My Favorite Ironman

Blogging has been good to me.


I've found some amazing relationships through blogging.  Last summer I featured a few of them, Friday Faves.  Some of y'all I email, text, call and, gasp, even hang out with.  (sometimes traveling far to see you! - you're that great!)


We share bonds that go far beyond blogging.  One of those is Katie.  Run This Amazing Day.  She's an incredible writer and even better friend.  She's been there for me in ways I just can't express.  (no one does drunk FaceTime like Katie, always answer her FaceTime - totally worth it!)


Welp, my sweet girl will be racing her first Ironman in CdA tomorrow.  I am so stinkin' excited for her!!!  Those mountains aren't going to know what hit them for sure. This girl is a ball of fire!  And no matter what the universe throws at  her, always, always conducts herself with grace and dignity.  Imma just go ahead and say it.  I love her!  I honestly treasure our friendship and feel blessed to know her.  She's something else.  And my heart breaks that I had to cancel my trip to CdA to spectate the crap out of her first IM.  But rest assured, Katie girl, I'll be stalking you on Ironman live and yelling my head off from Texas.  

Please, please head over to her blog and wish her luck, send good race juju and basically, tell her how awesome she is.  (be sure to use the term "epic" - she really likes that) 


Race hard, woman!  Your heart is a weapon the size of your fist - and you've got a heart the size of Texas!

Nurturing My Inner Artist

At work the other day I was tasked with finding a team building event for our group. I stumbled upon G'nosh, a local art studio that hosts painting classes.  I did this once a few years back with disastrous results.  I'm just too analytical to let loose and let the brushes fly.
But an abstract painting caught my eye and, deciding to give it another go, I called up Morgan to see if she'd be game.  It's been a while since I saw this great girl and I was really looking forward to spending an evening with her.  

The floors are splattered with a rainbow of paints and the walls are adorned with the fruits of labor past.  (you can buy them for a fair price) G'nosh sets you up for success.  The paltry price includes the canvas, paint, supplies and fantastic instruction.  You are encouraged to bring your own snacks; creativity works up an appetite!  

We quickly set about the business of putting a base coat on our canvases.  Someone (me) might have spent a little too much time making this perfect, only to learn we were going to paint right over it.  Whoops.  The top right, framed in black, was our inspiration painting.  As you can see, Morgan went for the "found art" look and just stuck her paper cup right to he masterpiece! 

Instructed to step back and let it dry before we got too carried away, we then set about the business of decorating the bottle Morgan brought and we emptied.  How she drove home with this bottle covered in wet paint is beyond me, but she text me when she arrived - no paint on her or the car!  

We had such a great time!  I love how unique each of our paintings turned out.  (there were about 20 women in the class, yes, all women)   Some chose to include rectangles or use different colors.  Ever the rule follower, I stuck to the script and was mostly pleased with my take home.  This was definitely out of my comfort zone but I really enjoyed myself.  Although, not sure I'd want to tackle this solo.  It was fun having a friend to visit with and consult when I was freaking out about my circles not being level!  

Morgan, I had a great time catching up with you and look forward to the bash at your house once the backyard renno is done!  

Do you consider yourself creative? Have you ever taken a painting class?

Random Friday Facts

On Saturday.  
Imma little late, sorry.


1.  I have a small, stripey pink Pyrex bowl in my bathroom.  I put my phone in there in the mornings to listen to music while I get ready for the day.  Just the right amplification for that small space.  You're welcome.

2.  My little garden has produced, so far, one teeny tomato.  Getting bigger everyday, I'm hopping he'll find a tomato wife and make more baby tomatoes.  A green thumb I do not have.  

3.  Last week I made perhaps the biggest purchase I have ever made, outside my car and home.  And I have to wait another week to get my hands on it.  Patience, TPG, patience.

4.  I'm sticking to my resolution to wear more clothes outside.  (but not in the house, the house has little to no UV rays so I'm safe)  Yesterday (or today if we are pretending it is Friday) I mowed the yard in long sleeves.  My neighbor, the one who calls me kiddo, saw me out there and asked if I was feeling okay.  I am not kidding.  It's nice to have concerned neighbors, but maybe not so nice to be the one causing concern, ha!  

5.  My iTunes is giving me fits.  It keeps losing songs.  They are there, I'll manually locate them, add them back and then the next time I open iTunes, they are missing again.  I need an Apple Genius on campus.  Or you know, to google my problem and just fix it for good. There is always that route.  

6.  Sometimes I re-purchase my favorite books.  Yes, I already have a dog-eared copy of Pride and Prejudice, but this one, this one is pink and green!  I'm so excited to re-read this new copy; I just love a real book with paper pages and that book smell.  Oh Mr. Darcy, what will you say to make my heart pitter patter this time?  

