Monday, December 14, 2009

December 13, 2009


Well it has been along time sense I have logged on but now im here.

Training has always been all year round but during the time of the end of September until about now i normally slow down the training... as of today the extreme training begins!

I just signed up for the biggest race in Arkansas. The Ouachita Challenge March 28, 2010. Last year was the first time that I did it and let me tell you it was the hardest thing that I have ever accomplished, 9hrs and 45 mins. This year I am and I will beat my time! Oh by the way i did that on a single speed mountain bike so no gears and this year my plan was to do it on a geared bike but that fell through so I'm just going to do it on my trusty single speed again!!

I'm really looking forward to the training i have had gone through some heart breaking times this end of the year so bad I'm not even celebrating the holidays. Just plain broken.... so the intense training will get my mind in gladiator mode which will be good it hurts so bad but makes me feel good.

So everyday i will log my training in to my blog to keep track on whats going on. Here we go!

Today's training: 22.3 miles on cedar glades, mountain biking.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

September 30,2009

Well it has been awile since i have wrote, it has been a long summer but a good one. Haven't really done much racing since the last big one that was in June, but i did do Hotter N Hell 100 in August that was a great race i beat my time by 33 minutes, 5.13 was my time.
Currently i'am training for two marathons one is Houston in late December and the other is in Little Rock in March. the running is going well. Every week seems that i shave a little more time off my mile.
Oh yes I have some other great news, i have met someone that is incredible! more about her later.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

JUNE 24,2009


WELL ITS BEEN AWHILE SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON HERE, SO HERE IT IS.....

EUREKA SPRINGS WAS A NO GO, HAD A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON SO WE CANCELLED IT WHICH WAS FINE GAVE ME MORE TIME TO TRAIN FOR THE XTERRA SOUTH CENTRAL CUP IN LITTLE ROCK.

LET ME TELL YOU THE LITTLE ROCK RACE WAS BRUTAL , IT VERY HOT AND IT WAS VERY HOT AND DID I SAY IT WAS VERY HOT!!!!!!!!!!! I WOULD SAY IT WAS THE HARDESS RACE I HVE DONE BY FAR BUT YOU KNOW I FINISHED 4 HR 37 MIN.

Monday, May 18, 2009


THIS WAS FROM MEMPHIS XTERRA...........

MAY 2, 2009


TODAY WE ARE TRAVELING TO RUSTON, LOUISIANA FOR THE GATOR XTERRA. THIS TIME WE WERE READY AND PREPARED FOR EVERYTHING.
~WETSUIT............CHECK
~GOGGLES............CHECK
~RUNNING SHOES...........CHECK
~ GLASSES..............CHECK
~BIKE........CHECK
~HELMET......CHECK
~BIKE SHOES.......CHECK
~RACE CARD.........CHECK
BOY IT WAS NICE TO BE THERE IN ADVANCED AND HAVE EVERYTHING READY IN ITS PLACE!
THE RACE WAS GOOD KINDA OF HOT RIGHT AT THE END BUT WE SURVRIVED.
JULIE GOT 3RD
I GOT 3RD
AJ GOT 4TH
SO WE BROUGHT HOME MEDALS!

Monday, April 27, 2009

TODAY ME AND KAREN SWIMMED FOR AN HOUR AN A HALF.

APRIL 26, 2009

ME AND KAREN PLANED ON RIDING TODAY AT 2:00PM

I INVITED BRUCE AND DL AND HAD A GOOD NOT TO FAST RIDE WE DID 40 MILES WITH JACK MOUNTAIN.
I HAD TO STOP FOR ABOUT 10-20 SECONDS RIGHT BEFORE THE PEAK OF THE MOUNTAIN DID'T WANT TO PUSH MYSELF THAT HARD, BUT I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF AFTER.

APRIL 25, 2009

MET THE ROADIES AT 7:30AM TOOK OFF FROM PARKSIDE AND GOT A GOOD RIDE IN, ABOUT 50 MILES THEN WORKED ALL DAY AT BIKE SHOP

APRIL 24, 2009

ANOTHER BUSY DAY WITH WORK DIDN'T GET ANYTHING IN.....UGH!!!!!!!!!!!

APRIL 23, 2009

YIPPEE! RECIEVED MY WETSUIT WEDNESDAY EVENING!

