Giant Fail

After two spectacular training weeks of training I have become a giant failure. Recovery week was typical recovery week - in other words I did about 1/2 the work outs. Then we started week one of a three week build cycle.

I was on a business trip in Denver and my time for workouts was very limited. The pool at the hotel was closed so I knew I would miss all of the swims. I managed to get in a 60 minute run and a 60 minute bike. All I can say is altitude sucks - I followed the workouts but they were at a much lower intensity due to lack of oxygen.

On Wed I started to feel sick, flew home on Thursday, sick day on Friday.

Saturday I woke up still feeling like death warmed over. Since cycling is my weakest link, I know I need to get the miles in so I checked the weather to make my final decision. Three different web sites promised a 10% chance of precipitation so I headed down to Germantown. Well, apparently they left off a zero because it rained the entire time. The entire drive to the ride had me second-guessing myself, but in the end, I got 40 miles in (yes, my schedule called for 56 but I'm sick dang it!!!)

As I lay on the couch in misery on Saturday night I decided that I was not going to make the Scope It Out 5K (plus the additional 10 miles on the training schedule). I slept in on Sunday, followed by lounging around, then a movie. In the meantime, the cold has moved from the nose into my chest. By the way, the weather on Sunday was a beautiful 70 degrees. Figures!

I have every intention of making all of the workouts this week. If you see me out running or cycling beware. There is a 99% chance that I will be coughing, hacking, spitting or blowing snot rockets with a vengeance. Attractive, right?!

That dream...again

I had it again - the Recurring Ironman Dream.

In this one I didn't realize I was suppose to set up my transition area the day before when I racked my bike (at IMS you set up like a short course race - all your stuff by your bike).

So I got to the race, was milling around, and as I heard the wave starts (no wave start at IMS - but this is just a dream) I started panicking. For some reason I had multiple bags of stuff and those bags were not in one location. I don't recall all the details, but I missed my wave start, I had to "borrow" a wetsuit from a pro (she didn't know) because I couldn't find mine, and I lost my real nutrition bag. I do recall that the nutrition I had available was a couple of gels, some Jolly Ranchers (I never eat these), Tootsie Rolls (or these), 1/2 a PowerBar, and a bag of peanuts (because those will be easy to eat).

What is the hidden meaning to these dreams????

Update from I Don't Get It post: my driver side door lock doesn't work with the key fob and I've cracked a tooth. NICE!!

Smokin'

I have body issues – not anorexic or anything, just poor body image. When I look in the mirror I still see the "fat girl" I use to be. So, I weigh myself...a lot. I track calories - go ahead - ask me how many calories are in something! I'll always think I can stand to lose some weight. Or if I'm at the weight I want, I'll wish it was moved around a bit. (On the other hand, I rarely turn down food, or beer, and I'm not the type of girl who orders "just a salad". This may contribute to the whole image thing.)

My point?

I got my new wetsuit on Monday – Xterra Vector Pro X2 Fullsuit (1/2 price sale!). The wetsuit is the bane to triathlons - a skintight rubberized suit - yeah, sign me up! Anyway...my new suit has been sitting in the box since Monday and last night I finally decided to try it on. I open the box, it's wrapped in padded paper - like a gift. I get it all unwrapped and my first thought is, this will never fit. Look at that slim waist. Look at those sexy curves. So Not Me!!!

I try it on. It easily slides up my body. Hmm, it seems to fit. I get my arms in, yank it up a bit, wrestle with the zipper, and bam, I'm in. I go to the mirror, force myself to look, and thought, DAMN - I look good. Some may say smokin'!***

Tested it in the pool this morning. No leaking, no gaps. I float like a bobber and swim like a fish. Just have to get use to the feel of something around my shoulders (always have worn sleeveless).

***The picture is not me (obviously) - her thighs are much too thin!

I don't get it...

Everything I touch lately seems to break...

Monday - my Blackberry died - had to take it to Verizon. The fix - take the battery out, put it back in. GENIUS!

Tuesday - Garage Door Opener - It's been finicky lately but yesterday it just made whirring sounds, then died. I now have to open my garage door by hand - UGH! To add to the frustration, the lock on the door doesn't work and the door will not stay open on it's own. The fix for both - put a bolt in one the top hole to hold the door open, drive in, close door, put bolt above one of the wheels so the door can't be opened. GENIUS!

Wednesday - Kitchen overhead lights. Last night, worked fine. This morning - just flickered. It's a florescent system with two bulbs and both are flickering. If it was just one, I would blame the bulb, but both?! Don't know how to fix this because I was heading out when I noticed it.

So what's next? Penny needs to be cleaned from the weekend ride but I don't dare touch her. I have laundry to do before my trip to Denver but I think my washer/dryer just went over their warranty limit. I have two weeks of TV to watch, but I'm afraid if I touch the DVR it will erase everything.

Maybe I should just go home and go straight to bed. Why tempt fate?

New Look

As you can see, there have been some changes to the look of my blog. Let's start at the top...

The banner – well the banner is AWESOME!! Dude designed and built it for me. The bike is Penny and the runner is me (in my super-hip Zensah Compression Sleeves) – both pics taken by Dude. The “Who Rocks – I Rock” is from my bathing suit. The swim picture under Team Z is an actual picture from IMS (this may be replaced if I get a good pic of the Team Z - IMS Peeps).

The background is courtesy of Simply Chic Blog Design. The reasons I picked this design are (1) Well, it’s very American and since I’m competing in Ironman Switzerland, a little reminder of home is good; (2) red/white – colors of Switzerland flag; (3) Stars – well, I am a Rockstar!; (4) the light blue is for Penny; and (5) most other designs I found were just too “girly”.

Hope you like the new look and I hope I stay motivated to keep blogging. Just tryin’ to keep you entertained with my shenanigans.