Ironman World Championship

Our friend, Heidi, is racing in Kona today, you can follow her here

https://track.rtrt.me/e/IRM-WORLDCHAMPIONSHIP-2017#/tracker/RKBGDTZP

Today I made another big life change. Transferred my entry into the Marine Corp Marathon (October 30 in Arlington, VA) and am making plans to do another Ironman race in 2017.

Hoping I can get in to the one I want.

 

Which is

IRONMAN ARIZONA 2017

 

Suzie has an early entry into it so I asked her if she doesn't use, may I please have it and she said maybe. She wants to do Chatty again. But I'm sure she will give her early entry to someone else that she likes better than me.

 

Lori sent me a text the other day, saying shes got the bug and would I like to do it again with her. I asked Lan, he said I can't whine to him about training. I promised I'd only whine half as much as last time.

 

 MCM was and still is on my bucket list and I'll enter the lottery again when I don't have something else going on at that time of year. This year its Hawaii for the Ironman Championships.

I also want Lan to have a chance to do another Ironman, I can't hog them all.

And I cried over this decision.

Run. Swim.

Today I run and swim.
Tomorrow I run and Bike.
Saturday only about 5 hours of running, biking and swimming.
Sunday Running and biking. Monday biking and running.
Or I can swim Saturday and nothing else but we're getting so close. Only 4.5 weeks away now.

On the home front:
Lan and I went to Olympia and met our new family member, a Brazilian Mastiff puppy, a little girl. I think we're going to call her Jenny.

Big Race Coming Up

I've got my first Half Iron Distance race this weekend, the Black Diamond Triathlon.

 

 

I've done a sprint out there, and the Olympic, this is my first HIM. Ever.

 

I've done a few practice halfs so to actually race it will be different. I'm not excited about the swim at all.

Swim- 1.2 miles

 

I AM excited for the bike ride, 56 miles in the countryside. I was out there the other day and tried to ride the course but the road signs don't work very well. I was going to right way but couldn't tell so I turned around and went the other way so I went about 2/3s of one loop. I was surprised because in the past even those hills were very trying to me but the other day I felt great and I got up them easily. They didn't feel like never ending misery mountains.

 

The run is 13.1 miles, mostly flat. I've been out there cheering for other people doing the HIM and it seems like they were always in the heat. I know two years ago it was about 90 out there. The current forecast is calling for 72* in the afternoon so a bit chilly in the morning.

 

The sucky thing about the race is that they will start the spring swimmers first, then the men HIM's & finally the women HIM's. I'm such a slow swimmer that I'll be the last out of the lake and last onto my bike. Its going to suck really bad.

 

Here is some good news:

Lan & I sold the old farm, it no longer is a cause for stress in our lives. We did get into an argument this morning about which bills to pay off because we didn't get all we had wanted and he insisted we pay his parents back. Meanwhile, I was insisting we pay off my VISA that we've been making house payments with. Fucker was up to $13,300 and I've never owed that much on credit cards before. It was freaking me out, especially since the payments were $354. But we didn't pay off my BECU and ALL of that was for fencing and crap over there so I'll still be paying $3300 to them, probably for the next 5 years. Ugh.

 

He insisted that we pay off his VISA and leave me with mine but no fucking way. I am the one who paid the $20,000 down payment for the old farm, I am the one who paid the Voses $15,000 cash plus $7,000 for their back taxes. That came out of the sale of my Tacoma house so he might think the old farm was HIS but we wouldn't have had it at all if I hadn't paid that shit. I also paid off the timeshare that he enjoys every year.

 

So we will get a cashiers check to pay off his parents for the $16,000 they loaned us for the new farm down payment, plus his dad made one farm payment for us $1,300 but after paying off the car and my VISA we are about $1,000 short in what we owe them. So they will have to wait for that last thousand.

 

And his dad will just go squander it anyway and that pisses me off. I mean, they can do whatever with it that they want but it came out of his moms 401k and should go back in to it but his dad will go to all the auctions and buy all the crap he can cram into his car or truck or fuck, why not buy another fucking RV or trailer?

