Yeah for food!!

So, here is some glazed eggplant that I made that was pretty great I covered that in some couscous and it was just a good day from then on! It is glazed with some curry and honey but thats the major tastes that came through anyway. Hooray for good food! especially when it turns out looking like the picture in the book, unlike looking at the burger on the Mcdonalds sign only to get a smushed looking wrapped up solid substance that they pass as a burger.hehe!

The vegetarian returns

Well, my girl came in for a visit over Labor day and it was great fun! We didn't do anything to spectacular but we enjoyed the time with each other. It was a great weekend with great weather and the Hurricane Gustav may have even helped the weather in Memphis stay breezy and cool. I'll leave you with a picture of some salad I made us....it was like greans and tofu with mushrooms cooked in a curry and coconut milk base. Although both of us are sceptical of my skills with vegetables this one turned out pretty good!

LEED seminars

So we took a trip to Little Rock to check out the cool things going on there involving LEED design. It seems Little rock is taking off while Memphis is soo slow in even getting involved. Some things that stick out in my mind were the business that loaned bikes to their employees (also had showers in the office). They collected rainwater to use for flushing the toilets landscape watering...and so on. Heifer uses a moat around the building to naturally bring a draft through the stair well so they don't have to condition it! There were some great features! In all it took up a Friday but I'm glad I went! we visited Heifer International, Clinton Memorial Library, and Winrock International.

Training?

What in the world have I been doing? well, I did go to my new apartments so called fitness room and have been doing cardio on that. I think I may go mountain biking today because it isn't scalding hot outside. This past weekend I was in Galveston eating icecream and eating oreos! It was kinda nice to not have to worry too much about what I'm putting down the ole chute. But I got to see my girl Christina and we just enjoyed each others' company.

I'm in my mid 20s

I went to an orthopedist today, he took x-rays and wiggled my knee pushing it from side to side until it hurt and popped ALOT! he pushed until my face turned red(er) and then pushed harder. After all that he said you've just stressed some meniscus or something like that and he just recommended that I cut my miles in half and take 6 to 8 Ibprofen/day. I can't wait to tell my girl because I am sure she is tired of me complaining about it and I think she was a bit worried too. I asked him other question like if he sees any bone spurs and how is my knee wearing...he said I am good to go and have plenty of cushion left! I definately wanted to hear that! I can't wait to get out and run some of this 90 degree weather! Hopefully I'll be able to do MightyMite this weekend..but doubt it, I don't want to push too hard and ruin something for sure.

No training in the near future

So I've been icing my knee for it seems like forever. No updates to give anyone about training thats for sure. Instead I've been working on my core strength using dumbell back lifts and cougar crawls...wierd stuff like that whatever I can find to stay active and not have that frustrated/bored feeling that can happen. On the more fun side I went and had a mexican drink called horchata which seems super easy to make! Chuk took me out and we went to a restraunt that was -100% english speakers. I'm surprised they took dollars rather than Mexican peso. I also took a quick snap shot from my bosses truck of Rampage Jackson's dumptruck running the roads of Memphis, TN. That was a great random and fun shot! well, i'm going to support my friends running the Harbortown 5k tonight bummer I can't do it. It makes me think of what I would do if I didn't work out or be an active person. What kind of person would I be like? I blame being active on Dad and Mom so thanks! If you have kids keep them active motivate them in school and physical activities. Give them that balance so they can choose what they want to focus on later in life. I'll let ya stew on that one! Looking foward to my 93 degree weekend weather!

"Just the way it is."

That line keeps coming back to me over and over when wierd stuff starts to happen. For example, I want to go out and run or bike but I can't because my knee is acting stupid and refuses to run. I only got to MTN bike 18 miles run 9 this whole weekend! I'm told its like some kind of tendonitis. I'll just try to stay off of it but that is SOO HARD! I just have to look to the future and tell myself that it will be better in the future. But this weekend was pretty fun I got to take care of Chuk's dogs and they were cool, except when the small one missed the "pee-pad"..not cool! I went on a photo expedition in South Memphis and captured some shots there. I was way out of my element there but it was all a great experience. I've attached pictures from the Ytri, the fun dogs that want to play ALLLL the time, and a couple of Memphis shots. I got to talk with my girl alot this weekend which was just great!... weekend minutes are the BEST! If you're reading this you're the best! Oh you just texted me how cool...

