Tri Coup

Bike Love

2008-07-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

I rode all 3 of my bikes today:

1. Rode the fixie to commute to work.

2. Rode the road bike after work for a regular training ride.

3. Rode into town to meet a friend for dinner on my 29er-- my light was already set up on this one, plus I have been neglecting it. I have to say I forgot how much of a blast it is to ride.

Woot. Root.

A successful day!

IMLP 2008

2008-07-23T18:26:00.000-07:00

Video of the swim:

Video of the lead female on the bike (I believe this is Hillary Biscay, but not sure):

Here are my pics in a slideshow:

Random Thoughts, Notes, Updates, and Misc.

2008-07-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've been in a very thoughtful state lately. Thinking about life, writing, reading, knowledge, bicycles, packing, moving, etc. My mind has been all over the board, so this post will attempt to document and lay out some of those things and see if I can figure out any apparent pattern. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll have an epiphany. We'll see...

I like lists, so I'm just going to list out whatever pops into my head:

1. Today was an interesting day. It started out with a 50 minute run with my friend Janice. The plan was to run with her and then continue on for a total of 11 miles in order to fulfill what I had listed on my training plan. Well, I got the run completed with Janice, but had to pause for a few hours to take this little bugger to the vet

I have 2 cats and they get along for the most part, besides some play fighting. Well, all the sudden yesterday and today they are acting as if they totally hate each other and this one, Cali, has been moaning and growling and hissing and hiding and acting all crazy. So, luckily, my vet is open from 11-1 on Sundays and I talked to them via phone and they said to bring him in. So, basically, they think it's either just behavioral or possibly a UTI. He had a UTI about a year ago, when I first got him. Anyway, long story short, $112 and a couple hours of time for a last minute cat vet visit, he his back at home and still acting a little odd. I'm supposed to give him some antibiotics and check back in a week. Hopefully he'll be okay.

So, back to the run. I did in fact finish up my run later this afternoon. I went out for about 7 more miles for good measure b/c I wasn't exactly sure how many miles Janice and I had run. I knew it was probably between 4 and 5 b/c she is just getting back into running post-injury so we took it slow.

2. I am totally stoked about going back up to Lake Placid this coming weekend! I got a call from Triboomer a couple nights ago, letting me know he is also coming to spectate. It is going to be a crazy fun time. I have started a list of all the people I know who are racing and spectating, just so I can keep track. I think there are about 12 on my racing list and even more than that on the spectator list. Oh, and I'll be driving up with my friend Allison. We will be camping (since we had no luck in finding a hotel and plus it's uber cheap to go the camping route). Only problem is that both of us are kind of camping novices. I have actually been camping quite a bit, but every time I'm always with people who have all the equipment and are way more experienced than I am, so it should be interesting. I do have at least a tent, cooler, sleeping bag, and air mattress. I think we'll be able to figure it out. haha.

3. I'm going to be moving in just over 2 weeks! AHHH! I'm excited, but at the same time I'm starting to freak out a little bit about logistics. First of all, I have the slight problem that my lease does not end until Nov 30th and I am still trying to find someone to take over and rent the place. There have actually been a lot of lookers, so I'm thinking someone will want it. It's a good apt, has all the desired amenities (Dishwasher, Washer/dryer, off-street parking, secure entrance, etc). I did some 'staging' this weekend to try to make the place more attractive and I've been posting it on Craigslist as often as it will allow. Part of my staging efforts included removing my giant ottoman (one of those big square ones that doubles as more seating) from my living room b/c the living room is not really that big and that ottoman was making the place seem claustrophobic. I didn't mind it, but I was used to it and I just think it gave a bad impression of the space. Anyway, I'm crossing my fingers. Also, I have about a trillion phone calls to make to shut off/on utilities, change addresses, and find out what day my movers are coming (they gave me a window, but not an exact date yet). Ah, the joys of moving.

4. It's Sunday night and I'm not looking forward to going to work tomorrow. I'm in check out mode already-- i.e. that syndrome when you know you're leaving your job and you've mentally moved on with your life.

5. Overall, I think life is good. Things are coming together and although some things may come down to the wire (finding new renters for my apt) I think it will all work out.

6. Training is going pretty well for my upcoming races (2 olys, 1 HIM, and a marathon--PLUS, of course, IM CdA 2009!). I've been doing some major delving/tapping into everything I can find related to nutrition, training, etc, in order to figure out my training plan for IM. I have a little time, but being the Type A kind of person I am, I hope to have this planned out soon so I can start putting it into action.

7. New endeavors. As always, I get a little ahead of myself. Mixed within my thoughts are the possibilities of trying out some new sports when I move to IA. Included are cyclocross, cross country skiiing, and possibly crit style bike racing. I would also love to learn how to ski and/or snowboard this coming winter. I'll have to drive a few hours to find somewhere with some hills, but I think it is totally doable.

8. SCUBA! I am in need of a scuba trip! The plan is to dive Lake Michigan sometime either end of Sept or early October. I would love to go somewhere more tropical, but I've heard there are a lot of cool wreck dives in the great lakes and getting there is much easier on the pocketbook and time wise for the moment. I have to relearn how to live on a student budget. Joy joy :) At least it's WAY cheaper to live in Iowa compared to good old New Haven CT or anywhere on the east coast for that matter.

Alright, I think that about wraps it up for my main thoughts as of now. Plus, this post is freakin' LONG!
Cheers.

Let the training begin!

2008-06-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

I have passed the point of no return....and registered for IRONMAN COEUR D'ALENE 2009!! I am so stoked beyond belief. I don't think it has totally hit me though. I just signed up for a freakin' IRONMAN! Although, I keep reassuring myself by running through my head what I have accomplished thus far and what I will have under my belt by the time I race next year (2 HIMs, several century+ rides, 2 marathons, etc). Anyway, this is going to be an excellent adventure. Oh, and I'm psyched that Drew, Tri-Rob, and Cindy Jo are all registered too!! Rock on :)

My new theme song: Bicycle Race

2008-06-10T17:18:00.000-07:00

I've declared my new theme song: Bicycle Race by Queen

Help! Need Advice....

2008-05-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

I know I have 4 months to figure this out, but I thought it would be good to start early. I have to start figuring out the logistics of getting myself and bike from Iowa to Canada for the Ironman Muskoka 70.3 on Sept 14th. Mainly, I am concerned about how to get my bike there. I am 90% sure I'm going to fly and I've never flown with my bike, I've always just driven to races. According to google it would take 13.5 hours to drive. It kind of depends on what my school schedule looks like whether or not it would even be feasible time wise to make the road trip.

Anyway, I am in need of advice/experiences/recommendations: If I fly should I a) take my bike with me on the plane or b) ship it from my LBS to a LBS in Canada. Any stories, experiences you can share? Also, does anyone have experience flying with a bike or shipping a bike across countries? How about bike boxes? Where can I get one/rent one?

Should I drive or fly? Would it be worth it to suck it up and do the driving?

One more thing...I am considering doing a local sprint tri the weekend after I get back from Muskoka, so I would want to make sure I could get my bike back within 5 days or so after the race. Is that feasible if I ship it?
So, to sum it up, please share your experiences/advice about traveling with bikes when flying.

Thanks!

A duathlon and a 10k

2008-05-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

So, I've been racing the past couple weekends. Last weekend was a duathlon in Greenwich, CT and yesterday I did a 10k trail run on Block Island (a little island off the coast of Rhode Island). I placed 3rd in my AG at the du and 4th at the trail run. I was pretty stoked about that. At the du they handed out little goodie bags in lieu of medals. The bag was a mesh pull string one and had a nice pair of socks, running gloves, and a clif bar inside. The value of those things was more than my race entry fee, which is cool. Anyway, here are a few pics...
This is me with one of my teammates who also placed. Notice the goodie bags we have slung over our shoulders.
Happily taking some water right after crossing the finish line.
My crazy team!

In Transit 32 has arrived

2008-05-03T12:29:00.000-07:00

In this episode: Elizabeth and I are finally recovered from injuries and back on the pavement. This show covers race plans, nutrition, bike porn, life anxiety, word of the week, and much, much more! Enjoy!

And I'm racing again :)

2008-04-27T20:32:00.000-07:00

Well, after a long hiatus (since December) I am back racing. Today was my first race back with a trail run called Leatherman's Loop. It's a 10k in Westchester County, NY. It was a muddy fun time! Here's a couple pics:

Go Hawks!

2008-04-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

It's official, I'm going to Iowa! Woot! After a long wait and deliberation I have finalized everything and I'll be moving to Iowa in August to start my PhD program in Epidemiology. I'm stoked. Now I just have to start doing my research re: triathlon, bike shop, running store, tri club, etc. Expect more info in the next episode of In Transit :)

Banner...

2008-04-07T18:57:00.000-07:00

So, I'm thinking I want to make a cool banner, but I don't know how to do it. Help! I tried to make one out of a picture I have, but I can't get it to stretch all the way across. Can anyone help me out?

Evotri Endorsements: Triboomer & TriSaraTops!!

2008-03-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

I would like to make official endorsements for both Triboomer and TriSaraTops for the Evotri Team. They are both outstanding athletes and fantastic people who deserve the honor to join the team as fully-sponsored members. Please join me in supporting them by casting your vote. Polls close at 11:59 PM PST this Friday, March 28.

Vote by sending an email to: Vote@EvoTri.com
and type into the Subject field:

Triboomer
http://triboomer.blogspot.com/
or
TriSaraTops
http://www.trisaratopsimadventure.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

In Transit 31

2008-03-21T22:28:00.001-07:00

Another show is up! Finally Elizabeth and I are getting into a groove of putting out shows more frequently again. Hopefully we'll be able to keep it up this time :) You can download it from iTunes or click here to listen.

