Ironman Head

 Ironman Head–  i came up with a new term lately that i like.   The term ironman head is given to someone who has done an ironman and all in the sudden thinks he  or she is better then the rest. You can spot these guys a million miles away.  They dont look at you when they ride by you on the bike and they only wear the ironman gear.  Most likely they dont put butter on their bake potatoes nor eat any fat.  They log every mile in the computer and have a graph of every workout from their heart rate monitor.  all they thyink about and read is triathlon related but most of these guys really finish in the back.   I feel like i can freely use this term sicne i was one myself.

   Now i suppose i have ultraman head….wonder if that is worse? Perhaps ultraman head is one that only eats butter and does not ride or run unless they can talk to someone.  They no longer log every mile or keep up with averages of bike rides.  the heart rate monitor is in the trash they would not be seen wearing shorts that say what they just did…ironman or whatever.   If that is an ultraman head then that is me.   Boy i sure wish i wore my finish shirt when i was limping around in airports sometimes..i look pretty bad walking and would like for people to think i was racing rather then on my honey moon.

Biking-   (Lost)-  so this Tuesday I made a real dork out of myself.   I showed up to ride with the big boys at Fort Worth cycles and fitness.   I was afraid of getting dropped but sort of new my way home.  i always hate riding with a group at first.  i dont know what to do and dont want to piss anyone off.  So we got started and it was kind of dark.  We crossed through a parking lot over to a road that i did not get the name of.  the rest of the roads i was taking notes on just in case i got seperated.   We rode out of town and then hit a nice hill that broke the pack up.  About 6 guys were off the front,  i was in the middle, and the rest of the pack was behind me.   I knew the pack would catch me so just made my workout a tempo workout and sort of worked the hills.   I tried to keep the guys in front of me in sight.  i think there was 3 guys in the front pack after a while and then some stragglers.  I got to a light and one of the guys was waiting for the second pack to come by.  I asked the guy if i needed to go left and I swear he said straight.   I went through the light and down a hill.  i kept looking pack in hopes of seeing the other guys but never saw them…nor could i see the guys ahead of me.   All i could think is….what an idiot they must think i am.    I had to keep going straight  on the one way.   I turned around and made my way back to the shop.  i knew where i was for the most part i was not raelly lost.   Theone road i made a mistake on was the first one.   I spit out on to a reallybusy road at 8 am traffic.   I did not know which way to go and was going to get run over if i spent much time on this road.   I called a buddy to see if he knew which way i needed to go.   After finding out when i crossed the road to go to the bike shop my phone fell out.     There i was in on a median in traffic watching cars speed by my phone.  i bet i was there 5 minutes at least.  My phone did not get run over and i made it back to the shop.  From what i could tell all the guys were back and gone again.   i am not sure what they must think of me but i will be back next week to try again.  Wasn’t the workout i had planned on.  I bet i made a lasting impression.

The Three Mouseketeers

Author

Me

I am not sure if i spelled mousketeers right but that is what we are.   Johnny, Author (semi- blind guy), and I all went to see a 3d movie last night.    This is what we looked like in our glasses….pretty stupid huh?   We had a nice time but the movie was long and let out after 10 pm and i was really pooped when i got home.

Biking-  this weekend was great training.   I rode with a group of guys on Saturday for 60 miles.   One of my buddies Eric Anderson came to ride with us as well.   He is crewing for me at Ultraman and hopes to be doing one someday himself.   The pace was good but more like interval work with all the spurts of speed.   I had to ride long so did not get all caught up in trying to prove myself.   At one point i asked Eric how many miles we had done and we were at 97.8.  I figured we should have done more then that at that time.  Sometimes i wonder how the heck i have ever done Ultraman.  I dont always check out my milage and most the times i wished i had not when I did.  It was still a good bike ride.  After it i did a run as well.   Getting ready to do a half ironman soon.   I hate halfs.

