5 states, 5 days

I started in Texas on Friday - delayed three hours, Landed in Louisiana, drove to Mississippi arrived at almost midnight Friday --- back to NOLA on Saturday to pick up Bill, back to MS to the anniversary party for my aunt and uncles 50th wedding anniversary and then back to Louisiana on Sunday where I sat in an airport for close to 10 hours (does not include the two hours we spent in the french quarter) to catch a flight that would take me to TX and land me in my door at 1:00am only to leave at 7:30am to head out to Philadelphia on Monday and then drive to Delaware on Monday afternoon to be in a three day training session...I leave DE to drive to PA to fly to TX ..... to be HOME on Thursday night.

*BIG FAT YAWN*

It's been crazy crazy around here - which would be the reason I haven't posted in 14 days.  Workouts have been limited at best...and I have a sprint tri on Sunday which is going to KILL me... seriously I may die... which would suck b/c then I would be able to make my BIG ANNOUNCEMENT HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK....keep hagin' in there...

Up on the docket this weekend... Wedding Friday night, baseball playoffs Saturday, Tri Sunday.... I'm tired thinking about it... Monday I hope to get a massage... I need one to RELAX!

Anyway - just thought I'd check in from DE and let you know that I was in fact alive and racking up the airline miles (hello Hawaii........maybe one free ticket at least)

We will return to your regularly scheduled programming soon......

NOLA Here we Come!

We are headed out to NOLA tonight -when I can finish up here at work - load up we are hitting the road.  More than likely will be at rush hour but oh well...too much to do with the profession.

I had planned on posting on all my goals on here today but since I'm pressed for time I thought I would just send you over to super awesome Shannon - CLICK HERE! Is she not the sweetest thing?!

I will more than likely be disconnected on blogger throughout our trip - so follow me on twitter if you want to stay tuned! (@allie0622)

If you want to follow/stalk me on Sunday the website is www.ironman.com - I'm bib #947.... boo-ya!

Next post and I will be an ironman 70.3......oooo that's scary!!

Out of my funk Friday

I had a post written that I was going to publish yesterday…. I had a tough {{tough}} day on Wednesday. I woke up not feeling like myself….. Technically I guess about mid-morning I started feeling very down.  Not like depressed – but just down.

I thought to myself all day that “all I needed was a good ride on the trainer”.  Typically a good workout will kick any kind of a funk I’m in.  My funk has been onset by the constant thought that I am in no way prepared for NOLA.  I mean I am – my goodness I’m in my 23rd week of training – I may not be in any kind of shape to win or even place for that matter – but I should certainly be able to FINISH!

It goes in cycles…. One week I think OK I’m prepared I can do the run…. I can do the bike… but that swim…OH THAT SWIM. SHOOT ME NOW!! 

And then I have a good swim workout and I think…..

{As EMZ says}

“I’ve freakin’ got this”

Then….I continue to have issues wrapping my head around 56 FREAKIN’ miles on a bike.  Dear Lord – What on earth have I roped myself into?

Then…I go and have a good ride.

The run – I’m not so worried about.  13.1 miles is A LONG FREAKIN’ way alone – much less after a 56 mile bike AND a 1.2 mile swim.  But I know if I absolutely had to walk every inch of the 13.1 miles I could AT LEAST finish.

So back to Wednesday – I was in this funk.  I’m never going to finish, I’m tired of working out ALL the time, and I’m tired of sacrificing things for training… I’m tired of being tired.

I’m tired of waking up at the ass crack of dawn (even though I haven’t done this in a few weeks)… I’m tired of doing this all by myself.  I was feeling like I lost my triathlon – mojo.

Then I ran yesterday….

If you follow me on twitter (@allie0622) I tweeted about crushing six miles – or having six miles crush me.  I crushed it….with my fastest six mile time to date.  An even 1:00 hr on my Garmin…… My fastest mile was a 9:38. 

I ran at a new place… new scenery motivates me. 

I was at mile three and I saw a lady wearing a shirt, walking, with Mickey Mouse on the back and I thought of Lesley and Wifey.... at mile 4 I saw a lady with abs like EMZ , then at mile 5 I saw a dude wearing RED shoes that reminded me of Jason's En fuegos....

Seiously - you were all on my run with me....

Rejuvenated – yes; re-motivated – yes; ready for NOLA –getting there!!!

In other news…

I have a pretty bitchin’ outfit for our 80’s party tomorrow night.  Think bright yellow jeans with a neon geometric print blazer and some pretty awesome boxy shoulder pads.  I will make sure I have pictures for you.

Coming soon with my friend Janette will be a weekly link up segment….. you can link up each week – details to follow – we are hoping to go live in April.  Think inspiration, motivation, dedication, and tribute……..

The house goes on the market on Monday..... anyone need a house in Dallas???????

ups and downs

I had a tough day yesterday with my training.

I was on such a high from my run on Sunday that I tought surely I would kill my workout on Monday.  Typically, for me, the state of euphoria I enter after an awesome training session lingers for at least a few days - but not this time.

