Race Day Recap

I realize that my "big race" is only a super sprint, but to the inexperienced swimmer that I am, it may as well be an Ironman! I mean, I had to take swim lessons just to figure out how to swim.  It took me 8 lessons to learn to breathe and stroke.  Now after 4 weeks of lessons and 4 weeks of practice, I can barely swim 300 yards in the pool with little 5 second breaks every 100 yards.  And this is alternating between freestyle and the side stroke.

Swimming in the open water is an entirely different story.  In the open water, I can only make it about 50 yards before I feel like I'm about to die.  So, leading up to the race, I was incredibly nervous.  I had to swim 300 yards in water over my head. The triathlon didn't start until 6:30 p.m., so I had all day long to think about it.

What if I sink?  What if I make a fool out of myself?  I'm going to be surrounded by some experienced triathletes. What if they think I'm crazy for attempting a swim when I'm clearly not qualified?  These were the questions running through my head.

The race that I was completing is a part of the Portofino Sunset Tri Series that is hosted by Team MPI and Infinity Bicycles.  When I arrived at Portofino, I was still a bit nervous, but not nearly as bad as I had been earlier in the day.  All of the volunteers and Team MPI staff were incredibly helpful and friendly and they certainly helped to ease my fears a bit.

Me & My Cheering Squad

When we arrived, we had about an hour and a half to spare, so I had plenty of time to set up my bike, walk down to the beach, and soak up all of the positive energy.

Wearing: Pearl Izumi Tri Jersey & Shorts via Zulily

I had been training for the race with my friend Charity.  It was her first triathlon, too, and we were so excited to be there together!

After we had set everything up in transition, we walked down to the water and waited for the horn that signaled my impending death... Or something like that.

As the horn blew, everyone dove into the water and took off swimming.  I stayed to the back of the pack and timidly began swimming.  I bumped into a few people as I got started (I believe one of them was Charity) and that kind of messed up my game a bit.  Trust me, I don't have much game when it comes to swimming.  I made it about 30 yards before I had to switch to the side stroke.  As I approached the first buoy, I knew I'd never make it another 200 yards without a break, so I signaled the kayak guy, and held on for dear life for a few seconds while I caught my breath. Yes, I felt like an idiot. But at least I wasn't drowning.  I took off again and had the hardest time finding my rhythm, so I ended up using the side stroke all the way to the next buoy, where I again clutched onto the kayak.  I put on a brave face, let go of the kayak, rounded the last buoy and headed for the shore.


I didn't realize how slowly I was walking until I saw the video. Ha! You can hear my husband in the background saying, "Let's GO!" 

You guys. I was literally the last person out of the water.  My biggest fear was that I'd finish last and it seemed like that was a possibility at this point.  I walked/stumbled/jogged to transition. My legs felt like jello! I took a gulp of cold water, threw on my shoes and my bib belt, slipped on my Garmin, grabbed my bike and I was off!

As I got started, I realized that I forgot to start my Garmin.  Well, I wasn't going to worry about it.  I was simply too wobbly on the bike to try to turn it while I was biking, so I just kept on going.  After a few minutes, I started to feel really great and hit my groove.  I began to pass one, then two, then several more athletes. I mean, I wasn't trying to win any medals, but it made me feel better that I was making up for some of the time I lost on the swim.  During the swim, I had swallowed a bit of salt water and it felt like I had a salty film in my mouth. I desperately wanted to stop the bike and get a drink, but I pushed myself and managed to wait until my next transition. Next came the run.

Accessorizing with: My trusty Garmin, Road ID wrist band, Road ID hat and New Balance running shoes

After pushing myself so hard on the bike, I felt sluggish when it came time to run. I had a shoulder cramp that I sometimes get when I'm worn out and it was tough to keep on going.  I can usually run a 9-minute mile pace, especially when I push myself, but this time I ran closer to a 10-minute mile.  I still feel like I pushed myself hard enough that I finished strong and was elated to be finished with my first triathlon!

I finished 36th out of 45 athletes with an official time of 53:41. We can finally call ourselves triathletes!

I couldn't have done any of it without this guy. My very own Ironman. He's the one who inspired me to give triathlons a try and he's the one who encouraged me every step of the way. He even met me at the pool several days a week on his lunch break so that I could swim laps while he watched the kids. What can I say? He's the best.

If you're interested in trying a triathlon, you should check out this series hosted by Team MPI.  They are a qualified group that includes several coaches. They offer camps and clinics that will help to train you for events.  They're a fantastic group! They're hosting a Women's Only Tri on August 1st. I'm trying to decide if I want to have another go at it.

I'm linking up today with Monday Mingle, Still Being Molly, Monday Bloom, Dear Abby Leigh, and I Feel Pretty. 

