IT's About Time...

So I've been doing awful keeping up with the blog and I'm really sorry :( However.. it's almost time to put into play all the training and hard work I've been doing.

In less than three weeks I'll be doing the half ironman... I'm not going to lie I'm scared as hell. Even though I don't feel prepared, I know that I am. Last Friday I did a 48 mile bike and a 6-7 mile run in the heat and I felt fine (actually I felt pretty good). I have been practicing nutrition and have finally nailed it down: an English muffin with peanut butter and hydrating with some carb filled mix that I put in my CamelPak... When I transition on the run I take some GU Chews :) They're pretty good but I might have the jelly beans first... For any of those who know me I'm obsessed with Jelly Belly's Performance Sports beans filled with carbs. Recently they've been hard to find, but I just stocked up on them and have a crap ton. The problem with GU Chews is that some people have a bad stomach reaction with them and can cramp up.. I had some of that when I tried it, but I've never really had problems with the Jelly Beans..

I need to mentally prepare. I need to be smart and take the biking easy. I've heard that many first time athletes try to go all out on the bike hurting them tremendously on the run. Running is my strongest sport, and although I'm not amazing- I can make up some time. I've heard tons of great advice to just finish, and to back off the resistance on the bike and take the first half at a steady pace and pick it up slightly as you progress on the last half... I appreciate all this advice and hope it keeps coming. Honestly, I'm proud of myself and even if I can't finish (which hopefully i will)- I know I did a good job.  I think there will be a cheering group for me and I am just so grateful to those who want to support me. That will keep me going.. I promise.. Right now I'm just taking it one day at a time... I'm not sure how my training plan will go in the next two weeks, but I need to make sure not to over do it ... Thank you for everyone's whos given me words of encouragement and support....

PS. Hopefully I'll get on the ball and be consistent with blogging :)

Feeling the Heat!!!

Sorry for being flaky on posting...  I've just been so busy and drained.... So let's start with some good news :) I am just shy from being at my goal weight (honestly it's like at a pound lol)... AND I got second overall in the Biggest Loser contest lol I've lost over 12 pounds lol..

So, I've been training two a days almost every day this week and have been super tired... but I didn't want to workout too hard because I had planned to do a dry-run of the half-iron... epic fail lol

I wanted to try a dry-run so I could mentally prepare for the half iron, and I thought this would be perfect to do today. However, today's weather was not cooperating and it was in the 90's as well as humid... So off I went on the bike ride with every intent of running a half marathon afterwards but my plans were cut short.

I did end up doing the full 56 miles and let me tell you it hurt lol... Even though I gave up shopping for lent, I think I'm going to get a calf compression sleeve to minimize the pain... I did get a thigh compression sleeve but I wasn't super thrilled with it.. I also ended up also taking a break at mile 48.. and I ran out of water lol...

So what did I do... walked my happy butt to McDonalds to buy a Powerade so I could put it in my CamelPak.. however before doing that I took a hug swig.. and then another.. big mistake .. all that stuff made me feel bad and get pains when I started my run. I was just so thirsty. No excuse, it's my fault because I hate drinking water and live most of my life dehydrated.. So I will try this again in two weeks and hopefully get further than I did today...