W-squared

this morning i attended a weight watchers meeting. my first ever. i wasn't sure what to expect, but when you look in the mirror and still aren't happy what you look like, despite the triathlon, the swimming and all the exercise, something still isn't adding up. so i'm giving this a try. it'll be interesting, but i want each day to be a little victory. an exploration of new foods and creations that are healthy options, appropriate portions and enjoyable. i want to enjoy food and not be so concerned with what exercise regimen i have to do the next day to burn it off, but to enjoy at the time because i've eaten the right foods, the right portions, feeling satisfied and not gluttonous. I've realized how much of a glutton I can be in so many ways and I think to myself and justify that it is okay because I see people around me doing the same, but that doesn't make it okay. as i'm studying the body, especially watching and working with clients who are elderly, i look at the choices that are made early in life and how that effects their health, their body, the entire aging process. i visited my beautiful grandmother the other day and each time I see her, I see beauty and simplicity and strength at the age of 88. she has very quickly become a woman who i would like to reflect in my life. she takes care of herself, is so even kiel, healthy, and loves her husband so well. She is not quick to anger or judge. She is beautiful. starting on weight watchers is for myself, but i think it's to begin really taking care of my body in more ways than one so that when i am my grandmother's age, may i be a woman who is still in good shape, healthy and a joy to be around. i think it begins now...not waiting for too long to see the life that i want to live. thank you mimi, you beautiful soul.

Love

I came across this reflection from my church in Boulder tonight and I can't help but share it. As I'm still getting accustomed to a new city, new people, new school, new places...
I have so many questions about love...what is it? how is it expressed to new people? how is it perceived by those people? how is love experienced by different people? do we really recognize it when it's being sent our way?
Why is love able to pierce the soul and when I don't want to love, God steps in and loves for me. And what a concept to be completely drained, but continued to be filled by a God who calls us to Himself so that He can be glorified in love that conquers and that the world says, "that shouldnt be" and God says, oh but it can be and will. Time after time, I realize my efforts to love are insignificant compared to what God is able to do through me.

Just thinking about love...

"The love for equals is a human thing--of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles.

The love for those less fortunate is a beautiful thing--the love for those who suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the failures, the unlovely. This is compassion, and it touches the heart of the world.

The love for the most fortunate is a rare thing--to love those who succeed where we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love of the poor for the rich, of the black man for the white man. The world is always bewildered by its saints.

And then there is love for the enemy--love for the one who does not love you but mocks, threatens and inflicts pain. The torture's love for the torturer. This is God's love. It conquers the world. "

--Frederich Buechner, The Magnificent Defeat

summer tips!

After the triathlon in June, I've had trouble feeling really motivated, especially in the heat and without a specific goal in mind. I've thought about doing another triathlon in Louisiana in September but because I'm not there, the motivation factor is definitely not there. Well, I just ran across this article and although they are pretty simple suggestions, I think it might be just what I need...

http://www.active.com/nutrition/Articles/The-Diet-Detective-Top-10-Summer-Health-Tips.htm?cmp=282&memberid=105660354&lyrisid=20792279

Open Water Simulation not as easy as it sounds....

Last night we did a swim workout-some drills, some longer distances and ended with what Jeff assured us would be FUN. And of course, it was! We got noodles out-simulating of course the arms and legs flailing around in the open water, plus some kickboards...so I thought I enjoyed swimming but now it's turned into a game...and who doesn't love games that involve some level of competition? So swimming just became a bit more challenging and tiring! Swimming a few strokes and then lifting your head out of water just so you can still think you are in line with your target--sitings, if you will of these 6 foot buoys we are to be looking for in the race. I say middle of the pack, try to not to get kicked in the face and just have some FUN...isn't that what this is all about, or is the hokey pokey what it's all about...

run down, defeat and a dash of spring fever

I didn't feel encouraged last night until after the workout when I was surrounded by my friends who, even in the midst of my physical struggles during training, they tell me that I can do it. They've seen the progress, the work and the ambition, but when I'm in the middle of the pool and feel like drowning, those voices and all the hard work I've put in seems to go away when I'm struggling that much.

