Swim, Bike, Run!!!....Biltmore Lake Triaton

Yesterday marked my one year anniversary with racing. Exactly a year ago I competed in my very first race (well, not including the Krispy Kreme Challenge, but this is a whole different kind of race). Since the Biltmore Lake Triathlon of June 2009 I have completed a 10 mile road race, a 9 mile road race, two half-marathons, a full marathon, and two sprint triathlons. Whew, what a year! These races are things I never would of thought possible, but it just shows me if I'm willing to work hard enough I can achieve anything.

Well it was most appropriate to celebrate my second showing at the Biltmore Lake Triathlon by racing with my dad (his FIRST triathlon). He trained since October 2009 for this race and he BEASTED it!!!! I was so proud of him for his diligence and motivation. So, here is to his upcoming year of races and marathons (right, dad?) and round-two for me!








The Biltmore Lake Triathlon consists of a 750 meter swim, a 17.5 mile bike, and a 3.1 mile run.

My dad's times were 19 min 40 sec swim, 1 hour 12 min bike, and 36 min 50 sec run; for a total time (including transition stations) of 2 hours 13 min 28 sec.

I did a 16 min swim, a 1 hour 8 min bike, and a 27 min 11 sec run; for a total time (including transition stations) of 1 hour 54 min 25 sec. I also won 3rd place in my age group!

My dad's good friend Dave and my good friend Rico also competed with us! And BIG thanks to my mom for coming out and cheering all morning and taking a thousand pictures!

Mexico Support Update

Well, my goal is to leave in two months to Mexico City! Financially speaking......

One Time Goal: $7,000
HAS BEEN MET!!!

Monthly Goal: $2,600
Still need about $1,800/month

I'm excited to see how God provides!

Mom's Recital, First Mountain Bike Race, Sunset Stampede!

Mom's annual piano recital was of course a success (all 60+ students she weekly teaches). And I assumed my annual job of serving cake!










Thanks to Rico's influence I entered into my first Mountain bike Race...and boy was that shocking! There was a course near Bent Creek Forest that was a loop about 1.5 miles long. The course had narrow bridges over creeks, jumps, stumps, roots, hills...you name it! The race lasted for about 55 minutes and whoever had completed the most laps by the end wins. There were about 30 guys in the race and 3 girls. I got second place out of the women and won a really cool handmade trophy that was made out of bike parts in the shape of a "2". I also left with about 10 solid bruises because I fell about 20 times (no joke).


















I competed in my very first Sunset Stampede race the weekend after the bike race. This race is a 10 mile race up Sunset Ave. near the Grove Park Inn and they use to do the race at sunset in the evenings. The race is 5 miles UP hill to the top of Town Mountain and then 5 miles back down (soooooo much more fun :)). My running inspiration Bill Smith (a runner from my church who has been so very supportive of all my running endeavors from the beginning, and a Boston Marathon Qualifier!) also ran the Stampede with me. I ended up getting Second Place in the Women's 20-30 age group. ...My award made that LONG up hill not seem so bad!

Surprise Party, Graduation, and Biltmore Classic Road Race

Well for starters, I graduated yesterday from NC State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Education with an ESL licensure. In attendance, were my mom, dad, and Grandmother Kincaid. After graduation we went and celebrated at the Cheesecake Factory.


















Last week I hosted and co-planned a surprise birthday party for Alex, a friend from work. Come to find out half of the surprise was on me. The party ended up being for both of us! He thought the party was for me, I thought it was for him....SURPRISE! It was very thoughtful of everyone who helped (mom, Sara, Hannah) make it a success. I was definitely surprised and it's hard to surprise me! I felt very honored and loved of the GIFTS!









This morning, my dad and I, and Rico, ran in the Biltmore Classic that is hosted on the Biltmore House property. It was HILLY, but very beautiful. My dad did the 5K (3.1 miles) in about 33 minutes and Rico and I did the 15K (9.3 miles). It took me 1 hour and 26 minutes and Rico 1 hour and 7 minutes. I had hoped to do it faster, but was just worn out. Overall it was very enjoyable!

Last Week of college classes as an undergrad!

Amanda and I celebrating with Strawberry Daquires for me getting into grad school...but really for no real reason other than that we had the "mix" to make them!










Last Saturday evening was the Mi Familia Gala. I had a great time getting dressed-up, eating a banquet style dinner, and then dancing the night away with all my Latino friends here at NC State!

Sunday I headed up to Danville, VA to visit with my grandparents. My grandpa cooked us a yummy meal of cubed steak, gravy, biscuits, and tossed salad, and then chocolate cake and apple pies for dessert. Grandma and I each took a nap after lunch and then we all watch the Talladega Nascar Race on TV.










On Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature's Awards ceremony took place. I received three awards, Teaching in Excellence for both ESL and Spanish and then the Malinowinsky Memorial Award for a love of Spanish culture and a love for teaching. My name will go up on a permnament plaque in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature for the ESL Teacher Excellence award, and I also receive $100 for the ESL award and $100 for the Malinowski Award. ...What can I say "Go big, or go home!"

