The Blog That Was Never Written...

I had this blog all written in my mind the other day. I was half way into my 6 x 1000meter hill repeats. Sweat was pouring off my forehead in droves, stinging my eyes and making me beg for mercy. My legs were aching, and the sun rising slowly in the sky overhead as I felt every muscle scream out for me to stop doing what I was doing.

However, that all seems pretty far away now. Since then, I’ve hoped on a plane to Tampa, did a sales presentation to about a hundred people, squeezed in another run in the blistering heat and then attended a Tampa Bay Rays game alongside my co-workers and new possible customers.

When we walked out of the stadium a dismal gloom hung over the crowd. It was as oppressive as the heat of the evening. The rays lost to the Red Socks, and no one seemed very happy about it at all.

The traffic was moving slowly and I was staring out the window as we passed by the stores and shops in a series of traffic lights. While stopped at one of the lights, I noticed something moving under one of the shop porch like roofs lite dimly by a single yellow light. It was a man. He was older, probably in his late fifties, and he was in a wheelchair. Around him stood a few plastic bags propped up against his chair. His clothes were torn and tattered, but his eyes were soft and gentle as he used them to trace the cars going by.

We were there for almost a full minute, stopped at the light, while I watched him. He wasn’t able to see me through the jet black excursion with tinted windows and shiny chrome. We even had a driver that had picked us up at the hotel and drove us to the game so we could avoid the hassle of pre- and post- game traffic. Everyone in the car with me seemed to melt away as I stared at him intently trying desperately to somehow “feel” his story through the tinted glass. I held my hand up to it to try harder. Why was he there? Did he have family somewhere? Why wouldn’t they come and help him? Was that everything he owned in those bags? Would he sleep there in the wheelchair all night? What kind of calamity brought him to such a place that at his age he seemed to have nothing but the clothes on his back?

In an instant, we started pulling away and I touched the glass without receiving answers to even one of my burning questions. I was left with nothing except a longing sensation to find out more, and the bitter taste of my own selfishness in my mouth.

My thoughts about the man went on even after arriving back at the hotel. I wished somehow I could find my way back there, but what would I say anyway? Maybe I just wanted to talk for awhile. Put some of my crazy thoughts to rest. Give him all the cash I had and hope it might help him in some way. Any small attempt I would make would just be a drop in the bucket I thought…and I remembered that I said a prayer for him, his safety and his health, and sometimes that’s all you can do.

So, all of my blog posts about not being happy with my swim during Columbia, or about my hill repeat workout in the cool morning air just disappeared into nothingness.

I decided to write this one instead. In that one moment I realized just how good I had it. How if something bad happened to me I would have people around me in an instant, helping me up, taking my hand, leading me home, and taking care of me. How lucky am I? How fortunate to have had a life that has given me the chance to go to college, compete as an athlete, have a career that lands me in the back of a black shiny car that takes me to professional baseball games and affords me the chance to travel and live my triathlon dreams.

So, I think I’ll just save that blog about how coming back this year after injury has been a bit harder than I thought for another time. Or that blog how I’m frustrated and that I’m not quite having the races I would like so far, well it just might just never get written.

I’m training to the best of my ability, and I’m dang happy to be able to swim, even if it isn't as fast as I would like. I’m so very blessed to be competing and traveling and giving it my best when I can… and I think I’ll just focus on that for now. Forget that blog about trying to have a come”forward” year (that’s better than a come”back” year as far as I am concerned).

So, don’t look for that blog anytime soon. It might just not be written. For now, let’s count our blessings, live every minute, be thankful for what we have, and say a prayer for that man, that women or whomever has had it a lot rougher than any of us.

Happy Weekend My Friends.. may God bless you and keep you, may his face shine down upon you, and may he grant you his peace...

It's GO Time...Columbia Olympic Tri!

Columbia 2009 - Courtenay, Me, Lindsay & Beth!

I can't believe it is time to race again already! Yippeee for Columbia Olympic Triathlon(1500m swim, 25 mile bike, 6.1mile run!) I have to admit, I do love long training blocks at times. I really do well when I'm getting enough sleep, sticking to my routine and resting and recovering when I'm not busting my butt! However, with that said, without racing, there would be no training for me. Yes, I would get up and go to the gym here or there, but unless there is some sort of "goal" I'm pretty much just another average person working out to stay healthy.

