Skipping Rocks

Memory Lane

2012-01-25T23:14:00.000-08:00

Sudden Memories. It's funny how the smallest thing can set your mind into a 30-second memory rerun. Maybe it's a song you just heard, something someone just said or even a stupid photo on pinterest. I had a few memories pop up this week.

I recently had a conversation with my mom about my first car. It was a 1981 Buick. A brown beast that ran on diesel gas and had a clock with a second hand. It was plush though, the most comfortable car I've owned. Our car conversation made me think of my high school best friends, Melissa and Jackie. Since there was three of us we could never decide who would sit in the back. (Yes, we were that tight that we did not want to be separated.) So even though we all had our licenses we typically would ride in my car because we could fit three in the front seat. Not only was there enough room and it was comfortable but there was three seat belts too. I miss that car. I miss our "notebook" we shared... basically one ongoing note to one another. I miss Skittles.

Earlier in the week I saw a photo of a swing by water. Just for a moment I went back to that one crazy day I had in high school where I decided to skip my stupid math class to go to the river with my friends. The guys had found a rope swing. We spent just a quick hour or so swinging away, jumping into the river. Of course we knew we were having fun... I mean we were skipping out on algebra. I never knew how fond of a memory that day would end up being though. I think about that rope swing often.

I can't think of Christy's last name. ....Wait... Yoder! It literally just came to me. She popped into my head the other day because I saw a huge pile of undies. I was a Freshman on the swim team. Lucky for me I had been swimming since I was six so I was good and I was automatically on Varsity. I had a Varsity locker with a Freshman sense of organization and cleanliness....or maybe laziness. For morning practice I would show up in my sweats, change into my suit and leave the pair of underwear I was wearing on the top shelf. I brought a clean pair of underwear to change into after swim practice. Day after day this happened. I never brought my "top-shelf" underwear home with me. Eventually I had quite the stock of undies. My dear friend Christy thought it would be hilarious to throw all my underwear out by the entry way into the school. The entrance where just about EVERYONE came into the school building. Christy and I were actually good friends, this was not some sort of Freshman initiation. Of course I was embarrassed but the two of us died laughing, tears rolling down our eyes, as I walked around picking up every last pair of underwear. By the time I was a Sophomore I had a different plan and my underwear came home with me every night.

Today one of my girls came out of the locker room gushing about her first kiss. I know what your thinking, I'm going to tell you about my first kiss. Nah- my first kiss was in Kindergarten while I was playing "Cops and Robbers" with Brian. (Okay, so I told you a little bit about my first kiss.) I didn't think of my first kiss, or my 10th kiss or even my first kiss as a high school student. No, for some reason the memory that rushed into my head was my first kiss with Tracy, my high school boyfriend from Junior year. It must have been the weather that triggered this memory. I remember it had to be at least January in Indiana. Or at least cold enough where there was snow on the ground. We were at some sort of park... with a hill. (Not a big hill, this is Indiana.) We we're flirting, naturally. And I just remember being pressed up against his car... his car that literally looked like a yellow egg. We kissed. It was a good kiss.

I guess all my memories right now are from High School. It doesn't surprise me, I spend my afternoons with high school kids. Sometimes I'm taken back at the thought that I'm...I'm like an adult now. I am in charge of 17 kids in two swim lanes. I tell them how to swim and that they shouldn't eat Chicken McNuggets before practice. I get texts that explain they can't make it to practice because they went to Urgent Care for a knee problem. I'm an adult. I own a business. People actually pay me money to document one of their biggest days of their life. I'm an adult. When did that happen?

Even though I'm an adult (which I still have to remind myself that I'm an adult even at a ripe age of 29) I will always have my memories. They keep me young at heart. Seriously, all I want to do is find that rope swing and have another jump.

Skipping,
Aubrie

Eleven to Twelve

2012-01-03T10:59:00.000-08:00

The first week of January is always bittersweet. A lot of people, including myself, tend to look back at the year that has passed with sweet memories most of which will never occur again. We also look towards the year to come with anticipations, goals and a hopeful heart that we can top the previous year.

I had a great year and I wanted to recap some of my favorite moments. Of course doing it in a list fashion, because I dig lists. A lot of people go with "Top 10" but I find it only appropriate to do my list of "Top 11" moments for 2011... in no particular order....

1. Memorial Day Camping Trip. Not only was the camping trip a lot of fun but we met some lovely people at this camping trip that are now dear friends.

2. State Champs! My first year coaching high school swimming was a lot of fun. To be honest I really had nothing to do with our boys winning state, but I was happy to be part of the team and I was very proud of Adam (head coach) and our hard-working boys.

3. Nutcracker. At the ripe age of 29 I finally saw my first performance of the Nutcracker. David and I watched the Oregon Ballet perform this wonderful Christmas tradition at the Keller auditorium.

4. 3-Year-Anniversary. We might not have done anything HUGE for this anniversary but just having another year with my wonderful husband is grand enough to be on this list.

5. Hawaii. David and I took a trip to Kauai in March with my parents. It. Was. Awesome.

6. Triathlon. I competed in my first sprint triathlon.

7. La Grande. We celebrated 4th of July in La Grande with friends, wine tasting, steak dinner, hiking and fireworks.

8. Josh Radin. I love him and his concerts. The Starks and I saw Josh perform in March at the Crystal Ballroom. Always a good time... Josh Shot.

9. 1859. This year was a big year for my editorial work. December 2011 was actually my first publication in this magazine... July was my first photo story and coming up....

10. Eagle Lake. My husband got his first full taste of summer in Indiana. My favorite part was spending the day at my uncle's lake house. We celebrated my nephew's first birthday, went jet-skiing and I went tubing with my sister. It reminded me of past summers in Indiana and was a great time spent with the best family ever.

11. Carpet! Ahhhh, we finally got new carpet in our house. It looks and smells so much better. :)

I am looking forward to 2012. Every year brings new memories to cherish and new goals to check off your list. I have a few of each in mind so to go with the mantra I have for this blog post I thought I would write a list of 12 things I'm either looking forward to or that I would like to accomplish this year.

1. Turning 30!!! Maybe I'm not looking forward to turning 30 and saying goodbye to my 20's (because my 20's were spectacular) but I think the celebration will probably be a good one this year. ;)

2. Swimming. I joined a masters swim team, The Barracudas. I am excited to be on a swim team again, to get back into shape and to race in a few swim meets this year.

3. Family Visit. This is actually happening in less than a week... my mom and my aunt Lee Ann are coming for a week to visit. It should be a fun girl time... and interesting too because it's January and you have to creative with things to do in Portland in the winter.

4. Drive Better. My husband will probably poop his pants when he reads this. I would like to allow myself enough time to get to my location and not be in such a rush that I drive like a ding-bat.

5. Pinterest. What? I can't have a goal involving the latest and greatest website? LOL! Seriously though I think the site allows to create, make, bake, purchase or do a lot of things that maybe you wouldn't think of yourself. So my goal is to do 12 things that I find from Pinterest.

6. Triathlon. I would like to compete in another triathlon or maybe even try an aquathon out as well.

7. Crazy Love. It's a book my sister got me for Christmas. I'm going to read it.

8. Chicago Wedding. My college best friend is getting married in Chicago this July. I'm excited to witness this great occasion and be at a wedding in the middle of the summer that I'm not responsible for the photography. To sit back and relax during a wedding is an odd thing but I'm looking forward to it. (Plus another trip to the windy city!)

9. Rafting! David and I have two types of rafts/boats. One is a blow-up kayak and the other is a raft-boat type of deal. Anyway I would like to actually put them in the water and use the heck out of them this summer! Plus I would like to go white water rafting this year (Rogue??)

10. Roads. My Oregon map looks better and better every year. This year I have a few specific roads I would like to mark off. Highway 228-20 starting in Sweet Home and going to Black Butte Ranch area is one and the other is Highway 126 staring in Springfield and going to Belknap Springs area.

11. 1859! ...and my first Front Cover! My first front cover will come out in January, it should be on the stands any day now. I'm looking forward to seeing the magazine and of course shooting this whole year with 1859.

12. Magazines/Photo Biz. I would like to get into at least one more major magazine this year. I really enjoy the work that the Columbia Gorge magazine produces and Sip NW magazine. Those two are both on my list for sure. Do you think Sunset magazine is ready for this girl yet? I am looking forward to this year with my photography business. It's growing and it's making more money- yay. I had 6 weddings booked before the new year and I hoping to grab a few more. It's going to be a great year in the photo world!

About WHAT?

2011-12-03T17:01:00.001-08:00

Why is it easier to just write when it's a blog rather than starring at a "New Document" from Word. It's like this blank white screen looking back at you and saying "Ya.. I'm waiting...Show me what you got." The blank white screen sits empty. Obviously this was the case for me...it was the case like 10 seconds ago and then I decided to open up a blog post and here I am typing away.

It's probably because this doesn't really matter. I mean I could type about kittens on this thing and it's not going to affect a single thing. What I am trying to write is my "About" page for my website/business. Writing about myself is the easiest subject as far as gathered information but it's the hardest topic to write about because it's personally connected. Sure, I can write all day long on random things that I enjoy. Like... have you seen the Big Bang Theory? It's hilarious. I don't really think my clients want to know what television shows I find amusing though.

What do they want to know? Or better yet... what do I want them to know? What points do I want to get across to them so they understand my photography better. What do I want them to read so that they can decide if what I will provide to them will fit what they want. I am selling photography and that's the first thing they'll look at, sure, but I am also selling me. So I need to provide information about me that's relevant to my photography. I'm not really interested in telling them that I have a B.A. in Photojournalism or that I am a member of WPJA or that I've never won any big awards. (Of course we're going to leave that last part out.) I'll mention the first two things but that's not what I want them to understand. I want them to read about my style, I want them to read about my personality. I want those two things to mesh with the photographs they see on my blog/website.

I'd like to tell them that by hiring me you've just purchased a story teller. I want to tell their story. If they are a happy-go-lucky couple that can't stop laughing, then I want to capture that. If they grew up on a farm in Oregon and love riding tractors with their fiance, then I want to show that. If their little girl is so spontaneous and can't sit down for anything then I don't want to make her sit down... and I want them to know that before they hire me. I don't want to sound harsh though when I explain how I shoot. I mean how do I tell someone; "We should take your newborn photos at your house because that's your baby's first home, not a studio. I don't care that your baby room is not properly decorated to fit Martha Stewart's standards. This is you. This is your home. This is your life, your story. Let's document it in a fun and heart-warming way. Let's capture you...not a page out of a magazine." If I said just that- would that sound too crash?

I want my "about" page to have two categories. The first is my photography and the second is me. So I'm trying to figure out what exactly I need to say to portray myself in the correct manner so that they get me and yet still feel like I'm a professional. I mean I'm not stuffy or very bossy... in fact I'm very easy-going. I want them to know that because that will never change. But I don't want them to get the idea that I am so happy-go-lucky that I won't pay attention to what is going or that I'm too flighty that I will miss something big. I want them to know that I will give direction to a point... but I'm never going to over pose them because that's not me.

