Registration Day

Here is my registration story!  As, I told you all earlier, I started a new job today.  That caused me to worry about my Ironman registration.  My plan was to take my lap top and be online at 11:55 to get in right away.  I get work, hook up my laptop, find the local wireless . . . I'm all set. 

The head attorney (my boss) was out of the office most of the morning but discussed me attending an 11:00 meeting.  I immediately got nervous about the timing.  I wasn't sure where the meeting was going to but thought I could make it work.  My co-worker then came in and started discussing an 11:00 meeting.  That meeting was two doors down in a conference room.  This must be the meeting the boss was talkig about.  PERFECT!  She said it wouldn't last long and if it ran over I could excuse myself to go register.  PERFECT!

At 10:59 I started to walk out of my office for the meeting when the secretary comes in and gives me the directions to a DIFFERENT 11:00 meeting at the tribal casino.  UGH!  The tribal casino is 10 minutes away.  I book it to my meeting hoping it will be short and that I can get back in time.  Last year I thought registration stayed open for an hour.  My year it was 20 minutes.  I knew my window was small no matter what. 

I attend the meeting and it was awesome.  I think I'm going to enjoy my new job.  BUT the meeting went past Noon.  By the time I travel back to my office, it is 12:37.  I try to register and it is sold out.  I about cried.  Without talking to my husband, GULP, I went ahead and signed up for a Foundation slot.  [For the non-Ironman folks reading this, Ironman registration is pricy.  Regular registration is $650.  A Foundation slot is $1300!  Half of the Foundation entry fee goes to charity.  Can you believe that?! ]

I had to do it though. I couldn't get shut out of this race. I am so excited to train with all these other ladies.  It will be such a better experience than the last time.  I can't wait! 

So that is my story.  I am registered for Ironman Arizona 2012.  I better spend a lot of time training b/c I won't be able to afford to do much else! 

PS - I told my husband and he was fine.  He said "Merry Christmas!"  He is the BEST!

The Moms Register for Ironman 2012

Annette's laptop is broken so I thought I would share a photo from her Facebook page.  This is Annette, Kim and Kristin at the Ironman registration at Tempe Beach Park.  They kinda look like movie stars!  Congrats ladies!  I know 2012 is going to be a great year! 

Also registered:  Kate, Melinda, Johanne, Tana, and Peter (our IronDad!)

Registration complete!

Well, it's done!  I (and all of the other Ironmoms) are registered for the 2012 Ironman Arizona!!!   I have to say that I am both excited and slightly terrified.  I volunteered at bodymarking and runner's aid station #6 yesterday and the experience was both inspiring and frightening.  I was amazed at the athletes of all shapes, sizes, and abilities taking on a race like Ironman.  I was frightened by the varying levels of exhaustion and pain I was seeing in the athletes as they approached the finish.

After seeing all of them, it confirms to me that I know I can do this.  The experience will be difficult, but it will be an amazing accomplishment and I excited to be in the company of the other Ironmoms and athletes in less than a year on that Ironman course!!!  Time to train.  :)

I'm inspired!

Today was a great day of volunteering.  I was at the swim exit and loved it.  My job was to help people up the stairs and start unzipping the wetsuits.  I was with IronMom Kristin so it was fun to have a buddy.  It is amazing to feel the energy of the race and see so many fans and volunteers rooting on total strangers.  I loved it.  I think the challenged and elderly athletes touched my heart the most.  Kristin and I saw a blind woman swimming and a paralyzed gentleman.  AMAZING!  There were people with one arm and others with only one leg.  AMAZING!  The older athletes are inspiring to me as well.  I want to be doing this when I'm in my late 60s or 70s!  Pretty darn cool.  I'm going to try to get the other photos up soon.  My phone was not uploading so I need to troubleshoot that problem. 

Ironman Fever!

Today was a great day!  I met the ladies from out of state for breakfast, went to the volunteer meeting, and got a bad case of Ironman fever!  It is amazing to think that just last year I was there as nervous as can be looking for Melinda to start our practice swim.  Wow.  What a difference a year makes. 

This year was much different.  It was very relaxing.  I really enjoyed walking around the expo looking at all the goodies.  I was reminded again and again why I love this sport.  It is for EVERYONE!  I'm so excited for tomorrow's big race. 

If any of you have the photo please send it so we can post to the blog.  It is going to be a great year of Racing.  Go Ironmoms!

IMAZ 2012! One year and one WEEK away!

Ladies - Are you ready?  We are one week away from signing up for Ironman AZ!  Exciting!  I'm volunteering at the swim exit.  I'm so excited to see everyone tackling the my weakest sport.

Here is my update: 

I am currently unemployed!  Well, I'm actually in between jobs.  Leaving my last position was hard but a great opportunity became available.  I'm going back to practicing law.  My office will be near the Ironman bike course turnaround.  I think it is the most beautiful part of the Valley!  I will also have Fridays off and can use the day as another training opportunity.

I have two weeks off and it has been awesome. I have organized the house, updated my wardrobe, taken the kids to Disney and hit the spa!  This week, I'm taking my mom to the spa, cleaning the garage so I can leave my bike set up on the trainer, getting aero bars on my new bike, getting a make up lesson, and working on vegetarian cooking!  

