two post combined and a bit of a ramble....

. A little fence jumping=no prob!

Mason found the best seat=basket

First thing, a big shout out to Todd...Good luck tomorrow in the race...he is on a 2week journey... first stop Germany and then off to Switzerland for the Ironman there...yip 2 Ironmans back to back...he never stops and I say a NO THANK YOU to that =) he can be the crazy one!!

SOOOO that leaves me solo parent for 2weeks...is it time for school to start yet???? Just kidding, it is actually going OK, other than living on soccer and softball Fields and the twisted cold weather we are having!! I was planning on being pool side everyday...well that ain't happening ;(

Yesterday I started off in a bit of a depression/rut I just wanted to cry and I was being mean to the kids....I hate when I get like that, but some days I can't help it....I had to just stop my piss ass mood and realize somethings/emotions are out of my control and not worth the pity party, plus it was Firework night and I did not want to ruin it for the kids....I somehow snapped out of it and the kids and my mother-in-law and I were off to have a good time....as you can see in the photo's we did :) We started off at our main station and reserved our viewing spot and then here comes our little adventure....this year they moved the rides to a different location..that didn't stop us, we decided to go on a little mile adventure to find the rides Me, Grandma and 7 crazy kids Jumped fences...6 of them to be exact...got busted by the cops, just in time for them to witness me jumping over a fence with heels on and lost a shoe in the fence..I had the "oh shit" look on my face and they had the "serious" look...but then they laughed at me and were impressed that I managed with heels=) The kids keep calling me the slow old Grandma..as it took me a little longer to get over.....I think the cops thought we were all drunk as we could not stop laughing!!

We reached the rides with the sneak in approach(by jumping fences)....hey it saved me $40.00...damn I am turning my kids into criminals already......well that is what they get for changing the rides location...I was NOT paying both places to get in...STIFF!!!!

We all had an awesome time..the fireworks were great and the fatty food was awesome...the VERY loud music was a bit annoying but the drunks and kids seemed to like it =) I LOVE days like that..seeing the huge smiles on kids faces....sometimes we need to get out of our piss mood and just enjoy.......

Kids spent the night with Grandparents...wahhhhooooo...I slept in until 10...I CAN"T remember when I have done that....then to top my day off I went for my FIRST run in a month....The doc wanted me to take some time off and I will start therapy on the knee when Todd gets home....it is too hectic right now...SO I headed out for a 10 mile run...first two miles I was wasting too much time with my costume malfunction...I wore these cute little Asics shorts that smokin hot body Desiree Ficker had on the cover of Triathlete.....well they look cute but man my "JUNK" was hanging out everywhere..I wasted so much time tucking my gut in and pulling wedgies, so my butt cheeks weren't showing....That got old I just wanted to RUN...I said screw it..I don't care who sees my cheeks...I am enjoying this dang RUN....Mission accomplished some pain, but managed!!! It felt good to be back!!

Hope everyone is having an awesome 4th weekend......

Luckily I can laugh at myself "Training day turns into survival"

AWESOME =) This is ALL I wanted!!!



CLUELESS=DORK =)
YIP helmet on backwards!




Going out!!



The Family =)

I HAD to keep telling myself it is "just a training day" don't think of any "great times"....with about 7 pool-swims....4 bike rides in (since last July) and injured knee with my runs turning into walking...I had to keep telling myself it is OK...but many time I felt I had NO business being out there with my lack of training..I HURT HURT HURT...my body is sooo feeling it today..I have never been this sore after a race....I can honestly say the ONLY thing on my body that doesn't hurt is my finger nails =) even my hair was a matted mess and I had to cut knots out, so even sore head!!!! WTH..how does that happen???

The killer swim all I have to say is 1:01 hummmm....how could you have a blasting time with that swim time=) What is wrong with me.....IF I didn't have my kids...I would have QUIT...if you don't know...I panic in open water swims and CAN NOT put my face in the water..and I mean not even for one second..I swim that whole freakin swim bobbing up and down...well this time I really didn't think I was going to make it...the waves were at some points 3 ft and I sucked in so much water which lead me to puke 3 times and I was breathing so heavy my goggles steamed up I had no clue where I was going and went of course tons...I am out there ALONE :( towards the middle of the swim I thought my race chip was coming loose so I started treading water and reached down to tighten it...BIG MISTAKE..my calve muscles started cramping...I did NOT know what to do...I thought for sure I was going under...I even yelled for a boat..but nobody was around...after that swim I don't know if I EVER want to swim AGAIN......my kids and nO boat kept me going....

