What a weekend!

It wasn't the kind of weekend where I did anything spectacular, it was just the kind where I felt like I got a lot accomplished...and I didn't ignore my pup!

Saturday morning I got up EARLY to get to Caesar Creek for a long training day. No wet suit for the hour swim...and the water was nasty. I mean, scum floating on the top, swim out to the furthest buoys to avoid and it still is stuck all on the inside of your suit after the swim kinda water. Even thinking about now is revolting. Nonetheless, we got the swim in.

Then came the bike. 56 miles in under three hours. After a week of pretty good training. My legs were feeling pretty um,...lethargic. Then came the real fun because we still had some time to put in. We dropped a couple people at the parking lot and headed back out. Just the fast guys. and me. Which of these is not like the other? Yeah. me.

The decided to hammer. Seriously. HAMMER! I didn't last ten minutes. I rode alone for the next hour and twenty minutes. Gladly.

I grubbed a bit on the way home. Yes, while driving down the highway. An apple, tuna, string cheese and baked lays. mmmm... And then home for a shower and a nap before meeting up with a friend for the evening. I was somewhat zombie like all night, but still had fun.

Sunday morning came quickly. Time for chores! Grocery, vaccum, dishes, laundry, clean the bathroom, clean the kitchen, and fit in a two hour run somewhere.

While I was at the grocery, I got a text from Tom, on his way home from a swim at East Fork that morning. He stopped by and chatted as I diced some veggies for this killer bean and corn salsa I was craving...I now have a vat of it that I will have to try and disperse to some friends... It was good catching up with him, hearing about his training, sharing stories of mine.

Anyway, I started playing chef. I put a beef brisket in the crock pot and cut up veggies for fajitas after my run. I got everything accomplished on my list by 2pm...except that run. I'd decided to wait 24 hours after that bike since my legs were feeling kinda trashed. And I wanted to get out in the heat since IMKY is sure to be nasty.

Just before 5pm, I headed out the door with a gel, a bottle of water and my iPod. I just hit shuffle and amazingly, the song selection seemed perfect. I made sure to take a swig of water every five to ten minutes. I took my gel at an hour and filled my water bottle at the levee. I was feeling pretty good. I've found that mental preparation is key. For races and for workouts. I prepped myself to be out there runnig smoothly for an extended period of time. And that's how it went! Just like when I ran that 5k..I was prepared to make it hurt. Or the TT last week...I knew I just wanted to go hard the whole time. My mind can make or break a workout. or a race.

I came home to eat some fabulous steak fajitas and an early bedtime...which is where I'm headed now. Swim practice comes very early on Tuesday mornings.

Elliot Smith was a lyrical genius

I had tender feelings that you made hard,
But its your heart, not mine, thats scarred.
So when I go home, Ill be happy to go -
You're just somebody that I used to know.


You dont need my help anymore,
Its all now to you, there aint no before,
Now that youre big enough to run your own show
You're just somebody that I used to know.

I watched you deal in a dying day,
And throw a living past away,
So you can be sure that you're in control,
You're just somebody that I used to know.

I know you dont think you did me wrong,
And I cant stay this mad for long,
Keeping a hold of what you just let go -
You're just somebody that I used to know

Bad drivers and good deliveries

Ok, so I've had my fair share (or more) of accidents. I am not a very good driver...
BUT I'VE NEVER HIT A CYCLIST!!!

I was on my way back into town on my two-hour ride last night, cruising along in aero at about 20mph. I was thinking about how now that all these doctor bills are beginning to pour in, I need to send him a text and let him know that he needs to start paying me back for my half of the deposit on the summer place...even if it's just $50 a week.

Anyway, I was out on 52, just before New Richmond, heading back towards downtown…probably 15 miles out. Dude was in the opposing lane, getting ready to turn left into the gas station on my right. I see him try and judge whether he can make it before I get there. I was about 30 ft away and growing ever closer, when HE DECIDED TO GO FOR IT!!!

I saw it all going down and in my head, I already saw myself splayed on the road with internal injuries and a busted skull. I rocket launched outta aero and gripped the brakes so hard I was skidding all over. Luckily, he realized his misjudgement hit his brakes too. We collided right at the entrance to the Marathon station. His grill just hit my left leg and hand. It knocked me out of my cleats and I somehow caught myself before I went flying on the road. I was yelling profanities and going nuts and he didn’t apologize or anything…just pulled into the gas station and parked...

Just then, two young kids pile out of the back seat. He had yet to emerge from the SUV. He may very well have been coming over to say something to me, but what was going to occur? I wasn’t hurt and neither was the bike and I knew I was so pissed that nothing nice was going to come out of my mouth, so I figured it was better to just ride off. I did yell at the kids to not take driving lessons from their father.

I was shaken, but fortunately, not harmed. And neither was my bike!

I rode the remainder of the way home and went out for a 20 minute T-run. Felt great.

