Adios 2011, Hello 2012

In just a few short hours the clock will strike midnight just like it has every year.

As I look back I realize there were many interesting things that happened, not so interesting, pretty sad, pretty happy, sometimes infuriating, sometimes joyful.

I've witnessed great grief and struggles with health issues that you can't imagine if I told you, and maybe you might.  Not to me, but to my husband who struggled mightily in 2011.  He'll see 6 surgeries behind him and I only wish him the very best in health this upcoming year.  I want a normal husband/wife relationship in every sense of the word.  This past year I was never sure if that would happen.  I have learned now that I have to be a good nurse wife to my husband and that means being more compassionate and understanding.  We have a new marriage and I want desperately for it to be wonderful.  Maybe in time...

In 2012 some great things are going to happen.  You'll see i've added a countdown to IMLOU.  I have decided to post my workouts each and every single day, whether I nailed them or failed them.  I will only have myself to hold accountable for my success, or lack thereof at the Ironman in August.

I want to wish each and everyone of you..(maybe all 3) that read my blog a most amazing 2012.  I hope you all have wonderful health and happiness.

Best wishes for a great NEW YEAR!!

We had snow!

Now it's gone. Hoping 2012 doesn't bring is much more.

Mr Reagan hopes you had a wonderful Christmas!!!

My birthday sushi!

Loved my birthday dinner with friends. The sushi was most excellent and the day was perfect!

A real nice morning surprise :)

Merry Birthday to me :)

As per usual every year I get that gift where the giver says "here is your Birthday and part of you Xmas gift"...yah I've heard the same thing year after year.  Being a Xmas baby I've had to deal with that..it is what it is, so it's okay by me.

So hubby gave me this..my very first Garmin watch, he tried to get PINK, but none available :( wahhh that's okay.

I wanted something simple and not too complicated.  I just like to know my HR, pace and time.  I can't wait to get out there and try it.

Shared Christmas presents..right??

I have purchased the Kindle for my husband for Christmas...

 I have found this new book by Chrissie Wellington, it looks great!  This is the description: Wellington's first-hand, inspiring story includes all the incredible challenges she has faced-- from anorexia to near-drowning to training with a controversial coach. But to Wellington, the drama of the sports also presents an opportunity to use sports to improve people's lives.

A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS reveals the heart behind Wellington's success, along with the diet, training and motivational techniques that keep her going through one of the world's most grueling events.

Now I don't think my husband will care about Chrissie's story, but I will..and well..he needs to share his Kindle right?? right??? :)

A pre Christmas present from Hubbie

What are you hoping to receive for Christmas?

A new splish bathing suit.

I love my newly designed splish bathing suit. Splish is great in that you can design your suits any time and they last forever!
Do you know of any sites where you can easily design your own stuff?

Does this look like the Hawaiian islands?

Masters swim!

This am I went swimming at our masters swim practice for my very first time... Well not first time swimming, but first Saturday swimming with my new masters swim group. Apparently webhave 260 members strong... Who knew??

This is actually kind of cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WdAPMXtxJpQ

Ironman Sweden?

Really?? Ironman announced another new race on the circuit.  Why can't Ironman come up with more "tropical" destinations?  I have zero plans of every traveling over to Europe...just zero desire!  But that's me.  I love heat..lots of it.  I'd like to see an Ironman Costa Rica, Ironman Barbados (been there 3x's), Ironman Grand Caymen Islands..LOL.  Okay, so lets say you would have to go around the islands several times...it would be nice, tropical, hot!!!

Well for now I'll stick to my HOT Ironman Louisville this summer and dream of some tropical place that Ironman might come up with..say in February/March of some year.. :)

Who watched Kona?

It's my annual ritual, watch Ironman Hawaii. This year did not dissapoint. Did you watch it? What did you think?

Falling Star..

This morning on my lonely 4:30 a.m. drive to the pool, I saw a falling star...my most immediate response was to make a wish....this wish was very easy.  I wished to give my husband perfect health.  He's had so many battles over 2011 and my prayer for 2012 is that he get back to a normal life so he can start doing the things he loves so much.  That's my wish.