Running-  so yesterday was a really really long run.  i felt good last week but might have been feeling a little better this week.   Mike my buddy ran with me but even he did not want to run the last part with me…nor did he need to.   I had to make up the last 4 miles from on an out and back from my van.   this is always hard when you want to be done but have to go back out for more.  i was proud of myself sticking it out and it was not so bad.   Ireally dont have a problem putting the miles in and physically i do ok but the mental part is hard sometimes.  I think it is harder to go on when you have done the distance so many times before.   In the beginning of doing long ultra runs i was excited for the challenge….now it is just logging time under the feet.  I am not saying i want to do more on my long runs.  

massages-   so my reason for not blogging is because i ahve been busy.  i am a 7 day a week massage therapist.   After biking I came home and massaged..then i had some house guests come and cooked dinner for them.  They did hotter then hell and came to see me while passing through.   Saturday I also gave massages after my run.   I did speed digging and moved some plants around before.  20 minutes after my last client I went to the movies.   I actually think that massaging and staying on  my feet after long training days helps  keep me from getting tight muscles but it sure woudl be nice to take a nap and watch movies too.   My massage business is growing and I like it that way.   I wont always work the weekends but when someone asks you while on a bike ride to help them out I dont say no while building my business.   This Ashiatsu massage is really taking off.

School-    First day of class was today.  I was late to my night class and felt like an idiot when i found the class.  Intro to psych is what i am taking on Mondays and Wednesday nights.  This instuctor seems to be fair and nice but from what i hear my Anatomy II instructor is really not nice.  We will see tomorrow.

Bam Bams welcomes the Shama Monkey!!

Training-  well this has gone great the past two weeks since i got my head scewed on.   I had bike intervals and a long run yesterday that went pretty good.   Today was anotehr run with a swim that got interupted by an aerobics class that moved their time up.  As much as i hated to do it i did go back and redo the swim in a break i had today.  My attitude has changed in my training the past two weeks and i am happy to be back into it.   I was sort of trianing before but not really jumping out of bed like a spring chicken.

School-  hmm…have not mentioned this in a while but i am taking some classes in college.  just because i decided not to go to paramedic school does not mean i dont want to get a degree.   I thought i had registering down but could not get signed up for any classes cause of some kind of block.  Well math i do need a remedial class but  the others i knew i did not.   it took two weeks to get to a someone that would let me know why there was a block on me registering for certain classes.      They had to have gotten my transcript for me to even be going to school there in the first place but they lost it.  I had to send off for another one and then i got the block taken off.  One of those logistical errors that screwed me up. I did not ge to take the load intended and got bad teachers according to rate your professor .com .  If i have a teacher trying to fail me then i will drop the class. …not my intentions but i do want to maintain my 4.0.  Getting good classes is like playing the lottery or something.  i have been up at all hours looking up classes and hoping i can pick one up that is ideal for my schedule with a good teacher.   I wont be taking to many hours but the plan is to train for ultraman this semester and build my business up.  Next semester i can do a heavier load.  I just think this is meant to be the way it is.

So as you can see the new doggies are adjusting to their new home.   They go out front with me and stay with me most of the time.   I still give my other dogs the same amount of atttention as well.  My hands are full.  The new puppies are no longer poop monsters now that they are healthy again.  They are close to potty trained but decided to go take a dump on my expensive treadmill last night.  They both did as if they were having fun doing it.  i never let these guys out of sight often.

