How a Robot Vacuum Makes me a Better Husband

I hate vacuuming. I always have. Vacuums annoy me, at best. The act of vacuuming - ug. I'd rather go to the dentist. For these reasons, Teresa has always taken care of this particular chore. I still do things around the house, mainly fixing things, taking out the trash, dishes, and cat litter boxes. Since Teresa is obviously in charge of floor care she gets the final say in the equipment she uses. We graduated from a conventional bagged vacuum about 10 years ago to a Dyson. I really hate this thing. As far as I'm concerned, the transition to "bagless" is a big FU to consumers. What a useless idea this is. Now after stirring up all the dust while vacuuming, you also get an extra dose in the face when you try to empty the canister, and again when you try to clean the 50 filters. BUT Teresa likes it and I only have to use it once a year. To be honest, we are lucky that my one-time-a-year use hasn't resulted in me running it over with may car (like the cordless phone, VCR, and blender). I digress.

Shortly after we got this particular vacuum we replaced most of our carpet with laminate floors, and bought a Mint, swiffer robot. We call her Rosie, like the "Jetson's." This little engineering marvel increased my involvement in floor cleaning by 100%. It's like a Ronco for floors, set it and forget it.

 When Teresa started looking at robot vacuums I was apprehensive because of the price. Ultimately, we bought one. BEST DECISION EVER. A step up from the Mint, this thing is on a schedule and is completely automatic (except when it gets stuck or needs it's dust bin emptied). It starts in the morning and vacuums our room, the bathroom, the cat's bathroom, the hall, entry way, and bar room, then it returns to it's charging station. It effectively picks up all the cat hair and sand daily. It makes a huge difference in the amount of vacuuming Teresa has to fit in on a monthly basis.

We call it Tony, like "Who's the Boss."

Here's the thing: I enjoy the act of emptying that thing's dust bin. I do it every other day. It takes less than a minute (still bagless and I do hate that but it doesn't seem as bad, and the filter cleaning is still a pain). Once a week I put it in the living room to pick up all the dog hair. I'm happy to do it because it is one less thing for Teresa to worry about and it doesn't result in me wanting to run something over with my car.

This morning we had a discussion about how often Teresa empties the dust bin on the robot. Maybe once a month. I came to the conclusion that the robot helps me be a better husband. It encourages me  to do more things around the house. Dishes, trash, cat boxes, and fixing things don't take a lot of time, and I'm able to fit those into my normal days without much trouble. Teresa "cleans" where I only "pick-up," does all the laundry and bed sheet stuff, shopping and scheduling. Everything balances out pretty well. The problems occur when we go into major training mode. We trash the house quicker because we are always short on time. Laundry increases exponentially because of workout clothes and towels. My contribution with the vacuuming helps alleviate the extra demands our "Athletic" lifestyle has put on the household.

The robot vacuum helps.

And I'm finally getting older and more mature and have figured out more of this "being an Adult" stuff. -- that probably helps too.

Advice to First Timers

Jennifer's First Half!!

While I am not first or fast out there I feel like I have been doing this long enough to give some advice to the first timers.  
**The reason I feel that maybe I should give some general advice is that I have been running in events since 2008.  I have run most distances and on most terrains.  Also it seems I am being asked for advice (still weird).**
Remember first you already did you the two hardest parts: 

1) YOU SIGNED UP! 
2) YOU SHOWED UP!!

I hope you did the 3rd important part and TRAINED too! 

Now advice for race day prep and race day advice: 

RACE DAY PREP

• Do packet pick up early.  For your first time you don't want to be standing at the packet pick up on the morning of your race.  It causes anxiety.   But remember if you can't get there to get your packet early you will be okay.
• Check the weather.  Never freak out.  Weather is what it is.  it makes us tougher every step of the way. 

  

  This was for a 5K. :)

• Lay out your race day gear.  Everything from underwear to shoes to nutrition to after clothes.  I set up my gear on the bed as if I am putting it on- visor, sunglasses, bra, shirt, run belt (with number attached), shorts (built-in undies), knee braces, socks, shoes.  Then I set out nutrition (for long runs).  Then I packet it in my bag, piece by piece, except for what I will wear.  I also lay out my clothes I am wearing to the race.   Then I grab out after race clothes.  This is helpful in the winter as you will sweat then when you stop you will get cold.
• Set your alarm clock. 
• Eat dinner a little early. 
• Go to bed early if the have to get up earlier than normal.   Now it may feel like Christmas Eve and you can't sleep.  Take deep breaths and with each breath fill your body with a color.  See it come over your toes, breath, then up your legs, breath, then into your torso, breath, the don your arms, breath, then up your neck breath, then over your head, breath, then bask in your colored warmth.  And sleep.  

