My Mom

My mom flew in on Monday to stay and visit for two weeks!! Yipee!

Yesterday we set out on our bikes towards Home Depot to get a shovel. Four hours, three stops later we had a shovel, saw some sights, and made it back home. We are sunburn, but happy as ever and ready to plant the Hosta's my mom brought from MN. It was a picture perfect day outside and today is suppose to be the same.

Today's agenda - long run this morning, then BBQ with Geoff's family in the evening.

Triathlon Whim

Kinetic Quarter Triathlon
Swim - 1/6 of a mile, Bike - 30 miles, Run - 6.5 miles
http://www.set-upinc.com/rp5/KineticQuarter/kinquarter.shtml

Just as the 1/2 marathon whim started, so did the triathlon whim. I haven't done any serious training since my Ironman days due to my IT band injury. But the idea of racing this weekend sounded appealing. I was excited about seeing where I was without much training.. I knew my swimming would be really bad as I've swam only once this year (that was on Wednesday). My biking was doing good, and my running way behind.

Before I knew it, the plan was for Kelly (Wozzy from Triathlete.com site) to fly in on Friday and the three of us (Geoff, Kelly & I) to head down and register for the Kinetic Half Triathlon, the day before the race. Kelly was suppose to do the collegiate nationals tri in Reno, but knew the swim was going to be cancelled so opted to fly out and race with us. Good decision Kelly! Here we are sitting on the couch.

Things I learned at the race:

• There's a reason for training.
• I angle left when swimming, which is definitely away from the buoys.
• If you struggle to take off your wetsuit in the water, volunteers will help you out whether you want it or not.
• Spending the extra time to put on a long sleeve jersey can be difficult in the pouring rain but was a life saver on the bike.
• Thirty miles feels really long when biking hard, in the the rain, without enough training.
• Never try a flying dismount in the rain on a down hill. It could hurt. Hope your bruises and shoulder are feeling better Kelly.
• Staying within myself seemed like a great idea during the race as I was there for fun, but sucks after when you missed getting an award by one.

Well I did it! Here we are after the race. I completed my first triathlon in over 2 1/2 years. Can you believe it's been that long since the start of my IT band injury. Last two years I did a few relays and races (knowing I would drop out), but never finished all three events. I'll get the results tomorrow, but I thinkI finished 4th in my age group. Kelly took 2nd overall for women and Geoff 25th. They did awsome! As for me, this was my first time racing and not getting a award but who cares. I'm excited to be back and running full steam again and ready to train. Thanks for getting me out there and excited about training again!

Geoff's race report:
http://www.triathlete.com/msg.php?id=28736

Laura

Earth Day Training

Yesterday was my biggest training day to date. Well at least post IT band injury. Can you believe that took me 2 years to get over? I am still feeling it tighten, so I work on it just about every day to keep it from getting bad.

Since it was Earth Day I decided to bike to work with Geoff. That is to his work since I work from the house. Here a pic of Geoff before we took off. It was a great ride. But the pollen was crazy high and my allergies were horrible! Arrgh. All in all it ended up being a two hour ride there and back.

Then over lunch the dogs and I went on a half hour walk. It was a warm day (85 degrees!), so they were huffing big time. Then to cap the day off I went on a hour run on the trails at Wakefield Park in the evening. So 3 1/2 hours total! Nothing compared to the Ironman training I have done, but quite a day for me now :)

Laura

Herndon Votes Yes

One thing that is very different here, from Minnesota is day labors. There are workers, most of them immigrants, standing around in parking lots waiting to be picked up to work. When I first saw this I was amazed by all the people. People just waiting.

