things that happened

summer is almost over.  so sad!  the days are getting shorter, a little bit cooler and much rainier.  the rain makes it seem cooler than it really is i guess, its still in the 70s and 80s, which is nice.  i don't want it to end!  and i dont' want the kids to go back to school either!  its been a fun time with them this summer, without having to deal with homework and biography projects and heritage projects and who knows what else.  what will 4th grade bring?  yikes!
i did the iron girl triahlon a few weekends ago.  i signed up for this not really realizing that it was the old danskin tri.  i did the danskin twice before, once as a relay with my mom and sister in 2008 and then once solo in 2006.  bot experiences were good, but man, i totally forgot about the logistics involved with the race.
this year was somewhat better than in years past, in that you could pick up your race packet at the same location where you had to rack your bike the night before.  previous years it was a complete cluster, driving back and forth all over seattle and bellevue!!  and honestly i don't mind the bike racking the night before. but race morning, they said no parking in the neighborhoods so you had to park at safeco field and take shuttle to the race site.  this is a bit of a pain.  especially since they then charged $10 to park at safeco!  but i did it, because that is what the rules said to do.  it was fine, whatever, no biggie, but whatever.  it was still dark when i got there, some nice group health ladies pumped up my tires, i hit the honey buckets, went for a really quick warm up run then put on my wetsuit and waited the hour, yes, the entire 60 minutes from when they kicked everyone out of transition until the start of my race.  the swim was good, actually somewhat enjoyable.  i don't hate swimming.  really i don't.  i just dont want to do it.  the bike was good and fast!  happy with my effort and happy with my time.  and the run was interesting.  i was a bit disappointed when i saw my finish time and pace in results, but turns out the course was measured .2 miles long, or somethign like that.  so take that into account and my pace was better.  i came in 6th in my ag and 32nd overall.  not too bad!
after i joined the rest of the LUNA chix at the hill on the run to cheer on the rest of the racers!

heading to the cheer station post race!

LUNA ladies all decked out for some cheering!

i was able to re-purpose my hair from the warrior dash! and to think i wasn't sure i'd ever get to wear it again!

 the following wednesday was Swim for Life.  this is a 2.5 mile swim across lake washington benefitting the Puget Sound Blood Center.  I have done this swim twice before.  the first time in 2010 as part of team We don't do fly, we ARE fly, i was terrified 

because it was windy and choppy and i wasn't sure i would ever be able to swim so far!  but i did it!  i was never so happy to see milfoil as we approached the madison park beach!

janet posted this photo from that day on my facebook page the day i was having my surgery with this caption " Once you get through the rough waters there are smiles and hugs waiting for you!"  makes me tear up even now!

the 2nd time was in 2011 which was warmer and flatter and beautiful!  and as a special treat, eric was our kayaker!!

i missed 2012, and when i was asked to join the team this year i was like, uh, i haven't been swimming very much yet, uh, not sure about that, but with the encouragment from janet and lauren and glen and then the promise of having clem as our kayaker, i said, what the heck, why not.  turned out to be a beautiful morning and a fantastic swim.  i never had a more delicious clif shot than the one i had out in the middle of the lake that day!!

The Recommitments 2013 - tough guys

big group of swimmers from Samena where i used to swim with the master's group

beefcake photo with mat and clem

kisses for the mrs. 

i passed out after all of that smooching!!

 then i went home and fell asleep. it was such a beautiful day and i hated wasting it on a nap, but it was needed!  i love that swim, i hope to do it again next year, although glen and i joked the entire time about who would get to be the kayaker, the idea that we would all just go kayaking instead did come about!