tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14317675332445245632024-02-20T22:46:35.610-06:00See Jane Run, See Jane CycleHolly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-82262509547499602802009-02-17T21:55:00.017-06:002009-02-18T22:58:49.890-06:00Breaking it down in Birmingham! Mercedes Half Marathon Race ReportAfter my successful 14 mile run at an 8:22 pace I collectively kept thoughts in the back of my mind for the Mercedes Marathon/Half marathon on Feb 15. There were 8 others going down - so there was no doubt it was sure to be a GOOD time. 6 of them planning to do the full and 2 to do the half. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVu2m1FKOlMs6Tre9LCEj23YqqpY8_202LzATNe6osniYDMb-g38e5CEJUgDchnNFaBv3YK2gA9wyPfj1Y7FebMJ64gD4cOPv8JPAgjZFEvFLu7z8aEhGmTI22pm3DhA0kD_fIB1ee6tV/s1600-h/mercedes_run.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVu2m1FKOlMs6Tre9LCEj23YqqpY8_202LzATNe6osniYDMb-g38e5CEJUgDchnNFaBv3YK2gA9wyPfj1Y7FebMJ64gD4cOPv8JPAgjZFEvFLu7z8aEhGmTI22pm3DhA0kD_fIB1ee6tV/s200/mercedes_run.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304366014029823506" /></a>So, the plan was -- just in case I decide that I wanted to go to Birmingham and shoot for a half marathon PR, I'd need to run around 10 miles on the Friday before. That's exactly what I did. Starting the week off with a hard core swim class on Monday, a 5 mile run on Tuesday, another run on Wednesday, a trainer ride on Thursday and Friday I met the group at 4:15am and they did 12 miles and I did 10. Somehow I managed to once again crank out an 8:22 pace for the 10 miles in 1:23. It was then that I planned to do Mercedes half. I planned this specifically shooting for a PR, which would mean that I'd need to break my 2006 Memphis half mary time of 1:55. I kept saying I was really going for a 1:50 though. I wanted a 1:50. After doing the math, better than a 1:50 was totally out of reach for me. I knew a 1:50 would be pretty darn painful.... but I wanted it.<br /><br />So the following week I kinda tapered down a little and did two 5 mile runs, swim class on Monday and Wednesday night, Advanced spin class on Tuesday night and nothing on Friday or Saturday. Saturday the plan was that all of us runners met in town at 12 noon and headed to the 'ham. It was a fun ride down - flew by!! Tim can drive the fastest 72mph that I've ever seen. We got to the expo and I got registered, etc... we shopped around for awhile and then headed back to the hotel where my parents met us! :-)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqLAO4J4HOyBZUsvmEiutpNqpBQjphIyIM132VxkRWGebiwFwE9FveUVET46xQb0VJAWcsJ14byOwKCs2kGn-xdJTYT99t8j97_CJWTzXhBHcNdJyVzFI9aDnPj-C7uuFQHG8ICYlLz34/s1600-h/mercedes_run+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqLAO4J4HOyBZUsvmEiutpNqpBQjphIyIM132VxkRWGebiwFwE9FveUVET46xQb0VJAWcsJ14byOwKCs2kGn-xdJTYT99t8j97_CJWTzXhBHcNdJyVzFI9aDnPj-C7uuFQHG8ICYlLz34/s320/mercedes_run+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303986081620114578" /></a> About an hour later we all decided dinner was in order. We headed to Olive Garden for a valentines/pre-race pasta feast. It was fantastic!! <br /><br />I think I got in bed around 11 that night. Not ideal but about par for my course. Alarm went off at 5:15am... oh my... I'm tired. I got up around 5:45am and got dressed, ate an oats and honey bar, drank 2 cups of water and off to the lobby we go! Everyone converged, chit-chatted, took a few pics & headed to the start line.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Qz0_rKyVNF747Llvp3Dql3XX5IixmGnefZXmFcYOgf6JvUXpUj_DyUs34Q98hVUDKpVSevgBBQDWftUk2F7NXe7pX45fp5yU2Y65itMOaQXJrbNuvne91hd6XFG6iDnAbgEKXj72gPN5/s1600-h/IMG_1469.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Qz0_rKyVNF747Llvp3Dql3XX5IixmGnefZXmFcYOgf6JvUXpUj_DyUs34Q98hVUDKpVSevgBBQDWftUk2F7NXe7pX45fp5yU2Y65itMOaQXJrbNuvne91hd6XFG6iDnAbgEKXj72gPN5/s320/IMG_1469.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304356440260776882" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-NQwM_gNu-Yq-ksHNNga1NC_G52pRzNwCS0Cr0_zba0DaUaj2FWu6E2hlbP81-2lvUB0oHdmnJbw9c-V51_Isy4L0XRAgjntVEbdAPumn3UjxiUQziaSzZBEPdhU_Pcmq_3QWiog3BQr/s1600-h/IMG_1472.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-NQwM_gNu-Yq-ksHNNga1NC_G52pRzNwCS0Cr0_zba0DaUaj2FWu6E2hlbP81-2lvUB0oHdmnJbw9c-V51_Isy4L0XRAgjntVEbdAPumn3UjxiUQziaSzZBEPdhU_Pcmq_3QWiog3BQr/s320/IMG_1472.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304356626968558834" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzg1WB7L6P48iGgRlDmcaX3RNJSL4zCohcpaz7B6jWMUAhR51LJp_bnevzhRr9HHjS1Kaq272Ql0iQCaYlnqpl1m3LZRfQHviYGzYleBk9B264szBCAC2o87_vS9fU_aF7rWfIlETq7Lr/s1600-h/IMG_1475.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzg1WB7L6P48iGgRlDmcaX3RNJSL4zCohcpaz7B6jWMUAhR51LJp_bnevzhRr9HHjS1Kaq272Ql0iQCaYlnqpl1m3LZRfQHviYGzYleBk9B264szBCAC2o87_vS9fU_aF7rWfIlETq7Lr/s320/IMG_1475.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304356784881340594" /></a><br /><br />The start line was cool. They were playing U2's "Where the Streets have no Name." All nine of us high-fived each other, wished each other luck, said our goodbyes and off we go!!! "BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP........BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.........BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP" The chips were ringing - my GOSH that is a beautiful sound!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXdbGx3EeINzCLsJ7gSTav0UfP9q8nyHR0wySbOH69d4UDXQCnwXnPC9kUDLioCdOMyFPsbWY7CeRbsfIqtU23OQ5iCGWz-OWNtb7xjeNWJ4Jx3Q740Lb9KnnuQOoH279gDIiCELiq5X9/s1600-h/IMG_1479.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXdbGx3EeINzCLsJ7gSTav0UfP9q8nyHR0wySbOH69d4UDXQCnwXnPC9kUDLioCdOMyFPsbWY7CeRbsfIqtU23OQ5iCGWz-OWNtb7xjeNWJ4Jx3Q740Lb9KnnuQOoH279gDIiCELiq5X9/s320/IMG_1479.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304364527025644514" /></a> MUSIC TO MY EARS!!!! :-) Gives me chills just thinking about it. I ran with Tim & Lee for about the first half mile, then Tammie, Holly & Jonathon until about mile 4. Then I was on my own - just me and the asphalt and the other bad asses huffing and puffing all around me trying to beat an 8 min pace. I was feeling great. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuLei1mgSQ5G95nsPHAdGWGKNmHBC1aQ2LJcP_AqU_yLwyEzdXNb8BXRAFJMDHUZFoPx8nJDZeKhHlSv0EPUCLu94nw5U370qp3L_wnXYPSdHGqVQITzE2zbhrRMgAPIhdbx9szgKImKh/s1600-h/IMG_1484.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuLei1mgSQ5G95nsPHAdGWGKNmHBC1aQ2LJcP_AqU_yLwyEzdXNb8BXRAFJMDHUZFoPx8nJDZeKhHlSv0EPUCLu94nw5U370qp3L_wnXYPSdHGqVQITzE2zbhrRMgAPIhdbx9szgKImKh/s320/IMG_1484.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304364772718658130" /></a>I saw my parents again and they were cheering loud!!! It was so fun to have them there! My first 3 miles was 23 min & change. I took water at mile 3 water station. Water again at mile 5. Mile 6 I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. My 10K split time was 48:56. 7:54 pace overall. Hmmm... that tells me I have some time in the bank for a 1:50. However - anything can still happen. Mile 7 I took powerade. I was needing it - I could tell. Mile 8 - I felt like sh%t. I was really noticing the intensity of the pace I had been running. I was wondering if I would even make it!!! So I took a GU. Vanilla. I remembered Lana saying you MUST chase them with water or the stomach will reject. So I chased with H20 and thought "If this doesnt work a miracle I am toast. I have pushed too hard" I kept noticing prior to this on my garmin I was hitting several 7:45's. Right around mile 9.5 I suddenly found some life!!! My 10 mile time was exactly 1:20.I believe that is exactly an 8 min pace overall. I knew that the week prior I had run 10 miles in 1:23. It was encouraging to know I still had time in the bank for the 1:50! I felt somewhat decent but then at mile 11 I felt really rough again. But hey - it's mile 11!! You still gotta push. Do not give up now! I felt like I was stomping a few times - the hills were plentiful! The downhills were almost just as hard on me. I passed up the last water stop at mile 12 and went all out for the finish line!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHqagrKO4wFCob13YIZvT_Jhe7TQSoVnzhNX-rmI1ROE9UK55ZGJCzQhTRaPTmj0dZOqai73vPH3BnXSI6XdIAC_okhdmLLftDlDrqBpLvS_uuKK5qmSQB74HZvgkxL5TPMrbsmZPMgrd/s1600-h/IMG_1494.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHqagrKO4wFCob13YIZvT_Jhe7TQSoVnzhNX-rmI1ROE9UK55ZGJCzQhTRaPTmj0dZOqai73vPH3BnXSI6XdIAC_okhdmLLftDlDrqBpLvS_uuKK5qmSQB74HZvgkxL5TPMrbsmZPMgrd/s400/IMG_1494.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304365036340070034" /></a> I could hear the crowds, I could hear the announcer & I was PUMPED! I turned it on!!! This was it - right here! Get on your horse... I spotted my dad on the left side of the finish line and found my mom. Total finish time - 1:45:16. Wow! I was so shocked and SOOOO happy! :-) I never thought a 1:45 was in my reach. That is an overall pace of 8:03. Of course I'd like for my overall pace to start with a "7" but I'll take that 8:03 all day long! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G3FK6p4OUAIDy9UfFNvcDuo3y1BEtzv_RVITimsbzQElPeySpx14a7VOzWA0oZxgrcvTh5aNps2kbBVl4xBgbk0Uga6klItnV5jzFd8hehw_OQKlQy1ay1Kr9UziMRqrv4gdCKngck37/s1600-h/IMG_1498.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G3FK6p4OUAIDy9UfFNvcDuo3y1BEtzv_RVITimsbzQElPeySpx14a7VOzWA0oZxgrcvTh5aNps2kbBVl4xBgbk0Uga6klItnV5jzFd8hehw_OQKlQy1ay1Kr9UziMRqrv4gdCKngck37/s320/IMG_1498.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304366185301402482" /></a><br /><br />After the race I hung around for a few minutes watching others finish, then mom and I went to the hotel room and I took about a 40 minute HOT shower! She fixed me some coffee and had it waiting on me when I got out! It was OH so good because I was FROZEN! I headed back down to the finish line just in time to see my peeps finish the full. They are all so awesome!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl7JFlhN4wOBWxTRMPr7MzNtxLWAGBi3YhS-Q0ejQ1NMIwWo5XCrS4Xh46xka5Um4D7DP_2yAskhFYR6otH_guEgulQv0tnaGhzXFQfz7H6anqsty4LT6-RTyvbZVZG0NpC-N43KfCrUO/s1600-h/IMG_1506.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl7JFlhN4wOBWxTRMPr7MzNtxLWAGBi3YhS-Q0ejQ1NMIwWo5XCrS4Xh46xka5Um4D7DP_2yAskhFYR6otH_guEgulQv0tnaGhzXFQfz7H6anqsty4LT6-RTyvbZVZG0NpC-N43KfCrUO/s320/IMG_1506.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304365322439956242" /></a> These times are approximate. Jonathan did a 3:31, Holly J did a 3:44, Lee did a 3:46, Tim did a 3:52, Tammie did a 3:54, and Heather did a 4:11. Great races for all of them!!! Amazing! John D and Jay B also did the half with me - John pumped out a 1:54 & Jay brought it home with a 2:01! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLhmpW6q4ViwJWbxVZ7NNx0-7VlWuCv27fWzmiMX0PDHoOOVw6zubb7ZHiZfEcGVRChNIV_ptB7t_0EMB6EJ5doVv6VnCeba1es2wHtfJfX17gRTrtgtpnXgm0EBICPQsPv9vlv-pY4bj/s1600-h/mercedes_run+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLhmpW6q4ViwJWbxVZ7NNx0-7VlWuCv27fWzmiMX0PDHoOOVw6zubb7ZHiZfEcGVRChNIV_ptB7t_0EMB6EJ5doVv6VnCeba1es2wHtfJfX17gRTrtgtpnXgm0EBICPQsPv9vlv-pY4bj/s320/mercedes_run+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304365645309244194" /></a><br />When all of our guys got in, Dad and I headed to the free lunch/free beer party, then back to the hotel to pack up and come home! It was such a fun weekend and my 1:45 half mary time made it that much sweeter!<br /><br />Monday when the final results were posted I saw that I had finished 27th out of 275 in my age group! Jonathan placed 6th in his age group and Tammie actually placed 3rd in her age group!!!! Congratulations everyone!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-28045727456446043202009-02-03T21:50:00.018-06:002009-02-03T22:52:59.757-06:00Good Times, good runs, good spins, decent swims... and more good times!I have GOT to start blogging more often so that I don't get so far behind! Ok, just where we left off last Tuesday I attended the 6:30pm advanced spin class taught by the famous instructer, Don.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGr2va7R7iO84VCGk8l4aPl7ylYBNrPLXBO4GM9lVGQAQNCK1nWbC_kyphowUJq4EInCL9mrsg6aPPsG4uveNW1NdvMdmN-MVHwSYbBFflopMXRg9C8YkHgW5XgIlJkq6xhdACFIu3vXJ/s1600-h/spinning_6.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGr2va7R7iO84VCGk8l4aPl7ylYBNrPLXBO4GM9lVGQAQNCK1nWbC_kyphowUJq4EInCL9mrsg6aPPsG4uveNW1NdvMdmN-MVHwSYbBFflopMXRg9C8YkHgW5XgIlJkq6xhdACFIu3vXJ/s320/spinning_6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298786534606955298" /></a>\ What a class! Ten minutes into it, I was dripping sweat from my chin and we never let up! The music is just awesome - you can really get the most of out spin with the right music.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxMnjFau5r_U7XSOTNeeE2BUx4Ph4sx9M36K94IyZNuRawA-9cdaTSbt45tFhe_d_n1x77uz-IqEBGErprLy0F2TE24_Gj8a_sIquelOrxSDiiGkcvSGRQ2dxzUyC0qrqya8_aDrNJU5d/s1600-h/spinning_7.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxMnjFau5r_U7XSOTNeeE2BUx4Ph4sx9M36K94IyZNuRawA-9cdaTSbt45tFhe_d_n1x77uz-IqEBGErprLy0F2TE24_Gj8a_sIquelOrxSDiiGkcvSGRQ2dxzUyC0qrqya8_aDrNJU5d/s320/spinning_7.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298786956836735282" /></a> I did some weights and lunges before and after the class, and enough abs that I am STILL sore from them - a week later. I never workout my abs and boy can I tell! I feel like I've broken a few ribs! Wednesday night I ran 5 miles on the treadmill and then attended the master's swim class again. I really enjoyed the class and felt like I was making some progress. There are still a few moments during each class that I will be swimming along and all of the sudden I will get a real PANIC feeling - like I am smothering under the water and can't hear, can't breathe and just feel like I need to BAIL!!! It's so unnatural. Swimming is for fish - not humans. I just HAPPEN to require oxygen for crying outloud. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tC_COtIg1dBW4VuOWTm9M9fxV0Bl4NWknajAE2rKcO5WinlT9QxQf0NV7fZ5j8ErINUUCKXxAzGluqHpjalOjo0Hjuxr6bTcKWGG6CBybW1Ksu3WJADenMiFcmDEDTfIly6f34O-bIQd/s1600-h/wingers.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tC_COtIg1dBW4VuOWTm9M9fxV0Bl4NWknajAE2rKcO5WinlT9QxQf0NV7fZ5j8ErINUUCKXxAzGluqHpjalOjo0Hjuxr6bTcKWGG6CBybW1Ksu3WJADenMiFcmDEDTfIly6f34O-bIQd/s320/wingers.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298788733594343490" /></a>After swim class it was Winger's Wednesday - and you know what that means. "Triathlets gone Wild." Several of us met at Manchester's finest new establishment for wings and drinks. What better way to wind down for the evening? Thursday I did nothing in anticipation for the group run at 3:45am Friday morning. Everyone who is going to Birmingham had 14 miles to cover. Holly only had 10 - just because I am in my own world and not thinking of Birmingham Mercedes Mary. So, I rise outta bed at 3:15, and meet everyone at 3:45. We covered almost 8 miles before we got back to our original meeting spot where we met Ros. Well, that means I have 2 more to go. Everyone starts telling me I can push on and just do the 14 with them... I'm like "No way guys... 10 is good enough." Somehow, someway I ended up going on for the 14. Am I that easily persuaded, even in pain? What is wrong with me? LOL. And this run happened to be my best run of all times I do believe. 14 miles in 1:57, which was an 8:22 overall pace. Un-freakin-believable for a chik like me. I don't run that fast. I am a 9 min girl. On a good day :-) I gave it just about all I had - not to mention the HILLS!!! I owe it to the great people I was running with to push me!! Thank you, Tim, Holly, Heather, Tammie, Lee, Lana, Jonathon. I was PUMPED all day long about it... and my hip flexor felt broken along with a few blisters on my feet. 14 miles is my longest run since CMM last year. I was so on top of the world! <br /><br />But after work my world got sleepy..... and I had to come home and crash!! I took a 2.5 hour napper and it was total bliss! I got up and Jamie and I went out and found a little fun to dabble into.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWfcgQVK5caKcZdv33sb2_uITnZ-0ah36HFIpfanceGHLSSL9qWCKy6Lr1DHjyg25QsVV5S58wYsi65Wee8DYKCFxs4zk51sBoXK1efMMLnn8-iU9h1KNxMrQemkLBgWRoQodeOiH51-U/s1600-h/Random+018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWfcgQVK5caKcZdv33sb2_uITnZ-0ah36HFIpfanceGHLSSL9qWCKy6Lr1DHjyg25QsVV5S58wYsi65Wee8DYKCFxs4zk51sBoXK1efMMLnn8-iU9h1KNxMrQemkLBgWRoQodeOiH51-U/s320/Random+018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298792399482364978" /></a><br /><br />I slept until 1pm on Saturday!!! Well.. my phone was blowing up so I didn't sleep continuously till 1pm, but mostly. Ahhh... can't get enough :-) Got up and headed for the pool. I swam 1500 yds - half of it freestyle and half of it pull with paddles. Then I headed upstairs for about 25 min of weights and lunges. I was surprised my legs would lunge even one time after Friday's unexpected 14 mile run, but they never even really got sore? Weird?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrZKuQVjIjSC_WymfqLjL1DjFdH0Cr4e1DMHQNaUyatwLfx1LqtHnnUoEmAzXLkf_9VCg90Fz08oT5AaVx-FVLxszeKATmPbZMBZjJqgWEMEKIfhO90dnRC4IBuCq-K97tf0g_zV3frzD/s1600-h/martini.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrZKuQVjIjSC_WymfqLjL1DjFdH0Cr4e1DMHQNaUyatwLfx1LqtHnnUoEmAzXLkf_9VCg90Fz08oT5AaVx-FVLxszeKATmPbZMBZjJqgWEMEKIfhO90dnRC4IBuCq-K97tf0g_zV3frzD/s320/martini.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298797524191958738" /></a>Saturday night rolls around and it's a little bitta shopping for the girls, little bitta Outbacker and martinis for the girls - and little bitta roosta for the girls. But hot diggity-dog... I ran into so many people I went to college with and even some of my running buddies! Hell I even found a long-lost cousin's ex in there! It was fantastic! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty7B-0I3ThlAyRdLmzko_OJTq-i_TG-D-Ro7WQ2W5DbqMuI4B3Y0v0GQAPylOF2adxuYje1JtuFS4y1X2MfTLpVwEAr2SVFUABN2O16uFe1tRxHjn5BY8Zw06eAKJRimnIoMoR46vFkcs/s1600-h/rooster08.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty7B-0I3ThlAyRdLmzko_OJTq-i_TG-D-Ro7WQ2W5DbqMuI4B3Y0v0GQAPylOF2adxuYje1JtuFS4y1X2MfTLpVwEAr2SVFUABN2O16uFe1tRxHjn5BY8Zw06eAKJRimnIoMoR46vFkcs/s400/rooster08.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298794237119359794" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaskd4UNoOzIwYuKZ9g6a3J81s4B78-jPrSZglDPHx3hldriC14VoDzpxHPiLbokooAI3vlplrUfZq1apCNZX0qKkEx7Ycge2FAD0-HKa3CAWNv5uOl5R-3opwMj5yaJpIs3ClA7dihJoX/s1600-h/rooster+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaskd4UNoOzIwYuKZ9g6a3J81s4B78-jPrSZglDPHx3hldriC14VoDzpxHPiLbokooAI3vlplrUfZq1apCNZX0qKkEx7Ycge2FAD0-HKa3CAWNv5uOl5R-3opwMj5yaJpIs3ClA7dihJoX/s400/rooster+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298794507777238370" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96i8qKFbnGPyR1emL4o7XdJVmjW5TRM1-w6YNVx15QZLZcIwDQxENkzBF2WNIaz8Gp-zgnWdhp9LTRTs7ezKnRMFiMY_BtSpIwKP09vUJy_7UNclw0QFZhMCcZJRbruCZT0586NMOrycF/s1600-h/rooster+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96i8qKFbnGPyR1emL4o7XdJVmjW5TRM1-w6YNVx15QZLZcIwDQxENkzBF2WNIaz8Gp-zgnWdhp9LTRTs7ezKnRMFiMY_BtSpIwKP09vUJy_7UNclw0QFZhMCcZJRbruCZT0586NMOrycF/s400/rooster+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298794908484642674" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGrUkGjaLqEonm2VOhFwUcU3hCgiVtcuF38U7lhpmXPPm27Zo8YA9loIxFRPofo2U93IgDmPUbyihmhIVmy5nehJshyphenhyphenyCKo4VuJMl5aIzE3bjdYt5OTx6rNPH5kx1tnPCec-b12891cac/s1600-h/rooster+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGrUkGjaLqEonm2VOhFwUcU3hCgiVtcuF38U7lhpmXPPm27Zo8YA9loIxFRPofo2U93IgDmPUbyihmhIVmy5nehJshyphenhyphenyCKo4VuJMl5aIzE3bjdYt5OTx6rNPH5kx1tnPCec-b12891cac/s400/rooster+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298795178258957874" /></a> This was a really late/early morning for us!!! Which brings us to Sunday for mountain biking. Several of us met out at the base and rode. The weather was amazing and we met some new people from Hermitage. This made me want to go back for more!! The trail was in great shape except for one muddy section. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimV-eUV2Fm-4oH8nAz4uv4cB41J63j5iXihH-DuQMHvc1Z9cy0agMe7gMdAi8B_8PmYqUScGwVyWn9ArMgvvRl-axxwvDWj3I4S_hwTOQ8gXQB-J6HAyCb821TfsImJElIxVoQWqMhLefY/s1600-h/m_biking+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimV-eUV2Fm-4oH8nAz4uv4cB41J63j5iXihH-DuQMHvc1Z9cy0agMe7gMdAi8B_8PmYqUScGwVyWn9ArMgvvRl-axxwvDWj3I4S_hwTOQ8gXQB-J6HAyCb821TfsImJElIxVoQWqMhLefY/s320/m_biking+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298795752693034626" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH_Xhnn59-J22FQNzzqwevgP73h7cNwM_h3Bzj7b20A8Bd5CsSxkOkWLFLhf3tUTBpeenynfBsaaXP3iApmcTaVAbU-VL6uwA-KgRo01AdIqBTSP5MrPpIrPC3wlc4uFi0L2k-EV3S2pi/s1600-h/m_biking+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH_Xhnn59-J22FQNzzqwevgP73h7cNwM_h3Bzj7b20A8Bd5CsSxkOkWLFLhf3tUTBpeenynfBsaaXP3iApmcTaVAbU-VL6uwA-KgRo01AdIqBTSP5MrPpIrPC3wlc4uFi0L2k-EV3S2pi/s320/m_biking+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298796633808403266" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrjPgnOwQeYwJzJSx0_yw26mTQc0glIgzhGTLfpu_-Tqope2hwZE2RmTn79PsS6MKBwSSqFAN89MOlMIyigEiE955x4cTLE4Q-9HAZ4K4QLm3nTu3EERJlDaMG71e-j2em8It4g2MFQbJ/s1600-h/m_biking+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrjPgnOwQeYwJzJSx0_yw26mTQc0glIgzhGTLfpu_-Tqope2hwZE2RmTn79PsS6MKBwSSqFAN89MOlMIyigEiE955x4cTLE4Q-9HAZ4K4QLm3nTu3EERJlDaMG71e-j2em8It4g2MFQbJ/s320/m_biking+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298797232590540354" /></a><br /><br />Superbowl Sunday, here we come. We went to two different parties. Party 2, we crashed hard. Jay and Tammie were the gracious hosts in their beautiful home and I'm telling ya what - they did it up RIGHT! It was "triathletes gone wild" all over again except it was escalated a bit this time! :-) It was good times for all - and ya know... there's something special about people who you can suffer with on long runs or rides and then turn around and party with. I love it! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubHNWn0eAHc79tst1e1bXWpQCGr3NKivcxKTpZHGtikPM6pdbkeBqffPUpRJGdsc8soaxmkgWEvGEpxZV_qrPx8VtF8bNNKv3AZvWHcX0IHJB_hc-WvfSm0pS0ineZBerzJTodghG83-6/s1600-h/superbowl4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubHNWn0eAHc79tst1e1bXWpQCGr3NKivcxKTpZHGtikPM6pdbkeBqffPUpRJGdsc8soaxmkgWEvGEpxZV_qrPx8VtF8bNNKv3AZvWHcX0IHJB_hc-WvfSm0pS0ineZBerzJTodghG83-6/s320/superbowl4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298799403661335490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUD4G2eySbswbBq1bAtoq-Jfc2tbpTkkWdx6ZjeJLwCAuan3IPTOhte-RPUSiIS96ze97wlO87wO2Nu2aQYy-7AzI1bAE5UWgVifgYGSSmuFBWP0H_slWOFpHHrncZDBISlkhPz1QMIGa/s1600-h/superbowl6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUD4G2eySbswbBq1bAtoq-Jfc2tbpTkkWdx6ZjeJLwCAuan3IPTOhte-RPUSiIS96ze97wlO87wO2Nu2aQYy-7AzI1bAE5UWgVifgYGSSmuFBWP0H_slWOFpHHrncZDBISlkhPz1QMIGa/s320/superbowl6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298799812481519922" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJj71_87vxRkUJscByHg99BWdSHT8Bbay3Ulh-UNeO0VWttVKHumV8M9R2r0uz9Hm1CwfzlCCZktamD8PfMhE7Oer3_ChIZs6s8o5ZF8tLzdQtyH8o8jpp499NQNBDUdOqXh0nS763HgpT/s1600-h/superbowl10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJj71_87vxRkUJscByHg99BWdSHT8Bbay3Ulh-UNeO0VWttVKHumV8M9R2r0uz9Hm1CwfzlCCZktamD8PfMhE7Oer3_ChIZs6s8o5ZF8tLzdQtyH8o8jpp499NQNBDUdOqXh0nS763HgpT/s320/superbowl10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298799977365591426" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTTNYpLPMy4maTA47KyYN8PBIDiRJdWF-e8VFw7NKRqikrckge4jIsgIunQfdEp8-PBXUhlb4zWMPWV4alwotUKSWfgyueSmhSOIDguDxugZ_sEr5OkWq92xDrYNZ6JUq4zpz17tbgmpB/s1600-h/superbowl11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTTNYpLPMy4maTA47KyYN8PBIDiRJdWF-e8VFw7NKRqikrckge4jIsgIunQfdEp8-PBXUhlb4zWMPWV4alwotUKSWfgyueSmhSOIDguDxugZ_sEr5OkWq92xDrYNZ6JUq4zpz17tbgmpB/s320/superbowl11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298800159130369458" /></a><br /><br />This morning the news came out for the Bonnaroo lineup. I have been anxiously waiting - since June 2008. lol. Looks like it's gonna be pretty decent but not Pink Floyd like I hoped. Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Beastie Boys but the best part is -- MERLE HAGGARD! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! :-)Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-76801819076987423782009-01-25T19:44:00.017-06:002009-01-25T22:08:47.063-06:00Turning up the heat again!I'm ba---aaaack :-) Wow. Where do I start? First, let me say it's good to be back. I hate it when I skip about a month of blogging and then so much has happened that I haven't a clue of what is most important or the most entertaining to blog about. At any rate, I'll try to condense it all down into the quick version or at least the things that I can somewhat remember.<br /><br />The new year was pretty good. I've had better and I've had worse :-/ I won the Flash's Bowls contest for the college bowl games this year.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2gS6t3_GNoK2cAzpil2BEng_M2j5TOW2vh1gB-AwRhgK3VX_F11GoyqHA6RT1QfrCfaufru5sIpuRzZwFyOt-bk2FKEceUi1osXNwcZHJdpCaB8ZnKA0-FKungRnyXLjhV5DxWUBNaNN/s1600-h/misc+009.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2gS6t3_GNoK2cAzpil2BEng_M2j5TOW2vh1gB-AwRhgK3VX_F11GoyqHA6RT1QfrCfaufru5sIpuRzZwFyOt-bk2FKEceUi1osXNwcZHJdpCaB8ZnKA0-FKungRnyXLjhV5DxWUBNaNN/s200/misc+009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295436634804599378" /></a> I have never even placed in the top 10 of this contest and somehow I guess the bowl god's saw it fit to drop that $535 plus the crown right, down into my hands this year. I am greatful! What do I do with the? Hmmm... lots of ideas. Vegas? Time trial bike? XBox plus Rock Band? Save it? I dunno.... it will be used fashionably well regardless :-)<br /><br />The Masters Swim program kicked off at the rec 2 weeks ago. This is fuuuuun! I am improving quite a bit and learning a lot about form and slowly making some progress. I like it because it is sure to get me in the pool a minimum of twice per week.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxxPT3NPjM2hy3V0UDYNxLECYc5NOVnpaZ1YE5tAiiryGW2gRkipgL0I0rf-qbxauqGOIk86-2xdr6FbKMaQUGBiXOXIgfNgC8-hWflEObYSllPX464suI7kBuJ0VOfh4zz6hTxKoxudM/s1600-h/Swim_Team.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxxPT3NPjM2hy3V0UDYNxLECYc5NOVnpaZ1YE5tAiiryGW2gRkipgL0I0rf-qbxauqGOIk86-2xdr6FbKMaQUGBiXOXIgfNgC8-hWflEObYSllPX464suI7kBuJ0VOfh4zz6hTxKoxudM/s320/Swim_Team.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295417197210133778" /></a> Now if I can just keep from getting lapped multiple times in the Ironman Lane!!! lol. Another fun aspect of this activity involves going out for dinner and drinks with my fantastic swim buddies on Wed nights. The people who I train with are so awesome. They are not only training partners, but they are friends and almost feel like family to me. They encourage me so much and I appreciate that so much! It's like they have never given up on me.... thanks guys :-) The encouraging emails, text messages, & phone calls have meant the world to me. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cofQHXx-teBHYX_3QrgF6HBxxbovNTRMCrmYmVfT_DlHfJmx61XYQ79diV0OwL8CChD-AUpEUhlK70QdMlKK4k0Men8CG74NRrFApCqtlhAFkRsXFBNXNHJBiSj_MYZot15fMDSkDBJ1/s1600-h/Riddle+_Party+024.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cofQHXx-teBHYX_3QrgF6HBxxbovNTRMCrmYmVfT_DlHfJmx61XYQ79diV0OwL8CChD-AUpEUhlK70QdMlKK4k0Men8CG74NRrFApCqtlhAFkRsXFBNXNHJBiSj_MYZot15fMDSkDBJ1/s320/Riddle+_Party+024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295422057955344418" /></a>Dylana & Jamie - thank you for all that you know you have done. All the late nights and early mornings! ha! And last but not least, Bethany has been there. She has SOOO been there.<br /><br />I have not done as little as you might think. Overall, I have stayed pretty consistent. Not neccesarily gaining, but not losing either. I think there was about 1 week right around Christmas when I didn't do a thing, but other than that I have tried to get in 2-4 runs per week, a swim or two here and there and 1 or 2 trainer rides per week. I have GOT to get on my mountain bike. I am starting to crave it and Leslie is going to help me get there :-) This past week was one of my best week's so far. Sunday was a 6.5 mile run with my peeps.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKt15VHzS2yIl3wMVtnLO4W6m4SGES4gjikwwP6Tex2wgyyutOBeCJkHTEqRD3bMgbcvNR4feeVMFEfuQePTXHt8j4ed_AripbGsJbEJqh4gA8LxsGkmwAuBHZh_29Vz5-MzNanheGsXr/s1600-h/Running_group.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKt15VHzS2yIl3wMVtnLO4W6m4SGES4gjikwwP6Tex2wgyyutOBeCJkHTEqRD3bMgbcvNR4feeVMFEfuQePTXHt8j4ed_AripbGsJbEJqh4gA8LxsGkmwAuBHZh_29Vz5-MzNanheGsXr/s320/Running_group.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295423406202102162" /></a> Most of them are training for the Birmingham marathon and did 20-22, but Leslie and I are not - so we opted for a 6.5 mile out and back. Good run! I needed it!!!! Then I went in to the rec and swam for about 40 minutes. Monday I did a 40 minute trainer ride, then onto Masters swim for the evening. Tuesday - nothing but rest. I needed that too! Wednesday I ran 4.5 miles, then onto master's swim, then onto dinner and drinks with the group. Good times!!! Thursday I did a 4 mile run at lunch and Friday morning I broke my record. The earliest I have ever met this hard core group of friends for a run is 4am. Well I met them at 3:30am Friday morning. They did 16, and dropped me off at the rec at 8.33 miles at an 8:50 pace. Wow - they really push me! I am always close to 9 min miles give or take 10-20 seconds if I run solo. I pushed hard to stay with them! This was my longest run in probably 2-3 months. I even went into the rec and busted out 2/3 of a lap of lunges around the track and a very very few arm weights. I gotta get goin on that - before you know it, April will be here and my sleeveless shirts will be begging me to lift weights with my arms!<br /><br />So, what is my plan??? Well... it's hard to say. Until I can get a good reading of how my swim is going to turn out it's just difficult to predict or even plan. I am wanting to follow a half ironman training program for the bike and run portions.... and hopefully the swim will follow suit - but obviously I have a LOT of improving to do before I can even fathom the idea of doing an open water swim - much less in the ocean. So, my plans for 2009 just aren't in stone yet. I know I have some goals - and that is good enough for now. I would like to pick my swim up to be able to do a couple of triathlons this year. And the MS 150 Jack and Back. <br /><br />Other mischellaneous items: I went to the Titans playoffs game. Lana and I have had some "fun girls" nights :-) I think I've gained about 3 lbs :-( I've read a really awesome book called "Bounce Back" and have picked back up on the Total Immersion - Triathlon Swimming book. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMVgNIkupeae9bVNvGqUcFSyoc3_kqmeGezUWyNaUMpG9CYXJLUnMJxkjWhGigiW6w1GE9z34Prpxak-Fb7lHfXU4MJASo83959UD-tru2Njonkk7uJ9vi4OxPfdTTAJS7ej35gqyjKMo/s1600-h/misc+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMVgNIkupeae9bVNvGqUcFSyoc3_kqmeGezUWyNaUMpG9CYXJLUnMJxkjWhGigiW6w1GE9z34Prpxak-Fb7lHfXU4MJASo83959UD-tru2Njonkk7uJ9vi4OxPfdTTAJS7ej35gqyjKMo/s320/misc+014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295437094422579906" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5EYLeAet9_eyu-VOdlVUSYpOVDGLeN-Ja13zYdeCQAOmNXM3OpqfDLLDT2DjgzOOPvDjhvdLlEvKaSIgCorZjy_lcXFqOhWkTGVhkznjbPsfMDMgnnUYHx4_LTwLijiwk3UHpfgcWPI9/s1600-h/misc+015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5EYLeAet9_eyu-VOdlVUSYpOVDGLeN-Ja13zYdeCQAOmNXM3OpqfDLLDT2DjgzOOPvDjhvdLlEvKaSIgCorZjy_lcXFqOhWkTGVhkznjbPsfMDMgnnUYHx4_LTwLijiwk3UHpfgcWPI9/s320/misc+015.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295438147465303410" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnR5pjYspMrwZ8OTnBdP81oSl8JEvHtGsehgCU_XJLt6MYkEQkCpVI_pbEswpus-o5qJ_JRfFdVN6iy3S9OAVM78KpiFyGNpLygLQV0nSqm1JyUmiiDU53j5QKJYZTTV4cNhtRhTX3lod/s1600-h/misc+018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnR5pjYspMrwZ8OTnBdP81oSl8JEvHtGsehgCU_XJLt6MYkEQkCpVI_pbEswpus-o5qJ_JRfFdVN6iy3S9OAVM78KpiFyGNpLygLQV0nSqm1JyUmiiDU53j5QKJYZTTV4cNhtRhTX3lod/s320/misc+018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295438566239393314" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIfwJTEb-23u29gw6Y-Uj6BgS11FJmbw8za0cgHvhscOddWCGUkiN22XKFxNDiwePyD-HIjkxyvSHtw76O4Bpgm9cjxBLysYe0FQ1m-qSZOEcW0syN5X4apMWQpQVdBQSz7ZW43kaxdK2/s1600-h/misc+021.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIfwJTEb-23u29gw6Y-Uj6BgS11FJmbw8za0cgHvhscOddWCGUkiN22XKFxNDiwePyD-HIjkxyvSHtw76O4Bpgm9cjxBLysYe0FQ1m-qSZOEcW0syN5X4apMWQpQVdBQSz7ZW43kaxdK2/s320/misc+021.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295439099903300626" /></a> I have considered med school.... and had a lot of other crazy but true ideas. I am learning a lot about myself!! Scary stuff, man :-) Attended the 2009 Mach Tenn/Highland Rimmers Winter party.. And I am having fun! The pictures are worth a thousand words.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0DY7DvActTBtLd1miUoQEY9TErPaLfGSVbzzc3-wm13zBlgbm21fX2JvYCwhKDupyOZI9RFAkNlqAPdI2sUunfIQDFUNntPp3Nl18VqgwU4qq63AyegAOe_rZALjcURUJkIxw_vAHWIj/s1600-h/WP_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0DY7DvActTBtLd1miUoQEY9TErPaLfGSVbzzc3-wm13zBlgbm21fX2JvYCwhKDupyOZI9RFAkNlqAPdI2sUunfIQDFUNntPp3Nl18VqgwU4qq63AyegAOe_rZALjcURUJkIxw_vAHWIj/s400/WP_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295444297529088498" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f0ZxMe0qr-qDE_7ANzymtevBiqGhSh_YLLPiPMCKyccpb-vAJ4re2YK_gYLdJtOtpOepxiPKh0b1GErZfRBEtHW3td9H8SJsXNWqhDEsyGgsuLb6ikxbS2G62CKGTs62RfIM-B4z1zil/s1600-h/WP_8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f0ZxMe0qr-qDE_7ANzymtevBiqGhSh_YLLPiPMCKyccpb-vAJ4re2YK_gYLdJtOtpOepxiPKh0b1GErZfRBEtHW3td9H8SJsXNWqhDEsyGgsuLb6ikxbS2G62CKGTs62RfIM-B4z1zil/s400/WP_8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295445248496836466" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGsLruBR9UJHmIk_KMXxr901ehFZEmTOT1toJBgqBEQC0h2_onwQLbTXERM0MjKbOokZyyxBSE-0vSD4GtIGjpLfc_Npc3s5sRwH-Mh4Mdl7nHSH6sk43OW9Ar29ejugD4WndY6sn5ZsZ/s1600-h/WP_6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGsLruBR9UJHmIk_KMXxr901ehFZEmTOT1toJBgqBEQC0h2_onwQLbTXERM0MjKbOokZyyxBSE-0vSD4GtIGjpLfc_Npc3s5sRwH-Mh4Mdl7nHSH6sk43OW9Ar29ejugD4WndY6sn5ZsZ/s400/WP_6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295445043719278130" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRjJXBHBNLAHN0vjrhKHwB-xU8iHmiWN7ecXR_oei_k6oxiMi5bDjklOJZqtDQEGDL1OXH42WetCS-tUzrku1QssULz60HCj0SQc0TT5tpu1VrpMzuYj5lUUxearS2NMs13xsigVhvbgt/s1600-h/WP_4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRjJXBHBNLAHN0vjrhKHwB-xU8iHmiWN7ecXR_oei_k6oxiMi5bDjklOJZqtDQEGDL1OXH42WetCS-tUzrku1QssULz60HCj0SQc0TT5tpu1VrpMzuYj5lUUxearS2NMs13xsigVhvbgt/s400/WP_4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295444786474431602" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M1pS3EJ_sCm5K79R5jyZj9-tsFTLldypSNJb4TekdnWf_z56OGma8ttFU4wQtUHpgjhbncllJLtDBXSLK0ABiZawfHt-0jo4LOHNmT0KwZzkJHn4kCVwuALIfHsDKn4qZ3K7B0GB_J78/s1600-h/WP_24.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M1pS3EJ_sCm5K79R5jyZj9-tsFTLldypSNJb4TekdnWf_z56OGma8ttFU4wQtUHpgjhbncllJLtDBXSLK0ABiZawfHt-0jo4LOHNmT0KwZzkJHn4kCVwuALIfHsDKn4qZ3K7B0GB_J78/s400/WP_24.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295447372580182914" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlxMo8CKWVq6j6kngzjn3uLENoSELWtow_OtAen6PfMwTp0iQs6-5jFbj3YrxKc97VlEIgNk_RJ7-VyNTkc55Q5_6Ib4dm7gmVZc_Os0b00ST3bv0jGxvoNFgIGs6rlSZjQzluEyIkGOv/s1600-h/WP_20.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1Aco534aZuGWBoeLQdfQE0s84G9tempZNez-LNRQV1a2IFp5dSMD0sTGiOZDZRBAW32FrWlPTr5L-SJSPHr0ajVIif3pMijmilOxqj7TXywDbBA65rYzeLPDz6hXbkIOVzEQVrTlC0Yc/s400/WP_11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295446823588955474" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGv9h3I7zrnqGWNTvRx4r3BB0YdOM5lBNnDr2XT_pu130i0Z_ZbrrehxF_rYyEHTRuuJKyINZOjEuocuU1eHf6l3_R49y-4uHfqwB5yMEcVAy3EuiilDwVBPAeWnqWU4YbY7BbcDQyyBi/s1600-h/WP_9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGv9h3I7zrnqGWNTvRx4r3BB0YdOM5lBNnDr2XT_pu130i0Z_ZbrrehxF_rYyEHTRuuJKyINZOjEuocuU1eHf6l3_R49y-4uHfqwB5yMEcVAy3EuiilDwVBPAeWnqWU4YbY7BbcDQyyBi/s400/WP_9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295446272693183426" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYxjyv1zCVPGVb-XXVkMbVMEKvw6FGsOtLROr2W4aWtCmeNeAYkHqeu8sRoGmLBDRCySbVPH97hyvz2Fg1NASttzD8Xw-6FiamnvIfp8OwS2eY_MqCdH3mUTg6xR9lfO_Grre1ljXzI5e/s1600-h/WP_19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYxjyv1zCVPGVb-XXVkMbVMEKvw6FGsOtLROr2W4aWtCmeNeAYkHqeu8sRoGmLBDRCySbVPH97hyvz2Fg1NASttzD8Xw-6FiamnvIfp8OwS2eY_MqCdH3mUTg6xR9lfO_Grre1ljXzI5e/s400/WP_19.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295449328667820082" /></a>Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-9119069498750592122008-12-22T01:21:00.003-06:002008-12-22T02:14:35.740-06:00"Compassion is the basis of all morality." Arthur SchopenhauerEach & everyone of us makes mistakes daily. We all mess up. We don't always have good intentions. We say things to hurt. We even do things to hurt. We have feelings and those feelings get stepped on. Therefore, we are vengeful. We get our hearts broken. We are a self-seeking society. We make poor decisions. We don't always learn from mistakes & we add to those poor decisions. How do we get off-track? What gets us in these situations? We are human. We are SO imperfect. We are SO undeserving. We walk this earth with our hands and our hearts extended out. We always want more. Our hearts long to be loved by people who are never capable of loving. While all of these things seem disheartening, it's dropping to another level below any kind of general mistakes or bad attitudes. <br /><br />This world is changing, my friends. Anything goes. Literally - anything. I am having a hard time adjusting to this. Commitments & promises have lost all value. Standards & morals are practically non-existent. Devilish offers & invitations are gladly accepted among those whom you would never imagine. Those who are closest to you. It is gut-wrenching. People you love turn against you and scrape below the surface of the earth. Betrayal & rejection are two emotions that way too many good people here in this world are getting double-doses of. Does anyone have any self-value?<br /><br />It seems as if everything is changing all around us. Perhaps it seems abundantly clear to me because of some of the circumstances I have (unfortunately) been exposed to. But as Jake & I were just discussing last night, "What ever happened to morality?" Could you guys help me out and explain what EVER happened to morality? Why are the most immoral acts to mankind suddenly acceptable & popular? When did people simply become objects? What happened to respect & compassion? What makes us think we can abuse what God has so graciously blessed us with? If you can't find any self-respect, where is your pride? There is absolutely no shame. Discouraging, to say the least.Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-14736316088250247972008-12-03T17:58:00.005-06:002008-12-03T18:31:07.389-06:00The more I'm around people, the more I like dogs!Well... today is a special day! It's Hattie's 3rd birthday. I have had such a great 3 years with her and this sounds silly, but I can't imagine not having her. She continues to be such a blessing in my life & I am very thankful to be her owner!! She has been an angel to me in a lot of different little ways.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidNWeaKuaXHaQsu56xiHwFohOswixrRA3Z5anzRXvJop3Dkyh6y6y64RJuPFm9USRahyphenhyphenIaNPeMs082-wE5vKAhlKHH_ibpgR2Qm2vOrSl4XOKGEeDaB8rfGyNylZT5eFwRL44BkWexiQd/s1600-h/hattie_bday.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidNWeaKuaXHaQsu56xiHwFohOswixrRA3Z5anzRXvJop3Dkyh6y6y64RJuPFm9USRahyphenhyphenIaNPeMs082-wE5vKAhlKHH_ibpgR2Qm2vOrSl4XOKGEeDaB8rfGyNylZT5eFwRL44BkWexiQd/s400/hattie_bday.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275722356835291858" /></a> After the loss of Wrigley, I have been even MORE aware of how much I enjoy her. Even when it's annoying to make sure she's gone out enough, make sure she has food & water, etc.... it's still fun. It's fun because I love her. And isn't that what life is REALLY all about? I enjoy loving. It's just me. It gets me in trouble sometimes because it isn't always reciprocated back..... and that's when another life lesson is learned. At the end of each day/week/month/year I think the pro's of this "hang-up" of mine should probably outweigh the cons. So, I'm just gonna keep on loving. Cause that's who I am. Right or wrong, different or indifferent, painful or easy, strong or weak - I can't change who I am. How's that? :-)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk5ZE5_4YkffxuwVSrGmHOkxs3AglNaap25AL3Zj9bwEQl2WI_PMfj9Cjb5txF64MRb0ATaKvjMOzXNn14gsHQoTOH0BScRCLS0jYeGpW8B8zeKRJU5-Knj3z3vGbSI0fZNPqFrOtAbey/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk5ZE5_4YkffxuwVSrGmHOkxs3AglNaap25AL3Zj9bwEQl2WI_PMfj9Cjb5txF64MRb0ATaKvjMOzXNn14gsHQoTOH0BScRCLS0jYeGpW8B8zeKRJU5-Knj3z3vGbSI0fZNPqFrOtAbey/s400/Thanksgiving+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275722828359046786" /></a><br />So, I'm starting to notice a difference in the lifeguards when I walk into the pool area. They don't seem so stressed and worried anymore. Today is the first day that the lifeguard did not put on his/her whistle, grab the enlarged hotdog looking float & climb up in his chair. He actually sat in a regular office chair in front of the office & didn't seem to be in the "ready" position! LOL. That means somebody must be makin progress!!!!!!!!!!!! Woot! Woot!! Why can't I have this lifeguard?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrwWd2TA1ZxP0i9F0JNGL7-ZX8jKzo2hIs46gPnbLnMENLNEzLdiLr_9Ap_kysXC8FxSMbCuxJUxK0wJcI7IHWcFle044HOfNYmMZjuuI8TJrN_aX3k8QFgnaf2s7_YbIROeRfuPG_Y8F/s1600-h/guardlyingonside%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrwWd2TA1ZxP0i9F0JNGL7-ZX8jKzo2hIs46gPnbLnMENLNEzLdiLr_9Ap_kysXC8FxSMbCuxJUxK0wJcI7IHWcFle044HOfNYmMZjuuI8TJrN_aX3k8QFgnaf2s7_YbIROeRfuPG_Y8F/s400/guardlyingonside%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275724105355530114" /></a> I bet I'd never get any better because I'd be so distracted. LOL.<br /><br />Monday I ran 4 miles on the treadmill, then swam for 25 minutes. This was my best swim so far. Not that any of them are worth saying I am actually continuously swimming, but as far as me surviving - my survival rate was highest on this day. Tuesday I slept a little later and got my workout in at lunch. I ran 6 miles in 51:48 at an 8:38 pace. This morning I got up at 4:50, got on my trainer and did a tough 1 hour ride, then threw on my swimsuit, packed my work clothes & headed to the pool for a 30 minute swim. I only swam 700 yards, BUT I am getting more comfortable each time. I am not scared to death anymore & I am actually anxious to see improvement. Still..... stopping between each lap. :-( I've got to figure out a way to swim the RIGHT way to where I am not smoked after 50 yds. To the best of my knowledge, there is no triathlon with just a 50 yard swim!<br /><br />Tomorrow I plan to do a 5 mile run & then on Friday I want to do nothing but a 1 hour swim before work. This may be where I see great improvement! Well - that's what I'm hoping for!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-5530321570861922862008-11-30T21:17:00.003-06:002008-11-30T22:41:24.207-06:00Thanksgiving '08 - Food, Poker, Shopping & SwimmingThe Sain family seems to be recovering from their loss of Wrigley. It has not been easy though. Wrigley will always live in our hearts. I will continue to pray for them.<br /><br />Overall, this has been a lighter week for me. Now for the play-by-play...<br /><br />Monday morning I got up and did a 1 hour trainer ride before work. Afterwards, I tried to mix in some squats instead of lunges to see if I could work some different muscles. I did 40 squats, but felt no soreness at all the next day :-/ I finished out the day at work & Hattie & I headed out to my parents' and spent the night! I don't think we have ever done that before!! I was so exhausted I passed out into one of the deepest sleeps ever by 10pm!! Early for me!<br /><br />Tuesday morning I got up & headed for the rec. I bundled up in my cold gear & fleece & did a very very very frigid & stiff 5 mile run through town. Geez - it was frigggggin cold!!!! I was hating it, to be honest. Then the hard part was next. Convincing my frozen body to move towards the door of the rec center & jump in the pool. Thank God the water was warmer than normal!! I didn't have a lot of time, but I managed to get in 25 minutes, and that is 25 minutes of much needed time in the water. Better than zero minutes. This time I only did 2 laps of 1-arm drills & the rest I swam. It went pretty darn well considering how terrible I am! I am not as afraid anymore. This is the girl who (3 weeks ago) would not swim past the shallow end. At this point - Holly Jane is surviving in the pool! :-))) It is nothing short of a miracle. I promise! Ask <a href="http://lanasmarathonjourney.blogspot.com">Lana</a>! I am the one who is too embarrased of signing up even for a beginner class. My idea of swimming has always been floating around in shoulder deep water with a float in one hand & a frosty beverage in the other. Freestyle has never been in my future. But today is a new day :-) I still do not claim to be an actual "swimmer," so you guys don't get your hopes up. I'm just in the water!! lol. Lana & I went to Jack's for lunch & had a good hearty vegetable lunch! Yummm... That night momma came over & we cooked green bean casseroles & chess pies for Thanksgiving. It was fun for both of us!!!<br /><br />Wednesday morning I went into work early so that I wouldn't be there all evening on Thanksgiving Eve. At lunchtime Lana joined me for a 6 mile run. I had planned to do lunges & remembered at 3:00 that afternoon while sitting at work. Darn. Oh well - it's technically Thanksgiving. Skip them.<br /><br />On Turkey day I slept until about 9am, & we all gathered at my parents' for good times & good food!! I felt as if I could eat, and eat, and eat.... and never stop. This was my official rest day. I soaked it up & by taking a nap & then playing poker that night. Fun!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdIJHI08dTJVr626ZSNJARK1_rGVQi-ZBlhXX7TspfT0UDOMaLDQvIsYJwJ4qunttQNwqR6TZOVF8mhUBFZOUfzqHNpnn8anwkk8eFJMyxfDO4lGCTsuXzwe7TuGqtS9XmgroX802e1RM/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdIJHI08dTJVr626ZSNJARK1_rGVQi-ZBlhXX7TspfT0UDOMaLDQvIsYJwJ4qunttQNwqR6TZOVF8mhUBFZOUfzqHNpnn8anwkk8eFJMyxfDO4lGCTsuXzwe7TuGqtS9XmgroX802e1RM/s400/Thanksgiving+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274676906316970434" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzC8DbcjNt7bDca0tPGAgOLghgYZzZN4f0ge6JUOzc8jeGcoVUJtLsAy7OkYnpGSfmVvfSXCMniizrFxktNRrkWizI7AENI8surARpGDNLRSQ9irbAkuHbGFuyGIqIGTBw0YaNYQF6GTC/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzC8DbcjNt7bDca0tPGAgOLghgYZzZN4f0ge6JUOzc8jeGcoVUJtLsAy7OkYnpGSfmVvfSXCMniizrFxktNRrkWizI7AENI8surARpGDNLRSQ9irbAkuHbGFuyGIqIGTBw0YaNYQF6GTC/s400/Thanksgiving+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274676469151259346" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz57aO6rk2YcyiRa-c4vZ1pV0wlminKlprcA3gDmZVMOeH7yn1fsUoUTarMOtw955JI-Cl16upk58S56Gi2My2rYpOaHW2zN3345hwEfr2qSIiUSP6Ay7aJxrqucybUmZctT83pVEHc6a/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz57aO6rk2YcyiRa-c4vZ1pV0wlminKlprcA3gDmZVMOeH7yn1fsUoUTarMOtw955JI-Cl16upk58S56Gi2My2rYpOaHW2zN3345hwEfr2qSIiUSP6Ay7aJxrqucybUmZctT83pVEHc6a/s400/Thanksgiving+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274676191588417922" /></a><br /><br />Friday afternoon I got up at like.... 12 noon. LOL. And I got on my trainer & rode for 1:15 - I guess I added the extra 15 minutes to burn off that extra 1500 calories I took in. :-/ Then I did 4 sets of 10 pushups. And I can still feel those 4 sets in my back, shoulders & around my armpits! That means I need to do them much more often. That evening I met <a href="http://runbethyrun.blogspot.com/">Bethany </a>at O'Charley's for beverages. Then to Lana's for more poker!<br /><br />So, Saturday afternoon (yep I did it again) Hattie actually beat me out of bed! Now that is bad. Finally at 1:00pm she came and sat on the couch. That's embarrasing!!! Even the dog couldn't stand it any longer. lol. So, I managed to throw on some workout clothes, pack a swimsuit & towel & literally forced myself to the rec. This was one of those days where I tried 100 different ways to convince myself I didn't need to workout. KNOWING in my brain - that I needed it in a million different ways. <a href="http://runbethyrun.blogspot.com/">Bethany </a>messaged me the following: "4 miles in 48 minutes!" Way to ROCK it girl! Ok, Holly get your boo-tay UP & stop feeling sorry for yourself! A million beats a hundred & so I found myself on a treadmill running 5 miles in 47:20. I did about 15 minutes of upper body weights & scooted on down to the locker room where I changed into my swimsuit. I swam for 30 minutes. I saw a slight improvement again. That is my 9th trip to the pool. After taking a shower, I headed to the boro and somehow managed to spend $580 at the Avenue. Geez....... dangerous shopping trip!!!!<br /><br />Lana gave me the book "Total Immersion - Triathlon Swimming Made Easy." I read 5 chapters the first day. That is unheard of for me!!! I get bored reading. It is really good & it's discussing how important balance is. And how you must become "ONE" with the water & swim "slippery." LOL. I'm heading to the rec bright & early in the morning to run & then try this swimming thing again!<br /><br />Hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-4829964164504401122008-11-23T15:58:00.004-06:002008-11-23T17:17:21.312-06:00Hard workouts plus a hard loss :-(Wednesday morning I did my 1 hour trainer ride and 70 lunges befoe work. Thursday morning was another "oportunity" to run and swim. So I took off for a 5 mile run at 5:45am from the rec. 27 degrees. Total time 43:40. I think I was colder on this run than I have been since my 12 mile run in 13 degrees last year. I was all bundled in a fleece boggin, cold gear, fleece vest, gloves, etc... I kept thinking I'd warm up naturally. I'd pick up the pace and there just wasn't an ounce of warmth to be had that day. I have to say that I was miserable the entire time. I was so cold when I finished, I tried to have conversation in the rec with a few people and my mouth and face wouldn't move to allow me to talk. :-/ The last thing I could think about was getting in a pool of water - unless it was hot tub temperature. Well of course - the water had to be cold that day... but I didn't let that stop me. After I did some upper body toning, I got in the pool and swam/drilled/floated for 25 minutes. I headed for the locker room, got a HOT HOT LONG shower and headed onto work.<br /><br />After freezing my butt off on Thursday, it was hard to think about doing a 7 mile run on Friday, especially since everyone kept saying it was the coldest day all year. Oh great. My heart had a major battle with my brain trying to decide if I should go for it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BKewezOdmShYLONmgju8N3Q-JoDT011x8JHwZlStJXgTWifhfA4Y6JQKL4OI0jeT5_MjsDF-dfGXOzYRDBsIJs8ROqLH29ztW2dRM6QyoftqmS3zw7D3TJMgAHfb2lvhs9yzdd_fy_xw/s1600-h/1121081223%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BKewezOdmShYLONmgju8N3Q-JoDT011x8JHwZlStJXgTWifhfA4Y6JQKL4OI0jeT5_MjsDF-dfGXOzYRDBsIJs8ROqLH29ztW2dRM6QyoftqmS3zw7D3TJMgAHfb2lvhs9yzdd_fy_xw/s320/1121081223%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271982006258421490" /></a> I finally decided it was just worth a shot - to keep my sanity. So around 12:30 (lunch) it was 33 degrees but felt like 26. I wore a fleece JACKET instead of vest over my UA and was much more comfortable. I ended up having a really great run because I finally wore my IPOD again. It took me 1:02:13, which comes out to an 8:53 overall pace. I felt alot of peace after getting that out of the way! And for the week that gave me 21 miles of running, a trainer ride and a swim and toning was planned for Saturday.<br /><br />Saturday morning I slept in and it was great!!! I don't understand how anyone could want to get up early on Saturdays. I had a half a serving of oatmeal & headed to the gym. I completed 20 laps in the pool. Here is the breakdown. Laps 1 & 2 were 1 arm drills to focus on staying on my side and my breathing. Then I got into my routine where I'd do a one-arm drill and then swim the next 2. The last 3 laps were swimming and the big news is - Lap #20 was nonstop. Meaning I did not stop when I got to the other end of the pool. I tapped the wall, turned around and kept on trucking! First time for everything and I know that seems so ridiculous but that is a huge accomplishment for me. Mainly - it is the fear that gets me. <br /><br />I changed clothes and went upstairs for 40 minutes of toning. I did a dumbbell routine to work my shoulders, chest, biceps & triceps but I am only using 7 & 10 pound weights. Then I did a lap of lunges around the track (which I am feeling today) and finished up with some light incline, shoulder & rowing. <br /><br />I came home & felt the spirit....... the spirit of Christmas. My tree always makes me smile :-)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDMUJRYiFoOXdL_rhegrv0WAQ1AZ7t5-aWb6Nmz8gFbReWNJcI1c461VWjIqmBB3r1ZmvkIf0Y1eJ69t7185RuaZy2Fh8ANUvehhspLBw1rfpyj6UQjYGwTwhOT6tcoLTYdeeovYkZCL4/s1600-h/1122081550%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDMUJRYiFoOXdL_rhegrv0WAQ1AZ7t5-aWb6Nmz8gFbReWNJcI1c461VWjIqmBB3r1ZmvkIf0Y1eJ69t7185RuaZy2Fh8ANUvehhspLBw1rfpyj6UQjYGwTwhOT6tcoLTYdeeovYkZCL4/s400/1122081550%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271995931076121266" /></a><br /><br />This morning the plan was for me to keep my nephew, Bo while Briar and his dad went to the Titans/Jets game. Lana is in Memphis/Tunica with my parents. I went to pick up Bo at 9am this morning & as I was in the driveway I was debating in my head if we should just take Wrigley (their blonde cocker spaniel - Hattie's best friend) with us for the day. Well... we can... but we are going to eat breakfast & he will have to hang out in the car. Alright, maybe after breakfast we'll run out here and get him.... Bo chooses McDonalds for breakfast & we head onto Walmart. Just as we are trying to find a parking spot, Briar calls from his cell phone. He broke the bad news to us -- Wrigley had just been hit by a car. Oh dear..... my heart is broken. I loved him!!! He decides to come and stay with Bo & I instead of going to the game. So, we are mourning the loss of a very very special part of our family. I took them to Walmart a little later on and we did the "anything you want, you get it" game, then to Wendy's for lunch.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVHWK9YfpNJCEfVmbQLC4E7zVpijiZSgKwFXB8aHT3rnVU7UOeEbtcn5cqP1Kdss67xClplCj1KUWs-huCAuTzZgvekgG2kGgQiXorJ_w2lFBMWEweP6A20QKQSZ1DaaXH8z_XtE6gpEw/s1600-h/Milk_Cookies.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVHWK9YfpNJCEfVmbQLC4E7zVpijiZSgKwFXB8aHT3rnVU7UOeEbtcn5cqP1Kdss67xClplCj1KUWs-huCAuTzZgvekgG2kGgQiXorJ_w2lFBMWEweP6A20QKQSZ1DaaXH8z_XtE6gpEw/s320/Milk_Cookies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271994712546953522" /></a> I feel soooooooooooo sorry for them and I am so sad that we no longer have Wrigley. I'm doing everything I can think of to try and help matters. Milk & cookies always warms the soul....<br /><br />Hattie is doing all she can do....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefRevYp78dsSjb4sld-ILnBEdGMkwIIlyvQ_dpxaYWqp1P7w98DesmYdl0jKLryhiiZllYmRTl3PURMJdSoiHToLIFmZ1OncLdfh3okk_qgtmguh-xyDszcJHf-JuzB8KtoeSEqsXwh50/s1600-h/Hattie_Briar_Bo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefRevYp78dsSjb4sld-ILnBEdGMkwIIlyvQ_dpxaYWqp1P7w98DesmYdl0jKLryhiiZllYmRTl3PURMJdSoiHToLIFmZ1OncLdfh3okk_qgtmguh-xyDszcJHf-JuzB8KtoeSEqsXwh50/s400/Hattie_Briar_Bo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271995255493786914" /></a>Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-1921396635127867062008-11-18T21:37:00.003-06:002008-11-19T07:58:24.518-06:003 Sports?Ok so now that I have challenged myself to get in the pool, I now see how cumbersome it is to try and fit in all 3 sports. Throw in a small amount of toning, and you've got your plate totally full and you feel like nothing but a gym rat. Last week went fabulous - well, most of it - here's the breakdown.<br /><br />Sunday - Holly Jane's first official swim. 1 hour, 10 minutes. Or whatever you might want to label it... lol. I got in the freakin pool and that's a huge start! :-) I'll be honest. It isn't fun. I swallowed so much water, I almost didn't make it home in time to pee.<br /><br />Monday - I ran 5 miles with Lana during our lunch hour.<br /><br />Tuesday - Got up at 5:15am and headed to the rec. I ran 4 miles on the TM, lifted a few upper body weights (very light) and jumped back in the pool. 30 minutes. Splish-splash there I go. LOL. I really need to get someone to video this - no doubt it's terribly comical. I'm way out of my comfort zone. Then I met <a href="http://bethanyandjeramy.blogspot.com">Bethany</a> that evening at Starbucks for some training chit-chat & a simmering drink that warmed our souls. Good times!<br /><br />Wednesday - Got up at 6am for an early morning 50 minute trainer ride (first trainer ride of the year) plus 60 lunges. Trying to tone the tush tush..... running just doesn't do it. Trainer rides are good. They induce more sweating out of me than any other workout.