left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 39)

Great race report Dan. You did a great job describing things making it feel like I was "along for the ride" (or should I say, along for the swim/ride/run).

I guess the swim caps are chosen for their visibility because I too was wearing a neon pink cap when I did my Tri. Didn't mind wearing it in the race but I'm a little self concious about wearing it during my regular noon hour swims. Not so much because its pink but because it is so friggin' BRIGHT pink.

There really is something special about the energy of being in an event with so many other participants, don't you think? As much fun as any race is, I really finnd the big ones (like the NYC marathon) to be extra special because you are there were so many other like-minded people, there are so many spectators to get you energized along the way, etc.

By the way - $50 per night parking? Holy crap !!! I have stayed in plenty hotels (granted, some were pretty scuzzy !) where for $50 you got a room, parking and the odd insect to take home with you

Have a great day everyone!!

Sticka

Marianne you swam AFTER the tri?! Girl, you are incredible! What a great race and race report! After reading about the swim I think we can now call you a "mud turtle", hehe. Sounded nasty.. eweee. I think it's kinda cool that you cruised transition. Yeah, you want to be fast, and it counts, but still - you said before the race that you were determined to have fun, so WTG - you had fun! AND a PR in spite of transition! You are my hero. I honestly don't know how you do it.

Dan, wtg man! What an awesome tri! You just keep getting better and better! Great swim! The bike course sounds rough, ouch. And you didn't walk again! AWESOME. Incredible time! Dang, kid, you've got this thing down! I'm with Pete - I'd like to see a pic of you in the pink swim cap, hehe.

(Thanks, Leston! )

Nice biking, Peter!

sTRIve~!

Dan - OLY, OLY, OLY, OLY, OLY - they are sooo cool.....you did a great job on the sprint...you were pretty doggone fast...way to go dude....  I do understand the podium desire but the challenge of the distance does hold a big allure to me.

Flipper - good to see that smile back in the family.....stay focused

Dan and Leston - post race/season depression is nothing new...everyone gets it.  I did my first 50 mile bike rally after the tri season last year because I couldn't get out of my funk....I have said it before, I have to have goals on the calendar.....

So, MAV - what is your plan for next year?

Here's my first disclosure......this is HUGE for me....never thought I would say it - I am running the Houston Marathon in January......26.2 baby.....so stretch out there little turtles....set the bar high and then we all know, it's just - left right repeat

Dan - sometimes surprises like running on concrete happen for the first time on race day - THE LAW says - don't you do something new on race day....many times enough new things jump up at us....

FBP - what's your 2009 goal?

Flipper - what does 2009 hold for you?????

sTRIve

Mav - there's too many digits in that number.....by the way, did you say your phone number was 70.3 - 2009

Are you ready to share your 2009 goal with everyone.....oops maybe I just did!!!!!

Dan - like you I MUST have a goal event(s) or else I would sit on the couch, watch TV and eat chips - literally - for hours on end. For me speed/placing is never a concern so  I am always looking for the next challenge through distance or by adding activities - like swimming and biking !!

Here's what's in my sights. This fall I am instructing a Learn To Run program that begins midway through September. It is 10 weeks and will see participants starting from zero and then progressing to 5k. The first week for example we will do 1 minute walk, 1 minute run x 10 reps. There is one "class" session held at the store each week on topics like footwear, goal setting, nutrition, etc. and then we do a walk/run together. We also get together for walk/run on Wednesday evening and Sunday mornings. The course will "graduate" at a local 5k event - the Santa Shuffle organized as a fundraiser by the Salvation Army.

Also on this fall will be to VOLUNTEER at the Fredericton Fall Classic 10k. It'll be my first time to volunteer - sort of paying it back/paying it forward for all the  volunteers at my races over the years. Thinking still of the Colby College Sprint Tri on Sept 20th.

Pretty sure I will aim to do OLY next year and long term plan is to aim for a 70.3 in 2010 - when I turn 50. 

Over the winter I'd like to maintain my swimming/running habits, some indoor cycling on a trainer (please Santa ...) and some strength/flexibility training. I also owe Jill some effort on home improvement tasks. We also need to find a "together" activity like ballroom dancing or curling but with her starting back into a Masters program (M. Ed.) full-time next week who knows what time we will really have.

