Lovin' the weekend!

I'm behind on here and there are so many things I wanted to blog about lately but work has been INSANE so I haven't had the time as well as been really tired when I do.  The stress at work has been adding up over the last 3-4 weeks but this week was the worst and of course it was also taper week which meant I didn't have my normal coping mechanism available, which usually involves running like hell until all the stress (poison) is out of my system.  This is the 1st time I've truly experienced taper madness, usually I'm so tired from my training that I have to admit taper week doesn't make me go all that crazy.

So last weekend I did my first trail run/shuffle it was so fun and beautiful.  It didn't hurt after the first mile once my heart realized it wasn't really going to explode :-) having all the scenery was awesome and distracted me a lot!   We did 4.5 up then back down it was almost 1800 feet in elevation gain and a little chilly at the top.  Took me 2:10 to do it. I plan on adding some trail running to my training plan just because it was so much fun!  My legs were really hurting the next day but that was expected.

Warning if you are a guy you can skip this paragraph! :-)  This weekend is a sprint tri with my dad on Sunday and don't worry we haven't forgotten about mother's day we have something special planned, or do we?  (She likes to keep up with my blog so I'll have to be vague)  Anyway I had this whole race strategy written on my mirror with dry erase marker and then got thrown for a loop.  It's supposed be raining and I've never ridden my tri bike in the rain so it makes me a little nervous.  Also my body has been all outa whack and it decided it should be that time of month right now!!!  Let's just hope I don't have a repeat of Ironkids when I was just 12 years old.  If you happened to listen to my dad's pre race interview that I posted here you would have heard him elude to this incident.  It was traumatizing for a 12 year old girl to go through.  I was racing Ironkids nationals and when I crossed the finish line a kind woman came up and asked me where my parents were.  I said I didn't know.  She then asked me if I had a change of clothes I had to say no my parents would have it.  Then she had to point out why she was asking and I looked down to see a soaked t-shirt and bathing suite (and let's just say it wasn't from the pool water) I can't remember if I was in instant tears or not but I do remember thinking I was justified in feeling so horrible during the race!!!  But I've grown up and I've learned how to use a tampon :-) but I'm more concerned with being fatigued during the race!!!

Ok enough girly stories and more pretty pictures.  Good luck to everyone racing this weekend my race plan is simply going to be to GIVE IT H - E - double hockey sticks and not worry about what the race gods throw at me!


Don't forget about my giveaway here!

Tribute Sport Giveaway!

I got a package this weekend and look what was in it!!

Tribute Sport was kind enough to send me some samples of their jewelry and I couldn't keep it all to myself now could I?  So let's do another giveway!  I'll draw two winners for one of the above pictured running inspired necklaces.

Let's keep it simple to be entered you just need to do 2 things and most of you have already done one of them.

Go to FB and "Like" my Cautiously Audacious page then go on over and "Like" Tribute Sports page.  Leave 1 comment (here on my blog) telling me you've done both of these and you are entered!!

Now of course you can earn some bonus entries.
+1 if you share this giveaway
+1 if you go to Tribute Sport's webpage and tell me what your favorite item is they have more than just jewelry!

So you could leave 3 comments total if you want to maximize your chances :-)

I will announce the winner on Friday May 18, 2012.

On a totally separate note look what my dog does as I'm hauling her food inside!!

My question is if she thinks it smells so good and can't wait to get a hold of it as she follows me through the house then why when I tell her "go eat" is she so stubborn?  Lately I've had a hard time getting her to eat I've had to start adding water and that helps for a while. :-)  She's just high maintenance...

Scary pool bacteria or chlorine?

Which would you prefer too much chlorine in a pool or scary bacteria?   The other day as I was swimming and about half way through I noticed my lips felt numb and that the taste of chlorine in my mouth was HORRIBLE and I thought hmmm maybe they should dial it back a notch on the chlorine.  And NO I was not drinking the pool water I promise.  But then I started thinking back to my taper before my last IM and how I got this awful staph infection and the doctor said I probably got it while swimming!!  I also remembered a rumor going around town that another local pool had some flesh eating bacteria AHHHHHH!!!  So I happily swam in the heavily chlorinated water.

