Remember when I said no Ironman races in'09?

So, remember when I said I wasn’t doing an Ironman next year? Well, I signed up for Ironman Canada today. On Friday, I heard Ginger tell a customer that I had done all of the North American Ironman races except for Canada and Hawaii. The day before I received an email from NAS saying there were a limited number of entries opening at 9 am today. Well, after I sat in the hotel lobby refreshing the page, I got in. After I sent it in, I started to freak out that I did it. WOW! I have never been to Canada and I might as well go. Since it was quite quick, I did not get to ask Doodle so I hope he doesn’t freak out. He has been to Canada several times and encouraged me to go with Elizabeth to sign up a few years ago.

Back to the present…Yesterday, I made the drive to Louisville, Kentucky. It was raining from North Carolina almost to Kentucky. Through the mountains in West Virginia the fog was so thick I could barely see. Fortunately, it stopped and I stopped and put the top down on the Jeep. Along the way, I had a great experience. I did not have enough cash for a toll and the toll booth operator paid the rest for me. When I arrived in Louisville, everyone was super friendly. I walked around Louisville and it is quite nice. My parents arrived later and we had a lovely dinner complete with half a bottle of wine that my mom and I shared.

After a wonderful night’s sleep (I guess so with 3 glasses of wine), I woke up and ran and my legs felt pretty good. After a yummy breakfast, I swam in the Ohio River and it really wasn’t that bad. I then went and rode for an hour and felt quite confident about my bike. Of course, then I spent half an hour in the lobby signing up for Ironman Canada. Then my parents and I went to this cute diner named for a dog, Boomer. After lunch, we went to the Louisville Slugger museum. It was sooooooooooo neat! Outside is the world’s biggest baseball bat and inside was all sorts of neat stuff about the players who use the Louisville Slugger. Also, we had a tour of the factory where they made the baseball bats. There was also an exhibit of baseballs that presidents had signed. Then we went to the Frazier Museum, which is a museum about different periods of conflicts. It was interesting. After our tourist activities, I popped over to the World Fest. Then my beautiful and talented friend, Elizabeth, called and I got to visit with her and her mom! Elizabeth is one of my favorite people. She is absolutely beautiful, smart, funny, nice and FAST! She could easily qualify for Kona and I hope she will. Elizabeth used to live close to us but then her husband got stationed in Washington. Elizabeth and I went to the Ironman Welcome Dinner and headed over to CVS to get Gatorade. There it is…two days before Ironman. Tomorrow, we will swim for a little while. I will do a short brick and then head to Churchill Downs for a tour with my parents. It will be an early night and hope to sleep quite well. I still wonder if I set my goals too high and did not train hard enough. For Ironman Canada, I am considering hiring a coach and really get serious. I really need to train harder and lose some weight. I need to have a conservative but quality training plan. I know I can do better! I just know it. My coach now is delightful and really cute but she could probably benefit from a different point of view.

4 days to go-#805

Got up this morning for an early run. It was sooooooooooooooo slow. Yesterday, I had to ride all over to get my Jeep so I got a bike ride in. Tomorrow, I am on my way...So much to do today-pack, 2 appointments, work, teach spinning, put stuff in Jeep. Now all the questions come up...did I train enough, did I train too much, should I have ran, bike or swam more...there is nothing that I can do now to change it. It is what it is...I hope it is good. The biggest question is...will my new crank and bottom bracket come today and will my bike be ready to go? I have another road bike that I can ride but I do not run that well off that bike. Thank goodness it happened here.

Checked my number last night and it is #805. Check www.ironmanlive.com on Sunday and you can put my number in and see where I am. Pray for a good day and add a little prayer for the best race ever.

Tomorrow-travel day
Friday-swim, bike, run
Saturday-small brick, short swim
SUNDAY...IRONMAN!!!!!

