Practice, practice, more practice

I returned to the pool for the first time since the race. Who knew not being good at something could make you so excited. I have really enjoyed swimming, more so open water swimming. Now that I like it, it's time to improve! I felt the exact same way when I took up cycling a few years ago, and then skate skiing a couple of years later (running I just cant get into that want to improve state of mind) Cycling came pretty easy, skate skiing was totally foreign to me. I wanted to do it, and when I do anything, I want to do it well. It took time and patience, but I am pleased with my ability, especially the last two years. I see swimming as my new challenge. It is hard for me, but there is something SO rewarding about the dread at times of doing a workout that's hard because it doesn't come easy, but doing it and feeling awesome after, simply because you gave it your all. Here we go!

 

 

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Clara

I needed this long weekend of playing with the kids. One hike I never have to twist their arms on is Lake Clara, it's close to town, short, easy, pretty and there's a lake. If you want a longer hike Marion is just beyond, but my kids are pretty content with Clara, even the Bassett gets to go.

To lazy to edit photos so here you go, a few snippets from today.

My son was hungry from the start, so all he could talk about was a Dusty burger...

Pretty grateful for where my life is, and the people in it. I love my relationship with Rick, and I love that he has his own things to do and it allows me time with just these two. Balance. A selfish thought occurred to me tonight, I love my time with my kids, and I don't mind sharing them with Rick, but yikes how do I put this....I'm kind of glad he doesn't have kids. I of course never ruled out dating a man with children, and did, but I realize how lucky I am.  They are the only ones we have to accommodate to, on that same token, I am very lucky to have found a man willing to be a part of OUR lives.....

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Coming Off the Race High

It's been almost a week since the race. I have to say I loved the actual race, the distance is well suited for me. Not once during the race did I feel uncomfortable, or hurt. That's good and bad, not feeling any discomfort also means I was definitely holding back, however since this was my first half iron I really didn't want to go and blow up either. After the race I think I may have experienced some sort of adrenaline high..... for days! I wasn't tired or sore, took Monday off from working out but was back at it Tuesday, well I think I am finally coming down from it. Woke up early this morning and decided to head out for a 30-40 mile ride. Went out to Cashmere did 4 miles up Nahahum all in a very happy place of riding for fun, but by the time I got back to Wenatchee I could've sworn my rear tire had a flat, got home made Lo breakfast and crashed on the couch for 20 minutes...dang the high is over!

I should address this as well, I keep getting asked what I did for nutrition for an endurance race. I have no secrets, I've read a lot of Allen Lims philosophy. Here's a quote that sums it up a bit

The biggest nutrition mistake endurance athletes make is believing that engineered food is better for performance than real or natural food,” Allen Lim, PhD.

I have been a vegetarian (that eats fish) for 12 years now, so my main everyday diet is high in fruits and vegetables (lots of salad varieties for dinner), some grains, legumes and fish. I did add eggs back into my diet a couple of months ago to get a little extra protein, and actually felt a ton better. On long rides (3 plus hours) I'd use Skratch hydration in my bottle, it's made with only real ingredients, and pack either a PB and J sandwich or Lara bars.

I did get nervous leading up to the race so I called a friend and questioned her on night before and race morning nutrition. I stuck with my original plan, eat small all day before plus hydrating well, then race morning a banana, PB and J sandwich. One piece of advice she gave me was drink Ensure, this was a great call. Being nervous I wasn't hungry and could only eat about half of what I planned but drank ensure the night before and sipped on one the morning of! It all worked, but there really was no magical formula, more just keeping it all real!

This is the other food I firmly believe in. I eat a huge bowl of blueberries everyday. I read when I was training for a marathon that blueberries actually help repair your muscles and keep inflammation down after long strenuous workouts, plus they are super yummy!