I have been keeping my weight off thanks to a healthy diet and staying busy but my exercise level has remained very low.  I went on a run tonight and it felt great.  Although I have not been running much I had a better time than I have had in months.  Now just to continue!  That has been the biggest challenge for me lately.  My life is distracting me.  I have two races on the books that I have paid for - PF Chang's Marathon in Tempe, AZ and California 70.3 in Oceanside, CA.  I need to make them a priority.  (After my family, new job and home responsibilities of course.)  

I'm so excited to be tackling this race with a group of people I know!  It will be such a different experience than the first time.  Let's get Fired Up!! 

PS - Annette, you need to get your key board fixed so you can resume your blogging!

Women's Half Marathon-Scottsdale to Tempe 2011

Rock star finishers!

This update is a little late--the race was almost a week ago, but the race was great and I was happy overall.  I was super excited to have my friend, Danie, down in AZ visiting to run this race with me!!  She is a fantastic runner (even though she's only just picked it up again this year after about 15 years off!).  I knew she would motivate me to keep moving.  And, we definitely kept moving.

It was a cool morning (alright--it was cold--even for Minnesotans).  Once the sun came up, it felt a bit better.  It was perfect weather for running in my opinion.  We started towards the back of the pack in corral 5.  Unfortunately, there must have been a lot of walkers assigned to corral 5 as we had a hard time getting around them for the first 2 miles.  The first 1/2 mile was particularly frustrating--the walkers were everywhere.  We even saw one (or two) carrying their purses!!!  Once we got around the walkers, we settled into a comfortable pace.  Then, we had to stop for a bathroom break.

 

The break took a bit longer than we would have liked (we estimate somewhere around 4-5 minutes were spent waiting for the port-a-potties).  It also put us back in the pack with some of the slower paced runners, which were challenging to get through again.  After that, we were really on our way.  We cruised through the halfway point feeling good.  I typically start to hate the run somewhere around mile 9, but I was feeling good all the way through about mile 11.  At that point, things started tightening up and water was sloshing in my stomach, but we soldiered on and finished strong.  We finished just under 2:22--that's seven full minutes faster than I ran it last year.  And, I felt particularly good because I think we could have easily taken off at least 10 minutes (if we'd been able to start at a faster pace and if we'd have been able to skip the long bathroom break). 

All in all, it was a great race and I was so glad that I had Danie there for support and company.  It made the time pass much faster.  :)  It was like the old PIHS CC days (albeit slower and longer distance).  

Next up, the Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in Las Vegas in December--followed closely by the Rock 'n' Roll Full Marathon in Phoenix in January!!

Last Tri of 2011

I raced in the Mesa tri on Sunday.  I hadn't planned on doing this triathlon, but a couple of things convinced me to do it.  First, I needed to do some kind of training to recover from Soma and train for the Women's Half Marathon next weekend.  I didn't want to do a long run, so a short tri seemed like a good compromise.  Second, I realized that it was probably the last tri I was going to be able to do in 2011.  The last reason is kind of silly.  The race is hosted by Tri-Family Racing.  The race group hosted a number of the triathlons I did this year and they have a championship series.  As of last week, I was the overall leader for the Athenas, but one of the stipulations for the series championship is to score points in one of the last 2 races of the series.  So, I needed to place in this race (or the Thanksgiving race) to officially take the series. 

The race went well.  I felt good and I placed 2nd in my group, which was good enough to qualify me for the overall series.  I was happy to see fellow Ironmom Annette at the race.  She did awesome too!!!  I'm looking forward to the Women's Half Marathon next weekend.  Updates will follow!

Introducing Another Ironmom for IMAZ 2012! Melinda!



Kate and Melinda before IMAZ 2010 practice swim


Hey ladies - I wanted to introduce you to another Ironmom.  This is Melinda!  Like all of the other Ironmom's, I tower over her too!  She and I randomly found eachother during Ironman 2010.  We were both first timers and we were both SCARED!  I first happened upon Melinda on the Beginner triathlete website.  I found her posts interesting b/c she sounded as nervous as I was.  Then, I had another friend come to AZ from the same website to do a practice ride and we ran into her.  We introduced ourselves and I asked her if she was the person I read on the website.  It was her!  We became instant IMAZ buddies.  Both of us were scared to we would not finish the swim so we met up the day before the race for the practice swim.  It was so nice to have another friendly face at the event.  We also met up on the race morning to keep eachother company.  She didn't have any friends doing the race so we just hung out and made our way to swim start together.  We lost eachother in the water but by then it didn't matter as much.  we just had to do it!  I made it out of the water and saw her husband and he let me know she made it out too.  I didn't see her again until the last loop of the bike.  She was doing great!  We both finished.  She did VERY well!  We have been in contact and she will be coming out to volunteer and then register for Ironman 2012.  It will be so nice to have a large group of friendly faces to train with!  I am linking to Melinda's blog too so you can see how her training is going.  Go Mom's Go!!  http://trigranny.blogspot.com/

A new wrinkle in my Ironman Registration

As you all know, I've had this Ironman on my mind for some time.  I had the Ironman 2012 volunteer sign up date on my calendar so I could be one of the first ones to sign up.  Since I was early I had my pick of volunteer assignments and was ready to go.  Everything was going according to plan. 

What I didn't factor into the mix was a new job!  I have a great new opportunity BUT guess what my start date is?!  Ironman Registration day!  11/21!!  UGH!  I have to be to work at 7:30 right when registration starts.  WHY?!  WHY?!!  Darn my luck! 

