Well I'm back!

And quite honestly I still feel like I'm in a whirlwind. The fact that I didn't get back until Monday threw my entire schedule off. I had planned to sleep Sunday night and tackle my work Monday and tuesday including driving to class 1.5 hours away for Microbiology. Instead, I'm exhausted and didn't start my work until Tuesday - which means I'm a day behind on my work . My goal is to have all the actual work done so that I can begin studying Friday. I haven't decided whether to actually go to work Friday or what. If I go, I may just study and that's it.

Thus. Continental is utterly and completly on my shit list. I ended up getting put up in the Holiday Inn in Newark, NJ for the night and taking the 630am flight out and getting back to atlanta at 905am. Missed nursing class AGAIN. While I did get a repreive, it was more of like if you miss another class you will get kicked out. I mean they understood I couldn't fly the plane but still. That just means that I have lots more work to do.

I told someone I had 4 chapters to do, nope. wrong. I have this to do before monday

• 4 chapters in the study guide
• get work done on my group paper
• study for my first nursing exam on monday
• take a med term quiz thursday
• 9 learning objectives (they are 3 part questions)

Yea, I'm a little overwhelmed, but if I can make a dent on my learning objectives (get at least 4 or 5 done tonight), look at my med terms, and get one more chapter in the study guide completed today I will be happy. At work tomorrow I will get another chapter done, a few learning objectives - then at home I can study for the med term quiz and get MORE chapters in the study guide done. Yes. I'm being methodical. I have to compartmentalize or I won't make it.

As far as training. Well, I'm still thinking about what to do about that although I have some serious ideas. I still need to get in contact with my coach as well.

But on top of it all, I'm think my body is trying to get sick. um. no way. I don't have time for that crap. Only one nostril is functioning, I'm coughing, I'm sneezing and I'm am exhausted. It may sound as though lots of complaints, but it's not. I just need to get it all out in some form or fashion so that I can get it all done. I'm confident that I'll be exhausted for the next week or so, but I will get it done and not be overwhelmed.

oh and greece pics are coming! I did manage to dig out my docking station so there's progress. you may actually have them before friday.

the ending sucked

I'm back in the states but completly miserable. I'm stuck in new york overnight because my continental flight from greece was delayed 3.5 hours.

My loyalty to continental airlines is broken. Not because they delayed the flight, but because this delayed flight could possibly jeporadize my nursing school enrollment.

I've cried 4 of the 10 travel hours.

The story shall come tomorrow as I have a 630am flight to catch tomorrow.

Ahhh...Athens....

It's so good to be back in Athens. Purely because I'm almost home. I miss home. I miss my bed. I miss my man. I miss my dog. I miss my house. I miss my routine.

One more day to go!

Today was the trip to the Acropolis. I bailed. I just had no desire to climb a mountain *literally* in 104 degree weather. (at 9 am it's 95) (the meltami winds do not reach athens) Seriously. I'm tired of being hot and sticky and hot. We climbed probably about 2/3 rds yesterday and that was just as close as I was going to get man. Don't worry though. I have some awesome pictures of it. As our hotel has a terrace roof top and guess what's in the background :)

think hill training.

I rode a donkey!!!

The donkey experience. One of the activities on the island of Santorini was the ability to ride a donkey from midway of the caldera to the top. I was honestly a little nervous about it. I didn't want to be on a donkey let alone an unsafe pathway on the side of a cliff - literally.



But, I was pleasantly surprised. The donkey ride was fun and exciting all at the same time. I mean who can say that they rode a donkey?! Let alone to the top of a caldera in Santorini, Greece. The anxiety came with just getting to the donkey ride. We were at the top of the caldera and had to ride a sky tram literally off the cliff down to the water where the ride starts.



um, anxiety. YES YES YES. One of the group memebers kept saying, "latrina you have to look at this." um no. All i could look at was my legs and my sands. no looking outside the windows, no picture taking, none of that crap. Finally, my sands had to say look, stop asking her.



I had a little white donkey. He was so cute. Stinky, but cute. So I mount him and off we go up the steps. He stopped after 5 steps and I thought, "oh no". but meh, he kept on going. The ride on the donkey zig zagged back up to the top of the caldera. So you would trot along right on up the steps and then it would turn back and go the other way continuing in an upward path. But once they would start to turn around and go back the other way, there would be the edge of the cliff accented by a white wall. If you looked over the wall, you would see a cliff where you could fall off into the oblivion. As one new friend put it, "if the donkey bucked it would be all over." I mean it was flipping scary. These donkeys would get to the edge, stop, and some would lean their head over. After a while we assumed they were stopping so that you could take a picture. After that they would continue stopping. But my god, my donkey kept to the inside of all of the other donkey's that were on the outside closest to the wall. I just kept yelling, "good donkey!! good boy!!". Hell, I figured that if I talked to the donkey like I talked to my dog then it would be all good. Then some fool tried to kick my donkey. IDIOT. I screamed at him, don't kick my donkey!!!!

