3 Reasons I’m Training for a Triathlon

Yep, hell has most likely frozen over and possibly you’ve seen a pig flying by recently? Because I, the lazy/nonathletic/my favorite hobby is sleeping/really lazy person, am training for a triathlon!! I get that this a major shock for some of you to believe so I’ll wait here while you sit down and catch your breath. Waiting…

Ok, we’re all good? Great. Now don’t get crazy and think I’m doing an Ironman tri; I’ll be starting with an Olympic Distance. For all the non-tri folks (aka me last last month!), here’s the torture for which I’ve voluntary signed up to do:

1. First you swim 1.5km. Keep in mind the last time I had had swimming lessons was when I was 6.
2. Then you bike 40km. And the last time I had ridden a bike I think I was like…. 12?
3. THEN you run a 10k. AFTER swimming and biking. The last time I ran a 10k was… oh right, never. Nope, not even once. I’ve competed in two 5k runs in my life, can we count them together?

 So, what made me decide to do a triathlon? These three reasons:

1. During our honeymoon, Florian and I realized how much we loved being outdoors. We had way more fun camping in the middle of nowhere than staying at a swanky hotel in a swanky city (Stockholm, I’m referring to you!). I had been looking to discover some hobbies for my life in Switzerland and decided outdoor activities were perfect! And as soon as we came back, I started hiking the “mountain” behind our house (remember this post with all those pictures of me all sweaty at the top??) and loved it. I wanted more.

2. I got some great advice from Dan, my amazing friend Allie’s husband. This dude runs ultra-marathons up mountains and all that kind of kooky stuff. I begged him for the secret to liking running. I confided that I wanted to love running like real runners do, but unfortunately I really, really, really HATED it. And he told me something no other runner had ever said: Nobody runs because they like running while they do it. Wha?? Yep, turns out they love how they feel afterwards, and that I couldn’t argue with. I do like how I feel afterwards. And so, my love affair with exercise could begin because when I hated it, I finally understood that was normal and I was supposed and I was just supposed to suck it up and enjoy later.

Yep, we climbed all of that!!!

3. The timing of my trip to Croatia was incredible. Just as I was discovering I liked to do some exercise outdoors, in came Patrick the triathlon coach who convinced me and Marina that, with a little training, we could definitely cross that finish line! It didn’t hurt that Patrick taught us to swim and gave us an entire training plan to make it a realistic goal. And when Marina and I agreed to train together, even though we live halfway across the world, I loved the idea of being closer to one of my best friends and sharing something together. Then, as if that wasn’t international enough, we asked our friend Stephanie, who regularly competes in tris and currently lives in Tokyo, to motivate us and join our worldwide training! California to Holland to Switzerland to Japan. 

I’m sorta scared and overwhelmed with the training in the months ahead, but at the same time exhilarated and totally pumped. Apparently doing triathlons regularly is sorta a cult activity so pass me the Kool-aid!

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Radio Silence Means I’m Intently Studying My German!

That’s right, folks, I’m back in my grueling routine of 4 hours of intense German classes every day. It’s my fault, really, for having taken so many breaks and then lackadaisically hopping back into the German routine pretending like it would be easy to catch up after months of not practicing. Weird that learning a foreign language isn’t like riding a bike. I mean, I didn’t ride a bike for 10 years and it was no problem to hop back on one in Copenhagen. So, German, why don’t you make sense to me???? I think my husband summed it up best when he posted this on my Facebook wall:

I’m Gaga for Lady Gaga!!! What It Was Like Seeing Her Live In Concert

I admit it, I have a little bit of a girl crush on Lady Gaga. I think she’s crazy, awesome, genuine, heartfelt, imperfect, accepting, and talented. Who else can pull off a meat dress? Or standing up against bullies? Or being one of the people while always rockin’ Christian Louboutin shoes?  But I digress from the important part of the story. Flo and I went to see the Gaga herself live in Zurich!!!!!!! She was amidst the “did Lady Gaga gain 25 pounds and get really fat” scandal at this moment and I have to say, regardless of  her weight, the girl jumped around for 3 hours in 4-inch+ heels and is therefore fit and my hero!

I’m a freakin’ rock star people. And I’m not fat, see?

And for those of you who remember my Halloween costume from a couple of years ago as Gaga from the Telephone video?? Sans blond wig though, because it was eaten moments before we went out by Bella’s BFF, Bonnie Tha Dog. Admittedly, very few people knew who I was dressed up as and thought I was a “chain smoker” (get it? chains. cigarette glasses? Lame, I know).

 

And here’s Bonnie (top), Bella’s BFF who ate my blond Lady Gaga wig.

Ok but anyway, this post is a little ADHD, sorry ’bout that. Back to the concert pics!

Wearing my rockstar lipstick shade

She’s such a creeper, but in a cool way.

Her being “Born This Way”

Someone threw her an Obama mask which she wore for a while and then displayed it while she played her motorcycle piano. Pretty funny.

 

Look at ‘dem cones!

One funny part I forgot to mention earlier… Florian feel asleep DURING the concert! I honestly don’t even know how that’s humanly possible. I understood when he fell asleep at the ballet, but at a rockin’ Gaga concert?? She was screaming “all you rich people get the f*%# up and dance!!” and I looked over and snapped this pic (possibly my favorite of the night).

No joke, he was sleeping. He didn’t know I took the picture until after the concert.

Amazing Beach Vacation in Croatia & Greece? Check!

So… I totally misunderstood the trip to Croatia and Greece. Remember how I wrote about this whole getting-my-butt-in-shape-for-this-tough-hiking-and-backpacking trip I thought I was going on? Well, turns out, I was waaaaaaaaaay off. This was absolutely just a wonderfully relaxing beach vacation, living the leisure lifestyle. Oops, total opposite from what I thought!! I guess I need to start paying a little bit more attention when people talk to me about important things. Next time.

Anyway, we spent some time on the islands in Croatia (a story for another time – I missed seeing Split because my flight was so delayed I missed my connection and had to spend 5 hours overnight in Zagreb). But Vela Luka was so beautiful, really untouched by tourists and loved by the fishermen who made up the small town. After hopping through Croatia and seeing all the hot spots (like Dubrovnik and Ston, where they produce excellent sea salt that we illegally sampled).

After great times in Croatia, we flew over to Athens to get a little more sunshine and see some more touristy sites. The best part of Athens may have been the Hamam we went to (though maybe the best part was flying home hours before tens of thousands of the workers went on strike and they delayed all flights since the personnel weren’t working…). What do you think? I have hundreds more pictures but thought I could boil it down to just a few.

This was possibly the best sunset I’ve ever seen in my life. I kept going on and on about it in awe like the double-rainbow guy.

We swam out to the edge of these waterfalls in a really strong current! But it was worth the view.

And we make excellent tourists if I do say so myself.

I mean, look at those sneakers with white socks!

We did do one crazy-long hike on what I think was the Great Wall of China, replanted in Europe.

So beautiful and blue

With so many beautiful ancient cities

The water was so clear and it was like we always had our own private beaches to swim at.

Can you see the cat eating right off our dinner table?

Beautiful by day and night!

My idea of sunbathing

Where should I go to next?!?!