It turns out my town, Herndon has just as big, if not bigger issue. (I should explain, I live in Herndon, VA but they call my area Oak Hill, VA because I'm not in old town Herndon.) Apparently more then 150 people are gathering in old town Herndon area looking for work. Herndon has officially voted 5-2 to build a tax dollar funded gathering spot for day labors. It's quite a large controversy. Should we use taxpayers dollars to build a place for mostly immigrants so our streets and parking lots are nuisance free?Here's what the council members said in response to their decision from a Washington Post article:

"But council members said they were helpless in the face of what they called a federal failure to police U.S. borders. They said it was their responsibility to bring order to a neighborhood nuisance that had become the town's most divisive issue in recent history."

One more thought while I'm at it. I've ran over to old town Herndon area when I first moved here, and it is crazy. People everywhere loitering around. Right before I got to town, about a mile away from my place, I had to cross under a bridge of a freeway. As I approached I noticed there were signs saying no foot traffic. No one was allowed to walk under the bridge. Why I wondered?? It made absolutely no sense. So here's the question, is the rule there just to keep the loiters out from my side of town? Or is there really a traffic hazard to have walkers? I'm planning on calling and protesting the decision regardless of the reason. I want to be able to run with the dogs to the dog park.

Just some food for thought that's close to home,
Laura

Happy Easter

Easter is my favorite holiday. Not just because bunnies are my favorite animal, but because of what the holiday symbolizes. Jesus' redeeming character is show in full at Easter. He payed a sum, his life for our sins, so we could be set free. What an amazing thing. And a great reminder of this when we went to church on Saturday night.


On Saturday morning I gave Geoff his Easter surprise. I made him a bunny cake! He had been requesting one a month ago for Easter, but then forgot about it. I completely surprised him!! Luckily Geoff's mother, sister and her fiance Josh came over to celebrate Easter and help us eat it! We got out for some good exercise during the day to work it off. In the morning Geoff, Sybil, Josh and I went for a fun bike ride and in the afternoon we all headed out for a walk. All in and it was a great weekend, especially for one where I was sad to celebrate away from my family.

Good Friday

Tada. My new haircut. I know a bit of an over reaction. It doesn't look much different then before :) Also looks like the place across the street is sold. I've got newer neighbors then me! Today is B-U-S-Y. Somehow my empty day has filled up, but with lots of enjoyable things.

• I'm over 30 hrs this week with work hours, but need to finish some things up today.
• Vet visit for the two dogs at 11 am.
• Get ready for company and Easter egg hunt we're having on Sunday. :)
• Finish taxes. Yikes!
• Going for a run.
• Estimate at 3 pm for putting in a fence and deck.
• Easter production at church tonight.
• Finish the surprise I am working on for Geoff. Somehow I don't think it will be a surprise by this afternoon because he's going to come work from home.

For Sale

You have missed the townhouse unit directly next door as it has now been sold, but a unit across the street is now for sale! It's not an end townhouse but still looks quite nice. One and all friends or family I beg you come live next door to me! "Won't you be my neighbor?" (Can anyone tell me where that quote came from? If you sing the quote, it helps. )

p.s. My haircut is dangerously adultish.

The Haircut

This may be more then you want to know about me, but a haircut can be a traumatic thing. I tend to wait months before going. While at the stylist you see them chopping and chopping, strands flying every which way. Then they start styling and it is so wrong from the way you normally do your hair. It makes you just want to shout 'Stop! Please stop messing with my hair. 20 more minutes is not going to make it look any better'. Finally once they stop, the stylist turns to you and says 'what do you think'? It's at this point you need to make a strategic decision, do you take your losses and attempt to leave ASAP or try and getting it looking more like what you envision. I normally take my loses and duck out hoping I can repair some of the damage myself.

I finally went in and got a haircut yesterday...

So here's a before hand picture. Yes, it is a bad picture, but who needs to style their hair or wear make-up when then work from home? The only event out was walking to the salon then my second group ride that evening, which means the hair is under a helmet anyways.

