HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

So yesterday was my birthday. 34. UGH! But Mike and I went into downtown Portland for the night. My parents came out and watched the kids for us. We headed out around 3:30. Stopped at Costco for some protein bars and then to a bike shop. We checked out a few bikes and I rode a couple around. Then headed downtown. We got to our hotel at 5:45. Checked in and dropped our stuff in our room. Roses and chocolates. NICE! Took a walk to find a place to eat and ended up at Greek Cuisina. YUM! It was wonderful and fun and relaxing. Headed back to the hotel. On our drive in we noticed that the Bike Gallery was only 2 blocks from our hotel, so we headed there in the morning. We found an awesome bike and Mike bought it for me. Yay me. I'm gonna do this tri/du thing. Really I am! So we came home and I went on a couple bike rides. It was so fun! Now I'm ready to get rolling. I then signed myself up for a duathlon on August 2nd. I figured I had to! I kept telling myself that I would sign up as soon as I got my bike...

Oh, I also signed Mike up for a local sprint triathlon in May. He's on the wait list, but I think he's pretty excited about it. And if that one doesn't work, there is another one around the same date. This could be really fun! So tomorrow I'm heading to Costco to get a bike trailer for the babies and then to Target to get helmets for most of the kids. It's amazing how, when one needs a new one, everyone needs a new one!!!

A dream come true!

Ann-Elise finally go her wish tonight. She has been BEGGING for glasses ever since her brother got them. Her 2 best friends wear glasses and I think she felt out of the group. Well, we went into Canby and picked hers up tonight.

And in other news: I went into a bike shop today to get some questions answered about a new bike. It wasn't the best experience for me. Here is my "letter" to the guy who "helped" me:

Dear sales guy at the bike shop,

I'm sure that you didn't think anything of it, but when I told you that I was looking for a bike for a duathlon that I had been challenged too, I didn't really appreciate the chuckle. Nor did I appreciate having to "defend" myself as you were looking at me with the amused look on your face.

Oh, and just because you told me to come back "without my distractions" (3 of my kids), you can bite my over sized tushy!! And no, I won't be back!

And when I do buy my $600.00 bike. I'll send a copy of the receipt to your shop so you can see what you missed out on. Although you looked so busy, I'm sure you won't miss the sale. (Yeah right. NO ONE was there!)

Sincerely,

A kick butt soon-to-be duathlete

I DID IT!

Last month I started running. Ok, well not really running. Just walking slowly while lifting both legs off the ground... hmm that's not really right either. We'll just say running for the sake of having a horribly bad visual! Anyway, I started running about 4 weeks ago. I ran for about 1 mile the first day I went out. Then I gradually increased. My running friends told me about a local run that was coming up. "It's only a 5k" they said. "You can do that" they said. Ok, fine. I check out the web site. Are you flippin kidding me? It's no 5k. It's a 10k!!! Just when I thought that I could run 3.1 miles, it's really 6.2????? Ok. I can do this right? I run (or whatever) 6 days a week for 2 weeks. I'm ready! Race day comes (last Saturday) and we have our sitter set. Mike's going to run with me. Well, he's going to run the race and then come back for me! We get there. There are 325 people. Oh, please don't let me be last!!! Mike came in 68th out of 220 finishers. I came in 200th out of 220. Yeah. Thank goodness that those last 20 walkers came in! Saved me from being last. Anyway. It was a huge accomplishment for me. I ran (or whatever) the race in 1:31:22. That's a number that is ingraved into my memory now! So, now it's off to the next thing. I have decided that I really enjoy running so I'm going to keep that up. But now I've been challenged to compete in an all women's duathalon this summer. 5k run, 12 mile bike, 5k run. So, I'm off to find a bike so I can train for that! Go me!!!