Hmmmm.... should I return back to my empty word document? *Sigh*

Sinking,
Aubrie

5 Random Things You Did Not Need To Know

2011-11-27T22:21:00.001-08:00

Hmmmm... I don't have a lot to say. But I did want to say these 5 random things...

1. I don't understand why companies use extremely thin and tall models to show us clothes we should buy for ourselves. Especially when most women are about 5'4-5'7. Why can't we get models that are similar to our size so that we could actually tell if the clothes will look good on us or not.

2. I am feeling very crafty and DIY lately. Of course I haven't done anything crafty yet... but I keep coming up with all these crazy ideas. For instance- I want to redecorate my entire house using only things I currently own now or can find for free. I blame Pinterest for this idea.

3. I have a very good feeling that I will be doing some type of photography project for 2012. (Think back to 2010 with my "52 Weeks of Photography.) I've had a lot of ideas... one of my ideas that keeps coming up is "85 Images with my 85mm." We'll see what I come up with... but I am already looking forward to doing another project like that. If you would like to check out a "recap" of my 52 Weeks I did in 2010 click here.

4. So you go on a diet... then you miss all your food and have a major cheating weekend/s in a row... then you miss the diet and can't wait to get back to eating rabbit food again. Interesting how that works, yes?

5. Yoga! Go to yoga,Aubrie. It's good for you. In fact... go tomorrow at 8:00 AM. Or ELSE!

Style II, This Time It's Personal

2011-11-14T22:39:00.001-08:00

Figuring out a style and a brand for your company has a lot to do with figuring out your personal style. Who knew, right? Actually it makes perfect, common sense. How can you be successful at something that isn't truly you?

I don't know if it was fate or perfect timing or pure irony but over the last couple of months I've thought about my personal style a lot. I wasn't trying to figure out what type of shoes fit me best or what color of eye shadow suits me, but more so I was trying to figure out everything I like, everything I stand for and be completely, 100% okay with it. I wanted to not care what others thought about my style. (...Eyeshadow colors included.)

Let me give you a perfect example. I love country music. And for some odd reason I feel like the majority of Portland'ers don't. Which is probably true. During the summer months (my favorite time to blast country tunes) I would have to drive with my window down...actually I shouldn't say "I HAVE" to because unless it's 95 degrees or hotter I would choose to. I don't have AC though and even on those hot days my window would be rolled down. When I would drive either downtown or maybe out in the Alberta district or even into the parking lot of Olive Garden I would either turn down my country tunes or I would change the channel. My thought was, even though I enjoy that music, that I wouldn't fit into the Portland-style if they heard it. I actually believed that people would judge me because I liked country music.

It sounds really immature actually. And it was. Which is why I've been dwelling on silly things like that and coming to the conclusion that I really shouldn't care if I don't fit into some one's style. So what if I am not a hipster or I don't have 10 tattoos or that my husband and I love to sing to Rascal Flatts. I think focusing on my personal style and being completely okay with me will help me focus on my photography style and be completely okay with how I photograph, how I edit and how I present my photos. Maybe I should make a list of things I like, things I enjoy and tell the world (or, eh, the people who read this) that I am completely okay with my style and if you don't like it well then.... _ _! (Next blog post perhaps.)

I had a color scheme in mind that I wanted for my business. It included some sort of beige/brown/natural concept. I had the designers at 99designs use those types of colors for my logo. The other day I was thinking about my personal style as I compare it to my photography style. I looked around my house and noticed some of my favorite things lying around, I thought about my favorite comforter on our bed and then I noticed the colors in my living room and even my shower curtains. My personal color preference is actually very clear. It's clear in how I decorate, what I wear and...yes...even in my eye shadow colors.

So the above photos are all from my house. Thank God I stuck with my gut on my logo and picked a logo that represented a color scheme that fits me. I like brown. I like natural hues. I like "burnt sierra"and "cadmium burnt light" and maybe some "yellow ochre." (You can looks all those up they are colors.) I like the colors for me, I like the colors for my business and I like the colors in photographs.

Now I have to put an "absolute" argument in here to be fair. I know that not everything is absolute and I know that my style has some give in take. I mean just because I like natural tones does that mean that I can't own a pair of bright red shoes? Because I do. Just because I love country music, does it mean that I can't listen to Band of Horses or Joshua Radin or Led Zeppelin? Because I do. (In fact I just listed three of my all time favorite bands.) Does that mean that if someone wants to do a family shoot with me and their favorite color is bright purple and they dress their entire family in bright purple clothes that I won't photograph them? Of course not! Actually being absolute is not my style. I like change, I like to keep my life bouncing. I change my hairstyle constantly and I have 6 different radio stations that are WAY different from one another. However, I do still strongly believe in knowing your "majority" style and allowing that to work for you while not being afraid to embrace something different from time to time.

The other night I was brain storming with words and phrases by thinking about what I like and what I see (for the most part) in my photographs. These are the words I came up with:

Real. Light. Natural. Outdoors. Adventure. People. Straightforward. Pure.Capture. Bright. Simple.Candid.Laughter. Country. Places. Raw. Genuine.Luminous. Fun.Nature.Document.Relaxed.

With those words I came up with a few phrases that help me think about my photography style. For instance "bright, light and luminous" describe my overall look of a photo. And I think I'm finally starting to be okay with the fact that I like my photos well-lit. I like to see their faces, I like to see what is around them and my shots are usually brighter than they are darker. (With the exception of silhouettes, which I love...silhouettes just means that the background is well-lit.) I love looking at photographs that are smoky and dark and sexy. But that's not really my style and I'm not very good at pulling it off. Again, with the absolute, does that mean I won't seize a chance to document a darker, deep photo? Probably not. But if I like it bright and lit than that's what I'll do most of the time. Here are a few more phrases:

I will photograph what happens and will not falsify an image.

I will not over edit or re-touch too much so that a person/place looks fake.

I will allow my subjects to be relaxed and have fun.

I will not be stuffy or over-posed. (I don't photograph models.)

I will capture people and places with natural light or I will add light so that the photo is illuminated and bright.

I will try to find clean backgrounds and not over-complicate my image.

I will tell there story, the whole story and will not be too intrusive.

I like to take photographs in the country.

I like my subjects to bee well-lit.

I like real smiles and genuine laughter.

It's funny when I think about these statements and then I think about photographs that I have taken in the past that stand-out to me or that are my favorite.. They (for the most part) fit into a lot of those statements above. Check this- my favorite engagement shoot that I did this year was with a couple that was a lot of fun, very genuine and just relaxed. We did their shoot out in the country, I used A LOT of natural light. And when you check this shoot out, don't forget to think about my color scheme. Check it out... Engagement Shoot.

Interesting, huh? I booked a wedding this week. The client told me that it was between me and one other photographer. I won the battle. Not sure why and I probably won't find out why. We talked about their engagement shoot and I asked where they would like to do the shoot. She answered "my fiance's grandparents have a big farm out in the country, we'd like to do it there." "Perfect." I thought to myself. She made the right choice for a photographer.

Skipping,
Aubrie

Style- Part I

2011-11-10T23:40:00.001-08:00

Believe it or not I am up late again waiting on something...not a television show this time though. I am actually waiting on my dishwasher to finish. No, not to dry them and put them away. I'd be warm in my sheets right now if that was the case. I need a certain dish to put my turkey/bean chili in for lunch tomorrow. I know what your thinking... why didn't I put on my 50's underpants and wash the dish by hand? That's actually a good question. A very good question. And to be honest I guess I didn't think about that until I started telling you that I'm waiting on my dishwasher. Maybe subconsciously I wanted to waste time on the web again. I did play with Pinterest, geesh! And now here I am blogging again. I'm seeing a trend.

So what's on the docket tonight? More regrets? No sir. Something totally different and yet I guess you could say it's still part of "figuring oneself out," which I am sure understanding your regrets falls into that category as well.

Style: "a particular kind, sort or type, as with reference to form, appearance or character."

Style and branding are the two things on my mind tonight. I have a feeling that I will use my personal blog to explore this so that I can apply it to my professional life and photography business. Let's face it- I can't discuss what type of photography style or what my "brand" is all about on my photo blog. My clients would wonder what in the world I'm doing. You're probably wondering what in the world I'm doing too. I mean if you know me at all you know that I've had a photography business for years now. So why would I concern myself with style and branding right now? Well basically because I did my photography business back-asswards! I had a photojournalism degree...skipped town and headed off to the West Coast and somehow got involved with wedding photography...which turned into portrait photography...which led shortly to sport photography (what?)... and then finally I landed with a business called "Capturing Grace Photography" where if you go to my website you'll see that I literally have 6 different portfolios (weddings, families, engagements, seniors, editorial, landscapes.)

So you're thinking that this is where I tell you that I have narrowed down my photography and that I will only be shooting ______________. Wrong.

I made my own quote up the other night (I hope it becomes famous one day- like where you'll see it painted on weird wood and then you'll see a photo of it and then people will pin it. ya.) ...Damn. I don't think I can remember it now. Okay... I don't remember the first quote, but I do remember what I ended up with (I geared it more towards my actual website/business.) "My passion is photography, my focus is you." In other words I don't want to JUST be a wedding photographer. But, at that moment, when I am shooting a wedding that's what I want to be focused on, you, my client. I don't want to JUST photograph families, but you better believe that when I am that I will be passionate about them.

I get why I am suppose to have a focus, a style, a brand. I get that if I focused on one genre of photography that I might have quicker success. (Who wants fast success? I love having two side jobs. That was an ironic joke, just in case you missed that.) But quite frankly, I don't care. Because my passion is truly photography. Photography is complex, it's involved, it has genres and each genre has a category and each category has a style and each style has different manipulations. I love it all. I love landscapes- like mountain photos that you say "wow" when you see it. I love black and white prints. I love "art" photography even if it's weird. I love Polaroids. I love people. Hell, I even like animal photography. I could do with out kittens and go more towards Polar Bears and Moose though. I don't stop into a lot of art galleries unless they have photographs. I don't buy books that have horrible images on the front covers. I can't handle seeing empty frames in people's houses. In fact when I do, I offer up one of my photographs to fill it until they print whatever was suppose to go in that frame. I love photography. So with all that said, I'm not going to fill in that blank.

I am however, going to narrow it down a little. So here is my large "focus." People & Places. I know, I know, that covers a lot. But- I did leave out Things. I will not do product or commercial photography. When I speak of "Editorial" photography, to me that does not include commercial. Although in the large scheme of things commercial could be listed under Editorial. I still am not going to do commercial photos or products. Editorial, to me, means that it's going to publish in something tangible that people read, like magazines.

