"Pains but gains for Tucker"

"Pains but gains for Tucker" That is what the local newspaper wrote about me in today paper. It was a nice article and most of what was written was true. This article came about from yesterdays race. Yesterday it was the Peterborough half ironman or should I just call it Peterborough long course triathlon. They can't officially call it a half ironman because of the copy write. Yesterday I was going into this race not knowing what I was going to do. My training up to this point has been all over the place. Work is keeping me very busy and when I am not at work I am trying to get in as much family time. To make a long story short I was the top local with a personal best time which makes me somewhat happy but at the same time I felt that I had a bad race. I felt that I should be placing higher up in the overall placing than what I did. This race is a good race for many reason: (1) great race to have bragging right over the other locals; (2) It is nice to show off to the other athlete what a great area Peterborough is; and(3) There is always a great party after wards.

In my last post I was deciding what my main race was going to be. This year I am so undecided many due to work and family. It is funny how life changes from year to year. I am not disappointed about not having a clear direction. I think everything will balance out in the long run. I am registered for Muskoka 70.3. That might be my big race of the year or maybe not. Next weekend I will have a better idea or not.

Since my last post Miranda and I are expecting our second child. We are both very excited about this. The doctor told us the due date is December 24. I am hoping this baby comes early like the last one. If not it will be a whirl wind Christmas.

Makayla is changing so much everyday. It scares me to be away for any period of time because I might miss something. It is so funny how before she was born we weren't going to be one of those parents that spoil there kids rotten. Well we are defiantly one of then now.

In the Swing of Things

My life is back to somewhat normal pace after finishing school, passing my nursing exam and starting work at the Hospital. It is great to be making money again and I am able to start planning for all those toys I want.

Working shift work makes juggling my training schedule a little tricky. I am up at 3:30am on most days that I am working a 12 hour shift because I do not feel like training once I get home from work. Also trying to work around Miranda's schedule to get my training in is hard also. I have been doing great but the last little while the cold has hit our family and my training was down to a maintenance level until I we were able to all get over it.

2 weeks ago I ran the Around the bay in Hamilton. It was a great race and I might look at doing it next year. I did not reach my goal of going under 2hours but I can't complain because when my IT band flared up it was game over. I was on track at the 15km mark and also had some time in the bank but when you are forced to go at a snails pace that time quickly disappears. I think I enjoyed the whole weekend because Miranda and I was able to leave Makayla with the grandparents and had some one on one time.

Makayla is keeping busy trying not to get anymore scraps or cuts. That girl falls and trips so much. I am afraid that people are thinking that we beat our child because of all the bruises. We found out that her feet turn inward and also her knee which may be causing her to trip all the time. The doctor sent us to the foot people and they are wanting her to get some orthotics. This will correct her feet and knees. They are not cheap! I don't mind spending the money to help correct her problem.

Nursing exam.

So today was the big nursing exam. It was 7hours and it was very grueling. I am glad that it is done and I hope that I don't have to write that test ever again. People ask me if I think I passed or not but this test they mark it on a bell curve so it really doesn't matter if I passed. I could of done well but if I'm on the bottom half of the marks...I fail. That's not nice but that is how they do it. Right now I am not looking at being that group that is on the bottom half.

Today was the first day in a long time that I did get to spend most of the day with Makayla. I really miss that. I think tomorrow I am going to take Makayla and we can both get a book. She loves to look at books.

Big Shoes to Fill

So the past couple of months have been nice to have the time off while spending it with Makayla and Miranda. I was unable to work because I was waiting for my temporary license to come in so I can nurse. The speed that I opted for to get my degree was a little bit of a whirl wind. At times it overwhelming but looking back it was well worth it and glad that I made the decision to go back to school.
Tomorrow is the big exam. I believe I studied enough in the last month but still I am learning new things every day. This profession I can see myself consistently learning new things which is one reason that I choose it. Once Thursday comes I won't know what to do with all my free time, well that's a lie. I am looking at racing an IronMan (IM)this year. I am not sure which one yet as I will need to qualify at Muskoka. Muskoka usually has 3 IM which you can qualify for. I was looking at Lake placid IM at first but now I am leaning towards Florida.
I have been back to training for the past 2 months now and I feel that I am in better shape then I was during last summer. This could be because school is no longer a priority. I do have a ways to go to were I want to be if I am going to race an IM. I don't want to do an IM just for fun. I want to go and do really well and maybe place in my age group or get an IM Hawaii spot.
The picture is Makayla wearing Miranda shoes and wearing my hat. I think that girl already has a shoe fetish. That is also her giving a smile. I love spending everyday with her because she changes so much and keeps busy.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Only 18 days left until I am done school. Yes! I am counting. Also Miranda and I move into our new house the day I am finished. I can't wait because we have out grown the place we are in currently. We really didn't want to move into a house until earlier next year but we could not pass up a house like this. Both Miranda and I just love the place.

Everyday Makayla is changing and it is so amazing to see. It seems like just yesterday we were taking her home from the hospital and now see is learning to say new words every day.

There is not much to say about my training. I was looking at running the Pheonix marathon in January but with this house thing I think I will have to pass this year. I am getting some running in, some weights and a little bit of biking in. Frank has lent me his bike that has the powercranks on. I am giving the powercranks a try to see if all the hype is correct about them. The first couple of times on then my legs were rubber after only 10mins. Right now my training is on the back burner until my schooling is finished.

Crazy Times!

I figured I should post because it has been a while since my last post. My triathlon season ended on a good note. With all the injuries that I was plague with this year I was still able to have a okay year. I had less time to train this year them the past since I started school again but maybe this is what I needed. Well, Muskoka 70.3 triathlon was the last race of the year and was my "A" race and I ended up coming 4th in my age group. I was expecting anything closer to a top 5th pace finish. After the race I took some time off from training and focused on my last semester of school.

This semester I am in the emergency department and just love it! I knew before going into the nurse field that I wanted to end up in the ER. Even though I love it, I am going to work on an inpatient floor for a min. of 1 year before applying to work in the ER. I believe I this will help me develop more as a nurse and give me the confidence that I need in the ER.

Last week I sign a contact with the hospital to work when I am done. It is nice to have a job before I am even done school. Also with school coming to a end Miranda and I have been talking about buying a house. Well we ended up looking at a couple of houses a week and a half ago just to see what we want in a house. We were thinking of making a serious effort to get a house in January but we ended up falling in love with this house and decided to make an offer. To make things worse is that we were biding on a house that had another offer on it. In the end we got the house and are moving in December 2. This is awesome because we will in our house for xmas and Makayla will have her own room.

Miranda and I was planning on taking a trip to Phoenix so I can run a marathon in January but buy this house throws a wrench in the plans. We still might go but it is depending on when I start work. I am still training for it but if I can't go I might look at going back to Boston again in April.

Half Ironman or Sprint

I am racing this Sunday but I am not sure what distance I am going to do. My foot is feeling better everyday but I am still feeling it after a run. So if I decide to race the half Ironman I might do more damage and be back to square one. Also training is starting to come back but still I am from where I can race and be a force out there. So it looks like I am leaning towards the sprint but this will be a decision I will make tomorrow.

This past week I have started orientation to the hospital. Lots to learn and almost to much at one time. I am nervous but at the same time excited to start.