Proof that he did it!

Summer Vacation!!!

So far, lots of fun this summer. I've been mountain biking with the girls-which is so much fun! After a camping trip to the Sand Dunes, Greg went to the Gatorfarm near Alamosa and wrestled with a gator. We'd got pictures to prove it! Played lots of volleyball. And I've been a good little school teacher and even thrown a summer class in there.

We leave for Italy early tomorrow morning (or more aptly, the middle of the night tonight). YEAH!!! We bought Euro's, bought a prepaid debit card, made hotel reservations and tour reservations... It's on! The agenda is as follows:

Day 1 - Travel
Day 2 - Milan to Cinque Terra
Day 3 - Cinque Terra - hiking and lounging on the beaches!
Day 4 - Cinque Terra to Pisa, then to Lucca
Day 5 - rent bikes in Lucca!
Day 6 - Lucca, afternoon in Florence, evening in Rome
Day 7 - Rome (Colosseum tour in the a.m., rent bikes in the p.m.)
Day 8 - Rome: Vatican City
Day 9 - Rome: day trip to Pompeii
Day 10 - Rome to Lake Como
Day 11 - Lake Como to Milan, fly back to U.S.

Oh! I can't wait!!!!!!
I just checked and we have rain predicted in Milan on the first day, but all the other days are predicted to be sunny and clear. Let's hope!!!

I'm gonna do a tri

A whole bunch of triathlete blogger people are doing Ironman Coeur D'Alene today. It's been really hard to read all of their blogs this week remembering what an awesome experience Ironman was for me. I envy each and every one of those people.

Add to that, a bunch of teachers I know that that have signed up for their first, a big local all-women's triathlon... Tri for the Cure.

My husband did it. He's the one.

"Why don't you just do it with them?"

"Because they know I did an Ironman and will have all these ideals on how good I should be, but in reality I haven't been training... What if they beat me?"

"Who cares? It's just a sprint, do it!"

"Um.... Y'think I should? I was trying to cut back this summer. Okay. I'm in."

I have no Boulder Peak this year, no 5430 series, I have nothing... So now I have Tri for the Cure. And I'm honored that I get to do it with several fine ladies that I know and love.

Rough day on the bike

Next time I want to complain about the wind or bad conditions on my bike I'll remember this:

The horrifying story is at http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/06/02/mexico.bikers.ap/index.html

Bolder Boulder 10K Results

Brian beat Greg. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the aftermath...

Even though my training has been hit or miss, this was my best year so far. Had I been able to really stick with some training, I truly believe I could have dipped below one hour. It'll happen. You'll see!

2008 - 1:00:59 - PR!!!

2007 - 1:12:08

(2007 was an IM rest day)

2006 - 1:02:03

2005 - 1:05:41

2004 - 1:07:43

2003 - 1:07:11

2002 - 1:11:50

Just venting

I. don't. like. fertility. drugs.

I know there is the whole power of suggestion thing going on. I didn't want to try these because I was afraid of what they'd make me feel like. And now I'm on them and I don't like the way they make me feel.

Probably wouldn't be so bad if I didn't like to run and exercise. But the past month I've had to play everyday by the day. Can I run today? No, the bouncing hurts too much. Can I run today. Maybe, I'll give it a try. Talked to the doc today. She said that yep, totally normal. Play it day by day.

It's summer. There are races aplenty going on around me, and at this point, I can't throw myself into any sort of training plan even if I wanted to. Maybe I can run today, maybe I won't be able to. I. Don't. Like. Fertility. Drugs.

The full story and plan

So the original plan this summer was this...

Hubby would be taking two weeks off. We would drive across the country and visit friends and family along the way. Our ultimate goal was to go to Lake Placid to watch the Ironman race in July. Volunteer. Register for next year.

All the while we're talking about this, we've also been talking about seeking professional help with our baby desires. I've been putting it off and putting it off, but it's probably time for me to break down and try fertility drugs. (We pulled the goalie not quite three and half years ago now.)

So this is really bothering me. Obviously if I get pregnant before July I won't sign up. But if I'm not...??? Can I really pursue both of these options????

We discuss it and it doesn't go well. You know, that whole Men are from Mars Women are from Venus thing. We're just not seeing it the same way... Well, we sort of were. The hubby told me I had to make a choice. Do another Ironman or begin fertility treatments...

I cry...

