Julie's Triathlon Journal

A post actually about training!

2012-02-02T09:19:00.002-07:00

Imagine that!

:D

Have you ever heard of that urban myth about getting a splinter in your foot and if you don't remove it, it absorbs into your skin and passes through your body and pops out somewhere else?

Yes, you know where I am going with this...

Now I can't say for SURE if the above scenario is indeed what happened, but I have had 2 splinters show up in the oddest of places.

Splinter #1: Made its debut in my gums!!! I am not kidding! I felt something with my tongue above my front teeth one day. I kept feeling it, and when I peered in the bathroom mirror, I saw this little bump and pulled out a splinter. WTF?
Splinter #2: This splinter appeared last week as a nasty red bump on my collar bone, just a bit away from where my swim suit strap rests on my shoulder. I thought this thing was a zit, but it hurt and wouldn't pop. So, I thought it was a spider bite. (Anything I can't label, automatically is a "spider bite.") Then, a few days later, I tried squeezing it again and a frigging splinter comes out! Again...WTF???

OK, so what have I been up to lately? Lots and lots of training! My focus has been training to train. Train consistently with increased volume. Currently, I am sitting at about 17 hours/week.

I've been including a number of *bonus swims* too! I am always scouring the internet for new drills, videos, programs to help me become a better swimmer. I found one that I ran by Coach Sara (who approved it) and have been doing it in my spare time. Plus, when I do "bonus swims" I feel I don't have to do core. :P

It's funny, I used to love core sessions. Really enjoy them. But for some reason, the pendulum has swung and I go out of my way to avoid doing them now -- Even though I asked Coach Sara to schedule them in for me. It's not like they are difficult or anything..I just would rather NOT do them.

Here is a brief summary of what I've been up to:

Swimming: Really, really awesome stuff. When I compare myself to last year, it is a huge difference. Last year, I would go 10x50m @ 70 sec, and all would be 55 sec and then creep up to a minute. This year, I HOLD 50 sec for all. Same thing goes for my 100m sets. :) :) :) You have no idea how immensely gratifying this is! Or maybe, fellow adult onset swimmers, you do!

Biking: I love my Computrainer. I LOVE going down into my basement and hopping on the trainer. It's funny, because a glance at my training environment would probably make most people flee back up the stairs in terror. I face two litter boxes, and I have to be careful when I stand on my bike not to hit my head on the stairs overhead, but there is just something about being on my bike that I love. I don't care if I am on a trainer or on the road (although the road is way more preferable!) -- I love my bike and the time flies! Training by watts and HR is really teaching me about control.

Running: My God I am turning into a runner. I guess that's what running 5-6 days a week consistently does for a person. :) I used to always feel clunky and out of place running. Now, dare I say it? I feel like I am flowing now. I was a doubter...but now I am a believer. Haha!

Core: MEH. Hahahahahahaah!

What I would like to learn: Breast stroke and Butterfly. I really have no idea how to do these strokes and the only reason I keep up with my Masters group for these sets is because of my fitness level. Hahahaha!

One big thing I've learned: You can have a sh!t swim stroke, but with a decent body position and plenty of fitness, you can be faster than you think! :)

Shit Slowtwitchers Say

2012-01-28T13:43:00.001-07:00

Yes, I am on a roll here. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SportExcel

2012-01-27T08:34:00.003-07:00

One of Mercury Rising Triathlon's sponsors is SportExcel -- "The high performance system for athletes and coaches who want to "Own the Zone and Own the Game."

Bob Palmer (owner/operator) has some great videos and tips on mental training. His youtube channel has some really good stuff: http://www.youtube.com/user/SportExcelZone?feature=watch

AND...

I was a guest vlogger this week on his blog!!!!!! YAY!!! Check it out here: http://sportexcelzone.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/cool-down-stretching-tip-for-triathletes/

(Theia -- get off your work computer and find one that lets you watch my videos!!! LOL!!)

$hit Triathletes Say

2012-01-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

Thursday GIF!

2012-01-19T09:25:00.004-07:00

Throw that log on the fire

2012-01-14T09:48:00.003-07:00

How do you deal with the negative crap in your life?

You know what I am talking about -- those comments from a friend or family member, or my personal favourite, a complete stranger in regards to your training. I don't know what it is about training that brings out the strangest qualities in people....

Every gym has one of those guys...the guy that will come up to you and tell you what you should be doing, how everything you are doing is wrong, etc. More often than not, this sort of advice is totally off the mark and WRONG. We've all experienced it!

I used to get sucked in and engage the person and try to explain why I was doing things the way I was doing. This course of action never ever works. Because whoever (whomever?) is giving you so much unsolicited and let's face it bad advice, is uninterested in rational conversation.

He/she is only interested in hearing themselves talk and being told how right they are. It doesn't matter what you say or do...this type of person will not stop picking apart and criticizing you. God could come down out of the sky and throw a thunderbolt into the ground beside the person, and still, he/she would continue to ramble on about how you are:

not gliding enough in the water
gliding too much in the water
look completely uncomfortable in the water
biking hills the wrong way
running in a poor style
blah, blah, blah

It goes on and on.

Now, don't get me wrong, I have a number of people in my life who know squat about triathlon but who are on my side. People who want to see me succeed. Like my fellow Masters swimmers in Pincher Creek -- I have one friend who has stopped me during warm up in the middle of the lane to point out I was reverting back to a stroke flaw I am working hard to correct.

Some of you might be reading this and think -- "WTF? If someone stopped me mid-lap (length? I still don't know which is which! lol) I'd go from simmer to boil in 2 seconds flat!"

The question then becomes, how to distinguish between the two types of people? Is it just me and my perceptions (ie ego) that are labelling people either "friend" or "foe?"

I've given this a lot of thought and here is what I have come up with...

YES there are two different types of people.

YES, sometimes it is just my emotions and ego getting in the way.

When I remove my emotions from the equation, things become much clearer, much faster. Now, for those of you who know me, removing my emotions from ANYTHING is a task unto itself! I've always been hyper. My default reaction is to laugh. I get really excited about anything, really fast. Like turning up the volume dial to 10 as fast as you can. That's me in a nutshell.

I take everything personally. My heart is on my sleeve. I can't lie -- well I can, but it is so embarrassingly obvious that it will make you cringe if you see me in action.

Fortunately, I can change. ;) Occasionally I hop off the hamster wheel of habitual responses and learn from my mistakes! YAY!

It was during one such sojourn off the hamster wheel that I developed an effective strategy in dealing with my emotionally-fuelled responses.

I call it The Objective Observer (TOO). He/she doesn't even have a gender -- that's how obective he/she is! lol. The TOO inside myself looks at any situation without the muddying interference of emotions. TOO gives me clarity. Oh yes, it really does work. :D

Let me give you an example...

"Why is your coach having you do so much training? You are doing way more than (insert name of any person that is faster than me)." -- Subtle as a sledgehammer here, eh?

Before TOO, I would start defending my coach, my coach's plan, myself. Not realizing that all the while, I was watering this negative seed with self-doubt and helping it grow.

Now, my reaction is to smile and nod. It works every time. People shut right up as soon as you agree with them. Its funny to see how quickly the diatribe stops when you agree with someone. The picture that comes to mind is of the Road Runner spinning his legs so fast but not going anywhere.

So, if you ever hear me get quiet and then agree with you over something....you'll know you've just been TOO'ed. Heh-heh-heh.

Thoughts...

2012-01-12T09:31:00.003-07:00

I don't know if any of you have heard or have been following the story of Sherry Arnold? 43 year old Mom that went out for a run at 6:30am and never returned. 5 days ago. From this little community in Montana of only 5000 people. They have found one of her running shoes in a ditch beside a "truck route."

The cold snippets of facts: one shoe.

Every day I have run since she has disappeared, I have asked myself, "What would cause me to lose one shoe?" There is no way I would ever take off my frigging shoe and wander away -- like one reporter on a news story suggested. Seriously, can you imagine falling down and getting disoriented and wandering away without your frigging shoe and not returning home. Man, for some reason this infuriates me. Probably because I feel so helpless about this. But it really PEES me off.

I make a point of not watching the news -- and the only reason I heard about Sherry's disappearance was because I clicked over to check out the blog Shut Up and Run. Sherry is her cousin.

This story is constantly in my mind. So many of my friends, including myself are dedicated runners/athletes. Going out for solo runs all the time. It's a part of our lifestyle. The idea that this could happen to one of my friends, a member of my family, even me is mind-numbing and surreal.

My prayers are with Sherry and her family.

An interview with my coach.....

2012-01-10T11:20:00.002-07:00

Check out an interview I did with my coach Sara Gross about her experience racing two Ironman races only 7 days apart....and placing in the top ten in BOTH. AWESOME!!!!!

http://saragross.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-julie.html

2012 -- Bring it!!!

2011-12-31T08:05:00.002-07:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I've been busy running 5 days a week and building. Lovin' it.

Swimming lots too! I've even managed to bribe my Mom to come to the pool with me and video me underwater. This was awesome and so helpful having her there, I could make an alteration in my stroke, then watch it, then do it all over again.

I took my Momma out for tea and cinnamon buns afterwards -- I drank a nice big black coffee.

My Mom is pretty terrified of water too, so it was a big deal for her to get into the water and do this. She is the best! :) :)

I met with Coach Sara a few weeks ago when she was in Calgary and had some more "aha!" moments in regards to swimming. I think the thing I was most excited about was seeing that how I was swimming on film was exactly what I thought I was doing.

Got that?

For those of you who have ever been filmed whilst swimming, you will appreciate this. Usually there is this HUGE disconnect between what you THINK you are doing, and what you are ACTUALLY doing.

I also asked Coach Sara to literally move my arms to show me how I should be doing my catch. We got into the hot tub where there was a double-sided handrail, and I lay on top of it while she positioned my arms. LOL!!! But I understood finally!!! YAY!! (Now, it is all about putting it into practice.)

Then, we got out of the hot tub and I jumped in the pool and she videoed me again and again. The pool was pretty chilly if you were just standing around, so we would go back to the hot tub and review the footage.

Holy crap, you can imagine after 3-4 times of getting in and out of the hot tub and into the cold pool, I was SPENT. Hahahahahaah!!

And, I am so grateful for the time Coach Sara spent with me! I am so lucky to have such an awesome coach! :) :)

Very excited about racing in 2012!!! There is an early IM race on the horizon for me....and another mini-epic road trip for me and my Dad to take to get there. (Mini-epic is anything less than 5000km...lol)

Let's see what else.....oh yeah, I bought these neato training paddles that force you to do the catch in swimming. Coach Sara didn't personally like them, but they have been working for me. I have one day a week that is my "Pool Play Time." So dubbed by moi. I don my swimming snorkel and new paddles and focus on feeling the catch, good form, etc. I look like a total dork, but everyone in Pincher Creek is used to me by now. :D

I have to say that swimming backstroke with those paddles, and swimming backstroke in general has been a key element is helping me "feel the water."

All for now! :) :)

A Star Wars Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

Workout #2 Hee-hee!

2011-12-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

CT Workout

2011-12-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

My coach is amazing!!

2011-11-26T11:58:00.002-07:00

My coach, Sara Gross is racing 2 IM's only 7 days apart! Last week was IM Arizona, where she placed 8th overall female with the THIRD FASTEST female run split! And tomorrow, she is racing Ironman Cozumel!

GO SARA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://mercuryrisingtriathlon.blogspot.com/2011/11/sara-gross-goes-for-ironman-double.html

Feeling like a Criminal and Swim Camp!

2011-11-22T13:53:00.005-07:00

I am the person in our household who can "just say no." I'm the one that has to be firm with the telemarketers and with the people at the door asking me to change gas companies, etc.

Left on his own, my dear Bunler turns to a quivering mass of sympathetic jelly and tries to wrangle himself out of these situations by trying to say no without saying it. You can guess how successful that tactic is right?

No matter how many times I have told him that these people PREY on politeness, he still is the consummate Canadian nice-guy. For example, the Jehovahs still think they have a chance with Mike. They've given up on me, and simply ask for Mike when they come to the door. I have great fun with this, and tell Mike that his "friends" were asking after him.

One particularly awesome situation springs to mind -- upon arriving home after our Cozumel vacation earlier this year, we saw this Jehovah guy walk up to our house AT THE EXACT SAME MOMENT we pulled in. After flying from Cozumel, driving back from the Calgary airport -- what it must have taken for the moons and planets to align so this timing could happen! One could almost say it was divine intervention!

I chuckled and walked ahead and abandoned Mike. Poor Mike -- he still couldn't say, "No thank you."

In May, I succumbed to Mike's nice-guy-ness. A young guy was promoting Just Energy -- getting us to switch over from Enmax (electricity) and Direct Energy (natural gas). I had already said NO and the guy was on his way, when Mike interrupted and with his niceness invited the guy INSIDE and signed us up....

Sure their 8.79 cents per kilowatthour whatever was good, but their gas price of $5.79 per Gigajoule-what-have-you is WAYYYYYYY higher than Direct Energy. There has been a handful of times where I paid more than $5.79 -- because I have all my bills going back to 2005 to prove it. ANYWAYS, let's just say, 6 months later and we are *almost* finally disentangled from the clutches of that company.

And I have been the one that has had to make the nasty phone calls, send the emails, and yes, I even went to our local RCMP detachment to see if I could file a complaint against them.

ALL BECAUSE MIKE COULDN'T SAY NO.

Am I a terrible person for throwing my dear Bunler under the bus like this? Probably.

So...all this preamble is a prelude to the most recent knock on our door. I shouted, "Come on in!" thinking it was my mother coming to drop off some stuff. When the door didn't open, my stomach dropped and I knew it was a door-to-door dude selling something. AARRRGH.

And I was in my PJs too -- at my weakest.

The guy was prepared when he saw the look in my eye. Before I could even get out, "No, I am not interested," he interrupted with a "I'm not selling anything, I'm not with the gas company or electrical company." Smart -- he'd done his homework. That initial one-two took the wind out of my sails, but I was still suspicious. And rightfully so...

Guess what he was selling? Some donation thing for (and I kid you not, these are his EXACT words) "You know those kids with the big bellies and flies in Africa?"

He had pamphlets of all these children from Third World (or whatever the political correct term is nowadays -- Have-Not perhaps?) countries, that he shoved at me. I knew I was up against a worthy opponent then. How can you say no without looking like a total jerk? These are starving kids I am refusing!!

I glanced down at the pamphlets and had the wherewithal not to take them from him (as he was trying to get me to do) but let him hold them as I fingered through them. I knew this was going to be uncomfortable.

Mike was in the background -- playing his computer game. I KNEW if he had answered the door, the cheque book would be out and we would be sponsoring 5 or more kids.

I gritted my teeth and went in for the kill. Told him, "No." The fight was on -- this guy had been prepped for every excuse, silence, or hesitation. I held firm and channeled my inner House. The match was coming to a climax -- he hit me square in the jaw with his final parting shot of "Why wouldn't you want to do something good in the world?" Still, I wouldn't budge.

With that, he turned away and started to walk down my front steps. I held my door open to make sure he didn't kick my cat (Peanut) as she had scurried out through the door whilst he was giving me his spiel.

Yes folks, today I was The A$$hole.

And you know what?

It felt good.

OK....swim camp news!!

Mercury Rising Triathlon (my tri team) is holding a swim camp Jan. 6 - 8, 2012 in Calgary. Click here for more details and how to register.

The short and sweet version is it costs $400, you get underwater video of yourself swimming from various angles AND then get personalized feedback from our head coaches. They analyze your stroke and give you specific drills and instructions on what you can do to improve your stroke. This is GOLD.

There is nothing like having 3 swim coaches giving you constant feedback over a weekend. The camp is open to EVERYONE!! Not just MRT athletes -- anyone who wants to improve their swimming.

All for now! :)

Busy, busy, busy

2011-11-08T08:03:00.002-07:00

Not much to say - my two week break off training is now over and I am easing back into swim, bike and run again!! YAY!! I had no problem lying around the house for the past 2 weeks, but the last few days, I did start to get a little squirrely.

I am loving my new vlog project too! I am improving in fits and starts with talking at the camera. Although, there is a direct correlation between how tired I am (or nervous) and how many "Um's" and "things" I mention. I can only edit out so many Um's....I thought I was doing pretty well at eliminating that dead space talk, until yesterday. LOL -- I shot a 3 part video on how to disassemble/assemble your tri bike. I think I used the words "thing" and "thingy" a bazillion times. Apparently I don't know the name of a screw....You should hear me describe what a torque wrench is too -- LMAO!!!

Ah well, my aim is to help out non-tool-savvy people like myself -- so it is to those brothers and sisters I dedicate that 3 part video. Those who speak (and understand!) my language of things and thingys. :)

I am soooooo excited to start swimming again with my Masters group -- tonight I'll be joining them again. Another YAY!!

I think I forgot to mention that the Pincher Creek pool had (has still maybe? I'll find out tonight!) those WOW balls. Ever hear of them? The inventor is from Lethbridge (I think) and he was actually on the Dragon's Den.

Well, one day this summer, I noticed photocopied advertisements on the change room doors saying "WOW Balls are back!" There were pics of kids inside these big plastic balls running on the water. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was so excited about this -- and started immediately saying how we should do WOW Balls for a Masters workout one night. LOL.

OK, so time passed, but apparently the lifeguards knew how much I wanted to get in one of those things...

It was my last swim session before I was to fly out to Florida. I am always the first person on deck for lane swim (I am a nerd that way!) Anywhoo, as I walked out of the change room and onto the pool deck, one of the lifeguards asked me if I knew how many people might show up for lane swim. I was flattered that I appear to know all the answers of the universe, but had to respond, "Honestly, I have no idea." And I was thinking, why in the world would he even ask me that question?

Well...Let me tell you why!!

The lifeguard explained that IF no one showed up for lane swim, or maybe 1 other person did, then I could go in the WOW Ball. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so excited about this prospect.

Of course, as soon as he said that, the pool filled up with the most lane swimmers I've ever seen. Boo. Before the onslaught of swimmers hit the pool, I did ask the lifeguard to bonk me on the head with a with a pool noodle as I continued my workout, IF people cleared out and there was still a chance at me getting in the WOW ball.

With about 8 minutes left of lane swim, I got the bonk on the head. The lifeguard asked if I was still interested...

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!

I scrambled out of that pool so fast, I'm sure I would have set a record. I had serious WOW Ball quiver-tail happening, people!!!

I climbed in there, they inflated it with air, and then I walked off the deck and onto the surface of water!! YAY!!!! I never actually could stand, I kept slipping, but I laughed and screamed like I was 5 years old!!

I was trying to conserve oxygen by not laughing and screaming, but for those of you who personally know me, you know how quickly that plan disappeared!

I lasted about 5 minutes. Hahahahah -- The interior of the ball got pretty hot and humid in such a brief time. When I emerged from the ball, I was SPENT. I had a run to do later on, and it was supposed to be a heat-acclimation type run on the treadmill, but I was so exhausted from the WOW ball experience, I decided to log the Wow ball as my heat training for the day, and ran outside instead. LMAO!!!!

WOW BALL!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I think I might be the first to log a WOW Ball experience into workoutlog.com. Same as the time I entered a big poop as a core workout. LMAO -- gotta keep things interesting!!!)

New Site, New Project!

2011-11-02T18:42:00.000-06:00

Check it out people!! http://trivlogger.blogspot.com/

I've made another blog site or should I say....VLOG site. This will strictly be vlogs -- I'm having fun with it!

I just put up a new post over there... :)

I'll continue to post race reports and any other ramblings I have here on this site.

Update your bookmarks, come check me out and become a follower on my new project!

Send me emails of any topic you would like me to talk about!!

How to Change a Flat Tire -- My First VLOG!!!!

2011-11-01T16:02:00.000-06:00

Eating Crow

2011-10-30T13:25:00.000-06:00

Oh yes. I said I would never do it.

In fact, I took a perverse kind of pride in refusing it.

For years I denied myself of it.

What on earth am I talking about?? MASSAGE! Glorious massage and it's many benefits.

I never knew that massage actually SPED recovery. No one ever told me that. Everyone always goes on about how much they hurt and then how much a massage hurts them and I would think to myself, "Why do you do it then?"

I honestly thought that it was a big waste of time and money. That was until a month ago when I got a massage and learned about all things massage from Maryna at Maryna Massage. She explained things in a magnificently simple way -- a tight, contracted muscle is like a closed fist. Keep working that muscle in that state and you can see how your risk of injury goes up.

Massage relaxes and elongates the muscle -- so your range of mobility is back! You CAN achieve the same result with a protocol of stretching/hot tub/hydration, it's just that massage gets you there quicker.

Why on earth did no one ever explain it like that to me before? Other than a nebulous, "It feels good."

(This is the same sense of frustration I feel over Ducks Unlimited. I really have no interest in pictures of ducks in a marsh. I am not motivated to do anything about it. BUT, when I learned that wetlands act as a filter for OUR drinking water -- that they actually serve a real, tangible purpose (something I can wrap my head around), then I am totally motivated to donate! Like, come on people, don't you have marketing execs to get the message out to make people interested instead of the same old commercial of ducks flying around and me feeling sorry for them???? And I am a big animal lover too....I digress. And yes, I managed to tie in Ducks Unlimited with my first massage. Heh-heh-heh.)

I also learned that you should stretch after every activity. I was quick to say, "Yeah, but I don't have the time/energy after all my swimming, biking and running." My "yeah, but" was put to rest with Maryna's rejoinder that the stretching routine can be as short as 1.5 minutes. That's right -- a minute and a half is fine! You don't HAVE to do 3 sets of 30 secs of all these stretches -- you can do 1 set of a 10-15 sec stretch and do your whole body. Now that is something I am motivated to do.

To date, I've completed 9 full iron-distance races and this was the first year I started using massage as a recovery tool. In the past, after every full-iron race, I'd experience severe swelling in my legs, ankles (the infamous Ironman cankles), and toes (sausage toes -- it feels very odd to have all your toes swollen to the point that they are touching one another.)

Maryna suggested I get a massage about 3-4 days after my next event to speed recovery. I did and she was right. The swelling went away and I could actually walk around with relatively little pain (relative is the key word -- it is still an Ironman -- haha!)

She also advised that I get a massage at least once a month -- so, yes, this old dog learned a new trick. Woof-woof!! Massage is now a part of my routine! :) :)

2011 Great Floridian Ultra Race Report

2011-10-23T12:43:00.000-06:00

What a crackerjack of a race!!!

Like many people, I thought Florida was flat...well it is NOT. Not in Clermont anyways. The wind and the false flats really work on a person. I found this course more difficult than IMC.

The BIG news is that I had a major swimming breakthrough at this race...I was 4th woman out of the water with a 1:05:16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't learn this until the end of the race whereupon I teared up and became very emotional. I've been working so hard on my swim, and the last two months I've started feeling really good in the water...a light-switch moment so-to-speak. I knew I was swimming faster than before, I could feel things coming together in the water, but to swim that well literally put me in tears.

I spent most of my life leery of the water -- not knowing how to swim. When I was 29, I had my first swimming lesson -- I remember my neighbour's grand-daughters told me to just swim like I thought I should (so they could see where to start). Man!! I remember taking three strokes and then having to stand up in the pool to catch my breath. Over and over again in the shallow end. Three strokes, stand up, lift my ribs out of the water (because the pressure of the water made me struggle to catch my breath). This is why I am still so emotional about this -- hard work...consistent work pays off. I still can't believe it...

The short and sassy version is this: 1st in age group, 4th woman overall -- 12:19:56
Swim: 1:05:16
Bike: 6:30:39 (One tough mother of a bike course!)
Run: 4:38:25

More deets below:

Swim:
The swim was a 2 loop affair -- you get out, run across the timing mats and then run back into the water. At the start of the race, people started to line up on the beach and in the water. I kept asking people, do we have to go back to the beach? No one knew, so I decided to go out a little bit into the water between the people further out in the water and the people on the beach.

Had a good warm up swim and the usual pre-race teeth-chattering jitters. Then we were off! I ran flicking my knees out to get over the water (finally my NATURAL running form actually serves a beneficial purpose -- LMAO!!!) and then did a dolphin dive and took off.

The usual mass of people -- green cap to the left of me, pink cap to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you -- Hahahahaha!!

Found a girl to draft off -- I take pride in my drafting ability -- this is one area where I actually brag about. Hee-hee!! Seriously, I do!! Hahaha!! And, I am a pretty good sighter too. She started to swim zig-zag, so I would keep swimming straight, but it seemed we were still swimming the same speed. I would angle in and draft off her again and again, until she went somewhere weird after the first turn buoy. Then I found Mr. Wonderful...

I found the feet!!! I did it!! I found this guy who was swimming much faster than me, but that if I worked, I could draft from. When I catch a good draft, it literally feels like I am being towed along in the water, and I feel my heart rate go down. This was very similar except that I had to keep working to stay with this guy...

He would inevitably pull away, and I would surge ahead to catch him again. Then, he would pull away again, and again I would surge. I only touched his feet once. See? I am a good little draftee! Hee-hee!

The second lap was awesome as I got back on his feet again. He was a poor sighter though, but he was WAY faster even screwing up then I was swimming straight. I learned that pretty quick. So, I allowed myself to swim right behind him, screw-ups and all.

At the last turn buoy, he frigging SURGED and I just couldn't catch him. I surged and surged and made my little arms go like a windmill, and I could see him slipping away. And as he angled away, this other guy was in front of me and I didn't want him to catch my drafting train. So, I just kept on hammering away and I was so happy when I caught up to him again. I really pushed myself during this swim!

Coming out into transition is a bit of a cluster -- there are all these kids that volunteer (bless them) but some of them didn't know what they were doing and I'd have preferred it if they just got the heck out of the way. They didn't really know how to wetsuit strip (at least the one I got)-- were giggling and fooling around, but that's par for the course, eh?

Same as when I ran to get my change gear bag, I almost took out this young girl I have no idea why she was running right in front of me or what purpose she was serving.

Another thing is that women seem to be an afterthought in this race ...no-one told us which side the women's change tent would be on. I opened the men's tent, got an eyeful and a volunteer told me to go around the other side. I still didn't know where to enter the tent...I finally figured it out though.

Bike:
The road LOOKS flat, but it isn't. I think that it is this plus the relentless head wind that sucks the life out of you. This was the hardest bike course I have ridden so far. And it is a clean race! You are out there ALONE. At various times you may pass someone, or they pass you, but on the whole it is you out there with the sun, the wind, the sweat. Wiping your salty boogers on the back of your hand and pedaling away. AYE CARUMBA.

The police were out in full force and they controlled the intersections -- these guys were AWESOME and did not eff around. They were serious looking dudes. During the 3rd lap, I thanked as many as I could.

I did miss a turn on the first lap (it's amazing knowing my sense of direction I didn't do more - Hahaha!) , but I figured it out in 100m or so, turned around and made the turn. :)

Coming off the bike, someone was yelling to another kid in transition, "Number 10!" She was too busy talking to her friends, so when I reached her she sort of yelled to FOUR other kids, "Number 10!" Then all four boys went running. I went running to the gear racks myself because I have no patience for this -- I'm not mad, but I like to keep moving. As far as I'm concerned GET THOSE KIDS OUT OF TRANSITION and let us athletes get the gear bags. Too many cooks in the kitchen.