In Limbo, Once Again

2008-03-19T07:53:00.001-07:00

OR

So, in the past 5+ years I have inevitably been spending my time in a sort of never-ending limbo. This is based on my choice to ever continue my education. First it was where I would get into a Master's program, which I ended up eventually in Fort Worth via Denton where I spent a year in a program with which I was unsatisfied. I was working while in school, but once I finished I had kind of outgrown my position and knew it was time to move on. Another limbo-- where will I go next-- and after an extensive job search I found myself in Connecticut. After about a year and a half I find myself in another self-induced limbo-- this time I've decided to go back to school again, to get my PhD. I have it narrowed down to 2 places-- Iowa or Hopkins. The main reason I have not made a final decision is because I am waiting for an official decision from Hopkins. Once I have that info I can make a final decision myself. So, I'm either going to be living in Iowa City or Baltimore. Well, I guess my life is in accordance with the title of my podcast-- In Transit-- because that's what I've been doing. In the meantime, I am stressing a bit about what this next change will mean and also about the decision that lies ahead. Thankfully, I know no matter where I'll end up I can still lead a triathlon lifestyle and will still have plenty of triathlon outlets available to me.

Well, only time will tell. I'm supposed to be hearing from Hopkins very soon. Any day now...

Until then, the only way I can maintain my sanity is via blogging my random thoughts and, of course, working up a good sweat. Working out is definitely a good way to get back into focus and release stress!

That's all for now...

Show 30 In Transit

2008-03-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

We are back from hiatus once again--> In Transit Duo Podcast #30!! We cover upcoming racing seasons, running injuries, tips for trips abroad, and much, much more! Enjoy!

Finally....a diagnosis...and the journey continues

2008-02-27T08:57:00.001-08:00

Well, I finally got my long awaited diagnosis for my knee. Turns out I have illiotibial-band syndrome (ITBS) and possibly patellar tendinitis. Not surprising, as this was my first guess of what was wrong. So, now I've been prescribed PT. Have yet to schedule it-- waiting to hear back from the place-- but I'm supposed to go to PT for 4-6 weeks and probably start running a little in 3-4 weeks. As weird as this may sound, I was actually kind of depressed when I received this news. I think it was because this diagnosis was so anticlimactic. I guess I was in a way hoping for some grandiose thing-- a better excuse for me being out of the running circuit for 8 weeks! I may be going through Kubler-Ross' stages of grief:

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

This means I only have one more stage to go. I guess that's a good sign. :) I guess, if all goes well I should be back running in plenty of time for tri season. In the meantime I just have to work on remaining optimistic!

Another update on the knee...

2008-02-18T11:00:00.000-08:00

So, I'm trying to maintain my patience. I have to get another MRI, this time an arthrogram one (i.e. one where they inject contrast dye into my joint). They were unable to confirm a tear with the first MRI, so that I why I have to do another. I have that on this Friday (22nd) and then I have a follow-up with a new orthopedist on the 26th. In the meantime, I've been improving my swimming and cycling skills. haha. Oh, and trying to maintain my sanity.

That's all for now...

Injury Rant

2008-02-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

So, I got some info on my knee-- but only via the nurse so far. Apparently there is suspicion of a tear in the something something meniscus and also cartilage defects. She was uncertain whether that means surgery or not. The doc is supposed to be looking over results tomorrow (of course he has been out of town for a few days-- I don't think this process could take any longer!!) and then they will let me know whether I need to come in prior to my scheduled march 4th follow-up. RIDICULOUS! It has already been 6 weeks since I've run and 8 weeks since it first started hurting. So, I'm stricken to the pool, elliptical, and bike. Okay, end rant.

I will give updates as I get them...
I never realized how much I would miss running!

Some more pics from my Central America trip...

2008-01-30T18:46:00.000-08:00

In front of the dive shop on Caye Caulker, Belize.

One of the temples in Tikal, Guatemala. It was very very steep to climb up there!!

A pretty sunset on Caye Caulker.

Enjoying a beer in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.

Doing some shopping in Nicaragua.

Updates...

2008-01-30T10:38:00.000-08:00

I think Elizabeth and I are on hiatus from tricasting until further notice. We're both super busy as of now and it's just really difficult to find times when we are both free to record and the time to edit shows. We're not completely hanging up the towel, but right now we don't know when we'll be able to do another show. Sorry for disappointing...So, for now blog updates will have to do.

In other news:
I am currently injured-- knee problem :( Sucks big time because I am registered for the Hyannis Marathon (Feb 24th), which I will not be able to do now. I was also registered for a local Boston Build-Up Series of 4 races (10k, 15k, 20k, & 25k) which I also have to bow out of. I did go to the 10k race as support for people in my tri club who were racing and saw Coach Adam and his Race with Purpose crew, which was cool. I have an MRI scheduled for Monday the 4th of Feb, so hopefully I will know more about what is going on soon! I really hope I heal up fast b/c I'm already registered for 4 events with the first at the end of April so I'd like to get some run training in prior. We'll see....

On another note, I got to go to San Diego for work and was able to do a day of scuba diving in the kelp forests, which was cool and also went to the zoo. Here are a couple pics...

Also, I'll try to post some more of my central america vaca pics soon!

Central America Vacation PIcs...

2007-12-23T06:04:00.000-08:00

Here's me surfing....

Norfolk Pub 10 Miler

2007-12-18T06:42:00.000-08:00

Well, it has happened, I have finally raced again! I haven't raced since the half ironman back in September, although I have still been working out. This was a 10 mile run in Norfolk, CT. Norfolk is in Litchfield County, which equals uber hilly. The race had a nice start time of 11am. Sweet. The temp was 22 degrees, brrrr, and the roads had snow/ice coverage throughout much of it. I went into the race with the mindset that I was just going to take it easy, not out to break any records, but being the competitor I am I set a goal time for myself of 1:40 (10 min miles). I missed my goal by 1 min 17 seconds, with a total time of 1:41:17. I was a bit disappointed about that, but I ran the race very conservatively because this is the longest distance I've run in quite some time. I think the longest run before this I recently ran was around 6 or 7 miles. Despite missing my goal time I actually won my age group (albeit there were only 83 runners total). This was a fun race and the entry was a reasonable $15 (or $10 if you register early). It is definitely a challenging course, but fun, and you get a free beer with your bib tag at the end of the race!

Quick Updates: Trip and Show

2007-11-26T15:00:00.001-08:00

Well, I'm back from Central America. The trip was awesome (with one exception)! I haven't uploaded pictures yet, but will post some as soon as I do. I'm also hoping to record another show soon-- just have to find a time both Elizabeth and I are free.

I'll post more details about the trip when I get pictures to illustrate (and also talk about it in the next podcast), but for now here are some of the highlights: fantastic diving in both Belize and Nicaragua, 12 miles hiking through the ancient Mayan city of Tikal in Guatemala, surf lessons in Nicaragua with one of Nica's best surfers, beautiful sunsets, and a lot of practice speaking Spanish (at least in Guatemala and Nica).

More to come...

Frappr Map

2007-11-25T05:50:00.002-08:00

The off-season and vacation

2007-11-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

Training: Well, as always, transitioning into the off-season is weird. I feel a little lost without a race coming up in the next couple weeks. Really, the only thing I have planned in the coming months is a 4 miler on New Year's Eve in Central Park and probably a half mary at the Hyannis marathon in Massachusetts. I'm still planning on doing a spring marathon, but have yet to lock in which one that will be. I do know I need to get it set-- I rely heavily on having a race to prepare for as motivation to keep on track both nutrionally and physically. Don't get me wrong, I haven't stopped working out or started eating pizza and french fries every night, but I have relaxed my stringency in training big time. I know having an off-season is good and needed, but at the least I like having a goal to work toward. I also finally got a gym membership again so I can get back on track in terms of swimming and hopefully start strength training as well. Lots of things to work on in the coming months...

The show: Elizabeth and I are going to try and record another before I take off to Central America on Wednesday...

The trip: Speaking of Central America, yes, I leave Wednesday! Totally stoked about that. I will take tons of pics and I'm taking my recorder too-- so hopefully I'll be able to capture some sounds of Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. I will post upon my return for sure. In the meantime here is a pic of me at the Nutmeg Half Iron. This was the best one, even though it's not the greatest. The event photographer just didn't catch that many of me and the one's they did were not exactly the most flattering. haha I just know it's been a while since I've posted some pics, so here ya go:

HIM Race Report and Show 29 In Transit

2007-10-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Hey all-- Show 29 of In Transit is up and ready for your listening pleasure.

Here's my half ironman race report:
What: Nutmeg HIM (1.2 mi swim/56 mi bike/13.1 mi run)
When: 23SEP07 @ 7am
Where: Lake Waramaug, New Preston, CT

Pre-event: I chose this course b/c I wanted to do a half that was close to home and at the end of the season. So, I narrowed it down to this one or the Extrememan. I mostly chose this one b/c I liked the sounds of the lake swim over the sound swim. I rode the bike course twice prior to the race and drove the run course. I made the decision to change my gearing, based on how the pre-rides went (i.e. major major hills). Thankfully, my friend Joe graciously let me borrow his compact crank set, which I believe made a pretty big difference-- maybe not in my speed, but in terms of not burning up on the bike and having something left for the run. I had also done the Nutmeg Sprint, so I had a pretty good idea of how the swim and transition areas would be set up since the race was run by the same people. Race morning: Had a bagel and cream cheese for breakfast. I meant to have a gel before leaving the hotel and then ~ 10 minutes before race start, but both those totally slipped my mind until I was in the middle of the swim.

Swim-- 38:48
I couldn't get into a good rhythm until about 2-3 bouys in. It wasn't my best swim, but I got through it and didn't go off course, so I was happy.

T1-- 3:23
Not the fastest for me, but wanted to make sure I definitely had everything set for the rigorous bike course ahead.

