Three Things Thursday ...

Team Rev3 - For the past few days, Rev3 has been announcing their 2014 Age Group Team. Earlier this week, this sweet picture popped up revealing that I would once again be a member of this amazing group of athletes.

I feel so honored to be able to continue to represent and company that I truly believe in. The Rev3 family is amazing and I could never do them justice with a simple write-up. What I can do is recommend that you experience Rev3 Triathlon for yourself. There are events all over the U.S. (and soon in Mexico) for all levels of athlete and their families. These races are more than just a competition. They are a chance for the athlete and their entire support systems to experience endurance racing in a warm and family friendly environment. It's something I am proud to be a part of.

My Little Fish - As you may know, I was never a swimmer. When I was younger, I took enough swim lessons to not drown. During my first two years of racing triathlons, I only survived the swim covering the distance with a very pathetic breaststroke. Finally, when I decided to challenge myself with a 70.3, I knew I had to learn to swim. So, at the age of 29, I taught myself how to swim freestyle and how to cover more than 25 meters continuously. Over the past two years, I have improved immensely. I'd even consider myself a solid swimmer now and on most days, it's my favorite discipline.

This summer, J and I decided that we really needed to get all of our girls swimming independently. They took lessons all summer and by the time school was back in session we were floatie-free. While Doodle and Dilly were cool with their basic abilities, Dizzle really took to the water. She decided to continue lessons during the school year in hopes of passing into a high enough level to qualify for swim team. As of Saturday, she accomplished her goal.

pre-swim with my little fish ...

Dizzle will begin swim team in January and although I am psyched that she seems to have found her athletic outlet, I can't help but hope it will morph into triathlon at some point (although my wallet does not).

Four Eyes - J and I wear glasses. With insanely strong prescriptions. Both my sisters wear glasses. My dad wore glasses. J's parents and brother wear glasses. We have always known that it was a matter of time before all our kids also needed them. Dizzle got hers last December at the age of 7. Yesterday, Doodle (6) joined our little glasses wearing clan.

I'm not sure she could be anymore excited. Or cuter for that matter.

Brilliant, yet Scattered ...

I was under the impression that when your children are in school all day you suddenly have all this time to accomplish everything. Your productivity goes way up. Your house is always clean, your errands are always accomplished and you know what it means to have "leisure time".

I'm here to tell you that it's not true.

In fact, quite the opposite occurs. Or at least that's what has happened to me.

For the past three months, Dizzle and Doodle have been out of this house from 7:20 a.m. until 2:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. Dilly, who is still in preschool, leaves me to my lonesome every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

At a minimum, I have 15 kid-free hours a week to do whatever I want and yet, I never seem to get around to doing much. Yes, the house is clean, the family is fed and our bills are paid, but I have a laundry list of things that I want to tackle that hasn't been touched. No matter how much time I have, something else always seems to come up.

My most recent and pressing demand has been Dizzle - my brilliant, yet completely scattered child.

Dizzle has always been a bit of an anomaly. For as long as I can remember she has been innovative and hyper-focused (as in she gets so focused that she loses the world around her). It's absolutely amazing to watch, but it is also extremely frustrating. She is often so focused on one thing that you can't break her from what she is doing. It's like she lives in a bubble and that bubble can't be broken until she decides it is.

Then, other times, she jumps so quickly from one thing to another that it is impossible to keep her on task. She flits around until she finds something that interests her. When she's in this mode, it's hard to get her to follow directions, to listen intently, to follow through and to pay attention. Then, when you add any sort of stimulus, she gets overwhelmed. As you can imagine, getting stuck in this mode would make school simply torturous. Dizzle is often asking herself, "How can I do what I am supposed to do with all of these distractions around?"

While we have noticed these behaviors in Dizzle from birth, we often wrote them off as her being flighty. Up until this point, she hasn't really been affected by her behavioral tendencies, with the exception of a note here and there from her teachers about her constant interruptions and failure to follow directions. Other than that, she was fine. Her grades have always been excellent. Her standardized test scores among the top in the nation. And she wasn't disruptive.

However, this school year has brought on a whole new set of challenges. The increased workload and structure has made her "quirks" hard to ignore. She started to make more and more mistakes in her work (not for a lack of knowledge) and her teacher was constantly noting how Dizzle was failing to follow directions and stay on task.

We tried anything we could think of to help her stay focused. Dizzle would move herself to the back of the classroom when she felt distracted. She would wear earplugs to minimize the classroom noise while she worked and she would put up her "office" so she couldn't see what was going on around her. Yet, nothing she did seemed to help. She couldn't get past all the distractions.

As a parent (and probably as a teacher), this was incredibly frustrating to watch. I cried over the fact that I had no way to help her. Everyday was a battle with Dizzle. We struggled to get her homework done. I told her that all she needed to do was to find an environment that helped her to focus. She told me she was trying her best and despite my emotional outbursts, I knew she was telling the truth.

I felt like we weren't left with many options. I considered transferring her to an online school so that I could minimize her distractions and control the learning environment. J and I decided that we'd give it until mid-year before we made any firm decisions, but I thought the outcome was inevitable.

Honestly, I've spent so much time advocating for Dizzle in the past three months that I am convinced that her teacher's Christmas wish is for me to lose her email address. I have been so consumed with helping her find her way that I've been anxious and temperamental. I research and question then implement and question some more. It's been a rough three months for all of us.

Fortunately, after much back and forth about what we need to do, Dizzle's teacher finally said to me that if her child was dealing with the same issues that she would speak to her pediatrician. It was such a relief to hear that she could see the struggle Dizzle was facing and that it wasn't just parental overreaction. I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

Just before we left for Hawaii, we started the process of having Dizzle tested for ADHD: Inattentive Type (she shows almost none of the hyperactivity tendencies of ADHD). And once we were aware of what we were looking for, it became so evident that this is what we had been dealing with for the past eight years. And of course, I was instantly hit with mommy guilt for not recognizing it sooner.

Two weeks ago, Dizzle started medication to help with her symptoms. She is listening better both at home and at school, she feels that she is gaining the ability to work quickly and carefully (it's always been one or the other with her) and while she still has zany and out of this world ideas, she's realizing that she has to prioritize and that those ideas will still be there whenever she gets to them.

