Sporty Spice

Who doesn't love the Spice Girls? They are after all one of best selling female groups of all time having sold over 85 million records worldwide. I mean they have some catchy tunes, fun dance moves, and with five distinct personalities you can identify with one of the members.

Back in my twenties I could totally identify with Posh Spice aka Victoria Beckham then Adams. I loved her designer outfits and love of high heels. She represented the upper-middle class background with refined taste and attention to the finer things in life. In my twenties I loved fashion and thought if I owned a pair of Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choo shoes I had reached Carrie Bradshaw status. The twenties were all about labels and trying to impress my friends. Basically, I was frivolous and only cared about material things.

My shoe closet. Most of these no longer get worn.

Now that I am in my 30's and knocking on 40's door I no longer think Posh Spice is the bomb. A friend of mine called me Sporty Spice the other day. Back in the day I might have kicked her in the shins and told her to F off. Now, I resemble that remark! These days I could care less if I have the nicest purse, shoes, or clothes. Give me a pair of leggin's and a comfy pair of kicks and I am a happy girl. Most days I look as if I could go work out at the drop of an expensive chapeau. My favorite store is Athleta and my local running store. Although Anthropologie runs a very close second. A girl has to get dressed up every now and then when the occasion warrants such.

2 of the many pair of running shoes I wear on a daily basis.

So why the change in personality? Well, I think most of it has to do with my hobbies (triathlon) and the fact I stay at home with a 2 year old who could care less if I am wearing sky high heels or running shoes and doesn't know the difference between Prada and Target. She would probably tell you Target is the best and to be honest I would agree. I've learned that my friends could care less what labels I am wearing and vice versa. The friends that do care about these things I find I no longer have anything in common with and I am totally fine with this. I value friendships and family and my health over labels. Those are the things that are truly important.  I would rather get in a good quality workout then give my credit card a good workout. I would rather sit down with a friend over hot tea and knitting then go get a mani followed up by a shopping excursion. I would rather spend the day antiquing with my sister and mother than flipping through fashion magazines. When it is all said and done moments with friends and family will last longer than moments spent shrouding myself in clothes.

So Posh while I can respect you and your love of fashion I am just going to have to identify with my girl Sporty Spice and her tough girl attitude. Zigazig ah!!!

Comebacks Suck

It's true people, comebacks suck or at least they do in the beginning. So a brief history. In 2014 I hired a triathlon coach and while I loved her my body did not. She worked at making me faster in my running and trying to change my gait so I was more efficient. While it sounded GREAT in theory in the end it was not. By Spring I was battling plantar fasciitis( a pain in the heel that is like walking on rocks at best). Now it never bothered me while running so I kept at it and saw great increases in speed during training yet come race time I just farted out. I had my worst times EVER in running races and was not enjoying myself.

Fall rolled around and I signed up for a full marathon (26.2 fun filled miles) in November. Training was going ok despite the heel pain. Hot Rod Red and I went down to watch Beach to Battleship and cheer on Swim Bike Mom and another friend. While there we went for a run. I made it about 7 miles into an 18 mile run before I cried uncle. I don't normally pussy out but I did that day and didn't give a flying flip. My entire foot was throbbing to the point it hurt to walk. Anyway, got home and took a week off from running. The pain in my foot was not going away so off to the podiatrist I hobbled. Not only did I have a bad case of plantar fasciitis but I had a stress fracture. Craptastic! I deferred my marathon, put on a walking boot and cried.

One month later I am out of the boot and doing physical therapy but wary and feeling unmotivated and FAT! Even though I swam and biked a little I did it half heartily. So I was out of shape FOR ME. I clarify "for me" because I had a friend almost punch me in the face when I told her this.

Slowly and I mean slowly but surely I have been getting my distance back up and it has sucked big fat ones people. My lungs feel like they want to punch me in the throat when running uphill and my legs want to detach themselves from my body and become roadkill. Why is it that taking one month off feels like I am starting over?