Bike-- 3:55:11
This was just over 14mph. Pretty slow, but compared to the rest of the field, especially compared to the rest of the women I seemed to fare pretty well. I was definitely glad I had pre-ridden the course and knew what to expect. Thankfully, I was able to ride the whole course without any dismounting. That was a feat in itself!Nutrition: I had 1 Gu and 2 packs of Clif Shot Bloks. I had taped another Gu to my bike, but it fell off at about mile 2.5. I also drank 1.5 liters of water and ~ 8oz of gatorade.

T2-- 2:09
Pretty uneventful. Would have liked to be under 2min, but my stuff had been kinda kicked around a bit by either myself or others around me.

Run-- 2:13:06
I actually felt pretty good on the run. I was surprised my legs weren't more spent. I ran the whole thing minus walking through 2 or 3 aid stations. I brought 3 GUs with me, but only used 2. I drank water at every aid station, poured some over my head, and had gatorade at 1 aid station. Oh, and I had to stop and pee at the turnaround on the run, so that set me back about 1-2 minutes. I was glad I had to pee though, so I knew I was staying hydrated.

Overall, this was a very challenging course. I'm not sure it was the greatest choice for a first time HIM, but I finished it nonetheless and was stoked to have broken 7 hours.

Park City Mossman-- Bridgeport, CT 8/26/07

2007-08-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

I didn’t wear a watch this race, as I usually do. I really had no idea what my times were throughout the race. I did this on purpose, so I could really just tune in and listen to my body. At this point I still don’t have my exact split times either, b/c they have yet to be posted on the web (or if they have, I can’t find them). All I know is my finish time is approximately 2:48 and some change.

Pre-race: I had a bowl of cereal before I left for the race. I also sipped on some Gatorade on my way there and ate a ½ a pack of Clif Shot Bloks on the way and ½ right before race start.

Swim: Long Island Sound, Seaside Park, Bridgeport
Wore the wetsuit. The tide was ‘on its way in’….which meant a good deal of aqua jogging at the start and finish and during the second loop of the course. Besides the lack of depth, the water was fantastically smooth. I think my swim went okay, besides the jogging through the water part, which slowed me down a bit.

T1: Longer than my usual times for 2 reasons: 1) Had to factor in wetsuit removal time. 2) Put socks on to avoid blisters on the run.

Bike: This was a 5 loop course, completely flat. I really disliked this course, mostly due to congestion. Due to the 5 loops, there was major mixing of fast & slow, experienced & inexperienced riders. This made it very difficult to follow the USAT rules (no drafting, passing on left only, 30 second pass, etc) and I’m surprised I didn’t see any wrecks. I ended up getting a penalty on the first loop. I was so pissed! I went into one of the corners with ~ half a dozen people. One of the ‘slow’ guys did not hold his line and ended up cutting in front of me. Another ‘fast’ guy cut to the ‘slow’ guy’s left and then there was me with nowhere to go except pass the ‘slow’ guy on the right or slam on my brakes. I went with the former, which successfully got me a penalty--my first ever. I was not proud. At the same time, I felt that this course would have been better for an ITU race, where drafting is legal. I’m also not sure I’m a fan of the completely flat course. I tend to be able to shut people out on the hills and this course did not offer that opportunity. Anyway…on the bike I drank more than half a bottle of Gatorade, had a gel, and ate half a pack of Clif bloks.

T2: Pretty fast, I think (Again, no timing available yet). Just switched shoes, grabbed my hat, race belt, and a gel and I was off.

Run: I thought it was just a standard out-and-back course until I noticed on one of the last laps of the bike that there were 2 turnarounds. This psyched me out a bit, mainly because I had envisioned it differently in my head. Nonetheless, I got through it okay. I have no idea what my pace was. It felt slow, but history has taught me that triathlon runs may seem very slow, but then you get your time and are blown away by the pace you ran. So, time will tell. By this time it had heated up quite a bit, so I did a combination of drinking water and pouring it over my head. I also had a gel about ½ way through the run.
Overall, I was pretty satisfied with my time and am anxious to see my splits and how I did in the division. I’m not sure if I’d do this race again, mostly because I wasn’t in love with the course—congestion on the bike, lack of depth on the swim, etc. The swag was pretty good though.

Nutmeg Sprint Triathlon-- August 11th, Warren, CT

2007-08-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

Well, since we're still slacking on getting an In Transit out, I figured the least I could do is give a race report here...

This was a sprint tri (.5mile/9miles/5k).

The race was about a 1.5 hour drive, so I left at 4:45 to get there. Surprisingly, I was pretty awake. I ate a bowl of cereal before leaving home and a couple Clif Shot Bloks on the ride there. Luckily, I was able to carpool with my friend Allison, who happens to be a fellow member of the Shoreline Sharks (my multisport team).

Got there, picked up my packet, racked my bike and set everything up. It was kind of chilly, in the 50s. I decided to go sans wetsuit (I didn't even bring it with me). The field was split in regard to wetsuit use, about 50/50. The water was much warmer than the air temp, so as soon as I stepped in to warm up I was relieved. I think I would have been too warm if I would have worn it and I probably would have added on at least a minute getting it off. I was happy with my decision.

Swim: The half mile lake swim went well. I made it out of the water in 17:59. A little slower than my usual, but not by much.

T1: It was at least 1/8 mile from the beach to the transition area. I was able to pass a ton of people in transition. A lot of people were walking to transition b/c they were too worried about their precious tootsies and the little rocks they had to run over to get to transition. I was in race mode, so the rocks didn't bother me a bit. My time was 1:50.

Bike: It was a short 9 mile loop around the lake. Flat for the first 5 miles, then a hill at 5 & at 7 miles. Pretty tough hills. Non eventful bike, pretty happy with my time of 30:36. I have to say my bike times seem so slow to me ever since I moved to CT. But, I have to remember it is much hillier here than TX, so I can't really compare averages on flats to averages on hilly courses.

T2: Quick in & out. 42 seconds.

Run: This run was a b*tch for the first 1.7 miles! It was basically straight uphill. The turnaround was at the 1.7 mark and then it was a flying downhill from there. I ended up with a 27:20 time for an 8:47 pace. I was pretty satisfied with that, except for the fact that I lost an age group win the last half mile when a chick flew by me going at a 7 something pace. I knew I wouldn't be able to hang with her, but I pushed as hard as I could. She beat me by 38 seconds. Nonetheless, I ended up with a 2nd in AG placement. I was pretty satisfied.

Race nutrition: I had a GU on the bike with water. I also had water once on the run and did the 'dump water over my head' trick, which really helped b/c it had warmed up quite a bit by the time the run portion came up.

Overall, it was a challenging course and a fun race. Plus, we got wicking shirts! Woot!

Update...

2007-07-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I know it has been FOREVER since I've posted and since Elizabeth and I have turned out a podcast. We are still alive and kickin', but just SUPER busy. We hope to have another show out in the near future.

In the meantime...

Here's my update: Since the tri on the 16th I have done a couple 5k races logging a 25:30 and 25:34, which I was proud of because that puts me at ~ and 8:12 pace. This is a huge improvement in my run pace in the past year.

I was supposed to do a tri on the 4th of July, but it got cancelled, so my next one will be on August 11th and a sprint distance. I'm also registered for an oly on August 26th, a HIM on Sept 23rd, and 10 miler and 20k road races thrown in the mix.

Lots more information to come....

Race Report: Olympic Triathlon June 16th, Middlebury, CT

2007-06-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

This was my first tri for the season:

Pre-race nutrition: Bowl of cereal, ~12oz of powerade, and an AccelGel ~20 minutes before race start.

Swim: The water was 72 degrees, perfect with my wetsuit. I have to admit the swim looked kind of intimidating with the diamond shape they had set up. Nonetheless, the gun went off and there I went. My only problem with the swim was that my wetsuit was tugging on my right arm. I should have pulled that sleeve up more. I didn't notice when I warmed up prior to race start, but as I got going it was annoying. Lesson learned. The swim went well, although I felt slow. Turns out my time was 38:44, which is pretty consistent with previous oly tris I have done, so I was happy.

T1: Had a bit of trouble getting my right leg out of the wetsuit-- other than that, no qualms. Time 1:24

Bike: Took an AccelGel at the start of the bike and another at the 14 mile point. I also drank close to 12oz of powerade and ~6oz of water. This was a pretty hilly course, but I was able to pass quite a few people during this leg. Tough course, but it went smoothly. Also, it was great having Shark support (my tri club) cheering us on. Time 1:27:49

T2: In and out in 53 seconds.

Run: This was a great run for me. I tend to average between 9:30 and 10:30 on olympic tri run legs that I've done in the past. I have noticed some improvement in my pace ever since I completed my first marathon in April and am happy to say that I finished the run in 50:58 for a pace of approx. 8:40/mi (the run was a little shorter than 10k). Nutrition: I alternated between gatorade and water at each aid station. I also dumped water over my head at almost all the aid stations, which helped me stay cool throughout the run. This run course was more hilly that I expected (I should have scouted the course more prior) but I had run a lot of hills in training, so it was not a huge problem.

Overall time: 2:59:46, which was good enough for 3rd in my age group (not sure how many were in my AG though). I was just stoked to finish under 3 hrs, which is a PR for me. It was great racing with my tri club, the Shoreline Sharks. The run course was a two loop out and back, so I was able to see many of the Sharks throughout the run, which helped bigtime!This was a great race-- I would definitely do it again.

I got tagged....

2007-05-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

So, I got tagged by KT a traithlete from Omaha with the Seven Songs that Stick in Your Head blog. I spose I'll continue the chain and I must tag Elizabeth, the other half of the In Transit Duo!

Here's my list:

Jump Around by House of Pain
Stellar by Incubus
867-5309 by Tommy Tutone
The Joker by Steve Miller Band
Loser by 3 Doors Down
Heartbreak Hotel By Whitney Houston
So Fresh, So Clean by Outkast

Okay, these might be more "Songs I Like" than "Songs that stick in your head" but this is my list nonetheless.

