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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Pic of the week = picS of the week and a little overdue blog....

I was going to blog about this waaaaay back when HERE however - my little "bump in the road" of unemployment got in the way - so this waaaay overdue!

Let me take you back to October 25, 2008 -

Saturday, October 25, 2008 My dear dear friends Kristin and Nick got hitched. I was SUPPOSED to blog about this like six months ago - but I didn't and I feel HORRIBLE that I never gave the appropriate shout outs to them on my blog that I know nine million people read every day. J/K

Kristin and Nick are very near and dear to my heart. They are wonderful friends (more like family) who have seen me and supported me through many trying times in my life. I am very lucky to have friends like them.

In fact I am very lucky to have all of my friends in my life. Sometimes I think we take for granted the 2am sobbing phone call , the 6pm I had a hideous day at work phone call, the OMG I'm getting married phone call, or the OMG I'm having a baby phone call, or the OMG we broke up phone call, or the every day "how was your day" phone call. I am so blessed to have many people in my life that I call friends. And I love each and every one of you! enough w/ the sappy stuff... let's get on to the goooood stuff...

Soooo Kristin and Nick hosted their wedding at a HUMGO home in the River Oaks District of Houston. Cayla and I flew down early to spend time with Kristin before the big day and help her finish all of her last min. to do items.

Now if you are reading this and you know Kristin, you know she THRIVES on lists. She has lists for her lists and is so supremely organized that on ANY trip she takes she puts all of her reservation confirmations, directions, etc in plastic sheet protectors inside her folders. She was appropriately deemed "trip mom" years ago when her organizational skills were first revealed.

So I knew that NO DETAIL was going to be left out. Cayla and I PRYED (literally) her wedding binder out of her hands when we arrived and told her not to look back and enjoy her weekend!

What an honor to be a part of such an amazing day for such wonderful people. Kristin and Nick couldn't have planned a more perfect celebration for their marriage. The food was fantastic, the drinks were flowing, and the weather was perfection!

I hope you enjoy the pictures below and get a glimpse of what an amazing night this was and how fun it was to celebrate their relationship.

I LOVE YOU BOTH DEARLY AND CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIVES TOGETHER...even though this is six months late! LOVE YOU!

Kristin Getting Ready...

Group toast with all the girls, Robin and Mama Lu Lu
(we missed Karen and Audry at the wedding)

We couldn't get her to stop looking out the window.... but it made for a cute pic!

A photo montage... props to Clint the photog!


One of my favorites!!!!

We transformed the back yard from ceremony to reception... BEAUTIFUL!!!

Yummy Cake - Nick's cakes were Ice Cream Cake - fantastic!

No wedding is complete without the Time Warp!

Love you!


Here Clint said "Sexy face" - I think Tyra would be disappointed....


Adios Mr. and Mrs. Urbano - We love you and we will pelt you with wedding rice to prove it!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Motivation anyone???

I'm not sure what has happened to me... I was seriously motivated from November until April 19... now I can't find an ounce of me that wants to work out and considering I just signed up for my second tri ( a true sprint this time) I better dig down deep and find my motivation soon.

I didn't work out once last week because my pink eye returned...ICK and my throat was killing me. It hurt to swallow anything but hot tea and advil. I worked from home three days last week because I didn't want to infect my office with the lingering matted eyes and huge tonsils. I figured I should hole myself up in my house and try to not infect people with what I am now convinced is "pig flu". I went to the dr. on Thursday after 4 days of painful swallowing and basically a hot tea diet for him to tell me I have had a "lingering virus". It rested the few days leading up to the tri when I was finally feeling better and then reared it's ugly head again after my body recouped. AWESOME!

So last week I rested.... not a single lap in the pool, loop on the bike or short run and secretly I loved it! WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME!!!! I was uber-obsessed for 5 months and now I want to cry.

I am a "Monday start person" if I have a goal I have to start on a Monday... no matter what. It's like life starts over on Mondays...so I time everything to a Monday start.

