I arrived in Venice this morning after a surprisingly comfortable plane ride. I somehow lucked out and got an aisle seat in the front row so there was extra leg room.

Had lunch with a classmate and then took a nap that was a bit too long...Had my first pizza at an outdoor table while watching the world go by with this stupid grin on my face. I am in ITALY, how freaking cool is that?!? I do love that I rarely hear English unless, of course the retailers pity me and switch so I can understand what I am buying.

I walked around a lot and think I figured out a running route for the morning before the train to Bolanza. I am currently 9 hours ahead of home so I am sure that my sleep will take a bit of time to adjust.

Been sending lots and lots of good energy to some of my favorite first time Ironman athletes, including my brother, who is doing Ironman Louisville as I type. Ruth checked on him and let me know he has started strong. BR and Ann are still on their bikes.

Yoga today felt great like usual.

Yoga Class @ 01:15:00

I was planning to go to Ryan's run group after work but had been dragging throughout the day so I instead took the evening off.

Swim practice was a bit frustrating...I could not keep up with the lane at all :(

I did get some good feedback on my stroke, and was told that I drop my right elbow. Yes, I have known that for years. However, that was followed up with a suggestion on how to change it by focusing on fingertip drag drill.

2500 Swim Practice @ 01:00:00

Finished the day with a nice easy commute home on the Hindenburg.

12 Mile Ride @ 01:00:00

Definitely over-gin'd last night...but still woke up at 6 to get in a long run before my WW meeting. I ran from Ruth's down to the lake, then up to and through the I90 tunnel, to the sound and home via the Ballard Bridge and Freemont. It was a beautiful morning and temperature was exactly right. I sure do love running :)

19 Mile Run @ 03:10:00

Down .8 and that means I FINALLY hit the 5lb loss. Whoop Whoop! That was the most difficult 5 lbs I have ever lost. When I have done this before, I was not nearly as active so adding activity really would help with the weight loss. This has been super challenging because I am really active and HUNGRY a lot.

I talked to the leader before leaving today and asked her for her e-mail address in case I needed to send up an SOS while in Italy. She was really sweet and gave it to me, and also wrote down her three tips for when she travels.

1. Walk
2. Water
3. Splurge 1 meal a day, make the other 2 light (don't track points)

Got in a lift this morning before Ruth and I headed out for a great 40 mile spin a little North of the lake.

Core @ 01:00:00
Upper Weights @ 00:30:00

41 Mile Bike Ride @ 02:41:00

After a nice and late (okay, for me) night out, we slept in this morning and I skipped both swimming AND core. Did finally change the tube in my rear tire and rode home, meandering a bit on the way.

12 Mile Bike Commute @ 01:00:00

Did a hilly route from home today and was disappointed with my pace, although I did not stop my watch when I would hit traffic lights.

6.5 Mile Run @ 01:05:00

Didn't get a chance to get in a lift between work and meeting friends for dinner/show.

Another guest coach and another butt kicking. This time it was an endurance workout, one set was pretty much a mile not too cleverly disguised as a "pyramid" with 10 second rest intervals. I was BEAT after but was proud to have survived...

2800 Swim Practice @ 01:00:00

Then Barbara Rose and I went for a tough tempo run around Greenlake. We worked hard, but I was still surprised by our pace. wow!

3.2 Mile Run @ 00:24:00 (7:30 pace)

Had a guest instructor today for Yoga but she did a really good job. Unfortunately, she did not know that the class was supposed to be 75 minutes so we only got an hour in. But it was a good hour!

Yoga Class @ 01:00:00

Then got in a nice aerobic run at work in the afternoon.

8+ Mile Run @ 01:17:00

Had a guest coach and really got my butt kicked during swim practice. I hoped to ride my bike home to get my car before class but ended up working through and just barely made it to class.

2550 Swim Practice @ 01:00:00

Barbara Rose and I got in a nice tour of Seattle this morning.

16ish Mile Run @ 02:35:00

Posted a .2 loss at my meeting this morning and got in a lift after.

Core @ 00:10:00
Upper Weights @ 00:30:00

Got in a run down and around Greenlake this morning before class.

5.5 Mile Run @ 00:54:00

Wally was just as surprised as I when I made it out of bed and off to swim practice!

2700 Swim Practice @ 01:00:00

Got in a really nice leisurely ride from West Seattle to home in the morning.

25 Mile Ride @ 01:45:00

Down another pound. Damn this is coming off slowly but I am actually averaging .6 a week AND last time I weighed in after my trail run, I was up 2 pounds so I think I am doing well. Of course, I am not nearly as sore because Ruth gave me a great recovery massage!

Then got in a lift before completely bombing my Mandarin final :(

Upper Weights @ 00:30:00
Core @ 00:10:00

Today was the last of the Cougar Trail Run series. The distance was @ 13 miles and the race director told us that the elevation gain was 2700 feet. I had a great time and loved it! The trail was beautiful and challenging and the weather was perfect. I got a lot of gifts along the way -- a nice pace group for the first three miles and lots of room to practice and focus on my descents. I was 8 minutes slower than last year, but the route was different so a true comparison cannot be made.

13 Mile Trail Run @ 02:32:00

Ruth biked to the finish and also said that she thought I would have had a tougher time on the race with the crazy week I had :). I think that part of feeling good today was my decision yesterday to not do the Black Diamond Half Ironman in September and instead, just do a marathon in Bellingham. I just have a crazy 2 months ahead of me with work, classes, my trip to Italy and a visit from my sister and this feels so much more manageable.

Made it to 5 AM swim practice and had a great one!

2700 Swim Practice @ 01:00:00

It's been a crazy week! My Tuesday late night work thing turned into an all-nighter and I ended up not getting home until noon Wednesday. Got in a nap and then had to go back into work in the evening.

So last night, I fell asleep at 9 PM and did not set the alarm in the morning, letting my body dictate how much sleep I needed. And it told me I needed 10+ hours :)

I worked from home in the AM and then got in a nice run - not quite tempo pace but not easy either down and around Greenlake, then up to the Zoo and back before heading home.

7.8 Mile Run @ 001:07:00

Got in a good lift after work.

Upper Weights @ 00:30:00
Core @ 00:10:00

Yoga today - felt really good and since I am now writing this at 10:22 at night from work...with hours ahead to go, tomorrow will probably be a sleep in day. Unless, of course I am still working at 4:30ish and just pop in the pool...

Yoga Class @ 01:15:00

Did not make it up again for swim practice but managed to ride my bike to the gym in time for core class. Then got a scoop home from Ruth after instead of riding my bike...

Bike Commute @ 00:45:00
Core Class @ 00:30:00

Went for hilly run this morning in West Seattle and was happy that I was able to pick up the pace the last few miles on the waterfront. I hoped that I had kept a 9 pace, but when I mapped it, it was just a 9:30 :(

10.33 Mile Run @ 01:38:00

Then made it to my weigh in and was up .8. SIGH... Yes, I am bloated right now but I was still hoping for better results. And no change in measurements so it's my calorie intake. I am eating within my "points" but I need to make better choices. I have a lot of bad food habits to break...

Then got in a lift after.

Upper Weights @ 00:30:00
Core @ 00:10:00

Slept in until 7ish this morning until Wally let me know it was time to get up. I had a 60 mile ride, 3 mile run on my schedule and headed out from home to go across Mercer Island and then around Lake Sammamish, down the trail and finally up Bothell Way to home. I did push it (maintained 16.2+ even through traffic and construction) but lost it the last few uphill miles. Halfway through, my cramps hit HARD and I boycotted my run in favor of vit I.

61 Mile Ride @ 03:50:00