While we're not there yet (tweaking the dosage and medication will be an ongoing process), things are improving. And that's really all I can ask for.

November Rewind ...

Miles Run: 46.33 miles. Still super pathetic considering I used to do that in a week, but that's what off-season is all about, right?

Bike Miles Rode: 156.4 miles

Swim Meters Completed: 16200 meters or 10.07 miles.

 

Rest Days Taken: 5.

 

Highest Run Mileage Week: 11/4-11/10: 16.64 miles

 

Highest Bike Mileage Week: 11/25-11/30: 42.8 miles

 

Highest Swim Volume Week: 11/25-11/30: 4500m or 2.79 miles

 

Long Runs Completed (1 hr+ miles): 0

 

Current Book: Right now, I am reading The Bone Season by Shannon. But, I finished a few other books in November. (Note: For those of you who have asked, if it's on this or any of my lists, I would recommend the book. If I don't like the story or the book doesn't grasp my attention, I don't bother finishing it, thus it wouldn't be listed here.) 

• Cinder by Meyer
• Scarlet by Meyer
• Allegiant by Roth
• Just One Day by Forman
• Just One Year by Forman
• Bang by McMann
• Evermore by Noel
• Blue Moon by Noel
• Shadowland by Noel
• Dark Flame by Noel
• Night Star by Noel
• Everlasting by Noel
• So Yesterday by Westerfeld
• Across the Universe by Revis
• Airhead by Cabot
• The Naturals by Barnes
• Infinity by Ward

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: York Peppermint Patty Creamer. So yummy!

Current Colors: Orange and Navy
  

Current Drink: Tea. Lots and lots of tea.

 

Current Song: Counting Stars - OneRepublic

 

Current Triumph: I'm still crushing off-season training. And Thanksgiving was kind of epic. We celebrated with friends, ate an enormous amount of food and laughed until we cried. It was perfect. Much like the amazing gluten-free pies I made ...

 

Current Goal: Be a better me. Each and every day. And tackle my 2013 To Do List head on.

 

Current Blessing: Health, happiness and love. I've got all three.

 

Current Excitement: Everything Christmas. Except the music. That I could live without.

 

2013 To Do List:

 

Fitness:

• 140.6. That is all. - Yeah, not going to happen this year.
• Make time for strength training. Don't let training loads eliminate strength workouts completely. And stick to strength training in a group, it keeps you accountable. - Crushing this!
• Switch to time-based/HR training. Despite my knowledge of training paces, I have a hard time sticking to them. I'm hoping this will help me train more effectively. - I'm kind of over the HR aspect of this. Summer temps alone make this suck. 
• Log 4,500 cumulative run, bike and swim miles. Up 485 from 2012. - As of December 1st, 2774.5 miles logged. Not looking good at this point.
• Race a 10K with a finish time much faster than your very dated current PR of 53:17. I never managed to register for a 10K in 2012 and I'm not sure where it will fit in this year, but it's on my radar. - No progress on this one. But, it does look like I will run one in 2014.
• Set a new PR in the Half Marathon, currently 1:57:06. I totally blew this one in 2012 and will likely only have one good shot at it in 2013.- Fail. Epic fail.
• Run a 5K with Dizzle and Doodle, even if that means tricking them into it. - We really need to get on this.

Nutrition:

• Eat like a gluten-free athlete. After struggling with health issues much of 2012, removing the gluten has been key in alleviating the symptoms. Don't be swayed by the lure of wheat. Or cake.- On point, like usual.
• Find the race day (and training) nutrition plan that works for me.- Ding, ding, ding!
• Consume no more than 18 desserts from Shyndigz. This number worked well in 2012 and helped me cut back on my serious cake addiction. Plus, their gluten-free menu is limited, so I shouldn't be tempted as often. - As of December 2nd, 19 desserts consumed. Oops! 
• Drink at least 100oz of water per day.- Oh, heck yeah!

Personal:

• Only say yes to the projects you REALLY want to work on. An honest no is much better than a halfhearted yes. - Check.
• Stick to our budget. We've lived credit card (and credit card debt) free for 13 months. No reason to go back now. - Double Check.
• Ignore your impulses. Take time to process the true value of the things you are filling your space/life with. - Yes and no. Lots of pondering this one recently ...
• Figure out what to do with my hair. Keep the mohawk or grow it out. I'm taking opinions on this one.- Nothing but trims to help my hair grow in a normal pattern since May! And it looks horrible.
• Continue to balance family life, training and now, work.- Check.
• Prioritize and be a good example for the people in your life. - Like quadruple check!
• Help and support J and the kids in reaching their goals. We are a team and that must always be the primary focus of our lives. No one should have to sacrifice so that someone else can reach their goal. If a balance can't be found, it's not worth pursuing.- I would never waiver on this one!

Wii Fit U and Wii Fit Meter Review ...

I'm going to be honest here. I am not a video game fan. As a child, my parents never let us have a gaming system (handheld or otherwise). I'm sure at the time, I was really mad about this, but as I grew older, I kind of got over it. I guess you can't miss what you never had. Of course, there's also the fact, I don't really like doing things I'm not good at and I am really horrible at video games, so for my sanity and my ego, it's just better that I stay away.

Unfortunately (for my children anyway), my perspective on gaming systems hasn't ever changed. Although, J had a PlayStation when we first got together, it quickly fell into disuse when the girls were born and I was sure that was the end of gaming in our home.

But then, just a few weeks ago, I was asked by Nintendo if I would review their new Wii Fit U and Wii Fit Meter. Despite my initial hesitation, I decided that I needed to give it a try. I mean, if anything was ever going to convince me to change my mind about video games, it was going to be a game that focused on fitness. And did it work? Yes and no, but we'll get to that in a minute.

So, you're probably wondering what the Wii Fit Meter is. Well, let's just think of if as a pedometer on steroids.

Wii Fit Meter

The Wii Fit Meter does a lot more than count your steps. It also has an acceleration sensor (to measure intensity) and an atmospheric pressure sensor (to measure altitude changes). This means the Wii Fit Meter can more accurately calculate how many calories you burn, based on what you’re doing. Running up stairs, for example, will torch more calories than taking the elevator—even though the distance is the same.



