other stuff going on...

Believe it or not but I have a whole life outside of triathlons!!

It's true!!

These are some of the other things I have been up to:

• Getting ready for my kids to go to school. Matthew in grade one is so excited because this year he get's a desk...his very own desk! Adios to Kindergarten where they all sat at tables...an individualized desk is where its at. Luke starts Pre-school and has said several times he doesn't need to go to school...his first day will be an interesting one!!
• I am signing up for 2 cooking classes.
• I host my book club in September...any suggestions?? I am drawing a blank...we just read "The Guernsy Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society" Excellent book. I am in the middle of "My Sister's Keeper".
• I heard on the radio today that we have had 8 months of below average temperatures. EIGHT MONTHS!!
• I nearly shit my pants when I saw the fees for hockey. Matthew wants to try hockey. God help us all...I could care less if he plays but it is important to his father so here we go to the hockey rink.
• He also wants to play soccer.
• And he still loves his TaeKwonDo.
• We are going to have a busy fall/winter.
• Luke says he wants to be a Ninja Turtle. Can't find any lessons on that one...
• My daycare costs are going down. Time to up the RESPs!!
• I am the swim co-ordinator for the local triathlon club. All the times and days are set and we have a brand new, world class pool to look forward to this fall!! It is supposed to be one of the fastest pools in the world and has all of the latest technology. Can't WAIT to try it out! Just need to find some coaches...and the fees are going up...people are not going to be happy...
• At work we are busy, busy, busy...lots of interesting stuff going on.
• I want to shop for a house. A tiny bit bigger house. I don't need much but we are rapidly growing out of our house. But I want to stay in the area...it is an older area of town with lots of character...do we put money into this house or do we move? I hate moving.
• Thinking of taking a winter holiday. To where? When?
• My brain is full from my meeting this morning...the new CPP rules...doing the math on when client should start their CPP...oh the fun times.

this sucks...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/07/10/attitudes.overweight/index.html?iref=newssearch

I'm keeping my size 8 jeans!!

River Run Half Marathon Run Report

Carmen (super cyclist from Frank Dunn)...Jenna and me

This is three races in three weekends. Now I am done for a bit!! But what a day this one was!
Torrential rains.
30km/hr winds.
Soaking wet shoes.
A test of mental toughness like no other.
I could not decide if I wanted to run this half marathon. Justin's words rang in my head all week "This fitness you have would be a terrible thing to waste..." I was watching the weather every hour on Saturday...it rained and rained all day Saturday and finally at 4:00pm the forecast changed to "Periods of rain" for Sunday. Good enough. I was off to Brainsport (local running store) to register at the last minute. As I was leaving the store and walking back to my car, I had some serious, serious doubts. I just wanted a good run. I feel like I have not had a good run all spring/summer. I worked really, really hard on my running all winter and everytime I have lined up for a race something happens...the weather, I got sick at the run in May, races done on tired legs from training...I just wanted to enjoy running again.

So this was my goal.

No matter what is going on, just enjoy the day, keep your sense of humour, put one foot in front of the other, and just run.Woke up in plenty of time and hummed and hawed about what to wear. I'm allowed, I'm a girl. Itwas not raining at 5:30 when I got up so opted for shorts and a long sleeve under a t-shirt. Grabbed breakfast, did a ton of warming up and stretches at home. Made my way to the race start and hung out in my vehicle until literally 45 seconds before go time. It had started to pour and it was freezing. No problem. I can do this, I am fit and I am tough!! I was really wishing I had brought some gloves...it was seriously cold.

Off we go and I ran with Jenn for a few minutes and we chatted and visited. I really tried to run in the moment and assess how I was feeling the entire way. I was wearing my garmin but did not look at it the entire time. The first half was pouring rain. I felt good. I felt like running. I wasn't breathing hard. My legs were peppy. I kept telling myself to slow down..slow down...slow down...

At the halfway turnaround...holy wind!! Julie...I am not complaining...I am just saying...holy that was a mighty headwind. No problem. I LOVE THE WIND!!!!!! Just ran steady and started catching all sorts of people. Walked up the sharp little hill at the Victoria Bridge...because I always walk up that hill...why run up it today!! Struggled a bit mentally at the 16-17-18km mark....but I always do and my secret goal today was to stay tough in my head for these three kms. Just keep going...get inside yourself and just run...don't walk. The last km was as steady climb up a gradual hill and then the finish line was about 500meters away. I felt so strong at the finish!! Oh my gosh!! That has not happened for a very long time. And, I will have to see the official results, but I was very close, as in within maybe 90seconds OF A PB!!!!

When I hit the finish line I wasn't very steady on my feet (the race instructions said there would be gels at the last aid station ,I'd only had one gel (that's IT for the whole run!!) but of course they had none when I got there...) and a guy I know from swimming was a real sweetheart and grabbed me and put me in a chair and went and fetched a drink and food and cookies etc. Thank-you!!! He waited for me to get myself together and kept asking "You alright?? You alright??" I was good and really happy with that run.

On a side note: I bought new jeans yesterday. Size 8 new jeans.....That's TWO sizes down from what I normally wear...having a GREAT weekend!!!

i'm registered

For a half marathon.

Tomorrow!!

I was there today a mere 15 minutes before cut off...

No problem.

The forecast has changed during the day from "Rain" to "Periods of Rain". Those "periods of rain" are going to happen WELL after the run is done!!

Run report tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

the "P" in P90X

I have some ideas as to what the P stands for:
PLEASE have mercy.
Let me PUNCH you in the abdomen, cause that's how my abs feel right now.
Tony Horton (instructor) is a PINHEAD with his wacky sense of humour. How much product do you think is in his hair? It never moves!! He sweats up a storm but his hair does not move...
Did the shoulders and arms workout last night. The good news...I need more weights!! On the task list this weekend, to buy some heavier dumb bells.
I bought this P90X for my hubby several months ago as he saw the infomercial and raved about it. The system has sat on our shelf since then. He's been busy playing ball, playing soccer and hockey a couple times a week. I found it on kijiji and bought if from a guy for a fraction of the normal cost because he had bought it and never used it....go figure. Sure is cheaper than a gym membership!!
Now that I am triathloned out, I have always wanted to try some weight training so here I go!!
Coach Justin tells me my fitness is bad thing to waste and I should find another event to enter this fall. There is a half marathon run this Sunday but the weather forcast is for rain, rain and more rain. I have ran a few times since Calgary but I don't fell like running in piss pouring rain....I will decide Saturday, last minute of course, if I will run.
As for next year...I have no idea what I want to do. Leaning towards a marathon...hmmmmm.