WENT TO THE POOL THIS MORNING TO TRY OUT WET SUIT, MAN WHAT A DIFFERENT FEELING. IT WAS GREAT! SUPPER FAST!
SWAM FOR AN HOUR AND DID SOME HILL REPEATS WITH KAREN

APRIL 22, 2009

I HAD A REALLY BUSY SCHEDULE TODAY I WAS HOPING TO GET SOME KIND OF TRAINING IN.

DOEN'T LOOK LIKE.

APRIL 21, 2009

BACK TO TRAINING,
I TAUGHT MY TWO SPIN CLASSES AND THEN RAN ABOUT 5 MILES

APRIL 20, 2009

I ORDERED MY NEW WET SUIT SHOULD BE HERE BY WEDNESDAY.

TOOK ANOTHER REST DAY!

APRIL 19, 2009

THIS WAS A REST DAY! WENT TO CHURCH AND RELAXED FOR THE REST OF THE DAY!

APRIL 18, 2009


Alarm goes off at 4am Saturday, April, 18th.
AJ suffered from a 24 hour stomach virus the day before and spent the day sleeping and throwing up!
5:15am AJ, Amy, Allen and Julie meet at the Zone for a day full of Adventure!
5:20am Loading all the gear into Allen's truck, AJ remembers that he left his wallet at home. Contains his ID and USAT card- which are required to race.
5:22am Leaving the Zone. 1/2 way down Aviation Plaza, Julie asks, "Do we have the directions?" Allen does a U turn back to the Zone. Oops, he says!
5:24am To the Johnson's to get the wallet!
5:43am Allen mentions that he has forgotten his goggles. "That's Okay", says Amy. "I've got you covered; I have 5 pairs in my bag." Someone ALWAYS forgets goggles.
5:50am Allen says, "OH NO!" Julie says, "What now?" Allen said, "I can't tell you...ya'll will laugh at me...I forgot my running shoes". Okay so apparently, Allen thinks this is just going to be a bike ride. He forgot goggles for the swim and shoes for the run! We decide that we will have plenty of time when we get in Memphis to stop at a nearby Walmart or Target to get Allen a make shift pair of shoes.
6:00am Julie needs a pit stop at exit 121....aka...Amy needs a Starbucks! That was the only way the boys would stop if someone had to go potty! WINK!!7:00am I40 at Brinkley. Bumper to Bumper non-moving traffic. We exit and visit with a friendly clerk that tells us State Troopers have been re-routing traffic since 5:15 that morning. 3 accidents and med flight coming in. She gives us an alternate route that sends us on a 40-60 minute detour, but at least we're still moving. We have 3 hours before the race starts and we realize it will be close.
7:00-9:15am we follow a 2 lane highway. Pouring down rain and semi's blocking our path. The clocks ticks, the rain falls, Amy bites fingernails, Julie gets a tummy ache, and Allen talks about how he will enjoy running in his crocs. The only shoes he has other than his bike shoes!
9:15am We make it to Memphis. Race starts in 45 minutes. We have usually checked in for the race, set up our transition, and warmed up by this time.
9:20am another traffic jam! Allen decides to take matters in his own hands and drive "H" style. Remember he is from the big city of Houston. He pulls onto the right shoulder and proceeds to pass cars that are patiently waiting in line. Julie and Amy duck down in the back seat from embarrassment and determine that the "old" Allen is starting to come out! SCARY!
9:25am Someone asked, "whose bright idea was this anyway?" Then we remembered the email challenge. It sounded like a good idea a few weeks ago, not so much anymore.
9:35am We pull into the parking lot and have a 1/2 mile trek across an open field to the start line. Allen and Amy still have to put on their race clothes. Julie and AJ were smart enough to have them already on.
9:45am Run to the porta potty- change clothes. Felt like Superman busting out of the phone booth with a "super fast" racing suit!
9:50am Time to "Stuff biscuits in the Can"- if you have ever squeezed into a wet suit, you know what I mean!
9:55am Set up transition area with bike and supplies9:58am Sprint to the start line quarter mile away!
10:00am Step into the water and the gun is fired! YIKES that was close! ONE MILE SWIM- The first 100 yards in the 50 degree water was just a panic stricken state of chaos. Good thing we didn't have time to warm up or we may have chosen to not race. This was HORRIBLE! The cold water put the heart in arrhythmia. So much to the point that 3 of us considered the "Q" word. I'll let you guess who didn't consider a quick escape to the shoreline. Allen received a free personal escort around the goose pond by worried volunteers in canoes. Asking him, "Are you okay?" With quivering lips he tried to say, "I ha..haa..have no we...wet....suuuuuuit!" Out of ? competitors, Allen was the ONLY one without a wetsuit. Allen made a note to himself as he was swimming in the frigid water, "I need to either get a serious sunburn, eat a can of jalapenos, or invest in a wetsuit before next triathlon. P.S. - he ordered one the day after the race!
