Slacker

Oh man it's been busy around here. Work is crazy busy with our yearly budget combined with usual duties and a part-time worker that is working double time to get it all done. Marty and I have done 2 swim clinics over the past 3 weeks, and the whole family went out to cheer athletes on at The Triangle Triathlon, where Logan had a perfectly timed blowout.

This weekend is the 3rd Annual Big Deuce and Little Uno open water swims (2mile and 1mile for the confused).  I'm pumped about the t-shirts this year. Last year a swimmer said to me, "Aw, come on! The Big Deuce? These shirts need to be brown!" Done. See, we take feedback seriously.

We also start our summer vacation this weekend in the Outerbanks. Or OBX as it is known in the Carolina's. This will be Logan's first time at the beach.

Speaking of the little man. He is almost crawling (and has the bruised knees to prove it). For a couple of weeks he has used his arms and can go in a circle or backwards, but he hadn't quite gotten the legs together. Over the past few days he's gotten into the crawl position and started rocking back and forth, which (I'm told) means he's very close.  I have mixed feelings about this as it's exciting for him to reach milestones, but I'm not looking forward to chasing him around. And our house is totally not baby proofed yet.

My sister was in town the other week and we all went to the Lonerider brewery. This kid is so freaking photogenic.

After a couple of beers for us and a giant bottle of milk for Logan, he looked like this:

Nothing was waking him up. We took a short video where Marty promised to show it to his college girlfriend and at his wedding. 

And I have to clear something up, dear friends. I like both UNC and NC State. It's just my sister is a HUGE UNC fan/alum and she is doing everything possible to make sure Logan is outfitted in all UNC gear. So. If any NC State fans want to give him some red and black, feel free :)  I am now going to duck and cover while Shana gets ready to ream me out. One thing we both agree - UF gear will NEVER be worn in our house!

7 month photo shoot

We've been taking pictures of Logan with Ramses (UNC mascot) each month to track his growth. Yesterday was his 7 month birthday and he was pretty excited to get his picture taken. When he gets excited, he flaps his arms around like a maniac while smiling/laughing.

This one was the clear winner!

Training

This was a solid week of training for me. Probably my best week so far as far as consistency goes, and since I'm in the mood to blah blah about myself, I'll tell you how I did it with baby/job/coaching. I work during the week Monday/Tuesday/Thursday and am at home on Wednesday/Friday.

Monday: day off (I raced yesterday)
Tuesday: Track workout with the Fast Coaching kids. They whip my butt and I'm in the back, but I'm slowly making up some ground. Marty came to the track with Logan in the BOB and they ran some laps while I did the workout.
Wednesday: Morning swim with the OSB crew at the Triangle Aquatics Center (50min - Marty puts Logan in the Baby Bjorn while I swim). I was also able to sneak away for a 1.5hr bike ride with Kari (ex-blogger) and Heather (mom of 3 extraordinaire)
Thursday: 6:30am interval run at Umstead with OSB. I go straight into work afterwards since it's on the way and we have a locker room where I can get ready. Swam at Jordan Lake with OSB that evening, probably 1.5miles (babysitter for the evening).
Friday: 45min trainer ride with 8x1min hard/1min easy
Saturday: 52min trail run near our house (Marty went for his run right after me). Marty then shooed me out the door to get in another swim for the week. I balked but ended up going (only swam 1500) but felt really good.
Sunday: Marty led the OSB brick this morning and I rode the trainer once he got home for an hour. Logan napped during this time, but Marty was 'on-call'

Total hours: ~8

I could certainly tolerate more, but at this point I don't want to. I could get up earlier and take Logan to the pool with me for Masters, but I hate having to wake him up if he's sleeping in the morning. So I get my swims in when I can. Marty offered to have me do the brick workout this morning, but he also could use a ride and I wasn't so enthusiastic about it. We are good about alternating and making sure we both get in some workouts. We also get a babysitter a lot. Now that he's 6 months, he can start going to one of those drop-off daycares, but we haven't done that yet.

8 hours is nothing to a lot of even semi-serious triathletes. When I was training hard, I was more around the 10-12hr range and only got up into the 15hr weeks a couple of times - so overall I've always been a very low mileage athlete.  I'm able to hold my own out on the race course because I've been doing it for so long and therefore have years of training behind me. If I count all the way back to when I did my first triathlon (1988), I've been racing/training (just triathlon) for 18 years!! I didn't do triathlons during high school or college (just ran and played basketball) - but even if you don't count my early years, I've been racing in triathlons for the past 12 years.