This weekend was great!  Yesterday I attended a weekend cycling class that had us doing :30 minutes of core work and then a 90 minute training session.  I died.  My legs were tired, but a good tired.  I have made a huge improvement since I first started back in October.  We did a 20min TT back then and my average speed was around 15.9 mph. and my HR was typically in the 160's or 170's.  Now I'm happy to report that my avg. speed is around 19mph and my HR is typically around the 130's-140's..amazing!

This a.m.'s swim had us doing a lot of intervals.  I used my fins and got scolded..not really..well kinda..:)  I'm not to use my fins anymore but during kick sessions.  I know this having swam for over 10 years that we don't do that in races so why do that in the pool?? Well...cause it's fun :)  Oh well, it was great while it lasted.

Cycling Class

 Every Tues/Thursday nights I attend our local cycling class put on by a USALevel1 cycling coach.  We even have our own Yoga instructor for 30 min's before we actually get on our bikes.  We also alternate on nights doing 30 minutes core work.
Tuesday nights cycling usually involves some pretty high cadence work and then on Thursdays it's usually long intervals with rest and then some fast spinning towards the end of our hour.
It shells me..it's a great workout and I am loving every minute of it.
Sundays we do this for two hours..looking forward to the sweat fest on Sunday!

It's Christmas :)

My new shoes arrived.  It's like Christmas, I really shouldn't be buying things for myself, but hey when they have a buy one get one free shoe event...I'm all over that!!!

What's your favorite shoe brand??

You want me to do what??

Back to swimming with masters this a.m.  It's a new thing for me as I've not belonged to a masters group for sometime now.  Spoke to coach on deck as I introduced myself.  Looks like a big group and they have several locations and times which is great!
I got in the pool and the normal warm up is 400m free.  Then we stopped and he explained the workout.  Plenty of stroke work today.  That meant fly..UGHHH...back, breast and free.  I seriously suck at any stroke but free.  How embarrassing, but I hung in and tried my best as I knew how.

After the class talking to the coach, he told me that doing ALL strokes will help me in the long run..I know this..just have to keep telling myself that it's all goooodddddddd!

Fight like a girl!

I was just over at Skinny Runners Blog, she is giving a jewelry give away from Sporty Girl Jewelry.  

They actually have a necklace there just like my writing pad, "Fight like a Girl"..how cool is that?  

I have not had breast cancer, but my eldest sister has, aunt and my younger sister died from what we suspected was the last stage of breast cancer, she didn't have an autopsy, so we will never know.  One thing I do know is.."get a mammogram" every year!!!!!!!

NYC Marathon 2012?

I'd like to run the 2012 NYC Marathon.  It will be my second year in the lottery.  I guess I have a few reasons to run it.  It's NYC!  I would get to see many parts of NY i've never seen.  I'll get to run with a bizillion other runners..how fun.  Finish in Central Park, even cooler.  Well I'll put name into the hat and see what happens...I am..keeping.my.fingers.crossed.

A swim master...

I'm pretty darned lucky.  There are tons of 25m and 50m pools in my area.  The problem is there are just sooo many to choose from!  Today I decided to join a masters swim program.  They have multiple swim locations and multiple times.  I love this and I'm so happy to have all these choices available.  Now I just have to get my A$$ out of bed every other morning to swim.

Milk, it does a body good!

Today it's our second discovery group at church and then it's a two hour indoor group ride. I'll have to use my road bike as my new tri bike is still in the shop, what a pain!
What's you favorite recovery drink?

Cool party last night.

Last night I was invited to a special invitation only event held by our friend Susan Reidweg.

It was pretty neat as she hand designs all of her leather items herself.  She's traveled extensively throughout the world to collect the very best leather.  Since everything is hand made by her, no two items are the same which is very cool.

I'm not a handbag sort of person, but I really wanted to buy something from her as soon she'll be retiring and moving out to the West Coast for good.

I love my new bag and will have it forever!

Support...

Everybody wants it, everybody needs it...sometimes though we just want to feel supported.    A good old pat on the back letting us know.."it's ok"..I understand, go for it.
As the weeks progress here I hope my SO supports everything I do and comes to a realization that this is what makes me happy and frustrated, but centered.  Loves me for being "me". 
December is here and what?? Nine months until IMLOU...time waits for no one!

Hoping you are feeling "supported" today :)

BTE