RunGAB

Happy Wednesday!! My favorite day of the week…Hump Day!!  Let’s go run!!

If we were running today, I’d tell you….

….that I finished another triathlon last weekend.  I’m pretty stoked that I have 2 races done this season and still have more to come!

…that if eat popcorn BEFORE you WOD, you WILL feel like you are going to barf!!  I had a little snack on the way to the gym.  Well…do 6 – 2 minute AMRAP consisting of 12 calorie row or assault bike and max rep of power cleans at 75#. Yeah…you’d want to barf,too!! And horrible residual heartburn, too, by the way. 😝 

…I’m still keeping up with #RWRUNSTREAK. Yep, still logging 1 mile daily.  

….I’m pretty pissed about missing a virtual race! What??? Yes!! This year, Disney was hosting a 3- 5k virtual runs: Red Pants, White Gloves, and Yellow Shoes (all parts of Mickey’s iconic outfit,for you non Disney folks).  Sign up, run, get a medal without having to submit a time. #winning. I’ve already done Yellow Pants and waiting for my medal.  Went to sign up for the others…
What?? REALLY????EPIC FAIL!!! My friend, Leslie, signed up for the series! I am sadly only getting one medal because all the rest were sold out! But because I am a good sport (and really need the practice!!), I’m going to run the 5ks with her. No medal, but getting in shape…I still win! 👊

….today is my birthday! Yep…44,baby!!  That went fast! I still feel like a stupid teenager, sometimes. And I really don’t like to “ADULT”on most days, but I guess because I’m a MOM, I have to!! 😂😂

THIS IS 44…and I intend to make it a GREAT year!  Here’s to an abundance of  health, happiness, and cocktails! 😂

Great conversation!  Thanks for the chat! ❤️

375

Yesterday bright and early I made the drive to Clermont, FL for the Central Florida Triathlon Series.  This was race numero uno! I have a history with this race/series.  This race is where I realized that biking is my weakest leg.  And I’m not saying this as a bad thing, but just for purposes of embracing what I need to work on most.  Plus….Clermont is full of hills and as you remember, hills and I just don’t see eye to eye!😉. I don’t train hils because I don’t like hills.

On to the race!

I got to Clermont super early, so I could get my packet and set up in transition.  I was a little bummed because my friend and fellow TriGut (that’s our “team” name, because we TRY to get rid of our guts, but it ain’t really working!) Tracy wasn’t with us.  She broke her collarbone in a bike accident at our last race in Maderia Beach.  She’s so awesome and I really derive strength to do this just being around her! She’s so positive and her vibes and words replay in my mind when I’m racing. I’m missing her and can’t wait until she’s back at it! 

My wave time was 7:36 am.  All of us in the 40+ AG had pink caps😝, but I dealt with it! 

Swim: 400 meters

The swim was in Lake Minneola, which surprisingly, I don’t mind.  I had a good swim this race and I felt good coming out of the water. 

Time – 8:10

T1- 3:06

I decided to not bike (or run for that matter) in socks. I just put on my bike shoes and out I went….

Bike: 10.4 miles

Oh….what can I say about this leg??? Clermont has a lot of hills and the first one was right at the beginning of the race! Really??? Then the course becomes flat as we rode around Lake Minneola. And.then.it.begins! Hills into the neighborhoods, hills around the neighborhood, oh my!  I’m clipped in and I am freaking out because I feel like I can’t get up the hill! But I did. And then another hill comes and I have to walk up a portion because my legs are dying. I’m not the only one and I’m not the only one allowing F bombs drop all over the place! Then the “mamma jamma” hill is there that I have to go down first and then meet its partner on the way up.  Down went well (with prayer) but up??  Not so much. Again, I wanted to walk up, so I try to get out of my clips while peddling up…and I fall! And the same place as last time! 