And then of course, there is Wii Fit U, the game and interactive community that the Wii Fit Meter is designed to sync with.

Within Wii Fit U there are numerous activities ranging from games to personal training to dance to yoga. There is even a virtual gym where players can connect with not only their friends and family, but other Wii Fit U users around the world.

Anyway, once you set up your personal profile in the Wii Fit U program, you can sync your Wii Fit Meter to the Wii U and get moving. All you need to do is wear the Fit Meter on your waistband and it will track your activity throughout the day. At the end of the day (or whenever you feel like it), you can wirelessly sync the data to your Wii U. And you don't have to workout alone, Wii Fit U can be set up with profiles for your entire family (separate Wii Fit Meters are needed).

So, what do you need?

Well, other than the Wii Fit Meter, which retails for $19.99 and Wii Fit U, which you can download HERE (Note: Wii Fit U has a free one month trial if you download by Jan 31st. You can keep the game permanently if you purchase a Wii Fit Meter), you'll need:

• Nintendo Wii U Gaming System
• Nintendo Wii U Balance Board

Everything you'll need

Now, you're probably asking yourself, "Is this all worth it? Do I want to workout with a video game? What did TMB mean by "yes and no"?"

Well, here's my take on Wii Fit U and the Wii Fit Meter:

The Good:

The game has a pretty awesome concept. As a data hungry person, it was awesome to see my stats from the Fit Meter incorporated into the Wii Fit U game. This feature alone would help anyone stay on point when it comes to reaching their fitness goals.

The game can be configured to your fitness needs and desires. All aspects of the game are customizable, allowing the player to control their experience and workout. And even better, if you don't want that kind of control there are over 70 built-in programs to select from. This game has nothing but options.

The Fit Meter will show you how much (or how little) you move throughout the day. Even though I think I am pretty active, if I didn't run, I never got the 10,000 recommended steps, usually falling in the 4000-5000 range.

There are some cool mileage and elevation challenges designed specifically for the Wii Fit Meter. This is perhaps my favorite feature of the game.

The Not-So-Good:

Although the Wii Fit Meter does appear to accurately track steps taken while walking, it starts to lose some accuracy while running (versus my GPS watch). Not a huge amount, but over the course of five miles the difference was about two-tenths, not huge, but there.

If you are already fit, this game might not fit all of your needs. While many of the games and activities are challenging and can work up a good sweat, I found that it wasn't always the workout I was looking for. So, unless you're just starting out, this isn't likely to be your go-to workout choice.

You have to actually remember to put on the Fit Meter. I almost never remembered to put it on right when I woke up. Most days, I didn't have readings for the first 2-4 hours of my day. Not a huge difference, but it definitely didn't give me an exact view of my activity. But, this of course, was user error.

The cost. Well, if you all ready have a Wii U and a Wii U Balance board, the cost is merely $19.99 per Fit Meter, as Wii Fit U can be downloaded for free with the purchase of a Fit Meter before 1/31/14. However, if you have to factor in the cost of all of the other hardware, this can be quite the investment.

So, what's the takeaway?

Wii Fit U and the Wii Fit Meter are definitely something to consider adding to your workout routine. While I would never promote a video game being your sole form of exercise, if it gets you up and moving, it's good in my book. Is it for everybody? No, probably not. But, it can definitely get you started on the road to fitness, help to motivate you and to keep you accountable for your daily activity. Nintendo is taking video games from a mostly-sedentary activity to a high-energy, calorie burning one and for that, I applaud them.

it's all about the big picture ...

Did you ever think about what it would take to get the life that you want? What would you make a priority? How would you get there? What would you be willing to do to make it all happen? Would it be worth it?

Each and every day, I work on the details to get us a future that we hope for. Sometimes, J and I look around and have to ask ourselves if it's worth it. If the choices and actions we take today are actually going to pay off. Sometimes, it's clear that they will. And other times, I'm sure we are wasting our time. It's moments like those that I get caught in the details and I get overwhelmed, absolutely convinced that nothing is going to work out.

But, then I have to remind myself that the choices we make are just part of the big picture. One misstep isn't going to ruin it all and on the contrary, one success isn't going to guarantee another. Ultimately, we are just striving for our individual concept of perfection, even if it's unattainable.

Just ask yourself, "What would my perfect world look like?"

In my perfect world, J and I don't have to work. We'd have investments upon investments, all of which someone else is managing and we never have to think twice about them.

In my perfect world, I'm naturally a fast runner with six-pack abs that I didn't have to work for.

In my perfect world, my children never face adversity. They are passionate and successful and they have a better life that I had.

In my perfect world, my children have perfect manners, never misbehave and listen to me the first time.

In my perfect world, someone else does all the cooking and the cleaning giving me a wealth of free time dictated my no one's needs but my own.

In my perfect world, everyone sleeps through the night, cleans up after themselves and never gets sick.

Unfortunately, it's not a perfect world. In fact, my perfect world isn't even a perfect world, it's a dream world. None of those things could ever really happen. At least not without some serious sacrifices. Sacrifices I'm not willing to make (like giving up chocolate and cake - I'd never do that, even if it meant that I'd always have a six-pack).

But that doesn't stop me.

I know that reaching for that "perfect world" keeps us accountable. It helps shape us into the best people we can be. The successes teach us that there are great possibilities in this world and the failures remind us to be humble, to appreciate what we have and to get back up when we fall.

Life is in the details. But, the details mean nothing unless they add up to a big picture that you'd actually want to be a part of.

October Rewind ...

Miles Run: 29.22 miles. Off-season at it's finest ...

Bike Miles Rode: 149.4 miles
 

Swim Meters Completed: 13746 meters or 8.54 miles.

 

Rest Days Taken: 8, most of the days were taken immediately after returning from Hawaii.

