The Smile

is what got me through today. I haven't trained in a week and I knew it was going to kick my butt.

The Smile...it was what Brennan was always known for. He was always smiling. I just don't know if I can ever remember a time when he wasn't smiling. Plus every picture you find of him, he is always smiling, no complaints. Even at the end...he still could be found with a smile on his face. Maybe he knew of a greater place he was going to go, one without pain and where he could run free. Maybe he didn't but at a time when so many of us held back the tears, he could be found in another room smiling and laughing with his cousins. Today, that smile got me through the workout!

I met Runner at spin class and boy did I get my ass kicked! I had never had this teacher before and she kicked our ass and made the legs feel like rubber. Now if you have never been to spin before - just picture a dark room, lots of fast, upbeat music and an instructor that calls you out if you don't up the tension on the bike and are slacking. Just when we finished a hell piece, one didn't think it could get any worse....but it was going to.

The teacher then told us to think about someone that couldn't be there with us today, that couldn't climb the hill with us that we were about to face. We need to push through and do it for them, with them. Brennan and the smile came instantly to my mind. It was like he was at the top of the hill, smiling waiting for me to get there. I had to but most importantly wanted to do it for him, for the bike rides he never got and the mountains he never got to face. I did it!!! Even more than that, I didn't cheat the tension and cranked it up when I was told to crank it up!!!

But, it didn't stop there. Runner said - let's go run for 10 minutes AFTER spin class. I said - heck let's do 15 minutes. Runner kindly gave me the open treadmill (I think that was kind?!) and off I went. I would like to say I did all 15 minutes with no walking but there was walking involved. In the end - I finished 1.25 miles in my 15 minutes. For me - that is good, especially after a 40 minute spin class. I even sprinted the last 30 seconds! My legs felt like rubber but I just kept pushing myself - knowing that Brennan was smiling down on me for doing what I did today.

I needed today! Thanks Brennan! Thanks Runner for pushing me! To the teacher - thanks for kicking my ass! After having a day of doubts - this was the day I needed. I have questioned whether I was insane for trying to tackle an Olympic Triathlon at 35 with two bad knees and already having one back surgery. DC has even questioned if I thought this through and reminded me I am not a 20 something in college anymore. Feeling behind on training didn't help any of these feelings. But after today - it doesn't matter, knowing I have angel wings to help me through - I will finish this! It might not be in record time but I WILL finish what I started!

The Excuses

So the past week has been a giant road bump in the training. Last week we had a major upgrade at work that we had been preparing for since before November. Of course, it went REAL smooth. Okay - not so much. It was a lot of hours at work, not to mention adding a shift to Lowe's in the middle of that. In the first 3 days, I logged 35 hours between the two gigs. Needless to say - there was NO training. Then Anissa stopped by for a visit!!! We had the best intentions of going to spin class Thursday morning and it just didn't happen. But - we did enjoy a nice day together on Thursday - even if it rained.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday I was just beat. Of course - Saturday I headed to Humble, TX to pick up the newest member of our family. I picked up another wheaten puppy from a rescue. The poor little guy was found in a ditch and is blind in one eye. Unfortunately, it was a day spent in a car and when we got back - it was off to Lowe's.

Sunday - I think all I did was sleep. SERIOUSLY. I don't think I moved until 11. Then Guinness and I went for my 35 minute training run. After that I was suppose to meet Runner for a bike ride. Unfortunately I had a jealous dog (Guinness) that thought it was time for a game of cat and mouse. Finnegan did our best and when I was suppose to finally meet Runner for the ride - we finally caught Guinness. Needless to say - no ride for us. Instead - I took a two hour nap!! So - that is the week of excuses....which brings me to this week......

The Commitment

Yes, you are probably asking yourself by now - is she really committed to doing this? As they say in Minnesota, "You betcha!"

So this week probably wasn't my finest effort for workouts but I am committed, 100% committed and from tomorrow on, there will be no excuses for missing a workout. (Well, unless I come down with that sudden case of pnemonia and I am in the hospital Monday so I don't have to deal with the fall out of the upgrade at work.) Okay, kidding aside, I am committed.

How committed? Well, we can get past the bike that was bought. It is officially a used bike now and that won't be going back. For most of you, you probably don't realize how expensive Road Bike's are. Let's just say that for a entry-level, don't break the bank bike, I still was over $600 (on clearance). The goggles, swim cap, real swimming suit, the bike helmet, the bike shorts (you cannot function without them!) those are the little things.

But there is also the additional race I signed up for. The Rookie which happens on Mother's Day in New Braunfels, TX. They call it the rookie because it is a get your feet wet, prepare for race day race that is much shorter than The Capital of Texas Triathlon. After looking at what is in store for me on the Cap, well this is a rookie by all means. It is a 300 meter swim (that is 6 lengths of an Olympic size pool), 11 mile bike and 2 mile run.

On top of that, I have my first official member of the pit crew signed up for the Capital of Texas Triathlon. My friend DC will be flying in as part of my pit crew and there to take the picture as I cross the finish line. We are both clearly not morning people so I still am interested to see how it pans out with my body markings starting at 5 am. Ha.

So - can you help me out? Can you help Team in Training? Can you help the Leukemia & Lympoma Society with $5 and 5 friends?

THAT Guy

You know the one. The one that drives like a complete jackass. The one that it is almost a matter of time BEFORE he is in an accident. The one that wish would get into an accident? Yeah - well I not only met him, I introduced my bumper to his on Sunday. URRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.


So - I was having a very productive day. Went to church, ran a thousand errands and just had finished up at Lowe's ordering a new back door that has a dog door in it for Guinness. Yeah. So anyway - back to my story.

