so that happened...

Yesterday was a day of leisure. Hanging around, out for lunch with my bros, some shopping and more hanging out. Did a quick little slow jog after supper just to move the legs.

In between hanging around and shopping, we went to Tim Horton's. We got the big-ass farmer's truck, the Ford 350 diesel with duely wheels, STUCK in the drive-thru!!

Holy.

Embarassing.

We had to get out and ask ALL of the cars behind us, about 5 of them, to move back about 3 feet. They were all great about it but one old dude who yelled at me. What a terd. We ended up buying the two cars behind us their order, which by the way, did not include the old dude. It was a gong show.

As of this moment, I am not the least bit freaked out with this race on Sunday. Why not? I am excited but not nervous or panicked or anything like that. I have made sure to stear clear of the Westin, except to pick up my race package...I got a bit overwhelmed there as I knew I would...all those super fit and super intense people. Holy. My peak training weeks are 6-7 hours per week!! I won't EVER be super fast or qualify for anything. Don't worry, I'm not in your way...some of the hard cores are so uptight and it's dissappointing...have some FUN!! It's also good for you!!

I just want to make it through the bike. Just make it through. Get to the run where I know it is down to my own two feet. I've done the work. I've done the training. The CTS website keeps track of your workouts and I have done over 90% of what I was given. Over 90%. I have not missed one key workout. Not one. I will be reminding myself of this during the day tomorrow. I feel so very ready. It's a good feeling!! And if something gets thrown in there that I did not expect, I feel like I have the confidence this year to throw something back.

See everyone tomorrow!!!

i am in calgary

What a drive. If you ever think the drive from Toon Town to Calgary is boring, you can borrow my kids any time to take with you!! A normally 6 hour trip took us eight hours..EIGHT!! This is why I insisted on coming Thurs and not Friday...

They are pretty good little troopers but Luke kept saying he had to poop. And with a three year old you just don't fool around with that so we would pull over and he then decided he just wanted to run around in the ditch for a few minutes.

We are in the big-ass farmer truck. It is a diesel and a Ford duely...so the big four tires at the back...and LOUD....and the orange lights on the front of the cab...it screams "We are from Saskatchewan!!" You don't even have to see the license plate. We could not find a place to park it last night as my bros lives in a newer area and it takes up ALOT of space. And they tend to pack these homes into these new areas... The truck is very roomy and comfortable but it sort of barrels down the highway...you don't want to mess with that!!

It is early, early Friday am and I can't sleep. The plan today is to make my way down to the package pick up at some point. Other than that we have no plans. My dad has made his way from BC so we will likely just hang out and visit...hopefully a nap this afternoon!!

I am really happy I took those days of holidays this week before leaving. I feel super rested and relaxed and I don't like the hub bub of the expo so I will be getting my race package and getting out of there very quickly.

Have a great day out there everyone!!

holding court at the pool

My first two real days of vacay have gone well. We have had a picnic in the park, spent the afternoon at a friend's pool, today was some errands and then the afternoon at Cricket Creek. I sat in a lawn chair and my kids ran wild.

Perfect.

I had to get a last swim in as I have not been in the water for about 2 weeks. The alarm clock went off at 5:30am and my intention was to head to the YWCA for an early morning swim. I get to the pool and the gal informs me that it is $10 for a swim. Huh?? The prices have gone up,,,way up since this winter when it was $3.75!!! I know some of you in bigger centers would not blink at paying 10 bucks for a swim but this is insane...so I left...with no swim.

Now what do I do? (Well, first I went back to bed for a few hours...)

I had read in the city guide that the outdoor pools had a lane swim from 12-1 during the week. I have not swam outdoors since I was a kid and thought it might be kind of fun. Call my nanny (mom) and offer up my kids to take for lunch...I know, I am a sucky...and head for the pool.

As I am parking I see our dear Charlie Browne wandering around the parking lot. After he gives me a hard time about my back door being open...yeah..I was driving with the door half open!!...I ask him why he is walking around the parking lot??!! He says there are too many people and he was not interested in swimming in a crowded pool. I look at him and think, wha??...how can this be? I could not talk him into coming in with me so off he goes to bluer waters...I had exactly 45 minutes to get the meters in and I had no options, so I head into the pool. There wasn't anybody at the desk, and I waited (about 6 seconds, but I still waited!!) I was in a bit of a hurry to get in and get going so actually swam for no charge...oops...if they aren't going to keep better track of that, then not my concern...