 

Highest Run Mileage Week: 10/7-10/13: 9.26 miles

 

Highest Bike Mileage Week: 10/14-10/20: 36 miles

 

Highest Swim Volume Week: 10/7-10/13: 4800 meters or 2.98 miles

 

Long Runs Completed (1 hr+ miles): 0

 

Current Book: Right now, I am reading Allegiant by Roth. But, I finished a few other books in October. (Note: For those of you who have asked, if it's on this or any of my lists, I would recommend the book. If I don't like the story or the book doesn't grasp my attention, I don't bother finishing it, thus it wouldn't be listed here.) 

• The Fall of Five by Lore
• Unearthly by Hand
• Hallowed by Hand
• Boundless by Hand
• Vampire Academy by Mead
• Frostbite by Mead
• Shadow Kiss by Mead
• Blood Promise by Mead
• Spirit Bound by Mead
• Last Sacrifice by Mead
• Bloodlines by Mead
• The Golden Lily by Mead
• The Indigo Spell by Mead
• Dead to You by McMann
• A Beautiful Dark by Davies
• A Fractured Light by Davies
• The School Revolution by Paul
• Unwholly by Shusterman

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Chocolate Macadamia Hershey Kisses. Best thing ever.

Current Colors: Orange and Pink.

   

Current Drink: Hawaiian coffee.

 

Current Song: Sweater Weather - Neighbourhood

 

Current Triumph: We crushed Halloween as bada** vampires.

 

 

Oh, and I am successfully executing an off-season. Something I've never done in the nearly seven years I've been doing this whole endurance sports thing.

 

Current Goal: Be a better me. Each and every day. And tackle my 2013 To Do List head on.

 

Current Blessing: Health, happiness and love. I've got all three.

 

Current Excitement: Thanksgiving is in 21 days. It's by far my favorite holiday.

 

2013 To Do List:

 

Fitness:

• 140.6. That is all. - Yeah, not going to happen this year.
• Make time for strength training. Don't let training loads eliminate strength workouts completely. And stick to strength training in a group, it keeps you accountable. - Getting back to this.
• Switch to time-based/HR training. Despite my knowledge of training paces, I have a hard time sticking to them. I'm hoping this will help me train more effectively. - I'm kind of over the HR aspect of this. Summer temps alone make this suck. 
• Log 4,500 cumulative run, bike and swim miles. Up 485 from 2012. - As of November 6th, 2586.69 miles logged. Not looking good at this point.
• Race a 10K with a finish time much faster than your very dated current PR of 53:17. I never managed to register for a 10K in 2012 and I'm not sure where it will fit in this year, but it's on my radar. - No progress on this one. But, it does look like I will run one in 2014.
• Set a new PR in the Half Marathon, currently 1:57:06. I totally blew this one in 2012 and will likely only have one good shot at it in 2013.- Fail. Epic fail.
• Run a 5K with Dizzle and Doodle, even if that means tricking them into it. - We really need to get on this.

Nutrition:

• Eat like a gluten-free athlete. After struggling with health issues much of 2012, removing the gluten has been key in alleviating the symptoms. Don't be swayed by the lure of wheat. Or cake.- On point, like usual.
• Find the race day (and training) nutrition plan that works for me.- Ding, ding, ding!
• Consume no more than 18 desserts from Shyndigz. This number worked well in 2012 and helped me cut back on my serious cake addiction. Plus, their gluten-free menu is limited, so I shouldn't be tempted as often. - As of November 6th, 14 desserts consumed.
• Drink at least 100oz of water per day.- Oh, heck yeah!

Personal:

• Only say yes to the projects you REALLY want to work on. An honest no is much better than a halfhearted yes. - Check.
• Stick to our budget. We've lived credit card (and credit card debt) free for 13 months. No reason to go back now. - Double Check.
• Ignore your impulses. Take time to process the true value of the things you are filling your space/life with. - Yes and no. Lots of pondering this one recently ...
• Figure out what to do with my hair. Keep the mohawk or grow it out. I'm taking opinions on this one.- Nothing but trims to help my hair grow in a normal pattern since May!
• Continue to balance family life, training and now, work.- Check.
• Prioritize and be a good example for the people in your life. - Like quadruple check!
• Help and support J and the kids in reaching their goals. We are a team and that must always be the primary focus of our lives. No one should have to sacrifice so that someone else can reach their goal. If a balance can't be found, it's not worth pursuing.- I would never waiver on this one!

Our Oahu Vacation ...

The past few weeks have been amazing and exhausting and everything I could have ever hoped them to be. Two weeks ago tomorrow, we boarded a plane (first-class, no less) to Oahu, Hawaii.

Over the next ten days, we saw every inch of that island, logging 500 miles on our rental car. We hiked. We explored. We swam. We experienced. We ate. We relaxed. We enjoyed every single second. Here are some of my favorites:

The girls watching the waves at Ko Olina

Splashing in the water before dawn at Lanikai Beach

Sunrise at Lanikai Beach

Swimming at the beach at Ko Olina

Taking a pit-stop in the gardens at Dole Plantation

The waves at Bonzai Pipeline

About to swim at Waimea Valley Park

Waihi Falls

View from Diamond Head Crater

Island view at Diamond Head Crater

Taking part of the audio tour at the USS Arizona Monument

Dizzle learning about the continuing oil leakage at the USS Arizona Monument

Doodle racing up Diamond Head Crater

Us and a view of Waikiki and Honolulu from the top of Diamond Head

The girls feeding the Koi at our hotel

Dilly loving Hawaii

Sunset from the lobby of the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club

Canoe tour at the Polynesian Cultural Center

Watching the Canoe Pageant at the PCC

Family photo at the Hawaii Temple

Relaxing while the girls play at the beach at Ko Olina

Honestly, I'm not sure that any sort of recap of our vacation could do it or the Island of Oahu justice. Frankly, it was heavenly (traffic aside). I didn't want to come home. Not because I didn't want vacation to end, but rather because the thought of living among that beauty and with that weather was just heavenly. I was constantly in awe and that's a pretty amazing way to feel.

But, I will say, if you are ever headed to Oahu, there are some things that you do not want to miss.