Tourist. pfft.

Oh and then the donkey nearly ran into someone elses donkey's butt and all I could do was scream, "ahhhh he's shitting he's shitting." I saw this one american tourist cracking up - clearly he didn't understand the issue at hand. Now imagine me riding with one leg up to avoid the donkey. Yes, this me. There is no way I was getting donkey doodie on my leg.

But we made it up safely to about 3/4 the way up the caldera before you had to de-board and walk the rest of the way up. It was hilarious because my donkey just literally parked and waited for me to get off. Dude. The donkey's were fun.

*disclaimer* We as a group felt bad for the donkey's because it looked like they were a bit abused. I mean there was no water for them anywhere, no shade, and some of the handlers looked mean. I even saw some getting hit by the stick. yes yes I know that donkey's are stubborn creatures but they at least deserved some shade and water no? I hope those handlers come back as donkeys. /rant

Santorini = Anxiety

So here we are in Santorini. Turns out, the towns on this island are gorgeous. Just simply the best views of an island anywhere. Again, you have small little alley ways just lined with shops and stores with locals trying to get you to purchase any and everything. This is definetly more of a romantic type place. I mean the sunsets are simply gorgeous. Just wait till I post the pics! We've managed to explore the island on the east and west coast (~30 min drive from coast to coast) and each site is simply amazing. Breathtaking heights and stunning views. The weather is also much cooler here. Don't get me wrong, it is still very hot in the day, but the breeze is better (probably due to the height at which we are at) and in the evening it really does get a lot cooler to where you need a sweater. Now THIS island is a lot like California wheather...warm in the day and cool in the evening. And you can walk to *downtown* here. The town is called FIRA (prounced fee-ra *roll the tongue) . It's about a 20 min walk or a 5 minute bus ride.

HOWEVER, since the island is situated as a caldera, this means that the heights to which I am seeing and riding on in the buses and taxi's are giving me sooo much anxiety. The older I get, the more I want my feet on the ground. And the older I get, the more height anxiety I seem to have. Last night I went to the town of Oia (prounonced eeee-uh). Dear lord. It was 15 minutes of narrow roads with cliffs on the right where you could fall into the oblivion. And these buses where speeding down these roads. Now close your eyes and imagine this narrow - nearly 1.5 lane road when compared to the states - with bus going one way and cars going the other way. SERIOUSLY. You look over and it's like hmm, I could fall to my death. Literally, this is what I'm thinking. So 5 minutes to go and I look at Monique and say some kind of garble indicating my anxiety level rising. She immediately went into action and said don't think about it and we some how started talking about our cars and gas. yea, don't ask. but it worked. I also appear to shake my hands and pull my fingers when my anxiety level rises...odd.

So while the views are breathtaking and the island indeed is cute. Santorini is not the island for me. Dear God, please get me off this island safely. amen.

Thank god we are flying to athens in the morning. I want off this island. quickly.

Welcome to Santorini!!!

Ok, I'll be honest. After getting here last night it was a bit of a let down. Our hotel is not *in* town, but right on the outskirts. So we don't get those wonderful views right outside our window, nor is our hotel just gorgeous. But since the city is situated on the top of a caldera the sight is simply amazing. AMAZING. I mean just to get to the city/towns you have to wind your way up the caldera.

Basically, this was a volcano that simply erupted leaving the caldera and only portions of the rim where you can see it. It's also the place where atlantis is supposedly held. The sight is simply gorgeous though. But since I don't like heights, it's also a place of great anxiety LOL.

I'll post a little more after I explore the city and beaches though. Santorini better live up to it's hype dagnabit.

The Shower Experience...

*fyi, we keep getting pushed off the internet by the old greek guy so I may be bit sporadic until I get back to Athens*

The European shower experience is something to be said. Dude. There are no doors and there is a drain in the floor to drain all the water. So I took a shower in athens and was like hmmm, there's half a door. So I turn it on and BAM. Water everywhere! All over the floor, toilet, shower, I mean just everywhere. I was a bit panicked because I was like Monique is going to think that I don't know how to shower!! But turns out. this is normal. The drain is in the floor for a reason people.