When I first started training for the King Tut I upped my distance on the bike and run every Monday - on the swim every other Monday... when I started trying to loose weight I started on a Monday with all the girls. When I tried to log everything I do in Livestrong.com I started on a Monday (that has been a failure by the way - sorry Erinn). So Sunday I was like - tomorrow is Monday - tomorrow starts training again.

Cayla and I decided we are going to compete in another tri at the end of May. May 30 to be exact. This one is a sprint - same swim distance (300m), double the bike from last time (12miles or 20K) and almost double the run (3.7 miles or 6K).

So yesterday I leave work (with a packed gym bag) and decide I was going to go for a nice ride on my bike. I don't know if it is me, my bike, my non working legs or what but it killed me! Usually a tiny six mile bike ride (in comparison to what my other tri friends are doing) should be nothing... and considering I just did this a week ago (after swimming and 90% uphill) it should be cake. But I thought I was going to die. Literally - it felt like my heart was beating out of my chest and I could collapse at any moment. It was horrific and scary - because now I feel like I am weaker than I was when I started training in the first place and couple that with ZERO motivation and you have yourself a real winner.... UGH!!!

I hope it's just the lingering effects of being sick and I can work myself out back into motivation - I guess we'll see.

On another note - I am an official USAT member now - crazy.... and exciting. Here's a line up of possible events Cayla and I are talking about doing. OOOOO- and I think we talked Newbie into doing one with us in October! YAY for Newbie!!!

May 30 - Paddle, Pedal and Pound the Pavement Grapevine, Texas (Sprint Distance)
October 4 - Benbrook Women's Tri Benbrook, Texas (Sprint Distance)
October 25 - Livestrong Challenge (5K and possible 10 mile bike ride)

I would like to look at participating in a sprint in July and August as well - but who knows I guess we will see; I don't want to wear myself out!!!

I'll keep you posted on the motivation factor - hopefully it returns soon or I am going to gain back every ounce of every pound I lost....

Maybe Biggest Loser tonight will put me back in the saddle.....

Friday, April 24, 2009

Pic of the Week

I didn't have a chance to post this yesterday - I was working from home b/c my pink eye has returned... ick...

This isn't necessarily a "Pic" ... but I made it into one. This is a screen shot of my friend Della's Fundraising Page for
the Relay for Life. She will be a member of a Relay for Life team in College Station and she will be walking for numerous reasons. If you have a few extra dollars and can donate to her team that would be awesome.

As you know cancer has affected me personally in ways that are indescribable. Jessica has been my best friend for 15 years and is in the fight of her life with this horrible disease. If you have a second please visit her website at www.jessicagage.com and leave her a note of encouragement or better yet - stop reading this and say a prayer for her.


There are many other people that this disease affects daily. I hope that no one reading this will ever have to know the affects of cancer on someones life. If you have a one dollar or one hundred any donation to find a cure for cancer is worth it.

Here is the link to her donation page - DELLA'S DONATION PAGE (CLICK HERE)


Monday, April 20, 2009

Tri Pics

Oh the joys of the iPhone!

I figured out how to take screen shots on my iphone awhile ago.... this little trick came in handy today!

I can't access facebook at work... but I do have the fb app on my iphone... so I pulled up the pics... took screen shots... uploaded them to my computer at work and VOILA!!!! See below...


**Captions under each picture***

Cayla was very nervous about getting DQ'd for not having her helmet on.... Note... this is us walking to the race site... we haven't even entered at this point... and we are WALKING!!! The boys took care of our bikes for us...Love you Cay!



It was a very early morning...here we are entering into the race site... approx. 5:15am



Pre-Race Pic...



Our wetsuits are SEXY!!!




Getting our game face on.... more like the OH S$%T face... what did we get ourselves into...



This is one of my favorites....



One last HIGH FIVE before we take the plunge



And we're in....



The Beast....



Finishing the swim.... I look rather manly here....but still with a smile!



Starting the bike...



Finishing the bike... action shot



Starting the run... Last 1/3 of the race!