• Sunrise at Lanikai Beach - On the eastern side of the island is well known as one of the best spots to see the sunrise and I fully agree. We ventured to this secluded beach on the first morning of our trip (before we were adjusted to the time difference). It was quiet and breathtaking. The girls were able to splash in the water before dawn, something that made me feel like we were all alone on the island. It's something I'll never forget.
• Diamond Head State Monument and Park - This volcanic crater has a .8 mile hike to some of the best views on the island. The hike isn't a stroll in the park, but the effort is so worth it.
• Waimea Valley Park - This botanical garden with over 5,000 species of tropical plants is not to be missed. But the highlight of this park is the .75 mile hike (on a paved path) to Waihi Falls, where you are able to swim below the falls. Bring waterproof shoes, the pond floor is rocky.
• Bonzai Pipeline - Even on a mild day, the waves at this historic break are something to behold. Doodle said her favorite part of the trip was watching people surf here.
• Matsumoto's - THE place to get shaved ice. Founded in 1910, this North Shore institution almost always has a line out the door. One tip, do not skip the condensed milk.
• Dole Plantation - Learn about all things pineapple at this location just south of the North Shore. Activities include the World's Largest Garden Maze (so much fun), train tour and botanical garden tour.
• Kono's - This breakfast and lunch spot on the North Shore offered some of the best (and least expensive) food we ate on the island. We loved their plate lunches and burritos.
• Polynesian Cultural Center - If you are going to spend your money on one "experience", this is the one to do it on. The PCC is made up of recreated Polynesian villages that showcase the history and lifestyles of seven Pacific Island cultures. There are demonstrations and activities throughout the day and a luau and evening show to end the night. We loved this place.
• Pearl Harbor - Talk about walking into a history book. While we only visited the USS Arizona Memorial (The USS Bowfin and Missouri are also at this site), I learned more about the attack on Pearl Harbor and WWII as a whole, than I ever did in any history class. The monument was moving and incredibly somber. I can't imagine how you could visit and not be affected. Tickets for the monument are free, but are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. Keep in mind that the audio tour (which I highly recommend) will run you $7.50 per person.
• The Beaches at Ko Olina - This is the best place for families, especially those with small children. The beaches at Ko Olina are made up of four protected lagoons along a two mile stretch of shoreline. There are minimal waves (and crowds) at these beaches, making for a relaxing day at the beach.

Or you could just sit on the beach with a drink in your hand all day. That option is pretty awesome too.

Three Things Thursday ...

My Little Artist - For as long as I can remember, Dizzle has been artistically inclined. She loves to sing and dance and be the center of attention. I am kind of at a loss with all of this. Although, I sang in the church choir as a child and my high school chorus years later, it was never a passion of mine. I never thought, for even a second, that it was anything I would continue into adulthood.

But, Dizzle, well she's a different story. If you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, she might say a ballet teacher. Or a ballerina. Maybe she'll answer, a singer. And sometimes, it's a songwriter. But regardless, it's always something related to performing arts.

Last year, when she was seven, she wrote her first song with real lyrics. You know, not the conversational singing that usually fills our days. It went like this:

We tried to find a vocal coach for her, but we weren't able to find anyone who would work with her on a one-on-one basis until she's 10. She was bummed, but a few months later, we found out that her old music teacher had started a group called, Uke 'N Roll, where she could learn to play the ukulele, sing and music theory.

Four weeks ago, she started lessons. On Sunday, she'll be part of a larger ensemble of 25 ukulele players who will perform at the Richmond Folk Festival. Last night, I recorded her practicing so my sister could see. I think she did awesome. Especially considering she's been at it for less than a month.


Pretty epic, right? It makes me excited to see what she'll be like at the end of 4 months. And 4 years ...

Off-Season Successes - Since I have officially entered my off-season (something I've not done in the past), I'm finding I can get into this whole "low-key" training thing. My workouts are shorter (5-6 hours of cardio per week). I'm strength training consistently (3 days a week) and I'm not obsessing about my eating (huge for me). For the first time in probably a decade, I'm not food journaling. I'm just eating (mostly) clean. I'm not freaking out about pace or heart rate or mileage. It's kind of refreshing, which I now realize is probably the reason for an off-season in the first place.

Hawaii - We leave for Oahu in 9 days! I don't think I've been excited this much for anything in a long time. But, I do kind of wish that someone else would pack for me ...

September Rewind ...

Miles Run: 42.8 miles. One day I will show my run dominance again. Just not today ...

Bike Miles Rode: 143.8 miles

 

Swim Meters Completed: 13881 meters or 8.62 miles.

 

Rest Days Taken: 10, including an entire week off after Rev3 Cedar Point

 

Highest Run Mileage Week: 9/2-9/8: 19.2 miles

 

Highest Bike Mileage Week: 9/29/8: 69.8 miles

 

Highest Swim Volume Week: 9/2-9/8: 6437 meters or 4 miles

 

Long Runs Completed (1 hr+ miles): 1

 

Current Book: Right now, I am reading Unwholly by Shusterman. But I also finished a few other books in September. (Note: For those of you who have asked, if it's on this or any of my lists, I would recommend the book. If I don't like the story or the book doesn't grasp my attention, I don't bother finishing it, thus it wouldn't be listed here.) 

• BZRK by Grant
• Mortal Instruments: City of Glass by Clare
• Mortal Instruments: City of Fallen Angels by Clare
• Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls by Clare
• Where She Went by Forman
• Clockwork Angel by Clare
• Clockwork Prince by Clare
• Clockwork Princess by Clare

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Rice cakes with honey and cinnamon. So delicious.

Current Colors: Orange and Pink.

   

Current Drink: Tea. Hot tea. And the weather is finally appropriate for it.

 

Current Song: Roar - Katy Perry

 

Current Triumph: I am back to strength training and crushing it. Off-season is kind of epic that way.

 

Current Goal: Be a better me. Each and every day. And tackle my 2013 To Do List head on.

 

Current Blessing: Health, happiness and love. I've got all three.

 

Current Excitement: We are going to Hawaii in 17 days! So freaking excited.