21 MILE BIKE- Then we mounted our bikes for the giant slip and slide which they call the 21 mile trail. Amy rode Julie's old bike, "Periwinkle", some call her "Old Blue". When she jumped on she realized that she hadn't even checked the post seat. Fortunately, they are about the same height and it worked beautifully. Julie initiated "Black Betty", her brand new REALLY EXPENSIVE bike! She only had 3 miles on her before the mud bath. Allen- thankfully had all needed equipment for the bike ride when he mounted "Jaquelin". AJ doesn't name his bikes, but we all just call it the "Superfly" because he tears up the trail with amazing speed and power! The bike ride was like being a kid again. Getting as muddy as you possibly could. Mud was kicked up into our faces. Allen couldn't find a clean finger to wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Gritty, muddy water was all we could get out of our camelback straw because it too was completely covered in mud. Mental Challenge: Oh YEAH! I see the transition area! Alright the bike is over! Oh, no the volunteer motions 3 more miles to go before turning into the transition. Boy, that will mess with your mind. To think you are finished and find you still have 3 more miles to go!!!! THE RUN: 6.2 miles to go! Okay this is the final event of this triathlon. Unfortunately, the last leg of a triathlon uses your LEGS!Beware of Muscle Cramps! Have you ever felt the jaws of life clamp down on your quads, hamstrings, and hips? Ouch- that hurts. The body is screaming for an electrolyte balance of sodium/potassium/fluids. So what do you do when your heart and mind want to continue moving forward, but your legs say, "I don't think so?" You keep pushing to the next aid station and suck down a cup of water and a cup of Gatorade. Walk a minute, say a prayer and push through it! Friend you meet on the trail:Julie met Richard, a physical therapist on the run!Amy met up with a guy who was also experiencing muscle cramps and they coached and encouraged each other through the painful episodes.Allen was picked up by 5 mexican children playing in the park when he slid down flat on his back. It was the crocs of course!AJ didn't talk to anyone. He was all about the finish line! 3-5 hours later.....THE FINISH LINE!The moment you have waited for! AAh- how beautiful those flags wave at the finish chute.As Allen approached the finish line, the crowd cheered and the announcer said, "Here comes CROC man!" "He swam with no wetsuit, he rode a single speed mountain bike, "And he ran in crocs." I'll let you guess what color they were? Post Race Bath: How do you get dried mud out of your ears, hair, and clothes when there isn't a public restroom? You have to get back in the lake, of course! Oh, no....not the 50 degree water? YEP! Allen said we couldn't get back into his truck if we didn't get clean first! Post Race Comments and Rewards:AJ commented that is was a waste of time to shave his legs at 4:30am that morning.Julie rewarded herself with a Diet Dr. Pepper. So refreshing!Post Race MEAL- the best part of racing is that you can eat anything you want after a race because you have burned a zillion calories! Olive Garden it is, for bread, salad, pasta and chocolate birthday cake for Julie! If you're wondering....this is the last year of her 30s! The 3 hour ride home. Allen made us listen to his Mexican El Matador music, Julie and AJ slept, Allen laughed at himself as he continued to reflect back at his 6 mile Croc run, and Amy wrote this ridiculous but very true story! All I can say is, "You should have been there!"

8:00pm Arrived back in Hot Springs! Another Great Adventure, join us for the next one! Always fun to be had!

This one was well writen by sister!

Friday, April 17, 2009

APRIL 17, 2009

TODAY IS GOING TO BA A REST DAY, JUST WORKING AT THE BIKE SHOP.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

APRIL 16, 2009

TODAY IS WAS A GOOD DAY...

HAD A FEW CLIENTS THIS MORNING THEN TAUGHT A LIFTING CLASS, RAN ABOUT 4 MILES THEN TAUGHT A SPIN CLASS AT NOON. I HAD A LITTLE BRAKE THEN I RAN WITH KAREN 8 MILES, IT WAS A GOOD RUN...
NOW I AM STARTING TO GET IN RACE MODE.......
SATURDAY, MEMPHIS XTERRA!

