Wow! It has been a long time since I posted anything here! I actually forgot all about this blog until FB reminded me.  Now I feel motivated to start blogging here again.

So much has changed for me since this blog.  I do not really race anymore.  Training only for me, much more mindful, and I have been thinking a lot more about my total health.  I eat better, basically paleo, I meditate. I got a dog and he makes me do everything in the woods so there is a lot more trail running and hiking.  He also likes life on a lake so we paddleboard and cross country ski there too.  As a result, I feel better and stronger than I have in over a decade!  This year's word of the year is adventure (last year was joyful and the year before was fearless and free; since I have not been here in so long I feel the need to put these here)  and I am looking forward to trying some new things!  (I met an ice/rock climber/trainer in the woods and am looking forward to trying that out!  Rhinoguides.

I started an additional job as a real estate agent for Berkshire Hathaway/Verani and I am learning so much about marketing, networking and in this way, I am becoming more outgoing.  I always was, but I make it a point to talk to someone, at least one new person, a day and actively look for people who might need help. I have met the nicest people in this way.  People are very grateful when you talk to them and treat them well.  You can see their faces light up immediately.  This is so rewarding!  I meet people in the woods, in the grocery store, on the lake, in my store of course, but I am so much happier and this is a big reason. 

People that I met this week that in my old life I would not have met include Philip C., an incredible hiker.  And a cheese searcher in Hannaford.  We had a nice conversation, I did not get his name.  There was also some nice people I met waiting in the check-out line.  Two people come to mind who came into my store, LDR.  We had more in-depth conversations than you might in an average encounter.  I never want to forget to be outgoing and make other people feel a moment of happiness too.

Workouts in the past week:  I hiked Mount Israel, walked, hiked and ran at Ahern, and also did a walk at Chamberlain-Reynolds.  I cross country skied and snowshoe ran on the lake and I have done PT exercises for my shoulder, neck and core.  It was a pretty good week but we had a lot of rain that washed away A LOT of the beautiful snow.  This year has been a paltry snow year.

Running...again

I went for a run last night.  Only 33 minutes after yoga at around 8 pm.  At around 20 mins in, I started to hurt:  ankle, hips, left quad.  I consciously relaxed and worked on posture and I felt better.  I like running.  It was dark cold and windy with a bit of rain and I still liked it.  How many times did I use even one of those weather excuses to avoid running?  I have run sporadically for the last few years but I need to do it again.  Running makes me feel good, strong and gets me to a weight that I enjoy being at.
In the morning, by sacral area hurt but that is to be expected.  Run girl run!  I need to run!

Race Dilemna

SOS is in 2 days. I love this race, but it seems like things have been conspiring against me so I cannot do the race, pneumonia, staph, Dan's eye surgery, yeast, or are these things all just excuses, and just a bit more pre-race jitters than usual since I haven't worked out the way I should have for this race. I think I can get through it, it will hurt, but it would anyway.  It did last time.  It is afterwards that will be much worse.  Leg and foot aches, tight calves and headache.  What to do?

Thanks Jen and Jeff for including me on your teams and helping me to bring back the fun to racing.

Six and a half chilly hours later.....

SOS splits

30 mile bike 1:48

4.5 mile run 50 mins

1.1 mile swim 30 mins

5.5 mile run 1:08 (I think)

.5 mile swim 17 mins (I think)

8.0 mile run 1:38 (I think)

.5 mile swim 13 mins (I think)

.7 mile run 6-7 mins (I think)

total 6:30!

I lost my timing chip at the start of the first swim, then my watch battery died before I had time to write down my splits: Double whammy!

SOS race report! or: Bitch stole my Dog!

Wow! Where can I begin!? It started with a 30 mile bike ride: Supersized sunflowers all along the side of the road, new pavement, riding in my first peleton (yes, just like Tour de France), almost effortless 25 mph (but just at the beginning of course), washed-out road, riding 350 yards down a broken pedestrian walk. While going up the last 5 mile big hill, I realized I found that girl I once knew. She always wanted to try new things, see how far she could push herself, how far she could go. I thought the bike would be the worst part, but it was so much fun. Starting, for the first time with Jen and riding with her for 10 miles or so "Woof, woof, woof!) It was cool, but Jen smartly demanded a warmup I never would have done if left to my own devices, which allowed us to comfortably ride the whole way in our sleeveless GSTC top, armwarmers, pocketed shorts, thin running socks (yes, booties wouldve been good but I was fine).