This is minor in comparison with what Tracy had a few weeks ago!! But,damn, am I pissed!!! I have to conquer this hill becuae she and I will meet again in this series of 4.  Maybe, I will get it right!! #prayforme. I’ll leave with a positive because a) it was a faster bike than the last time I did this course, even with walking and falling and  b) NO FLAT TIRE!!!

Time- 49:20

T2-2:24

Run-5k 

Ok, so the run was faster than my last race but it still sucked!! It was so freaking HOT by time I got to the run, I had some walk breaks. I hated that!! But I found a lady to run with (a fellow F bomber from our bike) and we ran the last 1.5 mile together.  And she helped me with a new phrase that I think shall be my mantra with all of these races from this point out…“I’m not here to COMPETE, I’m here to COMPLETE”. Well..honestly, I am here to compete, but just with myself and no one else! This is MY race! 

Time- 39:01

Total time – 1:42:04

I was a little less than 2 minutes slower than Madeira Beach, so I am bummed! But I have to remember my bike was awesome at that race and this one…. I haven’t figured out a word for it!!😂

Fellow team member, Lori, placed 3rd in her AG! Not worthy of her friendship, either!! 😂😂

Another TriGut member (who just did a HIM in April, btw) Meghann, did a great job and this was her husband’s first triathlon today! He missed the podium by seconds….next time for sure!!

The medals were cute because you DO know it’s really all about the medal and the shirt, right??

I’m going to keep working on it and hopefully be successful. I will remember this is my race and I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself. I want to do well and improve….that is all I want!!  

Triathlon #2 in the books and looking forward to #3 (but not those hills!!).  Thanks Sommer Sports for putting on such a great race!!

Happy Sunday and thanks for reading!!❤️

RunGAB

I haven’t done a RunGAB post is a while.  I honestly don’t know why I stopped (or forgot!!). Let’s try it again!

If we were running today, I’d tell you….

….my oldest son, Julian graduated from 8th grade!

I know it’s not as big of a deal as High School graduation, but it’s still a celebration of the ending of Middle School. I survived….and now I am totally stressing about what the next chapter will bring!

….I am extremely happy to be back at CrossFit!!! It’s a full month since I’ve been back.  I’m am no where near my strength before but I can already tell a difference in my body.  Today’s WOD called for 75 WBS, 50 knee raises (modified from toes to bar), 50 WBS, and 25 knee raises (same modified move) in a 15min time cap. I managed to be 23 WBS into the second round of 50, when time was called. I’m getting there…

…..the d**m scale will be the death of me!! If you remember, Hubs and I are in the midst of a challenge.  I stepped on the scale and although I have lost inches, I have not lost any pounds! But as frustrating as that is, I’m keeping my eyes on the prize!! Wish me luck…

I WISH it said that!!!😂

…..I am participating in Runner’s World RW Run Streak. 

No, I’m not running naked! 😝. Just pledging to run at least a mile every day from May 3oth until July 4th.  I’ve tried (and failed) before, but I am going to stay at it this year! I’m bound on keeping summertime a time to KEEP running. And….it’s….my second triathlon of the season is on Saturday. Excited? Yes! Nervous? Yes! I signed up for Central Florida Triathlon Series in Clermont, FL. I’m nervous because of the darn bike course and those damn hills! Ugh…

By the way, June 1st is….

Hope you got to get out there and run!!!

Great conversation on this Wednesday! Thanks for chatting!! ❤️

26

You know what time it is??? Triathlon Season! (Well….at least for me it is!). Sunday was my first race of the season

Maderia Beach Triathlon in (you guessed it) Maderia Beach, FL.  This is about 20 minutes outside of St.Peterburg.  I’d never been to this beach town, but that’s not surprising either!😂 #nolife

I was able to race with a few friends this time and we stayed on that end of town to get away from an early wake up AND a drive!!  Plus, we were able to get our race packets earlier and save that hassle and time of picking it up race morning! 

Why…THANK YOU!!!

We settled in at the hotel and decided to head to the hotel lobby bar for some Pre-Tri warm up and preparations…

I’m the Stella, by the way!