Another day, another drama

So, I get up this morning and despite reports of rain, it is not raining. I am feeling lucky because I have to ride my bike home after I drop the Jeep off at the Jeep dealership (to fix the repairs where the lady rearended me last week). So, I load up the bike and start on my way. About now it starts to pour. Oh well, the ride is about 8-9 miles and I can ride and get home, get a run in before I have to go to school. I drop off the Jeep and unload my bike and start to ride. I step down on the left pedal to clip in and I hear a strange noise. Then I realize that the left pedal is not coming up when I pull up. The crank is broken. Well, of course, I did not bring my cell phone because I did not want it to get wet (because I have already had to replace it from water damage not 3 weeks ago). So, I decide that I will ride over to the bike shop where I work part-time and fix the pedal myself. So, I ride about 2-3 miles to the bike shop, pedaling with one leg. So, imagine for a minute...I am riding in the pouring rain and can only pedal with one leg. I get to the shop and I cannot fix it. Wait, did I mention this is the bike I am doing Ironman in on Sunday? So, I call Sandy and ask her if I can borrow a bike to get home to get to school. I, of course, burst into tears when trying to explain this. She tells me to take any bike I need to and head home. So, I grab the easiest bike I can get to which is a 53 cm cyclocross bike, which is too big for me and of course, has the wrong pedals on it. I start home and while I can pedal with both legs, I cannot clip in and have to pedal on my toes because of my cleats. In the meantime, I lose both flat sides of the clipless pedals on the cyclocross bike. I get home and it stops raining. AAAAAHHHH! About now, you are probably asking yourself "Why did she not ask for help?" Hello, that would mean I would have to depend on someone else and do not want to trouble anyone. Being a Capricorn (whose sign is the goat), I am extremely stubborn and am convinced I can do everything on my own...even though I am continually reminded, I cannot! Oh well, more material for my best seller. At least the crank arm broke now and instead of at Ironman on Sunday. Now, I am convinced I will do great on Sunday because all the bad stuff has already happened.

One day I am going to have a best seller....

Any time my husband is far enough away that he cannot return quickly, some thing (okay, many things) go hay wire in my life....here is the latest example...

So, today I decide I am going to cut the grass so Leona and I can go to the beach tomorrow. I get the lawnmower and off I go. Mow the front yard and the lawnmower works just fine. Get to the back yard and with my ADD self, I cannot cut the grass in straight lines. I have to go in some funky jacked up way...not even a pattern. But I think I will cut the grass and start cleaning the house so when I get home from the beach tomorrow I can just hang out in my clean house with the manicured lawn. So, about half way through the lawnmower starts smoking and I think that something is wrong with the oil. Well, it stops and there is some oil on the mower but it starts up again. First thing I notice is all the bugs are gone! WOW, I think the smoke cleared away the bugs and I could leave the windows open without fear of getting eaten alive. So, I continue in my jacked up lawnmowing way and finally the lawnmower dies. After several attempts, I figure it is better for me to leave it and maybe somehow someway it will fix itself. Of course, I leave it in the middle of the backyard. I then decide to get the weedwacker and trim the rest of the grass because in my brain there is not that much left. So, I start weedwacking away. Now, the weedwacker is cordless and dies after about 10 minutes. Not to mention that thing gets a little heavy my forearms feel like I have been beat up by the closest UFC fighter. So, here I sit...lawn looks some psycho elf half assed mowed it, dead lawnmower sitting in the middle of the back yard, dead weedwacker on the charger. All hopes of becoming the more efficient wife and better housekeeper dead...better get the wine because I am really good at that. And once I have had enough wine I won't care about the yard and I might convince myself that it looks just fine and I might have discovered a new landscaping trick. Heck, I won't even care the house looks like a hurricane hit it. Bless my heart and bring on the wine!