The bike..(after the swim) check the photo above....DORK...I put my helmet on BACKWARDS..aahhh and the photographer was so nice to catch my fine moment..I was cursing "why is this thing not fastening and feels so not right...DUH....you can laugh at me it is OK =) I was cruising along trying to feel my legs and catch my breath...keep pedaling...keep pedaling..but
my butt and crotch and legs were telling me I cause my OWN pain for not training more..after I reached 38 miles I was DONE.......I did have some conversation with some people out on the ride so that was fun...some girl said I deserve bonus points for wearing a swimsuit and being so tough...hum if she only knew how raw I was becoming!!! time 3:09

The run..2:06
this is when I knew (other than the swim ) suffering was coming...BUT I also knew few more hours and I AM DONE...and I will see the kids and have my photo =) I haven't done any brick training since last year..so I knew my legs were going to feel like jello..I was going to try and run as long as my knee would allow.....well not long....but I wasn't expecting anything fast..when I was bringing it home there were my beautiful kids waiting for me with smiles and we grabbed hands and ran in together....at that moment the pain was gone and I DID IT.....that is what I was waiting for...PRICELESS.... Loved it!!!!

So there it was a HARD,,PAINFUL day of training....I did the challenge and that it was...

next up Duathlons
only =) kidding but I really thought of that...seriously how are you suppose to have a fast race with a slow ass swim time like that...I waste so much energy just trying to stay a float to get the heck out of that water..try to swim that way sometime and see how you do =) I dare you!!! I sux...ha! DON"T follow my training plan.......

Next up go to my Sports Doc next week and get this knee fixed =) I can't wait to RUN again!!!

Going for the Challenge.....

LOOK the suit was an irregular size
I DIDN"T grow an extra ass...my
11 year old can wear it...OH my what would
I have done if I didn't TRY IT ON
before the race..yikes =)

Just a quick update....First thank you for the good luck wishes on face book..you guys are the best:) Second thank you for the people who was giving some helpful info for my knee issues..at the moment I will just "deal" and then I go back to see the Doc after the race and will start the "fixing" process..and I think I am going to go see a Chiropractor to see if maybe I am out of whack...I have had problems in the past with my right hip being higher than my left so I am thinking maybe that is throwing my stride off....but will know more after the race...but thank you guys for showing your caring concerns =)

A HUGE thank you to SPLISH...I got my race suit and let just say "OH MY" did I pack on another ass since last year....it was like running in a thong..so I emailed them to see if I could go up a size and was wondering if the suit comes irregular sizes sometimes....they were quick to fixing my problem and sent me not just one suit but two..... one in the normal size I wear (28) and a larger size (30).....good thing they did because the smaller (my normal size) fits.....so NO extra ass for me just a irregular size...whhheewww that was a scare=)

SOOOOO I have decided to go with the 1/2 distance...most of you voted for me to do the shorter distance and my husband said I would NOT be happy with whatever choice I choose anyways...and he is probably right...I feel fit/trained for the sprint and think I would do well...BUT like people have said I have NOTHING to prove and I would have sooo much energy balled up after the sprint I would be mad at myself for not pushing myself for the longer distance...so I guess I want a little of pain:) I don't feel well trained and my friends laugh at me because I start training just weeks before a race...with my Whooping 4 bike rides since last July....my 3 Open water swims EVER(all during a race)...and my runs are now half run /half speed walk .....so that is what makes this FUN...to push myself and just be out there for ME and my kids at the finish line...nothing else matters...it doesn't matter that my friend Susan is going to CRUSH my ass..she trains yearly ( no thank you on that..ha!!) actually I am rooting for her...as this is her first year with a coach and I am excited to see her improvements...she will rock!!!

I am NOT going into this race with any high expectations....I already have in my head this : the swim is going to SUCK regardless....if there is WIND on the bike I am screwed (wimp to wind)...With my knee the way it is I will be walking at least 9 or 10 miles of the run......and LAST wah wah..."who cares"..... the smile on my kids face is PRICELESS :+)

I head up to MI. tomorrow evening...NO taking it easy for me...I am SOLO(Todd has to get the race set up)...so busy busy..... Madison has a Birthday party to go to.....I have 5 people to pack for....Skylar has a softball game...I need to get stuff to my in-laws ...as they are bringing my 2 younger ones up to race the day of...and here is the kicker...Skylar is taking 5 friends...so I have to round them all up and take them with me:) and hope I can get them to go to bed early!!!!

