Just Sayin' ....

Have you ever noticed how some sayings you use personally are taken the wrong way by others? I was told yesterday by Jenny that when I text something, or post something, and put “just sayin’” at the end, that she finds that offensive. I had NO clue that she took it that way, and tried to explain that I mean it as a joke, kind of a smart-ass joke granted, but a joke nonetheless.

It made me wonder about others things I might say as a habit that is taken wrong. I mean, I have my own issues with certain things. I HATE when I text someone and they respond with a “K”. It seems so dismissive to me. Another thing I despise is the term “whatever”. I finally got my son broken of that habit, but man, when I am telling someone something and they look away and say that word … I could literally cut out their heart with a spoon.

Another one popped up by an old friend the other day on her facebook page. She made a comment about people who use the term “Thanks” instead of “Thank You”. I never have had a problem with that, probably because I use the term “Thanks” myself and I know I mean nothing derogatory by it. I think it is in the way it is presented in this case.

Plus … Shannon is a sensitive soul … just sayin’ …

So I am now looking back through old postings for statements and/or sayings I use that may come across the wrong way. Not sure what they may be because I personally have no issue with ANYTHING I say … :)

So ... if anyone knows of a phrase or term I use that I shouldn't, please let me know. I promise not to be offended :)

Goals and Dreams - 2012 Edition

Thanks to my occasional training buddy and teammate Genna Beth (R is for Running), I have decided to put down on paper (albeit electronic paper) my personal goals and plans for this next year. Since 2011 was a huge year of first's it will be mostly time based, and I want to make them hard, but at the same time achievable.

I started 2011 at a different job, lost the job in January, and spent until August out of work. While that is hard in itself, it did afford me plenty of time for training. Since returning to the work force, time is limited and it has proven to be a challenge to get the training in, and still have time for homework, rest days, football watching (if you can call what the Dolphins and USF did this year football), etc. So the FIRST goal will be to figure out a way to get everything in. A huge goal by itself.

My schedule for 2012, as of today, is this:

• Disney Marathon (January 7th)
• St. Pete Rock and Roll Half Marathon (February 12th)
• Wish 100 Century Ride (February 19th)
• Michelob Ultra [15k/5k/13.1/5+3] (March 3-4)
• St. Anthony's Triathlon (April 29th)
• Ironman Florida 70.3 (May 20th)
• Crystal River 1 (May 26th)
• Crystal River 2 (June 30th)
• Crystal River 3 (September 1)
• Disney Wine and Dine (November ??)

That's a pretty full slate, but I think it is spread out enough that it will be OK and doable, as long as we don't get crazy and start adding races in "willy nilly". 

So, as far as my Goals are concerned, they are these:

• Sub 15:00 Overall Pace at Disney Marathon
• Sub 3:00:00 Overall Time at St. Pete RnR
• Sub 30:00 Mile Swimming Pace
• Sub 30:00 5K
• Top Ten in Clydesdale Group at Crystal River 1, 2, or 3
• 1:43:00 at Crystal River (S 8:00 / B 50:00 / R 45:00)
• 3:40:00 at St. Anthony's (S 30:00 / B 1:30:00 / R 1:30:00)
• 7:10:00 at Ironman Florida 70.3 (S 40:00 / B 3:00:00 / R 3:30:00)

Now they are in writing. To those reading this with racing experience, am I being too easy or too hard, or about right? The biggest "jumps" would be in the Crystal River races (PB is 2:57:00 so would have to cut 14 minutes), Half Marathon (current PB is 3:07:00 so would need 7 minutes, plus I need to finish St. Pete's under 2:55:00 to be allowed to continue). The sub-30:00 5K may not be doable. Current best is 36:00 and running a sub 30 would mean a pace under 10:00 (PB is 11:14). 

Thoughts and Advice is always welcome.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!

Rocking in Miami

So I entered the race in Miami with the hopes of bettering my time from my first half marathon. Training leading up to this one was not as good as I had hoped it would, with life getting in the way, and the stress of a new job, and other issues that come along with every day living, including having NO time to train after work. But I went into the day with expectations and a new plan.

We spent the fist night driving to Miami, not leaving Tampa until 8:30 Friday night. 220 miles later pulling iton South Beach (taking the long way around since every damn road was closed). Finding the hotel wasn't bad but actually getting to it from all the damn people was an adventure. I swear to you that Miami is not much different than what you see on the Jersey Shore. Full of goombah's walking around shirtless. Was ridiculous.

The hotel was one street away from the beach and the starting line, which was great. Obviously a redone house, but was really nice and comfortable.

So anyway, we slept in a little the next morning and then headed over to the Expo. Very well run, picked up a few deals, and got to meet and talk awhile with a couple of Biggest Losers contestants (Dan and his Mom). Very nice people and seemed genuinely interested in triathlon's. They were talking us into the Spartan race in February as a member of Biggest Loser team. We will see.

We had a great dinner supplied by one of Jennifer's patients. Very nice guy and was very open and hospitable, showing us the food and sights. We got to bed around 11 for a 5:00 AM wakeup.

The morning of the race I experienced something I have NEVER expereicned before a running race; butterflies. I get them all the time before triathlon's, but for some reason that morning I was very anxious and nervous. I think it's because I didn't feel like I had trained enough and was worried about doing well, instead of just thinking about running my race.

We ran into a former Team in Training teammate, Cindy, at the corral. It was great to see her, and went a way to getting my mind of the starting gun. 

She and Jennifer ended up giving me a good pace when we started, for as long as I kept them in sight (about 6 miles in).

The race began and I actually was feeling really good. I planned on keeping my pace around 13:00 through the whole run to see if that helped with the foot soreness, and that pace seemed to fit well. I ran and walked the intervals I set, and forced my pace down and pushed away the urge to run faster when Jenny and Cindy started leaving me behind. The RnR's have a band every mile, and that served to keep you moving. When you heard the music you knew you were coming up on a mile marker. Very motivating.

The best band name seen on the run: Pee Wee Lewis and the Hues. Classic.

We hit rain around mile 6 coming off the first bridge. The inclines were hideous, but I handled them better than I thought I would. I just kept to my splits and stayed focused, though the rain did cause me an issue at the end.

Oh...My...God

The last incline .. a view from the top

I made it to the end intact and no sore feet. I did have a slight pinch I was feeling in my left toes that was odd. Turned out to be this:

Jenny was there waiting for me and then went for her ritual post-race icing.

My final official time was 3:17:00, but the time I stopped to help stretch a fellow runner who was cramping was 10:00, so I am counting it as 3:08:00, which is 5 minutes faster than my Wine and Dine time from 10/1/2011. I can't imagine still having another 13.1 miles to run, which I will have to do in 27 days, but I will give it my best shot, and try to get a lot more time running in, somehow.

I will end by saying how much I enjoyed this race. It was well laid out and very well organized. I was a bit worried after reading about the problem they had in Vegas, but Miami was great and I will be back again. A great race, and a nice relaxing weekend.

Kahn!!!!!!

He tasks me! He tasks me, and I shall have him! I'll chase him round the Moons of Nibia, and round the Antares Maelstrom, and round perdition's flames before I give him up! Prepare to alter course!

I don't know about most of you out there, but I have learned from watching others I have trained with over the last year that having a 'nemesis' makes you a better racer.


Even if this 'nemesis' is a just someone you make up, and actually is a very nice person, it seems to help light the fire on race day, or on long training runs/rides/swims, when you are determined not to let this person beat you in any way. It makes you get out of bed a 5-by-god-AM to get that early run in before work, because you damn well know that THEY are up and running.


Jennifer has one (I will not name them). This person poses no real threat to Jenny ... but she gets it in her head that they will NOT beat her ... that she will out pace them in training ... she will finish before them in a race (be it a 5k or a Triathlon or a marathon). She WILL win. And it seems to help her.