 

They took this thing out ONE WEEKEND and until 2 months ago it was sitting over at the old farm. Now its sitting over at their own farm and its going to be destroyed. He paid $12,000 for it and right now it might be worth $8,000, if he was lucky. On the one weekend they did take it out after they got home they didn't clean it out. just left the blankets half on the bed, the sheets were half off and blankets half on the floor. There were dirty cups in each room and bottles half full of pop all over. They left garbage in it, food in the fridge. WTF?

 

 

 

Still Moving

We are STILL MOVING. Its been 8 years since our last move and that was with 1 horses that was boarded out & only stuff for one horse, a 1 car garage and a 916sf house. Now our house is bigger, I have a big barn and Lan has a big garage and he hasn't even touched the garage yet. Every day I take a load over and every day I feel a bit more over whelmed.

Today I borrowed corral panels

 from my friend and made two temporary stalls for Sunshower and Wifi inside the arena. I'll put Joey in the big stall and call it good for a while. He will have access to a huge paddock & his stall is 12x24. The girls will be turned out into the front pasture.

 One stall is 12x12 and the other is about 12x20, Wifi will have the bigger one.

I wanted to put the stalls into this corner but Lan left the mower there and I couldn't even begin to budge it but I can very easily move the stalls over there once its out of the way. I already had to move the wire fencing that Lan left sitting in the other corner and that wasn't fun. Heavy shit.

I ordered some stuff online for the barn: 6 bucket holders, 40 T post caps, and something else that I cant remember... had to go to the local store to purchase 3 corner feeders because they were more online.

I signed Wifi and me up for a 12 week challenge, 40 hours/30 rides. I haven't ridden her yet but hope to do just that once I get her moved to the other farm. This is still the first week and I spent an hour washing her tial & brushing it out, nothing else. I'll take 15 minutes for the walking we did today because she's been such a brat at turn out time.

I hope Joey doesn't freak out because he can't see the girls when I take him over there. I suppose I could turn him out with them since its a big pasture but only if I'm going to be there with them and can keep an eye on them. I'd hate for him to chase one of the girls into the fence or the road.

Hagen isn't doing very well now. She's missing Tank, her belly/tumor is getting bigger and she's getting more tired. I have her on 4 pain pills in the mornings and 3 at night with half a prednisone each evening. She stresses out when we take her to the new farm but she is getting used to being there and the other day Lan was working on the tractor out back and she was standing on the front porch waiting. I'm glad she didn't wander off, into the street. One thing I will miss about this farm is the entire perimiter fenced.

I bought a new to me  Canon camera tonight, I hope it works well. paid $115 for it. We'll see. Now maybe I'll get 2 nice shots out of every 100.

Imagine this

Can you imagine this?

Chattanooga



This morning while at work, my friends Suzie & George showed up. They were on their way to Chattanooga for Ironman Chattanooga next weekend. Suzie is racing, George is the Sherpa.

I made Banana Bread for Suzie because when she raced in Canada I had made some then and she absolutely loved it and ate some on her run. I hope this stuff is as good as that other bread was.

So I've been thinking about Ironman a lot lately, sometimes I'm like 'I don't need to be doing that stuff' and other times Im all excited and cant wait until I get myself into another one. I do have IMAZ2015 in my sights and am planning on going down to Arizona this November.

Oh, GREAT NEWS: I forked over $1323. somethingoddcents for a COMPUTRAINER. So excited, can't wait for it to get here. Used, on eBay but Windy bought one for $1800 new and got the same thing. So once it gets here I will start riding and she and I can ride together in the comfort of our own homes.

In horse news:
Just my horses in the barn now, no more favors for friends. Sarahs horse stomped on my foot, it hurt like hell, I told her to take that horse out but Renata could stay but she freaked out & took them both out.  Fine by me, my horses will be fine just themselves.

Foal Video

I absolutely LOVE this video.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10203123247014504

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10203123247014504

 

So much going on

Last Saturday Wifi had her second dressage show, at Peteton Farm in Olympia. Once we picked up Audi from Delicias farm, Wifi was a happy camper and she then proceeded to act like a seasoned pro.

In the warm up arena she was nice and calm, doing everything she was asked to do.

At one point another horse bolted and threw its rider. Wifi stood perfectly still and respected & trusted Delicia, even when another hors reared up right beside her. She did tuck her tail but still stood still.

 

 

 Wifi's first class was Intro A and she was the first horse of the day to use the outside full court dressage arena.

