New Blog - Triathlon Fashionista

I've been thinking that maybe I should start a new blog for all of those triathletes - Women - who would like to participate but still keep some sense of fashion while working out. Seems every week at our tri-club training people are commenting - men and women on my fashion sense. First it was that I always wear earrings - some say is dangerous - but have not run into a problem yet. Another comment is that I can come out of the water after a swim with lipstick still on - and after bike as well.

Last night after swim and run - I took a quick dip in the lake to rinse off then went to my car and changed into a cute summer dress - put a headband on and headed to restaurant where we all gather after our workouts. One couple asked if I had showered - looked so good! LOL....another woman commented that a dress was a great idea - it is easy to change in and out of. I think I may be starting a trend - see what happens next Tuesday - how many women end up in summer dresses when we go to restaurant.

So, anyway - was thinking that maybe I should start my own "Fashionista" post for triathletes - running skirts, I also have cute swim caps - bought some for my other female friends who swim - and maybe lively tops to wear when we are biking and running after the swim!

Latest and greatest

I've been telling everyone because I am excited about it that I have finally decided on a Half Ironman race to compete in. I have also started the program of training - hard to squeeze everything in a day! Doing the best I can.

The other thing happening is this wonderful man (married) has come into my life - he actually appeared back in December and then resurfaced in April 1st (April Fools' Day) actually - with an email address. We have been talking ever since. He is very handsome, sweet, kind, gentle, has a great sense of humor - talks a lot and is also a runner! Wow - all great things. Problem is that he is married - long time married at that. I don't want to break up anyone's marriage or see anyone else go thru a divorce - it is very difficult, to say the least.

I guess this is going to be another test of will for me - to see if I can remain neutral - distant be a friend? I do keep busy with my friends - girls and guys - mostly running, swimming and biking - so just have to keep that going and wait for the next "single" guy to come along.

I just read a post by another single woman who said that she has trouble with the whole dating scene - but then gets frustrated and puts herself out there. We all seem to have similar experiences - so, I'm hanging in there.

Half Ironman

It is Spring finally in the Northeast - and I finally got motivated to sign up for a race. I am doing a 50 mile bike tour on Sunday - race/fundraiser. Then I signed up for a Half Ironman Triathlon in September.

The Triathlon will take place in Narragansett Rhode Island - one of my favorite places to visit. I have been going there since I was a little kid - so this race made perfect sense to me - plus it will give me an ocean swim in the race - most in our area are lake swims. Lakes are wonderful for the calm waters - although did one in Lake George last year with big waves. Everyone was getting sick. My goal was to do a tri in the ocean to start - so here goes.

My girlfriend has already given me a training program - 20 weeks which started already this week. Woohoo. I am psyched - just hope that my body holds up. I went to Yoga last night and had a sharp pain in my hip - it went away - but I worry that I am doing too much too soon. We'll see.

Beautiful Day

Divorce can be tough - lots of emotional ups and downs. Today was one of those days when all I had to do was think and I would start to cry. The weather is beautiful - so I just reminded myself to think good stuff and get on with things.

The best thing today was that when I walking out of my office building I heard a little voice saying "Hey Lady". There is a daycare playground next to our building - fenced - and the kids were out playing. When I looked to see who said "Hey Lady" there was a little boy inside the front corner of the fence - near the sidewalk holding a dandelion flower thru the fence for me!! I leaned down and thanked him profusely and as I walked away saw one of the teachers smiling as I think he witnessed the wonderful gift.

So for all of the ups and downs - there are way many ups today!

Training, training, training

Time to really get back to some serious training. Now that chorus competition is over I think I can get on a more regular schedule. Only thing this week is that I have custody of dogs for the week - and they like a lot of attention. I'm trying to incorporate runs with them into training schedule. The other affect is that I don't feel like leaving them in the morning to go swim - so may just work that in sometime over the weekend.

Biking and running getting better - still need a lot more! Developed a very bad cough with allergies this Spring which really hampered my running. It affected me on bike also - but not quite as much. Probably just sounded really bad to the people riding in front of me.

I'm hoping that this rainy Spring will end soon and that I can also start thinking about having my friends over to enjoy some Patio time. I keep telling them I'm going to do my famous dry rub ribs -- figure this is a good excuse for a party. I'll pretty much use any excuse. Had my girlfriends over the other night - everyone makes something, so it really isn't that much work for me. We had a lot of fun and good conversation. There will be more of this to come - with the guys included next time. We athletes love to eat!

Chorus Competition was this weekend

So my Sweet Adelines Chorus went to Regional competition this past weekend. It is the Capitaland Chorus. We did well - came in third in our division (Small Chorus) and 10th overall out of 26. It was a lot of fun - and really enjoyed the large choruses - they are so polished. The winners are pretty awesome to hear.

We also got there to watch the competition of Quartets - we have two members in our chorus who competed and did well.

Now, back to more triathlon training.

Update - Soontobexhusband has signed divorce agreement. I should be getting agreement in a few days I imagine and will also sign. Once this is done goes to judge for final OK. To me this was both sad and scary - to be getting divorced. I know it's coming, but the finality of it is difficult.