"But Natasha you didn't tell us the whole story what happened during your IM taper?"  Oh ok I can tell you the whole story.  I wasn't a blogger yet at the time of my last IM so the only thing I documented was a few major training mile stones and the actual event.  So about 2-3 weeks out from my IM I noticed a "zit" on my forehead and was bugged but just ignored it.  Then a while later on a work trip doing the back stroke in the hotel pool I hit my head REALLY hard against the wall, due to no flags to warn me!!  Well that night I felt really woozy and thought I might not wake up tomorrow and no one would know for several days!!  Then I went and took the Do Not Disturb sign off the door I figured that way the cleaning lady would find me.  Well against all my paranoid theories I still woke up but when I looked in the mirror I was shocked to see that my entire face was swollen and other parts were too (any area that had lymph nodes) and that "zit" on my forehead was way bigger and more like an open wound now.

I made the flight home with a co-worker who made sure I didn't pass out and bonk my head in the airplane :-)  Yes I looked that bad he was that scared for me, it was really awkward having someone you didn't know very well stare at you for 3 hours!  When I had made it to the Doctor the 1st guy gave me the wrong antibiotics and it just kept getting worse.  The 2nd guy gave me a different set of pills along with a topical antibiotic.  It turns out I had a staph infection that got into my skin probably in the pool via a small cut on my forehead and because I didn't know what it was and I ignored it for too long it almost went septic!!!  The Doc tried to tell me I wouldn't be able to do the IM and I cried in the lobby for a long time until a concerned patient asked me if I was ok and then I left.  Turns out he let me do the IM but I had to wear a TON of sunscreen because the antibiotics I was on made me really sensitive to the sun.

So it turns out once you've had this you are more prone to getting it again.  So every once in while I see it forming on my forehead and I immediately put the topical antibiotic on it and it goes away.  I also don't wear make up on those days and scare my coworkers but it's a small price to pay.  :-)  I always get sick on tapers for Olympic distance triathlons or longer but this was one of the worst!!!

Have you had an awful taper story?  Do you not ever get sick during your taper?

Too cute not to share!

I didn't have anything in particular to say today but this was too cute to not share :-)

Just the best photos of dogs in the poolA FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER IN CALIFORNIA DECIDED TO TAKE A FEW OF HIS FURRY FRIENDS, BALL AND A HIGH RESOLOUTION UNDERWATER CAMERA, HERE ARE THE RESULTS ENJOY!!!

      

Over the Edge for Special Olympics!

When they first approached me at work to do this I thought it sounded great but that with Ironman training in full effect this season I should wait until next year to do it.  Then they said they would do the fundraising for me so I thought sure why not.  I posted the page and let them know it was up and ready to go.  Then unfortunately they had to come back and tell me it was against policy to help with outside fund raisers and couldn't sponsor me.  In the mean time I had already committed to the organization and had my 1st donation.  So I didn't want to back out now!  So I'm on my own with limited time but I will give it my all and try my best to do the event and fundraising!



What is the event you ask?
Overcome a challenge in your life so Special Olympics athletes can overcome the challenges in theirs. Looking for an adventure of a lifetime that will also change the world for the better? Well look no further!  Watch our video!!

HUB International and SONM presents the 4th annual "Over the Edge" event. Join dozens of fellow thrill seekers as they go “Over the Edge” of a 16-story building in downtown ABQ, all to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

My Story

After hearing Randy Mascarello and Tim Harris from Special Olympics New Mexico (SONM), speak at the 2012 SHRM New Mexico Conference, I was inspired and wanted to show my support for Special Olympics.


“Oh Yeah!” Tim prompted the entire room at the conference to yell this out every time he did to celebrate each accomplishment he spoke to us about. As we heard him recount his participation in the Special Olympics and I saw him beam with excitement, I found myself joining in “Oh Yeah!”

Starting at 8 years old running my 1st mile race up through my first Ironman Triathlon finish a few years ago, sports has taught me lessons that I have carried with me throughout my life. When asked “Why do you do endurance sports?” by people who look at me like I’m crazy, I usually answer “I do it because I can, and I think of those who can’t.” One of my favorite quotes is “You can quit and no one will care, but you will always know.”


The look in Tim’s eyes told me that Special Olympics meant to him as much as my Ironman finish has meant to me. Repelling off a tall building sounds scary and challenging, but it’s a challenge I would love to take it on to help others be able to know what it feels like to be part of something special and to build the confidence in those athletes that compete in these events. If just one more Special Olympics Athlete gets to yell “Oh Yeah” and beam with pride, then I am all in.

Any help is greatly appreciated please help me spread the word!  Thanks in advance! Please visit my Personal Fundraising Page. I am proud to be an athlete and to do what I can to help others participate in sports.


Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts.


Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!