Inspiration

At church today, Pastor Dan aired a video featuring a girl from our church. She is a blogger and an inspiration. Check out her blog! I can't wait to meet her.

Jenny Taylor

Mice

Okay... I'm a baby when it comes to mice. Over the past several weeks I have noticed seeds from the bird feeders outside sprinkled randomly through the house. Was a squirrel in here? A mouse? Were seeds stuck to the bottom of my shoes?

Well, upon seeing that new tv commercial where the wife gleefully walks into the kitchen while her husband is standing there and with a huge smile on her face, lets him know she got ride of the mousetrap for him. She was able to do this with such a wide grin because they have the new mouse traps where you don't see a single thing. Perfectly clean, tidy, and easy to handle. Well... let's just say that is NOT how it happened at my house! I set three mouse traps on Sunday. Two in the basement, one between the fridge and the wall. Zurich was barking at them because she of course wanted the peanut butter from inside. This morning I was gleefully (just like the woman in the commercial) going about my business of making coffee, feeding the dog, cooking breakfast; when I got a glimpse of the trap between the fridge and wall. Red lever was up, indicating "mouse caught" (how nice they spelled it out so clearly for me).

I immediately went down stairs to check the trap by the washer. Red lever up indicating "mouse caught". I let out a scream like no other. Peaked around the corner to the third trap... red lever up indicating... you got it... "mouse caught".

I ran upstairs. I didn't have that lovely smile of the woman in the commercial who just told her husband that she had successfully captured and disposed of the mouse. No, I was crying and called Greg (who was at work) and he came by the house to dispose of the three mousetraps. As much as I tried, I just couldn't be like that brave lady in the commercial. I must say, it was nice not to have the "see" the mouse in the trap though.

On the way out of the driveway I call the landlord. By 1pm Pat from Plunkett's Pest Control was at the door. We went through the house. He must of placed about 10 traps in the 950 sq foot house. I was hoping for a quick fix. Spray something and they are gone forever type of deal. Oh no... this is a process, it takes time I guess. Well, I don't want to go home. How long can I actually stay at the gym? Can I sleep there? Gross is all I have to say. Yes, I'm a city slicker... I admit it. I can do an Ironman, run a marathon, gut a deer... but don't you dare ask me to share my living quarters with a mouse.

Pat from Plunkett's is coming back Friday at 7am to reassess the situation. Hmmm.... unless I smell a dead mouse, he said he'd come back sooner. Thanks Pat. Pat was a very nice guy and understood my urgency and lack of understanding for the situation.

Ewwwwwww.

One of my favorite Ironman Pics

My biggest fan giving me a hug after the race. Love you Mom!

Ironman Race Report

The day started at 4:15 am. Well, actually it started for me at 1:00am, 2:00am, 3:15 am, and then up 4:00am before the wake up call. It's weird. Come race morning, I have trouble getting up so early and eating my breakfast. I usually have trouble getting enough calories in solids down that early in the morning (which is weird, because normally I can eat eat eat). So, I've learned that two bottles of Ensure Plus (350 calories each) is good for me. Still, I really had to choke that down. Nonetheless, made it.

Got dressed, loaded up my special needs bags with the frozen drinks and turkey/cheese sandwich and off we went. We were out of the hotel by 4:50am. Really? 4:50? It's a scary morning for me when its dark, before 5am, and not knowing what may lie ahead for the day.

We got a rockstar parking spot about 2 blocks from the capitol building where we were to drop off run and bike special needs. Dropped off the bags, headed to transition to load up my bike with my nutrition then off to just lay in the grass waiting for the race to start.


We had plenty (plenty) of time to hang; about an hour. Its a tough call logisitically because its hard sitting there for so long waiting for the race to start, but if you leave any later, you end up getting stuck in traffic, having parking issues, and the potential for not enough time should something go wrong (like a flat on the bike overnight).

I brought my ipod shuffle with me in the morning. Had it downloaded with motivational songs to get me fired up. This really helped! My previous Ironmans I hadn't done that, but something familiar in the wee hours of the morning was just what I needed.

About 6:45 I made my way over to the line to get in the water. It didn't take long at all. Once in the water, I swam over to the inside of the buoy line as that is where I was going to position myself for the swim. Great place too... hardly any swimmers over there. I hung there for the whole swim. Still got punched and kicked, but not nearly as bad as I remembered my first Ironman to be. Of course, the turns were super super crowded. I was out of the water in 1:20.03. Goal was 1:20 so that was just right :)

The bike started off great. I was JRA (just riding along) for the first loop. Stopped at special needs and ate my sandwich and was on my way for the second loop. I didn't take in nearly as much of my liquid nutrition that I had planned, I was busy taking in water as it was just so hot. At mile 80 I began to feel very exhausted and warm. Mile 98 aid station rolled around and I needed to stop. I was dizzy and had trouble focusing. I stood over my bike, knowing that if I got off, I might not get back on. The volunteers at the aid station make me get off as I was so overheated and could barely stand up. I laid on the ground with my feet up as the volunteers put ice on me and poured water over me to cool me off. Then... I became so cold they gave me a sweatshirt to help me stop shivering. There was an ambulance there and I asked the medic a couple questions but he told me that if he assisted me in any way, I would have to DNF. I started crying and told him I would try and stick it out. About 30 minutes later the volunteers helped me stand up. I walked around for a bit and then hopped back on my bike for the last 14 miles. What really got me back on that bike was my friend Holly whom I was racing in honor of.