I have a couple of sprints left on the tentative race calendar, and the last aquathon this Wednesday morning. I also signed up for the Kiawah Half Marathon in early December, so once I'm done with triathlons (my last race will be late September), I'm going to pretty much just run. I'd like to try and get back into decent shape for that race. I've only 'raced' a half marathon once (Disney 2010) and doubt I can get close to that time based on where I am right now, but I'd like to get around 1:30 if possible.

Olympic Trials

We've been watching a lot of the Olympic Trials that have been on tv recently and it got me thinking about how glamorous it all seems. Chasing the Olympic dream, putting it all on the line, your life on hold and BOOM - I'm an Olympian! It's awesome.

Or not.

While I was bored at work taking a break from endless excel spreadsheets, I came across several articles that give you a glimpse into the real life of an Olympic hopeful or athlete - and it's not all that pretty. They fail to go into much of this when you're watching Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte swim against each other for billionth time.

How about these guys? This couple was trying to make the Olympics, him in the steeplechase and her in the marathon or 10,000 (neither made it unfortunately) and they were on freaking food stamps! This quote was also interesting:

"A recent foundation survey found that 80 percent of pro track and field athletes ranked in the U.S. top 10 in their event make less than $50,000 per year in sport-related income, and half make less than $15,000. Cull out marquee events like the 100 meters and the marathon, and the numbers grow even grimmer."

A book recently came out from an Olympian detailing some of the struggles she had. Dominique Moceanu, a former gymnast speaks about alleged 'abuse' from her coach. I haven't read the book but this article talks about eating issues and crazy workout schedules.  I guess what most shocked me later was that I wasn't shocked. You sort of hear about this stuff all the time, particularly in certain sports like gymnastics.

And prolific swimmer (and model) Amanda Beard recently spoke out about her struggles with bulimia and depression - and she was an Olympian! It makes me wonder about all those who got close and but never made it - how many of them dealt with the pressure in similar ways.

Anyways, I just found it interesting how glitzy the tv makes it all feel, so you and me on the couch thinks it's the most awesome thing ever to train for an Olympic spot. They don't tell you the real deal of people barely scraping by and not making it, or making it and being too f'd up to even enjoy it. 

I do feel for those who barely make any money, but on the other hand sometimes I see these athletes and think, oh just get a job. The irony of me being mired in work spreadsheets while simultaneously feeling sympathy and jealousy is not lost on me.

But don't get me wrong, I love watching the events, the stories, and reading about it. That's why our DVR is filled with prelims and finals of every sport that was on tv. 

Go USA.

Funtime

My sister flew into town on Thursday afternoon, just in time for NC to have our hottest weather of the year. Holy hotness, Batman! Summer is here!

I tagged along with her to Chapel Hill (her happy place) on Friday. We did some shopping and eating (I had a cupcake called "Frat Boy" - it was yummy).  Then that night our babysitter, Lovely Rita, came over so the 3 of us could enjoy a nice dinner in downtown before we went to the Big Boss Brewery and drank some delicious beer.

Saturday was pretty low key. I had decided earlier in the week to sign up for a local sprint race on Sunday so except for driving to pick up my packet, most of the day was spent hanging out with Logan in the living room.

That night we met some friends out at a local pizza place, and Logan was reunited with his betrothed, Elle.  He was very happy to see her and promptly took her rattle and stuck it in his mouth, then tried to pull her shirt down. We apparently need have a talk with him and cover topics such as 'coming on too strong' and 'father's don't like it when you're handsy with their daughters.' 



Don't worry, though, Elle held her own.



Logan can now sit in a high chair and is very entertained trying to pick up and eat cheerios. Out of about 20 cheerios, one may actually get close to his mouth, and of those, another 1 out of 10 might actually make it in his mouth. It was a complete minefield of cheerios under his high chair at the restaurant.  The next night he had cut down those percentages considerably.  There's no place to go but up with physical skills when you're his age.



