It's a...

GIRL!!!! So I was reading through my blog and realized I never filled you in on the fantastic news. Sean and Katie's Baby X is officially a Baby Girl!! Congrats, you will be the most amazing parents!

Ahhh Florida

So currently in Louisville there is a major ice storm. 100,000 homes in metro Louisville are without power and heat, the ice is causing trees to fall (two of which have hit the house... thankfully no major damage), all schools and most businesses are closed forcing Louisvillians to be confined to the darkness of their home. In all seriousness, please be safe and use your best judgement when traveling.

For example, if you are the only swimmer at Mary T. at a time of day that you'd usually have to circle swim, you may not have used your best judgement (I won't mention any names ;-) ).

Sean sent me this picture of his street before the weather got really bad.
I think it looks pretty, but then again I'm not suffering through it. After I received his e-mail, I thought it would be nice of me to take a picture of my street... just to compare.
Well, this is just the culdesac, but you get the idea. I hope the palm trees bring some sort of warmth to your homes.

On to training: Yesterday my back was really tender and tight. I guess I fell harder than I gave myself credit for. So I bummed around most of the morning waiting for my Advil to kick in, then finally decided to go for a swim.

I've been practicing flip turns so I can keep up with the rest of the group on the repeats (that's right, this 'swimmer' has no earthly idea how to do a flip turn!). My so-called flip turns really suck and it's quite funny to watch; I'll have someone video it next time for some comic relief. If anyone out there has any helpful advice for please send it my way!

The main set was 8x300. The first time through I used flip turns and thought for sure I was slowing myself down. The next time through I just pushed off the wall and was 10 whole seconds slower!! Wow, so these things really work! I forced myself to look like a fool and do the stupid flip turn for the remainder of the main set. Oh and did I mention I also had to use the tempo trainer?! Way too much to concentrate on!!

I decided not to spin after my swim because my back was obviously pissed at me. The rest of the evening consisted of me running a few errands and staying curled up in a ball.

This morning my back was still really stiff so I opted against a morning run. I decided to spin on the trainer for a pretty easy hour and a half (yes, I am aware it's 80* here and about 20* at home) and surprisingly felt great. I put it in a tough gear, I stood, I rode with high cadence and nothing seemed to phase it! Sweeeet!

So from there I decided against my better judgement and went for a run. I did 8 miles with some long pickups and couldn't feel a thing! Vwaala! All it took was a little exercise to kick the stupid back injury. I had a great run despite the crazy wind, and thanks to my big bro Sean who hooked me up with some awesome training playlists. Even though I didn't have Coach by my side to yell my splits, I had Eminem carry me through the intervals and Daft Punk get me home on my recovery.

Now I'm getting ready to go for a walk with my stand-in-mom, and then a loooong stretch (and lots of food!). I'm so thankful this bike wreck didn't turn into something more serious. Stay safe, stay warm, and stay in touch! Peace out.

Weekend Adventures

The weather here is finally warming up to Florida standards and is allowing for some amazing training! Friday started off with an excellent long ride. Even though the legs were trashed we somehow managed to ride around 4 hours and see some beautiful horse farms and strawberry fields.

Saturday was pretty chill. Early I was on babysitting duty at the Gollnick's; Zach and I cooked chocolate chip pancakes for everyone then rocked out some Guitar Hero. Around 10ish I gathered the kidos and we headed to the Y for a swim. The boys showed me how to do a flip turn and critiqued my stroke through underwater analysis (which entailed them lying on the bottom of the pool and waving as I passed over top) :-) At one point during the 100 repeats Josh asked why I keep running into the lane line. I wanted to tell him it's because I don't know how to swim but I couldn't get enough air to say anything!

