Left.Right.Repeat - CLoSED for the season - will reopen Jan 2013 (Page 34)

I've been MIA a bit... My Half-Ironman (Steelhead) is this weekend! I've been enjoying the taper and been strangely cucumber-like cool!  I feel ready and feel like it'll be a great race

....and my baby started PreSchool today *SOB*:

Ann, scares me all the time.  Both my kids and son n law ride.  I worry all the time for them.  Wish i could say something to make you and the family feel better, but I can't.  God is in control and it sounds like they understand that.  I am not afraid of getting hit and dieing, I know what the future holds for me, but am afraid of getting hit and being crippled.  In my prayers.

Krazy, nice article.  Didn't even give a shout out the the one who talked you into it.

See you in a couple of weeks!

Ann,

So sorry for your loss.  I will keep you all in my prayers.  That's why it is so important to live each day to the fullest...you just never know.  Sounds like you lost a great friend.  

I'm almost done with my build for Wisconsin...almost ready for taper...ahhhhh.  Can't wait to cheer you peeps on at Lou!!!  Can't wait to track Lena this weekend!!  YOU GO GIRL!!!

AMY

Ann, so sorry to hear about your loss.  It is truly tragic.  While I do not pray (I thought hard about writing this, I seem to be in the minority), I certainly will keep your family and this family in my thoughts.  I am always worried for people on their bikes, especially here in the land of cataracts.  

Awesome article Kathy.

Enjoy your tapers everyone, I will be following IMLOU from my pc.  I will dial into the conf call and hope to hear your voices and learn while listening to you veterans of the sport.

Lena, I will be crossing my fingers for your at the Steelhead HIM.

amyleigh - 2012-08-13 9:22 PM

krazytallchick - 2012-08-13 9:12 AM

Here is the link to the story about me that hit the front page of our little newspaper.  If I made the front page you know they are hurting for news.

http://www.waltontribune.com/news/article_c61073f0-e312-11e1-ae61-0019bb2963f4.html

Kathy,  I got put on the front page of our paper too, before my first IM which was also  Louisville.  Certainly puts pressure on doesn't it??  After the race they did another article which was also front page.  It was titled "South Teacher Officially Made of Iron."   So be prepared for a follow up article!!    I hope to meet you in Lou!

Thank Amy and I really do hope we can meet each other in Lou!  I hope that I can continue following up in your footsteps.

Were you ears burning?  Bryan shared advice and storys from his and others experiences.  All good, every message positive.   Even in the dark place, there is light.  Did you see KATS mantra on fb.  AWESOME.

Good luck Lena, and Kat and Billy

I went to facebook and read KTC's mantra.  I couldnt remember that if I had to, but it was inspiring.

On another note, since I have so much free time on my hands, me and my son n law applied for and received our first and hopefully not last.......LITTLE CAESAR'S FRANCHISE!!!!!.   Cool huh?  As I was in my first training class, I noticed the screen saver on the instructor's computer.  It was a picture of Pat Evoe, the Little Caesar's sponsored triathlete.  He happend to finish 2nd at Louisville last year and was wearing the Louisville ironman number bib!  Now tell me thats not a good sign fro me since I am going to open a store.  Oh, by the way, he was the instructor's son!  The instructor happens to be the vice president of architecture for Little Caesar's.  Look for Pat if you are in Louisville and if you aren't, search for him on facebook and tell him that Billy McWilliams sent you.

Billy you should be Lc's sponsered triathlete number 3.  Pizza and Ironman are a tradition.  The only problem is nobody can ever remember eating pizza after 140.3.  Wishing you success in your future of sauce and cheesie goodness.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  I cherish all of them.  We are getting by.  Helping the family as we can.  Just struggling with a heaviness and somberness that I'm not used to.  Guess we just need more time.  Haven't ridden yet.  I'm going to Block Island with my riding friend, overnight Wed to Thurs.  I think that will be a good place to make that first back on the saddle ride.  We are taking our bikes.

Can't wait to hear how Lena did.  She trained very quietly amongst all her baking.

Good luck IMLOU!!  Will track if I can.  Will pray all day for all.

Hugs,

Billy - congratulations on your new adventure!

Lena - did awesome this weekend!  

Ann - hang in there.  Enjoy your ride.

Question to Billy and/or Bryan.........When I drop off my bike Saturday should I leave the aero bottle on the bike and just fill it up on Sunday   

Hey all!! I'm back and happy to report I"m back in one piece Race went GREAT! No bike malfunctions...well, one... sand got into the shifters *I think* and I couldn't shift to the big gear AT ALL.. Rode 56 miles in the middle gear whooooooooo!  But, kept my intended average and figured if I'm moving forward, all is good

Benton Harbor is a gorgeous venue! The white sandy beaches by the lake are breath-taking. WOW! LOVED the set up for the swim and transition (and outdoors expo), bike-eh, normal roads; run-meh, Whirlpool campus-shmampus, nothing to get excited about, lots of hills, ALL hills on the run except for last one were uphill (the loop must have come down so gradually after the hills that it never felt like downhill). Evil mind planned the run course, for sure.

Felt great, finished in 7:24.  I was hoping for between 7:10 and 7:30, so I'm happy with the outcome.  We had absolutely GORGEOUS weather, people!  was mid-50s in the morning (sand was freezing, and 67 degree water felt great after that mile walk lol), lake calmed down for us after 6 ft waves as late as Thursday before (!!!!), air temp was absolutely perfect on the bike and warm-ish on the run, but not bad AT ALL. I think it got to 75 degrees, maybe?? I somehow managed to get sunburn on my neck. Not sure how that could happen after training all summer in 90+ degree weather without sunblock, but whatever, that and a little slicing from shorts are my only two injuries, after last year, I'll take that! 

My hubs and our boys were there, as well as my MIL and FIL. MADE my weekend! I'm SO blessed.

I'm not even really sore! Have no idea why, maybe a recovery drink and a hot tub combo did the trick? no idea, but not unhappy

Will post pics and RR in a day or two!

Way to go LENA!  Proud of you.

KTC, place it on your bottle when you check it in and fill it that morning.

Way to go Lena!!!  Sounds like you had a great race.

Kathy and Billy - best of luck this weekend.  I'll try to check in online when I can.  Do you have bib #s you will share with us?

Ann, hang in there.  I hope that your bike ride goes well.  I'm sure it will be a little stressful at first, but try to enjoy it.

Billy - Best wishes and good luck!

I did not rent the myathlete tracker, as the hubby feels that the one he has will work and will update the KTC Race Team FB page.  (I would have liked to have both but I was over ruled on that).  Bib # is 510.

Thanks for all your congrats, you guys are awesome!!

My Race Report is finally up