And we had an amazing sunset…

I love Florida sunsets!!

Hubs does a lot of work in Florida since he’s a General Contractor. He suggested Mario’s for us to try.   Mario’s is a cute little “Mom and Pop” Italian resturant with a wonderful menu.  I had the Baked Ziti- Ziti pasta mixed with marinara, ricotta and parmesean cheese and then baked.  It was so delicious! The only down side was I haven’t eaten cheese in a while and my stomach was like “WTF??”.  But it was worth it!! As usual, Hubs was SPOT ON with his food suggestion! Not only does he know how to build, but my man knows his food!! 

It was an early evening for us because we had an early wake up! But….let me tell you that on our way to our room, we got stuck in the elevator for 15 minutes.  I can check that off my list of “Things done during this lifetime“✔️

Wake up time was 4:40 am because we wanted to get parking and in the transition area without any issues. 

Hello,Moon!! Where’s you other half??

Just in case you wanted to know what’s going on here in the transition area:

• Bike is in the rack
• Helmet is out
• Cycling shoes and socks
• Running shoes
• Hat
• Race bib on race belt
• Towel to give some resemblance of drying off in between legs

It makes me ready!! 

…and Tracy,too! 

We walk down the beach to the swim start. It’s almost 1/2 mile, I would guess.  We see our other ladies and it’s game time! 7:00 am sharp start for the first wave (Elite and 19 and under participants). Two of our friends are in Wave 2 (7:03 am start) and Tracy and I are in Wave 3 (7:06 am start). Then the unimaginable happens! The announcer comes in the PA and announces that we have to move out cars because a certain grocery store (ahem..WINN DIXIE…ahem) was going to have our cars towed; even the Sheriff Office wasn’t going to be able to stop them. Really??? REALLY???!  We all had to move out cars and vie for limited spaces and get back the start in 30 minutes for the race start. What???? 

Swim 🏊🏽 .25 mile

The swim eventually started and all my blue cap-ers (40-49 AG)  went in the water. Let me say, the water was extremely choppy.  The swim to the first buoy was a challenge because I was swimming against the current. Eventually I was parallel to the shore but swimming as the current is crashing against you is not fun. Let me give you a visual- you know when you see surfers swimming out to catch a wave and as they are swimming, their bodies are being  pushed up and then crashing down a wave? That was ME! Another item of the life list! ✔️.  

Time: 11:09 

T1 – 2:12.2

Bike🚴🏽 10 miles

Let me say that this bike was the best ever! Why, you ask? I started out unlike my last two races…my tire wasn’t FLAT!!   So I started out great! 😂. But in all seriousness, this was a great course with two bridges (that weren’t as bad as I usually make them out to be!).  I felt good about this ride, which I never have!! But I am looking forward to more like it!

Time: 38:30

T2 – 1:46.1

Run 🏃🏽 3.1 miles 

This was the worst 5k ever! It was the slowest because the course was on the beach. There was packed sand but it wasn’t really low tide by the time I began running. I’m dodging the waves and eventually the uneven sand.  My IT band felt tight and I think my patellar tendinitis might act up again.   I shall say for this race, there were many walk breaks!  Beach racing is a deal breaker for me….won’t be doing this again!

Time: 46:43 (gag!!!)

Total Time – 1:40.26

All and all, I was pleased with this finish (despite the fact that my run was awful!).  This was my starting point, so I know what I have to work on for the next race.  I can do better!   
As I was getting my stuff together to go home, I looked down at my legs…

I figured it is a triathlon after all, you should have tri-colored legs, too,right? 😂. My next investment will be a tri kit with better coverage! 

My next race is June 4 in Clermont, FL.  Time to get moving, because hey…

#idroppedthemike

What did you do this weekend? 

The Day After

I hope everyone had a great Mother’s Day!! I honestly was able to sleep and that by far is the best present ever!  