He doesn't understand why I can't watch him do an Ironman without participating myself. Obviously he's a better person than I, because he said he could it... I can't do that. So I cry some more...

In the end, we found a pretty good compromise. Let's just take a different, really awesome, so amazing, won't be able to do this again for years and years vacation. Without hesitation, he agreed!!!! The decision is now made, plane tickets are purchased. We're going to Italy!!!!!

The sad part is that I won't be seeing my friends in Michigan or Iowa. For that I'm very sad, but hopefully I'll get to see them again soon. Italy... I may never have this chance again.

Finally! A race report!!!!!

I've been training for a half-marathon, sort of... What that means is that I've done some of the workouts, but I've sat on my butt for a fair share of them, too. I just haven't been able to get motivated! I've done some of my speedwork sessions, with the hope that this was the year for speed. Like I said, I did "some" of them...

So I was completely wishy-washy on whether to spend the money to do the Cherry Creek Sneak. In the end, paying the race day registration fee ($5 more!) I ended up doing it. And... I set a PR!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt really, really good running today. Constantly checking myself and wondering if I should try to push a little harder. I do wish I had kicked it in the end a bit more, but we rounded the corner and the finish line was right there. Had I known, I would have kicked it in sooner. I still felt pretty good at the finish line.

Nonetheless, this is what I'm most proud of:

Cherry Creek Sneak 5 mile runs:
2004 - 10:52/mile
2005 - 10:36/mile
2006 - 10:19/mile
2008 - 9:49/mile!!!!!!!!

While to many it's nothing to brag about, it's a Personal Record in my book. And that makes me very happy today! Good race. Great weather. And great swag too! I'm thinking that if I can do under 10 minute miles for today's five mile race, there's no reason I shouldn't be able to do sub 10:00 miles at the Bolder Boulder 10K in a month! Here's to another PR soon! (I may actually be motivated to run the next couple of weeks, too!)

Joke Day

Q - How do you know it's spring time in Moab, Utah?

A - All the license plates start turning green!

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Q - How do you know the two teachers on your team are total morons?

A - They tell everybody at a baby shower Friday night that you're taking a three day weekend to go to Moab to go biking... Including the Assistant Principal...

I worked really hard to wear enough sunscreen to be sure to hide any tan lines from that trip!!!!!!! Grrr....

The White Rim Trail

So a co-worker scored two campsites along the White Rim Trail in Moab. (You have to book those at least six months in advance.) Her nephew is planning to rent a Hummer to help sag water and camping supplies. (Cars can't get in there.) It will take three days to cover the 100 miles on bike. She's looking for fun people that might enjoy a trip like this. She knew that I went to Moab for Spring Break and liked the place. Can you really turn an opportunity like this down?????????

The quick synopsis...

Pre-trip: How fun! I can't wait to do this!
The initial ride down: Um, wait a second... I thought this wasn't supposed to be very technical... OhhHhh MyyYyyY...... bump... bump... What did I get myself into?

25 miles in: Fun, beautiful scenery, good, but the wind sure is blowing.
50 miles in: Will the wind ever stop blowing? Ugh, I'm getting really tired!
60 miles in: My butt hurts. Why does no one else have as many scrapes and bruises as I do??? After this trip, I never want to ride my mountain bike again! ARGH!!!!!!
75 miles in: The wind has stopped. The trail isn't as technical. I've rubbed a couple of spots on my bum completely raw. Not cool. My bruises really hurt. I'm pretty tired, but this sure beats being at work. Overall, I guess this is kind of nice.
Post-trip: It's over? Really? Aw, man. I don't want it to end. I can't wait to do this again next year. :) Who else can we invite?



The trail


The love of my life.


Linda, our lovely host and mountain biker extraordinaire.


The group- Don't you just love it when you get a group together that can't shower or use a real toilet for three days... Everybody smells. Everybody is tired... and you still absolutely love the entire group!? I love trips like that!


I can think of worse things.



Gotta love Moab.





We did it. I must admit that I didn't end up pedaling the entire 100 miles. That's the beauty of a sag vehicle on days with relentless wind and hills that you just aren't trained for. I was a little upset that I have too much fear to really be able to handle a mountain bike well. Nonetheless, I can't wait to give it a shot next year. Maybe I'll even practice up on the mountain bike a little bit more before I go! Thanks for organizing Linda! It was a great trip!