GOOD TIMES...lets ROLL!!!

So here is to a good hard "training day" and GOOD LUCK to you if you are racing this weekend...HAVE FUN.....

(I will be thinking of you Jill....I hope all that hard/crazy training your coach had you do makes it seem "easy" for you...even though you really do make me feel and look like a slack ass:) go and kick some butt!!

Sorry it wasn't QUICK...I guess my nerves are coming...chatter box here:) have a wonderful weekend!!!

Screw this...Screw that..."Yeah what she said"

The new BLING (tendon band)

I went on a little run today to test out my new "BLING" and I came across a boyfriend and girlfriend taking a smoke break behind their work place...(thanks for letting me inhale your poison..yuck) I believe they were in an argument...as she was loudly yelling "Screw this....Screw that"....YEAH that is MY motto for today:) After visiting my awesome Sports Doctor and discovering I have Chronic Patellar Tendonitis...WTH is that???....ya know how they go in their brainy Doctor terminology and as the good patient who acts "smart" and just gives them the ya nod but really has no f-in clue what they are talking about.....So when I got home I looked it up on the computer and here are some of the descriptions it gave me:

1. Patellar tendonitis is an injury that affects the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone.:

2. Patellar tendonitis is a common overuse injury. It occurs when you place repeated stress on your patellar tendon. The stress results in tiny tears in the tendon, which your body attempts to repair. But as the tears in the tendon become more numerous, your body can't keep up, causing the inflammation in your tendon to worsen.

3. Because of the special nature of this kind of chronic patellar tendonitis the treatment is quite difficult to achieve. In fact, there are many instances when chronic patellar tendonitis treatment
has required the patient to have to spend as many as over two years getting the condition treated.

Surgery is often the only treatment option for those who suffer from chronic patellar tendonitis.

SOOOO....Really what does this mean...seriously I think they just slap a name on an injury and really don't know how to cure it....other than saying which my Doctor did laughing at me...I said so how we going to fix this and he said "DON"T RUN...haha!!!! SO being the good girl patient I went for a 8 mile run and wore my little tendon strap and put my Votaren Gel on and honestly it did not do SHIT...reached mile 3 and PAIN....... I will keep trying this damn band and see if I have any improvement.....I did get that nice BLOOD BLISTER(photo above) on my toe...because I got caught in a down pour WALKING.....back to screw this and that:)

I go back to the Doc....right after the race and we are going to discuss Platelet-Rich Plasma injections....he apparently did not want to discuss this with me just yet as it is not going to help me before the race and he doesn't want to scare me....and he said I will have to take time off training and it is quit painful....when I see the word Plasma...I KNOW THAT MEANS BLOOD...and that = OUCH......

QUESTIONS: Why wouldn't BOTH knees hurt I use them equally.....and I am not hard core at training as most people I know...I DO NOT train year around....so WHY aren't the people who are hard core runners and people who do Ironmans...why are they not all having this issue??? Huummmm!!!

So help me with a decision....I am battling with ....SHOULD I do the half Ironman distance for a good "training day" and to challenge myself with the down fall of suffering and shitty times (which I am OK with) OR should I do the Sprint distance and try and kick ass...but have the feeling " BIG DEAL".....I WILL get the photo with my kids either way...but if you were me would you go for the challenge or go for the trophy????

Racing plan???......WING It i guess!!

THIS is WHY I do it....Going for the PHOTO and SMILES:)


This is WHAT I do instead of 4 hour bike rides....sit on fair benches with
my sleepy baby, ready to barf my guts out from riding spiny rides with the kids
(I think MY age kicked in..NOT FEELING SO WELL HERE:)
Luckily Mason feel a sleep on mE.... my GOOD excuse of "why" I couldn't ride
anymore rides:) plus It gave me the chance to devour a elephant ear..french fries..
nachos...cotton candy..:)MMMMmmm..way better than a BIKE RIDE!!!!




I laugh as my blog has turned into all KIDS things more than "what I am doing"....maybe because I really am NOT doing...


I have been catching up on my friends blogs and they are getting psyched up for racing and all these kick ass training they are doing...I applaud all of you for your dedication and hard work:) I love following all of you and I love reading about your race reports and am amazed on how fast you all are!! I wish wish I could get the drive....and some days I feel awesome and WOW myself...To be honest..as I have gotten some emails from other busy Mom's... asking how much training do I "really" do before a race or other emails asking how my training going....well lets see...I am planning on doing a half Ironman (Racing for Recovery) on June 7th and to date I can count on 2 hands on how many workouts I have done :( NOT enough... lets break this down, shall we:??