Then we get to Mykanos - it's even worse!! This time the shower is the size of a cracker jack box and my ass keeps turning the shower off. I mean I can barely turn around but it doesn't even matter because the shower water is freaking everywhere. Oh yea, and I drop the shower head behind the toilet and water is of course everywhere. oops. I mean, this is just crazy. I KNOW I've seen some heaftier people on this side of the country, so why the hell is the shower the size of a cracker jack box. Luckily, in Santorini the shower is bigger. Awesomeness.

Welcome to Mykanos!

I didn't forget about you! There was just no free internet service in Mykanos so this is a bit delayed...

Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. There are no words to explain or even capture the experience. So from Athens we board a boat, a ferry type boat, and take about a 2 hour ride to the island of Mykanos. The #2 part island of Greece (the #1 island we are not visiting). The first thing you notice is the little stone white houses that sit atop the hill. And just like Athens, it has roads that wind through the hills of the island. The roads are set atop like this it is said to confuse the pirates and people in the early centuries who wanted to harm the people of Mykanos. Let me tell ya, you have no sense of direction here. Roads go upwards and downwards and sideways and rightways. There's no way you were getting me anywhere without a. a cab, b. a guide. Point blank. God help us all if we wanted to drive. Now, there are places where you can rent ATV's and Scooters but keep in mind, these people can't drive and there is no hospital on this island. We were kindly reminded of accidents where those who rented cracked pelvic bones and broke wrist. Uh, thanks, but no thanks. But keep in mind that here - no one can drive. period. and if there is a stop sign. they ignore it. And helmets. yea. completely optional (inappropriate usage of the period is purposely used)

However, we drive to our hotel. The K Hotel. Gorgeous. I mean the property sits atop a hill and overlooks the city and the ocean. Seriously, it doesn't get any better than this. Amazing. (it does if a certain significant other was there). But it's absoloutely breathtaking. And the picture on the website is exactly how it looks in real life. My only gripe is the bathroom (another post another blog) and the sheets. How in God's good name does a hotel of this calibur have such crappy sheets. Yea, I'm a little uppity but heavens, I thought I might cut myself on these suckers.

The days in Mykanos involved going into town, wondering through the various alley-ways, looking into the various shops and checking out the nightlife of the city. All very fun but I was done by about 1am nightly :) Mykanos is only so big ;) And because I'm not interested in getting trashy drunk like some younger counterparts of my group, my experience was one of a sober breathtaking one.

Oh, and let me not forget the beaches. Gorgeous. Who knew water was supposed to be blue? What do you mean it's not supposed to be brown??!! Absolutely stunning. And gorgeous people everywhere. That's definetly one thing that I noticed, people just didn't care about there bodies. One thing is it is HOT - like 103 hot - thus everyone walks around in sheer everything, short everything and bathing suit ALL the time. it was great. We did see some nudity and some were pre-pubescent kids so me and my roomie kept cracking up because obviously we didn't want to look. It felt a little childpornish. Ha! So we would avoid looking that way but that darned girl kept walking in our eyeline - mind you she's like 12. Really not cool to be nekkid babe. What?! It's the American in me. I didnt get in the water, just stuck my feet in but it was such a wonderful experience in mykanos. Now there? I would totally go back. oh and the water was COLD?? (the locals say it was because of the meltami winds)

FWIW - Paradise Beach? Gorgeous w/ Cabanas that you rent and they are yours until you leave

Super Paradise? - avoid. it's the Gay beach, while I love my gay's, no need to partake in the festivities.

oh, and these other beaches?? you totally get there by little tugboat like thing for 5 euros. completely worth the experience.

Athens and Psiri!!

Alright guys,

So here I am in Greece! So I've...wait for it...SLEPT! whoo! *fist pump* Exciting stuff huh? In all honesty, we got to the hotel, checked in and promptly fell asleep for about 6 hours before we had to go to dinner. That was some of the best sleep EVER. After our little social meet and greet in the hotel (the peeps seem really cool; and chatty!!; there are about 20 of us) , dinner was on the tour company that we were with. Let me just tell you, the fries, greek salad, and gyro were to die for. It looks a bit different and our gyro wasn't wrapped up in some huge pita like at the mall (it was in pieces, you had your chopped chicken and actual little pita slices separated on your plate; and think fresh potatoes cut up and only slightly fried *drool* I could have eaten 390284390 plates of that), but it tasted way better. And the tomatoes and cucumbers tasted so fresh and good. Two thumbs up already for the greek food! Now granted, I've only eaten those 2 things so meh...but I'm already impressed at the healthy aspect and the flavor of it all.