Sunday was funday! We headed over to Alafia State Park for a trail half marathon. Heather and I got there over an hour early but somehow managed to make it to the start line with seconds to spare!! We had a good long warmup which led to us getting lost on the trails and cutting through bushes trying to follow the announcers voice to the start!! I was covered in burs and had cuts all over my legs, but we made it! The trail race was super fun, but soooo much more difficult than I had expected. There were sharp descents and even steeper inclines, twists, turns, roots, limbs... I never got bored! 2 hours later I finished and was a bloody, muddy mess. Ann was there to greet me (yay! she did the 5K) and we got me cleaned up and hung out for a bit. Heather accepted her First Place award, introduced us to a really cool guy who is traveling around the country racing to raise money for St. Jude, then we headed home (after making a pit stop at Smoothie King, mmmm, my quads needed the boost!). Once back in town I spun out the legs and got caught up on Greys, then went to the pool for a recovery swim. By nightfall, I was pooped!

Monday started before dawn. Heather and I headed out on our bikes around 5:50a to meet a group in Sarasota for their 6:45a Starbucks ride. We were cutting through some back trails, went over a bridge, I lost my balance and steered straight off the edge! It was about a three foot drop and I couldn't see a thing! Luckily I landed on my side and felt OK, nothing too damaged except my ego. I caught back up to Heather to realize I had lost my water bottles, this day is not starting out great. We made it to Starbucks in time, but once we got there I realized my back was really tight. I hung out in the coffee shop while the rest of the group hammered down Longboat Key. I rode easy back home and decided to take the rest of the day off. My back is still pretty tight/tender, but nothing some stretching and Advil can't cure.

On to today: getting ready to head to the pool then riding solo. If my back starts to bother me I'm beelining it home, so I didn't want to mess up anyone elses ride.

Lessons Learned: never eat trail mix with raisins the night before a long run, and never ride your bike over bridges in the dark. Until next time, keep on keepin on!

Saddle Up

About two weeks ago I was scheming ways to sabotage my indoor trainer. As much as I love to watch enriching shows like Greys and Real World, there's not much I dislike more than trying to enjoy them while keeping my heart rate in zone 2. About one week ago I officially refused to ride my trainer at all.

So now, I'm in some sweeeet weather that lets me get back in the saddle....and boy have I. Yesterday the Heathernator did her easy run with me while I did pickups (yes, even my pickups are 'recovery pace' for her. Ha!). After 10 miles, my lungs exploded. We parted ways to gear up for a group ride; I had about 45 minutes to get ready. About 45 minutes later I found my way home after getting lost in the trails. So now I'm supposed to be meeting for a ride and haven't changed, eaten, rehydrated, or even caught my breath!! 15 minutes later I make it to the ride start and have a bento box stuffed full of food, these people think I'm crazy. 10 minutes into it I'm being dropped and my heart rate is out of control (if only I would've gotten on that stupid trainer when I was supposed to!). Around this point I was also informed that this easy ride was a 50 miler, oh man! 1 Peanut Butter PowerBar, a Roctane, and a CarboPro/G2 mixture later I was back on their wheels. It ended up being super fun and everyone with us was super cool. 2.5 hours in the saddle, Day 1 down.

Day 2 began with a long ride (what? Yesterday wasn't long!?). I woke up to more frost on the grass and knew it would be a challenge. The only cold weather outfit I brought was in the dirty clothes hamper, doodie! After putting together an extremely coordinated outfit (ha! not), I rode over to meet the group, they had a good laugh on my behalf, and we headed out.

There are two key pluses to my new riding partner: 1) She brings a lot of really good food with her (I had two bottles for our 4 hour ride) and 2) She pees... a lot! And when someone (me) secretly skips all of her trainer rides these little pee breaks are greatly appreciated :-) Seriously though, the ride was really fun and went pretty well. The legs weren't with me the entire ride, but they gave it a good effort and the horse farms around here make me feel right at home.

Now it's time to rest up for a fun-filled day tomorrow. I can't remember what it entails but I do know my poor butt gets a break from the saddle. Hope you all have a great weekend! Warm or cold, just be thankful that you're healthy and able... and go for it! Until next time!!

BLIZZARD!

Oh poo! I packed the Louisville cold in my suitcase and brought it with me to Florida!! Yesterday temps dropped to a whopping 50 (gasp), and all the locals stood out in their down coats and parkas. The grocery was a madhouse and chatter of snow filled every overheard conversation. Abby's (the 14 year old daughter) track practice was even cancelled as they took shelter indoors and stretched in the gym instead.

