Give-away!

Hi guys! I just read about a great give-away idea and I had to pass the information to ya'all. Diana is giving away some goodies in a "pay it forward" fashion and I think it is a great idea. So please go visit her site!

30 Followers!

Wow, I have 30 followers! I am so excited and can't believe that 30 people actually care what I am doing. I hope that I can continue to entertain you with my blogs and I hope that maybe you will spread the word so maybe I can hit 40 followers!

Thanks guys! You are all awesome and I look forward to all your comments!

Operation Iron - Week 6

Monday:
1. After work I did a 10 min warm up run and then I did my shoulder/arms/chest weight lifting regime. I ran pretty good with the new orthotics but a blister is building on my left foot.
2. I began my 45 sit-ups and 45 push-ups. I hope to do this every day at least during the work week.

Tuesday:
1. At lunch time I did 25 mins of running. Another great run but the blister on the left foot is getting bigger!
2. After the run, I continued the workout by doing 35 mins on the elliptical. My goal was to get at least an hour of cardio done today!
3. Second day of 45 sit-ups and 45 push-ups!

Wednesday:
1. I did a steady state run of 30 mins on the treadmill. This run was absolutely incredible! As I mentioned on Friday, I have not felt this good on a run since April of this year. Unfortunately, the blister is pretty gross now! Whoops!
2. After work I did a warm-up and then tackled my weight lifting. Today was legs and back.
3. I forgot to do my sit-ups and push-ups. Dammit!

Thursday:
1. I set up my trainer in front of the big screen tv in the family room, put on a good movie and then rode for 80 mins. Great ride!
2. Back on track with the sit-ups and push-ups tonight!

Friday:
1. Today was my rest day and I needed it! But I again forgot to do my sit-ups and push-ups.

Saturday:
1. I met the Training Goals group to do my long run. Unfortunately, the blister had other plans. It was causing me to change my gait so I did the smart thing for once and stopped! I ended up going to the gym and doing 90 mins on the elliptical!
2. After the cardio, I did my 300 day with lifting. I always have a great time with this workout but damn it is hard!

Sunday:
1. I had a great ride with Michelle, Martha and Shannon today. We rode many of the trails in Denver along C470. We started at Broadway and rode to Morrison. We had brunch in Morrison and then flipped around and returned back to the car. The weather was gorgeous but a little warm on the return trip. I can't wait to do that ride again!

Other Important Areas:
1. I am still trying to kick the lemon pound cake habit. This is a very hard addiction for me to conquer. I think I would have better time giving up beer. But I must conquer this one. I have got to figure out what the trigger is that will make this easier to get rid of as a vice!
2. I will do my 3 sets of 15 sit-ups and push-ups every week day!
3. I am trying to re-pay the kindness of those around me by providing my talent as a "techie" to help them build their websites and/or blogs.
3. Weight for this week was 134.8

Friday Lyrics

A few updates before I start the Friday Lyrics:
1. I had the best run on Wednesday that I have had in a long time. I ran pain-free and I ran at a pretty good clip for me. I love my orthotics! Even if they make me sound like an old lady!
2. The pic above is what I set up yesterday in my family room! I had a great time doing my ride and watching one of my favorite movies. My boys are away and I got to use the room I don't normally spend a lot of time in and it was awesome!
3. Yes, my boys are away and I am enjoying the peace and quiet! Tonight is a girls-only happy hour at my house! Woo Hoo!!!
4. I just read a great article from Kristin Armstrong. She talks about trying and not being afraid of failure. That has been a big issue for me. I often fail before I even begin because I am afraid of failing. You are probably like that doesn't make sense! Trust me it does! So I commit to not letting my mind be the one behind my failures! I will believe in myself and I will commit to goals with all my heart and mind! With that in mind...

Let it be stated, for the record, that Christi is trying to qualify for Clearwater.

