tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58881319170490091892024-03-12T22:38:11.893-04:00edebitetto duztriTrigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-52732297700755688752015-09-13T08:54:00.000-04:002016-05-06T11:50:46.630-04:00Race Strategy 101: We Do this For Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've said it before and I'll say it again: With age comes wisdom and if you've successfully graduated,</div>
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then letting go of all the silly trivial, time-sucking, energy draining, crap in your life will earn you a very essential part of that wisdom degree. Sure, you might have grey hair and struggle to read the menu's small print, but when you've let insignificant clutter and noise life often throws at you behind, you've made it and it's that's all that matters!</div>
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Here's some "outtakes" and additional images from Ironman Mt Tremblant where the main goal was to finish the race but not without punctuating the final journey with as much fun as one could muster up . This is much easier to accomplish if you bring the right specimen with you.</div>
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Did you know you can't bring blueberries into Canada from the US? We didn't either.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="888" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/139024296" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="https://vimeo.com/139024296">IMG_9665 (1)</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5957544">Elaine DeBitetto</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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If you're pretty certain one particular part of your race might be a wee bit challenging, don't fight it and by all mean, SIWS (say it with socks) if at all possible.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dj6QnaXgZIQ/VfIMc4QxO8I/AAAAAAAATvQ/ZH6JkkZ2q8Q/s1600/blogger-image-1095327084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dj6QnaXgZIQ/VfIMc4QxO8I/AAAAAAAATvQ/ZH6JkkZ2q8Q/s320/blogger-image-1095327084.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Enjoy the festivities even if there are no other athletes in sight wearing the required race wristband.</div>
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(They're probably all tucked in their beds dreaming of <strike>sugar plums</strike> a Kona slot). Drink, eat late, heck... you paid A LOT of money for the privilege, so make the most of it with imbibing and fireworks displays.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mVrlY4fAsNA/VfIMjHtcIAI/AAAAAAAATvY/ascwTLSEZxI/s1600/blogger-image-1198387339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mVrlY4fAsNA/VfIMjHtcIAI/AAAAAAAATvY/ascwTLSEZxI/s320/blogger-image-1198387339.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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While preparing your trusty steed for race time, try not to laugh <b><i>so</i></b> hard you aspirate your own saliva.You'll need to save all that lung capacity for race day.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="888" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/139028756" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="https://vimeo.com/139028756">Video</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5957544">Elaine DeBitetto</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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STICKY, I'm saying <b><i>sticky</i></b> at the end. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="889" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/139041727" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="https://vimeo.com/139041727">IMG_9323.MOV</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5957544">Elaine DeBitetto</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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And remember, EVERY day is a happy day with a glass of red wine.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post race dinner with candlelight courtesy of my personal assistant/ sherpa/big sister</td></tr>
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Thanks for stoppin' by!</div>
Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-83614123113450901052015-08-19T09:26:00.000-04:002015-08-19T13:46:43.576-04:00Another Ironman Mt. Tremblant Race Report<div class="gmail_default" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
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WARNING! This write-up contains no drama or body fluids<br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">First, let's hit rewind for a bit of comparison.</span><br />
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It's Sunday The year 2004, July 25th in Lake Placid NY. I'm doing my first Ironman. I'm not really excited, I'm petrified. I'm also a bit injured and perhaps even over trained.</div>
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Swim :1:06 Bike: 6:20 Run: 4:30</div>
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Fast forward eleven years later. I toe the IM line again. The course is different, I have vertical lip lines that I need Botox-ed. AARP won't leave me alone and the skin on my knees is sagging along other parts of my body.</div>
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Swim: 1:03 Bike 6:08 Run: 4:41</div>
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Let me remind you I signed up in late April for this event with Carmen Monks who, unfortunately, didn't make it to the race with me. (sad face)</div>
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I had no expectations going in, due to the short build up. This alone made this journey that much more fun. Self-coached, no pressure, get in what I could and stay INJURY FREE. Simple and very attainable goals.</div>
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A massive thank you to my sister Paula Davies who made this race possible for me in too many ways to mention. She is my rock and I was so proud to have her there to support me on race day. She had never experienced Ironman before and we had 5 solid days of laughing and shopping, eating and drinking (just a little) at one of the cutest little places on the planet.</div>
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I slept great the night before my race. I enjoyed every second of my swim. Thank you, Sue Phetteplace-Sotir for the feet and navigating our last wave through the masses of bodies out there.</div>
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I held back on the first loop of the bike so I wouldn't uncoil on the second. My nutrition plan, solid. At the 2 hour mark, I begin tightening up my intake to 15-minute intervals of either drinking or eating. I used a super concentrated mix of Ucan starch base fuel that contains bit of protein as my main source of fuel.</div>
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I only had 2 mishaps: My goggle strap broke right before I tried to get in the water for a few strokes before my wave went off. (my mini-meltdown was quickly resolved with a knot)</div>
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My wireless sensor wasn't picking up my wheel suddenly at mile 3, so I took the chance of slicing my finger off with a spoke and coasted a bit to move it ever so gently. It subsequently went into the spoke (brappity brap) and I almost lost sed spoke. (shutter). Pulled over, tore it off, handed it to a volunteer. Catastrophe avoided.</div>
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Then there came that run... oh yes, THAT run. Someone/something decided it would be better for us if it turned tropical like 7 hours north of Boston at a ski resort. You know, spice things up a bit, relish the handwringing of the athletes in calf compression. Witness the terror in their eyes the day before as they shop for IM trinkets and chat about the impending doom we were to face. This is when you exit stage right and shut down the energy zapping noise with Happy Hour by the pool.(with age comes wisdom punctuated with cocktails)</div>
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So we ran and we walked and we sucked it up. Some better than others.</div>
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Frankly when I saw my sister's face before beginning the second loop, I wanted to crawl over the fencing and just be done with it. Happy Hour was in full swing and we were missing it goddamnit. I was tired of the little voice saying,"<i>Lainey... you have NO BUSINESS being out on this marathon run course. You know those 3 days of running a week and that one 15 miler you punched out? No good girly girl." </i> And as cute as it sounds, smiles and waves don't get you through the hot mess of a long sweltering marathon, just sayin'.</div>
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That being said, I wouldn't change a thing. The suffering was good for me. When I crossed that finish line, all I could mutter was "<i>That was the hardest f-ing thing I have ever done.</i>" Here I am 36 hours later reneging my premature announcement that I'm NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN.</div>
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I wonder if I can get room 307 again and my sister back down to the midnight finish line party <b>minus</b> the broken goggles and a marathon that almost broke me.</div>
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Thanks also goes to The Monsters In the Basement cycling group out of West Concord. They were an integral part in whipping my sorry self into the best cycling shape I have ever been in. Also, Lauren Scafidi for her friendship and epic rides. Carmen and Karen Monks for the encouragement, Katie O'dair my second sister always giving it to me straight and Jen Marinofsky for looking at my training, giving me feedback, and also training with me. I can't leave out Caroline Kavanaugh for helping me with diet changes to become more metabolically efficient with food and training.<br />
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Thanks for reading!</div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-72401969673494953152015-07-22T19:50:00.000-04:002015-07-23T21:38:57.288-04:00Ironman Mt. Tremblant Countdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's closing in. I knew it would, just not so fast.</div>
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I have one more heavy training week, and then it's</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">T</span><span style="color: lime;">a</span><span style="color: magenta;">P</span><span style="color: orange;">e</span><span style="color: cyan;">R </span><span style="color: #e69138;">T</span><span style="color: #45818e;">i</span><span style="color: #741b47;">M</span><span style="color: magenta;">e</span></b></span></div>
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I'm feeling tired, but not so beat down that I've</div>