<br /><br />Thursday - Headed to the rec around 5:45am and busted out 5 miles on the TM. This was not a good run for me. Mile 4 and I lost all my peripheral vision and could only see large silver streaks. Not sure what the deal was. I pushed on, blindly, and finished out that last mile. I never exactly felt "faint" but my vision was just tunnel vision with lots of silver streaks - like lightning bolts??!!! Granted, my diet has been horrible lately. As in - not enough fuel. For almost 3 weeks I have averaged 1 or less meal per day. Combine that with me picking up my training and I think my body (or at least my eyes or blood sugar) didn't agree. An older man at the rec offered me a piece of candy while I was lifting weights. Not because I looked like I felt bad. He just wanted me to try this new candy he found at Russel Stover. I accepted out of not wanting to hurt his feelings and literally - 2 minutes later my vision was normal. Did the candy fix my problem? Strange. So I was able to follow through with my plan and this little rubber ducky dove into the water once again!25 minutes. I have noticed the lifeguards grab their elongated red floats when they see me. LOL. How embarrasing, but it's probably not a bad idea?! I showered at the rec and headed to work.<br /><br />Friday - was going to be my rest day. However, I scoped out the weather for the weekend and decided if I wanted to run, today is the day. Saturday and Sunday were marked very uncomfortable for exercise outside. So around 1:30 (late lunch) I struck out for 6 miles. I felt GREAT the entire time. It was one of THOSE runs.... the kind you only get about once per month where you just feel like you can go forever. Well, my pace explains why. Total time - 56:56 :-( Oh well - it's 6 miles on the book which put me at 20 miles for the week.<br /><br />Saturday - I put it off.... and put it off.... and put it off... until finally around 1:00 I forced myself into a bathing suit and went to the rec for my 4th swim. I actually could see some progress with my breathing this time. I think I've been swimming on my belly and my mouth sucks in water when I inhale because I'm not efficiently flipping on my sides. I also realized my left side is my better side for some reason. I put 45 minutes in, then headed upstairs for 30 minutes of upper body toning and some lunges around the track. <br /><br />The weekend was relaxing, yet fun. I enjoyed every single minute of it!<br /><br />That brings us to this week....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeGBkWKVLhHhl5qJN2lbF0_NcpGEtNce7RuQ-Xbm8sOUcS3LfeOvVFMVR-4DcHX_QFlnkK97hV09J1jPuMauWAQdoO6i3Je_wBMvTw0sT4cYkIfAZY0xbP9Ef392sON-cjUw4hb7zrfb9/s1600-h/111708_12571.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeGBkWKVLhHhl5qJN2lbF0_NcpGEtNce7RuQ-Xbm8sOUcS3LfeOvVFMVR-4DcHX_QFlnkK97hV09J1jPuMauWAQdoO6i3Je_wBMvTw0sT4cYkIfAZY0xbP9Ef392sON-cjUw4hb7zrfb9/s400/111708_12571.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270367416181888066" /></a><br />Monday - Lana and I used our lunch break for a 5 mile run again. It was FREEZING!!! We managed to pull out an 8:56 overall pace. Better!<br /><br />Tuesday (today) - I made my way to the rec at 5:45am and ran 4 miles on the TM in 37:40, lifted some very light upper body weights for 15 minutes, then once again I forced myself to slide into the ol bathing suit and jump in the cooler than normal water. I could see some progress once again, even though I am still just a complete joke. I am doing 1 arm drills and alternating with 1 lap of swimming. Still working on the breathing as the main focus and teetering my body from side to side. Some laps will go somewhat smoothly, and some laps will be downright CHOPPY and I will get strangled in the middle of the pool and have to pause, tread water, cough it out, & catch my breath. This was my fifth swim. I am hoping by my tenth swim, I will see a significant difference in my comfort level. I am just not a water person by nature.<br /><br />For the rest of the week, I'm hoping I can keep it up. Tomorrow the plan is to do a 1 hour trainer ride & 70 lunges, Thursday do a run, lift weights and jump back into the pool and Friday - I want to do a semi-long run. <br /><br />For now I am going to be nice to my body and my mind and reward it with some sleep.... I earned it :-)Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-14834408846967548612008-11-09T22:02:00.013-06:002008-11-09T22:56:22.822-06:00"No one can drive us crazy unless we give them the keys."Did someone say "crazy?" Yeah... that would describe several moments of my life over the past month and a half. I feel sorry for those who got the raw end of the deal. Where do I start? The crazy moments (multiple auto accidents) - or the crazy (that is an understatement) in sane people who so jealously and devilishly think they have actually gotten one by me? :-) It really is a joke to a handful of us! And you haven't fooled us for a second. But nice try! It just wasn't worth it. It is sheer entertainment. Onto better things that actually matter.....<br /><br />Ironman Florida 2008.<br /><br /><a href="http://lanasmarathonjourney.blogspot.com/">Lana Sain</a> is an IRONMAN. <a href="http://micheletraining.blogspot.com">Michele Emerson</a> is an IRONMAN. <a href="http://missysironmanflorida2008.blogspot.com/">Missy Hulbert</a> is an IRONMAN. Dee Davis is an IRONMAN. Abby Olson is an IRONMAN. Jere Pope is an IRONMAN.<br /><br />Need I say more? Absolutely! Because my SISTER is an iron sister! I know most of you guys have read her race report. And yes it is a great race report - but none of it replaces actually being there.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOVSuuLAS4gcTYEftmI2uVi1ZBTaMwoizZhemDzK3zgKS53GRRdxeqBZtGwFCOjohBJvmUmtUFOC22-rQHw6vDz6BOT4XJbI-bkq4gCn54Ua98N9znFFcnwFjYJr83S9LqMJSelJWUzqG/s1600-h/IMFL_08+010.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOVSuuLAS4gcTYEftmI2uVi1ZBTaMwoizZhemDzK3zgKS53GRRdxeqBZtGwFCOjohBJvmUmtUFOC22-rQHw6vDz6BOT4XJbI-bkq4gCn54Ua98N9znFFcnwFjYJr83S9LqMJSelJWUzqG/s320/IMFL_08+010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266880160380842850" /></a> And being her sister and watching her accomplish such an amazing goal. Watching her and knowing (only when a sister/training partner knows)when she is down. And watching her gently rise to the occasion with such courage and character! Coming back and coming back strong!! And me wanting to jump in there and give her a push!!!! And me wishing I was right there racing with her :-) I felt like my heartrate was as high as hers each time that I saw her out on the course.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXRpa8rVk7SD_EOekKDVL8U2euRiN38eGvreDEO2wfOTih7aOJwqu9dOUEnhVfXX1JvBK23xn6PMTW4Vk71sUjoW3kVTICqc0cQ2Fo9XOINT7ZrSHpL0Y3RBrizSy08XkWj1hXU5Jy3l7/s1600-h/IMFL_08+022.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXRpa8rVk7SD_EOekKDVL8U2euRiN38eGvreDEO2wfOTih7aOJwqu9dOUEnhVfXX1JvBK23xn6PMTW4Vk71sUjoW3kVTICqc0cQ2Fo9XOINT7ZrSHpL0Y3RBrizSy08XkWj1hXU5Jy3l7/s320/IMFL_08+022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266880504690604066" /></a> As I stood on the front row with my volunteer band helping each swimmer, but really just interested in Race # 2139 - to meet her coming out of the gulf of Mexico on her last stretch of the journey to victory - guys.... it was SWEET! To say that I am proud does not do it justice. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtYezgzFzLXAza1rosogL4dw7VMY5WX0LW4xWzv8CYTlxIbAUPtV4lBySIDE3bbk_H2hP0TPdeVjx6lPJZGRO8nSKUNpyLCdcaGZgZMcdTA89BiKdTkDF_eJ0wCQl6b1eDDle7nkeiGby/s1600-h/IMFL_08+024.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtYezgzFzLXAza1rosogL4dw7VMY5WX0LW4xWzv8CYTlxIbAUPtV4lBySIDE3bbk_H2hP0TPdeVjx6lPJZGRO8nSKUNpyLCdcaGZgZMcdTA89BiKdTkDF_eJ0wCQl6b1eDDle7nkeiGby/s320/IMFL_08+024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266880820581858050" /></a> So I will let you try and imagine my feelings.... my family can probably tell ya :-) And all you guys that I was text messaging with hourly updates!!! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mGysEeLypF1TM20VQEfCzI5L67A03MiL7LkbVCKu5S5b6JGNmGn4xO1muVt05yVXBIlUk0_MLQnWng9dH7Ic6EVggseo1SPY8ME5qXiw7I4n5U6rhw5kjtIeAOsukoHWb2WPVQJJEAoV/s1600-h/IMFL_08+031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mGysEeLypF1TM20VQEfCzI5L67A03MiL7LkbVCKu5S5b6JGNmGn4xO1muVt05yVXBIlUk0_MLQnWng9dH7Ic6EVggseo1SPY8ME5qXiw7I4n5U6rhw5kjtIeAOsukoHWb2WPVQJJEAoV/s320/IMFL_08+031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266881300810738034" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U6PzzzOnkEyyfy5rNEFQERT_TyXApGVfz652t12O7C_uWVc6t08f9Cax5ob89rLMj055JerMD_r4tT4WSL8xbeQqSwgheJ9aTRrbdUXJbSoEC9WPWhnkiW5WpKSN2pPia3Ih-2s-ktzp/s1600-h/IMFL_08+035.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U6PzzzOnkEyyfy5rNEFQERT_TyXApGVfz652t12O7C_uWVc6t08f9Cax5ob89rLMj055JerMD_r4tT4WSL8xbeQqSwgheJ9aTRrbdUXJbSoEC9WPWhnkiW5WpKSN2pPia3Ih-2s-ktzp/s320/IMFL_08+035.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266881606206099858" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02gRVnDHOoFl94fpjtsoCCQPPENxHM5ikWWC-lT3VJhQvhuwHiLItVn7m8dVD1IjuxhskP4v23wHcC-mUkVJ5EUzyKm2pP-SWDFHe7-xLbnG1N0tFFyAU_nNKVniPkNhwD-zHQLawrtNO/s1600-h/IMG_1257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02gRVnDHOoFl94fpjtsoCCQPPENxHM5ikWWC-lT3VJhQvhuwHiLItVn7m8dVD1IjuxhskP4v23wHcC-mUkVJ5EUzyKm2pP-SWDFHe7-xLbnG1N0tFFyAU_nNKVniPkNhwD-zHQLawrtNO/s320/IMG_1257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266881974516226274" /></a><br /><br />Homecoming 2008<br /><br />Wow.... it was really great! It's such a long day/night, but it always gives you such a warm/fuzzy. Got to see my college peeps. Loved it! As Will said last night "Holly has been resurrected tonight!" LOL. I got to the official Arnold/Riddle tailgating headquarters around 3pm.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHDgkcFGXnQ9C1tTMuUTC8XpAYyZmaCVIpHu3LWHusv9-CN6PxTHIX78CMtUDfvDxoufVQEZyRpjGU4wHeIUohHZfSxrn-GoxPvFhGYGkrgZ4FVAJjArw88aodJTo0c-QSxJXHyP7kbt5/s1600-h/Homecoming_08+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHDgkcFGXnQ9C1tTMuUTC8XpAYyZmaCVIpHu3LWHusv9-CN6PxTHIX78CMtUDfvDxoufVQEZyRpjGU4wHeIUohHZfSxrn-GoxPvFhGYGkrgZ4FVAJjArw88aodJTo0c-QSxJXHyP7kbt5/s400/Homecoming_08+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266884506589024722" /></a> We opted out of the game and chilled on the campus like we were back in school again. Campus has really changed a lot in some ways - or not really changed. I guess it is the people who have changed. The spirit of homecoming seemed to be way more alive now than it was when I was there. It was cool and it seemed like everyone was having good fun! I saw people I had classes with and never really talked to until homecoming 2008. Isn't it funny how it works that way? lol. Seeing familiar faces after so many years makes you not want to take those moments for granted. After the campus rally, the crew headed to Buffalo Wild Wings. I was so glad to finally be "resurrected" after all of those years. Thanks, Will, William and Jason! I have new life! lol. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhjo3_GCvXEs76Z-WApss0k-Wc1tdcanEaOVpM-IzQCZkxDtd_mHPQ5WgS9qH5FNKLERpX3spHUQmomlUhVpaexB6DqIJb8HIzugJEkvV3elmaw-LBOkUI02ERNyx7dz_NpTrLEc6OfVW/s1600-h/Homecoming_08+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhjo3_GCvXEs76Z-WApss0k-Wc1tdcanEaOVpM-IzQCZkxDtd_mHPQ5WgS9qH5FNKLERpX3spHUQmomlUhVpaexB6DqIJb8HIzugJEkvV3elmaw-LBOkUI02ERNyx7dz_NpTrLEc6OfVW/s400/Homecoming_08+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266884968312175970" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9LeUyt6k0fkNf_pyAauGB5PtWD1Ssj-rrqA3DdM2fmz7nA94VsqFVbT1f7TnV2vrKjzeVMZaO6aAuoFXbvUk7lNGqRbpHYjBZ6heqU1L0QU7dsaAHTkS1tz4-XZDvBPlKI7Afcwn2_eW/s1600-h/Homecoming_08+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9LeUyt6k0fkNf_pyAauGB5PtWD1Ssj-rrqA3DdM2fmz7nA94VsqFVbT1f7TnV2vrKjzeVMZaO6aAuoFXbvUk7lNGqRbpHYjBZ6heqU1L0QU7dsaAHTkS1tz4-XZDvBPlKI7Afcwn2_eW/s400/Homecoming_08+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266885348334744834" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJMRwJLabGJhJrHurjMhixVAERceYP9pwGwrgJk9Pgdo76sqRhyphenhyphenItfpn0PNrZS3owKK9hTNHL-HkAwglYm-6bghsbUwQQnvSYzNY-Qs_8l3gjjxM3s8LuC3z1jP6oRhfN3VGlYnPWkJXt/s1600-h/Homecoming_08+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJMRwJLabGJhJrHurjMhixVAERceYP9pwGwrgJk9Pgdo76sqRhyphenhyphenItfpn0PNrZS3owKK9hTNHL-HkAwglYm-6bghsbUwQQnvSYzNY-Qs_8l3gjjxM3s8LuC3z1jP6oRhfN3VGlYnPWkJXt/s400/Homecoming_08+013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266885668343962306" /></a><br /><br />And as far as the training goes, well, I'm hangin in there. I'm back at the rec and on the days that I don't make it out on the road for a run, I try to hit the treadmill a couple of times a week. I'm trying to tone my upper body by getting my money's worth in the weight room and doing lunges around the track. The last time I road black betty was the Saturday before IMFL. I rode 26 with Iron Lana. I am about to put her on the trainer for the season and cross-train here and there on my mountain bike. Oh... and this is huge..... check it out. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLZJEKwCM9Sk4WDK8cDPeSwE7TjU2p3dhHQu3OVzP3WU7eLAcBfE1ioKh_JGCYWKty75Oc2XXZ57x5BqHtZol0qvGZFvXrGwL-pZab75SEGgKIIrqjb154SRQuWAK9a1_Y-V466IZNdTP/s1600-h/110908_15431.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLZJEKwCM9Sk4WDK8cDPeSwE7TjU2p3dhHQu3OVzP3WU7eLAcBfE1ioKh_JGCYWKty75Oc2XXZ57x5BqHtZol0qvGZFvXrGwL-pZab75SEGgKIIrqjb154SRQuWAK9a1_Y-V466IZNdTP/s400/110908_15431.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266887402737011042" /></a><br />True! lol.... and the best part is I have an Iron Coach!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-43338664494215052372008-09-30T16:35:00.022-05:002008-09-30T19:08:03.645-05:00Happy CampersSo, here we go comp hours – just like I promised you. Sizzle your little hearts out – because you are officially ashes! We had a fantastic time! Very relaxing, very serene, very simple, very peaceful, very fun, very exciting, and very – EVERYTHING A CAMPING TRIP IS MEANT TO BE!! :-) <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS97jJv_jUuEHaHSMVZs1NODjMY1gjcDiboVY9iSERvQIl-AHk3jTmQtIhf7IXwg81NLEB5gPyidkfPz1NCfSO5Y-gC1L0uGRp9wgAenXw-x6LlMvYfboGoCN0pzsQx4DvCqP-ZGQtx4ST/s1600-h/Tsali+006.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251933908820879170 style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS97jJv_jUuEHaHSMVZs1NODjMY1gjcDiboVY9iSERvQIl-AHk3jTmQtIhf7IXwg81NLEB5gPyidkfPz1NCfSO5Y-gC1L0uGRp9wgAenXw-x6LlMvYfboGoCN0pzsQx4DvCqP-ZGQtx4ST/s320/Tsali+006.jpg" border=0></A>And guess who our honored guest was. Hattie. That’s right! Hattie Jane Matthews. She is an adventuresome little girl and she loves to be outdoors! But she doesn’t like to be away from her mommy. <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_54yXAt-mhhN9dwgus0y2EkI_ulKnEHpyOy6WbkMClPqWYDjHTYLOXboeczbkxsltTpaIx19-C2raKoP4AcJ4pdhZOp3LXZlh2uGQY3LWDAEOqWQFH4Jxb4iTyN4PoFCC2QpJz_Lltou/s1600-h/Tsali+021.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251935553351606114 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_54yXAt-mhhN9dwgus0y2EkI_ulKnEHpyOy6WbkMClPqWYDjHTYLOXboeczbkxsltTpaIx19-C2raKoP4AcJ4pdhZOp3LXZlh2uGQY3LWDAEOqWQFH4Jxb4iTyN4PoFCC2QpJz_Lltou/s320/Tsali+021.jpg" border=0></A> I figure that there are many vacations I will want to go on, when it is just not feasible to take her along. But this one – well, it was perfect for her. And yeah… it was a little bit of trouble here and there, but really almost none and it was so worth it. To see her running her little heart out to stay with K and I out on the mountain bike trails was good for my soul. And good for her heart and lungs! When we arrived at the Tsali campground we started unloading.<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mt_y-Ur4ptkwv-ClCkFIFYTOr6h6Gei6qmuHffaG8KT-Mu4F83h-eO9JL4_tzCPoAB6Yr1M8WY7pUQosmYJgzFxuNPl3_PTFbzdzlj00V6v4fxPNjWFsRjQn5jCaPaMNmxei6iAe9LoP/s1600-h/Tsali+001.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251933066599655890 style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mt_y-Ur4ptkwv-ClCkFIFYTOr6h6Gei6qmuHffaG8KT-Mu4F83h-eO9JL4_tzCPoAB6Yr1M8WY7pUQosmYJgzFxuNPl3_PTFbzdzlj00V6v4fxPNjWFsRjQn5jCaPaMNmxei6iAe9LoP/s400/Tsali+001.jpg" border=0></A> K setup our tent, we put on our mtb shoes and decided we’d take Hattie on her first trail adventure.<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5MxXwO9p2QRUHYywuvjmrGnM6B5mIChao6bNIkrw-FD2rVP7VFXMJxsUyQPea6gD_LugI8rm0xPTRQFiT7NyWy674E7aT8e-_r0e5-1viBgOwqzfJcOVa5EOWsDJ-TKODkyjhq5d_G_A/s1600-h/Tsali+004.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251933447213746674 style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5MxXwO9p2QRUHYywuvjmrGnM6B5mIChao6bNIkrw-FD2rVP7VFXMJxsUyQPea6gD_LugI8rm0xPTRQFiT7NyWy674E7aT8e-_r0e5-1viBgOwqzfJcOVa5EOWsDJ-TKODkyjhq5d_G_A/s400/Tsali+004.jpg" border=0></A> We headed for the right loop and she went 3 miles with us! I think I was more excited that she was going than she was! I am a real fool for this dog if you can’t tell :-/ We got everything settled in and got plenty of firewood gathered up for the night and we cooked “Campfire spaghetti.” <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid22emxcjOq8V4JQJdR-YhYYxgiVCf9ZsexwgFJtl-VEiQz7TaAW_B6GCCCPgHqqTHaTHBX2IFdWsG-f8-FRaARg9dlnie0IfC-uqz66IkeCIbbbj_DjNlSZ4-hD1WbvOtl884sMN9xPvh/s1600-h/Tsali+012.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251933723420817330 style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid22emxcjOq8V4JQJdR-YhYYxgiVCf9ZsexwgFJtl-VEiQz7TaAW_B6GCCCPgHqqTHaTHBX2IFdWsG-f8-FRaARg9dlnie0IfC-uqz66IkeCIbbbj_DjNlSZ4-hD1WbvOtl884sMN9xPvh/s200/Tsali+012.jpg" border=0></A> We weren’t sure if the spaghetti was really just THAT much better than spaghetti you cook at home or if we were just so starved by the time it finally got done that it seemed better. Nevertheless, we both had a big plate of spaghetti and garlic texas toast. Who counts calories on a camping trip? Not I! We cleaned up our mess, grabbed a cold one …. Or two…. Or three….and kicked back in our chairs around the fire.<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHumNLzvgiZCLkPRygRhugyP1rasivyyt_jeO6FWWPf-KjRbzK5A3dj7t_T4LCgYicyCCPd0CMmywc-A2iG0bfpcJ5vXmxssgqxox4orXvoy-5mPjVlYFFvDWLPTF951QvKwB6WdbnrZuU/s1600-h/Tsali+014.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251934237362722562 style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHumNLzvgiZCLkPRygRhugyP1rasivyyt_jeO6FWWPf-KjRbzK5A3dj7t_T4LCgYicyCCPd0CMmywc-A2iG0bfpcJ5vXmxssgqxox4orXvoy-5mPjVlYFFvDWLPTF951QvKwB6WdbnrZuU/s320/Tsali+014.jpg" border=0></A> The temperature/weather could not have been more appropriate. Mid-70’s during the day and mid 50’s at night. We got out our deck of cards and played a few hands of black jack and K gave me some poker lessons. Then it was Smores time! We got out the goods.<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ah-PIc0FbGVjHd9d0cgb89zSxmEu5Mpqr5iLvBCs541B54f5IVTF2G7JwImnPugyaYIIYzLN1YiEtmj_wOVONpFvrsFZHWRu3FgPYmIOjRp96LhjO8bHzit648FCpaoc89WiKIc0sp5E/s1600-h/Tsali+016.