But let me tell you about this lovely little area I'm in. There is graffiti EVERYWHERE. Now don't get me wrong, it's really a nice hotel and there are a lot of other hotels in the area - big nice international ones too. But Greece has a lot of graffiti. Everywhere you turn there it is - at least in Athens. Now in the states I equate graffiti as the "hood". But not so here. Apparently this area of PSIRI (pronounced sea-ree {roll you toungue on the end}) is a new and upcoming area and has a great nightlife. Again, I wouldn't know because after dinner me and Monique walked around with the group then we came back to the hotel where I got some work done and she went to sleep (we lasted about 20 min LOL). But what we did realize is that it is a nice area *at night*; nice little cafes and such. But it seems that the Greek people are just getting around to dinner at 9pm or even later. They don't actually start partying until about midnight - too late. I'm already in my hotel sleep. And the hotel is so small, but it's nice. When I say small it's typical European small. So you better like your roomie!! (did I mention I slept on a twin bed like I was in college, hard too! ugh) Oh and the shower LOL um. well. there's no glass or shower curtain to enclose you. So I go to take a shower and whoosh! water every.where. Apparently this is normal because there is a drain in the bathroom floor, ::shrugs:: go figure. AND, it's a handheld shower thingy. *good times*

Well, we just had breakfast. Oh, breakfast. They have these crossiants that are so yummy nummy! I have doubed them bread crack. And then TANG (thier version of oj), cereal, fruit and an assortment of breads, lunch meat, cheeses, and some hard boiled eggs. Not the usual stuff in an American breakfast but I had plenty of bread crack so all is well. Today we are off too Mykanos by boat (3 hour ride) for 3-4 days. Of course I will update you all as I can as we go along.

*disclaimer* I will add pictures when I get home

*another disclaimer* I have some mental body issues going on, not brought up by me on MY vacation, but by other people. Some folks are just totally rude ya know.


Oh and if I didn't mention it before, nearly every greek person here smokes and drives crazy. Oh and the streets are hella small and driving on the sidewalk is perfectly acceptable :O

Busting up outta this camp!

Well hello there!! When I tell you this week has been a crazy week I'm not lying. Slammed at school, at work and getting prepared to leave the country. Yea that's right, I'm leaving, on a jet plan *sing along* don't know when ill be back again...leeavinnn on a jet.

Ok focus. Ill be backon the 26th. But I'm headed to greece! Yea, that's right, GREECE! I still can't believe it. It more of that rather than excitement. But here I am, literally sitting in the airport waiting on one of my bestest (yes I know that's not a word) friends to join me in new jersey so that we can fly together. Its about a 15 hour flight alone,so ill be spending much of it sleeping and doing nursing homework *cough busy work *cough*. I think I've got everything though. I managed to make it with my tri backpack and a 33lb bag-talk about light packing!

On the downside imfeeling a little frumpy and lumpy because I haven't been doing right admittedly. But ironically, I'm looking forward to all thewalking and hiking that'll ill be doing over there. I'm hoping to enjoy the seafood and fresh veggies andcome back lighter than what I've left. I know it can be done because I did it when I went to italy.

Lastly, I miss my honey *insert sad face* I oh so wish he was going. After 4 years in a long distance relationship the thought of being separated an extensive amount of time totally sucks. Ok mushy moment over.

The plan is to continue to update my blog while I'm over there and insert pictures upon my return! Pray for safe travels!!

Peace out.

I can't even articulate it

I'm upset. How dare someone judge the new Surgeon General candidate because of her looks alone. let me clarify - her weight alone.

I was reading that some folks think because she looks, "too fat" that she's not the best candidate to be selected by our President.

WHAT?! Good God. If that's what people think then what the hell do they think of when they see me? I venture to say that the thought that someone could be so open about judging based primarily on weight well... it is scary. I'm not even sure that I know how to articulate the anger that I'm feeling.

Maybe this is why I got called "fatass" during the peachtree road race? yea. true story.

I'm so upset, but then again, I'm not. It just shows how ignorant people can be. Some might even chime in and say that they understand what it is to be overweight because they themselves have lost 30lbs by eating right and exercising. Well, congratuflippingrelations to you. But to someone who has battled weight her entire life, can't get on rides because she didn't fit them, has never been thin, has had a parent that has never been thin (until a few years ago) blah blah yakkity smakkity, it's not just that easy. Well at least for me. I fight like hell on a daily basis to eat appropriately and workout so that the damn_ scale will say .5 loss. What if I do everything I'm supposed to and it doesn't? And there have been many MANY weeks like this.