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dug myself a hole that I can't get out of. I'm injury free and that in itself</div>
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is a miracle. My theory of skipping the 9-month training plan for an ironman </div>
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seems to be working for me thus far. I'm in this to finish and avoiding a 26.2 death march on the run would be a nice little bonus.</div>
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I've gotten in 4 really big rides with the most recent, 4 of the Vermont Six Gap Ride.</div>
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You can go look it up if you're really curious <a href="http://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps.html">6 Gap Ride </a> but long story short (and freakin' steep) Lincoln Gap </div>
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has sustained grades of 20% to 24%. To add to the excitement, there was a significant amount of</div>
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construction we had to contend with like doing a little hike-a-bike to even get to one of the climbs.</div>
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Another included a 10-mile stretch of gravel not quite ready for pavement on 12A before<br>
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getting to our last and 4th climb, Rochester. I was never so happy to see pavement in all my life after that.</div>
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We left off Brandon and Middlebury Gaps (2 of the easiest) due to all the construction.</div>
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Anyone who rides with me, knows I'm a sucky climber. With that, I have done ZERO flat</div>
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rides preparing for Mt Tremblant. I don't ride a ton, but every ride is a quality ride.</div>
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Sure, I could throw in one or two super ez rides/recovery spins during the week, but</div>
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time is money. I'd rather use the time to recover properly so I can hit it</div>
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hard the next time I head out. My perspective is a bit different with the running but I've been very</div>
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careful to keep the frequency, duration and build up in check as to not get injured.</div>
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All in all, I'm doing the best I can toward preparing for Ironman within a 4 month window.</div>
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It's not an excuse I will use to fall back on if I have a shitty day out there, but more that my focus is on toeing the line void of the self induced pressure I would always put on myself,imperative I accomplish very specific goals that come with no guarantee for success no matter how much time, money,or energy is put forth. With age, comes wisdom and the ability to just let things go. I laugh at some of the silly things I used to obsess over and dwell on for days that I had no control over. Ugh. What a waste of time and energy I can never get back.</div>
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The plan: Lots of smiles and thumbs up and no whining. Anyone reading this</div>
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planning to be there, you have complete discretion to call BS on me for not following my</div>
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own mantra for the day. </div>
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27,26,25,24,23............</div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-12958027574386781742015-06-23T21:12:00.001-04:002015-06-24T05:55:37.481-04:00I Hate Running....A very inconvenient dilemma eight weeks out from an Ironman wouldn't you think? More on that<br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>May</b>,</i></span> my buildup month is behind me and June is quickly slipping away. MAKE. IT. STOP. I knew the time was going to fly by but geez.... It feels as if it's warp speed.</div>
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I'm trying to do everything I can to enhance my Cliff Notes version of Ironman training and I'm nailing it.( except for that pesky run)</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sleep </i></span></b>is number one on the list. I don't compromise on this. Sometimes I'm getting into bed </div>
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and it's not completely dark yet and if I can sneak in a nap for 30/45 on the weekend days I</div>
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do it. </div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Refueling in the 30-minute window</b></span></i> after training. I make a huge effort to do this. Protein and carbs</div>
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in liquid form to get it in my system as quickly as possible.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Diet change</span></i>.</b> This one has been a MASSIVE change for me and it's taken work. I've cut out 30-40% of CHO in my diet. All the simple ones I try to avoid altogether. The bagels, cookies, candy, pasta, chips, crackers- all but gone from my diet. I don't compromise on protein or fats in which both help sustain and keep my blood sugar stable. It's not dieting. It's not calorie counting. It's teaching your body to burn FAT efficiently and maintaining a stable blood sugar all day. The very first thing I noticed was not feeling like I wanted to fall asleep at 3 pm in the afternoon at work and/or go looking for a sugar high to revive me. I'm working with<b> <a href="http://www.insideouthp.com/">Caroline Kavanagh</a> (</b>click on her name for a link to her site) She is teaching me to become metabolically efficient. What does that mean? In a nutshell, it teaches you to burn fat efficiently while training and racing instead of zipping through carbohydrate prematurely. 75% is DIET and only 25% training. Crazy right??? It's all about pairing foods CHO/PRO/FATS ratios. NOT starving yourself or feeling deprived.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lab</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing to see when I go from fat burning over to CHO burning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline #1</td></tr>
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I'm loving this for 3 reasons: Caroline knows her stuff. She is very knowledgeable in this particular field. She makes the transition painless by explaining everything thoroughly and gives great advice and tips to make<br>
it as simple as possible. Trust me, it can seem overwhelming at first. Lots of numbers and ratios to think about. She's an ACE at this and I'm very grateful I found her. Yay! I can't go without mentioning that she's in my age group and CRUSHES me if we both show up at a race. <b><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">:</span><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="background-color: white;">-</span>O</span></b><br>
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><br></span></b> So about that running thing.... I used to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE running. NotSoMuch right now.<br>
Lots of things come to into play, but my main goal, whatever the issues may be is to get to Mt. Tremblant fresh, injury free albeit undertrained. If that means I have to limit my running because I can't cram in all the training, so be it. I'm just hoping that heading out for a run sooner than later, moves from feet dragging to "Gosh!! I kinda like this!"</div>
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Tick ..Tick... Tick...<br>
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Thanks for stopping by!</div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-67927243497869595722015-05-26T17:55:00.001-04:002015-05-26T19:59:41.392-04:00Goodbye May!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Days that have passed since I signed up for Mt Tremblant</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Weeks I have before I toe the line</b></td></tr>
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is sorting itself out quite nicely. The general goal: a steady build up of riding and running, but if I didn't feel like training some days, I didn't. There will be plenty of time for structure as June and July roll in and those months will be the<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZnz7jtZP3c/VWTAl_AeRRI/AAAAAAAATis/650hXJeqeVQ/s1600/meat-and-potatoes-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" class="" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZnz7jtZP3c/VWTAl_AeRRI/AAAAAAAATis/650hXJeqeVQ/s200/meat-and-potatoes-image.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
The goal was to feel very comfortable with a 90-minute run and 3:30 in the saddle by the 30th of May. Done and done.</div>
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I've been riding with a great group out of West Concord MA<br />
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most weekends and it keeps me on my toes. So much, the desire to ride alone is far from enticing. I work just as hard if not harder when riding with them. The dynamics are always changing for any given ride, but I'm honing my skills at pace lining, that is certain. So much, that I feel very comfortable either pulling in the front, nestled in the middle or being the last rider responsible for calling out approaching cars. I'm super aware of everything around me and I want us all to be safe. I have favorite people I trust and ride inches from their wheel and I hope other cyclists in the group feel the same behind me. Yesterday on a Pack Monadock Century, I got my answer. " Hadar" a regular in our group, told me at the end of our trek, I'm smooth and steady and he feels totally comfortable right on my wheel. How nice is that? Hugs buddy! Granted this isn't going to help me for an ironman, but It forces me to get out of my comfort zone.</div>
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As June approaches, things will start to ramp up. My ultimate goal is to get to that starting line fresh and ready to go albeit undertrained if that's how the chips fall. We can all agree it's going to be painful whether you've been training for 9 months or doing the Cliff Notes version. The best part is it takes all the pressure off. No injuries and daisy fresh-That is the present goal.</div>
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Another fun item in store for me next month is a metabolic efficiency test at <a href="http://www.insideouthp.com/">Inside Out Human Performance</a> with owner Caroline Kavanagh. How do I know Caroline? Well for one, she's in my age group and consistently crushes me at any given local triathlon we both happen to be at. She is quite the athlete and I'm super excited to work with her in getting my body to burn fat efficiently instead of those limited stores of carbohydrates we tend to use up way too prematurely during training and racing. Admittedly, I feel a bit doughy as well and I'm looking forward to getting my diet to work better for me especially for the upcoming months.</div>
