My New (big) Wheels

My new bike “Little Blue”

I won’t do the lengthy “why I haven’t blogged in forever” post.  I’ve been busy, something had to give.

Not that I’m not still busy – it’s just that now I’m so busy I need to do a little work avoidance so voila – a new blog post!

A few weeks ago my mountain bike got stolen.  Yes, again.  It was locked and tucked safely in my car port.  Or not so much safely.  But lock cut, two bikes stolen, angry words and maybe throwing a few things – you get the picture.  Thankfully we had homeowners insurance so I went bike shopping.

Honestly I find bike shopping exhausting.  So many choices and every time I decided on a bike I’d find a slew of “don’t buy that bike, it’s horrible” reviews.  There was the Women’s Specific vs. ‘regular’ debate.  Then I had to tackle the 29’er vs. 26 in. debate.  All of this at least provided me a few hours of work avoidance.

Finally I was just exhausted from the hunt so I started calling bike shops.  I found a delightful shop in Winchester, Black Bar Bicycles.  I had narrowed it down to a few brands and they happened to carry one of them.  The gentleman that helped me suggested a whole other brand I had never heard of.   I ordered my bike over the phone sight unseen.  I loved what I read about the bike and for the money it was heads and tails above the other stuff I was considering.

I’m a sucker for good marketing and the slogan right on the front page of the KHS site is Find Yourself . . . . . . . On a KHS.  As I recover from a really hard work year and approach the big 4-0 (less than 2 months away) and I even maybe get myself back into racing I am so excited to Find Myself again.

 

I love it when things work. . . .

After a stressful work weekend where lots of things didn’t go as planned I want to talk about something fun and positive.  I was working in Knoxville this weekend (and in Charlottesville too) timing the REV3 race.  I remember the first race in Knoxville.  I have been to every single REV3 race since Knoxville 3 years ago.  It has been such a joy to watch the races grow and see ideas grow into bigger and more amazing realities.

The first kids adventure race was small.  It seemed that folks either didn’t know about it or weren’t buying into it yet.  Fast forward three years and this was the sight at the kids adventure race:There was so much excitement and energy watching the families race together.  I saw the same athletes we had checked in on Friday and Saturday morning.  I am so proud to work for a company that understands that during that long boring race and a weekend full of hurry up and wait it’s important that athletes and the companies that serve them need to give a little time and attention to those that have supported them through a lot of training time.

It’s a Whole New World.

Tuesday I was up at 5 to get my workout done before I had to get the kids up and going, then get myself showered and out the door by 7am for a meeting.

It was mid getting kids up when it hit me, I am no longer a stay at home mom that works some.  I am now a full time working mom.  I fully understood that when I said:

‘Sorry this bread is so stale (for the peanut butter sandwiches for lunch), but this is the only kind we have left without mold.’

‘I can either be at the start of your track meet OR get groceries today, not both.’

‘How about bacon and gluten free donuts for breakfast?’

‘Go downstairs and check the unfolded laundry baskets for some pants.  Nothing?  Just wear a pair that don’t look dirty.’

I am having to majorly adjust my expectations for my parenting and my workouts.  I hope that things will settle down (You know when race season starts and I have a race to time almost every weekend.)  Crap.  At least I really, really love my job!

Breathe in . . .Breathe out . . .

Yesterday was one of those days.  It began at 5:30 am and I turned off the work computer at 11:30pm.  There was a lot in between.  I am in the swing of tri season and figuring all the new job responsibilities out as I go.  In the midst of that I am trying to be a part of my family first, which isn’t always easy.   There are days I am so busy I am not sure it’s humanly possible to fit it all in.   But somehow one day at a time it’s getting done, well most of it.  : )

I’ve traveled a lot since my last post.  To Costa Rica, (well I posted once since then but not about the trip) to Mississippi, to New Orleans and on a run from SW VA to DC.   This was all within a month of each other so you can imagine the state of my house, my checkbook and my inbox.  Yet the trips were all amazing and I learned so much on each one.  I hope I will have (make) the time to sit down and blog about each one but I think I can surmise what I learned most in one thought.

I am blessed.  I am a part of an incredible team.  I love my work team and my tri team but the team I cherish above all else is our family team.  Even when the kids are fighting or Paul is working late or, or, or.  We are a team and we work together so much.   Whether I am traveling for work and the kids (and Paul) are having to pick up the slack at home, or sitting in a torrential  thunderstorm in our camper, or exploring the streets of New Orleans, or running a mile together in a fight against cancer.  I am so lucky, proud and blessed to be a part of my team.