In Transit 24

2007-05-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

After a bit of technical delay, show 24 is up and 25 should be on its way soon too!

Show 25 will include my marathon review and also a review of the duathlon I did this morning! It was my first ever duathlon and it was tons of fun. Tune in to In Transit for the details. Once that show is up I'll also post my race report here.

In the meantime, I'm completely recovered from the marathon and ready for my triathlon season to get into full swing. I have my first triathlon scheduled for June 16th-- the Pat Griskus Olympic tri in Middlebury, CT. I've heard it's pretty hilly, so I'm going to plan accordingly.

I did it!

2007-04-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official, I'm a marathoner. I completed my first marathon on Saturday in Charlottesville, VA. I would report more, but I don't want to spoil the next episode of In Transit-- where you'll get full details.

Here's a pic I swiped off the race web site (yes, the course really looked like this. It was beautiful).

This is how the course was divided up in regard to vertical time and the elevation distribution. In short: it was HILLY! (hint: click on pics to see a larger image).

The sacrifices we make

2007-04-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

So, it's T minus 3 days until the marathon! I can't believe it. The 18 weeks of training have truly flown by. Hopefully I'm not grossing anyone out, but I wanted to share a couple sacrifices I made in order to get to race day....the loss of 2 toenails (the second toe on each foot). Both of these nails fell off after blisters formed underneath the toenails. The strange thing is, neither toe hurt at any point, it was just silent blister formation and then bye-bye toenail. Hmm. My feet are in pretty bad shape, but they were not too pretty to begin with. It's hard to maintain beautiful feet when you're constantly pounding on them. I don't mind. :) I love endurance sports!

In Transit 23

2007-04-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

It's finished! You can listen by going to our web site or accessing it in iTunes-- it should be available shortly. Enjoy!

It's almost here...

2007-04-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

the 23rd In Transit, that is! I'm editing it right now and should have it out by the end of this weekend.

Happy Easter!

Marathon training update: I just finished week 16 of 18! Ran 20 last Saturday, which was my max length so far and am currently on the tapering downslope until race day on April 21st. So far, so good.

Looks like I could use a pair of trail shoes

2007-03-14T17:37:00.000-07:00

Went on a trail run tonight with the peeps from the local running store. Had a great time, but got my road shoes, socks, & legs completely covered in mud. Don't get me wrong, I love getting muddy, but I think I might need to invest in some trail shoes so they'll at least start out a dark color and won't look so bad after a muddy run. I already hosed off these, but they still have a brownish tint. Ah well. I'm retiring this pair after the marathon anyway. Fun times. :)

Like lightning...

2007-02-27T17:38:00.000-08:00

at least for me.

I had a 4 mile training run tonight and it was great! I ran at a local indoor track (not the great part) and made a time of 35:30! For those of you who don't know, for me that is pretty fast. Well, that's all I have to report for now.

Longest run of my life

2007-02-26T07:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it. I completed the longest run of my life (so far). I ran 15.2 miles on Saturday. I must say it was not easy, at all, but it was a pretty decent run. My pace was right around 10:20 for the first 13 miles and then slowed to about 11:40 for the last 2 miles. I was running on a snow/ice covered trail on those last 2 miles though.

This coming weekend I will complete another milestone---16 miles. I plan on running with the new running group I came across. Marathon training-- so far, so good. I'll report more soon!

Running store

2007-02-23T15:04:00.000-08:00

Well, I had to get a fuel belt-- b/c I can't exactly carry bottles of water around in my hands while I'm running long runs (especially when they're in the double digits). So, I called a local sporting goods store to see if they had them and they didn't, but they were able to recommend a local running store. Yay! I have my local running shop now. I stopped by today and picked up a fuel belt, gus, and found out they have group runs 2 times a week. How cool? I'm stoked. :) Oh the little things in life...

Training away

2007-02-19T16:30:00.001-08:00

Well, it's week 10 of marathon training and so far everything is good. Today is a rest day, thankfully. I can use the extra time! This Saturday's long run is 15 miles and will be the longest run I've done ever! I think to date my longest run has been just over 13 miles, so this will be the real test. I think I will complete it just fine! Woot! I'll report back once complete--no matter the outcome.Oh, and Show 21 of In Transit is available for your listening pleasure

Here's my race resume...as promised in the last show

2007-02-02T12:37:00.000-08:00

Cara’s
Triathlon/Running/Cycling
Race & Event Resume
Athletic Profile

Bike Rallies
Hotter ‘n Hell Hundred 2004, 2005, 2006
Lonestar Ride 150 miles in 2 days- September 2004
Goatneck 2005 (100k), 2006 (40 miles)
Tour de Paris 2005
Tour Dallas 2005 (30 miles), 2006 (30 miles)
Texas Hell Week – 3/12/2005- 3/19/2005 various distances each of the 4 days
Muenster Germanfest Rally- 2005, 2006 (40 miles)
Mesquite Rodeo Ride 2005
Denton Power Rally 2004, 2005, 2006
Spokes for Folks 2005
Collin Classic 2005
Hot Rocks 2005
Turkey Roll 2004

Triathlon
2004
Athens YMCA Pool Sprint 3/13/04- Athens, TX
July 4th Las Colinas TriAmerica Open-water Sprint 7/3/04- Las Colinas, TX

2005
May 1st Baylor Tom Landry Triathlon Pool Sprint- Dallas, TX
August 7th Sportspectrum Rivercities Triathlon Open-water Sprint-Shreveport, LA
October 2nd Stonebridge Ranch Open-water Olympic- McKinney, TX

2006
April 23rd Rise & Shine 5k- Dallas, TX
May 7th Baylor Tom Landry Triathlon Pool Sprint- Dallas, TX
July 16th Mountain Man Triathlon Open-water Olympic-Flagstaff, AZ
September 16th Texas Man Triathlon Open-water Olympic-Irving, TX
October 15th Monster Triathlon Pool—Keller, TX 1st in Age Group and 2nd in costume contest
October 22nd RunBiTri Pool—Keller, TX 1st in Age Group

Track Cycling
2006
Frisco Superdrome—Velodrome Racing CAT 4
3 races during 2006 season
August 11th- 1st in category
August 18th- 2nd in category
September 1st, Festival of Speed – won $30, placed 3rd in my time category.

Running
2002
ZTA 5k—Iowa City, IA

2003
April 27th-- River Run 10k—Iowa City, IA
July 26—Quad-City Times Bix 7—Davenport, IA
7 miles, 1:09:05, 4716th

2004
Cowtown Marathon 10k
April 25th Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon—Spring, Oklahoma City, OK
Rockledge Rumble 10k trail run—Grapevine, TX
Dallas White Rock Half Marathon—Dallas, TX

2005
February 12th Freescale Half Marathon—Austin, TX
Marine Mud Run 10k obstacle course—Fort Worth, TX
Dallas White Rock Half Marathon—Dallas, TX

2006
St. Paddy’s Day Dash- 5k—Dallas, TX
Marine Mud Run 10k obstacle course—Fort Worth, TX
Rockledge Rumble 15k trail run—Grapevine, TX

***This could use some work and I'll probably add the times as well.

Show 20 is up!

2007-01-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

iFYI- In Transit Show 20 is up and ready for your listening pleasure! Find it at our Web site http://www.intransitduo.com or on iTunes.

Week 6 Marathon Training

2007-01-28T07:21:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm still working on my marathon training, but have had a bit of struggle getting my motivation up to get my long run miles in. Last week I was scheduled to run 10 miles, but only got 5 in because I procrastinated on going and ended up running out of daylight (plus it was freakin' cold). Yesterday wasn't quite as bad-- I was supposed to run 7 miles and ended up doing about 4.5-5miles, but with some serious hills thrown in. It was fun though-- I got to meet Trisaratops, who was in town for work, and we ran together at the local park. There should be some audio from our run included in the next In Transit episode.

I've been good about getting my weekday distances in, but just need to do the long runs. So important! Next Saturday I'm slated for 12 miles and am bound and determined to get each and every one of those miles in. I will just put the past behind me where it belongs and move forward from here. Sticking to the plan!

Oh, and I just registered for Charlottesville Marathon-- it's official now. I'm in!

Sweet park across the street

2007-01-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics of the view from the summit of the park across the street from my apartment. It is 1.8 miles up to it--- great hill training for both running and cycling. I've been up there quite a few times since moving here. You can see the Long Island Sound from up here-- although it's difficult to see in these pics. Hopefully I'll get some better pics in the future. I had great 9 mile run yesterday, with the summit tied in. Killer time!

Running in circles...

2007-01-04T19:41:00.000-08:00

is what I've been doing. Marathon training is coming along slowly, but surely. I've been running on an indoor track during the weeknights and on the trails at a local park on the weekends. Cross-training on Sundays with a bike ride as well. Connecticut is good, although I'm not familiar enough with the area to run outside when it's dark-- so I'm stuck with the indoor track and/or treadmills until it starts staying light out longer. Oh the wintertime. And there's not even any snow here! Actually, I shouldn't complain. The weather here has been really nice-- ranging mostly in the 40s to low 50s. Pretty crazy for a northeast December/January, if you ask me. We'll see what the rest of the month and also February bring. Nothing else is really new. I might start using fitday.com again to track my caloric intake. Hmm.

Happy New Year!

2006-12-31T18:39:00.000-08:00

First of all, there is a new episode of In Transit up and ready for your listening pleasure! Woot! Click here to listen or visit our web site.