Happy

Happy-  that is the first word that came to my mind when thinking about a title for the blog.  i usually spit out whatever is on my mind and dont reread.   i bet when i get old and read these blogs i ahve a heart attack looking at the dumb things i say….or my bad grammer.   My massage business is really building up pretty darn good.  i am staying really busy and liking it.   The new ashiatsu massage and hydrualic table make all teh difference in the world.  I no longer hurt in my neck and back when i get done…this was the real reason that i was looking into another profession.   I never thought i would enjoy massaging at home so much.  i hardly leave the house now and love being at home.  i dont really get to sit down between my massages but i do get to see my dogs and water my flowers.   Also anything i do to improve the house is making it nicer for my clients.  i dont feel like the improvments are going into some landlords pocket.  i spend at least an hour cleaning up and making sure the house is squeky clean.   no leaving he bed unmaid or bathroom dirty but it is well worth it.   I had a maid when i lived with gramps so this cleaning like a maniac is new to me.  Actually when i lived in my old house and rented a room out (before gramps) i let my roomate clean.   She was not one i cared for so i would just let her get sick of it and do it.  i had a dog sitter and a maid paying me rent…..i am not sure it was worth living with her but oh well.  Anyway i am so happy being here at my new home and that was the word that came to mind after giving so many massages.  i think that is why I am keeping busy…..people might be picking up on my happy energy.  My 4 doggies are also making me smile.

track- this morning i ahd a track workout.  Mike was supposed to be here early to run.  Well not all that early but i got tired of waiting on him to get here so took off without him.  i can be such a turkey sometimes.   I was on a deadline and have missed to many swims.   I also had to be ready to get into the doctor at anytime….more on this later.   I got to the track and mike took a short cut and was pretty much there when i got there.   My workout was a bunch of 400’s (not saying how many but a bunch).  doc called and lied and said i would be there in 30 minutes…I finished my track workout but did scratch some of the cool down.   i felt like i was moving btu some of the high school kids were out running.  i guess they were doing a mile for time but they were kicking my butt the first 400.  i had some easy stuff in between but was really surprised it took me until almost the end of theri mile to catch them.  They looked like they were jogging easily.  i hope it was not the average P.E class…if so then i was having a bad day.  Mike was huffing and puffing.  i really think i was moving pretty good.  i liked the workout too and felt pretty fast.

The Doc-  what can i say.   it sucks being a girl endurance athlete.  Since RAAM my insides have paid …nto my muslces.   I ahd to get a precedure done today.  i was really nervous about it since i was told it would be painful and she would give me pain pills.  I wanted my mommy to come hold my hand.  It was a girlie procedure that will really help me out in teh long run.   Ber you want to know what it is but that is a secret.  Anyway i got 3 shots of lidocane injected into me and next thing i knew i was in La La land.  i was having a good old time and nothing really bothered me.   I was not doped up but my blood pressure had dropped…instead of making me dizzy i was having a blast.   I actually mentioned i wish wine would do the same thing and wished i was on my porch.  i got up and tried to put on my shorts…nearly falling down.  The doc is a running friend of mine and it was just like i was at a bar having a blast.  i was ok in about 15 minutes and ok to drive quickly but i was sure worried when the feeling first hit me.  i had a good time for going to the girly doc.  i suppose i could have made a bigger deal out of it and been a baby.  i think had the nurses laughing as well.   Even though i was ok I tried to walk out in the hospital gown.  you would of had to have been there but i can even make a doctors appointment fun.  Wish she could do that to me every time.

swimming-    i still had timet o get my swim in.   i was not sure how it would go but thought i would make a break to it before the numb stuff wore off.  i had a bunch of hot tamales candy that i bought on the way to houston.  i know bad stuff but that is what road trips to to me.   I got in the pool and did my made up workout since i did not have the coaches.  I was moving pretty good and covered the first 1000yds in 15 minutes.  My goal was to do 4000 yds and i did in just over an hour.   Hmmm wonder what else the doc gave me?

The rest the day went great with massages until 8 tonight. i am not feeling 100 percent but not drugged up on pain meds to feel better.   Lets just day I could be feeling better but will be sooner.