This is not about defeat, it's about the limitations of the human body. And I'm ok with the fact that my limitations are different than others, but I hit a wall last night. I don't know if it was because my mind was, what it seemed like, in an entirely different place and I couldn't focus on what was in front of me. The fact that my mom had surgery or that 2 kids at my school broke an arm and a finger within 2 hours of each other, well let's not get into all the other stuff that was probably filling up my brain last night while in the pool that made me feel like I weighed 200 pounds while in the pool...sigh.

Enough rambling, today is a new day. It's raining and let's be honest, spending so much time in Georgia, running in the rain is in my top 5 things I love to do. No iPod, no music, just me, my spandex and the rain pouring down...oh not to mention sopping wet shoes and the hot shower I get to take after the run. April showers, you are precious to me...with or without a rain jacket. Speaking of running, I'm going to Moab today with several others and although I don't mountain bike (as it is the mountain biking capital for those west, and for that matter, east of the Mississippi), I wonder why exactly it is that I'm going. My sweet roommate today reminded me that there are several terrific trails to run down, to go spend time in Arches National Park and well Laura and I will spend quite some time painting while we are there. Looking for that inspiration that takes me out of my Boulder self and takes me somewhere new. New trails, new adventures...if only for the weekend. I think it will be good for training purposes to shake it up a bit, get out of Boulder, and just have fun. Get back in touch with some of the reasons why I'm doing this race and spend time with some outrageously genuine and funny people.

be my potter and i'll be Your clay. mold me and make me something beautiful for You.

another brick tonight

BRICK TONIGHT!

the weather is beautiful, not too windy, blue skies, temperature seems close to perfect and we are doing our first outdoor brick tonight.

A little run, a little bike and another run.

This is going to be good. However, I do have a little bike maintenance that needs to happen before the ride tonight. Thank goodness for Mazanti who got me a new shifter and put it on the bike for me. I'm so fortunate to have friends that are so skilled in bike maintenance. I should have taken advantage of this a long time ago. I have so much to learn. What is going to happen if I leave Boulder and still don't know exactly how to change a bike tire, properly that is...

Well, here's to another brick, another day of training, and a few chocolate covered almonds that I'm about to enjoy...
protein + good fat + chocolate = rocking that brick tonight :)

genuine encouragement

We talked about transitions last night for the race. Transitions seem to be an event in themselves. How to put your bike on the rack, where to place your towel so your feet are drying, how to begin taking the wetsuit off while putting your helmet and sunglasses on. I'm afraid of getting disqualified for not clipping my helmet on before the mount line. So many things to consider in a triathlon. However, I'm just going to start practicing and folding all of my clothes neatly in the locker when we do bricks so I can change quickly and practice those skills...you know it's obviously not JUST about athleticism.

After talking about the transitions, we got into the pool to do a bit of a speed workout for the night. Because I hadn't been in the pool since last Tuesday I was nervous about how strong I'd be in the water. However, I'm feeling stronger and a lot more fluid in the water. But at the end of the workout, Jeff, our coach, was extremely encouraging with my form and how I've improved over the past month or so! This is such a boost of encouragement and even the other women said that they were in the water and Jeff had used my stroke as an example for them.

I just have to say for those that aren't super fast in the water, just dive on in, have fun with it, and work hard.

mizuno magic

As posted yesterday, I was going to Fleet Feet for the first part of our training class...let me just say, no matter where you live, I would suggest anyone and everyone go to Fleet Feet to have them measure your feet and get you in the shoe that fits your "natural" foot perfectly. I've never been anywhere that looked at my foot and measured it with such precision. Seriously, she knew how I was going to walk BEFORE I started walking...

Well, in the end, after trying on several pairs of shoes, mid-stability running shoes if you must know, I ended up with a Mizuno. I used to play volleyball in them, which brings me back to bump, set and spike it days, but these shoes fit like a glove. I feel like I'm running barefoot and we could sit here and argue that running barefoot is the best way to do it for your foot, but it's freaking cold in Boulder, even in April. I mean if I lived in parts of Africa, we might having a different conversation, but I like shoes and they like my feet. I ran in them this morning, I'm doing hip hop in them later, I just hope I don't wear them out before the race in June...maybe I should get another pair.