(Pictures: Me, my professor/adviser Karen Tharrington, my adviser Susan Navey-David, Dad)

After the ceremony, my dad took me out to eat dinner at a cute "up scale" Mexican restaurant and then took me too the drug store to buy medicine...because I was sick! I had been feeling achy all day, and was having chills. I not sure what I have, but I have a fever, headache, and sore throat...so now I'm just taking it easy. I'm working on a paper and I write a paragraph or so while sitting in my bed, then lay down for five minutes, then repeat!

Tonight I am suppose to go to the Campus Crusade Senior Dinner (I'm going because of Destino) but that depends on how I feel. Later this evening I am suppose to go get Sushi with the Destino group...but we will see. Tomorrow is an end-of-the-year cookout for Campus Crusade and I probably spend the rest of the weekend studying for exams, finishing a paper, packing, and hanging out with friends.

Happy Thursday!

College ends, but Work never does...

So, I was planning on having a super productive Thursday (I no longer have classes on this day, or Tuesday) but I was called up by a few Destino friends for a spontaneous beach trip to Wilmington (just under two hours away from Raleigh). So, I went. We left Raleigh around 3 on Thursday afternoon, stayed in a beach front hotel that evening, ate out, hung out, took a boat tour of the sound (water way), and headed back on Friday afternoon. It was glorious to be able to just "go"!...I realize that does not last forever. I was reminded of the quotation that says something like "stay up late when you have an 8am class, go out the night before an exam, ...etc..., because college ends, but work never does".

Tomorrow morning I take the ESL Praxis (an exam I must pass to get my ESL license), then tomorrow night we have the Mi Familia End of the Year Gala. I will also be doing lots of work in there somewhere! ....I have to finish two papers and prepare for three exams.

Excitement with a pinch of stress

This week has been an "up and down" week of excitement and a little bit of stress.

Excitement:
-Taught my last ESL class at Leesville Road Middle School on Tuesday. They made me a huge card and my teacher brought me a cool vase back from Peru (where she recently visited). I feel soooo much freer now that I don't have to plan lessons and my Tuesday and Thursdays are wide-open time wise.
- My Philosophy of Law class was canceled for Wednesday and next Monday. My teacher had a death in the family (not so exciting) but I has been nice to have some extra free time. I now only have 3 more PHI of Law classes left!
- In my Spanish Senior Seminar I am DONE with everything except my final paper that is due on May 3rd (and I have already written 5 out of the the 8 pages!!!). My teacher is allotting the rest of the semester in class to working on this paper! ...so basically, I'm done with this class.
- I have been encourage with support raising for Mexico this week. Though I have a lot to raise, people are being very generous with their gifts and people have been great about being interested in what I'm doing and how I am doing...which I appreciate.
-My roommate Allison is getting married in July and tonight (Friday) my other roommates and I are throwing her a surprise batchelorette party! We have about 12 other girls coming, we will be playing games, eating yummy food, opening presents, and drinking virgin strawberry daiquiris! ...see all the pictures!
- I was selected to receive two awards this week from the department of Foreign Languages and Literature. The "English as a Second Language Teacher Education Award" and the "Arlene Malinowinski Memorial Award". There are a series of awards that are giving to seniors in my department and I will receive my awards at an awards ceremony on April 28th. I'm not sure what the second award is for (I do know that she was once a professor at State)...but I'll let you know after I receive it! ****see below for description
- I went out for Tapas (Spanish appetizers) and Salsa dancing with about five of the girls that studies in Spain with me. It's always fun to catch-up with them and reminiscence of Spain.
-Played Inter-mural softball


Stressful:
- My STS (science, gender, and technology) class is probably the worst class I have ever taken here at State. The teacher is new and not very good at clarifying expectations and she used lots of BIG words that none of use understand (she just graduated with her PhD from Duke in History last year...maybe we should remind her she is a State now and those big words are NOT necessary!). We have a finial paper and I STILL do not understand what exactly it is suppose to be about. We have guidelines, but they are very complex and different areas contradict other areas. I have asked her MANY questions, but the more I ask the more confused I get. I think I have decided to just write the paper, take whatever grade she gives me, and just BE DONE! This is really the only thing that is giving me stress as I approach the end of the year.
- I'm taking the ESL Praxis next Saturday. I have to pass this test to get my ESL License...I can take it more than once, but it cost me $150 so I would prefer not too....so, it's just a little stressful!


*****According to my adviser and professor, Karen Tharrington:

The award honors our late colleague Dr Arlene
Malinowski, who served the FLL dept in many
capacities including associate professor,
assistant department head and director of
the foreign language teacher education
program. She was an inquisitive scholar,
a tireless advocate for students, a lover
of foreign languages and cultures, a
dedicated teacher and caring colleague as
well as a zealous promoter of foreign
language education. In her memory we honor
a student in our foreign language teacher
education program who demonstrates
outstanding academic achievements and
leadership qualities as well as a love of
languages and  cultures and a high level of
involvement in academic and extra-curricular
pursuits.

Your high GPA, dedication to the field of
teacher education, high ethical standards,
leadership qualities inside and outside of
 the classroom, enthusiasm for new
challenges and your ability to take
initiative are what made the FLL Dept.
choose you as this year's recipient.