Shama Cycles

Shama Cycles-  so this weekend or shall i say sunday I went o Houston to visit Philip Shama.   I really researc hed this guy about getting a new bike.   I love my colnogo but there are way to many miles on it with RAAM, Le Tour 2x, the 508 and many other races.  I have never really had a bike that fit perfectly.  the colnogo is rigged up and almost dangerous. i ahve a really short torso and long legs.  My front fork has all the spacers that it can have on it and i am still not right.   I am getting a custom Guru bike.   Philip Shama is the guy building it.  I think Guro are great bikes and so it seemed like a perfect fit.  Philip also had this monkey with a bike shirt on it so i figured it was meant to be.  I have lots of pictures floating around in hammer broshures with a monkey hanging off the  bike if you have not seen it.   Anyway I ahve been to many bike shops working on getting a good fit.   I think who i get the bike from makes a huge different.  Sure getting abike is cool but not if it is not set up right.   I got my colnogo and calfee set up by a guy in Ohio.  i had so much faith the mechanic that built them and have loved my bikes. 

Philip is that guy now.   I saw many bikes that he built in Puerto Rico that were really cool.  They had so much detail and all of them were different as if each peice had been carefully thought of and placed on the bike.  I rode behind this girl named Stephanie Paige that road like a champ and looked so aero on her road bike.  i was on aero bars and still catching the wind behind her.   I have been talkiing about getting a bike from this guy for 2 years now and am finally doing it.  The frame that i might get is the top of the line but i had white in mind and it does not come in white.   hahaha…i can still be a girl.  i am picky about my colors and that is a way to sell me a bike.  i never wanted to be on a colnogo when my last mechanic mentioned it until i saw a cool paint job on one…..like the one i have now.

So your bike builder is much like your coach.   I have the greatest coach ever….Peter Kotland.  i have had him since 2003 and he has done so great with me.   I always have faith in what he tells me and that is what makes the workouts better.  the faith i have in this mechanic will go a long way.  if not then this bike would not do what i want it to do. i am so excited to know that it is going to be….he is still crunching numbers.   Anotehr way you can tell a good bike builder is that they take their time before they tell you what frame they recommend.  It is in between two really cool frames.   he had my measurements so now we will see how it goes.

New bike?

TRaining-  last week my training went better then ever.  i really had my head screwed on and got my butt out of bed.  I did not swim with the team but I like doing swims after my run and bike workouts for now.   It is to darn hot outside.

Biking-  this weekend was not a terribly long bike.   Only 4 hours but i am just now getting back into it.  i also did a run afterwards.  i rode with my buddy Author (the semi blind guy).  He cant see in shady areas, dark, right below or above, or on either side of him.  I love the way he gets out there on his bike and rides.   He has been riding good lately and was kicking my butt.   WE left on the trails and he has trouble seeing on them so I actaully got a warm-up.   We started to pick the pace up and caught up to another training partner of mine.  The mike guy that i run and mountain bike with.   I dont really like to road bike with him much cause we are the same pace….he likes to be in front so I dont get a good workout.  Well he was in a pack and then next thing i knew Author and I were in it.  I hung for a while but new i was going to be out of water if i did not turn around soon.   I that we had been out 2 hours and 20 minutes and knwe that it was time to turn around.  Mike and his gang wanted to do some loop but  was on a mission to get my run in and get to Macey’s (department store).  Ok so i still ahve to be girly…it was  a 60 percent off sale on my sheets i need for massage…the sale ended at 1pm.   Anyway Author and I got back into the driveway with 3 hours and 57 minutes of ride time.   I am glad we left the others cause two of them ended up bonking and they came in nearly an hour after Author and I.   Author started the run with me and I finished up.  A flash shower and then Author dropped me off at the mall.  I got my sheets and hiched a ride back home to give a massage.  Seems like all i do is rush around!

Running-  i had one of my best runs ever this weekend as well.   I actually laid around on Saturday after my massages instead of planting in the garden.   This might have done some good. I ran with Mike and David.  David did not run the whole run since it was a little long.  i was not sure if i could run  the distance i planned.   For some reason my legs felt good so i went with a good pace from the start and ended up even faster in the end.  The temperture was really hot but did not seem to bother me.   Mike had to walk and let me go.   I sort of like being the strong one today…he always kicks my butt on trails…..payback sucks!  I finished my run up but was nice enough to go and pick Mike up.   WE all ahve our bad days.