Our sherpas were the best, thank you so much Jeff and Adam for being everywhere we needed you to be, in plenty of time, putting extra effort in to make our transition awesome, when you really would have liked sleeping in, carrying my bike, taking my goggles out of the case, taking pics, everything!

I had an open face pbj at 6 am with a large Dunkin' coffee made my way. Washed down some endurolytes and some anti-fatigue pills, then ate 2 bites of a Hannaford nut bar on the bike with 2 more endurolytes and an anti fatigue pill, 1.5 bottles of water.

Started the first run, uphill but felt good. Panicked a bit about having pills and dry food, but no water, stopped a bit in, to adjust that damned computer chip that was already starting to gouge me. I brought a small tube on lube in my neoprene pack and used it but that think bugged me to no end. It was nice enough to jump off my leg at the beginning of the first swim. I looked for it, for a minute or so, but the water was so cold, and when i started having trouble talking, the man working there told me to just go on, and do the race without it. They would try to get me back together with it later in the race. (Bitch stole my computer chip, yeah, yeah yeah, glad to get rid of it) The first swim was long, and prehistoric. Cold cold hands and feet, people standing by the cliffs along the way, shivering, wondering how they would ever get back in and swim, checked my watch, 15 minutes, must be about half way, cannot see the end, weird fish I never saw before, huge underwater tree limbs, like ancient moose and dinosaur antlers, Neptune's Tri(du) dent. I finally got to the end, how civilized there is hhhhhot ttttttea, and ssspppace blblblblankets. Get my shoes on, run with the tea and the blanket, ball my hands in the bbbllblanket. Kept my cap on, shouldbe taken some food, pills but didnt think of it, ran like a drunk, arms held tight to my body, running just with my legs, then finally saying a sad goodbye to my blanket, back in the race, normal running, hoping I am warm before the next swim. Beautiful views, "Hi, Dunkin' Donuts Girl" Trish kept passing me on all the runs, she wore a desoto wetsuit top on the whole race, what a great idea, I never thought of that. Barely warm enough to do the second swim, but jump right in, no sense waiting, get on with it, grateful for each swim, a break from the running, I do not think I could do all this running without the swims to break it up. Cold water is fine, very cold, but getting out into low 60s no sun, windy was cold, more hot tea, another blanket, caring people rubbing me, walking with my tea while eating some sport beans, endurolytes, antifatigue, running with energy surges under my tongue, lasts a long time, tastes good, and works, first couple miles are fine on the third run but starting to get really sore. halfway aid station, smores chewy granola bar, more pills, yum, ouch, way behind schedule where I was hoping to be. along comes sweet Marty, passes me, but he has the most beautiful heels I have ever seen. My watching them, I can stay RIGHT behind him, running faster. Look at his back and I instantly fall behind, but stare at his heels and I can run. I thank him, hoping I am not annoying. He tells me I am keeping him going but he will walk with me, he wants to walk, I am keeping from walking. I insist we run at least until Godzilla, the big hill coming up and we do, he skips the last aid station so I do also, regretfully, but I cannot leave his lovely heels. We walk some up Godzilla, jog some, walk some, run to next swim, I lost him there, and need to find himand thank him. The last swim, my shoes were not as well supported by my belt as they have been, I can feel them flapping.I think about stopping and fixing it but it is the last swim, short, I keep going, get the the end, climb out easily, passing someone right at the end of the swim, but I sit to put on my shoes, she is already wearing hers, Marty had told me the last dreaded .7 miles is not as bad as I had thought, that gives me great hope and I run/walk up the steep last part. People running in with me, calling my name, jen is already there, still wet wtih her towel, Jeff and Adam are there too! They have my time ok! Even with no chip! I told everyone at every transition that I had no chip. We got to exchange our large T's for smalls, got massages after changing, wish I had brought dry shoes. Dry socks dont stay dry long in wet shoes, windy, rainy, cold, hot soup, wonderful! Incredible food afterwards, and I even got second place! The best day ever, and I found that girl! Bitch stole my antipathy!