There are some people at my gym that just love to train. For them, it totally works to do all that swimming, biking and running just to do a sprint tri at the end of the season. For me, that would NEVER be enough motivation to get out of bed early, get on my bike for four plus hours or run for a couple on Sunday.

I really like Columbia for a few reasons and those are:

1. I know quite a few people going to this race, including Beth S., Lindsay Z. and Majia!

Lindsay & I pre race 2009

2. I like the course. It's not easy by any means and the times reflect that. I like the hills on the bike and the run.

3. I ran really really well here last year. So, that's motivation for me to go back. I'm not sure if my pants were on fire or if it was just Courtenay being beside me (I'll miss you this year C.!), but I had my best run of the year here and I'm hoping to post a similar time!!

4. You can drive to this race, no major packing, no taking off days of work, only one nights hotel stay. Heck, I'll be back by 4:30 on Sunday!

All in all, I really like it. It's a different race than most because when you compete in this open division, you get a small taste of what it's like for the pro's. It's just a much emptier race. You don't see many people at all, and the few you do see, you're competing against!! You have to battle your own mind much harder during the long stretches of "alone" time and just keep thinking "She's right around the bend, go get her, find her!!" However, it's over in a much shorter time than a half..and that is sometimes REALLY nice!!

With any luck, I'll be showered, dressed, done with the awards, and eating with everyone at Noodles by 11:30-12:00pm!!

I didn't get a huge taper from coach (in fact, from Sunday to Wed. I ran 35 miles :) The three days I am getting, I'm enjoying and I think I'll be ready to rock come Sunday.

To everyone else who is racing this weekend - GOOD LUCK - stay safe and be thankful you get a chance to put it on the line. Can't wait to represent Ballou Skies!!

I forgot to give a shout out last week to my great friends and Ballou Skies Teammates Jocelyn and Jeremy Corman who whipped up on the Kinetic Half down in WV, taking 1st overall male and 2nd overall female! Way to go you two!! I'm going to start calling them the dynamic duo!

Ok.. The bags are packed, the bike will be in the car tonight and off I go tomorrow morning! Stay posted!

It's a Miracle, The Sun Was Shining In Pittsburgh

This past weekend was a real treat. After a fun night on Friday with the Pittsburgh Triathlon Club (where I got to see my very own logo printed on the PTC uniforms! - so exciting!), it was time for an early swim, long bike, and short t-run on Saturday!

Look -it's my logo! It's official, I have my own business!

I awoke to the sun beaming through my bedroom window! The skies were clear, and the air was decently warm (even at 6:30am)!! I already had everything in the car, and off I went to meet Jason to swim at Cranberry YMCA.

When 8:00 came, I didn't even want to stop, but alas, we had to get on the road to meet the other riders down in North Park. The girls were all there (and Jason of course). I didn't take any pictures (very unlike me), but I was on a time schedule to get my hair cut and colored by 1:30pm. I knew there would be no time for lolly-gagging (what does that word mean anyway...very strange). I had to pull out right at 8:50am if I was going to make 3.5 hours and still have time for a short transition run at the end.

Riding with these girls is a lot of fun. We push each other, and at the same time, still find time to chat about a few things every once in awhile while going up hill, or around a bend. We took a new route which I LOVED and it was so scenic and beautiful with the sun shining (65-70 degrees). I honestly didn't want to get off my bike either, but the hair appointment was calling!

The t-run was short, but fun and then I was off. I knew enough to pack a few protein drinks in the car because after a quick P.T.A. shower (I can't print on this PG blog what that is, so just look it up :), I would be famished. Recovery nutrition is just too important to miss! Not to mention, I would have probably been a BEAR to work on if I didn't eat (just ask my Mom!) I jumped in the car, grabbed my drinks and headed downtown. Of course, I had to spill one all over my cell phone, GPS, seat belt and myself before I got down there. Now I was sticky from sweat, gel, AND a chocolate protein drink! AWESOME!