People: engagements/weddings and families. Notice anything? I dropped senior portraits. I like doing them, but let's face it, I'm not a studio. I don't get a lot of business doing seniors and even though there are some cool kids out there that want unique shots from an on-site location session...their parents don't. lol. That might not really be the case. However I think weddings, engagements and families are enough to fill that love for people photography.

Places: I will never not photograph landscapes or "pretty pictures." It's what got me into photography and it's what I'll die doing.

Editorial is a combination of both people and places. (That's probably why it's my favorite.) So I am trying to focus a lot on the editorial side of photography right now. Keeping fingers crossed and knees to the ground that some more magazines (like 1859) ask me to photograph for them.

PHEW! I actually went off track a little. I thought I would talk more about my actual photography style- I even picked out words and phrases and all sorts of random crap to share. But atlas my dishwasher is done and I need to hit the sheets. I guess this was good because I finalized what type of photography I will focus on. My next blog post I can wrap my head around my actual "style" that I will do/use. Until next time...

Skipping,
Aubrie

Regrets & Randomness

2011-11-08T23:40:00.000-08:00

So I am waiting for David Letterman's show tonight. No, I don't typically do this. However when both guests intrigue me are on one show than I guess I'll burn the midnight oil. The first guest is purely for pleasure- Robert Pattinson. Yes, I read all the Twilight books and I've seen all the movies. But I also enjoy his music and all of his other movies as well. Plus he's funny. The second guest is Annie Leibovitz one of the most famous photographers of our time. It will be very interesting to see what her and David (Ball State is his alma mater by the way) chat about.

Instead of sitting in front of the tube I thought I would waste my time else where. It seems like only once in a great while I get the chance to simply play on the Internet. You know, scan through pins, read blogs and post blogs (like this one). So that's exactly what I'm doing. That Pinterest is addicting!

*******

So this is one of those posts that are random. Just so you know.

I've had a few thoughts today. Like... who watches Jerry Springer? I mean, really? I would like to meet that person who still watches that ridiculous show and....slap them.

*******

I had an ex boyfriend that once told me something about not having regrets. I wish I could remember the exact "quote" he used, but I can't. I wonder if he regrets breaking-up with me? (ironic-humor for you.) Anyway I can't help to at least think about a few things that I regret. And I'm not talking about the type of regret that makes me sick to my stomach but I do wonder how my life would have changed if _________ fill in the blank.

______ Fill in the blank: I regret not swimming my senior year. I was voted to be captain by EVERYONE and my coach made that perfectly clear to me. Yet I decided that my swimming career was finished, probably because I started when I was six and my body was done. Instead I was motivated by my softball team winning state my junior year...I sat on the bench for that game. I was not going to sit on the bench for any game my senior year. So my dad and I spent the winter pitching in a gym. I have mixed feelings about my decision. I probably should have fought through my senior year and swam... not for me, but for my team. But I also had some bonding time with my dad that year. I don't think the decision I made affected my future. I didn't do either sport in college so I'm pretty sure that "regret" had no affect on where I am today or where I could have been tomorrow.

_____ Fill in the blank: The other regret I think about from time to time is moving to Portland, Oregon right out of college. I had an internship at the Muncie Star Press as a photojournalist. I did the internship to graduate. What I should have probably done is sought out another internship...anywhere. Most photojournalists have more than one internship and they move around a lot in the beginning of their career. I moved. Once. To Oregon. It sounds like I regret my move to Oregon and that couldn't be further from the truth. I LOVE OREGON. But I wonder if my photography career would look a lot different if I would have ventured into another internship. The thing about this regret is I'm almost positive that it would have impacted my life and I would not be where I am today. Which means I wouldn't be married to David. And that thought in itself is enough to tell me that I shouldn't regret that decision at all.

*******

I want to come up with a new product to "display" wedding photos. The journalist side of me wants to create some sort of publication that is all about the couple and their wedding day. I'm thinking like a magazine-type layout. With an actual word story and (of course) a lot of photographs. A wedding-zine. Hmm... I'll have to think it through. Don't steal my idea now. -Copyrighted! lol

Skipping,
Aubrie

The 17 Day Diet

2011-10-18T23:21:00.000-07:00

Well I talk about losing weight on here more than I talk about a lot of things. It's one of those things that is obviously important to me yet a constant struggle. I am hoping that this attempt at healthy living (attempt #174) will stick and work!

David kept talking to me about his co-worker that lost a lot of weight, he used a healthy diet, followed a book, it's from a Doctor, blah, blah, blah. I honestly only listened because it was my husband speaking not because the topic interested me. I had no idea he was serious about doing the diet himself. I hear the word "diet" and automatically assume it's bad for you because of all the fad diets that are out there. Well when David asked me when I was going to get the book for him (a week before his birthday, hint, hint) I decided to make a run down to Powell's bookstore.

The 17 Day Diet. Seriously the title sounds awful and the book looked awful... it was bright pink. Ew. I opened it and started reading bits and pieces. To my shock I was totally hooked and thought that A-it was healthy and B- might actually work.

After opening the lovely present (I got him some manly gun-shooting-thing too) and reading through the first couple of chapters we decided to start the diet on Monday the 17th. My first day on the diet I go into Olive Garden for my dinner shift. I'm prepared to stare at pasta, bread sticks and desserts and serve them to people who will enjoy them. I was not prepared for our managers to bring in huge Costco muffins and Halloween cookies. Ugh! I prevailed though and I did not have one bite of those delicious muffins.

So you're probably wondering how the diet works... or at least what the catch is- like do we eat kale shakes for every meal for 17 days straight. YES! Okay, no. That's gross and I would never do that.

There are four cycles of 17 days. The first cycle is called "Accelerate" and to quote the book exactly the accelerate cycle is "the rapid weight loss portion, which helps flush sugar and fat storage from your system." Dave and I can eat plenty of lean proteins (fish, canned tuna, chicken breasts, turkey breasts, ground turkey, eggs) and all the cleansing vegetables we want. (The list is huge- basically think of everything except starchy veggies, avocados and beans.) We eat two servings of low-sugar fruit (apples, berries, oranges, peaches, pears, grapes, etc.) and two servings of probiotic foods (low fat yogurt, kefir, etc.) We are suppose to drink A LOT of water (of course) and a lot of green tea. Thank God coffee (1-2 cups) is allowed. You can see what is missing... bread, carbs, sugars, desserts... and wine!

The second cycle is called "Activate." The activate cycle is "the metabolic restart portion, with alternating low and high calorie days to help shed body fat." No, I do not get to eat cupcakes all day one day and then return to my salad with vinegar and oil dressing the next. On my "higher" calorie days I get some different proteins (not for every meal) for instance we can have shellfish or lean cut of steak/pork for dinner. We can also have some starchy veggies, legumes and natural starches. On the "lower" calorie days we go back to the accelerate menu.

The third cycle is called "Achieve" which the books says this is a "phase that involves learning to control portions and introducing new fitness routines." Oh, I forgot to mention that during this diet he asks that you work out for 17 minutes a day... even if it's just a brisk walk. The fourth cycle is called "Arrive" and this is a "combination of the first three cycles to keep good habits up for good. On weekends enjoy your favorite foods." I've skimmed over the last two cycles but I don't want to think about those until I get through the first two. So I'll have to update you when I hit cycle three.

One of the main reasons this might work is because David and I are doing it together. It's virtually impossible to eat healthy when your spouse is snacking on ice cream. I am excited to see how we will do. We finished day two already. Oh and David and I are both down a few pounds. ;)

Cheers to sugar-free jam on top of non-fat plain yogurt, skipping out on Costco muffins and salads galore.

Skipping,
Aubrie

Yummy (and easy) Recipes

2011-09-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

I try out a lot of new recipes, my poor husband is always the guinea pig. A lot of my recipes are from the magazine Real Simple. Although I've been using Pinterest to find some new things to try as well. Three nights in a row I made new dishes and they all turned out good! Since I found some keepers I thought I would share those recipes with you.

Steak Fajitas with Sweet Potato and Poblano:

2 TBS. Olive Oil
1 Large Sweet Potato (peeled and cut into small pieces)
1 Medium Onion, thinly sliced
1 Small Poblano Pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1 1/4 Lbs. Skirt Steak, cut into strips.
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1-2 Tsp. chopped chipotle chilies in adobo sauces
Flour Tortillas, warmed.

So... before I begin telling how to cook it, which is really easy actually, I wanted to tell you that I made a few substitutions for what I had available. I did not use a Poblano- I used two jalapeno peppers (I left the seeds in and thinly sliced them.) I also did not use the chipotle chilies, although it sounds good.

Basically in a skillet put the oil, potato, onion and pepper with some salt and pepper on medium heat and cook until tender. (I added a few extra spices, a dash of chili pepper, a little nutmeg and a little brown sugar)

The recipe calls to broil the steak with some salt and pepper on it for 3-4 minutes on each side. My broiler is broke so I simply grilled the steak... turned out just fine I think.

You can add the chilies to the sour cream or just use plain sour cream. Throw it all together in a tortilla and enjoy!

Gingery Peanut Noodles with Chicken:

(This recipe is for left over rotisserie chicken. I bake a whole chicken and have some of that with...whatever... and then I use the leftovers for a different recipe.)

In a blender, blend together 1 Cup Water, 1/2 Cup Peanut Butter, 3 TBS. Rice Vinegar (I ran out so I used White Wine Vinegar), 3 TBS. Soy Sauce, 1 TBS Brown Sugar and 1 Tsp. grated Fresh Ginger.

Toss with 8 oz. Spaghetti (I used Angel Hair, I thought it went better with this dish), 1 1/2 cups Shredded Chicken, 1 sliced Red Bell Pepper, 1/2 English Cucumber (cut into strips) and 2 sliced Scallions. Sprinkle with chopped up Peanuts. (I cooked the pepper and cucumber in a skillet for a few minutes so that it was hot and little tender...I skipped the scallions, simply because I forgot.)

It was like eating home made Thai, really. :)

Roasted Pears with Goat Cheese:

I made these little "treats" to have at the end of my dinner. It wasn't really a dessert, but I would at least save it for last. I had grilled pork chops and steamed broccoli to begin... but there are probably better options to make along side this recipe.

2 Ripe, Firm Pears
3.5 oz. Goat Cheese
3/4 oz. Pine Nuts
1 Sprig Rosemary
2 TBS. Honey
2 TBS. Butter

Slice the pears, remove core and seeds and leave a well for the filling. Preheat oven to 350. Place the pears in an oven-safe dish, pour melted butter on top. Add 1/2 cup water to the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Toss the cheese, rosemary and nuts together. Sprinkle the mixture into the pears and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove pears and drizzle with honey. (Since there are only two of us we halved this recipe and just used one pear...etc.)

Happy Cooking! Let me know if you have any good recipes that you've made lately. Cheers!

