Not Winning & a Winner

The news has been reporting for days that a Nor'Easter would be heading into New England today-April Fools Day-and I kept hoping that it was a joke. You know, I can see it now-all the local meteorologists got together and thought is would be funny to tell these weary Mainers that MORE snow was on the way. What a great April Fool's joke they would be playing on us! In the end, everyone would laugh and be happy that it was really sunny and warm. Ahhh, Spring!
This is what I was hoping, but
No Joke.
This is what we woke up to this morning.

It is supposed to snow All.Freaking.Day.
Sweet.
Just when all the snow from this hellacious winter is almost gone-BAM! more snow. They* (they being those pesky meteorologists) are saying we will get anywhere from 3 inches up to 12 inches. It could turn to rain. It will probably sleet. Who knows?? All I know is that it is definitely snowing right now.
I also know that Caratunk Girl is probably getting way more snow than I am today. Sorry Girl!! You know you are welcome to come down this way anytime to ride!! And make sure you bring your RUN EMZ shirt so we can be twins!
*Side note: I think I want to come back as a meteorologist in my next life--it's the only job I know of where you can be wrong a majority of the time and still get paid quite well.

I guess it is fitting that I have my first triathlon of the season on Sunday and it is called
(wait for it)

The Nor'Easter
ha ha ha
Very funny Mother Nature.
You got me on this one.
This is now posted on the website:


Mother Nature is trying to upstage us with her own Nor'easter on April 1st.  Please watch the website for updates and any possible changes that may occur.  We are considering moving packet pickup to Saturday AM.  We are also considering a delayed start on Sunday if there is still some ice on the roads.   We are keeping calm and remembering that weather forecasts are frequently wrong...

Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be in the 40's so I am hoping that whatever snow accumulates today will be well gone come Sunday or I just might be doing this one on my mountain bike.

_________________________________________________________________
A BIG thank you to everyone who entered my RoadID Giveaway!!

It is comments like these that just reinforce the need for everyone to have a RoadID!

Just wanted to mention that I was in a bad wreck and I couldn't remember my husbands phone number (everything is programmed in my cell). Luckily I had my phone on me (which is not always the case...bad i know...) and was able to find it. After that wreck I bought a Road ID for me and hubs. I wear it on every run and ride. GREAT GIVEAWAY

Here's why I need this: I almost got splattered all over a FedEx truck today... driver just rolled out into traffic right in front of me. Fortunately heard me screaming as her window was down. Grrrr. So... I thought about the fact that I don't yet have a RoadID as I tried to stop shaking! I'd just get the basic black, or I love the orange in Elite stylel I'd get "today is not that day" (that's my blog title!) And I already follow your blog :-) Good giveaway, thanks!

There were 147 eligible entries-since today is a snow day it would be the perfect time to let LOLA pick the winner.


Each eligible entry name was written on a sheet of notebook paper.

Then I cut each name into a small strip of paper

Each name was then folded in half and placed into a Tupperware container

Said container was then given to LOLA to shake around

She shook it

She kicked it

Then she got to pick the winner!!

And the winner is.....



it says: ltlindian

Congratulations to ltlindian!!
Send me an email and I will get you hooked up with your new RoadID!!

{silly} Dreams

Well it's Monday and there is only one week left in the month of February!
Can you believe it?

My first "race" of the season is in just a month, The Nor'Easter Reverse Tri. Eeek.

Speaking of races, I had a very strange dream last night. I was doing a fun tri at the local high school and after the swim and bike, the run was broken up into segments where you had to answer trivia questions or complete a task every 1/2 mile or so to continue on the race course. Well I did not have my running shoes and I did not want to run in my bike shoes so I went barefoot. And it hurt. A lot!  I started skipping and running sideways--and at the same time, I was SO annoyed that I was losing time with a slow run. I was cursing but running anyway. I don't remember much more than that part but...How strange/hilarious is that??

I was sick for a few days early last week so it was not the week I was hoping for but-what can you do?
I ran 17 miles-sad. I'm celebrating 17 miles of running. My average weeks used to be 35-30 pre-injury.) I got out for my first run outside since I hurt my knee on Jan 2nd. 4.6 miles in the cold winter wind and it was glorious! I ran 4 times though and they were all pain free.
I biked 39 miles-again, nothing epic here. 3 rides with one being a brick.
I swam once, 1800 yards. It was a rough swim to start since I had been out of the water for about 2 weeks but after a bit I found my groove and felt good.
The end of the week also got me into the gym for a couple really good weight sessions!