I felt a little self conscious, as everyone at this place seems to dress up AND put on makeup just to go there. I roll in with running shorts, a t-shirt covered in chocolate and my nappy hair!

I was almost falling asleep in the chair while they did it, but I came out looking like a million bucks. Too bad they couldn't have hosed me off while I was there! Let me tell you men, it is DANG expensive to get your hair did. I know I should look for a new place, but it's just so hard to find somewhere I like and trust.

Saturday night consisted of dinner with Lissa, and meeting some of our new friends for a little get together on my back deck with candles and good stories. There was LOTS of laughing and fun involved.. that's all I can say here.

Coach Chad & Coach Kim!

Sunday was long run time (and again, another beautiful day - I was SOOO thankful for that!), and then Chad and I were hosting our first Spring Triathlon Beginner Clinic at the Washington Oval. We have a total of 8 new triathletes, and they are excited and ready to roll. I wasn't sure what to think when Chad told me he was running late from doing a sprint tri in the morning and then getting lost on his 100 mile bike back to PA (from OHIO). I just stepped up to the plate, and told everyone we were getting started! He was only 20 minutes late so that wasn't bad.

It's funny how you may not think you know much about triathlon until you start talking and then years of experience just start pouring out. When I think about it, I could probably talk all day if someone actually wanted to listen!

We had a great experience of doing Bike & Run specific training and even got to do video analysis on everyones' run! They used what they learned to critic each other and they seemed so excited about it.

I couldn't believe how much fun we had. They are great people, and hope they have an awesome experience in their first triathlon later this year!!

Marsha and I!

I couldn't be more happy that I get to race at Columbia this weekend on Sunday. I have some really good friends racing too and the elite amateur field is stacked! Let the games begin!

Getting Back On The Train

Well, I fell off the choo choo for awhile, but... I'm back.

Last week was just a crazy time. It took my Mother and I FOREVER to get back from St. Croix on Tuesday. Let's just say the clock said 2:40am when I woke up to get our bags ready to leave, and 9:20 when I got home that evening. If I wasn't sick before, I was after that trip. My sinus went from bad to worse and I was just feeling soooo run down!

I made it to work on Wed. (barely), and seriously felt like I might crawl under the desk and sleep. Luckily, everyone had been waiting feverishly until I got back to ask me questions, schedule conference calls and resume work that needed to be resolved ASAP. Therefore, it um.. hit the fan as they say!

Training was just out of the question. I could barely work, let alone train! My new coach actually asked what was wrong because I was so quiet and despondent! I guess I must come off as pretty talkative on a normal basis :)

We hoped that maybe by the weekend I would start feeling better and be able to get a few things in, but I wasn't holding my breath.

Thursday and Friday were the most beautiful days, then Saturday came and 40 degrees, wind and a chance of rain! It was freeezzzing! In insane triathlete fashion I decided to go out on the bike for just an "easy" ride with friends. I had only planned on doing about two hours, but once we got out there, we were basically in for three!

Luckily, it didn't make me much worse, and those gloves definitely needed to be washed after. I thought about taking a picture of my snot-ridden clothes, and then decided it was gross and that was just going too far!

Saturday I traveled home for the Holiday and to catch up on some much needed R & R. It finally kicked in and this week I am BACK to the LAND OF THE LIVING!

I've thought a lot about St. Croix in the last week, and I'm ready to put it behind me. For those of you that are still learning and would rather learn from other's mistakes rather then have to make them on your own, I have a few thoughts on what happened in that race.

1. Think about the factors you are placing IN FRONT of the race that could impact your performance. For example, I thought of my trip to Aruba as probably helping my efforts in St. Croix, being that it was vvverryy hot and humid like SC, and might give me a chance to acclimate better than cold PA. However, time away from your normal schedule AND time on a plane/traveling ALWAYS takes more out of you than you think. I was off my early to bed routine, and wanted to have fun and just consider it "the taper" rather than really stick to my routine (which was almost impossible due to our company's way of doing things). If I had it to do over, those two trips were just too close.

2. Two weeks before, you should start taking Echinacea, extra vitamin C, drinking more water and just getting as much sleep as humanly possible. It seems EVERYONE gets a touch of something during the taper. However, I am convinced you can keep it at bay if you really take care of yourself. I DID NOT do this and I regretted it.