You say let's see the new haircut. That's it in the picture on top, but looks like you can't see the hair. Well, It might be a few days, um maybe weeks. I'm not going to go through the details but I look like Ellen Degeneres. Actually more like a guys bowl cut but on a girl, with a flip on the end. This time I even opted to try and get her to fix it but to no avail. At least I can say I know I may start to like it after a few days pass, as I always do. They never are really too bad. :)

It's Thursday of this week and I am officially feeling the affects of no visitors. The dogs are entertaining me somewhat, but it is just not quite the same as human interaction. They love to lay around in the sun and bake or bark at things outside. Yep, just me and the dogs all day long....

But it's all good. It is encouraging me to venture out more on my own and get involved in different groups. Here's what I got so far besides my job:

• The RATS or CATS. The two triathlon clubs in the area.
• Reston Runners.
• Reston Masters Swim group.
• Reston Bible Church - Joining the church and a small group.
• Taking a 4 week financial course in May.
• Looking for a place to volunteer some of my time...
• And signed up for pre-marital counseling. :)
• Wedding planning!

Cupey at Yosemite falls feeling free and refreshed.

 

Allergies, Allergies Go Away

I've been having this nagging cough, actually more like a hack for a week know and it's getting old. I thought maybe I had picked up a cold somewhere but nope, it seems to be allergies. Now for someone that hasn't ever had allergies before, it's annoying! Here's a few thoughts:

• Virginia has a huge pollen count. I have no data to support this claim, except my allergies are showing for the first time and I can't sleep (= 1:30am blog post).
• The people in Minnesota are way cooler then here. The folks out here are stuck on themselves. Enough said.
• Hail hurts. I did my first brick (bike then run) today and got caught in a hail/rain down pour for I'd say 20min. All I can say is, ouch. (How can you have hail when it's 74 degrees out is beyond me... Andy any thoughts?)
• Geoff is the most amazing gentleman. He's worth all this trouble and so much more.

Shout out

Props go out to my friend's Susan and Dan!! Sounds like they had a great 25k racethe other day. Susan finished in 2:12 and Dan is 1:33. Keep up the great training. Wish I could be back in the Twin Cities with you guys. I miss the fun training times. Here is a picture of Susan & Geoff at IMOO 2005 above and then Dan in the red shirt during the 25k run (thanks Dan!). I don't seem to have any pics of you guys except exercising related? Imagine that! Feel free to send me some and I'll post. :)

First Group Ride

Saturday morning was my first group ride. Me and 10 guys pulled out of Starbucks and headed off to the W&OD trail. Not knowing the pace these boys would want to do I hung to the back and took in the great day. 70 degrees and sunny again! Man, I could get use to this weather.

Luckily for me the pace was fine and I had no problem hanging (especially with the draft). But as in any ride there's a a time to let loose for a bit and test each other. So at one point we're flying at a good 23mph on a gradual climb. I hung on but was out of breath by the end. Whew. Glad that was over.

2 hours and 45 minutes later it's time for Geoff and I to bike back to the house, clean up, and hang out with our visitors. That was a good ride. I can see how doing that once a week would really improve my fitness. Thanks Geoff and boys for letting me tag along :)

p.s. I've been corrected. We were flying at 28 mph, not 23 mph. I knew it was fast!

Cherry Blossom Festivities

It's Cherry Blossom Festival time in D.C!! www.nationalcherryblossom.com

"The National Cherry Blossom Festival is Washington, DC's signature springtime event and annually celebrates the gift of the cherry blossom trees and their symbol of enduring friendship between the citizens of Japan and the United States."

We have had such great weather here in the last few days. It's been 70 degrees and sunny! So Gail and I took this opportunity to walked around D.C. on Thursday. We skipped most of the musuems to stay outside in the beautiful day and check out the monuments instead. Here is us taking a picture of the 'Freedom is not Free' etching at the Korean War Monument.


Saturday night was the firework time :) Gail, Roger, Geoff and I headed off to dinner in Old Town Alexandria and then caught the Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks from the Gravely Point overlooking the Potomac River.