No crashes...Yet...knock on wood

Cayla and I went for our weekly workout together on Saturday and I survived... no crashes in clipping in and clipping out.

We are down to the week before my 2nd tri and I am more nervous about this one than I was the first. I felt fully prepared for my first tri but this one...not so much.

Swim: 500m
I haven't been in a pool in like forever... Cayla and I have been swimming in Grapevine lake which has been good to "control the freakout" but bad because I haven't really been focusing on distance - just not freaking out in the water. I think I should be ok - but 500m is almost double what the first tri was so naturally I'm a little freaked out. I hope to freestyle the entire 500m but I'm not above resolving to breaststroke if needed.... even backstroke for that matter... it's what got me through last time and hopefully will get me through this time.

Bike: 12miles
Well what to say here except I'm super scared that I'm going to crash either coming out of or into transition. With my clip in pedals/shoes it makes the whole bike ride a bit more scary for me. This past weekend while riding with Cayla I realized that while I'm clipped in it totally uses different muscles that I'm not used to so I'm afraid I may tucker my poor little legs out if I am not careful and have nothing left for the run.

Run: 5k (3.1 miles)
The run ... well I can do 3.1 miles on any day alone...and even after I biked in the 103degree heat a few weeks ago - but I'm super nervous about it too. The high is 105 this weekend so I could literally blow myself up if I'm not careful! :) j/k.... The good news is I won't drown or crash on this part... I just would begin walking if I needed to.

I don't know - I feel like I'm stupid and haven't prepared well for this... I want to cry actually... I wish I had a few more weeks... this heat makes it awful to train after work and I certainly don't get up at 4:30am to work out - I love training but I heart sleep more (I'll be honest)

Hopefully I can concentrate this week and get focused in time for Sunday...

The Tri is in Las Colinas if you want to come out and watch me drown, crash and walk ... should be a good time :)

Graduation Day.... = Crash Day = pic of the week

I did it... I bought clip in pedals and cycling shoes today! YAY - I feel like a real cyclist! I'm super excited but now I have the new bike bug MORE THAN EVER... I totally want to go back and buy a new bike.. and I just might!

Here are my new shoes:












They are Specialized brand -they are a three strap Velcro cycling shoe. They can change between SPD and road pedals and I'm SUPERLY DUPERLY EXCITED about them.. not only are the pretty...they are comfy and will hopefully help improve my ride!

My pedals are just normal Shimano SPD pedals... basic clip pedals but I can change them out to have a road pedal if I need/want to.

I am totally prepared to crash on my face multiple times before perfecting the art of the clip in/clip out maneuver.

We'll see... I seriously want a new bike now.... and I may just do it!

Keep checking back :)

They say it's your birthday...

And...THEY ARE RIGHT!!!

Today is my bday and I think by far the best birthday EVER... and the day isn't even over yet!!

If you've known me long enough you know I celebrate "Birthday Month".... I concocted this month long celebration as a child; I think partially b/c I never got to take cupcakes to school b/c I was a summer baby.... so I said.... "If I can't take cupcakes to school; I'll celebrate all month"... makes sense right??

This year I have been a little bit more low key in celebrating "birthday month", but I still in my head knew that I could whine and say "BUT IT'S MY BIRTHDAY MONTH"

Saturday we had Della's shower at this precious little tea room in Richardson, The Chocolate Angel Tea Room. I highly recommend you use this place if you need to host a baby shower, bridal shower, bridal luncheon, anything... it is awesome! The food was fantastic, the service even better! It was phenomenal!

Saturday night we went out for my bday to Cool River in Irving. I picked this place because there was supposed to be a cover band, Big Daddy, playing ... but they backed out last minute and another cover band was there; which was cool b/c they were good too! We had so much fun! I have lots of pics but again... they are on FB and I can't get on FB at work... so you will have to wait.

Then today I get to work and my boss takes me out for an awesome lunch at Cozymel's and my awesome co-workers baked me a cake and sang me happy birthday.... Not to mention the influx of emails, texts, phone calls, etc.... My mom gave me $ towards my Hawaii trip...SO AWESOME... It has seriously been like the best birthday ever!