3. Know your course. I did know St. Croix was hilly, but I guess I had forgotten just how hilly until I was there. I did lift legs, I did do SOME hill work on the bike, but honestly, I was on the trainer so much doing higher cadence that doing some really low cadence work slipped my mind. Those hills really had my legs taking a beating, and it felt like it when I got off the bike.

4. NUTRITION NUTRITION NUTRITION. I know what I need to drink during a race and frankly, it's almost impossible with my sweat rate on a hot race. Throwing bottles is one thing, but there was a split second decision made at the last aid station when I got a half full bottle that I was NOT going to loose these girls around me and just keep going. Looking back, I should have stopped the bike, clipped out, turned around and yelled to the volunteers "I need more Fluid!". It might have taken 20-30 seconds to get a full bottle or TWO. I needed more fluid, I knew it and even felt a little sick to my stomach knowing that I probably didn't make the right decision when I pulled away from the aid station. In 94 degrees, with a 32oz sweat rate per hour, you cannot mess around. Dehydration = DNF or at the very least walking / off the charts heart rate. That was me, and it was not pretty.

So, I think if you learn a few things in every race, that is good. Even better is to learn from someone who has done it and can help prevent YOU from having to do it!

I hope that helps! Your comments after the race and on my pictures were really nice and very appreciated. Thank for being there for me and always encouraging me to live my dreams!

Onward and upward! A week to Columbia Olympic Distance Tri and then next month it's on to Buffalo Springs Lake Texas to try this 70.3 thing again!

In other news, Ballou Skies is having a charity walk in Pittsburgh, so if you live here, come by and support us!

Hopefully, you get Triathlete magazine, we have an Ad in their as well too! Do you guys want me to run a little Peanut Butter Contest? Who like Peanut Butter? Who's with me!!

St. Croix in Pictures

Chrissy & I at the Practice Swim

I can see you!

The last picture was cut off, so I posted this one to get everyone in! Amanda, Mirinda, Tim O'Donnel & Erin!

The island. The swim start was on the beach

Getting "Blue" tuned up before the race

Restaurants along the water

Jump Up on Friday evening

Tunes

Mom and I at dinner that evening

A beautiful view

The race Sherpas "Donna Wana" and John, Jason's Father

Carrying the bikes!

Pre-race meeting

The night before!

Race Morning

Jason, a fellow Pittsburgher, and a fairly new kid on the tri-scene. I just met him for the first time in St. Croix and he and his Father were just so wonderful to have around. Not only great people, but Jason is an exceptionally athlete. He ended up getting third in his age-group and I have no doubt you'll see him on lots of podiums in the 25-29 this year!

Almost go time

After the race

Jason & John, Shake and Bake!

My legs were killing me, but Mom wanted this picture!

Ron was staying in the room directly across the hall from Mom and I. I helped him carry his bike up to the second floor and vice versa. Little did I know (because he was so soft-spoken and humble!) that he was a 15 time Kona qualifier. Not only that, but he's climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, Rainier, and many others! He's currently learning Spanish at the age of 72 so he can communicate with his grandson who lives in Chile. What an interesting, amazing human being! He really was wonderful to meet and this is one of the things I love MOST of all about racing. It also turned out he had an Aunt with Muscular Dystrophy, so we chatted a bit about Ryan and his specific form of MD.

On Monday, it was time to relax, soak up the sun, and have a few fruity drinks.

Monday night we ate at the Bombay Cafe and it was wonderful. I HIGHLY recommend it if you end up going to this race. It's right on the main street and the food was excellent.

We had a big group. Tom (in the red) did St. Croix 70.3 his FIRST TRIATHLON. That's right, I said first triathlon EVER. He saw one of my youtube videos a year or so ago and ended up deciding right then and there to train for this race. He put in a solid four-five months of training and got quite a few looks when he told other competitors that he would be doing this as his first. I told him not to worry, just to trust his training, nail his nutrition, and BE SAFE on the bumpy roads. He was my first nutritional client and he really did amazing. Final time - 6:17.. amazing! I was soo proud of him!

