Manatee Monkey Mentors SHUT (Poptart or pet pic bribes considered) (Page 44)

WTF did I get myself into???  We went and rode part of the Whistler bike course today.  Holy shizzle.  We rode the first 93 km of the route, then the last 32km.  1953m of elevation gain (That is 5859 ft for you 'Muricans).  Which, on it's own, I have problem with.  What I do take issue with, however, is the wind.  Like going up hills at 7km/hr due to wind.  Or getting ready to enjoy the downhill, and getting hit with a headwind that slows you to 20km/hr (when you might've gotten up to 40ish).  No likey!!!!  I think it was the hardest ride I have ever done (not that I am a lifelong cyclist or anything, but still).  It also couldn't decide if it wanted to be sunny, or rainy, or sunny, or rainy, or sunny....  Ah well, guess we'll be ready for anything on race day... we are going up at least 4 more times, 2 long rides and 2 medium, so hopefully that will help.  I see much walking of the 42.2

ETA:  Forgot to mention that a couple weeks ago, we rode 4:54 for 125km.  Today we rode 125km in 5:48.  Wind.

Mary - the new frame sounds awesome!  What a great find!

Ben - Congrats on the PODIUM!

Ann-Marie - I think that i's swimwear.  I googled and found this http://www.dubai-abaya.com/muslim-swimwear.html. I could find nothing when I tried to find images for running gear.  Hands, I'm with you on it being a choice to wear. I know that at times in my life I have though maybe I need to wear something loose and flowing and modest.  Maybe I need a sari to cover up.

Judi - Congras on the tri and the SWIM PR!

Kirsten - Way to gut it out!  Race day is going to go so well for you after training on the course!  Familiarity + taper = awesome race!

Yanti - I love your business sense!

Jo - Nice to see you!

ETA: Let me just point out that Judi's swim PR -- no wetsuit was involved.  The water temperature was about 80!

Hope Randee had a speedy race this morning.

Judi, Monica and Tom...GO, GO, GO!

Monica, how did you do?  

Tom - Congrats on the 5k

Kirk - When's the training plan start?

Stacey - Did Phil get the shoes for you?  

Randee - Congrats on the HIM relay!  Great swim!  

Debi - So glad that your doc gave you the thumbs up!

Monica - Knock 'me dead this morning (not litterally!)  And sorry to hear about your back.

This did not fail to escape my attention and I doubt it is an error.

Ben:  Firstly HUGE congrats on your 2nd AG and 5th OA, you are SOOOOOO speedy!  Of course I have a western accent, I'm from western Canada.    And I know, my hair totally matches my sunshiny personality!    (that's what you meant, right?? )   

Welllll... Unfortunately I tweaked my back on Saturday swapping out the wheels on my bike which left me lying flat on my back on the floor and cursing up a storm to the point the cats were hiding under the bed scared at whatever angry demon had possessed my vocabulary.  

I decided (probably unwisely, but no one's ever accused me of being wise) that we'd go to the race anyways and see what race-day brought as we'd already registered, paid for the hotel room and the rental car.  Race morning comes and I had 5 Aleve to try and get the pain to subside... which didn't quite work.  

It wasn't quite the day I had hoped for... every pull with my right arm during the swim was agony, which meant I didn't rotate very well and ended up drinking a LOT of icky lake water, and aero was a miserable place to be.  HOWEVER, it was a gorgeous (if ridiculously windy) day, I finished with a smile on my face & I was super stoked to see that I had run just over 9 minute miles for the run!   

There will be no working out today.  

Tom - Congrats on the 5k

Kirk - When's the training plan start?

Stacey - Did Phil get the shoes for you?  

Randee - Congrats on the HIM relay!  Great swim!  

Debi - So glad that your doc gave you the thumbs up!

Monica - Knock 'me dead this morning (not litterally!)  And sorry to hear about your back.

Morning Pod

Finally got in the 50mi ride around the mountain on Saturday, and yesterday was our first try at family kayaking. Kids LOVED it! And T said we have to do it once a month.

Have had such an amazing day today, I just have to share.  I did my first OWS ever and it went beautifully.  Water was calm, weather was nice, I got to swim by myself (other people were there, just not around me), wetsuit fit well, and I didn't panic once.  I can't wait to go again!! 

Then I went to a LBS I just discovered to talk about what to look for when shopping for a used steel frame to build out.  Got some details, then went to a local non-profit that takes donated bikes and resells them, as well as having fix-it classes, a earn-a-bike program for kids, and a workshop that's open for public use.  Found a frame there that fit all the parameters I had just discussed at the other shop.  Paid $25 for a steel Trek 900 frame built in Taiwan and should be able to get it set up with mid-grade components for $500-600.  I had been budgeting $1,500 for a new bike as a step up from my junker so to be able to get a decent bike for that kind of price thrills me to pieces!!  Plus I probably won't have to pay the $175 for a professional fit because the owner of the shop builds custom steel bikes and really believes that "optimal" fit is "comfort" and will do whatever is needed to get the bike comfortable as part of the build-out price.  I totally wasn't expecting to find a frame today.  I was thinking it would take a couple of months of haunting the non-profit shop and Craig's List but I hit the jackpot the first time!! To say that I'm excited is a complete understatement!! (if you can't tell by all my exclamation points )

Morning Pod

Finally got in the 50mi ride around the mountain on Saturday, and yesterday was our first try at family kayaking. Kids LOVED it! And T said we have to do it once a month.

WTF did I get myself into???  We went and rode part of the Whistler bike course today.  Holy shizzle.  We rode the first 93 km of the route, then the last 32km.  1953m of elevation gain (That is 5859 ft for you 'Muricans).  Which, on it's own, I have problem with.  What I do take issue with, however, is the wind.  Like going up hills at 7km/hr due to wind.  Or getting ready to enjoy the downhill, and getting hit with a headwind that slows you to 20km/hr (when you might've gotten up to 40ish).  No likey!!!!  I think it was the hardest ride I have ever done (not that I am a lifelong cyclist or anything, but still).  It also couldn't decide if it wanted to be sunny, or rainy, or sunny, or rainy, or sunny....  Ah well, guess we'll be ready for anything on race day... we are going up at least 4 more times, 2 long rides and 2 medium, so hopefully that will help.  I see much walking of the 42.2

ETA:  Forgot to mention that a couple weeks ago, we rode 4:54 for 125km.  Today we rode 125km in 5:48.  Wind.

Glad it was a good OWS experience for you! It is a well run system. Equally as important, what did you have a NoNos?

Yay on the bike!!!!!!!!

Had a "healthy" breakfast of grits, 2 eggs, bacon, and a beignet.  SO yummy!  It was so gratifying to have such a "life is good" kind of day.  I'm so grateful every day that I've gotten my life back and days like this just confirm that all the hard work has been worth it.

I believe there is too much skin showing. Don't they know Wiki says, "Foot fetishism is the most common form of sexual fetish related to the body."?

Morning Pod

Finally got in the 50mi ride around the mountain on Saturday, and yesterday was our first try at family kayaking. Kids LOVED it! And T said we have to do it once a month.

So. Much. Awesomeness!!! I love that you n J make time for rides together, in spite of having to get a sitter. I also love that outdoor family time is such a priority for you all!