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night tovisit violence on those who would do us harm."-George Orwell

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."-George Orwell

Today, I read this on a forwarded email. Like a lot of people I have been watching the Olympics religiously nightly (sometimes very late into the night) and while I am totally amazed at their athletic feats and blown away by their natural abilities, I have only heard one American athlete (funny it was an athlete that I don't really respect - Kobe Bryant) say anything about our troops overseas who have given them the ability to compete at these Olympic games. This is a subject I am extremely passionate about because one of those troops is my husband. He spends a lot of time away from home because of this. I even forget that he gives me the freedom to do all of these athletic feats (on a much smaller scale than the Olympics) and his willingness to visit violence on those who do us harm also allows me the freedom to do all of these things I take for granted. Most of us do not think of the war going on a daily basis far far away and we go on about our every day lives taking all of this for granted. We forget that there are actually people fighting for our freedom. Every night we go to bed and most of us do not give the troops another thought...these are the very people that allow us to go on about with our lives. We do not think of the sacrifices these troops make...and some will make and have made the ultimate sacrifice. It doesn't matter your political persuasion or your views on the war, we are able to sleep safely in our comfy beds every night because of these troops. What's the point? Just to make us all stop and think and maybe even say a quick prayer for our troops (past, present and future) and respect their undying devotion to our country. Some of them have given much more than any Olympic athlete competing today. Off the soapbox...

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. -Eleanor Roosevelt

This is at the signature at the end of my email and I have written about it before. Maybe I actually followed it yesterday...Only three other people knew I was even considering swimming the 800 meters at the post swim meet. I had never swam at a swim meet before and I was scared I would embarrass myself and end up last. So, yesterday, after teaching spin class, I sped like a mad woman to post and got there just in time. There were lots of people I knew there which made it worse because if I was going embarrass myself at least I did not want everyone in God's green earth to see it. So, when I got to my lane, my timer asked me what I thought I would swim and I said about 17 minutes. Well, sure enough...I had a decent swim but I was dead last. Yes...exactly what I was afraid of. Good news, I did finish 15:41. At first, I was mortified in the water because I could see people passing me and actually lapping me. I thought of all the excuses (I swam 1800 yards this morning, I am a long distance athlete and do not warm up until after 1000 yards, I just came from spin class, yada yadaada) that I could make but finally on the way home I realized...I did it and I did not die from embarrassment and no one really cared but me. The best thing is I did something that really scared me. Is it scary to most people? Probably not but it was to me!

Today, I ran 55 minutes this morning and rode this afternoon. The week (as usual) has not worked out quite as I planned but it is not a bad week! Tomorrow, a swim and run.

Note for the day...do something that scares you...even if you do not completely succeed - at least you tried and that is winning!

2 more weeks...

2 more weeks to IM Louisville! This week's workouts...
Monday-swim, run, teach one spin class
Tuesday-run, bike, yoga, and weights
Wednesday-swim
Thursday-run, bike, and weights
Friday-swim
Saturday-short brick
Sunday-BEACH - JEEP RIDE!!!!!!

Self Destructive Behaviors and Nutrition

Oh...why is it before Ironman your legs feel like they weigh 900 million pounds? Today, I rode the Carthage ride with Hal, Leo, Quincy, Mike, Zodie, and Bob. While it was fun and my friend, Leo, swears the hills were not that big...it hurt. We did come in a little over 3 minutes faster than 2 weeks ago. Stuff hurt...hips, priformis muscle (thanks Ginger for telling me what the heck that was), legs...OUCH. I probably worked way harder than necessary but all in all it was a fairly good ride. The ride was for the Special Forces Association who raise money to help families of Special Forces that were wounded or killed in action. It was a great cause, the weather was perfect and I was in good company.

Today, I was reading my friend, Amelia's, blog (http://www.sbrtricoach.com/). Amelia is a local triathlon coach who I met at our first coaching clinic a few years ago. While I do not talk to her that much anymore, she helped me through some very difficult times in my life. She talks in her blog about several things but the two topics that hit home with me were self-destructive behavior and nutrition. She says, "So when do triathletes engage in self-destructive behavior? The most common scenario leads to overtraining. As the art and science of triathlon have evolved, we’ve learned that we should ‘periodize’ our training." This is true. Somehow we think more is better and even with a degree in PE and lots of training in the subject, I do this too. The bad thing is that now I am ready to give up triathlon because I do not know when to back off. So, the best advice I can give to people is to actually rest and have easy days when you actually go easy and don't feel like because you do not stay with the pack one day, you suck. Actually, this could help you out more than you know and you can bypass the pack!