7.  I've started eating white rice. I KNOW.  Ashamed to purchase white, not brown, I felt like I needed to explain to the accusing eyes at the register.  I've got a new cookbook, The Feed Zone and a lot of the recipes call for a white rice base.  Y'all, I make my own waffles out of white rice and not flax!  What has this world come to???  So far, it's all been delicious!


8. I have six crepe myrtles in my yard.  It's Texas y'all, they thrive in the heat and drought.  My purple one bloomed this week and isn't just so pretty?  I have one white one and I'll give you three guesses as to the color of the other four. 

9.  Getting dressed for work today I was reminded that I need a job that not only allows, but requires only booty shorts and a sports bra.  So, that leaves, uh, host of Biggest Loser and yoga instructor.  I'll get right on that.  

10.  I once met Michael Martin Murphey at a football game (he sang the national anthem) and it was freezing cold.  Nice guy, he had his handler bring over those little heated hand warmers for me.  Yep, that's my biggest celebrity encounter.

What celebrities have you met?

Covering Up on My Ride to Dublin

I am trying something new this summer.  Wearing clothes. That’s right, even though it is 4,000 degrees here, I’m staying covered up. Now, y’all KNOW I would run in less than I do if it was legal.  Good golly Pete it just gets so hot here. And once your dry-wicking clothes are soaked, well, they don’t do much good.  Heck, I’d run around shirtless all the time if I didn’t think my friends would shun me.  Evidence I don’t wear clothes – here and here. Also, evidence that I eat crap when I run long.  It’s a good system.

Welp, I’ve got this little race coming up in October that the locals like to call the Chicago Marathon. And the past few years it’s been a little warm for the race.  I figured I’d take advantage of my heat training here and just ramp it up a bit.  So I’m going to train in a shirt.  (You’re welcome, neighbors) Not even a tank, but a full on shirt with sleeves and a neck.  I know, crazy talk!  So last night I put on my new shirt from my last race and not only is it HUGE but it’s pretty thick.  And I sweated like a glass of ice tea on the patio in July.  I just don’t know how the rest of the world runs in clothes but whatever. 

Gotta love a giant race shirt.

I’m also covering up more for cycling.  I bought some UV protective arm sleeves because I am one brown bunny and it’s still early in June.  Yes, I still apply sunscreen liberally, but this extra coverage will hopefully keep my arms from turning to leatha.  They are supposed to keep me cooler but I’m not sure that is the case.  They don’t seem to make me hotter anyway.  Oh yeah, I wore them Saturday when I headed to Dublin, TX with Mama C and Team K for their first rally.  My frunners are all getting bicycles!

Mama C (thx for the pic) and Team K

It was so fun to share in their excitement! It was NOT fun getting but three hours of sleep.  I drove to Fort Worth the night before for a concert and was out late.  That’s me, I get up early and I go to bed late.  Someday I’ll catch up on sleep, someday.  Mama C graciously opened her house to me so I at least didn’t have to make the drive home Friday night.  (and then back on Saturday)

They were great, yes they played my very favoritest of their songs and yes, I cried.  

Such a girl.

We were treated to some cooler temps and the first part of the course had some great flats where I could stay in my big chain ring and really get a good cadence going.  After the first  aid station, we re-grouped and decided to stay together. 

Mama  C, ready to ride!

Mama C and EK, downing the Dr Pepper at an aid station.

And things went well.  Until they didn’t.  I got a flat. AGAIN.  And we all know how incredibly slow I am at changing flats. I felt badly that I was holding up MK (Uh, EK and Mama C didn’t hear us hollering and left us in their dust) so when SAG came by and offered help, I agreed.  Mistake.  Here is what I know, my bike is my responsibility and I shouldn’t let anyone else work on it.  I’m accustomed to SAG being some dude from the local bike shop (hey, remember me begging water off the BSG at Shiner?) who can change a flat in seconds.  Not this time.  I appreciate him volunteering, but I ended up changing my own tire after all, but not before he lost the nut to my pin. So, tire inflated, there was no getting it back on.  I sent MK off to finish the last six miles and I hopped in the truck.  And promptly noticed there were two curious donkeys about 25 feet from where I had been working.  I missed donkeys!  I’m just thankful it was me that had issues and not my friends.  I didn’t want anything to spoil their first rally!

Fixing a flat on the flats.

Mama C had the BEST time!  As soon as she rolled up to my car, she threw up her arms and demanded, “HUG ME!”  I pink sparkle heart this woman.

She did it!  

My amazing FIGJAM girls - great job, ladies!

Do you remember how you felt after your first rally?

I'm Tri-ing

Even if it doesn't appear so.

