Monday, January 28, 2008

Does absence really make the heart grow fonder?

Probably not.

I will be back soon.

Are you all watching this CRAPPE about the primaries and such? I'm an undecided voter....sway me.

Goodnight.

Wake me when it's hot and humid.

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Monday, November 19, 2007

Day 19 (this shouldn't count though): My hero




To check out a REAL writer....go

HERE

Hey, I get to say I KNOW him [squeal!] when he gets a rich and famous and I have to stalk HIM instead of Jen Lancaster at a book signing.

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Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Day 14: I ran out of hours in the day...AGAIN

Tri-geek returns tomorrow.

Until then....BLOG PIMP!

CLICK HERE

She reminds me of the coolest sister in law ever.

Excuse me while I go find my Sharpie.

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Thursday, November 08, 2007

Day 8: Hash trash counts, right?


Looking for a good time? Google Hash House Harriers and a big city near you. Guaranteed you'll find a bunch of half-minds who follow a bunch of silly traditions and run for beer. All you need is a coupla bucks, some old shoes and a really good sense of humor.

Here's the deets from last night...

In spite of many hashers having heavy hearts, about two dozen frozen and shivering half minds circled to celebrate friendship, exercise, Dos Hixxies virgin lay *ahem* and of course, beer. While latecomer Halley's Comet got naked in Deavers parking lot, a toilet paper-waving Duzzy gave the chalk talk for our lone virgin who patiently waited until Duzzy used up ALL his flour to say he would not be running trail. Wanker! DMB…there’s your missing nomination!



At some point the hares vanished into thin air and left dazed and confused hashers stumbling around the parking lot looking for dots. In fact, several hashers were certain the hares were probably just sitting at the bar. But Pornogenic, with her keen eye, found the Biggest True Trail mark ever, so huge we could have tripped over it, and we were on our way. It was an okay trail, I suppose, with lots of light, not a single check, no TP, no hills and absolutely no sawdust shiggy. Definitely, just another shitty trail.

Our fearless leader, thick-skinned Meta turned the circle into a “Do It Yourself” exercise in Religious Advising. No one had a November birthday. No one could remember significant runs. No one zenned or got lost. No one is traveling to a foreign country next week. We sang several songs more than once. Pornogenic sang all her favorite songs.




There were several hashshit nominations, however they were all for DMB. There were at least four…the two I remember were for Mistaking Nurse Hashshit for Meta on trail (or the other way around) and for DMB trying to nominate someone else but, for once, not being able to come up with another nomination! They were voted on and since there was a four-way tie it was suggested that it be decided by trial by down-down. Since there was no plunger, nor other hashshit, DMB resorted to filling her own vessel and in the end, the hashshit went to ….DMB. And in true “Do It Yourself” fashion, the tune was, “Do My Butt” (do my butt, do my butt, butt, butt) And in true DMB fashion, she forgot her cranium gear and had to drink…AGAIN. We swang ‘ro and the few that weren’t frozen solid, commenced to the on-after for more beer and a chance to relieve Deavers of most of their salt and pepper shakers. Which more than likely ended up in Just Mindy’s purse, since PMS was not in attendance.



In a rare moment of seriousness we remembered a fellow hasher, R U Shittin Me, who was loved by many and will undoubtedly be long remembered for the warm hospitality he showed the Big-Humpers for their annual campout. We sang a few tunes, raised our vessels and hoped that when it was all said and done, that he finished his beer.

On-[to not getting arrested Sat.] -On,

ICHY

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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Shocking...the one where I talk about me...




Well, friends. What an interesting couple of months it’s been and so much has changed since that first post over 16 months ago. Time marches on. There was a time that I felt life was galloping away from me, leaving me stuck between what I knew and what I’d hoped for. But here I am a year and a few months later, shaking my head and smiling because life is just that amazing.[I know...right?] I’ve been trying to find the right words for awhile now; so I’ll just have to start and see what I end up with. Like an old absent *ahem..Ggg* friend is wont to remind me…just write, just write, just write. No epiphanies…just a whole bunch of stuff buzzing around in my head.

As I mention in the earlier teasing posts…there was hardware. My particular brand of courage comes to me in fits and starts; when the well threatens to run dry I’m able to fill it up by sucking it up, answering only to myself and surrendering to the discipline of training [sometimes yielding painfully slow forward progress] and toeing the line at a race.