I did my weights/core workout during lunch and rocked it.  I hammered out my whole set (3 times) with core in like 30 minutes.  I was feeling strong, accomplished, and proud of myself that I completed it during lunch rather than give in and go eat with friends.  1 point Allison.

I cut out a little early from work to avoid the Aqua Bitches and also so that I could wrap up my swim fairly early and Bill and I could make it to dinner at a reasonable hour for Valentines Day.

I got to the gym, changed - there was only 1 gentlemen in the pool...score.  Hopped in - started my watch and started swimming.

I swam my 500 yd warm up no problem.

Then I hit a wall.  By this time I was sharing a lane, which doesn't bother me all that much.  In fact I sometimes wish they would swim closer to me or kick me or push me under just to simulate race day, but that's beside the point. 

After my warm up I was slated to do a 200 yd kick drill.  I hate putting my fins on in the gym pool so I skipped it and went right to my 300 yd pull.

I couldn't find my breath and became increasingly more irritated.  I was gulping in water through my mouth and nose.  I could get my flip turns right.  I was a hot mess.

After my set of pull I went back to just swimming.  I swam another 300ish yds and the same thing.  I couldn't find my rhythm. Nothing was helping.

I did something I haven't done in a long time.....

I gave up.  I said f' it.  I'm out of here.

I got out of the water; grabbed my stuff and stomped to the locker room like a child picks up his toys and stomps home.

By this time I was crying.

I changed into dry clothes got in my car and sat in silence the whole way home. (except for the few minutes I talked to Bill on the phone)  I kept thinking - I'm not ready, I'm never going to be able to finish NOLA, I won't be ready in 60 days..... doubt crept in and still lingers today.

I know that my goal is to finish...and finish in an upright position.  But I also want to compete knowing that I left everything out there for 70.3 miles.  I can't give up on race day.

I guess it's just one of those days....at dinner last night I compared my training to bipolar disorder.... some days your up and some days your down.....and sometimes it is a very drastic swing.

Snow Day in Tejas...

As you may have heard by now all of us DFW'd-ers are 'snowed in'.  Mother Nature dumped about 2 inches of ice and snow and is delivering 35+ mile an hour winds.  Majority of schools, businesses, airports are shut down.

As we speak I'm cuddled up by this:

blogger is currently being stubborn is rotating my pictures....

And Bill is at my house turning on my heat, opening cabinets, wrapping pipes and letting water drip.  We may see single digits tonight and to avoid a disaster at the vacant home 1 mile down the road he's taking care of me.  Sweet boy didn't want me to have to get out in this.  I don't think he's necessarily HAPPY about having to go over there but he is going none the less and I love him for it.

So until he gets back and we can enjoy a day cuddled up on the couch together watching movies I thought I'd update y'all.

Last night I had a 2500 yd swim scheduled.  I headed to the gym after work to get it in before we went to dinner with Bill's dad and brothers. I ALWAYS rush to get changed and get in the pool b/c the 24 hour fitness by my work only has a 2 lap lane pool.  If I get there too late - well - it's too late.

I hop in and start swimming.

500 warm up. *check*
6 x50's kick - alternating with kick board and then dolphin *check*
500 pull with buoy and fins *check*

1300 yds done....

I planned on swimming 1000yds for time.  Ready.set.freestyle.....

I count my yds in 50 yd increments.  soooo 20 x 50 = 1000.

1...2...3...4...5...6...7............7 1/2

I was turning around to finish my 8th 50 ... half way back I get hit in the head with the lane divider. I didn't know that aqua class was starting at 6:30.

I popped out of the water - thinking I had gotten in her way and this (I will exclude the profanity) woman copped attitude with me.  Here's our dialogue.

Me: "Oh my goodness - I'm so sorry"

Aqua bitch: "Um we have class"

Me" "Sure no problem - what time does it start"

Aqua bitch: "The internet says 6:15"

Me: "OK well I'm sorry to be in your way, are you sure it's 6:15 b/c it's already 6:20 and I don't see your instructor"

Aqua bitch: "I saaaaaaaaaid 6:15"

* At this point another lady jumps in and says "Actually we start at 6:30"*

Me: "Great I'll be out as soon as your teacher gets here - give me 10 minutes until your class starts and I"ll be more than happy to get out"

Finish 8

9....10....11....12.....13.....13 1/2

*SPLASH, SPLASH SPLASH, .... ALLISON ALMOST DROWNS*

Aqua bitch #2 - jumps, literally got air and jumped off the side into the "deeper" end of the pool - almost on top of me

Again - I pop out of the water........

Me: "I'm so sorry was I in your way?"

Aqua bitch 2: "No - We told you we have aqua class"

Me; IRRITATED AS ALL GET OUT: "and i said I would get out as soon as your instructor got here which is not for another 5 minutes."

Aqua bitch 2; mumbles something under her breath

Me:  Starting swimming with a little extra kick/splash

14.....15......16....17

Thanks for the open water training in the pool with the waves and such...

18........ instructor shows up....dammit I only had 100 yds left.

Swim: 2400 yds...... despite the aqua bitches.