 

2013 To Do List:

 

Fitness:

• 140.6. That is all. - Yeah, not going to happen this year.
• Make time for strength training. Don't let training loads eliminate strength workouts completely. And stick to strength training in a group, it keeps you accountable. - Getting back to this.
• Switch to time-based/HR training. Despite my knowledge of training paces, I have a hard time sticking to them. I'm hoping this will help me train more effectively. - I'm kind of over the HR aspect of this. Summer temps alone make this suck. 
• Log 4,500 cumulative run, bike and swim miles. Up 485 from 2012. - As of October 2nd, 2390.17 miles logged. Not looking good at this point.
• Race a 10K with a finish time much faster than your very dated current PR of 53:17. I never managed to register for a 10K in 2012 and I'm not sure where it will fit in this year, but it's on my radar. - No progress on this one. But, it does look like I will run one in 2014.
• Set a new PR in the Half Marathon, currently 1:57:06. I totally blew this one in 2012 and will likely only have one good shot at it in 2013.- Fail. Epic fail.
• Run a 5K with Dizzle and Doodle, even if that means tricking them into it. - We really need to get on this.

Nutrition:

• Eat like a gluten-free athlete. After struggling with health issues much of 2012, removing the gluten has been key in alleviating the symptoms. Don't be swayed by the lure of wheat. Or cake.- On point, like usual.
• Find the race day (and training) nutrition plan that works for me.- Ding, ding, ding!
• Consume no more than 18 desserts from Shyndigz. This number worked well in 2012 and helped me cut back on my serious cake addiction. Plus, their gluten-free menu is limited, so I shouldn't be tempted as often. - As of October 2nd, 14 desserts consumed.
• Drink at least 100oz of water per day.- Oh, heck yeah!

Personal:

• Only say yes to the projects you REALLY want to work on. An honest no is much better than a halfhearted yes. - Check.
• Stick to our budget. We've lived credit card (and credit card debt) free for 11 months. No reason to go back now. - Double Check.
• Ignore your impulses. Take time to process the true value of the things you are filling your space/life with. - Yes and no. Lots of pondering this one recently ...
• Figure out what to do with my hair. Keep the mohawk or grow it out. I'm taking opinions on this one.- Nothing but trims to help my hair grow in a normal pattern since May!
• Continue to balance family life, training and now, work.- Check.
• Prioritize and be a good example for the people in your life. - Like quadruple check!
• Help and support J and the kids in reaching their goals. We are a team and that must always be the primary focus of our lives. No one should have to sacrifice so that someone else can reach their goal. If a balance can't be found, it's not worth pursuing.- I would never waiver on this one!

I am not your servant, I am your teacher ...

Why yes, that is my child with the unbrushed hair and the untied shoes. Thanks for noticing. I'm quite proud of how I sent her to school this morning, although I know that she is less than thrilled.

Sure, she was crying when she walked out the door. But, at least she walked out the door before her father pulled out of the driveway. Because, if I had been driving, that wouldn't have been the case. I've left without her before. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

For some reason, she seems to think that it is my responsibility to make sure she is ready for school in the morning. She often expects me to pack her lunch (I make the food. I refuse to assemble the actual lunchbox), pack her bag and make sure she has everything she needs for the day. Funny. I don't remember that being part of the job description.

Diz, as far as I can recall, I am here to protect you. To love you. To raise you with values and an appreciation for the world around you. To give you a place to live and food to eat. After that, I'm pretty sure everything else is optional.

What? You think that's unfair? You think that I am out to get you because I refuse to baby you day in and day out?

That my dear, is where you are wrong.

I am not being mean.

I am not being unfair.

I do not wake each day plotting against you.

And I most definitely do not "do this to you EVERYDAY!," like you most eloquently said this morning as you struggled to get out the door. No my dear, you do that to yourself. You and you alone.

You are old enough to wake up each and every morning without me yelling at you. Consider yourself lucky that I check back to make sure you haven't fallen back asleep.

You are old enough to find an outfit to wear each and subsequently get yourself dressed each and every day. Consider yourself lucky that I do not yet require you to wash or purchase all of those outfits. It's coming. Be warned.

You are old enough to make yourself a healthy breakfast and to eat that breakfast in time to leave. Consider yourself lucky that you have food to eat. Some children aren't as fortunate.

You are old enough to pack your backpack, your lunchbox and whatever else there is to pack before heading out the door. It's not my job to know where all of your stuff is. Consider yourself lucky that your mom is OCD enough to have a strong grasp on where things are. Otherwise, your mornings would be even more stress inducing.

You are old enough to brush and style your hair. Consider yourself lucky that I don't just shave your head to save us all the drama you dish out each morning. Trust me, it would be easier for all of us.

You are old enough to tie your shoes and clean your glasses. Consider yourself lucky that I am willing to give you reminders to do both. I am not required to do so.

It is not my job to do any of these things. I am your mother. Not your servant. I love you endlessly, but I do not strive to make you soft, to convince you that you will always be waited upon, or to give you a false impression on what lies ahead for you when you leave our home. I will not do you that disservice.

The world is full of responsibilities. There are already many of which you are capable. And I expect, no demand, that you live up to those responsibilities. You need to learn to manage your time. You need to learn to face the consequences of forgetting to complete a task or showing up late. I will not always be there to protect you. These lessons I am teaching you now will help you for a lifetime. I'm not trying to be mean. I am trying to show you how the world works. And sometimes, the real world sucks.

So, the next time you are crying because you didn't give yourself enough time to get completely ready for school, remember that you did it to yourself. You didn't wake up early enough or you didn't pay attention to the clock. Not me. Not your father. And take stock in the fact that I will send you out the door with messy hair, untied shoes and your homework still on the table, each and every time.

Diz, that is my job -  to teach you about consequences, not to do everything for you. Because I love you enough to know that consequences are exactly what you need.

these kids ...

These kids.

They can be rude.

And loud.

And impatient.

They fight.

They make messes.

They intentionally disobey.

Some days, I want to punch them.

Some days, they drive me bonkers.

Some days, I can not believe how annoying they can be.

 

But then I get a reminder.

A reminder of how lucky we are.

A reminder that not everyone is as blessed as we may be.

A reminder that time is fleeting and we should appreciate every second.

 

So, instead of freaking out on them, I apologize.

For overreacting.

For letting my emotions get the best of me.

