Triathlon!

Well, I did it! The whole thing: 750 meters of swimming, 14.69 miles of biking, capped off with a 5k run. Awesome. The swim was much easier than I had thought it would be. The run was much more difficult--even though I didn't think the course was that bad--because I was so exhausted by then (oh, and Amanda thought the running route was terrible, and she killed me on the run). The biking was just extreme: a four mile section that was just completely uphill. Not a slow elevating grade. No. Four miles. Up hill. A freaking mountain.

But I did it. And I not only finished, but I didn't stop, and didn't walk--ever. So I'm feeling pretty good. I also did with a mountain bike what the 175 or so other competitors did with road bikes. And let me tell you, that course on a mountain bike was no picnic.

But the coolest part was that when Amanda caught up with me (I started 23 minutes before her...you start by swim time, slowest to fastest) we were on the very end of the bike route, and we actually got our picture taken together (they hire photographers to take photos for the entrants to buy). So cool.

Till then, here's our non-profesh photo.

The atmosphere was awesome as well. Everyone constantly cheering you on, saying "Good job." Definitely going to be a triathlon, 5k, 10k, bike race addict. But, two words for future athletic adventures:

road bike.

Gearing Up

Tomorrow's the big day. Leaving around 4:30am for the triathlon in Co Springs. Woot, woot. The best part is, in preparation, Amanda and I are eating a huge pasta dinner at Pasta Jay's tonight (the greatest Italian food on the planet!). Then, after the competition, free BBQ at the site. On our way home, stopping at the outlets, followed by showers, naps, and Taco Bell (our reward ;D). And, of course, tomorrow night is Sigur Ros at Red Rocks.

Um, pinch me.

Triathlon Training

Since last Tuesday I have been going all out in an effort to be able to at least finish the sprint triathlon Amanda and I are competing in September 27th. I have not worked out--at all--since April, mind you, and literally gained around 30lbs since last year.

Soooooo...Tuesday was day one. In the past week I have run 3 miles a day (or more), swam Wednesday and Friday (need to up that to three or four times per week), biked as my sole mode of transportation, and then biked 20 miles with Amanda on Saturday.

Things are going alright. The running has come along to the point that I'm not worried about it. Biking is slow, but the distance isn't a problem. Swimming will probably kill me, but it's first so really it's all downhill from there.

My photo cord is in the mail. Soon I will be bombarding you with pictures from the past couple months. Joy!

the Day to Day

AHHHHHH! The Fashion posted their new US tour dates for October and November. Looks like I have some weekend getaways to plan! Haha! Ahhhhhhahahahahahaha!

In other news, nothing particularly exciting to report. The flights were booked this weekend, so I couldn't meet up with Lisa in Columbus to see American Steel. I guess the next time I'll see her will be in Germany!

Since I had the weekend free, I biked 20 miles with Amanda yesterday, then ran 3. In between, we had the most appreciated soup, salad, and breadsticks of all time at the Olive Garden.

Training for the triathlon is going pretty well. I've run at least 3 miles a day since I started on Tuesday, bike as my main mode of transport, and, well, have only swam twice, but I'm working on every other day (which I can keep up if I make it to the pool today).

I screwed up my alarm and missed church this morning. =( I have a really bad sunburn from yesterday that I'm just begging will calm down sometime soon.

Got a lot of pictures from the past few months to put up, but the cord to connect camera with computer is M.I.A. and so we're very limited to text right now.

Oh, oh! This is exciting. Dara is coming to visit me and her friend Tim who lives in Denver October 16th-20th. Then my parents are coming out November 7th-10th. Woot.

Here's something I've been wanting to do lately. I've always been obsessed with lists. I love to-do lists, lists of countries I've been to or bands I've seen live, any kind of list really. Well, I'm starting a Life's To Do list (not that I haven't been making those since I was wee little). And might as well start it here.

Burning Man Festival (next year ::crosses fingers::)
run a half marathon (and if that is accomplished, then a marathon--one day)
publish a book (likely academic)
visit:
-all 50 states
-all 7 continents (yes, even Antarctica. It's totally doable; the professor I used to teach for is going in November)
-all European countries
learn to speak a second language
sing the National Anthem at a professional sporting event
surf

There's so much; we'll add as we go.

What's on your to do list?

I'm a beast

http://www.falcongroundspeed.com/LB_Tri_Course_Info.html

Doing a triathlon on Saturday, September 27th. Yup, starting training tomorrow...what? You don't think 18 days is enough time to train? Eh, I've pretty much decided there's nothing I can't do. =)

Just for the sake of being able to look back and see what I was up to a year ago:

The weather today is super cold and rainy--totally Pittsburgh! I just had my weekly 1210 meeting (boring!) and am awaiting Kathy to grab lunch before lecture. Yesterday was awesome. I had church for the first time being back--I love singing in the choir!--and then slipped into my Steeler jersey and jumped right over to the Lazy Dog to watch Pittsburgh wipe the floor with Houston, while sipping a Bloody Mary and housing a Reuben. What a sweet, sweet day.

No more Reubens till triathlon day, that's for sure. =\