Christmas in Ohio

Kris and I traveled to Ohio for Christmas at my parents house; since they do not have Internet access at their house and I did not have time to go to a cafe to log on so no blogging during this time. 
It was a year since I was in Ohio and able to visit with family.  It was a great holiday with the family.  My 9 year old nephew (Logan) was spoiled; and his aunt helped with the spoiling.  It amazes me that a 9 year old can put together a Lego star wars with over 800 pieces in less than 4 hours.  I could not sit that long and have that type of concentration but it worked great while we were getting dinner ready he worked on the Lego set.  I was able to get him outside a little to run around 2 blocks with Kris and I.  He has a great little sprint/blocking action at the end.  I could not get around him on the sidewalk and he beat me.  I call a rematch!  I enjoyed spending time with Logan; they grow so quickly that we have to take advantage of the time we have with loved ones. 
It was my first gluten free Christmas, a fresh ham, butternut squash risotto; ripen goat cheese with berries & gluten free crackers (was going to do apples but ran out of time); fruit salad, veggie tray with hummus, cranberry applesauce, quinoa salmon salad were the gluten free menu and my sister brought sweet potato casserole and potato salad.  The dinner was good; but it was a little different for my family.  So thanks to my family for being understanding with my situation.  (However, they still do not entirely understand that I just can not "pick" out the crust.)
From the training front, I was able to get a few runs in last week and a couple short bikes which was good after 2 weeks of NOTHING.  The training is back but feeling a little sad because prior to the flu I was starting to feel good running and swimming.  The running is coming back but I have not be in the water in about 3 weeks because of flu and traveling.  I hope it comes back quick; I think my swimming comes back faster than someone who is not a swimmer by background. 

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

2009 Recap Bike Training

I look back at 2009 and I think about the break through I had on my bike training.  I knew I needed to step up my bike training for 2009 to be competitive at Ironman Lake Placid.  Well, I did step it up with a few falls along the way.

It started with a camp in Tuscon at the Cycling House with frineds who train with my coach, Kathleen.  The trip was a huge success ending with a climb up Mt. Lemon 6,000’ +; 36 mile climb up.  I loved the challange and most everyone in the group successfully climbed it.  It is one of those climbs that just goes on forever but if you pace yourself and stick with it you can make it up.  Kris paced me up the climb; at times riding ahead and coming back for me but never leaving me for to long.  At the end it was Brenden with me (so Kris could ride ahead), to keep my spirts up through the end of the climb.  1st climbing training complete and much more to come.

Tired of Being Sick

Today I started to feel better after the slide backwards on Monday and Tuesday.  It is 9 days of being sick.  I can list all the holiday events I missed over the past week; very frustrating that I am not able to spend time with friends during the holiday season.  At least I did not eat to much at the parties because I already feel like a blob from being sick.

Flu Continued

On Saturday I started to feel better but by Sunday; I had new symptoms and yuck.  On Sunday, I had planned to do an easy spin and swim to get back into training; that did not happen.  But some good news, fever is still gone but it is replaced with cough and sinus congestion and continued headache. So now 5 days of no training & I have had it with not feeling well.  4 days in bed; now 3 days of basically no activity except working (at a computer), baking, and decided to finish Christmas shopping on-line.  I am ready to feel better.

I decided after going to the doctor, again, and getting more prescriptions; I would help out the medications with a little good food.  (Which is normal, but last week I did not eat much but canned soup.)  I threw together a yummy fruit salad with blackberries, mango, blueberries, and bananas.  It is really good and feels great on the throat. YUM!

For dinner, I needed more help from food.  Lentil casserole I made on Sunday; Chicken I grilled on Saturday and a fridge full of veggies.  Baby bok choy or peppers & onions?  I did the tried and true; onions, peppers, garlic and threw in some cherry tomatoes.   A decent little dinner to help kill these little bugs running around in my body.

The last thing I did in the kitchen today is baked a few small loafs of banana bread - gluten free.  Wow, I had a small slice a few moments ago.  It is fabulous, it is moist and feels like I am eating bread with wheat flour.  Now, I will freeze 3 of the 4 mini loaves.  I am excited to see how they freeze.  (This will help during the season when my training greatly reduces my time in the kitchen.)

I love cooking, baking, experimenting; it is a way for me to be creative and it becomes a science project to me; sometimes they are good sometimes bad. No one needs to know about my absolute failures in the kitchen but I love to share with all when it does turn out. Kris does not to mind both success and failures.  Just received a call from Kris; he is done with his world tour for Winter 2009.   It is nice to have him back in the country.   Time to get some rest with hopes that my body will fights the little bugs getting me down. 

Flu...at least it is December

Since Tuesday, I have been laid out with the flu.   The interesting little bug hits fast and hard.  The only hint was a little fatigue that I thought was because of holiday parties, baking and stress's in my life right now.  WRONG, I ran 6 miles on the treadmill in the morning before work, HR and pace was where I would expect it, (not where I want it though); 9 hours later I am thinking about a trainer ride but feel pretty miserable and take my temperature. 102.6 opps no training for me that night.  Just some Advil, fluids and out for the count.  After Dr confirmed what I guessed, I have the flu.  No training for me for a few days.  Actually, nothing for a few days other the lots of liquids, sleep and thankfully Netflix on demand.  At least, starting day 4... I am eating, keeping fever down, sitting up for a while and walked to get my mail since it has been a long 4 days. 
Fortunately it is December and missing a few days sick is not going to effect me.  This is just a small bump.

Cancer Stinks

Today, was another reminder of keeping everything in perspective and we do not know the future.  Earlier this year, the day after Ironman Louisville to be exact I found out a very close person to me had ovarian cancer.  (It was hidden from me to not effect my race.)  This hit me pretty hard because I do not live near her to help out or be there for her.  I was told not to change my newly developed plans to go compete in Kona.  Since then, I have talked to her a few times but most of the time she does not feel well and does not talk about it much.

So today... I am talking to my mom and found out an old friend from home has breast cancer.  I do not understand why?  The good news is they were able to get all the cancer but...what? why?   This news has hit me hard and reminding me to appreciate my loved ones plus it is time to make some important decision for my future. 

Back to my off-season, today was the first time I did a same day run and bike.  I am surprised how tiring it is right now.  I had strong sessions for both of them; but after the bike I felt the familiar training fatigue.  My run pace & HR are right where I expect it for low-mid zone 2 and for the bike the power/HR was the same nothing to crazy out of control.  Tomorrow Swimming... More Butterfly?