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My partner in crime for this little adventure (a 25 time Ironman finisher 12 rounds in Kona) wasn't 100% in but confirmed today he's IN-IN.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;"><b><i>"Just following up w you on this…Looks like my body may cooperate enough to race w Elaine at IMMT"</i></b></span></div>
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No sense suffering on my own for the abridged training program (alcohol included and strongly encouraged)<br />
Let's get this party started.</div>
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Thanks for stopping by!</div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-6648442043429482192015-05-02T17:15:00.003-04:002015-05-05T00:36:55.945-04:00It's A Woman's Perogative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>I decided to do something a bit impulsive and thought it might make for some decent entertainment (think train wreck) so I'm resurrecting </b></div>
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<b>this cobweb infested blog in case anyone wants to see the outcome of this experiment. If by chance it goes better than planned, I'm leaving my day job, writing a how-to book and going on a book signing tour( exotic locations only)</b></div>
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<b>As of April 15th, I was happy to repeat my entire race season of 2014. I did just</b></div>
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<b>enough racing last season that felt balanced and most importantly fun. I set simplistic goals</b></div>
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<b>and got my sorry a$$ back into shape without</b></div>
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<b>getting injured and with the fun factor being utmost important. I found some self-control and didn't spiral into a mac & cheese/brownie relapse this winter. So with that, <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm ahead of the game in terms of not having to dig myself out of the winter sedentary black hole.</span></b></div>
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<b>All was going well up until a week ago and suddenly I decided pushing the reset button and repeating the entire season as I did last year seemed less desirable.</b></div>
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<b>Without an ounce of alcohol to blame on my impulsiveness, suddenly I was mumbling, "<i>Where do I send my check?"</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b> And so, the drama begins...</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm never getting this tat</td></tr>
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<b>I'm officially signed up for an Ironman Mt Tremblant August 16th. But here's the best part: I JUST</b></div>
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<b>signed up for it today.</b></div>
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<b>Here are some fun facts to back up why this decision most undoubtedly questions</b></div>
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<b>my sanity.</b></div>
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<b>*I have approximately 100 days (give or take) to prepare.</b></div>
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<b>*My last ironman distance race was Lake Placid 2004</b></div>
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<b>* I consider myself an injury waiting to happen. I'm convinced my frame is assembled with snappy</b></div>
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<b>little toothpicks and dried up rubber bands for tendons.</b></div>
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<b>My last 70.3 race was in 2009 and that one was a cluster f of a day I was happy to forget.</b></div>
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<b>I actually had to go look up on Athlinks to confirm this. Yup, 2009- last 1/2 ironman. Wow...</b></div>
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<b> and to think I used to love the 70.3 distance. It was by far my favorite.</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Placid 2004 (Notice the spectators riveted to my finish shuffle)</td></tr>
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<b>I can't even quite put my finger on what triggered the idea, but all it took</b></div>
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<b>was a teammate to say "Let's do it."</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Team Mate</td></tr>
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<b>This is EXACTLY what got me in trouble in grade school.My report card often read:<i>"Elaine needs</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to pay attention to the work in front of her instead of what her classmates are doing around her. She is impulsive at times and often exhibits poor judgment skills."</i> My mom will attest to my </b></div>
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<b>academically inspired social skills. Seriously... I don't make this shit up. Grade school party girl front and center.</b></div>
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<b>I'll be updating the adventure here often. Not so much specific workouts, b.o.r.i.n.g...but more like</b></div>
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<b>how many times a day I manage to say, "I'm not doing this" How I can consume an entire sleeve of Fig Newtons at 3 am from the sudden increase in my *activity*, and my success at not falling asleep with sharp instruments in people's mouths during the day from the fatigue.</b></div>
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<b>Let's get this party started!!</b></div>
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<b>Thanks for stopping by</b></div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-24147907127623878992014-11-05T12:26:00.001-05:002014-11-05T14:46:07.427-05:00A Season Of Change And Gratitude As the years stack up, and boy are they stacking up, there is one thing that I don't take for granted, and that's my health and overall wellness. Too often, we overlook this and are not so gently reminded when someone we know is diagnosed suddenly with some irreversible disease or disorder that can change a life forever. Everything comes to a screeching halt and our daily routines that can seem mundane have an entirely different meaning.<br />
Invincibility, I've learned weakens with age and wisdom and humility replaces it. Embrace it ( your life, your wellness, the fact you can make choices and be thankful- I try very hard to be mindful of this. Sounds simplistic and relatively easy to do, but I often fail at the task.<br />
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This year has been a good one for me. A rocky start into January with little to no exercise, no motivation to do so for that matter sprinkled with some travel to Belgium and Colorado, add in the holidays, toss in a brutally cold winter and one has the perfect recipe/excuse to become sloth-like. With no real athletic goals in place for 2014, I got lazy and my reward was a fair amount of extra poundage on my 5'10" frame.<br />
Suddenly I found myself on a scale at a doctor's visit to the tune of 17 pounds over my normal weight. With an ACL reconstruction excuse in 2011-2012, extra poundage was acceptable. This year? Notsomuch... I was force fed Belgian beer and chocolate?<br />
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As soon as I laid out some sort of plan for spring and summer and what I wanted to do, It was easy to jump in feet first freshly motivated to begin the long process of becoming less sloth-like. Or so I thought.<br />
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By June 15th, I managed to get myself to 8 pounds lighter and started a season of short course triathlon racing with a touch of road racing. For time sake and keeping your eyes from glazing over, I've just highlighted my run times to show how they improved with training consistency, a few diet changes and overall painfully slow but progressive fitness gains. The process yielded some satisfactory results in the local albeit small, (not super competitive) but most importantly FUN New England region of racing.<br />
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Let's get this geriatric party started!<br />
June 21st<br />
<b>Mashpee Super Swim 3 miler</b> (wet suit division) 2nd AG/ 7th Gender 1:18:51/ 1:37 pace/<br />
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The follow day:<b> Mashpee Hero Triathlon</b> (Sprint)<br />
swim/0.3 bike/13/run 3.2 4th AG/15 Gender I accidentally followed the OLY distance course instead of the 3.2 run course for the Sprint and had to turn around. Doh! Run time: <b><span style="color: magenta;">36:16 for the "5K"</span></b> A great day to remind my body how to handle running a very uncomfortable pace that made me want to lay down on the side of the road in a little ball. (whimper)<br />
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Next up: <b>Massachusetts State OLY distance Triathlon</b> July 13th 5th AG/<br />
(2:26 :09) <b><span style="color: magenta;">10k 53:22 (8:36) pace. </span></b> Still feeling sluggish and holding a weight of 138.2, A 10k felt like a 1/2 marathon. Slog Slog, Slog...<br />
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July 20th- <b>East End 5 Mile Road Race</b> It took me until July to feel like I was running and not shuffling.<b> <span style="color: magenta;">5 miles- 40:47 (8:10)</span></b> pace Yay! Could there be hope for me after all?<br />
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I found another OLY distance Triathlon race to sign up for in hopes the last 3 sprint distance races<br />
( my A races) would feel a bit breezier?<br />
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August 3rd<b> Lowell OLY distance Triathlon ( 2:20:05) </b> 1st AG/2nd Gender <b><span style="color: magenta;">Run 10k:50:01 (8:20) </span></b>pace Where were all the fast girls? I won a 3 pound bag of Heed electrolyte mix! :-) It was expired! :-(<br />
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August 23rd <b>Cranberry Sprint Triathlon (1:24:54) </b>1st AG/gender <b><span style="color: magenta;">5k- 24:32 (7:54) pace</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b> <b> </b>Sept. 6th<b> Pumpkinman Sprint Triathlon (1:16:04) </b>1st AG<b> </b>Run <span style="color: magenta;"><b> 3 mile -23:36 (7:36) pace</b></span><br />
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Wallis Sands Sprint Triathlon <b>(1;14:26)</b> Run 23:00 <b> <span style="color: magenta;">5k (7:11) pace</span></b><br />