Sunday I woke up at stupid thirty to drive out to some business complex to race a sprint tri and cheer on my friends who were racing the Olympic distance.  The Oly started first, so transition closed about two hours before my wave started.  Apparently the distance athletes didn't need me crouching on the ground, entirely in their ways while I set up my transition. 

Thankfully, the FIGJAM girls were there in full force to keep me and Drum company! We had a blast visiting with Jason and hearing his IM training tips, cheering for Mary, DK and Alicia, who were all racing their first Olympic distance tri! 

Best Cheer Squad EVAH!  They made signs for all of us! 

Do I have the friends or what?  Yes, the answer is yes!

And of course, the FIGJAM shirts, visible from space, with our names.  

I couldn't miss them on the course!

Eventually though, it was time for us to get in the water.  The swim was in a nasty canal but the water was not too warm, thankfully.  (there were a lot of issues with heat the day before, it is for reals hot here, y’all) I slid in to tread water for about two minutes then we were off!  Annnnd, I immediately swallowed a whole bunch of stanky canal water.  It went in my nose, down my throat and a huge coughing fit ensured.  Let’s just say I never fully recovered and spent most of my very slow swim coughing, snorting and swallowing even more water.  (there were a lot of sea doos for some reason and this made the water choppy)

Finally out of the water, after what seemed like forever, I gladly hopped on my bike and headed out for a great bike course.  It was well marked, the road surfaces were nice, smooth concrete and there were plenty of police, volunteers and signs keeping me safe.  Probably the safest I’ve ever felt on a bike course; no exaggeration.  Great job RD!  The wind, well, yeah, it was in my face for most of the ride, but that’s what you get; can’t pick the weather on race day!  I did make a point to pass anyone on a hybrid, sorry y’all but my pride won’t let me get passed by a commuter bike.  I did pass a woman with 62 on her calf and thought, “Wow, she looks pretty good for 62!”  I passed her, shouted “Great job!” and then started singing Boomin’ Granny to myself.  She passed me a little later and I then noticed her race bib bore the number 62 as well.  Hmm, that’s strange.  A quick glance at her OTHER calf revealed her actual age and I realized she had put her race tattoo not only on the wrong leg, but on the back of her calf.  She was in my AG!  I may have actually said out loud, “Aw, hell no!” Sorry, not-granny, I threw the hammer down making sure she wasn’t going to pass me again.  And she didn’t. That TPG, she don't mess around!

I spent most of the bike burping up lake (sorry, just keepin’ it real) and maybe, just maybe even spitting out lake water frequently.  And yes I was riding in a headwind.  If you were behind me and got hit, well, that’s what you get for drafting.  Lucky it wasn’t worse…

It had really warmed up by the run portion and there was no shade at all.  I felt strong the entire run but I know I was moving slowly.  My slowest 5K in 5 years.  Oh wells.  I had a good time and Mama C got some great photos of all the athletes!  (but someone, please signal me to zip my kit before she starts snapping with that telephoto lens of hers – good golly Pete)

Thank you, Mama C for catching me chicking this dude.  

Our cheer team was the BEST of the BEST for sure.  The FIGJAM shirts came out in full force – visible from space, as Mama C insists.  I love these girls so much!  I really don’t know how I got so lucky as to find such an incredibly supportive, encouraging and loving group of women.  I am blessed to have them in my life! 

Marci, E, Gretch (squatting), Me, Drum, MK, Mama C, Cherry. 

These are seriously some of my most favorite people!

Now, normally I wouldn’t recommend trying new gear for a race but I’ve been looking for a  new tri kit and when Heidi text me a photo of this pink and black get up, I knew I had to at least check it out.  (and what a good friend, thinking of me while she was out!) Well, checking it out led to purchasing which led to racing in a new kit.  I test drove the shorts a few times on the bike before race day and was satisfied with the fabric enough to trust the top. It worked well and was super comfy and cute.  Louis G, you wanna sponsor me?  I've been eyeing your Team LG cycling kit...IJS.

Drum took her AG!  Just a deposit in the IMAZ bank for her!

I’m a noob triathlete.  And it’s hard being new.  I have so much to learn about swimming and cycling and even more about putting all three disciplines together.  Over the past few years, I’ve found my feet, so to speak, in road racing.  Not yet in triathlon.  It’s humbling to be last and a place I don’t want to be for long.  Everyone races for a different reason, but mine is certainly to push myself as hard as I can.  I’m done with just surviving.  Fortunately I’ll have another opportunity next month!

Quite possibly the best pic of the day.  

Post race, Willis, text me this pic of his son, who offered up some triathlon tips for TPG.  

Briggs' advice? Save time, leave your goggles on for the bike!  

Oh my gosh, don't you just want to eat him up?  Love this kiddo!

Thanks for taking so many pics, Mama C!  I pink sparkle heart you with extra glitter!