Instead of running last night, I woke up this morning at 500am to hit the gym for a run prior to the Sculpting class. Well I ran for a bit on the treadmill and then thought it'd be a good idea to get a weight training "head start." So I worked out on a few machines, no big deal, right? WRONG. Halfway through sculpting I thought my arms might fall off. Bad idea, you live and you learn, maybe I'll have definition sooner...sleeveless tops? thank you spring!

Continuation of the day...since I didn't sleep very well the past three nights, I figured I should try and run my physical body down, so last night I thought I was headed to a hiphop class but there was a sub there who was going to teach **ZUMBA**
I've only taken zumba once, but this was so much fun, all the latin music you could ask for, shakin it all around. If you've never been to a zumba class before, I'd suggest going, it's high energy, the steps are pretty basic but you can heat it up with your own sizzling chili style and energy.

2 months, 5 days

The time until the Boulder Sunrise. I was in DC this past week during my spring break. For the first time in a long time, I was on a road bike. We rode around the city, climbed some urban "hills," but it got me all fired up to start riding here in Boulder...oh and when I came back, it was 78 degrees outside, blue skies. I have a new shifter for my bike to replace the broken one and I'll be out riding. old stage here I come!!!

Tonight we are running and doing some kind of talk at Fleet Feet http://www.fleetfeetboulder.com/index.html about shoes, running, etc. Should be interesting. Excited about random factoids that will help my running, maybe all I need is a pair of shoes with magical powers.

ohh I'm going to get my...

butt kicked today at training. I didn't go for my run this weekend and let me be extremely honest, I did not eat the best foods for me this weekend either. I felt slothful and a little bit lazy and I absolutely hate that feeling, especially after such a great week. Can I blame it on the weather? No! Saturday was gorgeous, but I was not feeling it at all. Instead I dyed my hair, watched Grey's Anatomy, ate a Caprese sub at Half-Fast (quite delicious), danced to a Mirimba band at the Draft House Saturday night...and Sunday almost felt like a repeat a little bit, except this day included church, mid-afternoon coffee, and learning the Argentine Tango for 2 and a half hours during the night. So I guess it wasn't a totally lazy weekend, but as far as training is concerned I slacked a great deal. Can't dwell on it though, just be prepared for an extremely difficult week of training.


Well, here's to Monday!

swim, swum, swam and a little victory

It's 910am and I've been up for 4 hours already. As my alarm clock on my phone went off at 508, I miraculously hopped out of bed, put my bather, sweatpants, fuzzy boots and puffy jacket, grabbed half a banana with a T. of crunchy peanut butter (mmm delicious) and headed out. It only took me 8 minutes to get to the gym, realizing green lights and no traffic are a gift at 525.

Here comes the other surprise, I got on the scale and I'm at 142 (4 pounds less than when I started this little blog/training extravaganza) so that was totally encouraging and I am feeling stronger, well that was quite the motivation to get in the pool and do the advanced swim workout on our schedule. The workout was a challenge, but again, it just felt good. I did not lift weights yesterday (which I was supposed to do...), so I felt fresh as I got into the pool. 2200 meters total, a few drills, some speed work, but still just building endurance. The hardest part for me is really remaining in this "midline," centering the stroke around this. It is exceptionally difficult towards the end of the workout as I'm tired and sometimes I feel myself getting sloppy in the stroke (or maybe the sloppiness tends to happen in the middle, I notice it, and change it), but either way, there is a point in the workout where I don't look like a swan like I would like to in the water.

Looking forward to a Saturday of hard, but fun workouts, but tonight, I'm going to enjoy the rest of this gorgeous day!!!

Oh, p.a. last night when I came home, I made this delectable Southwestern potato (I haven't had a russet potato in years, but the combo of southwestern flavors was such satisfaction) and oh, I got to enjoy the other half of the potato with said toppings this afternoon for lunch. Being a vegetarian rocks.

I could go for hours

Last night was a "baseline" night as far as workouts are concerned, staying between a 70-75% HR. I ran for about 20 minutes on the treadmill, can I just say once more that treadmills are so boring? It's almost excruciating. It is mind boggling to me how people can run on treadmills for hours at a time, I could do that outside (I think), but inside, I'd fall asleep and probably fall off the treadmill...and well, I actually HAVE fallen off a treadmill before. It was scary and hilarious...