Now onto the Friday Lyrics. This song below is a song that I used to inspire me during my training for my one and only marathon. I love this movie and I love the star. Yes folks, I am a Barbra Streisand fan. Hate me if you must but it is the truth. Her movies got me through some really dark periods in my life and I am glad to have had them! So the song is "Don't Rain on My Parade!" I hope you at least enjoy the words if not the singer!

Until later keep riding, running and swimming your way to great accomplishments!



Don't tell me not to live
just sit and putter,
Life's candy and the sun's
a ball of butter,
Don't bring around a cloud
to rain on my parade.
Don't tell me not to fly,
I've simply got to
If someone takes a spill
It's me and not you.
who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade?

I'll march my band out,
I'll beat my drum,
And if I'm fanned out,
Your turn at bat, sir.
At least I didn't fake it.
Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it!


But whether I'm the rose
Of sheer perfection,
Or freckle on the nose
Of life's complexion,
The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye.


I gotta fly once,
I gotta try once,
Only can die once, right, sir?
Ooh, love is juicy,
Juicy, and you'll see
I gotta have my bite, sir!


Get ready for me, love,
'Cause I'm a "comer,"
I simply gotta march,
My heart's a drummer.
Don't bring around a cloud
To rain on my parade!

I'm gonna live and live now,
Get what I want--I know how,
One roll for the whole shebang,
One throw, that bell will go clang,
Eye on the target--and wham--
One shot, one gun shot, and bam--
Hey, Mister Arnstein, here I am!


I'll march my band out,
I'll beat my drum,
And if I'm fanned out,
Your turn at bat, sir,
At least I didn't fake it.
Hat, sir? I guess I didn't make it.


Get ready for me, love,
'Cause I'm a "comer,"
I simply gotta march,
My heart's a drummer.

Nobody, no nobody is gonna rain on my parade!
--Songwriters: Merrill, Bob;Styne, Jule

Operation Iron - Week 5

Monday:
1. At lunch I did 30 mins on the elliptical.
2. After work I did a 10 min warm up run and then I did my shoulder/arms/chest weight lifting regime.

Tuesday:
1. I traveled today so it was a rest day.
2. I did 25 ins of yoga after I got to San Diego but I do not like the DVD I have. I must find a new one!

Wednesday:
1. I did a foundation run of 20 mins on the treadmill. I was scheduled for 40 mins but my back and hip were not feeling right at all. I decided to err on the side of caution!
2. I completed my legs/back weight lifting. I could not do all the exercises because of lack of equipment. However, I just glad I worked out! A big step for me I am while traveling!

Thursday:
1. I was supposed to swim but the hotel pool did not open early enough for me to do the workout in the morning. And in the afternoon, I had to attend some work events.
2. I am glad that I ended up taking a rest day because my back was not happy!

Friday:
1. I saw my chiropractor as soon as I got into town. She did an adjustment and I got my orthotics.
2. I went and did the swim workout I missed on Thursday. I did a 300 warm-up, 20 flip turns (more than 20 but I would only count them if they were absolutely correct!), 200 kick, 5x50 fast and 100 warm-down.

Saturday:
1. I met the Training Goals group. The group consisted of me and the fast guys so I was on my own. That was okay with me though because I was testing my orthotics and had no idea how far I would be going. I walked the first mile, ran/walked the second mile and ran the last two miles. The orthotics felt great but I did get a blister. That was to be expected though and should happen less and less as I get used to them.
2. After visiting a friend at the hospital, I joined a new gym. This one is closer to my house and is used by many of my friends. I am hoping that we can lift together! Anyway, I did a brief 10 min run/5 min walk warm-up and then my Day 3 workout of weight lifting and felt great. So I was able to get all of my weight lifting days done!

Sunday:
1. I went on a great ride with my fellow Shiner Girl, Bambi "a.k.a Janelle" and my hubby. We rode to Manitou Springs and back through Garden of the Gods. And just so I would remember that I suffer from asthma the first hill of the Garden kicked my butt! I had trouble breathing and my chest hurt even though I finally remembered to use my inhaler. Oh well, the first thaw will be here soon so maybe I will get better!