For not setting a good example of how they should behave.

And then, I hug them.

And kiss them.

And remind them that I am a safe place that will always be there for them.

 

These kids.

They are my everything.

not the best mommy song ...

Last night, Dilly got in trouble for teasing, and subsequently, assaulting her oldest sister. As punishment, I sent her to bed early. Not by an hour or even half. By a mere 15 minutes. Barely any time at all.

However, she didn't see it that way.

For every second of those 15 minutes, she screamed. And cried. And pleaded. To no avail, mind you.

When the clock hit 6:30 and I went upstairs to tell her sisters that it was bedtime, Dilly was still flailing on her bedroom floor. Without looking at her, I told her to go to the bathroom and then get in bed. Through her tears, she muttered something about life being unfair.

A few minutes later, I noticed that she was still in the bathroom. When I got closer, Dilly was talking to herself. Hearing what she was saying to her reflection, I called J over. Within moments, we (well at least, I) were crying from laughter. Dilly's monologue, which had taken a singing tone, was going on something like this.

This is so unfair.
My mommy is not the best mommy,
'Cause she didn't let me snuggle with my Daddy-Do.
She is not the best mommy today.

It went on after that, much to the same note. Basically, I am horrible. She did nothing wrong. And I will be forever blamed.

If it wasn't so freaking cute, I might have been hurt. But, don't worry, I got my revenge. I was kneeling at the door when she finally opened it. The look on her face said that she knew I had heard every last word out of her mouth. It was awesome. Even if it wasn't my finest parenting moment ...

Three Things Thursday ...

Strength - Over the summer, I let my strength training slide. With the kids at home full time, it was hard enough to get in all my training for Rev3 Cedar Point HalfRev, let alone add lifting into the mix. But, now that I have begun off-season training, I decided it was time to return to Beast Mode.

The funny thing about Beast Mode is that you don't realize how far away you are from it when you first return. I had this vision in my head where I went back to the gym and lifted like I never took a day off. Unfortunately, for me, this wasn't the case. My workout went a little like this ...

First up, front squats. I'm thinking my single rep max is 205, so obviously, I can do 135 for seven. I set up my rack and begin. By rep number five, I was questioning whether I could even finish the last two with good form, not to mention the fact that I still had two more sets.

I barely finished and quickly removed 20 pounds from the bar. 115. Okay, I can do this. Yeah, not so much. I finished that set and yet again removed another 20 pounds.

95 pounds. Easy peasy. Probably where I should have started. Too bad my ego got in the way.

After that, I grabbed a 25 pound kettlebell and some floor space. I was planning on doing 15 KB swings and eight pushups. As many rounds as possible in 10 minutes. I was off like a bat out of hell. And then the repetition caught up to me. My legs were already spent before I started and my shoulders kind of wanted to kill me. It was epic. Somehow, I managed nine rounds.

Ready to be done, I walked outside to meet my friend for a four mile run, which I ultimately ended up hobbling through since my legs were no longer functioning.

Ever since, I've been sidestepping up the stairs and bracing the wall when I sit down. It feel good to be back.

School - So, Dizzle and Doodle are into their third week of school and I am still left with the nagging feeling that we may not have made the right decision sending them (especially Dizzle) this year. Long story short, I know my kids and I know how they are motivated (and unmotivated). I know how they best learn and I know what distracts them. And I really know when they are not being challenged.

Yes, I realize it's early in the year. And yes, I realize that every teacher has their methods. But, there is so much wasted time and effort that it drives me bananas. Fortunately, I don't mind being that annoying parent that teachers dread getting an email from or seeing in the hallway. If I don't advocate for my children, no one will. And I intend on doing so until I am on board with what's going on.

Hawaii - In exactly 30 days, I will be here.

It's the first really big trip (Disney aside) that we've taken since our wedding/honeymoon almost 10 years ago. It will be the first time the girls will be on a plane for more than two and a half hours (Our flight out has a leg that is over 10 hours!) and it will hopefully be amazing. So, my question for you is, "Have you ever been to Oahu? What are your must dos?"

live deliberately ...

Dizzle once asked me what "Lost time is never found" meant. I simply told her that we never get a change to relive what has already happened. That if you waste your time or an opportunity, you don't get a chance to use it later.

The answer seemed to satisfy her eight year old mind. She said to me, "So, if you are mean you can't go back and unsay what you said, even if you're sorry. And, if you ate pizza, you can't go back and un-eat it. And, if you sleep all day you don't get to live that day again."  

Laughing, I said, "Yes, that the general idea."

Now, weeks later, I can't help but think about that quote. Sure, it tells us that you don't get a second chance at what has lapsed, but more than that I think it tells us to simply live deliberately.

It's easy to let life pass us by. We all get stuck in a routine of the boring and the mundane. It's then that things can become stressful, mind-numbing and cause you to lose your focus.

But, by choosing to live deliberately, you can stop all that and you'll never have to worry about the lost time that is never found.

Life is simply a series of choices. Some easier to make than others - from what you wear to what you eat to how you spend your time. So make your choices wisely.

Ask yourself, am I giving meaning and purpose to my choices?
Am I considering the effect of this decision now? 10 minutes from now? 10 years from now?
What will be gained from this and what will be lost?
Who will I hurt and who will I help?
Will this choice strengthen or weaken me? Will it get me to where I want to be?
Is there an intention behind my action? Or am I just following along?
Am I living deliberately?

Every action has a reaction.
And lost time is never found, so are you making the most of every moment?

I'm trying to. Every single day.

Rev3 Cedar Point HalfRev Recap ...

Date: 9/8/2013
Location: Sandusky, OH
Overall Time: 6:51:10
Swim Time (1.2 miles): 41:01
T1: 8:39
Bike Time (56 miles): 3:21:51
T2: 2:18
Run Time (13.1 miles): 2:37:21
Division Place (Athena): 6/16
Gender Place: 158/246
Overall Place: 549/706

When 2013 rang in, I had big dreams for this race. It was going to be my first 140.6. I was going to push myself further than I ever had. I was going to commit myself 110% to reaching my goal.