There were three races this summer. The first, started at a time when I spent at least as much energy holding myself together as I did going through the motions of the short little race. I was overwhelmed and slept for an entire afternoon afterwards, but I did it. The second was a familiar one, this being my third consecutive Alligator Creek Tri which resulted in a PR (personal record) and the best part was my girl PJ was there to cheer me on. I could not think of a better way to spend my 36th birthday. My best girls are runners, rockstars really, and when I made the move over to multisport I lost a little of the camaraderie we shared. They are far from me, but their girl power isn’t diminished by distance and I’m so glad P was there and brought her awesome family along as well. They spoil me and the truest gift is the time we are able to spend in each other's company. The third marked a huge milestone for me. One I didn’t even recognize until a day or two before the race.

One of the favorite and longest running races held in the area is sort of the season ending St. Louis area “Championship” race. 750 participants, it sells out very early in the season and is where a lot of the local speedsters duke it out in a little friendly competition. I got in this race last year, paid the fees, flew through the practice session the weekend before, but then my life as I knew it, imploded the night before the race. To be anywhere but with my babies that next morning would have been unfathomable. I was paralyzed under the weight of their sadness and rightfully so. There would be no refund, no do-over. There would, however, be a moving forward.

So cut to the race morning 2007. Stunning morning. Cool and calm. The realization that I was finally coming full circle and finishing what I didn’t really get to start a year ago was mostly bittersweet but also empowering. Everyone standing out there in the early morning sunshine had a different motivation to be there. Different life experiences that they were carrying with them, just as I was. Met with quiet determination and the knowledge that they had prepared the best they could and would deal with whatever the day threw at them. I didn’t run the race that day in 2006, but it took every bit of preparation and experience and luck and support that I had accumulated all the years prior to soldier on this past year and be able to toe the line in 2007.

Now, instead of quietly deflecting the questions as to why I was a DNS (did not start) at the 2006 race, I can now explain that I took third in my age group and how everything came together at the end of my racing season. My babies didn’t see the smile on my face as I crossed the finish line and accepted my plaque; but it was for them.


And I can't wrap it up without saying something about the determination of the wheelchair athletes I saw during the race. All under the age of 20, they put in the miles just like the rest of us; but with bodies that don't always cooperate. There are times in every race, hell, even most training days where it would be easy to quit. Just walk it in. Those kids are stronger than I can ever hope to be and I find that incredibly motivating. And humbling. And it makes me proud to be competing shoulder to shoulder, on the same playing field.

Part 2: Bike love...of a different sort.

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Friday, April 20, 2007

The One Where I Talk About Getting Naked

Ha! Got your attention! I will talk about getting naked. But not like you think. Soon.

Since this is also a training log...I've been putting some time in on the pavement and the pool. And the results are starting to show. Thank God. But my swim coach has taken his torture to a new level. It's called Active Recovery. Which I've heard used with swimming and running. Doesn't really apply to my running since my "fast, tempo" running is pretty much the same speed as my "long, slow distance" pace. So, there's really no need for "recovery" from a fast heartrate. (However, I can't expect to get any faster with that method either...but at least I'm moving!!!)

So, Active Recovery. Does not mean hanging in the pool gutter panting for chlorine-laden oxygen like I would normally do after a set at 80% effort in which a hairy-speedo clad person sharing my lane, swimming the SAME PACE I do, attempts to outswim me. NO! Active recovery means after swimming hard enough for green and red spots to form at the bottom of the pool due prolonged oxygen deprivation, I get to the wall, listen for the coach to yell out my time to let me know if I've made my interval (yes, I did 100% of the time thursday, yay me!)and immediately head back down the lane for a "recovery" lap. Crap. I much prefer gasping while hanging off the side of the pool with my face as red as the swim cap I wear. Coach says "NAY-NAY". Off you go. But I believe I will get faster. And those green and red spots are kinda pretty.

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Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Postcards from the Edge

Hey out there. I’m still around. According to the little counter I have down there, there are still people who think to check in and see what I’m up to. And to me, that means a lot. So, thank you. I have been thinking....and you know what that means. Eventually the mess in my head makes it’s way out through my fingertips. It always seems that the more I move my flesh and bone, the clearer things become upstairs. So as I move more, but not necessarily faster, the words begin to take shape.
I’m thinkin the next one should be a doozy.

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