The Post Where I Show You Too Many Pictures

Sam had an early cross country meet up in Lyons, Colorado. It was in incredibly gorgeous fall day. This is Longs Peak – probably the only time of year this peak does not have snow on it:

While waiting for the race to start, I found the house I might want to live in. You can all come visit and we can party on that deck:

While Emma was waiting she played some tackle. I hope she did not break a nail because I will hear about it all day long:

Sam yelled at me more than once about taking pictures. “Mom. It is too early. I am tired. I am not in the mood.” Well, I am in the mood and I am your mother and therefore the boss so shut your pie hole. Mother of the year.

Sam is #548. In this picture he is talking to his friends about how great his mother is.

The start of the middle school boys’ race:

There they go for the two miler. Good thing the do not have to run up that small hill:

Sam did really well. The course was about 600 feet short of 2 miles and he did it in 13:59. There is this local kid who wins EVERY race EVERY year. He did the race in 10:25. Show off.

Here Sam goes, the only picture I got of him running:

Post race. When he got his haircut last time, he actually asked for a mullet. I am not kidding:

For some reason I have boobs in this picture. Remind me to always hunch over like that.

We then headed to a favorite coffee shop for some treats. I had a bagel breakfast sandwich and coffee. The perfect combo to make me have to crap:

Now, I’m headed to the mountains of Frisco, Colorado (near Breckenridge), with two of the best girlfriends in the world, Julie and Erika. We make this trip at least once per year to stay at Julie’s parents’ place when they aren’t using it. It is very shabby, almost like trailer park trash, but I go anyway. It’s good to slum down every once in awhile.

You may remember pictures from last year. It’s important to wear slippers with a bikini while make dinner:

There is nothing – and I mean NOTHING – like getting away with the girls. Don’t get all excited when I tell you we brush each other’s hair, share the same bed, spoon, talk each other’s ears off and give back rubs.  There will be no training or elevated heart rates or sweating. Just mucho laying around.

I am craving a “dirty.” I LOVE dirty martinis, but don’t have them often. Something about the salty olives, the smooth vodka and the dry vermouth is perfection.

No, my name is not Sue.

Hopefully I’ll have some hot tub/martini pictures for you tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, when I get home I’m hoping to run 11 miles to commemorate/remember 9/11.

Are you going to try to run/walk/bike/swim/crawl 11 miles tomorrow?

What’s your favorite “special occasion” drink? The dirty.

Did you run cross country in middle/high school/college? No. I ate nachos.

SUAR

Not a Cool Kid

It’s become very clear to me I will never be one of those cool athletes. You know the kind: they look all sleek and natural and like they were born to wear compression shorts and to cross finish lines, breaking the tape and throwing their arms in the air. They cruise along on their aero bars with their crazy-ass helmets that have tails and don’t miss a beat when they take a drink or eat a gel. Their sculpted muscles fit perfectly into their racing clothing and they always have on a game face. A look of pure determination and athleticism.

Chrissie Wellington

I don’t have it in me. I’m am just not that cool.

For example, today at my cycling group I was informed that triathletes don’t usually keep reflectors on their bike wheels. DOH! As I was being told this, someone else pointed out that I still had the price tag sticker on one of my spokes. DOH!

Bike lock combo = FART. I bet the pros don’t have a secret code like that.

Despite the dorkiness factor, I am one of those people that is so uncool that they are almost cool. We all knew those types in high school. The nerd who one day became popular because they could laugh at themselves and everyone started to think they were pretty funny. That was kind of me. I was never totally a nerd, but I was always the class clown kid. I knew I would never be noticed for my looks or boobs. My brains were okay, but nothing exceptional. So I played up the humor.

Once in 7th grade, I wore overalls which I guess invited torture and I was hung on the monkey bars, so high that I couldn’t get down by myself. I just hung there for a bit. But, I thought it was pretty funny, and some cute guy came and rescued me so it all worked out okay. Damsel in distress and all that.

Anyway, I digress.

Last night was my first open water swim ever. I got in a mile before it started lightening, so we had to get out.

I grew up in Maryland and Greece going to the beach, but it’s not like I would get in the ocean and swim 2,000 yards before breakfast. Too busy watching “I Dream of Jeannie.” (I used to love it when Jeannie would get in her bottle and you got to see the inside with all of its fluffy pillows and pink drapey curtains. I used to try to make my forts look like that).

I loved the open water. There is something so natural about being in “real” water versus pool water. The only thing, is I really wish there was a line on the bottom of the reservoir so I could see where the hell I was going. I got of course quite a bit. Guess I need to learn some sort of spotting technique. Any ideas?

If I ever start to feel down on myself because I am uncool, I can just gaze at this makeover Emma did of me on her iPod. Clearly I am meant to have a beehive.

Or, I could just get all excited that they are writing “suar” on the roads during the Tour de France to honor me:

Which do you like better, pool or open water? I’m new in the open water, but I think I like that more.

