ATHLETES IN THE OFF SEASON!

Greg and Laura Bennett and Myself in the off season....

These are my two favorite Olympic Triathletes... I've managed to get them off their game... I tricked them into eating sugar... AH HA HA HA (that's an evil cackle)!!!

What a fun night... We all went to the Finals of Dancing With The Stars then AOC for dinner!!! I swear I'm always LMAO (Laughing my *ss off) with these two.... hmmmmm can't wait for tomorrow night!!!

FROM THE "THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON"

“It’s never too late, or in my case to early, to be whoever you want to be. There is no time limit. Start whenever you want.

You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or worst of it. I hope you make the best of it.

I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you have never felt before.

I hope you meet people who have a different point of view.

I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not,

I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”

photo taken at the top of Latigo...on a night ride this weekend. Breathtaking!

FALLS HERE BACK TO BRUNETTE

Okay.... not sure if this is worthy of a blog.... but the other day I was thinking since when did I become a blonde...??!! I mean I know living in California has had its effect on me by always being in the sun etc... but yesterday I went to an audition and the girl signing me in asked if I normally had dark hair and I looked around the room at all the girls with dark brown hair auditioning for a commercial with Benicio for Magnum ice cream and realized I was no longer considered a brunette. Then a friend who I hadn't seen forever saw me and was "wow your hair is light... it's nice" she said unconvincingly... It was at that moment I decided it was time to take better care of my hair and not look like I just stepped out of the pool.. (which is usually the case) so I headed to the salon today... out with the old in with the new er... back to the old brunette I was.

Yeahhhh. I love change. I feel like a new person. I needed it today as I was having a hard day. Sometimes the little changes we make can make a huge difference and I'm not only talking hair. Every day is a new day... I love to grow... be challenged... and hopefully respond in the right way and change for the better. Life is what we make it... I want to make the most of it... which means CHANGE! GROW! LEARN! APPLY! CHANGE! GROW! LEARN! APPLY! CHANGE!

Ok don't ask me how a little blog about my hair color change can turn into a deep moment... but apparently that's just me being me! Enjoy the day!! XO Your Brunette!

Nov9th-14 A Week of Mayhem

Life can be adventurous and full of unexpected moments that make memories for a lifetime! This was one of those jam packed weeks full of em!!!

Here's my philosophy... how much can I cram into one week... apparently a lot!

Lets start off with Monday.... Seriously this day was incredible. Mark Steines from ET took the time from his crazy day to give me an exclusive behind the scenes view of all he does. WOW.... I love his job and he is amazing. He let me go into the Voice Over room with him and watch him work his skills and charm and he's done it so much that he could do it with his eyes closed, and probably somehow not speak and it will still be great... Ok maybe he'd have to speak for the voice over part. Then we had lunch and I received my first ever hosting and voice over lesson. I was a sponge soaking up all he taught me. He's incredibly passionate about his work and equally generous with sharing it with me to teach me more in 2 hours then I probably could've learned in a year. Thank you Thank you Mark.... I owe you! When I get my next hosting job.... we will celebrate and maybe I'll interview you!!! :)

This has always been a dream of mine to host a TV show or something... I'm definitely keeping this on the TO DO dream list.

Having had a taste of hosting and interviewing from ESPN the magazines online video footage of behind the scenes of the making of "The Body" issue... I am ready to learn more and pursue this with a passion!

Tuesday= FLOOR SEATS at the Clippers game. I don't think I can ever go again without floor seats... I'm ruined... nah that's not true... I can watch the game from anywhere. I love basketball! SO much I had to go again on Thursday night to watch the LA Lakers play with my sister and my brother in law who were visiting from Canada.

Rewind to Wednesday.... I had two photo shoots one in the AM for K-Swiss and one in the afternoon for Target. Then I went back to the K-Swiss shoot to finish the rest of the shoot after the Target shoot... Didn't leave the studio til 9pm. Long day but so much fun. I added a pic from the shoot.

Friday Arlynd and I jumped on a plane to San Fran to meet up with our best friend from Canada Darren who flew down from Canada to visit us for 6days. We jam packed the weekend with a seminar in SF, bike rides, swimming, food, movies and more food.

All this took place with training thrown in amongst the spare hours and auditions strewn across the city to keep me busy.

Well that's my week of amazing memories.

Can't wait to see what is gonna happen next....