RACE DAY ADVICE: 

SHOES!!!

•  Remember your shoes.  You can run without them but it might be rough.  They should be in your gear bag or with your morning clothes.
• Stick to your plan. STAY THE COURSE.  Your first race is not the first time you should try something new. If your new socks just came in the mail, today is not that day to wear them.  
• Trust in yourself.  This is a journey.  A life change.  This is the first step to other journeys.  Trust that you can do it.  Because all the rest of us on that start line with you know you can do it.   
• SMILE!!!!  We are all glad you are there, you should be too. 

  

  HAVE FUN!!!

• Don't under estimate your ability. 
• Don't think that because you didn't win that you didn't try.  A DFL (Dead F**king Last) is better than a DNS (Did Not Start). 
• Be willing to assess the situation.  If you had wanted to run the full distance but on mile 2 get a horrible leg pain, take time to assess.  This does not mean your race day is over it just means there is some change.  These changes on the course are to be expected. 
• Give yourself permission to try and try again.  If you need to walk or want to walk this is okay.  It does not mean your race is over, you don't get to throw in the towel.  Take your minute and go at it again. 

My last piece of RACE DAY advice is this: 

HAVE FUN

If you are not having fun then at some point you missed the point.  This is fun. Race day is fun. Get involved in the race.  Sing the National Anthem. Yell when they say GO! Say thank you to the police and volunteers.  Joke with the guys giving you directions.  Look around at the beauty of the course (something you don't see from a car). Feel refreshed by the water at water stops.  Count down the miles (I do mine in the voice of the Count from Sesame Street. A 5, ha ha ha.  A 6 ha ha ha.  It makes me laugh). And when that finish line appears, you push your final push, you throw your hands up in the air and you proclaim your finish!!!!  

I AM HERE!!!  VICTORY IS MINE!!!!    

Happy racing to all of those towing the line for the first time and to those who have towed it a thousand times.  You are each my hero.  And I am proud to call you comrades. 

Preparing for Something You Didn't Prepare For

Life throws things at us.  I would love to say this half marathon go thrown at me but let's face it I have known it was coming for months.  However, my motivation has not be hyped up for months.  So here we are on the eve of the eve of this half marahton and I am working to convenience my brain that I am ready and I can do this, at least live through this thing. 
I think I may be at the "fake it till you make it" stage. 
That's what I am going to do.  I am working to change my self talk from worries to proclamations.  
I WILL FINISH. 
I will run it. 
I will be strong. 
I will be powerful. 
I will press on. 
I will stay focused. 
I will be okay. 

That's it---- I WILL.  

It's All About That Swim!!!

If you have been reading along then you may have noticed that of the three tri sports I really enjoy the swim and amazingly Patrick has started to enjoy the swim.  Like most of my story of triathlon I sort of fell into swimming; well, I was thrown in to it, but we will get to that shortly.  I was not a high school swimmer nor a collegiate swimmer, nope I was a back yard swimmer.  

2014- Patrick's 10K swim

My parents will both tell you that I was born for the water.  I was not a cuddler as a kid (or now) but I love the feeling of water compressing against me, even at a young age.  I don't remember much about my early swimming years, strangely enough those early years I mostly remember things about snow, maybe because I would only have few experiences with the stuff.  What I do recall about my early swimming years was a lake and a dock and my dad.  My father taught me to swim, as a naval submariner my father also found comfort in the water.  Of course also as a Navy man my father believed in the sink of swim method.  He would throw my brother and I off the dock and we were encouraged to swim to shore.  This was the lesson in swimming (and survival).  Sure we breathed a little water but we learned to doggie paddle, to float, and to hold our breath. And yes my father kept a watchful eye on us, as did my mother.  I don't remember being scared; what I remember is making it to shore and running back out the dock to be thrown back in again and again and again.  This would be my first swimming lesson.  

Can't keep me out of the water.

