Life consumed

My life has become consumed with ridiculousness. I spend my days and weekends training and racing- and for what? I'm not getting any better, I'm not meeting new people, I'm not doing anything important with it. Why do I even do it? I have three relatively big events next year. February, June and November. I think that might be it. I need to work on being a better person. I need to work on the relationships I already if I ever want to have someone in my future. Some guys at work used to jokingly ask what was wrong with me that I was in my mid twenties and still single. Now I really do wonder. None of the men I've dated have fallen in love with me- but I also can't say that I ever loved any of them either. But why not? Why haven't I met someone that makes me want to skip a run or trade in endurance for more manageable distances. Why isn't there someone that makes me giddy? I thought there was, but over time I learned he wasn't. He had no interest in anything I did. At all.

I don't even know if I truly want that though. Every day I see people in relationships who aren't happy. Or they think they are because distance separates them and they don't know what is in store for them. People getting dragged places they have no desire to go because it's supposed to be a compromise. Since when does compromise mean being unhappy so much? I love that I have all my freedom, I just wish that there were someone to leave a note for. Someone to worry a little if I'm late getting back from a run.

the last few days...

The last few days have provided some good entertainment around here.  I made mini delish cinnamon rolls the other night. They lasted 24 hours. (there's four of us)

We hade turkey birthday cake at work...ingenious! The stuffing is donut holes, the legs are made from ice cream cones- and it was yummy! 

It's still below freezing though, as the inside my windshields can attest to....

booo. snow

I spent most of yesterday (after my run) sitting on the couch watching Ironman Arizona live online.  It was beautimous.  Chrissie Wellington set a new womans' record on an official Iroman course. By something like11 minutes. In. Cred. Ible.  That's really all one can say.  I'm so glad these Ironman races are streamed online and throughout the year. It really helps keep me motivated, especially on a crappy snowy day like today.  Even though I went to happy hour after work with some coworkers, I ventured back to the gym to put a couple miles on the treadmill. Just a few, but better than nothing. AND, I only had water and kept my eating to a minimum. It's quite possible that I've just found my year-round motivation.  I just have to make it a few weeks in between races, plan a long run or ride and then plant myself on the couch and get ready to shed some tears.

On the other hand, these crappy days at work make it easy to just want to curl up under green blankie and sleep.  Oh, green blankie- quite possibly one of the best things my mother has ever made for me. When my niece, Emily, was just a baby I used to take her little blankets and lay them on myself to make one big blanket and nap on the couch.  Being the awesome mom that she is, my mother made me a Bri-sized blankie in my favorite soft material. And I swear, that thing puts me to sleep like a car ride for an infant. Joram used to yell at me for trying to watch football with him while snuggled up to green blankie.  Inevitably, I would fall asleep. Everytime. Even now, when I can't sleep I curl up with only that blanket and most often I'm out within minutes. It even went to the last Ironman with me. And apparently, Emily fell asleep with it while we were sharing a hotel bed. Ali tells me I woke up pulled it off her and turned over and went back to sleep. I'm a bad Auntie!!!

Ooh, and big things are on the horizon. Stay tuned.

Chrissie Wellington is a PHENOM!!!

I'm watching Ironman Arizona online right now, while the snow falls here outside Seattle and I sit in my damp running clothes after putting in a cold 8 miles this morning.

Basically Chrissie Wellington is amazing. She's only about twenty minutes behind the men, with about a twenty minute lead on the next closest woman. Incredible. 

Half marathon

The Seattle half marathon is coming up in a week.... Definitely not ready for this. I got a pair of compression socks today- expensive but will hopefully be worth it. Hoping to get about ten miles in tomorrow morning. It's going to be a cold one, I think the high is only supposed to be 37! Brrrrrr!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

A few pics from my PA trip

She's fearless!

Dress and boots compliments of Auntie B

What a little poser in my hat!

get in gear!!

It's high time for me to get my @ss in gear and really start training!  Eindhoven was done on a whim, but I've got the Seattle half in November and the HB half in Feb. Not to mention that little relay with Lisa and Wendi in Utah next summer! These last two weeks have been absolutely terrible for motivation and running.  At least I walked to and from work all week! About 30 minutes each way.

I just want to go home though! I'm sitting in the hotel in Amsterdam, right by the airport, so it's not convenient to go into the city. I mean, I could, but going alone SUCKS!!!! On the plus side, I only have about 20 hours to kill before I have to check in at the airport- and I'm hoping at least 7 of those will be sleeping!

The airport does have some great shops though, maybe I should wander and try to find some things for my nieces and maybe some chocolate for me  :)

it's going to hurt a lot more tomorrow!