Off-Season

2011-09-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

Well triathlon season has officially come to an end. I completed two triathlons, one with a lower-back problem. I just finished taking one week off to heal my lower back and I am ready to begin my off-season training. I always find that if I share my plans I will tend to keep them, using this little blog post as a way to keep myself accountable.

I've been paying for my gym membership and really the only thing I used it for during tri season was to swim. Occasionally I would go to a cycle class if the weather was not cooperating. A few weeks before my second triathlon I started to go to a body works class. Other than that, LA Fitness really hasn't seen me much and is pretty much just sucking unused dollars out of my bank account. So I plan to correct that and make every penny count.

Here is my "PLAN"

Monday: Swim!
Tuesday: Cycle Class @ 9:15 AM
Wednesday: Yoga @ 8:30 AM
Thursday: Body Works Plus Abs @ 8:30
Friday: Off
Saturday: Run! (Or doing a pretty good hike.)
Sunday: Off

I would like to get stronger and more flexible during the off season. Work on my abs so I can protect that lower back of mine. I would like to swim, run and cycle (class counts) once a week to keep all three in shape.

I am also thinking about buying a little journal to document what I am eating. I've counted calories before with an iPhone app, which that worked out for the most part. It could be more convenient than an actual hand written journal, but I guess I'll see. I more want to document everything I am eating and if in a month or two I have not seen any change in my body (positive change!) than I may consider talking to a nutritionist to see what I need to change. (Which I am sure I could use a lot of change, really!)

Anyone is welcomed to join me in the pool or at any of the classes I will attend. I would be happy to have a work-out partner. I found the one time that I ran with my friend my 3 miles went by faster and we're easier so if anyone wants to run on Saturday mornings with me, please let me know.

Here's to always working towards a healthier lifestyle.

Skipping,
Aubrie

The Book is always Better

2011-08-09T00:42:00.000-07:00

I'll read novels from time to time that are tied into the theatre. I will admit that I love finding movies that were first a best seller then I have my own challenge and tell myself that I can't see the movie until I finish the book. The book is always better. Way better.

It's funny how books are 100 times more descriptive and yet so simple. For instance, I read Eat. Pray. Love. by Elizabeth Gilbert a few weeks ago and I just finished watching the movie tonight. The movie moved so fast that you didn't get to take in all she actually experienced. The Ashram, in my mind when I pictured it, was so delicate and open...spacious. There was no ladder on the roof top where she forgave herself, there was just a beautiful white building with a deep blue sky and God. The movie added too many distractions and was missing all the little stories that made the book a novel.

So to re-live a few moments from the book I thought I would type-out some of my favorite quotes/stories from the printed version of Eat. Pray. Love. I'll have to add a disclaimer here. I do follow a Christian belief and that is my personal God. No, I am not going to visit a Ashram or become a Yogi. I like these quotes because it either made me think, laugh or I just simply enjoyed her writing.

Eat (Italy):

"Generally speaking, though, Americans have an inability to relax into sheer pleasure. Ours is an entertainment-seeking nation, but not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one. Americans spend billions to keep themselves amused with everything from porn to theme parks to wars, but that's not exactly the same thing as quiet enjoyment. Americans work harder and longer and more stressful hours than anyone in the world today... Alarming statistics show that many Americans feel more happy and fulfilled in their offices than they do in their own homes... Americans don't really know how to do nothing. This is the cause of the great sad American stereotype- the overstressed executive who goes on vacation, but who cannot relax. Italians are the masters of 'il bel far niente.' This is a sweet expression. Il bel far niente means "the beauty of doing nothing."

Pray (India):

" Life, if you keep chasing it so hard, will drive you to death. Time- when pursued like a bandit- will behave like one; always remaining one county or one room ahead of you, changing it's name and hair color to elude you, slipping out the back door of the motel just as you're banging through the lobby with your newest search warrant, leaving only a burning cigarette in the ashtray to taunt you. At some point you have to stop because it won't. You have to admit that you can't catch it. That your not supposed to catch it. At some point, you gotta let go and sit still and allow contentment to come to you."

(There was a story about how people at this Ashram had to tie a Saint's cat to a pole while they meditated because it was so loud and annoying. After it died they didn't know what to do or how to pray because they thought they needed to tie a cat to the pole first in order to meditate.) ...

"Be careful, warns this tale, not to get too obsessed with the repetition of religious ritual just for it's own sake. Especially in this divided world, where the Taliban and the Christian Coalition continue to fight out their international trademark war over who owns the rights to the word God and who has the proper rituals to reach that God, it may be useful to remember that it is not the tying of the cat to the pole that has ever brought anyone transcendence, but only the constant desire of an individual seeker to experience the eternal compassion of the divine. Flexibility is just as essential for divinity as is discipline."

Love (Indonesia):

"The Yogic sages say that all the pain of a human life is caused by words, as is all the joy. We create words to define our experience and those words bring attendant emotions that jerk us around like dogs on a leash. We get seduced by our own mantras 'I'm a failure... I'm lonely... I'm a failure...I'm lonely... and we become monuments to them. To stop talking for a while, then, is to attempt to strip away the power of words, to stop choking ourselves with words, to liberate ourselves from suffocation mantras."

Epiphany. (mini.)

2011-07-08T00:16:00.000-07:00

You ever get the feeling that maybe your skipping rocks in the right pond, but the stones you keep picking up are all wrong?

That was a sad attempt at a metaphor... trying to explain how I feel about my photography business.

Let's back up. I fell in love with photography because I was introduced to a famous guy, you may know him, Ansel Adams. (If you don't please google him right now! You should know who this man is.) He photographed landscapes and had the most beautiful black and whites. He also photographed people in their surroundings, beautiful environmental portraits. After that I received my first camera and I was hooked. The first thing I photographed... landscapes. (Or really at that age is was more like pretty pictures in my back yard and the field down the street.) I took a few high school photo classes, and was awarded for one photograph... a landscape shot. Went off to college and my first year I won another award for an infrared image of a Michigan Lighthouse. Enter photojournalism. I loved photojournalism... but I always wanted to photograph more of the fluff pieces. One of my fellow college photo-pals once asked me why I always photographed pretty pictures and landscapes. I told him I enjoyed it.

So I probably could go on and on and give you the whole list of photo gigs I have had... photojournalist, sports photographer, wedding photographer... but the one that has always stayed is Landscape photography.

So I am flipping through people's web sites and I am always drawn to outdoor adventures and food and wine and people enjoying their surroundings and (of course) beautiful landscape imagery. I think to myself- "I can do that." It seems to come naturally for me.

So here I am trying to beat my head in the wall trying to learn different poses and edits and having meetings with awful people just so I can be a wedding photographer. So are you ready for my epiphany... I know what your thinking... your thinking I am going to say I quit being a wedding photographer. LOL! You're totally wrong. I still love photographing weddings, don't get me wrong. Who wouldn't? Plus... ummm, it brings in the mula! No, I won't quit being a wedding photographer. But my mini epiphany is that maybe I need to concentrate more on my editorial work and my landscape photography and stop beating my head with weddings.

For the past three years I have only had about 6-8 weddings a year. It hasn't really increased a lot. I receive more compliments on my landscape photography than I do anything else. Plus... it's my favorite! I am not ashamed anymore- I LOVE photographing oceans, sunsets, waterfalls, foggy mornings, bridges and yes... flowers! If I could I would photograph bigger mountains, grizzly bears and dolphins. I belong on the cover of 1859 and Oregon Outdoors and Wine Press and...dare I say it, National Geographic. I probably won't ever land a spread on the Wedding Knot.

It's almost as if God is saying... please be a photographer, keep doing it, just focus more on what you are suppose to photograph! And all of a sudden I am skipping rocks in the right pond and nothing is sinking.

Skipping,
Aubrie

PS. Do you like how I had this little epiphany literally two days before I enter the busiest part of wedding season? It's okay, cause I still love weddings and I will always love wedding photography. I am allowed to have a second favorite. :)

Too...Much...Technology...

2011-06-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Seriously the Internet is out of control and I am losing my mind. I don't know what I should have and what I shouldn't waste my time with. Whose blogs should I read? What the heck is Stumble Upon? Right now I have two blogs (one personal, one business) a Facebook, Twitter, a Website, a WPJA account, a 500px account, a Pinterest account and a Linked In page. I have a list of crap I am suppose to check out and sign-up for... Delicious, Digg, Stumble Upon, etc. Plus I am suppose to link everything together so that from my blog you can FB like me and then add it to your twitter and then check out my WPJA page and like some photos on 500px. ...And I don't even know how to do it.

I am overwhelmed.

I feel like I need to hire someone to make sure that I am involved in everything and that they are all linked together. I know... your asking yourself...why? Well basically so I move up in the complicated world of SEO (search engine optimization). Geez. Some days it's too much... and I just have to leave my computer and do something simple, like... drive to work. ;)

With ALL the sites to check out and crap to read, photos to like, etc. I will say that I really enjoy the 500px site. My photographs are slime compared to some of these photographer's images. Definitely check it out... and since your probably my friend or family member you can go ahead and like some of my photos so I move up in the world. Ahh, another thing to put on your list of crap to look at. Don't you love the Internet?

http://500px.com/capturingGrace

Skipping and Sinking together today!
Aubrie

Rants, Recipes and Perfect Gigs

2011-06-28T23:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, I change my personal blog a lot. I feel like I always need something that fits me and whatever "fits" changes a lot. So here it is- my new (old) blog... "Skipping Rocks." I wanted to go back to having a blog that I could write about anything, not just triathlons, not just photography and not just God- but everything. I was thinking of a new title and Skipping Rocks just came to mind. The playful act we do when near a river reminds me of life. Sometimes we skip, sometimes we sink.

I wasn't sure what to write in my "first" post. I re-read the "about section" off to the right and thought I would write about those three things I mentioned, after all they must have been on my mind.

RANT: If you decide to go out to dinner, then please, tip your server. No we do not make a lot for our hour rate, yes we need your tips to make a living. No, 10% is not okay, even if Oprah did say so. Only pay 10% if your server was horrible, never stiff. She may just be having an off day or there are a NUMBER of things that could have been why your service was poor/slow...like the kitchen staff perhaps. If you tip 15% that's better, but really you should give at least 18% if your service was good. If your server was top-notch than 20% is definitely deserved. And my last little bit on tipping... if you rack up a $100 tab and there is only 3 people than you should still tip accordingly. It's not my fault you ordered a bottle of wine, appetizers, entrees, salads and dessert... yes, I got all those things and refills for you. Throw me a $20!

RECIPE: Mixed salad greens, chopped avocado, slivered almonds, chopped pears and feta cheese crumbles- toss together. Dressing: 1/3 cup oil, 3 Tbs. red wine vinegar, 1 1/2 tsp. sugar, 1 clove garlic, 1 1/2 tsp. mustard, salt and pepper. All I will say is... YUM!