New Bike—-  After my long run I gave 3 massages and then jumped into my van to drive to Houston.  This was not a good idea for my muscles.   I went to visit a new friend named Philip Shama to get a new bike.   I will post more on this tomorrow but I am so excited about my new bike!!!

Time to play with my puppies

Yes I dress my new puppies up!!!!  I love my little babies!

My puppies!!!

So meet my new puppies finally. …the pooping machines.   I dress them up to and have pictures on my sony camara that are to big to upload.  i just figured out tonight why my crackberry would not upload….needed updating.   Now I can start posting up pics again!!!!   The dogs names are mindless stupid names but they like them.   The boys name is chew chew….the black doggie.  the girls name is sugar.  it was bam bams (my nickname as a kid) but she looks more like a sugar and is sweet like sugar. i had her in a dress today and my little boy in a cute green shirt.   They are slowely getting potty trained but it takes lots of time outside with them praising them.    i am having a great time with my little puppies….all of them including the ones i already have. Yes i have 4 doggies.

ultraman training-   this morning was a bike and a run.  i got up at 545 and road with a fast group and then grabbed some  miles afterwards.   the run after the bike was great as well.  I am really tired after giving 5 massages and would like to hit it even earlier in the morning so more after some sleep.  Ashiatu massages are really taking off right now.  I like being busy!

Track Workouts again!

Ultraman training

Track-   so it is time to get to the track. i have a great track right down the street from me.  i run a loop through th neighborhoods looking at all the yards and then hit the track once i am warmed up.   My friend Mike joined me for this workout.   I figured he was going to kick my asss but either he was just nice or i had a good workout.   I hate looking at my watch so early in the season …afraid of disappointment.   Mike likes to know so he looks at his watch.  

The first mile we did was pretty hard.  i stayed ahead of him and when i heard him breathing hard i would cracnk it up a bit…it seemed but the truth is that each 400 was consistant.  i did not run so hard as to feel like i was going to piss my pants but was comfortable.   He looked at his watch afterwards and i could not stand not knowing what we did.   It was a 644 pace.  this is not fast for runners but it is fast for me this early in the season.  i usually just have a 715 pace on the first mile of the season.   We did more and i am not going to say how many more but all of them were consistant and i felt good.  Usually keeping track of times does not pump me up but it did today.   i am back in training but still have a long ways to go.  Still it is nice to be getting back into it.

Swimming- so this morning i did not get up and go swimming with the team like i would have liked to.  I dont start my work days till 1 or so..why get up at the crack of dawn if you dont hve to?  i also like to get the running and biking done while it is hot and swim afterwards for a cool down.   I went to my gym and jumped into the cold water intending to do a long workout.   I was feeling rather good but could feel my nerve in my arm that sometimes gives me some trouble.   I just have to increase milage more easy with my nerve damage.   Before i got 3000 yds in a bonked.   i did not eat anything but a bowl of cereal before my run and all the glycogen was burned up.   I did not swim more and got out and had me a Wendy’s frosty and my recovorite.  i will work up to my miles and also put some food in my bag for next time.

Massages-  Ashiatsu!!–  so the past two days have been busy with massages.   I have been doing some of my ashiatsu work and loving it.  So have my clients.  This has got to be one of the best massage techniques i have ever learned.   i am really enjoying it and it is making the massage session fun for me.   I dont have my bars secured so I have slipped a couple of times but that will be fixed soon.  this technique is coming so natural for me and i can really feel tight spots under my feet.  it is still a workout but so nice to do something else.  i still do some old fashioned stuff with this ashiatsu so it is not all feet.  i love swinging around on my bars like a monkey.  i dont really ever put my full body weight on someone but will learn how to do that at the end of the year.   Right now i hvae all kinds of new tricks to do….my days are going by so quick.  i am also getting a real core workout. i dont think i am going to have trouble building a buesiness now,  it is already growing.