Surprisingly enough, I had JUST enough bracelets with me to give mine away, and have one for each of the guests. I had them put there hands in just to show them off! Maybe it was that way for a reason.

Tom and I after dinner!

Ohh...I... I'm still alive... St. Croix 70.3 Race Report

Chrissy and I at the swim practice!

I just wanted to let you know that I made it back from St. Croix 70.3 Half Ironman (US Virgina Islands) safe and sound and happy to have competed this past weekend.

I had to travel for work the last few weeks quite a bit, and before I left something seemed to be getting under my skin virus-wise. However, I left last Thursday with a hopeful outlook and an excitement to race for the first time since breaking my collarbone in November at the Half Ironman World Championships.

After a long plane ride on Thursday, things seemed to be headed downhill with my health so I decided to take the antibiotic that was prescribed before I left. I had a great practice swim on Friday and a chance to hang out with some amazing athletes. I know many of you who may not be into triathlon don't recognize some of the people in this photo, but just let me say, they are some heavy hitters! Just Mirinda Carefree alone was the second place professional finisher in the Hawaii Ironman last year! The wonderful thing about our sport is that the pro'sare very nice and open to socializing with age-groupers such as myself. Amanda could not have been nicer, asking me where I was from, and what I was hoping for on Sunday. What other sport has the professional right alongside the rest of the field. Getting this picture was a huge deal and I was so happy to have met these great people!

In this photo: Amanda Gillam Lovato, KimDeNovellis-schwabenbauer (photos | remove tag), MirindaCarfrae,Timothy O'Donnell, Erin O'Hara

I continued to feel a little "off" on Saturday, but awoke Sunday hopefully and ready to do my best! The gun went off from the island at 6:50am with about 28 other 30-34 year old women and I was fighting to the front right from the beginning. I never found any feet, but I was still excited to be in the mix.

My swim time wasn't what I was hoping to do, but it was still about a minute faster than two years ago so I was semi-pleased. I got out of the water at 34:08 (no wetsuit).

From there is was on to the bike. This course is described as one of the most punishing with hill after hill. Starting with the beast at mile 21. Twenty-one miles into the bike, The Beast is a 600-foot climb in a stretch of highway 7/10 of a mile long with an average grade of 14 percent and a maximum grade of 21 percent.

I vowed that after running up the beast with my bike two years ago, that I would make it the entire way up no matter what! I ascended with two other females and we put it in an easy gear and just started chipping away at it! My quads were burning, and I had to stand about half way through, eventually, my lower back started to spasm I was pulling up on the handle bars so hard! I passed many men my same age walking their bikes up the hill and at the top the volunteers and other spectators yelled "Female Power!!" for the three of us!! It felt great! Mission One - accomplished!

The rest of the bike ride just got hotter and hotter as the sun bore down on our backs. The temperature was rising into the 90's and the humidity was around 80-90%. I lost a bottle on the very rough course about mile 30 and picked up one at the second to last aid station, only to throw it again shortly after. I resolved to pick up another at mile 43, only to have it be about 1/2 full! I had to churn out the last 5-6 miles without any fluids which is not good for a course like St. Croix!

On a very hill, rough course, I was 4th on the bike with a time of 3:01 for the 56 miles!

Finally, I racked my bike in T2 and noticed only three on the rack. If I had a good run, I thought to myself "these girls are going down!" I ran out optimistic that I might be able to run somewhere in the range of 1:35-1:40. However, my legs had other ideas. Within the first mile my heart rate was soring and my legs felt like they were full of lead. My breathing was so labored and the sun seemed to be cooking me as I ran. I hit my first mile in 8:07 with a heart rate of 182, which I MUCH higher than I can sustain for a 13.1 mile run. I tried to bring things around at the aid stations by drinking water, Gatorade and taking additional salt, but nothing seemed to help. I continued running, only to find myself in so much pain. My legs just continued to get worse and I stopped even clocking my miles. At one point, I started walking, had a moment of breakdown and then decided the goal was now to just finish, no matter what.