Run:
My nutrition was good! No GI issues, I had talked and planned things out with my coach and lo and behold it worked! :)

The run was the usual Ironman fare -- wavering between fuzzing out and giddy endorphin rushes where I make best friends with everyone on course. Hahaha! I think it was somewhere on lap two where I started making personalized comments to the other athletes. Man, I talked to some afterward, and they were like, "yeah, you said such and such at the turn around!" I was thinking to myself, "Dude, you have no idea how many people I said stuff too!! Hahahahahaha!! I didn't even recognize some of the people!"

This one man was running with his bike jersey pulled up over his nipples, and when I saw him, I said, "I wish i could run like that." LMAO. he just gave me this really weird look. Personally, I think I was hilarious!! :D :D

There were 3 other women ahead of me: Fast Girl, Friendly Girl, Bikini Girl, and then me. Bikini girl passed me at the end of the bike ride, but started to really fade on the last lap of the run. I ended up 7 minutes behind her.

When the sun set, it was DARK. I felt like Darryl and his night-running antics. A guy handed me a glow stick and I clicked it around my neck. It was sort of hard to see though - there were parts of the trail that were totally dark and the green glow in my peripheral vision as it bounced underneath my chin was weird -- add that to general iron-distance fuzziness, and you can imagine how disorienting it was.

Some of the more prepared athletes had head lamps on. Mind you, I finished relatively soon after the sun had set, but it is a good idea nonetheless!

When I'd approach a police car parked at an intersection, their ole lights would be blazing and it just about blinded me! There was an aid station that had this really bright frigging construction light or something and you couldn't see except by tilting your head down . I was happy I still had my hat to help shade the light. LOL.

The last mile was awesome as I knew I was going to be done!! Hahahahahaha!! I could hear music and they had these 4 strobe lights whirling around pointed up in the sky -- YAHOO! Plus, I was 99.9% sure I was 4th woman overall, so that had me pumped too!

Food at the finish:
More kids volunteering -- they were great, but again, this one girl was standing behind the food tables and stuffing herself with the athlete food. Sigh. I went to get a piece of watermelon and no kidding, it looked like someone had gnawed them to the whitish part and put them back on the tray. I'll let you think about that for awhile. LOL.

The verdict:
TWO THUMBS WAY UP! This course will test you -- there are no cheering crowds (not to the extent at IM events) and you are on your own with the other athletes. There is a special bond between all competitors -- because of the difficulty and the solo nature of the event. This bond grows and solidifies with each lap of the run course. :) Awesome, awesome event -- I like that the distance is called "Ultra" - it has the feel of an ultra race -- low key, very personal journey. The volunteers (and yes I mean those crazy-ass kids as well) are AMAZING. They are great -- on my last lap of the run, I was thanking all of them too..when I wasn't going through one of my negative, fuzzing out phases.

This was my first non-m-dot race and it will not be my last! Despite my whining, I actually enjoy the low-key nature of things and going with the flow.

LOVE IT BABY!

The residual effects:
When I left T2, I realized I had tied my shoes WAY TOO TIGHT. Oh brother. I thought to myself, "Well, you're in them for 26.2 miles so get over it." LOL! When I took them off at then end of the race, I discovered I had a new toe between my middle toe and "ring" toe. And it was blood red. This blister was the biggest one I've ever had and it was awesome. LOL! It actually was between my toes and went around to the pad of my ring toe. When I popped it with safety pin this morning, it SQUIRTED like an oil well in Texas. LMAO!!

My lower back muscles are crazy sore -- they were soooo sore during the bike too. Talked to a fellow racer today and he said it was because I was pushing the hills. Ahhh! So it was! I've had discomfort before when I am in aero and push hills, but as everyone knows, things hurt A LOT more in an iron-distance race.

The Pee Bag has been laundered as I type this -- sweet action!

Now...onto next year's races.....Muahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

BIG thank you to my Bunler and my parents who support me in every way imaginable. To my amazing coach, Sara Gross who is shaping me into a triathlete. And to my bike Guru, Gord, who takes care of of my bike and taught me how to disassemble and then reassemble my bike. :) (And change flat tires.)

Paleo for Triathletes: Part 2

2011-10-16T09:52:00.000-06:00

Or...Paleo-style in pictures...

Every morning, I have a 3 egg omelette with veggies, sun-dried tomatoes, and olive oil.

My omelettes are FULL of veggies: broccoli, kale, green peppers, and onions.

As you can see, I have prepped all my veggies before hand -- washed the kale and tore it off into chunks and crammed it in a container.

Then, I top it with this:

Avocado -- Julie style. 95% of it is good for me. :D

Hungry throughout the day? Here are a couple of my snacks that I can just grab and eat ASAP:

Snowpeas -- these are good to eat while your significant other eats potato chips They crunch and you are not left out! :)

Baby carrots -- no dip, just the carrot.

Whenever I drive pretty much anywhere: to the pool, to the city, wherever, I always bring a cooler and throw the whole bag of carrots, snowpeas, an apple, a banana, and 1 or 2 precooked chicken breasts. That way, when hunger strikes, I am prepared. (I have the most awesome wheeled cooler too -- it looks like a small piece of carry-on luggage.)

Pre-cooked chicken breasts taken with my shitty new camera.
I only paid $40 for it off the internet and it's waterproof too...the only downside?
It's really shitty.
And I keep discovering more aspects of it's shittiness...SIGH.

Here is my solution to cold cuts: The ingredients don't scare me...I'm weaning myself off this stuff too now, but it has helped my transition.

Here is a pic of some turkey sausage...Yeah, there are a LOT of chemicals in there, but there are not a lot of choices living in the armpit of the Canadian Rockies...:) :)

Plus, I need to appease the Polish side of me. Sausage....YUM. Hahaha!

And here we have my FAVOURITE FOOD OF ALL TIME.....

THE YAM!!! (Squash is there too, but the yam is the best!!)

I love yams - oh man, they are so good. I can eat them day in and day out and never get sick of them. I used to eat the skin, but it tastes like dirt..so that stopped right away. Heh-heh. I prefer baked yams to anything else, but usually I am too impatient and end up nuking my yams...

Here's the lazy girl's way of making a dinner:

Peel yam, then either poke holes or jab knife in all over the yam.
Nuke yam for 2:30 - 3:00 on one side, and again on the other (approx).
Cut up warm yam, then put diced chicken breast pieces all over it, some oil, salt, and some avocado!
Presto! Your meal looks like cat puke, but it is really, really good!

Nuking yams make them a little chewy at the ends, so if you have the time to bake them, they are so much better...When I bake them, I peel them, slice them into big chunks or even disc sized pieces and put them in the toaster oven for 1 hour at 375 degrees F. I don't even use olive oil or anything -- you just throw them in there and they are awesome. Earlier this year, I would bake a couple of yams the evening before a long bike ride.

I carry them in a ziplock baggie in my bento box and whenever I need some fuel, just root around in the baggie. The yams do sort of turn to mush (and by sort of, I mean that the hotter is outside, the quicker they mushify) and your fingernails get a bit orange, but it's like blowing your nose when you run -- the good ole hand wipe on the hip. :)

(On a side note, I came in from a run a few months ago, and wiped my nose on my sleeve. Mike was so grossed out...saying to me, "You're at home now! You can use a kleenex!" Poor guy, 10 years with me and he still doesn't GET that this is what we athletes DO. Without thinking! You can imagine my delight, when my friends Tina and Andrew spent the night and I saw Tina doing the same thing!! YES! My people!! It's the same delight I feel when I get together with my tri peeps and out of the Crowsnest Pass -- we are all drinking out of our own water bottles, we eat chicken breasts and yams, carry bananas with us, and wipe our noses and wear our boogers all over our clothing and it is no big deal!! YAY! Hahahahahaha!)

Ok..back to paleo in pictures...

I don't even know why there are oranges in this picture. I don't even like oranges.
Normally there are way more bananas and apples there -- my fruits of choice. :)

Now, I learned a trick a couple of years ago from pro triathlete, Rachel Kiers....if you use frozen bananas in your protein shake, it's like a milkshake! There's something about the banana being frozen that bulks up the shake or something....and I have been a convert ever since.

Just remember though -- PEEL your bananas before freezing them. Because there is no way in hell you will be able to get that peel off otherwise. Trust me.

So...in order to prep for and make the world's best protein shakes...

Buy a LOAD of bananas when they go on 50% off.
Peel said bananas. (That is so legal sounding isn't it? LOL)
Break bananas into small chunks and put them in a big ziplock freezer bag.
Don't cram in as many banana chunks as you can though -- leave enough space so you can flatten the ziplock bag on its side -- this makes getting the banana chunks out wayyyyy easier. (They freeze into one big massive banana chunk other wise and no amount of smashing the bag on the counter will set it free)

Here are my ingredients of choice: (What's missing is my protein powder. I use a chocolate kind, but have an egg protein one on order...I am really curious to try out the egg one. It has no other ingredient in it other then egg!)

Almond milk, MAGIC OIL (this stuff is the bomb!), and YES I finally found coconut water here....
Well, technically I found it in Fernie -- close enough!

I also buy ground chicken/beef when it is discounted and make a bunch of meatloaves:

Yes, I know it looks like cat food. :)
But, it's better than that nasty bean loaf Susi made that one time... LMAO!!
I hope she doesn't read this! Hahahahahahahaha!!

And my little baggies of little potatoes...Potatoes are NOT Paleo so don't get all in a huff and a puff and start preaching to me. I DON'T CARE. These little suckers are good -- I also buy the yellow ones too -- boil some water, throw them in, cook until your fork goes into one easily, drain them, put them in another tupperware container in the fridge.

Don't hate me just because I have saponins in me. :(

And there you have it!

I have found that changing to a Paleo-style way of eating has been a real eye-opener. My goal is to go 100% Paleo, and the way my body has been responding, it's like it is naturally heading me in that direction.

Granted, there are times when I've not been nutritionally prepared and end up sucking down a big bag of Tostitos and 4 packs of Reeces Pieces that were in the back hall and part of a care package to be sent to my dear friend in South Africa, BUT....

on the whole, when I get hungry now, I don't want or crave bread and/or pasta. You know those times? When you go to the cupboard and open it and stare inside, looking for something....even though you know exactly what is in there, you stand in front of the cupboard staring as though in a trance, hoping a genie will pop out of there are say: "Ba-da-bing! Here is a Filet Mignon dinner all cooked and ready to eat -- just for you! YAY!" :) :) :)

I still will open the cupboard door and stare inside, but I end up going for some nuts or I actually open the fridge and eat a whole cucumber instead. Hahahahaha!

One other trick I've learned...hee-hee! Mike likes his taco salads, so there is usually a big bag of salty nacho chips hanging around. I am a very salty sweater, so sometimes all I really need is salt and I want to taste it...

So what I do, is dig both hands around the bag of chips and get them covered in salt and then lick my hands clean. No double-dipping though. That would just be gross.

:D

Hope this helps any of you out with your nutritional challenges! Feel free to email me with any questions or comments -- or share your experiences!

Paleo for Triathletes: Part 1

2011-10-08T09:37:00.000-06:00

This is my 7th year doing triathlons...my very first race was a sprint distance in Strathmore, AB in 2004. I had literally learned to swim 3 months prior, and had purchased my very first tri bike at the same time. The next year, 2005, was the year I really got into triathlon and completed my first Olympic, 1/2 IM, and full IM.

For the past six years, I've become fitter and fitter, but my body shape and size never really altered at all. For someone who trains as much as I do, I expected my body composition to be a heck of a lot better than it was. You wouldn't know by looking at me that I had done multiple IM's!

I am passionate about the sport, but my ego would still get a little bruised every once in a while when I would compare myself to other athletes. Why can't I "lean down?" "I am training 16 hours a week for weeks and weeks on end, and am staying away from junk food and eating clean...What am I doing wrong?!?!" This conversation would play itself over and over in my head.

I was so frustrated -- I had tried so many changes to my diet and nothing worked. I even tried fasting and severely restricting my food intake (the good ole FALLACY of calories in, calories out belief) and you can just imagine how successful that was...

Then, a little over 6 months ago, I stumbled (completely accidentally) upon the Goddess of Paleo, Nell Stephenson's blog. At last, someone put forth a common sense approach to eating and fuelling -- a way of eating that was EASY. I didn't need to go out and buy a whole bunch of new spices to make recipes that I would only make once...in fact, I don't even really need to cook! (My kind of cooking is not having to cook. Heh-heh-heh.)

There are no recipes I have to follow. This was the biggest discovery -- that I didn't need to go out and buy a recipe book and make my life more complicated by following all these recipes. Let's face it, the LAST thing I want to do when I come home from a swim,bike, and/or run is to have to follow some recipe and an hour later I can eat.

When I am hungry, I want to eat NOW. Not have to dink around with a recipe...

My life is more simplified now, and my nutrition is stress-free: I don't follow recipes, I do meal assembly. I cook chicken breasts (that is the extent of my cooking), nuke yams, boil water (yes, this IS my kind of cooking!), and make omelettes. :)

The best thing about my conversion to Paleo? My body has leaned down completely on its own. I haven't had to restrict what I eat, I haven't had to go to bed hungry. I eat when I am hungry and my body composition has literally changed before my eyes. I have gone down 3 swimsuit sizes since March of this year -- without even trying. It's like my body is naturally doing this on its own. I've had friends not recognize me..and I was never a big girl -- always a size 6 at 132 lbs.

Now, here comes the disclaimer...(Hahahahahaha!)

I am not 100% Paleo. I do things that would probably make Nell's hair stand on end, but I am a thousand times better off than I was six months ago, and I am still a work in progress. :)

So what does it mean to eat Paleo? And how do you go about making the transition?

For those of you who have no idea about Paleo (like me) the biggies you need to learn is to eliminate ALL grains and ALL dairy. Let that sink in and terrify you for a moment:

No bread, pasta, oatmeal, rice, quinoa
No yogourt, cottage cheese, cheese, milk

I knew if I wanted to make a successful stab at changing the way I eat, I would have to make a plan. I decided to work on eliminating dairy first. I started by eliminating yogourt -- this was actually really easy as I always felt a little bloated after I ate it, but I never stopped eating it until now, as I thought "it was good for me." Next, I eliminated cheese.

I knew the whole eliminating grains thing was going to be an all-or-nothing affair however. There was no way I could get around do that half-assed...

So, I went to the grocery store and loaded up on bananas, carrots and yams. And I mean LOADED up. My BFF Charmaine came over to my house one day and laughed at my hoarder-like stockpile of yams and bananas on the kitchen counter. Hahahahaha!

Getting my carbs from carrots and yams -- especially yams , was the secret I'd been missing before in all my previous nutrition-clean up attempts. I would always try "incorporating more vegetables" into my diet in the form of salad...instead of a hearty veg like a yam or a squash. This was a key lesson for me.

I remember the first day I eliminated grains...I baked a butternut squash, then put some olive oil on it and ate it for dinner. I was satiated. SATIATED! For the first time in my life, I didn't feel bloated and heavy and craving chocolate cake like I would after eating 3 bowls of spaghetti. I was thunderstruck. And excited, as I realized I could definitely get used to this way of fuelling!

Now, I need to insert another disclaimer here...

I know a lot of athletes do just fine eating bagels and oatmeal..to them I say "Good for you!" But for me, my body responds well by eliminating them. I am writing this series of blog posts for those athletes who have struggled like I have in finding an effective way to fuel and train for IM races.

I have received quite a few emails about the changes I've made to my nutrition, so I thought it would be helpful to share my experiences about my Paleo journey.

I have to plug Nell's blog again, as I have learned so much from perusing her archives, as well as emailing her questions. I've asked questions via her blog as well and she responds with lightening speed. She is an amazing resource.

So...onto the nuts and bolts of a Paleo way of life...You can eat anything you want from this list:

Meat (preferably grass-fed, but I am not there yet. I just eat meat from the grocery store: primarily chicken breasts and lean ground beef, sometimes a pork chop. :))
Eggs (I eat 21 eggs a week. I am not joking. I was actually shocked when I realized this, LOL!!)
Veggies
Fruits
Good fats (I eat A LOT of avocado, olive oil, Udo's oil)

That is the bare bones summary of what the Paleo way of fuelling yourself entails. There are a number of points to fine-tune things, but to get started I stuck with this list. Granted, at first I ate a bunch of cold cuts (really processed, bierwurst -- LOL!) but gradually, my body sort of made adjustments on its own and I moved away NATURALLY to less processed shit meat.

There is also the concept of timing your eating of fruits - say have an apple after a session instead of while sitting around...but initially, I found it better to just eat whatever fruit I wanted/craved. It is better to eat fruit than a frigging Pop Tart or a 100 calorie Thinsation piece of chemical (and honestly, now....those things are like the mini chocolate bars you get at Halloween -- you CANNOT eat just one.)

Again, over time, I naturally started to shift away from eating so much fruit and started to eat more veg...like a handful of baby carrots. Or a bunch of snow-peas. (Now I believe that the Paleo diet calls for an elimination of peas and beans, but I am a work in progress, and eating snow-peas are wayyyy better for me than eating a big bag of dill pickle chips.)

Another BIG lesson for me was the sheer amount of good fat I started eating. In fact, I noticed that when I consumed a hearty amount of good fat in the morning, I had no craving for sugary stuff in the evening. Again, there is a fine-tuning that goes on with the fat consumption...I now eat a lot of good fat throughout the day as well. "A lot" of fat = in terms of what I ate before I made the change to a Paleo-style diet. (Pure Paleo-istas, please forgive my selective way of adopting Paleo principles! Hee-hee!)

So, in a capsule, the things that really changed for me when I first made the shift to Paleo are:

The amount of meat I ate increased (like A LOT -- like I would eat the whole rotisserie chicken as a snack, and I am not joking. But remember, I train A LOT.)
I put avocado over everything.
I started taking Udo's oil 2-3 times a day (I have 2 protein shakes a day, and I put a Tbsp of the oil in each shake. This stuff made my nails stop peeling! It took a few weeks, but sure enough, my fingernails are hard for the first time in my life instead of soft and peeling.)
I don't take a strict all-or-nothing approach, I am not hard on myself -- I still consume whey protein, I eat snowpeas, I put Lipton onion soup mix in my meatloaf -- :)
I am in more tune with my body -- I eat a lot LESS nuts than I did before, and for me personally, I found it better to stay away from nut butters too. Nut butters go straight to my ass. However, coconut oil, and coconut manna, my body responds to -- in a good, ass-reducing kind of way. :D

Stay tuned for Paleo for Triathletes: Part 2!!

:) :) :) :)

The Great Floridian Countdown

2011-09-22T10:20:00.000-06:00

Not much going on here except training away...

For the first time in my life, my swimming is feeling great -- I look forward to it, and it doesn't exhaust me like it used to....especially post-IM. I am feeling the water people!!! I can feel it when I swim! My back muscles are sore after I swim. YAHOO!!! Instead of the wrong muscles being sore, the right ones are.

I've been swimming with my BFF Charmaine (also known as Charmers) in the lima bean pool. Some of you may recall the year I first met her. I saw her doing I don't know how many lengths of butterfly and decided that she was the perfect person to ask about swim advice.

She immediately dove into the project (yes, pun intended) and proceeded to give me all kinds of tips. She was the one who decided that for the rest of that year I was to concentrate on kicking. Kicking fast, kicking slow, kicking fast and slow. She would swim underneath me and poke me (HARD) when she felt I wasn't kicking hard enough. LMAO -- that was the year I took 10 minutes off my IM swim time.

Well, we are back together again -- wreaking havoc in the pool. The aqua-aerobic ladies ganged up on Charmers the last time we swam, in an epic splash fight. Hahahah -- the energy is so good at that pool. :)

Anyways, Operation Make Julie Swim Faster has begun again. (Under the supervision of Coach Sara of course) -- Charmers has decided I still need to kick harder, but this time, she swims beside me and grabs the side of my bum really hard and shakes it if she thinks I am not kicking with my bum enough. OMG it HURTS! LMAO!!!!

I never know when she is going to appear either -- she is stealthy and she is fast. Hahaha!

Another thing she has suggeseted I start integrating into my training is breathing every 5 and 7 strokes. This is the second time this year, this has been suggested to me -- earlier this year, I took a series of stroke improvement classes...

Anyways, after presenting Coach Sara with the proof of how awesome my BFF is at swimming, she has integrated breathing work into my sessions. Except she went one step further and added breathing every 9 strokes as well.

9 strokes.

Well, my first attempt at this went pretty well, but I cheated a little. (Just a little. Hee-hee!)

I could do 100m of breathing every 9 strokes if I:

didn't do any flip turns
took a sneaky breath before I arrived at the wall
took another breath at the wall
took another sneaky breath on the first half-stroke after I pushed off the wall

All this in a 20m pool! Hahahahahaha! So, next time, I will stop the cheating and try some flip turns in there. And I'll be back to the 25m pool next week....

My last big race of the year is one month away!!! I'm still eating Paleo-style and am needing to buy new pants. My old ones are literally falling off me.

Back to Sparwood

2011-09-12T11:07:00.000-06:00

The Pincher Creek pool is closed for its annual shutdown until the 25th -- boohoo!!

That means I'm back to the good old lima bean pool in Sparwood. The really shallow 20m lima bean pool -- good times! HAHAHA!

During my session this morning, a man entered my lane and I told him the rules -- lol. I know I was practically shouting at the poor guy becasue I had water in my ears -- it's the same when I wear ear plugs....I feel the need to SHOUT. Hahah!

I told him that he would stay on that side of the line, and I would stay on this side. Then I said, "But I make no promises that I will actually STAY on this side." Hee-hee!

I swam off with my pull buoy and paddles, and he stayed against the wall chatting with a mutual friend. When I returned to the wall, I paused for some reason and the guy said to me, "You swim like a warrior."

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I responded, "Well, I like to splash around a lot to make it look like I know what I'm doing." Hahaha! But seriously, that is the most awesome comment EVER. It is so awesome, I am making it my new swim logo: Swim like a warrior.

The next time I'm in the city, I might even get myself a tee-shirt made up with it. LOL!!

I was scrolling through Netflix yseterday and saw that Xena was now available...(heh-heh-heh!) I've not seen any of those episodes so I think I might take a peek this evening. Now that I have WARRIOR on my mind.

Yes! I am good...and I am fast! I am a warrior in the water! YES!

Ironman Canada 2011 Race Report

2011-09-03T07:21:00.000-06:00

Well, that was my eighth Ironman, and I have to tell you, when you have done this many, your perspective definitely changes. I am a hell of a lot fitter than I was when I first started on this IM journey, for example. I remember after my first Ironman, I could barely move any muscle for a week without experiencing pain.

I remember standing in line the next day (that was when you still had to do that for Ironman Canada) and watching other athletes move around like they hadn't even raced! I wondered how in the world was that possible when I was hurting everywhere?!?!

This year, the day after the race, my muscles were sore for sure, but the recovery is like lightening speed compared to my first race in 2005. By Wednesday, I was able to run up and down stairs and I was swimming yesterday. I still marvel at the difference. Hahaha!

Onto the race itself...

In short, this race was a massive disappointment for me. I had a time goal of 10:48 and at around mile 6 of the run, my stomach wanted to upchuck. Walking hurt, running REALLY hurt. I would run, but then the vomit feeling would come and I even brought up a little bit. As soon as this would happen, I would start walking. Part of me wonders if I had forced myself to keep running and actually puked, if I would have felt better...

I did meet many athletes who experienced the same thing I did on Sunday. Some puked and still felt terrible, so I'll never know.

What I do know, was that it was very hot on race day. So hot, that when I reached one aid station, a volunteer said, "Ok, I am going to put these cold sponges on your neck. You are going to feel a shock and inhale sharply." When he squeezed it on my neck I didn't feel anything. That scared me. The volunteer was so awesome, he went into superman mode and started squeezing water again and again until I cooled down.

Most of the marathon was spent standing, doubled over at aid station with my head hanging down. I am so grateful for the many volunteers and fellow athletes who offered help and words of encouragement/advice. Only in Ironman, will a fellow competitor stop running and walk beside you, hand on your back and ask if you are OK. To everyone who asked, I tried to respond without vomiting, "I'm Ok - you go have a good race. You look strong."

I wanted to quit so many effing times. The only relief I would feel was by doubling over and curling around my stomach. I wanted to curl up in the fetal position. There were actually only two things that kept me going:

The athletes still heading out to the run turn-around. They were hurting and still moving forward, so it would be terrible if I just gave up.
That damn finisher's medal, t-shirt and hat. I paid for them and I better get them.

At 9 miles to go, I was like, holy crap, I don't want to walk all frigging day. I would try jogging, have to stop, then walk. Repeat over and over again.

I had dropped my salt tabs at the beginning of the run, but had no issues with my usual dizzy, light-headed, tunnel vision experiences. It was stinking hot outside, and my mouth would become so dry instantly. I couldn't swallow -- couldn't feel my tongue. It was very odd. I knew I should keep drinking water, but every time I would, my cramps would start again. I contemplated drinking nothing else until the end of the race, but decided that maybe that wasn't too good an idea.

At about 7km left to go, I was able to *run* if I held my stomach with one hand. When that arm got tired, I'd hold it with the other one. I started making grunting noises and heaving noises once in a while and would bring up a little spittle/other stuff.

As I approached the final mile, my very good friend Susi popped out of nowhere and ran the rest with me (outside the run course, through the crowds.) She shouted out encouraging words -- OMG, I was feeling so terrible I couldn't even respond. Every time she would hear me about to puke, she would say, "Just breathe, Just breathe." Thank God for Susi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I crossed the finish line in 12:57:58 -- almost an hour slower than the last two years. For those of you who have done more than one IM and start to get time goals, you will totally understand the massive disappointment I felt. Couple that with the physical and mental depletion an IM race requires and you can just imagine how truly $hitty I felt.

But.....I got over it. :) Onwards and upwards. Had many good conversations, email chats with good friends which helped me put things in perspective.

I have another iron-distance race in Florida on Oct. 22. And I am VERY excited about it!! :) :)

And next year, is the year of the non-M-dot race. :) I am really excited about checking out other iron distance races!

In the mail yesterday, I received a card from The Great Floridian Race. A personalized card saying they hope my training is going well, that they hope the next two months of training go well, and they included a bumper sticker. Now that is pretty cool! Hee-hee! A little bit different to an IM race already! :)

Here are my times from IMC:

Swim: 1:09:28 -- fastest swim yet, pleased with this!
Bike: 6:09:55 -- fastest bike yet, I regret not changing back to my 12-27 cassette and leaving my 11-25 on, but it made me stronger! :) :)

Run (Not run, but standing around/walk): 5:33:23 -- nothing more to say here.

Yes I am happy to have finished, but for me, that is no longer good enough. I make no apology for it. I have big goals and I am on my way to achieving them. :) In my mind, the race is like a big piece of furniture with all these drawers in it. I took out the feelings of disappointment, frustration, and anger, felt them, and then put them away. I'm over it.