Also, I finally went for a bike ride today. Just a short 15 miler, but hey, at least I braved the cold and logged some miles, right? It was pretty freakin' cold. I need to wear warmer socks and longer sleeves and/or longer gloves. Don't you hate it when there's that little gap of skin exposed at your wrist! Brrr

My Top 10 New Year's Resolutions (or things I need to maintain/step up a little) & goals for 2007:
1. Run, run, run
2. Swim, swim, swim
3. Cycle, Cycle, cycle
4. Plan out my races for 2007
5. Get scuba certified
6. Take a scuba vacation
7. Go to South America and/or Australia
8. Take a class that is not sports related-- eg language, politics, religion, photography, art, etc.
9. Complete a marathon (goal is Charlottesville Marathon on April 21st)
10. Update my blog more often.

Slowly, but surely....

2006-12-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

That's how I'm easing back into the podcast/blog world. I feel like I'm disconnected having been without internet access during my move and then having to wait another week to get it once I arrived here in CT. I'm back in business now.

Connecticut is great so far. Love my new job. Joined a fantastic local gym. I've already tested out thier 1/8 mile indoor track, pool, and several of the exercise machines. The weather has been really great. It has been unseasonably warm-- I must have brought some warmth with me from TX. It was in the 50s today! Also, I'm fortunate enough to live very close (right across the street) from a sweet park with 10 miles of running trails. I gave that a 5 mile spin this past weekend. My next goal is to find some cycling routes and also try to hook-up with a tri or cycling team.

Another In Transit episode should be coming in the next week or so. Elizabeth and I have both been super busy, but we're missing our podcasting and have vowed to get our acts together this weekend to record via Gizmo.

Peace out...

Wow...I'm a slacker.

2006-11-25T16:12:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post-- it really feels like it has only been about a week. Show 18 should be coming your way soon and it's jam-packed with goodies for your listening pleasure.

Training has been pretty inconsistent for me...I've had a lot of traveling and chaos (good chaos though) going on in life. You'll get all the details in the next show.

Elizabeth and I are still planning on doing a marathon in the spring, although it probably won't be Rome after all-- maybe next year.

I guess that's all for now. I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! Eat lots of turkey for me---and pumpkin pie too!

Peace out for now...

I can't believe it! Twice!

2006-10-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

If you've listened to the latest In Transit, then you know half of the news I'm about to tell. First off all, I did the Monster Triathlon in Keller, TX last weekend (October 15th) and I just completed the RunBiTri Triathlon also in Keller, TX this morning (October 22). Unbelieveably, for me anyhow, I placed first in my age group at both events!! Holy cow! Although they were held in the same city, these sprint tris had completely different run and bike courses and were put on by different race productions.

The Monster tri was pretty rainy, but a fun race. There was also a costume contest on the run portion, where I dressed up as a cheerleader. (see pics on the In Transit Web site. My time at Monster was 1:16:03, which was good enough for a whole minute faster than the second place woman in my category. I was very happy with my results--- improved my run to finish with just over a 9 min/mile pace. For all the details check out In Transit Show 16.

The one today was equally exciting. The RunBiTri had very similar distances to the Monster (400m swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run). Monster was the same, but the swim was 300m instead. Oh, and, according to my Garmin today's bike and run distances were actually 13 miles and 3.39 miles, so a little longer than advertised. The RunBiTri was also a reverse triathlon-- it went Run, bike, swim. I am thankful for that because it was only about 45 degrees this morning. A little too cold to be running and biking soaking wet. It was crazy though. I felt super strong on the run, a little more fatigued than usual on the bike, and the swim felt like snail-pace. Oh, and since it was so cold outside the transition from bike to swim was quite a shocker. I'm still waiting for my official results to be posted online-- so I can see how many were in my age group and what my splits were, etc. Overall, it was a challenging course, but a fun race. I'm sure Elizabeth and I will include the official times and discuss this more in the next show. I guess that's all for now.

Another soggy triathlon??

2006-10-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

Well, it's the eve of my final triathlon of the season-- the Monster Spring Tri in Keller, TX. The forecast is calling for thunderstorms all morning long!! ugh. If you recall my last triathlon (Texas Man), it was also a rainy day. Luckily the rain let up just long enough to complete that race though.

Also, the Monster tri has a Halloween theme that comes with a costume contest for the run portion. And, of course, that means I must join in on the fun. I won't give away what I've decided to dress up as, that'll be in the next episode of In Transit.

Oh, and Triboomer is going to be my correspondent tomorrow (yay!). I don't know anyone else doing this race, so I'm happy he'll be there to join in on the fun.

Expectations: I think this will be a fun race. The swim should go off without a hitch (it's a 300 m pool swim). The bike should be good (12 miles), unless the weather doesn't cooperate. The run: interesting b/c I'll be wearing a costume and also fun to see what other people come up with.

I also did a 50 mile bike rally today in Denton (the Denton Power Rally), so it should be interesting to see if that has any effect on my race performance. I feel pretty good right now though.

So, I'm crossing my fingers that it is not downpouring during the race. I'm curious how it will be handled if the weather is bad. I just hope the race goes on!

Okay, that's enough for now. Full coverage to come in the next show!

Show 15 y'all! Stellar!

2006-10-04T08:18:00.000-07:00

Upcoming race plans. Elizabeth's 5k. Cara's trip to Chicago. A long discussion about newbies, race distances, and a trend in elite sports. Also, a new segment. Enjoy!

In Transit Show 14 has arrived!

2006-09-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

This one covers the Texas Man Triathlon where we met up with Emily and Brett from Zen and the Art of Triathlon and Brian a.k.a. Triboomer. We also have a short interview with 2 of the owners from a brand new women's triathlon inspired gear company called Girls Tri Harder. Please check out their Web site by clicking here. You can download the show from our Web site or through iTunes.

Texas Man Race Report Coming Soon!

2006-09-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

The next episode of In Transit is coming soon and will include a full race report from the Texas Man triathlon in Irving, Texas. I was lucky enough to race with both Emily and Triboomer, got to meet Dave Scott and Brett from Zen, and had a good race overall.

The show should be out by the end of the week. Click here to see pics from the race.

In Transit Show 13

2006-09-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody-- Show 13 is here. This one is about the Spoly and a race preview of TexasMan which is this coming weekend. Woot!

In Transit Spoly Triathlon

2006-09-11T20:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I wish I could say I successfully completed the first ever In Transit Spoly tri, but I can't. Unfortunately, I have been sick for the past 5 days with a pretty bad head cold and did not feel up to par enough to do the tri. Elizabeth was able to complete a slightly modified version of our orginally planned triathlon, which she completed with flying colors. She has recorded some audio of her spoly experience and we'll have that in the next show.

I decided to sit out this tri for a couple reasons 1) I felt like crap 2) I'm doing the Texas Man Olympic tri this weekend in Irving, TX, and I want to save up and get well to be ready for that one. I actually broke down and went to the doc today, since it wasn't clearing up. I'm on some antibiotics now, so by Sunday I'm hoping I'll be in tip top shape.

It really sucks being sick. I've been trying to rest up, which means no working out, in order to help my body fight off whatever I have faster. All I have to say is I feel so lazy!! I can't wait until these drugs kick in and I'm back on track.

That's all for now...

In Transit Show 12

2006-09-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

In this show Elizabeth and I talk about our upcoming Spoly plans, which is our version of a triathlon consisting of distances halfway between a sprint and oly. We are doing this self-supported triathlon on Sept. 9th at Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie, TX. If you're interested in joining us just send us an e-mail. We would also like anyone who can't join us in TX to do your own triathlons and send us race reports on how you did. Those race reports can either be sent to us via voicemail at our Gizmo # 920-482-4822 or by sending an e-mail to cara@intransitduo.com or elizabeth@intransitduo.com

This show also includes a swim session with Elizabeth, a bike rally review from me and lots of random thoughts from both of us. Enjoy!

You can download the show by going to our web site or by accessing it through iTunes.

Hand, Hotter 'n Hell, and Heat

2006-08-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I've tried some adjustments to my bike at the track and my hand numbness seems to be getting better. Thank you to all those who gave me tips on fixing that problem.

This past weekend I set out to do the Hotter 'n Hell Hundred bike rally, which is a century ride in Wichita Falls, TX and one of the largest bike rallies in the nation (over 12,000 riders). This was my 3rd year doing the 100 mile route, but ended a lot different than the past 2 years...I DNF. The temperature hit 107 that day and the heat just did not agree with me. I made it to the 70 mile mark rest stop, got off my bike to fill my camelback with water and had to run out of the line toward the porta-potty. I didn't make it all the way there before I threw up. The heat just made me sick, I guess. I was so disappointed. I felt like I could probably have gone a little farther, but I didn't know how far and I didn't want to be stuck between rest stops collapsed on the side of the road, so I bit the bullet and sagged in. While waiting in the medical tent for a ride to the finish line the there was a guy who was given an IV and I found out later he is an avid cyclist who had done 14 other centuries and never had a problem-- until that day. I also heard and saw many more people sag in due to heat problems. It was crazy. It was definitely hotter than hell! I guess I just lucked out the past 2 years, because it was only in the 90s those years-- let me tell ya, 10-15 degrees more truly makes a huge difference!!! Anyway, it wasn't a total failure. I figure it was good I didn't end up in the ED or something and at least I got 70 miles in. My buddy Burt who I went with ended up riding 125 miles because there was some wrong signage and about 1000 riders got off course. Craziness! I also saw Triboomer at the 50 mile rest stop. He was lookin' good in his TNT jersey. I see him everywhere these days!! Way to go 'Boomer!!

Well, that is all for now. Pretty exciting weekend.

Gimp hand, ugggh!

2006-08-18T08:32:00.000-07:00

I'm really getting worried. It is time for something to change. Ever since I've been riding at the velodrome I have experience some neuropathy (numbness) in my left hand. I know it stems from putting too much pressure on my hand while riding, but I'm not exactly sure how to correct it. Here's why: 1. You have to pretty much keep your hands in the same position while riding-- down in the drops. 2. I am currently renting a bike each time I ride and I haven't been able to figure out any successful adjustments to ease the pressure on my hand. i.e. bike fit may be an issue. Here's what I'm trying to do to address this: 1. work on some core exercises so my core can pick up some of my weight as opposed to my hand receiving all the pressure. 2. While warming up I'm trying to put my hands on top of the bars to give my hand some rest.

