I don't know if you're all following the comments in Heather's post below from the other day, but in case you're not, here is a synopsis:

Heather has mentioned doing the Danskin Woman's Triathlon. I told her she could stay at my place when she did it and I would go with her and cheer her on. She said she'd like it better if I did it with her.

NMy inital reaction was "NO F-IN WAY." But, I clicked the Danskin link and did some research and before I finished my post? I sort of thought, "You know, I BET I could do this."

After all, more than half of the participants are first-timers, the pictures are proof-positive that not everyone is in perfect shape, and they say if you've never done one before, you need at a minimum 12 weeks to train. Here it is, JANUARY. The triathlon is in JULY. I've already been working out consistently for four months now. This would mean stepping it up, of course, but I have 24 weeks until the event.

AND? My gym has just hired a TRIATHLON COACH and is starting TRIATHLON CLASSES.

I think it's a sign, friends.

So. I'm making it official. I, Erin J. Shea, am committing to doing the Danskin Woman's Triathlon with Heather in July of this year.

There you go.

Hey everyone! Here is an article/essay DEFINTELY worth reading; especially with all of us trying to get back up on the horse after the holidays!

Magic Machines and Gift Horses

(If you don't get to the essay, and you might not since her page is in frames, click on the link "What's New" and go to the December 2002 Rant of The Month!)

Hey everybody - Happy Boxing Day! (No, not Canadian here, though I think I probably should be, considering the size of the snowdrifts in my front yard!)

After I check in here, I'm off to the gym. My holidays were very busy - I drove all 'round the state of New Hampshire to visit with my parents on Christmas Eve Day, to my in-laws for dinner on Christmas Eve, then to Joe's Aunt Janice's for Christmas Day dinner, then home. In a snowstorm. Bugger all.

And woke up this morning, and started back in at Fitday logging food. My diary looks like craznap, though, because I'm taking in more carbs because I get to do ten miles on a treadmill tomorrow. (Yeah, UGH. I do this for the friends that want to see me this weekend, making a weekend long-walk outside impossible. I hope they realize the extent of my regard for them!) Well, whatever. Even if there are more calories in the diary than usual, I know that tomorrow night I'm going to burn over a thousand of those little suckers off.

In anticipation of staying excited about my long walk tomorrow, and because two weeks from tomorrow I fly to Orlando, I dropped over half of my Christmas money in the local running store. In addition to the body glide and the race pouch and the coolmax socks I bought, I found this nifty thing: marathon-themed magnetic poetry!

Heather - I think it probably won't matter too much that you're not a fan of country music if you do CMHM. Themed races like that one draw lots of people, which translates into excellent course support and a lot of people to talk to. Oh, and the big draw for me - big, heavy, shiny medals that make two or three hours of running seem entirely worth it.

Watch out, though. Those darn medals are awfully addicting.

Hi, all. I'm back, too. And getting my butt to the gym tonight as well.

I also met up with a high school friend a couple of nights ago. She, in the past year, has dropped 40 lbs. and started competing in triathlons, half-marathons and the like. She has me almost convinced to join her in Chicago this year for the Danskin triathlon. I've never done one of these in my life. The idea of swimming it kind of freaks me out. But Julie tells me the Danskin one is great for a newbie since it is women only. And they run lots of support. So, I'll keep you all posted. This could be exciting.

Likewise, I'm sort of considering going down to Nashville for the Country Music half-marathon in April. Now, I'm not a fan of country music. Nor a fan of Nashville / Opryland, either. But James has family down there and I thought that this might be a good goal for me to work towards. Not to mention an opportunity to combine a family visit with something fun (and yes, I consider running a half marathon fun compared to visiting my in-laws).

So, I've got big plans forming in my brain. Let's see if I follow through on them.

Hello everyone!

I hope this finds all of you rested, happy, and not sitting there with humongous amounts of guilt over any holiday celebrating!

I, for one, am not feeling guilty although I should be. I am going to WW for a weigh in on Saturday and I can't for the life of me imagine what they're going to tell me. Nonetheless, I made the decision to eat what I wanted over the past week and we reap what we sow. And I'm OK with that. I probably WON'T be OK with that come weigh-in, but it's not the end of the world. This was, hands down, the BEST Christmas in my recent memory and I'm happy to tell you that all of the wonderful food was only a fraction of it all.

I'm already back on the POINTS wagon -- why do I feel the need to write that word out in all caps, just b/c WW does? I'm already a drone, people. -- this morning and I'm actually looking forward to it all. I've learned that while it's good to give yourself some leeway to live and eat and do as you please, such behavior has a rough effect on your body, and I don't mean any extra pounds.

I feel tired, slouchy and soft. My digestive system feels a little, um, weak and I'm defintely not up to maxium speed. Tonight, I'm meeting Wendy at the gym after work -- that girl has the day off and it is SO not fair. I mean, I have a new computer and HARRY POTTER game to play. I'd give my left arm to be able to stay home today and play that game. Really! Anyway, I'm off to the gym again and getting back up on the horse. I'm sure it won't be easy as I've found that once you start seeping into another week without any exercise, it's REALLY easy to keep slacking off.

So, I just remind myself that it isn't easy and go from there.

Robyn -- I hope the casserole turned out lovely, I have no doubt that it was great.

Hey everyone -- tell us how your respective holidays were! What ya get? What did ya do? If you don't celebrate Christmas, didja AT LEAST get the day off to rest and recoup? I'm off to finish getting dressed and *SIGH* go into work.