Next Challenge...

I Triatló popular de Banyoles... yes... my second triathlon! To be held this coming Saturday, July 30th, at 3pm in Banyoles... so excited (and nervous and scared too) about it!

Went to Banyoles this am with Paula, to walk around the lake and saw everything ready for the event... I just can't wait!

It is a full triathlon weekend in Banyoles, as on Sunday the European Cup will be held... so it is nice to see everything getting ready for a huge even were us, populars, get to take part... it will be great. I just know it!

I now have to see how I take the bike to Banyoles. Need to go get a bike carrier. Will actually go now!

I have been biking and swimming a lot lately... did 40km on the bike last week, swam 2000m... so proud of myself. Even tried a couple of brick sessions to train T2 and worked out ok :D I finally went out for a "proper" run last night and felt ever sooooooooooooooo good! A lot faster than my runs lately too... odd, so I guess that either the break did me good or the biking and swimming have helped :D Run a little this am and the pace was good (for me) too, so all in all... very happy and excited.

Realized yesterday while running (was about time too) that I own my life and that whatever I do with it depends on me... it doesn't matter what I did or what hapenned in the past if I want to take control of my life, I can do it... noone else will!

Here's to the new me, no more excuses... woohoo!!!!

Challenges

Well... here I am again and I have to admit, I like challenges a bit too much :p

First off... last week I did pretty good with my training... Monday I went to Banyoles and twice around the lake. Tuesday I went swimming, Wednesday I went back to Banyoles, twice around the lake plus I swam 1000 meters, Thursday I went for an early morning 18km bike ride. I took Friday and Saturday off and did the Swimming Cross in Castellfollit yesterday. That called for 100m swimming + 600m running x 2. Surprisingly enough I came in 3rd out of 5, although the 5th dropped out. Paula came in 2nd in her age group, she did 25m swimming + 100m running x 2. It was a lovely morning with great people and a wonderful atmosphere! A complete week I'd say!

We loved it so much... and we found out about other little events, like the popular triathlon in Salitja on Aug. 14th, or the Aquathlon 500-5000-500... that's a toughie... in Caldes, and others about too! So, we'll be looking into it. Even one in September in Platja d'Aro! Have to look at the kiddie's races too for Paula as she so wants to do it again! What a champ she is!

So here we go... I am out of shape big time but ready to take on the challenges... my super sprint triatholon is only 19 days away... eek! Better get going!

Life is good

Well... howdy! It's been a looooooooooooooooong while... but I'm back and stronger than ever!

School's over, and so is my job :( but :D The kids, all 3, are doing Summer Camp while I'm decluttering the house and doing some training and trying to get some work towards the next school year. I have a few things in sight so we shall see :D

People make mistakes, we all do, but sometimes these mistakes are huge. Ok, I've said it... done!

Kids are doing well, we had our first swim of the season on Saturday at mom's. We had a BBQ and the kids got to swim before and after lunch... they were soooooooooo excited! Pol wasn't too sure about it at first but never wanted to get out in the end... he made huge progress in a day only! Jan was lovely... he had a ball... he loved it, he swam, he splashed, he jumped in right, left and sideways... it was amazing... such a happy little boy! Paula was the mermaid (and the only girl there too...)... her swimming has improved soooooooooooooo much... she did great! She dives in perfectly well now and couldn't have enough. She did get sunburnt on the face and a bit of a sunstroke but she's all ok now! It was lovely!

On Sunday, since Paula had a bit of a fever, we just played it cool and had a lazy day that felt awesome!

Since 10 days ago, I'm back working out and it's feeling awesome. Well, I hadn't run but I have been bike riding regularly. Sunday last week I rode 34kms!!! So after the bike, I started running again. I have come back and I'm slow, slower than ever but I'm back! :D The first day felt great, then one day I went at midday and it was awful... could hardly run, had to walk most of it... then I went back and it felt better... slow, very slow but better, so I'm slowly getting there! I went for a swim today... hadn't gone swimming since Sept. 12th on my tiny triathlon :o so it was about time. I did 850m in 30 minutes which was great as a start!