..... but it was worth it! I have now done an International race. And although my time was not where I would hope, it wasn't terrible either. I haven't run a Half since May 2009! And yes, I'm training for the Seattle Half at the end of November I have to remind myself that I've been away from home for a week now. My training fell off the wagon and I've been sleeping and eating strangely here. Everyone rides these little scooters that are SOOOO loud at night! They buzz like a bunch of pissed off bees.  I've been wearing earplugs to bed, but too much of those makes my ears hurt.  And I've been eating relatively healthy, but not training healthy. I only at twice yesterday and today, and very European things all last week. It doesn't help that I'm totally homesick and confused about being in a foreign land.  True, nearly everyone speaks amazing English I hate having to ask them to! I hate not knowing what all the signs say, what is on the menu and even more-- I hate eating alone. It's not so bad at breakfast because I'm in a hotel and that's pretty common for business and all.

But I did dinner alone on Friday (at the hotel even!) and I felt so awkward. I have no problem with this at home. I think it's the language thing. The people at the next table could be mocking me "stupid Americains, zey come here vith der monies and dey expect us to speek to dem in der language. ha!"  Paranoid much? yes!

Anyway, the race was today and it was strange. I watched the beginning (or pretty close anyway) of the marathon from the elevator lobby of my hotel, then hustled down to the parking lot to have a better look. How cool is it that I wound up right on the course!!

Some of the elites just after the start

The marathon started at 11am and the Half at 2:15pm. I read somewhere that is was expected 17,000 for the Half.  Eindhoven is not a big city.  It started in the City Centre and had six starting chutes that went off different streets. I think it was about 18 minutes from the time of the start until I actually crossed the line. All the while standing in the middle of Europeans. Don't get me wrong- I love them. However, they don't tend to shower as much as Americans and the smell is very distinct. Didn't help they were all wearing technical fabric and spandex shorts which we all know makes everyone smell lovely. The start line reminded me of the finish line at Ironman. Ew.

Me in the hotel room getting ready!



So, after standing around and getting sore for awhile the race started. I knew right away it would be painful. The sun was blazing- bright and quite warm- and me without sunglasses!  It was a really pretty run. Strange since I had no clue where I was or what was going on. It was made even harder since all the markers were in kilometers and even though I knew the approx 5k times, I had no idea about my in between.  So, at 10k I was around 58 minutes. Not too bad. And then the flatness of the course really got to my knees and glutes. Yowza!!!  I started walking some- feeling guilty the entire time. The course was completely lined with people cheering. I've never experienced a race in the US like that.   The last kilometer or so was through the Centre along a street lined with bars and restaurants. The people were packed in! I probably could have reached out to each side and high-fived people on my left and right at the same time.  It's killing me that I don't have pictures of all this!

So, when I finished I had no clue where to go! I got lost trying to figure out where to return my chip and then even how to get back to the hotel! I finally made it after wandering through a college, more streets with bars and closed shops... where I am now catching up with work and eating room service!

Internation racing! yeah!

best day ever

I'm sitting in my hotel room in Eindhoven streaming Ironman Kona live online and listening to the drums beat outside getting ready for the Eindhoven marathon to start shortly.  It's a beautiful clear blue sky day here. I just saw this guy finish online (from the website live updates):

"Clayton Treska finishes! The amazing marine, who is still undergoing treatment for stage 4 testicular cancer, just came across the line. He only came out of the hospital in August. He was still in hospital, undergoing chemotherapy, when he finished Ironman 70.3 Hawaii. Earlier this week he told us he wanted to inspire other people with cancer. "You can't ever give up," he said. He didn't today - he's become an Ironman. "

 

He looked amazing! Watching these incredible athletes makes me even more excited to pick my next race! Another year in CDA? Or will it become a bigger event? Hmm, time will tell.

 

I'm nervous for this half marathon today. I'm not in shape, I've picked up a cold over the last few days and I've been having a muscle spasm in my right hip, running inot my right foot. I think it's from the hardness of the hotel bed. Oh well, it's only about making it to the finish line- and from what I hear, the Dutch put on a hell of a race! And if the drumming that's been going on for the last hour+ is any indication.... then it's going to be quite a show!

Nederlands

I could move here for the shoe selection alone. Everyone wears boots and skinny jeans or skirts. And I mean- EVERYone. I love it. If only I had an empty suitcase and an unlimited budget. And I've only been here ten hours!! The men are extremely attractive too.  Definitely that 'foreign' vibe that we're all familiar with- but tall and good looking.  And the bicycles!! Omg, I have to get a picture of the hundreds and hundreds of bicycles outside the train and bus stations!  And they ride everywhere. And if not on a bicycle, then on a little scooter. There's even bike/scooter lanes separate from traffic and no one wears helmets and no one gets mad. Ok, I'm sure they do. But I saw plenty of incidents today that would have had American drivers out of their cars yelling.  I only wish I spoke the language. I look so much like I should be Dutch that it's really embarrassing to have to ask  the store clerk "English??"  Oy.