Almost to the finish line!!!!


WE DID IT!!!! (With our medals/key chain...yes our medals turn into key chains)

My First Triathlon... Recap

What an AMAZING experience is all I can say! I always knew that race day would be exciting, nerve racking, and vomit inducing (No I didn't throw up.. but I wanted to on several occasions) but I never imagined the sense of accomplishment I would feel once I was done. I will recap with you all the race day events so you can have a clear picture of what an awesome day it was!

Race day was Sunday at 7:00am... my wave was scheduled to start at 7:05... female first timers. This was a "My First Tri" so our distances were shorter than an average sprint tri. The male first timers were scheduled to start at 7:00am.

Apparently being a triathlete means you enjoy waking up at the butt crack of dawn... or at least pretend that you like waking up at the butt crack of dawn. My alarm went off promptly at 3:45am Sunday April 19.

Transition areas open up at 5:30am and it was about a 30 minute drive to the race site and every clinic I went to said "be there 30 minutes before transition opens" so that's what we did - or planned on doing.

We arrived between 5:15 - 5:20am to begin setting up our transition area. Transition is where you run into after the swim, bike out of and into at the beginning and end of the bike portion, and run out of at the start of the run portion. All of your equipment is placed here, bike, helmet, shoes, towels, sunglasses, anything that you need during the race is placed in the transition area.

When we arrived the transition waiting line was already a mile long. People are serious... as you waited in line you were "body marked" with your race number on one thigh, one arm and your age on your calf. FYI - permanent marker is removed off of skin by rubbing alcohol... in case you ever need that piece of info. Soon after body marking transition opened and were let in. We racked our bikes, set up our area, and took a look around to familiarize ourselves with the entrances and exits of transition.


At 6:45am we had a pre-race meeting for the newbies that went over the rules, regulations, etc by one of the referees... 7:00am and the first wave of male first timers jumped off the dock and headed for the starting buoy.

5 min. after their wave started we jumped off the dock and made our way to the starting buoy. Cayla and I were very nervous... one because it was FREEZING Sunday morning. The water temperature was 62 degrees!!! We high fived... and jumped in the water together. Our goal this whole time during training was to finish together... no matter what. We felt like we were at the same level of preparedness so no matter what we would cross the finish line together.

We heard the air horn and started our swim... here ensues Allison's moment of freak out. I realized about a minute into the swim that I had forgotten to start my heart rate monitor and watch. As I was swimming in this lake I tried to start my watch... bad idea... I freaked out... I could not catch my breath so I stopped free styling and back stroked. Now this was very disappointing to me b/c I had worked so hard to be able to freestyle. But let me tell you ... .swimming in a pool is WAY different than open water swimming. I know "swimming is swimming" but seriously it was hard... and scary... b/c I got slapped a few times. I still did a respectable time on the swim of 7min. and 38 seconds... but it was literally the scariest 7 minutes of my life. I thought I was going to drown and the kayaks were going to have to pull me out of the water. I ended up placed 12 out of 38 in the swim.

When I got out of the water I headed up the bank and promptly met the "strippers". These people are assigned to strip you out of your wetsuit as fast and efficiently as possible. I was amazed at how quick they peeled that thing off of me. Once my wetsuit was off I headed down a large hill, through the tennis courts, to transition. The hill was the 2nd scariest part of the race... I thought for sure I was going to bust it. I had wet, cold, numb feet and was running down a slippery hill. I didn't bust it... thank goodness... and made it to transition.

I waited for Cayla at transition and was relieved to find out that she had a minor freak out in the water too. I guess nerves and the newness of open water swimming got the better of us. But we had made it ... 1/3 of the way done!

We hopped on our bikes and headed out for the 6mile bike ride. This was the hardest part of the race for me. I don't think I had prepared fully for the bike portion. I was sick the week before if you remember with PINK EYE so I slacked on bike training. I took my bike out for a spin on Saturday but only for about 3 miles and not on any hills ... which the bike route was 80% uphill. I am not going to lie... it was a struggle...but I made it and I finished it on my bike, in one piece, with no crashes! I finished the bike in 32 min and 32 seconds with an average of 11.1 mph. We finished 33 and 34 out of 38...

