Wow, I'm busy . . . and loving it!

So it's been a while since my last post but I've been super busy with . . . life!!! I guess I'll start where I left off . . .

The race was awesome, no wetsuit and all, it was great! I felt strong on every leg (minus the side stitch I got on part of the run) and I was happy with my finish time.

School is proving to be my biggest time consumer, and rightfully so. Because I am in summer session right now all my classes are super intense so here's what my day looks like. Today I got kissed goodbye from Matt at about 5:30am and he was off to work, 5:45am got up for run, 6-6:45am run, get home, walk Marley, make breakfast (which gets eaten during morning commute) and pack lunch and get to school by 7:50am. Math class from 8-12pm, lunch break from 12-2pm which I spend finishing editing a paper due @ 1! 1-4:30pm Assessment class. Get home around 5pm, work on homework until team meeting @ 6:30pm. Tri-Fusion meeting from 6:30-8:30, home around 8:45 and continue to work on stuff for school until 10pm. Drag myself to bed and do it all over again tomorrow . . . life is good!

I am anxious for my next race which is on July 21 in Colville. It will be my 1st Olympic so that will be fun! Matt and I will be competing along with several other of our friends from Tri-Fusion. Matt's folks are even making the trip up to watch the race and of course they will be wearing the "Team Taylor Support Crew" we got them!!! I am trying to loose a few more pounds before the race but we'll see as study snacks are always a good idea!! I have surprisingly lost about 15 since the early spring and so has Matt - kinda fun for us to be hotties with naughty bodies!!!! ha ha ha, I love that saying!!! ha ha ha.

This weekend I have to work both Thursday and Saturday but i want to go for a long bike ride (~30miles or so) and maybe go for an open water swim. Oh yeah and get caught up on homework, laundry, baking, spending time with Marley, going to the farmers market, visiting with my folks and getting to see Matt!!!

But the best part was Sunday when we went and watched CDA Ironman. There were like 20+ people from Tri-Fusion that competed and I believe everyone finished. I cheered my heart out and it was such an amazing day. Our friends Dave and Tasha Gordon got us VIP tickets so we had a cool bus tour of the bike course where we got to hand out water at an aid station. Our toor guide was Heather Fuhr, a professional triathlete who I admire and I was totally star struck!


Ok so back to the race . . . I made a cool sign and used it every time I cheered and I even think several of the Tri-Fusion people enjoyed it!! It was so fun to cheer for Dave, Tasha, Jessi, Roger, Ben, Kathi, Sam and many more! I am just in amazment of thier achievement!!! Wow!! It actally leaves me speechless . . . . :) There is so much more to that day, wet suit pulling off, seeing the elite athetes and I even managed to study at the finish line because I had a math test on Monday (which I passed, by the way)!!!

My allotted lunch time is about up so I must go back to school and I will try to keep up on my entries as I find little snippets of time to do so.

Happy trails!

Early morning nerves

I am up early today because I have several things on my mind. First I need to finish making the Lime Chiffon Cake for my dad for our Father's Day celebration that we are having this evening. Second, I'm making a list of the schoolwork I need to get done this weekend and finally, I am mentally rushing through my pre-race routine because late yesterday I signed up for the Trailblazer Triathlon in Medical Lake this afternoon!!!

While I was folding in the egg whites I was thinking about the race and realized just how far I've come in my fitness! The last two years I would train almost all year for just one sprint triathlon - this year, I've already done two sprints, one duathlon, an 80 mile bike ride, one half marathon, one marathon and a few trips around the CDA Ironman bike course!!!

It was crazy - a fellow athlete sparked a conversation yesterday at the pool about the race . . . and now I'm signed up!!!! I love it!!!!!

Gotta run the timer just went off - this cake is going to be delicious, happy Fathers Day!!!

First day of school

Well today was my first day of grad school . . . a little overwhelming with all the new people, super fun ice breakers, classes, financial aid, student insurance, first impressions, etc. I have already formed some friendships with a few of the gals in the program by working as a collaboration for some assignments due in July. Classes officially start tomorrow so we'll see how different it really is! I can't wait!



There was also a time where current MIT students came and we got a Q and A session. I was curious about workload and free time as I am still debating to sign up for Ironman 2008. I think in my heart it, I know it is not the right time. I don't need that added pressure to train for such an event and successfully get through school. However, my dream lives on and I know someday I will finish an Ironman, it just might not be next year . . .