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I ended the triathlon season at my race weight, injury free and goals attained. It feels strange to be in run shape this time of the year, but I gave up a season of cyclocross,( a sport I had no idea what I was doing no matter how hard I trained) to stick with and build on the run foundation I worked long and hard on for months.<br />
Next up: My first 1/2 marathon this weekend in over 4 years!!! Perhaps I should have looked at the course profile BEFORE signing up?? Silly girl.....<br />
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Thanks for reading! </div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-10894102519481177882014-09-05T09:39:00.001-04:002014-09-23T07:57:08.118-04:00What I Did On My Summer Vacation In Less Than 30 Seconds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I rode from Bedford MA to Okemo Mt VT</div>
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I swam the Mashpee MA 3 mile Super swim<br />
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and the next day I did the Mashpee Hero Triathlon <br />
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I sold all of my Nikon gear and switched to Canon</div>
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I took pictures</div>
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I swam a shark free 4 miles with some friends in Marblehead MA</div>
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I raced with my Team Psycho teamies</div>
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I rode with the West Concord Monsters In The Basement crew to whip myself</div>
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into cycling shape</div>
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I ran on the track and didn't snap or injure anything.</div>
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I took pictures of my wacky tuxedo cat, Ridley</div>
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I scored some age group wins</div>
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I swam from Indian Neck Beach to Great Island and back in Wellfleet MA avoiding becoming another (shark) snack casualty </div>
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And I gave up Diet Coke </div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-85803761977326560982014-06-11T15:17:00.000-04:002014-06-11T15:17:00.182-04:00Pace Line Etiquette with Richard Fries<div style="text-align: center;">
With the Boston <a href="http://b2vtride.com/">b2vt</a> days away, I thought it was a perfect time to review (cycling) pace line etiquette.</div>
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Please join me with my guest blogger who knows the ins and outs of proper pace line tactics/etiquette and basically how not to be a douche out there. Listen up, cause Richard (see his bio <a href="http://www.nepcx.com/our-team/">HERE</a> ) knows what he's talkin' about and a review for even the veteran riders ain't a bad idea.</div>
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Richard- for many former b2b rides, plants himself up front of the riders and (tries) to explain to each group</div>
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of cyclists ready to start the 148 trek to VT, not only pace line etiquette, but riding safely and respectfully.</div>
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Unfortually he won't be there (sniff) this weekend to send us off and keep the partay going once we reach</div>
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Okemo. We will miss you Richard!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Group Riding 201</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">What Your Ride Can Learn from the Pros</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b>By Richard Fries
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Most
beginner cyclists get a lot of advice on getting ready for a big ride as
individual riders. Pages and pages are
written about equipment, clothing, nutrition and training. But on the day of
the big ride, we too often encounter riders who have no experience in a pack of
six, 60, 600 or perhaps 6,000 cyclists. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Curiously,
we'll often find riders with $5,000 worth of hardware, all the right gear, and
no idea on how to ride in a group. And we find way too many folks are coming
right from the spin gym on to the road with zero cycling skills. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Perhaps
this can help. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Cycling
is a far more dynamic and thrilling experience in a group that rides well. And
cycling is one of the few activities in which a stronger, experienced
participant can actively help a weaker novice. Drafting is what separates
cycling from nearly every other endurance sport. The closer one can ride with
another rider, the faster, the more durable, and more efficient one can become.
But getting closer means risking contact with another rider. Mastering that
skill is key. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>The only
way to master that skill is to ride in groups often. And better yet is to ride
with smooth, experienced cyclists.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>But
typically beginners are spat out the back of a group ride on the first hill of
their first training ride, never to return. Conversely, more experienced riders
are often frustrated having to constantly soft pedal and wait for the beginner
at every turn. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Group
riding "101" is pretty basic. "Don't overlap wheels.....Ride
single file...." And that's where it ends. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>And the
result is the same. Well, actually it's worse. Group rides typically break down
with stronger riders going off the front, weaker riders going off the back, and
in the melee far too many riders in the middle of the road, motorists getting
angry, and pedestrians getting annoyed. Large group rides too often devolve
into a wide variety of riders operating in a wider variety of lanes at an even
wider variety of speeds. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Study the
photo to the right. This is from RAGBRAI, a wonderful annual event with 10,000
novice riders. Note that the organizers officially discourage drafting and pace
line riding. Note too, how riders have fanned all across the road. Figuring how
to pass or be passed is difficult. Any sense of travel lane, fast lane, slow
lane or passing lane has disintegrated. As a result WAY too many riders end up
on the left side of the road going headlong towards oncoming vehicle traffic. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>But there
is a method to run a group ride that benefits everybody, keeps the group mostly
together, and improves every riders' skills and fitness. After 35 years of
cycling, including a stint at the European pro level, I thought I had it down.
But recently I've learned from cyclo-cross superstar and veteran road pro Tim
Johnson how to really run a group ride. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Let's
call it "Group Riding 201".<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>In short,
group rides could be conducted in the same manner used by pro teams in training
camps. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>That
statement may seem daunting. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Relax. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Most
riders are surprised when they discover how safely and slowly pros ride during
those training camps. Individual pros will work on their fitness and speed
alone, in structured environments, or during races. Big group rides are not
where they work on high-end fitness. When riding in team camps, they typically
are seen rolling along at a talking pace for long distances...OK, really long distances. But for a few
hours, any riders with decent road bikes, proper shoes, pedals and some basic experience
can master this technique. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>In this
format, every rider gets the training they desire. And once the group gets
going in a smooth fashion, every rider will be delighted by the speed they
achieve and maintain. And this way of riding enables groups to ride safely for
hours and hours at a comfortable pace without aggravating the community. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>The three
priorities on a group ride are: <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<div class="Body1" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>1)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Safety. We want every rider to feel
and be as safe as possible on the ride. Riders are safer in a tight group that
moves consistently and predictably. When riders are all over the road at
different speeds is when accidents happen. (And motorists get frustrated, and
weaker riders get dropped.)<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>2)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Courtesy. We want every user of the
road - motorists, runners, pedestrians, dog walkers, and other cyclists - to have access to the road at all times and
feel comfortable around our group. We need to follow the rules of the road. And
no matter how aggravating, impatient, sloven, or vicious a motorist can become,
we need to be the nice guys. Remember that If you cannot say anything nice,
then don't say anything at all. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>3)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Consideration. We want every rider to be
considerate of each and every rider in the group, regardless of their fitness,
strength or experience. There is no attacking or sprinting. All turning,
stopping and starting should be done in a deliberate and calm fashion. The front must always, always, always think
about the riders in the back. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b> So let's get started. Here are 10 methods that
pros use to run a good group ride: <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>1)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Have
a boss. A
group ride needs to have somebody who is in charge, often known as the Patron. And everybody on the ride needs
to buy into this. That boss needs to be one of the stronger riders, capable of
going from the back to the front and back again at will. It helps if they are
popular, positive, and respected. The boss needs to be willing to keep the
group literally in line. Finding a good patron is the most important - and
difficult - element of this plan. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>2)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Ride
2x2. It is
legal to ride two abreast in most states. The entire group should do so in rows
of two. And this means side-by-side, without "half-wheeling" your
partner to your side. Riders should ride
close enough to put one arm around the shoulder of the person next to them.