Now for the FUN stuff!!!!!

The day before I left for the race, I stood up from the couch and I couldn't stand on my foot. My ankle felt like it was broken! HOLY CRAP!!! After a tearful converstation with my coach, I headed out to Penticton the next day anyways and headed to the ART tent after I checked in. They were closed, but were soooo kind enough to take a look at my ankle anyway. It was a tight ligament! They sort of rubbed it around, pulled on my foot and presto! All done. How frigging weird is that? The foot rubbing did make me drool a little. There is something about people handling my body that makes me relax. LOL.

Susi. The most amazing friend in the world. My kindred spirit. How do I even list all the wonderful things about Susi? I will do my best....I stayed with Susi and her boyfriend, Marco for IM week. She bought me a book. :) She gave me all her positive energy at the end of the race. SHE UNDRESSED ME AFTER THE RACE. That's right -- when I couldn't move let alone bend over, Susi took off my pee-clothes, and my pee-shoes and put everything in The Pee Bag!!!!!!!!!! She said, "Lift your arms." And took off my top and put on a fresh one. I kept apologizng and wanting to cry that she was willing to touch the pee-clothes!!! Now that my friends, is a TRUE FRIEND. Susi --- I love you. I eagerly await the day when I can sherpa for you in any race/endeavour you choose.

SHE HANDLED THE PEE BAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My partner Mike and my parents who support me 100% in pursuing my goals -- Mike puts up with my Taper Bitch attitude and all the green stuff in the fridge (which by the way he is actually eating and REQUESTING more of!), and my parents who mow my lawn, baby-sit my cats, pick up my crab apples (oh sweet geezus it's THAT time of year again), and make Mike spaghetti since I've gone paleo. :)

My friends...I have met the best, kindest, most thoughtful, generous people through triathlon. You'll see the best of humanity during the marathon portion of a hot iron-distance race.

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event_video.asp?EVENTID=75725&BIB=2594 Check out the video clip -- LMAO!!!! I come from the left side of the screen, body check a guy in the middle and exit the right side of the screen from 1-5 seconds of the video. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I kept watching it again and again. I didn't bump into him on purpose!! I was just scooting through! Sorry, guy!! It was not intentional!!! :) :)

My next race, I am using all real food -- no more gels and carbo pro for me. Yams, dates and homemade energy gels made out of chia powder, agave syrup etc. I am convinced that eating well all year and avoiding sugary shit, only to dive into piles of sugar on race day CANNOT be good for my stomach. I am very excited about trying this new way of race nutrition! During races, my teeth start to ache and hurt after a certain number of gels. And, two days after IMC, I broke out in so many zits it was disgusting. All that sugar coming out. Not for me. No more. I always thought it was weird that as triathletes, we do our best to eat well, rest, train well, be healthy, but then on race day, consume as much sucrose, dextrose, whatever-ose, and high fructose corn-syrup as we can....

My most awesome friend, Susi! Right before my stomach problems.

Ironman Canada 2011 BABY!!

2011-08-26T19:24:00.000-06:00

Alrighty folks!! It's HERE!!!!!!!

Track me live on Sunday, August 28 at www.ironman.com. My numero is 2594.

Any and all positive vibes and virtual cheering WILL be felt and appreciated!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love to everyone --

Julie :)

Myths of Triathlon

2011-08-18T12:20:00.000-06:00

All kinds of information trickles down from pro triathletes to the masses of age groupers. This info can be found in the many online and hard-copy triathlon magazines, forums, and advertisements. I've noticed that over time, a lot of this information has assumed a homogeneous blah-ness. Where the same information is repeated over and over again using the same descriptive language. And while some of this information can be beneficial, some of it gets warped/dumbed down/altogether transformed into pithy one-liners that are far removed from the truth.

Repeat something often enough and pretty soon, everyone believes it to be true. The real crime, is that eventually, these false truisms are passed on to people new to the sport of triathlon.

Well, I am here to clear up all this nonsense today!! LUCKY YOU!!! Hahahahaha! Here is a list of my four favourite myths -- ones I've subscribed to, challenged, and finally realized WERE myths.

Myth #1: The Myth of "Race Weight"

This one is a doozie. I am going to keep things simple here -- Take two athletes: Athlete A and Athlete B.

Athlete A -- pro triathlete. Played sports as a kid, swam on university/college swim team, ran track at same university/school. Years and years of fitness right there alone...Then, he/she gets into triathlon. Training load and intensity increases -- he/she already knows how important nutrition is -- he/she is very fit, lean, and an aerobic machine.

Athlete B -- average age grouper. Played sports as a kid, learned how to swim as an adult (ie learned in their late 20s, 30s, 40s, etc), may/may not have ever run a marathon...you get the idea. Reads a book about race weight and thinks, "If I lose 10lbs, I will be so much faster."

You see the faulty logic here? To be fair, although certain books do not espouse this over-simplified theory, THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT IS OUT THERE. Couple that with the North American cultural infatuation with skinny anorexic-looking models (even if you do not buy Cosmo or magazines of that ilk, you can't get away from it -- this $hit is everywhere and if you think it doesn't colour your perceptions you are lying to yourself), and you have a hot mess.

This falls in line with "if you lose x number of pounds, you will run x number of minutes faster per mile." FALSE. You will run said number of minutes faster if you TRAIN and log lots of hours (and mileage) running. Simply losing weight is not a magic pill that will deliver unto you fleet feet and perfect, efficient running form. Time invested in training, racing, and resting and recovering -- these are the things that make one faster.

It is the YEARS and YEARS of training and racing that makes a body lean and efficient at burning fat. The training creates the body...Yes, diet is extremely important, but *being good* for 2 weeks - 6 months in an attempt to get down to some kind of magical race weight is a misappropriation of resources. Starving yourself before a big workout because you read somewhere that so-and-so professional athlete doesn't eat before he/she swims, bike, or runs, is not the way to go. Through years of training, your body changes. Your diet changes. You change.

For an elite athlete -- they can 'lean down" in two months or more or less or whatever the time frame is, because they have the YEARS of training behind them. Their bodies respond differently to leaning down than the average age grouper's. Yes, losing weight can be a good thing, but in my opinion, the focus for the average age grouper should be on getting stronger by swimming, biking, and running consistently. You train consistently, you get faster. Period. The more you train; the more aware you are of the things you put into your mouth. Focusing on losing weight is the wrong thing to do -- focusing on what you SHOULD eat and the things you CAN do in training is wayyyyyy more effectual!!

Myth #2: To run faster, you must run faster.

I am not a sports scientist or a physiotherapist or whatever -- if you want hard data and evidence, go elsewhere. I will tell you this -- I talked to my coach and asked her, "if I want to run a marathon at a 6:00min/mile pace, should I start forcing myself to run that pace on the treadmill for longer and longer periods of time?"

After all, that is what Myth #2 says...

(Any errors in the paraphrasing of our conversation are mine alone -- NOT my coach's, Here is the gist of it...)

If I were to go out right now and run 6:00min/mile, I would be in Zone 5. Right off the bat. Zone 5 means I am going all frigging out and will not physically be able to hold that pace for very long. While adding speed work in doses will help me get faster, it is running at the pace where I am pushing myself but not tipping over into chaos and madness that is the sweet spot. THAT pace will push my threshold and enable me to run faster over time. It is putting the training in -- putting the miles in OVER TIME -- this is where I will make significant gains in running and then will be able to run faster paces with a lower heart rate. As opposed to training to run at a faster pace for a shorter period of time at a faster heart rate.

The biggest nuisance about these myths, is that they conveniently exclude all the "buts." For example, "In order to run faster, you must run faster," BUT...that does not mean running fast all the time for all your runs...

Myth #3: You Must Cycle at a Certain Cadence

There is no magic pill. There is no magic RPM number. Every one of us is different and that is one of the many reasons why triathlon is the greatest sport on the planet. :) We can all celebrate our differences -- some people spin higher cadences and some push harder gears at a lower RPM. Whatever floats your boat, dude. As my bike guru, Gord is always telling me, "Don't over-think it." Hahahaha!! :) :)

Myth #4: You must "suffer," "destroy," "smash," "bonk," crash," in training and racing. Then, you are tough enough and worthy.

This is a big load of bunk. When I use negative words, I feel negative. That's how I roll. from my coach, I have learned to use pain as an indicator that I am performing a session with appropriate intensity. I look at pain as a good thing -- not as a bad thing. To me, pain (this is training-pain, NOT injury-pain to be clear!) is another rung on the ladder to growing stronger and faster. Like watering a plant, I am dousing myself with training to get stronger. Not dousing myself with pain to "hurt" or "destroy" myself.

Another thing I've learned from my coach, is that words and language are very powerful forces. What we say, often manifests itself in what we do....Choose all your words wisely.

That's all of my deep thoughts for the day...

;)

Please vote for my video!!

2011-08-15T06:46:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had a recovery day and used the time to shoot this little video for a contest about southwestern Alberta....

It's only 53 seconds long, so if you have some spare time, please follow the link and vote for my video!! Hee-hee!!

You can vote once a day until August 27 -- so keep the votes coming!!!

http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/123664/voteable_entries/27412757

Thanks everyone!! :) :)

From a near DNF to first in AG...what a day.

2011-07-31T21:15:00.001-06:00

What a lesson I learned on Saturday. Holy Doodly!

Saturday was the long course (1/2 IM distance) race in Bozeman, MT. I was attracted to this course for a number of reasons:

It is hilly. Very effing hilly. The bike portion and the run portion. Great training for IMC!
Did I mention that the run course was hilly. HILLY. As in, when I returned to the hotel room after driving the course the evening before the race, my eyes were as big as saucers and my Dad asked me, "What's wrong?"
It was going to HOT. As in plus 30 degrees Celsius. Again, perfect for IMC.

Here's how it all went down...

Swim: 35:14 , T1: 1:08
First woman out of the water! Can you believe it? I was in T1 and grabbing my bike about to head out when I heard the announcer say, "And here comes the first woman out of the swim..so and so." I was like, "Wait a second. What am I? Chopped liver?" LOL -- I headed out and found afterwards from my Dad that he went over and corrected the announcer. Hahaha! Gotta love parents eh?

Anyways, the swim was my fastest yet -- and it included three loops of the little lake. Getting out and running along the beach for each lap. I caught excellent drafts I think from the same two guys every single lap. Hahahahah!! Thanks gentlemen! AWESOME STUFF!

Bike: 3:17:59, T2: 1:20
Hilly beyond belief -- to give you an idea of how hilly this bike course was, my time at Stony Plain was 2:31...the guy who WON the entire race did the ride 5 minutes slower than that time. In 2:36. This course is no joke. They said it was "Montana Made" and they were not kidding.

Things were really going well -- I felt solid and strong until the last 10 miles of the bike. My belly started to hurt. Gas cramps. I had to sit up and try to burp. Nothing worked. I would pound my chest, trying to burp, but the pain kept increasing. I had a very difficult time staying in aero as the pain intensified.

Run....dum, dum, DUM, DUM!!! Must read to find out whole story!! MUAHAHAHAH!
As soon as I dismounted my bike something was horribly wrong with my insides. I couldn't run my bike into transition -- I could barely walk. The pain was brutal. Knifing. Splintering. I was grimacing and moaning involuntarily. It was terrible. It hurt so much to rack my bike and then bend over to put my running shoes on.

My Dad told me that I was the first female in -- that the other woman who had beat me in was on a relay, but looking at the results, I think there was another woman ahead of me but whoopty-do this didn't mean anything to me. In fact, I don't want to hear how many minutes someone is ahead of me or I'm ahead of -- I don't like it. It makes me take the focus of myself and race out of fear rather than love. You know what I mean? Perhaps one day, I will be a mature enough athlete to handle that kind of info, but right now I find it more beneficial to just tune it out and ignore it -- pretend the person is speaking a foreign language I cannot understand. (Yes I could have simply said, pretend it is Greek to me, but I suffer from major cliche overuse and am trying to better myself people!! LOL!)

You may be asking yourself, if you felt that bad, why on earth did you put your running shoes on?

Well, I knew it was extremely bad gas cramps -- I've never had them this bad IN MY LIFE, but I just knew that was what it was. I thought, hey, I'll walk and maybe it will sort itself out. Because in iron distance races, things have a funny way of sorting themselves out IF you give them a chance. I gamely tried some kind of jog but from the very first up and down motion, the pain knifed me throughout my right side and literally took my breath away. I couldn't smile, I couldn't talk, I was fricking MOANING. And walking really, really slowly. Eventually, other people finished the bike portion and started running by me.

Most asked if I was OK -- I couldn't even respond at first. Talking hurt my belly. Moving hurt my belly, simply BEING hurt my belly. Some athletes tried to offer advice -- breathe through your nose, exhale through your mouth, whatever. Nothing worked. I was 1/4 of the way around the lake and tried to squat -- I was trying anything. The pain ratcheted up even higher to 9.999999 out of 10. If it got to 10 I think I would have passed out.

I continued moving forward very, very slowly. I clutched at my side, stopping every once in a while. Finally, I made it to the first aid station....I was in so much pain by this point that I said to the guy manning the aid station (with his wife or girl friend) "I'm going to call it a day -- I am in so much pain, I can't even walk."

He never said a word, but grabbed a chair and put it in the shade underneath a tree, set me down on it, and put a cold towel around my neck. He then gave me cup after cup of Heed and water. I couldn't even sit properly on the chair, I hurt so much. My belly was bloated out like I was pregnant and I had to sit on the very edge of the chair and then arch my back to get some modicum of relief.

I kept pounding my chest and burped a little bit now and again, but the pain was relentless.

The worst part was I could see my Dad looking frantically for me....he saw me come into T2 and knew I had to run around the lake and then run right by him to exit the rest of the run course. And I hadn't run by him yet. And the lake was very, very, very small....

A really nice man named Terry came by and asked me if I had done anything new nutrition-wise. I thought it was the super-concentrated solution of Nuun I had, but I had taken a lot of water with it, so I was mystified. Little did I know that ALL of my gas and bloating in ALL my other races stemmed from Nuun. (More on this later...) I always suffered through the pain because I thought it was normal. But on Saturday, the pain would not be relieved. It would not be ignored.

I told the aid station volunteers that all I needed was a good BAROOF and I would be golden. They never said anything. LOL -- I'm not sure if they didn't know what I meant, or even worse, were so alarmed at the possibility of me BAROOFING all over the place that they didn't want to be near it. LOL. Either way, as anyone who knows me will attest, when I think I've said something funny, I'll repeat at least twice to get maximum hilarity out of it. Ummm...yup. You guessed it. The crickets chirped. Every single time.

Minutes passed, and more and more and more people ran by me as I sat on the chair at the aid station. I had a brief moment where my voice clogged with emotion and I almost cried. Intuitively, I told myself, "No, Julie. You've been down that road before." Meaning last year in North Carolina....It was weird, as soon as I said that to myself, the change in my brain was instant: I became emotionally detached from the race and was able to think objectively. If my situation meant I would have to DNF, then so be it. After drinking more and more water and Heed, I was able to stand up and yell to my Dad who came over hurriedly.

I had improved sufficiently to talk and to actually stand up...so I explained what was going on to him. My poor Dad was so worried -- he wanted me to call it a day. He said many of the same things that had rushed through my head in that brief moment when I was about to cry in self-pity: "too much time has passed in the race now...you don't need to hurt yourself...it's getting late, there is no point in pushing yourself.....you need to stop."

Now to be fair all of these thoughts and concerns were coming from two very different places. From me, it was springing from negativity, from fear, from self-doubt. From my Dad, it was from love and true concern. However, I KNOW my body. And as I stood there talking with my Dad, I started to burp a little more. Then I said, "I'm going to walk around this tree and see if I can move."

I could.

Then, I said, "I'm going to try jogging around this tree."

I couldn't.

The pain was still there, but the intensity had gone down a notch. Hmmmmmm. I started vocalizing this to my Dad. He was still worried about me. And I had an honest *out* for this race. If I was going to DNF, I had my Dad as proof, I had an excuse. But there was the faintest glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel...

Like I told my Dad, I was in too much pain to move, so instead of handing my chip in, I might as well sit at the aid station and see what happened. Maybe I would feel better and then go home. Maybe, just maybe I might feel better and be able to run!

More time passed. And more runners. I had tuned them out though and was focusing on myself only. I was aware of the racers, but there was no emotional response from me. Gradually I started to feel better...I did a little jog around the tree!! OH MY GAWD! There was pain, but it was.....dare I say it....dare I even think it...manageable?

I started to do little test jogs up and down the path. I told my Dad, "I'm going to jog to the porta potties and see how I feel." As I ran to the porta-potties, a race official yelled, "You're going the wrong way!" I replied, "I might be turning in my chip! I'm going to use the washroom and see how I feel."

And no. No BAROOF happened. In fact nothing of significance happened in the loo. I jogged back to my Dad and then commented -- my legs feel fresh. I think I might run! He looked doubtful but held his tongue.

I started jogging back and forth along the path again. I said to my Dad, "You know, I can use this as an awesome training day for Ironman Canada. I could just do the run as a training run and see how it goes. I'll go to the next aid station and see."

Again the doubtful look, but he relented and said, "You don't want to get stuck way out there and start suffering." I said, "I know, I know, I'll be smart."

I started jogging back and forth again. The aid station guy said, "If you decide to go on, let me know ok?" And I said, "Ok!" I looked at my watch, and it said 11:55am. So, doing the math, the race started 5 minutes late (at 7:05am) due to the dunderheads who wouldn't stop *warming up.* That makes it 11:00:41 when I got through T2. So....54:19 passed as I sat around and tried standing, then jogging back and forth. I thought to myself, "Well it is only noon! I could run for 2 hours and have a good training day and be done by 2:00pm. The course doesn't close until 5:30pm"

I jogged back down the path and as I came back towards my Dad and the aid station guy, I impulsively said, "I'm going!" and kept on trucking! I didn't give anyone a chance to say anything. LOL! The other volunteer directing us runners started cheering for me like crazy and that was so nice and motivating!

The first 2 miles felt terrible. I started cramping in my OTHER side, but it was nowhere near the level of pain it had been before. I kept on truckin'. I could see runners ahead of me. Little specks of colour in the shimmering sun and heat waves. I thought to myself, "Maybe I can catch one?"

As I had completely re-aligned my goals from racing to win the race, to running a training run, I decided to walk every single aid station and get a lot of fluids into me. After all, for a quality training session, proper hydration is important! And, I wanted to ensure that those cramps would not return.

Right after the first aid station, the hills started. The heat was relentless, but oddly enough for the first time in my life, the heat wasn't a factor for me. There was a woman running ahead of me and I started to close the gap. I was about to pass her, when I had to pee. So I suddenly went off in some bushes -- I know I startled the lady as I was right behind her and then I disappeared. LOL.

Did my business and she had pulled away. Big surprise. I started to feel negative again and came very close to quitting right then and there. But for one question I asked myself: Would you quit if this was a training day? And the answer was no. I felt crappy, but not that crappy. So, I made the decision to move forward and that was that. No more debate or questioning. Time to move forward and get in a good training day.

After that, I was on fire. I felt incredible. I still had a bit of cramping but I was feeling strong and steady. The heat was beating down hard, but it was OK -- it wasn't bothering me at all! I started to pass a couple of people -- they were walking up the hills. I was running the hills! Me! I was RUNNING hills! :) :)

There were a couple of hills that I walked portions of, but to my surprise, when I started running again, my legs were like, "FINALLY! YAY! We can run again!!" This was a brand new feeling for me.

I walked every aid station, had to go hike down another ditch to pee, and then started passing more people. And more people. This was amazing! The last few miles of the run were the miles where I finally started feeling the heat. At the next aid station, I put ice in my hat, and whoo baby did that ever feel good. In fact, I felt so great, I started thinking about why I felt so awesome...then I sort of became aware that ice was on my head. LOL -- RACE BRAIN!!! I'm all there, but not really! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!

I passed more people and reached the 2nd last aid station. Saw a guy way ahead of me and he was hurting -- you could tell he was in major pain mode. I kept ticking things over and grew closer and closer. Then I passed him too!! Next was the final turn into the recreation area and another loop around the like. I saw my Dad and smiled and I could tell he was totally frigging gob-smacked to see me running strong. LMAO!!!!

I churned my little old behind around that lake and finished in an astonishing 6:47:41. (LMAO!!!!) The girl who won first female overall was 5:47:19. Could I have won overall had I not suffered? Maybe. Muahahahahah -- it is fuel for my fire. And in this case, this comparison to another person motivates me. :D

You read this far... here was my run time (LOL) : 2:51:58

After hugging my Dad, I went back and thanked the volunteers at the aid station who put up with me...and then I found the dude Terry who had offered me advice. Thanked him too.

The biggest surprise came when I returned later that afternoon for the awards. They had a raffle draw and I had a ticket, so I thought, what the heck? I was stunned when I saw I had actually won my age group!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And just in case you did not register how truly surprised I was.......

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They called me up on the podium and I needed help to get up on the white plastic thingy. Hee-hee!! I got a mug!! YAHOOOO!!!!! Hahahahahah!!

Lessons learned:

Half IM and IM distance races are strange creatures -- when things are bleak you can keep going on and things might turn around....NEVER, EVER, EVER GIVE UP.
Emotions have NO ROLE to play during a race. They cloud my judgement -- I find it best to race objectively and leave the tears and overwhelming feelings for the finish line.
I am very pleased that I was able to separate my emotions from my decision-making skills. This is a huge triumph for me! :) :)

One last note...After the awards, I spotted the aid station volunteer who was so kind to me, and went over and told him that I won my AG. That it was because of him....when I said I was quitting, he never said a word. He just sat me down and brought me water. That was the best thing he could have done. And I told him so. :)

And the brutal bloating and cramping? Turns out Nuun has an artificial sweetener called sorbitol in it. (Thanks to my uber-coach Sara for helping me figure this out!) I have an intolerance to soribtol. Who knew? Garbage guts actually has something that she can't eat/ingest. Bye Nuun!

Thanks for reading this far, if you did, I will make you a coffee if you ever come and visit me. Hee-hee! :)

Race hard, pull apart those demons, and shake hands with the devil in your head. ;)

Big thank you as always to my amazing coach Sara who called me repeatedly, and emailed me repeatedly all the while in preparation for her own 1/2 IM race in Calgary today. I blush that I was such a diva -- I had no IDEA she was racing, otherwise I never would have bugged her! EEP!! And in truly stunning fashion.. she came in 2nd OVERALL FEMALE in Calgary today. Missed first by 6 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My God, my coach is such a stud. :) :) :) :)

THANKS TO MY AWESOME DAD!!! Thanks for putting up with me!! :) :) :)

My Ironman Athlete

2011-07-13T16:32:00.000-06:00

Stuart destroying the hills!!

My best friend's husband completed his very first Ironman this year in Coeur D'Alene!!! His time?

12:00:16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gutting it out on the run...his first marathon to boot!

That's right! He did amazing and I am so very proud of him!!! Here are his splits:

Swim: 1:04:04
Bike: 6:10:42
Run: 4:36:30

What makes Stuart's story even more impressive is that he had never done a triathlon before. That's right. You read correctly. Ironman Coeur D'Alene was his VERY FIRST TRIATHLON. He trained about 7-9 hours a week all the while maintaining a 50-60 hour work week. Plus on call work. Did I mention that Stuart is a doctor?

This was the first time I acted in an advisory capacity to help someone not only finish but excel at his very first iron distance race. Stuart did all the work and then some. He researched things on the internet, experimented with nutrition, and leaned down. Once in a while he would fire off an email to me and I would respond ASAP. I know what it's like going through your first IM -- all the questions, the concerns, and the excitement/stress/anxiety. This is why I am so proud of you Stuart! You not only FINISHED --- YOU FRIGGING ROCKED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations Stuart!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

Great White North 1/2 Iron Race Report

2011-07-05T09:43:00.000-06:00

I WENT SUB-5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4:58:54 read the clock and I am pretty sure I ended up 12th female overall...99% sure anyways...but if I am in error, just know that it is an honest mistake! :)

I DO know that I came in 9th in my age group. But my big goal was to get under 5 hours. I knew I had a shot at it if I really blitzed the bike. I thought that if I just went as hard on the bike as I could, I should be able to do a 2 hour, 1/2 marathon no problem, even if I suffered. Of course, I want to go 4:30 for these races and then even less, so my coach is helping me to reach my goals step by step.

Do you know that Sara Gross is the best coach ever? It's true.

Hi! I gave birth 6 months ago and I run 1:22 for
13.1 miles in a half Ironman.

Okay here are the deets...

Pre Race Deets or The Case of the Leech
The day before the race I swam in the lake and then took off my wetsuit and rinsed it in the shallows. When I emerged I saw a piece of dirt on my calf that wouldn't dislodge when I swiped at it. I KNEW THEN. LEECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I had been alone with Mike or another family member I would have had the luxury of having a full-on freak out. When I was in Australia last year, there was a huge bug crawling on my bed and I ran screaming to the nearest man...my coach's hubby. LOL. I have no shame. I will run to a guy every time. Hahahahahaah!

Except this time.

This time, there were a bunch of other athletes milling around and I had to be the calm, cool one all by myself. My Mom was there and she said, "Gee, that looks like a leech." I gave her a grimace, but apparently my look didn't convey that I knew it was a leech -- I fooled my Momma into thinking I was so cool and calm. I picked at the thing on leg and I couldn't gain purchase.

I couldn't even feel it -- and I watched it morph and move all around my calf trying to get away from my prying fingers. It slithered into a skinny line and then curled into a ball. OMG, it was so gross, but I was on a mission. If I was going to rip a chunk of my own flesh to get rid of this thing I was going to do it! Hahaha!

Fortunately, I got it on my finger....and then it wouldn't come off!! AAARRGGHH!!!! It was at this moment that I lost it. I think I squealed and then started to frantically wipe my finger on the grass. It came off. SHUDDER.

Funny thing though, this little kid came running up to me once he figured out I had a leech on me and he wanted to see it! LOL!!!

Hey Julie, I really like your calf.

Morning of Race
Met up with fellow MRT athlete and very dear friend, Tessa. Who proceeded to cuss me out for a full 15 minutes about why I always hide away in my motel room and take off right after races instead of hanging out and attending the award dinners. LOL!! Seriously, I have never heard her swear so much in her life. Hahahahaha!!

You see, I have an inner hermit. I LOVE being by myself. I also love spending time with friends -- when I am forced (haha!) to go out, I really enjoy myself. But for some reason, given a choice (or the chance) I'll opt to veg by myself rather than hang out with people. Tessa made a good case, so I promised her I would hang with her at the awards dinner after the race. And she knew she had me there, because once I promise something, I HAVE to do it. :)

As all of us athletes stood in line waiting to cross the mats to get onto the beach I regaled everyone with my leech story and a number of what ifs...as in

What if, you spit in your goggle and then go to rinse it out, but the leech gets in there and then it gets in your eye?
Or, what if, you turn to breathe, but at that same moment someone splashes the leech into your mouth?
Or what if, the leech sticks on your face somewhere and you don't feel it and you don't even know it's there....And the race goes on and on and you get onto the run portion and notice that people keep looking at you. And then you begin to notice something on your face out of the corner of your eye...