So after the run, I went upstairs to the spin room for a spin class (Jeff, our "coach") was teaching it. Because it was a baseline training day, I would have to take it semi-easy, but still push myself. We watched a video of the Saguaro National Park in Arizona, which was pretty but I was more focused on thinking about what my first road ride will look like when my bike is fixed and the weather is warm enough.

well to say the least, once we started riding, out of the warm up into the ride, I just felt like the energizer bunny, keep going and going and going. My body felt good, my legs felt strong, I was energized and thought I could last through the night, I guess that's what it is about sometimes, letting the mind takeover even when the body feels great.

My first brick

So tonight we did a "brick." A term that I'm sure most triathletes/duathletes, or just straight up athletes know the term. Well, only after a description of what this is, did I realize what I got myself into.

Let's say that today after work I was extremely tired, especially since a certain 6 year-old decided to pass along his highly contagious conjunctivitis to me. OH the joyous perks of working with elementary school kids who are not the best hand-washers in the world and love to spread germs. Sweet. So I was pretty tired and not thrilled about this aforementioned brick that we were doing at training tonight.

Well, here it is, we warmed up, did some "dynamic stretching" (what I remember as plyometrics in high school, but to each his own), ram for a good 20 minutes, got on the bike for another 25 minutes, and then ran for 20 more minutes. wow-just writing it down makes me feel tired. But it was good, I ran with 3 other people that kept a great pace-my tendency is to speed up or slow down and Im not the best at maintaining pace. I think that having these other people will be a great motivator as well as teach me to continue to check my pace and be willing to keep a steady pace as we build endurance throughout the training. Stretching, totally important and tomorrow is a day that will begin with some morning stretches. I love it, but for now, I'm about to enjoy a piece of pumpkin bread that I made and drink tea (let's face it, my nutritionist told me nothing to eat 2 hours before going to bed, but who are we kidding, I did my first brick today. small piece. small pleasure).

running...meh

Running is boring. I don't really like it. I liked it when I ran cross country because I had my friends running beside me, chatting, gossiping, not really concerned with how many miles we had to run that day, but just the enjoyment of conversation, laughter, and sometimes a little Sheryl Crow's Soak up the Sun thrown in there every now and again...

I ran on the treadmill Saturday morning and it was lame. Let's be honest, treadmills are just lame in general, maybe Ill like running when I go outside this week, but I would have rather walked for 2 hours than run for 33 minutes that I decided to run. Good thing I was listening to Enter the Worship Circle so at least I was able to praise the Lord as I ran, and thank Him that I have good and healthy legs to run on, to carry me, to run the race. Thank you God for giving me this body, today, to take care of, to push, to challenge, to nourish, and to repeat it all over again, day after day, moment after moment. It's good.

So tomorrow, tomorrow will be a new day, a new day of challenges, another triathlon class, and hopefully some good laughs throughout the day.

Til then, this tired body will find rest and be renewed as the sun rises once again tomorrow morning...

oh the bather...

Wearing my one piece bather reminds me of a certain camp, OZARK, I attended every summer for 10 years, plus a couple more years in my college days to be a counselor. This is where I learned to embrace the one piece. Hence, I'd rather strut around the Y in this one piece any day than showing off this pasty white tummy I have going on.

Well, last night we had another swimming technique session. Although I received some encouragement on my stroke and that I'm staying afloat and don't look like I'm just trying to keep my head above water, there are so many things to be thinking about as we supposedly "glide" through the water. Dangit Natalie Coughlin, you make it look so easy...

Well after about an hour of swimming, working on technique and drills, I was ready to get out of the pool. Jeff, our "coach", for the next 16 weeks, is really encouraging and I think is going to push, challenge, and encourage each one of us. Each day of training, I'm excited and encouraged by the people around me who are stretching themselves, working hard, and striving towards a goal.

Triathlon Training

I'm taking this triathlon training class at the Y and am so excited about it. I'm pretty sure for the next four months this is mostly what I'm going to be writing about...whether it's the workout, the challenges, the the meals I prepare, the joys and funny stories...whatever it may be, I just want to document the whole training process.

Here I am, 146 pounds, not very strong or having tremendous endurance, but I'm so excited about this triathlon, the journey, and the new friends I'll be training with. It's going to be one adventurous and bumpy ride.

