my third hip

training today was an interesting experience, as i have a bump on my left hip that is quite warm and about the size of my palm. it is funny how you don't realize how much you use your left hip, elbow, thumb or palm until you can't! i haven't been able to sit back and i can't wait until i can again! i also realize i have a perverse fascination with bruises and scars, and was admiring the one on my palm this morning during the run.

today's bike was a pretty decent 1:25. the first half i was going to do 5-4-3-2-1 but decided to do 5-5-5-5-5 etc. w/ 1 minute break between. does that mean i wasn't pushing hard enough? the second half i got down to a harder gear (is it called a "higher" or "lower" gear?) but tried to keep the rpm's up still. my legs have stopped arguing w/ me about the "right" way to pedal and i am starting to feel like a "real" cyclist rather than an oaf on a bike. we're getting somewhere! not literally, since i have slowed down significantly. good thing i have some time to work on this before the next race.

to assuage my guilt for starting work so late, i put off the run until lunch time but went a little longer than i normally would for a brick. i let my mind wander for a bit during the run to avoid thinking about the heat and the bruise. reading fink's book and talking to people about the IM has gotten me more intimidated, and i need to remember why i'm going to do it in the first place. other than to fill up my time while A is training for it, one of the main reasons i want to try out the IM is because i want to learn to value and respect my body, and enjoy it for what it can do rather than go through the b-s of how it looks. i am quite enjoying this process of becoming more of an athlete in my mind who is more stable and doesn't push herself just to prove something to herself. hurray for no b-s!

A and i are getting really close to finding a convenient and nice place to stay for IMLP, which is a relief to a type A+++++ planner like me. gatorade bob, who did IMLP this year and will be watching next year, will be staying with us. The 3 of us will be staying with this guy matt who has done 2 or 3 IM's at the impressive age of 24, his then-wife and a friend jeremiah. today, matt was telling me that the IM is going to be "fun" and you actually enjoy it while you're doing it. WHAT!!