I briefly (only briefly) considered seeing if I could change my start date or time until after I registered but realized I was being CRAZY!  I now have a back up plan. 

BACK UP PLAN:  I will have to take my personal laptop to work and be ready to go once it opens up.  Hopefully I can time it just right!  I can see it now.  "Sorry, I know this orientation is very important but the Ironman is a priority!  I must excuse myself now."  Hmmm.  Bathroom break?  Lunch break?  I'll have to get the timing down just right. 

Ironman Wisconsin 2012 - My friend Debb's blog

So I posted earlier about my friend Debb and her battle with Ironman Wisconsin.  She has signed up again and the 3rd time WILL be a charm.  She started a blog to document her journey.  Here is the link if you want to follow her training for IMOO and weight loss.  I think this will be a great year for all of our training!  Go Debb Go!!

Tri and Tri Again  http://astudyinpersistence.blogspot.com/

Soma Tri 70.3!

Today, I completed the Soma 1/2 Iron Distance Tri. While I feel like I was under-trained for it, I am still calling it a success.  I had a few goals for this tri:
1.) Finish
2.) Have a calm swim
3.) Have a consistent bike
4.) Don't die on the run

I would say that I mostly accomplished each of those goals.  I was really worried that I would not finish before they closed the course.  Turns out, that was not too much of a problem. 

The swim went well.  I am not a fan of open water swimming or swimming in a wetsuit.  Since the water temp was 73 degrees, I opted not to wear the wetsuit.  This turned out to be just fine.  One of the other things I dislike about open water swimming is that it's hard to see and I don't like getting bumped by people.  I feel like swimming is such a calm and solitary activity--open water swimming is the complete antithesis of that!!  People push and kick and don't spot and swim into your "lane."  My goal was to keep calm and not get to worked up during the swim.  I was pretty successful at that.  I didn't feel like I really hit my stroke until about 3/4 of a mile in--which is a little late in a 1.2 mile swim!  Otherwise, I just kept steady and calm and it went alright. 

On the bike, I wanted to keep a consistent pace.  I did this pretty well.  I believe my pace was just under 16 mph.  This is great because it's even faster than the pace I want to keep for Ironman 2012.  I slowed a bit on the last lap (there were 3 laps to the bike), but overall, I felt good and even throughout the ride.  My only concern was that my back and neck were pretty sore after the ride, but I think I will keep working on my positioning and tweak my bike's set up and this should be manageable.  I have to say that my new tri bike is awesome.  There is no way I'd be riding this well on my old bike--here's to good equipment!

The run, well, it was really more of a walk.  I knew that I was not well prepared for the run.  I just haven't trained distance like I should be.  Also, it was HOT.  The temperature at the finish was 95 degrees.  The run was entirely in sun and it was MISERABLE.  I would have felt worse about walking as much as I did, except that most people were walking at that point.  It was just too hot.

The other thing that didn't go as well with the tri as I would have liked was that I wasn't feeling 100%, which meant I had some tummy business to sort out before I left home in the morning, which meant that I left later than I wanted (and encountered a car accident that closed the road I took to get to the race), which resulted in my getting into transition as they announced that transition would close in ONE minute.  I didn't have transition set up real well, so I didn't have everything in my bike pouch that I would have liked (like chapstick!!).  It's also a bit unnerving to be running that late for race start...

I learned a lot from this tri.  One, I can do it.  While I would have been miserable even attempting a full Ironman at this point, I believe I will finish when I do.  Two, I need to train.  I can't help but think about how much better this race could have gone had I felt 100% and if I had really trained to a level where I was confident about each event.  It makes me excited to work on my training for 2012. 

Soma--70.3!

I am just 4 days away from the Soma 70.3 (Swim=1.2 miles, Bike=56 miles, Run=13.1 miles) and I have to say I am freaking out.  I have looked at all the cutoff times and have tried to be rational (even if I take the full time on the swim and the bike--I'd still have 3.5 hours to walk the 13.1 miles), so I think I can do this.  This doesn't mean that I am feeling like I am ready.  Another issue that had hindered me in the past--heat--is likely to be an issue.  Though it will be cooler than it was last week, the high is still likely to be in the 90's and I am likely to be running while it is the hottest part of the day.  All in all, this will be a test of my endurance and my mental fortitude, but I think I need it to know that I can do the BIG race in 2012.

On a different note, I completed the Seville Maxi tri on Sunday and it felt pretty good.  I raced on a similar course at Seville in May.  Compared to this spring, I shaved 27 seconds off my swim, over 2 minutes off my bike, and only added 5 minutes on the run--even though it was .8 miles longer than the spring course.  I also edged out the woman who took first (for the Athenas) in May by 10 seconds.  My husband, Adam, was a good sport and completed the tri too.  It was his first race and he rode a mountain bike, so I think he gets an A for effort and for being a great sport.  I think he's ready to do another one...once he gets a better bike. 

I am sure there will be more Soma updates coming soon!!!

Upcoming Races

Wow, it's hard to believe that it's already the middle of October!  That means that the 1/2 Iron distance triathlon is just a little over a week away.  I would be lying if I didn't say that I was a little (a lot) nervous for it.  It will be my longest tri and a good indicator for how much training I will need to be ready for the Ironman in 2012.  Since I enjoyed a little vacation this past weekend, I decided to add a short tri this weekend to get me back on track.  I am also doing a trail run with some friends on Saturday--I need to get some distance in to get prepared.