But where does it end? She looks fat therefore she's not the best candidate? So can I say she's black and you know how they don't know anything. WHERE DOES IT END?

Nevermind she's a middle aged woman who has seemingly worked her entire life in her community. Nah. booo *throwing shoe* let's forget that she actually takes her work seriously and focus on her weight because clearly this is the only thing we have to base our judgement on.

Judge for yourself:

I for one thinks she looks great.

Go 'head Ms. New Surgeon General.

Note to self. Life sucks sometimes.

ugh,

I feel awful. I decided to eat mexican. I feel like I'm gonna hurl. I just want to crawl into bed and sleep.

I am also staring at two books hoping to get 2 chapters reviewed in one of them tonight. but again, I want to hurl.

and my rug smells like pee because my dog decided yesterday to pee on it right in front of me.
which continues to make me want to hurl. (yes I cleaned it with pinesol and palmolive)

*good times*

Anyone got any more hours?

I am completely overwhelmed with my life right now. To the point where I even forgot my anniversary, I haven't trained, and like I just feel like I can't get organized. My new schedule has completely been blown to bits by this nursing school thing. Not that it sucks, but gah! I have classes now Monday from 9-11am - classes are 100 miles away from my house and 100 miles away from my job in all directions and then class again on Tuesday and Thursday from 530-9pm. The kicker is then I drive 1.5 hours home. All this means is that in order for me to work out I actually have to get up at 5am to get it in. I loathe waking up early in the morning when forced. But then, this also means I will have to miss my monday morning computrainer class with my coach because I have to drive 1 hour 45 minutes to class. I *enjoy* my computrainer class, but seeing them once a week instead of twice will just have to be my life.

But do you see how my schedule got blown to bits in the matter of 1 week?! Mentally, I don't think I was ready. I'm so methodical in the way that I do stuff, so that change of my routine kinda throws me completely if I'm not prepared for it. Change itself doesn't bother me much - hell, I work in healthcare. It's the routine changing that bothers me. Bleh...I'm not sure that I'm looking forward to talking to my boss tomorrow either. Tongue lashing here I come...NOT.

<--not happy at work either; doesn't understand how people can be so stupid (another post, another blog)

I also forgot my anniversary in this time. I feel so bad. It was literally like, "oh yea. we have been together 6 years now." hmm. good thing he remembered and still wanted to take me out to dinner. I also forgot he was leaving this weekend and said goodbye as in, "oh I'll see you later tonight."

I had planned to use fri-sun to get my mind right as well as my routine and get going. Come monday wish me luck!

*whispers* I will also stop avoiding my coach this weekend too
I've seriously GOT to stop sucking. No more suckiness!!! dammit.

What's your legacy?

Yea. I'm saying it and discussing it here. Micheal Jackson is dead and quite frankly I can't believe it. Now before you go all psycho crazy on me and close the blog, I'm not one who has been following the story religiously and crying and passing out as such. His passing was a shock to me, but I went on about my life and I'm curious to see what all the outcomes are. BUT, I did watch the memorial service today. You see my mother grew up with the Jackson 5, *I* grew up with Michael. It puts a smile on my face to even say that. I mean I remember sitting on the floor and my mom doing my hair when he came on the motown celebration and did the infamous moonwalk. We screamed like school girls!!! Now I have my own personal opinions about MJ's life and such which it's not worth even getting into here. But what you can't deny is the enormity of his presence and influence on music and philanthropy.

It annoys me to no end to hear people diss him or talk about him in such a bad light. He opened up so many doors for the minority population on tv in regards to everything not just music. And if you fail to understand that, then shame on you. He changed music. But if you forget about music, his philanthropy was revolutionary. Dude, he's in the guiness book of world records for for the supporting the most charities by any one person. Top that. He may have just been a "singer and a dancer", but he was a cross over artist in more way than one. He was bigger then Elvis and/or John Lennon. Yes he was strange. No one ever said that he wasn't. But c'mon he was also a genius! ALL genious' are weird. Have you ever read about Bach? Eienstein? Poe? Seriously. You should read about them and see. They were weird ones too and also declared a genious. Folks should really do their research before talking. Some famous guy once said, "to be great is to be misunderstood." He was right.

But as I'm watching this, I'm thinking. WOW. My kids will be talking about this when they are in school. They will run up to me and say, "mommy, do you remember this?" And I can unequovically say, "yes dear. I do." But then I also thought. What is going to be my legacy on life? Now it's fair to say that I will never probably reach the caliber of MJ. Nor will I possibly even reach a 1/4 of it. But for those that I do reach, what is it that I will leave them? How will I change their lives so that I am cherished when I am dead? Will I be remembered as the chick who slacked on her training or went after it with full force? I know how I want to be remembered, but what is my current perception? And am I doing everything I can to be remembered that way?