Cayla had finished about a min. and a half before me in the bike so she waited for me at transition this time. Transition was crazy between the bike and the run. As I was getting my things someone had taken my race belt with my bib number on it. I know this was a honest mistake because my belt and number were returned at the end of the race... but I didn't have a number the duration of the run. I was so afraid that I was going to get a penalty. As we started the run I spotted the race director and told her... she said if I had received a penalty to let her know and she would correct it. I didn't receive one so I was excited!

The run was an out and back 2 mile. I was frantic and crazy after not having my number so the first few minutes of the run was a tad difficult...but I had Cayla there supporting me and telling me to breathe... sometimes I forget to do that!

We finished the run in 19 min. and 15 seconds... an average of a 9 min and 38 second mile! We placed 8th and 9th out of 38 athletes! So the run was definitely our strongest sport!

We crossed the finish line together... got our "great job" medal and visited with all the lovely people that came to support us!

Overall we were 23 and 24 out of 38. Not too bad for our first time I don't think!

Once we could pack up transition we did and headed to Blue Mesa for their AMAZING Sunday brunch fully equipped with bottomless mimosas!

Thank you to Tony, Hunter, Anna, Kaylee, Karen, Erinn, Chris, Julie, Mario and Della and Dave for coming out to support us! It was so great to see each of you at the finish line! We really appreciated your support and signs and yells and screams!

I have pictures that Tony, Hunter, Erinn and Anna took during the race that I will post later. I am at work and can't download them to post but I will post soon.

Now it's time to start training for a sprint distance in May... maybe I have found a new addiction....

Recap of Results:
Swim - 7:38.95 - 12th out of 38

T1 - 6:33.65

Bike - 32:32.75 - 34 out of 38

T2 - 1:34.20

Run - 19:15.55 - 8 out of 38

Total - 1:07:35.10

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Pic of the Week

My friend, Nick, and fellow blogger over at AU2012 sent me this picture today...

This is the honest to god Lunch Specials board at his office.... hmmmm....

Hope it made you laugh on your Thursday!


Monday, April 13, 2009

5 days before my first triathlon...

and I'm fighting double pink eye....

REALLY???? It's getting better.. but it still sucks. I noticed mid-week last week I felt like I was getting sick so held off from working out and slept ALOT ... like on Sunday I slept for nearly 12 hours and then took an hour nap at my moms on Easter.

Anyways - Friday night after a lovely dinner with Cayla, Hunter, Kristin and Nick.. I noticed my eyes were bloodshot.. by Saturday morning I had to pry them open with a cro-bar... not really but I might as well have. I woke up at the butt crack of dawn on Saturday to go to a tri-clinic over transitions... after that Cayla and I were going to work out but instead she promptly drove me to CareNow to see a Dr. They tested me for strep too.... luckily that came back negative. But pink eye was confirmed in both eyes. Along with some serious allergy issues for which I was prescribed a 30 day supply of allergy medicine that comes in the largest box known to man.

I hit the gym today, totally disregarding the advice of Erinn, Tony and Michael, but it made me feel good... and I feel better tonight.

I can't believe I'm 5 days out from this triathlon. I'm starting to getting nervous... and it's Monday. I can't believe what I will be like on Saturday...oh help me.

The transition was clinic was helpful... although some of the "transition moves" were way more advanced it was really helpful until this smart a$$ guy in the crowd starts talking about when his friend does tri's she suffers from vertigo. Seriously... then the teacher was like "Oh yea... you can get dizzy, sick from the water, vertigo is common, blah blah blah..." That sent my nerves HAYWIRE... Cayla and I looked at each other and about threw up.

So - this week it's no equipment failure... it's eye and breathing failure... say a few prayers that I heal up before Sunday!!!

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