Now to leave Lowe's parking lot, there are two exits to get you onto the I-35 service road. Well - I choose to use the one that is a 3 way stop and shared with Walmart. The 4TH direction doesn't stop as it is cars coming off the Service Road. I patiently waited my turn as it is always a busy intersection. Well, when it is my turn, I proceed to turn left so I can then make my right onto the service road. As I am turning JACKASS approaches the stop sign across from me. I note that JACKASS does a rolling stop and cuts in front of the next car in line. The next thing I know, JACKASS is now on my left hand side almost parallel to my car. Now for those of you in far off lands - you can only make a right had turn - in other words - he was being a JACKASS - my new name for him.

I safely pull out onto the feeder road and proceed to the far left hand lane. Yep - JACKASS follows me out and gets directly behind me. Well my 4 cylinder car with zero get up and go does not accelerate fast enough for JACKASS. So, he flies around me on my right hand side. Of course, he does this with no regard and almost side swipes another SUV that was coming out of Exit #2 from Walmart's parking lot. The SUV was fortunate enough to serve and miss.

I don't know why, but JACKASS then decides he needs to be in my lane and comes on over. Prior to him coming over the traffic was moving and the light ahead was green. I do not know what he was doing or why but JACKASS came to an abrupt stop in front of me way back from the light. I did what I could do, slammed on the breaks, said a prayer, and avoided a direct impact, but hit him anyway.

I get out of my car but before I can say anything, JACKASS is on the phone with 911. I must quote him "No, no one is hurt." How does he know - he never says a word to me. So, i just get in car, roll down the window and wait. I wish I would of taken a picture because JACKASS then proceeded to get out a camera and take pictures of both our cars, walking around them and taking them from all kinds of angles while we are still on the service road.

The cops - yes two patrol cars - show up and we are escorted around the block to take care of business. Again, both of us told the cops on multiple occasions that neither of us where hurt. Thankfully I didn't get a ticket but I am just pissed that it happened. It is important to note that I have a scratch and a dent on my bumper. JACKASS' vehicle has no damage. Even tells the cops there is no damage to his truck.

I took my Driver's Crash Report and headed home. I unload the car, put away my groceries and have my vent moment with my mom. It is important to know that maybe an hour has passed since my first encounter with JACKASS. Next thing I know my phone is ringing. It is my insurance company calling to verify that I have been in an accident.

What the fuck chuck. Yep - I hit the JACKASS that is trying to get money. He agrees that there is no damage to his car BUT he suffered a back injury. One that didn't appear in the first 30 minutes where he told everyone that he was fine, but one that appeared before he got back to his home in Manor, 30 miles away. Needless to say - this is a battle for my insurance company but it just pisses me off to no end.

In any event - given my prior back issues, I steered clear of running yesterday and skipped my swim workout this morning. I feel fine so will head back to spin class in the morning.

JACKASS!

Karma

That is all I can say. I mean what else would one expect when you pick on your family about how cold it was in Nebraska yesterday and it was in the 90's here. So what happens today? Well - we have our group cycle meeting at the Veloway at 8 am.

I could hear the wind blowing before I got out of bed. I knew it was suppose to be colder. So I layered. However, no layers could prepare me for 45 minutes of that wind. It wasn't that it was super cold once you got moving. It was 48 degrees. BUT, and I mean a big BUT, the wind was blowing at 28 miles an hour with gusts up to 35. Seriously, there were times that you would come around the curve and it was like hitting a wall. It SUCKED.

I was slow - as normal and just made 3 trips around the park in my 45 minutes. I believe they say it is about a 3 mile track. But - in that wind - it might as been double the time. The good thing about it is that it was early, so I have already got the workout in, ran the errands, and took a nap. Now going to work on the house before I have to head to Lowe's. Got to love a lazy Saturday!

It's a beautiful day...

...for a jog.

So my Wednesday workout was a 35 minute jog. It was a beautiful day out. My car said 82 on the drive home - so probably pretty close to that. I got home early and much to Guinness delight - she got to go with me. Of course, 82 seems great when you are not doing anything, however, at the end of 35 minutes Guinness and I were feeling the effects. I can only imagine what it will be like this summer if we are already seeing 80s in February.

The jog ended with us at the dog park so Guinness was good and tired by the time she got home. That translates to me getting to sleep through the night!!! Worse than a kid, I tell you!

Tuesday Spin

Okay well according to our training schedule - Tuesday is suppose to be my "free" day from training. A day of rest in which I allow my body to recover. However, with that said - RockinAustin has been a motivator and helps keep me accountable. So - with that said - I was up at 5 am (Note: Two days in a row for Jenn) to head to spin class. Again - another morning disappointment for Guinness in that sweats do not equal a walk for her.

Well - I can't say that the snooze button didn't come into play - but it did. I managed to make it to the gym with less than 10 minutes until the class starts. Of course I look at the sign up list to realize there is only two spots left. Thank goodness - RockinAustin would of kicked my butt! She'll even admit she questioned if I was coming. Of course I would of never imagined so many people volunteer to get up so early for such torture!

I had a number of thoughts from this first 5:30 am class. First off - our instructor was trying to tell us she was getting back into shape after having a baby. Let's just say RockinAustin & I shot a look at each other like - WTF? I must look like I am having an elephant if she just had a baby. Secondly, I have come to realize with the dark lights on - I can still be at spin class and maintain a sleep like mode. Next, for those surrounding me that are the screamers & excited to be at spin class and feel the need to shot out - beware - I might bite one of these weeks! Why must you interupt my sleep time? Lastly - I have a new appreciation for woman of the Muslim faith. We had a woman in our spin class following the traditional attire. Now - I am dripping in sweat when I leave that class, I can only imagine doing the class in long pants, long shirt and a head wrap - I don't think I would of survived.

So that folks is another day in training and another early morning for me! I am looking forward to "sleeping in" until 6 tomorrow.