Oh Monday's....

I haven't updated in almost a week... so sorry for the delay ... I missed the pic of the week last week so I guess I'll throw it all into one blog...

Things have been crazy, as I'm sure you can imagine. Between coping with Jess, work, tri-training, etc I feel like my head is continually spinning around on my neck. Hopefully this week I can get back to some sense of normalcy.... normal being realitive.

First - good news - I'm going HERE in August with Cayla. YUP! Hawaii baby... I've never been, always wanted to, so I'm going. I bought my ticket last week and I'm going... August 4 - 9 you can find me basking on the beach in Kona...I'm sure something will happen on our trip that will be blog worthy so I'll try to update.. unless I'm asleep or tipsy on the beach... then you will have to deal with waiting until I get back. However; tipsy would also make for a good post..I don't think I've "drunk blogged"... could be interesting...I'll make sure spell check is active.

So I'm super excited about vacation - I can't wait....

and now it's Tuesday... I started this yesterday but got tied up with work and wasn't able to finish my post...

So where was I ... OH THAT'S RIGHT I'M GOING TO HAWAII! Jealous yet? Have I mentioned it enough yet?

My pic of the week for last week is a before and after...

Before:














DRUM ROLL PLEASE....



AFTER:




















I can't believe it! I feel amazing - I've done a triathlon (about to do a second and third) Cayla has done 2 (b/c I missed the registration... remember HERE)

It has been amazing to have a goal and stick with it. Cayla has inspired and motivated me in ways I never thought possible. We were riding our bikes a few weekends ago at the lake and I said to her... "Did you ever think 1 year ago we would be riding our bikes around Grapevine lake?" and she said "No, but i love it" and I said "me too"

Somethings are better shared with other people... and this is one of them!

Two Poems....

God looked around His garden
and He found an empty place.
He then looked down upon this
earth, and saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
and lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be beautiful,
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering,
He knew that you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough
and the hills were hard to climb
So he closed your weary eyelids,
and whispered, "Peace be thine."
It broke our hearts to lose you but
you didn't go alone,
For part of us went with you
the day God called you home.
(Author Unknown)

When I am gone, release me, let me go.
I have so many things to see and do,
You mustn't tie yourself to me with too many tears,
But be thankful we had so many good years.
I gave you my love, and you can only guess
how much you've given me in happiness.
I thank you for the love that you have shown
but now its time I traveled on alone.
So grieve for me awhile, if grieve you must
then let your grief be comforted by trust.
That it is only for a while that we must part,
So treasure the memories within your heart.
I won't be far away for life goes on.
And if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me, I will be near
you'll hear all my love around you soft and clear
And then, when you come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and a "WELCOME HOME".

Gone but not forgotten....

I cannot begin to even mention every person that has called, emailed, texted, facebooked, myspaced, etc their condolences. Thank you so much to each of you for your outpouring of love, support and prayer. I don't think I could have made it through the last few days without each and everyone of you.

I still cannot believe that Jessica is gone. It is so hard to wrap my head around the fact that she has left our earthly world. I take comfort in knowing that she is in heaven completely healed and sitting at the right hand of our Lord. I know she was greeted in heaven with "Well Done My Good and Faithful Servant" but it still is hard here for those of us that survive her. For the last 16 years of my life I have talked to Jessica nearly every day... minus the last few months because of her cancer... I can't stand the thought of not being able to call or email her or text her silly little things that we shared. It's hard to imagine that she won't be standing in my wedding when I get married, or be there at the birth of my children, or be the two little old ladies at Luby's having lunch...

She was my best friend - through and through. We went through alot together since we met in 7th grade...and now I know she will watch over me and protect me through the remainder. She is my angel...

I have prayed daily for 2 1/2 years that Jessica would beat this disease. That she would be the one that lived to tell her triumph over cancer... but that was not God's plan for Jess. Jessica bravely defeated this disease and she lives in heaven... it is the cancer that is dead.