CAF CHALLENGE SAN DIEGO

What a spectacular weekend! Great weather. Great Event. Great Memories!!

I met Lin, my relay partner Saturday evening to look at the race site and she also wanted to check out the water. She was brave and did the swim without the wetsuit. I watched her as she edged her way into the water. Having Cerebral Palsy doesn't make getting into the water easy... but as soon as she was in she looked so graceful. It's as if the water became her friend and she looked effortless as she stroked her way out into the La Jolla cove! How inspiring is she to me!! The courage to rise above the challenges she faces with CP to becoming an athlete.. and of all things she just didn't pick one sport she decided to do triathlons... that's what I call someone who knows how to overcome obstacles and isn't afraid to step out of the box... to living her dreams. Lin you are AMAZING!

The race morning has a lot of great moments. Introducing all the CAF Athletes. Watching the kids run around on their prostectic legs... literally bounding around... loving life... loving the chance to run... to see their joy. They truly moved me... It makes you close your eyes for a moment and feel their joy and feel a smile from within to be able to be part of something so great!

CAF makes these young children's dreams possible by providing arms and legs and various other instruments.. such as hand cycles or wheel chairs etc... many of the latest inventions to help these children, these boys and girls, and men and women of all ages a chance to live a normal life. A chance to remain active and most importantly a chance to rise above their obstacles and show the world that anything is possible.

Chris McCormack (Macca) An Ironman World Champion and myself were able to lead in the CAF Athletes that were participating in the bike. I saw Lin standing in the swim line... I was able to give her a hug and wish her a fun swim... and then we all parted our own ways... they send the cyclists off earlier before the swimmers get back so I was not able to watch Lin race...

I went off on the bike with Ian (my coach) and Jim (manager) and what a great ride it was. I have to tell you not doing long rides (56miles) for a while... I was definitely feeling my legs the last 15 miles... and all that I was thinking was I hope they keep working for the 13.1 mile run that I was about to ask them to do. Thank goodness they worked!!!

I completed the bike and run without any injuries.... just tired muscles. A good training day for me.

All in all ... a great weekend!!!

Thanks to CAF for all they do. I am forever changed by being a part of this great charity and event!

PHOTOS:

1) Pro Cyclists Floyd Landis and Christian Vande Velde (2 of the best cyclists in the world)

2) Macca and Me (Pro Triathlete and Ironman World Champion)

3) Lin Dolen and Me (My relay partner... she has Cerebral Palsy & is a triathlete... WOW)

4) The group dinner with Ian Murray (My coach), Alexandra Paul (incredible actress and wife of Ian), Susan (Olympic Gold Rower), and her boyfriend Martin.... with Alexandra holding an Xterra box with me on the front!

5) Sarah Reinerston and Myself (She's the first above the knee amputee to finish the IRONMAN and recently was on the cover of ESPN The Magazine for "The Body Issue" in which I was doing the behind the scenes interviewing) YEAHHHH SARAH!! You ROCK!

A RUN IN THE CLOUDS!!

What an amazing morning!

I ventured out my back door to Topanga State Park to do a trail run. It's breathtaking... I get lost in the trail.... the sun beaming down on my body... a mix of music playing in my ears... but the music fades as I get lost in my thoughts... that's what runs do for me... A time to venture... a time to think... a time to get soaked up in Gods glory as I look at the scenery around me... It's a glimpse of freedom as I near the trails summit... overlooking the valley and the ocean below... except this time the ocean is covered in a cloud... it made me smile... an onlooker said not such a great view today... I looked out and though could it get any better than this... I am above the clouds.. at the top of a mountain... I feel free... the air is fresh and rejuvenating... I am smiling from deep within... as I feel like I'm flying... for me this is one of my dreams....to run in the clouds!

PS.... Don't mock the compression socks... they really work! :)

CAF CHALLENGE

On my way to San Diego for the CAF Challenge (Challenged Athletes Foundation)! Talk about inspiring and life changing... these incredible athletes show us what it means to live life to the fullest by overcoming their challenges and disabilities with victory in racing in triathlons... and in everyday life. I am doing a relay with Lin Dolen she is doing the swim and I will do the bike and run... she is an amazing women with Cerebral Palsy and happier than anyone I've ever met. She will show me along with every other athlete what it means to race with courage and determination... and how if we chose to we can overcome anything. These athletes know how to dream. I can't wait to take part in this incredible life changing event! I will post a blog after the event on Sunday!