Week 12

I have trained for 94 hours, 5 minutes and 36 seconds so far.  That's 3 days, 22 hours, and 5 mins.

Training:  Overall, I'm still feeling great.  The biggest challenge that I'm having is still fitting in all of the training sessions in and managing to be a mom, wife, and teacher. I will have to say that if anybody goes into this without great time management skills, then they will come out with them! 

I did my first 100K (63 miles) bike rally on Saturday.  There were tons of hills and I really got to know my bike.  It helped a lot riding with DB, who is a very seasoned cyclist.  He really showed me out to crank it down and get up the "beasts".  However, I don't think the hills in Texas are going to be anything like the mountains in Lake Placid.  I'm going to have to look into more climbing gears on my bike.

My hero:  Kylie is just trucking along with her medication.  She takes it every night out of habit and never complains.  She loved getting her face painted yesterday after the race!  She also has dance pictures tonight and she is so excited to dress up in her costume and get all gussied up.  Such a girly girl!  Her sister, Katelyn, and "Garbear" ran a 5K race on Saturday and did terrific!   

Please to help me with my "Journey to Placid" by donating to my fundraising campaign.  I have raised $5066.00 so far and my goal is $10,000.  I'm a little over half way there!!! I'm doing all of the work, you just have to donate!  What a deal! 

http://ctf.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1034366&lis=1&kntae1034366=31D76130C77A41A899ED7F3E1722928B&supId=358283427

Week 10-11

My how the time flies!  I looked at my last post and realized it was before my 1/2 Ironman a few weeks ago.  So let me start with a quick recap.

70.3 Texas:  I felt completely ready for this race.  I started the day pumped and eager to start.  I had my wetsuit on and jumped off of a dock to start.  I was a little nervous about the type of start, simply because it was foreign to me.  When I hit the water, I couldn't believe how cold it was.  Freezing.  Still feeling confident, I moved my way to the middle of the pack knowing that I am a strong swimmer.  The gun went off, I put my head under water to swim and I lost it.  I couldn't move.  I couldn't breath.  I panicked.  I knew that if I didn't get my head in the game I wouldn't make it.  I rolled over on my back and let the others pass me while I refocused and talked myself into calming down.  Luckily, it worked.  I tried swimming again, and this time, I was off.  Before I knew it I was exiting the swim and feeling great.  The bike was flat out and back course.  It went by without a hitch, well except for getting off the bike twice to go to the bathroom.  (Apparently, a skill of using the restroom on the bike works for some triathletes.  Maybe we should address that later.)  I really tried to stay focused on my coaches words of encouragement and I think it paid off.  When I transitioned from the bike to the run, I still felt great.  I started my run a little too fast and had to slow down, but over all I walked away from this race with a smile on my face.

Training:  This is just a glimpse of my training this weekend.  Friday:  Two hours on the bike.  30 mins strength training.  Saturday:  Two hour run.  (I was supposed to swim as well, but I was STARVING after my run, so I ate instead.)  Sorry, coach.  :)  Sunday:  I was on my bike for almost 4 1/2 hours and really felt beaten up by the time I got off of the bike.  Followed by a 30 min. run.  Let's just say that I took my 30 min. run indoors because the wind won today.

It seems like when I'm thinking "Holy Cow! What have I gotten myself into???"  Things like this happen:

That's right.  After months and months of trying, she's finally riding her bike without training wheels.  

Perseverance.  

Week 8-9

Half Ironman week!  Wow.  That went by really fast!  Training so far has been absolutely amazing.  I've spent more hours on the bike trainer than I would like to confess to and, before this journey is over, I may wear out my third treadmill. 

Sunday is the day.  I feel really great going into this race.  Mentally, I'm going to hold back and enjoy the entire thing.  I never thought I would actually say that I'm using a 1/2 IM as a training experience.  Sounds crazy. 

I know that my little hero will carry me through.  She is having another MRI next week.  All I have to think about is how brave she is when the doctor puts the mask over her face.  How she bruises afterwards from the IV and never complains.  How she takes her medication every night without any complaints, even when it results in throwing up afterwards.  She makes my journey so much easier and well worth it. 

Please help support me and my hero along the way...

http://ctf.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1034366&lis=1&kntae1034366=23D0BAE3CCA9427287C98F3D0FDC63E2&supId=358283427

Week 7

 (I wrote this on the airplane last Sunday when I was heading back to Dallas.  I forgot to post it-so here it is!)

 

Kylie update: The MRI couldn't be scheduled with her EUA next month so she won't have the EUA until July. This means she will get her new eye this summer. It should be right before Ironman.

 

Spring Break made things much easier for me in regards to training. I was able to get in my workouts early in the week and still enjoy time with the girls. I will have to say that it would be so nice if this was always the routine. It's seems to be much less stressful...yeah, back to reality tomorrow.

 

To start off the break, my family and I got to share Kylie's journey for Texas NF. She will be the Jr. Chef at their Dining in Dallas event next month. I was actually really nervous on camera and just hope that they're able to edit all of our hiccups in the interview. Ugh and umm wont sound so well!  There are so many little heroes that they could've chosen and it is such an honor to have our Kylie as the Jr. chef. I can't wait to share the experience with everybody!

