THE 15 Things I am going to do between June 21, 2010 and September 22, 2010

1. Spend a day reading in the Brazilian Hammock (prereq…put hammock up)
2. Bonfire
3. Have a water fight
4. Attend a movie in the park
5. Attend a “Film on the Rocks at Red Rocks”
6. Camp for two nights
7. Swim the whole length and back of the gravel pond at Chatfield Reservoir (more than once)
8. Fly my kite
9. Make homemade ice cream
10. Work up to do one pull up (is this even possible in 3 months?)
11. Go out for breakfast at Toast
12. Sleep under the stars
13. Enjoy a meteor shower (if there is one to be enjoyed)
14. Learn to hula-hoop
15. Visit Wash DC

Anyone have any of these things that I can crash?  Better yet, anyone want to join me for any of them?

Read more...

Lessons I Learned in my 3rd Sprint Triathlon

1. NEVER sacrifice comfort for fashion! They sell specific triathlon clothing for a reason, and ignoring that and wearing what is “cutest” can (and in my case did) cause severe pain. I decided my favorite bike jersey looked better with my shorts and running skirt than my tri tops. My arms were extremely chaffed on the run by the end of the first mile.

2. The wetsuit I bought (see previous post) and had never swam in, turned out to be PERFECT. A black sports bra is perfect for camouflaging the “runneth over” parts.

3. If you are swimming backstroke, remember to check OFTEN to see if you are off course, or at least hope you can hear the people telling you that you are headed in the WAY wrong direction (like backwards and out to sea) (this wasn’t me, but I did try to get the girl’s attention).

4. Biking may be a great way to have dropped 53 pounds, but apparently you still have to do plenty of training in the swim and run if you want some real change. The only advantage was there was 53 pounds less of me that I had to drag around the reservoir.

5. Dropping 53 pounds will help you go from placing next to last out of everyone last year, to placing 198 out of 222. :-) On the bike leg I placed 156 out of 222.

6. It sounds ridiculous (and people look at you funny) if you blame chaffing on your ARM for your slow as snails run time.

7. Orange goggles are practically USELESS when you are swimming in to the sun. Time to buy some goggles that double as sunglasses.

8. The flock of geese that is swimming though the course -- aren’t scared of you, and probably won’t get out of your way.

9. The volunteer lady that is stationed about ½ mile in to the run course will try to lie to you and tell you, “you are almost there” to keep you motivated. I let her know on the way back (when I was only ½ mile from the finish) that NOW I was almost there.

10. It is still fun to do!

Read more...

I Now Own a Wetsuit!

I bought a wetsuit! I can’t believe it! Now I have to be committed to triathlons! Anyhow, the Saturday before Memorial Day I was at REI and I knew I needed a wetsuit for the DAC Tri the Creek. They only had one triathlon wetsuit and it was looking like it had been at the store for quite a while. It was a sleeveless Women’s XL. I had researched them enough to know that a Women’s XL is meant for women up to 180 lbs, which is SOOO NOT me. But I was feeling good that day, and the price was definitely right ($153 marked down from $220). I tried it on, and got it closed. It was kind of tight up top and a felt like my “cup runneth over”. I didn’t buy it.

Then comes Tuesday. I was 5 days away from the triathlon and I needed a wetsuit. (Yes, I am that wimpy). So, at work I decided, “Heck with the ‘cup runneth over’ stuff”, I was going to go buy that darn wetsuit. So I RACED over to REI on my scooter. (Raced is defined as 34 mph on my scooter). I knew $153 was a GREAT deal for this wetsuit and I wasn’t going to find a better deal and I knew I could continue to “shrink” into it.

They still had it, so I grabbed it and took it to the cashier. I told her, “I have decided I can’t live without this wetsuit. Ring me up!” Wanna know what this wetsuit rang up at? Really? I just about died! $74! That is correct - $74. Can you say “GONGA”!

Read more...

$25 Is Just TOOOOO Much

I can't find my work ID badge. They want $25 to replace it. I don't want to pay $25. I started an "End Badgelessness" Campaign. Here is the email I sent out the everyone in my building, and pictures of "End Badgelessness" Headquarters.


Help for the Badgeless

Please donate to this serious cause. $25 to replace a Employee ID badge is a serious obstacle that some of our own can not afford. Please donate to the Badge Relief Fund to help others who are less fortunate than you (here to after referred to as "badgeless"). The badgeless have been relegated to outcast status at 10G. These people can no longer enter the building. Please help them get off the streets and back to work! There will be a collection tin at tomorrow's 'Beat Work Stress with Nachos'. Please give what you can. If everyone in the building gave just 75 cents, that would be enough to save one whole badgeless person! Have a heart!




My total collections thus far today! - Mostly in nickles and pennies.

