Two Triathlons And A Birthday

This week I raced in two short sprint triathlons and celebrated my "25th" birthday. Okay, well maybe double that number and subtract two to get my real age, but what's a number, right? I feel better and am stronger now than I ever was in my twenties.

Let me tell you I had the best birthday I've ever had and I mean EVER! How could it not be good when I'm at the beach with my wonderful husband, all my cats, on a gorgeous day, racing in a triathlon and eating cake afterward.

Perfect! 

On Thursday evening I raced in the Portofino Sunset Series triathlon and this morning I raced in the Pensacola Beach triathlon. Both races are sprints meaning short and fast as opposed to long and slower.

Portofino Sunset Series Triathlon - Thursday Evening

Team MPI, a multisport coaching organization, puts on a series of super short sprint races at Portofino Island Resort in Pensacola Beach. They do around 6 to 8 of these from April until August or September. The maximum number of participants is around 60, but there were only about 25 of us last Thursday.

It is a perfect race for beginners who have never done a triathlon or for racers looking for a fast workout. The swim is 300 yds in the Santa Rosa Sound, 7.5 mile bike ride and 1.5 mile run. All fast and flat. It was a lot of fun. I did the race as my cardio for the day instead of my usual "brick" indoor workout at the gym.

It's time to get outside now!

After the race, the Murph and I had dinner and then birthday cake. The Murph told me he wasn't going to eat any of it but changed his mind after he saw me shoveling spoonfuls of it in my mouth. We got the cake at Walmart during our grocery shopping expedition and he was telling the cashier that it was a "one person cake".  I thought he meant me since I was the only one who was going to eat it, but now I'm not so sure who that "one person" was since he was the one who finished it off the other day before I could get another piece of it!

He even ate the other rose! This size cake clearly isn't big enough for the Murph and I.

 Pensacola Beach Triathlon - Saturday morning

This morning I raced in the Pensacola Beach triathlon which was much bigger, but also great for beginners since the swim is only 400 yds and was also in the Santa Rosa Sound behind the restaurant, Flounders instead of being in ocean waters which can sometimes be a little rough.

Transition area for the bikes was across the street from Flounders in the Casino Beach parking lot. The bike was 10 miles heading east going a little past Portofino Island Resort and back. The run was a little over 3 miles.

Pictures in the transition area.

Pictures behind Flounders Restaurant.

The run from Flounders back across the street to Casino Beach was a little tricky since I was running barefoot. I noticed when I got out of the water that the smart people had left flip flops over there to run back in. Oh well, they might not have stumped a toe, but I'm pretty sure it slowed them down!

I'm fumbling around in transition trying to get my running shoes on. I need to work on this!

I placed second in my age group. See the first place finisher in the middle? She looks fast! Four minutes faster than me! She did the race in less than an hour. No way could I have done that at this point. It's too early in training for me!

Overall, I was very happy with my times in both races especially considering my lack of swim training and time on my tri bike.

Right now I'm tired, happy and a year older!

Happy Murph Day!

Tomorrow is the Murph, my fiance's birthday.  You may think this is obvious, but I know exactly how old he's going to be and what year he was born because we had a little disagreement on how old he told me he was when we first met compared to how old he really was.  He insists he told me his true age when we first met and that I just heard him wrong and then when his birthday rolled around and I was wishing him a happy ___ birthday when really it was a happy ____ birthday, he just didn't bother to correct me.

When he finally corrected me, I didn't believe him.  Not only did I not believe him, but he had to whip out his driver's license to prove to me how old he really is.  Then I was left shaking my head and wondering how could I have gotten it so dang wrong!  Seven years wrong!

 We still haven't agreed on exactly how that happened.  He insists he told me his true age, but I'm still a little suspicious.  I guess it doesn't matter at this point since we've been engaged for over a year and I've seen his driver's license now so I know how old he is.  Name and social security number (not really ss#- I just like the way Angelina Jolie says that in Mr. and Mrs. Smith and then Brad Pitt says "no, your not going to kill her.")

We are celebrating the Murph's birthday today.  He's always celebrated it on the 4th of July since he was a kid.  He didn't want a birthday cake and told me if I wanted birthday cake I could get one for me to eat, but he wasn't going to eat it.  I love cake, but this is his birthday, not mine.  The month of May was pig out on cake month because The Boy and I both have May birthdays.

The Murph likes to eat healthier so I decided to make a blueberry pie and homemade ice cream.  Fruit plus calcium.  Healthy, right?  And he loves blueberries and ice cream.  It was the first time I've made blueberry pie so I hope it tastes okay.  The entire house smells delicious. Click for here for pie recipe.

The Murph thinks all those fireworks, bbq's and parties are in honor of his birthday.  I haven't broken the news to him that everyone does those things to celebrate the birthday of our nation, not just his birthday.  He would be absolutely crushed if he knew the truth.

So Happy Murph Day!

Pictures From The Boy's Birthday

Tuesday we took The Boy out to eat for his birthday.  His choice was The Cheesecake Factory which is one of his favorites.  The last time we were there was about this time last year for The Boy's high school graduation.  We had this kind of cake then.

 We passed up on the cheesecakes although they looked yummy, since we had a birthday cake back home.

The Boy still thinks I'm a little weird for taking pictures of the food when we go to restaurants.  He's a good sport about it though.  Even took the camera and got a picture of his own food for me.

I had the Chicken stuffed tortillas my favorite.  I rarely get anything else when we go the the Cheesecake Factory.

The Boy had the burrito.  It was huge so he took some home and had it for lunch the next day.  See he takes good food pictures!

The Murph had an omelet with mushrooms, onions, green peppers and tomatoes.  They serve omelets all day long at the Cheesecake Factory.

The Boy was a little afraid to eat the cake because he wasn't sure if it was a cake or a big, nasty burger.  It looked like a huge hamburger, but it was a cake and was very tasty.   I've had three pieces already.

The guys didn't dress up at all, but I usually do when I go out.  The Murph wore shorts and The Boy wore khaki pants and a t shirt.  It looked like the bottom of his pants legs were all chewed up and his hair is back to the normally wild disarray. <sigh>

Dress:  BCBGMAXAZRIA
Shoes:  Kenneth Cole Reaction
Purse:  Milly

 I wore my newish Kenneth Cole Reaction sandals and a dress from BCBGMAXAZRIA purchased in 2009.  I love sparkly shoes!