Monday night was our class time--we talked to a massage therapist about the benefits of getting massages regularly through the training process...ummm, yes please! Sign me up. When they talk about sports massages, it's like they are talking about **actual** athletes, not amateurs who are just trying to finish my first triathlon...well whatever, I'm still looking forward to this massage when I'm all sore and tired from training.

I also thought I was an ok swimmer, I can keep my head above water, do flip turns, kick and breathe all at the same time...incredible. Oh, but last night we had a workout from one of the lifeguards that just proved to me how much work my stroke actually needs, you don't realize all the technical elements of swimming until you have someone to point out all the wrong you are doing. Not pulling enough with my stroke...so we put on this "parachute" thing and used the buoy to to pull and well, without fail, I realized how slow I was moving because I don't use my arms as efficiently as I could be...Well that's one leg of the triathlon that I'm going to be working on for quite some time...probably the next four months.

Oh I'm also, just to encourage myself going to be checking with weight changes, BMI changes, nutrition, etc. Stay tuned, it's going to be a wild ride.

Lent

Fasting.
Dying to self.
Refocus on God.
Becoming more of who God desires me to be.
Glorifying Him.

Some of these phrases confused me for a long time in Christian lingo, but I'm realizing that in context and understanding these different components, I have a much clearer picture of what Lent is about. Dying to the old self and accepting the new. Two days into Lent and not having eaten meat in 2 days; which is kind of surprising for me, I eat some kind of meat on a pretty regular basis--especially chicken, I love me some chicken. I don't crave meat on a regular basis, but I also love me a good hamburger every now and then...veggie burgers do it for a little while, but I don't think they cut it for a lifetime, or do they?? That is what I'm trying to discover in this process of Lent, or at least a part of it, what does it mean to understand that being able to purchase meat in the grocery store is a total luxury? We don't have to go out an kill anything, fatten up a cow, chase a chicken around only to kill it, roast a pig (a Courtney family tradition, thank you Uncle Tim and the number of years I've been exposed to such an experience).

It's like I've discovered a whole new world of vegetables and meals that are meatless that are just as delicious and because of the richness of color, just looking at them make me feel...healthier. But again, it's not even about that, I want to understand how people survived, functioned, and were active 1000 years ago-and yes I understand they killed animals for meat, but I'd like to discover what it's like to eat foods that are of the ground or grown on trees. I'm so thankful for this opportunity to try this, God, to know you more, and rely on you, instead what I have in my refrigerator and pantry.

Praises.

your hands

It seems like every time I get in the car, this song is on...and I don't really see it as a sign since it is quickly climbing the Christian music billboard, but I listen to it and get chill bumps. The story, the truth and the sound makes me heart ache in such a beautiful way. I just want to say thank you JJ for writing this song.

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands

change gears...

Triathlons are not a big deal in Boulder. They are something you do on the weekends for fun, sometimes they are challenging, but most of the time, it's just a nice "warm up" for the freak athletes that live in this town. Well, since I've always wanted to do a triathlon, I figure that I better do one in Boulder before I leave this town. Over the next few months I'll be training, with a friend, for the Boulder Sunrise Triathlon. I'll be raising money to support a cause of choice. The non-profit I'm racing for is iEmpathize.
http://www.iempathize.org/
As I train I want to be thinking about all the children who have been abused, victimized, and sold into the child sex slave industry. I don't want this triathlon to be about me. I want the focus to be on the victims of such a heinous crime. I want to advocate for them through this race and to use the body that I have been given to race for this organization.

Isaiah 1:17 again:
learn to do good,
seek justice,
correct oppression,
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause.

My hope is that one day I will go to Cambodia to fight against these injustices, in the meantime, I'm going to train with all I have.

taste and see

Sunday night was one for the books.

After brainstorming with my roommates about a birthday celebration we came up with an Iron/Top Chef meets Mission Impossible kind of evening. Well, for the next 5 days Sunday was a mystery, even to me. I had no idea what was going to happen; I only knew that creativity and chaos would take over our red kitchen on Sunday night. And did it ever...
30 people, onion chopping, limited appliances, trip to King Soopers where people thought we were on a cooking show, limited space, incredible smells, beautiful presentations and a surprise that was so overwhelming and unexpected!

I just have to say how thankful I am for friends that are so funny, engaging, creative, hilarious and compassionate!