6.2 miles of..fun?

Saturday, July 4th was the Peachtree Road Race. If you don't know about the Peachtree, it's the largest 10K in the U.S. There are something like 55,000 runners. It's insane, and totally an Atlanta tradition. Hubby and I signed up back in March and I was a little iffy on how my running would be progressing. But I figured I could walk if I really wanted to, it's all about getting the coveted t-shirt. My longest run since the Atlanta half last November was the 4 miler that I put in last week. Things felt good, so I figured I would proceed with caution and see how it felt. We woke up just before 6 and headed to Marta. Got to the Buckhead station with a few minutes to spare before they closed the exit off. Saw Steph and Doug as we were heading towards Lenox. Wished her luck as we hit the porta potties, and then I got in my Corral. I was in 2, which is really nice when there are 9 in total and the last doesn't cross the start line until well into the morning.

My plan was the run as much as possible, and take a break here and there when I felt like I needed it. Mile 1 came and went pretty quickly as I tried to keep things steady in Z2. I was surprised by my pace, but figured that I'd slow down the second half of the race due to the steady incline around Mile 3 on. It was fun to watch the craziness go by that is Ptree. Surprisingly, I felt strong through the steady downhill ending around Mile 3. I'd carried my own water bottle, which was nice to have when I needed it. I wasn't sure how my knee or IT band would fare on the uphill (aka Cardiac Hill, which runs by Piedmont Hospital) - but I kept my run up the whole hill and down Peachtree towards Midtown. I have to say that it actually felt better than it did last November when I ran this stretch in the Half - especially as you are running uphill near 17th street towards 10th. Before I knew it, I was at Mile 5.5 and looking for my friends. Got to see them just after the turn onto 10th street, and then it was a nice downhill finish. I grabbed my shirt and headed back to meet up with Tri Club people for lunch, and the rest of the afternoon was a much needed nap. My total time was 78 minutes, which is just a few minutes off my PR (which was a two loop race on a flatter course). For the amount of running I've done this year, I am pleasantly surprised. And even more excited that I haven't experienced any pain since the run. This is a really good sign!

Had Sunday and Monday off training wise (other than my daily core routine) and today was a great Masters swim. I've got a run tonight, as well as a bike fitting session. Short ride tomorrow, swim & run on Thursday and then a Saturday swim before I leave for Chattanooga to race on Sunday (Olympic). I'm so excited about this race. It's the first repeat race that I've done, so it should be fun to race against last year's time. It also may be my last tri (and only full tri) of the season, depending on my schedule. I'm going to have a bigger run focus the last half of the season to get ready for a PR at the Atlanta Half Marathon ;). Hmmm, that feels a little scary. Maybe I can slip an early fall race into the schedule.

looking fancy round these parts...

New masthead. You'll be subjected to my slow learning of Photoshop, so sit back and buckle up, things are going to be changing around here. ;) I'll be experimenting with a new theme too.

Where did I leave off?! Oh, just a wee little thing called Ironman registration! Thanks so much for all of the support! I'm really excited about the year ahead. My mind has been racing with a bazillion questions, and I got a chance to sit down and talk with coach about it. My #1 burning question was how to conquer the cutoff times and the fact that I wanted that conversation to be the last time that I ever worried about it. I'll be a different person by then. So after some reassurance, I'm leaving that worry behind (remind me I said this in 6 months please). I talked about wanting to build in as many open water swims as possible, and what my goals are for the rest of the year. I'll be focusing on upping my run volume and hopefully racing the Atlanta Half Marathon in November. It's an annual race for me, and I really want a PR. Other than that, there isn't too much that I need to do right now other than focusing on getting stronger every day and eating as healthy as possible.

I have to give props to the awesome club members that I'll be racing with - we already have a house booked and there's talk of post-race massages. Giddy-Up!

Rode in my first organized bike ride last weekend - Cartersville Century. Recruited a friend to ride the 50 miler with me and it was really fun. Other than the heat in the last 10 or so miles, I felt fantastic!



My biking is getting so much stronger and I love it! There will be lots of hills in my future as I get ready for CDA, including talk of this ride next year. Someone asked if I wanted to see the elevation profile....uh, I think I'll pass.

And can I get a Yay Weekend?! Riding tomorrow morning with some transition practice thrown in. Saturday is the Peachtree Road Race 10K. I'm contemplating not wearing my chip since it'll just be a training run (my longest this season). I'll be taking it easy and just shooting for feeling good at that distance. Easy peasy weekend ahead, looking forward to it!

I just might be crazy...

But at least I'll be crazy with a bunch of other people.