Other Important Areas:
1. I did do better on than nutrition but I had a few too many beers while traveling. A new area to work on!
2. This week I am going to do 3 sets of 15 sit-ups and push-ups!
3. Weight for this week was 137.0 (My friend says this could be muscle weight. I say it is beer weight!)

Friday Lyrics

This song reminds me of how much I love coming home from a business trip. Have a great weekend everyone!



Home Sweet Home
-Motley Crue
You know I'm a dreamer
But my heart's of gold
I had to run away high
So I wouldn't come home low
Just when things went right
It doesn't mean they were always wrong
Just take this song and you'll never feel
Left all alone

Take me to your heart
Feel me in your bones
Just one more night
And I'm comin' off this
Long & winding road

I'm on my way
Well I'm on my way
Home sweet home
Tonight tonight
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
Home sweet home You know that I seem
To make romantic dreams
Up in lights, fallin' off
The silver screen

My heart's like an open book
For the whole world to read
Sometimes nothing-keeps me together
At the seams

I'm on my way
Well I'm on my way
Home sweet home
Tonight tonight
I'm on my way
Just set me free
Home sweet home

Operation Iron - Week 4

First, let me preface this week and say that I completely failed in the nutrition department. I would offer up explanations, whoops excuses, but the truth is I just gave up. I am aiming to do better this week but it will be hard because I am traveling to San Diego for work. However, I did learn one thing I don't feel good when I eat like crap. Oh yea, wait, I knew that already. Well, you know the saying "You can't teach an old dog new tricks!" Anyway, onto Operation Iron - Week 4.

Monday:
1. Holiday and a rest day! Boo Ya!

Tuesday:
1. I rode on the bike trainer for 70 mins.

Wednesday:
1. I did my lunch elliptical workout.
2. I ran 30 mins straight! And then I did my shoulder/chest and arms workout!

Thursday:
1. Today was a great day! I met Coach L at this awesome outdoor pool and she taught me how to do flip turns!!!! I had a blast and I cannot wait to practice and perfect!

Friday:
1. Another rest day! Can you believe that? I had two in one week!

Saturday:
1. I met the Training Goals group and did Waldo Canyon. I hiked the first 1.65 miles with some of the ladies and then I ran/walked the remainder of the trail.

Sunday:
1. I walked the Race for the Cure with my hubby and some of our friends. I would have like to have run but I knew that the body would not like that!

Other Important Areas:
1. Bad on the nutrition and I did not get all my weight lifting done. I will have to try and do better this week!
2. I signed up for the Boulder Triathlon series and I may eventually sign up for Ironman Kansas. This is dependent on how well the body heals up and how soon it completely heals. I have some unfinished business with that race so I am hoping that by the end of the year I can commit to that race as well!
3. Weight for this week was 134.0 (Yea, I am gaining weight! Dammit!)

Oh No! I Did It!!!

Lord help me, I just committed to my 2011 season! I have signed up for the Boulder Triathlon series. I sure hope everything comes together and this proves to be a smart decision!

Waldo Canyon!

I had a great run/walk at Waldo Canyon today! The weather was gorgeous and the views were incredible! I really think all my Colorado Blogger peeps should come down to Colorado Springs so we could do a meet and greet at one of these awesome locations!!!!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! And just as an aside, "I have not forgotten!" Thanks to all of our great American Patriots!

Friday Lyrics!

Good morning blog peeps! I know you have been waiting on pins and needles for the latest installment of Friday lyrics. So without further ado, I bring you today's lyrics. Okay, I don't actually have the lyrics for this one just a youtube video.

I am dedicating today's song to everyone in Boulder associated the wildfire in Four Mile Canyon. To the firefighters, thanks for courage and determination to end this devastation. To the victims, my prayers go out to you and your families! And to the community as whole, thanks for pulling together and showing the human spirit at work! I hope my blog can bring some humor to your day!

Operation Iron - Week 3

Monday:
1. Lunch workout was 45 mins on the elliptical with 4x10 sprints.
2. After work I did 20 mins of running as warm up for my chest/arms/shoulders workout.

