Bringing Sexy Back One Sausage At A Time

As promised in a much earlier blog post, you will find a video of me getting into a wetsuit. It's not pretty & we don't have video editing software, so there is no awesome soundtrack, but think Justin Timberlake, "I'm bringing Sexy Back" if you will. Although, the sounds of the wetsuit stretching & popping are slightly amusing. Patrick took a similar video of me down at the lake but unfortunately, he was holding the camera up and down so the video was sideways, therefore, this video is at home. Enjoy....

Spotting

So I finished my first (Olympic distance) triathlon of the season at Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva, WI. I love this race mostly for the AWESOME swag that you get for registering. Last year, we got a bike jersey and this year it was a cool track jacket. Seriously, I do most of the races that I do because of the shirts and medals, not for the accolades of finish times, etc. I've decided that Ironman is not about the journey, it IS about the destination, ie: the big ol' medal! Unlike the saying "Life is about the journey, not the destination." This time the ends truly justify the means!

Anyway, I digress... at this particular triathlon the swim is designed to parallel the beach, then turn around back to the start (continuing to parallel the beach.) My friend Justin told me last year when we did this event, that he had someone swim directly head-on to him. This year, the SAME THING happened to me...clearly, these swimmers have no concept of looking up to spot where they are swimming. I have a tendency to swim wide towards the outside lane, as not to get swam over, kicked, or hold up the rest of the wave of swimmers. Therefore, this particular swimmer who swam directly into me was SO FAR OFF course, it was comical! I wonder what ever happened to her? When things like this happen to me I have to admit it gives me a little confidence boost to know that at least I'm not that person. It also creates a little fear in me to think that these same people will be on the Ironman swim course to wreak havoc!

On a side note, I have been desperately trying to load the video of me getting into my wetsuit, but it keeps failing...I will continue to try so you don't have to go on much longer without having that experience.

IM Loop Streaming Thoughts

I thought I'd share some of my thoughts that I have during my training rides on the IM loop.

County Route M - And so it begins.

Locust Drive - Uneventful.

Bruce Street - Ugh, am I really going to do this?

Paoli Street - Not Cool.

Valley Road - This sucks.

Sugar River Road - Ok, I'm ok.

Marsh View Road - Damn.

County Route G - Damn it this is deceivingly hilly!

Route 92 - Please don't hit me and leave me for dead! Please don't hit me! Please don't hit me!

8th Street - Holy Crap that is a long steady hill up to here!

County Route S - Smooth road.

Witte Road - I always think of stinky Charles Witte, one of our homeless favorites.

County Route J - I know what's coming.

Garfoot Road - WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Mineral Point Road - HUGE rolling hills!

Garfoot Road - More HUGE rolling hills!

County Route KP - A stop sign here that says "that means YOU too bicyclists!"

Bourbon Road - Hello Cross Plains...I wonder if the Phaneufs are home.

County Route P - Mentally preparing myself.

Stagecoach Road - WORST bumpiest Road EVER! rattles my brain!

North Birch Trail - OMG, the hill that NEVER ends. UGH!

Old Sauk Pass Road - recover for another.

Timber Lane - Hammer for the love at the top...there is a house with a bench and a hose waiting.

Midtown Road - SonOfABitch! Also known as the Alpes d' Huez of Verona.

Shady Oak Lane - Recently resurfaced and SMOOTH!

County Route PD - I got nothing.

Nine Mound - Here we come!

Cross Country Road - Coming back into Verona. Also a great place to watch for your athlete!

County Road M - Ugh, here we go again....

Verona Avenue

Old Hwy PB

Whalen

ONTO SECOND LOOP!

I love that there are arrows painted along the course!

And Thank you Justin for waiting for me at the tops of the hills!

A Few Random Things

The other day I was running through town and a man said to me, "hey, are you interested in running to Chicago this weekend?" Strange right? Of course, I knew that he was talking about the Ragnar Relay Race happening this weekend from Madison to Chicago, but I thought it was very random that he would see me running and ask a total stranger to join a group and run a HUGE relay race with them. It is a 200+ mile route that is run throughout the night...Anyway, I took it as a compliment, thanked him for asking, politely declined and continued on my merry way.

HOT YOGA has become my new FAVORITE workout. Once again, I can thank Emily - she suggested it 'cause she loves it too. Although Angie said she wanted to either punch someone or puke when she took a hot yoga class and I get it. But seriously, I love it despite the odd experiences I've had like trying not to bust out laughing when the older woman next to me tooted or when I looked straight up a young man's shorts only to see his shaved bits... I feel stronger and think I'm getting more toned. It's great cross training.

Also, I forgot how much I HATE the heat and tan lines.

I still have my doubts about this crazy event but I'm in it to finish!