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251934551560310866 style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ah-PIc0FbGVjHd9d0cgb89zSxmEu5Mpqr5iLvBCs541B54f5IVTF2G7JwImnPugyaYIIYzLN1YiEtmj_wOVONpFvrsFZHWRu3FgPYmIOjRp96LhjO8bHzit648FCpaoc89WiKIc0sp5E/s320/Tsali+016.jpg" border=0></A> We toasted marshmallows in the fire and wrapped hershey’s chocolate and graham crackers around it and gave it a good SMOOSH and whatta ya know ladies and gentlemen – it’s a homemade fan-damn-TASTIC SMORE! I was in heaven! Those things are off the freakin HOOK! And they literally get all over your face no matter how hard you try not to. You can only imagine – I am not shy when it comes to chocolate :-) Around 9:30 K and I decided it was getting close to time to turn it in and there were some bathroom issues to be dealt with. Ya know… I needed to wash my face, put my contacts in their solution, moisturize, etc…. and take care of bizness on the potty. Well K walked up to the bath house first and I wasn’t paying much attention but for some reason – assumed the womens bathroom was the door on the left and the mens was the door on the right. So I be-bopped on into the left door only to see that my 1 bathroom stall was occupied. Bummer…. Cause Holly Jane had to GO. That campfire spaghetti and smores was not going to hang out for much longer. Well hell…. Whatta ya do? Wait it out. So I pranced through there again to make sure there really was no other stall while I had my little “bath bag” with towels and wash cloths, soap, contact solution etc…. on my shoulder and all of the sudden the poor lady who had my stall occupied had a major TNT fiasco!!! If you need a definition of TNT, please refer to <A href="http://lanasmarathonjourney.blogspot.com/">Lana’s</A> blog for details. We are talking – she let the hammer down. And I squinted my face out of embarrassment for her and promised myself really quick I would not let out a single giggle and pretend I never heard it. About 4 seconds later I hear “Holly – you’re in the wrong bathroom” I jumped – still with my little bath bag on my shoulder. “huh?” I say very proper-like. “You’re in the men’s.” And it’s K. And I say “IS THAT YOU?!!!!????!!!” and he dies laughing and says “yes” and I say “Well, there IS a urinal in here. Hang on – let me go check." So I go look at the sign on the door again and sure enough – it was a boy with pants on. No girl with a skirt. Oh geez…. So after laughing so hard that we were both nearly in tears, I took my little bath bag next door and took care of bizness and all that other cosmetic stuff. Back to the campsite and soon enough we were all 3 in the tent. Yep, I said all 3 :-) Hattie is a bit spoiled, but I love her anyways. Saturday morning we got up and K had the bacon sizzling and I scrambled the eggs.<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bFxnyvQz4qaA36GqoosJ7SPtptPzvWkvnwrN7mt5yq29gNeZZ15QC_ecac-4xBESQm312Qt2nitNV3GqJONJBE2DSyb9gwMnw0Wi-2Z_rEwb2l2snks-R6Vjh5YEAiiGGTbpuGerQSY4/s1600-h/Tsali+020.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251934986840603554 style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bFxnyvQz4qaA36GqoosJ7SPtptPzvWkvnwrN7mt5yq29gNeZZ15QC_ecac-4xBESQm312Qt2nitNV3GqJONJBE2DSyb9gwMnw0Wi-2Z_rEwb2l2snks-R6Vjh5YEAiiGGTbpuGerQSY4/s320/Tsali+020.jpg" border=0></A> We had a wonderful breakfast and it’s so cool to cook outdoors in the wilderness. And to pull it all off!! It’s awesome. <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissiPO0TdvWCt4AdLaN0rcNcFlzVi4VFW7fwRK7_3fr6kTyqC0BVYgmzuUlpxgLumrnoPBLL05f25vYEzHN_YfiORL7v26DmH5cDTwvWV5Yc7tsCqUBQjPmqbwBj7HtbFaCm1pSCia1UiJ/s1600-h/Tsali+022.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251935251694745138 style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissiPO0TdvWCt4AdLaN0rcNcFlzVi4VFW7fwRK7_3fr6kTyqC0BVYgmzuUlpxgLumrnoPBLL05f25vYEzHN_YfiORL7v26DmH5cDTwvWV5Yc7tsCqUBQjPmqbwBj7HtbFaCm1pSCia1UiJ/s320/Tsali+022.jpg" border=0></A> So we got our bellies full and put on our riding gear. Off we go to the Thompson loop. This was about a 9 mile loop and it got my heart pumping! I am a nervous mountain biker anyways – but I haven’t been back on that thing since our Oak Mountain trip in May. <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIIsDbNbBgJ2A3D0GXnfwMmM6BTNi5JGYrf01oSsWmgADDNLgokv9aGUVVlKR0FLz0z-xyx5Ab1vadah40UWtLqBjCrtJQs8WfHo2iYR3H7UPvvkf8FrUoFjnCSkMui4jhvRNenVw9Bv6/s1600-h/Tsali+026.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251935889920259394 style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIIsDbNbBgJ2A3D0GXnfwMmM6BTNi5JGYrf01oSsWmgADDNLgokv9aGUVVlKR0FLz0z-xyx5Ab1vadah40UWtLqBjCrtJQs8WfHo2iYR3H7UPvvkf8FrUoFjnCSkMui4jhvRNenVw9Bv6/s320/Tsali+026.jpg" border=0></A> So I was a bit squirely….. and I forgot my knee pads. No big deal though – I never needed them the entire weekend. Never crashed. K is a phenomenal mountain biker. This guy is loaded with zen. If I could look and feel half as comfortable as he is on the bike, we’d be in bizness.<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxKBZPYl_yQRhY-QwPDcntMtvhRXu9Dhrh3oFEVhdhLQK8YuCIK3BLY5k4v2Gv_9hducmG8pE_VM-0rItVExghcqQEWlAT4Va3WRNDKdMiiKPI_mg7mXRX7Bt_bH9DpO3j_nE904-tkbL/s1600-h/Tsali+032.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251966678934694402 style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxKBZPYl_yQRhY-QwPDcntMtvhRXu9Dhrh3oFEVhdhLQK8YuCIK3BLY5k4v2Gv_9hducmG8pE_VM-0rItVExghcqQEWlAT4Va3WRNDKdMiiKPI_mg7mXRX7Bt_bH9DpO3j_nE904-tkbL/s320/Tsali+032.jpg" border=0></A> The more technical the trail, the better he rides. For me – I am the opposite. I like a nice, smooth single track where I can relax and concentrate on power. After the first loop, we headed back to the campsite to check on Hattie. She was there – waiting with tear stains all over her face. We busted out the hotdogs and roasted them on the fire for a little lunch snack, then we decided to hit it again – the Mouse loop is next. It was around 8 miles.<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2yz3QNnRmsKOn-lp_zoLN60l6vLMTEbK3O1JvoE7UbU0PABj3yRw6AdFJPAhqy8hR7I-j3YGu4akdaE0J9NEteWsJGiJthR2mjK8xkj-qgsCH3h-sx9IdbusYpO7MibjYUiLJE9qnd-h/s1600-h/Tsali+035.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251967182316206258 style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2yz3QNnRmsKOn-lp_zoLN60l6vLMTEbK3O1JvoE7UbU0PABj3yRw6AdFJPAhqy8hR7I-j3YGu4akdaE0J9NEteWsJGiJthR2mjK8xkj-qgsCH3h-sx9IdbusYpO7MibjYUiLJE9qnd-h/s320/Tsali+035.jpg" border=0></A> We ran up on a couple of girls who had mechanical problems with a chain and of course K was the good Samaritan by taking the chain apart and putting it back together for them so they could continue on without pushing the bike for another 3 miles.<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgz5pBHvyNNxpdiR6-7V5XKiGPeIhqAobI47vlPc63hv3R04cqchgB80W2NN1aObvsijiGvRxLQi4bZOLXT7xU2vy2ekz6hY-H7WN-8pncLDoYXMUKt_WFcr2htqgj3u-0V3OMJgNLGar/s1600-h/Tsali+036.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251967820979982674 style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgz5pBHvyNNxpdiR6-7V5XKiGPeIhqAobI47vlPc63hv3R04cqchgB80W2NN1aObvsijiGvRxLQi4bZOLXT7xU2vy2ekz6hY-H7WN-8pncLDoYXMUKt_WFcr2htqgj3u-0V3OMJgNLGar/s320/Tsali+036.jpg" border=0></A> So, we finished strong on this loop knowing we were done for the day and I followed K down a pretty big drop off back to the campsite. I really could not believe I had the guts to plunge in like that, but I thought “Well the worst that can happen is I’ll definitely crash on my face and I will at least be giving it a shot. “ I didn’t crash though – I stood up and leaned way back over my back tire, dragged my brakes pretty hard and held my balance to the bottom. What a rush of adrenaline!! Back to the bath house for a shower – this time things went a bit smoother and if there were any TNT episodes I never knew about them! LOL. Back to the campsite for some dinner! Wow, this was a lot of eating. No wonder I feel 10lb heavier! The menu for Saturday night read – Grilled chicken marinated in Italian, <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRbRd3t1QExjvhsx2JcEfME0JaekftWoxY3ld1YBw5nvq6rw7alTSDKjk8YE7wO6AycsABqATziz0iu-S-Nqy7fwzzrNyvqlpwL1-PtXC5n5HOl8m6IHOY_oh5x3huuPn9P6zLIQHY7p_/s1600-h/Tsali+037.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251968216239561442 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRbRd3t1QExjvhsx2JcEfME0JaekftWoxY3ld1YBw5nvq6rw7alTSDKjk8YE7wO6AycsABqATziz0iu-S-Nqy7fwzzrNyvqlpwL1-PtXC5n5HOl8m6IHOY_oh5x3huuPn9P6zLIQHY7p_/s320/Tsali+037.jpg" border=0></A>wild herb rice & some good ole Texas toast with a cold mich ultra! Another fabulous meal prepared by two happy campers – for sure! We were down 16 miles for mtb’ing and our appetites were hearty! Since it was Saturday, guess what that means. At “Camp-H&K” Saturday night means it’s double chocolate night! Get out the graham crackers, the marshmallows and pull double Hershey bars – it’s going to be decadant! We roasted smores and doubled up on the chocolate. <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJDdC8wdnoCzAMd4n6aOiofgaS_pMjiy02tSNQUed7dStFLO6l9-8jaPmy7-7PIb0KUsnpB62RUbhd8WEYUPgn3z5GCz9erJPjg_FnnUqNjO0Fws1bpAbmSrmhyEXpx2WyjvWxypeEr1_/s1600-h/Tsali+038.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251968570861521714 style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJDdC8wdnoCzAMd4n6aOiofgaS_pMjiy02tSNQUed7dStFLO6l9-8jaPmy7-7PIb0KUsnpB62RUbhd8WEYUPgn3z5GCz9erJPjg_FnnUqNjO0Fws1bpAbmSrmhyEXpx2WyjvWxypeEr1_/s320/Tsali+038.jpg" border=0></A> Guys – I ate 3. With double chocolate! LOL. Well heck – if you can’t live on the edge when you’re camping, when can you? K had pure entertainment sitting there watching me eat them all. It wasn’t long after the Smores contest and it was bed-time. Tent-time. Till the sun rose the next morning. We got up, packed almost everything in the vehicle and headed over to the Nantahala river and had breakfast at a very neat little restaurant overlooking the river that we ate at last time we were in that neck of woods. We also shopped around a little in the NOC and got some killer deals on some t-shirts. We headed back to Tsali to the campsite, got on our riding gear and took off for our final ride before departing and heading back to good ol Tennessee. We rode the Right Loop, which is the race course. We didn’t do the entire loop because we were running low on time and knew we’d be on the road the rest of the afternoon. But we did get in around 8.5 miles. It was on this loop that there was about a 4ft black racer snake hanging out in the middle of the trail. Ewww…. We both hate snakes. This loop had beautiful views on Fontanna Lake. This lake looked like a tropical carribean destination. It was turquoise and clear. Very cool. We finished her up and got changed and headed west to get back home around 5pm Sunday night. This was a vacation well worth taking. It was just about 2 days too short. And happy campers we are :-) Yesterday I knew I had to do something about the massive amount of smores I ate over the weekend so I met Lana for a 6 mile run at lunch that pushed me to the max!!! Total time- 53:53. I hadn’t run in a week! I did finally get to try out my new Mizuno Wave Nirvana 4’s and they felt great!! You never realize how bad you need new running shoes until you finally get them. Today I did an 18 mile lunch ride with Lana. I really needed more than that to try and prepare for LOL.Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-91915957533037809942008-09-24T15:06:00.005-05:002008-09-24T15:30:54.632-05:00"She works hard for the money, So hard for it Honey!"Work is getting in the way with my personal life and my training. I don't like that. I am getting calls at night and stuff. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnzECETEODq1euLYabCMJcPvvOKqK-Vj2bPY21tVCnAJWgC6pdrqTv8_yKjTBhK4BzYoBdBi1Uyimf4wW0ikY8e5C_8K4DH_o6UJh_wW0BTexASbzztHmb6fUGAc2Oph2C4m5CG-fECl5/s1600-h/pc.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnzECETEODq1euLYabCMJcPvvOKqK-Vj2bPY21tVCnAJWgC6pdrqTv8_yKjTBhK4BzYoBdBi1Uyimf4wW0ikY8e5C_8K4DH_o6UJh_wW0BTexASbzztHmb6fUGAc2Oph2C4m5CG-fECl5/s200/pc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249685587937757090" /></a> But guys - I have comp time that needs to be burned. And I am going to burn it in tons of flames this weekend in North Carolina - Tsali. I didn't get to go last weekend so I will be making up for it camping and mountain biking. Last Friday was K's birthday. Me, him and G went out Friday night and celebrated.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC42YJPOE64uq4HLadl4Bj3YdlnLINq63oOTEvfLQdQS9mcuSCL-56zK0grwAIirWpNepBu-xoTCcFYunBHaTBjM4jq3Q4WxNqxYm3Csk4iN2YpMnf_twA4DnvA99atkuMro0x-uQJXf1H/s1600-h/09_20_08+050.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC42YJPOE64uq4HLadl4Bj3YdlnLINq63oOTEvfLQdQS9mcuSCL-56zK0grwAIirWpNepBu-xoTCcFYunBHaTBjM4jq3Q4WxNqxYm3Csk4iN2YpMnf_twA4DnvA99atkuMro0x-uQJXf1H/s400/09_20_08+050.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249686630522834354" /></a> Saturday morning I got up early and struck out for what I had planend to be a 60-70 mile ride, but I saw that at mile 50, I could get back home in 56 and honey... I pedaled for the door! I am SICK and TIRED of getting chased by dogs. I was chased on Old Woodbury Hwy, Matts Hollow Rd, and Mt View Rd. I rode from my house to Old Woodbury Hwy, Matts Hollow, Farrar Hill, Hwy 41 to Blantan's Chapel all the way into Tullahoma and back home through AEDC. My legs were sore! I averaged 17.5 on the full 56 miles. Saturday afternoon was UT getting their butt stomped by the chomp chomp Gators. Monday morning I managed to run 5 miles at lunch. K & I met some friends and watched Monday night football - well - until halftime. Last night we rented Sex and the City and boy did I love it!! I love that show anyways - but the movie was great, I thought! And guess who met me for a 26 mile ride yesterday. K! We rode through Smith's Chapel, over into Lynchburg and back to Tullahoma. Fun ride with a lot of climbing.<br /><br />LOL is a week from this Saturday. I'm starting to get extremely concerned about the level of suffering I am going to endure!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-17372602157446036422008-09-16T15:48:00.005-05:002008-09-16T16:11:43.170-05:00LOL is in my near future....I'm trying to think back over the last 2 weeks.... but I'm having a hard time! Too much has gone on I guess so I'll do the best I can. I have been keeping a steady training schedule (with a little bit a'golf here and there)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2JjI0qtFxrXgp04b-wTYuftFYhjdtunTTHXw4NsoHsNE1fDkxHjv8PvIbXeOOz9eeJ5J3AoEYebEUA0lt1sVzFQ3CHYQcMCxBhCjhQsbGUL1dXzw4WNLITg-LoBjZxfZ3C64Nq77HQU_/s1600-h/golf.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2JjI0qtFxrXgp04b-wTYuftFYhjdtunTTHXw4NsoHsNE1fDkxHjv8PvIbXeOOz9eeJ5J3AoEYebEUA0lt1sVzFQ3CHYQcMCxBhCjhQsbGUL1dXzw4WNLITg-LoBjZxfZ3C64Nq77HQU_/s200/golf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246729817837847074" /></a> trying to get in 2 rides and 3 runs per week. Last week I ran 5 on Monday, rode 20 on Tuesday during lunch, I got up at 4:15am & ran 6 on Wednesday morning where Tim, Lee, Holly J, & Lana found me out on hwy 41. I was enlightened running my last 2 miles with these speedsters! I ran 5 on Thursday during my lunch break and boy was it hot and humid out there!!!! As for Friday - I deemed it a much-needed rest day. Rest for the weekend right? Yeah.... until Saturday morning when we met Tim, Lee, & Don for a 43 mile ride through Beechgrove and Firelake. Could that have been better riding conditions? Yea, it was a little breezy, but man was it pleasant out there! Tim was sporting his new Cervelo P2C! I think this is the first time I've gotten to meet her! She is really sweet. I am trying to do some long rides from now until LOL Century Ride on October 4th. I am really looking forward to it this year. I am mainly looking forward to peaking at Crystal Ridge, while still clipped in and barely barely moving the pedals........ but knowing there's no stopping me. Hold on black betty! It's going to be a ride of a lifetime :-)<br /><br />As for this week - well I'm going for it. Monday morning started out with what I had planned to be a 5 mile run starting at 6am. Until I got out there and even with a Garmin - I somehow miscalculated my distance and forgot about my home-stretch being 1 mile longer than expected. Luckily, I felt great during this run and was willing and happy to finish with 6 miles in exactly 54 minutes. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tq3p_7AyoyosqLfUa2bkIWza3MOSHPiOOc-2rxs_cidR_hnXB-BIpYeKzyxk5fniqJlj4LYdYXD9e9qR6eoly8dgz7PM1GDb8H0u5FHJRC7EY2L7s9ayjcysdF1kQTG_HKki0lAnuEQ4/s1600-h/0916081228.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tq3p_7AyoyosqLfUa2bkIWza3MOSHPiOOc-2rxs_cidR_hnXB-BIpYeKzyxk5fniqJlj4LYdYXD9e9qR6eoly8dgz7PM1GDb8H0u5FHJRC7EY2L7s9ayjcysdF1kQTG_HKki0lAnuEQ4/s400/0916081228.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246728337242338210" /></a> Today I joined Lana for a 23 mile ride during lunch through Ledford Mill, climbed Brinkley hill (which we are convinced is no harder and maybe not as tough as the 3 steps climb)then on over to Motlow College Road and back to Cedar Lane. This was also - one heck of a ride. Very enjoyable and relaxing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKre95m1JtVbt7gIJYlE4D6xuMt9KpscrrSNrwlgnzh6ewpYKNT1X39cilUfDengPjey9Elsch9OB1D8_HO-LBLTrLIig6lWwaiHvmLgzkNoZ4DZfK_b1T-ynydGCVvUL-rc5BpS6zjLYk/s1600-h/091608_12291.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKre95m1JtVbt7gIJYlE4D6xuMt9KpscrrSNrwlgnzh6ewpYKNT1X39cilUfDengPjey9Elsch9OB1D8_HO-LBLTrLIig6lWwaiHvmLgzkNoZ4DZfK_b1T-ynydGCVvUL-rc5BpS6zjLYk/s400/091608_12291.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246728940755415010" /></a> When we ride we don't stress. We will hammer for awhile when it seems fitting, climb a few hard hills, recover for awhile and talk and laugh, then back to hammer-time, etc... But no stress, and no competition. I like it :-)<br /><br />Tomorrow morning the plan is to run somewhere between 6 and 8 miles and possibly ride to work on Thursday???? This weekend ahead of us has a lot to offer!!! I am really excited even though the plans are not in stone just yet. It's either going to involve camping and mountain biking at Tsali - or the UT/Florida game. I don't think there's a bad choice in either of those - do you? :-)Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-13975683141742959782008-09-05T17:00:00.004-05:002008-09-05T17:07:43.132-05:00Catching UpSo…. Ok I’m not doing that great keeping my blog posted. My life has really been booming lately! Work has been in sanely CRAZY. I’ve kept up with my training for the most part. Last week I managed to do 2 bike rides and 1 run – ok, so not so hot after all! But this week? Has been different, my friends. Monday morning (Labor Day) a 4 mile run. I deemed a success since I did not fall out with a heat stroke. K and I hung out the rest of the day running errands and being productive – by actually doing things around my house that have been waiting for almost a year. After a nice Mexican lunch we watched UT get stomped by UCLA with some other peeps. Then back to work on Tuesday – yuck. A 24 mile bike at lunch with Lana, spaghetti for dinner and wouldn’t ya know it!!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rmJoMjr8VOOwS5jPSVhNWu863bNd-kIHFqgcXW7cwFzBovCWwiGPOJcU_CpRb643lfwteBzvH24-C8X2llwq-wgc_3qeaT579RmB4w3Ln9rOrNhN64QgLFhbKYj38XcCKBvJdtFtZh6w/s1600-h/0903082139.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rmJoMjr8VOOwS5jPSVhNWu863bNd-kIHFqgcXW7cwFzBovCWwiGPOJcU_CpRb643lfwteBzvH24-C8X2llwq-wgc_3qeaT579RmB4w3Ln9rOrNhN64QgLFhbKYj38XcCKBvJdtFtZh6w/s400/0903082139.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242661063184524690" /></a> K built us a fire! We watched a movie, then sat around the fire pit! Not a better way to unwind for the evening! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6jZSdiSIGt1m0fx_ffdVoka4ikw2KOZOYQap6bu1GTFl04B7IzDIJWbtnGPIEIyp04T2dJ-VMR3_248P7OObGC2et3pyHsJH5gTo50A31_tYMtZ4T7IOxqa7-F9cw-Q9rrU3qZT2Q_5z/s1600-h/0904081250.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6jZSdiSIGt1m0fx_ffdVoka4ikw2KOZOYQap6bu1GTFl04B7IzDIJWbtnGPIEIyp04T2dJ-VMR3_248P7OObGC2et3pyHsJH5gTo50A31_tYMtZ4T7IOxqa7-F9cw-Q9rrU3qZT2Q_5z/s400/0904081250.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242661422915263826" /></a> A 5 mile run Wed morning, and a 17 mile bike<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd4LiQkXSzvVh3UYnzuojUcsxawt3HHEfT9_jpIMmY4L2Vi_2J53cwaawTdSBysERNF6iFtPiMuuAKyL9atby7v3DCKDzkOp1V5mq0TcFeaYx_aCOtt4UWDygrBzASKdsaxx2O7xUNdMH/s1600-h/090408_12512.