Here are the races I am looking forward to in the next couple of months--
Sunday, Oct. 16-Seville Maxi Tri (300 yd, 15.4 mi, 2.8 mi)
Sunday, Oct. 23-Soma Tri (1.2 mi, 56 mi, 13.1 mi)
Sunday, Nov. 6-Women's 1/2 Marathon (13.1 mi)
Sunday, Dec. 4-Rock n Roll Vegas 1/2 Marathon (13.1 mi)
Saturday, Jan. 14-Rock n Roll AZ Full Marathon (26.2 mi)

I have convinced Adam to give a tri a try--he's joining me this weekend for the Seville Tri.  He's also signed up for the full marathon in January...we'll see if he gets trained for that.  And, my friend, Danie, is making the trip from MN to AZ to run the WHM in November!!  She has been a rockstar with her running lately, so I fully expect her to kick my butt on the 6th.  :)

Tour de Scottsdale - part 2 - DNF




Kate and Kim Looking Good at the Half Way Mark!  

Did you all read Kim's post?  She did a great job detailing the ride.  It was BEAUTIFUL but it seemed like most of the ride was uphill.  I was very proud of our performance considering we did not do many long training rides.  Last year I tackled this ride with Lance, Jake, Eric, Geoffry, and Ron and we all did really well.  BUT we put in a ton of riding time.  They guys were all riding with me as I trained for Ironman.  By the time Tour of Scottsdale rolled around we had done several rides over 50 miles.  Compare that training to this year . . . Kim and I didn't do one ride over 50 miles.  Maybe not even over 40 miles.  I knew I wasn't trained but we had already signed up and spent the money.  Why not try?   

Kim and I were very good riding partners.  When one of us would get tired the other would push ahead and keep us moving.  It worked really well.  If one of us got ahead the other would catch up quickly.  I also think we did a pretty good job with our nutrition. 

After the picture was taken above, you could really see people starting to fade.  We were doing pretty good then a huge hill on Shea kicked my rear end.  It was brutal!  It also got really hot.  Around this time I told Kim that she should keep on moving regardless of what I did.  I didn't want to hold her back.  We ended up staying together until the 7 mile mark.   

By the time we got to the last 7 miles, I knew it was all uphill and I was spent.  I was going to stop at an aid station but I thought I'd keep trying.  I made it another 3 miles and was officially pooped.  I made it another mile and I finally got to the point of where our cars were parked.  I could keep going OR jump in the car and leave. 

It was a tough decision but I decided to pull the plug.  (1)  It was HOT!  (2)  The last few miles were all up Hill.  (3)  I was feeling a pain in my Hip.  (4)  I knew if I went up the last few miles I'd have to turn around and come back to the car.  (5)  I was wiped OUT! 

When it was all said and done, I am still comfortable with my decision.  I still rode 66 miles of an extremely tough bike route.  I had an excellent work out.  That is good enough.  I'm also very proud of Kim for finishing her longest ride.  I would say we have a strong start to Ironman 2012.   Can't wait to tackle another race with the other Ironmoms!   





Kate after her DNF (Did Not Finish)





Tour de Scottsdale

Kim and Kate at Race Start

Kim with the finsher's medal

So, a couple of weeks ago Kate asked if I'd like to join her on the 70 mile Tour de Scottsdale ride. She and her husband had planned to do it, but he decided against it for a variety of reasons. Of course, I said yes! Never mind that my longest ride (ever) prior to this was approximately 56 miles, that I hadn't been training for a long ride (in the last few months I've only done relatively short--25-30 mile--training rides) and that it was a hilly course.

The ride started out with some low grade climbing--nothing too steep, but a long climb. Kate and I tried to make sure we hydrated and ate regularly to preserve our strength. We made it through the first 1/2 of the ride in pretty good shape. It was nice to finish out the first half riding down a very long (nearly 10 miles) hill.

Then, things started to get a little bit more tough. It started to get warm, hot really. The worst part about riding in the heat is that there's little relief from it. The sun beats down from above and the road radiates heat from below. The next 20 miles included lots of rolling hills and then a huge killer hill as we left Fountain Hills. It was at least a full mile of climbing approximately 52 miles into the ride. It took out a number of cyclists--you could see a growing number stopping and walking their bikes or cutting out at the aid stations. Kate and I powered through it, but we could feel ourselves fading.

The rest of the ride was a test of my mental toughness. I really didn't think I could manage another hill, but I was not going to get off that easy. At the 62 mile aid station, Kate and I talked about stopping--especially if we came upon the school where our vehicles were parked. I pushed off from the stop only to find myself climbing another low grade hill--a long and painful uphill ride (I was close to tears at this point--thinking, why was I doing this again?). For the first time in the ride, I switch from my big front gear to my little one just so I could keep moving. We finally got a little downhill relief. There was one last aid station around 65 miles. Imagine my disappointment hearing the volunteers yelling, "hydrate for the hill!!" I really didn't think I could take another hill, but I still hadn't gotten to my car and there were only a few miles left.

The hill was another painful climb. At the top was the parking lot where we had parked. I debated about finishing or calling it good at that point. I was just too close to check out, and I had just climbed the last hill of the ride. I continued to the finish where I was very happy to be done with the official ride. However, there was more riding to be done. The parking lot was about 2 miles away, so I (very reluctantly) climbed back on my bike and headed to the truck. The air conditioning felt so good!!! I hurried home to shower and head out to see West Side Story at Gammage with Adam. It was nice sitting in a cold and dark auditorium.

