Active Friends

In my early 20's whenever a birthday rolled around it was all about eating good food, finding a hip bar, club or both and partying the night away.  Now a decade later and things have changed.  Don't get me wrong, I do like to have a good time just in a different way. For my 32nd bday I ran a 1/2 marathon.  After the relay triathlon my friend Santa said she wanted to do a full sprint tri.  She found one the weekend before her bday and asked me to compete with her. I love that my friends want to go out there and be active.

I've trained but not 100%.  I worked a crazy work month with a lot of OT.  But all things considering I know I can and will finish the race. The main thing I am worried about it not know my bike and gears yet. 

Did I forget to mention I got a NEW bike.  A Jamis Venture Sport Road bike.  It's the 2012 model so got a killer deal of $525! And I have my loving hubby to thank for it because it was part of my bday gifts.  The race entry was also a gift.  THANKS BAY!

At first I really liked the model up from this one and a 2013 model, but Jay had a good point. I am new to the sport, I am not a cyclist so why spend a ton of money on a bike not knowing if I am going to train more after this race.  True... very true.  I went with reason and ended up with a pretty cool and fast bike none the less.  I went on a 11 mile bike ride the next day and was pleased.

I also got new shoes in the mail yesterday.  I had given this running store a second try after having a bad experience with them in the past and they failed miserably!!  They got me in the wrong shoes 3 times and I have the blisters to prove it.  After the last return I opted out of an exhacnge and I went online with the newest version of my last 3 pairs of running shoes.  I don't have time to break them in before the race.  Not only because the race is 4 days away but because I have come down with a yucky cold.  I am a walking mucus machine. Ick!

Wish me good luck!

It's the thought that counts?

I have had two people in my life that gave me a card in the last year with a promise to do an event/activity with me.  One was a graduation gift and another was a bday gift.  What is the protocol to cash it in? It's somewhat awkward to say "hey, you know that gift you promised me?"
Jay was like "what type of shit is that?... "I want to be able to do that." It made me feel like
1.) They didn't have money to buy a gift, so why bring it up now in case that is the real reason
2.) They didn't take the time to get a gift so this was a last stitch effort 

Isn't this why gift cards/certificate were invented?  I mean I am super excited to get my massage/Spa day and trip to Catalina Island, but I guess I am SOL right?

Is there a protocol for asking for the gift or is that tacky?  Shouldn't the other person just bring it up??? HELP!

I did it!

When I turned 30 I went on a family hike because I wanted to start off my 30's healthy. Two years later and staying active is still the way I like to celebrate my bday.

I ran 13.1 miles with no training and after working a 12hr graveyard shift. Yay me!! My goal was to do it under 2:30 and barely made it with a finish time of 2:27!

I was losing steam around mile 8.  My legs were cramping up and fatigue had really started to set in. Jay has gone on pack runs around our house so when I saw some one running it reminded me of him and I quickly picked up my speed.  My legs felt heavy but I followed this Army ROTC member has he rapidly weaved in and out of groups.  I was extremely motivated!  I was able to keep up for almost 3 miles. 

And here are my result.

But I didn't finish this race without some clear evident of my lack of training and breaking in new running shoes.  3-4 blisters on each foot (gnore my sock fuzz).

 No pain, no gain... right?