As I got older we moved to Florida, near the Gulf and with a pool in the back yard.  I remember swimming in the frigid March water all the way up till nearly Christmas one year.  My brother and I would claim to not be cold, as our lips turned blue and our fingers numb.  My mother would give us no more option to stay in as our teeth chattered she would force us into warm towels and dry clothes.  However, the next day I was back out there ready to swim.  
Around this time I also started watching the Olympics.  This meant learning how to REALLY swim.  Again my father took to the water to teach me the Freestyle stroke, breast stroke, and butterfly.  My mother also taught me how to side stroke (my mother is actually fearful of the water due to a childhood event).  
Besides the pool there was the Gulf.  As a child the beach was a great adventure (not much has changed).  My father taught me to "jump" waves, dive under waves, and to read the waters for rip currents and wave counts.   I remember watching my father suit up with his navy fins, mask, and snorkel.  He would be gone for what seemed like hours; then there he would appear again and I would run out into the water (much further than my mother wished), swimming to him to see what treasures he had found and to hear what fish were out that day. There was never a fear for me.  Open water was simply a big pool that I shared with wildlife.  
As I went off to college the only place to swim was our college pool.  I spent many nights in the pool swimming laps.  I took a few courses in swimming but given my level of water comfort I often found myself swimming alone with little guidance.  I found the pool was a comfortable place where the rest of the world could not find me or reach me.  I was there just gliding in the water.  
After college it would be a few years before I would come back to the water for swimming purposes.  I still loved the Gulf, which I moved back near, but it was more about playing and floating. 

YOU SCUBA!!!

Patrick and I became scuba certified.  This was my comfort zone, minus the part where I had to flood my goggles then clear them. I love everything about scuba but what I love the most is the water.  I could watch bubbles float up all day long.  Under water the world is different it moves in fluid motions, not forced.  It is quiet there, just the sound of bubbles and fish eating and your own breath.  

2010 Aquathon- Finish

When we got into racing I decided I wanted to do the

2010 Aquathon- Entering the water.

Aquathon, 5K run and 5K swim.  I trained but not well and not in open water.  I had a horrible run.  I was the second to last person into the water.  I heard the safety guy on the walkie say, "I guess we will let her get in, we can pull her along the way if we have to."  The start of the swim was near a retaining wall.  Here I was safe, free from openness.  I passed the wall and got my first look at the bridge.  I nearly turned back, said NOPE NOPE NOPE.  I remember shaking in the water, pulling my head up to breath, gasping for the air.  I looked forward, the other side was so far away.  A support women in a kayak came up to me, the other gentleman was on my heels, she asked if I was ok.  I wasn't but I said I said I was good.  Then I found my comfort zone and I swam.  As I got further away from the guy behind me and started to actually pass others I became more confident.  My new found support buddy went back and forth between me and others, spending less and less time with me (I missed my buddy).  I made it halfway, I was not last.  I realized I loved being here, under the bridge, in the water, gliding. 

2013 25K Swim

This recharged my love for the water, for the swim. 
This part of triathlon is my push point, few of us push in the water.  But I enjoy that part, again the freedom, the pressured hug, the silence.  
While my swimming journey is not glamorous it has been a journey I took feet first.  If you ask me today to go for a run, I will wrinkle my nose but put on my shoes.  If you ask me to go for a swim, I will grab my prepacked swim bag and a suit and I will head to any body of water you pick.     

2014- A Year In Review (What were we thinking?)

February- Sweetheart Run!

When the planning for 2014 was under way in late 2013 I don't think Patrick or I thought it would turn out the way it did.  Of course the year started rough for me; walking around in a boot was not my idea of a good start to the year. I missed the first run of the year, but got a great experience via volunteering to stand out in a horrible storm at the half marathon turn around point.  Then near mid year Patrick faced a rough spot with foot pain and a crash during an event, giving him a cracked rib.  His healing was slow and his motivation shaken by these events.  The year pressed on and with our first Ironman experience in the books, the reflection of the year shows a positive journey.

PBR- 1/2 Marathon- January

Take a look back with us: 

Calloway Gardens- August

    45 Events

                                                       11 of these were Triathlon events. 

