Cooking for One with Katy - Episode 17

On the eve of my 34th birthday, I bring you another episode of Cooking for One with Katy. Next Sunday I promise to post another.

I eat you Spudman ....

Last week at this time I was pumping up my tires, setting out my shoes, and trying to squeeze into my wet suit for my 7:30 AM start time.

This was my first Olympic distance triathlon and I was nervous. I knew I could do the 1 mile swim and the 26 mile bike ride. But to run about 6 miles after both of those events was going to be hard and I was right.

SWIM ...
One of the reasons the Spudman is such a popular event is because the swim is so easy. I had never swam a whole mile in open water before, only in a pool, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Well it was a great swim, very refreshing, and over before I knew it.

BIKE ...
The bike was fine. The course was on mostly flat, country roads. It just took a while to complete. I am slow and so I may have only passed one or two people the whole ride. I was passed by numerous bikers from heats after mine. This was actually a great thing because so many of these bikers that passed me gave me words of encouragement. These triathletes are a friendly, nice bunch. My friend, Ryan (the Ironman, swim coach), passed me and his heat was 30 minutes behind mine.

RUN ...
I parked my bike at the transition station and my legs felt like jello. Are you kidding me that I have to run 6 miles now? And in the heat? This was by far the hardest part. I probably ran about 50% of the course and walked the other half. I just didn't have enough in me. I didn't feel too bad because there were a lot of walk/joggers around me and most people seemed to be struggling. I think most of the tough runners had already passed. On the run I saw my friend Emily who was cheering on her husband, Aaron. She snapped a few photos of me:

It was fun because a lot of the people that live along the run route in Burley, ID were out spraying down runners as they passed. I loved that. It felt good.

At one point on the run, I stopped at a water station and the teenage boy volunteer said to the other teenage boy volunteer, "this isn't fun anymore." I jumped in to their conversation and said, "yeah, no kidding." They got a good chuckle and I still had 4 miles left.

I was happy that there were so many heats and that mine was toward the beginning ... it is possible that I could have come in last.

I did finish the race and boy was I glad to have that over. The night before was fun because Liz and I ran into Ryan and some of his friends and we ended up sleeping at Hailey's house in Burley which was very convenient, much more convenient than what we had arranged. It was fun to meet such nice, fun people who were also gonna do the race the next morning.

We drove home right after the race and I ate the potato they gave me for dinner. I went to bed at 9:00 PM that night and slept better than I had in months. I'm going to try and get in again next year and my goal will be to run the whole time.

Pictures courtesy of Emily and Liz

Toss your cares and curls away ...

Last week when I was sick I made a decision. My hair was bugging me. It was in my face. I didn't want to put it up because I couldn't lay down on it very well. I didn't want to wash it because it takes forever to dry. So I decided it was time to chop it off.

At first I told Julie that I wanted it to my shoulders so she put it back in a pony tail. Just before she was about to chop it off, I said wait - lets measure it. I pulled up the locks of love website on my phone to be sure I had enough hair and that it qualified. We were at 9 inches so I told her to take off more to be sure.

The braid ended up being 11 inches.

After the braid was cut I still had some some other layers.

It was a great change and while I didn't really have curls to toss away, I do feel a bit more care free.

I've been busy ...

In no particular order ...










The "Drew" movie



My nephews were engrossed with Roman Holiday. It was great.



Any my stomach is still weak. I'm actually tired of watching TV and movies. Hopefully tomorrow I am back at it.

To Spud or not to Spud ...

At the beginning of 2010, I entered the lottery to compete in the Spudman (my first olympic triathlon) on July 31st.

And I got in. I paid the $70+ registration fees.

My training has been spotty. I was pretty consistent in the month of June but so far July has been a bust. And now I'm sick. I have some kind of stomach bug. I'm really tempted to just bail on the whole thing.

I'm needing some advice from the virtual world. Should I still do it? Or not?

You've got to get up every morning ...

Last night I saw these two in concert ...


I went with these sisters ...



It was a great concert. Here are some highlights ...

I loved this song ... just because

You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You're gonna find, yes, you will
That you're beautiful as you feel

This song is the theme from my beloved Gilmore Girls and I learned from my sisters that my family sang this together (before I was born) at a ward talent show and all the kids followed my dad around the stage.

Where you lead, I will follow
Anywhere that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow where you lead

I got teary thinking of Drew when JT sang "Fire and Rain" because ...

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

I always love this song ...

Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold
They'll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

There were many more great songs sung that night and they have been going through my head all day today. Here is the setlist

Since my last half marathon (see my last post) ...

• I went on a cruise to Cabo with some friends

• 

• Started budgeting my money
  
• Golfed at East Bay, Sleepy Ridge, and Wasatch ...
• 
• Played a little tennis

• 

• Finished my coursework ... I'm ABD, baby (check out this video I made for my last class)
  
• Saw some movies none of which have been even worth mentioning
• Watched a lot of TV ... I love TV
  
• Completed the mileage for an Ironman within a week
• Finished the Lady Cavemen Basketball highlight video
  
• Completed the Telos Sprint Triathlon (April 17)
• 
• Completed the Woman of Steel Triathlon (May 22nd)
• 
• Biked 55 miles in the Little Red Riding Hood Event (June 5th)
• 
• Drove from Kansas City to Provo and got a speeding ticket ... $123
• 
• Made the first edition of a video for Drew's birthday on April 5th (here is the final edition)
  
• Got my tax return
• Brother-in-law Ron passed away (May 8th)
  
• Went to the temple
• Started drinking caffeinated beverages again
• Went to San Francisco for work
• 
• Shaved my legs (more than once actually)
• These two started dating (a couple of my favorite people)
• 
• Best friend Drew passed away ... sad, sad times (May 23rd)
  
• 
• Missed five wedding receptions in the month of May alone ... feel bad about that
  
• Gained 15 pounds (sorry no picture for this one)
  
• Bought a scooter
• 
• And this morning I ran (and walked some) another half marathon. My training has not been what it should have been so I can barely walk right now. I got to the point in the last three miles where I was asking people on the side of the road for Ibuprofen but no one had any to give me. I survived nonetheless.
• 
• Photo by Eric Ward
  

Now you know what I've been up to ... in case you want to know. If you don't want to know, you don't have to read my blog. So there.