Ytri..

was the name of the triathlon I did this weekend! It was in Birmingham, AL, which had a very cool downtown and I wish I had time to take some time and shoot it.
I placed 1st in my beginner age group which was neat even though Team magic got all of the times screwed up. On the way home we stopped for Sonic. We're all health nuts! Anywho, I loved the fact that my food was getting made by some employee with a bloody nose! Good thing I had my trusty camera with me so I could get some evidence in case we all got some kind of disease from this persona of human cleanliness.
This was the first weekend I've been through in over six months without my girlfriend Christina with me. It was super hard but I had to do everything I could to stay busy! I was still sad but bearable anyway...good times... think positive... My triathlon team had a Memorial day 40 mile ride and a party after which was pretty fun. I was trying to stay in the middle of the group and another lady so I could be a bridge between them and her so she wouldn't get lost then we got dropped. Oh well, I don't see an Ironman in the too near future! haha Then I went and hung out with my Mormon friends for about 2 hours to see another friend off. They played croquet and other little games. I just sat there because my knee wanted to make sure I noticed it. I will be introducing it to ICE tonight!

Its getting warmer!!

yes getting warmer and time to start seriously hydrating. That would be easier said than done of course...and why because water from work taste just like the water in your backyard pool! So i'll have to start bringing water to work I guess....Maybe I should make friends with a firefighter...they always have water....hmmm wonder what it taste like though?

The non training

I've been hearing good things about my friends from their Memphis in May triathlon so thats all great! I am going to do a small triathlon in AL this weekend. Of course my friend Craig wants me to do the Xterra nationals there June 8th. We'll see. I biked to work and for some reason I just don't feel fast? we'll see what happens next. I think I am going to start doing the Tues night track workouts some but I'll have to run some more in the heat by myself so I won't be so discouraged at track house. FASTER YOU MUST GO FASTER!!

What's a biker to do?

So, what is a rider supposed to do when cars refuse to move over? Nothing. It's a play on power, SUVs don't move when a Geo Metro tries to merge. Share the road you say? In this case riders only want 3 feet of space because anything can happen that can throw a rider off potential slamming into a passing car. No, I'm not asking for a lane nor do I ride in a single lane with tons of traffic it is a 3 lane road where I have never seen a car in each lane 3 abreast except at a stop light. So, No driver education....No common sense...or just plain bicycle hater? I'll never know as you fly past me at 55 mph.

Bad but good Tuesdays!

Well, my friends know me as a pretty healthy eating person. I guess its time to let them know about the once a month DONUT TUESDAY at work! I love it!! Coffee and Donuts. Very,… very bad….on a ramble…I know now why Memphis is unhealthy. It is because we don’t accommodate being healthy. i.e.: no bike lanes, dead end sidewalks, no shaded pavilions in parks. However, there is hope, even with the tons great food Memphis has to offer people can still be healthy. The public is starting to see a need for change and offer “pay what you can” Yoga classes. (saw it in the paper) It’s a start and I hope it catches. Being active isn’t for everyone but I just want people to take care of themselves….and eating what makes you feel good is GREAT just moderation is GREAT-ER!

Tired Bike Commuter

So I commuted to work today again hoping that the weather will be nice enough to do this a great deal. It will be raining the rest of the week and I'm not hard core enough to ride in the rain. Cars here scare me anyway and I have poked though differnt subdivisions cutting off a great deal of time on the road now I ride some down a gravel construction road and a golf cart trail! AWSOME! commute time is 20 min.

Gator Terra triathlon 2008

So I finally did the Gator and had a great time! My mom and dad got to come and watch me which was pretty cool for me. I think it was shocking to mom to see that much spandex! ahhhh!!!! I did a decent time and was 4th in my age group. I'm happy with that and have improved a ton over last years race time! It was great times!

Ouachita Challenge

Well, it is over. The Ouachita Challenge 60 miler turned into a 50 miler because of the weather. It was great! my left knee is hurting like crazy! I don't know why, but I wish it would stop! I think there were about 2 other hardtails there like mine but it was great! lots of fun and super organized ride!

Wolfman Duathlon

Well, the race was crazy! It was nasty and so full of water you were lucky to stay up on your bike. At the end everyone looked like they rolled around with swine. Fun yes but now my bike is in the shop so they can grease and get it ready for my endurance ride this weekend in Arkansas. Endurance mountain biking is totally new for me because there is no one to give you food or water you are just out there amongst the rocks and trees. I think I will like it and hope to develop an eating and drinking strategy to finish the race without much mishap.