I made it back and took my jolly old time in transition. Saw Steve in a Speedo directing traffic and Pharmie in the changing room. So good to see a familiar face! I headed out on the run, started slow. I ran more than I thought I would initially, however mile 16 to 24 was mostly walking. I took in an orange, coke, water, almost at every aid station. My support team of Greg, Jenn, Tim, Karen, Violet, my mom, Nick, Dave, and Carly were awesome! They sure got me through the day, seeing them all over the course.

By the time I finished it was dark, the lights were bright and I was happy to be "home".

Ironman Wisconsin 2009 Race Report... pre race

I've never been very good at collecting my thoughts after an Ironman race and recapping the weekend/day. It all goes by so fast and I'm the first to admit I'm not the best at "staying in the moment". However, my job (self-defined job) for race weekend and race day was to stay in 'the box' (one of the Endurance Nation Four Keys). "The box" is a place to keep yourself and only focus on the things I can control at that moment, at that time. Don't worry about mile 90 of the bike while I'm at mile .5 of the swim. Not an easy task for this girl to do. This girl thinks ahead, thinks behind, even sideways.

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My mom and I drove to Madison on Thursday arriving just in time to check in and get my race packet. We made it to the hotel (The Clarion... which was great!) for a quick nap and then joined the Newman's and Kim for dinner at the Great Dane. Yummy! Dave had an awesome macaroni and cheese pizza... tasty.

Kim, Andy, Dave, Sue, Me, and Betty

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Friday morning we woke up early and went down to Monona Terrace for the Gatorade sponsored swim practice.

Practice swim, the water was pretty warm

Susan and Me. Susan ended up in the hospital the night before the race with mono. Bummer she couldn't race, but smart.

Big Island Pam, TriJuice (aka Nick) and me

The Newman's: Andy and Dave

Manny, Mark, and me. This was Manny and Mark's first Ironman

Following the swim practice, Nick, my mom, and I went to the terrace to listen to Rich and Patrick discuss the Four Keys. I used Endurance Nation for my training this time around. Loved it!

The rest of the day was spent relaxing. We went to the Outback for dinner and Jenn and Greg arrived later that night.

Yummy chicken and gatorade for dinner :)

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Saturday was spent getting gear ready for race day and checking in the bike and transition bags. I had some trouble with both my front tube and shifting in to my big chain ring. The great people in tech support helped me out.Gear bags

The machine

Testing out the gearing before checking my bike in for the night.

I think this picture is so funny. Totally depicts the personalities of each of them. Jenn- giddy and smiley, Nick- lost in translation :) Mom- worried and in thought

Greg, me, Betty, Jenn... some great cheerleaders!

Apparently I was super confused as to where to put my stuff. Greg loves this picture :)

Jenn, Betty, and Las

A few Ironman photos...

A race report to come, but I wanted to post a few pictures first :)

September 2

"Between stimulus and response is a space. In that space lies our freedom and our power to choose our response. In that choice lies our growth and happiness." -Unknown


Love it!
SoCal Running!

Ironman training in pictures

Ironman is only a couple weeks away. Here are some pictures from this summer's training. Enjoy!

Laurathon 2009!!!

In March, Jenn W. and I thought it would be fun to start planning something special for my 30th birthday. So, this past weekend my dad and Wanda hosted Laurathon 2009. We had 3 loops of a gravelly, hilly course measured to 18.5 miles if you did all three loops. It was so cool! Much of my family joined us, a few friends, and everyone did something. A few people biked a loop, Andrew and my dad ran 1 and biked 2, Uncle Craig ran two loops, my mom and Wanda walked one, and so on. It was very cool how everyone was active for a part of the day. Afterward we grilled up some food, went kayaking, swimming, and kept warm by the fire.

Right before we set out on the "Laurathon"

Loop 1

Here is my cousin Andrew, Michelle, and me finishing up loop 1. You can see uncle Craig in the background (he stopped to pet a dog :)

Here is Craig on the second loop. He left us all in the dust and ran the second loop on his own, faster pace.

My sister Sarah has a stress fracture so she was our SAG wagon... what a help she was!

Eric made the event a Tri-Laurathon by running one loop, biking one loop, and swimming .7 miles. His first triathlon is officially under his belt!

Chris, Donna, and Clarence enjoying their bike ride.

Jenny and me icing our legs in the lake.

Me and Grams celebrating a great day!

Jenn got to stay in the bunk house... just her little size :)

Grams love babies :)

A nice pontoon ride in the afternoon.

Dad

Jenny

Jenn W. and Me

Yes you can!

Most of us have seen this video, but it is such a good reminder that Yes You Can do what you set your mind to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64A_AJjj8M4