After the show, we helped set up for a Diversity Pipeline event at the law school and then caught dinner (I was starving!!). Finally, I ended the evening with a nice, warm bath using the new Dr. Teal's epsom salts that I won from the very awesome Mary Sailors (who ran a killer TC Marathon yesterday as I was riding around Scottsdale) at Fit This, Girl!. The salts were very relaxing and after a quick electric pulse massage on my sore neck, back, and feet; I fell asleep for a much needed night's rest.

look what came in the mail today!

Apparently I placed third in my age division for the Red Rock triathlon!

I checked my results and saw I was in fourth, and didn't bother waiting around after that. Luckily the top finisher in our age division was in the Overall top three and so she was pulled for the age division category, so I got bumped up to third.

How nice of them to mail me my award!

Kate's Race Report - Nathan's Triathlon - Sprint division

Kate and Annette after the race.

Today was race day!  The Ironmoms were tackling Nathan's triathlon.  I was originally slated to do the Olympic distance with Kim but I knew I wasn't ready.  The diet made me pretty weak so I thought I would die.  Plus, I knew the swim would be brutal for me since I haven't had a bit of swim time and I wouldn't be able to wear a wetsuit.  So I switched to the Sprint distance.  The sprint was 750 m swim, 12 mile bike and 3.1 mile run.  I felt pretty comfortable with the distances. 

My day didn't go as planned.  First, I only had 2 hours of sleep the night before.  I attended the NABA-AZ dinner and might of had a couple too many glasses of wine.  Not the plan.  The plan was to stay at the dinner for a short while and then go home and get a good night of sleep.  Instead I partied like a rock star until the weee hours of the morning. 

I set the alarm for 4:30.  I thought this would give me time to get ready and get to Annette's house house for pick up.  I guess the alarm didn't go off and I woke up to Annette's phone call at 5:20!  UGH.  I manged to get there in a couple minutes but I wasn't on my A game.  Not only did I oversleep, I forgot my earplugs, my swim cap, and my timing chip!  Plus I realized I had a mild hangover! 

Even with all the morning chaos, I managed to finish the race.  It was just ok.  The high point for me was the run. I wasn't fast but I felt pretty strong. I usually feel strongest on my bike but I wasn't feeling it today.  The low point was my swim, as usual.  I didn't panic but I was still slow.  A positive note about the swim was that I did a much better job sighting in the water. The race was not my finest moment and not a total disaster.  I looked at the results and finished 3 minutes faster than in 2009.  That is good considering I was not on my A game.  Plus, I finished under 2:00 hours!  That is awesome for me. 

I'm looking forward to get the training going again.  Lots of potential to have some great races.  I'm also very proud of all of us Ironmoms.  We are doing it!

Nathan's Tempe Tri

It was a warm day for a tri, but that didn't stop the Ironmoms!! I finished the Olympic distance and felt pretty good. My swim was alright, my bike was great (I averaged over 16 mph!!), the run, however, could have been better. It was in the low 90's by the time I crossed the finish line and I definitely felt the heat on the run. There was a great bit of time (for approximately a mile) during the run when the sun was behind a cloud. Otherwise, it was hot, hot, hot. We also had a freak rainstorm (very light rain) during the ride, which was very odd. All in all, it was good to get out on a race course again.

After I was done, I had to ask myself if I was ready to double that for Soma's 1/2 iron distance in October. I am not quite there yet (and definitely not ready to quadruple it for the Ironman), but I know that I can keep working the bike and the run and I will feel a lot better.

Annette and Kate ran the sprint--it sounds like they had a good day too, but I'll let them report. :)

Kate's Weightloss Update

For all of September I've been a dieting machine.  I've been doing a pretty extreme diet and it has been working.  I've lost 10.8 pounds in 2 weeks and 2 days.  I weigh now about what I weighed when I finished Ironman in November.  I feel good having the weight off again but I know this diet is making me weak.  I have been working out, but I do not have the energy I should. 

I know some do not agree with my extreme dieting but I do have a plan.  Here is my thinking.  I want to lose as much weight as I can before I start working towards Ironman 2012.  That gives me a months before my training really gets moving again.   So my September is crazy but I promise I will start being smarter at the end of the month.  The thought of having less weight to carry around excites me!

Red Rock Triathlon

Bike and run slightly slower than last year, but close enough.

I'm getting excited for all the upcoming events, such as...

Nike Women's Marathon

Ragnar Las Vegas

Volunteering for IRONMAN AZ!!

We're just over a year away!

Nice Group Ride

We had a nice group ride today.  We ended up riding 22.5 miles.  It was short but nice. I think the best part about it was the weather finally broke.  It was absolutely beautiful out.  Here is a photo of me, Annette and Kim taking a break at the end of Pecos Road.  Feels great to be out there.

Splash n Dash! Want to Swim?

Hey ladies - Here is the link for the first splash and dash.  Annette sent it to me today.  This will be a great practice round for Nathan's triathlon.  Anyone in?

http://4peaksracing.com/event.php?id=187

My Friend Debb - IMOO 2011

I want to tell you about my friend Debb.  I met Debb on-line about 2 years ago.  She is amazing and a real inspiration.  Debb and I trained together last year for our Ironman races on the beginner triathlete website.  Debb started her training at 302 pounds and has lost 100 pounds on this Ironman journey. 