Here's why I'm freaking out though: my swimming is seriously hindered because of the numbness. I can't keep my fingers together to pull through the water. I swam last night and I really felt handicapped by my weak hand.

Well, that's my current situation...

In Transit Show 11! Woot!

2006-08-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

It's finally here...Show 11, our rock climbing experience. Check it out by downloading from iTunes or by clicking here.

Show 10 has arrived!!

2006-08-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

Please give show 10 a listen. You can download it through iTunes or at our Web site. Show 10 includes our typical segments and an interview with 2 local triathletes, Mark and Becca, who are prepping for a Team in Training event in September.

We are staying busy, so show 11 & 12 should have some good stuff too! Preview of show 11-- our rock climbing adventure.

Show 10 is almost done!!

2006-08-09T13:08:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth and I have been super busy, so that is why the latest show is delayed. Should be out by the end of today though. Show 10 covers our recent training efforts and an on the spot interview with a couple of newbie triathletes.

Our rock climbing trip was a success! Check out pictures on our Web site. Show 11 will cover our rock climbing and camping adventure plus much more!

Spoly

2006-07-31T19:59:00.000-07:00

Well, Elizabeth and I have decided we would really like to do another triathlon within the next month or so, but we want to dodge the high entry fees. So....we're going to do the 1st ever In Transit Spoly Triathlon. The date and location are still in the works, but here's the scoop so far:

We decided to make up our own distance, halfway between a sprint and olympic, aka the Spoly. The distances are as follows: 1000m swim, 30k bike, and 7.5k run. We hope to travel to Colorado to complete the race in the Denver/Boulder area. Once we get everything figured out we will announce the date and everyone is invited to join us. If you can't make it to Colorado then you can always do a tri in your own neck of the woods and tell us how it went. We plan on dedicating an entire episode on the results. Also, if you don't want to do the spoly distance, then do a sprint or oly or whatever you'd like!

There is also the possibility of adding some untraditional elements to the race (e.g. a lap around transition area on a roller racer before you can go on). This is still pending.

More to come soon....

In Transit Show 9

2006-07-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

We have finished Show 9! This one is a review of our Mountain Man triathlon, Grand Canyon trip, and a special interview with fellow triathlete Peggy from Colorado. You can download it by clicking the title above or through iTunes.

Show 9 coming soon...

2006-07-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

I'm in the final editing phase of show 9, so don't fret it will be coming soon. We have some awesome footage from our trip and also a special interview with a fellow triathlete from CO.

More pics from the trip

2006-07-24T22:01:00.000-07:00

A pretty sunset at our North Rim campsite.

Getting my feet wet in the Colorado River.

The view behind me is from our North Rim campsite. Pretty stellar!

A couple lizards at the Petrified Forest in AZ. The one on the left is kind of difficult to see due to the shadow-- look closely.

Elizabeth and I after the race.

Me taking a break and enjoying the view from our hike down the canyon on the north rim.

View from the South rim of the Grand Canyon.

Here I am standing next to ruins at the Petrified Forest. These are the remains of a home made of petrified wood.

Arrived alive...

2006-07-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

Well, Elizbeth and I made it home safe and sound from our long long road trip to AZ. We had a great time racing on Sunday and checking out the Grand Canyon and other monuments/sites along the way.

We will have full coverage of the race on our next show, but for now here's a short report:

This was an oly held in Flagstaff, AZ on July 16th called the Mountain Man. The altitude is ~7000ft, which is 6500 ft higher than I'm used to here in Dallas.

There were also sprint and half distances offered. It was a relatively small race, there were about 450 competitors combined for all 3 race categories.

Swim-- 1500m
Did this in 38:22, which is 2:33 per 100m. I usually average around 2:10 per 100m, so this is a little slow for me. I did feel altitude effects in the 1st couple minutes though, so I tried to just do the swim slow and steady.

Bike-- 40k
My time was 1:25:42, which is 17.4 mph. This course was flat except for 3 major hills. It was an out and back course. I was a little disappointed with this time, b/c cycling is my strength, but I was actually 2nd in my AG with that time.

Run-- 10k, with a super steep part about 1.5 miles into it.
This was more a run/walk, unfortunately. I really ran into a wall -- not muscle fatigue, but just couldn't get enough oxygen. To my surprise there were tons of people walking the run course, esp. the really hilly part. I have never seen so many walkers in a triathlon and I wasn't even in the back of the pack. My time was 1:16:04, for a pace of 12:14 min/mile. Pretty darn sad. lol

Overall time: 3:23:37
This put me 5th in my AG out of 9, surprisingly. This was a very challenging course, esp. b/c I'm not used to such a high altitude.

I'm planning to do another oly this season to attempt to redeem myself. I am really glad I did this event to challenge myself and also to experience racing at high alt.

That's all for now...

Finally crossing the finish line!!

Completed the race and saw the Grand Canyon

2006-07-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

Well, the race (Mountain Man olympic in Flagstaff) was on Sunday and although I didn't do quite as well as I would have liked, I did finish the race and place 5th out of 9 in my age group. I was really shocked about that because I ended up walking part of the run. I was truly amazed how many people were walking on the run course. Many people were complaining about breathing problems due to the altitude (7000ft). I was one who had a bit of difficulty breathing as well. Half of the run course was super steep though, so that didn't help.

After the race we spent Monday through Wednesday at the Grand Canyon, visiting both the North and South rims. I had never been there, but I must say it was truly beautiful and unlike anything I had ever seen.

We're still making our way back to TX, so there will be more to come and a full review on our next podcast when we get back.

Hot off the presses...In Transit Show 8

2006-07-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

In this show Elizabeth and I review our road trips back home for the 4th of July weekend, talk about our upcoming triathlon in Flagstaff, and our Grand Canyon camping plans. Please give it a listen by clicking here or downloading from iTunes.

Freakin' hilarious...

2006-07-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

This clip was forwarded to me by my friend Deb. I think it's pretty funny. It gave me a good laugh. It may be a little non-PC, but isn't that what blogging is all about? Check it out.

In Transit Show 7

2006-07-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

After a long delay due to the holiday weekend In Transit is back in business. Show 7 is up and ready to go, just click on the title of this post to listen. It is also available to subscribe to in iTunes. The show covers a training session with Jetdrvr (Tyler)--a fellow Triscooper, a velodrome riding review, and much more. Also enjoy a great pump up song at the end of the show called Swim to Me by 101.

A refreshing outlook

2006-06-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went for a leisurely 40 minute run through a nice neighborhood in Dallas. I chose to wait until after sunset because it is so freakin' hot here. Even at 9pm it is still a little too warm for comfort. So, I'm running along, listening to my music and timed it just right to run through 2 sets of sprinklers. So refreshing. Now, don't get me wrong, this isn't a new experience, but I must say for some reason I just appreciated it more tonight. Although I still miss the natural green grass back in Iowa, the one good thing about living in a nice neighborhood is that everyone takes good care of their imported lawns and that means sprinklers going full blast each night. The runner's dream.

Some more pics

2006-06-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more pictures from the end of our trip:

Some other "pirate ships" we encountered on our journey. The boat we were riding in was built to replicate an 18th century ship design.

Deb and me on our snorkeling/scuba adventure.

Me and the Parthenon.

A beautiful sunset in Santorini.

Overall, the trip was a success! I couldn't have dreamed of having a better time. I'm so glad we were able to go. Where to next?? Grand Canyon for sure-- but start the planning for another trip abroad!!!

Santorini and Athens

2006-06-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

Our last 2 stops on the trip were Santorini and Athens. Santorini turned out to be a beautiful Greek isle. We stayed on Kamari beach, which is opposite the port side (Fira). Our hotel had a nice pool and the beach was just a minute walk outside the hotel door and across the cobblestone street. The beach had beautiful black sand, but it was very hot. We were on Santorini for 3 nights. One of the days Deb and I went out on an excursion. She did scuba diving and I did some snorkeling. I was a bit disappointed because there really weren't a lot of fish to look at, although we did get to check out some cool caves. (I think I've been spoiled by snorkeling in Hawaii-- it's hard to beat that). The water was pretty cold. Even though I was just on the surface snorkeling, they provided me with a wetsuit. I was glad I had it after I got out there into the water. Another day on Santorini we went on a tour of the nearby volcano crater, hot springs, and the little island of Thirassia, which is also considerd part of Santorini. At Thirassia, we rode donkeys up the zig-zag hill to catch the brillant view. We rode in what we liked to call a "pirate ship" the whole day as we stopped at each of the tour sites.

After Santorini we made our last stop in Athens. We were only there for an afternoon, but were able to make it to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. I wish we would have had a little more time in Athens, but I don't regret the length of time we spent in the other places.

Here are a couple pictures from those adventures:

Elizabeth taking off on her donkey.

Some flaming dishes ordered up by Mary and Elizabeth in Santorini. We had some wonderful seafood (shrimp and swordfish) at this establishment.

Samos and Mykonos

2006-06-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

After leaving Turkey, our first Greek Isle stop was Samos. We were only there for one afternoon and then we went on to Mykonos. Both isles were very beautiful.

Had to take a pic of a zen sighting in Samos.

Playing a little goldfish poker to kill time on the ferry.

Windmills and whitewashed buildings in Mykonos.

This man runs one of the windmill sites where festivals are held in the fall. He told us all about it and how wine is made in a nearby grape smashing pit (not sure what the technical name is for that). He let us feed his horse. She was pregnant. He hardly spoke any English, but somehow we were able to learn a lot from him. Really neat guy.