By now, I was really warming up to all the different scenarios that could play out and every time my friend Richelle shuddered, it was like extra motivation for me to continue. And I did... LOL.

The Swim -- 35:46 (1:48/100m!!!!!!!!)
I remember from this race in a previous year that the buoy turns can get really congested. And if there is one thing I HATE, it is being forced to stop swimming from the sheer mass of upright bodies at the buoy turns. This year I aimed wide and had a good swim.

I caught a couple of good drafts but unfortunately had too much clean water for big parts of the swim. Still, I drafted when I could! :)

The thing with me and swimming is that I might not be very speedy (yet), but I can keep going and going and going. So, the swim felt effortless to me. (This is also probably due to my nice taper -- thank you Coach Sara!) Even when I would do some surges, I felt really great and not exhausted like I have in the past. LOL.

Out of the swim and the wetsuit strippers had a hard time getting my wetsuit over my hips and bum. Some women fixate on their weight, their boobs, their teeth...my fixation is my bum. I don't know why, but it's a funny thing. I find bums odd -- like why would someone think a bum looks good? Bums are bums! I remember I watched this show a long time ago, and it showed a number of close-up body photographs. You had to guess which part of the body the pic was from. It was so weird how boob cleavage resemebled butt cleavage! Seriously!!

Anyway, my bum plays an important role later on....LOL!!

The Bike -- 2:31:38 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
I don't know what the transition times are....because I am pretty confident that I actually broke 2:30 for the bike according to my watch anyways. Heh-heh! In fact, during the last kms of the bike I looked at my watch and thought, "If I really push as much as I can, I can break 2:30!"

I never look at my watch to gauge speed/distance like that either....this was a first. I only wear the watch to help guide nutritional choices. However, this time, I used it to push myself even harder. The thing is, I had the fitness to do that on the bike. I'm not there on the run yet.... Hahahaha!! The run is usually about survival for me, but the bike this time was so neato.

In fact, I was cursing myself that I hadn't asked my coach about proper gearing choices. I was spinning out in my hardest gear for too much of the race. I needed harder gears! But who knew I was actually getting stronger? LOL!!! This will be rectified shortly -- I've talked with my uber coach and Gord (my bike guru) and I am moving on to another cassette now. YAY! I am finally climbing the ladder. Hahahahahaha!!

The bike went by so fast it was awesome. I kept saying to myself, "Push, push, PUSH!" I couldn't believe it when I saw the sign for 45km.I was thinking, "Already? Wow, this is going by fast!"

I was grunting and grimacing away, but I was not consciously doing so...I would sort of come out of the bubble and then realize I was grunting and grimacing, but I was so divorced from what my face was doing...I just went back into the bubble and kept saying to myself, "PUSH, PUSH, PUSH!!!!"

The Run -- 1:51: 31 (Hey, I am excited to start working on knocking the time off that kind of run!! Hee-hee!!)
Felt terrible and wobbly and out of breath for the first 4 or 5 km. I always feel like that at the beginning, so I knew it would pass. There was the teeniest of inclines throughout the course and my quads just about went on a cramping/Charley-horse extravaganza, so I made sure to take it even more easy on those parts.

Ran out of salt pills -- was not prepared to go through as many as I did, so that was a good lesson. Around 15km or so, I got this familiar light-headed, woozy feeling that I get in hot IM races. Wish I had brought more salt pills!

Ahh well, I kept nipping at my gels and took water at every aid station and just hung in there.

There was a guy that was running a similar pace to me out there -- we kept passing each other...At one point, he was behind me on a windy section and I heard him tell a friend, "I'm just drafting!" LOL! I turned around and asked him, "Are you saying I have a fat ass?" Hahaha!

As he passed me he said, "I'm married with 4 kids, but I gotta say..." Then there was some kind of bum compliment. LMAO!!!!!!!!! I was like, "Hell ya! I'll take any kind of compliment about my bum ANYWHERE, ANYTIME." LOL!!!

You know how fun it is at these long distance endurance races, when your fellow athletes start acting silly? Hahahahahaha!!

Well, the final 4km, then 3km were pretty brutal. The quad cramps were on the very cusp of taking over and rendering me one big spasm (Not one big spazz -- I'm already a spazz), and I just kept putting one foot in front of the other. Just get to the finish and then I can lay in bed all day! Hahahah!

Right before the finish line this girl in my AG blew by me and beat me by 5 seconds. LOL. I was going at TOP SPEED though. Hahahahah -- If you can call what I was doing top speed, but seriously I was giving it everything I had -- hahahah -- I didn't have that extra oomph that I have on the bike, but I am excited to train more and then get it! :) :)

The Aftermath
I was so excited that I broke 5 hours I went around to all the girls who had passed me and I was shaking their hands and telling them congratulations and that they looked so awesome out there. I know I am a dork but I couldn't help myself! Hahahah!

I could barely walk I was so stiff and sore. I had to ask a volunteer to bend over and pick up my helmet and my bike shoes. There was no way I could bend over. Then it took me like 30 minutes to walk with my bike the 50m out of transition -- LOL. Well not really, but I was going so slow. Then I heard this volunteer behind me say, "You've got 2 penalty laps to do!"

I turned around and I almost passed out.

And then he broke up laughing!!!!!!

BRUTAL!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!! I said, "That's cruel and unusual punishment!!!" LOL!!!

I was so excited, I went back to our sleaze-bag motel (oh yeah, I KNOW how to pick them!) and actually TURNED ON my cell phone and called my coach. Hahahahah -- I think she was more surprised that I actually used my cell phone than anything else though. LOL!!

Good times!!!

Congrats to my fellow MRT athletes and friends out there who had phenomenal races out there on Sunday:

Tessa -- YOU ROCKED IT!!!!! And as usual looked HAWT doing so! :)
Kendall -- I saw you, but you didn't see me! Hee-hee!! Congrats on your smokin' time! WOW!
Patty -- You looked really solid on the run when I saw you!
Amber -- You are such a stud there is nothing I can say but you are excellent. How you pulled off a PB after puking from the flu for 12 hours beforehand is beyond me!
Lisa -- Two flats and you STILL got a running PB!!! YAY!!!! Congrats!!!
Richelle -- Thanks for listening to my leech stories and congratulations on a great race -- can't believe you managed to crank that race out considering what you've recently gone through!

Wasa Race Report

2011-06-23T09:20:00.000-06:00

I raced the Wasa Olympic triathlon last weekend...my BIG goal was to finally break 50 minutes for a 10km in a tri. And I did!! 49:57 baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!! Hey, every second counts.

My total time was 2:29:08 -- a 10 minute improvement despite the fact that the bike course was totally changed this year from the nice flat and fast route to a hilly one. (Going towards Fort Steele instead of heading towards Invermere. The last time I did this race I did it in 2:24, but that doesn't count as the swim course was short, so I compared the results to the race before that one.) Plus, I ended up 10th female overall. Including the real fast girls. :) :) (They also remove the top 5 women from the AG standings, so I ended up being 2nd in my age group...I'm more pleased with my 10th OA though!)

Swim -- 28:12 (not too bad! Hee-hee!!)
The Wasa swim is the best and kindest swim in triathlon. They sent all the Oly women off together and there was no clawing/grabbing/frustration. It was so nice! This was also the first time in a race I did 2 dolphin dives at the beginning -- Hee-hee!! :) :)

Bike -- 1:11:01 (again, not too bad, the course is hillier, so I'll take it)
Not too much to say here -- a great ride.

Run -- 49:57
Great run for me! The biggest triumphs for me were the following:
Not succumbing to the negative thoughts and fear of seeing faster girls catch up to me. The last time I raced here, there was a woman on an out and back who gave me "the look" and I sort of thought to myself, "Wow, she looks so determined, if she catches me, she deserves it." Well, guess what she did. This year, I was READY.

There was another girl who was chugging along but I said to myself, "Hang on Julie! You deserve this!" I did it. :) I did get passed by some women, but not by that one. I held on until the end. :)

You have got to hand it to the race organizers -- they do the best post race food -- tons of watermelon, oranges, bananas, canteloupe and grapes. I didn't partake of the macaroni salad and I tried the chili but it was gross (sorry, but it was!), but the fruit was a godsend. After that I craved nothing but KETHCUP CHIPS and SNOWPEAS. The craving overtook all my senses. Hahahhaha -- so funny how your body knows EXACTLY what it needs -- LOL. When I finally dug into some ketchup chips, I had major ketchup-chip-quiver-tail going on. ;)

Onto other news...

A few months ago, I began making more changes to my daily nutrition needs. I did a bit of poking around the internet reading other people's blogs, and decided to try some new things...

First I eliminated dairy. This was sort of easy. Although I ate LOTS of cottage cheese and yogourt, I always felt bloated and *not right*. Next was eliminating grains and pasta and bread. This I had to do with an all or nothing approach. It is far too easy to TRY and incorporate more vegetables into my diet and then fill in the gaps with bread or pasta. By eliminating all breads and pasta, I had no choice but to add more vegetables. When the pasta went, the yams, squash, carrots and bananas moved in. You can't fool around with replacing carbs when training for multiple Ironman races.

My body has responded very well to this type of nutrition. I went down 2 swimsuit sizes! That is right...TWO SWIMSUIT SIZES!! I 've always been a 36/10, then I moved down to a 34/8. The day that my suit became baggy before it was worn out, I was shocked....could it be that I needed to go down another size? I was hesitant when I asked to try on a 32/6...the suit looked so tiny. How was my bum going to fit in there?

But it fit! I haven't had to *watch* what I eat or how much to eat. I eat all the veg, fruit, meat, eggs I want. If I am hungry I eat. Basically this means I graze all day long. Plus, I have the energy to get all my sessions in.

For bike nutrition whilst training, I use water, baked yam slices, and bananas. That's what I've used all winter and spring. Now that the temperatures are finally warming up I'll start throwing some Nuun into the mix, but keeping it simple works for me. :)

The local outdoor pool has opened and it is bliss swimming in the fresh air. :)

And one more thing....

I am completely addicted to HBO's new series Game of Thrones. I cannot wait until next season -- it is the best series I have ever seen. The story-telling is totally unconventional -- time and time again my jaw will drop open at the events unfolding. Usually such physical reactions are restricted to really, really good books...I LOVE how the series challenges assumptions I had about story-telling itself. Assumptions I didn't even know I had!

Plus, there is Drogo. Oh. My. God. I have only ever had one other movie-star crush before this and it was Horatio Hornblower from an A&E series years ago. LOL. Poor Mike, has had to deal with me giggling and rewinding scenes to watch Drogo over and over again. Hahahahahahaha!!!
Every time there is a scene with him in it, I could feel Mike's eyes on me...waiting for a reaction. Of course, that just makes me even more self-aware. LMAO.

Elkford Sprint Race Report

2011-06-07T06:58:00.001-06:00

I was so excited to FINALLY race!!! After last year's DNS in North Carolina, and months of healing my broken foot, I was so ready to let loose! :)

Coach Sara gave me a bit of rest but said she would be training me through the race...I've been logging some pretty crazy hours training, and the week before the race I felt so bagged. SO BAGGED. I was wondering how on earth I would recover and do the race! Hahahaha - and it is only a sprint!

On Wednesday before the race, I had a 5 hour bike ride that I ended up only doing 2:12 of....I got caught out in the middle of the back roads between the Pass and Pincher Creek in the rain storm to end all rain storms. HOLY COW. It was like a monsoon swept through -- all the cars had their lights on and it was effing cold. SO COLD. And windy. By the time I arrived at the Shell gas station in Pincher Creek, I was frozen solid. I had a hard time speaking to the guy behind the counter when I tried to ask to use the phone. He asked, "Are you all right?" And I replied, "N-n-n-n-n-no, can I use your phone? I have money!" and I held up a zip lock bag with assorted dollar bills in it (dripping wet). The guy just waved my baggy away and gave me the phone -- LOL!!

I called my Momma to come rescue me (one of the major perks of living in the same community as your parents!) Then, I stood there, dripping wet and made a big puddle standing in the gas station waiting for my Mom to arrive. A couple of men in work trucks offered to give me a ride home, but they thought I lived in Pincher...They were visibly surprised when I told them I lived in the Pass. HAHAHAHAHAH!! It is so easy to impress people with biking mileage around these parts.

I had big plans to set my bike up on the trainer once I got home to finish off the session....However, after some food, a hot bath, and a thorough bike cleaning, my energy levels fell like a rock and I went to bed instead.

Ok...enough preamble. Here are the race deets!!!

First woman overall and 4th over all. :) :) :) I was tickled to analyze the results and learn that I had the 2nd fastest bike split overall!!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

http://elkfordtri.ca/uploads/2011results/2011oa_750.PDF

Here are my splits:
750m swim: 13:36 (YAY!!! I AM getting faster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
20km bike: 36:27 (Windy, hilly course)
5km run: 22:53 (Work in progress!!)
Total: 1:12:57

For the first time, I was in the last heat for the faster swimmers. LMAO!!!! And get this, I was leading my lane!! Hahahahahahahahaha!! I warned everyone in my lane before the race, "I hope my swim time guess-timate matches my ability!" Once we got rolling, or shall I say, swimming, the guy right behind me passed me, but then piddled out, and I re-passed him -- and was first out of our lane. :)

The bike portion was so awesome. I was so present, so fully in the moment, it felt like the ride lasted 2 minutes. Seriously. It was like I was completely immersed in every single moment. Very weird, but very cool. :) :)

The run was good too -- my breathing was hard and loud for the first half, but I chugged, chugged along. Man, there was this one girl who was such a good runner -- she did the 5km in 18 min and change, she looked great!!!

Small race, AMAZING volunteers and a beautiful day all in all. I don't want to slag my competitors BUT...

To the only person in the race that wore his wetsuit: REALLY?

I won a $25 gift card to Canadian Tire and a stainless steel water bottle. :)

Most importantly....I am fit and racing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Run Skills

2011-05-27T08:46:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to have my running form assessed by my friend and newly minted coach Tina Dubois. (An embarrassing aside: I had to ask her what her last name was...Hahahah! I never paid attention to what it was, and when I was telling someone at the Cochrane pool about my "friend," I was asked, "What's her name?" as Cochrane is a small town. My response? "Ummm, I actually don't know her last name, but I haven't needed to!" Eeeeeeep. Heh-heh-heh!)

Tina's assessment was an AWESOME experience. If any of you have ever had your swim stroke videoed -- you know what I am talking about. What you think you are doing is not at all what you are actually doing. Hahahahahah -- or let me rephrase that...what I thought I was doing, I wasn't.

The session began with Tina filming me running on the treadmill. Next, we sat down and reviewed the video clip, frame by frame. After looking at the video, Tina made an educated guess about running injuries I may have had, and pain I might frequently experience. The accuracy of her observations piqued my interest immediately. You know how those fortune tellers are so good at reading people? Hee-hee! It was like that! I was thinking, "How can you tell? Does my running form really indicate that? I don't see anything so funky on the video!"

She explained the nuts and bolts of running -- what a lot of people end up doing compared to what they are trying to accomplish. A number of pictures punctuated our discussion -- really illustrating her points.

For anyone who knows me, I have a hard time sitting still and not talking, and it took all my willpower not to interrupt....Well, Ok, I did interrupt and ask a few questions. Hahahaha! I was that kid in class who would squirm in her seat and raise her hand in the air to answer questions.

For instance, I wanted to make Tina understand that the pace I had been running on the treadmill while she videoed me was a "jog" and that I run faster than that, and that it is an awkward sort of warm up pace. She smiled and said, "We are getting to that..."

And sure enough we did. She showed me frame by frame how long my foot would be on the ground during the running (or my excuse of a jogging) cycle. Then she explained how having a higher cadence reduces that length of time, and load on the feet...This was where I interrupted and said, "Yeah, but...I was warming up, my legs move faster when I am RUNNING."

What followed next truly blew my mind! As someone who does not have natural running skills/body awareness, her next demonstration really was an epiphany to me!

She hopped on the treadmill herself and turned on her electronic metronome-thingy. She started running at 4.0 mph. She was ticking over right in time with the digital beep-beep-beep of the metronome. Then she increased the speed to 5.0, then 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, then 9.0. Her cadence remained the same at all speeds!!! WOWZA!!! This was a huge lesson for me!

Then came the fun part -- she had me do a number of exercises and drills both on and off the treadmill. The metronome was turned on, and my shoes came off. It was AWESOME. It was like the very first time I felt the "catch" is swimming (see, this memory is still very vivid as it happened so recently -- LOL.) I FELT good running -- It felt very different and easier. More effortless -- I wasn't struggling. I NEVER realized that it was even possible to run at a high cadence at all speeds.

Tina shouted out various coaching cues as I ran on the treadmill. Again and again she would catch me reverting back to old habits and would repeat the cues. The effect would be instant. I am good at doing what I am told. (hee-hee -- Mike doesn't think so -- LOL)

The culmination of the session was taking another video of me running -- a before and after if you will. It was so COOL!!! She filmed me, then we sat down and looked at it frame by frame again. My cadence had increased - my foot wasn't lingering on the ground so much! I have proof! Hahahahaah!!!

What I find so exciting about this new knowledge is that it is unlike anything I have heard of before -- the coaching cues caused me to focus on different things. Instead of focusing on how many times my feet are hitting the ground for instance...she gave me a new set of cues (much more effective for me personally) that worked straight away. Most importantly though, is that I FEEL the difference.

Awesome, awesome, awesome stuff.

And an awesome coach too -- Tina is very observant and clued in to the varying needs of an individual. She emailed me all the exercises and coaching cues after our session -- and the videos as well.

If you are interested in having a revelation about your running style, eliminating running injuries, and a greater body awareness, here is her site:

http://www.livingbarefoot.info/coaching/

Starbucks

2011-05-11T11:34:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I feel as though I am a fraud.

I mean, I am a cultured person…I’ve been to plays, to an opera even! I have lived in major urban centres and I have travelled extensively. It’s just that for some reason, a few things have seemed to slip by me…things that the vast majority of people seem to somehow *know.*

Like what to order at Starbucks.

My God, I am 36 years old and I still have NO idea what all those terms mean up on the chalkboard. One shot, double shot, Americano, espresso, etc. What does it all mean? My background in coffee consists of drinking black coffee from Tim Horton’s, and reading the occasional novelty coffee story in those news ads before I sign into my yahoo email account.

You know those stories? They are always accompanied by a picture of a big bowl of coffee with a heart drawn through the frothy milk, or a cute furry animal whose poop is the most expensive coffee bean in the world.

I’ve heard that espresso actually has less caffeine than a regular cuppa Joe (I forget exactly how and why, but I remember I watched an interview about it), and I have a number of friends and family members who have quite firm opinions on what makes a good cup of coffee:

My Dad (a.k.a. “Garbage Guts”) – drinks coffee from Tim Horton’s and gas stations. On our 5000km road trip across the US last year, we tried all kinds of gas station coffee. And it has to be pretty raunchy for my Dad to pass it up. Think: Sludgy, black, and toxic.

My Victoria Friends: Starbucks all the way. They know precisely what they want in a coffee. They take into account the time of day, what they’ve eaten/drank beforehand, and what they presently feel like. They order something different every time, and I am always impressed. I always order, “What he’s/she’s having,” in an attempt to broaden my coffee horizons and hopefully enrich my lacklustre coffee knowledge bank. They also buy specialty beans and grind them every morning.

My Calgary Friends: Very similar to my Victoria friends, with the exception that Tim Horton’s is an acceptable substitute. They know how to order at Starbucks, but will not hesitate to order a half hot-chocolate/half coffee from Tim Horton’s. (You see, by ordering your drink using that language, you pay less than if you asked for a Mocha Coffee or Coffee Mocha or Café Mocha or….well, you get my drift, right?)

My European Friends: Opinions range all over the map here. My friends from England do NOT like Starbucks – something about there not being a lot of actual coffee in a drink…or something like that. My German friends love Tim Horton’s, and like Calgarians, will order the half-hot chocolate/half-coffee, but will add whip cream on top of it all.

And then there is me: I buy the big red tub of Folgers from Wal-Mart. Or, when I am in the city, from Costco – you know they sell the even bigger red tubs of Folgers? And I brew it in my Tim Horton’s coffee maker. That thing ROCKS. As fast as you pour the water in, the coffee is made. Sweet coffee action. I drink it black.

Starbucks still intimidates me – the employees (do they have special names too, like barista or something?) are all brusque and business like. Friendly, but no-nonsense. Like the customers who stand in line behind me as I stammer out my order trying desperately to fit in. I always screw it up. You see, the harder I try, the more I concentrate on articulating that unique coffee language of “Skinny,” and “Grande,” or “Tall,” , the sooner I automatically default into an apologetic, “Can I have a small black coffee please?” And do that half-smile/grimace – making eye-contact with the barista (is that the right word?) as he/she nods empathetically to me with an understanding smile.

The strange thing about all this is that my quest for ordering a cup of coffee from Starbucks without feeling like a total idiot is far from over. Like a moth drawn inevitably to the flame, I continue to “go for a Starbucks,” with my friends. Always copying what they order, always asking what they like/don’t like about certain drinks. For I believe that one day, I will be able to stride confidently into a Starbucks and rattle off my order of a “Skinny-minnie-latte-no shot-one-shot-whatever,” and not only KNOW what I have ordered, but understand too.

CHEERS!!

;)

My bike nutrition...

2011-05-07T08:37:00.001-06:00

And I ate all those bananas except one -- for a 3:18 ride. My jersey pockets were gross -- covered in brown banana slime from me cramming the peels back in my pockets.

For those who don't know me....I really do eat that many bananas. :) :) :)

I LOVE BANANAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some videos for your viewing pleasure...

2011-04-29T10:21:00.000-06:00

In Cozumel, Mike thought he'd video me doing laps so Sara could see how hard I was training....

And here we are back at home in the perpetual winter...

What I've Been Up To....

2011-03-21T19:36:00.000-06:00

I have FINALLY felt what it means to "catch" the water. Yes, you read that correctly...I have to admit, all that talk about "feeling the water," etc is not bull$hit! You really can feel it when you get it right. Go figure! LOL. Oddly enough, I first *got* the catch whilst doing lots and lots of backstroke. (Yes, I like to do things backwards. Hahahahahahaha!)

I am running! And in a new jazzy pair of orthotics. :) :)

Made up new nicknames for my two kitty cats: Mandalay and Peanut are now also known as 100G and P-Dog. LMAO!! This delights me to no end. Even better -- when I called my Mom and told her the new nicknames and she responded, "But Peanut is a cat." HAHAHAHAHAHA!! Awesome!! (100G is because Mandalay weighed in at the vet's 100 grams more than last time. I still think I was soooo clever to think of this. Hahaha!)

I almost sliced the top of my thumb off when I chose not to use the safety device when cutting yam chips on the mandolin. (Why do I need to use the safety, how bad could it be....OW!! Holy CRAP.) Then, I went to emergency and learned that stitches were not an option, so I walked out of the hospital with a couple of bandaids wrapped around my thumb. Yes...I went to emergency to get a bandaid put on my thumb. I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE! (Insert extreme embarassment and red face here.)

I now wrap my thumb in saran wrap and pink duct tape so I can continue to swim...Yes, I was a sight to see at the pool this morning.

Found my new go-to daily web site: www.cuteoverload.com. ***Warning. Extreme cute pics and videos of puppies, kittens, deer, jumping lambs (YES, jumping and leaping LAMBS! SO FRIGGING CUTE! Hahahaha!), and all other manner of creatures large and small.**** Seriously, the world can use more light-hearted images and major cuteness.

I found this recipe on the internet and it is very, very good. I mean very effing good. You have got to try it:

6 TBSP Coconut oil (I added a bunch more because it didn't look like
enough and it worked out awesome.)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 TBSP Cocoa powder (I just eyeballed it)
1 TBSP maple syrup
2 TBSP shredded coconut
1/4 cup almonds chopped up fine (I threw them in a blender)

Scoop out a bunch of coconut oil and melt it in a pot. Whisk in vanilla, cocoa, maple syrup until completely dissolved. Whisk in remaining ingredients. Pour mixture into pan lined with parchment and tilt pan to let the runny mixture coat it. Place in freezer and wait 15 minutes. OMG ----- SO GOOD. Snap off desired size of piece and enter a blissful realm of delciousness. (Credit for this recipe: www.realfoodliving.com/recipes/coconut-bark-almond-joy)

I eat more than other people do on long bike rides. I was at a spin class a few weeks ago -- (3 hour and 40 minute ride) and I went through a number of bananas and Welch's gummies. There was a woman who competes on the national bike team who was spinning just behind me. After I don't know how many bananas, she asked me, "Your stomach can handle that many bananas?" Yes Ma'am, my stomach can handle all that and even more! Hahahahahaah!

I respond well to food! :) :) :)

The Red Finger

2011-01-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

I was finally inspired to make a new blog entry today...I'd written a friend an email, and LO! I was struck with inspiration.

This is my inspiration......or shall I say my confession?

I have a raging hunger that goes on in my belly all the time. Ever since I started this Ironman thing, my appetite has literally grown exponentially. When I first met my better half, he used to pick off my plate: according to him I "ate like a bird."

I honestly don't remember things that way. I've always enjoyed food, and I don't want to give the impression that before Ironman, I picked at my food. I ate with gusto. I still do. However, the quantities of food that I can eat now scares me sometimes.

I'll eat just about anything when the hunger starts. Like a garburetor. Throw it down the chute. I'm not picky. I don't care if there is a little mold on the bread. I'll pick it off.

Seriously.

The time at the Penticton Phat camp (2 years ago) where I ate green potatos (because I didn't want to throw them out) and got such bad gas on the ensuing bike ride, that when I thought I was alone (at a set of lights in Penticton) I let one rip....and saw to my horror, a woman sitting outside her place -- on the patio. Her head whipped around, and I made some lame joke. Oh my GAWD, my face was beet red -- thank goodness I had my sunglasses and helmet on...they made me feel protected. Eeeeeeeeep.

I digress...

I'd like to address one of my hunger's serious attacks. I call it, The Craving. The Craving will hit me out of the blue....well not right out of the blue. I mean, there is obviously a reason for The Craving (like a 3 hour hilly bike ride) or a big training week; however, for some reason, the clarity and insight with which I (like to think) I apply to other aspects of my life completely disappear when it comes to The Craving.

When The Craving hits, I go out of my mind. It's like a light switch is flipped inside of me and I go barreling through the kitchen cupboards, the freezer, the fridge...looking. Looking for something --- anything to satisfy The Craving.

Like most good little athletes, I make a point not to purchase junk food -- because I will eat it if it is in the house. This strategy is very good for nutritional purposes but not so good for The Craving. Because The Craving will always hit at the most inopportune time. Like when it is minus 40 frigging below and I really really want some ketchup chips but I don't want to go the store.

So I search the cupboards instead. Knowing there is nothing there, but looking nonetheless. Well, that is not entirely accurate. There is always something there, and I can get pretty creative (in a very gross way) when it comes to addressing The Craving.

