Not one cloud. Not one.

Today was an unexpected workout binge. First of all, I worked in kid's church this morning, which I am unashamedly counting as exercise because I ended up doing nothing but chase around toddlers for one hour. Straight. And when I say chase, I mean sprint. But we had so much fun! And they are such good, cute kids and they were playing so well with each other. I think they were excited to have playful attention from an adult at church that they got a little carried away.

After all that, Jami and I rode our bikes from her house to Rice. She lives in Meyerland, so it's an 18-mile round trip bike ride. Oh, and I haven't been on a bike physically since August. And I could not find my regular bike pedals so had to use my clips. Which are not so good for city riding. I fell no less than 4 times. Argh. SO embarrassed.

Did I mention that when we got to Rice we swam? With the team? Long course meters? For the whole hour and a half workout? Which was about 3,500 meters...and then rode our bikes home?

My arms were dead before I even got in the water. I had to write all this down before I forgot because I am about to fall down and pass out. Laundry and chores are just going to have to wait until tomorrow.

In all of the adventures today, I did not see one cloud.

Not one.

Extremely unusual for Houston. But glorious, nonetheless! I attribute this phenomenon to Mom. She is out of town, and of course it is always gorgeous when she is not here. The rain follows her wherever she goes!

Sleepy Dwarf, continued. And the Madness of March...

MPRC ran Sabine this morning.  About 9 miles.  It was a really rough morning for both Yvonne and myself.  Ugh!  She was at a game last night, and I was running around all day, so our legs were shot.  I basically sleep walked for the whole run.  It was pretty painful.  But we did it!  9 miles completed.  We are known as the caboose, but whatever.  9 miles is 9 miles.  I don't care how or when you finish it.

Went to a pilates class afterwords to loosen up and move around some not-so-used muscles.  It was lovely.  But then had errands to do and came home to make food for my father to have on hand to eat (poor man...he doesn't eat unless food is ready to go for him.  I try the best I can to take care of him!)  It is such a gorgeous day outside, I wanted to run out and do something.  But I was dead on my feet, so I laid down.   And was out.  For 3 hours.  Ha Ha Ha.

And now, Dad and I are watching March madness and currently it's K State and Butler.  My Irish were out in the first round.  I really should be more upset than I am, but I am so used to this by now that I am immune.

Columbia's bball team is doing well in the brackets.  And their team is all walk-ons with no scholarships.  That is so awesome.

The English are coming! The English are coming!

Well, not the english. But how else do I get your attention?:)

Hank Paulson IS coming! Tonight! To the Baker Institute! This will be most interesting. I hope the man has some answers rather than vague nothings, which is all I expect at this point.

If there is anything that I have learned from all this education it is this: I don't care how educated you are. You will still make mistakes. Often. And you still will not be able to tell the future. Yet you will still expect to react to the future based on the past.

Haven't we learned by now? *Sheesh*

Anyways, on a happier note: The NYSE came to Rice yesterday. It was an awesome event and simply a delight to have all of our Energy C-suiters come join us at our humble campus. I asked them about America's leadership position in the new millenia based on our tumbling reputation, our debt being bought up, demographics and capital moving from west to east, and our entitled, self-centered society. Of course, it was a precedented tee-up for all of the C-suiters to boost morale and boast about what an awesome country we live in since we had been discussing nothing but insurmountable issues and threats to business. Their comments were pretty awesome. Jim Turley, CEO of Ernst & Young, said something particularly interesting: "America is not a nation-state. America is an idea. Anyone can come to America and immerse themselves and become an American. Nowhere else in the world can a man do this. As long as this is the case, America will be the leader."

Back to the point of this blog: Report for the week:

Monday: Spin - 1 hour; 16 miles; weights; swim - 2,500 yards

Tuesday - Running -5 miles

Wednesday - Swim - 5,500 yards

Friday - Swim - 2,625 yards

Tomorrow; it's time to get read to RUN! AND, I talked to Seth about swimming with the Masters of Disaster. Operation Disaster to 30+ begins next week....

