Milton Crap- o- Rama Duelathon

Ok OK OK I know I am suppose to be all positive and say I was just going out there for fun, just to see where my fitness is at, who cares about the results blah blah blah but really I didn't think I would do that BAD.

This morning I left my house at 6:18am to get to the Kelso Conservation Area before the roads closed at 8:30 for my race which was to start at 10am. Great drive down, wasn't nervous, ate breakfast while driving, not sleepy at all. Got a little nervous when all saw all the talent...basically all the cool bikes- mainly Cervelos. Little nervous when all saw the many Duelathlon racks. Not at all nervous at the start line.. Just didn't think there was a tremendous amount of competition... WRONG. Had a decent first run- wanted around 4:30km and was 4:43km- still good enough for third woman into transition. First transition was nothing special- need to work on them.. Managed to clip in ok at the mount line without out fault- which is a victory. Then onto the bike course... wish I could say something nice about it.. nope only negatives..so many in fact it calls for bullets.

• The wind- 47km/hr.
• The COLD wind.
• Riding up the 6th line hill- against the wind.
• Dropping my chain, having to get off and reset it as it get jammed and just can't put it on while still riding.
• Having to walk up a hill after dropping said chain cause I know I wouldn't be able to clip in on the hill.
• People on ridding on the right. On the rare occasion that I could pass a mountain bike, or an 80 year old man, I couldn't do quick enough.
• The 6th line hill, with the wind at my back and ridding my brakes down the entire thing. Some people told me they reached 75km/hr going down. Wasn't worth it to me going that fast and crashing.
• Lack of bike computer.. I swear every time Luke touches my bike he disrupts it.
• SOOO many people passing me, the entire ride.
• Even when I felt I had a grove going.. Passed again.
• And the worst of all.. my time 26km hour. I might have been out there on a trike. 100/139- Numbers don't lie- I completely sucked up the bike.

So I finninaly made back to T2- people are already finishing- How bad is that? Go to rack my bike and my spot is gone. Crap quickly look around for a place to rack and in the process knock over one of those shinny P3 Cervelos. Opps- waste more time picking it up. Figure might as well do a clothing change and take off my long sleeve. First time using a race belt. Actually really like it- don't know why i resist it. My goal for the secondrun was 5min km and not to be passed- by anybody. Let a few men pass, but mostly did the passing, but by that point the only people left on the course were drawing the pension so that was simple.

Over all, I wanted to do it in 1:50 and failed miserly. 1:59. I have never done soo poorly, so off where I thought I could do. I didn't even stay for door prises. I mulled and fumed for the whole two hour drive home. I guess God thought I needed some humbling. I will be off to go weep silently in the corner.

A and L

This has got to be the first couple shot taken of us in MANY years.

Winner!!

Well after stating my sadness about never winning anything.....I won something! Tonight at the kick off night for the triathlon club I won the big prize of a Chiroflow water pillow, courtesy Hanover chiropractic, which happens to be where I get my back cracked. Now that Ever is sleeping through the night- well mostly I'm set to SLEEP.

Nachos

One day I was really hungry, and so I made a big plate of nachos. I thought ' I hope nobody comes and sees me eating this big plate of nachos'. Of course somebody did. This person offered me a fork to eat my big plate of nachos. I said no thank you. I took the picture to remove my shame from eating this big plate of nachos. I have shame cause I think I am gaining weight cause Ever is nursing less, and I am exercising less. I don't want to be exersising less.

Creative Arts

It is VERY difficult to get a good picture of Maya. She just doesn't seem to know how to smile.

This past weekend my brother got married. Seeing the day as a sewing opportunity I jumped on it. For Maya, simple little dress. Only problem was making it HUGE. I swear I made it in the right size and measurements- even got somebody to help measure her so it would right. Thus had to take it in at the sides and hem it again. Did the waist three times. However, overall was simple. Done in Amy Butler fabric- as chosen by Maya. It was expensive but worth it.
Ever's little sailer suit was completed using a 35 year old pattern. Oh and it was insane. Just didn;t make sense.. thankfully I was able to sew at work during the night on my breaks. The thankful part is the other nurse previous job was sewing so thanks to her Ever's suit turned out so well. It must have taken me at least ten hours, but I got the fabric on sale so it cost less then $15 to make.
Amy, Doug's new wife also saw her wedding as an opportunity to create. She knitted the sweater and made the skirt. How cute is that!!

Disciplinarian

Maya is five years old. Old enough to know that there are consequences for her actions... or in actions. I asked her last week to put away her clean clothes, I reminded her several times, I even told her to go do it NOW. Later after she went to bed I noticed that the clothes were STILL not put away sooo I took all of her dresses and hid them. This was Tuesday. Now it is Thursday and if the NEW lot of clean clothes are not put away by the time I get home the skirts are going to. That girl had better learn to listen or she will be naked.

Note- Taking away her clothes should work as she loves her dresses.