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd4LiQkXSzvVh3UYnzuojUcsxawt3HHEfT9_jpIMmY4L2Vi_2J53cwaawTdSBysERNF6iFtPiMuuAKyL9atby7v3DCKDzkOp1V5mq0TcFeaYx_aCOtt4UWDygrBzASKdsaxx2O7xUNdMH/s400/090408_12512.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242662120953266018" /></a> with Lana on Thursday brings us to today – R-E-S-T. <br />Thank God it’s the weekend!!! <br />Goodluck to Lana and Tim this weekend at the Elk River Valley Century – climbing Alto at mile 60 or 70 should be fun. Or not. But you will be stronger – no doubt!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-1383996426291073212008-08-24T22:09:00.002-05:002008-08-24T22:20:15.479-05:00How to Prevent losing time at Chafing Stations - LOL<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflb5UoTP1Qh7cK9wX7zFtdQDsAQn-6_WcUiC28KYkgRWk5ACScNsnj-9_PJHmXaLBBjfWiqw9ZAgik7WgGlxwjmJMsEuzZHNQEFsXBCtkaHBcqQiXwyfGNNGPNumdCufekgLXUWIrKWJ4/s1600-h/Bodyglide_SKIN_Formula.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflb5UoTP1Qh7cK9wX7zFtdQDsAQn-6_WcUiC28KYkgRWk5ACScNsnj-9_PJHmXaLBBjfWiqw9ZAgik7WgGlxwjmJMsEuzZHNQEFsXBCtkaHBcqQiXwyfGNNGPNumdCufekgLXUWIrKWJ4/s320/Bodyglide_SKIN_Formula.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238289871186697938" /></a><br />I have a friend of a friend who once chafed so bad during a half marathon that he made reference to the aid station that offers vaseline as the "chafing station." I have found myself regretting the fact that I did not apply Body Glide liberally enough from time to time. However, for the most part -- if there's a chance I need it, I apply. I would say any runs over 8 miles require body glide. This stuff is great... it has never let me down. They even make it with sunscreen in it! I ran the entire Country Music Marathon on 1 single application of Body Glide in all critical areas before the marathon start. I was convinced I'd probably need to stop at a "Chafing station" somewhere after 16 miles or so and reapply. However, body glide held it's own and after all 26.2 miles was complete - I hopped in the shower back at my hotel and not 1 little spot was chafed. I highly recommend this product to anyone who consistently runs more than 6 miles. It is also great for biking.Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-12232413443537595862008-08-19T15:21:00.004-05:002008-08-19T15:55:51.753-05:00"I..... Have Made Fire!"Famous quote from mine and K's favorite movie - "Cast Away." That's what we've been doing a lot of lately! Making fire. I love sitting around a fire and laughing and talking. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8NK5J6Ejxw7usyqpAPC7LIgPXzXTtMi8Go00z-V1oAffB-LEivEf9uf9xDJU8BNIc2WJaiaZz-PmjkTfz4LaBlEH-vfLlAZ3xys8xPYiDq8GVlK9zxqL1azoKWF3_G7xMmcWbCsCCof9/s1600-h/0810082004%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8NK5J6Ejxw7usyqpAPC7LIgPXzXTtMi8Go00z-V1oAffB-LEivEf9uf9xDJU8BNIc2WJaiaZz-PmjkTfz4LaBlEH-vfLlAZ3xys8xPYiDq8GVlK9zxqL1azoKWF3_G7xMmcWbCsCCof9/s400/0810082004%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236328146951457218" /></a> Grilling out, and just soaking up the wonderful weather this time of year brings us. Not too hot and just a little bit chili at night. Telling funny stories around the fire warms the heart!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiphzRG-ftnJrQZ1WLmUQ46oIz_k1TC3TlECU8j71tFKTsuUR8GQ824TzeYq0X9cbIYKYyIbKBFmNybwIBvINirAtusHKw3ST0tScQ_aCZkny1K5mq4LxO59sxQDqbz07EB3gn1RO2LGAy/s1600-h/0818081942.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiphzRG-ftnJrQZ1WLmUQ46oIz_k1TC3TlECU8j71tFKTsuUR8GQ824TzeYq0X9cbIYKYyIbKBFmNybwIBvINirAtusHKw3ST0tScQ_aCZkny1K5mq4LxO59sxQDqbz07EB3gn1RO2LGAy/s400/0818081942.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236328786099444034" /></a><br />Outside of us making fire several times, here's what else that's been going on. After the Stag, I had to give myself some time to heal so I took a week off. But I'm coming back! I've been riding with Tim, Lee, Lana and Don some. Today at lunch I actually rode by myself. I am trying to ride 2-3 times per week and get in at least 3 runs per week. Last week I rode with Don, Tim and Lee one frigid morning before work, then I ran 6 the next day, rode 14.5 the next day in Normandy from K's house. Hills, hills, hills! Then ran 5 the next day, and 5 the next day! Friday night we shared a good ol time with Brant & Dylana out on the lake. As soon as we got there to eat, an older man had a heart attack and it really scared me. Saturday I was too lazy to get up and be in Sewanee at 7am to ride with Lana and the "rimmers" so I slept in and boy did it feel great! :-) When I woke up it was starting to drizzle rain and I just had no regrets at all! I managed to clean my house (most of it) and K and I went out for a fun date in the boro! We bought some neat chairs at Dicks. I like the name of them. They are called "Lazy loungers." LOL. Sunday morning, I made up for my Saturday morning laziness. I got up and rode 21 frigid miles (57 degrees on a road bike is cold), came home and cooked breakfast and we headed to church! It was a great, relaxing weekend!<br /><br />So, for this week? Yesterday I met Lana at 5am and we ran 6 miles through town. I felt pure exhaustion last night after work. K & I (once again) grilled out and for some reason the food was just off the HOOK! We had grilled chicken, rice pilaf, steamed veggies and a nice fattening piece of garlic toast. Oh, and just to add to those calories, we had dessert! The rest of the night we watched the Olympics - we are addicted to them and I am going to have major withdrawels when they are over.<br /><br />Today at lunch I decided since I was on a roll with my workouts this week, I wouldn't stop now. I rode 17.5 miles and I think tomorrow will officially be my rest day. I am thinking I need to start putting in some long rides to prepare for LOL '08. <br /><br />Oh... and just in case you don't keep up with my "iron sister," she is approaching the thickness of her Ironman Florida training. I'd like to ask you to please pray that Lana remain safe and healthy throughout each of her trainings. It is extremely taxing to the body, as well as the mind. Michele is also following a similar training plan and I'm sure would appreciate prayers as well. I am SO looking forward to seeing you guys ROCK THE HOUSE on Nov 1!!!!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-39302684669003256882008-08-06T20:48:00.004-05:002008-08-06T21:45:35.525-05:00Gettin My Swing On!!!Golf swing....... that is! :-) Thanks to everyone who has given me sympathy for crashing my road bike!!! Saturday I had the opportunity to watch the Staggerwing Du. I was driving down hwy 130 all bandaged up at 6:45am, and when I rounded the curve and saw that array of cars and bikes, my heart just sunk. I felt tears fill my eyes... as I wanted so badly to do this race. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxsAcKdfbeyzc5Nwoj5hvaFD3KQsa3xmvsCEaRXzltwqwfMkiQAsC9U7yRZZPp70p3gagzKFpRMApAW4v9SlC72VxxsK4tf3MHx-GR7bYQNF5VHOIvxrFem2J4GHKDKVcwdl31ebrQAPM/s1600-h/IMG_0977%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxsAcKdfbeyzc5Nwoj5hvaFD3KQsa3xmvsCEaRXzltwqwfMkiQAsC9U7yRZZPp70p3gagzKFpRMApAW4v9SlC72VxxsK4tf3MHx-GR7bYQNF5VHOIvxrFem2J4GHKDKVcwdl31ebrQAPM/s400/IMG_0977%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231599573730578674" /></a> Sigh... whatta you do? Suck it up, Holly. You're not racing today. You're in no condition so get over it. I got to talk to many friends who were setting up their transitions and before you know it, READY, SET, GO was the word. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdApP6y-4gGWH7crSxe7f3Ak97HTH0zcY58hOwPH9ncWaraZlqUBlmKpzwavraRcqGHEUlDiUyMZCiIutuG4Asn3OsfRjdY9ST4nN1Z7_XnzPfjLecQi8uJ-M4AtQyoq7T4IaC4XzQslI/s1600-h/IMG_0980%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdApP6y-4gGWH7crSxe7f3Ak97HTH0zcY58hOwPH9ncWaraZlqUBlmKpzwavraRcqGHEUlDiUyMZCiIutuG4Asn3OsfRjdY9ST4nN1Z7_XnzPfjLecQi8uJ-M4AtQyoq7T4IaC4XzQslI/s400/IMG_0980%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231599778941269970" /></a> It was a fun event to watch, and I managed to hop on the back of my dad's HD, flip around backwards and take some AWESOME pics of my training partners who were giving it their ALL!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OKpQFwukRxaC-YSbKmio1x5N50ZJCKAt5jLjf_S12wBmQKAlzuLtaajypYq3nSMIO0h1FH_WOUKOmgrBga8NnCtaDqAPM9UL_e2NBKbcFNAf9f0Qv2ICMkXNcPgJzcTTuvjiWum9Poe2/s1600-h/IMG_1030%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OKpQFwukRxaC-YSbKmio1x5N50ZJCKAt5jLjf_S12wBmQKAlzuLtaajypYq3nSMIO0h1FH_WOUKOmgrBga8NnCtaDqAPM9UL_e2NBKbcFNAf9f0Qv2ICMkXNcPgJzcTTuvjiWum9Poe2/s400/IMG_1030%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231601335797223266" /></a> And what about my big sis bringing home 1st place overall female!!! Way to go LANA!!!! And Michele holding her own with a 2nd place overall female! And Tracy getting 1st place masters AG! You guys freakin ROCK! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VJzizhR9omXGT1U0zrj4FrTZ30HH5n-X9mJEVIFaH9wiVJvIhuLu7_OK4xwxzI42zISBg3idCVxmGnR-k8UUPn3bYeoQpgIYdcURniQEMNY3UAmfZsPbhFVHWtYxZDtNrYpBbjl4UGHK/s1600-h/IMG_1001%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VJzizhR9omXGT1U0zrj4FrTZ30HH5n-X9mJEVIFaH9wiVJvIhuLu7_OK4xwxzI42zISBg3idCVxmGnR-k8UUPn3bYeoQpgIYdcURniQEMNY3UAmfZsPbhFVHWtYxZDtNrYpBbjl4UGHK/s400/IMG_1001%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231600021305249458" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUiYfo5e7J1IlccyVzLEs2Id0g7SA_h9oCVR2NQvEvNoN8fNHjPcP5LL1U0n8sqHEbSoVNb7Ic4iUK9saRpF4S1eIbti-Qj9kIWBPnz1MzC_HdPEVCilUDMh9G3zYWAl6wtHReWnftLR4/s1600-h/IMG_1006%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUiYfo5e7J1IlccyVzLEs2Id0g7SA_h9oCVR2NQvEvNoN8fNHjPcP5LL1U0n8sqHEbSoVNb7Ic4iUK9saRpF4S1eIbti-Qj9kIWBPnz1MzC_HdPEVCilUDMh9G3zYWAl6wtHReWnftLR4/s400/IMG_1006%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231600204310937954" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhN4dDTrUTA_NiPYYwzlxhEsbTmbwbAKPwF7wplDGvmBiycWLdgBVNDMcCLELxQ-3_fCxzpIJV5c1j-HL3fLYEC_h1L7hpjGAoScrOFQvjb1awg9JMv3rOriaMZhyphenhyphensNurrZTH-InmVRT0/s1600-h/IMG_0988%5B1%5D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhN4dDTrUTA_NiPYYwzlxhEsbTmbwbAKPwF7wplDGvmBiycWLdgBVNDMcCLELxQ-3_fCxzpIJV5c1j-HL3fLYEC_h1L7hpjGAoScrOFQvjb1awg9JMv3rOriaMZhyphenhyphensNurrZTH-InmVRT0/s400/IMG_0988%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231600361555704754" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7TYix8cZdXFrLw1PozwwDqTSnAh7-dfPdAQZ6aa6GixjQSofA_OOBkJhWC5lX2fmjQIGWPFKBjtNZgkCNP86-nV1CfTF24QIa8kuPf6PkyKl7jjMmPiRLsiNZlwhbn-uqdcdjmcKcMed/s1600-h/Staggerwing_08+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7TYix8cZdXFrLw1PozwwDqTSnAh7-dfPdAQZ6aa6GixjQSofA_OOBkJhWC5lX2fmjQIGWPFKBjtNZgkCNP86-nV1CfTF24QIa8kuPf6PkyKl7jjMmPiRLsiNZlwhbn-uqdcdjmcKcMed/s400/Staggerwing_08+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231600926739117714" /></a><br />So later that afternoon, K and I and another friend went out for 9 more holes of golf! Since I'm too sore to train right now, I might as well be sharpening up my golf skills! My putting is better than ever before, for some reason. I like it! We went out to eat that night. So, as if 2 consecutive days was not enough golf for us, we hit the driving range Sunday night!! LOL. I lost my touch there, because we played AGAIN Monday after work and I stunk it up out there! He finally beat me! LOL :-)))) So that meant I had to cook supper. lol<br /><br />So, enough is enough of this laziness. I jumped up at 6am today and decided I needed to put my running kicks on. My wounds are healing and scabbed over and the one on my shoulder is already peeling. I am still having trouble sleeping at night though - just extreme discomfort like the right side of my body belongs in the burn unit at Vanderbilt. However, 1 week of doing nothing but playing golf is about enough so I ran through Normandy for 33 minutes this morning. I'm estimating I was right on top of 4 miles when I stopped.<br /><br />J is coming over this weekend. Hip-hip hooray! I am so looking forward to it because there is much catching up and much fun to be had!!!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-25386313407077445572008-08-01T15:06:00.008-05:002008-08-01T15:45:33.760-05:00Tough Luck :-(Tuesday night after work I went out and did the best brick I've ever done. My times were better than ever and I felt strong the entire time. I rode 20 miles on the Staggerwing course and followed immediately with a 4 mile run. I saw what I had and I predicted exactly how I would do this Saturday. This was my 6th week of "official Staggerwing training." I felt great about it and was really looking forward to the race. <br /><br />So Wednesday after work I jumped on my bike for a short and final ride before race-day. I want my legs to be rested, but not so rested they forget what it feels like to be on the bike. I was just planning to ride to my parents' house - probably woulda been pushing to make it a 10 mile ride. Just a good warm-up. <br /><br />As I proceed down Ragsdale rd and turn onto Taylor Rd, the thought crosses my mind that I've never ridden this road before - well not since early last year. "I wonder if there are dogs out here??? I'm not able to get a ton of speed up because the road is so curvy..... so I hope not. Stay on top of your game Holly.... be aware of your surroundings." Cruising along around 18-19mph...... Approximately 45 seconds after those thoughts permeated through my brain BOOM! OUT OF FREAKIN NO WHERE! THE DITCHES! On me like white on rice!!!! 2 dogs - 1 which is very large and black and is almost as big as Black Betty. RUFF RUFF RUFF RUFF!!! GRRRRRRRRRR..... GRRRRRRRR.... OMG........ they're going to KILL ME! And they are not AFRAID. THEY ARE OUT FOR BLOOD!!!! OMG, OMG, OMG.... NO!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! WHAM! (black betty runs over or into very large black dog) and UP UP AND OVER the bars I go and BANG onto the pavement on my right hip and shoulder and I slide..... and slide....... as the skin on my shoulder, hip,, elbow knee & calf sloughs off into the tar & chip road and I finally lose momentum and I'm flat in the road - on the opposite side of the road I might add - and I look up and dogs are barking and growling and Black Betty is on her head in the ditch.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLabiwTAbjDYe03BCrDoYhDz4K0myd_ca7-RHPsvDZxsThhaxB-9AAk7YmcgoVfdW4LZ5h83SgmykGgZNTybQ02sWKgdYNTF_ClwJM3KrT3vWaFoOP3bLeh3PAATICLqjmf8aFOvqRrU1i/s1600-h/0730081918.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLabiwTAbjDYe03BCrDoYhDz4K0myd_ca7-RHPsvDZxsThhaxB-9AAk7YmcgoVfdW4LZ5h83SgmykGgZNTybQ02sWKgdYNTF_ClwJM3KrT3vWaFoOP3bLeh3PAATICLqjmf8aFOvqRrU1i/s400/0730081918.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229648572654017506" /></a><br />So I pull my backpack off and attempt to call my mom but she wasn't home - she was at the rec. A very nice lady, Renee Taylor, pulled up and helped me. She wanted to clean me up. She insisted to load me and Black Betty up in her van and take us home, but I played it off cool.... and told her I was fine and I pulled Black Betty outta the ditch, put her chain back on and proved to her that she was rideable and I finally (after catching my composure and remembering my address) jump on the bike and head BACK to the house. As soon as Miss Renee was out of sight, I lost it. I cried. Hard. Like... the kinda crying that makes you lose your breath!!! I was in a lot of pain, but that's not what I was crying over. I was upset because I know the blow my body had just taken - and I knew there would be no Staggerwing race for me. I am so close - 3 days from race day. What about all those 5am mornings to brick? All those evenings when I really wanted to veg out on the couch but I was counting the weeks till the Stag... and I knew it would pay off. So I trained. And I trained harder than I've ever trained for anything. I am stronger than I've ever been. I am improved all the way around. And who knows... I may have gotten there on race-day and done terrible and God may just not want my pride to be hurt. But still.... it sucks to have your plan shot to hell. Especially when you've put so much into it. <br /><br />But whatta ya do?? First, you thank the good Lord that you survived your road crash. Not everyone is as lucky as I was. Second, you call your sister and she rushes over and helps me clean my wounds. Lana just went through a similar crash (minus the very large dog) a few weeks ago and is just now healed. She peroxided me, aka SET ME ON FIRE. LOL. And she felt my pain..... physical and emotional.I was in a mess. My parents came over and brought bandages and tape and more peroxide and hibi cleanse and a bag of reeces :-) Chocolate heals everything, right?<br /><br />So, I tried to sleep that night but it just wasn't happening. I was in a lot of pain - well everything on the right side of my body. My hip has 2 large bruises, my shoulder is bruised and less 1 layer of skin and my knee (as of Friday morning) has finally stopped bleeding. I am worried that I am going to be timid on the bike now. :-/<br /><br />K and I spent Thursday just kinda.... doing nothing because there's not much I can do. We are both on vacation and we had planned to go hear 'the band' play that night. We ate dinner and then it started raining and there was someting more appealing to just staying in and watching movies. Plus I was still in a lot of pain. We rested up and got up this morning for a round of 9 holes of golf! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgBLS5zdKxSjDS7HuREwRg7CYhdB0oC-Iuq4jk7_pZIYaCEdQwPU2ZMMysHpUZpEy5QT1Vfn2Zr_UsF-90ohrHsa9fR-FKNGJ9BpcwB9Ky5ucL042xrJoaN7NPN5nvmG6L9ekVvqZjrYP/s1600-h/Golf+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgBLS5zdKxSjDS7HuREwRg7CYhdB0oC-Iuq4jk7_pZIYaCEdQwPU2ZMMysHpUZpEy5QT1Vfn2Zr_UsF-90ohrHsa9fR-FKNGJ9BpcwB9Ky5ucL042xrJoaN7NPN5nvmG6L9ekVvqZjrYP/s400/Golf+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229650576601281938" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt3KDIRGWBWxdExhg2Fz1mY0slVNdu788UuaVy5tSYYjW-XwrVHZ6xx2So3jnjzwholwmD8XmHORKjk_jLM4qgJuDutabtnwubztuibCP5HGUTkYneKaDdfLe0NTBmTBaFf39KnfhThUe/s1600-h/Golf+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt3KDIRGWBWxdExhg2Fz1mY0slVNdu788UuaVy5tSYYjW-XwrVHZ6xx2So3jnjzwholwmD8XmHORKjk_jLM4qgJuDutabtnwubztuibCP5HGUTkYneKaDdfLe0NTBmTBaFf39KnfhThUe/s400/Golf+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229650924951867202" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGItRvR-kTyTl_h7uosX89ooTxg67yXd-4PL6SPTDfT__l0pq3ualJ2HWjI2R2KBqRl-efsurpeN7OX5eQCJ5QJd-2E8xPKsD_ww58gKoVpyHZ8Fup0kdAXISVMHIaEn1JQ0BvOrcLpomZ/s1600-h/Golf+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGItRvR-kTyTl_h7uosX89ooTxg67yXd-4PL6SPTDfT__l0pq3ualJ2HWjI2R2KBqRl-efsurpeN7OX5eQCJ5QJd-2E8xPKsD_ww58gKoVpyHZ8Fup0kdAXISVMHIaEn1JQ0BvOrcLpomZ/s400/Golf+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229651525801261618" /></a>alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229651238428571634" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gkgPhzxjFIekus1qTfdj-vWJl77gwDx9y9ddAdN06ga1ni-wMUKX5Ouoi03or0ADAiadyaQFKvnF-mSuA_VRtxBFSzOuhAReIgVythHy58Y2iP5KGrPpALFXn8fAnTbvUcAnfJY2TSaU/s1600-h/Golf+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gkgPhzxjFIekus1qTfdj-vWJl77gwDx9y9ddAdN06ga1ni-wMUKX5Ouoi03or0ADAiadyaQFKvnF-mSuA_VRtxBFSzOuhAReIgVythHy58Y2iP5KGrPpALFXn8fAnTbvUcAnfJY2TSaU/s400/Golf+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229651782443262562" /></a> This is about all the activity my knee can handle right now. I guess this might be a great week for sharpening up my golf skills? We both did pretty good and it was fun to be doing a sport that isn't taxing the body to it's maximum effort! Hmmm... I could really get into this?!?! :-)<br /><br />So I'll be heading out in the morning to watch my training peeps setup their transitions and compete in the Staggerwing Du. I am thinking of this as a great opportunity to volunteer. And hopefully.... it won't bum me out too bad to be standing on the sidelines. Goodluck to Tim, Lee, Eric B, Michele, Tracy, Lana and anyone else participating tomorrow. Once AGAIN, I hope to get some great pics of you guys! :-)Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-87277446896938641842008-07-27T21:57:00.004-05:002008-07-27T22:20:04.738-05:00Rest Days are essential...Wednesday I ran 5 miles before work.... I really wanted to use this day as a rest day, but I had knew I had a dentist appointment that afternoon and really didn't wanna take the risk of feeling less than enthused to workout on Thursday if I used my rest day on Wednesday. So, in order to avoid potential 2 days of rest, I went ahead and did my run and opted for Thursday being rest. Until Lana convinced me to ride at lunch. Ugh... I just wanted to do nothing, but I suppose I could actually do nothing on Friday instead. So, Thursday put 24 miles on the books for me and Friday was a well deserved day for nothing. Saturday morning I planned to run with Lana. Until Friday night just kept me out way too late. There were so many things to get done in a small amount of time over the weekend! So, Saturday morning's run was slept right over the top of!!! That means either just skip it and feel the guilt all day, or bite the bullet and battle the heat. I started my run around 1:30pm. It was 81 degrees. When I completed my run less than an hour later, the temp read 92 degrees. Ouch... it was so hot and the humidity was off the freakin charts! I only went for 6 miles and really did not even feel like doing 1 since I hadn't gotten any sleep the night before. I felt great on this run... for the first time in a couple of weeks my legs felt flexible and I felt light on my feet. I was clocking a pretty good pace and just had the feeling of floating. FINALLY! It musta been that reset day on Friday. Guess I didn't realize how much I needed it? Now we know. Rest days are just as important as training days. Mile 2 and I felt like death though.... it was so hot and I just felt dehydrated. Mile 3 I can't take it another step so I dash into the post office praying for a water fountain. NOTHING. Geez.... that didn't give me a good feeling about USPS. So I had no choice but to keep forging ahead. I saw the public library up ahead. It's been years since I've darkened that door, but I do remember the used to have a water fountain. I was right - it was a God-send. I guzled it. Couldn't get enough. So I stepped in the womens bathroom and soaked my face and everything from the waist up with cold water from the sink. Then back to the fountain for more H20. Off I go - I had 2 miles left and that should get me to the end. Thank goodness it was OVER!!!!<br /><br />So, Saturday night was interesting and FUN! K and I threw down with all of our friends -- plus others who were unknown, but cool! What a party!!! Wow. Sweet!!!! :-) Good times! Bedtime didn't come until 4:30am!!!!! So, today has been a recovery day for both of us! I feel like a zombie I'm so tired! Check out some of the pics!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE1xgCgeV6ccJYMEpy5l-w0hWETqm2Wbix66wOCOX3pIkrKtX2bKMX23J6oR7fYOVyRxsJAeXkxJtVPySwzPnND-O6p-uGlJmu6imfLjBgROOadKN4HU0P3cdDIViYuYLAeTIT_J_MVGC/s1600-h/K_Party+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE1xgCgeV6ccJYMEpy5l-w0hWETqm2Wbix66wOCOX3pIkrKtX2bKMX23J6oR7fYOVyRxsJAeXkxJtVPySwzPnND-O6p-uGlJmu6imfLjBgROOadKN4HU0P3cdDIViYuYLAeTIT_J_MVGC/s320/K_Party+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227898792007577058" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlanQcH-moPSmjAZMVFjM6K_0gUutyzZLN_3OuHBctRNh91Cn_WrEjyxD_z2IRsy0F5fOAIfI0roKm-cMC_rbeILpjSEfw_a9IFCJA_XsCh6-VBk6wayHohYhcRCbPuzEdMOjC2AY08GZ/s1600-h/K_Party+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlanQcH-moPSmjAZMVFjM6K_0gUutyzZLN_3OuHBctRNh91Cn_WrEjyxD_z2IRsy0F5fOAIfI0roKm-cMC_rbeILpjSEfw_a9IFCJA_XsCh6-VBk6wayHohYhcRCbPuzEdMOjC2AY08GZ/s320/K_Party+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227899167518894914" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5XbrVLLC85W5LyYYBuV1QCDDT3XGNNI4ze5uh3-AcnDZVC_U79sGMTKQxh1yBe2Jc3xU_02FrUVnOL7lIF0bI3iPDI-tM9IgbZpI_Jb5MJiBJxgSZBTsLnLEv9pDU7J9DdGFmMv9Vcsh/s1600-h/K_Party+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5XbrVLLC85W5LyYYBuV1QCDDT3XGNNI4ze5uh3-AcnDZVC_U79sGMTKQxh1yBe2Jc3xU_02FrUVnOL7lIF0bI3iPDI-tM9IgbZpI_Jb5MJiBJxgSZBTsLnLEv9pDU7J9DdGFmMv9Vcsh/s320/K_Party+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227899391589148994" /></a>Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-2896775927674421232008-07-22T13:54:00.002-05:002008-07-22T14:04:38.176-05:00Too Many Late Nights....Since Saturday I feel like I have gotten very little sleep. And my body feels it when I'm working out!!! Saturday after our bike ride, K & I & a host of other friends met up and we ended up staying out entirely too late!!!! It was good times though!! We planned to go to church Sunday morning, but that didn't happen! We went out for lunch & the rest of the day consisted of naps. And more naps! haha! :-) But still, not enough sleep!!!<br /><br />Monday morning I was dragging, but I did get out and run 5 miles before work. Then last night we fixed spaghetti for dinner & watched a movie. It felt good to just chill out since we have been on the go nonstop lately!!! However, I still don't think I'm getting enough rest because I did a brick this morning. I rode 20 and ran 3 and my legs were fatigued. My times weren't as good as I had hoped, but that's alright. <br /><br />We have a fun & exciting weekend ahead of us, so catching up on sleep this week is going to be essential!!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-66592509020444752722008-07-20T22:06:00.006-05:002008-07-20T23:27:26.083-05:00"Pain is Only Weakness Leaving the Body" Tom MucciaI have fallen behind on my blog, once again. I have been sick with a nasty cold and at the same time, I have been able to get my workouts in. I've been doing bricks on the Staggerwing course, I've been doing all the runs I'm planning to do and trying to keep up the streak of working out 5 days per week. My favorite day of the last couple of weeks has got to be yesterday - Saturday. For 2 years I have heard of the infamous "Alto" climb, which no one who I've talked to yet happens to know the exact gain in elevation or the exact altitude. For 2 years I have shy'd away from the invitations to go "climb the mountain." I've heard about the suffering that goes on out there.... and to be honest, it just scared me. There is no other climbing like the Alto climb. And then some of these peeps are strong enough to ride on over to Sherwood and climb it as well. Which equates to approximately a 35 mile ride with somwhere between 8-9 miles of steep climbs. I just never saw that I could do it. I've wondered for 2 years what it must feel like. I've asked "So, how does 'such and such' compare to climbing Alto?" The answer has always been "Nothing compares to Alto." <br /><br />So, what did I do Saturday? K & I loaded up our road bikes and drove straight over to just outside of the foot of Alto. He has climbed this many times over the years so he knew what to expect. There was another group who went earlier that morning and many of those guys got to experience it for the first time like I did. Lana, Justin, Ben, Mike, Nathan, Nate & Tim. K & I were battling with the mid-day heat.... so that made it a little more uncomfortable than climbing a mountain on a road bike should be. We took off about 1.5 miles from where the climbing begins and I told K I was scared 2 times during that mile. I was afraid of failing.... not making it. He assured me that I would make it. I had big question marks flashing in my head everywhere. <br /><br />So, the climbing begins. One pedal stroke at a time. Then we approached the horse shoe curve where the REAL stuff begins - it feels like it's almost straight up. Here's where the men are seperated from the boys - for the next 2 miles there's no break. I'm out of gears - and I've got a good ways to go. Suck it up, Holly. You're here to climb the mountain. And those pedal strokes got slower... and a little slower and I continued to push, with one goal in mind. Seeing the top. I tried to keep my breathing in a rhythym as much as possible. I dropped my head several times and counted my breathing - I'd promise not to look up for at least 10 breaths. Then do it again, and again. Finally, I realize I'm at the top. My legs felt a bit shaky and my body was swarmed with chill bumps as I realized I have once again conquered a fear. I timed myself. It took approximately 19 minutes. Believe it or not, that 19 minutes felt more like 10 minutes to me, even with all the pain. I was so excited!!!! K rocked this climb as well!!! <br /><br />I guess that wasn't enough, because we rode on over to Sherwood which was about an 11 mile ride to the bottom. I knew when we were descending down this beast, it would be extremely tough. The thing that is so special about Sherwood is that my grandmother lives there. And I've driven this mountain for a long time now. Never did I EVER think climbing it on a bicycle was an option. So after we stopped in to see my grandma for a few minutes, she gave me a piece of cantaloupe and we filled our bottles up and off we go! To climb Sherwood! Geez, it was so hot. This is a continuous 5+ miles of climbing right off the bat! There is no break and it is grueling. For me, it's a toss-up as to which is harder - Sherwood or Alto. Sherwood is obviously longer, but Alto could be a bit higher in grade. I had to talk myself up this one! To say that I suffered is an understatement. Because at this point my legs were toast from the Alto climb. Give those toasty legs some credit though -- because they pushed me to the top of Sherwood. To say that I felt like a million bucks when this ride was over is putting it lightly. :-) I never dreamed I could do either of these, much less on the same ride. And it was fun! Am I crazy? :-) <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfyW94ww9HTkwmGNzMKNkKX6KnN69QHrbclGDXGXXQwHt8zp6i_7UPfQ8lzfWrFXvV2Ni_Z28R9q40AWCRqqqZn3a4VvjA7cySRnz7n4YxcQdX1O9vwU7YH6m4hp67AgBJwZFm5NM90wz/s1600-h/Alto_Sherwood+004.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225309011370354466 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfyW94ww9HTkwmGNzMKNkKX6KnN69QHrbclGDXGXXQwHt8zp6i_7UPfQ8lzfWrFXvV2Ni_Z28R9q40AWCRqqqZn3a4VvjA7cySRnz7n4YxcQdX1O9vwU7YH6m4hp67AgBJwZFm5NM90wz/s320/Alto_Sherwood+004.jpg" border=0></A> I love the year 2008. I have done things in this calendar year that I never imagined were possible. If I can do it, anyone can. The body is so amazing. I ran a marathon! I rode a 100 mile century ride. And I've climbed Alto and Sherwood! I have to say how thankful I am for my body and mind that God has blessed me with that has allowed me to push to another level. I am also thankful for training partners and special people like Lana and K - who inspire me to give all of these excessive challenges a try. <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeu5a3cZ6X_196TabK4x1pl8fAG18L9H9c7j8y0QiGHPL0e5vmARgYZ9__8JdJoeXaxaFIrPy9sOVIvDXsADcTLokNpiZXRYuxDpVOlAqK8CIAp8FES8v8zDkLRBxLL1R9ovT_u_8ITQi/s1600-h/Alto_Sherwood+005.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225309388608310050 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeu5a3cZ6X_196TabK4x1pl8fAG18L9H9c7j8y0QiGHPL0e5vmARgYZ9__8JdJoeXaxaFIrPy9sOVIvDXsADcTLokNpiZXRYuxDpVOlAqK8CIAp8FES8v8zDkLRBxLL1R9ovT_u_8ITQi/s320/Alto_Sherwood+005.jpg" border=0></A> <br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-d1ce4dc408aae3e0 height=266 width=320 contentId="d1ce4dc408aae3e0"></OBJECT><br />"Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." Martin Luther King Jr.Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-37595284980575133902008-07-07T15:21:00.005-05:002008-07-07T15:26:59.567-05:00In Memory of Bozo the Clown....This morning as I was on my way to the rec center to run I heard some sad news on the radio. Larry Harmon (aka Bozo the Clown) has passed away at age 83 with congestive heart failure being the cause of death. I sure did love to watch the Bozo show when I was little.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKgxxINn59TA2hCiVLLBwWbD6PLPbhsfVBbjkMR3hvWnivDCPb8bVtqnO25Y_Jh4buxpp2xfgnILG1TYq_EQip3K5yr0FW1GJCOlS5IbdiS49DBTbFddHQrAHx2lBFSykC6B3jWBOlwTp/s1600-h/040527_bozo_ccol_widec.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKgxxINn59TA2hCiVLLBwWbD6PLPbhsfVBbjkMR3hvWnivDCPb8bVtqnO25Y_Jh4buxpp2xfgnILG1TYq_EQip3K5yr0FW1GJCOlS5IbdiS49DBTbFddHQrAHx2lBFSykC6B3jWBOlwTp/s320/040527_bozo_ccol_widec.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220370466114805394" /></a> I wanted SO badly to someday aim and toss that ping pong ball into bucket #6! This show would sell out for 10 years at a time! Unbelievable! Guess I’m a little late……. :-/ My hat’s off to Bozo!<br /><br />So, July 4th weekend involved a visit with Jerm & <a href="http://bethanyandjeramy.blogspot.com">Bethany</a> over some bud lime Thursday night. Friday morning I was able to make it to the group ride leaving from the rec center at 7am. Riders included me, Don (the pet ambulance service), Tim, Nathan C, Jay B, and Nate H. Great ride! Beautiful morning to be out!!! We did the Normandy loop and then after making a pit stop at the beautiful home of Jay and Tammy’s where they were so gracious to fill up our bottles with Gatorade and water, we headed back making the loop backwards! We ended up with 37 miles and it took right around 2 hours I believe. My knee is still giving me a little bit of trouble when I’m riding – mainly climbing. <br /><br />Saturday morning around 10am, I was motivated for a long run. It was hot though so I strapped on my fuel belt with 3 bottles (2 gatorade, 1 water) and I managed to complete a 10 mile run. This is the first time I’ve used my fuel belt in temps over 40 degrees. Wow…. The stuff doesn’t stay cold. It’s up against my body, which is steaming with heat and sweat and even though my bottles were frozen when I started, by mile 3 they were already luke warm. Mile 7, and they were officially hot. This run took me a little longer so I’m blaming it on the heat. Completed, drenched and red-faced in 1:31. <br /><br />So, I was treated to a day at the lake/cabin with my friends! Great times! You can always count on your cheeks (face cheeks I might add) to be sore from laughing nonstop after a day and night like Saturday! Especially when it involves a round of PARTINI! And <a href="http://bethanyandjeramy.blogspot.com">Bethy</a>…. What is your recipe for those margi’s and slides?????? REAL nice. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAPiSMuAnfiMIkTy7HG8RlVmNCPvL2PYG_AO5M-udTClilkClBUj0vNbEDku8WxLfacDE7VRpuyOTVTsoOgOCmq4ZUNFoB1xb7imkUztSavY_LVwdcmsBZnDaQmNFQ6SkfRpH2nnviu3i/s1600-h/Jerm_Bethy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAPiSMuAnfiMIkTy7HG8RlVmNCPvL2PYG_AO5M-udTClilkClBUj0vNbEDku8WxLfacDE7VRpuyOTVTsoOgOCmq4ZUNFoB1xb7imkUztSavY_LVwdcmsBZnDaQmNFQ6SkfRpH2nnviu3i/s320/Jerm_Bethy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220370826757626658" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR_yN5tpTLWHUI_08uoGk2PcEHH1j5rzUu3gYis3EVsMCvvHuMuWsmlL8mG1_ABzqqgyuneleQPeW04QcunNi7VYxEXPy9cgAjr2AEn5gADIrSIFTIyblQy-vJwA_Y_jrT5OwyEhECGyU/s1600-h/Riddle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR_yN5tpTLWHUI_08uoGk2PcEHH1j5rzUu3gYis3EVsMCvvHuMuWsmlL8mG1_ABzqqgyuneleQPeW04QcunNi7VYxEXPy9cgAjr2AEn5gADIrSIFTIyblQy-vJwA_Y_jrT5OwyEhECGyU/s320/Riddle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220371028848810290" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MwRRH1ypmbbM2mNy0CZ3BJxtc1YyOkLU30-zu7prvRhukx-3Jf9ixU33743E9sqCluLtdhhZh3-bJd7ZWukRAeTZzmC7eYMXQAbYzXYaM_3oFJ6REzV5tudLu9O-Hwh5t1mRdVkU9YgC/s1600-h/Bethy_Katy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MwRRH1ypmbbM2mNy0CZ3BJxtc1YyOkLU30-zu7prvRhukx-3Jf9ixU33743E9sqCluLtdhhZh3-bJd7ZWukRAeTZzmC7eYMXQAbYzXYaM_3oFJ6REzV5tudLu9O-Hwh5t1mRdVkU9YgC/s320/Bethy_Katy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220371267603180370" /></a><br /><br />Somehow I made it to church Sunday morning. It was really very good to be there. The singing was so uplifting and it was worth getting up for!!! Sore legs and all! This morning I trekked my way around town for a 5 mile run before work. Tomorrow is either going to be a ride, or a brick!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-27979383364685861902008-07-02T15:59:00.004-05:002008-07-02T16:10:51.589-05:00Hanging ToughCatching up….. Last Saturday K & I went for a 19 mile ride through Tullahoma, Moore County and back through Normandy. It was windy!!!! We had several things to attend that evening, so Sunday I found myself exhausted! I also found myself waking up from a 2 hour nap on my mom and dad’s couch with Hattie curled up at my feet. Wow – I think that is the first nap I’ve had in 6 months? It felt GREAT! Now I’m not so sure cutting out my naps was the best thing for me. I’ve always required a nap. Sounds silly, but it’s true. It makes me less grumpy :-) I ended up mowing my yard that evening. I love mowing the yard….. to me it is incredibly therapeutic. I wanted to mow every yard in my subdivision!!! Now that my lemon mower has successfully mowed my entire yard without pieces flying off! LOL. It hasn’t won me over just yet though. P.O.S.<br /><br />Monday I was determined to get my week started off on the right track so I got up at 5:30am and ran a 5 mile loop through town – 8:49 pace. Monday night Briar’s all star team beat the Tullahoma all star team and I was there to see it! Tuesday the plan was to do a brick after work. The clown I was supposed to do a brick with, backed out. I went to Briar’s ballgame and watched them win 22-0. I made up for it today at lunch. I went longer and faster on this brick than I did last week’s. I rode the Staggerwing course plus a little extra for 19.5 miles & I slapped my running shoes on and finished out with a 3 mile run at an 8:25 overall pace. My legs aren’t killing me as bad this year on the bricks as they did last year. What is up with that? I have read that the aero position can help save the legs since that position uses some different muscles. I’m wondering if this is really making the difference or if I am just a little stronger this year. I’m starting to wish I had a harder gear on my bike. Now… Black Betty does happen to be a road bike. And I have a compact crank. I just noticed that most of my ride I stayed in my 2 hardest gears and there were a few times on some downhills that I couldn’t gain any speed by pedaling. I don’t think I race or compete enough to invest in a race or tri bike, especially since I do not swim. However, I do wish I could put some faster/harder gears on this bike for courses like the Staggerwing or other times when I may want to hammer.