A visit from the Easter.... Frog?

Last night, while getting ready to watch a movie, my hubby noticed this little guy sitting on our window:

He's a Spring Peeper; and he and his relatives have been singing away for the past few days, hoping to find mates.  There must be hundreds of them out in our neighbor's pond, because their sound is deafening (okay, maybe that's an overstatement... but they're pretty loud).
Click here to hear what they sound like (thanks Wikipedia).

In the six years we've lived here, I don't think I've seen one of these little guys in the flesh.  Kinda cool that he (she?) paid us a visit.  Spring is definitely here!

Spring is here!

The lawn needs a little TLC, 

but the crocuses have made it SO pretty!

HAPPY SPRING!

Why do I Tri?

This post should actually be entitled, Why WILL I Tri?, but I think 'do' sounds better. (...and it's my blog, so I can do what I want.  Pftttthhhh!)

I just finished reading my third (4th?) book on Triathlon.  I'm 14 weeks away from my first event and about an hour away from today's training session - a 3.1 mile run/walk.

In each of the books, the authors talk about "why" - why they do it, why others do it - so I got to thinking about why I'm going to do it.

I never thought about doing a triathlon till my co-worker, Holly, brought it up this winter (I think it was mid-January?)   Even when my neighbor and friend, Jan, completed a Tri to celebrate her 50th birthday last summer I didn't think I could ever be Tri material. 
Holly's timing could not have been more perfect to get me to say 'Yes' to trying a Tri.  I had been working out consistently (4-6 days a week) since October and was feeling that I was in pretty good shape.

So, why am I doing this thing: 1/2 mile swim, 12-1/2 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run?

First & foremost, I think, is to help keep me motivated to continue improving my fitness.  I really like how I feel now that I'm in better shape.  Granted, I have "bad" days (sore/stiff/tired), but for the most part I'm really enjoying my strength, good balance, and feeling of general wellness. 
Training for the Tri has gotten me to start swimming and running.  As mentioned in a previous post, I've never been a runner and had a strong dislike for it.  It's still not my favorite thing, but it's growing on me.  As for swimming, I don't know many poeple who willingly go jump in the water when it's only 19-degrees outside, then leave the high school pool at 8pm with damp hair and smelling like chlorine, but I do!  From what I read, both are excellent ways to burn fat and improve cardiovascular health.

I also really like how I look!  Clothes are truly flattering without trying too hard or having to coordinate an outfit to hide the nasty parts.  I haven't had any drastic weightloss (yet), but dimensions have changed and jiggly parts have become more solid.  If this isn't motivation for a woman, I don't know what is!

Finally, I want to do this to say I've done it.  It's a combination of pride & challenge.  I'm definitely pushing myself to succeed in an event I never thought I'd be able complete and BOY will I be proud of myself if I can. 
I've been going back and forth about setting a goal for myself... some days I 'just want to finish', others it's 'finish within 3-hours'.  Holly thinks we can finish within 2 hours, but I'm not that confident yet. 
I KNOW I will finish.  I know I can finish, even if it means walking the entire 3.1 mile leg and collapsing at the finish line.  Either way, I'm excited to try and I'm committed to training & eating right & resting when I should, so I can face July 3rd with a smile on my face.

Well, it's 12:13pm... the hubby and I said we'd run today around Noon.  Better get off my butt and move along, I've got 3.1 miles waiting for me.


P.S.  There's one more thing this Triathlon has done for me... It's motivated my husband to improve HIS fitness, too.  Nothing like showing him your non-jiggly parts to make him want to get rid of his, too.  Hooray for team fitness!

Spring has Sprung

The snow is almost melted!
.... muddy puppy feet everywhere.

The temps are rising!
.... did I mention muddy feet?

I took my first ride of the season!
... 8.5 miles in the rolling hills.  Ouch.

Maple Festival Weekend!
... Yummmmm, lots o' maple syrup on homemade pancakes.

Finally, Geocaching!
... first find since January - way too long between hunts.

And the crocuses.... oh, they're poppin!
... if the rain ever stops, I'll post pictures.

HAPPY SPRING!

12-of-12: March 2010

12 photos
on the 12th day

12 months of the year

Thanks, as always, to Chad Darnell, originator of the 12-of-12 Project.
Not the most exciting or creative photos this month... could it be because I woke up to rain after a BEAUTIFUL, warm, sunny day yesterday?  Hmmmm, maybe.  TGIF, everyone! 

6:30-8:30am:  Home

These aren't the sneakers I wore for my workout this morning...  but I just HAD to include them in my 12.  I bought them last weekend so I could start running/training for my first Triathlon (in July).  In addition to their very cool colors, I'm totally psyched that by buying them, a donation is made to the Komen Foundation - to fight breast cancer!

Instead of jumping in the car first thing this morning, my team had an 8am conference call, so I got to stay home for a bit.  Let's see - computer, phone, coffee, bagel - I'm ready!

My favorite boy, TaterBug, was hangin' out - giving me the sad eyes when I was on my way out the door after the call.  The good news?  Only working half a day today!

51-degrees out!  HOORAY!  
Rainy, tho.  BOO!

BTW - that's Spot, the cow, on the right

9:00am - Noon:  Buffalo, NY

I was back in Buffalo again this month.  These shots are taken in and around downtown.

City Hall

The Federal Court Building

Buffalo Savings Bank Building 

(Now M&T Bank, the Electric Tower in the background)

The Electric Tower

1:00pm: On my way home!

A TON of snow has melted these last few days - temps have been in the 40s and 50s - so the creeks are turning into fast-moving rivers.  AND, little run-offs are turning into beautiful waterfalls.  This one is a hidden treasure on Route 240.

Our little girl got some new shoes, too!
Winter may be almost over, but the kids still need boots for those rough terrains we hike through sometimes.  Here's Mackie trying on her new NeoPaws.

A view from the porch - 

Can you see the mist?  We're making our own fog today - with warm air and cold snow.  We still have over a foot of snow on the ground, but it's receding quickly.  I expect the majority will be gone by next month, assuming we don't get any major storms between now and then... which one can never count out in March.

This month's shots are kind of a "half-12-of-12" since they were all taken before 3pm.  Not much happened since then:  I read for a bit, did some chores, and now we're contemplating dinner.  If anything photo-worthy happens tonight, I'll be sure to add it... a bonus shot, if you will.  If not, I'll see ya next month!

Water, baby

Four months and counting (down) till the Triathlon.
Four months (minus 5 days).
And it's been over 20 years since I did laps in a pool.
Till today.

I joined the "Evening Swim" group at my local High School.  Me, and about 8 other folks braved the 30-degree temps outside to get into the pool (indoors) and splash around for an hour.  The program's been going for about a month, but I just learned about it last week while searching for an inexpensive place to get some laps in before July.  This place is perfect.  No frills and LOW cost.

I went into tonight's workout without a plan, per se.  I just wanted to get in the water and see if I could keep myself afloat. 
Can I still swim?  Yes!
Am I good at it?  Kinda! (pleasantly surprised)

I have a book on order with some drills in it that I'll use once it arrives.  I'm looking forward to that, to add a little more structure to the water workouts.  But so far, I'm happy with where I stand.  It's a good baseline to work off of.

Oh... and I just realized I left my wet suit in my gym bag.  Gotta go!