Catching Up

Yes, I've been neglecting my blog.  It's not for lack of time, energy, or material, but more just due to laziness and a little bit of writer's block.  So now, I'm going to take the easy way out and do a little bullet-pointed catch-up post, and then be better about the updating. 

• Boston

Like most everyone, I had a lot of feelings and emotions about the bombings in Boston and subsequent events.  Not that I'm unique in this regard, at all, but I felt personally affected both as an athlete (and one who has done the Boston Marathon) and, perhaps more so, as a person who lived in the Boston area for three years.  I wrote up a whole blog post about my thoughts, even, gasp, edited it a couple times, and then threw it out.  It felt a little too personal, and frankly, I don't have much to say that hasn't been said by lots of other people already.

So in short, I'll just say that though the events of that week were horrible and scary, for me, they brought forth an immense pride and affection for the city of Boston that I hadn't really felt before.  What we saw last week.... the gritty, bad-ass refusal to back down....that's what I did and do love about Boston.

• Heathens' Easter

 And in a completely different direction....

Me and my grandma

It should come as no surprise to anyone that has met me and/or my brother that my family is pretty ridiculously competitive.  We're also really into silly traditions, some of which are roughly rooted in our Hungarian background, most of which are not.  And we've always tended to celebrate holidays (well, mostly birthdays) without regard for the day on which the holiday actually falls, but when it's more convenient based on our schedule.

One of my favorite traditions that has endured over the years is the Easter Egg Hunt.  We had the Easter Egg Hunt when we were all kids, and as we've grown into full-fledged adults, the tradition has lived on and gotten increasingly competitive, to the point that there is now pre-Hunt trash talking, physical blocking, and frequent attempts by one certain participant to cheat by stealing eggs out of other players' baskets.  Over the years, various significant others have also participated (although none has emerged victorious), and the Hunt has emerged as sort of a test of compatibility with the family.  I'm not naming names, but a certain ex-boyfriend of mine may have been a little overly pouty when he lost, even accusing the Easter Bunny of rigging things against him, and I dare say that was the beginning of the end of that relationship,  at least in my mind.

On my way to victory

Looking for eggs so quickly he became a blur

Anyway, what to say about this year's Hunt?  Oh yeah....I won.  For the second year in a row.  In record time.  I was so fast it was scary.

I made myself a trophy in honor of my victory and gloated the rest of the day

Also, we did the Hunt a week after Easter.  That seems a little (lot) sacrilegious, but aside from my sister, none of us are particularly religious, so we didn't think much of it.  Heathens.

Egg Hunt 2013 Participants

• It's Tri Season!

Speaking of competitions.  I guess it's safe to say that triathlon season is getting going.  For others.   Results are coming in, races are getting closer and closer, and I keep expecting myself to get excited about getting out there and racing again.....but I'm not.  I've already had two races that I planned to do and backed out of, and I cannot bring myself to fully commit to anything in the next couple months.

I'm not sure what the problem is or why I have no desire whatsoever to compete when racing is usually the part of triathlon that I love, but frankly, I'm not really in the mood to over-analyze myself or think too much about it.  So for now, I'm just going with the flow, trying to get and stay consistent with my training, and assuming that the competitive spirit will return, eventually.   If it doesn't, I guess I'll have to force myself into some races, but that's not a worry for today.  Or really, for tomorrow.  I forget sometimes how LONG the triathlon season can be, and particularly in my case, where I peaked for races in January and March and have sorta big races in September and October, I think it's OK to have a nice long downtime from racing, even if it is when everyone else is getting fired up. 

• TriSports!

I really should have blogged about this earlier. Once I do start up racing again, I'm going to be doing so while proudly wearing a TriSports.com kit.  I am so honored to have been selected as part of the TriSports.com Team for this year.  If you're not familiar with TriSports.com, you really should be.  Over the past couple years, I've gotten the vast majority of my gear from TriSports.com.  They have the widest selection and best prices and customer service of anyone out there.  Even for you non-triathletes....if you want running shoes or clothes for the gym, or anything like that, check them out (and use my discount code (AWENDORFF) for 15% off most items).

• Miscellaneous Stuff 

In terms of big major life events (i.e., jobs), wheels are still in motion and I'm keeping my mouth shut for now.  I'm back in the Chicagoland area (but not Chicago itself) relying once again on the ridiculous, amazing kindness of friends to keep me off the street as my condo is still occupied for a little while longer.  I'm swimming a lot, riding a fair amount, running a bit, and recovering like a boss.

Compression boots and Mad Men.  Not sure it gets better

Basically, I'm easing back into life, little-by-little.  The nice, slow re-entry is keeping me sane and, dare I say, happy?  Although this weather??? As Gob Bluth would say:  "C'MON!!!"

Words cannot express my love for Arrested Development

 Yes, I know I pretty much completely dodged winter this year and I probably haven't earned the right to complain about the weather, but I couldn't care less.  It needs to warm up.  Now.