Are you living the way you want to be remembered?

RIP MJ.

No more suckiness!!

Ok, so here we are! So sunday I ran the peachtree road race and while I was so sore the day after, I am completly happy with my performance. Even more so because I haven't been training for this distance...at all. I still owe you guys a race report and I will get to that soon I promise. More importantly, I need toget back to my training! Not having my bike and being on vacation has totally derailed my progress. I'm pretty sure I'm going to gain, not because my food is out of whack,but because of my blantant lack of activity. I suck. Seriously.ok, ill own it, I'm totally using it as an excuse. When will I learn?

I will not let the rest of the week be in vain. I will hit the pool for an hour tomorrow and follow that with a run/walk wednesday morning. Or maybe I should switch that around? Either way, those 2 things will get done these next 2 days. See, this is always my problem...rock it for several weeks then all of a sudden lose track and crash and burn. I will not let that happen this time. I'm tired of crashing and burning. I will get some activity tomorrow and like it dammit.I will not let myself continue to fail! I will report back on my rise out of training suckiness!! *giving the rock on symbol complete with the stuck out tounge*

It's really more than a day...

Ok, ok. Today is the 4th of July and I just ran the Peacthree Road Race. 6.2 baby! In the wraps. Eat.my.dust.I must say, that it is a totally awesome and fun event. *side note* I'm beginning to think I use the word awesome too much. I have even made it into a condecending tone. *end side note* I'll post a race report tomorrow.

But today is more important than the race or the 4th of July in my honest opinion. It's my anniversary with my honey. It's simple in the fact that all I really want to say to him if he's reading is, "I love you and I couldn't imagine life without you. You bring so much joy to my life and you make my heart flutter every time I still see you. Love you and I hope I'm blessed to spend my days getting old with you and making googly eyes with you under the stars. ;)"


Now off to dinner and googly eyes all night long! until tomorrow bloggity peeps!

Irongirl Race Report From 6/28/2009

If you are reading this here and have read it before, I flushed this out so it has more detail (read that as it's longer).

So, I did Irongirl. Let me just say, that this event rocked. But of course it had huge sponsors hence huge support for the race. But it was mainly the finish line/transition area which was majorly different. Ok, let’s be honest, maybe it was me because I wasn’t near the dead last back of the pack? Hee hee, it tickles me pink to say that. Anyway, I was up with the dickens at 230am. I rolled out of bed, threw my stuff in the car and I was out the door at 245am. I arrived at my mom’s house because she was to be my sherpa since Robert was away at a football camp working. So after making me wait 10 minutes in my car at 3am (not happy), we left her place by stone mountain and headed towards Lake Lanier. We were the first ones there at 415am LOL. It was so sweet because I parked at the parking lot directly across from the transition. This is where they told us not to park yesterday and I full on knew that. (I’m laughing on the inside!) But there was no way in hell you were going to get me to park .5miles away with several hills and get me to walk that in the pitch black darkness. Yea. No way Jose. So me and my mom park then nap for about 15 min. Then I see one lady getting out of the car. She’s methodically packing everything in her bag and then I see it. She bends down and wraps her timing chip around her ankle. And there she goes...I let out of few choice words (I repented and asked forgiveness from my mom) as I realized my timing chip is safe. At home on my couch!! *hand hits head* ROOKIE MISTAKE!!

We run to transition where I quickly set up my transition area and spent the next 15 minutes trying to track someone down to get a timing chip. I finally found a timing guy who gave me a chip and all was well in the world. So then I just hang out and wait for the festivities to begin. And I will never get over how scary a lake appears in complete and utter darkness. Seriously. Freaky man.

