9 weeks

This is what recovery/assessment week looks like. :o) That'd be 7 (maybe 8?) loads of laundry I folded and put away. It's terrible, but laundry is almost always what falls below the suck line.

So after 6 months of working with John and using the TriDot system, I had the 5k of my life and ran a 35-second PR. I believe when I started with John, my 5K was hovering somewhere just under 32. I never thought I'd see 30:anything, much less 26:36. To say I'm pleased is a HUGE understatement. I met up with John and three other TriDot athletes at Bakfish in Pearland to run their social run and dang. I'm glad I did. This did a lot for my confidence!

I also got some new shoes this week! Brooks Ghost 9 from runningwarehouse.com. Super fast shipping and a sweet discount with the Best Tri Club Ever. I ran 7 in them yesterday and they felt amazing. So glad to have a shoe that I like!! 

This week was also the Blue and Gold Banquet for Pack 678. This year's theme was The Great Outdoors. Daniel and I made this awesome tree stump cake which took 2nd place and tasted delicious! Ok... I lie. I licked the icing and almost gagged. WAY too sweet with three types of icing going on! But he was happy and we had a great event. 

Saturday was my bike TT and this pic and 26 mph winds is all I'm gonna say about that.

We finished off the week with baptisms and friends and a great swim party to follow. I love watching my kids in the water. They are such little fishies! I can't wait for swim team to start so that they can eat everything in sight and put themselves to bed at dusk. :o)

Relaxing pool side... may be the last time until April 23!!

Mileage
Swim - 2.3
Bike - 51
Run - 10

10 weeks

Still catching up from that stupid week of sickness!!

So I got my new Tri*Fe hoodie (which is amazing...)...

And spun for 9 HOURS this week. What the what. That's what happens when the weather looks like this and you got stuff to do!

I spend 5 hours on my trainer Friday so that I could go enjoy camping with my family and with Pack 678 at Brazos Bend State Park. We had the most amazing weekend of snipe hunting, fishing, campfires, cooking outdoors, tent sleeping, and much, much more.

We had the opportunity to retire 8 American flags on Saturday night. This was one of the most memorable and honorable experiences I've ever had the good fortune to participate in. I'd never had the chance to attend a ceremony, much less conduct one. I was nervous and intimidated and scared I would screw it up. But wow. The photo below is of our adult leaders who placed flag in the flames after our Scouts lowered the stars and stripes. Far and away, the most respectful display of patriotism I have EVER seen - from little boys, no less. I didn't get any other pics - I was busy holding it together and reading I Am Your Flag. I'm the one on the right with the head lamp and tears gushing down my face.

 Left to right: Kevin Brahman, Jon Buttrum, Greg Pierce, Doug Carey, Selena Bradley, and me.

Mileage
Swim - 1.5
Bike - 153 (!!!!!!!)
Run - 24

11 weeks

Well. I got strep. And then I got behind. And it SUCKED. I don't remember much from that week, so it's a good thing I take a lot of pics. I know I had a terrible swim on Monday, ran okay-ish on Tuesday, and by Wednesday I was flat on my back with a Z-Pack and a Hello, Kitty blanket.

I also now know that Coach John has a terrible sense of humor (I kid... after I talked myself off the ledge, it was really pretty funny...).

By Friday, I was RARING to go. I wasn't supposed to do anything until Saturday, but I couldn't help it... I spent 30 whopping minutes on my trainer and got scolded for it. It won't happen again!

Friday required a trip to the beach with my babies. It was a good time to relax and unwind and stick my toes in the sand. I mean... since I wasn't *allowed* to do anything else and all. ;o)

Saturday was our church 5k. The kids and I worked the aid station and tried to #gobold for our people. It was a lot of fun and my babies really enjoyed serving others.

That's all I can remember about that week. Good enough!!!

Mileage

Swim - 1.6

Bike - 76.5

Run - 11