MPI Sunset tri- August

2 Super Sprints Distances.
3 Sprint Distances. 
2 Olympic Distances.
3 Half Iron Distances.
1 Ironman Distance
For the first time we also completed a stair climbing event for charity- holy cow that was a tough day. 
This year we participated in a number of new (to us) races.  We also traveled farther this year to race than in previous years. 

269 Running Miles

This year we also made changes to our gear.  
Patrick swapped form cotton shorts to actual running shorts.  

Red Hills- April

March- McGuire's Run

I swapped types of running shorts to a double layer system.  
Patrick also started running topless more, I know scandalous!  
I made the change to Brooks as my running shoe of choice.  
Patrick decided on New Balance shoes, trail runners even for non trail running. 

Freedom Run- July

Double Bridge- February

We were joined by family at many races this year, on and off the course. 

427 Biking Miles

We learned more about our bikes and biking skills this year. 

Chattahoochee Challenge- May

SRI TRI- October

Push and Pull and Push and Pull.  
I swapped out biking seats this year for my tri bike.  I love my new seat. 
Patrick got a new seat too and it has been a love/hate process of getting to know each other. 
We biked our first 100 miles "fun" bike ride, meaning not for an event.  
We learned how great Smuckers Uncrustables are on long bike rides.  
Also Peanut M&M's are amazing motivators for mile treats.  
We learned that hills in Florida are different than hills in Alabama, Georgia, or Tennessee.  
 

Bridge Swims- May

Marineland- June

13 Swimming Miles

In 2014 we swam in the Atlantic Ocean as a part of an Olympic Tri, it was rough and murky that day not the most pleasant swim.
I completed my second year of the 25K swim (not added in total), this year being the first female and second over all finisher.  The next day I raced the 5K swim. 
Patrick finished the 10K swim, even avoiding getting run over by a barge.  He got to swim with dolphins this day too.

Gobble Grind- November

Make It To The Line- December

Through it all one thing remained.  

   We did it together. 

I would never be able to even imagine this journey without my love being there step by step.  He was my healer, my running partner, my encourager, my support, my laughter, my grace; he is what made this possible.  Thank you my love for being there through this year and many more.

A Year in the BEARD!!!

Many of you may have noticed that Patrick sports a full beard.  In the sport of triathlon it is rare to see beards; in fact, it is my number one way of find Patrick in crowds of other athletes or in the mass of photos. This year Patrick's beard was a training beard for IMCHOO.  It has lived on now as his Linus blanket for the purpose of racing, a comfort and reminder of his determination to complete this challenge. 
To fully appreciate and respect the beard you have to see the growth and development over the past year.

January 2014

January started with a little fuzz already growing, but it was cold out.  At this point IMCHOO was on the books to be fought in nine months.  Patrick had proclaimed that he would officially grow a training beard.

February 2014

By February racing the beard was starting to fill out.  I think this photo was taken after a trimming had occurred.  By this point the beard acts as a protection from the cold, but can also cause some dry skin and therefore has to be conditioned regularly.  especially if we are in the pool frequently.

March 2014

March meant more bike training and figuring out how to get the beard as aero as possible.  Even 60 miles into a 100 mile ride the beard was looking good.

April 2014

April was about half way till IMCHOO.  There were times that the beard had to be tamed.  Once the mustache portion of the beard grows too long it causing problems in the swim and if the cheek portions are not kept under control it causes Patrick's goggles to be ill-fitting.

May 2014

July 2014

In May the beard begins to bleach some from the sun.  It turns a little blonde this time of year.  As you can see the lighting of the color does not change the thickness of the beard.  While in winter the beard needs a little extra conditioning the spring changes nothing.  Since the weather is getting hot it is necessary for good beard washing and upkeep.  

June 2014

As summer approaches the beard can sometimes cause an increase in body heating; so it is important to train in to a summer beard and to stay hydrated.
As you can see in July the beard begins to come into its own.  It is full and requires combing and proper post eating food checks in order for it to stay maintained.

August 2014

September 2014

The August beard can appear light and fluffy.  But this still takes work.  Patrick was debating int he summer about shaving his beard but it had come so far he just could not let it go at this point.
 The September beard needed a little trim before IMCHOO; it was holding a bit too much water.

The IMCHOO Beard 2014

In September the IMCHO beard was final.  It was fluffy, it was soft, it was full!!!!  while IMCHOO did not go as Patrick had planned his beard did help him to stand out in the crowd of people making him easy for our friends and family to spot. The beard would continue on beyond IMCHOO since again it was a comfort at this point.