Skinny Jeans

I broke down and went to Walmart to get....I don't remember what, actually. But I did come across $20 jeans. And bought a pair. My jeans are all fraying at the edges, and I am too cheap [OK, too poor] to buy more, so I have just let them rot.

I got Jordache boot cut midrises and they are awesome. And they are actually firm-hugging, so they have a snug fit which I like to wear for lounge clothes.

These are going to end up being my skinny jeans! An unexpected bonus! I went back to buy another pair!

Why am I sharing all of this, and why do you care, you ask? Good question. The answer is you probably don't and shouldn't care. I just came to this realization this evening and had to share it with someone: you.

However, I did make this Walmart-run after the 5 mile run yesterday morning, so technically this is an addendum to a report on my training process. Which is the whole point of this blog.:)

Today was swimming. I think I am ready to join the ranks of the Masters of Disaster. That is the term Seth has coined for those of us on the team who stay until 7:30 or whenever to swim. I think I'm ready for it....I swam about 5,500 yards today. Not sore at all, and it was a blast.

What shall we top this off with tomorrow? Well, tomorrow the New York Stock Exchange will be joining us at our humble Rice campus to be followed by our International partio event, so I will probably take the day off. But look out for Friday!

Today I am Sleepy. Oh, and Sneezy.

Saturday night I [mostly] finished the Advocacy plan assignment for the public policy class I am taking, and lo and behold, Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs was on the Disney Channel! Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What a CUTE movie! You know, I had never actually seen the full fledged film? Shame on me.

Resolved!

Update: Since Sunday's long course workout from the devil-disguised-as-Jada, I have:
Monday a.m. - Spin class; 1 hour; roughly 15 miles
Monday a.m. - Weights (legs)
Monday p.m. - Swimming (short course; 2500 yards)
Tuesday a.m. - Running (5 miles)

I am home writing this and working on other school/extracurricular/personal admin and the like. While I am normally Sneezy dwarf (my lot in life and my M.O. Yes, I have just come to accept it), today I am also Sleepy dwarf. It just might be time for a catnap before the rest of this work gets finished (for those of you reading whom I know are Moms of little ones - I am NOT gloating. Just stating an objective plan:))

This week will be a long one. At least all of the academia work is finished. A few touch-ups here and there. The plan will be:

Cycling - Actually getting on the bike this weekend. Hopefully. 20 miles-ish
Weights - Once. Maybe. Depends on Mom. And it's usually on Thursdays, and I am planning to take Thursday off.
Swimming - 3 practices (I am including Sunday. That would make 4 practices this week.)

Yoga - at least once

Running - long run this weekend (10 miles)

Yup, that'll do it.

So, then.....which dwarf are YOU today?!

Xoxo, :)

Swimming and Submarines

Today is Sunday and usually this is a Sabbath day of rest and I take the day off. But not today! Church was lovely, then after hours and hours at school slaving over my advocacy plan assignment, I crossed the street to go to swim practice to at least move a little bit.

Umm...I did not realize that I would be moving around A LOT.

Practice on Sunday is not only in long course meters, but it is 1.5 hours. We did about 38oo meters, or 4,000 yards. Sheesh. The good news I think that there will be NO trouble getting to sleep tonight!

OK; since you are super, super interested (saracasm!) the practice was:

900 warm up

1000 kick and swim set

1500: 250,150,50,50 - swim, pull, kick

400: 8 50 sprints

200: cool down

It was really windy. But a beautiful day, otherwise. I have tan lines! Haven't seen those in a few years.

Mom and I are vegging on the couches watching the Hunt for Red October. Such an awesome movie. Does it ever get old? Why aren't movies made like this anymore? Pure dialogue; great characters, great plot. Real men with dignity, morals, and strength. *sigh*

Namaste

I think that I am going to take today off. I took yoga for the past two days. I am definitely going to keep doing it because it opens the body up like you would not believe.