Eating their weight in Food

One of the claims to fame of the trillium run is that it is the best fed race around. True- tons of food, fabulous. Pizza- even veggie, fruit and veggies and cheese platters, bananas, yougert, sandwiches, wraps with BACON, assorted sweets, soda. Wonderful. Kinda gave the kids freedom to eat what they wanted. Maya had a field day. at one point she had to sit cause her "tummy hurt from eating to much". And the true mark of having enough... she didn't even ask for lunch on the way home. In fact she ate a light dinner.
Don't worry I will make her run laps to work it off tomorrow.

Just Cute

Mount Forest Trillium Run

Fourth Race in four weeks...yep getting a little tired. Only one more to go..... If I do it.

I did this race last year, but it was a different course and I had my exclusively breastfed baby in tow soo there is not much comparison. I did a PR for 10k- 45 :39. Good enough for 3rd overall. Wish I could say it was fun..but it was painful. I have had kinda a lazy month for training- other than races I have not really made it my priority, I think it was a combination of long recovery after around the bay and with killer cold/sinus something/ death virus. I started off with Westgrey, but wasn't feeling it so dropped off around 3-4k. Had more issues with stations only offering Gatorade when I wanted water. I feel really refreshed when I can dump a cup on my head, not so nice doing that with Gatorade. Really felt like I could never just get in the groove, although I kinda kicked it up around 8k and felt every step the last 2k. Able to sprint the last 100metres so I'm happy about that.
Now for the greedy portion of my post. Pictured is my joyous smile pretending that I am happy about the hat. Another hat. Hat that does not even fit me, nor Luke. Guess I am donating it to something. Anybody need a actually really nice brooks red hat?
Also... it has been sooooooo long since I have won anything in the draw prices. I would have been happy with a goody bag or socks or that devinici hybrid, or the Tim Hortins coffee maker. My plan was to sell the bike I won to buy a wetsuit. Lukes theory is that something really good must be coming.

Toronto

This week Maya and I travelled to Toronto to see a pediatric dermatologist for a check up on her nevus sebaceous, in case you are interested, it will be removed the summer of her 15th year. So while we were in Toronto we decided to do some other girly things, alot of which were vittoed due to see below, and the insane two hour wait for the doctor. She seemed proud that she was so behind. What we did do was ride a TTC bus to the subway station and ride the subway to the Eaton's Centre!! I had not been there since before we moved from Toronto, so it was interesting to see some changes on Young. As well, style watching while shopping was incredibly fun. Am aware I have no personal style. The day for Maya was all about food. She absolutely had to have desert after dinner- thus she got a chocolate at Godiva chocolates-but because we both looked rather worn out (Messy/Poor/ Dressed in Hanover chic) the clerk gave her an extra brownie.
Maya got a sweatshop dress from H &M, and I got one from Joe. I really wanted one from Jacob or Banana Republic, but I just could not justify the cost. Especially since.. see below. The highlight for the day was definitely the subway- so many questions. Funny because before we actually went on one she had no concept of what one was.

The other exciting news for Thursday was the engine seized on our 2002 Toyota. Yep, apparently a gasset blew which allowed antifreeze to leak all over the engine which caused it to lose all power. BUT I am choosing to praise god in this situation because:
- It happen somewhat close to home, outside of Arther.
-I was able to get off the road safely
-I was actually carrying my cell and was able to get Luke and CAA to come with in the hour.
- It was not raining so Maya and I were able to sit in the sun, in a field, eating a snack while we waited.
-I did not have Ever with me.
-We still made it to our appointment as we had actually left several hours early. Luke and I just switched cars.
-God is amazing and will provide.

Married

Every night Maya begs and pleads with us to cuddle her while she is going to sleep. My solution... she can just get married now to some little boy- problem solved.

Chesley Community Classic

Have I mentioned that I hate 5k? Just not my distance, although I read recently that EVERYBODY feels like hell doing them. Of course being a sucker for punishment, and it benefited the hospital, I participated, completing the hilly, windy course in 22:38. It should have rained just to add to my torture.
At the start line- which was rather expanded this year due to being the 20th anniversary, and the high school joining in- I thought I could possibly win it again. However at that moment I saw THE local fast female toe in at the start line. Then I realized one of these high schoolers might actually be racing it. Thus, I was 8th overall, 3rd female, 2nd in my age category.
Much sadness as this was to be the 5k that Luke promised to run with me this year. Guess it will just have to be another.

Fashion Friday

Some key fashion DO NOTs for the spring season....

- Shirts/ Sweaters with kittens, puppies should not be worn by those over the age of 12.
-Uniform scrub tops, although quite comfortable should be limited to those actually needing a uniform. Socially- not acceptable.
-Although I have mentioned it before, it bears repeating. Skater shoes should be worn be those who skateboard. Those under the age of 25 can get away with it if they absolutely have to dress in the skater style. Over age 25- move on and pick out something more sensible.