Get out and RUN

This morning at 3am eastern time the staff of REV3, the staff of the Ulman Cancer Fund and some other crazy folks took off on a journey across the US.  Over the next 21 days they will run the entire US, Oceanside California to Maryland.  They are running the raise money for the Ulman Cancer Fund, an organization that supports young adults with cancer.    I have had the pleasure of working with the Ulman fun timing their race, the Half Full tri for the last two years.  It is truly an amazing organization that I am proud to support.

You can track the journey of the group here: http://rev3tri.com/america/raa-blog/

Today, and maybe every day for the next 21 days take a minute and run.  Run because you can.  Run for those that you love that have been affected by cancer.  Just run.

 

11 Things (finally)

I’m way behind on this post.  I was tagged several times.  I started this post a while ago, and yet I just didn’t get it done.  To those that tagged me I apologize for my delay.  I am answering the questions of my friend Donna at Beating Limitations.  

The Rules

1)    Post these rules.
2)    Post 11 random things about yourself.
3)    Answer the questions set for you in the post of those who tagged you.
4)    Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5)    Go to their blog (or email them or tweet them) and tell the people you tagged that you’ve tagged them.
6)    No stuff in the tagging section about “you are tagged if you are reading this.” You legitimately have to tag 11 people

11 Random Things About Me:

1.  I was in the Army for 6 weeks.  When I was 19 I was a little ‘lost’ and didn’t know if college was for me.  I signed up for the Army.  After signing up I told my parents, I think they were relieved I would be moving out : )  After 4 weeks my leg started giving out and the doctors informed me that I had congenital hip dysplasia.  (yes, like the dogs get!)  I was medically released and left on graduation day.  It was a short stint but I sure learned a lot about myself during those 6 weeks.

2.  I gave up negative self talk for Lent.  A wonderful friend who happens to be my coach pointed out that this has become a problem for me so I am giving it up for Lent and hopefully forever.

3.  I am a PK.  My mom went back to school after we were all done with college and studied long and hard to become a pastor.  My husband is also a PK.  Although he has been a PK his whole life and I didn’t become a PK until I was 36 I think I lived up to the stereotype much more.

4.  I am a horrible housekeeper and that’s ok.  Our house is horribly messy and honestly 95% of the time it doesn’t really bother me.  I’d rather spend time doing stuff I love than mop the floor.

5.  It took me 7 years to graduate from college.  Although I consider myself very smart I have never been a good student.  College was very hard for me and it took me 3 years of playing around before I believed in myself enough to really apply myself.

6.  I LOVE to read.  I will read a book all day and night until I finish if I get into it.  If I don’t love it I will often just stop reading it.  I am so very grateful that both my children inherited my love of reading.

7.  I’ve been to a nude beach.  I was tagged by a couple of people and this was one of the questions from somebody.  So yes, I have been to a nude beach and yes, I got naked, and yes, I loved it.  Thankfully it was on a small island where I will never ever see those people again but I would do it again in a heartbeat!

8.  Even though I detest Ironman as a company I still love my big bold tattoo.  It represents all the hard work and helps me mark 10 years of marriage to my best friend.  Even though I will never race an Ironman brand race again I will cherish my tattoo forever.

9.  I have a bit of a TV addiction.  I don’t watch daytime shows or anything but I love my nights spent wasting away infront of the TV.  My favorite shows are Once Upon a Time, Glee, Modern Family and House.  Most of these (except House) I watch with my daughter since my husband doesn’t like TV.

10.  I had never had stitches before I had my hysterectomy last year.  Somehow I made it though childhood and adolescence without ever needing stitches.  Neither of my kids have had stitches either.   I guess we are just lucky!

11.  I have an inherited sense of wanderlust.  My grandfather loves to travel (he’s 90!), my parents love to travel and I just love go and do and see as much as I can!  I plan on taking my kids everywhere I possibly can and exposing them to as much of the world as I can afford to.

Answers to Donna’s Questions:

1. When was the last time you went to McDonalds and what did you order?  I can only eat apples and ice cream at McDonalds since everything else has gluten in it.  I am sure it was ice cream if I was ordering one of those two : )

2. When it comes to food, are you a sweet or savoury lover?  Yes.  I go back and forth depending on the day.  Some days I can eat an entire bag of chips, some days I can’t resist the candy at the grocery check out.

