Tri to Be Funny

Check out the new look! Yep-I've been tired of the Blogger Pepto Bismol pink for a long time, but only just recently got myself in gear and hooked up with Runner Susan to create a super-cute masthead. Thanks Susan! You've captured the essence of my cheesiness. Now, I'm almost forced to write witty, punch-line filled blog entries every day.

With that said, I certainly gave the performance phrase "Break a Leg" a run for it's money this weekend!


Admittedly, this week has been particularly difficult. I could never imagine just how tough it would be for my body and mind to recover from our two week Italy trip. My body and mind want to slow down and sleep, but every night has been filled with restlessness and 2am wide-awake episodes due to some continued body-clock adjustments. Add to that a packed work schedule (two staff members resigned), a heavy workout load and oppressive heat and humidity and it has made for one very UNfunny "tri to be funny" Carrie.


I woke up Saturday morning at 5:30am for my Gazelle run of about 12 miles. I was out until about 11:30pm the night before with a couple of girlfriends. Of course, I had had a couple of glasses of wine, but it was nothing out of the ordinary, excessive or unusual. In fact, it was two glasses over the course of about five hours. That's just downright responsible!


In any event, I felt woozy and half-asleep as I fumbled for my shoes. I just felt so "out of sorts." I was going to drive the Vespa, but thought better of it when I realized just how tired I still was. The last thing I wanted to be doing was riding a scooter when all I really wanted to do was still be in bed. As usual, I thought that once my run started, I would snap out of it. When I got to Runtex, I forewarned Amy that I was a tad under the weather. I certainly didn't know what I had that morning. It turns out, I had pretty much nothing.


Not more than a 1/2 mile into the run, my foot clipped a tree root and a bit it-HARD. Full impact with the Lady Bird Lake Trail. Of course, my first inclination was to jump up and start running again immediately, but I was pretty shaken. The negative tone to my morning was now only compounded by the blood, bruises and "stigmata" that appeared on my hands as a result of the impact. We walked for a bit and I did eventually continue my run--at a dismal pace of about 10:00 min miles. Between the humidity, pain and negativity, I just couldn't outrun the morose cloud that seemed to hover.


My humor of the morning came in the fact that I couldn't even catch 7-MONTH PREGNANT Shannon and her dog until she stopped for water! :-) She is so damn amazing and I'm glad she slowed down long enough to run the last few miles with me! My original 12 miles turned into about 8, so all was not lost. Besides, I always enjoy running with Shannon, but don't usually get to since she's so fast. It has taken her extra fetus for me to keep up!!


This morning, Shawn and I got up and rode over 58 hard miles on 360 and Bee Caves. We got going around 9:00am and the wind was a-blowin! We had a great tailwind as we headed north on 360, but the journey South was every bit as hard as I imagined it to be. Plus, there are three tough climbs heading south (Riverbend Church, 2222 and Bee Caves...at least) that were only made more difficult by the winds--and my sore wounded hands and elbow.


Once again, I was feeling "unrested" this morning even though we had a full eight hours of sleep. I very much eased into the bike ride and instead of remaining frustrated at my "lack of anything," I just rode slowly and let it find me. While we didn't set any speed records today, I am happy to report that I felt 110% better on mile 50 than I did on mile 10. After a 360 loop and two Bee Caves loops, I was ready for it to be over, but I felt good knowing that I fought through some tough conditions--hilly course, serious wind and mid 90 degree temps. Shawn also did great and we loaded the bikes and went for a 20 minute jog off the bike. I'm happy to report that neither of us bit the dust, even though we were definitely doing the "triathlete shuffle" run.


Here are a couple of pics of my wounds! My hands and wrists hurt the worst, which may certainly affect core and swimming this week. God, I'm such a dork.

Thank Goodness my hands broke most of the fall. At least I don't have any puncture wounds on my face!

My bruised and scraped knee (sorry for the odd angle)

My elbow :-(