Oh yes, and like mav I will be cheering for the Sox in the fall and Dan, since I don't have a "team" in US college football would now be the right time to become a Sparta-maniac? 

Dan - there can be no backing out...the cash has already been tendered.  It will be an interesting winter but I am pretty sure I can be ready.

My workout today was a long run....2 hours....it was actually a very very comfortable run, nutrition worked out very well and I was pleased.  I finished about an hour ago, showered, had a quick dinner and feel fully recovered....or at least pretty close.

FBP - mentor away my friend....share some speed with those folks.  I am proud of you for doing that and all the volunteer work I know you do in your community.  It is also great that you are going to work a race.

Remember, each one of you should volunteer at one race a year.  By the way, Debbie quite often volunteers at the tris I do so she can have something to do while I am acting crazy.  Without those volunteers, we don't race.

Also, I want each of you to consider being a mentor out here next year.  I am not saying we would disband - that won't happen - unless you all leave me.  I just know that each of you is capable of running your own group too.  At a bare minimum, we will probably open our group up next year to add a few very special people....smile.  What do you all think?

Happy Labor Day to all of you....think of me when you awaken on Monday.

sTRIve

A MARATHON! Wow, Bryan! Good for you! And you can do it, too! YouDaMan!

And a half-Iron for Marianne next year! Go, Mav, GO! I'm so excited for you! You are going to be awesome!

OLYs for Dan and Peter! (No pressure here, huh? ROFL.) (Also, I LOVE all the other stuff you have planned, Peter!) Go guys! You Rock!!

For me? Ack, plans/goals/events for next year... hmm.. um... haven't thought that far ahead? At this point, I'm simply grateful that I'm managing to get to the gym once a week. I do plan - and WILL - increase gym and workout time here soon. I'm trying to find a groove with the new job, yard work at Mom's, and several health issues. I know that sounds like a cop-out, but it really isn't. I swear. I love working out, and while I don't visualize myself attempting to be even slightly competitive at triathlon any time soon, I do want to continue competing. Let me put some thought into this, and I'll try to answer the question as soon as I can. We have a wedding coming up in May of 2009. (Have met with Kat's future in-laws, GREAT FOLKS, and have tons of things to do. Eek.) Working out and training will be the perfect therapy for stressful wedding preparations (did I mention that I will be baking and decorating the wedding cake?), no doubt, but trying to think ahead to actual triathlons with the wedding looming large on the horizon is a little overwhelming at present. I'm also waiting to hear from my full time job application. I sure have my hopes up for that job, lol. With the wedding we have planned, we can sure use the money.

So yeah, this will take some thought, both for time and funds distribution. (Did I mention she is getting married on the beach in Destin, FL? We're renting two huge beach houses on Destin beach. They will double as accomodations, reception area, and will also be back-up in case of bad weather. Gonna be a blast. )

Meanwhile, here in the present, Katy (Kat) had her thesis approved 3 weeks ago and passed her "comps" last week! She is officially good-to-go for graduation the end of this semester and has, in fact, begun course work for her Ph.D. already this semester. She's on her way home as I type this, to celebrate with us. I'M SO PROUD. Her birthday is tomorrow, as well, so we have big dinner plans (seafood, of course - her choice) for tomorrow. But guess what she wants to do in the morning? Go to the gym with her mom! Woohoo! She's so good for me!
*ear to ear smile*

A recent picture of Katy and my future son-in-law, Seth:

Good to "see" all the smiling faces here, as well. You are ALL good for me, too!

sTRIve!!

P.S. We have spent the evening shopping and cleaning up the yard getting ready for Gustav, but it looks like it will miss us for sure, now! WOOHOO! AND Whew!

Flipper - watch that hurricane...it has been acting strange.  Stay vigilant.  Your daughter's wedding in Destin....I am so jealous....I LOVE Destin....some great times....we laugh as we look back at all the pictures of our daughter changing every year when we are there....  Just work out when you can - there is always time for what is important...and no better place to think about lists and details than on a treadmill, elliptical or spin bike (without the class going on). 

I leave in the morning for Austin - tomorrow is a day off....I am really looking forward to it, this has been a pretty tough week.

sTRIve....you will all be with me Monday - whether you want to or not....