I thought about Ryan, my Aunt Dena (who was just diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer), and how hard the things they were fighting on a daily basis just to live healthy. I decided if I could just do this one thing, I would do it on this day to the best of my ability. I feel that is all we can ask of ourselves. So after bringing my thoughts back around to the positive, I decided to do things I never get to do during a more "serious" race effort! I did a lot of high fiving other athletes like Sister Madonna Buter (82 years young and a Nunn) who passed me going the opposite way, I talked to other walking athletes ("wait, we do PAY to do this don't we?!"), and I cheered for all my favorite pro's and other athletes who passed me. It was a humbling experience, but one I am forever grateful that I can put in the memory bank for later.

I finished the run with a final time of 2:10 walking / running. My total time was somewhere around 5:40 (I never got the details). I was 4th in my age group, and most importantly, I crossed the finish line!!

It's funny how something like breaking your collarbone (Nov.14th) can help you put things into perspective. That, plus all of the work we have been doing to promote Ballou Skies really changes the way you look at racing. Even when you don't get the "desired" result, you always feel that something really special takes place every time that you are out there. I feel so blessed to be a part of this team making a difference.

Thank you for all the well wishes and good lucks. You all never cease to amazing me with how you lift me up and make me feel so wonderful. I truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to my Ballou Skies teammates, family, friends, co-workers and everyone out there who provided me with help and support. It's taken quite a bit to recover from this injury and it didn't happen by myself. A special thanks to my Mom for going with me and, Ramone for all the wonderful pictures and my other sponsors - Powerbar, Top Gear Bicycle Shop, and Super Donut! I really appreciate it!

Most of all, I just thank God for the chance to be healthy and out there. He's certainly the one giving me the health and strength to race. It is always a blessing and I don't take it lightly.

If you would like to donate to Ballou Skies, I have found an ananomous donor that is willing to match everything donated from my bio page, up to $1000.00 dollars. If you have the means and you would like to contribute to our cause, we appreciate it!

This article below was on the Ironman.com website. It describes the conditions of that day. I'm not quite sure what happened to me out there on the run, but either way, I'll get em next time!

Another Classic in St. Croix

Barry Siff reports on a tough day of racing at Ironman 70.3 St. Croix

Published Sunday, May 2, 2010

Nobody has ever called the Ironman 70.3 St. Croix easy and the the 22nd version of this classic redefined just how difficult this race can be. Race Director Tom Guthrie called the conditions "as hard as we've ever had ... truly. We always have heat, wind, and hills; sometimes we have overcast, but not today. Today was brutal."
Photos from today's race, courtesy of Action Sports International, appear at the end of the story.

The Cat Returns
Catriona (“Cat”) Morrison, the 33-year-old defending champion from Scotland, was one of the few pros – particularly on the women’s side – to have a splendid day. The day saw former Ironman 70.3 World Champion and last year’s second place finisher in Kona, Mirinda Carfrae, drop out at eight miles on the bike due to illness, as did 42-year-old Nina Kraft (who loves this race) and the 2009 Champion at both Ironman Canada and Lake Placid, Tereza Macel. That left the women’s race wide open - except for Morrison.

Still smiling wide and all cleaned up two hours after the race, the 2009 and 2010 champion joked about the women’s first transition: “We had a really slick transition – totally professional. First, we went to one rack, and Rinny (Carfrae) said this isn’t our rack; and, then we went to another and another, finally finding our bikes.” Once out on the bike, though, it was Morrison and Sam Warriner riding solidly out front. Morrison’s 2:38:29 on the bike was just 31 seconds faster than Warriner. On the run though, Morrison outran the Kiwi by 11 minutes to win in a time of 4:31:06, one minute and 22 seconds faster than her win last year.

Top ITU competitor and the winner of New Orleans Ironman 70.3 just two weeks ago, Warriner struggled for much of the day, but found the strength and determination to gut out a second-place finish. This was Warriner’s first trip to St. Croix, and it was certainly a tough day at the office. “I don’t reckon I’ve ever raced such a tough course,” Warriner said following the race. “You get up the Beast, and you say ‘yeah, I’ve done it;’ and, then it’s either the wind or some other hills that are just as steep as the Beast; and, then when I got on the run, I had nothing in me – I struggled big time; but, you do the best you can on a bad day.”

Rounding out the top 5 women pros were Erin O’Hara, Heather Gollnick, and Amanda Lovato.