Oh, before I forget I signed up for a half marathon in March in the mountains and before that I have a Swim Bike Mom Traincation (that's a vacation for triathletes because we don't do things like normal folks) at the end of February. Therefore, my arse needs to get back into shape and quick! With the weather being so terrible the last couple of months it hasn't helped in the training department. Running on the dreadmill is, well, dreadful and putting my bike on the trainer is even worse. Talk about preparing for mental toughness. Riding the bike indoors is boring even when you have shows on Bravo to watch-there isn't a Real Housewives marathon that can possibly make it better. It makes me want to scratch my eyes out! But alas, I hop on and get it done because I have a comeback to make!

I have been trying to enjoy my training and trying to remember to be grateful I can even do the things I do but really I have been swearing every damn hill I meet and curse each and every long run. I am trying to enjoy the conversations with my besties and cherish this time rather then preparing for a speed interval. I know I will get back to where things are easy again and enjoyable. Until that time I am standing by my claim that comebacks SUCK!

Introduction

Since this is my FIRST ever blog post I thought I would tell you a little about myself and a little bit about my journey. So let's get started...

Hello my name is Sara. I am a wife to a wonderful, supportive man I shall refer to as Techie. I have a funny, sweet toddler who keeps me on my toes. I have 2 corgis and 4 chickens. No we don't live on a farm but in the city limits. I love to knit and garden and ride horses. Obviously, in case you didn't figure it out from my title, I am a triathlete. I may not be fast, I don't know tons, and don't have all the fanciest gear but I get the job done and have fun. I am just an ordinary girl tri-ing to get in shape while doing something I love.

I got involved in the sport of triathlon in 2013 when I was looking for a change of pace from just running. My BRF (best running friend), we will call her Hot Rod Red, decided to do a sprint tri and really had to twist my arm to join her. Ok, there was no twisting as I am always up for a challenge unless it's jumping out of an airplane or handling snakes and then HELLZ NO! While Hot Rod Red didn't do anymore that year due to other obligations I did 2 more because I was addicted.

In 2014 Hot Rod and I decided to do an international distance triathlon-White Lake. This brought on new challenges like open water swims and longer training days. So we trained all summer and did a few more tris before tackling the international distance. It was hot as the deepest depths of Hell on race day but I completed that race. Every thing except maybe the swim and crossing the finish line sucked arse (that's ass for those who don't speak Sara). I was uncomfortable the whole time on the bike which had never happened and it being soul sucking hot, running down asphalt with no shade was like a kick in the face-not pleasant unless you like that sort of thing!

I followed White Lake up with the Tuna Run 200, a 2 day relay that begins in my hometown and takes you 200 plus miles to the beach with 12 of your closest friends. Next up was to run my 3rd full marathon, the Richmond Anthem. However, due to a stress fracture and a bad case of plantar fasciitis I had to defer till the next year.

The coolest thing that happened though was being named to the Swim Bike Mom Ambassador Team. For those that don't know what that is, Swim Bike Mom aka Meredith Atwood is a hero among triathlon loving moms and women. Her motto, "just keep moving forward", has inspired people all over and of all abilities to put one foot in front of the other and just go. She has quite the "army" and I am so proud she picked little ole me to represent her brand and her mission. You can check her out at www.swimbikemom.com 

So, that brings us up to present day and where the real journey begins.  I plan on doing my first ever 70.3 triathlon, Beach to Battleship or B2B. It's for me what us triathletes call our "A" race or our BIG race, the big dance, the big show, you get the point. I think I threw up a little in my mouth when I hit that register button. I never dreamed I would make my body go 70.3 miles in one day. A breakdown on the distance, 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run. Something may be a little wrong with me in my head! No really, I think something is wrong with me although most triathletes will tell you this about themselves. So this blog is to share my training and other ramblings and believe me there will be other ramblings.