Tried to add  some photos, it's not letting me at this time!

Yup.

yeah, I've decided (as I sit here at the sea-tac airport starbucks- N gates) that I'm nervous about this trip. Quite nervous. This is amplified by the fact that I won't be able to use my cell phone to sanity text anyone for two weeks! Two whole weeks without poor american grammar and slang. AND two weeks without american tv! Biggest loser- I miss you already. Even though I already missed the second episode.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

seriously?

It really pisses me off when people say to me "Why don't you take a real vacation?" when I've just told them that my two vacations next year  so far are to SoCal for a half marathon and to Utah for a 188 mile relay. My response "How is that not a real vacation? I'm traveling to relax and do something I love with people I enjoy spending time with."   Response, "I know, but vacations are supposed to be somewhere tropical, on the beach with Corona in hand" 

Well, sorry if I'm not the lazy type that only enjoys working on my skin cancer with my muffin top hanging over my bikini bottoms making poor life decisions that I will surely soon regret and hoping no one got it on camera. Oh, wait. I don't have a muffin top. Because I actually work out.  Like, truly work out and don't eat crap 24 hours a day. Sure, I eat more junk than I probably should, but I'll point out that I probably do more sweating in two workouts than most people do all week. All month even.  

It's not like I haven't been to Hawaii and had my share of late nights and margaritas. Or down to SoCal to get some vitamin D and hang out at some bars. Even made some bad decisions along the way- which I KNOW there's video of.... yes, falling on my face while walking down the street.  :)  I just happen to be the one that gets up early the next morning to run and ENJOY the place that I've traveled to. And if I can do something I love, and still enjoy my vacation. All the better. I'm not one of those people that returns from a trip after living a 180 degree lifestyle to need a vacation to recover from my vacation.  I come back and fall into my routine, happy that I haven't gained a pound. Vacations are about experiences. And I've had some incredible ones.

So, I'm sick of being called 'skinny bitch' when I eat a donut, by someone who also just ate one. And then another a half hour later.  I'm sorry. If you want to be a 'skinny bitch' how bout limiting it to one donut, and maybe some crunches.  I'm 5'8" just under 140lbs, under 20% body fat.

  Yes, I eat cake.  Hate me.  I dare you.

Bri's First Oly!

So, it's come and gone and I've closed out the triathlon season with an Olympic distance- and a bike in need of repair. Joram, Jacque, Justin all came to cheer and of course my mom.  The swim couldn't have gone better- even though it was a double loop one mile.  I was really only hoping for 35 minutes but I came in around 29.  It was a smooth easy transition and off to the bike. The bike was going fairly well, except it wasn't a closed course and there were way too many vehicles for my taste. The turn around was a sharp uphill u-turn. Not cool.  On the way back I got stuck behind a couple trucks that slowed the pace- even so, I came in around 1:18. yeah!!!  The run did not go so well for me. I came out of transition flying on the run and looking back it was definitely too fast a pace for a 10k but then it felt slow. Painfully slow.  In the first couple miles my left hip and butt cheek started locking up on me. Then my left quad just above the knee, then my right quad just above the knee, then my right hamstring. Soooo... that didn't go too well. However, my goal was to finish under 3 hours and I did 2:49 and 5th in my age group. I was in second or third until well into the run when I started falling apart. I guess this is a distance I could learn to like if I could learn to run!

However, I'm definitely going to have to get my nutrition and hydration in check since about 20 minutes after finishing while gathering my stuff from transition I found myself on the pavement. I was freezing cold, then burning up and things started to go dark and blurry. Not so good. Luckily a random stranger had some hard candy, and then a coke in the car and I was doing much better.  Ugh. Of course, Joram has some pics of me laying on the ground trying to get my bearings back. Of course he does.

Labor Day Tri

How does Bri spend labor day? By laboring over a sprint triathlon of course!! Ok, so it's an easy sprint course and a late morning course. However, this is also the same course I did for my very first race. Ever.  And during that race I fell in love, even though I finished second to last of all women. Well, this past Monday, I came back and kicked that course's ass. For realz! :)   So, the race was an hour later than we all thought and when we were all wetsuited up at 9:45 only to find we had an hour to kill. Well, that sucked. Putting on that wetsuit is never an easy feat, plus I had all my nutrition and hydration already checked. Oops!  But, the race went awesome.