Now, nutritionally, we all have self-destructive behaviors. We all have our thing that we love and it is not good for us. Now, I do think that all things in moderation are okay. Sometimes a piece of cake will not kill you and it will curb the sweet tooth. Unfortunately, for me, I cannot have one piece of cake...it is several pieces and then some. So, what can you do if you have this problem? Well, there are many several different schools of thought on that...what has worked for me sometimes is to completely give that thing up and write it down and give it to someone who will keep me to it (Thanks Hal). It does not mean I cannot have a treat but I know that I cannot eat just one piece of cake. Does it always work? No. The problem with the wealth of nutritional information we get bombarded with is that it is hard to tell what is going to work for each of us individually. That is the key...what works for each of individually. Find what works for you and do it! I will say that the healthier I eat the better I feel and usually perform better. Be careful here and do not take it too far and end up focusing only on food. Again, everything in moderation.

Tired...only 17 more days.

This morning I woke up tired...Think I am quickly approaching overtraining and ready to be done with Ironman. Rode with my good friend, Pat, this morning and then rode with Hal and Leo this afternoon. All and all 50 miles today. My head tells me I am tired and my legs scream they are tired which is all making me very grumpy. This is the worse part before IM. You just want it to be over and then when it is over, you are sad and want to start all over again. You forget being tired and pain and just remember that $1,000,000,000+ feeling when you cross the finish line. I always say if you could bottle that feeling and sell it, you would be a trizillionaire! Not only do you feel good but you forget all the bad stuff! Every time I do IM, about half way through I think...I do not remember this hurting so bad or being so hard...well, it is because of that feeling at the end. Even at the end of IM Arizona in April (which was my worst showing to date), I had that feeling. The day was not the best but I still had that feeling of accomplishment and this time (after 4 times) I finally heard "You are an Ironman." I had never heard it before, although my friend, Elizabeth, is convinced that is what makes your arms go up when you go over the finish line. I hope so! Just the same I finally heard it! WOW!

What does it mean anyway to be an Ironman? HMMM...it means different stuff to different people. Surely, it means you completed the 140.6 mile journey - no matter what your time or where you did it. It does not make you any less of an Ironman to do the race in Kentucky or Hawaii. You still completed the journey. Are some courses tougher than others? Sure but so is life but we all still complete the journey. To me, it means doing something I never imagined I could. It means being out there no matter for how long and how hard it is and making it through. It means that no matter what happened outside training and how much it hurt inside, you did it. You did it. There are more and more people who can say they are Ironmen and Iron women but seriously, it is probably less than 1% of earth's population. So, whether you finish at 8:10 or 16:59, you are still among an elite population. Now, I never think that of myself because I think I am just a regular person who just can do things for a very long time. I often see myself in the mirror as a slow, fat, dumb and lazy person who is able to keep her body and mind doing things for a long time. Which if you knew me in real life, that would not make sense to you at all...I am a little ADHD and I think way too much. So, even people who are little crazy can be an Ironman. We still did the same 140.6 miles that the leader did. Sorry for the babbling post...just pondering...

Best Ironman so far...IM USA in Lake Placid - do this race. The venue is supreme and the people are soooooooooo nice! One of their bike shops is open 24 hours IM Week! The water is pristine!
Hardest course-IM USA
Toughest mental IM (because of life in outside life)...IM Coeur D'Alene
Flatest course-IM Florida, without a doubt
Coldest swim-IM Coeur D'Alene
Toughest/Hottest day-IM Arizona
Most Emotional Finish - IM Wisconsin...the first one is always the most emotional...