600 yd swim. That’s 1/3rd of a mile right? Yea. I think so. Anyway, that was the swim. Let me tell ya it looked wayyyy longer in open water than in a pool. Where is my nice convenient wall to do a flip turn on?! But honestly. I walked down 20min before race time. By myself and 911 of my best friends. I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts remembering that a. it’s a race against yourself and b. to race the race in 3rds. This was our (me and my coach’s) strategy to this race. I think last year I got so caught up in racing *against* someone that I got so discouraged when I got passed. But trying to remember to stay within myself was something I’ve been dealing with mentally all season This season alone has been completely full of revelations, but that’s another post/blog.. And can I tell you, “THANK THE HEAVENS ABOVE THAT I AGED UP!” Those young whippersnappers are brutal on the swim. *laughing at myself as I’m only 29* I walked in the water and decided that I was not going to warm up IN the water. Honestly, I just didn’t want to freak out. Lol. A week or so ago I went swimming in the lake and saw the bottom of the lake – FREAKED ME THE HELL_OUT. That’s what I was concerned about …Dear God, please let that lake be murky. Amen. I just waded in the water and stretched and peed about 3 times just standing in the lake. What?! I was nervous. So we see the pro’s off. That means I start in 10min. (pros = another blog) It’s a running start! No way! Awesomeness. So I stay wide and to the right and off I go. I skimmed the buoy and I was immediately in open water. AND I COULD NOT SEE THE BOTTOM! Very important note. I stayed clear of everyone and passed a couple of people in the previous waves. I was in a groove trying to keep my form. All in all it was a great open water swim. I couldn’t have been more pleased. Was I a little slower than I expected? Yep. Will I probably start swimming with Dynamo? Yepper. But, I was faster than a lot of people

Then out the water and there’s this HUGE hill to get up to the transition area. Huge hill of suckiness. I walked. Yes. I was not going to be dying trying to run up a hill. When I got to the top my mom was at the corner cheering for me. All I could say as loud as I could was, “MAN that hill SUCKED_.” Laughter ensued, but I was completely serious. The only thing was I don’t know where the timing mat was out of the swim. If it was up the hill then this adds about 2 min to my swim time. If it was at the bottom than it adds 2 min to my transition time. Oh well. Then I ran into transition and got ready for the bike. I was slow because I was catching my breath and I knew I wanted to be aggressive with the bike. Again, part of strategy.

Swim: 15:01
T1: 4:26 *you are out of your mind if you tought I'd include a swim picture*

18 miles. Here we go. Grab the bike and hit the mount line, flew down the hill in aero and I was gone like the wind! I literally said to myself, ok, “this is what I do” out loud. Going down the hill out of transition I heard my mother screaming, Tom first then Juanice. All I could say was, *sup*. They probably didn’t hear me though LOL. This bike was HILLY. BUT, it’s no worse than what I ride with Juanice and Tom on Saturdays. It felt like hill after hill for the first 3 miles. I hate the first 3-4 miles of any ride. Really, this entire time I’m thinking why the hell am I on this thing. By then I was warmed up. I was flying. Picking people off and finding a group of people I could pace with. Again, staying within myself. I dropped my chain TWICE. On 2 separate hills. Hopped off, hopped back on and flew. Really it was just an awesome bike. I surprised myself. Really, I did. I felt great and pushed it at every possible point. There were hills where I tucked and easily reached 30-40mph. Screaming ON YOUR LEFT the entire 18 miles. THAT was awesome. This comes back to me on the run LOL I am so unbelievably pleased with this bike I could spit. When I saw the first pro at around mile 9 I knew I wasn’t sucking too bad. I was right! *fist pump* the only thing is, if you are new to riding and you hear someone screaming on your left; move over to the right dammit. *coming from a rider who almost crashed several times because of people not responding to the phrase*

Bike: 1:22

hot huh?! Coming in for the finish!

The run. Ohhh the run LOL. I knew it would be rough but all I kept thinking was just get through it. I’ve been inconsistent with my run since ING. And just having felt like I’ve been put through the ringer mentally just kinda took its toll with my run. But that’s no excuse. I just wasn’t consistently training my run and that’s the truth. But, again, I heard and saw my mom, Juanice, Tom and smiled, then laughed and tried to just do my best. Hell_I knew I had to finish the race right?! No way to do that but to run the 5k. Off I went. I mainly walked the 1st half because well, I just couldn’t get going. I was talking very positively to myself and just tried to walk with a purpose and run when I could. I saw the pros – that was awesome. One girl got help from Helen Libby and I was thinking, “I wonder if she KNEW who just ran a mile to get her Gatorade!!!!” That was cool. I also saw a new friend Jamie I met on BT – she was coming back heading to the finish. She yelled, “come on Latrina you can do it!” I yelled back, “Thanks Jamie!” and kept going. It was hilly. But fun! You could hear the finish line for about 1 so that was awesome. I hit the turn around and ran most of the way back. I was happy for that. But I had fun. I talked to a few ladies about random stuff and just tried to stay positive and have fun and I did. Then this lady caught up with me on the run and put her hand on my shoulder, “on your left!” I started laughing. She said ya know, “I could hear you when you were riding! I sure was tired of hearing on your left.” I just laughed and we chatted a bit before we hiked up the last hill.
And down the finish chute. THAT was awesome. My mom ran with me for a little bit and rooted me on from behind. Then I saw Juanice with the camera and just tried to get my feet turned over down to the finish. THAT was awesome. Even though pace wise it sucked, mentally I had a great run.