PERFECT GIG: I got my first assignment from the magazine, 1859. They are going to pay me to drive around the country side of Oregon to take landscape photos, etc. They are paying for my hotel, food and gas. It is seriously like a dream job and I can't wait!

Skipped,
Aubrie

I am a Triathlete!

2011-06-17T09:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I am a triathlete. I survived my first triathlon with flying colors... I even went under my 2 hour goal! Everything worked out and I truly enjoyed the race. I was able to warm-up and get use to the water, the weather cooperated and my bike did not get a flat. My husband was there cheering me on along with my two friends Daniel and Lindsay Stark. (Thanks guys! And thanks to Daniel we have some photos!)

The water was freezing, 61 degrees. The swim was a little chaotic, but not as bad as I am sure some people have experienced. The bike ride was perfect, it was the easiest of the three. Quite enjoyable actually. The run... ahh, the run. The transition from bike to run was a little hard on my legs. Then I got use to it around 1.5 miles and started to push a little harder. The last part of the run was HARD. I kept thinking I was almost done (because people kept telling me that as they cheered lol). I couldn't see the finish line and it seemed like 100 miles away. But I kept digging and once I saw that big "Finish" sign I was so happy I completed the triathlon. The announcer said "And here is #32, Aubrie LeGault, coming in with a big smile on her face because she knows she's done!"

Stats:
There were 483 sprint triathletes.
Swim (1/2 mile): 16:56 160th/483
T1: 6:50
Bike (12 miles): 44:04 415th/483
T2: 3:39
Run (3.1 miles): 34:10 449th/483

Overall: 401st/483
My Division (24-29 years old) : 18th... out of 19! Yes, I got second to last in my age group. lol. The good news was that if I was one year older I would've done much better. Dang youngins.

There is definitely room for improvement! And the question that everyone always asks... are you going to do another one? Why, of course! I am signing up for a mini triathlon on July 20th at Hag Lake. (It's called a "training triathlon" more so for practice.) And then I will do the blue lake triathlon again at the end of the tri season in September.

Here are a couple of photos. (David was the only one that got a swim photo on his phone, so I'll have to post them later if I ever get his phone attached to the computer.) Thanks to everyone for their support, encouraging words and prayers! I did it!!!

Swim. Keep. Dig

2011-06-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

I forgot how much I love competing. I remember getting totally psyched for big swim meets, or really just any swim meet or softball game. I haven't officially competed in anything like that since about my senior year of high school. (Unless you count my sad attempt at a 5k run last summer.) This feels good, like I should have been doing it all along. I should not have stopped competing and pushing. I only wish I would have given this whole triathlon idea a go-around when I entered my first year of college.

Either way, I am here now. And I am ready. I may not pull the best time or look like the most buff chic you've ever seen. I will probably get passed while running. But, I am ready. I followed a 12-week training guide for an Olympic Triathlon and I am only doing a Sprint. Physically I would say I am ready and probably mentally too. (Will this still burn? YOU BET IT WILL! But, I'm ready.)

Somewhere around week 7 or week 8 I came up with what you would call a "catch-phrase" for myself to repeat every time I would train. Basically how I look at my first triathlon.

Swim. Keep. Dig.

Swim: I know what your thinking, the first part "Swim" is um, pretty obvious? Maybe for some, but to me "Swim" isn't just what I do first. Swim is what I DO. It's what I have been doing since I was 6 years old, begging my mom to let me join the swim team. It's comfortable, it's even relaxing at times. At the same token it's hard, a very hard sport, but I love it. "Swim" is just what I do. I'm going to get in the freezing cold lake (61-62 degrees) and I'm just going to simply do what I love best- swim.

Keep: The second leg of the tri is biking. I may not be the world champ at biking, I'm no Lance Armstrong. But I did train fairly hard on the bike. I rarely (except in the beginning) rode only 12 miles. I usually pushed it to anywhere between 20-35 miles. I biked hills and I tried to bike fast when it was flat. So the bike part... keep it up, keep up... just keep pedaling. Keep.

Dig: Ahhh, running. It's almost like were so close to not being enemies. Dig is the best word that I can think of that will probably mirror what I am doing. You dig into the ground to run. You dig inside yourself to find the energy to finish. You dig inside your heart to find it in yourself to complete what you started, even if the last thing is the hardest. And it will be. Not only because it's last and I'll probably be tired from the other two legs but because running is my hardest sport. My calves will feel like they are tearing and my thighs will be burning. (Everything else will probably be fine, it's really just the legs!) That's okay though. I'm going to dig into the ground with my running shoes laced tight, I'm going to dig up some energy and I'm going to dig, dig, dig (DIG AUBRIE!) all the way across that finish line. Dig.

...And I'm totally going to dig this. ;)

Swim. Keep. Dig. Let's do this.
Aubrie

PS. Just for some fun little facts... I will be starting in the 6th wave at 8:20 wearing my purple cap. My goal is to, yes, finish but I now have a time in mind. I want to finish in 2 hours or less. Dave will be with me cheering me on, cause he's an awesome husband. And hopefully we'll have photos for you afterwards. Wish me luck and send some prayers my way around 8:20 tomorrow.

What happened to week 6 and beyond...?

2011-06-10T15:52:00.000-07:00

I quit.

Ok, I am kidding.

I didn't quit. In fact just the opposite happened. I kept training and adding on here and there. I am sure I had a few off weeks, in fact I think week 8 sucked! But after that things started to look up. I doubled up on some of the training like did a swim-bike and a bike-run a few times. All were successful including my last one on Wednesday where I biked about 16 miles and ran a 5k. (Shocked that I wasn't sore afterwards). So I feel good and ready to take on the triathlon tomorrow.

...Yes, tomorrow!

I'll post once more tonight on my thoughts before the race and the hopefully post again with some results and photos.

Done TRAINING! (for now)
Aubrie

Week 5

2011-04-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well I am officially a quarter of the way done with my training. That means I only have 8 more weeks until the triathlon.

Last week was a recover week. Although it wasn't necessarily "easy." Both bike rides were good (you'll have to check the previous post to find out about one of my rides.) The second ride, on Saturday I rode for about 1hr and 15 mins. I am loving the Banks-Vernonia trail. My run was good, I only did one run last week but it was the farthest and longest I've ran. I ran 3.33 miles. (I thought 3.33 was a fun number to stop on.) I found a new trail to run on right by my house, the Rock Creek trail. It's perfect and I am looking forward to running on it again this week. Both swims were good as well including my 1,000 yard time trial on Friday. I swam it a little faster than I thought I would, so that's good. It took me 15:15 to complete all 40 laps.

So we're back at again for Week 5. Today I will bike to the pool and get about 1,600 yards in. So I guess I better get a move on!

Week 5:

Monday | Swim: 1,600 yards (main set 20x50's)
Tuesday | Run: 50 Minutes
Wednesday | Bike: 60 Minutes
Thursday | Run: 40 Minutes
Friday | Swim: 1,900 yards (main set 15x100's)
Saturday | Bike: 90 Minutes

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Biking leads to Big Idea

2011-04-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

Today was a fresh of breath air for me. It's been so gloomy, rainy and cold here in Portland. It's been difficult to ride my bike (and run too!) I have to change my schedule around to ride while it's nice out. Of course 'they' are calling for rain tomorrow, so I rode today while the sun was a'shining!

I wasn't worried about the "work-out" aspect of my ride because I am on my recovery week. I just wanted to go out for an hour and enjoy the sun beams. I found out where the Rock Creek path takes me... it leads to a nice little park, Orchard Park. There were people out playing Frisbee Golf. As I rode around the park I came up with a brilliant idea....

(By the way what I am about to say has NOTHING to do with a Triathlon or training what-so-ever.) So David and I have decided to take charge of our debt and...well... get rid of it. I figured out a plan to pay everything off, including my school loan. We will be debt free come Nov. 2013. (And then we'll take a trip to Italy)

So my idea? Well I know myself and I will get bored very easily with this idea of doing nothing for two years so that we can pay off our debt. So as I was riding my bike I thought about getting a chalk board and instead of writing all or our big dreams or our bucket list in life (which the only thing on our bucket list right now is to pay off the debt) I would write down all the activities we can do for free, or pretty much free with the exception of some gas money or a few dollars.

ABC Debt Free! That's the title of my "project" for lack of better things to call it. And I will list all the things we can do in alphabetical order... like "Bike" for 'B' and "Phase 10" for 'P' and "Se..." well you get the picture. ;) If you have any grand ideas for any letter of the alphabet.... please share them!

I already know that 'R' will be "Running" and one of our 'S''s will be "Swimming" to continue my triathlon training... even after June 11. I'm thinking I could squeeze one more triathlon into this summer, maybe the all woman's triathlon in August. That is, of course, if our budget allows it. :)

Well here's to sun, biking, big ideas and being debt free... and Italy! Cheers.

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Week 4

2011-04-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

So after this week I will be a quarter of the way done with my training. It goes fast! Week four is actually suppose to be a "Rest" week, however looking at the training it doesn't seem very restful. I guess if I want to I can either have an easy ride on Wednesday or a day of rest and that's all I see that is different lol.

So last week went well. My bike ride on Wednesday was about 20 miles. I went up to the Banks-Vernonia trail. It's actually a gradual incline the whole way up, so the first 10 miles or so was my workout. Then once I turned around I felt like coming back took me like 15 minutes. :) It's a very nice ride though, really pretty. I am looking forward to riding even further this week.

My swims were good too- my whole neck thing didn't bother me. Phew! On Friday my main set was 1,500 yards! All together on Friday I swam about 2,000 yards... I'm getting up there. (Laughing to myself and remembering days when I would swim about 10,000 yards.)

You heard about my wimpy run on Tuesday, I ran... but it was very, very slow. Thursday's run was better and a little longer- I ran about 2.7 miles. The good news is that my knees didn't bother me the next day.

My bad news, once again is that I failed to bike on the weekend. I was gone on Saturday allll day so I was going to ride on Sunday. And the weather just got to me. I don't have a rain jacket to ride in... and that's what it did on Sunday, rained. (At least during the period of which I could've gone out to ride.) So I skipped my long ride over the weekend, oops. I did ride my bike to and from the gym on Friday- with a little extra mileage thrown in on the way back, so at least I did that.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for better weather this week! At least when I ride and run, it makes both a lot easier when it's sunny. I am looking forward to my big swim on Friday. David and I have a special "date" on Friday night. I have to swim a time 1,000. So big Dave is going to be my counter for me. It should be interesting- I don't think my husband has actually ever seen me swim like that before. Afterwards I am thinking.... cheeseburger! hahahhaha

Onward I train... into Week 4:

Monday: Swim- main set 750 yards total 1,300
Tuesday: Run- 30 minutes
Wednesday: Bike- 60 minutes (or take the day off to rest)
Thursday: Run- 30 minutes
Friday: Swim- 1,000 yard time trial
Saturday: Bike- 60 minutes

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Week 3

2011-04-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

Well week 2 came and went and I am already two days into week 3. Week 2 was good... and bad.