Here is her start.

 

First tracks

 

Excellent trainer in action, coaching Caryn on Audi.

 

We were all surprised to see these results and

WOW,

check out her score!

70.938

 

I'm so impressed with my mare.

 

She wasn't too happy to wear this ribbon though.

 

At 10:17 she entered the ring for her Intro B class.

Halfway through I saw it happen, she said 'I'm done' and faltered, right in front of the judges

(of course), in the middle of the arena going across. But Delicia told her she will finish so Wifi did.

 

 

 

And they WON that class too.

68.125

 

She also won 2 bags of carrots and two $10 gift certificates to a tack store.

She's earning her keep!

Here she is just chillin', waiting for the results. 

 

In other news:

Triathlon

The Kitsap Tribabes had their first BRick on Saturday, which I obviously missed, so I completed a 6/1 brick on my own today. I needed air inmy tires and couldn't find a pump so had to ride down to Lans work because I knew there was one in the car there so not only did I ride 6 miles but I had to come back up Mullenix too. Good job me.

 

I have a date at 7am tomorrow with Windy to swim at Wildcat Lake then ride bikes either  on the trainers or on the road for an hour. It feels g so good to be getting out.

 

I have another date Friday with Amanda to ride mountain bikes at Banner Forest.

Good times.

Wifi's 1st Dressage Show

We loaded up Wifi and hauled her to her first Dressage show on Saturday.

 



 It was at Donida Farm Equestrian Center in Auburn/Enumclaw, WA.

This barn kitty was there to great us and hang out. This photo was taken at about 5pm Saturday, there were only a few people in the barn at this time, in a half hour it was full of horses, people and tack.

 

This is the front of one of the indoor arenas, is got a cement patio and inside there is a wooden deck, for viewing.

 

Well, this horse, Samuri, had an accident. He came off his trailer & reared up, his handler LET GO OF HIS ROPE, thinking he would just stand there LIKE HE HAS IN THE PAST. He took off, wiped out on the patio above, got up & took off around the back of the outside arenas, wiped out again back there, ran around some sheds, came toward me, I raised my arms to stop him but I knew he wasn't stopping yet. He ran through the barn aisle that was full of people, horses and tack trunks, finally someone stopped him.

 

His injuries were extensive. This cut was maybe down to the bone.

 

Anni got it doctored with salve, put on gauze, cotton, a standing wrap and polo wrap. They doctored his many other cuts and abrasions and put him on a trailer for Pilchuck. On Sunday they found out he might have a fractured coffin bone.

Sarah said she knows him, he is a complete ass to work with, he has NO good ground manners. But sometimes those are the best horses.

 

This first arena on the left is the one Wifi had her warm up ride in.

 

This is right after Delicia and Wifi finished their Introduction A class.

 

 

 

Reina riding Tessa in her Intro B class, she got 2nd place.

 

Wifi & Delicia warming up for Intro B

 

Delicia was very happy with how well Wifi handled herself. She didn't spook at anything, she was calm in the warm up ring with all the other horses running and going around her. She had energy and acted like a little lady.

 

WOW.

I absolutely LOVE this photo, it shows her off so well.

Her head is set and she's on a lose rein. she's paying attention to Delicia.

And she's showing off her new bridle. I might have to get one of these for Joey, its got the cut out area behind the ears for comfort and has a padded noseband & chin strap.

 

Intro A = 52.5%, 2nd place out of 4

Intro B = 55%, 1st place out of 2

 

I'm totally happy with how well Wifi did and can't wait to find another show to take her to. maybe in another month.

Club Meetings

Yesterday Lan & I went to the triathlon club general meeting for the first time in a while, it was about 40 miles from home. I was dressed in my skinny jeans, looking dang good.
The owner of the bike shop where we had the meeting gave a good talk about why you need a bike fit (at his store for $250-$300 each) and then he told us about his heart attack last December.
Wow, a guy who is so fit and healthy too. He is better now but scary.

The bike shop provided cut up veggies for us, yay!!  I was super glad that they didn't have chips & crap.

