This past week, I made sock puppets with the kids. Even though I brought 20 socks, we ran out and there were a few disappointed kids. I had no idea that my project would be so popular!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Nearing the end of my busy break
Contrary to popular belief, triathlon is not a summer sport, but rather a 50 week per year sport with races starting in the spring and ending in winter. This year, I started racing in April and ended in mid-November, only now getting a two-week hiatus. Every year, I think that my two week break will be an incredibly restful and rejuvenating tri-free respite. The truth is, while I don't train over these fourteen days, my world still revolves around sport.
As a product of equal parts procrastination, corporate timing and the fact that I actually have a block of free time, this becomes a hectic time where I try to line up sponsors for the next season, plan for the next season and catch up on everything that I've ignored (with the exception of email- I'm still terrible at that!). Throw in a bit of socializing, hiking, the occasional games of ultimate frisbee and afternoons at the Boys and Girls Club and I find that I never have the free time that I had anticipated! Would I have it any other way? Probably not! While I dislike the lack of training (and the subsequent 3+ lb weight gain!), I need this two-week break from training to refresh my mind and body. More importantly, however, my busy work would probably never be done if I didn't have this period of time. That being said, I return to light training on Sunday and I couldn't be more excited. Bring on the 2009 season!
As a product of equal parts procrastination, corporate timing and the fact that I actually have a block of free time, this becomes a hectic time where I try to line up sponsors for the next season, plan for the next season and catch up on everything that I've ignored (with the exception of email- I'm still terrible at that!). Throw in a bit of socializing, hiking, the occasional games of ultimate frisbee and afternoons at the Boys and Girls Club and I find that I never have the free time that I had anticipated! Would I have it any other way? Probably not! While I dislike the lack of training (and the subsequent 3+ lb weight gain!), I need this two-week break from training to refresh my mind and body. More importantly, however, my busy work would probably never be done if I didn't have this period of time. That being said, I return to light training on Sunday and I couldn't be more excited. Bring on the 2009 season!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Ending up with a win!
This fall, my race finishes have been thus: 3rd, 4th, 4th, 2nd, 2nd and, finally, 1st. While it has been rewarding to race consistently well, I have to admit that there is a certain satisfaction in ending the season with a win the the ITU San Francisco Pan American Cup.
Leading into the race, I was a bit nervous about my fitness (I haven't had a good training block since, gulp, August!) and knew, having done this race before, that the conditions would be rough. With countless potholes on the bike course, freezing cold bay water and typically cool, drizzly weather, I knew that the race would prove to be challenging. I have to admit that I had a mental countdown of minutes until the conclusion of my season, starting one hour before the race! (Swim done? 20 min closer. Two laps left of the bike? Less than an hour to go! And so on...). After a strong swim and less than stellar bike, I pulled together my race with a solid run, putting a minute into Julie, the second place finisher. Needless to say, there was no post-race cool down! My finish also put me into 2nd place overall in the Haul to the Great Wall series behind Julie Ertel, leapfrogging me over Sarah Haskins in the rankings. While racing at Treasure Island was a last-minute decision, it was a decision that proved to be worthwhile!
Leading into the race, I was a bit nervous about my fitness (I haven't had a good training block since, gulp, August!) and knew, having done this race before, that the conditions would be rough. With countless potholes on the bike course, freezing cold bay water and typically cool, drizzly weather, I knew that the race would prove to be challenging. I have to admit that I had a mental countdown of minutes until the conclusion of my season, starting one hour before the race! (Swim done? 20 min closer. Two laps left of the bike? Less than an hour to go! And so on...). After a strong swim and less than stellar bike, I pulled together my race with a solid run, putting a minute into Julie, the second place finisher. Needless to say, there was no post-race cool down! My finish also put me into 2nd place overall in the Haul to the Great Wall series behind Julie Ertel, leapfrogging me over Sarah Haskins in the rankings. While racing at Treasure Island was a last-minute decision, it was a decision that proved to be worthwhile!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Last Race of the Year Version 2.0
When I went to Bermuda last week to participate in the Escape to Bermuda, I had planned it to be my last race of the year. I couldn't imagine a better place to wrap up the season than this beautiful island! I had a terrific time with a great homestay and was able to use the trip to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. After the race, however, I didn't have the satisfaction that I had been hoping for upon the conclusion of a long season. Leading into the race, I had such a nasty cold that I was able to only ride once and run once that week and was nervous about competing. I was able to scrape out a respectable race, finishing second after a strong swim, decent yet conservative bike and mediocre run on a hard course. Had I been healthy, however, I know that I would have been able to finish up with a race that would leave me more satisfied and confident in my run.