King Pine Race Report

This was my first tri all by myself since Pumpkinman 08! I knew I needed to get back into racing, to see if it brought back my enthusiasm. It was early, it was cold, and we got lost?! on the way there (and on the way home for that matter) so I had limited time to register (that was messed up) and get my transition set up. I didn't spend a lot of time waiting around. I started front and center at the swim start, I should've started more towards the left now that I think about it afterwards, (it was a c-shaped left turning course) and I was way out in front for the first few minutes, I could see there was no one close, very exciting! I wanted to have a great swim time and I was using a brand new wetsuit...but then, I died! I died on a 1/3 mile swim! Unreal! I should've been about a minute faster. I haven't done much fast swimming at all so you can see, training does really make me faster, I hadn't been sure of that before. The bike went well, passed a bunch of people, played tag with Tom and Bill, it was short, only 12.5 miles but I was still ready for it to be over when it was. The run...my goal was just not to have an asthma attack! I sounded like a squeaky toy, wheezing and it hurt. I thought I was running 10s but it turned out to be 9:30s. A 3.8 mile, mostly offroad course, or at least half, I got passed AT THE FINISH LINE, to finish second in my age group. I should be upset but I dogged the run, and blew the swim or I would've finished first! Even if I had it in me to sprint the finish I would've been first but I didn't. The good new is no asthma attack and no dry heaving at the end. And now I am glad I did it, and I am thinking about doing more races, like the even up in the northern kingdom of VT, 3.5 mile swim! 35 mile bike, 13.1 mile run. Havent signed up yet, that would be a committment! I wonder...is my asthma getting worse or is it just this time of year? Am I hyperventilating and can I stop while working out? We had a mile winter, does that make more mold and pollen now? Am I really allergic to mold and or pollen?

Crank the Kanc 2010

This was the most mileage I have done in a year almost...51 including the warm-up and coming back down hill. The race, well it showed that training pays off. I haven't trained and I was 4-5 minutes slower than last year. It felt better, I thought I would be faster but I wasn't. I had a small asthma attack at the top, I didn't remember at the time, but I also had one the year before ( I learned this by reading my race report from last year!) I won quite a bit of goodies at the after ceremony but I was 9th in my age group. Nothing great, but I was happy that I actually did a race, I have not been in the mood, and I had fun, hanging with Jen and John. Good friends who flanked me and supported me down the hill, past the place where I crashed last year. It made me want to sing the song "I'm still standing...yeah, yeah, yeah" I am free of the crash badness. Thanks guys! And although I sort of wish I had trained more, it was for a good cause. A home. Now I have time to train again, and so I will, probably.

Cycling thoughts

Keep my cadence around 85-95, a bit slower up hill. Higher cadence makes for a higher heart rate, pushing hard gears (grinding) exhausts muscles faster. Mix it up but mostly try to push a higher cadence in a harder gear. Use my glutes! Don't just let the pedals take you. Leg press uses same muscles as cycling. I know as I felt it today. Friday, tons of one legged squats among other things, Saturday I rode up the Kanc, Sunday, rode hills and then did more weights including 8 minutes of leg press. My legs are tired. Am I slow, or just working hard? Time will tell....hopefully.

I just want to have fun

This is all I need for motivation: Trails! I missed them!

Lack of Motivation!?

I have never had this before and don't know what do do with it! Usually I love to workout, especially if the sun is out. So what is my problem? I thought it was the miserable weather we had last weekend, but the sun has been out all week and I have not done much. I don't want to workout indoors as it is so great out, but suddenly going to work seems more interesting. Does it have to do with the fact that I stay up til 1 am every night? The fact that my eating habits have deteriorated? I havent been eating enough protein, or eating that much, but when I do eat, I eat the wrong thing, including some gluten. By the end of the day, I have to run around with the kids most nights, but when I do not, I am tired and out of the habit of working out in the evening. Maybe I am not used to the spring ahead thing. I am not used to the fact that it is light in the evening. And usually by this time of year, I have had an injury that gives me at least a week or two off. So is it bad to take some time off? Do I need an injury to do so? Am I done working out forever or is it normal to take a week or so off? Has this happened to me before and I do not remember, or is 10 years of triathlon enough and I need to do something else? Like underwater basketweaving, or beadweaving perhaps? I have had many passions before in my life, they come and go. When I am in the midst of them, I cannot get enough, but then they pass. Sure, I may come back to them but there can be years when I am exploring some other passion. What is going on here? Even powerlifting, which I really only took up seriously last summer seems boring. Do I need a new workout or two? And also, I really would like to trail run but I cannot. Trails are so ridiculously muddy right now. Should that stop me? Is this just another excuse? Am I getting wimpy? Would trails on a sunny day before bug season make me happy? If they don't, then is there really something seriously wrong with me?!