So, here's the scoop... my plans are as follow:

July 30th... popular triathlon in Banyoles... I might do it, I just might but need to train a lot, a L.O.T.... it's only 25 days away, eek!
August 7th, I might do a 10K in Malgrat
Sept. 4th, 2nd women's triathlon in Barcelona: signed up
Sept. 11th, national day race (12K)
Sept. 18th, cursa de la Mercè in BCN, 10k
Sept. 25th, Nike Run to the Beat Half Marathon in... LONDON!!!!!: registered and flights booked, woohoo!!!!!
Oct. 8-9: WWFoR: half marathon
Oct. 23rd: Half Marathon of the Mediterranean
Nov. 20th: Jean Bouin, 10K
Dec. 4th: Half Marathon of Mataró (we shall see)
Dec. 11th: La Sansi de Lloret (5K9)
Dec. 26th: Sant Silvestre Riudellotenca (7K9
Feb. 5th (I think): Half Marathon of Granollers (I did my first half there last year :D)
Feb. 26th: Half Marathon of Barcelona
March 25th: MARATÓ DE BARCELONA (that's my dream... hopefully I can do it!)
May 18th: Xtrem Running Costa Brava. Selva Marítima, 25km
April 9th: Cursa de Fons de Canovelles, 15km
End of March/beginning of April if not doing Barcelona: Half Marathon of Montornès. I hear it's great and would love to check it out :p
And the huge, huge, huge goal... don't know if doable but I'll try... a Half Ironman at the end of May. I know it sounds big but now that I don't have a job and will have time to train I think it's the moment, the time... I'll never have it as good. I'll try. If it can be, it can be, if not... life goes on :D

Ok, so these are the races I'd like to do. I'll most likely won't be able to do them all but I'll try to fit in as many as I can. Need to fit in St. Antoni sometime in January, Bombers in April, most likely, my city's race or half in early May... we'll see... will depend on many things but I'd really like to fit those in. Baby steps, no hurry... it's a lot of races and only 1 Jacky so, little by little ;)

Loving this "me" time, the opportunity that I've been given... when a window closes, a balcony opens... life is good!!!!

The sun always shines

Yes... there's always a light at the end of the tunnel, always. I try to be a positive person. I might brag at times and complain but I always look at the bright side of things, cause there's always a bright side :D

I went for a short sweet run last Thursday... it felt perfect! I did a total of 7kms... not a lot but more than none ;) I didn't manage to do the night run at Germans Sàbat or the Cursa a l'Alba in Salt but I did got for an almost 19km bike ride yesterday afternoon. I thought about taking a nap as I was exhausted but chose to go bike riding... smart move on my side, if I may say so! It took me just a tad over an hour... it felt good!

But the weekend has 2 days and on Saturday we went to Vic (we did lots other things but this one too!) as Paula was competing in the final (Inigym 2). We dropped Pol off in Bordils with Laura, Litus, Jordi and Sergi, and Jan off at his grandparents and off we went. As we were getting there, the sky was darker and darker. We had a huge thunder storm! Anyway... down to the point. Paula competed and did a wonderful competition. She did great and she was very pleased with hersef, which, in itself, is a huge victory :D Then the results were announced and... she won the competition... amazing but true... all those training hours and the passion she's put in it have paid off... individual gold, team silver and 3 medals on apparatus: bronze on the vault, gold on the balance beam and gold on the floor... we're sooooo proud of her :D So there you go... the sun shining through the storm :D

Pol's not well today and I think I'm coming down with something myself... oh well... time will tell!

Carpe Díem!!!!

Deca Bike and more

Ok, so here I am again!

Today was the first edition of the Deca Bike, a popular bike ride (non competitive) around the city, organized by a sport store called Decathlon. It was nice. Lots of people and a bit hectic but Paula had a great time which is what counts. The thing itself was great but we had to stop a lot because of police not stopping the traffic, then really narrow streets, water given at a very very very narrow spot but all in all a nice experience. So nice to have the streets of the city closed just for us :D We did a total of 14.620m which is not bad at all!