I said last week I really wanted to push myself a little harder on Week 2, which I did... that was good. My swims were pretty strong and my bike rides were longer. I reached 13 miles on one ride and I FINALLY ran 3 miles again. (I haven't ran 3 miles since my 5k.) I was a little sore and a little more tired this week, that's what I wanted. So the bad news.... well I only did 5 out of my 6 days. Saturday quickly became my day of rest instead of Sunday. So on Sunday I should've ran that day... but I failed to do so. I did work in the yard for a couple of hours though, so at least I wasn't a couch potato.

My body is finding a few problems here and there, but I am trying to work through it. My lower back keeps "giving" or pulling or whatever you want to call it. It makes me a tad bit worried, but after I work out it's okay. Strange. It's more during times of rest that my back is yellin' at me. I will admit the knees were a little sore after my 3 mile run...nothing that little ice and Advil won't fix. The newest addition of aches and pains was during my swim my neck kept spasming and running down into my upper shoulder a little bit. Well I swam yesterday, and it didn't bother me... so hopefully it was a fluke.

Week 3 is off to a good start... My swim on Monday was good, I did about 1400+ yards. My run today was slllooow- but I wanted to take it easy today and make sure my knees and back are keeping up with me. Tomorrow is another bike ride.... pray for sunshine! The weather sucks for training right now, ugh Portland!

Week 3:

Monday- Swim: 1500 yards (main set 20x50's)
Tuesday- Run: 30 Minutes
Wednesday- Bike: 60 Minutes
Thursday- Run: 30 Minutes
Friday- Swim: 1800 yards (main set 10x150's)
Saturday- Bike: 2 Hours
Sunday- REST!

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Training, Week 2

2011-03-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

Well my first official week of triathlon training was a success. My body is not wasted, in fact it's not even sore really. Of course that could mean that I didn't push myself hard enough. So we'll aim to be a little sore this week. :)

I bought my road bike (and all the necessary accessories) at REI. My first time (ever) riding a road bike with pedals was on Wednesday. It was interesting. David came with me and we fixed a few things with the pedals and bike seat arrangement. So on Saturday, when I rode again, everything seemed to fit great. And I am getting pretty good at getting into and out of my pedals.

Swimming was just fine- I think I swam around 1100+ yards on both days and it felt good. Running...well running was running. My weakest link. However the first run was on a treadmill to make sure my lower back was okay and it held up like a pro. Then on Thursday I ran outside for 2 miles and my back was great. Hopefully my backs stays where it is and doesn't cause me grief.

I feel like it was almost a "warm-up" week to prepare myself on working out 6 times a week, figuring out my schedule, learning how to ride the bike and figuring out my back issues. This week, week 2, I think I'll step it up a little bit. This week's schedule...

Monday= Swim: 4 x100's easy, 20x50's race pace, 4x50's easy
Tuesday= Run: 30 minutes (My goal is to run 2.5 miles since I ran 2 miles both days last week)
Wednesday= Bike: 1 hour (5 mins. easy than steady with 15-sec hard bursts every 5 mins.)
Thursday= Run: 30 minutes (again my goal is 2.5 miles)
Friday= Swim: 200 easy, 15x100's race effort, 4x25's easy
Saturday=Bike: 90 minutes (easy-to-steady)
Sunday= REST!

Keep Training,
Aubrie

It's Official.

2011-03-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

Well about a month ago I officially signed up for the triathlon I'll be competing in. As of tomorrow I have exactly 12 weeks until my triathlon at Blue Lake in Fairview, OR. It's official.

I decided to go with a 12-week training guide to prepare myself for my first tri. The book that I am using (The Complete Triathletes Training Manual) has an 8-week training guide for a beginner's first sprint triathlon. Which, since I am a beginner, I should probably go off that guide. Believe it of not it seemed to "easy" for me, at least with the swimming and biking. I mean after all, I am doing this for the challenge. The 12-week'er has me running for over 90 minutes towards the end, I highly doubt I will be doing that. So I am going to follow the 12-week guide for an Olympic Triathlon (I'm doing a Sprint) but I will change the running days.

I am looking forward to this training. I need something like this to help keep me motivated and on track. (Encouragement from you will also help, so leave comments to help keep my butt moving!) I'm a little nervous at the commitment level I have picked. I will work out 6 times a week, leaving one day to rest. Phew! I haven't done that since I was a competitive swimmer. I will try to post every week at the beginning to let you know what I am up for and hopefully again at the end of the week to let you know I survived.

So for my first week that I will start either on Sunday or Monday (I have to look at how the ol' schedule will play out.) This is what I will be doing:

Monday- Run 20 minutes (keep in mind, I lowered the running it was 30 minutes)
Tuesday- Swim 1300 yards (main set 2x400's)
Wednesday- Bike 60 minutes
Thursday- Swim 1100 yards (main set 15x50's)
Friday- Run 21 minutes (7 mins easy, 7 mins brisk, 7 mins easy)
Saturday- Bike 60 minutes
Sunday- REST!

This weekend I am purchasing a road bike. Nothing like waiting to the last minute. So hopefully I find a good one that will fit me and my needs. Yay for bike shopping!

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Spinning, Weights and Ice Cream

2011-01-17T21:25:00.000-08:00

Wow. It's been a really long time since I have updated everyone on how my training is going. I would apologize, but I really don't think anyone wants a weekly update on how the gym is treating me during these winter months.

...But a monthly update, maybe. So the gym is treating me well. :) Actually I am proud to say that the three goals I mentioned earlier are working out. I am officially practicing/training for all three sports now. I've been either swimming at the gym or I'll get in the pool before I coach the Sunset High School swim practice. I am trying to run at least twice a week. I've been using the treadmill for the most part, but with the warmer weather this last week or so I've ran the last three times outside. Every time I take more than a couple of days off (dang holidays!) I have to re-build my running for some reason. Tonight I ran two miles again so I am hoping to keep that up and then build to the actual 3 miles I need to be at.

My latest and greatest activity is the spinning class, or LA Fitness just simply calls it "Cycle." I love it! After my butt adjusted to being sore of course. I have been trying to go to the cycle class at least twice a week... and sometimes I throw a third "class" in on my own time. Definitely my favorite part of the training for now.

Yesterday I added yet another component to the training- weights! I have never been into weight lifting. During my years of competitive swimming I was always too tight and muscular to do weight lifting, I had to stretch instead. So this will take some motivation, dedication and discipline on my behalf. (What doesn't?) Hopefully I can keep it up and get use to the fact that I'll be sore... a lot!

As far as eating goes... well let's just say I eat tons of salads, fruit, veggies, whole wheat pasta and English muffins, low-fat yogurt and leaner meats. I also eat ice cream, bread, more bread and more ice cream. I am happy that all the cookies and box of chocolates are gone from the holidays- one less temptation I have to fight. Psh, there is no fight. They call out to me- and I cave within in seconds. Owell. Hopefully I'll find that nice balance soon.

One last thing- I have decided on an actual triathlon. I will be competing in the Blue Lake Sprint Triathlon in Fairbanks, OR on June 11th. Anyone want to be my sponsor and donate the $80 sign-up fee? :)

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Three Goals

2010-11-24T21:15:00.000-08:00

WoW. It's almost been a month since I last wrote something. I guess training in the gym is not that exciting. The scenery is the same... the treadmill and the stationary bike have the same view. The good news is that I haven't fallen off completely- I am still running on the treadmill around 2-2.5 miles and I am biking about 8-9 miles. I also have been attending 1-2 yoga classes a week.

I always feel more motivated at the beginning of the week. Monday I hit up yoga and then go work out, Tuesday I typically hit the gym followed by at least yoga on Wednesday and a possible work out as well... then Thursday starts the downward plunge into the weekend where sometimes I don't make at all. (I did make it last Saturday- go me.)

What I need to do is get into a routine. Uh, just saying routine makes me cringe. But I think between running, biking, swimming, yoga and a cycle class or two I can mix things up enough to keep it interesting. I'll think of a routine- maybe if I post it on here it will help keep me accountable.

And, for the 10-billionth time, I need to work on my eating habits again. *Sigh* Seriously- what is my problem with ice cream? I like how I am stating that I need to create better eating habits the day before Thanksgiving.

Okay. After this weekend, because let's face it, it's Thanksgiving and I will be out of town... I am putting three goals into action starting 9.29.

1. Add Swimming!!!
2. Plan a routine and stick with it!
3. Count Calories!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and that they forget about whatever diet/exercise regime they are on for one day to give thanks for the fact that we have some AWESOME food in this world. :)

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Back to the Gym

2010-10-28T00:24:00.000-07:00

I'm not saying that were never going to see the sun here in Portland for the next 4-5 months, but I can officially say that summer and Indian summer are officially over. The colder, wetter weather has set in. So what does that do for my work outs? Well, for now they are simply moved in doors.

I came down with a cold already- I thought it was a bit early, but hey maybe this will be it and I won't suffer through the ol' sinus infection this year. With the cold, change of weather and um... aunt flow visiting... I definitely lost motivation. (That's really all this blog is about to tell you how I lost motivation and then to tell you how I found it again and then to tell you how it's holding up and then to tell you again that I lost it... and start vicious cycle over again.)

Almost an entire week went by before I decided to get my bum off the couch, eh probably more like the computer desk chair. I ran outside last Thursday... actually I think I ran down to the grocery store, bought myself some Thyme and then ran home. And then...nothing. I got sick, I debated for about 4 days whether it's good to work out while your sick (a.k.a my excuse) and then I decided...it's time for the GYM.

So I set my alarm Monday morning for a yoga glass, I thought I would start off easy. Snoozed right on past that puppy. Tuesday came around and I set my alarm for the cycle class (which I might add was an hour later than yoga) I snoozed right on through that one too.

Finally on Wednesday, after dancing around the idea in my work out clothes for about an hour, I finally headed back to the gym. I got a gym membership awhile back at LA Fitness. I froze my account during August, September and October because I was running and biking outside. On Wednesday the gym doors opened up again and so did the monthly bill cycle. I plan on using the gym now during the winter and of course the gym has the beloved swimming pool where I will train for the swimming part of my tri.

So I ran on the treadmill on Wednesday, two miles. And then today I biked about 8.5 miles on the stationary cycle. It felt good to be back, even if I am still fighting a cold.

It's a change of pace, which is always motivating to me- gotta keep things interesting. All the other people at the gym are a lot more fit and slim- also motivating. I could not read my magazine while on the open road riding, in the gym I can. And let's not forget... I pay a monthly fee to use that place, if that's not motivation than I don't know what is. I'm back baby- gym style!