 

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Just What We Needed

This was the first Friday this summer, that was not dictated by training, camps or vacation.  My son takes off again next week, then we are on vacation the week after, so it was important for me to have a day with them, without distraction. 
Last fall our dog Kaiser was diagnosed with arthritis, while this is common in older dogs, he is only six.  He's gotten worse, to the point where he looses the use of his left leg, and when it's really bad both.   Before we discovered this last year, we had been hiking quite a bit with him.  Pretty sure for Kaiser the ultimate in life is hiking, herding and swimming.  He got to enjoy Valhalla, Minotaur and Merritt Lakes.  His hiking days are numbered, but while he still can we'd give him that gift.   We decided on my favorite, Minotaur.  Thought this would be perfect, the hike itself is nothing spectacular, it's short and steep, but the Lake is beautiful, with an amazing path around it and views of Lake Theseus. 
The road, leading up to access the trail was closed, as in a no go (too many downed trees).  Having exited the hwy over 10 miles ago we didn't want to mess with alternative routes that may or may not be open and took off for Merritt Lake.  It was a beautiful day to be out there.  We only saw one other group of people.  As soon as we reached the lake, Kaiser looked at me and I gave him the ok, he went running right in, it was wonderful.  A bittersweet moment for sure, my kids understood the importance of giving this to him, they know it may be his last time up there (although we hope not), to see them get that, and embrace it was great.

Not only was it great for Kaiser but me as well.  I LOVE these moments away with them, just the three of us chatting about life.  My son is so busy these days, to have an hour plus drive where he doesn't stop talking,  goodness I just savor it.  I have to say one of the funniest things he was saying as we started the switch backs up the trail.....hiking actually depresses him, he never likes going up, and would much rather be running to get there faster than hiking.....but when he gets there (to a lake, my kids requirement to hike), he forgets he doesn't like it, and when he's done he said he realizes it's not all that bad.  Funny thing is, I could take it or leave it.  I don't mind it, but I am kind of with him on this, I'd rather be trail running, but I do enjoy snapping photo's along the way and the scenery, but for me it's not about hiking, it's about doing something  away from it all, just us.  Conversations, laughs, and time spent together.

As I snuggle my tired girl in bed tonight and listen to the dogs snore, my heart is happy.  This is what  my life is all about.......

This girl has been hiking since she was 5, feel blessed to share this with her

Merritt Lake

Two of the BEST sports around!

Happy Boy

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Bella

A little Bella update.  This girl reminds me so much of myself at her age.  She sets a goal, comes up with a plan and see's it through.  Right now she wants an IPod touch (before we head to Bend), she is working and soliciting work (and donations)!  She's come in every morning this summer to work with me,  Monday's along with setting everything out she count all coupons, on Wednesday she comes from her Dad's at 7am but doesn't want to miss out on work so I usually bring dry goods that I store in my garage to be stocked for her to unload and organize, she is awesome.  Can't wait until she actually gets to work the stand!  She picked up Rick's fallen apricots, fed neighbor dogs, yesterday she offered to walk Obie and while doing so landed another dog feeding job.  She currently has $170 of the $250 she needs.  I am so proud of her, and her work ethic, this girl really is a dream child!

Update #2:  After three weeks of 6 hour practices in the park each day,  this week is performance week of Much Ado About Nothing.   It's been a great experience, she's exhausted and maybe a little burnt out, but I think all in all she's really liked it.  It's a fun play, all the kids did just wonderful, truly impressed with the young thespians!

My beautiful little children (that are growing up so fast)

In a Nickel scene from Romeo and Juliet, we have Mercutio and Tybalt here!

I have to say I have mastered getting Lo's super thick hair into a secure bun after this week too!

Did it, Done!

For those that know me, you know I never sign up and pay for something unless I know I will be as prepared as I can be.   If  I am going to pay a ridiculous fee of $200 (the early fee), I really want to know that I have given it my all, be as prepared as possible, all the while feeling good.  As was the case with Lake Stevens 70.3, this was something I signed up for not even knowing if I could make it the distance in a swim, but figured if I signed up for it, I'd have to learn.  Seemed like a great goal to learn how to swim, while improving my cycling, running and endurance.  Not wanting to spend on anything I didn't need to, I found a free 16-week plan online.  Had a great base going into it with skate skiing and biking, and a little swimming  to get comfortable in the water.