Like yesterday...I opened all the cupboards, searching, searching. And then I found a half used can of Gatorade powder. Oh yeah baby. I took that tub and I licked my finger and I dunked it in there again and again. Licking the powder off my finger like a popsicle.

Oh man, I couldn't stop. It wasn't exactly GREAT. But it was GOOD. Mmmmm. Unfortunately, the red dye that was in the Gatorade powder dyed my entire forefinger bright red. As well as my tongue. But I can hide my tongue. I can't hide my finger.

My finger nail was dyed red too. And no amount scrubbing and washing could remove the redness. What the heck is in that powder anyways?!?!?!

For the rest of the day my finger reproached me. When I would type an email, the bright red finger stood out amongst my other white fingers. I didn't want to go out in public -- someone might see my finger and ask, "Why is your one finger so red?"

Or even worse, people might not say anything at all. I can just see it -- me standing in line at the grocery store, putting all my items on the conveyor belt trying to use my right forefinger as little as possible (I'm right-handed). Then, catching people looking at my finger of shame. Seeing the "WTF?" expression in their eyes. And then not saying anything to me. AAARRRGGHHHH!

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So you think you have it bad....

2010-12-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

This little animal is called the Naked Mole Rat and is from North Africa...

So if you are having a bad day and feeling sorry for yourself, remember: It could be worse, you could look like an old penis with buck teeth.

Stay Thirsty, My Friends...

2010-12-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

If he were a triathlete.....

* He does not need to sight during the swim, as the fish guide him.

* He did his first Iron-distance race on a mountain bike...and won.

* On trail runs, small woodland animals come out to watch him.

* Lifeguards clear a lane for his sole use every morning.

* In the off season, he climbs Mt. Everest.

* The carrots in his refrigerator peel themselves.

He is....

The Most Interesting Triathlete in the World....

Be My Swim Coach for the Day!

2010-12-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

....and you too can be bribed with coffee and baked goodies!! :) :) :)

Keith has been the first to take the challenge: at the spur of the moment yesterday, he drove the 2+ hours from Calgary and met me at the Pincher Creek pool for a private one on one lesson! Hee-hee!

He even brought his iPhone and took the above footage after all our work...(Santa also came early and brought me an underwater camera! Can't wait to start using that!!)

My swimming needs all the help it can get -- I cobbled together a stroke as an adult -- never took any learn-to-swim lessons, etc. (In hindsight, maybe I should have.) Thus, my "stroke" (using that term very loosely), is a combination of watching youtube videos, of absorbing advice from swim coaches, from lifeguards, from anyone who is faster than me.

The "catch" in swimming is something that I have been trying so hard to understand/feel. Like I was telling Keith yesterday, I HATE it when swimmers (aka people who were in swim club as kids) tell me to "feel" the water, that it "will feel so effortless" -- blah, blah, blah. That kind of talk is like someone going on about religion -- just TRUST in things, have FAITH, etc. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know all that stuff, but what in the hell is it supposed to FEEL like?!?!?!?!

Everything feels awkward to a new adult swimmer -- yes, even one that has been trying to swim for the past 6 years!

Thus, 2011 is the year of the swim stroke. Enough faffing around for me -- I am going to FEEL it baby. :)

Wanna be my coach for the day? I make good on my bribes!!!! LOL!!!!

Totally Unacceptable

2010-12-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

US Road Trip 2010: From West to East and Back Again

2010-11-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

My camera is slowly dying, hence the pink shades. LOL.

This whole road trip thing was my idea...

Originally, I had planned to do the Silverman iron-distance triathlon in Vegas, but as time passed, the Beach 2 Battleship race in North Carolina caught my imagination. And as my friends and family can attest, when an idea takes root in my mind, nothing can prevent it from growing. And growing and growing.

Last November, my Dad almost died from a ruptured aorta. He collapsed whilst eating a bowl of chili one evening. Doctors told us later on, he shouldn't have survived the ambulance ride to the hospital.

But he did.

And he survived the hour and a half of poking and prodding at our local hospital. He even survived the renegade H1N1 patient who came stumbling into emergency coughing and hacking and putting her hands all over the desk, chairs, etc, before being escorted out. (It is in these rare moments, that I know I have it in me to kill.)

Then, he survived the hour and a half ambulance ride to the closest city, where upon arrival, the attending physician nearly pooped his pants and ordered a helicopter for my Dad to Calgary. My Dad remembers hearing the people in the helicopter talk about how he was not going to make it...

After all was said and done, the final doctor in Calgary said that my Dad's survival was a miracle. That even after landing in Calgary, most patients do not survive the surgery.

Thus, these were the thoughts that fertilized my mind and the idea of me and my Dad driving across the USA and me doing a race at a battleship. (My Dad is ex-military: air force to be precise, but he watches those war documentaries with as much gusto as the next!)

As usual with me, I didn't realize the enormity of what I was getting into. I mean how hard is it to drive 5000km one way? (We could have made it a shorter route according to google maps, but theory and reality are sometimes two very different things...)

As it turned out, I drove the entire way to Wilmington, North Carolina. My Dad drove the way back. We didn't plan it that way, that's just the way it happened.

There are things that I would never have seen nor done had we not gone on this trip. Geography (for me) is a sketchy subject at best, but actually being in a place, makes me remember it. Makes me realize how big the US is -- what state is beside the next -- in fact, even learning where in the world Wilmington was to begin with!

We only saw and experienced partial glimpses of certain states. Virtually all our driving was done on Interstates, so keep this in mind as you read my observations. Out of all our adventures, I am certain of two things:

1. I will NEVER drive that much again. (Hahahahaha!)

2. The 3 weeks I spent with my Dad was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

So....drum roll please! In no specific order, here is a collection of memories, observations of our 10 000km+ road trip. (Holy crap! We really drove that much?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!)

Montana is a big ass state. BIG ASS state. We drove south and then east in one day, and still never managed to get out of it!

Interstates ROCK! About every 20km (except in Montana because it is so big!) or so, you are guaranteed to find an off ramp with gas stations, fast food joints, etc. And further spaced along, are Interstate rest stops. These places are SWEET. Each state has a big, awesome, nice one when you first cross the state line. Decorated with sculptures, have big comfy couches, free wifi, coffee! Then, they have the *regular* ones spaced out an intervals -- think LARGE, heated, flush-able toilets. With maps, free wifi (!!), televised road conditions, etc. They put our piddly, miserable outhouses in Canada to shame.

75 mph on the interstates....in Utah, they had test sections of around 20km that were 80 mph! SWEET!!!

Kentucky drivers do not fool around. These people drive fast. FAST. I was cruising 80 mph in the right lane, and everyone was passing me.

Custer's last stand is very, very close to where I live. So is Yellowstone. Closer than driving to Penticton for IMC. This is a trip I will do next year!

I am related to Custer! (I knew this before, but had to throw it in for additional shock value and colour -- LOL!) Not by blood, but my cousin married his great-great-great (however many greats) grandson. No kidding.

When we crossed into Kentucky, it was in the middle of this bridge, and there was a big sign for THE Kentucky Fried Chicken convention centre. LOL. I bet most of you don't know this piece of Crowsnest Pass trivia --- In fact most people don't believe me when I tell them this: The gravy recipe for KFC was invented by a Crowsnest Pass woman -- Kay Kerr. See what you guys are missing by not visiting me in the Pass? We have a little bit of everything down here! Hahahahahahaha!

My antennae blew off in South Dakota.

Utah drivers are INSANE. My Dad and I kept joking about "those crazy Mormons." You thought Calgary drivers were crazy? Weaving in and out of traffic without signaling on the Deerfoot? NOTHING! Baby drivers! Picture this: 6 lanes of traffic all going 75 mph bumper to bumper. Bumper to bumper. And people darting in and out while texting. This is their NORMAL. I'm still recovering from this.

All along the interstates at intervals, are gas stations, fast food joints, and adult superstores. Big, big signs that tower over the gas station signs: ADULT SUPERSTORE. What?!?!?! Are truckers really horny or something? Favourite billboard I saw as we left Vegas: "Adult Superstore! Your last chance to get off!"

And about truckers....We saw THOUSANDS of trucks all along the interstates. I'm sure there is a show on the Discovery Channel about how products move from one place to another. I never fully grasped just how many trucks are on the roads. Unreal.

Us Canadians pay way too much for running shoes. I bought two brand new pairs (one Asics, the other Saucony) -- total was $120. And way too much for gels, cliff shot blocks, etc. I paid half of what I pay here. Granted our loonie is essentially at par, but still...

El Reno -- forget where this was...But the birds here LOVE these telephone poles/cables at the one section of town. I mean they really, really love it. They all sit there and chirp and sing and have phone pole quiver tail!!!!

Got a flat tire in Amarillo.

Arizona has my heart. I will buy property here. We drove through areas that looked like flat plains that were 5000 feet elevation. (That's higher than the Pass!) Drove through another part that was 7335 feet! This place has it all: mountains, desert, Grand Canyon, nice weather -- I LOVE ARIZONA! Visited a meteor crater - very odd experience. It feels as though all sound is sucked into this dense black hole. Even talking to someone right beside you -- it is very noticeable. So strange. Missed the Painted Desert -- we left before the park opened. Will return for this.

I DELIGHTED in investigating all the gas stations we stopped at: Food Porn! I felt such an evil thrill, hobbling up and down the aisles looking at the grossest, most sugary, fatty concoctions of junk food ever created. It was so gross, I was intrigued....could not look away. With guilty pleasure I would recite every new package and corresponding fat content I'd find to my Dad, once we got back in the car. Hahahaha! My favourite was: "Cracklins! WITH attached pig skin!" Awesome -- LMAO!!! Seriously, I think this junk food isn't legal in Canada, which is why you don't see it here. Hahahahahaha!

And here is my favourite road trip story:

Ogden, Utah. What can I say about this place....I can be very naive and blind sometimes. Yes, even now, though I am 35 years old, this girl was schooled in Ogden. The red flags I missed (in chronological order) when I rented our cheapest motel room yet:

1. The fact that the "Vac" was burnt out of the Vacancy sign. I joked, "let's go to "ancy" motel. It was right across from the Mariott (which wanted $99/night -- NO WAY!! I can get a better deal!) How bad could it be?

2. The finger-print smeared window the manager had to slide open to talk to me...

3. When I told the manager I wanted a room, he got out of his chair and came out of the office and stood very close (definitely invading my personal space) and asked "What do you want?" "Umm, I want a room?"

4. When he asked if we wanted 1 or 2 beds....(My Dad said very loudly, "TWO!")

5. When he said the credit card machine was broken and he could only take cash...

6. When he said they were just waiting for a room to open -- it was a late checkout and could we come back in 30-45 minutes and then the room would be ready? It was 6:00pm.

7. The kicker (but I STILL didn't get it!): I looked down at the table beside the front desk and saw a pile of newspapers and a plastic container that said the word FREE on it. A container filled with condoms...I was bedazzled by the word FREE! I was thinking FREE!! Yes! I should take one as a souvenir! One for my sister, one for my Mom, FREE!!! (I didn't take any.)

My Dad tried to prepare me: As we sat in Denny's waiting for 45 minutes, things slowly started to dawn on me.

We went back to the Ancy motel "just to see." As we pulled in, we watched through the lighted window as a woman sprayed aerosol throughout the room...Never seen that before. We waited until she had left, and then went in. Oh. My. God. There were stains on the carpet that you didn't need a black light to see.

The sink was 3/4 full of a light blue cleaning product and water - wouldn't drain. The smell of the aerosol fragrance. The ash tray beside the bed. The bedding.

My Dad walked over to the sink and said, "I wouldn't be able to shave in the morning." I stood beside him, both of us looking into the filled sink.

A fly landed on the mirror above the sink. My Dad instinctively took a towel, twisted it a little and flicked at the fly. "Let's see how you do in that chemical bath," he said. The fly landed on it's back in the blue water. We watched it twitch.

We left.

I didn't ask for my money back.

The resident prostitute/room cleaner was pretty high as we made our stealthy escape.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

At the Grand Canyon. Before we did the Sky Walk. You have got to do this!
A plexi-glass horse-shoe shaped bridge that juts out over the canyon.
You see right underneath your feet -- so cool!!
(It took me a LONG time to hobble to each spot. Wish I had the
air cast here!!!)

Outdoor dining at the Grand Canyon. See that gravy? :)

Welcome to the off season! Hahahahahahaha!

Mercury Rising Triathlon Camps

2010-11-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

Mercury Rising is pleased to announce the following camps;

Camp 1 : January Jump Start, Calgary AB

Friday January 14 th - Sunday January 16 th 2011

This is an intensive swim technique camp including lots of swimming, talks and video analysis. We have booked an entire pool, so come prepared to work and learn! The swim portion will take place on Friday and Saturday and on Sunday, we will be holding our second event in The Inspiration Series which will include an epic indoor bike session and a talk on goal setting with cancer-survivor Alyson Woloshyn. $350

Camp 2 : Spring Ahead Camp, Victoria, BC

MondayMarch 7 th-Sunday March 13 th 2011

Our Victoria camp is the king of camps. It includes talks by Canada’s elite triathletes and a week of solid training on the same routes that have created world and Olympic champions. Last year we heard from Ironman Champion Jasper Blake and 3x Olympian Rick Say. This camp is full of surprises! 6-nights accommodation at the Howard Johnson Hotel is included. $1500

Camp 3: The one and only PHAT CAMP, Penticton, BC

Monday July 11 th-Monday July 18 th

Phat Camp is the ultimate Ironman and 70.3 preparation camp. Its our head down, work hard and get fit camp. This year, as well as doing some hardcore training on the Ironman Canada course, we will be racing at the Peach Classic Olympic Distance, entry is included. 7 nights beach-front accommodation. $1500

For more info and registration:

http://www.mercuryrisingtriathlon.com/camps.php

So, umm, that is why my foot hurts...

2010-11-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Just came back from my doc...

X-rays showed I broke my foot in two places: One big, bad-ass, nasty mofo of a break when I was in Australia (some healing has taken place there) and a stress fracture across one of those metatarsal thingies.

Bone breaks mean I will heal up good as new! So, I am in an "Air Walker" right now.

I know this sounds odd, but I was so relieved and laughing and giggly once I found out. I mean, you should see the size of the break that I did when I was in Australia, and I did two frigging Ironman races this year on it!

I can only imagine how great I'll feel after I actually let myself heal this time! LOL!!!!!

(And yes, I have learned a valuable lesson yet again -- when my coach tells me over and over again to go the doc to get my foot checked out, I WILL LISTEN. I was so stubborn in Australia -- I kept saying, "Nothing's wrong -- nothing's broken. It's just bruised -- I mean I fell on it really hard; of course it's swollen. If I broke it, I would know...." Umm, yeah. My face is red. Sorry, coach. Eeeeeeeeeep.

Beach 2 Battleship 2010 Non-Race Report

2010-11-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

OR...

The Race that Never Was.

OR...(and my choice)

Wilmington, NC: City of Angels

LOL.

Now you might be asking yourself, why would I want to write a race report regarding a race that I didn't actually do? For that matter, what in the world would I possibly have to write about?

Well, let me tell you...in my world, all things are possible. LMAO!

After something in my foot snapped, I felt like I was doing the Walk of Shame as I had to go past ALL the other athletes changing into their wetsuits. The trolley would drop people off at the furthest end of the road, so for me to get there, I had to limp by soooo many people while trying hard not to cry (the trying didn't work too well).

I didn't make eye contact with anyone as the least amount of kindness shown to me would have set me right off into major water works. (By the way, WHY does that happen???) I dug my pre-event swim bag out of the box and signaled to the trolley driver that I was going to board.

In my despair, (now remember, I had just passed the cusp of realization that I couldn't race, that I had made the decision to withdraw and turn in my chip, etc . So in other words, my emotions were still very RAW at this point) I didn't realize the trolley was full of athletes who were about to exit.

I stood as close as I could to the side of the trolley -- my face was just about touching it, so I wouldn't look at anyone. When people walked around me, I would look down or to the left or right, all the while trying to keep from bawling.

When everyone had finally exited the trolley I got back on and quickly told the trolley guy that I wouldn't be able to race. And then the full on blubbering started. Oh brother. Bless that trolley driver (Angel #1), he was like the Yoda of trolley drivers. He squeezed my hand and said a number of things, "Now don't cry, there will be other races," "Sometimes, life throws you a curve ball." That one was my favourite. :)

As we approached T1, he said that I could stay on the trolley to keep warm (it was effing cold out -- as in 3 degrees Celsius), but there was no way I'd be able to handle riding back and forth as athletes would still be boarding/disembarking. (There was a half iron event starting after the full, so it would have meant a LOT of athlete encounters. I just wasn't emotionally strong enough to bear that!!) Then, he offered to take me, my bags, and my bike to T2 (the battleship) at 10:00am.

He was such a nice guy -- he repeated things and said them slowly -- my head was spinning with emotions, and it was just so awesome that he cared enough to recognize that!

As soon as I exited the trolley, and started hobbling, this spectator (Kate, a Mom and wife, cheering on her hubby for the 1/2 race, and Angel #2) immediately insisted on carrying my swim bag and escorting me to the tent to turn in my chip. The woman manning the booth said, "I am so sorry to hear this." Again their genuine kindness and empathy sent me bawling -- I kept saying thank you and tried to make jokes. All the while blubbering a bit.

The volunteers told me to go see the doc -- so I started hobbling in that direction. Kate offered to drive me, my stuff, AND MY BIKE back to the condo where my Dad and I were staying. (My Dad had dropped me off, and then would be there for a while before he would go to T2. ) A complete stranger!! I said, "No! You need to cheer on your husband!" She replies, "Oh we have lots of time!" Can you believe it???

Anyways, we decided that I would go to the doc, and if I got released in time, she would drive me. She showed me where her and her family was standing and we parted ways.

Then, I hobbled and hobbled and hobbled to find the doc. (The T1 area is HUGE. Holy shite.) The doc and nurses had set up in this clubhouse where the swim exit was. She was amazing. As were the fellow nurses. She gave me her personal cell phone number with instructions to call her this evening (which I will), and then offered to see me on Monday. Who does things like that?

I had ice on my foot, a cup of chicken broth in my hand, and chatted it up with everyone until the athletes started exiting the water. Talk about a war zone. In an instant, the clubhouse filled with shivering, teeth-chattering, hypothermic athletes. The nurses and the doc made sure the athletes would be given warm 2 minute showers, fed warm broth, then made to jump around and keep moving. So many people came in escorted by volunteers, cold and wrapped in foil blankets.

In the melee: the volunteers below the clubhouse ran out of the warm chicken broth they were passing to shivering athletes. All the other nurses upstairs were busy with athletes. So, I hobbled to action. I started opening cans of broth -- of course the can opener was a piece of shit that only punctured in one place and refused to actually open anything. So, I had to puncture, puncture, puncture and then dump the broth into the warmer-thingy. The volunteers were saying, "We need more chicken broth!" I was going as fast as I could!

Finally, I opened all the cans.... Then, I started picking up a number of towels lying around -- I had overheard a nurse saying "We need more towels! We need to dry off the wet ones!"

After that, it was about 8:45am, and I decided to try and get my bike and bags out of T1 so I could catch the 10:00 ride. I wanted to give my foot enough time to gather all my stuff...

Hobbled down the stairs and waited for an opening between athletes, then hurriedly hobbled around this fenced corner and got out of the way. Phew! I didn't block anyone!

Next, I had to walk on the outside of the pylons that crossed the roadway -- parallel to the athletes. I felt like such a tool. All the spectators were lined on the sidewalk watching the athletes and here I come, hobbling the long, long walk all the way down the road trying not to get in anyone's way.

Finally, I made it to the T1 entrance. There was a volunteer standing there pointing the athletes in -- again, I had to hobble and talk fast because I didn't want to obstruct any athlete's view of the volunteer, and at the same time, I had to explain quickly that I was out of the race but needed to get in to get my bike and stuff.

PHEW. Got in and didn't block anyone again. Got my T1 bag, then bike. Stood around and tried to cheer for the other athletes, but had to fight tears as random things would start me crying again. Like when a song that I had trained to came blasting over the speakers....Like when Angel #3 (a fellow iron distance athlete that had to drop out at the last minute) gave me the most encouraging pep talk. She was consoling and pepping ME up when basically the same thing had happened to her. What an amazing woman -- I want to one day be able to have that kind of strength. To truly disengage from my ego and concentrate on someone else. WOW.

She hung around for a bit and gave a pep talk to an older gentleman she knew, as he fumbled into transition. She is my hero I tell you.

10:00am came and went. As did all the half-iron athletes. And then the volunteers. I was getting thirsty by this point and a little scared. I'd asked volunteer after volunteer about this 10:00am trolley and no one had a clue. As the yellow-shirted volunteers started clearing out, I was lucky enough to snag one that said she would try and track down one of the head volunteers. She said it was going to be hard, as the head volunteers weren't wearing the bright yellow volunteer shirts.

There were less and less people around, and I was getting more and more anxious as I awkwardly wheeled my bike and bulky transition bags around and around T1 trying to find a way to get home.

Finally the awesome volunteer (Angel #4) came running back and said that if I could wait another 45 minutes , the head dude would take me and my bike to T2 and the finish line. Just as she said that, two women who were standing near me, offered to take me and all my stuff to T2 right then and there!! (Angels #5 and #6) They were spectating - one had done the swim as part of a relay.

They were so awesome and so friendly. Again, I had to fight tears because they were just so damn KIND!!!!

We finally made it to downtown Wilmington. The only way I could get my bike to T2 was to take the water taxi across. As we approached the lineup....the long, long lineup, I told the ladies I was going to try and cut in line. That if it worked, "Thanks so much for everything!" (I think this was the millionth time I had thanked them -- LOL), and that if it didn't, I would join them at the back of the line.

I wheeled my bike to the front of the line (with my bags banging against the front wheel, and my body and mind getting progressively more discombobulated) and said, "Excuse me everyone -- Could I please cut in the line?" I then went on to explain what happened to me.

Now, I lost count of the number of Angels....OH MAN. EVERYONE was so kind. I had my sunglasses on and I started crying again. I was hoping the sunglasses would hide it....I also tried to not wrinkle my forehead (you know how you do when you cry?) to give it away, but I am not sure how successful I was. I don't know how many people offered to help me on and off the boat....MAN!

Then, the first volunteer table I came across at the finish line was staffed with even more awesome people. Geez -- I think the gentleman's name was Frank who had a great sense of humour. What is it with these people that know just the right thing to say?

When I found my Dad (miracle among miracles -- honestly, people! Have you ever BEEN at an iron distance finish line?) I broke down again. Sigh.

After a tub of Haagen Dazs, and some more tears, the world righted itself again. :) (Ok, ok, ok and a Snickers bar. LMAO!!!)

Now you can see why even though I didn't race, I did have a story to tell! I remain overwhelmed by the kindness of Wilmingtonians. Even before the race, when my Dad and I would drive out into the country side and park the car so I could bike, locals kept stopping and asking if my Dad was all right. If he needed help. One lady even offered him bottled water!

Now as to the North Carolina accent.....

That is a whole OTHER post. LOL. Honestly, there have been a number of times where I have had to say, "I'm sorry, I don't understand you!" I feel like such a dork, but there are only so many times I can say, "Pardon me?" before I have to confess. LOL!!

Until next time, battleship...
;)

DNS

2010-11-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

Made it about 6 steps on the beach when I heard a snap and almost passed out from the pain. I couldn't even walk.

Hobbling past all the other athletes was mental agony - I couldn't help but cry knowing I couldn't even start.

More later -- all I can say is that North Carolinian's are the friendliest, most truly caring people I have ever come across. Unbelievable.

I'm still crying off and on. It will pass -- saw the event doc, things look good (as in nothing broken), she gave me her personal cell phone number and I'll be seeing her Monday before we head home.

I can't lie -- I am so disappointed. But, on the same token, the genuine concern and kindness I experienced on the 5 hour odyssey to find my Dad (two strangers took my bike and me to the water taxi, all the people in the LONG line up let me cut in front of them, the boat guys, the volunteers on the other side, oh man -- I could go on and on) has taken the edge of the mental disappointment.

I can't help but smile. I'm still crying off and on, but I can't help but smile too.

More details later.

Love you all --

Julie :) :) :)

Athlete Tracking Info for Friends and Family...

2010-11-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

Here is the link for athlete tracking on Saturday:

http://www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_detail&eventID=1373

My bib-ola number is 479.

Keep in mind, it isn't going to be in real time....they are going to update throughout the day.

Positive energy is welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:) :) :) :) :) :)

Thoughts on Driving 5000 km....

2010-11-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

Wolfing down a sandwich at Mt. Rushmore -- just a
little deke off the interstate. :)

I will NEVER do a road trip of this magnitude again. Next time, I fly.

Kentuckians and Albertans would get along just fine...I had cruise control set at 80 MPH, and I was in the slow lane. LOVE IT!!

You can't cash traveler's cheques at banks in Wilmington, North Carolina...My Dad went to 4, including the RBC. He would have had to open a bank account. Very odd.

US Interstates ROCK!!! Everybody GETS that the right lane is for driving in, the left lane is for passing. There are virtually no knuckleheads that sit in the left lane going 10km/hr under the speed limit = BLISS!!

All along the Interstates, they have these awesome huge and clean restrooms. Soooo nice.

Caffeine and driving go together.

Driving 1000km a day does a real number on leg/foot swelling and pain. :(

It's good to go with a senior (my Dad) to take advantage of the senior's discount for motel rooms. (Plus, he's a vet, and I have a CAA card -- we have a 1 in 3 chance of getting some type of deal! LOL.

The wind blew so hard through South Dakota, it blew my antenna off. You should have seen the tumbleweed action: big tumbleweeds, little tumbleweeds, and the really cute tiny baby tumbleweeds.

Taper Time.....FINALLY!

2010-10-31T19:35:00.000-06:00

I was hanging in there until the very end....

But, oh man, was it ever tough! Today was my last *real* day of training before taper....*Real* in the sense that I am fatigued, tired, and oh yeah, did I forget to say FATIGUED????

CRIKEY!!!

I knew there was no way I'd be able to get my 2 hour run in before the pool opened today.

The pool opened at noon.

I lolly-gagged around the house -- moved from one end of the couch to the other. Got up to eat. Got up to get a glass of water. Got up to eat again. Then, got up to do the dishes. I was sort of huffing and puffing and moaning a bit to myself too. You know those little noises you make, like sighing, etc to let everyone know just how tired you are? Well, that was me, except I was alone -- I had no one to appreciate how tired I was, and those noises still occurred! Hahahahahahaha!

After my swim, I was on auto pilot trying to drag myself out the door. I wanted to go to bed and lay there.....forever. Instead, I peeled open the Halloween candy and got some sugar in me to try and kick start the bod. I got little shavings off chocolate in between the keys of my lap top...

Now, sugar and I have always had an on/off relationship. When I was little, every time my and sister and I would get into the candy, we would get really, really hyper, then we would crash and start crying. Hahahahahahaha! Well, today, even the sugar had a hard time getting me going. I barely got lift off, but I did finally get out the door.