 

On Thursday, I flew to New York City and started an amazing weekend! Coach adjusted my training because of the trip and it helped ease the stress of missing workouts. Actually arriving at the hotel was an adventure. My shuttle driver's favorite word was the f bomb...I guess he was just an angry New Yorker. As I was on the shuttle thinking "holy cow just get me to my hotel." Part of me was laughing. F bomb this f bomb that. Hey-you do this for a living. Chill. There are bigger fish to fry.

 

Friday, I got to experience a NYC swim at one of the local clubs. We went during an"off time" so it was less crowded than normal. Less crowded meant that everybody had to share lanes with several other people. The definition of crowded varies from city to city. Of course, at my pool, there are times when I swim that I have most of it to myself. Regardless, the ladies in my lane were very pleasant and didn't have any problems sharing. That definitely made up for the shuttle driver the day before.

 

On Saturday, I got to experience a run in Central Park. It was really nice. I was definitely thankful that my friend joined me for the first part of it. It was nice and early so it was still dark outside. I would've had to hit the dreadmill if it wasn't for her!

 

We had a Team Summit over the weekend with the Children's Tumor Foundation and I'm walking away with a little bit more spring in my step. I finally got to meet several people face to face that I've spoken to over the course of time. Even better, I met many new faces. To be surrounded by so many people that share the same passion is priceless. All of the people there have such wonderful stories and have decided to take the high road on what life has thrown at them. They all want to make a difference and CTF has empowered all of us with the tools to make things happen. I am so honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization.

 

I know this is a long post, but there is so much to share about the journey and NF this week. Up next...a 3 hour ride on Saturday and a 13 mile run on Sunday. This doesn't include my workouts during the week. I have a 1/2 Ironman in 3 weeks. Moving along one workout at a time.

 

This is a video of one of the inspiring athletes that I have the honor of knowing. Watch it. It's worth every second of your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SIZ-xFn2ww

Week 6

Week 6

 I must admit, I struggled getting in my workouts this week.  I didn't realize how guilty I would feel until I actually missed one.  In the back of my mind, I knew that I was counting on myself to constantly do my best throughout this journey and it just wasn't humanly possible for me to get in the workout.  Today's run was, by far, the hardest.  The wind just blasted me.  I got to see my "friend" along the way.  I stopped to video him baying at me, but the wind prevented it.  I captured a photo instead.

My "friend".  He follows me along the fence line baying and bucking.  Just waiting for me to pet him. 

In the end, Kylie carried me through the run.  Last night, we went out for hubby's and Kylie's birthday dinner.  When we got home, she took her meds.  As I was laying down in bed, she calls for me.  Next thing I know, I'm holding her hair back so she doesn't get throw up in it.  This is my simple reminder of why I'm doing what I'm doing.  It doesn't take much for me to stop in my tracks and refocus.

Our hero turned 7!!!! She's ready to ride her new bike to school.  

Week 4 and 5

I didn't blog last week because it was just as normal as can be.  Went through my workouts without any hiccups.  That's been the case, for the most part, so far.  I've been extremely busy with just life in general.  Many different things have been on my mind and those continue to carry me through all of the challenges that I face as a mom, wife, and teacher.

I got a phone call from an appointment from Kylie's ocularist sometime last week or this week.  I don't remember which. It seems like my days have been slipping into the next.  Anyway, in a nutshell, he informs me that she needs a new prosthetic eye.  Apparently, she is supposed to get one every couple of years.  Well, this is a new ocularist, a second opinion.  He informed me that if she doesn't get a new one every so often, then she will become even more asymmetrical that she already is.  The bones and muscles around her eye socket need to be stimulated for growth. Ugh...good to know.  Ya see, she's had a "fake" eye since she was three years old. Furthermore, because she had a debulking last year on her tumor, she should have had an exam under anesthesia afterwards.  How frustrating!  So, needless to say, next month while she is put under for her MRI, for the upteenth time, she will also get a plaster type material inserted into her eye socket so she can be fitted correctly for her prosthetic.

Now,  all of this being said... DO I NEED ANY OTHER REASON TO DO IRONMAN????

Motivation baby.

We need a CURE.

Week 3

Week 3-done.  There isn't anything too exciting to report this week.  The only thing that comes to mind are my thoughts during my ride today.  They were all over the place.  Although, two things dawned on me today.  1.  I still hate the Texas wind.  2.  Texas trucks are bigger than my bike, so get the heck out of the way.  Rednecks are clueless.  Forget the idea of sharing the road.  Not going to happen.

I was deep in thought throughout my ride and really just enjoying myself.  I've noticed over the years that my thoughts go from one thing to the next and for no rhyme or reason.  It reminds me of the movie,  Up, the dog in the movie always hollers "Squirrel" and gets side tracked.  Yup, that's me.  At one point I noticed all of the trash along the road.  Even thought about organizing the community to pick up trash one day.  Great idea.  Unrealistic.  Why in the world am I thinking about that?!!!  So, as I'm riding along, I'm wondering...do all athletes think like this when they are in the moment?  I was speaking to a friend yesterday and she told me that some of her best ideas come to her while she is out there.  I can honestly say that I feel the same way.  Great ideas, but who carries a sheet of paper to write it down, or stops their workout to log it?  It's like something happens chemically in the brain when we are out there.  But, once the workout is finished, the ideas are lost.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrAIGLkSMls