Rants, Recipes, and Running

As you know, I am training for my 1st 70.3 half Ironman in October. Looking back on my sprint triathlon I did last May, the biggest challenge for me was the open water swim. I just didn't feel like natural in the water. Which is funny. Because I am " the water girl ". I could spend all day in the water. This was the case as a child, and I never really outgrew that. I have a few friends who are on the Masters Swim team, and have brought me to a few workouts. The aquatic center is right by my house..... And let me tell you about this Aquatic Center. It is the " Taj Mahal " of swimming pools. Our city spent big bucks to have the best aquatic center in the city (it's one of the best in the state). The water is perfect. Best part? -- surrounded by mountains!   And it's only 4 miles from my house!   So after trying out a few practices, I am hooked! So Monday is my 1st official practice on the Oro Valley Masters' Team: " The Flying...

Our kitchen has been active lately with several new recipes. My favorite thing that is a'brewin' is our prickly pear infused liquors ! But there will be a post to come on that soon. I'm pretty stoked about it, though! We are actually harvesting plump, juicy, red prickly pears from our cactus, and infusing them in mason jars w/ vodka and agave nectar..... More to come that! Over the weekend, I tried to make comfort food for my husband who went on night shift starting the 4th of July. Right now our schedule couldn't be more opposite. He wakes up as I go to bed. But that's okay - we still live in the same household, and this schedule is temporary! A few of my comfort creations were: Salted Puppy Chow (sea salt, pretzels, puppy chow, #crack) - I made 2 big batches of this. One which I brought to the 4th of July party I went to, the other I sent with Ryan to work. Crockpot lasagna - super easy, super delicious! Why have I never tried making lasagna in a cro...

I've owned my bike for about 1.5 years. I have avoided learning how to change a tire like the plague. My strategy has been, "If I get a flat, I'll just call a friend." or "If I get a flat, I'll just run home (barefoot?)" The idea of changing the inner tube of a tire just seemed like this impossible feat - and a skill I am not interested in learning. It all kind of relates to my disdain for the sport of "road biking". In order to go road biking, my routine is: check tires air up tires to 90 psi get my helmet out get my cycling shoes out (which you can only wear cycling - they have funny clips on the bottoms) make sure my "bike bag" is all set with the appropriate tools, tubes, drivers license (in case I get hit by a car and end up in the trauma center & need to be identified.....Just kidding, Mom!) Then I have to load it onto my bike rack. Make sure it's bungee corded down. Drive it to a meeting spot, unload, ...

Another week of training is in the books! My training posts may bore some...so my apologies in advance. This week was a good reality check for me. Tuesday morning I had the most obstacle-filled run ever. It was almost like one of those "obstacle races". Minus the mud. But it reminded me that I am not some natural born, iron-woman. It reminded me that I need to take things in stride, and listen to my body. 5 am - 82 degrees F Mile 2 - Intense cramping in my stomach that almost had me in fetal position on the side of the road. Mile 2-3 - Desperately trying to catch back up with the group. Mile 3 - Wheezing. Didn't take my inhaler. Cannot get air. Keep pushing. Cursing at the palo verde trees I'm allergic to. Mile 6 - Raw, rubbing, pain in my foot. Blister. Mile 6-8 - Hobbling with an ugly gait, almost in tears because blister is so bad. Mile 8 - Finished! Shoe full of blood. Ran it in a sub 8 min/mile pace, miraculously! 2 hours later - Nauseated, ...