Effingham. Population:12,400

Luckily, in that 12,400, there are about 20 cyclists. And two bike shops.

I started the morning...in bed. And then in granny's kitchen (i think i've mentioned she lives next door. like, a driveway/20 ft separate her and mom's doors. weird. believe me. i love my mom. will NEVER be able to live in such close proximity..) with my aunt, drinking coffee and listening to granny tell the same stories she told three months ago (she's 91...patience...she thinks i go walking all the time when i'm training. ha ha ha). And then I kitted up and headed out for a ride. I stopped in the LBS here in town and asked about group rides. One. Tonight. Maybe four people. 18mph avg. They recommended another shop. I went out to the country to clear my head. It's absolutely gorgeous out here. Nothing but farmland, cattle, fields, blue skies, billowing clouds. I even found a few hills. Seriously. Actual climbs!! And I think it was a prarie dog that nearly got run over. I saw farm machines I didn't even know existed! I rode on gravel for a half mile and was attacked by four dogs...

On my way back in, I found the Uphill Grind. Dick, shop dude, gave me the low down on the group rides, the riders, etc. He wants to go watch the boys hurt tomorrow night. he he he. This is good for me.

From there it was home for a quick snack and to the pool for lap swimming!! But, dude...meters are so much different than yards. I'm not used to that. sooooo slooooowww.... I got in what I needed. I laid out in the sun after.

I got encouraging words from friends. I fought the urge to call and tell him about my day. You guys are awesome.

sunshine!

It's fitting that Tri Diesel gave me a little gift of sunshine award today....

...since I'll be heading down south to enjoy some sun myself this weekend.

A group of cyclists are going down to Tellico, TN to ride in some 40 degree weather and mountains. I'll be sure to take along the camera. And I'll be prayin' I can hang on some wheels...

Good luck to those racing this weekend, including Sean, Morgan, Adam, James, and anyone else I may have missed...

um, it's 3:30 am...

...and I'm wide awake.
Maybe I'm acclimating early?
Or the excitement just won't allow sleep?
In about 12 hours, if all goes well, I'll be sitting in a chair at the airport in front of my gate, waiting to board a plane to Denver. And then it's off to San Fran. Then Sydney. And finally, Perth.
A couple months ago, this day seemed so far away. It seemed so far out of reality.
On some level, it still does.

It's not that this is something that everyone of you couldn't accomplish. It's just that, in my wildest dreams, I never really thought it would happen to me. I was the kid sitting at my desk in my room drawing pictures, the little chubby girl who cried at soccer practice because the simple fact that I had to meet new people scared me shitless.

My, how times have changed!

Now I'm the girl who strolls into work at 9am, smelling of chlorine, having been up for 4.5 hours, swam a couple miles, made and eaten breakfast, walked the dog twice and maybe even got a load of laundry in, the girl who will talk to any random stranger within listening distance.

What a very cool two years of triathlon this has been. What an incredible time of learning and reaching and hoping and growing. I've been fortunate enough to meet some very cool people and garner some very close friendships along the way.

The next time I post, it'll be from a hotel in Australia. For now, i have one last session on the trainer.

Cheers!

Thank YOU!!!

All of you have been so amazing and supportive and encouraging as I prep for Long-Course Worlds in Perth, Australia...so THANK YOU!!! It really does mean so much.

I went to swim practice this morning and had a little gift awaiting me - an American flag emblazoned Buff (it's "the original multifunctional headwear") and an AmEx gift card. My masseuse gave me a donation. My buddy, Rob, has provided me with some financial support, as has my mom. My dad is going over to cheer me on!!

I feel so lucky. What an incredible year!

And the training is going well too. Coach Aaron took it easy on me Tuesday morning for practice. We only did 3200. And it was easy pace work. This morning? not so much. 4200 yards. The warm-up was 12x100. Then lots of pulls and kick sprints and more 100s... sheesh! But I'm sooo grateful because he's helped me so much ove rthe last year or so.

Tuesday evening brought some run intervals. Just short bursts of speed to "wake up" those fast twitch muscles (as Coach likes to put it). And Wednesday morning was 2x20 min tt efforts on the bike. YaY!

Tonight I have to rectify the wrong with my last 5k. I'm to go to a track and after a warm-up and cool-down, do a 5k in which each mile is faster than the last and each mile is negative split. ANd it's raining. And about 55 degrees. My favorite :)

the countdown

I was speaking with a friend as I walked to the gym last night when it hit me... I have one more weekend before I leave for Australia. ONE WEEKEND!!! And that weekend will consist of volunteering at a cross race. And tracking my coach and friends doing Kona. And training. There is always that.

This left me with a lump in my throat and a burning in my gut that has yet to leave. I'm scared.

So, I printed out my flight itinerary and called the airlines about the bike...and got my Visa confirmation and got my training all squared away for the next few weeks. I still have so much to do now that i'm less than two weeks out from departure... The countdown is on!

Day 1 - travel to Musselman

It started out as any other day. Just a lot earlier. Like 3:30 kinda early. But I went to bed at 6pm the night before, so it wasn't a problem. I loaded the rental car and, heartachingly left my little pup, and got on the road.

this is me driving. exciting, huh?

Then the real fun began. My phone battery was low. How? I'm not sure because I thought I had it plugged in all night. Well, I didn't really want to make the 8.5 hour trip to unknown territory alone without a phone, so I brought my car charger...only t o find that for some reason, it wouldn't work. Through deductive reasoning, I figured it was a fuse, so I stop and get out the manual and see what the hell I need to do. Long story short, I bought fuses, but the fuse puller was missing. The Pilot station manager saved the day with a flathead screwdriver and all was well in the world. And back on the road...

I mostly just jammed out, but there were a few moments in time when I really wished I had a voice recorder to record what was going on in my mind. Sometimes, it's scary up there. I had thoughts from my ex-husband to ex-boyfriend to racing, my trip to Belize at age 14, my grandma, my job, friends... it was all there, pretty much. I made a potty stop at this exit off I-90 that turned out to be an Indian Reservation.

Next stop? Niagara Falls! I'd never been before and it was only 20 miles out of the way, so I kinda planned it in. It was raining, so I didn't spend too much time there and after the $10 parking fee, I didn't feel the need to take a tour. Should've gotten souvenirs though.

After that, it really wasn't long before I arrived in Geneva. I checked into my hotel. Ok, motel. Ok, motor lodge. Gross. There's a jacuzzi in my room. It's next to the bed. There are mirrors all around it. I will get a picture before I leave.

Anyway, I dropped my things and went down toward the lake for a quick loosen run. This is where we will swim. The water looks choppy.

Then, I cleaned up and went exploring around town. This is a super cool college town on a lake. Lots of fun. I found the bike shop. I had a reuben at a little pub and came home for some rest...so I could get up today and do my little brick.

And now, I have to go find some food. And packet pick-up and maybe some arm warmers!