Looking down on Mykonos Town from our hotel up the hill in Little Venice. With everything was whitewashed the contrast of the flowers and blue and red paint on the window frames was magnificent. The sky was beautiful too.

We really liked Samos, even though we were only there for an afternoon. We were in Mykonos for 2 nights, which was plenty. Mykonos was rather pricy and the type of tourists were a world apart from ones we met while in Turkey. The tourists in Turkey who we encountered seemed much more down to earth and relaxed. Mykonos was swarming with people who seemed very concerned with thier image and just a little uptight, overall. Also, the shops in Mykonos were filled with either high-priced designer label clothing or mass-produced souvenir junk. Maybe we were just spoiled by Turkey, but it seemed the souvenirs and shops there were filled, in comparison to Greece (especially Mykonos), with more unique items. I did like a lot of the clothes and trinkets I saw in Greece, but I didn't travel abroad to go on a high-fashion shopping spree. So, that is just my take on it.

In Transit Show 5

2006-06-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

The 5th In Transit is up and ready to go. You can download it through iTunes or get it from our Web site. This epidsode is a review of our Greece/Turkey extravaganza! Here's a picture of our Highspeed 5 ferry. We took it from Santorini to Athens. It was sweet.

My Turkish Carpet

2006-06-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

Don, one of the Canadian guys we met in Cappadocia recommended a carpet shop in Selcuk called Black Sheep Carpets (he had bought a carpet from them a few days earlier when he passed through Selcuk). I wasn't planning on purchasing a carpet, but when Mary bought hers in Istanbul I nearly purchased one as well, but was able to hold off. Then, after Don talked up Black Sheep Carpets I figured I'd check out the shop in Selcuk when we arrived there. I ended up getting hooked on one and couldn't pass it up. I especially loved it because it was unlike any of the other carpets I had seen and they said it is nearly 100 years old (not sure how much I believe that, but I still think it is cool). It is wool on cotton and from Elazig, which is in the Eastern part of Turkey. The carpet shop guys, Erkan and Mehmet, were also very cool so we sat and chatted with them for quite some time. Funny thing...Erkan has an aunt who lives in Bettendorf, Iowa, which is approximately 10 miles from where I grew up. What a small world!

It was totally worth the hassle of lugging it around for the rest of our trip because it looks perfect in my living room in front of my couch even though I had no idea where I was going to put it when I bought it.

Selcuk, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Hamam (Turkish Bath)

2006-06-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

After Cappadocia we made our next stop in Selcuk, Turkey. This was our home base for 3 nights. We took day trips from here to Pamukkale and Ephesus.

Here's Deb and me after our Turkish scrubdown at the hamam. Oh yeah, and that's the guy who washed us. It was really relaxing-- and no-- it was not anything weird. They ran the place very professionally.

Some bikes. There were actually quite a few bike shops. We didn't have time to stop in and chat though.

25,0000 seat theater in the ancient city of Ephesus (a.k.a. Efes). Efes is also a very popular Turkish beer.

Deb and Mary sitting on a calcium terrace in Pamukkale.

Next stop Cappadocia

2006-06-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our whirlwind 2 days in the Cappadocia region in central Turkey.

Our hot air balloon being inflated prior to lift off.

Here we are with our mimosas and flight certificates after our hot air balloon ride.

This picture is inside the underground city of Kaymakli. It was 192 meters or 8
stories deep. We were able to go down 4 stories. I look like a giant inside (I'm about 5'8") b/c the ceilings and hallways were very short. Theories behind the low clearance include: the people may have been a bit smaller and they may have carved it out that way to make it more difficult for enemies to get through if they were attacked. It was nice and cool inside.

Flying Dervishes at the Turkish Night dinner show.

More to come....

Pictures Pictures-- first there was Istanbul

2006-06-12T15:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'll try to do this in chronological order...
Elizabeth and I went on this 2 week Greece/Turkey trip with 2 friends (Deb and Mary) from Iowa. Deb is the shorter one with dark brown hair and Mary is about the same height as Elizabeth and me and has light brown hair. This trip was purely vacation or holiday, if you please. It was a much needed break from the monotony of the American working world.

We flew into Istanbul and stayed 2 nights.

The view from our hotel's terrace in Istanbul. That is the Sea of Marmara.

The Blue Mosque at night.

Smokin' the nargile-- a.k.a water pipe or hookah. Our favorite tobacco flavor was apple. This was at a local nargile spot that a couple Turkish guys we met took us to. We were the only girls and the only tourists there. It was awesome. Funny thing--apparently Turks generally do not drink when they smoke the nargile. They just have Turkish tea or alma (apple) tea. We were wondering "where's the beer?"

Elizabeth at the grand bazaar.

Turkish Viagra at the Spice bazaar.

Alright, those are pretty much the highlights of Istanbul. I will put another post up with pictures from our next stop--Cappadocia-- soon.

-Cara

Just got back...

2006-06-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

I'm finally on US soil once again! The trip was amazing, but as always, it feels great to be home and able to sleep in my own bed.

Sorry I only posted once while away...the internet was so slow there and I was also so busy having fun. (Correction on the last post: the rock formations are in Cappadocia, not Pamukkale. I must have been half asleep when I wrote that. Ha!)

I'm planning on giving a full account in the next few days. I kept a pretty detailed journal while away and I also have almost 2 GB worth of pics to sift through.

Here are some thoughts/things we did from where I left off last--

Wow, I'm not sure where to start.

Well, we stayed in Selcuk (Turkey) for 3 days and went to see the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus and brillant calcium terraces in Pamukkale during those 3 days. We also toured a local ceramics shop/factory and I was lucky enough to try my hand at the wheel. All I have to say is it is much more difficult than it looks. Very fun and messy though.

Then on to Greece....first stop Samos, one of the North Aegean Greek isles. We were there for the day and hung out at a beautiful beach opposite the port side of the island. Then we took an evening ferry to Mykonos and stayed there 2 nights. Mykonos was very pretty. Everything was whitewashed, but it was very expensive and kind of overrun by big spender tourists. At that point and throughout the rest of the trip, we really felt spoiled by the cheap prices and hospitality we felt during our stay in Turkey. The Greeks were nice, don't get me wrong, but the Turks seemed to truly appreciate that we were there to visit their country.

After Mykonos we took a fast catamaran style ferry (Fast Cat 4) to Santorini for 3 nights. It was much more our speed. Not as pretentious as Mykonos and just had more character in our opinion. We stayed on Kamari beach (wanting to avoid the crowed port city of Fira).

We then took a high speed ferry (High speed 5) to Athens and did a whirlwind 1 afternoon tour of the Acropolis and the Plaka area of the city.

A few traveling thoughts:

I've never seen so many different ways to flush a toilet in my life. It was like playing guess how to flush every time.

Turks really like to have tea with visitors. Apple tea is good, but you get a little burned out after the 5th or 6th offer of complimentary tea.

Cats, cats, cats. They're everywhere! I like cats, but not when I'm trying to eat fish at an outdoor diner and 7 or 8 cats start circling around my chair. lol

Alright, that's all I have for now. I will try to post pics tomorrow. I have tons of great ones that will hopefully help tell the story a little more.

Turkey is amazing, fantastic, incredible, unique, and much much more!

2006-06-01T03:48:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it here just fine and are having the most incredible time of our lives! We arrived in Istanbul on the 28th were there for 2 days and then on to the Cappadocia region in Central Anatolia. The Turks are overwhelmingly hospitable, friendly, and probably the nicest people I have ever met. We were in Cappadocia for 2 days, left this morning and are now in Selcuk, which is on the Aegean coast. The place we're staying rocks! I'm trying to upload some pictures and will have them up as soon as I can.

Here are a few things we have done so far: visited the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and Spice Bazaar in Istanbul. Went on a hot air balloon ride, stayed in a cave hotel, and saw an underground city in Cappadocia, and saw a Turkish dance show with belly dancers and dervishes. And of course, we have been trying the hookahs, wine, and all the cuisine.

Until I figure out how to load the pics, that's all for now. This is the best trip I have ever been on in my life!!!!
-Cara

Okay, here are a few pics: the first is us in Istanbul, second are the rock formations in Pamukkale, and the third is one of the balloons we could see while we were up in our own hot air ballon. Sorry there are so few pics so far, but they take forever to load!! I hope to update again once we are in Greece.

At a restaurant called Metro Polis

Rock formations

Balloon ride

Flatman has his original address back!

2006-05-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

Nevermind my last post. The modified version turned out to only be temporary....Flatman is back with his original address. Check it out: www.flatman.blogspot.com

Show 4 Is Up...Check it out.

2006-05-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

First things first....news flash... if you didn't already know, Flatman has a new blog URL due to an accidental deletion of his former blog and the swiping of that original domain name by some unknown person. Here's the new addrss: http://fl4tm4n.blogspot.com/ Welcome back Flatman!

Elizabeth and I have finished the 4th show of In Transit. Please give it a listen. We talk about our recent workouts, first aid kits, fortunes, fire, reminisce our childhoods, and much much more.

We take off to Turkey/Greece on Saturday and will be gone for a couple weeks, so the 5th show will not be out until we get back. I must admit I have been quite the slacker the past couple days as I have been spending all my time preparing for the trip which has resulted in missing my workouts. Lame-o, huh? Well, I hope to be back on track ASAP-- including swim training in the ocean while away.

Alright...that's all for now.

So close....

2006-05-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

Only 4 days until I'm on my way to Turkey!! I am super excited. I have lots to do still-- packing, last minute shopping, etc. Four days until 2 weeks of bliss!!

In the meantime, I'm also trying to squeeze in some training before I go. No slacking off here! I went for a bike ride yesterday, am going on another ride tonight, and plan on doing some swimming and running the rest of the week. I also hope to swim (not just flopping around) in the ocean while on vacation. My goggles and cap are packed, oh, and my swimsuit too.