Last year she competed in Ironman Wisconsin 2010.  The Ironman community referrs to this race as IMOO.  The IMOO course is pretty intense and has lots of hills.  Our Ironman Arizona or IMAZ race is a favorite because it the course is pretty flat.

Although Debb was properly trained, she missed the last run cut off by a minute.  They wouldn't let her go on.  She had to give them her chip and she was carted to the finish line.  She was at Mile 19 of the RUN!  Yep, 133 miles into her 140 mile journey.  Just 7 miles short!  Instead of feeling blue she got up the next morning and signed up to do the race again.  She has worked her tail off this year and is ready to tackle it again. 

Debb competes this Sunday in IMOO 2011.  I am so nervous and excited for her.  I'll be glued to my computer "watching" her times through out the day.   Send her some good vibes this weekend!!  She said no matter what happens this weekend she is going to keep going.  She might even tackle IMAZ with us in 2012.

Thanks to my friend, Mary, at FitThisGirl.com for sharing this on her Facebook page!

Cooler Weather=A Little Running and a Little Hiking

I have to admit that I really don't like working out when it's this hot. So, over Labor Day weekend, the family and I took a trip to Northern AZ to cool off. With the significant drop in temperature, I had no excuses not to get up and go. I took a run along a beautiful trail and we did lots of hiking.

Now, it's back to reality (and the heat). It's really time to buckle down and get in gear for the Olympic coming up in just a couple of weeks (yikes) and the 1/2 Iron coming up in just about 6 weeks. I need to commit to getting in at least one long run, one long swim, and one long ride EVERY week. There's no time left for slacking!!

I'm moving again!

Yep.  I'm moving again.  On vacation I went on an hour long ride and a four mile run.  Feeling good!  I have 20 days until an Olympic distance triathlon.  Kim and I are going to KILL it!  (positive thinking)  My biggest concern is that I know the water tempature will not be wetsuit legal.  This is one of the only races that is not wetsuit legal around here.  The wetsuit is my safety net in the water.  When I wear it I just float.  Without it, I sink . . . or I think I will sink.  Should be interesting.  Go Ironmoms! 

Catching Up

It's a new school year at ASU Law, so that means at least 3 of these Ironmoms have been busy with that. And, it's a new school year for all of the kiddos that belong to these Ironmoms, so we've all been busy with that!

I am finally getting into a groove with training in the morning before I get to work and the weekends, but I am not doing such a great job of increasing my distances. I think I need to write out a plan so that I am ready for the big 1/2 Iron distance in October.

How do you keep on target with your goals? Do you follow a training plan?

Remember me? Let me introduce myself . . .

I had a busy week.  The kids went back to school and I had to work the entire weekend.  Because I was so tired I decided to take off another week of training.  I'm Lazy.  What is wrong with me?  I know I had life events contributing to my lack of work out but come on.  Seriously?  Nothing for two weeks?  Sad state of affairs. I really need to learn better balance.

Kim and I were talking at work today about how soon our races are coming up.  We have an Olympic Distance Triathlon in September, a Half Ironman in October, and a full Marathon in January.  We need to get moving.  It was a real wake up call to see how fast everything was coming. 

So I realized a few things today.  (1) I have been lazy.  (2) I need to get moving.  (3) My races are coming up.  So what did i do when I got home?  Did I train?  Nope.  I signed up for another race. 

California Ironman 2012.  March 31st in Oceanside California.  Now I've invested entirely too much money.  I have to train!  right? 

Cross Training and Strength Training

While I enjoy the 3 sports that make up the triathlon (ok, so I don't enjoy all 3, but I tolerate them), I like to mix things up and cross train. My favorite workout zumba, but some days I can't make it to the gym when it's offered. So, I've picked up a couple of workout DVDs that I really like. The first is Bob Harper's Inside Out Method kettle bell strength training (I also like his Inside Out Method workout). It's adds some variety to the regular routine and works my hips, quads, and hamstrings 'til I'm good and sore.

The other DVD I like is Jillian Michaels's Yoga Meltdown. It's part yoga and part torture, but you definitely feel it working! (Btw, can you tell I love the Biggest Loser's trainers!)

The other thing I'm trying to do is work in more strength training workouts. I find that I get the best all over workout if I go to a class. Again, this requires schedule coordination, so many times I wander aimlessly from machine to machine trying to make sure I work all the different muscle groups. Any good suggestions on how to maximize strength training workouts?

Vacation

So I went to San Diego this weekend and had an awesome time.  Maybe too much of an awesome time?  Is that possible?  It seems I ate too much and drank too much.  Now I'm feeling it!  BLAH!  It seems once I hit 40 it takes a week to work off a bad weekend.  SO NOT FAIR!   

As a result of my over indulgence I have decided to skip my weigh in this week because I know it will be horrible.  It is ok to have a skip week right? 

Training Hiccup

I've had a little trouble getting my training in this week. First, it is the first week the girls have been back since spending the majority of the summer with their grandparents in Minnesota. Second, we picked up a cold in MN and it's been making its way through the family (I am currently past the extremely sore throat stage and stuck on the obnoxious cough and chest congestion stage). Third, as I was rushing in to my office on Wednesday afternoon, I slipped on a mysterious puddle outside the law school door (mysterious mainly because things dry up so fast here and there was no rain or sprinklers in that area) and fell on my knee and bottom--resulting in a sore and bruised knee.

