I cannot believe that it has been nearly a months since my last blog.  I have honestly sat down so many times to write my blog but something always pops up.

A lot has happened in the last month.  I did Around the Bay at the end of March under sunny warm skies which was a first for this race I think.  I have done the race in snow, rain and freezing cold.  I was using the race as a training run for Ironman Texas and still managed to get a personal best time.

Training is in its final stages – Ironman Texas is only 5 weeks away.  Last weekend my bike was 6 ¼ hours and my run 32 kms.  This weekend, I will be on my bike for 6 ½ hours with a 34 kms run.  The body is holding up really well - it has become a mental game at this stage. Even though I watch movies while I spin and I chat to people, 6 hours on a trainer is a long time and it takes its toll. When you are outside riding your bike, the bike moves with you – indoors on a trainer, it does not and certain parts get awfully sore and chafed no matter how much butt butter you apply.  I find the last hour to be mind over matter.  I usually call home for a little support from Glen to get through that last stretch.

My long runs are my sanity break.  I am not someone who likes to run on a treadmill and I have been so fortunate training for Texas with the mild winter.  I can only recall one really cold Tuesday night run with the girls which necessitated the need for balaclavas.  

So running is going well, biking is going well – unfortunately, there is that third sport in triathlons - the dreaded swim.   I am not a swimmer – I usually look like I am drowning when I swim.  Coach Paul and I met last week to review my swim.  I was adamant that my left arm was straight down and that I was kicking with my legs together.  I had to eat my words when Paul taped me and showed me the video.  It was not pretty.  Paul says my problem is that I am strong and I know I can swim the 4 kms so I am not worried about how ugly it looks.  But I am also unnecessarily tiring myself out so I have been focusing on my technique in the swim and the fact that I don’t have any. 

Today’s picture is my Ironman Lake Placid tattoo designed for me by good friend Susan Typert.  The koi represent a number of things including good fortune or luck; Symbolic in the Buddhism to represent courage. Humans "swim" through the "ocean of suffering" without fear, just like a fish swims through water; and the Koi is symbolic with family.   My tattoo represents my struggle in the water.  Susan designed the adult koi in the ying yang position to represent me and my husband Glen who is my support system and the little koi are my twins Tavis and Ethan.

Next blog I will fulfill my promise to list what I have gained from doing triathlons.

Tomorrow Tavis and I will be appearing live on Rogers “Daytime” at 11:00 a.m. to talk about Ironman Texas and my fundraising for Grandview Children’s Centre so if you are around, tune it.  I am not so much worried about what Tavis will do because he is unpredictable and you just have to roll with the punches.  I am more worried about myself because I don’t seem to have a filter from brain to mouth. 

Wish me luck.