I just can't say thank you enough to all of you who read this blog and prayed for her. Your prayers were felt by many. Please continue to pray for Bo, Ronnie, Stephanie, Juli and James as well as Jess' countless friends.

She will be missed by many.... until we meet heaven I will miss her everyday...

BFFASSFEAEAEAEAE....

This was something that Jess and I wrote at the bottom of every note during our grade school years and every email there after... BFFASSFEAEAEAEAE...

It stands for: Best Friends Forever And Secondary Sisters For Ever And Ever And Ever.....

She was my "secondary sister"... I will forever miss her

Jessica Ashley Gage Bonesio....

My precious best friend has gone to dance with our Heavenly Father....

Please pray for Jess and her family during this incredibly difficult time. Don't take for granted one moment with your family, friends and loved ones... you never know when they may be taken from you.



Jessica was the best friend a girl could ask for. I will miss her everyday until we meet in Heaven ...

I love you Jessica Ashley - I can't wait to see you again...

PLEASE VOTE!!

Please vote for my friend Kristi ...

HERE!!!

Click HERE and you will be directed to Jenny Garland's blog. Scroll down and vote for Kristi's Pleated Summer Clutch!

Thanks so much!

2nd and 3rd Tri - should be 3rd and 4th but whatever...

I have officially signed up for my 2nd and 3rd triathlons! I'm super excited! This should be my 3rd and 4th but I'm still ticked at active.com for not letting me register for the one this past weekend that I should have done with Cayla. But oh well...

My 2nd one will be over July 4th weekend in Irving... a Sprint Distance this time... 500M Swim, 12Mi. bike and a 5K (3.2 mile) run... The 3rd will be in Rockwall in August 300M pool swim, 14 mile bike and 2.9mile run

I 'm super nervous about the swim ... again because it's open water and I freaked out last time... and haven't really been in a pool in about four weeks. Tony and I semi-swam yesterday...but I'll be honest I was way more interested in laying out than working out...

The bike - I'm always nervous about... this will never change... I feel so uncomfortable on a bike it isn't even funny... I'm going to go today and get a new saddle... I think that may be the reason I'm so uncomfortable... I also want to buy a bike rack for my car... I'm tired of having to basically take my bike apart to get it to fit in my car.

FYI - This sport is freakin' expensive...

The run - I'm most confident it. A 5k is nothing to me anymore...well alone a 5k is nothing... compound it with a swim and a bike and it may be another story...

So it's back to the training program... I found a 13 week training program that I took the last 5 weeks of and I'm going to work off of that. I should be fine... but you never know and I don't want to get too confident... b/c then I will drown in the swim, crash on the bike, or fall during the run...

I went last week and got "officially" fitted for my bike. The guy at the bike shop said my craigslist road bike wasn't too terrible after all! He said it was probably a '93 or '94 model ... which is old but has really good working components. I was excited to hear that.. but I do have the new bike bug now.

They have some pretty nice bikes for not too terribly expensive for a road bike. I've decided I don't want a tri-specific bike... I think I would enjoy a road bike more and I would rather add the tri-components to my bike than have it designed specifically for tri's.

I hope to start enjoying cycling more.. I think a new saddle will definitely help. I also think a good pair of cycling shorts may do the trick too. The only bad thing about cycling shorts is I can't wear them when I compete. The padding is awesome for long rides but if you try and swim in a pair of cycling shorts you are basically swimming in a diaper and will chaff on a run like nobody's business. My tri-shorts are much more friendly for competition. They aren't very water absorbent which is good and the padding isn't very thick so chaffing isn't a problem during the run and they provide just enough cush on the tush to be beneficial.

I'm also thinking about graduating to clip-in pedals and cycling shoes... Apparently it helps alot with speed and non-fatigue...however I'm still nervous about this because I'm afraid I'm going to crash when trying to clip out...
That would make for a good blog post...

Wish me luck as my training starts again...