Despite the sore knee, I did go home that night and try out my new tri bike for a few miles. It's going to take a little getting used to. The new clips are a little more slick on the bottom of the shoes, so if I miss the hook, my foot goes flying forward and I nearly fly off the bike as well. Also, I am not used to the design of the handles, so I felt a little bit anxious when I was steering around corners. I can already tell that it's faster though! It's going to be a fun bike.

I am hoping to get an extra workout in this weekend to make up for some of the misses. :)

New Tri Bike!

I hadn't really planned on purchasing a new bike today, but after a quick trip to Bicycles of Scottsdale this morning, I found myself carting home a new Quintana Roo Dulce Tri Bike! I had been looking at tri bikes with a bit of curiosity for the past couple of weeks. I've learned that some of the big difference between the tri bike and the road bike are the post angle (tri bike's angle is designed to help save your legs from fatigue, but still be fast and efficient), handlebar positioning, and fewer spokes in the wheels (to reduce drag).

I found a used 2010 QR Chicquilo on eBay, for what looked like a pretty good price. It would have to be shipped from D.C., so I was worried about ordering it and then finding it didn't fit me quite right or that it wouldn't be in as great of condition as advertised. So, I decided to visit one of the only bike shops in the area that sells QR bikes to check out the fit. When I got to Bicycles of Scottsdale, I saw that they had a brand new 2011 QR Chicquilo for less than the used bike on eBay. They also had the Dulce (a step up because of the higher quality wheels and carbon body over aluminum) for just a little more than the used eBay bike. Apparently, the shop is under new ownership (or as it appears, back under the original ownership) and is remodeling and clearing out some of the current year model bikes for prices at or below cost!

Since I had been looking at tri bikes online for a couple of weeks, I felt confident the bike was a good deal. The owner and other shop worker were great! They answered all my questions and took their time helping me out. The owner also made sure I had all the equipment I needed, but wasn't pushy at all about buying things. He frequently said, "you don't necessarily need to buy this today, but you may find that down the road..." which I really appreciated. I ended up buying some new bike shoes and clips as well, so I will be trying out all my new equipment and will report to everyone how it all goes soon!!

Kate's Tuesday Weigh-in = Down .5 lbs

3 days of Hot Yoga plus
a 3:40:00 bike hilly bike ride = .5 pounds lost. 

I have to admit I'm pretty bummed.  I thought I did a good job eating this week.  At this rate I'm going to have a hard time meeting my goal before "serious" Ironman training begins.  I really need to figure out my diet issues.  Sure, I know, 2.5 pounds in 2 weeks is good.  I should be happy.  BUT, I want to weight to fall off as quickly as possible.  I know I can do better. 

I have a mini beach vacation this weekend.  When I get back I'm going to figure this out.  The trick will be not gaining weight while I'm on vacation.

I love HOT YOGA!

Yes, I love hot yoga.  I'm not good at it but it feels good to stretch it out.  I feel myself getting stronger.  Unfortunately, I feel like the picture below though when I'm doing it! 

Our Weekend Ride

I thought I'd share some photos from our weekend ride.  I love riding in the desert.  It is beautiful. I don't think I truly appreciated the beauty of the desert until I started riding my bike out there.  I love it! 

Unfortunately, it was a rough ride.  We knew it would be a harder ride than usual because we were gong to tackle two loops of a climbing ride.  What we didn't anticipate was Annette's accident.  She crashed twice because of a dropped chain and messed up her gearing.  Luckily she wasn't hurt worse.  She was just banged up and bruised. 

Later in the ride I got a flat.  We were almost done with the ride when it happened.  That meant it was getting HOT out!  Luckily, my honey Ron was there to save the day.  He is such a trooper. 

The next couple of weeks I'll be out of commission due to vacation and a program at work.  I'm bummed b/c I love our rides! 

Warrior Dashed!

I completed my second Warrior Dash yesterday. I completed the AZ dash in April and decided to join some friends to do it again in MN. The course was ALL hills. It was a much more difficult run than the AZ course. The obstacles were very similar. I think my strength training is starting to payoff. It was much easier climbing over the obstacles this time. :)

Movement on the Weightloss Meter!

Guess what?!  Lost some weight this week!!  I'm down two pounds!  I'll take it.  I know my weight loss is going to come down to my diet.  I really tried to watch it and I did a better job of eating breakfast.  I usually skip breakfast but I know it isn't good for me to do.  This is going to be a battle but at least it is going the right direction.  Now I need to make sure I don't blow it over the weekend.

Training on the Go

I have been traveling for the past couple of weeks, so that has given me the chance to train in new and different places and ways. I was in Boulder, Colorado for a couple of days last week. My friend, Carrie, and I spend the early mornings hiking on mountain trails. The elevation and the climb made for a great cardio workout!!

I've been in Minnesota for the past week. I had been looking forward to running in the cooler weather, but mother nature had a different plan in mind. The temperature has been in the high 90's with high humidity for the past 5 days. According to the National Weather Service, the heat index has gotten as high as 122 degrees!! That means it feels hotter here than in Arizona!! Before the heat started to get too bad, I had the chance to do a mini-tri in Le Roy, MN (on the Iowa border). I wasn't racing with my own bike (or swim goggles--since I forgot them in my suitcase), so I wasn't really looking for a record time. It was a good way to get out and be active.