Trying to Move On

Nothing is quite settled as far as "divorce" or new home purchase, but I am still trying to move on stay positive. This does not always work - my soontobeexhusband still causes me angst from time to time.

We do get along for the most part, but every now and then he can still make me very mad. Trying to stay positive - and the dating thing - just forget it. I'm out - just getting back into my training and concentrating on staying healthy and taking care of myself.

Not a lot to post today - just keep smiling.

Life is good

It's Friday - April 1 and the big snow storm that was predicted has fizzled. Thank Goodness for that! It's still not a very nice day - but at least we dodged the storm.

I say "life is good" because I have a lot to be thankful and it reminds me to not stress about things going on right now. My soontobe ex-husband has proposed a settlement - not exactly what I was shooting for, but we are close. I told him to send it to my lawyer and we will see. In the meantime, I am buying a house - and the bank commitment letter is for an earlier date than originally planned with the homeowners. They are having a house built - so we had planned for end of May. Now the bank is asking us to close end of April - and my lawyer is proposing we do this but let them stay and pay me. Nervous about this since I'm not sure divorce will be finalized by then.

Tri season is starting and I am feeling less than motivated. I really need to work on getting my mojo going - think I just need some sunny days and really have to get in touch with bike shop to find out what is going on with my bike. I dropped it off over a week ago for a tune-up and need a bike fit. Will address that issue today. Onward!

Passed

I passed both of the contest songs - Whew! Finally feel that I can just sing now and go to competition with the Chorus comfortably.

Onward - I have not really felt like I had any profound wisdom to impart lately, so am not posting. Yet I do have a lot to say. Last night I met with a friend who is a "life coach" - was a very interesting meeting and he was so easy to talk to. It was fun - I felt bad that I had to cut the meeting short - had a rehearsal to get to. Tonight is another rehearsal - Chorus is taking a lot of my time - probably right thru April - and then we'll relax a bit over the summer I think.

Anyway - the meeting with "life coach" was good - discussed dating scene and how men were treating me, etc. It was enouraging to get a man's perspective and to know that he had been in similar circumstances - as I know many have.

Right now, I'm happy, busy and enjoying life. Waiting for Spring to start so that I can get outside some more and enjoy biking and running outdoors - and soon Open Water swimming.

Soon.

Nights of Singing

It's Thursday again and that means time for singing with Capitaland Chorus - a Sweet Adelines group. I only recently became a member - in November and was reminded how much I enjoy singing. I always sang - in the car, around the house, etc. Music has always been a part of my life - my parents loved music - we went to tons of musicals as kids, I was even in a couple in School. I also was part of a Barbershop quartet in high school - so I guess I was destined to join this group.

The women that I sing with are all so supportive of each other - tons of different personalities as would be expected. We are going to be competing at the end of April with other Sweet Adelines groups in our Region - Region 16. All of our focus over the past few weeks and the weeks coming up is on competition songs. One is a sappy ballad and the other what is referred to as an "uptune". Each member has to "qualify" on the songs - be note and word perfect in order to go to competition.

I'm nervous - have qualified on the ballad and need to perform the uptune tonight with a quartet in order to qualify on that song. I know the song - and can do it, but get so nervous in front of my section leader (I'm a Bass).

Wish me luck.

SN - I think I surprised a lot of my friends joining this group - they are thought of as being an older group - but if you could see some of the performances you would not think so. There are also quartets that perform and compete - and they are phenomenal.... It is a very professional and entertaining singing venue.

Biking in the Snow

Went out with a couple of friends (guys - triathletes) biking on Sunday - beautiful sunny morning, kinda chilly but not too bad - no wind. We headed to a bike path - which was clear for a lot of the way - then encountered a bunch of spots that we had to get off bikes and walk while carrying them because of all the snow! We ended up back on the roadways for the return trip - which was fun too.

I felt really good and felt strong - which kind of amazed me since it was my first outdoor ride of the season. Guess having the bike trainer really helped keep me fit this winter.

The guy friends were fun too - talked a lot all of us - which takes away the monotony of riding. I am really trying to get back into the good training mode of doing at least one thing (swim,bike,run) each day and sometimes two workouts a day.

My "Girls"

My Soon to be Ex - is traveling this week so I have the "Girls". It has changed my activities quite a bit having to get home every few hours to let them out or walk them. I try to walk them more often - they love the exercise and then when I leave them they tend to not be destructive around the house. They are both still young - one is a year old and the other is 2. Lab/Shepherd mix (Feta) and a Hound mix (Marla). Totally different personalities but both very lovable and inseparable.

It's funny that many nights I've decided instead of going "out" that I'd rather just go home and have a nice run with the dogs and relax afterward. If not for my friends bugging me to go out on a Friday night - I would probably just stay home more with the dogs...they are very good company. My Ex is retired so he keeps the dogs a little more often since he is home. I am working - been going home on lunch - and actually manage about a 1/2 hour walk with them during that time.

Today the weather is beautiful so can't wait to get home and get them out again - looking for the bunnies and squirrels which they go nuts for.

