Update!

Time for an update! I love lists, so let’s get organized:

1.) Swim for Bikes! First and foremost, a big thank you to everyone who has signed up so far for this weekend’s Open Water Swim Clinic to benefit My First Bike.  We still have spots open and would love to have you join us.  (See post below for info.)

2.) Workin’ for a Livin’! I’ve been a busy bee with the new job and so far, so good.  I’ve explored parts of Georgia that I can honestly say that I would probably never choose to visit, but the people are super nice down South and I like the adventure.  I much prefer driving hours when I have to rather than dealing with the airport, stinky seatmates, or delayed flights.  At our national sales meeting last month, the company acknowledged the #1 rep from 2008. I was psyched to see she was also an All-American sprinter.  She pointed out that when she started selling, she was ranked DEAD LAST in this company, and managed to work her way up to win.  It’s not an accident, that thing about hard work.

3.) Taper, I love you! My much-loved recovery post-Eagleman blew by, and before I knew it, Coach Matt was kicking my a$$ in a quick build up for Steelhead 70.3.  I had a little more of a run focus this block due to (bike-less) travel, and emerged unscathed and  . . . loving my bike more than ever!   However, the beloved TAPER has arrived again, and I’m a happy girl.

4.) Steelhead 70.3: Can’t wait!  I’m probably the only person left in America who has yet to visit Chicago, and unfortunately it won’t really happen on this trip either, but at least I’ll be flying into the city.  It’s going to be a fast and furious trip up to basically race, and come home, but I am excited to continue on this path and to compete with some amazing athletes.  I don’t know if it’ll ever wear off— i.e. the disbelief that I am racing with the top athletes in this sport… or at least starting with them!  Every little bit of improvement is incredibly gratifying.

5.) Payback’s a b*tch: I met Liz back at Powerman in 2006, and then we kept running into each other at various triathlons/duathlons over the next year.  I kinda liked the smartass from Chicago, and we kept in touch.  About a year and a half ago, she told me she was coming to the ATL for a course, and we decided to take our friendship to the next level:  the homestay.  I cleaned my house (big deal), drove her around town, and even packed her lunches.  She was a good houseguest, but I wanted to wring her neck when I dropped her off at the airport and she *remembered* she left her wedding ring in my crib.  Awesome. I need some bling. Thanks, Chris (Liz’s husband)! She wasn’t willing to leave her ice, so we had to go back and get it, and my parting words were: Payback’s a b*tch.  I will at some point race Steelhead, and you’ll be packin’ my lunch and carting me around. I’d appreciate it if she’d pull me in the swim while we’re at it, but alas, she’ll be spectating and I’m racing solo.  Definitely looking forward to hanging with the ELF next weekend!

6.) Proof of Pain: If you’re not into getting the M-dot tatoo to prove that you actually did make it through 70.3 or 140.6 miles of fun (pain), just frame your goods and show the grandkids that you actually were a stud in your younger years.  My friend Angela has a great concept and an awesome product:  Finish Line Framing. For athletes, by athletes, and at a reasonable price.

Personally I’d love to save some of these memories, but my adorable Shaina would much rather chew up the evidence.  This cracked me up.  She got into my race bag and locked her jaws on my race number from New Orleans.  Ears back = her new toy.  I guess we won’t be framing that one.