oh crap, I have a blog

How did I forget about that halfway through last year?

Well I'll catch you up quickly.

In July, I visited my hometown with the intention of doing an Olympic-distance triathlon, but totally freaked out and bailed at the starting line because the waves were huge and I had no team support (I did have my totally supportive dad!). I learned from that that I am a team player, even in individual sports, and I need to know I have company out on the course. I also turned 30, which I celebrated with a party at my house with family and friends.

In August, I did the Vineman Aquabike Half and then immediately after learned that I am pregnant. The Aquabike was the opposite of the Oxnard fail-fest: a huge Mermaid contingent was racing Barb's Half or Aquabike, and it was a great weekend of supporting each other. I also did the last Splash and Dash at Stevens Creek Reservoir.

In September, I spent the whole month feeling tired and queasy but not actually sick, which is better than my fellow pregnant Mermaids fared (there are three of us!). DH and I celebrated our third anniversary with a fondue feast and sparkling cider. I did the Santa Cruz Mermaid Sprint as a relay, and matched last year's bike time. That's pretty good since on the one hand I have a much better bike but on the other I walked most of the big hills because my heart rate and stomach were acting strangely. All part of a healthy pregnancy, apparently.

October flew by without me really even remembering anything significant. Hmm. I did go to a great Halloween party with Melissa, at which I was a pirate and she was a wench. I drank a lot of non-alcoholic champagne with one of our hosts who was also abstaining, and Melissa drank whatever we put in front of her, which was entertaining since she rarely drinks at all!

In November I ate a LOT and did the Mermaid San Francisco 5k. My walking partner G asked me what pace I was hoping for and, like a great teammate, pushed me to jog just enough at the end to make my 15:00/mi goal. Thanksgiving was delicious as always and delightfully uneventful. Mostly in November I worked a lot!

Last month continued the whirlwind pace at work and I was only too relieved to escape at 5:30 p.m. on December 24 and only return today. While I was not working I celebrated Christmas with my in-laws and my extended family, spent a few days with my parents and close friends in Oxnard, and did some serious furniture rearranging/reorganization at home.

So that brings us to January 2010!

These days my belly is an entity all to itself. It sticks out, it moves, it makes demands. For the most part it doesn't make me ache anywhere else and I'm still mostly unaffected except for my clothes not fitting anymore. (TMI for some, but totally essentially information [TEI?]: I have gained less than 10 lbs. but 3+ bra cup sizes!) Others tell me that the backaches, constant need to pee, and other fun stuff is imminent!

I am hoping to survive the busiest parts of two cases (the last few months pretrial) while in my last trimester. That may or may not be possible. There are childbirth prep classes to take, baby stuff to register for, and hopefully some swimming and some spending time with DH and friends and family to fit in before April.

Hopefully also some posting, if only for Molly who told me today that I should blog more. :)

Big Sur 5k 2009

A story in pictures.

Warming up with the children of a photographer involves more posing than stretching:


At the starting line. Smile, Jack!


Was I leaping for joy or wincing in pain? I don't even remember.


We run for the view:


Coming across the finish, where C beat me in and was waiting with the camera:

Lessons learned for next time:

• Wake up 30 min earlier so you don't have to pee 5 min into the race
• Don't try out a session with a personal trainer the day before a run, and if you do, flat out refuse to do that second set of lunges. My quads are killing me!
  
• Wear shorts that don't slide down and create a belly overhang. I swear that doesn't exist except in those shorts. Well, at least my other shorts hide it better.

We had a great time!

I bought a bike!

This weekend ended up great, though the ride was a little bumpy.

Saturday I did my loop around Lake Merced with practically no problems--one running interval in the middle was interrupted because my foot was falling asleep, but after a little bit of walking and a pep talk to myself, I ran the rest of the intervals and finished the 4.5 miles in just barely under an hour.