This creates a larger draft for the weaker riders and makes it easier for automobiles
to pass the group. When it is clear, the riders at the front can pull off to
allow a new set of leaders to pull. During this year's Ride on Chicago, with
about 30 riders in the group, a new tactic developed to do a slow-motion
rotating pace line. This meant every rider took a two-minute pull, moved over a
lane, took another two minutes, and then drifted back. This keeps the group
consistently in a tight, two-column formation. But this requires a balance of
ability and speed in the group. In a larger group everybody gets a share of the
workload and a large share of rest. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>3)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Stay
2x2. The
group should remain in formation at all times on roads. This means when you're
at a stop light, stay 2x2 and to the right edge of a single lane. Don't swarm
all over the intersection. And when you make a left turn, the entire group goes
to the left of the lane, remaining 2x2 all the way through the left turn. On
bike lanes, bike paths and tight roadways where it's extremely narrow and
congested the group should switch to single file. Either the boss or the riders
on the front should determine when to do so with a verbal notice and raising a
single finger.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>4)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Keep
Right and Tight.
Too often big groups of riders take over the entire road. The leaders should
set the line to the far right and leave it there. Riders with decades of
experience racing (this writer included) can develop a bad habit of drifting
left, an understandable impulse. We know that a good group rider learns to use
the wind instead of the brakes when overlapping the rider ahead to avoid jerky
braking in the group. But too often they drift to the left, pushing the entire
group out. A key skill is to resist the urge to go out left and instead correct
to the right, thereby keeping the group tight to the right. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>5)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Pull
longer, not harder.
The riders at the front have a huge responsibility. They are the eyes of the
group. The stronger riders looking to go hard should take pulls at the front
that are longer, not faster. This provides the draft for the weaker riders who
may never hit the wind the entire ride. Staying on the front at a steady pace
enables the novice riders to get comfortable with the draft. And those on the
front run their heart rates as much as 50 beats per minute higher than those
riders behind. Note that while this is drafting, it is not a rotating pace
line. People stay in their positions for upwards of 10 minutes or more.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>6)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Go
easy when it's hard; hard when it's easy. This is the secret sauce! To lessen the "accordion
effect" of the group, which creates the most dangerous situations when the
field compresses and the most frustrating situations when it spits riders off
the back when the field stretches apart, the leaders need to respect the entire
group. For example, when the group is
climbing, coming out of a turn, or starting from a standstill leaders should
ride softly on the front. This allows weaker riders to stay with the group
without frantically - and dangerously - riding to do so. Conversely, when
rolling downhill, the leaders need to speed up to keep the group from bunching
up. This seems easy, but it requires a lot of practice and patience. If done
properly, one of the hardest things to do is to lead the group downhill as that
requires enormous effort. The leaders need to listen: too hard and the group
stops talking; too easy and the clicking of freewheeling gears will be heard. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>7)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Off
the road means off the road.
When the group stops for any type of a break every rider needs to get entirely
off the road. This is a basic courtesy to other users of the roadway and a
major safety issue. Surprisingly, this is often the hardest thing to enforce
with novices. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>8)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]--> Faster
riders move back. The stronger riders - those key lieutenants to the boss -
should finish their pulls at the front and then move to the back of the group
to assist the weaker riders. This is also called riding "sweep." They
may need to usher a gapped rider back to the group, push a rider up a hill, or
advance to the front to inform the leaders of the need to change speed. This
requires a lot of fitness and patience. Another term for these guys is
"the welders". On a flat course, these guys may not need to go all
the way back. But on a rolling, hilly route, there is a lot of work to do in
the back. These guys have to do
intervals to properly and constantly "weld" the group back together.
Trust me, the sweeps get some hard training in doing this. And as they do this
they will filter back up to the front and take pulls. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>9)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Slower
riders move up.This
is the hardest thing to teach. But the weaker riders have a responsibility to
do their best to stay with the group. The smoothest ride is near the front,
where the accordion effect is mitigated dramatically. Having those riders in
the middle of the group also gives the leaders some indication of whether to
increase or decrease speed. And those weaker riders can also drift back during
tough climbs, a skill known as "sag climbing". But it also positions
them in front of the sweep riders so they get the support needed to stay in the
group. When a weaker rider receives help from the group they dedicate
themselves to sticking with the group.
This really builds skills and confidence. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>10)<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]--> Communicate
everything. A novice rider may be intimidated by the tight formation,
especially given the appearance of potholes, glass, grates, utility
covers, railroad tracks, curbs, speed
bumps, rocks, gravel or other debris on the road. The key is to have the
leaders point out each and every potential hazard with as much notice as
possible and smoothly steering well clear of such items. Again, the guys on the
front have a huge responsibility. And the warning should be telegraphed down
the entire line by other riders in the formation. Likewise, information from the
back can be sent to the front regarding the status of the group. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>What will
amaze people is how quickly novice cyclists - when paired with experienced
group riders - dramatically improve their skills using this method. Within
three rides, the impatient faster riders will be pedaling at close to the
speeds they initially wished to ride; the nervous beginners will become
comfortable around wheels and elbows and shoulders; everybody gets the training
they desire; and the entire group will be compatible and safe. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>What
truly engages beginners is how enjoyable this style of riding can be. Riders
are not continually under stress and in fear as riders strafe them from all
sides. They ride side by side, chatting comfortably, and spinning away the
miles. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Upon reading
this, several so-called "experts" may scoff at such advice. I
constantly hear,"That might work for
experienced racers but not with beginners," is the common retort I
hear from frustrated ride leaders. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Bad
teachers blame their students. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Tim Johnson's Ride on Washington schooled all 20 of its riders
on these techniques.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>In 2012
the group rode 538 miles through the Northeast Corridor - we're talking crowded
urban and suburban landscapes choked with all sorts of traffic - and NEVER
heard a car horn blare in anger from behind. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>On the
fifth day of the ride, however, they were met by 130 riders ranging from
novices to beginners. The group included
a number of grandmothers, an eight-year-old boy, a father with a two-year-old
in a child seat, a fixed-gear rider, a 67-year-old man, a mountain bike or two,
and even a unicyclist. <u>Let me state
that again, a UNICYCLIST</u>. The
same rules were employed with the same efficiency. Within 30 minutes the group
started to gel.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>And was
that entirely on a bucolic road with no interference from cars or traffic? No. After a baptism on the photographed bike
path (above), the group rode with those same rules right into downtown
Washington DC during a busy Tuesday afternoon.
