Food for thought

Well, we're back to the "normal" grind of 12-13 hours a week of training. I like the cycle of 3 weeks build, one week easy because by the time that easy week rolls around I am SO ready for it! I have been reading up on nutrition the last couple of days. I really have to start paying attention to my diet--I was sick a couple of weeks ago and I was sick twice in December so I am obviously missing something in my diet that helps build my immune system. I have started taking supplements like elderberry and astralagus (which I have in liquid form and it is GROSS) It also looks like I am going to have to start eating meat on a fairly regular basis. I just can't bring myself to buy meat at the grocery store and Gary won't eat organic chicken the odd time I buy it at butchers. arg. Looks like I'll be buying double so both of us can be happy. It's amazing how our grocery bills have started to creep up in the last 2 months or so! I wonder what they're going to be like by the time summer rolls around!!! Not to mention all the Gatorade, gels & Clif bars that we eat / drink. But, I knew going in to this that doing an Ironman wasn't cheap.
I'm also trying to find better ways of baking---by that I mean baking with all natural ingredients like honey, molasses, whole wheat flour etc. Because let's face it, I LOOOOOOVE the goodies and if I can make something that is "better" for me that still allows me to fufill my sweet tooth, then I am ALL over it! I saw a couple of books online that look like they may be good so I think I'll order them. Perhaps this will be a diet change that I will stick with even after all this training is done. Although, nothing beats a really good cheesecake.

Musings

2 weeks until my birthday. I'm going to be 35. Good LORD I am "officially" in my mid-thirties. ugh. I guess I'm "all grown up" now. Or at least I should be. But I don't feel like it. Sure I have more responsibilities and sure I think I"m becoming more and more like my parents with every passing day (say it isn't so!!!!) but I still don't FEEL like I'm 35. Just reinforces the fact that age really is just a number. When I was a teenager I used to imagine myself as being very "grown up" at 35. I thought I'd be a famous artist or a fashion designer or have some other "FABULOUS" career. How that has changed! I now manage people & money, look after schedules & budgets, and play a small role in the dog and pony show that is the world of Advertising. It's not where I thought I'd be, but it's not a bad place to be either. I work in a fantastic studio, with great people AND I don't have to dress up for work (woohoo!) Sure it gets INSANE sometimes and there are the odd few days where I hate my job (usually when I'm so busy I can't even stop to go to the bathroom) but I think everyone has those days. Tis the nature of "working for the man".

To mark the arrival of my mid-30's, I decided to take on the Ironman. I marked the entrance into my 30's by running a marathon so for 35, the Ironman was the next logical step. I suppose I could have waited for 40 but the hubby and I would really like to have kids and well, I'm not getting any younger so, I'm making the journey now. I'm not sure what I'll do for 40 but I've got another 5 years to think about it. 8)

WOW

I sent out my little fundraising email yesterday and I am overwhelmed by the response that I am getting. I am SO lucky to know so many generous & supportive people. To all you folks reading along...THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Your support means so much to me!

YOU ROCK!

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Laugh of the Day

Happy Valentines Day!

My dad sent this to me today and I laughed so hard. Totally what I needed as yesterday was an "off" day (birthday blahs, Ironman panic setting in.....apparently we're almost half way through our training. I thought I was going to hurl when I heard that)

20 Ways to Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity


1. At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hairdryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.

2. Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.

3. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.

4. Put your garbage bin on your desk and label it "In."

5. Put Decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.

6. In the memo field of all your cheques, write "For Smuggling Diamonds"

7. Finish all your sentences with "In Accordance With The Prophecy."

8. Don't use any punctuation.

9. As often as possible, skip rather than walk.

10. Order diet water whenever you go out to eat with a serious face.

11. Specify that your drive-through order is "To Go."

12. Sing along at the opera.

13. Go to a Poetry Recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme.

14. Put mosquito netting around your work area and play tropical sounds all day.

15. Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you're not in the mood.

16. Have your co-workers address you by your wrestling name, Rock Bottom.

17. When the money comes out the ATM, scream "I Won!, I Won!"

18. When leaving the Zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling "Run for your lives, they're loose!"

19. Tell your children over dinner. "Due to The economy, we are going to have to let one of you go."

20. And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity.......

Send This E-mail To Someone To Make Them Smile.

Spinning on the Westside

On Saturday I hosted an indoor group ride at the studio. There were 8 of us set up on our bikes & trainers--I don't know why I didn't think of doing this earlier! It was excellent, but then again, these guys are great people to hang out with as well. One of the girls had access to a DVD projector so she brought that and I brought my ipod and we watched the 2004 Tour and listened to some tunes. It made my 2 hour and 45 minute ride go by much fastser that usual! It was also my first ride on my new bike. WOOHOO! I'm going to have to get used to the positioning--it's a more relaxed position than my current bike, which is a tri-specific bike and therefore has a much more aggressive positioning. So far I like it....the true test will come when I take it outside. I think I'm going to have to wait a while for that....only 54 more days till South Carolina!

Pretzels anyone?

On Friday night, myself and 5 of "Les Tri-Filles" went to an Ashtanga Yoga class at this great little studio on the Danforth. I had never been to a class like this so I was a little apprehensive. It was AMAZING. It was a fantastic workout. Some of it was easy, some if it was very challenging. I found out that I absolutely cannot balance on my right leg, my left leg, however, seems to be much stronger. Probably from all those years of playing soccer. The instructor had us twisting and turning every which way--I felt like a human pretzel. I knew I was flexible but some of the stuff I was able to do really surprised me (like fold my hands into a prayer pose behind me!) All of the girls had a great time and we'll probably do it again. It was such a good workout that I was sore the next morning (at least my ribs were). I felt a little rough when I got up (probably from the half pint of beer I had--PATHETIC!) and it took me a little while to get warmed up on the bike, but once I got going I felt fantastic. I had a 3 hour workout--2 hour bike, followed by a 1 hour run all at Ironman pace. This was probably the best workout I have had in a long time. I felt amazing. My HR was relatively low on the run and my nutrition seemed to be bang on. Finally a breakthrough!! I think my head is finally getting in to the right place.