My bike was hung up since last early August....I took all winter off due to knee injury and horrible weather..just started training for the Half a few weeks ago and have managed I thought 4...but actually it was 3 bike rides with my 3rd one being 2 days ago and it went like this....planning on riding 40 miles..felt good first 20 miles... easy, comfortable and FUN...had side winds..so no effect...then coming back sucked ass...head winds the ending 20 miles and it took me at least an extra 25 min to get back..I wanted to call Todd to come and pick me up...seriously I am a wimp in wind..I can not focus and it takes my breath away..I was pulling at anything just to get me some speed...it turned into a karaoke..thank goodness I had my ipod with me.....I figured just sing LOUD and it will go quicker...I even raced a little wiener dog that thought he had a chance to catch me...and as slow as I was going he was looking pretty happy:) and I was happy it was only a small dog:) or I would have been dinner!!!


My running started off good and I felt dedicated...but the knee has been acting up again and my Doctor is thinking it is a tear or loose cartilage so is sending me to see an Orthopedist and to get a MRI..I have been putting it off too long and am sick of not having a good run, I LOVE 10 mile runs and when I head out and feel good for the first 3 or 4 miles and find myself limp jogging/walking the last 6miles it is NOT fun and frustrating....


The swim....not much there:) I do a master's swim class on Sundays and I feel like I have improved on my stroke since last year...BUT even though I feel OK in the pool and can hang on for an hour swim...it is a different story once I am in OPEN water....I panic!!! I had this little conversation with my swim coach it went like this : Me..so coach what if I swim in the pool with my eyes close?? Coach: annnnddd why would you do that?? I would not recommend it...you will hit the wall.... Me: I was thinking since I panic in open water..maybe it was because I can't see the bottom and I freak and decide I would rather swim the whole swim with head above water...Coach: YOU swim the whole swim with head above??? That wastes a lot of energy and loose a lot of time!!!! Me: Yip ya think:) I am just trying to figure out why I can not put my face in the open water....and thinking hum if I practice of not seeing shit..and swim like I am blind..maybe that would be the trick!!! Coach: still giving me that "what" look .......and somewhere "Mr. Retired triathlete" in the next lane was being nosey and had to put his 2 cents in and it had nothing to do with what I was dealing with.....So I got frustrated and said never mind!!!! Swam off.....uggggg I WILL figure it out someday!!!


Not much training and I don't recommend my training plan..ha...but really I can say this..if you are a new or want to be a triathlete...".you can do it"...it really is all mental...you can finish the race you set out to do..as long as you tell your mind you "can" do it and keep going:)


I KNOW I could be a better triathlete if I trained more and worked harder and followed a coaches plan...But as of now being a Mom comes first!! Last year was my first of racing which consist of 2 half Ironman...1 sprint tri... marathon relay(13 mile run)...5k...and ended the year with one DQ :(....one 2nd in age group, one 3rd in age group and one 2nd overall and one 2nd female overall/ 1st age group.....all hard wear went to Skylar:) and that ugly orange bag went to the trash:))


As of right now other things in my life are more important than 4 hour bike rides or 2 hour runs and more swims....I still have 2 little kids at home with me during the day and a husband who does Ironman and Ultraman...so with the little training I do is OK with me as I am not in this sport to be the "best"...I would rather have the photo with me and my 4 kids at the finish...that is the "high" I love...and that is "why" I am doing the half in a few weeks (as a training day for Augusta 1/2)...I did it last year but something was missing and that was Mason my youngest..he was sleeping..so I need a new photo:) SO while I am out there struggling...I know what will be at the finish for me and that is my 4 beautiful kids..and they don't care if I am first or last or somewhere in the middle:) they are just happy to be running and finishing with me!!



I hope this answered your questions on how "I train" and raise 4 kids who are very active in sports of their own...I do what I can (and with the help of Todd) and make the best of it:) Remember the mind is a powerful thing...if you think I can't then you WON"T...if you think I CAN then you WILL:)

BEING A MOTHER

This is what I mean...I can't always please them ALL..look
at the boys...one very too happy son..and one NOT so happy son
...look at MOM still smiling:) ha ha...