<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>And the
result? See below. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>That is
150 people, 2x2, on a downtown DC bike lane leaving more than enough room for
oncoming cyclists and they are stopped at a red light. On the right is Tim
Johnson. On the left is the navigator and Firefly Bicycles co-founder Kevin
Wolfson. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Every
rider is safe. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Motorists
are not angry. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Pedestrians
are not confused. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Every
rider is happy.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>As
beginners gain confidence riding with smooth riders, they will quickly improve
their skills. As their skills improve their fitness improves. But more
importantly, all of these riders will make an impact on every other group ride
they join. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Teaching
these skills to a small group of ride leaders can make massive group rides
safer and more fun for everybody involved. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>And then
your group can ride for hours and hours .... <span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-75655670178436976482014-05-07T21:27:00.004-04:002014-05-08T10:57:02.760-04:00Bike Commuting 101 Trigirlpink style!I don't consider myself a true bike commuter because I don't do it everyday, year round, rain or shine. I'm a snowbird commuter. I come out when the days are long and the sun is shining. I have however, been doing my snowbird commuting for 6-7 years now and I've learned a few tricks from the hardcore cycling commuters along with developing some of my own.<br />
<br />
My goal when commuting by bike is to get to my destination without hearing one car/truck horn directed at me. I try very hard to be the *well behaved cyclist* with hopes of trying to change the attitude of even just one non cycling driver. I'm hoping a driver notices the respect I'm showing for them while concurrently abiding by the given rules both of us should be complying with.<br />
<br />
Here are a few tricks, ideas and habits I follow to make bike commuting less stressful and more enjoyable.<br />
<br />
1. If I leave 15 minutes earlier than I actually need to, I do several things that benefit me: I anticipate flatting or having some mechanical issue to contend with ( my buffer/safety net ). That 15 minutes can make a huge difference volume wise of vehicular traffic on the roads too and I'm less likely to feel rushed with the temptation of rolling thru a stop sign or two and not paying attention in traffic with my focus on rushing to get where I need to go . <b>Give yourself time.</b><br />
<br />
2. This is for the girls (sorry boys) but I SWEAR, by this: Wearing a bit of pink, and<i><b> not</b></i> tucking my hair out of sight under my helmet gives me a bit of an advantage with angry butt crack flaunting plumbers ( not you Duffy) and sanitation truck drivers. They appear to be less aggressive to the biker girl toting a pink messenger bag. And when the temps allow for it, the skort is essential to complete the look. Think LEGS! LEGS! LEGGGGGGS! I'm convinced it simmers the car load of angry cigarette smoking Ana's Taqueria kitchen worker right down. <b>Work it girls</b><br />
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<br />
3.I love this blinky. It easily comes off your helmet if you don't have a dedicated commuter helmet and it swivels so it's always facing back and blinking. A better sight line for drivers coming from behind instead of it being behind your saddle me thinks. I have it blinking whether it's sunny or not. <b>See and be seen.</b><br />
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<br />
I don't leave my house without a minimally but smartly stocked bag.<br />
<br />
A. Form fitting non latex gloves with excellent tactile sensitively. Confession: I've pilfered them from work. Look, I work in a dental office. If I flat or have some issue that my hands are likely<br />
to become black and greasy (ick) I don't want to mess up my clothing, gloves, my bar tape and most importantly my hands and then have to deal with it after I've gotten to work. My patients don't give a crap I dropped my chain 4 times and flatted twice and that's why I have grease under my fingernails as I walk them back to a treatment room. <b>No. no and NO!</b><br />
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<br />
<br />
B. A mini survival kit: Band aids, a contact lens, eye drops, tissues and lip balm with sunscreen and emergency snacks.<br />
<br />
C. Small copies of the Massachusetts Rules of the Road For Drivers. I'll be the first to admit, I will want<i> </i>to come at you with an ax shouting "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!" if you cut me off taking a right hand turn with no blinker to pull into Dunkin Donuts impulsively because you've decided at the last minute, you need that jelly donut and latte even though you JUST saw me next to you on the road seconds before your donut right hook.<br />
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Or<br />
If you almost sideswipe me because you are an inconsiderate dickwad that can't wait 10 seconds for a small gap so you can move over to the left(yellow lane line) and you haven't a clue that IT'S THE LAW that you are required to give cyclists a safe buffer zone. ( Waiting and hoping the 3 feet rule makes it here to MA)<br />
<br />
If there is some type of altercation along with complete stopped time during this altercation (rare), screaming and looking like the *bad cyclist* to everyone around watching is just useless and wasted energy that I need to bank to get up the hills after said altercation. I simply hold my tongue ( sooooo difficult because yes.. it's true, I'm a bitch on wheels if provoked) and pass the nice little copy to the driver so they can refresh their rules of the road.<br />
Can you argue over a rule that is clearly stated in the MASS rule books? Clearly some will continue to rage pumping their fist at you but they will soon learn they too can be at fault and will hopefully retain the information.<br />
<br />
D. My cell phone tucked into my SoulRun phone case that I can type right thru the clear plastic window along with with my debit card in the pocket provided on the back. I love this thing. It's durable. It keeps my phone dry and well... it's pink.<br />
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I don't do the ICE thing with my phone. Instead, I wear my Road ID that has pertinent information needed in case of an emergency. My full name the year of my birth on the same line An emergency contact. No Allergies, and showing that I have insurance, BS/BS of MA at the bottom.<br />
<br />
E.My tool kit contains: 2 tubes, a mini pump (back up if the C02 cartridges malfunction) a mini tool, 2 CO2 cartridge with a small threaded inflator, and tire levers (3) and $10 in cash. <br />
<br />
F. My Castelli Sottile rain jacket that folds up super tight and small.<br />
<br />
<br />
While riding:<br />
<br />
If I'm on a narrow street and can't move away from parked cars that could fling a door open in my path, I look in each and every driver side mirror. If I see a face, I'm on high alert. The goal: <b>Keep the collarbone intact.</b><br />
<br />
I never roll thru a red light EVEN IF no other cars are coming from across the intersection. It's tempting but I'm trying to make a statement to drivers that I am to follow the rules of the road just as a motor vehicle. Please do this. So what you have to sit at a light. Keep your pants on. Grab a drink, adjust your messenger bag, take a breather. Everyone is in such a hurry. <b>Don't be that person. CHILL</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When someone lets me in/ out/ thru with a wave I give the wave back and or a thumbs up with a smile. When other cyclists do this when I'm driving, it's appreciated. A little bit of courtesy goes a long long way. <b>Be that person. </b><br />
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Ok, this one is so very hard for me but I try try try and not give the finger to the driver that just tried to kill me while he speeds off after almost brushing me with his passenger side mirror and you should too. Be the one showing self control. As good as it feels to flip them off, all you are essentially doing is cementing the stigma that all <b> </b>cyclists are evil and must be sent a clear message that we shouldn't be on the road. Think of <b> </b>Penny <b>s</b>inging Soft Kitty Warm Kitty Little ball of Fur . breath,<b>and..... Let. It. Go.</b><br />
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Ride safe, Drive safe, Be the driver and or rider you would want on the road with you.<br />
It's simple yet sadly, so complex too.<br />
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Thanks for stopping by!Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-57872755838728630122014-04-04T20:46:00.000-04:002014-04-04T20:46:28.414-04:00The Quest For The Polka Dot Jersey<br />
Confession: A climber I am not.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXRgCBMbvCA/UzrPTTeaqfI/AAAAAAAASkE/qYwtzbcCtG4/s1600/France+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXRgCBMbvCA/UzrPTTeaqfI/AAAAAAAASkE/qYwtzbcCtG4/s1600/France+2012.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">desperately looking for the last switchback <span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr>
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It's a TGP factoid. My Limiter. The weak link. Nevertheless, this hasn't discouraged me one bit from trying to be a better one in the 15 years I've been cycling. When the topic comes up in conversation I often hear: "<i> just spin up the hill in an easy gear</i>" Ha! If it were just that simple. You see, I don't have an "easiest" gear when I climb. I don't care what gear ratio you offer up, It's simply this: One gear Sally all the way up on the inside of that cassette yet still looking for one more cog. Riders are usually passing me sprightly spinning and in control chit chatting with someone next to them while I'm over on the right, head down, gasping while burning the always seemingly (too few) matches I've been hoarding.<br />
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This is not to say that when I am fit, I'm certainly more in control but only in the sense that I can recover quickly and can take the quad chewing/match burning for much longer.<br />
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It is what it is yet it has never influenced my decision of a given training ride or even a race selection for that matter. In fact, I head for the hills every chance I can get always reminding myself that consistently yields results if ever so minimal.<br />