Tuesday:
1. A swim workout today. 500 swim, 300 kick (no fins), 8x50:30 between and 100 warm-down. I couldn't breathe well during this swim so I did cut it short. However, I got some great compliments on my form.
2. I tried to start the sit-up challenge again so I did Day 1 yet again!

Wednesday:
1. My warm-up today was 5 mins of walking, 1 mile run and then 15 mins of walking. I then did my legs and back! I remembered to do the Glute Press this week!

Thursday:
1. At lunch today I did a 30 mins on the elliptical.
2. After work I went swimming. I felt great today! I did 200 warm-up, 200 kick w/fins, 4x50:30 between fast, 2x100:60 between, 4x75:40 between and 200 warm-down.

Friday:
1. At lunch, I did my usual 30 min elliptical workout.
2. After work I ran for 15 mins as my warm-up and then Day 3 of weight lifting.


Saturday:
1. I had a great run/hike with the hubby. We did Gold Camp Road!

Sunday:
1. Today I went mountain biking with the gang. We did 15.5 mile and my legs were feeling it!

Other Important Areas:
1. I will be getting orthotics soon! I hope it will help with the hip/back problems!
2. Weight for this week was 133.0

Weekend in Photos!

Hi everyone! I hope ya'all had a great weekend. I had a fabulous one. My brother decided to come down and that was awesome! I had some great workouts and I met a blogger friend, Kristina!


Brad and I before our hike on Saturday


The view from Gold Camp!


Brad trudging up the unending hill


You want me to run down?!


Yep, I feel great! Let's go!


Mountain Biking on Sunday with the Gang!


Brad love pics of us pointing?


Me and My Brother! He wanted a workout so he is hiking the trail!


The finish area of Monday's ADT Marathon


Kristina and Deanna finishing strong! I love the pink compression socks!!


Kristina and Deanna! They are hard core athletes!


Kristina and I meeting for the first time! Too Cool!

Friday Lyrics...

Today's song is a celebration of the summer. I am sad to see it go but I am ready to begin the long and exciting adventure of building that comes with fall and winter! The band is one that people either really love or really hate. I don't know why they are so polarizing. This particular song reminds me of the summer before I joined the Army. We spent 3 month of non-stop partying and I mean non-stop. That is why I ended up in the Army! I had to get my life together. So enjoy and have a great holiday weekend! I hope everyone stays safe!

"This Afternoon"

Lookin' like another Bob Marley day
Hittin' from the bong like a diesel train
And I'm down with hangin' out this afternoon

We've got weeds in the backyard 4 feet tall
Cheech and Chong prob'ly woulda' smoked 'em all
So I'm out on the couch this afternoon

Beer bottles layin' on the kitchen floor
If we take 'em all back we can buy some more
So I doubt we'll go without this afternoon

You better hang on if you're taggin' along
Cause we'll be doin this 'till 6 in the mornin'
Nothin' wrong with goin' all night long
Tough to put the brakes on,
Doesn't matter when you'd rather

Get up, and go out
Me and all my friends
We drink up, We fall down
And then we do it all again
Just sittin around, hangin out this afternoon

Landlord said I should buy a tent
But he can kiss my ass cause I payed the rent
So I doubt he'll kick me out this afternoon

Down on the corner in a seedy bar
Juke box crankin' out the CCR
Had a few to Suzy Q this afternoon

Don't wanna wristwatch or an alarm clock
To see what time it is
From the moment I wake up
I just love being with my friends
We barely get by, but have the best times
And hope it never ends
We drink all day till we fall down
So we can do it all again

It's not the human walk
It's the human race
If you aint livin on the edge
You're takin' too much space
So I doubt I'll figure out
Just what to do
'Bout to kick it around
Hangin out this afternoon

Get up, and go out
Me and all my friends
We drink up, we fall down
And then we do it all again

Just kickin' around, hangin out this afternoon
Sittin around hangin out this afternoon
Just kickin' around, hangin out this afternoon
Just sittin around hangin out this afternoon
Just kickin' around, hangin out this afternoon
Just sittin around hangin out this afternoon

--Nickelback
Songwriters: Kroeger, Chad; Kroeger, Michael; Lange, Mutt; Peake, Ryan;

The Cherry on Top!