I took advantage of the dreary weather and used it as my only off day for the next two weeks. While it wasn't Kentucky cold, the wind here is no joke. I almost lost a limb to a runaway shopping cart in Target's parking lot!

G got back in town today from her amazing win in Chile. Read the story at ironman.com; she's definitely an animal and a fighter when there's a number stamped on her arm. After a swim in the the outdoor pool (I'll admit it, my ears almost froze off) I came back and waited to hook up with Heather for an easy ride. Should've known, she opted for the trainer :-) so I finished out my day with a gym session and some laundry (had to call my mom first to make sure I didn't screw it up... so far so good).

Tomorrow the real training begins, and the next two weeks I'm told are high volume weeks. I've got a long run and ride tomorrow, swim/ride Friday, can't remember Saturday, and a half marathon in Tampa and swim on Sunday!! I'll keep you posted! Until then I'm lacing up the snow boots and going out for sushi :-)

Touchdown Florida!

I've landed... in sunny Sarasota (sort of... Lakewood Ranch, just outside Sarasota)!!

Our journey began on Thursday when my Dad and I loaded up the car, had a tearful goodbye with my mom, and headed south in search of temps above 0.

After about 12 hours on the road we called it quits and bunkered down for the night at the Florida border. We made it to Lakewood Ranch around 2:00p on Friday and met my homestay family. I was super nervous, but it turns out they are great and suuuuuper sweet. For the next few months I'll be living with Sue (the mother) and her three kidos: Chris (10), Cam (12), and Abby (14).

My dad and I spent the weekend together getting me settled in. It was so much fun and I didn't want it to end!! We worked out together, found the essentials (gym, grocery, bank, church...), dined on Siesta Key, and bummed around in the 70degree weather. Then Sunday I drove him to the Tampa airport and had yet another tearful goodbye. It was hard to let go.

The house is quite cozy and the family is helping me feel right at home.

My bedroom

My bathroom (I forgot to shut the door!)

The view from the kitchen

My new pool is outdoors! It's really neat! Apparently Florida is experiencing some sort of cold spell (feels like paradise to me), so the lady at the front desk of the Y told me to rest assured, their pool is heated. Well yesterday I swam in it for the first time and thought I was going to pass out!! It's like swimming in a bath tub... or better yet, a hot tub!

Working out here has been so easy, it's hard to not want to! Every road has a bike lane, there are jogging paths and trails everywhere, and most people commute sans a car. It's great!!

Sunday was supposed to be an easy ride with Sven, however, Sven had different plans. My first ride outside since Novemeber and we were pushing 26mph on the straights, so much for easy. After a little over an hour I was pooped and went straight to bed.

Monday was funday, and my first day as a big girl without my parents! I worked all morning and then around 1:30 decided to start the workouts. I swam a 3900 in boiling water, then rode for an hour with a few pickups (yet still slower than yesterdays ride), then ran for 45 min through the trails. It was so much fun!! I finished around 6:00 and was famished. I ate and fell right to sleep!!

Which brings me to today. I have to take my car in, run a few errands, then hopefully the wind will die down and I can get a nice long run in without getting blown away. I'll let you know how it goes, until then!!

Reality Check

4 more days until I leave for Florida. In past posts I'd mentioned how nervous and scared I was, how I'd never left my family, and boo hoo, blah, blah, blah. Well today at breakfast, my big bro Sean put everything into perspective.

When Sean was 22ish, he decided to take a break from school and pursue his passion to play professional soccer. He spoke with many of his coaches who each encouraged him to go for it and that he has what it takes. As you may know, soccer isn't all that hyped up in the US, however, in Europe it's a different story.

Most of Sean's coaches were from some part of Europe, and low and behold, a coach came through and got him a tryout in his hometown... of Sarajevo. As in Sarajevo, Bosnia. As in foreign language, violence, recently war stricken.

Sean accepted this opportunity to play pro, because after all, it was his dream. He went to Bosnia for 3ish weeks, totally on his own. He was put up in a hotel and picked up every morning for practice, beyond that he was totally and utterly on his own in a foreign country.