Following other bloggers and Twitter

I have gotten hooked on following other blogs - mostly on the Times Union website - interesting stuff and also following lots of people on Twitter. Very fun - though I'm not up on all the ways to actually use Twitter yet. So, I'm thinking of making this blog more public - and see what kind of interest it generates - or not! Either way, doesn't really matter - just a neat outlet for your thoughts.

In Today's News

I have made the decision to sell our boat and dock to my soon to be ex-husband as part of our divorce settlement. This was a very emotional undertaking as I was the original sailor and taught him how to sail - and we've had the boat since 1993. It is a 28' Catalina which we were able to pretty much live on weekends in the summer. I spent a lot of time on the boat at the dock last summer when we started the separation process -- was my "getaway". I also sailed it for the first time last summer by myself. That was exhilirating!

Needless to say - after many tears shed last night - I was finally able to realize that I cannot afford to keep the boat - it is expensive - and I really won't have the time to devote to sailing since I am a triathlete and will be doing some more serious training this summer. Once I got over the emotional stuff I came to thinking that it is probably a good thing - can save money for my own vacations and/or upcoming races and put money into the house I am purchasing.

All in all it ends up being a win for me - The boat is named the "Suzieb2".

Fell For a Guy

This is an article I wrote which was published in the "Pace Setter" February 2011 issue - a local running mag. I thought this might be a good place to start this Blog. I am starting a new Chapter in my life - divorcing, buying a house, and hoping to get my triathlete mojo going and have some awesome success racing this year. I will give some history in a future post.

For the "Last Run 5K" that went through
Washington Park Holiday Lights December
18th, 2010, two of my girlfriends and I decided
to get dressed up - crazy socks, jingle bells,
cute plaid shorts, and Santa hats - and I had
antlers - and run thp race. It was a cold night,
but no wind. The race went off at 5:00 p.m. so
it was dark, but very pretty, running through
the Christmas lights in the park.
Nearing the end of the race a guy (very
handsome, by the way) ran up next to me and
complimented my outfit, and so we chatted a
little - he liked the bells, and so on. I suggested
to him that we pick it up and make it a really fast
finish. OK. We got going at a pretty good pace,
and as it started to slope downhill a bit near the
finish on State Street between the Capitol and
the Pldza, he got a little ahead of me, dS most
guys would, and yelled back, "Come on, it's
downhill - you (dn do this." I sped up some
more to catch up to him. That's the point that I
tripped and was going fast so I had absolutely
no control over stopping the fall.
I hit my head first and rolled onto onp side,
hitting my forehead, cheek, elbow, hip and,
lastly, knee. I ended up on my back downhill
direction. He and another runner stopped and
I was stunned from the fall. They asked if I was
OK and I said I'm really not sure, as I wasn't
pven sure what hurt at that point. Onp of them
ran for paramedics, who were there in a second,
as we were about 200 yards from the finish
line. Music was playing and runners were
going by. The EMTs asked if I hit my head which
I did - so they told me to stay still. They
were going to get d collar and I told them, "No,
I am not going in an ambulance bec<.lusP I am
hosting a party at my house at 7:00 tonight!"
Somewhere in the middle of the EMTs checking
me out, one of the other runners decided I
should finish the race, so I suggested they take
my chip and run it across the finish line mat
- they actually took my shoe! Funny! One of
them came back with my shoe - which the
EMTs said was like Cinderella getting her glass
slipper back. Very funny! The handsome guy
who took my shoe came back with a bottle of
water also. He was the same guy who was running
with me, so I started telling him that I was
hosting a party at my house at 7:00 that night
and he should come as it would be a bunch
of running friends! The EMTs were telling me
I should go to the hospital to get checked out,
but I said no way. I had to go take care of my
party!
I yelled out my address to the handsome
guy as he left and as the EMTs worked to get
vitals, I finally convinced them I was OK to
stand and walk, and I signed off on not going
to the hospital. I left but couldn't get hold of
my friends as they were doing a cool down run
and so they had no idea I was hurt.
I got home and my cheek was swelling fast,
as I could see it under my eye dnd I knew it was
bad. Also I knew my knee was pretty bad because
it hurt. When I got home and one friend
arrived, I made him start prepping stuff while
I got in the shower to check out the extent of
injuries and to freshen up. I took a few layers
off of my knee and the elbow, hip, hand wpre
all bruised and scraped and swollen. It was
quitp a fall, but didn't think I broke anything.
The rest of my friends started showing up, and
the Handsome Guy also showed. He sdid hE'
had to come to see if I was OK. It turns out he
knows other runner friends who came to the
party, as it is a small world. It seems if you talk
to enough people in the Capital District, that
someone will have a connection, especially
among the runners and triathletes, which my
friends and I are.
My girlfriend is a nurse and so when she
came to the party she patched me up and she
and my other girlfriend (the Three Musketeers
WP call ourselves) were both shocked when
they saw me, as they had no idea I had fallen.
We all laughed a lot that night and kept blaming
the Handsome Guy for tripping me, which
he did not, of course, but we had fun joking
about it. I'm really OK - just a black eye and a
few bruises, which will heal.
My chip time did not register. I guess carrying shoe is not the same as running in one.
Oh well, I had a good time anyway.