Keep Training,
Aubrie

For Now...

2010-10-18T22:11:00.000-07:00

I have a feeling that if I was going to write a lot tonight (well like a few paragraphs worth) that it would mostly be complaining. I don't think complaining is what others want to read nor is probably good for me to dwell on. So instead I'll say two quick things that are in the "complaint" section: 1. My bike sucks. and 2. Every-other time I run it's horrible and it hurts. (Hey at least it's not every time.)

I will say that I did ride 9 miles (straight) today on my bike. And there were a few hills involved too. I took the old two wheels down West Union to Jackson School Rd. and then I rode down that road a little bit as well. I am very blessed to have a bike and have an area right out my back door that is beautiful to ride- nice country roads. Plus we are having AWESOME Fall weather right now. ...Just give that a week and I'll probably list the rain and cold as my third complaint. :)

For now I guess I can just say that I am sticking with the training. I probably could be a little more hard-core about it, I am hoping that kicks in when I am about 10-12 weeks away from the actual triathlon. For now I am biking and running and I guess for now that is all I need to do.

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Ba-Ba-Ba-Biking.

2010-10-12T00:12:00.000-07:00

Well I have pedaled my way around town a few times now. I am getting acclimated to the ol' biking world and realizing how out of shape I am for biking. Geesh, running was bad, biking is bad... Thank God I know how to swim.

So today I actually biked a whole 9 miles. Not all together, but I did accomplish 9 miles. The first part of my ride was the longer part I did about 7 miles and then I stopped into the grocery store picked myself up a few things to make a lil' panini for dinner and then biked another 2 miles home.

My butt and legs will probably be sore tomorrow. My wrists spent the morning clicking on a mouse (editing photos and what not) and then they took a "breather" only to cling to bike handles. My hands went numb (especially the right which is the mouse-clicker-hand). I've heard that investing in some biking gloves will *fingers crossed* solve that problem.

Bigger problems to solve... fixing the bike so that the gears actually shift, lubing the bike and investing in some pedals and shoes. Ah, expenses, expenses. The price you pay for being a sad little first timer.

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Bring on the Bike

2010-09-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm pretty much back on track. Well I ran 2 miles twice. 2x2! Anyway... I say "pretty much" because it still hurt. Before I left for vacation I was feeling pretty good. Running will never be "easy" for me. Part of my problem is my flexibility, it's awful! That is what hurt me the last two times my poor legs were killing me. I did some extra stretching after the second two mile run so hopefully that will help for tomorrow's run. Running, *sigh*

I did... GET ON MY BIKE! I took it down from the rafters, pumped up the tires (or, eh, asked my awesome neighbor to do with his automatic air pump, he had it done in two seconds) and I took the bike out on the pavement and actually used the pedals! I even wore my new biking shorts. Okay so I am way out of shape for biking too, ugh. Thank God I can get in the water and pull 800 yards out of my butt because if I was totally out of shape for all three I would have my work cut out for me (even more so!). Anyway, I biked...a whole...4 miles! HA! I rode my bike down to Fred Meyers, bought some socks, and rode back. So I definitely have a lot of progress to make with biking... but at least the bike is not hanging in my garage now and hopefully this is just the start of my biking experience.

Still Running

2010-09-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

I realized that I never posted anything after my "Where's my Motivation?" blog post. I just wanted to quickly say that I am still running. I have a few ups and downs but for the most part I run 2-2.5 miles every other day or so. I "was" getting faster until I had a lil vacation. In fact one run I lowered my mile pace to like 10:30 which so far is my fastest pace.

I just returned from my week vacation in Indiana. I ran the Tuesday morning I left followed by a run Thursday down good ol' Clover Rd. Then.... ummm... well I guess vacation got in the way and I didn't hit the pavement until I came home. So today was my first run back after taking 5 days off. I'm not going to lie- my legs felt a little more like lead than flesh and bones. I told myself to just get out and run- do the best I can today and I'll get back to running 2.5 miles again in no time. I managed to run a little over 1.5 miles. So I think tomorrow I'll build it back up to 2 miles and then increase again from there.

My plan at the moment is to figure out how long of a run it is to my pool and start running and swimming. My draw back at the moment is that if I run to the pool than how do I get back home? I am sure after some training I could probably run back home... but my problem there is it's a little time consuming. That's a chunk out of your day- right? So we'll see if that idea pans out or not. Maybe I'll ride my bike instead and then throw in some running days. I definitely need to add one or the other into my exercise routine.

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Where's My Motivation?

2010-08-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

Did I lose my motivation to run already? I did not run Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday... oops. The first two days were a breather as I allowed my legs to get back to normal. Wednesday I basically didn't feel like running when it was 93. This morning I got up and decided to run before work. Ouch! I have already learned that taking 3 days off is not a good thing... but I felt like I had no motivation to run either. I don't know if it was because my 5k run is done or because I tried to run with out music, or because I felt sorry for my dog and decided to take him along (still a pain to run with- and took a poop within the first 2 minutes of running) or maybe my legs and body really did hurt and I just wasn't feeling it. ??? I don't know what my problem was but I didn't even run a mile- maybe the combination of my run/walk equaled mile. Sad.

So I have to fix this little problem. I think the stretching and just getting back to running today will help my legs and body feel better for my next run. I will not bring the dog with me, sorry Lukah. I'll have to create some other moments to be "alone with my thoughts"... I'll leave that for when I swim or bike. But running? Music is a MUST! Plus I think I will sign up for another 5k run for my motivation. I found one in October in Portland, "Run Like Hell." It sounds like a fun run with it's Halloween theme.

There. Problems solved. Oh- and I know of some big sales going on this weekend for bike stuff. Maybe I'll find a pair of riding shorts and get on that bike of mine.

Keep Training,
Aubrie

5k- Check. What's next?

2010-08-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it. I completed my first 5k run. In hind sight, after watching Daniel cross the finish line after his first triathlon, running a 5k is not all that hard. I told someone after the run that it's easier than a 200 butterfly or 400 IM race- for sure!

I am happy to know that the last part of the triathlon leg is doable- I can run 3.1 miles. Now can I run after swimming and biking? Well, I guess we'll find out. (Of course I CAN! It just takes training.)

Oh- a few race details... The start was very sudden. I did not have my headphones on or my "imapmyrun" application going. So in the beginning of the race I was running and trying to put my headphones on and play with my iphone. All to say that I did not correctly record my 5k run. I finally figured out how to look at my time last night and realized that I did not finish the race in 32 minutes... I finished it in about 38 minutes, I think. I guess for my first run it doesn't really matter... I ran the entire way (even the lovely zig-zag up hill and stairs part), I did not stop and I finished it. We'll work on running a tad bit faster later. There were a lot of people around me that did walk a few times... so I was just happy that I kept running.

Couch-to-5k, completed! Onward...

What's next? Well, I have to keep running. This isn't like a... check, I'm done- sort of thing. I have to add either swimming or biking into the mix now. My first idea was to add the biking because the swimming part will be easiest for me to train. However I am really at a loss with my bike right now. I have a mountain bike, not a road bike. I have a helmet. That's it. I realize I can start to train with a mountain bike. I also realize that eventually (and I am sure the eventually will sneak up on me very fast) I will need bike shorts, gloves, road bike wheels, pedals and shoes... plus I need to teach myself how to change a tire, etc. Well if I was a millionaire none of this would be a problem but I am guessing all that I just listed will cost a pretty penny. So I have started an envelope (I stash cash into envelopes, that's my savings plan) for my "bike." We'll see how fast that accumulates.

So- do I get back into the water? Do I start training with just my mountain bike? Should I sign up for another 5k run so that I keep running? Maybe I should find a bike race to sign up for?

I don't know what to do next... but I'll figure it out and let ya'll know. :)

In the mean time at least I'll... Keep Training,
Aubrie

5k Baby!

2010-08-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

Well my 5k is here! It's 6:15 AM on Sunday and I am eating a little bowl of cereal while I write this. Waking up this early and putting on my "attire" reminded me of my good ol' swimming days- getting ready for a swim meet.

I am running the "Run for the River" in down town Portland. Here is my lovely route. Lindsay Stark is running "with me" (I told her I am slow so technically she doesn't have to run with me.) And we are cheering on her husband, Daniel, who is doing is first sprint triathlon.

I did narrow down my play list for today. These songs some how just keep me moving- it really has nothing to do with words but more of the beat and the music. My First 5K Play List:

"Wild at Heart" by Gloriana
"Send Me on My Way" by Rusted Root
"Missed the Boat" by Modest Mouse
"All In" by Lifehouse
"Lie in Our Graves" by Dave Matthews Band
"With You in My Head" by UNKLE
"Lets Get Lost" by Beck & Bat for Lashes
"1901" by Phoenix
"Kids" by MGMT

....and I might add "What Part of Forever" by Cee Lo Green as a back-up incase I run out of music.

Well wish me luck. My first goal is to just make it, finish it with out stopping or walking. My second goal (and not as important) is to run it in 35 minutes.

Yay!
Aubrie

Running, Running... Running in the Sun!

2010-08-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

I am officially on the home-stretch. This is my last week of running before I do the 5k race. Two mile runs are actually "easy" for me... in the sense that I can put on the shoes, stretch the calves and run with out stopping with out too many difficulties. However I do not advise running when it's 98 degrees out in the middle of a sunny day. I did this a few days ago and thought I was going to die about .2 into my run. I think I got so hot and sweaty that my body started to feel cold, I felt dizzy at one point too. I was going to stop a my 1.5 marker. I was listening to "Lie in My Grave" by DMB, which I thought was a perfect song for how I was feeling. I told myself that if my favorite little song to run to came on next I would finish the run. Of course the song came on next (I typically listen to my play lists on shuffle). So "Kids" by MGT brought me through the home stretch to the 2 mile marker. I thought for sure I was super slow, but I actually got like a few seconds faster! hahaha.

I had to make a little chiropractic appointment yesterday to fix a little kink in my lower back. It was feeling better today so I thought I would try to hit the 3.1 miles again. (It has now cooled off and is even cloudy today- Thank God!) My thought was that I would run though the neighborhood behind me to mix things up a bit, that way I don't know how far I have ran and will keep going. (It's all about mind games.) I also thought the neighborhood was going to be super flat... I was super wrong! To make a long story short I some how managed to get pretty far away and "lost" while running. I found a cool trial to run on though and it's a short-cut into town. Well my entire trip ended up being over 4.5 miles (my tracker paused for 5 minutes while I talked to my sister). I ran/walked for an hour today. Did you actually think I ran all 4.5 miles? Around the 2.45 mile marker I was starring at a big hill and my right foot was sleeping (again) so I decided to walk a little. I ran again at the 2.8 marker until the 3.6 and then I walked the rest of the way home. So all in all I got a 3.1 run in there somewhere.