Talk about reality check. I'm sitting at breakfast talking about how nervous I am to go to paradise, to the Sunshine State, and train all day in the sun, and have to swim in the ocean! Tough life I have. Of course it will be hard to leave the comfort of my parents home and I will miss seeing their beautiful faces each and everyday, but seriously. I'm worried about traveling to a sandy beach that is a short direct flight away?

Sean really helped to bring me back down to Planet Earth and realize just how good I have it. There are major issues apparent in our world, country, and state, yet I'm nervous to go to the beach. I was in serious need of this reality check!!

Lesson learned, thanks Sean. And now when people ask if I'm excited about heading south, I know exactly how to reply, "Heck yeah!!" I couldn't be more fortunate!

As for Sean, he made the team (duh, he's the bomb!) but realized that Sarajevo just wasn't his thang! Thank God because now he's become a just as amazing brother, friend, and soon to be Daddy (we find out tomorrow if Baby Murphy is a boy or girl!!).

Until next time, train on!!

The Countdown

This time next week, I will have a new home... in sunny Florida!! In six short days my dad and I will begin our journey to the Sunshine State. I am filled with so many emotions, I don't know how to respond anymore when people ask how excited I am.

On one hand, I don't think I could be more excited!! I've been given this amazing opportunity to train with some of the most fun, competitive, and successful athletes in the sport. I've found a great homestay who will hopefully be patient with my domestic skills, and I'll be working tri camps throughout the state with some of the most well-known coaches! I know if I open myself up to the challenge, I'll come out of it a more well rounded coach and athlete.

On the other hand, Team Louisville has kicked off and just one week into it, I'm totally hooked! We have such a dynamic group of athletes, coaches, sponsors, and local support. Right when things start to come together I up and leave :-( And then, of course, there's the whole leaving my family thing that's just killing me. I haven't been sleeping at night because I'm worried sick about flying the coop. I know it's something that will make me stronger, but that doesn't mean it will be easy.

I guess Coach G understood I was having separation anxiety, so she did her part to get my mind off the trip... by ramping up my training volume. Starting yesterday I have three daily workouts. Yesterday was a 13 mile aerobic run, spin drills, and strength session. Today is a 4K swim, aerobic spin, followed by another swim. Tomorrow: long run, long swim, strength. This continues through Wednesday, then I'll have the weekend to recover and get settled into the Florida house before really ramping things up the following week.

I know this is an amazing opportunity and things wouldn't have worked out as well as they did if it wasn't meant to be. So I'm putting on my big girl panties and going for it.

Here's to breaking out of my comfort zone, to trying something new, and to taking a chance. Here's to finding out what I'm really made of.

As for now, off to ride the trainer. Happy Training!

Out of the Rut

I've been in a rut. I always love change, always love to be on the go... but lately I've been on the same ol' schedule doing the same ol' thing. It got monotonous. I have these huge dreams of living in a small mountain town, or on a small island, where the lifestyle is far from robotic. Where the people are friendly, carefree, and non-materialistic... that's just so me, but I've never been decisive enough to go for it.

So for 2009 I vowed to do whatever makes me happy, to go out on a limb, and live out my craziest dreams. I want to travel all over the world, meet new people, race great races, share memories with my family, and do whatever else comes my way.

I used to be so carefree, such a go-with-the-flow kinda girl. Whatever I felt like doing, I did. Now don't get me wrong, I took a few wrong turns and stumbled more than once, but I always got back up and grew strong from each experience.

Then somewhere along the road I got scared, lost my confidence, and hid behind the ones I knew would protect me. I began to play it safe, and that meant boring. I got stuck in a rut.

Here I am today: I've created a great image and built a great resume that would impress just about anyone... anyone except for me. So 2009 is about me. It sounds selfish, but really it's not... because what makes me happy is my family and my friends.

I resolve to be the best daughter, sister, aunt (or Uncle if we're including the Hoetker's ;-) and friend. I resolve to treat others how I want to be treated and always put friends and family before me. I resolve to be the best and most well-rounded triathlete and coach, and to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way no matter how unfamiliar.

2009 isn't about being a new person, it's about taking full advantage of the person I am. It's about having roots and wings. I've got strong roots that will only grow stronger, now it's time to spread my wings. Here's to the road less traveled!