Of course, the downside to this is my body hurts in areas that I either (a) have not felt in years, or (b) never knew were there.

I was going to swim yesterday and run this morning. Did I do any of that? Umm, no. I came home yesterday and took a monster 3-hour nap. Got up, piddled around a but, then promptly went back to bed.

Yup, that's the rockin' St. Patty's day I had yesterday, people!

Perhaps the body is telling me something? I would think so. I am pretty sure that I am going to take off today, too in order to physically rest. I will swim tomorrow. I actually have assignments and reading that I need to do, so those will be the projects for today. I'll get my stuff done early and not have to worry about it! That is a fab, fab goal.

There is an ILE (intensive learning experience) all day tomorrow and Saturday that I am taking for class. It will be awesome. I'll swim tomorrow morning before it begins, but that will probably be it for a couple of days. I am being true to my word about not running this week and giving my knee a break (yikes, I really should ice it. Just because I am uber-cautious). I'll get back on the running train next week. Check in again soon,

Namaste!

Bubba's Texas Burger Shack

Lovely day today.

Swam 2850 today. Should have been 3000, but I was done and just did not want to swim anymore. So, I got out of the pool and went on my merry way.

I subscribe to and follow other triathlon blogs. I notice that they write about their training plans, times, paces, eating plans, heart rate, etc, etc, etc. I do not. Perhaps I am doing this all wrong. This blog walks a fine line between a journal and a training log.

As one of my awesomest brothers in the world would say: "W/E! This is how I rizzoll." [For those of you who do not know what 'rizzoll' means, as I did not, it means 'roll.' As in, 'this is how I roll.' Yes. Odd. This I know. But please don't shoot the messenger.]

I justify the posts on this odd blog of mine with the fact that other musings about life add additional flavor to a blog that would otherwise be about running, cycling (or lack thereof, especially lately), and swimming. And who cares what my heart rate is, anyway? Perhaps I should, but I certainly do not. Why should you?

My friend Liz and I went to the movies and dinner today. I have always wanted to go to the movies at a random time during a workday. For no other reason than to say I have done it. It was awesome. We saw 'Young Victoria" at 4:00 p.m. today. A great, easy, feel-good chick flick. With rockin' costumes.

Then, we went to a real gem: Bubba's Texas Burger Shack. I was in awe. I almost, almost had to pick my jaw up off the floor. I even posted a Yelp review about it.

It was awesome. A real find. I am going back. Yes, I had the buffalo burger with cheese and everything on it. Thank God I swam today...for all the good it did me.

Oh, and I picked up chocolate on the way home. From CVS. And Tums.

Was it worth it? My tummy is still in a little bit of pain, but YES! It was SO worth it. If nothing else, it was worth the humor. The entire experience was like stepping into a surreal universe. Just go there for a meal and you will see exactly what I am talking about.

Back to biz: I think I am not going to run during the week this week. I will give my knee a break. Stay tuned for this week's plans. You're right; usually I plan out a list of training/workouts for the week. But this week is different. I am making this up as I go.

Douze (12 in French)

Douze....I never thought how similar this is to dozen.

Good thing all that Latin I took is kicking in (sorry if I smacked you in the face with that dripping sarcasm there).

This is a success report: We all ran 12 miles this morning!

It was a success! It was a fun run: I ran with Yvonne again and a newbie, Joan, joined us. Joan is planning on running a marathon in October too, so we might be training buddies for our respective marathons.

Sweet. Because running by oneself is the pits. I cannot do it. Scratch that. I refuse to do it.

Reed and Sadie came over today! We had uber-fun playing in the park and walked on over to La Madeleine for brunch (where audio french lessons were playing in the ladies' room...hence the title of this post being "douze," which is french for 12). Sadie loves bread. I have never seen a child SO excited to get bread. I thought she was going to jump out of her skin and her little shoes!

Needless to say my legs are shot. How to pace with the training this week? Hmm. Stay tuned for a report on the training plan.