I have a few things to blog about today so I will jump right to it!

First, thanks to Diana Tries-A-Tri and The Athena Diaries I have been awarded the "Cherry on Top Award!" For this award, I must follow these 3 rules:
1. If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?
-- I have two things that I would change in my athletic life since this is a blog about my athletic adventures. I would have jumped at the chance to be on the swim team when the coach asked me to try out. And I would have ignored my mom and tried out for the track team!
2. The second thing you have to do is, pick 6 people and give them this award. You then have to inform the person that they have gotten this award.
-- I am giving this award to:
Teresa Nelson,
Banana Death,
Caratunk Girl,
Coach Liz,
Jeff and
Big Daddy Diesel
3. Thank the person who gave you the award.
Thanks Diana and Ms. Athena! Diana, I am sorry it took so long to get this blog up! Ms. Athena, you did not nominate me directly but rather the commenters of your blog so thanks for that!

Second, I will put up the numbers for August. I have not put up monthly numbers in awhile so I am as curious as ya'all as to what they are!
1. Swimming: 2450 Yea, that is pathetic! That number should increase in September!
2. Biking: 62.0 That doesn't seem like much after RAGBRAI. I need to get on the bike more!
3. Running (mostly on the elliptical!): 81.1 I can't wait until these are all running miles and not elliptical miles!
4. Other notables for August:
- I have started weightlifting and I am loving it!
- I have found the right team to help me get over my hip/back issue and things are looking up on that front!
- My nutrition is getting better!
- I am finally feeling confident and am looking forward to 2011 and the races to come!

Third, someone please tell me how I can remember to use my inhaler before I work out! I always remember after I have started working out when I can't breathe! This is a habit I have got to nail down.

Fourth, DC Rainmaker is having a great give-away to end the summer. He is giving away a Garmin 310XT. Please check out his website and put in your chance to win!

Until later, keep riding, running and swimming...

Aww Shucks!

Today was my second day back in the pool and like always I got to share it with slapopotamus! I love the fact that this guy gets out there and swims a lot but, damn, he really needs to take a moment and think about his form! I thought I was the only that noticed but another guy, who was sharing my lane, also noticed and alluded to that fact. But that is not all he noticed. Mr. Nice Guy 1, as I will call him, also asked if I was on a team. Wow, me on a swim team. Nope! But I will take that as a great compliment. I assume it meant I swim well. Thanks Mr. Nice Guy 1!!

You are probably wondering why I gave Mr. Nice Guy a number. Well, because Mr. Nice Guy 2 also gave me a compliment on my swim technique. He walked over after I was done and said that I have a very nice relaxed stroke and that he is going to try and swim like me. That was an excellent compliment! Thank you Mr. Nice Guy 2!!! The funny thing is I was not having a good day in the pool. My chest was hurting and I was having a hard time breathing. I felt like that each time I turned to do the back 1/2 of my 50 that my form was falling apart. I guess it just goes to show that sometimes when things feel bad they are not necessarily lookin' bad! Or maybe Mr. Nice Guy 1 and Mr. Nice Guy 2 were intimidated by my Wonder Women Splish swimsuit!



In other swim news, next week my coach and I are meeting and she is going to teach me how to flip turn! YEA!! I am very excited about that. Flip-turning is one of my "Operation Iron" goals!

Other Items of interest that I would like to share today:
1. Here is a nice short article from Chris Lieto about the mind and triathlons.
2. Here is a great article about Rudy Garcia-Tolson, the double-amputee Ironman.
3. Finally, fellow blogger Caratunk Girl is doing a great give-away for Perfect Food Bars. Go check out her site and possibly win some goodies!

Until later, keep riding, running and swimming...