Melissa - Vain Triathlete

I had heard that Derry NH was hilly, windy, and cold. That makes for the best bragging rights so I had to see what all the fuss was about and earn my right. As it turns out they were right. It is hilly. Mountainous actually and extremely picturesque. Unfortunately I didn't get many photos. Just the pix shown below. Here we are after the race enjoying our SALAD, burgers, and beer. Yay! It's so fulfilling. Running a very hard 16 miler with friends in the middle of winter then enjoying the food and beer after. Sorry the photos are a little washed out. The restaurant was a little dark even at 2:PM in the afternoon. Here I am towards the top of a very long hill. I remember asking myself why the photos had to be taken at the top of a hill when we are struggling to breath. I am hardly off the ground here. Almost looks like I'm walking. There were walkers but I was not one of them. I thought about it but decided I better not for fear I might not want to run again. I can't say t...

Without planning to do it I signed up to volunteer at Lake Placid this year. And it just happened to be my birthday on the day that I signed up. Isn't that cool? I didn't plan or even think about when I was going to sign up. It just happened to line up that way. It's cool because I'm the kind of person who has run a marathon on her 30th and 40th birthdays. I like to do big things on my birthday to make it oh-so-special. So, for me to sign up for "something" that could be huge on my 46th birthday is, well, right on schedule. Because as you know, volunteering, it's the only way to be guaranteed an entry into the Lake Placid Ironman other than buying or qualifying your way in. I spent three nights, after I volunteered, looking for a place to stay in good ole LP. Well, perhaps most of you are aware and perhaps some are not but LP is fully booked. I mean the ENTIRE TOWN is fully booked. Unless of course you want to stay for 7 nights at a luxury mountain side lo...

Swimming is going to get me to work early. Swimming is my shortest workout. I have not lost my swimming stroke. Swimming is the shortest leg of the race.

Finally found some time spew. Things are going well. I had a fantastic Holiday season. Here is a photo of myself, sister Bienzi, big brother David, and my lovely mother on Christmas day. I got to see my entire immediate family of 22 or so people. I have been thinking a lot about triathlon lately. It is apparent to me that work does get in the way. Nothing knew I know but I have always felt that where there is a will there is a way. This belief has allowed for me to still think that I can find time to train for Ironman. It's just that lately I have really seen just how working can cause stress to the all important body. To think of training 15+ hours with that stress really is a bit tooooooooo much. I am still holding out hope that next year my workload will not be so dense. I'm thankful that I did not sign up for the Ironman this year. In this environment many businesses have to work more with less. My agency is no exception. That said, our business is currently thriving and we...