For the past few days, I have been visiting my old gym in Rochester (it's actually a great health club--gym doesn't really do it justice). I did my favorite "ultra" circuit. There's an express circuit set up at the club that alternatives cardio machines and weight machines--you do each machine for one minute. On the first half, I add a fast lap around the indoor track after each cardio machine and after every other weight machine, I add one minute of ab work. On the second half of the circuit, I add two fast laps and keep the abs. It's a great full body workout that takes about 45 minutes to complete.

Today, I took the Hatha yoga class. It was great. I really haven't found a yoga studio in Phoenix that I like as much as the yoga classes back at the club. I prefer Hatha because it really gets me to focus on my breath and my body. The club we joined in Phoenix doesn't offer a true Hatha class--mostly mixed intensity classes. I really should (and could) practice Hatha at home, but there's something about going to a class that allows me to focus on the yoga rather than being distracted by the 100 other things I have to get done at home/work.

Tomorrow, I plan on hitting up the Zumba and Power classes at the Club. I haven't found a strength training class that is quite as fun as Power. It is a full body strength training class that is set to music (rather than other strength training classes I've attended where the music is just playing without purpose). It's great to have a chance to revisit some of my favorite workouts! Saturday, I plan on having another go at the Warrior Dash--this time in Minnesota. We'll see if the weather holds out. I hear there's a strong possibility of thunderstorms. :(

Flexible training schedule

Seems that once I put a plan in place, stuff comes up that means making changes to the plan. So, I've always approached things pretty laid-back and take things in stride. When opportunity arises I try and jump on it and take advantage. Plus, I just kind of listen to what my body wants, and go with that. If there's only one lesson I learned from Oprah (and there has been more than one), its to follow my intuition, or "listen to the whisper" the first time before it has to knock you upside the head.

The training schedule gets changed up depending on lots of stuff - what I have scheduled at work, the weather, but mainly how I'm feeling. The choices of activity stays the same - cycling, hot yoga, and now jogging - the days change up. The constant is "gym night" with the trainer. So the training days I planned earlier has already changed here and there.

This last ride at Usery Pass was great! I felt so much more confident and stronger. I'm looking forward to improving on time and strength.

Hot yoga this morning was also great! I'm really liking all the improvements in my fitness and physique. I've been able to constantly do shoulder stands for the last four sessions....now time to tackle the wheel.

One of my best tools is the Livestrong app on my iphone. It helps to keep track of my food intake, and fitness activities. Plus there's a great sliding scale that shows how far along you are in eating your caloric allocation. I like how I can move that scale down by doing some exercise. The long rides have made it possible to start the day with a 184% calorie deficit. : ) I still need to be mindful of quality and quantity of food intake though. My ideal weight means losing almost 90 pounds! For me, I'd be happy with 50. Still a lot, but since last Valentine's Day (2010) I've already dropped more than 40, so what's 50 more?!

We Can Do It!!

I saw this jersey on ebay.  Woman Power! 

Usery Loop + Ride

Today half of Team Ironmom was out of town this weekend.  Annette, my husband Ron, and I went on a nice ride of Usery pass.  It was about 28 miles of rolling hills plus a 4 mile climb.  Awesome!  I've included some photos to show you the ride.

"K" nickname

I'm the oddball without a "K" name. So there's been a suggestion I have a "K" nickname to be like Kate, Kim, and Kristen.

The first one that come to mind has something like Kickass ____. Ha! Ha! My next thought is that I've never really strived to fit in, so I'll just stick with being the oddball.

What do y'all think? To nickname, or not to nickname?

Challenging week

The week started out with sniffles that grew into a full-blown sinus cold that I'm still getting over. Ended up coming home from work early on Monday. Then...my Little Giant had a flat - courtesy of all the stuff on the Beeline Highway, I'm sure. So, that meant I had to learn to change a tube which I needed to do anyway.

Thank goodness for You Tube! I found several really good tutorials, but the best I found was by Canada Bike. Very detailed with step-by-step directions. I also learned that the nifty little hand pump I was sold can't be used on the valves on my tubes....not cool.

Today I bought my own floor pump with a pressure gauge, and the CO2 kit.

Still not feeling 100% and I feel as though the cold is moving into my chest. : \

Worked out Thursday morning with a quick ride, then with my trainer in the evening. This morning Kate and I went to hot yoga. My whole hip/pelvis muscles are sore.

The plan for tomorrow is Usery Pass.

Championship Swim Meet

I'm a proud mom today.  My kids are competing in the Town of Gilbert's Championship swim meet this evening.  My 8 year old daughter is swimming the backstroke, 50m freestyle, and IM.  My 5 year old son is swimming the backstroke and the 50 freestyle.  I think I am so proud because it is my weakest sport.  I know how hard it is to glide through that water!  I swim like a slow moving barge and they are like little rockets!  Each of the kids already know all four strokes and do them pretty well.  So tonight I will be the proud momma sitting pool side happily in 111 degree weather.


UPDATE: Here are the kids with their ribbons. Cody got 15th in backstroke and 11th in the 50 freestyle.  Ty got 16th in backstroke, 12 in the 50 freestyle, and 11th in the IM.  I am SO proud!