What’s your favorite older show? I love “I Dream of Jeannie” and “The Love Boat”

What’s the most uncool athlete thing you’ve ever done? My list is too long. Wetsuit worn inside out, crapping my pants, reflectors on bike to name a few.

SUAR

PS: Just tried Honey Stinger Waffles. Those things are the shit. My new favorite fueling. 160 cals, 21 g carbs. I ordered them from Runningwarehouse.com. Use coupon code “rwjuly” to get an extra 10% off.

Winner & “A Day in the Life”

The winner of the Active Band $50 giveaway is #79 Allison from (Mis)Adventures of the Johnson Jocks. Wonder if they know Harry Beaver. Congrats! Shoot me an email at beth@shutupandrun.net and I’ll let you know how to claim your prize!

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Everyone once in awhile I will do these “day in the life” posts. Not because I think my life is that interesting; really it’s not. I do it because I want other people to do it. PLEASE! I know you all through this crazy blogging world, but I really don’t know the ins and outs of your days.

In and out. In and out. TWSS.

The blog only tells so much. It is an overview. Everyone once in awhile, we need to share the minutia. The mundane. The stupid. Lord knows I have a lot of that going on.

The cool thing about my life and why I love it so much is that no two days are in any way the same. I work from home, so the unraveling of my day is based on kids’ schedules, my workload, my training plan and letting the dog out back to shit.

A Day in the Life

5:30 a.m. Get the damn coffee going before I lose my momentum:

5:40 a.m. Take out the recycle (which tells a lot about someone) while coffee brews:

5:45 a.m. Take some drugs (meth and crack not pictured):

5:50 a.m. Feed this lump of precious stinky fur. He is looking at you with that one eye. Yes, that is my bike in the dining room. It is the only safe place for a bike. Climate controlled. Free of robbers. My mom HATES that I do that. Moms think dining rooms are for fine china, not Treks.

6:00 a.m. Head to the pool with Scooby Do towel for some early morning laps:

6:15 a.m. Grab a lane, preferably one without band aids, hairballs or feces:

7:10 a.m. Put on running stuff and head out from the pool:

7:30 a.m. Arrive at middle school to coach some cross country:

7:40 a.m. Run three miles with these girls (my victims)

8:15 a.m. Head home and notice my car looks like I am homeless. But I bet yours does too.

8:20 a.m. Also notice how I carry around half eaten food on my seat. Them are some perfect bite marks.

8:21 a.m. My car console has to be one of an athlete in training (cereal, Z bars, GPS, sunscreen and Altoids so I can impress the pussy posse).

9:15 a.m. Wake up this kid because he is getting braces off today. Drive him to dentist.

9:40 a.m. But first stop at Starbucks for hit #2 of caffeine for the day

9:45 a.m. You can tell I handed the camera over to Sam. Some unknown person’s butt. Is it yours?

9:46 a.m. Enter Starbucks. Try to take pictures of baristas but they inform me this is “strictly prohibited.” Whatever. I tell them I’m just having fun and FINE I will only post pictures of myself.

9:50 a.m. Grande coffee with extra extra cream and I’m ready to roll. I don’t get Sam anything because he always wants the $6 frap and I’m not that nice. I even have a coffee bag with a free coupon on it. I am frugal (cheap) that way.

10:00 a.m. Greeted by this dear friend, Kathy, at the dentist. She makes me look bad with her perfect hair and stunning outfit. Very, very bad.

10:15 a.m. Sam in all of his braces-removal-glory. I wish I had a multi colored shirt like that. Where do the dentists get those?

11:00 a.m. Check out those pearly whites:

11:05 a.m. The orthodontist office gives him a gift bag with all the “bad” candy in it. I love them for it.

High noon. Make myself a quick lunch (grilled ham/cheese with tomato and Dijon because I am fancy like that)

12:30 p.m. Trip to the grocery store. Yes, I look very serious when I shop. And yes I do need a hair cut and color.

12:50 p.m. Emma thinks she is two years old again. No dammit, I do not have a penny for that dirty thing.

1:30 p.m. Family stop off at Coldstone. I go for the “Like It”:

1:45 p.m. I make kids use their gift cards because I am cheap and no way am I spending $4 for a glorified scoop of ice cream with a couple mix ins.

1:50 p.m. I love summer. I love my kids. But only when I’m holding ice cream.

2:00 p.m. until late into the deep dark night. Me and my computer make love. Reports to be written. Training plans to be thought out. Blog posts to be read. Emails to answer. Twats to be made.

That’s all I got.

Do you work from home or have flexibility in your days? I am a contractor for several social service agencies around here. I meet with families in their homes and write all my reports from my home office.

Does your car look like you’re homeless? What’s the weirdest thing you keep in your car? I have an airplane blanket I stole from Jet Blue. I’ve gotten lots of mileage out of that thing.

Do you like ice cream with chunks in it or just smooth? I’m a big chunk person. I LOVE Oreos and cookie dough in mine.

How do you take your coffee? Frou frou drinks or just plain ol’ Joe? I’m a plain coffee gal myself.

Post your “day in the life.” I dare you.

SUAR