My first long distance triathlon was Long Course Worlds in Nice France. Let's just say there was a bit of climbing. Hills? Mountains. It was a treeless moonscape at the top/turnaround. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and at best, I was ill prepared for how technical the course presented. ( I didn't get the memo) I was just super excited to travel to France representing USAT as an age grouper.<br />
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When I chose my first ironman, it was solely based on ease of travel to the venue with no thought it how the course suited me based on my abilities. Ironman Lake Placid is far from flat and if you don't reel it in on the first loop of the 56 miles you pay dearly on the second loop with a 26.2 run with it's own share of hills tossed at you. (I got the memo but I didn't read the memo)<br />
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Let's fast forward. This weekend I'm doing the Battenkill Gran Fondo. I didn't even know what Battenkill was until last year. Clearly I'm not racing( I got the memo) and the sole purpose is for it to be a fun day on a beautiful course with some new cycling friends who talked me into it. No doubt my quads will be chewed up after sixty something miles on a a mix of gravel and paved road surfaces featuring some climbing I'm too scared to go look at. (what you don't know, won't hurt you-ignore the memo technique)<br />
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I followed the same pattern a few weekends ago at the Overland Adventure Maple Ride in VT. Silly me... Focusing on the sugar house stops planned during the ride with treats waiting for us was WAY more important than glancing at the elevation and grade of the some of the climbs beforehand. ooof..... The relentless climbs combined with some very chilly temps and funky road conditions left me trashed and wondering what was I thinking after the mere 35 mile "adventure"<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All fun and games until we started climbing 1000 ft 5 minutes into the ride.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erica my ride partner displaying the interesting ride conditions<br />
at the Overland Adventure Maple Ride</td></tr>
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One thing for certain this weekend, I'll be coming home with chewed up quads, the chronic never-good-enough- gear-ratio, hoarding my matches the best I can while facing one climb at a time in my make believe polka dot jersey.<br />
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Thanks for stopping by!<br />
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-74036439410209207102014-03-05T08:29:00.002-05:002014-03-05T14:25:14.456-05:00The Season Of Slothness<br />
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If there's one thing we can all agree on, especially if you live here in the northeast, this winter scores a solid 8 in disciplinary weather punishment. Wow.....<br />
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When the sh*t started hitting the fan back in December, I was whining and fighting it distracted with photography, travel and the holidays.Gone are the days when I would go out and run in minus whatever windchill. Stupid girl.. With that, I quickly grew doughy with inactivity and the thought of working my way back to something that resembled fitness was far off and embracing this snowy frigid season while trying to do this was far from thought and just plain an inconvenience.</div>
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Unfortunately, whining doesn't burn very many calories and soon my favorite pair(s) of jeans were beginning to whittle down and by the start of January my inactivity and winter grumpiness was in full swing. Surely I can blame this on the consistent cycle of injury/downtime in which my body has become accustomed to this time of year, right?</div>
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Ok....NO</div>
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Speaking of consistent, I excelled in consistency with enough carbo intake that could feed 3 people. Carbs and the desire to go lay down compliment each other nicely and it was often I had the desire to crawl into my mirco fleece sheets (you gotta get these) most nights around 9 after I mustered up enough energy to spatula my a$$ off the couch, </div>
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Fast forward to mid January. I somehow snapped back from my unhinged state with the motivational factor being that my jeans selection was becoming even more frail and I began to justify that wearing sweatpants out daily was perfectly acceptable. </div>
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First, I dug out my XC skis. Maybe.....I thought, if I get shiny new equipment I will ski again! Surprisingly, my classic and skate skis albeit old, were far from crappy. My skate skis were top of the line (back then) and I just needed to tweak a few things. Big thanks to Chris Li at The Bikeway Source for always seeming to be available and helping me get out of my hibernation den with not only my skis, but studded tires so I could get my bike out in the trails. Also, my Team Psycho teammate Skip Thomas has been gracious enough to let me slip into openings in the schedule of his way cool cave of Computrainer PerfPRO cycling pain. It's just what I've needed to get back on the bike and try to gain some base back.<br />
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So that's what I've been doing.</div>
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I've skied 4-5 times using my classic skis trying to work on my technique while getting in a really<br />
good workout which leaves me trashed and drenched in sweat. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOK!!!! I went over a log! :-P</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skip's House of pain and a view of his butt and my bike on the right. :-)<br />
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See ya outside!</td></tr>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-8928149582758762502014-01-08T22:02:00.002-05:002014-01-09T16:12:35.277-05:00You're Never Too Busy Recently I read an on line commentary that focused on using the phrase "I am so busy". Guess what? It isn't respectable anymore and we all should stop using it, like a knee jerk response when someone asks us how we are. We are also supposed to try and go an ENTIRE YEAR without saying that.<br>
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So....I won't update today saying I have been so busy and felt too overwhelmed with all I could write, so instead, I just decided to avoid writing altogether. You didn't just read that, ok?<br>
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I'll try and make this one short 'cause I know you're busy too. :-)<br>
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My Belgian friend Kris Claeye has been nagging me to come to Belgium for over a year. He finally wore me down so I booked a flight and off I went for a week December 17th. I crammed as much as I could in the time I was there. Home base was Brussels. I spent 6 hours walking around Brussels on one day. I shopped, drank expresso at cozy little cafes<br>
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and drank Belgian brew.<br>
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Oh yeah.. and I shot pictures at two cyclocross races. One in Essen and a World Cup race in Namur. It was a treat to have a my Belgian host pick me up in Brussels and escort me out of the city to the race venues, give me the low down on all things Flemish, while I gave him lots of practice polishing up his English. Kris has a coveted press pass/accreditation to shoot at the race venues which got us prime parking and no entry fee. It also got Kris entry to areas I wasn't allowed while I pouted.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kris!</td></tr>
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I worked it HARD out there buttering up spectators with big smiles while pointing and giving hand signals with my main goal being: get as close to the fencing as possible so I could crouch down and sometimes just plain sit in the mud to avoid iPhones poking out into my shots. Many times in frustration, I wanted to ask the live feed camera operators perched up high if I could come up for a visit with my camera but I just didn't have the guts to do it. Silly American girl....<br>
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It's a trip I will not forget <strike>soon </strike> ever. Cyclocross in Belgium is similar to cyclocross in the US but magnified 3 x over.<br>
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It's the only way I can describe it. It's intense, the courses unbelievably technical, It's no frills and they ( the spectators, and athletes) take it seriously. You will see all ages of spectators and they appear to not be athletic or do the sport themselves. <br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't she rather be baking Christmas cookies?</td></tr>
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It's nothing to spend 150 euros to gain a pass to the VIP tent set up just for spectators.<br>
Just how popular is it?<br>
If you ask anyone here in the US on the street what cyclocross is, they would look at you like your from another planet. But over in Belgium, it's a whole different ball of wax. A waiter at my hotel in Brussels who was Moroccan no less, knew exactly what I meant when I said " I'm here to shoot pictures at 2 cyclocross events." "Namur?" He asked. "Oui!!" I said.<br>
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I am ever so grateful for my amazing host who scooped me up the night I arrived and brought me to the Christmas Market with his family in Brussels, took a day off from work to drag the wide eyed American girl thru the streets of Ghent and Brouge, Punched up my skills for tack sharp shooting in less than idea lighting conditions and has made me very thoughtful of what I will post for images now that my standards are even higher in post production.<br>
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Thrown into a foreign environment knowing I only had 2 days to shoot pictures in a place I may never visit again, I did a mini freakout on the first day. I let the elements, the conditions the spectators were given to navigate through and around coupled with the lack in control of where I wanted to shoot, get the best of me.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pld5_4Yy6IE/Us4BU3TnPtI/AAAAAAAAR9g/_R_RN9j3oJ4/s1600/_DSC6290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pld5_4Yy6IE/Us4BU3TnPtI/AAAAAAAAR9g/_R_RN9j3oJ4/s1600/_DSC6290.jpg" height="164" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spectator walk thru </td></tr>