On an even more demoralizing note . . . I am sad to report that in my previous post regarding my awesomely decreased swim times, they unfortunately are not accurate. I originally timed myself swimming at Oz Fitness South and when I recently swam at Oz Fitness East, my times were much slower which leads me to think the pool @ Oz South must be shorter. So I am humbled as I was so quick to toot my own horn and now it has come around to bite me in the a@#!!!!!



Anyway, I am excited to also be starting up riding in the mornings again. Tuesday and Thursday mornings I ride with a group of cyclists from 5:30am to about 6:30am covering 17ish miles. I love these rides because the air seems to be so pure that early and there is almost no traffic. I always say "good morning" to the brown heifer we pass bombing down Regal. I also love these rides because I get to spend some time with my mom and cousin who are both strong women and great cyclists! It is so peaceful that time of day and the best part is the cold shower I take when getting home! I don't know what it is but after a good workout a cold shower is like the best reward!! Ha ha ha!!



Here's my final thought: We had an activity today where we had to organize our group in order of birthdays, without talking. So of course we all held up our hands or wrote the date on paper. I love those activities but at the end we were all just standing around smiling at ourselves and I caught myself thinking of Marley. Thinking about his non verbal communication that he uses every day with Matt and me - wagging his tale! Such a simple gesture, such a universal meaning!

In moments of joy, all of us wish we possessed a tail we could
wag.–W.H. Auden

How true it is! If you have a dog, be sure to give them an extra treat or belly scratch today . . . just to see their tail wag . . . ! :)

Running

As I am sitting here back from working a garage sale put on by my mom, a family friend and me . . . I am dreading my 5 mile run I have to do. However, I've put on one of my old Spinning CD's and have gotten a little more energized . . . or is that just the handful of dark Mn'M's I just popped . . . whatever I'm getting pumped up. I spent the morning schmoozing random garage salers to buy my junk - I actually walked away with about $80 bucks, not too bad!

Speaking of running, I have learned to love the idea of going for a run . . . and most the time even the act of running. However, I still need to go over some of the reasons why I love running . . . most the time . . .

1. Getting outdoors and breathing in the fresh air
2. Feeling myself getting healthier
3. Knowing that I am becoming a stronger runner with every step
4. Sticking to my workout schedule
5. If I don't go for a run I will feel guilty all day
6. To give Marley a chance to stretch his legs
7. To clear my mind of all the clutter
8. To visualize myself running in my next race
9. To create a spot for the Rocky Road I will enjoy later :)
10. Because deep inside, I love to run

It's true, I love to run. It is my time to just go over things in my head; last nights dinner conversation, chores I have to do, errands I have to run, taking Marley to the groomers, what I'm making for dinner, trying not to get noticed when I sing out loud to the song on the radio, what we should do for our next vacation . . . and the list goes on. But for those 5 miles, I am free to think of anything, or even nothing . . . which is a very nice option to have.

So off I go . . . probably to decide what to plant in my new pot I got from the garage sale . . . and probably a few other senseless things!

Enjoy the weekend!

My Introduction

This blog will document my journey of . .persuing a Masters, training for triathlons, being a wife, daughter, sister, soon-to-be aunt, friend, Golden Retriever owner, dark chocoholic, glasses but not contacts wearer, gardener, WSU grad, tall nonfat sugar free hazelnut Americano drinker, belly laugher, star wisher, germ-a-phob, 4 Runner driver, hippie . . . ish, list maker, cryier, risk taker, sorority alumnae, brunette, knitter, world traveler, microbrew drinker, snowshoer, baker, free spirit.


Today marks my official transition to a new chapter in my life . . . teaching. I am not working this week as I prepare for Grad school. I am feeling excited, nervous, anxious and eager. Up until now I have been in control of my work, training and personal schedules and now . . . with no structure, I am lost!!

I am itching to race so I think I will this Saturday. Today I swam and timed 2 sets of 500 yards and I was blown away at my times. The first one was 6:45 and the second, 6:42!! Last summer @ Valley Girl my swim time was like 8+ minutes so to swim further and have it take less time is a huge improvement!

I enjoying my summer vacation - just this week - by planting flowers, doing school work, sticking to my training schedule, cooking, finishing a project for my mom's birthday (which was like 3 weeks ago, yikes!) and playing with Marley.

Well I hope you will enjoy the accounts of my days as I record them here. Feel free to leave comments if you wish and . . . happy trails.