Puppies-  so i have been cleaning up poop non stop since i got the poop monstors.   They ahve the runs and kennel cough.  One of the puppies has infections on teh skin on both ears.   I love my puppies and am so glad i came to their rescue no matter how much trouble they are right now.  i am dressing them up as well.  it is past my bedtime but pictures will be posted and more updates later. i cant beleive i stay so busy but i love it.

Ashiatsu kicks butt!

running-  this morning i finally got my butt out of bed.   I wish i could say that i ran a really long run but it was only 5 miles.  At least i got out there and i did not get lost.  I just ran around in circles in the neighborhood but did not wonder to far away like i did in Germany.  In Germany when i got lost in my run I did not even now what town I was staying in nor did I look at Ulli’s house when I took off for my run….so I could not tell the person who picked me up where to take me.  Yes…i can be a ding dong…i like to think of myself as a free spirit.   The run was great but i have a long way to go before i will be ready for ultraman.

Ashiatsu-so this new massage technique kicks butt.    It really is one of the coolest massage techniques i have ever learned.   We do all kinds of slipping and sliding down the body with our body weight and feet.  The pressure is rather deep and that is the way I like to get my massages. 

Today we got to work on people outside of class.  The guy never saw my face when I came in the room till after the massage.   I made jokes.  i told him I was 350 lbs and asked him if he could handle it.   I can be a goof ball most the time.   I did not really get all that stressed out and really enjoyed giving the massage.  Yesterday I sort of snapped at one of my classmates for offering to much advice…she was stressing me out. It was either from PMS ( i read that a woman can have symtoms of this for almost 21 days) or lack of exercise.   Perhaps the run this morning fixed things.

One more day and I will be going home tomorrow night.   I am ready to see my new puppies and my older doggies too.

Ashiatsu Massage

Ashiatsu-    Since my last blog i have been to Lubbock and now I am in San Antonio for 4 days of massage training in Ashiatsu.  I am learning how to walk on people in my massages.  i am sure that most people think i am too big for this but i really never put my full weight on anyone.  The class is going great but i have been going hard for 2 days and stilll have two more left.  i am staying with my brother and have not gotten hardly any sleep.   My brother is deaf and very social so the house seems be crowded with people in it all the time. i never knew deaf people could be so noisy.

I have not trained very much in the past month and i am starting to feel like a fluffy slug.  I am afraid to run from the house thinking i might get lost like i did in Germany…..hahahaha…that is my excuse anyway.  Tonight i have been drawing with one of the little kids that is hanging out here at my br0thers.  I am picking up some of my sign language again and getting along pretty good.  My brother and I have not seen much of each other except holidays in the past 20 years.

Four Dogs-  yikes!  inow have 4 doggies.   I got two puppies when i came home last Monday from Lubbock.  Now that i have a new home and dont plan to travel much I decided to add to my family.   I have pictures but cant post them till I get home.   I think I have them named but I wil post that with the picture.   They are cute stupid names.    They are really cute baby puppies that are teacup poms.   My doggies are old and I dont know how i would handle loosing one of them so I am preparing myself.   So yes i am an animal lover.   I am obsessed with my little doggies and cant really help it. Now i will have two doggies on each side of me in my bed (after potty training).  What can i say….they make me smile all the time and no matter what my doggies always love me.  This is going to be my last weekend away from them for a while.

Ultraman-  Now i have to get my butt in gear for ultraman.   Am I ready now?  not really. i have been a slug this year compared to years in the past….i have been enjoying it too but I suppose it is time to get back on the bike and start preparing myself.  Sometimes i wonder how i can do this race every year.  i hvea thought about just taking a year off from this race but for some reason i cant do it.  i have fear that if i dont have this goal out there that i might just sit on the couch all the time.  Goals are good to have an Ultraman has kept me motivated every year.   When I get back home it will be time to start training.  The past few days i have not been motivated to even run a mile but that will change.   I really admire those that work full time jobs, have familys, and train for long racess allat the same time.   This class is kicking my butt and when I get out at 6-7pm  i cant get up to do the training.