Run: 50:11?

So. There ya go. I completed Irongirl Atlanta. I finished with a time of 2:34!!! I said 2:34!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 738/912 That may be horrible for some, but for me…not really. My swim and bike are solid middle of the pack numbers. I realize that if I get my run time together I will be SMACK DAB in the middle of the pack. Middle of the pack?!?! Me!!! I easily had a hundred or 2 people pass me on the run. But no pity party here! That made me happy to realize that it’s only my run that is my weakness. And I can fix that. It will take a lot of hardwork, but it’s totally fixable. But it’s something I partly knew already, but my bike fitness has been solidified in my head and that feels great. I’ve been SOOO hard on myself these last few months. It’s been hard mentally. Really, it has. So to have a great race, made me feel so good. I STILL feel good. I’m largely aware of where I am in the positive space in my head and plan to take full advantage. So, if you see me, the first thing you should ask me is, “have you run?” LOL

I'm gonna be famous! Check out the NBC camera next to me!

And I’m going to have to give big kudos to my mom who was a great Sherpa in the absence of my man. WTG mom! It was so funny because she goes I’m going to get hungry and need food and such. I calmly said, “No you won’t, you’ll be too caught up in the excitement.” When I say she was excited after the race, she was SOO EXCITED! She just made me laugh because she was like, “you are right! That was so fun! I can’t wait till you do another one!” Ha. She had fun so that was fun.

Mom and I after the race

ha! I had a whole crew at the race. That's Steve and Emily (group I ride with and the guy who taught me to ride, and Tom *Juanice is the paprazzi*)

Training...errr...the Lack there of...

Meh. No swimming for me this morning. I'm on freaking vacation! I'm tired of waking up early on vacation. So after awakening for 5am swim practice at Dynamo, I climbed back in bed at 515am and didn't re-waken until 930am. Awesomeness. I'm sure my coach isn't happy about it, shhh...don't tell him. But training hasn't really gone well this week. Ok, it hasn't gone much at all. I'm exhausted, schools about to start, so I'm just taking it all in getting ready. Hopefully my conditioning won't suffer too much. I don't even know what is on training peaks this week. I promise I will look. Tomorrow I will at least swim before Peachtree Road race Satuarday. yay 6miles! I'm using this race as the kick start for my run training. Bike and run obsession for the next 11 months! whoo! And I've also gotten this bright idea to bring my weights and put them in the car so that after walking Stone Mountain with my mom (I've roped her in too at least 2 per week) I can just pull them out and get some squats, bicep curls, and deadlifts in really quick. I know. I'm a genious!

<----sucky triathlete this week

wait. did I just call myself a triathlete?! whoa.


On the plus size...I lost 1.9lbs at Weigh In this morning! Whoo!

Freakin Frackin Orientation

My tummy hurts. So this will be fairly brief.

I went to my nursing school orientation today!! WHooo!! It sucked that I had to drive 1.5 hours to get there and when I got there they were totally unorganized...and I DO mean unorganized. I spent the first nearly 2 hours trying to take some learning exam that would tell me how I learn. The kicker is...wait for it...it was completely wrong. I'm mainly visual not cognitive. idiots. And then they spent the next 6 hours *yes I said 6* telling me how to survive nursing school. Now I'm not crazy. I know this crap is going to be hard and I shouldn't take it lightly, BUT spending 6 hours on something that could have been presented in 3 was irritating and ridiculous. I've only been in school only MY WHOLE LIFE and I've managed to make it through with a couple degrees and great jobs...I'm sure I'll be fine. Crying at times. But fine.

Did I mention the one chick who was constantly behind me saying, "what?", "what's she talking about now?" yea dude. totally not going to be YOUR friend in this program. You're already driving me crazy because you're not listening. I hate people like that. really. I do. I mean seriously. Oh did I mention that I'm just now finding out that class starts monday. MONDAY! dude. it's wednesday...nursing school already sucks. books = $200+ (dear God, i didn't mean that, I'm just annoyed that my vacation is being interrupted and I have to spend money i don't have. please don't take it away. amen)

off to curl up next to my honey and snore till the cows come home. or at least till 5am swim practice at Dynamo. Jealous aren't you. I know, I can feel it through the computer.