Video says it all.....

by latech1982

A new race look

So I've got my race this weekend and wanted to be hard core for just one race. What is the easiest way to look crazy? I'll tell you, it is to cut your hair into a mohawk. After this weekend I'm sure I'll shave it down even but it will be fun to have a mohawk for a couple days.
My stupid shins won't stop hurting from running so I've started doing the stair stepper at the gym and let me tell you that thing will wear a brotha out!

Captain red legs

was the name that one of my teamates gave me after I donned my huge bright red girl's softball socks for a cross country 10k. My time was like 58 minutes that was horrible I felt really bad after the first 3 miles. Cramps settled in and I slowed it was just a bad race but it was fun just to get outside and move around with people that love to do the same thing as I. Du in the Dirt is this weekend in Hot Springs, Arkansas I've heard it is a pretty hard bike ride...hope it will get me ready for Ouachita Challenge in April!

slow skinny and somewhat sporty

After biking like a maniac with some Thunder Racing people, I ran a cross-country 10k and was pretty slow finished around 00:58 that is like a 9 minute mile. I wish running was more of a steady sport but then it wouldn't be running. I wasn't hurting except my feet fell asleep and I could feel the blood pooling in the bottom of my feet. I could really tell I haven't been running though.

Sarge I can't feel my legs!!

So, I've been doing little chaturanga runs, jump rope, planks and the like. Exploring what I can try and do on the Bosu ball (sp?) squats and stuff like that. So I feel really good! I suprised myself in sort of a bad way when I went swimming the other day and saw how see through my tri shorts had become from the chlorine. I was NOT aware this could happen, and I am suprised I haven't been thrown out of the YMCA because of that. So I ordered some online yesterday and should be in the water swimming with me in about a week. Until then looks like I'll just be lifting some light weights med reps in the gym.

ITS COMING SOON!!

My first upcoming race is 2 weeks away now! exciting! I haven't been running so I need to get on that but its just been nasty weather so I didn't want to risk getting sick. My brother and his wife visited so I only got in a run on Sunday I went about 5.5 miles and I'm still sore today...not a good sign. I kept a good fast pace and it felt good though. My bro. and I were wrestling some so I guess that could count as training for the full contact sport of triathlon swimming! lower body wieghts and swimming Monday and today! YEAHH!!

V-day

It is a cauliflower sheep!
I think that was just pretty cool. I was super scared they were going to turn brown before she saw them.
Thank goodness the watermelon was pretty easy and really colorful! Awsome!
Finally a rush to put it all together and make the delivery!


Well, Valentine's Day has come and gone. Here was my project for my vegetarian girlfriend. I hope to get in a couple hours of MTN biking this afternoon.My brother and his wife are coming into town so that should be great times!

Cookies!

Girlscout cookies are going to be my downfall. I've probably eaten about 1 and 1/2 boxes of their delicious and non nuritious cookies by myself. I woke up early this morning so I went for a swim 900yards. It was pretty good. At the end I tried to do the butterfly and some people were trying to help me. I think the lady in the office was either calling her friends or a zoo to get report some wild flaling animal in the pool!

Slacker!

So every weekend since my last little post I've been riding 3 hours on my mounainbike and lifting at the gym. Not alot of running at all and still swimming at least 1 time a week. I really need to put in more time doing a little in all the sports. I ran a 3.1 mile cross country little race and my time was 25:02 not too good but what I expected from not training too much. On the up and up my new team jersey came in today and I'll be trying it out at the 60 miler Ouachita Challenge!

Suffer-O-Rama

So yesterday was a nasty day. lots of rain but I was looking foward to getting back on my trainer, which I had let my girlfriend borrow for a while. I arrived 20 min. early to my spin class to put in some extra little did I know that 2 hours of lactic acid burn was ahead of me. We watched a Troy Jacobs tape as usual and this one included workouts such as 100%-110% intensity for up 1 minute each with 30 sec rests. 30 sec out of saddle and 45 sec in saddle for 5 min. at 90% intensity. It HURT I am really glad we did that.

december cap off

So most of December was some swimming I got up to 1 mile and felt good. My traps were getting a little tired but I learned to kick better. This makes my swimming pull feel way better.

I signed up for a 60 mile bike tour in the Ouachita mountains which is supposed to be a brutual ride. I plan on spending lots of time in the saddle!