I really didn't know what to expect as far as time, so I set my goals reasonable to what I knew I could do each leg in, the swim my goal was to relax, NOT get competitive, use it as a warm up and finish in under 50 minutes (which is a SLOW time for this leg), the bike is known for being hilly, this doesn't bother me so my goal for the 56 miles on the bike was to try to be at 3 hours, the 13.1 run I knew it would be slower than my last half marathon of 1:46,  and knew this was also a hilly course planned for  2:05.  Transition time I really didn't care about, wanted to make sure everything was on right had a bite of my mochi and drink of my skratch.
My goal was to come in around 6 hours

Race break down: 

Swim: Outside temp was high 50's burr, water temp 70's ah!  Downside I wore mirrored goggles, because all my open water swims had been in sunny Lake Chelan.  Morning of this race the lake looked like it had steam coming off of it, but this was just the insanely thick fog.  The buoy's were set 100m apart, and you couldn't see them.  I guessed the light shining in the very far distance was the turning point.  As I said before my wave was the first after the pro's, you jump off the dock and wade in the water and then the horn sounds and you are off.  The first 500m I was thinking this may have been the worst decision ever, I couldn't see anything and ended up so far right (buoy's were on my left) had to try to get back, got back into a rhythm and the men were there, felt a bit like being in a washing machine, and now I've lost the buoy line and can't see the next.  At about buoy 7 I  started feeling pretty good, I am a competitive person, and not once did I feel the need to try to go faster, I just wanted to get a groove, rounded the buoy's at 9 stayed close to the buoy line and never looked up or stopped again until I started smelling something horrendous and seeing a lot of scary moss.  What do you know I had 100 meters left.  Funny thing, the 2nd half I fell into such a great rhythm, I was actually dreading getting out and sitting on the bike for the next 3 hours.
Made it out of the water in 44 minutes, and I was thrilled with that time and felt super fresh

Bike: from the get go on the bike felt fabulous.  I love to time trial, the bike, the position, my new Rudy Project Wingspan helmet (had the giro advantage II and was NOT a fan), it was by far some of the most beautiful 56 miles I have ever ridden, fabulous, downside was a lot of turns, and people not knowing how to corner, so you'd lose time every time you approached a corner, the hills were a tad relentless, nothing horrible, just constant, up to mile 54 even, but the roads were great and I felt wonderful.  I never exerted myself to threshold, just kept a pace I was happy about and could sustain, cruised in a 2 hours and 56 minutes, and was pleased with this time.

Run:  Not a lot to say about the run, after bike I was feeling so good, I kind of dreaded having to run 13.1 miles.  Took off first lap felt good, was holding between and 8-9 mm, my garmin died after the first lap.  The first 2 miles were uphill, then you had a nice downhill for about a mile, then up again, then down and so on....it was hilly.  Nothing horrible, just at that point I was tired and a little hill felt like a very BIG hill.  Had no idea what I was running, but felt quite comfortable out there, cruised in at 1:56 (this is the slowest time I have done 13.1 miles in a race, but also was the most pleased with this time ever), also took time, twice to hit the porta potty!

I finished Ironman Lake Stevens 70.3 in 5 hours 43 minutes, 17 minutes faster than my goal time.  Felt great the entire time, and after.  Today with the exception of a few blisters and my quads are a little tight I feel great.

Not bad for a girl that started running in 2008 (and I mean started, never ran before other than when I had to in tennis), started biking in 2007 (thank you Arlberg Ladies rides) and swimming last year.  I truly believe ANYONE can put their mind to ANYTHING.