2 hours later, I was so BAGGED, I was moaning out loud as I climbed the front stairs. I moaned all the way down to the basement where I did the laundry...

Then I moaned even louder when I realized I forgot the new bottle of vinegar (because I was washing my workout clothes, remember?) at the top of the stairs and I had to climb them....

You know when you are so tired, you use your hands to help you get up the stairs? That was me. Moaning all the way.

When I unscrewed the vinegar cap, I realized that stupid metal foil seal needed a sharp object to pierce it open. I literally moaned even louder, "No!" And looked crazily around my arm's length perimeter. Oh God. Nothing!

I then jabbed my forefinger in and LO! It worked! My finger dipped into the vinegar, and without thinking, I licked my finger. MY GOD, I ALMOST WENT CROSS-EYED!!!

Right then and there, I wanted salt and vinegar potato chips so bad I nearly fainted. After a quick shower, I phoned the gas station that is literally less than a block from my house and asked them if they had any s&v chips. (I wasn't going to risk going there and wasting a trip -- I needed them NOW!)

They had two bags left! I drove over there (I gassed up whilst there, to make it not too lame -- LOL!) and got the chips.

When I tucked into them, I swear the earth moved, angels sang, and I experienced what my sister and her hubby call "quiver-tail."

You see, they have a cat (Sparky) who has a very distinct habit when she is LOVING a back rub or a treat. Her tail quivers. It starts from her body -- her back is arched and the quiver moves up through the base of her tail, until it gets right to the tip of her tail. At this point, it is really quivering.

My sister's hubby thinks it looks perverted. Hahahahahahah!! Me and my sister think it is AWESOME!

Anyways, when I crunched down on all the salty vinegary goodness, "quiver-tail" is simply the best way I can explain my delirium.

Oh yeah baby. Now THAT hit the spot!!

You Big Chicken!!!!!

2010-10-26T20:09:00.000-06:00

You know how they say a vampire won't show up on film?

Well, if you are a Big Chicken, it DOES show up on film --
this is why I didn't buy race photos this year...LOL!!!

Six years ago I had no clue how to swim. NO IDEA.

For the first 29 years of my life, I had an uneasy relationship with water. When my parents would take us on summer vacation, my sister and I loved to play in hotel pools...at the shallow end of course. Neither me nor my sister ever learned how to swim.

Fast forward to when I was 26 years old, and the summer of me and my sister's Great Mexican Vacation. Our trip consisted of tanning by the pool and then submerging ourselves in the little pool to cool off every once in a while.

One afternoon, a local scuba guide came by the pool to give free demos. Now anyone who knows the Andersons, is aware what the word FREE does to us. It is the same thing that happens when we see a glittery object...It's like our hunting instincts are instantly activated. The heart starts beating quicker, all senses are heightened. Things are seen so much more clearly -- hearing is maginified, the sense of touch, everything. We are turned into Superman!! FREE?!?!?! Where? FREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My sister and I were the only ones who took advantage of the free demo. It didn't matter that neither of us had a clue how to swim. The poor guide.

First, he had to show us how to get our faces in the water. This took some time. Step by step, he walked us through putting the gear on and then breathing underwater. He tried to get us to take off our masks underwater and then put them on again. That was NOT happening. I panicked and flew back up to the surface as quickly as possible. I know -- if I was in real deep water, the pressure would have blown my eyeballs out of my head and stopped my heart, but remember, I had never been underwater before!

My sister, on the other hand was a total stud. She put the gear on and just sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. She told me afterward, it was easy -- she didn't know how to swim or anything, so she just sank. And then sat there at the bottom of the pool until the guide brought her back up. LOL!!! It reminded me of when she was a baby and she would poop her diaper and just sit there with this big grin on her face. No worries, no problems. Just sit there.

After the demo, the scuba guide asked if we wanted to go for a scuba tour. In hindsight, I realized that what he did was probably illegal, because I guarantee you could not find two greener scuba-tourists than us. I can't actually believe given our limited 20 minute demo that we went out in the ocean with scuba gear on!!

This was how it went: We each had to fall backwards off the boat, just like you see on the Discovery channel. I thought I was going to have a panic attack when I saw my world go all topsy-turvy and then bubbles everywhere. But I clung to that mouthpiece and breathed like Darth Vadar and used my breathing as something to focus on.

The scuba guide then took my hand and my sister's hand, and pulled us around the ocean floor. It was pretty cool -- he gave each of us a sea cucumber to hold and took pictures of us with our underwater camera. (The one pic of my sister holding that cumber looked especially perverted, It looked like it LIKED my sister's grip -- I kid you not!! LOL!!!)

There was one point during our underwater excursion where I could feel a current. I felt myself getting pulled along....The guide at this point had (for some reason) let go of each of our hands for just a moment. My sister got caught in some weird-ball current and no kidding, it looked like she was getting sucked out into space. Like she was on the Starship Enterprise and someone opened the hatch and you see the person getting sucked out into space, their arms and legs spread and them spinning away.

The guide caught me, and then looked to the left, to the right for my sister. She was above him!! OMG it was so hilarious (but terrifying in retrospect) when he didn't see her and then he finally looked up. The poor guy probably had a heart attack.

As we ascended, I had to fight the panic attack thing again. Oh man! When we finally got to the surface, his partner hauled each of us in the boat -- literally. Hahahaha -- the guide told me he had been worried about me freaking out. That he thought I would have been the one to watch out for. LMAO!!!

Now you know my swimming background...

Thus, today at Masters, for part of the session we were to DIVE off the blocks. I was excited (yet scared) about this. We started by standing on the blocks and then jumped as far as we could, plunging into the water feet first.

I could do this.

I did it twice.

The next step was bending over and then actually diving. I had heart palpitations and I broke out into a cold sweat. Oh My God I was terrified. The coach kept saying, "1...2.....3...GO!" And everyone kept cycling through.

Except me.

I was shaking so much, I got off the blocks and let the women in my line go ahead of me. Then I tried again, and I tasted fear -- the terror of the unknown. Coppery like blood. My God, if there was a cougar, shark, bear, any wild animal around I can guarantee you they would have come running to me. I SWEAT pure fear.

I finally got up enough courage to ask if I could try diving off the pool deck. The coach said, "Of course!" On the 1....2....3....I wavered again and was shaking, I couldn't do it! The coach then came over and showed me how to pretend like I was going to dive, but then just fall in.

Now that I could do! Although I was still terrified, I could do it. It was so hilarious, everyone was offering me encouragement and when I finally plopped into the pool, the coach said, "That was really great, Julie!" Yeah right -- I felt my belly slap the water. Hahahaha!! But positive encouragement is something I will take! :) :) :)

I was a big chicken!!!! LMAO!!!!

Who's the big chicken? I'M the big chicken! Me and my
Coke Zero. Yeah man. Cool like us chickens.

It's hard to explain to people who learned to swim as kids what it is like for chickens like me...The vast majority of my memories involving water are coupled with fear. It is only in the past 6 years that I have created fun water memories. What is even stranger is having both sets of memories (and their associated emotions) rattle around my brain at the same time. It can be a very odd experience!!!

Until next time....

What I've Been Up to.... OR

2010-10-25T16:43:00.001-06:00

What it Feels Like to Train My Bum Off. LOL!

After completing the power tests Coach Sara had me perform on the bike and the run, she changed the way she is training me. Let's just say things are a little more errrr, intense.

Last week, there were a couple of days I thought there was no physical possibility of me completing some of the sessions -- the cumulative fatigue, the very THOUGHT of what the workouts entailed....But I pulled through.

I don't know how -- well, yes I do. A mixture of stubbornness and caffeine seems to do the trick. ;)

So, I sort of just came around 5 minutes ago....I found myself sitting in a kind of stupor in front of the computer with a Coke Zero in one hand and no idea if I had just woken up from a nap, or was going back to bed. LOL!!!

This weekend, I completed what was (for me!) some epic workouts. (Every time I say or think this, I automatically insert the clause "so far" -- because what was epic a couple of months ago, ain't so "epic" now! Hahahahaha -- That's what coach's are for right? Hee-hee!)

Anyways, I've been training hard and training consistently. Saturday saw me pedaling away on my Computrainer at the gym for 4 hours with 2 hours of race pace power sandwiched in, then a 30 minute run on the tready: 15 minutes faster than race pace, 15 minutes easy.

Then, Sunday, I woke up early to get 2 hours of hilly running in -- the session called for some "good downhills" in the last hour. Home, quick shower (actually a quick tub, my legs and body were getting pretty beat up at this point and it was all I could do to ease into a warm tub and just lay there with Peanut watching me and batting at the water. I don't do ice baths. Blasphemy, I know. I don't do massage either. Right Keith? Hahahahaha!) then it was off to the pool for an hour swim. Then, food and a 30 minute run on pavement to REALLY MAKE SURE my legs took a good pounding.

My God I felt like I ran a marathon. This has been another one of those days where I start to drool when I sit down and relax. It's like my body falls asleep before my mind does. Hahahaha! And in the morning, when I go down in the basement to clean the kitty litter, the climb back up the stairs feels like my heart rate is at 195. That's before my oatmeal however. Hahahahahaha!

Nov. 2 is the day me and my Dad leave for North Carolina. I am very, very excited to race. I was dissatisfied with my performance at IMC and am hungry to race once more this year. SO....here goes!

While in Wilmington, my Dad and I plan on taking a segway tour (oh yeah baby!), and a ghost walk!! I am super excited about the ghost walk.

Well, starting to drool again...time to sign off and stare into space for a couple of more hours and then head to bed. Hahahahahahaha!!

Like my new iPod case? Or the poor-man's version of an iPod case? Heh-heh. The ole sandwich bag trick. I either carry it in my hand, or if the clothes I am wearing have a pocket, I'll stick it in there. Hey -- whatever works right? I usually don't run with an iPod, but there were two runs this week I needed to use it to get me out the door. I created a new play list and turned up the music so loud I couldn't hear myself suffer (or think, or breathe, or anything for that matter). Like I said before --- whatever works, eh?

BRING IT, BATTLESHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:) :) :) :) :)

(Yes this post was written in a state of extreme fatigue/delirium/joy/giddiness/etc. As if you couldn't tell....)

8 years of accumulated stink....

2010-10-07T10:44:00.000-06:00

When I first got into triathlon, I went HAYWIRE buying all kinds of shorts, tops, sports bras, etc. I mean you sort of have to though, right? You can't just have one pair of bike shorts...if you have say 5 of everything (at least), that means you don't have to stress about laundery all the time.

And about the laundery....

I've always taken good care of my workout stuff. Hang it to dry so it lasts longer, etc. But over the years, I have come to realize that every wash only removes around 99% percent of stank. And you don't notice it, until one day, say about 8 years hence, all those little 1%'s add up and YOU ARE THE STINKY ONE IN THE GYM!!!!!

OMG!!!!

It was a few Saturdays ago, I was doing a treadmill test -- had on my favourite black sports bra top and was sweating away. There was a certain point when the top got sweaty enough that it suddenly released all that cumulative B.O. I was horrified at myself!

Now, to be honest, I've been noticing this gradual degradation of my clothing for some time now. I smelled stank when I would ride on my trainer -- my favourite biking jacket had stinky armpits that no matter how much I would scrub with Shout! and baking soda only took the edge off. My favourite running top suffered the same issues.

The piece de resistance however, came a few weeks ago when I walked into the bathroom and was overpowered by the aroma of BO. I immediately yelled at Mike, saying, "GEEZ! You need to have a shower or something -- it STINKS in here!!" Poor guy, instantly smells his armpits looking worried/anxious/confused. It was at that moment I realized that the stink was coming from all my facecloths/bike shorts/bra top that was hanging over the shower rod to dry after my workout!!!!!!

Cue my sister.... Like an angel, she told me to add a cup of vinegar to the wash and it would remove all stink. I was so excited to try this, I took all my workout clothes out of my closet and washed them again -- this time adding a cup of vinegar along with the detergent.

I thought I had nailed the stink problem, until that tready session. It turns out that the proportion of 1 cup vinegar to 8 years of sweat is slightly off....

Thank goodness there were only two other people there that morning I went to the gym. Now, I was doing a treadmill run test, where I was running progressively faster and faster with 1 minute rest between sets. It was during one of these breaks that I felt OBLIGATED to explain to both men the reason why I stunk and that it wasn't ME, but it was my bra top.

Oh man -- the one guy was so nice and said - "I don't care! I don't even notice!" LIAR!

The other man was friendly but you could tell he was thinking "What in the heck is WRONG with this chick?!?!" LMAO!!!!!! I can talk pretty fast in one minute!!!!!

I went to Wal-Mart later that day on a mission: Buy the biggest jug of vinegar I could find. These past few weeks, I've cycled through all my workout clothes...when I would finish a session, I'd strip down, dump LOADS of vinegar on them and fill up the sink with hot water and let them soak all day. I did this every day. THEN, I threw all the clothes into the washing machine and poured more vinegar over everything and then added detergent. And you know what?

IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I am now stink-free -- odor-free, not even a scent of vinegar lingers. YES! :) :)

Here is a quickie update of what I've been doing (as I have been getting over the loss of Toby):

1. One week after IMC I went for a run. A RUN. A real run and I felt incredible. I felt so incredible that I emailed Coach Sara and said, I feel like I haven't "peaked" yet. She wanted to wait 3 weeks to see if this feeling persisted...it did and I've been back at training like a pit bull with a bone -- a big meaty bone with lots of fat and tendrils and ligaments hanging from it.

2. In a last minute change of mind, I've entered the Beach 2 Battleship iron distance race in North Carolina-- Nov. 13. Me and my Dad are going to drive there and back --- EPIC ROAD TRIP!!! YAHOOOO!!! :) :)

3. I've joined a Masters swim group and I can't believe how much of a difference it is making to my swimming. Having a coach on deck toss out simple reminders and give you instant feedback is invaluable!

4. I HAVE MY FIRST ATHLETE!!!!!! '

That's it for now....

Toby

2010-09-09T21:13:00.000-06:00

Love and loss -- I didn't know the pain of grief would unfurl petals of love in me. I have opened -- time means nothing -- I pick Toby up and carry her up the steps once her back legs are too weak to function. I help brace her foot against me so she can lick herself clean....anything that I can do to help...to make myself feel like I am helping in some way.

There is a strength deep, deep within this much pain and sadness. It is right in the very centre of the unfurling flower....a strength coupled with a profound sense of joy. These feelings are so powerful and yet at the far reaches of rational, logical explanation that I can hardly describe them. They are truly from the realm of the heart....

Where letting go and surrendering confer an exquisite beauty on death. When your world shrinks to the celebration of watching your pet eat a tiny bit of chicken breast -- when this same small world of such deceptively simple triumphs opens up an entire other world of immense love. Unconditional love -- the kind of love that left my hands filthy with poop and infection, and I didn't care for a moment. The kind of patience that I never knew I could possess -- the kind that could confer dignity on the most terrible of illnesses. The kind of joy that co-exists with a heavy heart -- like a weight consistently pressing in the middle of my chest that leaves me exhausted...but at the same time I could pet Toby and look into her eyes and smile and feel so much love.

Control is an illusion -- the only thing we can give is ourselves. That is the only reality -- the only thing I am certain of. Loss is teaching me to be a kinder, more accepting person. Life is so short -- too short for judgments and gossip -- you never know what a person's story is. I see other people as extensions of myself -- I thought at first that what I am learning is tolerance -- but that is the wrong word. It is acceptance.

I read somewhere a long time ago (I have an inkling that it may have been in a Joseph Campbell book....) about the Wheel of Life. And that the further away from the hub you are, the more ups and downs you experience. The closer you are to the centre of the hub -- the less movement there is. At the very centre of the hub there is stillness.

Compassion is borne from the sorrow -- A deep calm. Depth.

Strength -- not selfishness. Strength is not about me - it is about what I can give. Putting myself aside; not focusing on myself, turning my ego aside and looking outward --- away. Letting go of myself -- what I think of as myself. Opening up to the outside -- staying open and not closing around a particular interpretation of reality that suits my own narrow point of view. Let go completely.

In the very centre of myself all these emotions co-exist together -- Stillness does not mean emptiness -- I think it means a release of some sorts...At least the glimpses I've had of this place makes me think so.

Am I stronger? I don't know. Am I more prepared? Maybe. I know that love is a very powerful force -- powerful enough to overcome disgust at the ravages of cancer and replace it with patience, gentleness, kindness. There is a liberation as well. A freedom -- like a long deep sigh -- leaving myself behind. Grief is changing me.

My vet came over to my house at 4:45pm this afternoon.

My Mom, Dad, Mike and I were all with Toby at the end.

It was the most terrible thing. It doesn't matter that it was the right thing to do -- I cried so hard I almost puked with the effort -- the tears have stopped for now. I know they'll come again. Mike followed through to the very end and carried her little body to our vet's vehicle. It was at this point I had to turn away. When her spirit was gone -- she was gone. There was no mistaking it. I couldn't bear to look at her little body.

It is now only a few hours later and her absence is tangible. It is a complete emptiness -- she is gone! I've been worrying about her for these past weeks -- and the worry is now gone.

I can only move forward. One small step at a time. That is all I know I can do!

Squirrel versus Toby -- Part 1

2010-09-04T09:38:00.000-06:00

Squirrel versus Toby -- Part 2

2010-09-04T09:37:00.000-06:00

Squirrel versus Toby -- Part 3

2010-09-04T09:36:00.000-06:00

Race of the Pink Eye or Ironman Canada 2010 Race Report!

2010-09-01T17:14:00.000-06:00

I'm one of those people who use all sorts of tricks/sayings/etc to remember things. The first one I am aware of learning was the colours of the rainbow...Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain. It was Grade 3.

And while I don't need help remembering the colours of the rainbow anymore, I still use some *cheat sheets*... like when I need to know how many days are in a month, I'll recite under my breath, "30 days has September, April, June, and November, all the rest have 31, etc." You know that one?

So.....the day after the race, I kept counting on my fingers (by year) the number of Ironman races I've done. But every time I got to the end, I couldn't believe it and would count again. Where has the time gone? I've actually done SEVEN of these things?!?!?!?!?! WHOA!!

My goal was to do an Ironman triathlon by the time I was 30 -- I never thought I would do another one!!!

Okay, onto the race itself....

The couple of weeks before Ironman is a really sketchy, dangerous time for my immune system. For some reason, the decreased training (taper) that allows the body to rest also invites germs in. Wholeheartedly. With embossed invitations even.

I've been lucky insofar as the crap I get before an Ironman is relatively benign -- just a minor annoyance. Two years ago it was crotchal area problems from riding so much and washing too vigorously. Yes -- you can wash too much....

Last year, it was Swimmer's Ear. I remember I was joking to my coach that this was proof I was a "swimmer."

This was the year of the Pink Eye. It sounds so gross and it sounds so, well, INFECTIOUS. It's like if you tell someone "I have pink eye," everyone takes a few steps backward away from you. I felt like the plague.

I'd been gargling twice a day with Listerine (just like Coach Clint told us to at camp last year!) to ward off any colds, but the ole stink-eye-pink-eye crept up on me anyways.

For the days leading up to the race, I walked around with one contact in -- trying not to go cross-eyed. I realized that I can actually ride a bike with one contact in -- not too bad, eh? LOL!!

OK - enough blather about the eyeball.

The down and dirty was that I took one minute and 17 seconds off last year's time. I crossed the line at 12:01:00 exactly. I was sort of hoping to blast WAY UNDER 12:00:00 but a PB is a PB. My swim was faster, my run was way faster, my bike was slower. BUGGAH. Like my good friend Cath pointed out, at least it was a minute and 17 seconds in the right direction! Good point!! :)

But, you gotta deal with the cards you are dealt on race day. I was delighted (whilst at the same time mortified) that my decision to take off my race wheels and use my training wheels proved to be the best decision. The winds were BRUTAL. For the last few weeks, I had trained on my race wheels in the winds of the Pass. I am not a competent enough rider (yet) to handle them when the cross winds blow me around. So, right before I left for Penticton, I made the call.

Let's see -- for the first time, my stomach felt REALLY full when I started the marathon. Too full. Like I was running on a bellyful of spaghetti. It took me until mile 15 until I let out a mighty FART at which point I felt like a new woman. Note to self -- I am taking Gas-X with me next year. Do you know how far 15 miles is with a tummy full of gas? It is TOO DAMN FAR!!!!!

It occurred to me that the most interesting part of an Ironman race isn't the swim, bike, or run. It isn't what you ate that morning, or how fast or slow you moved through transition. The REAL GOOD STUFF happens AFTER the race. Allow me to elaborate....

1. The Finisher Shirt. Ironman Canada has sunk to an ALL - TIME LOW in finisher shirt ugliness. OH MY GOD. Everything I have ever said about ugly race shirts must be retracted because this year's shirt truly takes the cake. It is a light yellow-beige colour. A colour that makes everyone look like death warmed over. EVERYONE. A colour that is so ugly and rejected it was like there was a huge cargo load of them brought over from China and the receiver said, "OH MY GOD these are so ugly I refuse this shipment!"

Oh yes -- This a BOAT LOAD of light-yellowy T-Shirts coming
to an Ironman near YOU!! LMAO!!

So then, someone at Ironman Canada got a smokin' deal on these rejected T-Shirts and used them to put the logo on and made off with a profit. That's what popped into my mind as soon as I saw that shirt. It fell down out of the UGLY tree and got beaten by every ugly stick on the way down. And I have my very own in size medium thank you very much. LMAO!!!!

2. The Pee Bag. This is one of the transition bags that I put my race kit in (after the race) -- my running shoes, cycling shoes, socks, everything. Because I have no problem peeing on the bike or the run, everything is covered in pee. This still horrifies Mike. The Pee Bag stinks. Bad. One year, I had the pee bag (closed up tight) in the back seat and the smell that came out of it was so strong I had to pull over and put it in the trunk.

This year, my Mom took The Pee Bag to the laundromat and washed everything for me. (Yes, I throw in running shoes and cycling shoes -- EVERYTHING. It works!) I was passed out on the motel bed with compression tights on, watching my feet swell like watermelons.

3. The Ultimate Transition Bag. This is extrememly important and I hope even one reader saves himself/herself the $199.99 expense of a triathlon transition bag. DON'T BUY ONE! DON'T DRINK THE KOOL AID!!! I did, and I will regret it for the rest of my life. Here is why:

Race morning, (and after the race for that matter) you have to carry your Swim-to-Bike bag, your Bike-to-Run bag, and your Morning Clothes bag AND your bike. Watch people as they try to do this. They have the bags looped over the handlebars, the bags are falling off their shoulders, banging into their bike. In short -- it is a big pain in the @$$!

Nobody uses a fancy schmancy tri bag because then you would have to take out all the stuff out of the bags, to fit in the fancy bag, THEN put all the different items back into your race bags once you get to the race site.

Here is what you use and they only cost $0.99 at your local hardware store:

The simple canvas bag. Fellow triathletes take note!!

Yes. A large canvas shopping bag holds ALL race day bags with plenty of room to spare for ugly finisher shirt, medal, finisher hat, water, etc. Wish I had figured this out last year before I spent that $200. Sigh.

4. Body, Heal Thyself. This is a very neat, yet odd experience. Symptoms (errr, side effects or consequences maybe -- LOL!) of doing an Ironman start to show up in various parts of the body. This happens over a succession of days too -- every day there is a new surprise. For example. after Ironman Coeur D'Alene this year, (two days afterward, to be precise) I sprouted all these zits on my chin.

So far, this year after IMC, I've had one SUPER swollen foot -- the other one not so bad. So swollen it made my friend, Tessa, laugh at me! The skin around my nose is all dry and peeling off now too. Nice.

In all seriousness, I need to thank Coach Sara profusely for empowering me with the fitness and mental strength to do this race. I went in thinking positively -- dedicating the race to my little dog, and keeping the negative, sad, and painful emotions at bay. I had two moments where I almost broke down....

One was on the bike when a guy passed me and I saw his name was Toby.

The other, was during the run, when I saw my teammate, John. He had sent me a wonderful email the night before the race -- a coping strategy I could use during the race. In the moment I saw John, he looked at me, and I looked at him, and he gave a little wave/point and it was like time stood still. I choked up and just about lost it - then got myself together again.

When I crossed the finish line however, I let it all out. I've been pretty much the same since then too. Life, eh?

Well, I am excited about next year -- yes I am doing IMC 2011 -- I know I said I would never do it again, but after talking with Coach Sara I changed my mind. I can be stubborn, but when Sara tells me to do something, I always do it. I trust her completely! And, I am excited about the plan for next year too.....

:)

Ironman Canada Here I Come!

2010-08-25T17:15:00.000-06:00

Ready to kick my own butt BIG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last two weeks have been emotionally taxing, that's for sure, but with the love and support of my awesome family and friends, I am ready to race. :)

For my family.....

On Sunday, go to www.ironman.com. There will be a pink box in the middle of the screen with the race Ironman Canada link in it. Click on athlete tracker -- my numero is 2387 -- let the games begin. YEEHAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out the size of the steaks I bought for Toby this afternoon....

The picture doesn't show it that well, but each
steak is the size of EIGHT of my fists!!!!!

Toby is doing well -- she has good days and bad days. We are cherishing every single day with her, and giving her the best food we can. :) I popped those steaks on the Foreman Grill, and Toby ate a whole one!! Hahahahaha!! I was so pleased -- the pills she are on need to be taken with a full meal, and a big, honking steak "makes the medicine go down." :) :) :)

My Mom gave me this list that has now earned a spot on my refrigerator...It's called:

18 Things We Can Learn From a Dog

1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.

2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

4. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

5. Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

6. Take naps, and stretch before rising.

7. Run, romp, and play daily.

8. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

9. Be loyal.

10. Never pretend to be something you're not.

11. If what you want is buried, dig until you find it.

12. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle him or her gently.

13. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

14. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

15. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

16. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

17. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

18. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends.

Pretty awesome eh? And the two that are highlighted are my faves.....you can touch me, I will like it. LMAO!!!

Good luck racing everyone!

:)

Grief, numbness, autopilot

2010-08-19T09:08:00.000-06:00

On our way to Toby's swimming hole...

Can't believe it's only been a week and a half since Toby's diagnosis. She is deteriorating so fast, it scares me. Mike and I opted not to go the chemo route. She is 12 years old and the thought of driving back and forth to Calgary (2.5 hours each way) makes no sense when all we want to do is make her as comfortable as possible.

I've done a bit of research on the internet and joined a canine cancer internet forum. Here is what I've learned: Carbs feed cancer, high protein diet is great. My vet has told me to feed my Toby girl whatever she wants. Her new diet obviuosly agrees with her -- from wasting away and refusing to eat her dog food, she is in all her glory now. She gained 0.7 kg last week. :)

Toby's new gourmet diet

I've been avoiding phone calls, contact with anyone as I just can't keep it together emotionally. As soon as someone is kind to me and asks about Toby, I break down.