But then, my body revolted. I started gaining weight. I was tired all the time. An easy three mile run was affecting my body in the same way that a half marathon race does. I wasn't recovering, yet there didn't appear to be anything medically wrong with me. After two months of searching, we figured out that my cortisol levels were out of whack and they were being compounded by the fact that I was suffering from hypoglycemia.

My body needed to recover. I needed to find the right balance of nutrients to stop my blood sugar from crashing. I knew I couldn't do that while training 15-20 hours a week. So, I made a decision that at the time, I really didn't want to make. I switched to the 70.3 and made the goal to get my health back to normal and to just finish the race. 140.6 would be there waiting for me if I ever felt compelled to find it.

So, I worked with a nutritionist and found a way to eat that kept my blood sugar stable. I started to recover better. I no longer felt like I constantly needed a nap. I was improving.

Then, there was training. I used the most basic of basic plans. A true, "just finish" plan that peaked at 9 hours per week, a big drop from my previous 70.3 training which peaked at 15 hours. And while I had no doubt I could finish, I didn't truly feel ready to race. And shockingly, I was 100% okay with that. I was going to have fun and I was going to cross that finish line no matter what.

And that's exactly what happened.

I arrived in Sandusky on Friday night after picking my teammate, Anne, up at the Cleveland Airport on my way. We met the rest of the Rev3 crew for dinner and while there, I was convinced to run the Glow Run 5K. Although I was hesitant at first, knowing that Sunday alone would drain me, I ended up having a blast. Kate, Kelly and I jogged the course, laughing the whole way.

Kate, Kelly and me somewhere around mile 2.5

A Glow Run sunset ...

On Saturday, I ended up driving Anne to her race (the Sprint) and decided that since I would be there anyway, I would volunteer to course marshal the KidRev and SprintRev races. Not only was it super fun, but it was a great reminder that none of us would be able to do this sport that we love if we didn't have people who were willing to give up their day to be on that course supporting us. So, if you haven't already, volunteer at a race. Give back to this sport that gives us so much.

Anyway, after spending half the day on my feet, my dear friend Heidi (who also raced the Half Rev) and I left around 1:30 to go relax for the rest of the day. After a big lunch at Chipotle and a light dinner at the Italian restaurant across the street from the hotel, we called it a night.

Despite sleeping soundly, our 6 a.m. wake up call came quickly. I got up and got dressed and then ate a breakfast of gluten-free blueberry waffles with peanut butter, honey and a banana. While I was eating, we got notification that due to a rip current the swim location had been changed. The one downside to this plan was that we now had a half mile run from the swim exit to T1 (hence the really long T1 time).

Upon arrival at the race, Heidi and I set up our transition area and got ready to hang out until our start time, me at 8:40 and her at 8:45.

Ready to race ...

Before we knew it, it was time to go. Although I knew that pacing well was my goal for the day, I seeded myself towards the front of my wave (self-seeding took place due to the last minute location change). I knew I had been swimming well recently and didn't want to have to climb over people in the water.

Right from the start, I felt good. I easily found my rhythm and mostly stayed on course. I never pushed the pace. My heart wasn't racing. I just tried to stay consistent.  (The swim was a counterclockwise triangle on the marina side of Cedar Point. This allowed us to sight off a strip of land that we circled.) There wasn't very much "traffic" as I swam, with the exception of at the turn buoys and even that thinned out quickly. When I made the final turn toward the shore, I remember thinking, "There is no way that I am done. I feel like I've only been out here for 15 minutes."

When I got out of the water and saw that my watch said 41:00, I was floored. That time was a 7:55 PR at this distance, a fact that was enough to make my whole day worth it.

Riding high, I headed to T1, made a quick change of footwear and was on my way. I knew that the bike was going to be dicey. The winds that were causing the rip current in the lake, were also adding an extra challenge to the bike. And since we all know that I do the vast majority of training on my trainer (as in I have only rode my bike outside four times this year - three races and one ride), my handling skills aren't the greatest.

I decided early on that aero position wasn't going to happen. I was being blown sideways and backwards enough to know that I would feel too unstable. So, if we are being honest, I probably lost some time there. Also, I never really pushed it on the bike. I was working hard, but comfortably, if that makes any sense. I knew that based on my training the run was going to be brutal and I wanted to give myself every advantage that I could. Thus, when the wind was at my back at the beginning of the bike, I ultimately didn't take advantage of it. I was still warming up and telling myself not to kill the first 10 miles only to die at the end. So, again, I probably lost even more time there. Finally, I stopped three times to refill my aerobottle. I tried to fill it while I rode, but again, those handling skills thwarted my efforts. I figured it was better to lose a minute or two refilling than it was to crash or not drink at all.

Other than that though, the bike was awesome. The course was beautiful, mostly flat (definitely a climb or two) and fast. I'd ride it again in a second.

After a fast bite to eat in T2, I was off on the run. The plan from the start was to do a 2/1 interval. My training plan was very light on running and my longest run was 10 miles, over a month prior to the race. I didn't want to risk blowing up, so I just tried to be consistent. The plan worked out perfectly until about mile 10. I could tell my electrolyte balance was off and I started getting nauseous. I stopped and threw up but the nausea didn't completely wane. My pace slowed in those last three miles because of it, but I did stick to my plan. (Note: The whole run course is pancake flat with the exception of a small hill on the causeway that you cross at roughly mile 2 and 12. This is most definitely a PR course.)

As I came through the finishing chute, I saw that Heidi had come back to cross the finish line with me. I was so happy to see her (I last saw her when she blew past me at mile 2 of the bike). We decided to go big with our finisher's photo, leaping before the finish line.

I couldn't have asked for more. It was an awesome finish to an awesome day.  I was very proud of my performance, especially considering the year I have had. And, I really need to take a moment to thank everyone who helped me get to this point. Thank you to all my friends and family who cheered me on, who watched my children so I could train and who listened to me obsess about this race even if they had no interest. Thank you to my Rev3Tri Teammates for constantly inspiring and motivating me. And thank you to all my sponsors, Pearl Izumi, Compex, Powerbar, Biotta Natural, SBR Sports and Blueseventy, who help me do what I do day in and day out. Without all of you, I would never be able to do any of this.