swim, run, run, swim

Swam on Sunday. Was more of a social outing than a swim.

Ran my 8 minute all*out*go*as*hard*as*you*can*til*you*puke field test on Monday morning. AND I puked in my mouth. I think this means I did it right...I was gasping for air and grunting the last minute! Held a 5 min/km pace for 8 minutes. It is what it is and something to improve on. My heart rate zones are now set for training.

Ran again on Tuesday morning. This time 5 times 5 minutes tempo. I like these. I seem to get faster the further I go. My pace decreased every time....except the one where I ran up Radio Hill. Coach Justin tells me to do these till I fail. Have another go at it on Friday.

Swam this morning. We did a set of 60 second 50 meters. Leave on the top, and then 61 seconds and then 62 seconds and then 63....every time the goal is to get back by the top. I did 21 of those mo-fos!!! The swim coach said I made the 21st one and told me to GO AGAIN!!! I could not breathe and was gasping like a smoker and just shook my head...my arms, legs, guts and lungs were spent. Now I am feeling like a bit a wimp cause he really razzed me for "giving up" I didn't give up!! I wasn't going to make that last one and I figured barfing on the pool deck might be embarrassing.

New Year's Plans = NOTHING!!! I love it and hate New Year's parties. I have no reason, too many years of spending way too much money on an outfit, tickets, cab, drinks, to be disappointed and spent the next day. I'm going to do that hard run on New Year's day and am excited about it!!

worlds apart

Got an e-mail from Coach Justin yesterday:

"I'm not in the office but if you need to talk to me, call my cell."

We chat every Tuesday.

I did want to chat, cause I wanted to see if he saw my running field test...so I called his cell. He sounded very far away. I asked where he was. An athlete he coaches flew him over to Hawaii for some private coaching...yeah...

He sounded very excited and out of breath so I asked him what was up.

"I just got in from my bike ride. I rode the Hawaii Ironman course today and I rode it with Lance Armstrong!!!'

OMG.

So he sent me this picture...nice view don't you think!! Check out those calves...!!!

Christmas in pictures...

Me, my bros and sista

Sledding with the munchkins

Playing football in Mom's living room...why not?

And I swam today! With the tri-club swim...was more of a social outing than a swim. I am feeling like I am ready to get some serious workouts in over the next few months. I have a couple of field tests coming up this week for running and biking. Have pretty much taken the entire month of December OFF but it has been a good break from working out and focusing on other things like the boys and Christmas. Now, its time to see what this almost 39 year old body can do!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Here's to a fab time with family and friends and I hope the big guy from the North Pole finds you on his Nice list! Very exciting times at our house as the big day is just around the corner and I have Santa on speed dial to keep him up to date on the boys and their behaviour. I took Matthew to a Christmas concert at the theatre downtown this week and we really enjoyed the choir. There is just something about a 100 person live choir singing carols and hymns...so powerful...makes me cry everytime.

Lots of sledding, skating, eating, drinking, visiting, sleeping, game playing coming up over the next few days. Looking forward to it!!

holiday eating tips...

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

7 years ago...

Matthew turned 7 yesterday.
I can't believe it has been 7 years....I cried yesterday on the way to work. He had gotten a magic kit for this birthday and we practised all the tricks and he took them to school to show them off. It was so cute!
He was born at 1:29 in the morning. I was so paranoid he was going to be born on a Friday the 13th...I kept telling the nurses he can't come until the 14th. And he didn't. The whole labour and delivery thing was a horrible, horrible experience. No drugs. And not by choice. I have never and hope I never have to have that kind of pain again. It was awful. There is NO WAY it is natural!!! The biggest reason we waited so long for Luke was I could not fathom going through that again. A nightmare. From the doctors and nurses admission who were there...a nightmare.
But he came and he was perfect and we loved him.
Now he is a tall, scrawny, wirey, sensitive, too much energy 7 year old!! He loves his legos and his books and his brother. He won't go to bed on time and he is a super picky eater. Last night he told me his birthday party on the weekend was the best day ever. He loves playing hockey and TKD is his passion. He asked me yesterday if we could take some food to the poor for Christmas. I asked what he would like to take and he said "Fruit Loops!"
I am shocked how fast 7 years went by. My dad always told me life gets put into perspective when you have kids. And you get super busy, and boy, was he right!!
We are so proud of you, Matthew!!! What a little man you have grown into!!

cause that's how I roll...

Some of us made it to swimming today. I got up and started the truck and came back in and fooled around on Facebook for a few minutes. Lo and behold, our dear Tisha was also on FB. So I sent her a message...Swim? She was up for it so I had no excuses and got my ass to the pool and had a wicked good workout. Even with a fuzzy head from the hockey Christmas party last night...okay, the Tier 3 Bobcat parents know how to PARTY!!! Loved it.

Cause that's how I roll.

Yesterday was 90 minutes on my bike. Yeah. 90 minutes. I have not been on my bike in a really long time. But I did every single last minute of those 90 minutes. Even after my front tube blew (?) and I kept biking!!

Cause that's how I roll.

Off for some shopping yesterday in the crazy cold. My spouse decided yesterday was a good day to go to work (argh!!), so I dragged my kids with me. We were in Old Navy and they were horsing around and Luke did a face plant into one of the clothing racks. Within a minute he had a goose egg the size of a golf ball right above his right eye. Great. I really did not feel like going to emergency so as I sometimes do, I parent by majority, because it takes a village. I asked the first lady I see, with kids, what would you do?? She says "Well, my husband is a physician,,, I will call him" She can't get ahold of him so I thank her and go on my way and see a very old friend from many, many years ago who is a physical therapist. I ask her what to do. She does a little assessment with a flashlight etc and tells me the bump is superficial and just monitor his speech, pupils etc. So we go on our way and shop the rest of the day. Its no wonder I get told my kids are tough....

