Slacker!

I have been seriously slacking.... lack of winter and an overabundance of activities have make it been tough on me to get out there and ski. I did spend a great weekend up in Ely with some ski team friends where I got to ski around 20 k. It was FREEZING! But a lot of fun, I finally got to try out my new skis which were incredibly slow because of the -20 degree weather.
And I've just learned that my 35 k race this weekend has been shortened to 5 laps around the 3.3 k snow making loop at Wirth Park. Which is good for me because of my lack of serious training this "winter." The parenthesis are there because, lets be serious, this hasn't really been winter at all, I don't know what it has been, but crappy.
There are 28 days till the Birkie. I need to get my ass in gear, like yesterday. 

so it begins

Well I bought my first performance swimsuit today, including googles and bike shorts. It's official now. I will be doing my first triathlon in June. After talking to a few triathletes this evening it sounds like the race I will be doing is the Buffalo Triathlon in June. I'm nervous and I haven't even signed up yet. Once the Birkie is over I will start Master swim lessons. I'm excited for what's to come.

2012 Races

I just updated my racing schedule for this year. I had a few on there and I realized that I almost had a race a month so I did some searching this morning to make it so I will be doing some sort of race at least one a month from Jan-Oct.
The ski race I'm suppose to do next weekend will get postponed unless they get at least 6 inches of snow so we'll see if that will happen.
Hoping for a fun and fast racing season! I can't wait to start triathlon training once Feb is over.

L.S.A.D.

Is there such a thing as Seasonal Affective Disorder due to lack of snow and winter? Because I think I have it..... I think I will call it LSAD (Lack of Snow Affective Disorder.)
I really think I should stop watching the weather reports because it just puts me in an even deeper funk. GAH!
I really did enjoy my 16 km ski on Saturday, it was beautiful watching the sun rise higher and higher above the trees with ever lap I took. I have much love for the 3 ski areas that have snow making abilities, without you I would cry. A. Lot.
I also got to take Madison to her first day of her ski team yesterday. She did great! There are about 10 other 3-5 year olds in her Level 1 group. She would fall and giggle and then untwist her little legs and get right back up. She even climbed the hill and then told me to ski down with her going "FAST!" Before we ever got there she had told me that she didn't want to go down any hills because she was afraid. I'm so proud of my not so little girl.

Now if only I could get out skiing more than once or twice a week all would be well. At least the Birkie trails seem to have a decent base layer of snow, but if this warm weather keeps up all of the races I signed up for will be cancelled. :(

New Years

Today marks the last day of 2011. Last year went by remarkable fast, probably like most years do but now I really am starting to realize it. In 2012 I will have a kindergarten, that statement seems ridicious. I barely feel old enough to have children yet I will have a 5 year old.
I rarily ever make New Years Resolutions, it just seems like they are too easy to break. Rather I like to make goals for myself, to keep myself motivated, and to hold myself accountable. So my goals for this year are.....

• Move up a wave or 2 or 3 at the Birkie.
• Finish my first triathlon.
• Register for the 2013 Ironman Wisconsin (this is dependent on how well I enjoy the triathlons I have planned for this summer. And whether or not I can afford the $600 something registration fees)

I think all of these are pretty simple to do as long as I stay focused and motivated. I feel much more mentally prepared these days than I have in the past so we'll see how it goes. One day at a time.

I did go for a 1.15 hr rollerski today which actually felt surprisingly great, even though it's been at least 10 years since my last rollerski. It was tough but good. I think I'm just going to have to admit to myself that I will be skiing for at least a few weeks on man made 2 km loops. UGH!

I skied at Elm Creek on the 26th with a friend and it actually was really great snow. There were a ton of people on the 2.5 km loop but it wasn't too noticable. We ended up going 5 or 6 times (we lost track.) So I'm hoping that January 1, 2012 will bring lots of SNOW!

I'm also hoping the new year will bring babies for those that need and want them, smile for those that are lacking smiles, new friendships and lots of good cheer.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

lack of snow= grinchy tap

Not much to report, we have ZERO snow which is beyond depressing. How can it be Christmas without snow? It just doesn't seem right. And for those of you that are enjoying this, you know who you are, move south and leave me and my winter ALONE! Ok, only joking, a little. But seriously even Texas of all places has snow. Ridiciously!
So I've been running approximately 3 or 4 days a week around 3-5 miles. Not fantastic but it's impossible to find time. No excuses right! Next week I have a few dates to go out XC skiing, on man-made snow, probably about a zillion times around a 1 km loop, yippee!
I signed up to ski the 50 km Pepsi Challenge in Biwabik on Jan 21 which means it's time to stop whining and just get out and ski, or at least roller ski. Only 2 months till the Birkie! Pray for snow people! PLEASE!!!
We will once again be heading to my grandparents farm in Wisconsin for Christmas this year. I'm really excited, we are first stopping in Madison on Friday to go to the Badger Basketball game. I'm so excited!! Tony has never been to one of there games and it's been 5+ years for me. The girls will also be attending, we'll see how that goes.
I'm so excited for Tony and the girls to open there presents. I love getting presents for people. It warms my heart.
I'll have more to report once Christmas is over.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
LOVE TO YOU ALL!

Not a good week

Well last week was no good for me, I didn't get outside once for a run and I didn't go any strength either. Oops. But I did enjoy myself a little too much a our Badger Big Ten Title game party which left me exhausted for days. This week will be better! Now if only we'd get some snow so I could start skiing at night instead of running in the cold in the morning.