Things I need to succeed

I am never good at posting continuously. But for a few days now I have been thinking of the same one. Things I need to succeed in triathlon and for that matter life. They are big and small, loud and quiet, tuff and soft.

And so the list begins.

I need....

1. My husband, Bill, he helps me stay calm and is a great Dad when I am gone at 5am everyday.

2. My training partners. I seriously could write an entire blog about them. I don't know how anyone survives training alone. It is so much easier to succeed if you have someone to back you up on the days were feel like throwing in the towel. I could not run without Janeth. She is my running rock. And without my brother, Brian I would probably not know what it is like to laugh and pee in my pants while running at the same time. They both make it easier to get up at 4:30 and run. And Adam my swim partner. What a stud! No matter how much I really suck in the water he always does my intervals and waits for me. And every now and then I actually try to keep up with him. (ps good luck at IM FL!!!)

3. My parents and my inlaws for babysitting when I SOOOO need breaks.

4. My computrainer (I love you) and my treadmill. I think with kids and living in Chicago those are both complete necessities. I don't care if you have to trade your car in they are BOTH worth it.

5. My awesome sponsors that I had this year and next. I can't believe how lucky I am to get all of this great stuff! Yesterday I got a HUGE box from Avia with tons of GREAT running shoes and a whole new winter running wardrobe! It was like Christmas (well really Hanukkah for me).

6. My sleep. I don't think I ever really knew how important it was until I had TWO kids. I have noticed in the last 6 months or so that I can't roll out of bed at 4:30 and go for a tempo run. I need to drag my butt out and drink TONS of caffeine and even then it takes a good 30 min of running before I feel okay. I don't recover like I used to. And I can't fake no sleep. I need it no two ways about it.

7. Baked Goods. And lots of them. I don't know how anyone can give up anything completely. I am a big fan of moderation. Any thing in moderation is okay. I LOVE LOVE to bake.

8. My awesome coach. Barb keeps my workouts fun and intense. I don't think I have ever been bored during a workout. There is always something to think about. Even on easy days there are drills to be done and sprints. I love that. And I love that she always thinks of my family.

9. Did I mention Bill. I need to one more time. He had his birthday on Monday. I can't believe he is IN his 30s now. We are getting older! I guess it was bound to happen. But seriously as he gets older he becomes more supportive of my goals no matter how they may affect him. Every year he has definitely fine tuned being a better husband and father. I can't wait for more years to come. LOVE YOU:)

10. Last but definitely not least my kids. I didn't really understand how to train or push myself until they came into my life. I think kids have way of making us see what is really important in life and how to know that there is always someone there for you. Molly, Noah, and Bill are the best team I could ask for.

A new adventure

(Molly 6 month pics, I can't help myself I LOVE the bows and headbands)

After my last race of the year ended so early it left me feeling goalless (if that is even a word?). I won't have a triathlon for 6 months! I thought hard about a new goal to have this winter. I needed something different and still challenging. I feel like after 6 months postpartum I am finally in shape. UGH. And now I have to wait until April to race again. Then it hit me... a marathon! I have never really raced one before. I haven't even run further than 14 miles since I was in college, a LONG time ago. I knew it would be a challenge to talk my coach into letting me race one this winter. I had to think of how it would benefit my triathlon season next year and not injure or take away anything I might do next season. Shockingly Barb was okay with it. It will be a sort of challenge to see how my body handles that kind of run mileage and also to see what my marathon race pace really is. My goal is to run 7 min pace. I have never run hard for any distance further than a half marathon so I wanted to set a hard but obtainable goal. Doing my first Ironman next year as a pro is a huge deal for me. Mostly b/c I have never trained for one before. So running this marathon when my biking and swimming hours are lower is a good test of stress on me before the big stuff comes! Living in a colder climate leaves us without many running races after October. So I found one that was still somewhat drivable and talked my brother into running it with me. So Brian and I will be off to Memphis Tennessee Dec. 5 to do the St. Jude Marathon (http://www.stjudemarathon.org/). I think he is looking forward to the BBQ food more than anything. Brian is actually a really fast runner. His goal is to break 2:50. And it is a somewhat hilly course. Oh and did I mention you get to run thru Graceland. It is Elvis crazy down there!

30 years later...

I woke up today 30 years old. Or one day older from yesterday. Really not a big deal to me. But I have to admit that when it comes out of the mouth, thirty years old, it makes you feel like an adult. When I was in my twenties, so long ago, I felt like I was still being judged as a teenager. I know I look young but I felt like a kid living in a body of a 29 yr old Mom. At 30 I feel like I matter now. I don't know what it is but 30 feels like I have entered adulthood finally. I can no longer be looked at as a child. My twenties are now behind me. In your twenties you finish up schooling (at least some of it), maybe get married, maybe have a kid (or two or three), establish your career, and basically start your life. I feel like my thirties will be about growing as an individual and enjoying my family more. In my thirties I will have more self confidence and self awareness. In my thirties I will hopefully learn how to not over extend myself too often. In my thirties my kids will eventually all be in school! And finally in my thirties I will have to turn 40! I really look forward to that one:)

The reason for no sleep...

Do you see this cute baby girl? Does anyone want to come over and stay awake with her at 9pm when she decides to wake up? So my husband and I can get some sleep! Molly has been sick now for 4 LONG days. She is congested and miserable. It makes for a VERY hard day and night. I think we under estimate how important 8 hrs of sleep (continuous) really is. I have come to the point where I don't even close my eyes when go to bed b/c Murphy's law says she will wake up the moment you close your eyes to deep sleep. So the call is out to anyone willing to come to my house and rock a baby from 9pm to 5am. You are hired!
By the way how cool is it that Splish sent me a TON of fun training suits for the long winter ahead! I can be stylish at 5am! Molly was just drooling (literally) over how cute my suits are. Thanks Dawn for sending me so many fun suits:)