CDA was the first Ironman that I ever saw. It was the one in the back of my mind as I contemplated whether or not I could do it, but I was worried about the distance and the cost involved in getting there. I hadn't thought about it again until I found out that several of my tri club friends were going to sign up. And then after my ride this weekend, I felt much more confident in my abilities. After getting my hubby and coach's blessing, I'm in.

I have a lot of work to do over the next 6 months to get ready for training!

pedal pedal pedal...

I have got to get better at posting, how many days has it been?? Yikes!! So much to update on!!

I got my Splish suit last week and I'm in love! I'm going to do a separate review post, but I definitely love wearing it and it's a carrot for waking up in the morning and getting my butt to masters swim. Well, that and swimming outside! You're going to have to pull me kicking and screaming from the pool come September.

So, obviously, swimming is going well! I am getting a teeny bit speedier on my 50s, which will hopefully translate soon to the longer sets. It's hard work getting faster! I have some really fast friends that I aspire to keep up with.

The running is coming back slow and steady. I'm up to about 45-50 minutes of running and it's super slow. But I'm happy to be able to get back to it and I won't complain. I'm trying to be very careful with my knee as I get back into the swing of things. I'm registered for Peachtree and Chattanooga, so we'll see how it goes! I'd rather have a really slow run time and take care of it then try and push and end up back where I was last winter.

My rides have been fantastic lately! Last weekend was our West Point Lake relay. It was a hilly bike! My bike split for the 40K Bike was 1:24:36 17.6 avg. I was really proud of myself - our relay team did a phenomenal job and we placed 4th!



This past Sunday was my first ride in the GAPS (these are in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia). To say that I was nervous would be an understatement. I've never climbed mountains. But coach said I was ready and if that wasn't enough, after asking 10 other people and hearing that it would be ok, I decided that it was time to just get it done. We were climbing the front 3 GAPS (Neel's, Woody and Wolf Pen), which gave me a little over 6500 feet of total climbing (and descending since we rode a loop). We headed out around 5:30AM and after a stop for gas, headed to Dahlonega. As we started heading up Neel's Gap, I got a little nervous.

There were some serious hairpin turns and my stomach was in knots. We pulled into Vogel State Park about 7:30AM and got ready to ride.

We started with Neel's Gap, which was a shorter, not too steep climb of about 2.5 miles. We had a really fun downhill once we got to the top and then took a right at Turner's Corner (about 10 miles here).

















Then we rode for awhile until we headed up Woody Gap. The real climb seemed to start at Mile 16 through 22. I stopped for a moment to stretch my hamstring about halfway up and wow, it just seemed long. It was absolutely gorgeous though as I looked off to the left and then I saw coach coming back our way. Just a few 100 feet and we were at the top. Woohooo!!!



Part of our group -



Coach and I -



We headed down Woody's and stopped for water at a little gas station, but they didn't open until noon. So after finding a half bag of ice (yay, good karma points for other cyclists who must have left it), we headed out -





You can see the 'Giddy Up' on my jersey -



There were some nice rolling hills here on the way to Suches and over the lake, just before we started climbing Wolf Pen. This was the final climb, and it was shorter and steeper than Woody's. I felt pretty strong, but I did stop once to catch my breath. Before I knew it, I saw coach ahead and she pointed out the sign for the top. I have never been so happy to see her!

3 Training Buddies (aka Team Rocketpants). W on the left is training for IMFL and she's a rockstar. Fish is on the right and she did a fab job on the climbs.



Another shot because it was nice to rest for a minute -



The ride down Wolf Pen was a wee bit scary, but totally exhilarating. I was being very careful because of all the switchbacks. So yay. 36 miles. 3:45 total time. Slow, but I felt like queen of the mountain. Must have been the polka dots on my jersey ;)

We headed back to the park, jumped in the lake and cooled off. Stopped for pizza on the way home and then I crashed and watched IMCDA coverage on my laptop.

That ride boosted my confidence!! I'm ready for more of those challenges!! And uh, stay tuned, because I think I'm about to pull the trigger on something very scary, yet totally exciting.

crackity crack crack...

I saw my favorite chiropractor today. Ahhhhhh....I can still hear the cracking in my head. Man, that felt good. I've been totally busy with work and workouts. And it feels sooo good (well, the workouts part)! I used to laugh at people that talked about how much they loved summer - because man - it's hot in the ATL. But now I'm totally one of them. I love it.