Wow, hectic weekend

2006-05-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to do a bike rally yesterday-- so much for that. At least my registration cost will still be a donation to the cause (cancer research). Why didn't I make it? Well, I knew I had obligations later in the day (family coming into town, etc.) but I had the time wrong and had to be there earlier than expected. I was considering a shorter route, but I also woke up with a pounding headache (which is actually very rare for me. I hardly ever get headaches.) I'm thinking maybe I had the headache because I was stressed about missing the rally, lol. Anyway, those are my "excuses". Pretty lame, huh? Long story short, I didn't do a bike ride this weekend. Did some running instead.

I hope to have more productive training this week before I leave for Greece/Turkey. Just 6 days to go!

In Transit Show 3

2006-05-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

The third In Transit: 2 Triathletes Take on the World is up and ready to go! You can find it in iTunes or at our Web site. I think we're finally getting the hang of this. Thanks to everyone who has been listening. This show features our review of a tri night at the LBS, allergies, the velodrome and much more! Also check out our Web site for pics from the velodrome.

Thoughts about recent workouts

2006-05-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

Sunday I took a rest day. I was surprisingly sore from mountain biking on Saturday. It's funny how I did a triathlon a couple weeks ago and wasn't the least bit sore afterward and then did a little mtn. biking and was sore as heck! I suppose it makes sense, b/c I used a bunch of muscles (esp. in my upperbody) that I haven't used, or at least not in that way, in quite a while. I must admit has been oddly good being sore. I guess it makes me feel that I really got a good workout in.

Tonight I went for a ride with the guys from the LBS. Just a short ride (~22 miles), but was at a pretty decent pace. I felt really strong throughout. This weekend I have a bike rally. I'm registered for the 100k route. I'm really stoked about it. It will be nice to get all those miles in. It will be my longest ride this season.

Going to a special women's triathlon night tomorrow at the LBS. Hopefully I will learn some good stuff. I have a list of questions going. It's nice living in Dallas where there are a trillion "local bike shops". The one I'm going to tomorrow, is not the same one that I go to to meet up with the guys for weekly rides, although I think it is the biggest one around and they sponsor races and rallies all over the area. Although I like the smaller shops, it is cool having the big one b/c they can draw a big enough crowd to put on big events like the one tomorrow night. Also, they stock a lot of tri gear in comparison to other local shops, which is nice b/c otherwise I'd have to order my tri stuff online and hope that it fits/ is what I want based on the pic online.

Well, I think I'm going to hit the hay.

Adios

All biked up....

2006-05-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

Went to the local velodrome last night to watch the Friday night races. It was awesome! I can't wait until I'll be riding (planning on taking the required class soon).
Also went mountain biking this morning. It was great! Was out for about 3 hours. This was the first time I've been mtn. biking in over 6 months. It felt great getting out there again. Mixing it up a bit.

Cycling rules! It's awesome trying out all the different kinds. I'm all biked up.

Here's a couple pics from the 'drome:

I forgot how fast music makes my feet move.

2006-05-11T19:40:00.000-07:00

I've been so tied up with listening to podcasts lately that it's been quite a while since I went on a run and listened to good old music!

So, that's what I did tonight and, man, it really pumped me up.

My playlist of pump up songs included:

Outkast (1, 2, 1, 2, 3 yeah)
Gwen Stefani
3 Doors Down
Incubus
...to name a few....
and of course my all time favorite workout song-- Jump Around by House of Pain!!

What a great run!!

Pyramid Pyramid Pyramid!!

2006-05-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

So, I made it to the pool last night (FYI: getting to the pool is challenging for me b/c it is my least fav of the 3 sports).

I ended up swimming a pyramid:
100
200
300
400
300
200
100

for a total of 1600 yds

It felt great! Every time I make it to the pool I have good swims, but it's just a matter of getting myself there and in the water.

Question: does everyone get red marks around their eyes after swimming or does that mean I need a better fitting pair?

That's all for now....

Show #2 of In Transit

2006-05-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth and I finished recording Show 2 last night and it is now available at our web site (www.intransitduo.com) or through iTunes.
-Cara

Podcast up on iTunes and SimplyStu

2006-05-08T21:42:00.000-07:00

2 exciting announcements!!

Our podcast has successfully been loaded to iTunes and can be found in the sports section.

Also, Elizabeth and I did a short interview with Stu from SimplyStu and can be heard on his latest show. He also has Joanna Zeiger and Dave Scott on. Check it out!

In Transit First Show!!

2006-05-05T16:46:00.000-07:00

We have finished recording our first podshow entitled In Transit: 2 Triathletes Take on the World. Click on the title of this post to listen!

Tapering

2006-05-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

Just finished a walk/jog, nice easy pace. The weather is great-- cool, light breeze. This week the plan is to workout as frequently as usual, but at an easier level in order to taper for the tri I'm doing on this coming Sunday. It is a sprint, but I just want to make sure I don't wear myself out too much before. This will be my first tri for the season and I'm stoked!

Tomorrow I have my last final exam of the semester as I wrap up my Master's degree. Graduation is the 20th! Woo hoo!

Also have a trip to Greece and Turkey coming up in just a couple weeks. Things are looking pretty good.

That's all for now...

Germanfest Bike Rally

2006-04-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did the Germanfest Bike Rally in Muenster, TX with the Wild Stallions (the bike team I ride with). I had registered for the 100k course, but ended up doing the 65k. The ride started off rainy, windy, and very slow. About 5 miles into it the rain started to clear up and the sun came out. The wind remained. The course was also very hilly. Very challenging. I did this ride last year and I don't remember it being so hilly. I am disappointed I didn't get the 100k in, but I made a conscious decision to turn off at the 65/100k split because I wanted to just enjoy the ride, not kill myself. Also, no excuse, but I do have a sprint tri next weekend and I want to make sure I have a full recovery to be fresh for that.

On the way to Muenster and on the ride course there were remnants of tornado damage from a severe storm that went through the night before. Here are a couple pics of the damage.

Check out this uprooted tree...it must have been carried pretty far because I don't see the hole in the ground where it came from.

Canopies ripped off their frames at a car dealer.

This picture is not the best, but it is a barn and house with roofs partially torn off and debris spread over the property.

Today I feel good, although I can definitely tell I did a challenging 41 miles yesterday. Forty-one miles is not the farthest I've ridden this season either, but yesterday was by far the most challenging 41 miles I've ridden this season thanks to the hills and major wind. It was some great training.

Elizabeth (Epigirl) was supposed to do the rally yesterday too, but she got stuck in a major traffic jam on the way to Muenster from Fort Worth and was late so she just tooled around town with her friend on their bikes. I had forgotten my cell phone, so I went the whole rally wondering where in the heck she was. When I finished I found her at the local biergarden enjoying a fine brew!

All in all, it wasn't my favorite rally, but I'd do it again (in hopes the weather would be better). Maybe next year I'll be able to get the 100k in!

I'll try to post some group pics that were taken on a friend's camera once I receive them. That's all for now...

Brick with Epigirl

2006-04-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

Well, tonight I completed an excellent brick with Epigirl (Elizabeth). We did a 25 mile bike ride and then ran for about 20 minutes. I felt pretty strong throughout.

I also did a brick last night...swam about 1100 then ran 2 miles. That was a stellar workout too.

Bike rally this weekend-- Muenster Germanfest -- I'm planning on doing the 100k route. I did this rally last year and wussed out, only doing the 40 mile route. This year I'm definitely stepping it up to the metric century!

Also, currently doing some prelim recording to prepare for a podcast with Elizabeth. We recorded our brick tonight and are trying to come up with a good name for our show. We also need to work on some show concepts and some things we'd like to cover in each epidsode.

More to come....

Rest day....

2006-04-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it is Monday, and that tends to be my rest day because I have work and a night class (i.e. the day is pretty much filled up b/c I'm not much of a morning person). Today I actually fell pretty good. Saturday I went for a 30 mile bike ride. I didn't go with the Stallions though-- too tired/lazy to get up that early. Then yesterday I rode the old mtn. bike over to a friend's and went for a 45 min. jog then rode back home. It was a pretty easy ride/run. I think I'm feeling good today because I took it easy this past weekend.

This coming weekend I'm looking forward to a 5k run on Sunday-- I'm planning on "racing" it or at least pushing myself to get some speedwork in.

Nutrition-- doing okay here. Maintaining my weight. I would really like to trim up a little more though-- the lighter the faster (at least on the run). I'm working on cutting out some calories from my daily caloric intake. Thanks to fitday.com for giving me stellar visuals.

New sweet Web sites that I've tried out recently:
Google Calendar:
https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=cl&passive=true&nui=1&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fcalendar

and a cool site to track mileage:
https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=cl&passive=true&nui=1&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fcalendar

Check 'em out!

That's all for now. Have to get some reading in...

Ahhh....a half day

2006-04-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

It's Good Friday and that means a half day here at my glorious place of work. Timing couldn't be better-- I'm pretty darn tired this morning.

Last night I ended up going for a run again--yep, skipped out on swimming. The run was much better than the ones on Wed. & R though. I felt stronger, although I could tell I have much room for improvement.

Bike ride tomorrow morning. Challenge-- making sure I go to bed early tonight so I have enough energy saved up for the morning.

Adios for now....

Guess I need some recovery ...

2006-04-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

So, last night and tonights runs were terrible! Both of them I just dragged along-- or it felt that way at least-- and my heart rate was sky high for the pace I was running. I took that as a sign that I needed some recovery and made them both short (~ 3 miles/30min.) each. Ugh--hopefully the rest of the week's workouts will be a little bit better.

I really need to get some more swimming in...maybe I'll go for a swim tomorrow to take a break from my recent pitiful running. I'm looking forward to a nice long bike ride on Saturday morning.

That's all for now....