Boo-TAY! arrrrrrr

Yesterday, my ridiculously generous and supportive boyfriend took me to Top-to-Top running store. I was completely resigned to running in crap shoes and cut off sweats thru to the end of my Tri training, despite massive chafing and blistering, but for some odd reason, I am a lucky lucky girl. Maybe triathlon wasn't *quite* the best decision for a social work grad student...but I have had a lot of support and help in getting me the equipment I need for this very costly event Seriously, there is so much CRAP to buy....who knew? Don't buy the "all you really need is running shoes, a bathing suit, and a bike" line - it's a big load of hog-hooie.

So here is what I made out with yesterday.

New Nike Running shoes - beautiful red and grey...
"I *heart* Tri" moisture-wicking socks
3/4 length Running pants - the most comfortable things i've ever worn
A new teal running shirt
These shoelace tie thingies so I don't have to lace my shoes, just zip tie them
A water bottle running belt
More gu/gel/shot blocks than you can shake a stick at.

I can't say i was necessarily running faster or longer today, but i definitely was WAY cooler.
Thanks baby!!!!!!!!!

And also thanks to him, and my mom, a little finders fee from Missy and Jason for a real estate referral ,and overzealous personal spending habits, I am also in possession of (or about to be in possession of):
A beautiful road bike
A unitard/triathlon race thingy
Tri shorts
A bike shirt
A bike saddle bag
Odometer
New sports bra
Bike air pump and tire repair kit (that i don't know how to use)
An awesome bathing suit
Silicon Swim Cap
Pink Goggles

Does this give you an idea of what it takes yet??? sheesh. I'm tired writing it.


In case anyone is curious, I still need (want):
- a Bento Box for my bike (*update -- Erik just got me this! weeeee!)
- Aero-bars
- Leg/arm warmers
- More moisture-wicking thin socks
- Sunglasses
- Hand pump
- Deep-tissue massage
- A Job

Some of these things can be found at sporteve.com or at trilabs.com, though I don't think that includes the job.
ok, that's all i got.
Up at 6 a.m tomorrow for a swim/2-hour bike/2-mile run tomorrow in Long beach.

For the first time......

.....I am going to do every required workout this week.

I'll post a sample schedule later when I figure out how to make it fit in this blog.

:-)

Cow Tipping 2

Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimber....
Only this time into a ditch..and in front of people.

Let's face it -- that last skinned knee was kinda lame.


Here was a fun conversation that transpired with a teammate after the ride.

Teammate: "Holy Crap! How fast were you going?"

Me: "Zero point zero miles per hour."

Him: (disappointed) "Oh"

*************

I really need to learn:
a) ...how to drink while riding. If I hadn't had to stop to drink some water, this wouldn't have happened
b) ...to take the foot out of the bike clip that I intend to stand on.

How I feel about Getting Up at 6 a. m. Tomorrow Morning For Bike/Run Practice In Palos Verdes

Best represented by the multi-talented and expressive Cookie.....

CowTipping

Yesterday my body took a more unusual beating.

The bike clips finally got me. I had heard of it happening but remember cockily thinking 'nah, I totally get 'em...no problemo.'

I had gotten lost in in the hills of santa monica, or maybe it was brentwood -- I got confused as to which way to go and all of a sudden as I debated whether to stop or go, I felt it happen in slow motion...I couldn't wrestle my foot out of the clip and just ate it. Really it was worse and less interesting than truly taking good nosedive because i wasn't even moving. I just toppled over like a cow tipping in the night. Embarrassed and slighly bleeding, I managed to disengage my foot from my bike and get up. Not one person even leaned out the window to ask if i was ok. I felt a bizarre and impatient audience of hummers, mercedes, bmw's and maybe even a ferrari just stared at me. I think i heard a horn honk. I tucked my tail between my diaper-shorted legs and slunk off, ignoring the sting of my knee and pride. It wasn't my best moment. However, it WAS nice to get over the anticipation of my first fall and just get it over with.

And i'm really proud to show off my war scar today. Hold onto your socks!


i know...it's HUGE. ha ha.

I also tried to take a picture of my ego wound, but alas...

Freaky People

Yesterday I took a left instead of a right for my hour-long run. I parked at the lot on ocean park and instead of taking off in the less crowded direction towards the pier, which would be my normal choice, I took off towards the Venice Boardwalk.

I have a fear of running outside. It started in my much heavier days towards the end of college when things really got out of control. At about 70 pounds heavier, but really rather in denial about it, I went for a run through the town of Princeton. I remember so clearly that it was a humid spring morning before my first ever real job interview, and I could barely barely squeeze into my size 16 suit that I had bought from Ann Taylor. I was horrified when a truck with a couple guys in it drove by and yelled 'better keep running fatty!'. And run I did....back to my dorm...in tears, and barely able to later suffer through a job interview that needless to say, I did not get.

So fast forward to other brief attempts at running, of which a small percentage included some idiot commenting on some aspect of my physical being...i mean, seriously, who are these people and where do they get the nerve?? But i've spent much of my life since then avoiding running alone outside, particularly being stopped at corners for stop lights where cars can stop and assess you...for some reason running alone, with no headphones, just feels so NAKED...maybe even worse than naked.

So yesterday I went left...through the throngs of people milling during dusk along venice boardwalk. I ran and ran -- about 2.5 miles down to Marina Del Rey and then back. It was hard running by the cafes with people enjoying drinks and just people-watching, worrying what they thought of my spandex-clad ass. I was shocked that throughout the whole run, I wasn't harrassed once, not about my breasts or my booty, or my running style, or my jiggle. No one told me to keep running, leered, or laughed. In fact, I ran by a grungy but delicate-looking panhandling 18-year old boy sitting against a wall with a jar and a sign that said "help me get to Prom" who said on my return trip past him "keep up the good work, hot stuff".

I loved that run yesterday. The beach was on my right the whole time, there was a buzzing energy along the boardwalk, as I passed the cafes, and "muscle beach", and the paddle courts, and all the crazy vendors, and the many varieties of dogs walking their owners. It was lively and colorful and I realized that when you're just one average person going for a run at sunset along one of the most eclectic places in the world, you're safe. I was happy to just be Normal blending in among those wonderful, freaky people.

Important Announcement...

These are my step-children. I would like you to meet them.
Introducing Rocky (Yorkie) and Cookie (Japanese Chin)



I tend to favor Cookie a little bit in the picture-taking b/c she is so pathetic and goofy. But Rocky is insanely cute. Here are a few more of the girls. Oh, my god, i can't stand how cute they are.

This is sorta how I am after my Saturday Practices:

Hey people!

I have a billion more. Maybe I'll start sprinkling them in my posts.
big hugs!