Breakin' the Bubble

And just like that, another summer is over.  A busy summer.  Lots of training, lots of socializing and trying to get all my ducks in a row.  It didn't quite turn out like I had hoped.  Sadly, I never did get my beach vacation; though I did get two trips to the lake and was able to take away one of my most fondest memories to date.  Maybe the summer didn't turn out exactly how I'd hoped, but it was still a good summer regardless!

Alas, summer is over and fall is about to start.
And, when one thing ends it leaves a new beginning right at your feet.
The question is, what are you going to do with it?

Triathlon season is over.
Marathon training has been in full swing.
School has started.

Sounds like the same old same old, doesn't it?

Funny thing is....
I'm not good with "same old same old" anymore.

Time to get out of my bubble and see what the hell happens.

Time to spice it up a bit.

Words for Wednesday

Your life doesn't get better by chance,

It gets better by change.

- Jim Rohn

entrepreneur and motivational speaker

Thoughts to Ponder

I wonder.......

          Can a girl live off of just smoothies alone?

Words for Wednesday

Make your life spectacular.

- "Jack Powell"

Jack (1996)

Go Big or Go Home - LKN Triathlon 2014 Preview

This is it.  This weekend will be my last tri of the season.  Thelma is just beside herself; almost inconsolable.  I know, I know, but do your best to hold back your tears...

Enough of that.  Now to task.
If you will allow me, I'm just going to speak quite frankly.

Last year, I pretty much sucked.  Yes.  That is the truth and do not argue with me.  In most of the triathlons I've done, I've played it safe; slow and steady and had my eyes only on finishing.

Do you know what I say to that right now?
Screw that.

I'm employing a new race strategy.
Instead of safe, we're going balls to the wall.  Well, figuratively speaking since I am female.....

Balls to the wall, people.

Swim:
Grab the water.  High elbows.  Use the water for all it's worth and make that lake my bitch.

T1: 
Run, even if snot is coming out of my nose.  No happy celebratory I-survived-the-swim pictures.  Ain't got time for that.

Bike:
Watch out....Thelma's hungry.

T2:
Get the hell out of Dodge.

Run:
I can breathe when I'm done.

I'm not quite sure how it's all going to shake out, but at least I will know I will have left everything I had out there.  And that, my friends, is my goal.
To give it everything I've got.

Game face engaged.

Go big or go home.

Guess what today is

Today is my first day of classes for the Fall 2014/Spring 2015 academic year, and ..........wait for it.............

MY LAST FALL SEMESTER!!!!!

That's right folks, my last fall semester.  Why you ask?

Because I am FINALLY in my last year and I can honestly call myself a senior!

Only two more semesters to go, my friends.

Cap and Gown...I'm lookin' at you.  You will be mine........eventually.

#lightattheendofthetunnel

#almostthere

#patienceisavirtue

Words for Wednesday

One of the most common causes of failure 

is the habit of quitting 

when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.

- Napolean Hill

writer

Words for Wednesday

#18miles

#gonnabegreat

#makingitmybitch

It's all in how ya spin it....

I miss writing.  I do.  Truthfully, I've been at a loss of what on earth I could write about.  I've been happy as a little clam; workin', trainin' and socializin'!  I don't really even have anything sarcastic to say in my own witty way.  So what on earth is a girl to do?

I brought this dilemma up after a somewhat awful long run two weeks ago.  The suggestion was made for me to write about how I bonked.

Gee, thanks.
But he was right.  I did.  And I should write about it.

Bonking sucks.....especially when you DO THE SAME FREAKING THING ON YOUR NEXT LONG RUN THE FOLLOWING WEEK!!!!

So, I'm asking myself, "self?  what the hell are you going to do about it?"  Well, I don't quite have the answer to all of it, but I will tell you one thing I need to do....change my damn attitude, that's what!

I won't lie, I've been getting a bit down on myself and frustrated about it.
And then I happened upon a blog post I wrote last year.  I know people say you shouldn't look back, but dammit sometimes you need these little reminders on just how far you've come.

I read that post and I tried to find a run from the same time last year to compare to this year....
I couldn't find one.  Why?  because I'm running longer and sooner that I was last year, training for a marathon that happened around the same time frame.  Hmmm what does that tell me?  I may still be chasing my Boilermaker goal of 1:20, but I came a heck of a lot closer this year than I did last year.  Hmmm what does that tell me?

It tells me that even though I don't feel it right now, the proof is in the pudding that I am getting better, getting stronger and getting faster.

I could keep beating myself up, or I can quit bitchin' and take the lousy along with the awesome days, and use them both to learn from to make me into the best athlete I can be.

It's all in how ya spin it...
There.  You saw it here folks...I just kicked myself in the ass.

Correction....

I'm not going to Chicago to run a marathon.....

I am going to Chicago purely for this bucket of deliciousness.

And I must run 26.2 miles in order to do so because I am not sharing one kernel from that tin.....

your ticket to heaven on earth

#allmine

#popcornjunkie

#chicagobound

Sometimes ya just gotta change things up...

It is a with a conflicted heart that I post this today....

It may not be the same without popcorn on Popcorn Friday, 

but as you can see I am having no problem devouring this bowl of fruit and walnuts....

I'mma 'bout to make Happy Plate!
nom nom nom nom nom