Hottie Alert!

Max Longree, winner of IM Louisville '08 is in town and staying down the street from me!! Holla!! We've swam together twice now... and by that I mean he happened to be at the pool when I was. He's here to escape the German winter and to get in some training for IM Brazil. Oh my gosh... ME TOO!! It MUST be fate!

Injury Report:

I have a funny feeling this is going to be a recurring caption in my posts. The training has been going phenomenal and I'm finally feeling a bit stronger on the bike and swim. I got in a great 100 mile ride this weekend and felt surprisingly strong throughout, and I'm regularly putting in 5 hour training days.

I've taken some time off running because of a nagging overuse injury. Yesterday was the one week off mark, so I decided to give it a go. I warmed up nice and slow, stretched, and ran! It felt great! 50 minutes into the run, however, my foot exploded. Yes that's right, I'm now hobbling around on a half-useful foot. Fortunately some good friends hooked me up with a physical therapist specializing in sports injuries; I go in tomorrow!

After the run we went for a swim. It was a really good swim and I even had a breakthrough moment (not because Max was there... even though he was there and I couldn't help but to always breathe to his side ;-)) when I started using the dreaded band. I'm working on a more powerful pull and faster turnover, and tying my feet together really seemed to drive the point home. My times were faster afterwards! Gold star for me!

Post swim we lifted some weights. After all, our day had consisted of riding 45 miles of intervals, running for an hour (almost), and swimming... why not put the cherry on top?! Well this was the straw that broke Monica's back, literally. We were doing some convoluted Heather exercise when my back just gave out. I'm now sitting here typing in the weirdest position because even the slightest movement sends sharp shooting pains down my back to the top of my bum. Last night I was lying down watching TV and it took me about 45 minutes to figure out how to stand up and walk to the bathroom. Today it's all spasmy and pissed off! Seriously? Can't a girl get a break? Why didn't IronHeather's back snap in half? Oy!

Well onto brighter topics... yesterday was Fat Tuesday! I'm giving up cereal for Lent so yesterday I ate a whole box of Oh's. So today... I ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Dammit!! OK, so Monica's Lent starts tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, no cereal! Man, I'm bad at this!

Tonight the Gollnick's and I are going to The Pancake House to celebrate Fat Wednesday. The trainer that I'm working with told me that in order to get down to my race weight I need to take in 4000 calories! Yes, you read that right! In order to get DOWN to my race weight, meaning in order for me to LOSE weight, I need to eat 4000 calories per day... so bring on the pancakes!

This weekend is the Gasparilla Distance Classic! It's a huge road race weekend in Tampa and Joanie and Mount and a few other friends will be in town to race the 15K with me!! Heather hopes to reclaim her title as top local female (which consists of a sweet prize purse). After the race we're planning an open water swim and a trip to some shop in some mall that has the best chocolate in Florida (FYI - you may not want to seek my consultation on nutrition advice, it might be a little off).

Anyways, despite my wimpy body I'm having the most amazing time down here! The people are great, the weather is beautiful, the ocean is clear and has a sand bar so when I freak myself out by seeing sharks and killer jelly fish that aren't really there I can just put my feet down and stand! I miss my family SOOOO much and can't wait see them. My dad got his braces off and looks like a stud and I hear that Katie is walking around with a pumpkin in her shirt. Oh man!! It's been too long, but I'm soaking it all in and making the most of it!

Stay strong up north, I'm sending sunshine your way!! Peace out homies :-)

The Sickies

This week has been slooooooow slow! I dug myself into a hole this weekend after attempting to run a half marathon while sick and on an injured foot. This week, I'm paying the consequences.

I've been laying around since Sunday drinking green tea and icing my foot. I can't complain though, compared to how I felt on Saturday I now feel like a new person. It still sounds like someone is covering my ears whenever anyone talks to me, and every now and then something gross coughs up from my throat, but I'm not longer walking into walks or losing my breath after climbing up stairs.

As for the foot, still hurts :-( I water jogged yesterday for all of 10 minutes and got so bored that I just started swimming without really realizing it. I've been icing, stretching, massaging, adviling, and doing single leg bosu squats daily so this silly setback doesn't rear its ugly head again. Man! Where's Bridg the Miracle Worker when I need her!! I've never had to deal with silly injuries on my own because the world's best physical therapist lives in Louisville and is a great friend!! If you live in Louisville, take advantage of Bridgid's knowledge and expertise! She'll get you up and running in no time.

The biking and swimming are coming along quite well! I'm finally seeing my times drop in the water and I'm sometimes holding on to the super bikers I ride with (not really, but at least I'm keeping them in eyesight).

Stay safe and stay strong, until next time!

Update...

Well hello! Long time no see! I've been pretty lame about updating the blog; things have been busy/sick/pooped/whatever. So here's the update on the past weekish...

• Last Tuesday rode the hills of San Antonio for 4.5 hours and felt great! Went for an hour t-run because my foot wasn't bothering me (started hurting after the Saturday trail run).


• Wednesday woke up: foot felt great, had a head and chest cold :-(


• Thursday: Camp #2 started!! SUPER fun group of athletes, 2 were randomly from Kentucky!!
  
• Saturday: really feeling the sickies!! Felt horrible all day long! BUT my wonderful Valentine brought me the best gift I could ever ask for, a heart shaped COOKIE CAKE!! Oh man I feel better already! (Thanks Heather, that totally made my day!)
  

While it appears that I'm shoving my fist down my throat, I'm really just politely eating with a knife.