This past week had been tough. Bad news came my way on Wednesday. No more job for me... eek! 3 kids and a mortgage require a job you know... anyway, I just know things will work out great and something will come along, I just know it!

On Friday I went to the presentation of the book "The smile of Endurance" by Alexandra Panayotou and it was great... such a breath of fresh air, plus I got to see 2 good friends there and talk to Alex herself which was such a gift!

I went to work yesterday afternoon. It was the school's end of year show. It really went well!

And then last night was the final of the Champion's League Barça against Manchester United and... Barça won! Barça is the CHAMPION! It was great... awesome goals and a great match. We got the kids out of bed (they weren't asleep yet) and we celebrated for like 3 minutes... it was really nice :D

Kids are off to camp (Paula and Jan) on Wednesday. Their sleeping bags are clean and folded, ready for departure :D They can't wait, they're sooooo looking forward to it, yay!

And as new news... 70.3 is on my mind... yes... so since I might be having lots of time, I might do my first next spring, woohoo! How cool is that?

Nothing else for now. More to come as I resume my exercising which I miss very much. Doing some studying for my exams. I will pass them all!!!!

Lots going on

Well... it's been over 2 weeks... and lots have happened.

My grandma, in the first place, suffered a heart attack after we visited. She was in hospital for a week, she had a valve put in to widen her aorta and is doing great. She's such a strong woman. I'm so proud of her!

My exams. I passed 2 out of the 3, not bad considering the situation. More to come, 3 on June 17th and 1 on the 18th. That should get me through my 1st year and onto the 2nd one... wow... that was fast!

My friend Ana, after a long 5 year adoption wait, has finally been assigned a little 7 month old Chinese boy. She's traveling to China with her husband and daughter on June 17th and will be meeting Alex on the 20th. So happy for them! My cousin Sandra should be traveling to Russia soon too to bring little Sophia back :D

As for me... a 2 week break (on purpose) off running to see if my feet would heal but they're more or less the same. No pain, the blisters are dry, so I think it's time to get back at it. I have gone on 2 bike rides with Paula and they've been great. We did 12.5kms a week ago and 15 last Sunday... she does great and it was a blast! We've signed up for a "bikathon" next Sunday, it should be lots and lots of fun!

Paula's final will be held in Vic on June 4th. Slowly buy surely we're getting our schedule settled... nothing in months and all of the sudden lots on the calendar. I think I need holidays, LOL!

Kids are doing great. So proud of them all. They've all 3 had their hair cut and look cuter than ever!

Been somewhat demotivated (huh... what's new???) but think I'm finding my way again :D I can do it... I just have to go ahead and do it ;)

Races and places

It's been a while... again... ugh!

Well... I run my 9 miler on Monday, April 25th and it was an amazing experience, first running through the city and then in the woods, really nice. I finished in 1:51, really happy about it! Plus I met this guy who's had a tough life and we talked a lot... it was great!

I then went for runs on May 4th, 9kms, May 6th, 6kms and May 8th, 10km! Yes, that's today! I did a race right around the corner from home. It was a 9k but managed 10 due to having to speed to get there. I was 5 minutes slower than last year :( still, got it done and feel great about it! The blisters on my feet don't feel that good though...

We went to England and we didn't get to run :( Grandma looked well, we went out for lunch and shopping, it was great, but then, on Wednesday, she had a heart attack and is now in hospital. Has to have a valve put in. Mom flew over today and she said she was unlucky enough to fall in the shower this am and hurt her foot and bump her nose... oh my...

I did my exams on Friday and they were ok for not having done much. Went again yesterday and was caught up in traffic so I missed the first one, argh! Caught up with my SIL and went to the Nike Store to get my diploma and DVD from the Bombers Race and went back to the exam site. Did my exam. It was ok, we'll see.

I am extremely tired and it's getting hot here... my feet are killing me due to my blisters... I really need someone to cure it for me... it is painful but oh well, guess it could be worse!

My brother and I, AKA the Forrest Team will be traveling to London, England in September to run the run to the beat half marathon on September 25th, woohoo!!!!