3. Coffee or tea?  I can not start my day without coffee.   I drink way too much but I love the stuff.

4. What is your favourite “go to” “easy to make from scratch” meal?  I love a great gluten free mac and cheese.

5. What did you study at university and does it relate to your current job?  I got a degree in History with a minor in PolySci.  This has absolutely nothing to do with timing triathlons.
6. What is one race (sporting event) that you want to do in your life – a bucket list race, so to speak?  I honestly don’t have one right now.  I used to want to go to Kona but have lost my love for all things WTC so I’m still coming up with this!
7. Can you explain to me why Lululemon is considered controversial? I thought it was just a brand of (mostly yoga) clothing.  I have absolutely no idea!!  I have a Lululemon jacket that is amazing, but honestly didn’t even know the company was controversial!
8. What is your most favourite travel memory?  St. Martin with my hubby for our 10th wedding anniversary.  See number 7 above.

9. Airport security – a necessary evil, or just plain evil?  I will go with necessary evil.  I wish people were kind and could be nice and get along and we didn’t need things like airport security but alas, we do.
10. Do internet and personal privacy matters ever worry you?  I think they probably should but I don’t really think much about it.
11. Would you rather have time or money?   Time.

 

Because I am way behind and this has been around all the blogs I am not tagging folks.  Everyone I asked had already done it.  I am a rule breaker (see # 6 in the rules).

My Coach

So I have been working with the wonderful Carole Sharpless for a month now.  My workouts are awesome, I am getting back into a routine and *gasp* running is getting easier.  She is a rockstar.

Here is the really important thing she is doing for me.

Poor Carole, she never knew signing up to coach me that she would end up as a middle aged African-American nanny did she?

It seems that my self confidence *might* have taken a bit of a beating over last year or so.  In an amazingly kind, yet ass kicking email Carole informed me that I am mean to myself.   She called me out for things that I was doing that I didn’t even see, but she also called me out because I have a 12 year old daughter that can see my actions and can hear my words.

So, for Lent I did not give up Chocolate or candy or coffee.  I gave up negative self talk.   No more talk about how slow my run is or how big my butt is.  For this Lenten season instead I am seeing my run as improving and my body as a gift from God.    And daily I will give thanks for those things, and for my wonderful friend and coach who reminded me that who I am isn’t just good enough, it’s great.

Growing Young

So, since I sold the minivan a great deal of my time the last two weeks has been spent looking for a new car.  There are way too many options out there.   What I did know is that I was done with this:

PS – no duct tape, but man that van was well used on the inside!

After lots and lots of research we decided on the Subaru Impreza Hatchback.  It’s so not a minivan.  Best feature:  36 mpg highway!  Second best feature:  All Wheel Drive!!  We pick up our beauty this weekend and I’m down right giddy!

I was reading some of the reviews today (yes, we have already decided but since the car is 2 hours away I can’t go stare at it so I stalk it online) and learned that the target audience for the Impreza is the just our of college crowd.  They called it “my first grown up car that’s not really grown up.”   So, I’m take that as a sign that I am young at heart and can’t wait to park in all the compact parking spots!

I Accidentally Sold Our Minivan

How do you accidently sell a car?
You start talking with your spouse about *maybe* buying a more fuel efficient car. (I spent over $100 in gas LAST WEEK!)
Next you say do yourself maybe I should listed on craigslist and see what happens.
Then of course someone immediately wants to buy it.
Finally you have to break it to your spouse that you’re getting a new car.  Oh yeah, now.
Oh yeah but first you actually have to find the right new car.  This is much more difficult than I would have imagined.

The Yes, I actually said that post.

Before I tell you my story I must first give you a few facts:

This will be my third season working for REV3.  It will also be my third season racing on their age group team.

Because I have been to all but 1 REV3 race (that’s EVER) I have a LOT of REV3 shirts.  Even when I’m working I grab a leftover finisher shirt if they have them, I just love these shirts and I always get stopped with questions about my cool shirt.  I like this because 1.  I am an attention hog.  2.  It promotes REV3.

Even my kids have REV3 shirts, my husband has REV3 shirts – if there were a dog REV3 shirt Bodhi would wear it.

So, we are geared out.  Got it?  Get ready for a healthy does of stupid.

Ok, take a look at my very first REV3 finisher shirt and pay close attention to the R logo.

Dinner at CoachKati’s last night, Mr. Coach was wearing one of his REV3 shirts:

A:  Hey Daddy, look those lines inside the R make a 3, like for REV3

E:  Duh, we have talked about that at dinner before.

Mr. Coach:  Still laughing

This went on for a few min, at which point I looked down at the REV3 shirt I was wearing at the time and admitted:

“Um, I never noticed that before.  Seriously, ever.”

I think it took Mr. Coach about 2.5 seconds before he was on the phone texting Charlie (my boss) to relay the story.

There you have it, a wonderful CoachKati blonde moment of the year.   (I guess in this case a brunette moment because I’m a brunette!)