• Sunday: 4:00am wake up call (which I hear is really good if you're feeling under the weather) for the Sarasota Half Mary. Felt good during the warm up, but realized before mile 2 that this was a bad idea. Ran easy through the finish; after crossing the line my foot and head were both throbbing to the point where I thought it may just feel better if they explode.


• Brings me to today: slept in (finally!) for a full 12 hours!! Taking it easy for the next few days to get back up to par!

This morning I finally decided to register for IM Brazil!! I was on the fence for the longest time because it's the same weekend as my brother and sister-in-law are due to deliver their first baby (Princess Sophia!!), but after having a heart-to-heart with them, and with myself regarding my goals for the year, I came to realize this is an opportunity I cannot pass by. So we are officially in Ironman training mode!

I'll be better about the updates!! We don't have another camp until March so now my priorities are on getting well and back into the daily grind. Until next time!

Women's CAMP!!

Oh man, what a weekend! Camp #1: The Women's Camp just wrapped up today and it was the most fun I've had in a long time!!! Here's a recap...

Day #1:

Thursday kicked off with introductions, The Mental Game, nutrition info, lots of laughs, and even more chocolate!! We had 4 coaches and 12 campers, most of which hadn't ever met and everyone seemed to click from the beginning. There was no sizing each other up or 'what's your age group and key races for the year' type questions. Just a bunch of tri-chicas ready to have a good time in the sun.

Day #2:

Friday started early with breakfast and a short run at Fit 2 Run. After we went in the shop for run analysis, drills, shopping, and smoothies. A few hours later we were back at the bike shop and ready to ride! The group rode 60ish miles and had some great pace lines going. After a quick change we headed to the pool for a swim and underwater taping. Post-swim we had yet another quick change and headed to dinner. It was a jammed packed day but full of quality workouts with some great and talented women!

Day #3:

Saturday I picked up Heather and the two of us headed to Oscar Scherer for a trail 5K (the other campers wanted to sleep in a bit so they met us there!). After the 5K, which by the way was SO much fun, we met up with the group for about an hour or so of trail running. The weather was sooo nice and the company was even better! After the run, we fueled at the aid station (AKA Todd's car) and split. Half the campers came with me and Jenn to Siesta Key for an ocean swim. The other half went with Heather and Liz for open water techniques at the Y (the ocean was 55 degrees!). After a short, frigid dip in the ocean we headed back to Village. First Watch provided a great lunch that gave everyone enough energy for a long ride. 60-75mile later (depending on the group) we were done for the day and totally trashed!!! We rewarded ourselves with pancakes topped with chocolate chips, a PJ party, and a trike race!

Day #4:

We did a long run on own own (or rode) and met at 10 for a strength training session. We finished wrapping up with a few closing comments and everyone went on their way.

This camp was such an amazing experience made up of some truly great triathletes. These women are fierce, competitive, encouraging, and team players... all people I'm so thankful to have met. Technically I was a coach at this camp, but I learned a lot from these women.

I hope to stay in touch with each of you and can't wait to meet again!

25 Random Facts...

I'm a facebooker. So after being tagged a few times to create my '25 Random Facts' list I finally took the time to do so and thought I'd share 'em with you...

1. I would rather ride my bike than go to the bars.

2. My family are my best friends in the whole wide world and I would do anything for them

3. Nothing makes be happier than a big bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

4. When I was seven my Dad chopped my bottom lip off with an ax, a few years prior I fell in the fireplace and busted my head open, and spilled boiling soup down my arm for some nice third degree burns... I was a bit of a problem child.

5. I just graduated with my MBA and am currently putting it to good use by vacationing in Florida until the weather in Kentucky doesn't suck anymore.

6. I absolutely love training for and racing long course triathlons and would like to see if there is a career in it for me.

7. However, point #6 is not worth sacrificing my friends, family, and life for... and the most successful triathletes have found a great balance.

8. I love to laugh, and make people laugh, and will fall madly in love with anyone who can make me laugh.

9. My biggest regret is throwing away my soccer career for a social life.

10. I want to write a book about my life... a lot has happened in my 24 years!

11. I see myself living in Kona or Boulder: both places where a car, makeup, and 9-5 aren't necessary or the norm.

12. I can't live without my coffee and soymilk.

13. On my to do list: learn to stand-up paddle board, bungee jump off of something cool, snowshoe in Colorado, sky dive, ride a camel, and go to Italy where my mama was raised.

14. This year I will be racing in three different countries!

15. I was born and raised in Louisville,Ky. I went to undergrad at the University of Louisville and grad school at Bellarmine University in Louisville. I've moved out and lived on my own but have never really left town or my family.

16. In addition to #15, I just moved away from my family two weeks ago. It's the scariest thing I've ever done.

17. I have a big heart. I will do just about anything for any of my friends to make sure that they're happy.

18. I served detention nearly every day of my Senior year in high school and hold the record for the most demerits without being kicked out... we won't get into details.

19. I've grown and changed a lot since high school (thankfully) and most people who know me now have a hard time believing I was ever as big of a punk as I used to be.

20. Cookie cake will be the death of me. Put one in front of me and it will be gone in seconds.

21. I try very hard to be organized so I make a ton of notes and always seem to lose them!

22. I'm a sorority girl; yet another small fact that people wouldn't guess about me.

23. I have my personal trainer certification, my real estate license, I'm a certified triathlon coach, I have a Bachelors in Ex Phys and a Masters in Business Administration, and I still have no idea which to pursue.

24. Materialistic people piss me off... even though when it comes to jeans and sunglasses I'm one of them!

25. There's never a dull moment :-)