Saturday, September 18, 2010

A Two-Fer post


Part 1, an email my mom sent me: remember my parents are in their 80's so i listen to their advice:
Q: Doctor, I've
heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this

true?
A: Your heart

only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise.

Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you

live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster.

Want to live longer? Take nap.

Q: Should I

reduce my alcohol intake?

A:

No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled

wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of

goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Bottom

up!

Q: How

can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you

have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two

bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.

Q: What

are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise

program?
A: Can't think

of single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No pain...good!


Q: Aren't

fried foods bad for you?

A:

YOU NOT LISTENING! Food are fried these day in vegetable oil.

In fact, they permeated by it. How could getting

more vegetable be bad for you?!?

Q
:

Will

sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the

middle?
A: Definitely

not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be

doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.

Q: Is

chocolate bad for me?
A: Are

you crazy ?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable!

It best feel-good food around!

Q: Is

swimming good for your figure?

A: If

swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me..

Q: Is

getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey!

'Round' is shape!

Well... I hope

this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and

diets.

And remember:

Life should NOT

be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an

attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways -

Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up,

totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!"


AND.....

For those of you

who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health.

It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional

studies.


1. The

Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer

fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of

fat
and suffer

fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little

red wine
and suffer

fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red

wine
and suffer

fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot

of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than

Americans.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink

what you like.
Speaking English

is apparently what kills you.

So what do you think i do when i read this?
Believe it?
Decide to start speaking French?

Nope.

I signed up for Ironman Wisconsin, 2011. But i am not speaking English on 9/11/11. Ok?



Ironman and Active.com have a few things to learn about how to best process 1000 hits in 1 second, but other than that stress, and feeling like i had the same nervous stomach pre sign up as i do pre race I felt ready. I knew that after the site went online it was out of my hands and if i didnt get in, well that was meant to be. But finally on wednesday i got in. And thursday I woke up with a hangover( not a real hangover) and a "WHAT DID I DO?" And a groan. Then again i think that was bc coach had assigned a challenging trainer wko for the day AFTER the sign up and i was not recovered enough and was scared of it. I think coaching protocol should change so that the day after sign up you get a recovery day. Just sayin'....Hear that coachie poo?
But in all seriousness, i mean this is a serious topic. NOT.
I know if i trust her, I will get to the finish line. End of story. There is plenty of time to think about wheels ( do i ride sewups, can i change a sewup,) and technology ( i dont have a Garmin, do i need a Garmin?) and all the other one million and three questions i have for all of you.


So I cant possibly post all the thoughts that have gone thru my head but the bottom line of signing up for an Ironman is that in my heart of hearts I know i can do it. I am excited to train and i am excited to expreience the highs and lows that day will bring. I have already started apologizing to my family. My family gets it, I am not sure if my inlaws will but here is what my mom and dad said:

Mom "As long as you can come to the family reunion in Iowa in August that is fine. You can bike down to Iowa, get there in time for the ice cream social."

Dad " Is that the thing your sister did in Hawaii?"
* here is studly sister last year in Galveston....as she reminds me " i did IM / Kona BEFORE GELS were invented." And actually that is pretty cool, i think!

Me " Yes dad but i only have to go to Wisconsin."
Dad " Oh that sounds better."

When i asked Rich to remind me that i can do it, ( meaning when i am crying on a 100 mile ride and whineing next summer) he said "You can do it." NO I dont need you to " ecoutez et repetez" now i mean when it counts! I know i can do it NOW, but when i need you is later, like in March when i have to ride 100 miles on my road bike. To which Rich says " Ok, but can we stress about some other stuff first?"
Ha, how well he knows me.


And you see, I am familiar with this position after long rides. I am READY!

5 x 5k relay tommorrow with some fun Gear West Bike and Tri teammates. I have to take photos and will hope its above 50. We have had an abrupt start to fall. Not at all what i want right now. Other than our pool is 59 degrees. Free ice baths, if you live local, come on over!

22 comments:

Jennifer Harrison said...

Ok, I had to take a break for this blog update, Julia! CRACK ME UP.
And, I am laughing b/c I didn't even realize that pic was me and you in Tucson! LOL - and GLAD you got in for IMWI2011! It'll be a party!

Jennifer Harrison said...

PS
nice to see Heide too - she is racing next weekend!

Libby said...

lol... I LOVE that pic of you on the ground. my favorite! I had a hangover too on tuesday, but a real one :) thursday was the happiness/ptsd hangover :) plenty of time to figure out all there is to know about ironman, all you have to know now is that next year will be a GREAT year for you!!! Jen is right, PARTY!!! good luck tomorrow and enjoy fall, I'm craving it right now!

Damie said...

OMG, you will be fine. you will do great actually!!! I did not get in afterall- didn't realize it reopened Wed until too late...had to work, etc. oh well. something else is meant for me, and in the meantime I will cheer for you!!!!!

JV said...

WOOHOO! IMMOO! I get to cheer for you and my husband. He had two screens up running at noon on Wednesday and got in. You are going to LOVE it.

Running and living said...

Yay for IM! You are going to do awesome! I can't believe you don't have a Garmin. Honestly, probably you don't need one:) I am excited to follow your training!

Michelle Simmons said...

Oh... you went and did it! Awesome! Rich is right... stress about some others things first. ;)

Beth said...

Yeah for Wisconsin!!! I am so excited Julia! You'll love the training (well mostly :) and be awesome! :)

jennabul said...

That's great about IMWI...congrats! You're going to do awesome! Loved the post. Have decided to speak in Spanish from now on. Adios!

LittleRachet said...

Congrats! Where in Iowa will you be? If you are close, I'll ride with you.

Anonymous said...

AWESOME!!! I just know you will LOVE the training and the race! And can I tell you I am suffering IM withdraw since I don't have one on the schedule next year. I will live vicariously through you next summer. :) Hope you had fun at your race today!!

cheryl said...

I had chardonnay and chocolate ice cream last night! I think I'm on the right track. Seems like way more fun than ironman ;-)

Next summer your 100milers will seem easy if you just remember that triple bypass you did this summer!

Ange said...

oh too funny... and YOu'll be GREAT ! I know it. how fun!

ADC said...

You will not only be fine, you will be amazing. You Dad is really funny.

Angela and David said...

Waa hoo IMOO! Can't wait to cheer you on! And maybe even help you train - wink wink.

Pharmie said...

SO excited to watch your journey to Wisconsin! Oh, and unless coach Jen is serously crazy (sometimes I wonder), you won't have to be doing 100 mile rides quite by March :) Happy training! Steve and I will definitely have to come out to cheer everybody on again next year.

Maggs said...

I can't wait to follow your training for Wisconsin. Yay!

Kim said...

wohooo IM MOO! i cant wait to read about your training (and all your partying)!

mjcaron said...

Wow.. Cant Believe you signed up for WI. Very inspiring.

Black Knight said...

Too funny, you will be great! I like the picture where you are on the ground. Sorry but I am an teetotal italian.

Steve Stenzel said...

Wait... going to WI is BETTER than going to Hawaii?!? Your dad is NUTS!! ;) Ha!

Great post! ;)

Hope the bites from the 5x5K are healed up!

Michelle said...

You will be awesome at IM! I'm sure! I'll see you there!