Kathleen's Adventures

UPDATE - we have also decided to raise some money for Chester's care, which will no doubt be very expensive. If you want to help out specifically for that, please specify when you send money, and I'll get a separate visa gift card for that, or even just write a check. UPDATE #2 - Tri On The Run has donated a pair of shoes for Danny - he gets to go pick out the pair of his choice...and the owners happen to be dog lovers...I think we've got something good over there!! UPDATE #3 - WOW.  I am blown away by the generosity of friends and strangers alike.  If you don't run or aren't part of a running club, I suggest you join one ASAP!  Emails went out to two big running clubs in the area this morning and the response has been overwhelming.  All people needed to hear was "fellow runner in need" and they were there to help in a heartbeat!  In addition to the shoes from Tri On The Run, Luke's Locker is now rounding up clothes and gear for Danny, ...

A friend of mine lost everything he owned this evening in a fire in Houston.  Thankfully, no one was hurt, and it looks like his dog is going to make it - although he apparently inhaled a lot of smoke while waiting to be rescued. A story about the fire is here , and video is here . He and his family grew up across the street from me in Beaumont, and our families still live there.  I felt completely helpless when I heard about the fire this afternoon/evening, and if you know me, you know I can't stand to sit around and do nothing - while my "ideas" might not always be the greatest, I try.  I'm not one to sit patiently and feel the need to "take action" whenever possible.  Nothing is different this time - hopefully I've figured out a way to help out in a little, small way.  Danny started running recently and loves it.  He was planning to do his first triathlon later this summer.  I don't want him to have to give up his new-found fitness because ...

Interactions with some people – friends, acquaintances, even complete strangers – are such an awesome breath of fresh air. You know the ones – they leave you not only with a smile on your face, but with joy in your heart. I just had one such “encounter” – a phone call from a friend I have not talked to in a while – and it just left me with a little more joy in my heart than was there before we talked. I constantly thank God for people like that, and for such encounters – they can be as simple as a quick hug from an old friend or a wave from a total stranger, or as long as spending a day with someone “who gets you.” I had a similar experience in Beaumont recently on a bike ride. I spent a good three hours riding, talking, and hanging out with someone I have known for a while, but not really known, and I was left just thinking “wow, what an awesome person, and how fun to get to spend time with them.” That same ride I briefly spoke with a couple afterward who also left me with a happy hea...

Tuesday I caved on my "no exercise for 2 weeks" and went to masters swim practice at the Y.  I was going crazy and feeling beyond fat and lazy so had to do something and figured swimming is by far the most harmless of my choices. About halfway through practice, I realized it was possible I was swimming fast for me.  Really fast.  I was swimming my "easy" 200s on 3:00 and my hard ones on 2:50.  Really?  My fastest 100 I'd ever recorded before that was 1:25.  I guess a little time off might have done this body some good.  I hadn't swam in probably 3 weeks.  I figured some of it was "beginner's luck" for my comeback.  I also ended up swimming 3500yds for the workout and it wasn't that bad at all (definitely the farthest I have swam at once since IMFL in November...I think I had a few workouts just over 3000 before Lonestar, but certainly not 3500+).  I was going for 4000, but my left calf had other plans after my push off the wall aroun...

I have had a pretty busy last week, or week and a few days! I went to see Kelly in San Diego for a long weekend and had a great time.  The sun didn't so much come out while I was there which was not cool, but we still played and spent a lot of time outside.  We drove from the airport to Kelly's house in Pacific Beach Friday evening and didn't use the car again until Monday morning when it was time for Kelly to go to work.  Our transportation for the weekend was either by foot or beach cruiser - it was awesome! Our adventures included a concert on the beach at Mission Bay and a visit to Children's beach in La Jolla where we saw very cute seals.  By the way, our little jaunt by beach cruiser from PB to La Jolla was more of a workout than anyone planned for.  Beach cruisers, for those who don't know, don't have gears.  So for this flatlander especially, riding big hills on a single-speed bike is special.  Also, the childhood practice of pedaling back...

So...........I waited way too long to write a race report about Lonestar 70.3 in Galveston April 25.  I've forgotten most of the "important stuff" by now and I all I really remember is it was hot and windy!  So this one is going to be short and sweet, but that's okay. The weekend itself was a lot of fun.  I have always stayed at Inn at the Waterpark in the past - the "slummin' it hotel" at the entrance of Moody Gardens.  This year I decided to upgrade and stayed at Moody Gardens.  I'm glad I did - the convenience was definitely worth the extra money.  I ended up having 2 other people in my room so it really did even out in the end. I went down early Saturday morning to catch the end of the Olympic and Sprint races.  On my way down I found out their swim was canceled because it was too windy.  Awesome...not!  It took a while to get everything taken care of that I needed to, but I finally reached my happy spot by the pool with Kim at s...

I know you all were very worried because I hadn't posted in so long.  Lots has happened, but I just haven't felt much like writing.  Race reports for Lonestar 70.3 and The Gusher Half Marathon will be coming soon...hopefully. And now for some random thoughts: I'm out of town 4 of the next 5 weekends - part of me wouldn't mind if that were going to be 5 of the next 5 weekends. I'm going to San Diego today for a long weekend.  Whohoo!  I cannot wait.  I might not come back. I'm taking two weeks off of anything athletic after this weekend - my body (and mind) are screaming for a break.  I have taken it very easy in the three weeks since Lonestar, but not easy enough.  I'm tired and half sick (I think some of it is allergies), so now's the time to take a break.  I'm actually looking forward to it and have some fun things planned during the time I would have usually been working out. DQ Blizzards, unfortunately, don't fix everything. I'm no...