Source; Playdates on Friday by Wendy Fleming

My soon to be 9 year old wrote me the sweetest card (sorry for the grammatical and spelling errors!)…
He’s so sweet! ❤️
With the weekend all over, Monday brought a start to my workout week at CrossFit…

Strength:

First 3 sets – 85#/95#/115#

Last set – 135#

I was pretty pleased with that outcome. Does this mean I am getting stronger?? Why yes!

Metcom: absolute 30 minute time cap

SDLHP – 35# (instead of 65#)

OHS – 35# (instead of 75#; whaaaaa???)

I finished all of that in 29:57! Juuuuuuust under the time cap. The WOD was great but you know squats are my kryptonite. 

This workout was a GOOD workout! I forgot to wear my Polar to determine how many calories I burned! Bonus?? Leslie joined me!!! I trying to lure her back to the guy with me! So far….it’s working! 😉

Today, I was able to get a little run in before getting clocking back into “Mommy Mode”. It was a shorty, but goody…particularly in the Florida heat!

Oh, and this was the medal that I received today from my Virtual 5k from last week.  I didn’t realize from the picture that the medal was also a wine stopper!! #nice

Not too bad for the beginning of the week, huh? I have to get more running in and get accustomed to this brutal hear that we are going to have this summer.😝 

My first triathlon is a week and change away.

My training, you ask?

Running ✔️

Swimming 😁

Biking ❌

I haven’t had time to get in the pool, but I’m not worried about that leg.  And I have a few more this season to get my act in gear.  I am worried about biking because…well…I suck at it! My triathlon should be “Swim, NO, Run”!!  This will be the one to keep me honest and show me how to change what I am doing.

What do you have going on this week?

Oh…don’t be all that impressed with my 135# DL because J slayed with his DL

…at 200# !!! Put this old lady to SHAME!! 😂

RunGAB 3

It’s Wednesday, y’all!  Let’s GAB!!

If we were running today, I’d tell you..

….I am going to do a race this weekend. Nothing big…nothing spectacular….”just” a 5k.  This time of year, as the weather cools down in Hell..I mean Florida…I start to particiapte in more runs.  I usually average 2 a month and I’m hoping on sticking to that goal (fingers crossed folks!!).  Faster with Fitniche 5k.  I haven’t down this race in about 5 years.  It’s easy course…small…and really no pressure!  I just registered, so I might not be guaranteed a shirt. (Well…DAMN! It’s ALL about the shirt, right?!?!?). 

….I “think” I found another triathlon to do!  I must be CRAY CRAY, but I’m excited! Siesta Key Triathlon is October 3rd and my friend kinda talked me into it.  1/2 mile swim (possible), 13 mile bike (possible IF I don’t have a flat!!), and 5k run in packed sand (well…I’m not STOKED about that!).  And it’s for a good cause because it benefits the Sarasota YMCA Sharks swim team. #teamplayer. I’m waffling on registering because I noticed there were cut off times and I’ve never done a race with that before.  What if I suck an do not make the cut off??? I don’t know what to do…..

…I want a new triathlon bike! Wha??????  What I NEED to do is learn how to ride and change the damn tire on my CURRENT bike!  Hey….I said I wanted one but I really don’t need one! #dreamsareFREE

…I’ve added ONE more thing to my weekly schedule. My youngest Aidan 

 is starting back at Scouts today. The meetings are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wednesdays of each month.  Officially, I now only have weekends free.  This is why the “squeeze in” workouts are my staple right now. #ugh

How was your Wednesday?

#430

Unlike the “unlucky” #133 from my last race (only because it was a cancelled race…you see I’m still bitter, right??😉), this number lead to a RACE!  It was bound to be good because that’s my age! 43, NOT 430!!  

I participated in 30th Annual Central Florida Triathlon Series.  This was the last in the series in beautiful (and hilly) Clermont, Florida at Waterfront Park.  

Let me take you on a walk through triathlon day….            

