IM CDA!!!!

CDA PSYCHED! I still get the chills watching folks finish an Ironman. . . After all, we are talking about that esoteric blood sweat, tears and emotions that go into finishing one of those seemingly impossible feats. Tonight, I had the privilege of watching fellow blogger and local friend Trigreyhound finish!!!

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I was elated and inspired watching Trigreyhound finish his second IM hand in hand with his daughter.... I have tears in my eyes. I know, I'm a sap. . . Don't laugh because i am talking throughout his finish... . . CONGRATS TGH! See you in houston! THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING ALL OF US!! . . . I know i don't train much these days, but i am still exhilarated about the whole experience. If you have finished an ironman, you know what i mean.

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If you are on the road, you WILL know.

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TGH... YOU ARE AN IRONMAN !!!!

Cheers and happy training!!!

Cougar Contemplations

Ironbabe Jane has been nagging me to post something, even though not a whole lot has been going on in my life Training Update Mmmmm...what's that? I have to put myself in the "working out" category these days, though I must admit to that Ironman itch after watching IM CDA online (see previous blog...where i am mmmmm... a bit too happy to watch Trigreyhound finish... let's just say some late night spirits were involved) . . . . . Anyhoo, I did sign up for another sprint tri this weekend, the Eastside sprint triathlon. Kelly and I raced in this one a few years ago. All I can remember is much roadkill and lots of sun during the swim. . . . Hopefully for this one pinkgurugal will go to bed early and refrain for those spirits (also see previous blog for this insider's reference) . . . So what have I been doing? Outside of waking up, working out and running errands, during this life of leisure I did manage to get accepted to graduate school. . . . Career Coming out . . . You might recall that late last year when I quit my career with no real plans other than to take some time off and travel, I had no idea what I was going to do next. . . I just knew and trusted that everything would work itself out. . . So ten or so months after that leap of faith, I ave a new career game plan. . . Social Workings . . The do gooder in me has decided that what makes this gal happiest is helping others. As ironic as it may seem, the most memorable reporter moments for me involved families in need getting help, or providing a voice to the poor or underprivileged. . . So come August 21st, I will officially be a social work graduate student . . And to be honest, making this decision wasn't something that was even well thought out. I actually feel it was inspired. . . I mean, I literally woke up one morning, looked online and noticed the application deadline had passed!

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. So there I was, scurrying to get everything together: application , 3 essays, transcripts, letters of reccommendation... take the GRE test.... I was able to get my application into the school within three days.

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I only share that portion of that story because that seems to be a consistent theme yet blessing in my life, and that is acting on impulse, yet knowing it's the right decision.

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I'm really looking forward to learning again, to doing something completely different from what I had been doing.

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It's not glamorous. And I certainly am not doing this for the money. But I think the rewards reaped when one can help others are priceless.

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And that means something. Cheers and happy training!

Tejas Race not so Ready

. Over the weekend Pinkgurugal got back into the tri spirit to race in the Tejas triathlon. . . This is a special race for me for plenty of reasons. . . . 1) I like this race course. . . . 2) It was my first triathlon race EVER three year agos, so reflecting on my "progress" is a neat feeling..... . . you know.... stuff like: how nervous I was because it was my first ever open water swim, how I rode a kids trek bike back then (really!) how I watched others in the transition area to figure out what the hell i was doing...and blah blah blah.... . . 3) My buddy Christine raced with me. . . .

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This is really special, because Christine and I started doing triathlons together three years ago...

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She took a few years off, and I went on to continue racing over the last few years.

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But for the Tejas tri, we were reunited...."and it feels so good..."

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. . . Okay, peaches and herb moment aside (get yer mind outta that gutter), Tejas proved to be another first for me....

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Racing after after THREE hours sleep and drinking mucho bloody mary's and vodka grapefruits. . . . .

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I present you the culprit and enabler of my social drinking problem. . . .

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Not that Rob and I partied on the eve before Tejas, but it's just so hard to turn down another drink after the first...and second...and third...especially in the comfort of your own home.

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I think I even drunk blog commented Tarabay at 1 am. (Great to also finally meet you btw and CONGRATS on your bling!)

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Oh and the prior post was also the product of pinkgurugal gets tipsy and gets type happy.

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. Anyhoo back to me and the race.

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So when the alarm went off at 5:20am, somehow, I stumbled out of bed. It would be around 6:10am that Christine, Rob and I all depart homebase. Oh and the race starts at 7am.

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Still in a fog, I manage to get Christine and me into transition area SIX MINUTES before it closes.

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WHEW!

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Since our wave didn't start immediately, Christine and I had a few minutes to decompress from the morning mayhem. . . . I was too tired and too hungover to really think about the race. But other than, I'd figure I'd do it. Really, I felt no nerves, after all it was only a 600 meter swim, a 9 mile ride and a 3 mile run, right?

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Well, I have to say the race went fine. For the first few minutes of the swim, I thought maybe I'd tire out, but I never did.

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Total swim time: 14:18

and 2:23 minutes (per whatever meters avg.)

. . . Here I am hustling outta that duck crap pond!

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T1 was fine, I was in and out quickly in 1:32

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As for the biking, I decided just to give it my best and go as hard as I could.

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Total bike time: 28:27 19mph average

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T2 I felt a bit tired getting off the bike, but I still managed to do it in 1:27. . . As for the run, there is no question my lack of running in TWO WEEKS (hey, i was on vacation and I hate running in this heat!) hurt me. I still gave it my all though

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Total run time 28:02

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and 9:20avg

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Total race time 1:13:49

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I placed 14th out of 46 in my age group. Sure I could have trained more, slept more and drank a whole hell of a lot less, but then this race wouldn't be so memorable, right?