Daylight savings tonight. We lose an hour. Drat!

To Lubbock, or Not To Lubbock?

Has it really been over a week? Oops! Oh, well. Life calls sometimes.

This post is in honor of my Aunt Mary Lee, a.k.a. my Aunt Barbie. Mary Lee is planning on doing her first triathlon this spring/summer. And I am so proud of her! The triathlon is the Buffalo Springs triathlon in May/June. The one in May I cannot go to since it is graduation day. The one in June is on Sunday, June 27. That one I can possibly make, and I asked Sean about coming, but he cannot miss his science camp counselor work at all this summer. It is a spring triathlon, we shall see if we make it or not. If not, there is plenty to do!

I took last weekend off and rested. And it was awesome. My body was so happy! And most of this week, I was in Lubbock visiting Mammaw. Here's the debrief from the week:

Monday: Swim 1000 yards

Tuesday: yoga class

Wednesday: Body sculpting class (which was basically weightlifting. I still hurt)

Friday: yoga class with Mom + swimming; 2800 yds

Saturday: 12 miles running (hopefully)

Yoga class this week was awesome. I am going to have to do this more often as cross training. My body loved it. My mother is a rock star at it, I just want to try and keep up with her. Triathlon-training-wise, I think I am doing alright. I just read over this blog from the beginning and it's amazing how far one gets from barely being able to walk 3 miles from being so tired from mono!

Running tomorrow morning with the crew. Wish me luck.

Waiting

I just swam and am waiting for the spin class...but I have a sneaky suspicion that it is not going to happen today since I am sitting outside the studio room checking up on you. But no matter, my arms are shot anyways. And I have a lunch appointment today. I lifted a little bit (again) after swimming this morning while waiting for this class....it will all work out fine.

I lied about this week's worth of plans; I am sorry. Little behind on the schedule this week, but that's OK. My body is super-tired! This weekend I have class, so it will be kind of busy. I need to do those readings for class, actually. Grrrr.

Less than a month until the Registration date for the Marine Corps Marathon! I'm getting excited. I really hope I get in.....we shall see. I won't be running this weekend because I think my legs are still angry with me and worn out. I will give them a week off. And next Saturday is the March Madness Meet at Rice. Hmmm. Class that afternoon. To swim, or not to swim? Might as well....it will be a lot of fun!

Runnin' on a Netbook

I am writing this post from my new Netbook. I wanted an aesthetically-pleasing light pink Netbook, but Sean helped me to see the light. He said, and I quote, "No way." Then followed that with, "do you want your Netbook to actually work and do the things you want it to do, or do you want it to just look pretty?"

How well Sean knows me.

This thing is awesome. The battery has about 12 and a half hours left on it. I think I could get used to no wires. This is pretty sweet.

This morning we ran 6 miles, then I went to Rice and lifted legs before meeting the girls for our Thursday morning breakfast meeting. At Chick-fil-A. Lord, those chicken biscuits with honey are SO good! It was lovely. I am so fortunate to have Sue and Aisha as friends.

I think I am NOT going to run this Saturday. My legs are still tired from the 16-er last weekend and I have been doing nothing but eating ever since. My body obviously needs a break. The new plan is to swim both tomorrow and Saturday. Possibly Sunday. There will be a lifting session in there somewhere and probably cycling.

Bono composed Elevation, I'm working on composing my own Motivation

Swam 3500 today after not doing anything since Saturday. Ugh.

It is getting really tough to get moving every day! Of course, I am blaming this on a plethora of things: last spring break, probably last quality vacation time. Ever. And recovery from that 16-mile run on Saturday. What WAS I thinking?

Zones are coming up. Oh, how I hope I can go! Our Gala is that same weekend as is our volunteering event. So much to do. So little time.

I will keep you posted on how the rest of this week goes. This is a "Me Week," full of Doctor's appointments and check-ups galore. All of that stuff that must be done. Ah, well. It has been wonderful for all that. And tomorrow is Thursday!