Maybe these will change in 17 days...who knows. All I can honestly hope for (beside a PR) is not to drown, fall off my bike and no blisters on the run and to do all of this and still feel good at the end. One of my greatest joys at every IM is that my parents are always there and just as proud of me as they were at the first one. My mom has a hat you can see from outer space and is always there screaming and worrying but she is always there. My stepdad is always there-mostly worrying-and he is always there, too. Thank goodness for parents who believe in you, no matter how crazy they think you are (trust me, they think I am crazy but support me anyway-with t-shirts even). My biggest sadness for this IM is that I hope to PR and it may be my last IM...and my Doodle will not be there to see it but I know he will be there watching on Ironman Live. So is life. All I can do is put one foot in front of the other and have faith that God will see me through it no matter what.

Today, my friend, Pat, said he was a blessed man and he is (although it might just be with crazy women ;) ). It really started me to thinking that I am blessed too. I have spent a lot of my life looking at the bad things and focusing on me and not everyone else. But I made a vow to myself today to really start trying to look for the good in all situations and focusing on others. Thanks Pat! (Of course, this was after our Waffle House breakfast because of a fog delayed ride...it could have just been the grease talking!)

Last Long Run before Ironman

This morning, my new good friend, Ginger, graciously ran slowly with me on my last long run before Ironman. It was no speed record by no means but we got it done and I am feeling much more confident in my run at Ironman. Today we ran 13 miles and I ran 4 miles yesterday so basically 17 miles in 24 hours so I know I can get through the other 9 miles. We ran on a local road where we saw several cyclists we knew which was fun, too! Thanks Ginger! You have no idea how much I needed that!

Yesterday, I ran 4 miles and swam 1350 yards. It was okay. I will be looking forward to a break after Ironman. Of course, this lasts about a week or so...

Honestly, I have been seriously considering giving up triathlon. Six Ironman races in five years is a lot (maybe not for some pros but for this Texas girl) and I think right now I am a little burned out - not to mention two 50 K runs, a 50 miler and countless other marathons and varying distance triathlons. I still want to cycle and run and maybe swim but training for long distances all the time has finally worn a little thin. Ginger told me today she has been doing triathlon for 23 years! WOW! First, if you saw her you would not believe she is over 23! Second, she said her secret is to spread those Ironman events out and add shorter distances for fun and speed work. Maybe after a short break I will consider this. I have not considered myself anything but a triathlete for the past few years so I cannot imagine being something else. Hopefully, her enthusiasm will rub off and get me back in the spirit before too long. I really do like long stuff as I am not a speed demon (yet) and I do not mind doing stuff forever! I really would like to do something entirely different but still get a workout...maybe salsa or something fun like that! However, I cannot imagine at least running and cycling.

My first true love is running and I love the "runner's high" during that perfect run when you feel completely balanced and all is right with the world. This is when I truly feel closest to God and appreciate all of the gifts we all so often overlook like the sun peeking out over the little pond in the woods. Unfortunately, I haven't felt that too much this year. Maybe after a break!

Enough of that stuff, 19 days to Ironman! Besides going to Louisville, seeing my delightful parents, doing IM, I am really looking forward to seeing my good friend, Elizabeth, at IM! She rocks! She qualified for Kona last year and hopes to again this year! Elizabeth is one of the most beautiful people I know, inside and out! She always has a great smile and an even better attitude! Her family is great, too!

Off to ride in an hour or so, lift weights tonight and try to squeeze in some yoga. Next week school starts back so I will be back teaching next Thursday. My free days are numbered but I will be thankful to get back to school and my students! They make me crazy but I love it somehow! Hopefully, I will be back in school too. I am awaiting approval to take a graduate class at UNCG this term and deciding if I will go back to graduate school for my Ed.D in Exercise and Sport Science. Imagine me being called a doctor...WOW! It could be as soon as 5 years away (hopefully less)! My Doodle is right...I will always be a lifetime student. Always learning is a good thing!

