SWBKRUN MENTOR GROUP - OPEN (Page 27)

Small world!! Local WA girl Jessica Kelley completed Norseman yesterday. She won the Blue Seventy contest where they paid for her trip, gave her a training plan, and a wetsuit. She's a crackerjack cyclist and a strong athlete. 16 hours and change. But she has two legs -- hard to top that, for sure!!

That video was AWESOME....it scared me and made me want to try it all at the same time.  Don't know if I could handle the cold water, the mountain passes, or the climb at the end of the marathon.....even with all of my body in tact. 

Back in Indiana.......Got an open water swim in EARLY this morning.....it was wonderful to be in the lake.

Wooooo....eeeeeeee.

Spent the weekend in Tahoe.  My new favorite line is 'Holy Mother of God'.  I've never seen an IM bike course like this.  And between Jeff and I, I've seen Canada, Wisconsin, CdA, AZ and St. George. Not too mention the halfs - Wildflower, Vineman Auburn and Rev3 Portland.

Base elevation is 6200 feet.  I did 2 loops of the 2.3 loop course, adding on a bit to cover the 'private' road we can ride early. 7400 feet of climbing in 87 miles.  At altitude. 14.7 mph, and I couldn't have ran 1 mile off the bike without a 12 hour recovery period.

As I said, HMOG.

Zillions of people out there training - great community, great vibe - people were actually ringing cowbells at us training!  Prettiest course, ever.

Swim, which had me a bit concerned, was AMAZING.  Clear, clean, gorgeous.  Great tips from the clinic I took - we'll be doing some sand running.  Other than Zach laughing so hard at me he may have hurt himself, I feel faster!!  Skipping is the fastest way to transverse the sand!

Running in the hills, at elevation - hard.  However, on the way back I stopped to look at home-for-sale flyers, and that was fun.

Pictures on FB.  Still can't figure out how to post here.

Send good thoughts our way - Zach is racing AG Nationals in WI Saturday!!!

Great video Suzy, there's a part of me that says it would be fun... I think it would be something to do once you'd done a lot of IM's and needed a new challenge. Sign up Suzy, you know you want to!

Go Zach!!!

Nope.  Anything that requires me to jump off a ferry isn't happening. My scary bucket list swim is a 2m swim in Lake Superior which is as cold as Norseman, but an easier start and no bike or run afterwards.  If  I ever have the luck to visit Norway it will be to experience the culture, hike and hang out.

One interesting story about my friend's brother, he fell off the bike at one point due to the rain and wind gusts and had a VERY hard time getting back on it with his prosthetic leg and newly injured shoulder.  Normally someone holds the bike while he tries to get on it, but since this is a completely unsupported race it took sheer will.  Amazing guy, he's doing IM WI in a few weeks.

My first day back to work today.  Dropped the ball on the question of the week.......again.  You ready to fire me yet?

Who's racing this weekend?  We're still in the middle of high season for racing.  What's your plan this weekend?  If you're not racing what's your training plan for the weekend?

No racing for me.  I'm heading to Bloomington to visit my daughter.  I haven't seen her since May and I need a Samantha fix!  She and her boyfriend are moving into a new apartment, so I'm sure my training will involve lifting, carrying, and unpacking.  Hoping to get out on the bike soon and see if I still remember how to ride.

No racing for me......but putting Zach on the plane at 6 tomorrow morning!  More nervous than if it was me racing......

Took my bike in today, they're putting a 11-34 cassette on the back.  I was hoping for an actual engine, but I'm hoping this will help.

An 11-34?  Holy Crap, I didn't even know they made something like that!  What about the rings in the front?

Apparently Alberto Contador uses a 11-28 for climbing but swaps to a 11-32 for steeper climbs like the Giro.

No racing for me.

I am in the heart of the training plan. I have a 3:15 min ride Saturday followed by a 55 min run. Then Sunday I have an 85 min run scheduled. I am not excited about either day. Tues we did strength training and I can barely walk today. I hope I am better by Saturday so I can simulate the bike as a race.

Well, I was to race an Olympic this weekend, but plans are bound to change, right? Had a crazy week due to a health issue.  One minute, I'm doing a goodjob at a long double brick and the next minute I'm thinking NO IM this year!  Argh.  6 doctors in 4 days.  Thank God for good medical care in Madison WI. The University Hospital is a huge asset.

I'm looking for the silver lining in this week so I guess it'll be that I'm healthy enough to get into the OWS tomorrow and looking forward to it?!?!  And I even to get to jump  back on my bike a little on Sunday!

Not racing but I have a ride planned with some dude from CA on Friday morning early before his kid needs his assistance to get ready to race USAT Nationals on Saturday.  I have been told he is training for an Ironman and wants to see some hills in the area.  Should be fun........  we will report back Linda! 

Great ride this morning.....  I think Jeff was having flashbacks to the rolling hills of IM-Moo about half way through the ride.  However, he deserves a cookie ice-cream sandwich for holding my wheel all morning.  

Oh, and he flew into Milwaukee from Boston, no jet lag excuses allowed.  

Couple of quick pictures from the top of Holy Hill at the Basilica:

(Jeff the billygoat 1.JPG)

(Jeff the billygoat.JPG)

HA!  Poor Jeff - CA on Tues, Boston on Wednesday, Chicago on Thursday, WI on Friday.  And those don't look like his clothes.  I think I'm gonna be hearing stories!!!

I did get a text - it was a great ride!  Thanks Dino - wonderful example of a MG step-up!!!