Spotlight Questions

5 03 2013

My coworker who writes our internal newsletter asked me to be the staff member to answer the Spotlight Questions this month. I’ve never done one of the answer 7 or 11 or whatever questions blog posts, but thought since I was answering these anyways I would share them. I also won’t tag anyone in this and actually don’t need anyone to copy these. I’m mostly just bored at work right now.

What do you like most about living in Wisconsin?

Being close to my family and being able to go to Badger games.

Is your favorite meal something you cook, or something you go out for, and what is it?

My favorite meal is almost anything my mom cooks. She makes phenomenal food from the basics to gourmet.

What was a hobby you had as a child you don’t have anymore?

Swimming. I used to swim 5-6 days a week from age 9-18. Now I don’t remember the last time I was in a pool. I still love the smell of a pool though.

What were you doing prior to working at COMPANY?

Graduate school in Washington, DC.

If you could go back and talk to yourself the day after you graduated from high school, what would you tell yourself?

You aren’t even close to being grown up. Enjoy this summer, but it’s not the end of your youth.  Also, you won’t regret choosing to go to school in Madison. It turns out to be one of the best decisions you ever made.


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Categories : Just Me

Finding my Inner Fish

28 08 2012

I’m not quitting running or anything crazy like that. I’m just not running the marathon. I’m switching things up a bit. I’ve been talking about and thinking about getting back into the pool for quite some time. I finally just went ahead and registered for masters swimming for the fall. I signed up through our rec sports and decided to do it two days a week. They have a nice option where you can pick which two days you want to do. They will be my non-running days.

I love the pool. I love the smell. I love being in the water. I love it all. I used to get myself to the pool. Then I quit the gym and had no access to a pool (not that I was using it anyways). Turns out masters swimming is much more economical than joining a gym. Plus I get to swim with other people. Other fish. Other people who like to be in the water.

I don’t know what will come out of this. I don’t know what I want from this. I just need to do something other than run. I won’t stop running, I am just adding two days in the pool. Maybe this will be my way back to triathlon. Maybe this will just be a break that I need. Maybe this is just going back to where I started. And now I can’t wait to get in the pool.

Of course my next step is to find my suit, cap and goggles that have been in hibernation for well over a year. Details.


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Categories : Just Me, Training

US Olympic Trials

28 06 2012

No, not the track and field trials like most runners, the swimming trials. I am full on obsessed. I have set my DVR to record ALL of the trials. The prelims, the finals, everything.

My swimming obsession isn’t new. And isn’t because of Michael Phelps. I have always been a swimmer. My first swim lesson was a mommy and me class at 3 months old. I started competing at age 9 and swam through high school. I have not been in a pool in over a year, but that doesn’t take away the fact that I love the smell and I could get in and swim 1000 yds. And now I can’t get back in the pool because I quit the gym. I miss it, I do, but I refuse to pay for the gym anymore. I love everything about this. I probably spend too much time on NBCOlympics.com, but I’m okay with that.

These kind of shots are amazing.

Photos from NBC Olympics

I do enjoy this aspect of swimming as well.

I mean, really, we have two of the best swimmers in the world competing against each other before the Olympics even start. The rivalry between these two is good for swimming.

I geek out at the stroke and technique. I am sad at how quickly the hour each evening goes by. And I will continue to obsess over this until the Olympics are over. The stories are great. Seventeen year old Missy Franklin qualified last night. She is 17!  Although it’s sad to see the veterans like Natalie Coughlin getting beat out by the young ones, but they are the new faces of swimming. I will enjoy every moment of my rarely televised sport.


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Categories : Just Me

I’m a Triathlete?

11 01 2012

I’m starting to think this should be in the past tense. I was a triathlete. I have competed in one triathlon since 2008. One. I told myself I was going to take a break when I went back to school, but that was in the fall of 2008. The one triathlon I did I signed up for on a whim during a snowstorm in DC.

When I took my “break” from triathlons I became a runner and somehow have never turned back. One half marathon turned into a marathon which turned into another half marathon and another marathon. You all know how it goes.

I am a swimmer! I started swimming competitively at age 9. I love swimming. I can’t remember the last time I was in a pool.

I had thought 2012 was going to be the year I did a half-Ironman. Hahahaha, No.

The new plan is to do one or two sprints this year.

I pay for a gym membership that has a pool. I really can do more than run. I know without a doubt I can do this. I need to do this. I want to do this. I am adding this to my 2012 goals.

I will be a triathlete again.

Now which ones should I do?


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Categories : running, Triathlon