Sunday

This is my brother-in-law's UPS truck. Due to another driver's careless driving, he wrecked his truck. However, he avoided a multi-car pile up where many more people could have been hurt! His angels were working overtime and he is safe and virtually unharmed. This just goes to show you that you must pay attention when you are driving!

Rode too hard with the club today. However, we raised over $400 for our Junior Development Team! YEAH! I should have rode alone because my heart rate was way too high. I hope this doesn't affect me later. I have to be much better about staying at the right heart rate. I guess I have spent so much time being last that I just hate it. I knew it was a rest week and I sort of blew that today and yesterday. Hope I do not pay for it at Ironman!

My husband always encourages me and believes in me...that means a lot. When I talked to him today, he just knew I would be just fine at IM. He knows I always get nervous before IM and he does very well at calming my nerves. He is just delightful.

This week's plan...

Monday-swim, run, teach one spin class

Tuesday-run, bike, yoga, weights

Wednesday-swim, teach one spin class

Thursday-bike, run, weights

Friday-swim

Saturday-bike

Sunday-run

Saturday

Today, I rode with our club. This might be the fastest I have ever rode on a consistent basis. We rode consistently at between 20-22 mph and we had to make a catch at 25-27 mph and I hung ON! WOW!!!!!

Tomorrow is our club's charity ride for our Junior Development Team. I hope to have a good ride but take it a little easier tomorrow.

Only 3 weeks to IM Louisville...can I do it?

Omigosh...a day off!

Today, I actually had a whole day off from working out. YEAH! I did not even feel bad for not working out. I did teach my spin class off the bike, which I never do. I hope my spinners got a good workout! They sure looked like they did. I felt semi-guilty but my legs feel like they weigh 9 million pounds. Luckily I have a massage scheduled for tomorow. Sometimes it actually hurts my shoulder worse after a massage but my legs need to be flushed out.

Thursday-run, bike, weights and maybe yoga
Friday-ride to work?
Saturday and Sunday-ride

25 days to IRONMAN LOUISVILLE!

Much Needed Rest Week

Monday-swim, run, and teach spin class
Tuesday-swim TT at 50 meter pool, run, bike and weights

Today, I am tired and need a rest. However, I had a good swim outside and wondered why I have been swimming inside all summer...my tan might actually even out and I might not look like I have cycling clothes all the time. My bike legs were tired today. It was also quite hot today.

Tomorrow - teach spin class and new HAIRDO! YEAH!!!!
Thursday-run, weights, ride - MASSAGE!
Friday-off
Saturday and Sunday-ride my bicycle!!! Easy rides both days!!!

Only 26 days to Ironman Louisville!!!

Next week is a rest week, YEAH!

REST WEEK is very much needed....
Yesterday, we went to Carthage and rode the metric century there. It was a hilly course but it was great fun! We had a great group and everyone was pretty pleasant. It got a little warm at the end but we made it in without any major problems. Lots of people cramped up but thankfully since we rode it last year and Hal had a major cramp in his legs, we were well prepared and shared our goodies with some other riders. Came home, went to the grocery store, mowed the grass, drank 5 margaritas on the front porch alone because my favorite sista girl was on vacation and had no one else that would have cocktails with me! Hope she comes home soon!

Got up this morning and felt okay. Got on the bike and did not feel so good. Met the group and rode an easy 55 miles and started to feel a whole lot better. Of course, this was not exactly my plan-7 hour ride and 1:15 run...NOT! I have a whole list of excuses but I will spare everyone.

Rest week coming up and I am very thankful. This body needs a rest. We only get bigger, better, stronger when we rest. I wonder if we get faster...