The next morning was the race: Smile Train Sprint Triathlon. It was a shorty - 250 meter swim, 12.5 mile bike, 5K run. I was happy for a short swim and was also happy no one passed me in the pool. I even managed to pass one person! The bike was pretty nice after you got through the first mile of neighborhood speed bumps. It was rolling but nothing horrible. I felt better on the return trip then I did going out. And the run was hilly and hot.  The only shade out there was from the finish banner, I think. They also made it a legit 5K as opposed to other years apparently, when it was a bit short. I wouldn't have minded it being a bit short this year! It was nice to win - it's funny, I think I've won more races this year than I have in any previous year here in NC!

It was a fun event. I didn't stick around for awards since it was so hot and I had heard that it takes quite awhile. Plus, I wanted to get home to hang out with Shana and Logan. It was great having them and Marty out there cheering for me.

go mommy





Ain't nothing prettier than posing with a swim cap







Smiling at Logan (my sis is holding him in the pink shirt)







I'm up next







Pretending to swim







Heading out on the run







Finishing up



Catching up

It's been awhile. I have excuses. I've been busy. And sort of lazy with this thing. I'm not confident that my posts are getting read by that many people anymore which causes my initiative to write go way down. But, I do enjoy looking back now and then so even if it's just me and my mom here (hi mom!) I figured I can still document what's been going on.

So what's been going on? :)

• Boone Camp III came and went. I was part of the 'Daisy Picker' group which meant we spent more time stopped with our bikes then actually on our bikes. Boone made me realize that even though I am working out and have even raced pretty good so far, I am really out of shape. I know that doesn't make sense, but seriously, I have apparently lost so much overall strength and core that after 2 days of riding in the mountains I could barely move. It felt like I had done 5,000 situps. Even my forearms hurt! In typical Boone fashion, we still had a ton of fun and a lot alcohol was consumed. I also may decline any group games from here on out as my child prodigy status led to hyper-competiveness and big frownie faces on Bri. Marty knows why 'Bri Wins' is not just a game but a way of life ;)

  

  

  Debating on how long the dirt road extends on our ride

  

  

  

  Brekky on the deck. Tassie had the best week ever with 20+ people constantly petting her

     

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  Pretending to be freezing after a mountain lake swim

  
  

  

  Daisy Pickers

  
  

  

  We had a rotating contingent, but here's most of the crew on Saturday night

  
  

  

  Game night

  
  

  

  Some campers braved the cold mountain water for some open water swimming. There may have been a few wimps who even wore a wetsuit.

  
  

  

  Marty on the Viaduct

  
  

  

  At Moses Cone Park

  
  

  

  I love my dog, but seriously, what is it with wanting to roll in poop?!

  

  Kory found this comic and sadly, this sums up some of Tassie's adventures during the week.

  
  

  

  The 'Prop' picture

  
  
  
  
• Marty's mom was up here this past week and I took total advantage of the poor women and did something every night with friends. Then I slept in almost every morning.
• We had the 2nd Old School Aquathon at Vista Point. It was a crazy format, but so, so fun. 300 yard swim/1mile run X 3.  Kari, Cari and I all did it together which made it even more fun.

We are serious Aquathletes? Aquathoners?

• This past Sunday we had our 2nd race in the Triangle Open Water Swim Series at Jordan Lake. It was wetsuit legal but I didn't bring mine which I was none to happy about. My swim is abysmal right now. But I figured out that if you don't push too hard it doesn't hurt ;) Lucky for me, they didn't get me coming across the finish line so I didn't show up in the results. I'm glad that time won't be forever inked on the internet.
• I saw 2 movies this past week: Snow White and the Huntsman (entertaining) and Men In Black III (entertaining). Unfortunately, I saw MIB in 3D which was such a freaking rip off.
• Logan had his 6 month appointment. He weighs 17lbs 7oz (49th percentile); he's 2'3" (62nd percentile) and his head is the 92nd percentile. He's also cutting his first tooth.

6 months old and so fun!

Sleeping angel, surrounded by whatever so he doesn't roll off the couch

Happy Father's Day!

He couldn't be bothered to stay awake for Father's Day dinner

Picture Page

Family portrait from Doughman -- what do you think? Christmas Card?

Me and my girls at my birthday party

Rogue's Bacon Maple Ale - it was interesting...

Thumbs up to a fun weekend

Logan likes to swing

There is a quiet war going on between our friends on which NFL team Logan will be cheering for: The Giants or the Steelers. Here he is with a gift from Aunt Kari - a Terrible Towel.