This is ME and my MOM...still love ya
even tho you dressed me like I belong on
"Little house on the Prairie" ......horrible:)



My brother's Scott and Kevin...you did good Mom:)
Just don't cut our hair EVER again:)



One of my favorite people in the world..
even tho she is my "Mother-in-law"..she
is like a sister/bestfriend...I love her so much:)




I would NOT trade this for the world...my children/my life


We Mother's all know that it isn't always an easy job...it is the second (after marriage) hardest thing in life...we want the BEST for our children and everyday we try and try to be the BEST Mom possible...I am learning as my children are getting older and there are 4, it is so hard to please them all!! I give and give myself and lose myself just so they will be happy! I am starting FINALLY learning it is Ok to say NO (they will still love me)...balance is the key..I am still not there yet..but getting closer...Somedays I want to throw the towel in and say I don't want to be a Mom anymore..it gets so hard at times..but that thought last for a second....WHAT OR WHO would I be without THEM???


Other Mom's look at me and ask me "how I do it all" it is the same with ANY Mom...you just DO...I have my UPS and DOWNS like anyone else out there:) I get inspired by other Mom's....I relate to other Mom's...I learn from other Mom's....but at the end of the day we are all the same no matter how many kids we have!!!


To be honest I never imagined myself with 4 kids,,,and if I could turn back the clocks I wouldn't have had 4...BUT with that being said (and probably not right to say) the KIDS I do have now I wouldn't trade them for NOTHING!! I was blessed with amazing, smart, caring, generous, well mannered, athletic, mouthy:) energetic, happy, loving kids!! They make me who I am today..Their is NO BOND stronger than the bond from a Mother and a child....they are going to LOVE you no matter if you are grumpy or happy!! Thank you Todd and God for these awesome kids!!!


It is funny as you grow up as a child, certain things your Mother did or said when you were little you said at the time "I will never turn into "My Mother" ...nothing against my Mom...but as a child you really don't think your OWN Mom is cool...Well I at times have TURNED INTO MY MOM:)....uuugggg I sound just like her!! But I turned out pretty damn good...Thank you Mom for being awesome..for being my teacher...being my hero....being my biggest supporter...giving me endless love...showing me the way to be the Mom I am today!!! Love you with all my heart!!


Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful soul Mother's out there...and remember when it gets tough...hang in there as "they" will become us someday:) scary but TRUE......Love and hug your children as they are molding us into who we are today "damn good MOM'S"

36 versus 8.....I don't see the difference:)~

MY BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER:)

This is me around Konor's age:)~ so YOUNG!!

OK ya ya ya the 8yr old beats me:) he is GOOD!!

I would say I am just as flexible or even more so than a 8 year old:)

Today 8 years ago I was celebrating my Birthday by giving BIRTH to my second child Konor and barfing pizza and Birthday cake at the hospital (note do not try to eat minutes after giving birth....stomach can't handle more work that quickly:)....He was the BEST Birthday present God could give me!!

So last night I was all snuggled in bed ready to dream about CAKE...well that was the KID in me..even tho the dream did not even come close to enjoying a piece of cake...it did give me WTF and a smile...I some how ended up on a cruise ship and at a line of a food buffet with this little chubby snot nose kid (I think it was the chubby snot nose kid from "Bad Santa" got me on him)anyways, he was wanting me to help him put some fish on his plate...so of course I did and I looked around for his parents..I all of a sudden turned from that kid wanting to dream about CAKE and turned into a MOTHER...I was worried that this kid might be allergic to FISH..so I was in hunt for his parents to see if it was OK for him to eat the fish...and in the search of trying to find his parents I WOKE up and laid there wide awake and was thinking WTF was that all about:) ha!! I think I would have rather dreamt about giving birth than this twisted dream..but who know maybe it is a sign for something:)

I remember around this time last year I received my first and only negative comment here on my blog and she stated that I acted more like a "child" than a "mother"...ya know what SHE IS RIGHT...but so what!! I DON"T need to just be a Mom who is saying "pick up your room"..."brush your teeth" " GO TO BED" SSHHHHHH...I do say these things a lot...but I look up the photo's above and I see more than just a Mom and son...I SEE a friendship....a little buddy...laughter...fun...goofiness...and I would not trade it!! I think AGE is just a number!!

Happy Birthday my little man Konor...I LOVE you so much!! Daddy and I are so lucky to have you as our son:) We are so Proud of you!!!

We are celebrating our Birthday at the kids school carnival tonight....YIP I will always be a KID:) Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!!