Snake in the Lake CAKE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARBARA!!!!!

Cake creation by Ms. Patti Sosa

THE HILL

….AND I KNOW I AM MADE FOR MORE.
AND BY BECOMING MORE, I AM CHALLENGED TO CHOOSE SUFFERING,
TO ENDURE PAIN, TO BEAR HARDSHIP…

AT FIRST, THE GENTLE SWELL…
BUT GRADUALLY THE HILL DEMANDS MORE AND MORE.
I HAVE REACHED THE END OF MY PHYSIOLOGY,
THE END OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE,
AND NOW IT IS BEYOND WHAT I CAN STAND.
THE TEMPTATION IS TO SAY “ENOUGH.”
THIS MUCH IS ENOUGH,
BUT I WILL NOT GIVE IN.

I AM FIGHTING GOD.
FIGHTING THE LIMITATIONS HE GAVE ME.
FIGHTING THE PAIN.
FIGHTING THE UNFAIRNESS.
FIGHTING ALL THE EVIL IN ME AND THE WORLD.
AND I WILL NOT GIVE IN.
I WILL CONQUER THE HILL
AND I WILL CONQUER IT ALONE.

7 days and counting...

Trial run through 7/11 at Smithville Lake

We're ONE WEEK away!!!

Lookin' Good

We survived! Saturday was tough but we made it through - even running during the hottest part of the day. But speaking of HOT, Leslie introduced us to a new website - skirtsports.com. Not only do they actually have cute gear for all kinds of sports but the company CEO is an elite triathlete.


We are all fangirls - in fact I just order a tri top today! Because, as Leslie says even if we pass out on the finish line, we will look cute doing it.

It’s just putting it all together…

As I chatted with Leslie last night on our plans for the Smithville run through on Saturday (Paradise Point, Sailboat Cove at 9am ladies) we were cracking up discussing our “readiness”. Les and I mention that we are doing reasonably well with our training – i.e. running one day, biking another, etc… however it’s just the small detail of PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER!

As we are now about three weeks out (see countdown below) the nerves are starting to set in. She and I both have adopted an attitude of “what’s the worst that could happen? So we walk.” I don’t know if this is defeatist, but for now it sounds like a good enough mental strategy to keep me going.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we all feel super energized and ready to go after tomorrow. Maybe the sight of Matt in the rowboat will be enough to get us through!!

Barb's new (used) bike !!

No Pain, No Gain

Burning, searing, mind-numbing pain- No, I'm not talking about the bike, or the swim or even the run...I'm referring to the deep tissue massage I had this morning. Although I knew full well what I was getting myself into before we started, I was still caught off guard by just how deep and painful releasing my toxins would be. I sit here in my office woozy and on some sort of strange body high, chugging water and already feeling my muscles ache from the deep pressure.

Debbie (my newfound masseuse and personal pain guru) told me I'd need to ice tonight and treat myself as though I had an intense workout. Massage = Workout- Now that sounds pretty good, but trust me, it's most definitely a workout! Don't let the relaxing Yanni music or aromatic essential oils fool you...my body is hurting! Despite all my complaining, I've already made an appointment to see her again in 2 weeks. After all the pain comes the glorious release of all that tight tension in my muscles. Plus, she kept calling me an athlete- I like the sound of that ;)

If I haven't convinced any of you out there yet that A) you should go get a massage and B) do it on a regular basis, here's some more info on why it's so important!

• Loosens muscles, elevates pain, and increases mobility – all significant benefits for an athlete
• Stimulates circulation and increases blood flow
• Breaks up scar tissue and thereby restores normal movement to muscles
• Improves posture, especially for those who sit at a desk all day
• Sufferers of chronic pain, fibromyalgia, edema, muscle cramping, and even carpal tunnel syndrome may find significant relief!

As Debbie stated to me today in the midst of working out my piriformis muscle- No pain, no gain!! (Ouch!)