APRIL 15, 2009

VERY BUSY TODAY, TWO CLIENTS IN THE AM THEN WORKING AT THE BIKE SHOP.
BAD NEWS TODAY FOR A FRIEND, HE BOUGHT A GARY FISHER SUPERFLY AND HE HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH A HORRIBLE SQUEEKING NOISE, THOUGHT I HAD FIXED IT BUT THEN IT CAME BACK. SO I CALLED FISHER AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAD HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE SLEEVE THAT IS BONDED TO THE BOTTOM BRACKET MOVING. I HAVE TO BRAKE IT DOWN AND SHIP IT BACK, AT LEAST HE IS GETTING A NEW BIKE.

BACK AT THE ZONE BY 4 AND CALOSING AT 8

APRIL 14, 2009

TODAY I'M TEACHING SPIN FOR AN HOUR THEN TRAINING WITH MY GOOD FRIEND KAREN AND DOING HILL REPEATS. KAREN HAS COME ALONG WAY SHE IS DOING AWSOME... SOWE RODE FOR A BIT AND DID A FEW MONSTER HILLS ABOUT 10 MILES WORTH THEN WE RAN OFR 3 MILES DIRECTLY AFTER.
THEN TAUGHT ANOTHER SPIN CLASS LATER THAT EVENING.

GOOD DAY OF TRAINING.

APRIL 13, 2009

ALL I CAN SAY IS REST DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

APRIL 12, 2009


TODAY IS EASTER, TODAY I'AM GOING TO BE BAPTISED, TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY. AND AFTER I WILL BE GOING TO A PARTY IN MY HONOR FOR MY BAPTISM AND BIRTHDAY . SO I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT AND BLESSED DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

APRIL 9, 2009

WELL THE SWIM WENT BETTER THAN I THOUGHT. I GOT TO SWIM 1 1/4 MILES IN ABOUT 48 MINUTES SO I WAS PLEASED.

MEMPHIS HERE I COME!

APRIL 8, 2009

FEELING GOOD TODAY. NOT REALLY TO MUCH GOING TODAY JUST A LITTLE WORK.
NEED TO SWIM IN THE AM TO SEE IF I WILL BE ABLE TO RACE IN MEMPHIS XTERRA. I HAVE NOT SWIMMED IN ABOUT 4-5 MONTHS SO I DON'T KNOW

APRIL 7, 2009

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN BEAT UP, BUT I'M MOVING AROUND VERY GOOD SO NO DAMAGE HAS SET IN.

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY AND MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY MADE IT A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!!!!!!

I HAD TO TEACH 2 SPIN CLASSES TODAY DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, SO I SUCKED IT UP AND DID IT. AND THATS ALL I NEEDED AFTER THOSE CLASSES I FELT ABOUT 90% RECOVERED.

APRIL 6, 2009

TODAY I'AM SORE FROM THE RACE, BUT YOU NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE, BUT VERY TIRED....SO NOT GOING TO RIGHT MUCH.... UNTIL NEXT TIME..............

APRIL 5 ,2009

TODAY IS A BIG DAY FOR ME , I'AM RIDING THE OUACHITA CHALLENGE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE CLASS THAT I WILL BE RIDING IN IS SINGLE SPEED. SO THAT MAKES IT REALLY TOUGH.
SO OF COURSE I HAVE THE PRE-RACE JITTERS, WONDERING WHATS AHEAD OR INSTALLED FOR ME , I HAVE RODE SMALL SECTIONS OF THE TRAIL BEFORE BUT NOT NEAR ENOUGH. RIDING 60 MILES ON THE OUACHITA MOUNTAINS IS INTENSE. THERE WERE TIMES THAT I JUST WANTED TO PUKE, I WOULD ASK MYSELF "WHY AM I DOING THIS TO MYSELF" I KNOW I LOVE THE SPORT BUT GEEZ THIS IS CRAZY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TRAIL TAKE OUT RIDERS LIKE THIS RACE HAS. THERE WRECKS, FALLS, BLOW OUTS, YOU NAME IT , IT PROBABLY HAPPENED.
ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL WAS THE BODING OF THE RIDERS, WE ALL KNEW WHAT WE WERE THER FOR BUT WE ALL KNEW WE NEEDED TO HELP EACH OTHER WHEN NEEDED HELP AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE COOLEST THING EVER...
SO THAT IS A BRIEF BIT ON MY RACE SUNDAY.