Last year, when I stopped wanting to race so much, I still wanted to train a lot. Not so much on the bike, but I still wanted to swim and run. Mostly run, and lift. I sure hope this workout staleness ends. I think I DO need a trail run and a new weight workout. I will work on this tomorrow.

2010 Training Graph

My 2009 training graph

Fred Brown Relay around the Lake race report

This was fun. I organized 2 teams for GSTC and we had a good time, hanging around with both teams plus the team from Fitness Edge which had some of our members on it, and the LASC/CLub Northeast team. John was on this and he ran the same leg I did: the sixth leg from Morgan Farm to Moultonboro Central School. We were scheduled to run at the same time but I started 10 minutes before he did. I ha no way of knowing this while running. I called it running, but it was really hobbling. My calves were knotted from the beginning, I hope from RTB. I didnt feel very fast at all, I was in pain the whole way, and for once, it wasnt my breathing that kept me back. I still ran an 8:26 pace though, 54 minutes. After the race I was totally locked up in my calves and quads. Surprisingly, the right arch, which had been hurting since the end of RTB, didnt bother me at all, but I wore my Pearl Izumi shoes which always fix any aching feet problems. This was a tough race emotionally because it was on Torre's birthday and I felt really bad about being away all day, when I had been gone the day before, his actual birthday, because I had to work and go to the meeting to plan this whole race logistically. It is a big race to plan who gets where how and how they get back to their car. I am glad I did it though, it was a great group GSTC fun experience.

Reach the Beach Race Report

This is just the funnest, hardest, most painful race ever. I did 17 miles this year total, in 3 legs, 5.5 miles at 45 minutes, 8:10 pace, 7.4 hilly miles, Prescott Park in Meredith to Robbie Mills in Laconia, 68 minutes, pace of 9:10 and 4.08 miles, 36 minutes, pace of 8:36. We saw blow up dolls, men in nothing but girls undies, vans decorated in toilet plungers, bedpans, old running shoes. There were pirates, cougars, kitties and more. We need to do costumes and a theme for next year. Running on my first leg, I ran hard and thought I could never run another leg, especially not like the hard one that was coming up for me. That leg started at 2:30 am, 48 degrees, clear beautiful sky full of stars, quiet peaceful. After the first steep long downhill the uphill felt like I was still going downhill but with resistance. I actually really enjoyed this leg, except for Lane Rd, uphill on busted pavement in the dark, gave it some dry heaves at the finish, showing I was working as hard as possible. The third leg hurt all over and was hot but not as bad as last time as I had no blisters this time. Our team was great, I met great people and people I had not really seen since 2 years ago. We had a van that Irwin Motors was nice enough to lend us, it even had a DVD player (not that we had any DVDs). I want to do this culty race every year! And I need to bring a camera, that can take tons of pics!

Farnham 5.5 race report

This was hard! Very uphill, on the downhill I wish I had worn my contacts. Note to self, running fast downhill on trails requires vision so wear contacts! Got stung 5-6 times, mostly in the head, at around half way, running over a yellowjacket nest, good and plentiful raffle prizes and right near an apple farm at apple season! I couldve run faster, not too thrilled with my time but very fun. About 1.5+ hours from home. I would do this one again, but need to add more endurance training this year!

Laconia XC trail race

This was a fun race! Jen and Alex and I ran the course 2+ times before the race. It was super muddy and very slippery in places. Lots of fun and great fundraiser for Laconia XC. I will try and do this one every year.

Weight lifting thoughts

My left side is stronger than my right. I guess I knew that, but now I really know that. My right side was sorer, more knotted, and had more trouble with the same weights. I sprained my right ankle repetetively and I fell on my left side, my lead and dominant side.

It has been 1.5 weeks since I started my new weight program (Power lifting!). I am no longer sore to the touch or just to walk. I feel stronger when swimming, for a few hundred yards, but my muscles get tireder sooner. This will go away and I will be stronger and faster soon I hope.