Reasons why I love summer -

- Outdoor swimming. Yay Masters (and Danny the rockstar coach)
- Flip Flops
- Outdoor riding in a sleeveless jersey
- Racing
- Lots of SUN
- Freckles (but Fish has more than I do, love the freckles)
- Tan legs with that tell-tale line across mid-thigh
- Patio Dining

I could go on forever. But yah, it is so much easier to hit my workouts lately because I've enjoyed being outside. The swims are eaarly for me, but totally addictive. It flies by. I just wish I were faster! Ah, but then I remember that I haven't been swimming all that long.

In riding news, I signed up for the Cartersville Century ride. I'm shooting for the 50 mile. Between racing this weekend (relay, I'm biking), riding the GAPS next weekend and then Cartersville the following weekend, I'm set. Have I mentioned how much I'm loving the bike lately? I took Cupcake in for new brake and shifter cables and an adjustment. She rides like a dream now. This summer is shaping up with lots of new, fun goals and I'm giddy thinking about it. I'm even starting to get much more comfortable with the idea of Ironman next year. I'm feeling stronger with my workouts and much more confident in my abilities. I have SOOOO much more to learn, but I feel like I'm on my way.

The running? Well, it's going. Coach has put up with my whining about Zone 2 and has taken mercy on me with a few of my runs that are coming up on the calendar. I'm sticking with them and maybe I'll be out on the road at Peachtree. Whatever I do, it'll be slow, but awesome to be back in the game. Ooh, meant to thank you ladies for the bra recommendations in response to my Favorite Things post. I ended up getting the Light and Firm bra by Anita from Activa (free shipping if you have a GAP/Old Navy/Banana card). It's under 'High Impact' and is sized for those of us with *ahem* some boobage. I'll be sure to post a review! I'm going to keep trying out sports bras until I find my favorite. So if you are listening bra people, shoot me an email!


















Oh, and random, but I just found out that some of my favorite pros are going to be at Iron Girl in Atlanta on 6/28. Michellie Jones, Kate Major, Sam McGlone, Mirinda Carfrae and Pip Taylor. Ooh. Maybe Kate will autograph my curl girl visor? I am giddy right now. I'll try not to be too crazy since NBC will be there filming. Anyone want to get up butt early with me and go spectate?

Anyway, I'm racing Westpoint Lake Tri on Saturday. It's an oly relay! I'm biking, Fish is swimming (Go Fish Go!) and my hubby is running.

the workout in which I get a tan...

Man, this weekend was picture perfect weather in the ATL. Totally deserved, I might add, after we've had rain and gross weather for what seems like forever.

I had Masters Saturday morning - we did some sprints. This is totally foreign to me, as I've spent the last 2 years just learning to swim distance and feel comfy in the water. I mean, let's recall that when I signed up for my first tri, I pretty much doggy paddled. I've never been a fast swimmer and get totally freaked out at the thought of being out of breath while swimming. But I've decided that this year is all about getting waaay out of my comfort zone and working on all areas of my sport. So yah, I sprinted. And yah, it was slow. But I felt super proud of myself for the effort and for learning something new (thanks Hol for the tips on the clock). I ended up swimming just shy of 2800y and loved the fact that it was outdoors. I'm loving this Masters thing and I'm sure I'm going to mourn it at the end of the summer when the pool closes.

I had tossed out the idea of a swim/bike brick to my girlies and they took me up on it. So we took a nice leisurely transition and headed out to ride some hills. We rode our normal 21 route - super fun. My rides are starting to get longer, so I need to map out something new! I wonder if I can convince the girls to start riding the butt buster route more often? I gave my coach the official word that I'm doing the Covington Century on 8/1, so rides are going to start getting longer. Might be time to get back out to silk sheets and ride in the country!

Today's workout was a 45 minute Zone 2 Run. Ha. Hahahahahaahaha. That's really funny. Z2 and I don't know each other very well when it comes to running. I mean, seriously, I headed out of my neighborhood and was instantly on the edge of Z3. So I did a walk/run for a mile until I could get to flatter ground. Then I managed to stay in for about 20 minutes until I hit more hills and then it was more back and forth. I worked that for 45 minutes, and then got back to my starting point and did the mile run/walk back home. My 45 minutes turned into 1:15, but I was really trying to get some time in Z2. Not exactly what was prescribed, but man, I was just feeling really cranky during this run and decided that I needed to work it out on the pavement. I feel like I've lost all of my run fitness since last November, like I'm starting at square 1. It's not a matter of being able to run the distance, because I can (thankfully), but I just can't keep my HR down. I know that the more I can train with HR, the fitter I'm going to be. I started running in 2005, and worked my way up to marathon distance running, but I never really paid attention to building a strong base, and that's what I really want to do now. So I'm sure you'll hear me throwing tantrums about my runs a lot this year. Buckle up.