As a family, we've been really busy having some good times with Toby this past week. Taking her to her favourite swimming hole, lots of walks....we even threw her a birthday party. She LOVES snapping and jumping at a burning sparkler. And howling with us as we all sang happy birthday to her. :)

But interspersed in these moments of happiness are hidden daggers of pain that pierce my heart....

Like the last day I took Toby running with me -- it was only for 10 minutes after my bike ride, but she couldn't keep up at all. Not even when I was going REALLY slow. I kept running on the spot, then running back to her. My heart broke that afternoon, and as I was running/jogging up the highway home I was crying the whole way.

At her birthday party, she had to stop jumping at the sparkler as she fatigued so quickly.

This morning, when eating a meaty treat, her paws kept slipping on the hardwood floor and she couldn't support herself...I moved her treat out to the living carpet so she could gain purchase,

How can anyone keep it together?

I love you, little dog.

So, every day is a real struggle for Mike and I.

Add this to my last hard week of training and then taper time, and I have been an emotional wreck. But, whether it be functioning on auto pilot or relying heavily on Mike or my Mom and Dad, I've managed to get through. The weird thing about all this, is that I'll be laughing and playing with Toby one second, and the very next second I'll be in tears. I've been sleeping even more than usual (which will alarm those who know me) to take the edge off the exhaustion from crying all the time. WHEW BOY. Heavy, heavy stuff.

Mike, Toby, and me :)

I do have a funny triathlon related story for you all, however...

At the Penticton camp, Sara appeared horrified when I told her, "I don't ride over cattle guards. I walk my bike over them." "WHAT?!?!?!?!" was the response I think. Hahahahahahaha! You see, around these parts, there is only one cattle guard I cross and it is WAY out in the booners. I maintain that if I were to ride across it and something happened, I would be poop out of luck and waiting for a ride from some fisherman. (And for my other buddies that would LOVE to point out how this is yet another reason to buy a cell phone, there ain't no service up in those parts, y'all. LOL!!)

If you look really close, these signs also say, "If your name is
Julie, time to get off your bike."

So, last Saturday, I was 1:12 into my 6 hour ride when I reached the cattle guard. Now this cattle guard is a screwball sort of one too (of COURSE it is, I mean everything is odd about where I live! Hahaha!).

It has a bunch of long skinny metal pieces where a car's tires could go -- but these pieces are very, very skinny, like the width of my tire. Not like some of the other cattle guard or Texas Gates where they have wider pieces where if I grew some balls, I might one day try and ride across...

(Which leads me to another tangential thought...What is the difference between a Texas Gate and a cattle guard? I've seen signs for both of them. Texas Gate almost sounds like a pejorative term....LOL! I feel almost guilty and sheepish writing about it in case a fellow reader says, "They call cattle guards Texas Gates in Alberta!! How racist! Or discriminatory or whatever!! LOL!)

To cross this particular cattle guard, I walk sort of sideways on the long skinny pieces whilst carrying my bike. I often imagine myself walking over a ladder on the Khumbu Icefall on my way up Everest......Yes, the thoughts that go through my brain are always very interesting!

I was taking my last step when my cleat got caught between the skinny pieces and part of it snapped off. Oh shit. I looked down and the first thought that popped into my head was, "So much for my excuse to Coach Sara about not riding over cattle guards!"

The next thought was, "I am only 1:12 into this 6 hour ride."

But lo and behold, I could still clip in. I was a lucky l'il bugger!

I went up to Calgary yesterday and got new cleats on both my shoes -- I don't want to take any chances at IMC.

I leave you with this.....

Here's a quick video of how Peanut is ALWAYS jumping on my back. When I come back from a bike ride, she'll even jump on despite the fact I still have my helmet on....What a cat.

Sad News

2010-08-09T17:20:00.000-06:00

My baby dog, Toby just turned 12. I found out this afternoon she has lymphoma and about two months to live.

We are putting her on some steroids and taking each day as a gift.

Mike and his son brought home a big meaty bone from Wal-Mart for her.

I took her out on a super long walk and swim in the creek. She's really skinny but doing great. Tail is wagging, and she is sprinting all around.

Man, what am I going to do without her?

I'm going off the grid for a little while...

Calgary 70.3 - A great training day!!

2010-08-02T06:33:00.000-06:00

I get a real kick out of using races as training days....my own personal aid stations -- cheering spectators, and friends racing/training alongside you. :) :)

Last year the Calgary 70.3 was a tough training day -- I had missed three weeks of training due to The Cold From Hell, and Coach Sara used the race as a great fitness booster.

This year, the race was serving a similar purpose -- only this time I have not been ill but have an Ironman under my belt and a sold training camp too!

As in any race, I am racing against myself, and a training day or not, I always harbour the secret goal of earning a new PB. I knew I was going to have a really, really good chance at it, since last year I literally did nothing for the three weeks prior to the race except cough, sleep, and spit up mucous.

This year, I also decided to use the race as an Ironman tune-up race prep. Nutrition was bang on. YAY! Electrolytes, bang on. Another yay! Another goal I had for myself for this race was to not let drafting packs suck me in and annoy me. For the first time (ever!) when a pack wold go by and then slow down or get congested, I would slow down and keep my distance. I would either soft pedal or if I was in aero, I would sit up and let the wind resistance slow me down.

And it worked!!! I didn't get stressed at all about drafters this race. Another yay! When I would feel the familiar tickle of annoyance, I would sit up and pee or drink or eat or whatever, and then say the words "Fluffy Bunnies." Immediately, I would relax. :) :)

When I owned the dollar store, I used to sell these Easter gift bags that had the cutest picture of fluffy baby bunnies on them. Thinking of how cute they are just relaxes me instantly. I also think of the time I went to the Calgary pet fair and held a little bunny. :) :) :)

So, all in all, I took off 21 minutes from last year's time -- more importantly, Coach Sara was pleased with where my fitness is at - that she wasn't expecting me to finish that soon! YAY!!

The race has kick started my final big block of training for Ironman Canada. :) :) :) I'm right back into training today and have a solid week ahead of me and I feel stronger and stronger! I am soooo excited for IMC this year!!!! :) :) :)

Wednesday is a hilly ride....Highwood Pass anyone? ;)

Would you like a tomato with your bike tune up?

2010-07-29T07:40:00.000-06:00

YES PLEASE! LOL!!

Yesterday, a plate of fresh home-grown tomatoes (sliced and peppered) awaited me at The Tuck Shop. I had emailed Gord telling him I would be coming over to see him immediately after swimming. I had wolfed down a nut/seed/raisin bar but was still hungry....

When I saw that plate of fresh tomatoes and two toothpicks -- I was in heaven! LOL!! We did a *cheers* with our toothpicks and dug in. Gord must have seen the look of hunger still on my face, because he disappeared into the house and brought out a heated Greek-seasoned chicken breast. YUM!!! That hit the spot!!

All that AND I got my race wheels, brake pads, and bike tuned up! A girl can't go wrong with that eh? :) :)

I returned from the Penticton camp on Sunday -- as usual, the coaches pushed me to my limits and beyond -- and I learned so much about myself.

I had a hard time emotionally at the camp though --- Friday we found out Kerry had committed suicide. Saturday I left for Penticton. Sigh. When I arrived in Penticton, everywhere I looked I saw Kerry.

I was the first to arrive at the beach for an easy swim. Usually, Kerry was ALWAYS the first one to arrive anywhere. I had to do a double take when I saw a big red truck with Alberta plates drive into the parking lot.

I dove into the camp sessions with gusto, but there were a number of examples where it was obvious Kerry's death was really impacting me...

For example: I showed up for our bike ride without my bike shoes. Everyone was forced to wait for me as I had to drive back to my condo and back to the meeting spot. Of course the condo was on the other side of town so they were all waiting 30 minutes for me!!!! I felt TERRIBLE!!!

Then, when I finally returned, I couldn't find a parking space...I finally found one and then ran over to the group....Only to realize I had left my helmet in the trunk. Sigh.

There are only so many times one can apologize and everyone was so good and I felt like such a total shit!!!

Ahhhh well. Thank goodness our camp was filled with kind, caring, awesome people. Thank you everyone for putting up with me!

Now, enough of feeling sorry for myself! As a good blogger friend emailed me....I might be down for a while, but soon enough, I'll pop up again like a cork. Thanks for that image, Ken. :) :)

Therefore, without further ado, may I present to you "Julie's highlights of Penticton Phat Camp 2010"

1. Volunteering at the local Olympic/Sprint triathlon as a kick off to our camp....I was paired with local team mate and good friend Tessa. We were in charge of blocking/directing traffic in and out of the Tim Horton's. As the race dragged on and there were fewer and fewer racers, we started taking pictures of each other *posing* with out neon vests and our traffic flags. LMAO!!!!

2. Biking for 3.5 hour (hilly!) with extremely sore legs....and realizing I could do it! You know how when your legs are sore from a previous day's workout and you can barely walk down the stairs? Well, my legs were that sore. I reached the section where coach Sara would tell me to do the longer or the shorter route. She told me, "I don't care if your legs are sore. Are you feeling woozy at all?" Even in the 35 degree heat, I was woozy free, so I trucked on the longer route. Couldn't believe I did it!!

3. Swimming so slow near the end of the camp, that my coach was worried about me out in the lake! LOL!!! When I get fatigued, swimming is the first thing that goes, and for me, it's like I am barely moving. LMAO!!!!

4. Complete and utter disappointment at the Pasta Factory in Penticton. I was totally craving a real proper spaghetti with meat sauce with melted cheese on top and what I got was the blandest most disgusting gut bomb ever. I went there again the next night and ordered a different dish -- still bland and gross. Ahhhh, Tomato Street, how I miss thee.........

5. The bike bottle rodeo. Coach Sara saw just how much work I need on my bike handling skills. LOL!! Good news, is that since I've been home, I set up my own bike bottle rodeo in the high school parking lot and PICKED UP MY VERY FIRST BOTTLE OFF THE GROUND as I rode by!!! YAHOOOOO!!!!! I can't wait to start picking up the little bottles next!!!

6. I couldn't believe I could push myself so much after doing Ironman Coeur D'Alene. I know I am fitter, but I had no idea that I would be able to do a proper camp 3 weeks after an Ironman. Man! This was a big eye-opener for me.

Well, that's it for now. I've got to repair some holes in my wetsuit, pack up, and then race the Calgary 70.3 on Sunday. :)

By the way, Coach Sara gave me the go ahead for the Silverman iron distance tri in November!!!!! YES!!!!!! :) :) :) :)

A Tribute to Kerry

2010-07-21T17:37:00.001-06:00

Coach Sara wrote a wonderful post over on her blog in memory of Kerry.

I have always admired those people who have the ability to use language to really get their feelings across. Sara is one of those people. I am so grateful that her post has given a voice to my own feelings about Kerry.

Kerry Enick Update......

2010-07-16T05:42:00.000-06:00

******** UPDATE*********

His body has been identified.

The article says "Body Found Near River" and then has a picture of Kerry smiling below it....

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/07/15/calgary-missing-kerry-enick-inglewood-truck.html

My prayers are with his wife and his family.

Last night, I had a hard time sleeping -- talking with fellow teammates and trying to process this...

Kerry Enick -- Still Missing

2010-07-15T06:38:00.000-06:00

Mercury Rising Triathlon teammate Kerry Enick (from Calgary) has been missing since last Wednesday, July 7. The police have now found his red truck, but are still looking for Kerry.

City of Calgary Newsroom Link: http://newsroom.calgary.ca/pr/calgary/seeking-public-assistance-163831.aspx

Kerry is a fixture in the Calgary triathlon community. Everyone either knows him or knows of him -- if you have ANY info at all....any tips, maybe you think you have seen him, please call the police!!!!!

I am so worried for him --- I've been praying and praying for his safe return.

Please come home safely, Kerry!!!!!!!

Wind.

2010-07-14T05:51:00.000-06:00

It was blasting away here in the Pass yesterday when I took my bike out. I knew it was going to be a brutal ride when I saw the trees bending in the wind and had hard time hearing my parents as they came walking up the front lawn....

And it was. A brutal ride.

I rode into the wind for the first bit -- there were a number of times the wind would buffet me about, and I nearly fell over a handful of times. That got my heart racing and my legs pedaling I tell you!! I was wobbling occasionally and stopped once on the way out to see if I had a flat....Nope.

When I eventually turned around, the tail wind was so strong and the cross winds so unpredictable, this was the first time I had to ride my brakes with the tail wind on the way home. I had a number of wobbles here too and stopped once more to make sure I didn't have a flat. Nope! Just the freaking wind!!

As I wobbled (or as the wheels "danced" underneath me -- this is how I use positive self-talk to eliminate fear, LOL!!) I experimented with different body positions to try and not wobble any more. Hahahahahahahahah!!! Haven't figured out the correct posture yet, but I'm not afraid of wobbling anymore. Errrrrr...IS that a good thing? LOL!!!!

So, I thought I'd compile a little list...

You Know it is Windy in the Crowsnest Pass When.....

You have trouble opening your car door to get into the car, AND you have trouble hanging onto it as you get in the car to prevent it from being ripped from its hinges...

Should have held on to that door buddy!

The new decorative light standards purchased by town council are not strong enough to hold decorative flower pots....

Seriously, there was quite the uproar when it was discovered
the new standards wouldn't hold up in the wind....

Drivers do a double take when they see the flags in front of the town office in Coleman ARE NOT MOVING. People call each other up: "Quick! Get outside and DO something! the wind is not blowing!"

There are whitecaps at the Lakes. (Errrr, is there ever a time there isn't whitecaps at the Lakes? Hee-hee!)

Now you know why you NEVER see people on that lake! LOL!

When turning into Pincher Creek, you think there is something wrong with your steering wheel as you have to hold it crooked to keep your car driving straight....

AARGH!! She's a blowin' today matey!

Well, that's all folks! Penticton camp is coming up this weekend and I am looking forward to some great training and some HEAT. I'll leave the wind here thank you very much. Heh-heh-heh. Happy training everyone! :) :)

Notes on IM Recovery

2010-07-07T08:30:00.000-06:00

Recovering after an IM is WAAAAAAYYYYY easier the fitter you are. The very first IM I ever did, I felt so nauseous and terrible for hours afterward. I could barely walk, and I remember I had to take the medal off my neck as it was pulling down my head....

This year after IMCDA, my muscles were sore, but I felt soooo much better. For the first time I ate (and wanted to eat!) two pieces of the finish line pizza. Hahahahaha!!! No nausea.

I mowed through that pizza -- I even got a pizza sauce stain
on the finisher's medal ribbon. LOL!!

Every single muscle in my body hurt though -- that hasn't changed. When I took a shower, even rubbing soap on my arms -- just touching my arms -- every little muscle was sore. Hahahahahaha!!!

Another first this year, was not having the roof of my mouth feel raw like a skinned rabbit (sorry Susi, but you love me still right? Hee-hee!) It always happened the day after an IM -- the roof of my mouth was so tender and raw, I could barely eat anything -- anything would irritate it. This year -- nada. Don't know if my uber coach and her nutrition plan for me had anything to do with it (YES!). :) :)

The day after IMCDA this year, I wanted red meat...BAD. I went to IHOP and ordered a steak and cheese omlette, then had a burger for lunch, then, when I got home, I made beef fajitas.

YES!! I am so glad I live in Alberta!! Hahahahaha!!

My legs still swell up considerably the day after an IM....Like HUGE. Driving home the day after probably didn't help matters -- my legs and ankles were so swollen and huge; my ankles actually wrinkled where they bend just from pressing on the gas pedal. So gross.

When I sat down at the restaurant to eat my burger, I kept poking my ankles and my legs and marveling at how swollen they were.

My tongue was white and corpse-looking the day after IMCDA. Oh man, I kept looking at it in the mirror and then brushed it with toothpaste.

For the first time, I haven't been laid out for the next few weeks after an IM in a comatose state of pain and exhaustion....True the first few days after IMCDA I felt like the biggest bag of a$$ EVER -- a feeling of utter crappiness and exhaustion....A kind of exhaustion where you can only sleep so much and the rest of time you just lay around feeling like crap.

I called my Mom and would tell her how crappy I feel. Then I would call Mike and say "I feel like crap." Then I would lie there in front of my computer watching TV episodes/movies and think of how crappy I felt. LOL!!!

I sprouted a number of zits on my chin the next few days after IMCDA too -- I think it must be all the Carbo Pro/gels/Gatorade = SUGAR just coming out of my body.

Ironman is such a shock to the body-- it takes a few days for my body to reset itself as it were.

This year is the first time I've been able to work out after an IM as well. I am in recovery mode, and my coach has given me some general guidelines to follow for the next couple of weeks.

Have you ever noticed that after a race you feel like you've made a step up in your fitness? I've felt like that for Olympic and Half Iron distances....this is the first time I've felt it after an Ironman though. Mainly because this year, one Ironman race doesn't signal the end of my *season*. :) :) :)

Yesterday, I took my bike out into the wind for about an hour spin. I wasn't expecting anything since it was so windy and I am in recovery mode. My plan was to bike to this turn off that when it is windy (like it was yesterday) takes me 28-30 min. to get to. When the wind isn't blowing, I can get there anywhere from 20 to 25 minutes.

Imagine my surprise when I glanced at my watch just out of curiosity and saw that I had made it there in 24 minutes. WHOA. I had to go further then I planned...and as it turned out, I still didn't go far enough, because when I made it home my watch read 53 minutes...

I'm really excited to be able to use an IRONMAN race as a stepping stone to more fitness. My God, how things have changed in the last 6 years....LMAO!!!!

God, I LOVE this sport!!! IMCDA 2010 - Race Report

2010-06-28T18:15:00.000-06:00

This is how I feel about Ironman distance races!! I LOVE'EM!!!!!

Here is a down and dirty (read: quickie race report) Total time was 12:19:06. I'm feeling so awesome -- thrilled with my run considering I missed so many weeks of run training due to my corpse-foot injury -- and am ready to frigging rock the course hard at IMC. MUAHAHAHAHA!!

Swim: If you ever want to do IMCDA -- start WAY THE HELL AWAY FROM THE BUOYS. I cannot emphasize this enough. You know you practice all year swimming in a pool, swimming in a lake, drafting, but what do you do when people all around you (and I mean literally all around) STOP swimming and doggie paddle?

You have to stop swimming too. There was a little chop, and those who stopped to sight above the waves created a domino effect, instead of people getting knocked down however; people doggie-paddled...and bobbed. Try swimming and coming into a wall of people dog-paddling. Good times.

I trained all those 100's for this??? AAARRGGHHHH!

Turning around the buoys was a joke. A very bad joke. I put it on facebook ...there were 50 people, maybe more, all standing upright in the water not moving at all. Wall to wall people....and I was in the middle. LOL!!! Back to back, belly to belly, it was a triathlete jamboree. There was no forward momentum - so very weird and frustrating.

What was hilarious was how we were all bobbing up and down in the water complaining to each other about it -- in the middle of a race!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Want to bob? Swim along the buoy line at IMCDA!
Green apple: C'mon!! Let's go people!
Red apple: Why? This is fun!
LMAO!!!

Bike: Beautiful course, but way too many people (and too much testosterone) for the first lap. The course is curvaceous but not what I would call "technical" by any stretch of the imagination. What IS technical about it, is negotiating these turns with other people who are gung-ho on the first lap to pass on the inside/outside/anyside. (I had one guy swear at me as he tried to pass me on a turn -- of course it's MY fault he couldn't ride his bike right? Couldn't possibly be his fault!! DORK!!!) Ahh well...things calmed down considerably after the first lap, and all the boys and girls played nicely together -- what a difference 90km makes. LMAO!!!!

During the second lap, when a sharp turn was imminent, we all lined up nicely in single file and took turns. And then if people wanted to pass, they did when it was safe to do so. :) :) :)

One tip I have to share -- my coach had me take my car and drive the course a couple of days before and take my bike along with me, to ride certain parts to get a feel for things. This was such an awesome idea. My Mom (Greatest mother and triathlon-sherpa ever) took notes while I drove. I'd say things like, "steep, steady rise here" and "rip-snort down hill there."

The places I chose to ride were a number of curvy downhill sections -- There were a couple of sections that were pretty tight (especially the one marked SLOW in bright orange tape all over the road -- LOL!) that I took it easy on, but there were a number of curvy downhill sections that LOOKED like they were tight but weren't. I took it sort of easy on this one section, then realized that I could really let 'er loose after the one steep part. So, I got the Momma to drive me back to the beginning of the section and I re-did it. :) :)

This was so good for race day -- on one section, I knew right after you turn onto Lancaster the road appears to turn at a right angle and then goes downhill fast. A lot of dudes had passed me going up the little incline, but as soon as I turned, I went into the harder gears, quickly changed into my hardest gear and then hammered down, down, and away. :) :) :) And up a heck of a long way up the other side. Free speed!!! :) :) :)

Bike nutrition was BANG ON!!! Thank you Coach Sara!!!! Couldn't believe it -- I did exactly what she told me to do and lo and behold it worked! :) :)

Run: Felt great! I like to count down the miles but sort of zone out for the first few miles just so I don't have to start at 26. Because counting down from 15 is better than 26. LOL!!!!

Run nutrition was bang on as well -- I started burping a bit and had to slow down (from my blistering run pace LMAO!!!) but burps subsided. The last mile was the longest, but the crowds made it very enjoyable. I was smiling so wide I thought my face was going to crack. :) :) :)

If you ever do IMCDA you have to eat at Tomato Street -- this has the best frigging spaghetti I have ever eaten in my life. I ordered a simple spaghetti, meat sauce and mozza cheese baked on top --- who knew heaven could be contained in a massive bowl of spaghetti? Oh yeah, and as we waited in line, a waitress brought out free pizza for everyone to snack on. AND if you are a kid (or maybe act like one!) they bring out little packets of penne and other noodles and craft wire and you can make your very own pasta necklace while you await your dinner!! How cool is that?

Seriously, I would go to CDA just for this restaurant.

So, this morning after the race (I feel so much better than I've ever felt after doing an Ironman) -- I asked Coach Sara if I should pencil in the Silverman Iron-distance tri in November. MUAHAHAHAHAHA!! I am to concentrate on IMC now -- there is no hurry to register, so my eagerness must be channeled to the next task at hand.

All in all I am so excited about my next race! My training is chugging along and the ole bod is responding well, so here we go IMC!! YEE-HAW!!!

Oh yes!!! One thing I wanted to share -- I did have two negative bouts during the race. Both attacked me on the bike as I thought of my slower swim time (compared to IMC). Each time I said to myself, "Julie, does it really matter? Why are you doing this?" My answer with all my heart...."Because I love it!!" I really, really love it.

Every race is different -- the weather, the course, your health, etc -- what matters in Ironman is to keep on going. Emotions have no place during race day -- they serve no purpose. That's what the finish line is for, is to let them come crashing out. :) :)

I am fitter and I am getting faster and I am soooooo excited about IMC. Like I tell anyone who listens, EVERY RACE IS A PB. (I'm sure I was quite the equivocator during the Spanish Inquisition in a past life. LOL!) But seriously, why the heck look at the glass half empty? It serves no other purpose than to bring you down. So, buck up and look up. :) :) :) :)

Recovery time....I have many pool drills planned. Perfect time to spend a week learning how to swim don't ya think? Hee-hee!!!

Holy Metablosim Hotball!

2010-06-22T07:32:00.000-06:00

I swear in the last three days my metabolism has kicked into serious overdrive. Is it part of the taper thing? I don't know, but I suspect it has something to do with it. I've been sweating at night -- I can feel my body ramping up, and this morning after swimming (30 minutes -- WHOA what a workout hahahaha!) I was so freaking hot and hungry. I had to come home right away and eat a second breakfast. First brekkie was a big bowl of oatmeal, hemphearts, cottage cheese and an apple; second brekkie was two eggs on toast plus toast with almond butter.

And that makes me feel satiated -- not even full...

With the majorly reduced training I feel so funny when I need a nap after a 30 minute swim. Hahahahahahahaha!!!

Here is some info for my friends and family who creep and don't comment.....

On June 27 go to www.ironman.com

In the middle of the screen there will be a pink box with the info for the two races occurring that day: Ironman Coeur D'Alene, and Ironman France. Under the Ironman Coeur D'Alene (IMCDA) header will be a link to click....Athlete Tracker (or something along those lines.)

Click on that and it will take you to a page where you can enter my name or bib # to track me. My bib # is 2290.

And there you have it!!

I am retreating into into my pre-Ironman bubble now. I won't be checking emails, etc (except from my coach) -- I am one of those people who really pick up on nervous energy so I switch on hermit-mode.

See ya after IMCDA!!!!

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Ironman -- The Wal-Mart of Iron Distance Triathlon

2010-06-17T08:57:00.000-06:00

In 10 days I'll be racing (yes, racing in terms of pushing myself to a new PR) my sixth Ironman. All of these races have been the M-Dot race. When I first got into triathlon, I wasn't even aware that Ironman/M-Dot was a brand. I thought that was what those races were called. And that there weren't other options.

So how is Wal-Mart like Ironman?

1. It's a big and powerful brand -- everyone has heard of it...

2. Ironman and Ironman 70.3 races are everywhere...

3. Ironman participants come in all shapes and sizes, like shoppers...

4. Spending obscene amounts of money to enter a race, and then purchase ridiculously over-priced clothing feels like a deal, but you can't help but feel a little dirty about yourself afterward...

5. All the feel good marketing aside, make no mistake Ironman is about making money. The more, the merrier.

6. Bike courses are clogged like the aisles of a Wally World on a Saturday afternoon.

LOL!!!

I'm also racing Ironman Canada this year, and then perhaps a non M-Dot race later on. Next year, I'm thinking of going completely renegade and race independent Iron Distance races...They cost half or less than half the price of M-Dot races, and have WAY FEWER people.

For me, I really have a problem with the packs of men that draft during Ironman. Last year at Ironman Canada, this one pack of 10-12 guys would break up on the hills -- both uphill and downhill. I would pass many of these guys, only to have them regroup on the flatter portions and roll by me again...and again...and again.

There is nothing more aggravating than hearing the click-click-click of some a$$hole that has stopped pedaling right behind you and sucking on your draft. I wasn't mentally prepared to deal with this - and I know it was emotionally draining. On a day as physically and mentally taxing as Ironman, any emotional instability is a waste of energy.

One solution I've thought of is to train more, get faster, get away from these situations. But, I can't help but wonder how much more wonderful it would be to have only 200 competitors instead of 2600....

Kona isn't my BIG goal. I'd like to qualify (as proof that I am getting faster), but I wouldn't take the slot, because my ultimate goal is to get faster. I'd rather save my money and go to a training camp for a month than do Kona. It just doesn't hold the thrall for me. Although I TOTALLY support my buds and anyone who has that as their goal. It just isn't my goal.

So, removing Kona from the equation liberates me to participate in different races....

Dude....you were CHICKED in the Crowsnest Pass

2010-06-13T07:44:00.000-06:00

So I'm out riding yesterday in the HOT SUN (WHEEEEE!!) and my main set was 5x5 min HARD Oly pace followed by 3 min easy. I was on my fourth set and noticed a cyclist up ahead.

