stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL (Page 237)

steve.

my address is 1661 parkcrest circle, #100, reston, va 20190

i forgot to tell you, i was at the pool a few days ago and we got to talking with the gentleman in the next lane.  we see him a lot.  he is in the 55-59 division (i think).  his name is dan (i think).  this year will be his 18th (or something like that) consecutive reston oly.  he was talking about people in the AG above him and i mentioned that i brought in a ringer last year.  he said, "oh, yeh.  i heard about that.  joe o'gorman wasn't pleased."  HA.  poor joe.  i hope he can return to victory this year.  i can only imagine the strife you caused him the last 11 months

i've had the efs lemon lime and the fruit punch.  i had no issue with any of them.  i view this stuff all as a necessary evil and don't really worry about taste so much.  efs definitely isn't the best tasting stuff i've ever had.  i attribute it to the high electrolyte content.  this stuff has more electrolyes than Hammer and enduralytes together.  it's salty.  there is no getting around it.  ...but, it works.  that's really all i'm looking for.  ryan hated the lemon lime.  he tolerates/semi-likes the fruit punch.  we've never tried the grape.

on the recovery side of things, first endurance's ultragen is SOOO yummy.  we've only had the cappachino, which we've loved.  we've heard yummy things about the orange creamsicle.

pre-race is disgusting, but works.  you're supposed to mix it with efs gel or fluid, but once i had it alone.  holy disgusting, batman....but, again, it works.

we are staying at the galt house.  i'm happy to be where all the stuff is. 

i can't believe you're thinking about lake george.  it's may 7th.  that would put your peak training in mid march, right?  yikes!  will you be able to ride the volume you need to ride in your area at that time?  how about swim and run?  wasn't that a reason you gave for being an unlikely participant in triple t?  the early season...and that is 2-3 weeks AFTER lake george.  hmmm.

.....is lynn home yet?!  are you and luna going to be at the door wagging your tails and peeing yourselves with excitement? 

...see that steve?  now there is man who can make decisions

look at that, steve.  you were right!  you are such a wonderful mentor!!!!  (but we already knew that!)

are you serious about reston?  that would be awesome. 

i am so sad right now.  so so so sad. 

my friend, meg, who i've been training with all year for loo, was in a bike crash yesterday.  i car pulled out in front of her and she ended up with a broken collar bone.  no loo.  i can't imagine what she is going through.  i'm upset.  i can't imagine how upset she is

 she's trimegger on BT

she is already thinking about b2b.  cozumel is also still open, i believe.  it, obviously, would be further and more expensive, but it's an IM.

i'm going over to see her this afternoon.  i'm going to cry.  i tried to go on my last "long" run this morning and just stopped at half way and walked home.  no pains, no issues, i just feel depressed.  my heart is broken for her....and selfishly, for me.  in all my race visualization of the day and the week, she's been a part of it.  i'm so sad.

my last 2 hour ride tomorrow might turn into a trainer ride while watching the imloo spinervals.  i'm scared and paranoid.

i went to see her yesterday and feel better.  she is doing much better with this than i would be, i assure you.  she's, obviously, upset, but she'll be okay. 

we had dinner with scott last night to go over our game plans.  that helped bring me back to race mind set.  this time next week, we'll be getting ready for the underpants run

this weekend we'll start making our lists, packing, getting gear ready, etc.  crazy.  crazy.  it's strange.  i feel the same way about this day as I did about our wedding.  you plan for so long and for so long it seems so far away, and then, suddenly, it's here and you can't believe it!!! 

do i take this man to be my ironman?  I DO, I DO, I DO!!!

...so scott told us about the "Ironman Challenge".  apparently, to "win" the challenge you have to finish the race and then have, ahem, "relations" all within the 17 hour window.  geez, talk about pressure!  he did say he would keep my mom company and out of the room for a little while if we wanted to take the challenge on....now, that's a good coach

...have to jump on the trainer for my last 2 hour ride.  it's a gorgeous day here, but i'm playing it safe.  gonna pop in the loo spinervals dvd and remain (hopefully) safe in the comfort of my own living room.  i asked scott if i was a sissy for riding inside and he said that i'm in "bubble wrap" mode and it makes perfect sense. 

what's going on with you all this weekend?

i haven't really heard anything about it.  isn't this the first year for it?  my personal opinion is that it won't be that popular because it's a long way to go to not be able to say you did a 70.3.  they say on their website that it's a 70.0 for a reason...because 70,000 is the estimated young people diagnosed with cancer every year.  while that sounds nice, anyone who knows centennial lake knows it's because it's too small to do the full swim.

i also, personally, wouldn't have the desire to do anything longer than an oly in that area.  you have races like columbia that are already well established.  people will do that, but i'm pretty sick of racing the area, honestly.

that's just my $.02.

the reports from this mornings IronGirl are that it's raining.  I am SOOOOO glad i didn't do it.  so glad.  the last thing i needed was a race on those roads, with a bunch of first timers in the rain. 

i was laying in bed this morning thinking about all the other smaller reasons i shouldn't have done it.....

i (and ryan) got to sleep in today and get rest as opposed to waking up at 4am

no travel necessary

no soreness

no risk for accident

no risk for lake funk

phew, so glad.  good decision.

as it is, we are having a lovely lazy morning here in reston.  it's wonderful. 

THIS TIME NEXT WEEK I'LL BE ON THE BIKE IN LOO!!!!!!!!  AGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

jess, i don't think wanting the woman to feel bad is vindictive at all.  i felt the exact same way.  really really angry.  having her feel bad is the only way to HOPEFULLY prevent her from behaving so recklessly and carelessly in the future.  We, unfortunately have had quite a few bike/car accidents in the same general area this year.  all car driver error.  steve, they are all on the reston bike course loop.  megs accident happened in front of the shopping center that is on your right just as you take the right back onto south lakes drive (the flat fast stretch that goes in front of the high school)....if you remember.  this car, either not seeing her or just trying to rush to make it by turned left crossing into her path.  she had to swerve to avoid hitting the car (which could have killed her) and lost control in the process.  cops came and no accident report was filed.  meg was in a complete daze (understandably) and didn't push the issue, but the fact that this women is in no way held accountable is ridiculous.  meg said she was hoping that another fexy would have seen and come over in the 1 hour she was sitting there with the emt's.  one of our mutual friends said they were glad i didn't see it.  ....apparently, i'm the "hot head".  i don't think this is a good thing.

it just makes me so angry.  all you have to do is watch cars on the road for 5 minutes and you will see so many instances of people being disrespectful, cutting others off, generally treating others like crap with no regard for safety or courtesy.  somehow being behind the frame of a vehicle acts like a veil of immunity from general acts of common courtesy...that or they are just too busy updating their facebook statuses on their cell phones.  i'm irate.  the fact that one women not paying attention while operating a vehicle wiped out my friends  9 months of hard work makes me seriously want to punch her in the face....and even that wouldn't be enough.   <breath>  yes, it is good that i didn't happen upon the scene.  I wouldn't be going to louisville, but for much different reasons. 

so jess, i know for a fact that you are in good company of triathletes that are burned out by the end of august.  you're smart to embrace it and move on to other ventures (marathon) and be fresh and ready to rumble next year. 

i can't believe i have to still be thinking about tris this NOVEMBER after the season that i've had so far.  i would LOVE to just switch to mary training after loo, but, alas. 

it sounds like you're tired.  make a regular habit of drinking emergenC and don't let yourself get too run down.  i was feeling a little run down this week and started drinking those 2x day and have felt much better!!!