I get to the deck and what was happening was it was a free for all in the pool. The lanes were not designated fast-medium-slow, everyone was just swimming up and down with absolutely zero order. I march over to the life guard and ask what the rules are and he just shrugs his shoulders and says "Wherever you can find a place to swim..." WTF!!??

So I jump right in between two girls and nearly take them both out in my first 300 meters. Talk about swimming heads up!! The positive is that it was good practice for my open water swim on Sunday...??

I stop at the end and stop them and say "YOU and YOU...we are swimming in this lane...up the middle and down the rope. Got it?" What a nightmare!! I was a bit miffed at how the guards could not take some responsibility as to who swims where and I overheard 3 others complaining about it!! And THEN there was no pace clock. I was trying to do my intervals using the second hand on the itsy bitsy clock on the wall...I kid you not!! Finally it was just...whatever...and swam about 2500 in total. But it felt really good. Like really really good. I am so ready for this race!!

Let's get to Calgary, already!!!

what's done is done

Two hour bike ride yesterday. Was a great ride!! Up and down those humboldt hills. Was hot...hot even at 8 in the morning. I have the dorky bike tan lines now...I am hardcore!! Hahahaha!!

Then home to shower and change and I thought it would be fun to take the famdamily to the Mogathon Family Walk. 2.1 km with ice cream and popcicle aid stations. My kind of walk!! But we were late and missed the start...my spouse could not decide what shirt to wear and changed his sandals twice...such a chick...and we were late. Oh well. It was too hot for my 3 year old anyway...he does not like the sun (how can this be my kid...??) or the heat and is fair and it is almost as if he wilts when he has to be outside and it is too hot. So we hung around and stole some balloons and bottled water and waited for Jenn and her family to come in. Jenn's Dad looked really good! Was great to see him hustle into the building like a pro!!

Today was a hard-ish run. The instructions were to run 20 minutes a bit faster than my half marathon goal pace. It was hot and humid out there when I finally got out the door late in the afternoon. The legs felt heavy and tired and did not co-operate for the first several kilometers. Then it was as if the running gods smiled and looked down at me and said "Here!! You can have your running legs back now!!" And away I went. Didn't quite hit that goal pace for the entire 20 minutes but did I mention it was hot? And I was feeling lazy?

I have the entire week booked off from work. The entire week. I am going to do as little as possible. It started today. I got up, fed and played with the kids, Shaun got home from golf, I went back to bed...got up, changed into my running gear, did my run, had a bath and put my pjamas back on!! I could get used to this....

negative people suck

Let me first start off by saying

I AM SO EXCITED TO DO THIS HALF IRONMAN!!!

Have you seen the video on the website showing some of the course? I had butterflies watching it. I am excited to the point where I am pretty sure I am annoying. I went into the local running store on my way home from work to pick up some stuff and stopped to talk to one of the local tri-guys as I thought I should be polite. I don't often talk to him as I find him quite negative and a bit of a complainer. Maybe it's just his manner? Maybe it's just me? He is also signed up for Calgary. But when I do talk to him I always put on my happiest face and whatever he says I have something completely opposite and positive to say. The conversation went like this:

NegGuy: I hope its not windy in Calgary.

Me: Really? I hope the wind howls as that's all we have trained in!!

NegGuy: I don't like swimming in whitecaps.

Me: Really? I hope that water is crazy wild..i love swiming in rough water!!

NegGuy: There's SO many people entered.

Me: Awesome!! It's going to be a fun day!!
....too bad he has such a crappy attitude. Just imagine what life could be like if he had some positive thoughts. If you don't like a challenge, you should not be in this sport. I had to bail out of the store P...D...Q. Then, on my way out the door, I run into Mr. Grumpy Pants. I ignore Mr. Grumpy Pants as he was not a very nice person to me last summer. I ain't some fake who pretends to forget how mean people can be. Jeepers. I almost got a headache from just being there!
Anyway, back to some regular programming...I missed my swim (again) today. Not that worried about it as sleep is sometimes more important. Tomorow is going to be bitchin hot. Hot as a snake's ass in a wagon rut...I have never really understood that one, but say it all the time...and I will be on my bike. Looking forward to it!!