Tonight I had a SeaSpots Appaloosa Club meeting over at The Riding Place. Just Sue & 1 other lady attended. I paid dues for Lan & I for the year and my Penny-A-Mile fees except I didn't tell Sue how many miles I've gone yet. Added them up, so far I've ridden 39.25 miles without counting miles, rides or time on Wifi or during lessons. Anna, who is 8 or 10, has ridden over 300 miles so far this year, shes super cute and way more serious about riding than I could ever be. I hope I take second, behind her.

Somehow Meghan will still find a way to get more miles in the saddle than I have, no matter what.

Diet:
Today was our forty first day, first day without the hCG injections. I have lost 18.2 pounds and gone down 2 pants sizes and look & feel pretty good. No more muffin top, or at least if I suck it in while in public and not slouching.

Its time to start getting some exercise, stretching and working out. Today, tomorrow & Friday we will still be on the 500 calorie diet, after that we will increase; me up to 1,100 - 1,200 calories per day. Lan will need more as he works out harder.

I sent in my registration papers & $75 fee for TriBabes so I can join in without feeling like a mouch.

Wifi has been moved over to the Triple T Ranch, the place Lan and I made an offer on last winter. Poor girl, shes standing in water. She would be in mud but she HATES mud so wont even walk in the wet dirt. Thank goodness I can go over & lunge her all I want. Maybe I could actually ride her tomorrow too. I'll take my saddle over.

I want to bring her home, do NOT like her being wet. Its bullshit. But Delicia thinks I need to give her more of a chance to be away from home.

Switching Horses

Should I ride Joey for endurance this year?

He is 18 come April and hasn't been ridden a whole lot for years but he absolutely loves to go out on trails. I rode him the other day and he had a good time. I rode Wifi in a lesson and we were all over the place. I'm wondering if I should ride him this year while she continues her education and then next year I'll be a better rider and will be better for her. Joey is so forgiving of my crappy riding but taking lessons on him while Wifi is ridden by Delicia is helping me, a lot.

I found a used horse size biothane breast plate the other day, picked it up for $10. Its $115 new.

 

It needs to be washed & I can just throw it into the dishwasher for that. The cool thing is that I *think* I have some reins that match but might have sold them at a BIG ASS BARN SALE last summer. I'll have to dig around in the tack room to see. I'm going to be on the look out for more biothane items, like a halter bridle combo. I'm also hoping that I'll lose some weight before we attempt a lot of miles so he can carry me the whole way.

 

Wifi got her new girth & bit, too bad Joey is so much bigger than her that I'll need a different girth in order for him to use the Bates saddle. Delicia will be helping me size the saddle to him so I can get used to riding in it.

 

I also picked up 2 pair of Kerrits breeches, full seat. One is polar fleece, should be nice and warm, the other is regular.

 

 

 

Sarah and I are planning on riding a lot but so far she's ahead of me in miles. One things for sure, I'll be KICKING ASS on the Sea Spots Penny-A-Mile this year. No way is Meghan going to cheat and win, cheater.

 

 

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Triathlon news:

Tomorrow morning I have a 3.1 mile run I'm hosting along Beach Drive.  @ months ago I paid $25 for this virtual run. They say you can run or walk any distance, any time you want before the end of February so since several people I know signed up I decided to organize a run. Maybe 5 people will come, or maybe only Lan & I. But no matter what, I'm not wearing my medal until I EARN it.

I'll print out official Bibs too and after the run we will enjoy a hot Chai tea and wear our medals.

 

 

It will be fun, especially if Windy & Terry go too and a couple other gals said they would like to run too. 

Wifi has a saddle

Wifi is the new owner of this beautiful Bates Isabell Werth saddle.

Its got the CAIR panels & adjustable gullet kit.

Price was $1,195.00.

After tax it ended up being $1,308.52.

It was set at Medium-wide and it works for Wifi.

Its got a nice wide gullet to disperse heat.

Here is my fat ass sitting in it.

And here is the saddle sitting in my car to come home.

I bought this Wintec girth, size 26".

And this Wilson Bradoon 5" bit.

Delicia found a used fleece half pad for $40.00.

Here is Wifi wearing her new saddle. All the other stuff is still borrowed, haven't received any of the new stuff yet. But we will this week. I also need a new dressage pad.

I also need full seat breeches, riding boots, gloves and a good helmet cover for in the rain. I will ride a lot in the rain. Can't wait to finally, FINALLY,  get out on the trails.