<br /><br />Manchester American League All Stars play Tullahoma again tonight. Lana will be in the stands with her rock shakers and Heather will be against the fence getting her groove on & The Flash will be there with his camera :-)<br /><br />Check out Hattie with her new toy that is a fake piece of chicken. LOL.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jt43LHIWG3VnhbK-h715FTheHJH_mNT6kiTg5PrLCs2ieBDtCpmxsyp7WDFX8WSgFohSffeje2Hrn6OQizzpsdt7tfnTIybbM8VKW1HhZa1Js-PAqZDlVnbIoZZM7ALJtkFNcobxkPdX/s1600-h/0630082115.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jt43LHIWG3VnhbK-h715FTheHJH_mNT6kiTg5PrLCs2ieBDtCpmxsyp7WDFX8WSgFohSffeje2Hrn6OQizzpsdt7tfnTIybbM8VKW1HhZa1Js-PAqZDlVnbIoZZM7ALJtkFNcobxkPdX/s320/0630082115.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218527086427553234" /></a>Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-77133925803283273062008-06-27T14:18:00.004-05:002008-06-27T14:30:25.250-05:00I’m so sleepy it hurts… and I have miles to go before I sleepStopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening <br />by Robert Frost<br /><br />Whose woods these are I think I know. <br />His house is in the village, though; <br />He will not see me stopping here <br />To watch his woods fill up with snow. <br />My little horse must think it queer <br />To stop without a farmhouse near <br />Between the woods and frozen lake <br />The darkest evening of the year. <br /><br />He gives his harness bells a shake <br />To ask if there's some mistake. <br />The only other sound's the sweep <br />Of easy wind and downy flake. <br /><br />The woods are lovely, dark and deep, <br />But I have promises to keep, <br />And miles to go before I sleep, <br />And miles to go before I sleep. <br /><br />I can’t get enough sleep lately. I’m exhausted beyond my normal limit of exhaustion. Why? I don’t know. Everynight by 8pm I am so tired my body is aching from head to toe and I start getting a headache. I have been in bed before 10:30 everynight this week – that’s really good for me. Then when I start thinking about how tired I am, I stop for a moment and think about how tired <a href="http://bethanyandjeramy.blogspot.com">Bethany</a> must be. Every single morning she wakes up by 5 or before (and has no choice to hit the snooze button), gets herself ready, gets a 4 month old baby ready, dressed & fed. Off to the babysitter in the boro about the time the sun rises, works a full 8 hour day, picks baby EJ up at the babysitter, drives 30 minutes back home and immediately begins preparing for the next day to do it all over again. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsa74i2kzEInqiPnlNIPyLxxiaG2lb-llofvtdFkDi1A9g3kO1vUNTn7kg6tUyuKUt_VeDLeoRmQzztogFN5rKDvvWDC33XvDQ4tC8_VMxE56XWXnNwQGUqmiLW6AH6akl47A7c1jiaq2/s1600-h/Bonnaroo_4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsa74i2kzEInqiPnlNIPyLxxiaG2lb-llofvtdFkDi1A9g3kO1vUNTn7kg6tUyuKUt_VeDLeoRmQzztogFN5rKDvvWDC33XvDQ4tC8_VMxE56XWXnNwQGUqmiLW6AH6akl47A7c1jiaq2/s320/Bonnaroo_4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216645801516659202" /></a> Even at that… I am simplifying it. She’s got diapers to change, bottles to make, baths to give, clothes to wash, supper to prepare, & diaper bags to pack. Wanna hear the best part of it? She’s starting a new journey separate from all the rest. She’s running. She’s biking. She’s loading up her bike and getting in a good workout during her lunch break. I’m sure she’d rather run to McDonald’s, grab something quick and take a quick power nap instead. In the evenings on top of everything else, she’s taking time for herself and kicking her heels. I am impressed. I am motivated and inspired! What a great example! <a href="http://bethanyandjeramy.blogspot.com">Bethany</a>, you rock!<br /><br />My week seems easy compared to hers, so I have no excuse. Monday evening I went for a short 3 mile run after work. I just wasn’t feeling it :-/ I felt like a bum since I only went 3 miles so I planned to do my first brick of the year Tuesday morning. I rode the Staggerwing Duathlon course, which is a 19 mile out and back and finished up with a 2 mile run on legs that felt like jelly. Wednesday I got up and did a refreshing 6 mile run through town. I’m thinking this took me like – 53:51. 8:58 – overall pace. <br /><br />So, this morning when my alarm went off at 5:20am, I hit the snooze button. POP! It went off again at 5:29am, grrrrrrr…. I peep out my window hoping for rain. No rain. I look at the sky in hopes of dark clouds, no dark clouds. I lay back down and snooze attacks again. Ok, that settles it. I let Hattie out to do her business and I get dressed and brush my teeth and pop in my contacts. I parked at the rec center and did an 8 mile loop. It was all I wanted!!! I started off by leaving the rec parking lot and ran to hwy 53 to interstate drive – Beep! 1 mile. I made it to the end of interstate drive – Beep! 2 miles. I made it to Waite St, where the greenway merges – Beep! 3 miles. Trotted onto the main intersection and took a left on Hwy 41 all the way to American City Bank – Beep! 4 miles. I meandered over through Oak Drive, McCord & Belmont to finish up the 5th & 6th miles & proceeded back down hwy 55, back through the greenway to get an even 8 miles in 1:11:20, which was an 8:55 overall pace. Man… I was winded really bad and had to stop on the way home and grab a Gatorade!!! I took a shower & headed to work.<br /><br />Hopefully it’s going to be a nice, relaxing and fun weekend…. Even if it does rain. Sometimes I am all about some rain. It’s comforting to me and it’s an excellent opportunity to be lazy. It does the soul good!<br /><br />Goodluck to Tim, Chris P, <a href="http://micheletraining.blogspot.com">Michele</a>, Don & anyone else who’s doing the McMinville City triathlon this wknd!!!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-8108373506396949192008-06-22T22:15:00.010-05:002008-06-23T16:59:12.346-05:00Black Betty rolls 100!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9fbsFq8b2IDYfR4rmldui1XxuTbUpJLe-Lzp-VaT4IdMUXlYN2Q36r30x9f8STvHWYrvnh4pWrQWNXaEDkwNgfjGJh_ofH8NAQlLjWqUSfLIgjbLChADjSxSJqzGVgrQJuB7DsQWQUD5/s1600-h/music-notes%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9fbsFq8b2IDYfR4rmldui1XxuTbUpJLe-Lzp-VaT4IdMUXlYN2Q36r30x9f8STvHWYrvnh4pWrQWNXaEDkwNgfjGJh_ofH8NAQlLjWqUSfLIgjbLChADjSxSJqzGVgrQJuB7DsQWQUD5/s200/music-notes%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214912152718088722" /></a><br />"A big wheel keeps on turnin' <br />Proud Mary keeps on burnin' rollin' rollin' <br />Rollin' on a river <br />Rollin rollin rollin on a river" <br /><br />I am all smiles this weekend knowing that I met one of the milestones I thought I'd never have a chance to meet. That's right guys... I did it!!!! I rode my first century - a SWEET 100 miles! Harpeth River Ride 2008. This ride was awesome. So many things went right. Only 1 small knee issue around the 40 mile marker, but it wasn't enough to take me outta the ballgame. It never got a whole lot better, yet it never got a whole lot worse. Roll on, baby...... aint stoppin!<br /><br />There was a mass start at 7:30am at Thompson Station church. Lana and I arrived there later than expected - imagine that! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRP5IjM26Cin_sNU5ZVrElxvQ9y3u5pdKx0gg0O8-KZlRuFvhn44D0ItVtGB5VGQf90HGA0O36sg2sZHUSCV1tIsnwGCO3mK2NjXaVk9fN1dFUQN78smFHJE3A7ogi7SaKDH55qATIiBm/s1600-h/Harpeth+River+001.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRP5IjM26Cin_sNU5ZVrElxvQ9y3u5pdKx0gg0O8-KZlRuFvhn44D0ItVtGB5VGQf90HGA0O36sg2sZHUSCV1tIsnwGCO3mK2NjXaVk9fN1dFUQN78smFHJE3A7ogi7SaKDH55qATIiBm/s200/Harpeth+River+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214913576309283314" /></a>We signed up, got our t-shirts, then got our bikes off the rack & air'd our tires. With no time to spare, we were off!<br /><br />Felt great from the start. This route was awesome.... it is roller coastering the whole way. There were no headwinds, the temp could not have been more comfortable, and I wasn't sick this year like I was last year! Right around mile 14 was the infamous Theta hill where I wanted to put a gun to my head last year. This year... it was tough, but not in the league as it felt last year. Made it to the top, piece of cake. I never doubted one time I wouldn't make it. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH88PPGETxwNflRUvd72cuJnU7oGUkle3Hs1e9qik-lqusQBSjlDRiGIbQPGytegAdCojEvL7LksQ_ky9K-whK02796myQSl0CK2KWyVPwDubLiH9TQs4a8uG74m-FZ4744XKN1AVg5k_m/s1600-h/Harpeth+River+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH88PPGETxwNflRUvd72cuJnU7oGUkle3Hs1e9qik-lqusQBSjlDRiGIbQPGytegAdCojEvL7LksQ_ky9K-whK02796myQSl0CK2KWyVPwDubLiH9TQs4a8uG74m-FZ4744XKN1AVg5k_m/s320/Harpeth+River+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214919314485860162" /></a> In cyclying it seems like once you make a hill the first time, it never enters your mind that you might not be able to do it. I was GLAD to have that over with. I've dreaded that for 1 year! We coasted on by the first rest stop to try and conserve time.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKiqzjsi4S5igEG5FYjYsXtqxMzyOK2WXI3tWwnYJt3alRKMgAAOUmCgdVpWSzWs-pcGnGJJZTMiI7P9EvGYSiN2sYSOhKWS9CDZunsFmbeHLMlsxy_lOIGpL5gqmVL81hZUwEAT_6Ex_/s1600-h/Harpeth+River+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKiqzjsi4S5igEG5FYjYsXtqxMzyOK2WXI3tWwnYJt3alRKMgAAOUmCgdVpWSzWs-pcGnGJJZTMiI7P9EvGYSiN2sYSOhKWS9CDZunsFmbeHLMlsxy_lOIGpL5gqmVL81hZUwEAT_6Ex_/s320/Harpeth+River+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215199798562209266" /></a> I knew it would be close to mile 35 till the next one, but it was worth rollin on. We took a little longer at this stop than we really wanted... we had to stand in lines to fill up our bottles and it was getting very congested. I tried to fuel up as much as possible, by eating a half of pb & j, 2 orange wedges, and a half of banana. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriiUEDYTAH9a8pdo4D0f3n93uJGmRsPdBr4xxWiU_sBYiACMTlP9Z7MWjWzDAgAK4JrkSij_ArJMBfG7IrxelzH2Rvfec7FhmalKtldYudVPLnv0bqADjWwLsfHOlNWPBa2oSdZD1ptS_/s1600-h/Harpeth+River+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriiUEDYTAH9a8pdo4D0f3n93uJGmRsPdBr4xxWiU_sBYiACMTlP9Z7MWjWzDAgAK4JrkSij_ArJMBfG7IrxelzH2Rvfec7FhmalKtldYudVPLnv0bqADjWwLsfHOlNWPBa2oSdZD1ptS_/s320/Harpeth+River+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214916417334239810" /></a> We took off and I was so full from the banana I felt bad for about 3 miles. As in - puking bad! I don't like bananas anyways, but I wanted to avoid cramping if possible. Screw that idea - I think I'd rather get a neck cramp then throw up. <br /><br />Right around mile 40, I started getting this weird knee pain that I haven't felt since my injury during marathon training. Where is this coming from? It wasn't good for awhile. I was thinking of how embarrased I would be when I had to blog that the SAG Wagon had to take me back to the start. We finally got to the 55 mile rest stop (I was soooooo glad) and this time I ate a watermelon wedge, 2 orange wedges, a rice krispy & filled up my bottles. I stretched my knee and it started feeling better. So off we go! Still rollin and feeling fine at mile 55. Looks like I may have a good shot at makin it! However, other fellow-cyclists were nicely reminding me of what we had ahead of us. Stillhouse mill - that would be HILL. Large climb at mile 75. Oh and I must not forget.... I was still managing to ride with Lana & she was still managing to hang back with me! We traveled down some extremely rough roads and this section seemed slower than the rest of the ride. We climbed a few more hills and mile 73 presented us with Stillhouse. So, up we go - and I'm taking it slow because the easier the gear I was in, the less pressure on my knee. We both made it to the top and celebrated at the 75 mile rest stop with some KILLER banana bread, warm homemade chocolate chip cookies, and orange wedges. Lana and I hopped back on our bikes still feeling surprisingly well, except for neck pain, which is to be expected at 75 miles. Mile 80 and I'm realizing that I'm going to make it. And even though a century ride is a walk in the park for most of my training buddies, I actually got emotional just thinking about it! And thinking back to last year - I said "I will never try 100 miles. That's impossible for me." I thought I was going to cry, but I pushed it back and focused on getting my pedal on! Still rollin! We reached mile 87 to see the last rest stop, but we blazed on by.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E9cvHZlHyUwp85g1ZIG8qZxFP94BR3FIlagNaGcUcI2RDbqFjXXMeWG6WLr5lwDKkcJRixdTaFW4U7bQ4yOqM3JwPGd8GLrQipZfl5MeaDshQTeDQCx-QE6UeUACD0_V6Qj9FuBI9_U_/s1600-h/Harpeth+River+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E9cvHZlHyUwp85g1ZIG8qZxFP94BR3FIlagNaGcUcI2RDbqFjXXMeWG6WLr5lwDKkcJRixdTaFW4U7bQ4yOqM3JwPGd8GLrQipZfl5MeaDshQTeDQCx-QE6UeUACD0_V6Qj9FuBI9_U_/s320/Harpeth+River+011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214920600827079106" /></a> We wanted to be done and we had plenty of fluids. I was fatigued, but still A-ok! Mile 91 I remember thinking "Wow. My body hurts." But I am about to complete my first century.... I really don't hurt too bad when I think of the reward. So we make it back to the start with only 96 miles. Ouch - I mean - I came to to ride 100 miles today.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgELdAUGdQkHTZ_I7JRvgnG_qzMzAzCpyejX9Fs8vSamgKYgZYoX29YruRUuzI3F6wQkH5hmmXvDNt9XwsnocGVMvOZF90YSqxqdiCjw2KOmFA8pjlJxdKlkiqOW1SKsLmE_6j8TvPNCt/s1600-h/Harpeth+River+012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgELdAUGdQkHTZ_I7JRvgnG_qzMzAzCpyejX9Fs8vSamgKYgZYoX29YruRUuzI3F6wQkH5hmmXvDNt9XwsnocGVMvOZF90YSqxqdiCjw2KOmFA8pjlJxdKlkiqOW1SKsLmE_6j8TvPNCt/s320/Harpeth+River+012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214921345376955938" /></a> NOT 96! Whatta ya do? You keep rollin. You do a 4 mile out and back and I do believe we had to pick one of the hilliest out and backs I've ever seen. lol. <br /><br />I got off my bike and my legs were shaking so bad it was all I could do to get my clothes changed! We went to the finishers tent and grabbed a small bite, a drink and headed home. With one big huge accomplishment for me! And Lana's 2nd century ride! I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed it! If I can do it, ANYONE can!Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1431767533244524563.post-69184882413448896902008-06-20T10:49:00.004-05:002008-06-20T11:01:32.862-05:00"The definition to insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results."The inevitable. Don’t you hate it when you know you’re headed in one direction, you’d really rather not go there. It’s not just going to be uncomfortable, it’s going to hurt. It’s too late though. Brace yourself. Plant your feet into the ground and stand firm – because you’re going. It may not be the right decision or right action to take. It also may not be the wrong action to take. I suppose even the wrong action is better than no action at all. Standing in the middle and taking no action at all has gotten you nowhere but further behind. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwN6bMNUHPU4oOyfR_LKJiLIi3Jvmcq1NWBIIzY2jLSerHBOeh5DcAJuRsy7gyqRxz3jkFIuyMMZiyKSfL0ek4yeLxapOY_d82LK8bWZT3tFmRvqHhJEQrrJz6Qe0uw1lTcC8KXXAy92H/s1600-h/hamster.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwN6bMNUHPU4oOyfR_LKJiLIi3Jvmcq1NWBIIzY2jLSerHBOeh5DcAJuRsy7gyqRxz3jkFIuyMMZiyKSfL0ek4yeLxapOY_d82LK8bWZT3tFmRvqHhJEQrrJz6Qe0uw1lTcC8KXXAy92H/s320/hamster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213992934235914258" /></a> It’s caused you to doubt everything you’re encountered with. The uncertainties of life knock on all the doors. They are little devils that tap me on the shoulder and say “Holly, I’m back. I’m going to make you wonder who you are, what you’re all about. I’m going to question everything you do. I’m here to bring you the gift of doubt. Don’t trust yourself. Wait wait wait!!! There might be hope? Or maybe not? Just sit tight. Don’t do a thing you might regret. Idle yourself.” These uncertainties shatter our confidence into a million pieces. The next thing you know, you’re right in the middle of a hamster cage, repeating the same vicious cycle. It’s hard to go. It’s equally hard to stay. <br /> <br />Onto the positive notes of this week…. Tuesday I managed to get in a 5.5 mile run during the middle of the day. I really wanted this to magically be a 7 miler, but my starting point was a little closer to my destination than I had originally calculated. It was hot, I am tired emotionally and physically, so I headed back to finish with 5.5. I could loop around again & make it an even 6? Nah! Woops… forgot to do my lunges. I thought about it the next day. Lol. So much for that! <br /><br />Wednesday I needed a bike ride since I am being coerced into attempting my first century ride this weekend at the Harpeth River Ride in Franklin. Lana & I had originally planned to commute to and from work, but she had some other shiz going on with her Ironman plan so I did my own thing. I sat out for a 16 mile mach tenn course ride. I averaged 19.2 on the first half of it… but by the time I had to get off my bike twice to toss it over the barricades and bulldozers blocking the bridge, my total average was only 18.8. Why am I slow? I should be able to break at least 19.5 out here. Oh well… keep spinning and try again later. Yesterday I slept right on through my 5:30am alarm. I brought some running clothes with me to make up for it during lunch. I wasn’t feeling it at lunch either though. I forced my mind and my body to not let myself down. I knocked it out after work. A 5 mile run in 46 minutes and 20 phat seconds. <br /> <br />As far as today goes, I’m commited to being lazy. I am worried about tomorrow. 100 miles? What is that going to feel like? Will I get to the 42 mile split off that separates the 60 mile ride with the 100 mile ride and settle for the 60? I have not ridden enough to attempt this. Once again – I am going to show up for an event only about 50% trained. Same story, different day. I tried to convince Lana to leave at 4am with me this morning and head down to the redneck rivieria (any destination within 8 hours of here that sits on the Gulf of Mexico) and spend the day on the beach, get up at 5 tomorrow morning and instead of doing the Harpeth River Ride, just create our own ride. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu-KljGh_Oadb2ZWpum1qVFdY8zc1Pbx807p-UiG7xmTrDiWDvtVb7qY5VlE81JXJtPmhFdLkKtLqBaWEHT8PDLDAulRrxHwoLuapQuf0iHZiA7S18PE24YO13_L2hOJw__SOo_VzS5yX/s1600-h/redneck_r.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu-KljGh_Oadb2ZWpum1qVFdY8zc1Pbx807p-UiG7xmTrDiWDvtVb7qY5VlE81JXJtPmhFdLkKtLqBaWEHT8PDLDAulRrxHwoLuapQuf0iHZiA7S18PE24YO13_L2hOJw__SOo_VzS5yX/s320/redneck_r.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213993430656486242" /></a> I already named this ride! "Redneck Riviera Ride." Ride 100 miles along the coast and our rest stations will be air conditioned gas stations. I offered to pay for every stitch of it if she’d agree to go with me. All I could think of is vegging out on the beach with a beer cooler after completing a flat 100 miles. Not a care in the world! Cell phones are dead. Then eating snow crab legs for dinner. This girl would not agree to it! She has kids, therefore she has obligations. Can’t blame her. But ohhhhhhhhhhh........ it was a grand idea! :-/Holly Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16745241268502826533noreply@blogger.com3