I am enjoying the new program, it takes a lot less time and it is different so it feels good. Also, I think I will make quick progress, which makes me happy.

Aftermash of the crash, random thoughts, weight training

5 days after the crash I thought I was having a heart attack, turned out to be a cracked rib. It gave me 24 hours of excrutiating, I cannot move, or sleep, pain. It did allow me to take some time off from training/racing and finish my now favorite wool sweater. This was the first time that I have been forced to take time off from training that I enjoyed it and was not chomping at the bit to get back to it. It was nice to laze around, spend time with the family and rest. After 3 weeks of riding the couch, I went for a 65 mile bike ride. I felt so good the first 45 miles. It was either the sport beans or the rest. I thought, "wow, I feel so great, I must have been overtraining all this time" By 60 miles though, I was all done. I had been down to 6-8 mph and finally got off the bike and called Dan to come pick me up. I have never had to do this before. I was shaky and couldnt even stand, and starving! I was only 4 miles from home! It had been nice to get out though, and it was my first time back on the bike so I managed to ride! I drafted, I aerobarred, I seemed recovered.
This all got me thinking... I feel like I subconsciously intended to crash. Not exactly, but I really needed the rest, and hadnt been in a racing mood all season. Long rides were torturous. The bike was not running perfectly. I didnt feel like stressing about races, or having to do any scheduled trainings, or early morning stuff. I was finally relieved by all the worry about what was wrong with my after a talk with Suzan. I had noticed lots of people stepping back a bit this year. Suzan 'gave me permission" and solidified an idea in my head that I had been toying with ....weight lifting. Swim coach Bill said I had perfect swim form but wasnt faster as I lacked the upper body stregnth. Suzan said I could lean up with weight lifting. Why not try something new and see where it led?
Talking with Celeste St. Pierre, she recommended Sarah Crane. I started my first weight workout from her on July 16th. The whole workout takes me less than an hour and my butt is whooped by the end of it, I can barely walk home from the gym! I am so excited to see what happens! This is sooo different from working out 3 hours plus and feeling fine! That was so much steady energy output, endurance. This is High Intensity training. I am still doing plenty of tri workouts but for the time being, I am really sore and tired, too sore and tired to do what I used to do . Suzan assures me that is still there and I will be back to it in about 3 weeks, I just need to get somewhat used to the new program. I am very excited to see what happens!

Black Fly Race Report

Saturday I volunteered at the Black Fly Triathlon in Waterville Valley. Volunteering is always fun! ANd the excitement there from all the athletes, well, I caught it. I also had a free entry to the race so it didnt make sense not to use it. I decided to do a relay team in the next day's sprint. Jen volunteered for the bike but I couldnt get a runner. Later Saturday I decided I would do the run myself, as well as the swim.
The water did not smell, but I didnt know how to get in. I was one of the last to enter the water (time trial start) but the line moved faster than I had thought it would and I was messing with my goggles ( I had to rinse and spit with water from a water stop which was nearby) I didnt get a chance to see how deep it was at entry and how to enter. I didnt think it was deep enough to dive, so I jumped. The water was cold! 58 degrees they said. I was discombobulated from the start. It was my first time in open water this year, first time in a wetsuit and I got off to a rocky start. I didnt feel like I was pulling too hard and down by the beach it got warmer. After that I didnt notice the temperature but there were so many buoys, I spotted on the wrong one and went way off course. My swim split was 7:07, not great, but hey, I can't be too hard on myself, I just cracked a rib! Jen took off the timing chip and got on the bike. She told me she thought we had competition but it was so hard to tell. All the other relays left long before we did. She had done the whole race the day before, the longer course so she was tired, but had a good bike. I left for the run and felt great. I felt light and strong and there was a picture of me running....and smiling. I had been feeling really discouraged since my times were so much slower but I passed 11 people, some strategic people and was happy with my pace of 8 minute miles for the 3.4 mile race. And then to top it all off...we won first place for a women's relay! What a great day!