Now this is a remarkable thing because very rarely do I see any local person cycling. Very rarely. Like I've said before, the guys you see on a bike usually have a cigarette hanging out of their mouths and two Safeway shopping bags draped over the handlebars to pick up empty cans and bottles out of the ditch.

Back to my story...I was rapidly approaching said cyclist during my hard set. The clock ticked over and it was time for 3 min easy. I could see that my easy pace was his pace -- the distance between us remained the same, so I knew that when I started my final 5 min HARD, I would blow by him.

Well, it turns out the dude was one of those "Mr. I-will-not-be-passed-by-a-chick" guys. Sigh.

Yeah, I'm cute AND faster than you suckah!!!

I started my final set and went to pass him yelling, "Coming by on your left!" The dude actually stood up on his pedals and tried to accelerate. I was like WTF?!?!?! We are on the fricking shoulder of a highway and he's trying to *race* me? Oh PLEASE!

I blew by him and then forgot about him...

Finished my 3 min easy and then had 10 min cool down -- I went past my house, and decided to go 5 minutes up the highway, then turn around and come back. Little did I know that Mr. Dude was working himself into a lather...

I was taking it really easy, cooling down, and saw that there was an opening in traffic and thought now would be a good time to turn around. I looked behind me to make sure there was no other traffic and BUDDY was on my a$$. I had to swerve closer on the shoulder and WAIT for him to go. As he goes by, he says uncertainly, "On your left."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! He must have hammered himself to try and *catch* me --- and he passes me when I am barely moving and trying to turn around --- Oh man, I couldn't believe the testosterone plume coming from his helmet...it rivaled the volcano in Iceland I swear. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Onto other news....

My nasty cold has just about left the building -- fortunately I was able to train through it, literally under the watchful eye if my coach. (Made it easy when I stayed with her for a week and a half! Hee-hee!) I didn't realize how depleted my body was from fighting off that infection until the day of my 6 hour HILLY ride....

6 hours of Victoria hills.

Not the little road bumps called the Road to Nepal. Oh no, these are real hills, my friends.

This ride has gone down in the history books as the ride of the 7 Snickers and two bags of chips.

Because that is how much I ate during those 6 hours. Plus gatorade. Oh. My. God. And I ran 30 min afterward too!

I was so alarmed with my intake of food that I immediatey told my coach how much I had eaten -- she was the one who explained my body must be so depleted. Because I never eat like that. Oh man -- and I had Snickers belly for a couple of days afterward too. Fortunately, a half bag of cherries on the loooooong drive back from Victoria expedited their departure from my body...

Let's see....

I made up a song for my man on the way home too. For those of you who don't know already, my Mike is also known as The Bun. I made up three verses to the tune of "King of the Road" and *my* song is entitled "Bun's on the Road!" (He works in the oil industry so he's always driving a lot. Hee-hee!)

I was so excited to sing it to him -- and he was so impressed; I have to leave a message on his cell phone and sing it so he can have it. Hahahahahahaah!!!

I also got The Bunler this for his birthday...

SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :)

New Wetsuit Tip

2010-06-05T09:06:00.000-06:00

Seriously, I thought I knew everything there was about putting on a wetsuit....

But yesterday I learned the COOLEST trick of all!!!!

My wetsuit was still damp from the race, and I was having a hard time putting it on. A woman offered to help me get it on by blowing through my wetsuit at my ankle. She told me to lie down on this bench and she would blow.....

I swear my eyes boggled out incredulously and declined. She said, never mind, I'll help you get your arms in when you come outside. (We were in the women's change room.)

I sort of forgot about it, but when I emerged from the change room she was right there eager to help. Now here is the totally crazy part...

She pulled back my wetsuit from my wrist a little bit, like she was going to blow up a balloon. And then she blew. And holy crap, that little puff inflated my wetsuit with a big air pocket and I could easily pull up my wetsuit!!

I'm a convert!! I was so excited about this new discovery I quickly started babbling to everyone in my immediate vicinity. Hee-hee!!!

So awesome!! :) :)

Quickie Race Report

2010-05-31T09:21:00.000-06:00

It was freezing cold. Freezing cold. Had trouble putting helmet, etc. on after the swim. The sun had come out at the beginning of the day, so I opted not to put on a jacket. Bad decision. 4 laps of 20 km were brutally cold in my tri suit.

My teeth were chattering uncontrollably and I kept monitoring my core to see if I would have to drop out. I used all kinds of self talk to try and relax and get through the bike.

Felt AWESOME and strong on the fourth leg -- so good!

Run was my first race attempt with a camel back. There was one dude that had made a semi-snide comment about my camel bak as I arranged my stuff in transition before the race. You have got to hand it to the guy though -- I passed him (I didn't even know it) and he shouted "Great job!" the two times I saw him. :) By the way -- I loved having the camel bak and am definitely going to use it again!

Results: A touch faster than last year but like Sara said, "It's not indicative of your current fitness." Last year, I tapered pretty hard, this year, I raced at the end of a hardcore camp with no taper. All is good -- in fact all is great! Everything is lining up for Ironman Coeur D'Alene!!! YAY!!

I am staying in Victoria with my coach for another week to get more REAL hills in. And train, train, train.

3rd in age group -- I got a hat!! YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next stop...IMCDA!!!! :) :) :) :)

Where is Jasper Blake?

2010-05-27T06:36:00.001-06:00

Why in my hotel room of course!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Tisha and I are sharing a hotel room and last night's group nutrition/triathlon talk was held in our room. Jasper Blake was kind enough to stop by and discuss all aspects of nutrition -- from daily to race day stuff. He even shared with us his fool-proof formula for race day fueling. AWESOME!!

I WILL get faster by osmosis!!! LOL!!

Afterward, Sara gave us homework assignments -- to use the formula to calculate our own nutritional requirements for race day. Some of us are racing the half on Sunday, one is racing the Olympic, and one is racing the sprint. I am super excited to implement this new plan!!!! :) :)

Yesterday was a 5 hour rainy bike ride. My goal was to keep up with the boys -- and I worked hard to do it! The hilly route we took puts the Road to Nepal to shame. I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to move and train in Victoria!! No wonder it is a triathlon mecca...

I mean when you continually see signs of 15%, you KNOW you are in another world. Hill after hill after hill. The hills are so steep that standing out of my saddle was a scary study in balance. I would stand up and put my bum way back to help me balance the bike. Standing normally would have tipped me over.

There were a few times I honestly wondered if I was going to have to get off my bike and walk up -- my legs threatened to give out again and again. Hahahahah!!

We had to add a bunch of stuff to make up 5 hours -- we had started by doing the famous (or should I say infamous?) Observatory hill twice, and then added bits of circuitous routes. When we got to the hotel, we STILL had time, so we went back to the Observatory hill and did that one more time. Right after we all peed at the bottom...LOL!!!

By this time, the three of us, Todd, Nick and I had bonded on our rain-drenched odyssey. Todd's cleat came off his shoe and was embedded in his pedal. Nick was fantasizing about the smell of fries and vinegar we had detected going through one town. And I had gone through all of my date balls!! Hahahahaha!!

A quick aside -- at one point during the ride, two coaches (Sara and Carrie) in one support vehicle told us that this was the last time we'd see them as everyone was so spread out. So time to fuel up. I *thought* I was fueled and ready to go, but as I stood there debating about grabbing some more food, my stomach suddenly opened up....

In about 2 minutes, I ate the rest of my date balls, 2 Rice Krispie squares and a Mr. Big bar. Holy crap! And then, I wasn't even FULL -- just ready to go again!! Hahahahah!!

Good times!! :) :) :)

Julie - 1, Coyote - 0

2010-05-23T09:17:00.001-06:00

Hell hath no fury like a Julie protecting her baby Toby dog. Coyotes can run, but so can I ....plus I have a hell of a set of lungs that I can holler and shout with. (I get it from my Dad, both of us laugh LOUD -- talk LOUD, everything LOUD. LOL!!)

The coyote had been following us, and came out of nowhere and was suddenly right behind Toby. For some reason I looked around just at that moment...

I didn't even think -- I just acted. I started shouting and running after it. It looked back once at me as it was running away, it's tail down. But that sucker stayed in the vicinity and I saw it on the way back too.

Off to Victoria!! :)

Running in my clogs...

2010-05-22T18:19:00.000-06:00

6 hours on the Road to Nepal today (or RtN as Keith has coined it! Love it, btw, Keith!)

Sadly, I didn't see any buffalo babies the entire time -- only horses. One was a l'il pony with a tricked out mane that reminded me of Elvis.

It was COLD to start - I think it was 4 degrees Celsius. No matter, I turned my mind off and got the ride done. At about 5:15 into the ride, my body wanted to stop and even the littlest hill saw me barely pedaling. It would have been funny if I could have mustered up the energy to laugh...As it was, all I could do was groan. ;)

Now, each time I have made the 2 hour trip to RtN, I have usually forgotten something. Or had a close call. Well, today, I was halfway there and realized I forgot my running shoes. I had a 30 minute brick after and all I had brought were these:

I was happy I hadn't brought my flip flops. I even thought of running sock feet...but then that thought quickly passed. Hahahahaha!

I finally finished the ride -- oh man, I was BAGGED -- and put on my clogs. I was sort of nervous at first as my foot is still not 100%, but thought, what the heck? When I was in Nepal, the Sherpas would carry 100+lb piles of stuff on their backs and climb mountains covered in snow/ice and be barefoot in flip flops. I can channel the Sherpa!

And I did! I ran 30 minute in those suckers, and they weren't too bad!! Although I must have looked like some sweet action with my cycling jacket and clogs. Oh yeah baby. Hahahahahaha!!

By the way these are my favourite pair of shoes -- and the ones I have been known to wear with compression tights in public. (Facebook mini-discussion last night -- HAHAHAHAHAH!) Such a hawt look, I know. Hahahahahahaha!!!!!

Wind - 1, Julie - 0

2010-05-19T16:32:00.000-06:00

On today's agenda was a 4 hour ride: 2h10 one way, and then time trial back. The wind had other ideas. It was blowing HARD from the west (the normal way). I decided on a southerly route so I would have a monster cross wind both ways, and a head wind coming home.

CRAP.

I took 4 big Balls of Fury with me and ate them all before the 2 hour mark. I was working hard in the wind and I was starving. I made it to a gas station and ran in there and grabbed a Snickers and started eating it right then and there. The guy was outside filling gas and there was no way I was waiting for him to come back in -- I was ravenous. I threw down a $10 bill and just kept eating as the man finally came back inside, and went behind the counter. He asked me what I wanted to buy...

I still had my sunglasses on and was standing there at the counter wolfing down the Snickers -- I held up the half-eaten Snickers bar and kept chomping away. Hahahahahahaha!!!

The rest of the ride was just as brutal -- even more so, when I had to pedal past my house as I still had time to make up the 4 hours. But WHOOIIEEE when I turned around and had the wind at my back -- YEEHAWWWW!!! :) :) The ride was more like grind in your easiest gear for 3 hours and 50 minutes, and FLY for 10 minutes.

And no, I will never tire of telling everyone just how windy it is here. In fact, "windy" isn't even the right word. "Wind" gives the impression of something soft, wispy, airy, breezy. What happens in the Crowsnest Pass is something out of a horror film -- violent surging gusts --- you want to know what a speed wobble feels like? You don't even have to cycle fast to get blasted every which way.

The "wind" is like a screaming, raging banshee. We don't own patio furniture in the Crowsnest Pass - no nice little lanterns or garden wind chimes, or any of those other nice outdoor paraphernalia. Because they will literally blow away. BLAST away. Even parts of my fence have blown down....

This is why I get such a kick out of hearing other people's stories of "wind" while cycling. A typical day in the Pass: When you try to open your car door, you struggle as though you are lifting an elephant. Then, it takes all of your strength to hang onto the door (now the elephant is jerking about) and not have it ripped out of your hands. Now THAT's a wind, my friends.

LMAO!!!!!!

OOH yeah -- and the fun part is when a big semi truck comes by and the "wind" is just right and it feels like a brick wall of air hits your whole body and bike. This happened once today. I closed my eyes involuntarily -- like I knew it was the end. Hahahahahahaah!!

Had a 15 min. brick afterward which went surprisingly well -- even into the wind. But, as soon as I got inside the house, I started eating again. And continued to eat for the last couple of hours. Hahahahahaha!!

And of course now, the wind has died down: Wind - 1, Me - 0. Until next time....

:) :)

BALLS OF FURY!

2010-05-17T19:58:00.000-06:00

These are my new favourite long ride food......I call them BALLS OF FURY! When I talk about them, I talk about them in capital letters as well. Hahahahaha!!

Very, very easy to make: Take a whack of dates and a bunch of shredded coconut put in blender. Form into balls. Finito! I freeze the bunch and take out what I need and then wrap them individually in saran wrap for rides. You can fit a lot in a bento box and even more in your jersey pockets. :)

I still like the occasional almond butter and jelly sandwich, but lately I've been passing over the sandwiches in favour of the date balls.

On Saturday, I was on the Road to Nepal for 5 hours and every time I ate a ball, I imagined this deep voice saying, "BALLS OF FURY!"

And yes, it takes very little to amuse me/occupy my mind on long rides...

;)

It's official!

2010-05-14T09:57:00.000-06:00

I have gone down a swimsuit size. :) :) I am now 34/8 in Speedo!!!!!

I started "Operation Lean Down" after the November Calgary camp. The first 8lbs I lost were easy -- I stopped eating $hit. No more chocolate almonds from Costco, no more nachos and cheese, no more crap.

Then, with some tips and advice from my coach, I started to eat way more protein, fruit, and veggies. I think the key for me has been in finding what fruit and veggies I enjoy and incorporating easy snacks and recipes into my diet.

I've gotten creative in finding ways to add protein to my diet too: hemp hearts, cottage cheese, black beans, chick peas, and chicken breasts are my best friends. :) Oh yeah, and LOTS of good fat too: avocados, walnuts and raisins, olive oil, almond butter

Poor Mike is even more frustrated with all the veggies that are in the fridge now. He opened the door and said, "LOOK! The whole bottom half of the fridge is GREEN! AAARRGGHH!!!" Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!

So...from a high of 140lbs, I am now sitting at 126lbs....

:) :) :)

Race Report

2010-05-10T08:21:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I raced in the Lethbridge Olympic tri and ended up 2nd female overall. While I am happy with that, I am not content....

You see, where I place in terms of other people is not as important to me as where I place in terms of competing against myself. My focus is always on kicking my own butt and improving.

Thus, even though I had the fastest bike split by about 2 minutes, and improved on my run by another minute, my slower swim left me extremely disappointed. I was 2 minutes slower than last year!

You have no idea the depths to which I sunk last night. My chest felt so heavy, I was so disappointed in myself. Why haven't I improved? I am training full-time, I have no excuse for this slower time. I didn't focus on the bike or the run times, I was totally immersed in my swim time.

Now, I did have the sense to realize that these negative emotions and fears (namely: No matter how much I train I will not get better because I suck so bad, etc.) were stemming from race fatigue. I knew if I could not get too lost in the emotions that I could ride it out.

This morning, I got up early to go to the pool for a recovery swim. The heaviness had lifted and I felt back to my usual self. I decided to see what drills I could do this morning to determine what I might have done wrong swimming yesterday.

When I do drills, I like to do the same one over and over and over again until I start to *get it*. I'll do the drill for 50m then swim 50m -- I'll do this until time is up and lose total count of meters swam.

After the first catch-up drill, I timed myself for an easy 50 m swim. I noted the time, then did another catch up drill. This time I really focused on flicking my catch powerfully back like Peanut kicking up kitty litter. Then, I timed myself for an easy 50m again. This time it was 2 seconds faster. Did it again, then it was 3 seconds faster.

I feel a little bit closer to understanding what the water is supposed to feel like -- I know I can do this.

Here is the SWEET transition backpack every competitor received instead of a race shirt! It is a proper triathlon transition bag -- and I JUST ordered one for over $100 -- this one came with the race -- so AWESOME!!!

Couple of side notes:

A cop directing traffic waved a car through right in front of me -- I screamed and slammed on my brakes. Oh man. Cop yelled out "Sorry!"

Traffic control was a gong show -- there was a gap between racers, I was out there alone. Two cars again were waved in front of me, I had to pull over into the left lane of traffic (4 lanes on divided highway, so I wasn't biking into oncoming traffic) and was riding beside them until the one car slowed down so I could get back onto the right shoulder again. Very scary.

I was THAT athlete who tried to get on the bike with the shoes clipped in already...let's just say I won't be doing that again. Hahahahahahaha!! And yes, I looked like a total idiot.

Wind was nuts even by my standards. Bike times were slower across the board. Came this close to asking a volunteer to take off my helmet, my hands were frozen.

Iced latte, cups of fruit, a yogurt, maple salmon (lasted Mike's picking -- LOL!) and some hardware made a great day. :)

Next stop Victoria and the Shawnigan half where I am going to SERIOUSLY kick my own butt and HARD too. :)

Bikini Weather Part Deux!

2010-05-04T17:46:00.000-06:00

Beautiful Spring Weather!

2010-05-03T18:44:00.000-06:00

...and my torso is along for the ride...

2010-04-30T11:19:00.001-06:00

This is one of the many (and I mean MANY) things that go through my head while I am swimming/biking/running.

In this particular case, my torso is along for the ride when I am running. This is the cue that really works for me. Hahahahaha!!!

Here's a selection of a number of other cues/things I tell myself when I am training:

Swimming:

"Don't swim like a crucifix." (Asked if I was religious because I "swam like a crucifix" in Australia. Hahahahahaha!!! I think about this one a lot --- LOL!)

"Clench that butt" -- if you clench your butt you WILL kick straight and not break at the knee. Try it, you won't believe how much better you kick.

"If I cross over again, Clint will throw a weight at me...." (I don't think this one needs any more explanation. LOL!)

"Don't swim like a chicken wing." (Sara told me this over and over again. I think about this a lot too. Hahahahahaah!!!)

"Bubble, bubble, breeeeeeeathe." Lifted this off a swim site -- I was holding my breath sometimes as I swam. I would have told you there was no way I did that, but then I read how just about every new swimmer does this, and I realized that I did it too at times -- which is why I would feel breathless sometimes. Swimming doesn't make you breathless...holding your breath does. Go figure!! LOL!!! (Anyways, you say bubble, bubble to make sure you are constantly blowing bubbles when your face is in the water. Means you are exhaling all the time, and inhaling when you are supposed to -- no holding of breath. What a difference this has made for me!)

Biking:

"Each butt cheek is operating independently of the other..."(That's what it feels like, people!! LOL!)

"Pedal from the bum, pedal from the bum...."

I think you pretty much get the gist of all my biking thoughts...they pretty much all have to do with my bum. Hahahahahahaha!!!

Running:

"Let your legs float and your torso is along for the ride."

"Pump those arms." (Or as Sara has told me over and over again, "Arms, Julie, arms!")

Any of you have some interesting cues that you'd like to share? Hmmmmm? Let's have 'em!! :)

My sister is a stud

2010-04-26T07:49:00.000-06:00

I have been itching to share this news for some time now.....

My sister and her husband recently made the decision to sell their home in northern Saskatchewan, leave their jobs, and start completely new lives in Calgary. They DO NOT have jobs lined up. They DID NOT have a place to live figured out.

They DID know that they had to leave -- there were numerous signs in all aspects of their lives that pointed to change, and they had the courage to listen to them.

Initially, they tried to do the *responsible thing* and tried to line up new jobs. But as the months ticked by, they realized that sometimes, change starts with a leap of faith. And like with all leaps of faith --- those burning desires that are just waiting to be heard.....those dreams that have been kept close to the heart for so long....when they finally made the decision to follow their bliss, things happened very, very quickly:

They listed their house, and it sold within the month. :) :) They found an amazing condo in a great part of Calgary. My sister found a great used car off kijiji (for an AWESOME price) to replace the paint-peeling one that wouldn't have passed the inspection from Saskatchewan to Alberta.

The job front is still a work in progress, and I am so excited to see how their lives unfold!! :) PLUS I get to see my sister and her husband as much as I want to now!!!! YAY!!!! Before, the 12 hour drive to their old place meant I'd see her maybe once or twice a year.

Mike and I went up to stay with them this weekend. As I wasn't going to be running the half marathon, it gave me even more time to visit with them. :) :)

Mike met up with his son and the two of them spent the day at this sci-fi/comic book conference thing. Mike was all excited and said that next year I could come with him and dress up like an Avatar character "because there were all these chicks painted blue and in bikinis." LMAO!!!

Oh yeah! You know how pearls of wisdom pop up randomly in life? And if you have your heart open, you are able to hear a message uniquely suited to you? Well, last week I watched a bit of this cooking show...I think it is called Ricardo and Friends. I kept saying (yes out loud -- I make jokes out loud to myself and then laugh at them even when I am alone in the house watching TV -- HAHAHAHAH!) "Ricardo, I'll be your friend!!" And then I would laugh at my cleverness -- I think I said it every time there was a commercial break. LOL!!!

See, Ricardo makes all these delicious meals and then invites his buds over to partake. I would LOVE to be invited to one of those meals!!!!

Anyways, the show started off with Ricardo learning how to make bagels at this bagel shop in Montreal. (Another reason I giggle throughout the show is Ricardo's French accent reminds me of Mike's best friend Paris....) When Ricardo made a mistake rolling out a bagel, he automatically started to correct it. The head bagel guy stopped him and said, "We never go back and try to fix it, we do the next one better."

How's that pearl of wisdom for you? I've been thinking of this all week whilst swimming. :) :) :) :) :)

Mercury Rising Triathlon

2010-04-23T14:20:00.000-06:00

My team's website is now up and running!!!! YAY!! Check it out:

http://www.mercuryrisingtriathlon.com/

In other news, I just got off the phone with my coach and she told me that the half mary is out for me this weekend. My foot is getting better every day, and I am excited about my next race -- A TRIATHLON (YAY!!) on May 9.

I managed to haul my sorry butt out of the pool this morning and make it to the end of this block in one piece. My last set was swimming with the band and I couldn't make it to one end of the pool without doing a butterfly kick about 3/4 of the way across to keep me afloat. Hahahahaah!!!

Then, when I would turn around and swim back to the shallow end, my feet would sink until they touched the bottom of the pool, at which point I'd stand up and push off and swim again. No flip turns happened during this time -- I was barely moving forward and the one time I tried to do a flip turn, I was so tired I just about sank. Hahahahaha!!!

Besides, I needed all the extra momentum I could to get from one end of the pool to the other.

The funniest through all this slow moving was when I got to take a 20 sec rest between one of the "sets." Hahahahahahaha!!

I was so tired when I got home I needed Mike to help me open the fridge. Hahahahahahaha!!! Can't wait for this rest week so I can do this all over again!!! :) :)

(I am wearing a maniacal grin right now!!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!)

I wanted hills

2010-04-18T06:14:00.000-06:00

....and boy did I get them!!!

I had 4 hours of hilly riding to do yesterday and my offerings to the weather gods were accepted. Thus, I packed up my car, drove 2 hours to Calgary, and rode back and forth and back forth along the Road to Nepal.

Awesome, awesome hilly ride. The wind was relentless as were the hills, and I just love hills!!! I am excited to keep biking this route and get stronger and stronger.

One funny thing happened yesterday -- Keith came out to surprise me. He parked his car on the side of the road up ahead of me, and walked along the shoulder cheering me to the top of the hill. Hahahahah!! Poor Keith though -- I was at 2:17 into my ride and I was OUT OF IT. I was riding those hills into the wind and I barely even acknowledged him when I first saw him!

I stopped for a few minutes and got out a granola bar and chatted with Keith a bit. Still, I was in that zombie-like frame of mind that is uniquely induced by sunshine and long bouts of prairie wind....You know the way your eyes and face look so weary by facing the elements during a long ride? Hahahahahah -- that was me. I even had a hard time talking to my buddy.

Ah well -- Keith, it was so great seeing you out there yesterday -- it was a welcome respite from the dusty brown pallet and lack of other cyclists. It really was such an awesome surprise to see you -- just know that I am now fully back to myself! LOL!!!!!

One of the great reasons I love this route is that the downhill sections give you an excellent opportunity to go aero with crosswinds and every-which-way-winds buffeting you about the road as you descend. I find that I am more stable when I am in aero when the winds are blasting than when I am sitting up. I've never owned a road bike, so I don't know if maybe tri bikes are built that way or what -- all I know, is that after 4 hours on that road, any fears of being in aero whlist being blasted by wind are erased. LOL!!!!!

How to catch a wave -- LOL!!!

2010-04-12T05:15:00.000-06:00

I do not have exercise-induced asthma!!!!

2010-04-06T10:36:00.001-06:00

First workout after Australia -- yes that is a balaclava.

Jet lag can be a KILLER!!!! Holy-o-crap, I never knew that jet lag could be so nasty. Apparently flying from west to east can wreak havoc on your body's circadian rhythms. And the more time zones you fly through the worse it gets. I had terrible nausea and gastro-intestinal stuff for 3 days.

So bad that I would talk with my jaw clenched because even the action of talking made me nauseous. My foot swelled up to a disgusting size and took a couple of days to go down again...thank goodness my ankles are back. Hahahahaha!! Speaking of which...

The foot healeth.....

In other news....I found out that my exercise-induced asthma was not asthma at all but Vocal Chord Dysfunction. This is why me taking 9 hits of of various inhalers per day did nothing for me. The specialist I went to when I got back from Australia told me my symptoms were "classic" of this vocal chord thing.

Here is what happens: Certain triggers like cold air, strong pool chemical smells, level of effort in exercise caused my vocal chords to collapse. Then, like Pavlov's dogs, my body trained itself to respond the same way to these triggers again and again. The GREAT news is that I can recondition my body with a simple breathing technique!!!

Are you ready for this?

All I have to do is when I feel an attack coming on is to inhale three times through my nose and sniff. Like this: Sniff.....sniff, sniff. After the first sniff, you wait a second and then take two more sniffs. You don't exhale between sniffs, three sniffs and then the vocal chords are forced to open.

I am off all inhalers -- no more steroid inhaler, or nose spray stuff, or allergy stuff. All gone. Now, when I am in the pool, I think of my sniffing thing as my own personal inhaler on demand whenever I need it. I also visualize my throat's airway as being HUGE and OPEN like the size of a grapefruit. (Got this idea off the internet.)

And it works. Can't believe it. When I feel the chords trying to collapse in the pool, sometimes I don't even need to sniff now -- I just visualize my airways being open. I can't believe the difference has been instantaneous!!!! I am so thankful I got in to see the specialist. :) :)

Oh yeah -- he also told me that asthma sufferers make noises on the exhalation NOT the inhalation. Mine was always on the inhalation -- I had one episode that was so bad in Australia my voice (on it's own) was whining and wailing as I was trying to breathe. I felt so stupid when Sara asked if I was Ok, and I could only make these stupid wailing noises and gasped out, "I can't control this noise!" The attacks were also linked to an emotional response I noticed -- not panic per day, but frustration and tears even. Very, very weird.

So.....I am ready for summer!!!! :) :) :) :)