Somehow, I wound up being the first woman out on the bike even though I wasn't first out of the water. I got passed around mile 4 by a woman from Raise The Bar. I felt great coming off the bike and headed out on the run. Spectators were telling I was in second place and that first place was just ahead. And there she was! Within a half mile I caught up and took the lead- and kept it to the finish. Woohoo!!
My very first overall woman's win!!!! At the same race that five years ago  got me hooked. Needless to say I was totally stoked.

 

Run my ass off...

.... no thanks. I'd prefer to run my  thighs off!  I'm okay with my booty. But, holy thunder thighs. My tree trunk-like legs have got to go. I'd been contemplating a new weight routine- but after seeing some recent spandex clad pics and well, seeing myself everyday- thighs it is! So bulky!

However, they now match my massive arms from this picture:

Yeah.. weren't expecting that were you? The beefyness that is Bri, post lake swim. Go ahead, click on it and see it big. I dare you. I'm like the Incredible Hulk busting out of my wetsuit.  (Thank God you can see from the other pics that this is really just bad angles and lighting.... seriously. It is) And what am I thinking in this pic? Oh, I'm thinkgin about the stairs just ahead of me that we had  to run up on the way to  Transistion. Two sets of them. Okay, only three to seven stairs each, but still! CLUMSY!

????

Is this going to be a theme? "Lisa is right"  Of course she is. She's one of my oldest friends, and she's an uber smart cookie- not to mention awesome mom of three of the cutest kids EVER. Moms are always right. 
Aww, I miss Lisa!  Oh, those nerdy days of junior and senior high..... don't tempt me to pull out old pics Lis!

So, I totally forgot to give my stats from the race the other day!
1/2 mile swim-- 18:09 -seriously?? wth? did i backstroke it?
T1-- 1:18
16 mile hilly bike: 50:22
T2-- 00:45   - yeah yeah!
5k-- 28:14 -booooo!
Total: 1:38:45


And now for some more pics! From Ironman  :)

Happy Happy Joy Joy. Wasn't at all nervous for Ironman 2.0

Matching shirts. The back has "Bri's Bunch" and a bunch of bananas!

Just past the finish line. Mmm, salty.

mmmm. Cake.

The family the day after!

yay! pics!

Okay, Lisa is right. I can't be upset with my 2nd place finish. It wasn't an easy course- and if I was in my old age group, I would have taken second there as well.  Plus, I haven't really done any real sprint training. In the last two months post-Ironman I think I've gone running all of a dozen times. Mostly through the woods. Oops.  (Still petrified of the upcoming Olympic race though)

Okay, so there was a driver arrested on the bike course the other day.  I'm cruising along at about 20mph and I hear squealing tires and a revving engine behind me. "Great, I think. An a-hole driver" The guy comes zipping by me so close that I nearly got knocked over by his wind. FREAKED ME OUT. And the he brakes, and starts swerving all over the road ahead. I see another athlete in at the top of the hill in front of me an think "crap, this guy is going to get hit!" as the hill turns sharp left.  The car dodges and weaves and appears to be intentionally getting in the way of the cyclist. Then he floors it through the intersection and I see the Sheriff's patrol up ahead spin around, wave his hands and start shouting. Now, I'm not sure how he got the guy to stop... but when I got up to the top of the hill he had the driver's door open and was reaching in and a stream of expletives coming from the car (cop or driver, not sure). I come to  find out later that the guy was arrested right there and hauled off to jail. He had intentionally been trying to run cyclists off the road! Seriously? Nothing better to do at 8am on a back road outside Kent/Covington? If he had hit anyone, you can almost guarantee it would have killed them.  Shivers!


Anyway, some pics from Sunday:

Chatting with some girls before the race

i LOOOVE deep water starts!

Coming out of the water.... ew.

Let's go Casper!

Finishing a hilly course

Up the hill and out on the run

Yay! Finish line..... so close!

AND DONE!

So.. as you can see by these pics, I'm FAR from being in shape for kicking some butt in an Olympic in um, three weeks. EEK!

No, YOU'RE the Biggest Loser!

I'm incredibly excited about how I did at yesterday's race- to say the least. I hadn't previewed the course and really didn't know what I was getting myself into. To say I was being cautious and conservative would be an understatement.

First of all- I got to meet Daris from The Biggest Loser on Saturday! Sweet! He's super sweet- and yes Kristi- just as good looking in person!

In short, I took 2nd in my age group (out of 9, lol) and then 8th woman overall (out of only like 72). Soooo, it's not like I went full superstar, but I'm proud of it.  I definitely have some good things to share- like the  guy who got arrested!!