Read more...

More 5K Lessons Learned

1. A race will still be held if the entire course is iced over and the temp is 17 degrees
2. The water at the aide stations will be frozen solid under such conditions
3. Gardening gloves will keep your hands warm
4. Three long sleeve shirts, two pants, a fleece jacket, a turtle fur collar, and a hat will be just enough to keep you warm for the whole run.
5. A great song to have your ipod play right at the time you hit the last ¾ mile that is all downhill is Pink Floyd's Run Like Hell.
6. A 7 year old boy can get second place in the 18 and under male category
7. Whoever orders the race shirts will somehow get women’s sizes where the XL would only fit a toddler – or the 7 year old 2nd place finisher
8. If the first shirt you have on is a skiing base layer, and it is two sizes too small, it may cause you problems by riding up and taking your sports bra with it.
9. It can be very “problematic” to rectify the problem described in #8 when you have 2 shirts and a jacket on over the problem, are running in freezing temps, and are trying to stay modest.
10. It will still be a super fun experience!

Read more...

I Just LOVE Government Office Buildings!

What is the least expensive way to convert a men's restroom to a women's one?



Add a feminine products dispenser next to the urinals.

Read more...

Dealing with the Taunting

Why is it that you can drive past a specific Dairy Queen 900+ times in your life and not think anything of it, but as soon as you are in a weight loss competition, nothing looks more desirable than the plastic ice cream cone on the sign! There it is - every day - taunting me!



How do I deal with the taunting? I stocked my fridge.

Read more...

Why NOT to Shop at Night Markets

How long did I actually wear these socks?




10 HOURS!

Read more...

The First Weigh In

When my co-worker and I drew up the contract for this competition, it seemed his biggest concern was that the weigh ins be fair, accurate, and practically impossible to cheat at. We decided that we would weigh in at home on certain days that that our spouses take a picture of our toes on the scale with the weight displayed (everyone knows you have to weigh nude for accuracy). That, among other rules and prizes, were put into a scribbled out contract and we signed. The appointed day for the first weigh in came. That morning I woke up a little nervous, but fully committed to this contest (I have yet to tell you about the prizes and consequences). As I prepared for the weigh in moment, I eyed my scale and warned it that it better be on it's best behavior over the next two months. I had chose this scale for it's many virtues, different profiles, and the many things it measures like bone mass and hydration levels. I had, however, overlooked one of it's biggest "features".

I stepped on the scale in all my birthday suit glory and was ecstatic at the weight it displayed. I grabbed my cell phone w/camera and prepared to snap a picture of my toes and the display. Right at that moment a glimmer caught my eye. It was that moment that I noticed the worst feature of all about my scale. It is made of Highly Reflective Glass! There was NO WAY I was going to take the picture as requested. NO WAY! NO WAY EVER! AIN'T HAPPENING! I took a picture of the scale without my toes or any reflections in it and hoped it would be good enough for the co-worker. I sent him a text message informing him he would not EVER be receiving a picture of the weigh in as stated in the contract. The resulting text conversation went like this:

Me: We are going to (well I already do) have a problem with the scale picture taking.
Him: Did your hubby nix it? Is it too revealing for me to see your toes?
Me: Nope, it was all me that nixed it.
Him: Are you conceding? Cool!
Me: Well, the issue is that my scale is reflective glass.
Him: Well, Linnea, Mine is glass also and I had my wife take the picture at an angle and close as to block the reflection

UGH! NO MERCY!

Read more...

Why am I so susceptible to getting myself in over my head?

It seems I no matter how ridiculous a challenge is, I just keep jumping in head first! Is there some sort of disorder that causes this? Is it treatable, or am I doomed to a life of spontaneous commitment and resulting torture? Last year it was the triathlon that turned into TWO triathlons, which has turned into FOUR triathlons this year. One of these triathlons is scheduled to be an Olympic distance one. EEEK! In all my wisdom, I figured that these FOUR freaking triathlons would be much easier to do, if I didn’t have to lug all my extraneous weight around while training. Logical conclusion? Yes.

You might be thinking that the FOUR triathlons is where I got in over my head, but you are wrong.

To make a long story short, a co worker and I made a weight loss bet. Over lunch one day, we discovered we weigh exactly the same and both wanted to drop some of it. A week later we signed the contract for the bet. We have till March 31st to reach a certain weight. There is about $150 in prizes at stake for this bet. Now, allow me to tell you a bit about the guy I have to beat. He is two inches taller than me and massively muscular. He is also 18 years older than me (which I suspect is all I have going for me). The weight we are trying to reach by March 31st is also his target weight. My target weight would still be about 1000 lbs less than even that. He also spent a good portion of his life as a personal trainer. Ugh. Wish me luck!

Read more...