After sleeping in my compression tights, I got up for an hour run with pick-ups and a huge amount of gratitude that it's Friday. I make my way into work and arrive to a flood on my desk. Apparently, our roof has a leak...right over my desk. And we had major storms last night. I tried the old "well, looks like I can't work...guess I should just go home" trick, but it didn't work. Facilities maintenance came and cleaned it all up and some dumbass had actually covered my computer and monitor with plastic!

I finally got logged in and see that I have a note from the secretary. I have a package!!!

My new Zoot running shoes, LG tri suit, Speedo, a bike jersey and nutrition arrived. Yay for new gear!! Can't wait to try it all out...the tri suit may get a run through at the Caesar Creek Oly next weekend.

Have a great weekend all!

I'm no longer a virgin!

I completed my very first ever TT yesterday.

I was nervous....a little scared. It's the unknown. I got some suggestions from people. Mary took me for a backward lap on the course for warm-up, introduced me to some pretty cool people. I paid my fee and we discussed a bit about my predicted time...settled on 28 mins.

It's a 10.2 mile loop course. I had no idea how to tackle it. It was pretty flat, a couple small rollers. Basically, I just was given the go and took off. The first time I looked at my watch, I was about 8 mins in. "I'm almost a third of the way through. I can do this. Keep hammerin'". I caught a glimpse of someone ahead. I realized my breathing was heavy. Too heavy. "Calm down. We're only a third of the way through. Spin." And then we were to the horse shoe turn. "Half way home. Lay it on. Go catch someone."

Those last three mile flew by (mentally) and before I knew it, I was crossing the line, shouting my number.

I finished in 28:03...just as (the guy taking times) predicted. I was pretty happy with that for my first try. I didn't realize how much fun I'd had until after it was all over. Already, I couldn't wait to try it again next week.

Mary and I went for a cool down up this big hill where you can see for miles. And like she said, even the river looked so pretty it actually did make you think you'd like to swim in it! I think I'll stick to the pools and lakes until IMKY.

Hot summer fun

My Thursday night ride was much like my Monday night run - low pressure, no pushing, just enjoying the scenery and feeling the wind and loving the smooth riding surface...just fun. And I still managed a decent pace for 30 miles.

That was also the day that I'd asked my dad if he'd run this 5k with me on Friday eve. It was predicted to be hot hot hot, but I was so hungry for some competition...

So, after work Friday, we met at the race site. It was 93 degrees with a "feels like" temperature of 101. Sheesh! The field was small (almost 400) and there were quite a few young, fit women. I was sizing up my competition, but that racing exercise Coach had a do a while back also came to mind...and I had realized then that to focus on anyone else for the race was guaranteed catastrophe for my race.

They called all men running under 19 min and all women under 25 min to the front. After a 2 mile warm-up (required after having been sitting at my desk and wearing heels all day), I was already dripping sweat. My legs were feeling a little heavy. I spotted a guy I'd seen running out at East Fork Lake a couple weeks prior, chat with him in the six mins prior to gun, a fellow Ironman.

Then the countdown. "30 seconds"..."15 seconds"..."10, 9...2" and the gun! And in those last ten seconds, that familiar old feeling of adrenaline pumping came back to me...that same feeling I used to get before the gun at a cross country race in high school...the kind where my legs feel detached from my body...and we were off! I knew in the first mile that quite a few had gone out too fast. It was during that time that fellow IM starting line guy passed me. I saw his M-dot, made a comment...and held him in sight for the remainder of the run.

It was a two-loop course, the first half of which was uphill, the second, downhill. Obviously, that first loop felt pretty good...and then you PASS the finish line (ugh) and head uphill. It wouldn't have been so bad if not for the 93 degree heat. and the week of training under my belt. and that stupid hill and how you can see the stoplight where you know you'll turn and head downhill from ABOUT A MILE away! OK, maybe a half mile. Once on the back stretch, I found my legs and cruised on home.

I wasn't super excited about my time, but I was 3rd female and 25th overall. Dad crossed the finish a little after me and after I talked with Mr M-dot about triathlon for a bit. Then it was time for hotdogs at the after party!

By the time I got home, I was feeling that lack of a good cooldown. Slept in the compression tights so I could do the 3 hour ride in the morn. I showered, ate and hit the hay.

I decided to bike with Judi and Ryan, but I needed to get in an hour or so more, so I started at 9am and went out on my own for a bit. Going out east was great. Coming home...a heavy headwind. Ugh. So, I warned them both when we met. It was no surprise we went out averaging 19 mph...and then coming in, we dropped some. All in all it was pretty good. We took turns pulling in that dastardly headwind on the way back in and made it...safe and sound (even though Judi didn't wear her helmet).

Judi wentout for a run in the 90 degree heat and Ryan and went home, but not before I fell over, clipped in in the parking lot. It was in total slo-mo. And no pictures :)

I got home and found I have some sweet new tan lines! One big line on my leg. My back is ridiculous. I have lines from sports bras, lines from tanks, lines from jerseys... I'm all stripey!

play time days

That picture of me and the mutt? It was right after I'd finished my run on Monday. That run was full of sweat and smiles and singing along to the iPod and waving at (oggling) passers-by and jumping curbs and stopping to pet a pug. It was just pure, unadulterated fun. It was what I love about running. It was running without an agenda or a focus on pace or intervals or even a route, distance or time. It was just walking out the door and taking off in any direction, getting a little lost in West Covington, and enjoying the sun, the heat, the ability I have to do this sorta thing.