Why I Do This...

Recently, I was all flustered and embarrassed when talking to a friend about this little ole blog of mine and asked myself the question... Why do I blog? And not so much why do I blog? But why do I blog about my clothes?

Top: NY&Co

Pants: Kohls

Sandals: Shoedazzle

Note to self... Find another pose. This looking down thing is making your hair look rather poofy.

There are several reasons, I guess. Initially, I started blogging because I was bored at work. Yes, I did the majority of my blogging at work during my lunch break or when the workload was slow. Now, I can guarantee you there is never a dull moment in my line of work! Teaching third graders keeps me constantly on my toes... quite literally. It's incredibly fun, rewarding . . . and exhausting! So, yeah, no time for blogging on the clock.

I also first started blogging about my clothes because I needed something to pull me out of my wardrobe slump. I was about 9-ish months post-partum with my youngest daughter and was feeling like a frumpy mom of two. Knowing that I'd be snapping pics of my frumpyness helped me to see the clothes hanging in my closet (or more often than not, on the floor of my closet) in a new light. And it helped me to put a bit of effort into my outfits even though I was sleep deprived from one or the other of my kids getting up constantly throughout the night.

Then I really got into it. I mean, how much fun is it to meet people not just all over the country, but all over the world?!? And I liked sharing a little bit of my creativity with the world.

Necklace: Jackie's eBoutique

Bracelet & Ring: No idea...

But let me tell you... do I enjoy preening in front of the camera? Um, no. I'm especially uncomfortable when someone walks past right as I'm posing all prettily.  Can we say... AWKward! But it's fun to put my outfits out there on the world wide web and be critiqued.  I don't think it's vanity or being self absorbed... I certainly hope it isn't!  I tried blogging about a few things that are close to my heart, but that isn't my talent. Laughing at myself I can do. Talking about something serious and important... I just don't have the ability to make it sound as important as it really is.  So, instead of trying to talk about important things, I keep my posts about the superficial and hope that maybe some flustered mom out there will look at my blog and think... Well, if she can get dressed in an ensemble that is somewhat put together and stylish on 4.5 hours of sleep, then maybe I can too.

Okay, in reality, I'm getting more like 7-ish hours of sleep these days. But trust me, there are times when I get much less.  Ear infections, sore throats, nightmares, early morning runs... they all interfere with the perfect 8-hour night of sleep.  You know how it is!

Finally, my last reason for blogging is to ask for advice. There's often something that I wear over and over again . . . in the same way! So, I ask you how you would wear it and get all kinds of outfit inspiration.  Which brings me to my question of the day...

How else would you style these sandals? I'm stuck!

I'm linking up today with Monday Mingle, Still Being Molly, Sunday Style, Passion for Fashion and Watch What I'm Wearing.

~~~~~~~~

While you're here, don't forget to swing by and enter to win your own personalized Road ID bracelet! You only have until Wednesday!

Road ID Giveaway!

I am all kinds of excited to share some thrilling news with you! Road ID will now be traveling to various events around the country and making their personalized products available to you on site!

~~~~~~~~

Road ID Launches Mobile Engraving Trailer

San Francisco, CA – April 25, 2013 – Road ID, manufacturer of the premiere line of identification gear for outdoor athletes and enthusiasts, kicked off a major new marketing and sales initiative with the launch of their mobile engraving unit.

Dubbed the “Roadshow” -- a Road ID mobile design and retail center that will attend various running, cycling and triathlon events throughout the nation – the 28-foot trailer brings the Road ID e-commerce experience to hundreds of thousands of endurance athletes and kids, giving them the opportunity to customize and create their own personal safety identification.

“Our customers and social media followers have been urging us for years to attend the events in which they race,” said Road ID co-owner Edward Wimmer.

“And Road ID has grown to where we are today as a result of listening to their feedback. While we’ll never stop offering our product on the web, Roadshow offers that unique opportunity to connect with our customers directly. There’s something special about getting out and talking with people and hearing their questions that makes this more than just a sales and marketing opportunity.”   

Rock & Roll runner Angela Iwaniw, a Lakewood Ranch (Florida) resident who bought a Road ID at a recent event, said, “I had been meaning to purchase one for months and months.  I was training for my first Ironman, so I knew I needed to have one for safety, but I would get so busy with work and training that I never took the time to measure my wrist and get online to actually order one.  Being able to try on the bracelets, talk to someone about what I should put on my ID, and get the bracelet right while I waited made it easy. Getting my Road ID at the expo meant it was no longer another task on the long list of things to do.”