 Wake up: 4:00 am comes REALLY early!! Thankfully all is packed in my car the night before, all I need was a brush of the teeth, hair in a ponytail, deodorant and my suit and shorts.  I grabbed an apple, protein bar, and my Tervis tumbler full of water… 

Thats’s my GIRL!!!

Clermont is a good hour and 20 minutes (-ish) from where I live in Valrico.  I wanted to make sure I got my packet and got a good spot in the transition area.  Little known fact…I’ve been a little  

tardy to the transition and get the sucky spot between other bikes! Race time: I was the powder blue cap group (women 40 and over) with a wave time of 7:34am. And we are OFF….

• Swim: 440 yards in Lake Minneola.  The water was perfect but that orange buoy that I had to swim to seems VERY far away! I managed to catch up (and surpass-YAY!) the wave ahead of me.  Time-9:12
• T1:2:57
• Bike: 11 miles around Lake Minneola with some HILLS in the residential parts of Clermont.  This is a JEM….I found out a little les than half way through the the bike, that I HAD A FLAT!!!!   
  

  #430’s front tire…GOOD!

    
  

  #430’s back tire…FLAT!!!

•  What’s a girl to do?? I pedaled for my life, that’s what I did and finished that damn bike on one tire!  I am the queen of flat tires because it happened in my last race!! I checked EVERYTHING-the day before and when got there!  It’s a sign to get better at biking by learning HOW to bike well and HOW to change a flippin’ tire!! #bikeLOSER. Another JEM…I couldn’t ascend up the HUGE hill towards the end of the bike. As most had to do, I wanted to get off the bike and walk up the small part remaining hill.  Well….I had trouble getting my left foot out of the clip and I couldn’t pedal any more….and…..wait for it…..I fell off my bike! 😂 #classicME. Time-55:46
• T2: 2:50
• Run: 5k out and back in the South Lake Trail.  My legs = BRICKS! Particularly peddling this ass on one functioning tire for about 5-6 miles! I really didn’t care what my pace was, I just wanted to finish! 
• FINAL TIME: 1:48:15

I wouldn’t be…or better yet COULDN’T be mad at my time.  Considering my training for this race was shitty (not spotty or shotty) at best.  I am 10-12 minutes slower than my last race but I was prepared for that race.  This was a “life got in the way and I squeezed in what I could” race.   

A finisher!! ALWAYS representing my Gators!

  

Awesome Tech Shirt!!!

  

Awesome MEDAL!

  

AWESOME Tri ladies!

Off I go to work on the next race….

How was your Saturday?

Oh yeah… 

 I burned over 1000 calories during this race…and I don’t eat this….

  …..but I MURDERED this hashbrown from Mickey Ds whilst waiting for my coffee to cool!! 

RunGAB 2

If we were running today, I’d tell you…

…that despite my new found “awareness” of my life and schedule, I don’t feel like doing ANYTHING today! Which is kind of funny considering we ARE having a RunCHAT!😂. I came home after Julian’s workout today, with FULL intentions, but sat my butt down and decided on a rest day. Is that bad??? #pleasesayNO

…I’ve been at Pinterest again! Man…is that a time suck!! But it is all with good intentions, I promise!!! I have been pinning “at home exercises” like the one from yesterday until I can get back to the gym.

….I am secretly worried about my race this coming Saturday. I just want to do well and I am afraid I won’t!  But…I’ll be there…so I guess I am a success regardless.  Sprint Triathlon….here I come!!

….I stepped on the scale yesterday.  I needed to know where I was, so I know where I need to be.  Although I wasn’t in love with the number, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I still need to shed about 15lbs.  43 is hard on the body, y’all. 😉 

I always enjoy our chats!  Till next week!

Stadium Tour

Today, I did something different for a work out.  My friend, Tracy, talked me into running stadiums.  I have done those since I lived in Gainesville (FL) about 15 years ago! 