Would I do it again??  Not sure, I am glad I did it.  I didn't like all the money spent leading up too it, or the stress and hassle of thinking out every detail to pack for each leg.  I also did not like the time it cut into my summer.  If I did another one, it would have to be all done while the kids are in school and perhaps right after summer starts. 

Thank you Rick for capturing some great photo's as well as be my constant calm!

Here we go.  Women's 35-39, a little like walking the plank

That's about it for visibility

T2 the bike was nice cool temps, but my toes went numb, getting into my shoes I couldn't feel them

That hand in the picture is Steph or Alicia.  This was not spectator friendly, but at the run I saw them each loop and this was going to the finish, they made me so happy to see and hear them!

We did it!  My friend Erin also rocked it, along with our support girls!

Monday Can't Come Soon Enough

Well whether I'm ready or not Sunday is fast approaching. Kind of glad I've been busy with work and haven't had time to stress it, but unfortunately the time is coming to be ready!

My bike, the YBG (named by its former owner) You've Been Girled, is looking good. I am running tubular wheels which is a tad scary, but I don't own any clincher race wheels. I'm prepared in case I flat once, could possibly get by if I get a second, but it will be questionable, so really hoping I don't have to deal with any of that.

I have no real race plan because I'm not sure what to expect as to how I will feel. If all goes accordingly it would be to chill on the swim (my very weak, weakest leg) be respectable on the bike, and hopefully feel ok to maintain a slow run pace, they say your time on the run usually ends up being 20% slower than your normal half marathons, quite honestly pretty sure at that point I will be ok with that.

There are two wild cards in all this for me, first nutrition. I have never done an event where you exert so much energy so many different times. I have the marathon nutrition, and biking 200 miles all figured out, but clueless on this. I was texting a friend yesterday that has a few of these under her belt and got some helpful hints. So we'll just hope I don't bonk!

The other wild card is this swim wave start:

 

See the problem, most wouldn't but for a slow swimmer like myself this bites. I am the women 35-39, the first wave after the pros, three minutes after my wave the men are off, 3 minutes after that more men.....crap. The problem, on a 2000m swim, they are likely going to catch me, swim over, and kick me.....what in the world have I gotten myself into!?!?

 

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Two Years in the Blink of an Eye

Last night my boyfriend and I celebrated the two year anniversary of our first date.  Hands down the best first date I have ever been on.  I don't say that because it's brought us to this point, but because it really was the greatest most thought out first date anyone had ever taken me on.    There was a bit of mystery as well in going out with someone I knew very little about, in fact the only thing I knew about him was he was a known cyclist around here, and friends with a few of my friends husbands, all who assured me he was a good guy!
I informed him (last night) that prior to meeting him my plan was pretty simple, I was hanging out with friends, and dating on the nights my Ex had the kids.  I was going to stay in town and get my son through high school, then my daughter and I were going to sell everything and move to Hawaii.....
Little did I know going on that first date would change my world, all for the better.
I am glad this journey has only just begun.

My first trip to the San Juan Islands, 1 year anniversary trip

Lanai January 2012

Ahhhh, a kissy picture!  Kona December 2012

Future Barista

Lo comes to work with me every morning at 6:15, she essentially sets up the shop for the day. Because its an open space in the hospital, I have everything locked away at night, so having her there putting everything out is actually a huge help to me. Granted she charges $5 for this service, plus breakfast from the cafeteria and her "special" hot chocolate.....
She's always puts in her own flavor (white and dark chocolate and a little toasted marshmallow), but today she steamed her own almond milk. She picked it up right away, no problems......perhaps she has NW Barista championships in her future!

 

 

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Race Jitters

The last two weeks I have been less than excited about the upcoming half iron. My performance has shown it in the run and swim, both being dreadfully slow, and performed without much excitement. The bike is always good.

I feel with this race in particular, given the amount of training, cost and travel hassles, I bit off more than I could ( or want to ) chew. If Lo wasn't occupied with her Shakespeare in the park camp from 9-3 each day, I'd be really grumpy, at least now I can squeeze the workouts between 12-3.