Cause that's how I roll.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

awkward

Yay! I made it to the pool. Feelin like a rockstar cause it was minus wtf and I went to the pool. We had no coach as he text someone that his car wouldn't start...so had to come up with a workout on our own. All in all, I got in about 3000 meters in just under an hour, happy with that!! Did some swim, did some pull, did some kick, did some im. Was a pretty good swim!

Head to the showers and strip out of my suit and a couple of girls from the lane swim come into the showers. I recognize one of them as the daughter of one of our biggest client.

There I am.

Naked.

Do I say "Hi!" Cause she knows who I am. She is also naked. Do I do the blow off, like I do not see her? Do I ignore her and go on my way? OMG! What do I do??!

I do what comes natural to me and I say "Hi Karen!! How are you? How did your parents enjoy their trip?"

She looks stunned.

I am starting to regret my decision as there is that awkward silence as she is trying to place me and I am standing there wet and naked and now wanting to hide!!

So I say "It's Kelly...from the McFaull Office!!"

Still no recoginzing.

Shit.

"The McFaull office...?" a little quieter and timid and I am thinking maybe I have the wrong person!!

She says "OOOOHHHHHH!!!! Hiiiiii....How are you?" And you know how the rest of the conversation went....small talk...catching up a bit...wishing each other a Merry Christmas...blah...blah...blah.

Just a weeee bit awkward to be talking to clients in the buff!!

wasting time....

http://www.xtranormal.com/profile/1825585/

and then it got cold...

Holy frick.

It is cold! And it got so cold so quickly! I took Matthew to school yesterday and did NOT have him dressed warm enough for the walk home, so had to scramble home for some more gear, take it to school and then get to work. But at least he was warm. Kind of important, don't you think?

I missed my run yesterday. No surprise. It was cold. Too cold. No workouts for today as I had a way too early meeting like I do every Tuesday. The big ass farmer truck has a broke valve (or something) so the husband is using my truck. Instead of getting my kids up at some ungodly hour and getting them to daycare at some ungodly hour I let them sleep and let Dad do his Dad duties by getting them up for the day and off to school....he LOVES this task and I LOVE letting him do it...(and that is not sarcastic...he really loves the morning routine so let the best and most patient person be in charge of getting the hooligans ready!!) but I had no vehicle so I....well....I went on a little adventure and I....ahem....TOOK THE BUS!!!

Some of my fine readers in much bigger centers are thinking "What's the big deal?" And many much bigger centers have very efficient and well oiled public transit systems. When I travelled overseas it was fun to see the hip and cool and career peeps on the public transit system. Let's just say this does not often happen in Toon Town....I blame it on the fact that this city has never really been that big, and to drive your car is WAY easier than trying to figure out the public transit system with its transfers and waiting on their schedule. I have not been on a city bus in oh...about 20+ years....I had to school myself on the route and the fees and the etiquette. Yeah...the etiquette...the website was actually very good and had a "trip planner" so I had it all worked out where the stops were and where I had to be and my bus fee of $2.50 (only exact change) in my pocket. I guess I could have taken a cab but I was on an adventure!!

Sad...I know...its the little things that get me excited!! Like the Universe said today:
Truth be told, Kelly, it takes so very, very little to be happy. But you knew that.

I had a ton of fun people watching for the 40 minutes I was on the Saskatoon Public Transit System.

In training news, I have none. I think I will swim in the morning. You are reading it here. Please look for a full report tomorrow!! And harass me if I don't go...no excuses...except possibly minus 30 degree weather. Justin even sent me a note: Get out there and train!! It will relieve stress!! Just do something!! (He even used the explanation marks....that's what Matthew calls them....hahahahha!!)

Blog with you all tomorrow!

finding my way back

The last two weeks have been a mental struggle. Not motivated at all to do anything. Feels like I have lost that fire that I had last year at this time. I even contacted the GWN folks and asked them about rolling my entry over to 2011. Apparently, I have until May so will hold off on that decision for just a little while longer. I have missed workout after workout and I don't even care.

But did get to swimming today as I had a heads up on what the workout was going to be...an INDY 1500. Had no idea what this was but someone told me it was fun so I made my way to the pool. Just barely, as Luke woke up early and puked all over his bed and the wall. So I cleaned him up, pulled the sheets, put him in teh tub and then new pjamas and put him back into bed with Shaun....and then went to swimming!! Such a neglectful mom I am.

Anyway, was a really good swim. Was a FUN swim. A warm up and then the INDY 1500...the slowest swimmer starts first and everyone lines up behind and the goal is to catch everyone in front before the end of the 1500. I started about 6th from last...Jenna started just ahead of me and we were all 15 seconds apart. At about the 900 meter mark, Jenna and CoryF and I were piled up. I let CoryF go ahead and I totally drafted and took er easy for the next 500 meters. (sorry Jenn!!??) I knew that it was going to be a full on sprint for the last 50-100 meters!! I was cheering for Jenna as there was no way I could out sprint CoryF and Bob...who found his way up to the front for the last 200 meters. I was even trying to block Bob BUT the bugger got by me and the three of them went for it!! I ended up 4th over all after starting about 6th from the end. The goal is to up your place so goal achieved!! And our tumble turns even came in handy as Jenna and I would catch these guys on the turns and it would take them about the full 50 meters to get ahead again!! I am going to lobby for turns for next year's triathlons....