And Tuesday? I decided to get up at 4:30am and go to Masters practice...and I also decided to NOT push it. Coach Aaron tried to place me in the fastest lane for the main set. I simply stated that I wasn't ready to push it yet. So I led my lane instead...for a killer set of 4x(300 on 4:15, 200 on 2:40). We used fins and got plenty of rest, but that's a lot of swimming for just a portion of the practice!


Tuesday evening, I followed the plan and the did intervals on the bike . It felt good to pick up the pace, to gun it up a hill, to relax between sets. And to finish the cool-down in the rain.

Had a conversation with the good doc on Wednesday. He said "YOU are the expert on you. You have to listen to your body. I think you're being given a great opportunity here." Wha?! This "opportunity" sucks donkey dick. I come from the school of thought that if your mind thinks your body is hurting, that is your mind tricking you and you need to surpass this level of "pain" to tap into real potential, real speed, real endurance, real pain. This makes it difficult for me to discern "real" pain from "perceived" pain. Regardless, I left feeling a bit more focused and at ease.


All this was great and fun and quite lovely, but the real magic happened Wednesday night after my interval run.


My car themometer read 87 degrees, probably 80% humidity...and the sun was burning down. I started with my warm-up and as I was crossing the bridge with the Reds traffic, I saw a skinny bitch up ahead (he he he! A rabbit!). And just then, the warm-up was over and the intervals kicked in. I passed her and never looked back. These were relatively short intervals - 3 mins. And there were only four of them. After thefirst two, I was still feeling great. It was that third one when the pain kicked in. I could feel the heat on my back and the burning in my thighs and the fire in my lungs. And the fourth one was just brutal...keeping close eye on the watch, counting seconds, until FINALLY, the cool-down.

This was a focused run, which means no music, no lolly-gaggin', just running with purpose. And it's after these type runs that I assess things. So, assess I did. As I walked Clubber and the lethargy set in, I weighed my alternatives. On one hand, I want so badly to compete at Louisville this year...and I want to listen to Coach E and do what he says and be the BEST I can be, which won't be the best I want to be. And on the other hand, I want to just have fun. I want to do road races, 5ks, trail runs, the Cleves TTs, Masters swim practice. I don't want to be beholden to a rigid plan of action that won't allow these moments of play.

And it occured to me that these things aren't mutually exclusive. I can go do these things I want to do. I can have a plan. I can also be open to deviating from that plan. I can still go to Louisville and compete. And I can go in a much more relaxed state of mind if I allow myself to play. I can also decide that I'm just not ready for Louisville when it arrives. I always said that when this becomes not fun, I hope I have sense enough to quit. And I'm just putting a lot of stress on myself to be so rigid at a time when I've got no control over how I'm going to feel, physically, on a day-to-day basis. So, I decided that I'm just gonna have fun and not take myself so damn seriously...

And, this meant getting up again at 4:30am to go to Masters practice :) Coach E isn't a fan, but this to me is play time...but an incredibly intensely physical play time. Today's main set was avg best 100s. I held 1:20 on all, maybe dipped to 1:21 on 8 and 9, and went out a little fast at 1:17, but pretty consistently there. It hurt. so. good. And I stayed and chatted and laughed with Aaron and the boys after.

I walked out with a smile on my face and I felt freer than I've felt in weeks.

Some days, I'm just grateful for...

- frozen slices of overly ripe banana after a really hot run
- flying down the highway with my hand out the window, searching for my perfect "catch"
- being up before the sun rises
- a dad that loves the shit out of me - runs in which I cross all four bridges from N KY to Cincinnati
- sleepy time tea
- incense that takes me back to the ocean
- AIR CONDITIONING
- take-out sushi from Whole Foods
- pink sports bras
- the writings of Wally Lamb
- kids...and the fact that they aren't mine
- beating up on the guys at Masters practice
- raspberry cheeseake ice cream
- firing ranges
- having captured a rainbow on my cell phone camera
- a nice comfy bed of my own
- seeing friends at happy hour as I pass by on my run
- that my sickness is life-altering, not life threatening
- the lack of peanut butter, chocolate, bread and cereal (from this diet to ward off the sickness)has left me looking better in a bikini (vain, I know! sue me)

- the most AMAZING friends a girl could ask for
- not working...legitimately
- the lyrics to Billy Joel's "My Life"
- Rte 8 rides
- the color green!
- that stupid FB app that tells me daily that God wants me to know..."you are what you eat"
- text messages from mom
- gorgeous sunsets - ice cold diet 7up on a hot day
- swingsets

- watermelon bubble gum
- coming home to Clubber...even if she fights my kisses :)