Bike Crash

Well, I knew it had to happen eventually. Hopefully, I have paid my dues now. I was coming down the Kanc, in the pouring rain, low vis, following and fell in a hole while in the aerobars. I lost control, went down and skid across the yellow line, jumped up, saw cars coming in the distance, grabbed my bike and ran to the other side of the road which was closer. I paced, walking, wondering how I felt ok. Then I wanted to lie down, so I sat. My hand hurt, it was cut up, one really deep one, but I was so lucky! No cars ran me down, the wet roads made me slide well enough to get very light road burn, and my GSTC heavy jacket took the brunt of the tearing on my arm. Only my left elbow got torn up. My ribs hurt, my left leg had some burns, but now I know why I am called Luckee triathlete! My bike had not a scratch to the new frame, just the left handlebars got torn up, nothing some new tape cant fix. My friends were wonderful, flagged down a ride, checking me, driving me, calling me.
The Kanc has scored 2 points on me. I can still remember the freezing cold dark ride down the Kanc 2 years ago now. This time it was horrible pavement. And they sell the Kanc as a great ride for bikers, of the cycling variety.

Canterbury XC 5k at Shaker Village

Great course! Great cool day! looked like rain but didnt happen during the race. Usually this kind of weather gives me a great race but not today. Loved the course! All off road, hilly, all different terrain, mud, but even with a nice warm-up, I had some breathing issues the whole race. I started with a 4 count exhale, 1 count exhale, determined to see how well I could run a race with my breathing under control. I realized after 1-2 miles that I needed to do 4-2 for a race. I felt better but then up the last hill, I mustve picked it up some, thinking it was near the end, when a bit attack hit, dry heaving over and over, gasping desperately for breath inbetween heaves, I had to stop then walk a bit. it went away and i went back to running but came in 22nd in my age group with a final time of 29 minutes! I do not know why I had this asthma attack! It was not hot, it probably was humid, I warmed up, I was dressed properly in shorts and a tank and it was maybe 55 degrees. I did my buteyko breathing. I havent taken any asthma meds in a long time, almost a year. Here was the days allergy forcast/pollen count:

Predominant Pollen: Oak, Birch and Ash.
Outlook
Concentration of pollen grains in the air for Tuesday will be unchanged in the high range. Constant and seasonally normal weather conditions tend to stabilize pollen concentrations in the outdoor air.
Today
Concentration of pollen grains in the air for Monday will be increasing in the high range. Since the weather has a major influence on pollen dispersal, this increase is due in part to drier air.The increase Monday could spell trouble for allergy sufferers.
Allergy Fact
The greatest danger to allergy sufferers in the garden is not pollen from ornamental plants, it is mold that can grow on the surface of the dirt. When soil is disturbed by digging or weeding, mold spores are released into the air. To avoid undue exposure to mold, gardeners sensitive to mold should not dig just after it rains, when mold is at its peak.

The mold thing is interesting, the race was just after rain, and the ground was all mowed and mixed up by all the runners. Maybe I really do have an allergy?

The whole race my body was not in any pain, not even from doing Crank the kanc the day before, but my breathing was labored from the start. hard to breathe. Frustrating.

Crank the Kank '09 Race report

I noticed, while lubing my bike first thing in the am, that the deraileur had fallen again, not too bad, but once it starts....it hit when changing from ring to ring ont he front. I thought Brian would be at the race but he wasnt. I did the fix myself, and it held the whole race but in the process I stripped the deraileur bolt. I also screwed up the tire size on the computer while racing and played with that during the race. I learned how to change it from kms to miles which I had screwed up earlier, but as a result I had no usable mileage readout or speed during the race. My race number was 182 out of 200 so I had to wait a long time before I started. I used buteyko breathing the whole way, except maybe I forgot on some of the final hill. I had a small attack at the top, but it was no biggie and ended quickly, using buteyko to stop it. I had a time of 1:31/1:32 but officially they said I did 1:26. Their time was 16 minutes better than last year! I thought it was 11 minutes better. I reached the bottom of the hill at 59 minutes, where last year I thought I had hit it at 1 hour but it is no definite point that I can think of now. I never felt like I worked as hard as I did last year, could be breathing? The new bike? The new helmet? My legs were tired during the first hour and I couldve gone faster probably, having a properly working computer and deraileur would help alot. My goal for next year: 1:26 or better.

Swimming thoughts

I discovered how much faster I can go if I keep my head down and use my wrist to start the catch up farther (which Suzan kept telling me), being careful to keep my hand up at the top of the water in front.