In Skinny Pants news, I set Goal #1. It may look familiar, and I want to wear it again....

my favorite things...

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you'll know that I love finding fun, fabulous things. I thought it was about time that I shared my list of favorite things. And no, it's not like Oprah where you'll get something for free. But hey! Maybe you'll find something new to try! I think Nat did this awhile back and it was really fun to see what her favorites were.

My Favorite Workout Fuel:

Carbo Pro - totally awesome. You can mix it into anything for a concentrated fuel bottle. It doesn't taste like anything, which is perfect for training and long rides.












GU20 - I love Raspberry and Orange flavors. They aren't super sweet like Gatorade, and I can stomach the flavor for long rides.












Powerbar Gel Blasts - I have never been a powerbar or powergel fan. But I got these in a race goody bag and figured I'd try them. They are sooo yummy. They taste like gummy bears and they aren't super powerful in terms of flavor. I like the lemon, haven't tried the cola yet.














Lance Peanut Butter Crackers - Yum. For 2+ hour rides, I like to have a snack on hand that doesn't come in gel or liquid form. PB Crackers are awesome because you can have one or two at a time and it changes things up a little bit.



My Favorite Online Clothing Stores - Sporty:

Athleta was recently acquired by The GAP. I'm hoping that their style doesn't change too much, it's really cute stuff.


Dude Girl - They are the home of the 'Giddy Up'. Since it's one of my favorite sayings, I was stoked to find bike jerseys and other fun stuff from this company. I have ordered a few times and run into snags, but they made good on it and that's great in my book!

I found Title 9 awhile back and it looks like they've grown with some new retail stores. They carry really nice stuff!


Team Estrogen has every piece of cycling gear you can imagine. I bought my first pair of tri shorts here.



I just ordered my first after seeing Splish suits around the blogosphere. I love the styling and I'll let you guys know how the fit is once I've received my Argh! suit.


All3 always has what I need in a pinch since it's a short drive north. I bought my wetsuit there and so far, I've always been happy and well served.





TriSports is pretty cool. They always write a little thank you! on my receipt and sometimes you can get some fab deals!



Running Warehouse rocks. Free 2 Day Shipping and Free Return Shipping. If they have your size, it couldn't get any better.





Swim Outlet usually has decent prices on swim stuff. The shipping is a pain in the butt, but if you need it, they'll likely have it.


My Favorite Tri-Related Gear:

Aquasphere Kaiman Goggles - I never have to adjust these. They fog a little, but much less than any other brands I've worn.


TYR Swim Caps (I am partial to the Pirate ones ;))

Shimano Bike Shoes - super comfy. It's my fault they smell.

Speedplay Cleats - I love that I can ride on top of my pedals if there is an issue clipping in. You can clip in on either side, which rocks.



Terry Butterfly Saddle - swapped my saddle out for this one. It's never let me down!


Desoto Carerra Tri Shorts - these are my new tri shorts (all black) and I love them so far!

Terry Bike Shorts - super comfortable and they have a matte frabric, which is kind of nice when you aren't in the mood for shiny spandex.




Twin Six Jerseys - totally comfortable and really fun. I have the argyle, a houndstooth and a black with pink skulls and crossbones. I totally love Twin Six. And they work with Fat Cyclist to help him raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. They are pretty excellent.






My Cupcake Jersey. The smartest thing Sugoi ever did.



My Giddy Up Jersey from Dude Girl -


Important Note -
I haven't found a favorite tri top. In my case, they all pretty much stink. If I could find a tri top that didn't roll up while I was on the bike or run, I would kiss the person who told me about it. Seriously. It is the bane of my tri existence.

Oh and while we're talking about it - I also hate every sports bra and sock that I own. Give me what you've got ladies!! No sports bras that go over the head though, because they end up in a ball around my neck and I can't ever get them on.

Other Random Favorites -

My Food Diary - it is, hands down, THE best food tracking tool ever. I have tried to go without it and always end up signing back up.
My Nutritionist! Ilana Katz!
My Chiropractor - Josh Glass
Cupcakes from Metrotainment Bakery in Atlanta - red velvet, please!
Peachtree Tri Club - my club. they rock.
Pint & Plate - bbq chicken salad. yum.
Tin Lizzy's - the skillets are to die for.
Big Peach Running Co.
BeginnerTriathlete.com - lots of great info and the local Georgia section is pretty busy.
My Thule T2 Bike Rack
Sour Patch Kids
JCREW, GAP, Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic. I feel like these are the only stores that serve someone in their late 20s/early 30s. What else have you got?

That's it for now. I'm sure I'll think of more!!