However, today I got excited again. Last Wednesday my open water swim, was the worst yet, horrible. To the point I actually read the swim rules that say you can hold onto the boats and rest and thought I may just have to do that. It was going to be my last open water swim before the race, but I couldn't go into a race with that thought, so I borrowed my friends float buoy and headed up to the lake solo, night and day difference. Had a great swim, a much better way to go into a race!

The grey structure to the left is where I swim to, I have a few fast friends that swim to the houses, that's a tad scary for me!

Rubber suit mafia. This is last weeks photo.....before the swim that made me want to throw the wetsuit in the dumpster and say forget it!

 

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Celebrate

What a treat for Lo and I to spend Rick's birthday with mine and his family.  He tried to convince her he was going to have a birthday month, just like her.  She wasn't having it and gave him the 101 reasons why she has a birthday month.  He gets a long birthday weekend!  Part of his family came up and spent the entire weekend with us, it's Sunday night, they are gone, and I just wish we had more time.  My sister and her family came over, and I have to say her youngest was full entertainment.  He was loving every minute of being at Rick's house (hunting lizards) and LOVES anything birthday, cake, singing, presents, you name it! 
Happiest of birthdays to an amazing man! 
Thank you Pat, Sharon and Greg for a great weekend, lots of fun....and help!

Made our "famous" ice cream sandwich cake

No birthday celebration is complete without a margarita or two, thanks Greg

A girl of MANY talents, she caught a lizard

Cousin love, Ben's a little worried about the tree in the back that burnt in one of the fires, but Lo doing what she does so well, caring for the littles.  Lilo, you are one amazing gal with the little kids, I love watching you!

Just being excited about a shirt, this little fella was awesome

Hunter family, this was after Ben was sitting on the other side of the room, told us in his family there are 3 boys , 1 girl then left to sit with them

Sharon and Pat (I need a pic of Pat and Lo knitting) taught Lo arm knitting, she did two scarfs, one for herself and one for Gram

Nothing like a little wall building on his birthday, but man it sure looked nice after

Meet Max, he supervises

I will add these are talented men at work!

Workouts 7/8- 7/14

Monday 8th- run 7 miles (2 easy, 3 10k pace, 2 easy), swim 2000m
Tuesday 9th- bike Fairview-American Fruit 24 miles
Wednesday 10th- run 4.5 miles, open water swim 1 mile (it sucked, possibly worst swim ever)
Thursday 11th- stretch and spin
Friday 12th- Bike Mission Creek 44 miles
Saturday 13th- run 12.5 miles (felt decent, but Achilles was a pain after)
Sunday 14th- OFF

Pops 60

We got to celebrate my Dad's birthday this week, as Lo put it, he's now 6 decades olds.  We love her!  My Dads one of the good guys, we love him very much.  Only person missing was my son, who's still in Mexico, but messaging daily he's having fun and doing great!
This is the only picture out of almost 10 that turned out, see the little guy in the front, he's mover!

I talk a lot about  things that have been pleasant unforeseen surprises in my life the last few years.  Well I'm sure Rick has experienced some as well, although not sure if he considers his tv being hijacked by Lo and I to watch House Hunters and Cupcake Wars pleasant! We don't have tv, so sometimes when we are feeling really lazy there is nothing better than heading to his house and watching tv! Pretty sure he never saw this in his future!  He's a good, GOOD sport!

Working Girl

She wants a new IPod, her Mom won't buy her one, so along with coming to work with me every morning, she is soliciting odds and ends jobs. Last weekend she fed a neighbors dogs twice a day and today it's picking Rick's apricots off the ground. A job my Dad used to hire my sister and I for when we were kids, but I think we made $2 and she making $15.

Pretty proud of her work ethic!

She did want me to add she'd gladly take donations!

 

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