We did a mile run around the pool complex (~1 mile ) and then a little jog to the baseball field.  The plan was- 

• jog up the stairs, 
• run across to the next group of stairs, 
• jog down the stairs
• sprint up the stairs
• 10 squats
• REPEAT sequence and alternate the squats with split squats (10 on each side)

  Yep…up AND down these stadium steps! Man…I’m gonna be sore!!  🎶I don’t like it….I love it, love it, LOVE it….🎶 (Flo-Rida feat. Robin Thicke song, by the way.😉). Oh…and once we got to the end of the stadium…we did the SAME on the way back!  Except we replaced the squats for calf raises.  Oy!!! 
 All and all….what a great workout today.  I needed it…BADLY!!

I am finding the difference in my body and my endurance since CrossFit has essentially been removed (NOT BY CHOICE) from my weekly routine.  It makes me mad that I have to change my routine, but kiddos needs come before my own.  I am struggling now with figuring out how and when I am going to fit the training in. Help!!!!!  

But I will figure it out….! Even if means leaving my beloved box and just do “drop in” classes when I can. Or..go back to the “traditional” gym, where the hours are more conducive to my “after work-after Mommy duty” schedule.   

 Buh-BYE stadiums! Until next time when instead of YOU conquering ME…prepare for the SCRIPT to be FLIPPED! #ohYESiDID

What did you do on this Monday?

I can tell you that I finally registered for my triathlon on September 12th 

 ‘Bout damn time!!! 😉

A Pedal Story

How did the weekend go so fast??? Friday was a rest day for me, as Julian had basketball training and there wasn’t enough time to get at least a run in before. Oh well….
Those of us in Florida were waiting…patiently…to see if TS (or Hurricane) Erika was going to make her presence known! This is the only time of year that FL isn’t fun! It’s the “wait and see” that drives me crazy..! Is school going to be closed? For how long? How much work am I going to miss?? Do we have what we NEED to get through this?? All of this…and then nothing…really wears a person down. PLEASE don’t get me wrong…I would rather go through these emotions and NOT have a storm, then to have a storm and it be absolute CHAOS! Thankfully, (at least at the time of writing this post) Erika has changed course and she will only dump rain on us. I continue to think about all other states that may be affected by these kind of storms. 
There wasn’t a lot of rain in the evening on Saturday, so I needed to get a bike ride in. I am (trying) doing a race in 2 weeks ….

  I haven’t registered, but plan to by tomorrow. I needed to take my bike out, as I haven’t since my last CANCELLED tri. Let me say…I was a little scared! The 4 mile loop that I anticipated circling twice didn’t pan out. The cars that were SUPPOSED to be driving 30 mph…were driving so FAST! A few cars came very close to be..too close for my comfort. Now I see how and why there are so many bike accidents and even casualties. SCARY….!

I was only able to get in 6 miles…..   
 The first reason was because it was about to rain. Secondly, I was finding it hard to get my rhythm because of the cars!  And lastly, my bike was “pulling” weirdly during my ride. I thought it was because of the asphalt or riding on the sidewalk.  It was “slipping” a little, as well. I noticed it when I was trying to get out of the way of the oncoming car. I cycled to the edge of the street, in a swell (that part that water drains into during a rainy day), and it was slipping or skidding when I would cycle back to the street. I pumped my tires BEFORE I left my house. So I knew it couldn’t be the tires! Couldn’t be more wrong! When I was done, I saw my back tire was completely flat. I attempted to pump the tire up but as it became full…I could hear the air coming out! Ugh….again?!?!?!?  

I took it to the bike shop…and I quote “I had a nice, evenly sliced hole in my tire.” It was rather large and I can’t even tell you what or when I ran over something.  Fortunately…it only cost $19.95 to repair the damage.  I tell ya…this triathlon is an EXPENSIVE hobby o have picked up!! 😉

I didn’t mention how the ride was….! It felt great!! I felt powerful and like I knew what I was doing! Of course it WAS a flat course (and the race has hills), but it felt good!!!  

 We shall see how I do….

How was your weekend? 

What did you get to do?