This week will be much better!

My Monday indoor cycling class has been changed to Tuesday so I am definitely looking forward to that tomorrow. I think I am going to swim before or after class.
I'd like to get at least 3 hour long swim sessions in this week so I don't lose all the ground I gained since the last TI class.

Did you enter my Tough Chik giveaway yet? Make sure you do--you can enter here.
Make sure you check out the Tough Chik blog too!

Here are great new foodie blogs I found last week that I think are worth sharing with you:

The Athlete's Plate-between the nut butter and burger recipes he's got up, I'm in a daze at what to make next. His egg salad with hummus was a winner and my lunch yesterday.

Healthy Exposures- this link will bring you right to Sweet Potato Waffles. I think I shorted out my laptop drooling on this recipe. But she has tons of other yummy things to drool over like Almond Joy Nut butter. Check it out!

Yes, the commonality there is nut butter. Both sites have some amazing recipes for making your own at home and I think I am going to give this a whirl. Considering the closest retailer of Justin's Nut Butter is 30 mins north, I think I need to try this out.

What are some of your favorite sites for healthy recipes??
What's on your agenda for this week?

I'm going backwards...

backwards
the OTHER way
about-face
mutatis mutandis
vise versa
REVERSE


and this brings me to announce my first triathlon of 2011

yes, you read that correctly, a reverse triathlon. An outside run of 3.1 miles followed by an outside bike leg of 11 miles finishing up with a quick 150 yard serpentine (indoor) pool swim.

April in Maine. 

It should be a very interesting race! We could have snow--thus, my mountain bike will be making it's first appearance at a triathlon. We could have rain. It could be 7* or it could be 70*. Who knows!?!?

That is one thing about weather in Maine, it changes frequently and the season or month has little to do with it. There is actually an old Maine/New England saying "it you don't like the weather just wait a minute"

from the website:

The Top 10 Reasons to do The Nor'Easter Reverse Triathlon

10. A chance to get in on the ground floor of reverse triathlon in Maine

9. Bragging Rights...a triathlon in April...in Maine.

8. Everyone gets a proper warm-up for the swim.

7. Get that pesky run out of the way first.

6. A guaranteed PR. (it is a new race)

5. A snake swim...with no snakes!

4. Transition is inside the gymnasium.

3. End your cabin fever earlier in 2011.

2. Top Quality USAT Sanctioned Race

1. Cycling in DRY shorts!

I am really excited to be participating in this one and I think it is a good way to kick off the 2011 season. I even have a little challenge going with the race director (but more about THAT another time).  If you know me, really know me, then you know when presented with a challenge I will do WHATEVER it takes to take it on and come out on top!

I have also teamed up with Kennebunk Beach Triathlon Club this year and I am really looking forward to getting to know everyone and having a super summer! I am finding I love training with others.

I am even considering...

wait for it....

JOINING in on the team's Master Swim!!

How's THAT for liking the pool more and more?

I did test out my knee today. After a solid 11 miles on the bike early this morning I was feeling confidant. When I got to the gym mid-morning, I tried "running" on the elliptical. I banged out a pain free mile in about 8 minutes. Feeling good, I hopped on the treaddy and with a hope and a prayer, hit QUICK START and cranked her up to 4.8. That felt so awkwardly slow for me and my gait was off so I slowly increased to 5.5 and felt good...then I hit 6.0 and sustained this comfortably for a few minutes. Then TWING. A bit of pain so I stopped immediately.

Looks like I am going to give this some more time to rest.

I did talk to one of the PT's I know and she says everything does seem to be pointing to PFPS and to keep resting it. She also suggested starting taking some ibuprofen to help with inflammation. So I am going to try that an swim, bike, lift and enjoy myself.

And in the meantime, focus on WINNING my challenge with Mr. Race Director--let's call it my pre-Nor'Easter challenge!!

If you are a local New Englander that reads this blog I am asking YOU to join me for this fun, fun race-and remember, it is a guaranteed PR!!
Please let me know if you want more info about the Nor'Easter.