I don't really have one, and I think that goes back to a previous post I wrote about Killer Instinct. I just don't have that. There was one racer I did post about that is shorter than me, at least 50 pounds heavier, and maybe 3 years older, that finished on the podium all the time and runs 9:00 miles. I actually was impressed until I saw him cutting the course at Crystal River ... so 'nemesis' or not, I can't get all worked up about beating someone if I know they cheat. Cheaters will always find a way to beat you anyway.


Maybe the best option is to make yourself the 'nemesis'??


In the long run, you are the one you are competing against the most correct? I'm never going to win an Ironman, a Marathon, or even a 5k. I have started this game way too late to be a serious competitor, but it's not the reason I do it. I just had enough of being fat and lazy. It was time. Something flicked the switch, and I needed a challenge. But, as I stated in the previous blog, I do wish I could develop this Killer Instinct. I marvel at Jenny when she gets passed during a training ride. She doesn't even know she does this consciously, but she lowers down on her bike, and she goes ... she PISSED that someone passed her. She may not be able to pass them, let alone catch them, but she tries. I don't have that for some reason. If I am out there to train at 17 mph, I train at 17 mph. I could care less if someone flies by me.


What DOES work for me is being held directly accountable. This is why the team training works with me. Having people waiting on me, or dependent on me to pick them up, will get me moving. If I had to do it alone I would have a hard time doing it (and HAVE a hard time). KC wrote recently in a blog post about getting a text from a fellow DailyMiler taking her to task about doing a lot of training for a week but having NO swim miles in. That got her to the pool. That would work with me I think.


So maybe my 'nemesis' is my own lackadaisical manner? This is the inner demon I fight with constantly? 


Makes sense .... 

Doo Doo Flakes

Triathletes, on a whole, are a pretty healthy group. We takes great strides to stay healthy, both cardio wise and illness wise, because everything relates to us not wanting to lose training time for any reason, be it a stubborn cold (Summer), or a broken toe (Jenny), we get out there whether we are limping, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, having a heart attack, or not.

I was reminded today at work of a 60 Minutes news story once that spoke about germs and where they hide. The main part of the story was the bathroom (duh), but centered around the germs that's a re-deployed in the air every time you flush (well ... every time 'someone' flushes ... because WE would never use a public restroom at work for doing our business unless absolutely imperative).

Speaking of that, I have to mention that at my office if you go to the men's room between 3:00 and 3:15 you will find the same pair of shoes under the stall everyday. Nice to be that regular. This would probably go unnoticed if it wasn't for the ... unique ... odor this person releases. I'm not being mean. I am actually worried about the guy. It's like something is rotting inside him. I think he should see a doctor. It's not normal. I mean, it's not supposed to be like roses, but ... damn.

Anyway ... back to the flushing issue ...

Every time you flush these little particles saturate the air like millions of little doo doo flakes ... floating in the wind, waiting for a breeze to guide them on a path, say, up your nose or into your mouth, where they can land safely, then spread their little poo children into your system.

This reminds me of Jim Carrey for some reason ... "do I have something in my teeth??"

But that was asparagus ...

And what IS the deal with asparagus? Why does it make my pee smell like that? Nothing else effects me that way ... why is asparagus different?

What was I talking about again?

Oh yeah ... so .... with all the germs you cannot control out here, and being the health conscious people we all are, why do triathletes do some of the things we do??

In the middle of a bike leg, if you see a rider all of a sudden stand up on their peddles, I would advise moving out of the draft zone ... or you may get an early shower. Getting off the bike to relieve yourself would take WAY too much time.

Or wrapping protein bars around the cross bar of your bike so you don't have to open the package while riding ... so that sweat drips onto them .... mmmm ... sweat bars ....

Or using the porta potties ... I cannot tell you how nasty the one was I used at the Florida Rohto last year. You couldn't sit down (as if I would anyway). I swear to you the pile of paper, and other ingredients was above the seat itself.

I am going to end this now. I just used the bathroom and my son was waiting for me to get done so he could get in there. He just walked out here and smiled at me.

I think he has something in his teeth.