Only 28 days to Louisville. Is a PR possible? Maybe. My swim is okay but I do not know if it is faster. My bike is going well but how well I do in the hills? My run is okay but can I do the fastest marathon I have ever done at IM? Is the goal unrealistic? Who knows? If I can do even 1 second faster, then it will be an awesome day. I might not meet my goal but a PR is a PR. So what if I do not PR? Is the world going to end? Will it make me less of an IM? Will I die from disappointment? The last one might feel like it will happen but I think I will live. I remember my first IM and I was afraid I would not make the bike cut off and I got off the bike with enough time to spare. At IM Arizona in April, I seriously thought I might not make the cut off and had my slowest time ever. I did not die and I finished when 400 others did not finish. This is the only time my name will ever be before a pro's name! Now, that I have told everyone I want a PR - did I put too much pressure on myself?

Say what you need to say...read warning...

WARNING...I have had 5 margaritas!!! If you know me really well then you know that my favorite musical artist is John Mayer...he really speaks to me and any of you that have been fortunate (or unfortunate ) to have been in the car with me for a long period of time with me...eventually John Mayer is on my radio. Lately, my favorite song is Say from the movie, The Bucket List. If you do not know know, my dad died from lung cancer on April 2, 2006. My dad and I had quite the tumultous relationship. We loved each other but we were mirror images of teach other and that caused 99% of the problem. The Bucket List is a great movie but to my sister and I it is like seeing our dad on screen (Jack Nicholson). The point of this is that in the song it says "It is better to say too much that to never say what you need to say again" and the lyrics say...
Take all of your wasted honor. Every little past frustration. Take all of your so-called problems. Better put them in quotations. Say what you need to say (8x). Walking like a one man army. Fighting with the shadows in your head. Living out the same old moment. Knowing you'd be better off instead If you could onlySay what you need to say (8x). Have no fear for giving inHave no fear for giving overYou better know that in the end It's better to say too much Than never to say what you need to say again. Even if your hands are shaking. And your faith is broken. Even as the eyes are closing. Do it with a heart wide open. Say what you need to say (lots of times).

So, I did not always tell my old man what I needed to say and I promise myself that I would never do that again. DO NOT EVER NOT TELL SOMEONE WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY! Trust me on this one. Having said that, I will say to some people in this blog post what I need to say and if I did not mention someone, it is not that I forgot you - it is the margaritas...
Matt-I love you. You have given me the world and more than I ever deserved. I love you. I hope I am half the wife you hoped for because you are more than I ever hoped for. You bought me a Jeep and given me so much more.
Dad-Please forgive me and I do love you. I only wish I could have been there when your eyes were closing and knew that you knew that I loved you...no matter what.
Mom-I love you. You are the best mother one neurotic triathle could hope for.
Ray-I love you. If I had to choose a 2nd father, I could not have asked for more.
Nette-You are the best sister one person could ask for. I love you.
Lucas and Lanie-You are the apples of my eye and I love you like my own kids. Please take care of your Auntie Jen when she is old and the cat lady. Do not send her to the nursing home when she is old and senile and has 10 cats!
Mom and Dad D. - You have raised one of the best men on the whole planet and I truly do not deserve such a great fella but he is mine and I am not giving him up. You really have no idea how good he is but he is. Thank you.
Hal-you are one of the best men I have ever known my whole life. I could not have asked for a better friend.
Leo-you are one of the best people I have ever known and I love you madly. You have no idea how much I love you.
Pat-YOU ROCK! You inspire more than you will ever know and I love you for dragging me around the country side and love our chats. You are one of the best people I know and you will never know how great of a friend you are to me.
John K.-You are one of the happiest people I know and I hope you always will be.
Bob M.-You ROCK! You inspire me!
Ginger-You are grand and you have no idea how much I need you in my life.
Milanne-You know I love you even though we are on very different paths right now and I hope you are very happy because that is all I truly wish for you. We may never be like we were before but I hope you know that I appreciate all you have taught and given me. Thank you. Yes, I am wearing sunscreen!

I am sure I have not included everyone and my deepest apologies! I feel very blessed to have all of you in my life. Thank you for the gifts you have given me. Sorry for the babbling post.