25 Things About Me

I just posted this on Facebook and thought I'd put it here as well. On FB, you're supposed to tag 25 people, but I couldn't make that work for some reason! It would only let me tag 10 people. Anyway, if you want to do it, go ahead! It was fun to think about and other people's lists have been fun to read.

1. My life is nothing like I ever expected.
2. Almost as soon as I met my husband, I knew we’d get married.
3. It took us 8 years to finally say, “I do.”
4. I never expected to be a magazine editor, but looking back, the signs were always there. Now I can’t imagine being anything else. But I probably should!
5. I’ve worked at the same company for almost 13 years.
6. I used to think I couldn’t hold down a job for more than a year.
7. Some jobs I’ve had include bartender, baker, short-order cook, auction warehouse manager, sailboat cleaner, book editor.
8. Being a mom is the hardest job I’ve ever had.
9. Being a mom makes me feel capable of doing anything.
10. I learned to swim when I was three, but became pathologically afraid of the water after a neighbor/lifeguard drowned in a boating accident. I re-learned to swim two years ago and now compete in triathlons and open water swim races.
11. I love riding my bike and, despite multiple wrecks, I have no fear on two wheels.
12. My daughter swims like a fish and has already completed one triathlon. But she is afraid of anything with wheels.
13. I was born and raised in NY, but can’t imagine living anywhere but PA.
14. Except sometimes I imagine living in Italy.
15. In my head I am always planning a party, but I never actually have it because I’m afraid no one will come.
16. My car is always a mess; it drives me crazy. (Ha.)
17. I don’t like birds, but I think owls are pretty cool.
18. I wish I could have been a rock star.
19. I really want a pair of Frye boots.
20. I talk to my mom and dad almost every day.
21. My sister and I are extremely close and I feel so lucky to have her in my life.
22. I have a high tolerance for pain, except for the pain of wearing high heels.
23. I just bought my first grown-up couch.
24. When I was a kid, I had recurring dreams that I could fly. The closest feeling I’ve had to that as an adult is riding downhill on my bike.
25. I have items in shopping carts all over the Internet.

Glove Love

OK, that title sounds a little dirty.

What I'm trying to say is that I have a new pair of running gloves that I heart: the Saucony Ulti-Mitt. My old gloves would be dripping by the end of a run, leaving me shivering if I had to spend even a few extra minutes in the elements. Or they wouldn't be warm enough and my fingertips would freeze. Not anymore! Check out these babies:

The mitten covering is made from a wind-stop fabric that keeps fingertips warm, and the glove fabric is uber-wicking leaving your hands dry. Fingers get too hot? Simply peel back the mitten cover and your digits enjoy instant relief.

And there's more! The tips of the thumb and forefinger of each hand fold back so you can fiddle with your Garmin or dig a rock out of your shoe without fumbling.

But wait, even more! The right glove features a little blinking light so if you run at night, cars can see you.

I like these gloves mostly for their superior powers of warmth and wicking. But you gotta love a multi-tasking glove. Now I just have to make sure to not lose them.

Had a great bike ride with Christine on Saturday. An hour ten minutes with 20 minutes of steady state effort. It was cold and windy, but I hardly noticed in the company of a good friend. It was even colder today for my 50-minute run with Erica on a peaceful, snow-covered path, but again, a workout buddy always takes the chill off. And afterwards we headed to the pool for my second swim in a week's time. I was pretty tired by then, but Erica had some good feedback about my stroke that I really can use. Now I have something specific to focus on in the pool. Good incentive to get there more often.

And dinner tonight topped off what turned out to be a satisfying training week: Pappardelle pasta with a red wine mushroom sauce, peas, and chicken garlic sausage. Raspberry Runner has inspired me with her delicious-looking food pix, so I snapped this before I dug in. A little out of focus, but seriously yummy.

Snow Run and Your Thoughts

Hey look, I posted again only two days after my last one!

I'm crediting your comments on my last entry. Seriously, many, many thanks to all of you who left such thoughtful comments. (If you didn't have a chance, I'd still love to hear what you think. See last post.)

It's fascinating to know what different people take away from this blog. Certain themes emerge: personal victories, self-doubt, insights. I am honored to know some of you glean inspiration here. I hope you all know that whether you simply post your swim sets, a photo, or a 2,000-word race report, I get a ton of inspiration from your blogs. It's often an entry from one of you that motivates me to get to the gym or the pool or on my bike.

One thing really surprised me: the idea that I somehow balance training with the rest of my crazy life. I certainly don't feel like I do! But I try and that's what counts I suppose. Whatever I accomplish is better than if I didn't try at all. On the outside I may look like I'm getting it done; what's going on inside is a whole different matter. I NEVER feel like I have it together; honestly, every day I feel like I'm a breath away from coming unhinged. In the end I don't, and I guess that counts, too. We all do the best we can.

So, on to training... today was a 1:20-minute run. I've come to really look forward to these longer runs on Sundays (or holiday Mondays). I feel warmed up after about 30 minutes and then my legs turn over as if on autopilot. I've learned that little twinges of discomfort are not worth freaking out about, that they dissipate soon enough. Every breathe releases a little nugget of stress and by the end I feel completely cleansed of whatever nagging anxiety I might still be carrying from the week.