The Roadshow’s schedule will include nearly twenty events across the country, including the St. Jude Country Music Marathon in Nashville April 25-26; the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon May 3-4, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon May 17-19, and the Rock & Roll Chicago Half Marathon July 19-20.  The Roadshow is also looking to fill out the second half of its 2013 event schedule with cycling and triathlon events like Levi’s Gran Fondo, Ironman Louisville and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

The Roadshow mobile engraving unit is the result of hundreds of hours of labor from the Erlanger, Kentucky-based enterprise and is comprised of a mobile engraving fulfillment center fitted into a highly-customized trailer.  At events, expo-goers utilize touchscreen ordering displays to create their personalized Road IDs. From finalizing their order on the display, it takes an average of five minutes to deliver the finished, customized product to the customer. The customer can opt to receive a text message or email when their order is ready for pick-up, and their name also appears on a monitor when it is complete.

The same laser-engraving technology used on web orders is utilized inside the Roadshow, and all ID styles available at RoadID.com are also available at the Roadshow.  The company also offers nearly their entire line of apparel and accessories -- from tech tees and race hats to Supernova lights, reflective belts and socks.

To learn more about Road ID and to see where the Mobile Roadshow will visit next, please visit www.RoadID.com/Roadshow.

~~~~~~~~

That's right, ladies! Road ID may very well be at your next race! If you haven't already gotten your own personalized Road ID, you could get one on site at your next race. 

If you'd like to win your own personalized Road ID, simply enter via the rafflecopter tool below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will be open until Wednesday, May 8th.  I'll announce the lucky lady (or gent) on Thursday, May 9th! 

Road ID Review & Giveaway

A man is running down a busy stretch of highway, training for his first marathon. Cars are zipping by. He's listening to his Ipod and is in the zone, two miles into his midweek run.  Suddenly, a car careens off the road and crossed his path about 20 feet ahead of him! A lady had a diabetic seizure while driving and lost control of her car.  Had he been just a few feet further into his run, he could have been severely injured and no one would have known to call his wife.  That guy? He was my husband and this actually happened a few years ago!

A little boy is happily playing at a crowded water park. Suddenly, he looks up and realizes that he can't find his parents.  He frantically races around, searching everywhere for his mom or dad. He finds an employee, but he's too young to remember his parents' phone numbers.  Meanwhile, the child is frightened and alone. The parents are probably somewhere in the water park, distraught at the thought that their child is missing.  I saw this take place just a few weeks ago at a water park. 

A woman gets up nearly every morning and runs before the sun even comes up.  Cars pass her without so much as a glance.  This girl wears reflective running gear, but it's possible that one day a car might not see her and could actually hit her.  That girl running bright and early in the morning so happens to be me. =)

And because this is a personal style blog:

Hat: Nike, Sports Authority

Shirt: Saucony, Running Wild

Shorts: Champion, Target

Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline 11, Running Wild

What is the common factor of these scenarios?  In each of these scenarios, had the person been wearing a Road ID, contacting their family would have been simple! Road ID is a band that is customized with your name, any phone numbers you want contacted in case of an emergency and any information you deem important. I am so incredibly excited to introduce you to this product! 

My husband is always training for something and is currently training for his first Ironman.  He wears his Road ID all the time! If he evers overexerts himself and passes out, I'll know right away.  If he (God forbid!) ever gets hit by a car, the paramedics will immediately know his name and who to call. 

If that little boy at the water park had been wearing a Road ID, the water park employee could have quickly called the little boy's parents and they would have been reunited within minutes.  My Little Guy (who is four) now has his own Road ID and he wears it every time we're out and about!

I also have my own Road ID and I love it! Not only is it cute (it's pink and I can change out the band to wear different colors!), but it's also practical! If anything were to ever happen to me while out running and I were unresponsive for some reason, the paramedics or people passing by would be able to quickly alert my husband. I also listed my allergies on the ID, so that I don't receive something to which I'm allergic. 

It's a brilliant concept, right? Typically, when you're involved in an outdoor sport, you don't really have a good place to carry ID. So, more often than not, rather than try to wedge your ID into your shoe or somewhere in your shorts, you just forego identification, because you think there's no need for it. However, there is a great need for it! When my husband almost got hit by a car, we realized that he needed a way to carry his ID asap and that is when we found Road ID!  I believe (and they do too!) that every runner, surfer, hiker, cyclist, outdoor enthusiast and child should be wearing a Road ID! 

And you know what?  Road ID wants to give one of YOU your very own Road ID and a Road ID t-shirt! I've got my own Road ID, but I don't have a shirt! So, you are very lucky indeed. =)

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Required Entry:
All you have to do is comment on this post how you would use your ID. Are you a runner, a hiker, a cyclist or a surfer?  Is there some other outdoor sport for which this Road ID might come in handy?  Are you a mom who plans to have one made for your child in case they ever wander off in the grocery store or at an amusement park?  Just tell me in a comment why you would use it!

For additional entries:
Follow Breakfast with Tiffany via GFC (there's a little icon in the left sidebar).
Like Road ID on facebook.
Like Breakfast with Tiffany on facebook.
Like Breakfast with Tiffany on twitter.
Tweet or post about the giveaway on facebook and leave the link in a comment.

Okay, so that gives you 6 ways to enter! Just leave me one comment telling me all the ways you entered!  This giveaway will be open through Tuesday, July 24th. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, July 25th!

Now, if you want to get a Road ID now because you just can't wait until next week to find out if you won, or if you plan to get one for a few people in your family, Road ID has the following coupon code for the first twenty people to use it! It is ThanksTiffany16248814. It will take $1 off of your next order, which is like getting a band in additional color for free! This code is good for the next 30 days!