Bryan

Juanita and Bryan - hope that everything will be fine for you through these next couple of days with Gustav on its way. I understand from CNN this morning that it is heading west of N.O. so that is good news for Mobile.

Dan - I was able to watch the MSU game  last night  on the Detroit  channel that we get. Oh well, at least it was a diversion from the ongoing saga of the Mayor's scandal !!

Mav - you can thank the Jays for holding on to beat the Yanks yesterday thereby helping the Sox in thte wildcard race !!

Leston, Bryan and Dan - if you would be so kind as to email me ([email protected]) and tell me a snail mail address (work, home, PO Box makes no difference) where I can send you a small envelope I'd appreciate it.

Daughter Stephanie moved back into UPEI residence yesterday. Talked to her and Jill last night and they were both exhausted .  

Weather here isn't great today so not sure if I'll get out for a bike ride but will try to do either that or a run. Cheers,

Peter 

First - Flipper - looks like you guys are getting hammered pretty hard with rain so my thoughts remain with you and your family - I hope all is well.  Hopefully the rain lets up soon.

Mav - WHAT A DAY GIRL!!! 1:17....no wonder they call you "motorboat"....that is amazing.  So did you really wanna keep the chip and ride 112???????  Maybe next year.....smile.  That is a fantastic accomplishment.  So how did the ride and run go for your teammates?

My day was excellent.  I feel great....I feel totally recovered which seems a little odd but I could use a short nap from the early wake up call.  Time is unofficial...off my watch...but I think I am around 3:02....was hoping for under 3 but I will take it....it was a non-wetsuit swim and I think my swim was the same as in May so I was very pleased with that - maybe that was my 1 or 2 minutes lost to no wetsuit....LOL...bike was average 19.5 mph unofficially and the run was about a 1:05, or 1:06.  Again, it was a pretty hot day but did not seem to bother me like the one in May.  It was almost the same course as the one in May so I think the comparison pleases me.  I felt my nutrition was dialed in, which is why I feel very recovered now I am sure.  So I got up, had a bagel and peanut butter and then a banana, followed by a little caffeine fix.  Walked over to transition as it opened, got body marked and then set up my little area....it was clean however maybe not as clean as FBPs transition area.  I then walked back up to the room to relax for a few minutes.  Back down with plenty of time to spare (I HATE to be late anywhere).  Shawn Colvin, a country musician from Austin sang the national anthem and the open wave was off.  I was in the fifth wave so I got to stand around a little and then it was into the water with no wetsuit - the temp was 78 so it was wetsuit legal however I made the decision to go sans wetsuit in case my 70.3 is non-wetsuit, I wanted to be comfortable with the swim.  No real contact, no bumper bodies, no amusement park ride at the beginning so I just swam.  I am pleased with the swim, felt good getting out, HR a little high but okay.  The bike was interesting.  There were a couple of tight turns and a couple of turnarounds and a few gradual grades and one hill, I hit it pretty hard and am very pleased with what Polar says my pace 3:05 per mile - I will look forward to checking it when the official chip times get posted.  And then there was the run --- ah, the run.  I came out of T2 at about 1:56 or 57 and thought, hey, let's see what happens.  I knew the bike took a little out of me but hey, I like to ride.  Heat was building, sun was bright, it was a beautiful day - so it was just left, right, repeat.......I really would like to see the halfway split, I am pretty sure I may have run the second half faster than the first but I guess I will never know for sure.  Great party after with massage, ART Active Release Therapy, pizza, beer, smoothies, ice cream, fruit, Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies, etc.  Put the bike on the back of the truck, took a shower, checked out of the hotel and headed for home.  Approaching the highway, I-35, we saw it was blocked and empty.  Moving with everyone else on the service road, I realized it was for President Bush to travel down to San Antonio to make an appearance.  He met with hurricane volunteers and evacuees in Austin and then in San Antonio (I think he also watched me participate in The Austin Triathlon - ROFL).  Then, here came all the police, ambulance, bomb truck looking vehicle and a bunch of black suburbans, some with the back windows open and some mean dudes looking out backwards, followed by several press vans and then more police.  That was cool, then the highway re-opened and we were able to get out of some of the traffic.  What a great Labor Day!

sTRIve