Sunday I went to ride bikes with M and my father-in-law (her dad). He just got a bike for the first time in many years, but he loves riding so we were excited to get him back into it. Unfortunately, I'm not very coordinated with my clipless pedals (still) and I tipped over. Normally, no biggie, right? Wait though--I managed to break my seat! Far beyond repair, in fact. So my mother-in-law (M's mom) very graciously played SAG wagon and picked me up, taking me to the bike shop where I wanted to buy a new bike anyway.

Once I was there, I learned that the bike I've been drooling over was sold--sad, but to be expected when it's a closeout at a great price. Instead, I got this year's base model Specialized Roubaix--a full-carbon frame with Shimano 105 derailleurs and a Gossamer crankset. In short, a really nice bike. I had to order it in my size, so I won't actually have it for another week or two. I can't wait!

Two days in a row!

I don't promise this kind of frequency, but I'll try to do better than 2 posts in a month for February.

January goals update:

• Do my diaries on time, every day. Um, nope. Don't want to talk about it.
  
• Do the Wii Fit progress chart every day. Pretty much, yeah!
  
• Go to boot camp 3 times per week. I went a few times, but more importantly I'm sticking to my training plan.
  
• Go swimming once a week. No, gotta try that again.
  
• Bring lunch from home at least 3 days per week. I think I did that, yeah.
  
• Eat 5+ fruits and veggies every day. Very close to every day!
  
• Make a dentist appointment. Yup!!

February goals:

• Do my diaries at least once a week (more achievable!)
• Do the Wii Fit test every day
• Go swimming once a week
• Keep up with the Hal Higdon 10K training plan
• Bring lunch from home at least 3 days per week.
• Eat 5+ fruits and veggies every day.
• Complete my dentist appointments (3 appointments, don't wanna talk about how many fillings)

Today I rode my bike and crashed, but not badly. Thanks for putting my bike back together, Molly! Then C and M and I wandered around the farmer's market and hiked at Lexington Reservoir for a while. Now I'm chilling and watching the Superbowl, thinking about doing some work or taking a shower or one of the million other things I should do before C and I spend the evening putting together our new bedframe.

Uphill both ways!

I'm training for a 10k right now, and according to the guru of jogging, Mr. Hal Higdon, I should have run 3 miles today. Which I did, if you count walking plus running as "run 3 miles." I ran in my own neighborhood because I wasn't meeting anyone else to run, so it seemed silly to drive somewhere else.

My neighborhood is nothing but hill! I tried to choose the flattest option available, but in the rolling hills of the upper Peninsula, there's no such thing. I walked the steepest bits and jogged as much as I could stand, and ended up finishing 3.2 miles in ~45 minutes. It's not gonna win any awards, but I think Hal would be okay with that.

Today has been full, and tomorrow will be the same. Today C and I drove out to Walnut Creek and bought the most beautiful lingerie chests! I love Craigslist. We set them up and rearranged some of the other bedroom furniture, in anticipation of putting together the new bed frame we bought. That will have to happen tomorrow, I guess.

Tomorrow M and I are going to run C ragged in the Southbay--a short bike ride and the farmer's market in Campbell, then a hike around Lexington. Then more furniture arranging!!

Phew! Holidays, 50% complete.

After a week of eating, opening gifts, eating, eating, and more eating with my family, I'm glad to be home. I did two longs walks with my dad while I was home, but otherwise it was the heavenly scent of chocolate and tamales that hung around my parents' house. begging me to stuff my face (which I did).

Pros:

• the tamales were delicious and authentic
• quality time with family
• visits with my friends and their adorable babies
  
• a Wii Fit! C is the best

Cons:

• willpower/good eating choices = epic fail

We celebrate with C, M, and their parents on New Year's so I've got one more holiday celebration to go. Luckily M is off work all week too so she and I are planning to be active together. I also have a whole list of to-dos like cleaning out my closet and making doctors' appointments. And books to read! It's not Tahiti, but it's what I wanted to do with my vacation. :P

Tomorrow I take a bike ride with M and play with my Wii Fit some more. As of tonight, my Fit Age is 37 and I am officially (though only just barely) obese. So I have room for improvement!