Today I headed out at around 3:15. A bit late for my taste at this time of year, but mom duties called all day and this was the only time I had. It had been flurrying all day, but about 20 minutes into my run it really started coming down. The roads were instantly blanketed. I'd put on sunglasses to keep the snow out of my eyes and, between the white carpet ahead of me, the flakes swirling in the air, and the fog on my glasses, I felt like I was running through a cloud. Each footfall on the fresh snow was like landing on velvet. At one point I heard a "thht, thht, thht" behind me and figured it was another runner. I looked around and realized it was my snow-covered hair thunking on my shoulders. Heh.

Here's what I looked like when I got home. My hair was completely frozen.

Will I Ever Post Again?

I guess the answer is yes, since that's what I'm doing right now. It's kind of like what I've recently been thinking about the pool. Will I ever swim again? Once I stopped going back in November, it became harder and harder to imagine getting back there.

So why haven't I been posting more regularly and frequently? When I look back to when I started this blog, I was so enthusiastic. I posted 17 times in the month of April! These days I'm lucky if I post once a week. I've never been a "thought a day" blogger ("Today I swam 2400 yards and did speed drills on the bike!" "Today I cleaned out my gym bag!"). Instead I always feel like I need to share some kind of insight, what I've learned about myself through my experiences. I never really set out to do that; it's just how it evolved I guess.

But lately I don't have much insight to share. Life is busy. I need to not be so tied to my computer screen. My brain cells are occupied with the actual business of living life, not reflecting on it. So I ask you guys, what would you like to read about on this blog? What have you liked in the past? Why do you visit here? I'm hoping your answers will give me some focus and help me feel inspired to write.

Anyway, getting back to the pool. I finally went on Friday morning after sending in my entry for the Chesapeake 1-Mile Bay Challenge. I always forget how nice it is to swim. It was the coldest morning of the year, totally not the kind of weather that makes me want to put on a swimsuit and get in the water. But after a number of patient comments from the coaches (the subtext of which was basically "why the hell aren't you swimming?"), I was determined to get in this week. Signing up for an open-water race helped. As did the unbelievable images from the Hudson River on Thursday, reminding me of my respect for the water and how grateful I am that I can swim.


So I swam 1200 easy yards and it was over quickly and I was at work even earlier than usual. The whole thing was easier than I remembered and swimming in the warm water was the perfect way to start the coldest day of the year.

Cooking Up 2009

I have come a very long way this year. One clueless moment from earlier in the season:

I'm waiting at the Vegas airport baggage carousel before my first triathlon of the season: Iron Girl Las Vegas. All my luggage has appeared, except for the bike box. I wait. And wait. Then I notice a chick with a bike box on the other side of the baggage claim. I walk over and ask if her box came off the belt or did she get it from the luggage office. She smiles and chirps in an Aussie accent, "It came off the belt." I notice she is tinier than my thigh and, sheesh, really lean and muscular. Instant intimidation. I want to go home.

Cut to the Iron Girl finish line. Airport girl breaks the tape. Oh. She's Mirinda Carfrae, 70.3 World Champion. Heh.

Being able to identify triathlon superstars in the airport is not really what's important. But this kinda symbolizes how clueless I was when I started this year. Despite having done a couple of races, I knew nothing about triathlon. I had no idea how to get through a race, much less a season. I also took myself way too seriously. What is the point of being intimidated, I now wonder. I can't tell you what a joy it is to line up for a race and not feel like I'm going to collapse just from the nerves. You're supposed to collapse after the effort, not before it!

So, for my 2008 recap:

Actually, I'm going to skip it in favor of sending a huge shout-out to my coaches, Craig and Erica at Endurance Multisport who helped me learn how to have fun and to listen to my body, and whose encouragement and wisdom helped me realize that my body is capable of more than I expected despite its many limits.

As for 2009, nothing has changed since my last post about a new focus. 2009 is going to be the year of running. I'll probably do one or two triathlons, but will direct most of my focus on a half marathon in the spring and a fall marathon. I'll do a few open water swim races too. (And after much thought, I will not change the format of the blog. For now.)

I've been off from work these past two weeks and between sporadic workouts and lots of family get-togethers, I've been able to see a few things about my life that tend get lost in the everyday insanity. In no particular order:

1) My daughter needs more than she gets from me. 2009 plan: Spend less time in front of computer/at work/away from her.

Willa and I spent a few days last week in Washington DC. After checking out Sasha and Malia's new home, here we are waiting for the Metro.

2) Running is the most satisfying (to me) of the three sports. 2009 plan: See above.

At the Christmas City 5 Miler last month. I don't know why I look so happy: I'm running up a hill at mile 4.5.

3) Core is key. Why, why, why did I never want to work my midsection before? It's the key to full-body fitness and avoiding injury. Plus I have the beginnings of actual abs now. 2009 plan: Keep doing it!

4) I love to make food for friends and family. 2009 plan: Cook more.