Manatee Mentors 2016 - Closed (Page 71)

Ha! Old Ladies rule   Congratulations on a great race!  In a lot of trail races it seems I get to a point where I'm all alone for various amounts of time.   It does make it hard to keep pushing.  Having someone to catch or keep from catching you is definitely motivating!! 

Hmm, I think that depends upon what color they are 

Connor - I'm very sorry to hear about your kitty and a busy week compounded by not sleeping well.  Hopefully this week is better all around!

Karen - wow, great race!  A big raspberry to the RD who wouldn't let you race elite, you showed him!  Oh, and good luck in the less-than-optimal hotel room, eek!

Foxy Tom - that's great news, welcome back!!  Stay healthy now, mkay?

Jonathan - hi!  Keep up the good work, Strava shows me you've been working hard.

Stacey - Gerrie is one big chunk o' dog!  She looks so snuggly and soft.

I had a pretty good weekend, too.  Saturday we had a warm snap, a full 40 degrees warmer than the day previous.  I wanted SO much to ride bike or run, but my bike was scheduled Sun and running before a hockey game is not a good idea, my knees greatly protest such activity, especially with the extra 20 lbs I'm packing these days.  Anyway, we won our game 5-1 against our biggest rival, yes!  Everyone was working so hard and clicking so well together.  After the game my husband and I went out with a dear friend and his family to celebrate his 80th birthday and his daughter's 48th birthday, such fun.

Sunday it rained, BOOO, so I didn't get to ride outside and was stuck inside on the trainer.  Later I went to Best Buy to get an Amazon Fire stick, turning my once smart TV turned dumb TV back into a smart TV.  

Connor - I am so sorry to hear about your cat {{hugs}}

Mark - enjoy your time away!

Stacey - Gerrie looks at least as motivated about work as I feel right now!

Karen - Congrats on your race, old lady :-)

Jim - new shoes always make you faster!

Originally posted by JJ-

Originally posted by Atlantia Happy Monday, Pod! We had some gorgeous weather this weekend! Saturday was the better day for sure, but Sunday was still pretty warm, even if it was overcast. I rode outside for the first time in a few months, and it was so nice. So here's the thing: my current steed is a Linus Dutchi 8 speed. She's a city bike, maybe 35 pounds if I'm not carrying groceries. I can't tell if I'm just being a baby, or if my usual ride is kind of hilly. I rode just shy of 5 miles yesterday, and had 433ft of climbing. Is that a lot? Do I just need to ride more and get stronger? Mind you, that isn't a problem! ETA: next month I should have a road bike to do some real training rides. For now I just do grocery shopping and stuff.

Yea that's a lot of climbing

Generally, 80+ ft per mile of riding is rather hilly.

I wasn't really racing over the weekend but was skimo (which if you read last weekend RR you now know the definition of   summiting Mount Saint Helens with some friends. Here are some shots

 Base camp

Coming down off the summit at sunset

Moonrise over Mount Adams (one I have also skimo-ed a couple times)

Running the summit ridge

Gorgeous, gorgeous pics.  They look like they belong in Outside magazine or some other professional media outlet.

Thanks Melanie! It's just my phone camera and a gopro, so nothing fancy! This world just so happens to be beautiful so it's not much work to get a nice shot! But REI contacted me again about using another photo so that's exciting! They featured this one a while back https://www.instagram.com/p/BA36-M5DuxG/?taken-by=rei which wasn't really one of my favorites but it is cool to see 20+ thousand people seeing (and liking) my "work"

A quickie...

NOT DEAD! Though we did go to Death Valley last weekend

In-laws were here for 2.5 weeks, so lots of family time. Golfing, skate park, zoo, etc. Then they watched kids for 4 days while J and I went on a camping trip. No cell service for 3 days...got back in range to a text saying T had a high fever. Spent the next 2 days getting him healthy.

Found Mak a 20" upgraded Specialized bike yesterday (T is particularly jealous of her shifter).  She loves being able to keep up easier...we love it too.

TJ was in town this weekend for Ragnar. I'm sure she'll check in with details later. Made plans to meet up today for a "girls' morning". Mak and I were quite excited...until she woke up with a 102.8 fever. Ahhhhhh, kids  

A couple of pics (of course)...

Lost Burro Mine, The Racetrack from above (it's where the rocks "race" across the sand), feeding stingrays, new bike testing

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Rad! Minus the fever, yuck!

That looks like a lot of fun.

Hi all.  bit of a proof of life post.  Been really busy at work.  Still getting training in though.  It is so nice to see the sunshine here today as well as the sun rising a little earlier and setting a little later.  The crocuses are out too! 

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My method is such:

I have a few races I always do for different reasons - some historical, others a bit oddball.  My tri in May I will always do as long as I am racing and God is willing because it was my first.  I've raced it ever since I began starting in 2010.  I have a 5K I will always try to do because friends and I have done the race since its inception, so why stop now?  I have a few other 'favorites' I like to do, schedule willing, but they are not as set in stone as these two.  These are what I call historical - I have a history with them.

My other means of choosing is less structured.  I like to pick races that truly interest me, either by some race gimmick or name (yes, name), or in an area/region/state I want to race in.  For example, I'm doing a half marathon in Ithaca, NY in June because I love the area.  I'm doing the Wineglass Half Marathon (and 5K) because I've long wanted to because they give out unique, hand-made glass 'medals'.  I'm doing the 5K the day before because I can get a free bowl.  OK, and because it involves going to the wine area of NY (again) with friends.   Yup, as I said, weird reasons.

Also, part of my races are decided on mutually with friends.  They or I find a race of interest and talk the other(s) into doing it with them.