~~~~~~

The winner of my Monroe and Main giveaway is.... Shawna Michelle! I'll be emailing you shortly! =)

I'm linking up today with The Pleated Poppy and Transatlantic Blonde!

**This is a sponsored post. I was provided a RoadID to review, but the opinions  are 100% honest and completely mine!

Elephants & Battle Wounds

You all know how much I love my chambray shirt, right?  I mean, I only wear it like once or twice a week! 

Chambray Shirt: Gap, Thrifted

Maxi Skirt: NY&Co

Sandals: Boutique in New Orleans

Well, my poor chambray shirt has suffered a battle wound. I only hope that I can repair it and bring it back to life!

I was walking out of the door at work to go to lunch when I snagged my shirt on the door and ripped off the button! Not only did I rip off the button, but I also managed to snag a decent hole where the button should go. Since I am 100% inept with a needle and thread, I think I'll take it to a tailor and see if he/she can repair it for me.

Elephant Bracelet: Pondicherry (Purchase here) Won in a giveaway at Pink Chai Style

Coil Bracelet: Mimi Boutique Purchased with gift card won in a giveaway at BonBon Rose Girls

Isn't this elephant bracelet gorgeous?!? It's so unique. I just love it! When I showed it to my Little Guy, he gave it a cursory glance and went back to watching Curious George. Then he did a bit of a double take and said, "Oooh, momma! I like that!" =)

Necklace: April M Jewelry Won in Contest on their facebook page

Ring: I think I might have "borrowed" it from my sister and never gave it back. ;)

Pink Band: Road ID

I've worn my Road ID a number of times on the blog and you may have noticed it. I can't wait to tell you more about it tomorrow! And you'll definitely want to check back in, because there just might be something in it for you! =)

While looking through these photos, I notice that my hair is in desperate need of a cut and color! I really can't go much longer than 5 or 6 weeks before it start to look a little shoddy. How often do you cut and/or color your hair?

I'm linking up today with Monday Mingle, Still Being Molly, Watch What I'm Wearing and Coming Unstitched!

While you're here, don't forget to enter to win $100 to Monroe and Main!! It's the last day to enter. I'll announce a winner tomorrow!

Turquoise, Denim & A Day with My Bestie

Do you see how I have sort of an eerie glow about me? 

Shirt: LOFT, Thrifted

Tank: c/o Halftee

Skirt: NY&Co, Thrifted

Belt & Sandals: Target

I'm not an angel, really I'm not. It's just that the humidity fogged up the camera lens again and I didn't catch it in time to take additional shots.

Remember how I mentioned that I was spending a beach day with my bestie yesterday. It was divine! The day was perfectly beautiful. My bestie lives in Texas now and we only see each other once in a blue moon. Because we both work and have kids, it's really hard to find time to even catch up on the phone. 

I picked her up at 8:30 yesterday morning and didn't drop her back off at her aunt's house until almost 5:00. Do you want to know something crazy? I don't think there was a single moment of silence the entire time we were together. We picked up right where we left off and chatted about every little thing in our lives until I was forced to leave her because real life needed us to come back.

Watch & Big Silver Ring: Target

Silver Bracelet: Premier Designs

Stackable Rings & Smaller Silver Ring: Premier Designs

Pink Band: RoadID (which I can't wait to tell you more about next week!)

Do any of you live far away from your best friends?  How do you survive between visits?

I'm linking up today at Wordless Wednesday, Thrifter Thursday, Casual Friday, The Tiny Heart and Fashion Friday. Wowsa, that's a lot of link ups! Check them out to see how other girls are getting dressed these days. =)

While you're here, don't forget enter to win a $100 gift certificate to Monroe and Main!!  You have until Tuesday at midnight to get your entry in!!