When I returned home on Tuesday, I decided to buy a ticket to San Francisco to compete in the Treasure Island Triathlon. While it is a bit of a last minute trip after a long season chock-full of racing, but I hope to squeek out one last strong performance. I look forward for one last chance to have a solid race! Starting on Sunday, my real 2008 break will begin!
When I returned home on Tuesday, I decided to buy a ticket to San Francisco to compete in the Treasure Island Triathlon. While it is a bit of a last minute trip after a long season chock-full of racing, but I hope to squeek out one last strong performance. I look forward for one last chance to have a solid race! Starting on Sunday, my real 2008 break will begin!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Unforeseen Consequences of Working with Kids
In a previous blog, I mentioned that the favorite part of my day is when I head off to the Tutt branch of the Boys & Girls Club to hang out with my kids for a couple of hours every afternoon. Like most things in life, however, nothing comes without cost.
In the past couple of months, I have gotten the stomach flu and two colds (I'm currently battling my latest cold). Since I normally get sick once every six months, I can't help but see a direct correlation between being around kids and illness! I'm starting to see my kids like Charles Schultz's Pigpen character, only surrounded by a cloud of viruses instead of dirt. Like Pigpen and the rest of the Peanuts gang (with the obvious exception of that bratty Lucy), however, my kids are so completely lovable that I can't help but return to them, despite the risk to my immune system.
In the meantime, I am keeping the training light and at a low intensity while I get rid of my delightfully phlegmy cough. I'm also getting a bit of a kick out of my new husky, laryngitis voice (though it is not so great for getting heard over rowdy children). With only a few weeks of training left until the end of the season, it is difficult to sit back and wait to be healthy before resuming my training. I do know from experience, however, that the easier that I take it, the sooner I get healthy and that the sooner that I am healthy, the sooner I can train. I do admit, however, that I find myself nostalgic for the days when I could take any old OTC medication to clear up my symptoms. Oh NyQuil and Robitussin, how I miss thee...
In the past couple of months, I have gotten the stomach flu and two colds (I'm currently battling my latest cold). Since I normally get sick once every six months, I can't help but see a direct correlation between being around kids and illness! I'm starting to see my kids like Charles Schultz's Pigpen character, only surrounded by a cloud of viruses instead of dirt. Like Pigpen and the rest of the Peanuts gang (with the obvious exception of that bratty Lucy), however, my kids are so completely lovable that I can't help but return to them, despite the risk to my immune system.
In the meantime, I am keeping the training light and at a low intensity while I get rid of my delightfully phlegmy cough. I'm also getting a bit of a kick out of my new husky, laryngitis voice (though it is not so great for getting heard over rowdy children). With only a few weeks of training left until the end of the season, it is difficult to sit back and wait to be healthy before resuming my training. I do know from experience, however, that the easier that I take it, the sooner I get healthy and that the sooner that I am healthy, the sooner I can train. I do admit, however, that I find myself nostalgic for the days when I could take any old OTC medication to clear up my symptoms. Oh NyQuil and Robitussin, how I miss thee...
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Dallas (the city, not the show)
I'm headed off to Dallas tomorrow for the Lifetime Fitness US Open Triathlon. With a big prize purse up for grabs, many of the best triathletes in the world will be toeing the start line at this non-drafting, Olympic-distance race. Some might even say that the field is "stacked". Since I have been travelling and racing the past couple of weeks, I am admittedly a bit nervous about how I will perform. Since I felt better this past weekend than the weekend before, I'm hoping that the pattern continues and I feel phenomenal on Sunday!
In addition to having the opportunity to race against the best, I also get to go to Texas for the first time. I'm not sure what to expect other than cowboys, big trucks, big hair and oil rigs. I will be there in the company of my Dad, aka number one fan. As long as I remember ear plugs to counteract the snoring, he makes a great race buddy. He was there for me at the start of my career, driving me to my very first races, and I hope that he continues to follow my career with the same degree of support until the day I retire. As a team, we've come a pretty far way from watching everyone in transition, comparing notes and trying to copy what the experienced triathletes were doing!
In addition to having the opportunity to race against the best, I also get to go to Texas for the first time. I'm not sure what to expect other than cowboys, big trucks, big hair and oil rigs. I will be there in the company of my Dad, aka number one fan. As long as I remember ear plugs to counteract the snoring, he makes a great race buddy. He was there for me at the start of my career, driving me to my very first races, and I hope that he continues to follow my career with the same degree of support until the day I retire. As a team, we've come a pretty far way from watching everyone in transition, comparing notes and trying to copy what the experienced triathletes were doing!
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