...What am I going to do about my right foot falling asleep? It's not fun! I wonder if it's because my right calve is soo tight. Hmmm....

4 Days Left! Keep Training,
Aubrie

When did 2 miles become difficult??

2010-08-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning I ran two miles, no problem. I wanted to get a quick run in before we headed off on a little trip to Maupin, OR. So the rest of Sunday I spent lounging around, doing some wine tastings, reading my book in a chair along the Columbia River. Monday we spent the day white water rafting down the Deschutes River. Tuesday came and I need to run but my body was like... uh, no! It kept telling me that I was tired and sore from Monday's excursion. In the back of my mind I kept telling myself something that I read in one of my triathlon books... "Do not run tired." So I didn't run Tuesday either. Wednesday morning I knew that the running shoes had to hit the pavement. I was excited- I missed my runs. Who knew that taking a whole three days off would really throw me out of whack. My run was not as easy as the Sunday 2 mile jog. I could not wait until I hit that 2 mile mark today and I kept thinking... how in the world did I accomplish 3 miles a week ago? I did finish the 2 miles in 24 minutes and I guess after a 3 day vacation that is pretty good. Hopefully I'll be able to get another 3 mile run in some time this week. Looking at my schedule though it's going to be complicated... wish me luck.

Keep Training,
Aubrie

PS. If you would like to see some photos from my trip to Maupin, OR and me screaming down a 4-class rapid you can check out my photo blog. http://capturinggrace.com/blog/

3.1 Miles!

2010-08-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

Woo Hoo! Today I officially completed 3.10 miles, which of course is the length of a 5k. I actually was surprised that I finished in 32 minutes (and some odd seconds). I figured from my other timed runs that it would be more like 38-40 minutes. I kept looking at iMapMyRun to make sure it was functioning properly, it seemed like it was right. I feel extremely relieved that I hit the mark before the actual race. I was scared that I was not going to get up to 3 miles. But hey- we are t-minus 17 days and running strong baby! I guess I won't die at the finish line.

Today I ran the Vernonia-Banks Trail. It's a great trail... flat, quiet and beautiful! I will actually use this trail a lot for the bike training, especially in the beginning. So I am sure this will not be the first and last time my feet hit that trail. I'm still training my ears and coming up with the perfect mix to run to. The Eclipse Soundtrack was great to run to and I have a feeling a few songs will make the final cut.

The Side Ache article I posted in my last entry helped me with my problem-o. I am trying to figure out if eating/drinking is affecting the aches or not. I am also trying to breath in through my belly. I did not get a horrid side ache today. My right foot is still falling asleep on me though and today I couldn't shake it. Usually I can wake the ol' foot up but it wanted to sleep. It's the strangest feeling running when your foot is snoozing. It's not comfortable and I want to fix it ASAP! So I guess I am going to have to do some searching to see why my foot is not cooperating.

Healthy Eating is still a go-go. I'm not perfect nor am I trying to be. I will say that I had to walk past Coldstone Creamery like 5 times yesterday. I paused and was very, very tempted to get a scoop. I was strong and decided to get an Odwalla Chocolate Protein shake instead. (A lot less calories and a lot more "good stuff" for you like vitamins, minerals and...protein.) This weekend will be tough. Saturday I am photographing a wedding, which means I eat whatever meal is provided. Typically it's good, just not good for you. Sunday-Monday I will be camping and rafting. Hopefully the rafting will burn off the hot dogs and smores. ;)

Here is a fun photo of my tennis shoes- my new running kicks! It's more of an artsy-fartsy shot than it is to show you what the shoes look like. I'm a photographer- you'll have to excuse me.

Keep Training,
Aubrie

What's up with Side Aches?

2010-08-02T22:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I missed my run today. No harm, I guess. I just really wanted to keep an every other day pattern going through August. I am glad to see that lasted one day- since it's only August 2nd. I will say that it was not due to lack of motivation- I wanted to run. But life... {like sleeping in a few extra minutes, cramming dishes, invoices, CD labels, and camping spots in all before leaving for work and then after work running to the grocery store, cooking dinner and having a dear friend (who broke her ankle) over for food and card games} can just catch up with you sometimes. Which, I think, is okay.

I did find a helpful article on side cramps though. I thought my right side was falling apart, but side aches are typically on the right side- who knew?! I was pleased to see at the end of the article that the "coach" is from Portland, Oregon! You can read the article here.

Hitting the trail tomorrow morning before work- no excuses!

Keep Training,
Aubrie

PS. Eating Healthy Again (day 1) was a semi-success. Life Cereal isn't horrible, right? Work will kill me every time though. Somebody made fresh pasta salad and sampled it at work...and a breadstick snuck in there! Ugh! But for dinner I had grilled chicken and a salad with cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. You won't believe this... I did not have ice cream for dessert!! I made a fruit salad instead with strawberries, blueberries and blackberries!

Healthy Eating... Again? X 20!

2010-08-01T23:46:00.000-07:00

I actually have an exercise plan that is working. I have an exercise goal... a lot of mini goals leading up to one big goal. I'm pretty excited about running and looking forward to whipping my butt into shape. Exercise has always been the easier part of being healthy for me. We all know what the second half of the equation is- food! Eating healthy is not easy for me.

I make it sound like I sit around and eat Twinkies and hot dogs all day. Actually I love fruits and veggies, I eat a lot of chicken and lean meat like venison. I always buy whole wheat bread and skim milk. So what is the problem? Well I'm a big fan of dessert- especially ice cream. It would not be a lie if I said I eat ice cream almost every night. My portions are, I am assuming, not correct. I love bread. And... well I get odd cravings from time to time and do not deny myself the satisfaction of meeting those cravings...like Kraft Mac n Cheese.

If you know me- you know what I look like and I am pretty top heavy. I have the Huddleston stomach or lovely muffin top. And I am on the larger end of things in the bra department. I can actually see that it's too much weight for my lil knees to carry when I am running. They are sore and tired when I am done and I am guessing it's from lugging the top half around.

So I need to lose weight. In order for me to loose weight- running 2.12 miles (and increasing) every other day is not cutting it. I know it will get easier if I eat healthier and lose weight. So here we go AGAIN for like the bazillionth time. I need to get back to counting the calories and actually staying away from ice cream and macaroni and cheese.

I need my husband to join the frenzy. It's hard to eat apples at night while your husband scarfs down chocolate peanut butter ice cream (my personal favorite.) I am the woman of the house- I do make the menu, the grocery list and pack his lunches. So I guess if I don't give him an option than he'll just be forced into eating healthy too. ...Although he did go to the store tonight and he bought (what else?) ice cream and carmel topping! AHHHHH!!

Here is a quick article on healthy eating. Wish me luck!

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Still Running

2010-07-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

Well, a lot has changed since I first posted the idea of training for my first sprint triathlon. For starters, as you can see, I changed my blog. I know myself well and if I am not held accountable my crazy dreams (like this one) will slip away to a pile of unfinished goals I keep stacked under my bed. So- I have informed people of my goal, I have signed up for a 5k run and now I have created a blog to track the next year of my training. My lovely friends, family and readers are my accountability partners starting right now.

What else has changed? Well, I bought new shoes. In an article from couch-to-5k they informed me that running shoes are essential. So I went down to Fit Right NW and bought myself a stylish pair of running shoes. I had to inform my dog, Lukah, that his running days are over. It was a sad day. I am sorry but I just can't run with a dog who wants to sniff EVERYTHING and who poops twice in 10 minutes. He's mad at me, but I think he'll get over it. I downloaded the best APP for runners, bikers and hikers to my iphone. iMapMyRun (free) is a fantastic tool to have. Now I know how far I am running and how long. I realized one hot summer day that the sweat from my forehead really stings my eyeballs and does not feel good while I am running. So off I went to Sports Authority... and now I am as cool as Al Roker...wearing a head sweat band. I also realized that not only am I training my legs (heart, arms, etc.) to physically run but I also am training my ears. I have to figure out what songs motivate me and create the perfectly timed play list for my actual run.

So where am I with the running? Well today I successfully completed 2.12 miles in 25 minutes. The last .12 was all up hill. It was good run today... I can't say that for all runs. The training method I was using from couch-to-5k (post below) was very helpful up until a few days ago. I basically jumped from 15 minutes to 19 minutes and then all of a sudden I was running for 25 minutes. I became more concerned with the fact that I need to hit 3.1 miles before August 22nd so now I am concentrating on distance. I have 23 days and .98 miles to add.

Problems? Always. For some reason I get a side cramp (only on my right side) right before the 1 mile marker. And now my right foot is falling asleep around the 1.5 mile marker. My right knee is irritated with me as well. What is up with my right side?? Any suggestions?

Keep Training,
Aubrie

Training for a 5k and Beyond...

2010-06-24T10:44:00.001-07:00

Well, hello Blog! It's been quite some time since we've had a chat. I actually have been storing up all sorts of stuff to share with my friends on the world wide web, but I just haven't posted anything. However I am very excited about my next goal and I wanted to post something for my own encouragement and accountability.

If you follow Facebook I posted something yesterday stating that I signed up for a 5K run (which is 3.1 miles) in down town Portland. So I am starting to train for my lil run. The big goal is a year from now I would like to compete in a Sprint Triathlon. Portland has one every year in August, which of course I cannot do this year as I am not in shape to do it. A sprint triathlon usually is somewhere around 750m swim, 20k bike and 5k run. Sounds painful since my legs are sore from just a simple walk/jog I did the last two days. In time I am sure the soreness will not be as bad, at least not every day.

I don't want to get ahead of myself though so for now I am simply going to train for the 5k run using the "couch-to-5k-training plan." My aunt sent this site to me and it has a running plan for 10 weeks, which is exactly the time frame I have until my 5k. In the mean time I'm going to still get in the water to swim a little bit, since that is what I have been doing already. And I'll probably jump on the bike a few times too- but I don't want to over do it and hurt myself. So we'll see. I am going to use this blog to keep track of the next year's triathlon training... I am sure it will be interesting to see the up's and down's.

Well I am off for a little walk/jog...

Week	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7
1	5 min walk 2 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 2 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 3 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
2	5 min walk 3 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 4 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 5 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
3	5 min walk 6 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	4 min jog 5 min walk 4 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 7 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
4	5 min walk 7 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 8 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 9 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
5	5 min walk 9 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	6 min jog 5 min walk 6 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 10 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	5 min walk 11 min jog 5 min walk
6	5 min walk 11 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	13 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	15 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
7	15 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	8 min jog 5 min walk 8 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	16 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	17 min jog 5 min walk
8	17 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	18 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	20 min jog 5 min walk	Relax!	Relax!
9	20 min jog	Relax!	12 min jog 5 min walk 12 min jog	Relax!	24 min jog	Relax!	25 min jog
10	25 min jog	Relax!	27 min jog	Relax!	30 min jog	Relax!	Race Day!