October 2014

The October beard is also known as the Lebowski.  This year it double as a Thor beard too.  The October beard closes out tri season and is a representation of a lot of hard work.

November 2014

Oh yes the November beard.  This year the November beard was very much needed as we had a cold weather 13.1 in Kansas City.  The beard helped to filter the cold air and keep Patrick's face a steady warm temperature.

December 2014

To close out the 2014 year there is the December beard. The December beard is a let it all loose kind of beard.  Since water training was not high this December it was easy to let the beard just grow free.
Since this photo Patrick has trimmed up the beard as he prepares for the 2015 year of running.  This year is sure to be epic and I expect that the phases of the beard will not disappoint.   
        

It all started with an OLLIE

That's Ollie in the upper left corner.

Many of us look back and can pinpoint in our lives when things changed and made us who we are today.  Looking back I now know that my triathlon training really started way earlier than 2010.  It all started with OLLIE.  Ollie was a ride on toy I had as a child.  According to my parents I loved my Ollie and would push myself around for hours of play outside.  As I grew Ollie was replaced with a red trike.  This was my first racing bike.  My brother and I would race each other down our steep and slightly curved front walk.  I still remember the idea of "pedal pedal pedal...... HOLD ON!!!"  I think this is where I learned to crash and get back up, back then it was fun and a badge of honor to have a "boo-boo".  After the trike I went on to a bike with training wheels, I think it was pink (my mother was still trying to make a girl out of me). I do remember it had tassels on the handlebars, this meant I was going fast because tassels only blew in the wind at top speeds.  It also had a basket on the front; teaching me the importance refueling on the bike- I could put a drink, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a stuffed toy all in one basket.  Tools to change a flat were not of importance- that's what dad's were for.  After the tasseled bike came what would be my favorite childhood bike- my purple huffy.  This bike was fast, it could go off road, I could hop dirt hills and sidewalk gutters.  The Huffy was not a "baby" bike. In fact when you put playing cards in the spokes or an aluminum can at the top brake it was an Evil Kneival machine, crossed with a ticket to freedom.  I loved this bike but as I grew it did not, meaning a new bike was in my future. 

Mountain Trek, Years after HS.

For high school graduation my parents bought me a Trek Mountain bike.  This would be my college bike.  I didn't notice on the streets of Charlotte it was slow and tough to push, what I knew was it got me to the grocery store, the homes where I was a nanny, and through the town.  I also realized when taken to the nearby mountains it got me up the hills and back down alive. It also got me across much of the state in a 150 mile bike ride (oh the days before I knew about the need for a road bike).  I still ride my Trek and love spending time with her on trails.  To ride this bike reminds me it does not have to be the newest bike with the most gadgets to be a great bike, great bikes are made in our hearts and in our free spirit those bikes bring to life.
It would be some time before my next bike purchase.  It was not until Patrick and I decided to try out triathlon that I bought my next bike.  It was another Trek, I figured I loved the one I already had, it was a hybrid bike.  I enjoyed this bike, even though it was not a great match for my sizing but it was for my check book at the time of purchase.  As with many triathletes, we started off with a "let's-try-it-and-see-if-we-are-going-to-stick-with-it" bikes.  My bike was nothing special compared to the other ones around, but it was mine and I was learning.  This bike served its purpose in introducing me to the sport and in making me realize how much I enjoyed biking.  Well, most of biking, hills were still not on my top ten list.

The Orange one is Allie.

That's Luci.

I upgraded to my Specialized tri bike, it was a great find, it fit well and, bonus, was a great price.  It was this bike, Luci, that made me LOVE the sport of triathlon.  I enjoyed being out on the bike, down in the areo position, the wind really blowing in my hair (through my helmet).  I would soon also sell my hybrid Trek and purchase a new road bike, another Specialized, Allie. 
Allie and Luci are the bikes I still ride and love today. But I look back on my list of bikes and it all started there in the lawn with Ollie.
Life happens and we grow.  We grow out of our old bikes and into new ones, but it is in those first pushes and pedals that we learn the joy of the sport. Those moments, moments of joy, we should hold on to through long bike rides, bad weather, and right up to the dismount line.