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By this point, you're probably thinking, Wow, how'd she do that and feel fine?

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Well, I'm not positive, but maybe the three midol, two tylenol and one vicoden (it's for my bad back in case you'r wondering) helped?

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I will say, however, my temporary burst of energy and might all went downhill after we left the race and went to eat.

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I wound up yacking my entire everything just as we were pulling away from breakfast.

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And I suffered all day by sleeping it off.

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Oh, enabling aside, thanks to sherpa Rob for being our cheerleader and photographer. It's nice to have your own personal everything on race day!

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Cheers and happy training!

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On reeking relationships

For those of you who come here to read about triathlons and my meager life, STOP NOW! . . . Tonight, admittedly after a few drinks, I am writing about relationships, and one a friend of mine finds herself recently toiling over. So this post is my way of not only venting, but sticking up for my friend. . . . . The Infidelity Ickies . . . . I'm mad for my friend. I'm mad that a boy has gotten her into a downward emotional mess, that in a a tearful eye, she comes undone when talking about him. . . . . And I'm mad that this boy blogs like everything is perfect in his life, but in truth, he has cheated on his wife and had been stringing my friend on for the last several months...sending her nice emails, presents, etc. . . . . She met him through blogging. He first began commenting on her blog. Then she, his. Then comments turned into emails, then phone calls, then... well you get it. . . . . My friend had been so sad and depressed she's having a hard time functioning. I know, it takes two to tango, but if hers is heartache.... what are his consequences? . . . She's the one who has to peel herself off the floor, while he goes back to his life with his wife and kids. . . . . So there is this part of me that wants to expose Mr. Cheater for the sake of my friend. It would be very easy. She has pictures. She has some of his stuff. She has emails. It wouldn't be hard to figure out where he lives. . . . . If you are thinking fatal attraction by now, I get that. But these are just thoughts after all. We all have thoughts... doesn't mean we act on them. . . . . . . . I just hate seeing her, or anyone else for that matter, so unhappy. . . . Oh and to make matters worse, just around the time this boy was breaking up with my friend, he started leaving flirtatious comments on another woman's blog, just like he had started doing with my friend!! . . . . For now, I spend time with my friend and listen. That's all I can do, be a shoulder to cry on and listen, even if it's ad nauseum (in her words). . . . . I know, I'm throwing stones at Mr. Cheater. Maybe he's battling his own demons but has to mask them for the sake of his family. . . . . But this is about my upset friend. And i'm on her side. . . . . Again, I'm just venting. Of course, I'm dying to play psycho friend on him and expose him, but writing this is good enough.

Swim Stinkies and Blog Worthies

TWIN LAKES LAMENT . . . Since I am signed up for a sprint tri this weekend, and since my girlfriend Christine has decided to race in it as well, she invited Jane and me to head to Twin Lakes for an open water swim. I was looking forward to it, until we showed up. . . .

. . . The lake was at least two feet below its normal water levels, and since it's already shallow, swimming the perimeter was out of the question. Sand could be seen jutting out of the water all around this tiny 900 meter perimeter lake. . . . This was a real bummer, because that meant we could only swim out and back in the middle of it. Oh, and low lake level waters exposed some questionable stuff. . . . . . . . INSERT BITCH SESSION HERE . . . There are many things I like about living in Houston, like the cost of living, the friendliness of the people, the good eats and my great network of friends and family....and blah blah blah.... But a town for the fitness enthusiast Houston is NOT. . . . Training for triathlons in Houston really blows, and Twin Lakes is a perfect example. , , , . . . It's the only open water swim location in the entire Houston area. It's at an RV park about 30 minutes south of the city.

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There is a submerged bus in the lake's bottom, among other things I suspect. To swim you gotta pay five bucks.

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And these tadpole looking things freakishly take a nip at you when you get in. And did I mention the questionable stuff around the lake?? . . . So why swim here? Because, ITS THE ONLY OPEN WATER SWIM LOCATION IN THE HOUSTON AREA! . . . Oh, and I won't even get started on the lack of bike lanes, the unfriendly drivers, the oppressive summer heat.... and I really could go on and on about how my fellow triathletes and me suffer. . . . But yes, I call Houston home...for now... and we here in Houston make the most of it, even if we don't have a lot to from which to make. . . . Friends make things so much better. . . .

. . . Okay, back to being positive me. . . . . Blog Buddies . . . And finally, here's a quick toast to fellow blog buddies Trigreyhound and Ironbabe Jane. . . .

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Jane is recovering from injuries sustained after she was struck by a car while riding in the country. It was quite a scare for her, her bike was totaled, and the accident has forced her to bow out of Ironman Austria. In spite of it all, she is in good spirits.

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Then there's uber studly fellow blogger Trigreyhound.

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In a few weeks, we will all be watching from our internet to watch him finish Ironman CDA.

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I first met Kendall at IM Wisconsin and have been an avid reader of his blog

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His posts are witty, inspiring, and thoughtful, and it was really good to catch up with him.

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You go TGH! You're going to do GREAT!

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Cheers and happy training!

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"The sun is always shining behind the clouds"

Leo Buscaglia

Excursions

What I have been doing the past few weeks:

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EATING FISH EYEBALLS

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HANGING OUT IN SAN FRANCISCO WITH SEA LIONS....

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AND WITH MY BEAU AND BUDDIES.....

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HIKING WITH GALPAL SUSAN IN NAPA

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PRIVATE WINE TASTING TOUR WITH SUSAN

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SWIMMING WITH ALLY

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NURSING IRONBABE JANE BACK TO HEALTH

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SHARING A MOMENT WITH MY BFF RYAN

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TRIATHLON TRAINING.... NOT!

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Cheers and happy training!

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"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love."

Sophocles