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You ain't in Kansas anymore I quickly figured out. By the end of the day I was muddy, wet and cold. <br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My boots after day one.</td></tr>
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I finally understood the law of reciprocity in photography. It was gonna be sink or swim standing in dim lighting even at 12 noon without a flash trying to capture action and not have a memory card of 400 plus images all blurry. You can read all you want to learn a new skill but to me, there's nothin' better than hands on learning all the while referring back to what you've actually read and only then does it really make sense. For 2 days, all I did was constantly adjust shutter speeds, apertures and iso settings while quickly learning that when you do <i>this</i>, it affects <i>that</i>. And if your gonna do <i>that</i>, then you better adjust <i>this</i> AND <i>that</i>. Are you with me? All of this as the light was fading while trying to hold a heavy camera still in wet conditions while elbowing my way through burly old Belgian men. Do I sound whiny? Honestly, I loved every minute. It wasn't easy and that's what made it even more special.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Burly Belgian Men Example </td></tr>
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Next up: Boulder Colorado for Cyclocross Nationals this weekend. I am very excited! It was a last minute trip and one that I couldn't pass up. I am grateful to Vinu Malik the founder of FuelBelt who graciously helped me make the trip worth while. <br>
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Thanks for checking in!<br>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-10580736853518640842013-12-02T14:26:00.001-05:002013-12-03T09:10:48.862-05:00Monday Reflection<div style="text-align: center;">
Cyclocross season 2013 is coming to a close and I find myself a bit pensive that it's winding down but balanced with relief I raced drama free and didn't allow my ACL reconstruction to play but a very minor role. As the season progressed, I focused less and less on my knee and after 3 races, I was able to shed a brace that I swore I would never be able</div>
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to give up.</div>
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I am nine races in and 2 more will close the books for me this year. It was a really fun season even with a rocky start. I surprised myself a few times accomplishing mini things I just didn't think I could do and each and every race I gained if only a smidgen of confidence in my riding ability along with some good fitness that I haven't had in what feels a very long time.</div>
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One thing I lacked this season was a set of goals which I think might have helped me a bit more see clearly the small victories I've accomplished instead of focusing on being where I wished I could have been. I thrive on challenges and cyclocross puts me right smack in the center of the ring. I am tenacious and strong-willed and I will work for something until I get it sufficiently right or at least until I'm satisfied (which is almost never. Ha!) I think I've lost my drive for triathlon for this very reason. I lack the pre-race anxiety I used to get and the self induced pressure I buried myself with. I worked hard and I was rewarded but after awhile the challenge along with the desire have faded slowly away.</div>
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But not with cyclocross. Oh no. I show up every race with I'm pretty certain, a face contorted like I'm next up at the town square flogging.</div>
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The line up is the best for stress inducing anxiety! I've peed six times before any given race but put me at the start of a cross race and instantly I gotta go. With triathlon, I just conveniently peed in my wet suit every 15 seconds. The best is the 30 second warning at the start line " <i>the whistle can come at any time ladies" </i> I swear one of these</div>
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times I'm going to bust an artery and it will be on a day I wear my white skin suit, right? My reward differs completely compared</div>
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to triathlon too. In cyclocross I'm ecstatic at the finish because I made it through without leaving a critical body part out on the course where as in triathlon, an age group win was what I was always after with razor sharp focus.</div>
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Two different sports.</div>
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Two different results.</div>
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The same desire and drive to do my very best.</div>
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Thanks for stopping by!</div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-5812764595231164762013-11-05T13:19:00.000-05:002013-11-05T16:42:15.607-05:00Belgian Beer, Mud, Mo Bruno Roy and October Refection<b style="font-size: x-large;">Trigirlpink's OCTOBER STATS:</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> * 31 days did not pass without consumption of a Tootsie Roll or Snickers mini. I was on a streak and damn it, I wasn't gonna break it. Props to the candy companies and their sneaky marketing ploys and mind control techniques that forced me into this downward </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">spiral of sugar hell.(</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">as I unwrap another Tootsie roll</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> neded to clear my mind to update this blog )</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">* My body, cyclocross bike and mind have remained intact.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> * I have 7 CX races in my pocket thus far with only minor bruising and much less spontaneous outbursts using the *F* word when a jr. cuts me off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Progress! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> * My results at crossresults.com are holding an awesome solid steady bottom 50% score. There is something to be said about consistency, right???</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> * I booked a December flight to Belgium. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">WHAT??? REALLY?? Sound impulsive?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well it is. Sort of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The primary purpose: Cyclocross. I am going as a rabid spectator/ US NECX one man cheering Squadron ( and hopefully photo taker) to the bpost GP Rouwmoer in Essen on Saturday the 21st and then I will make the trek to Namur the next day for a UCI World Cup race with my Belgian friend/race photographer, Kris Claeye. This will be me taking it all in with my Belgian guide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So far I'm certain of one American Pro who will be there racing, Maureen Bruno Roy. Mo certainly influenced my decision for this once in a lifetime opportunity. I have known Mo since 2008. She is my massage therapist and I have always been intrigued with her stellar skills as a top US professional cyclocross racer. Mo has the exterior best described as petite, feminine, soft spoken yet with a polar opposite interior when it comes to the sport of cyclocross. Toss the most technical, muddy course ( her forte) at her and she is a force in her own right. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Needless to say, I'm very excited to watch her race within a european circuit on Belgium turf where cyclocross was born and support her with the very best NECX love I can muster up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Mo:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Expect awesomely rad photos of me drinking Belgian beer and sampling cones of crispy frites while simultaneously yelling "GO HAAADA!!" to Mo as she finesses her way down a cliff of greasy mud on two pink FMB SSC pro pink tires.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by!</span></div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-78478297327971587692013-10-07T14:45:00.003-04:002013-10-07T19:19:30.644-04:00My Torrid Affair With The Sport Of CyclocrossYou wanna know what day it is and it's relative importance? I'll tell you. Last year at this exact time, I was only 3 days shy of ACL reconstruction. I can't tell you how excited I was to have surgery. It's a significant time of year now and I'm happy with how it all turned out in the end. For one, I worked incredibly hard last fall trying to maintain a positive attitude through the process of getting back on my feet which in fact hadn't even really begun forced to wait 8 weeks after my mishap before the surgery would be performed. Consequently, having to wait for the surgery made it all that more challenging to deal with.<br />
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I did the opposite of what I really wanted to do during this sucky time. I wanted to shut myself off completely from any and all things related to cyclocross. But Instead, I made myself go to many of the cyclocross races photographing and supporting my teammates and friends.<br />
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Fast forward to Fall 2013. Here I am all healed and able to ride and very grateful yet I find myself, timid and tense and any skills or confidence I had (minimal at best) have gone missing. I keep looking for them but I'm coming up empty and even frustrated. Right now, I can't even remount my bike properly after spending which felt like<i><b> years</b></i> trying to master it.<br />
My other unfortunate confession is I found myself yesterday DREADING to race on the course at the Providence Cyclocross Festival.<br />
"Dreading" and "can't" are two words that shouldn't be part of this.<br />
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I slipped back into triathlon seamlessly and even though I seriously lack the skill , power and speed of the sport of cyclocross, I had hoped I would just jump right back in and pick up where I left off.<br />
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Yesterday was a good example of how it's panning out:<br />
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I made the trek down to Providence not really sure I was making the right decision. I didn't know how my legs were going to respond after running an 8.5 trail race in Harold Parker State Forest on Saturday. The trail race was challenging at best with plenty of hills and single track to maneuver through and in 20-20, entering a trail race without any trail running behind me was just dumb. My heart rate was pegged at 183 for 1 hour and 27 minutes. I ran as if I was doing a 5k with no logical explanation except that I'm way too competitive and if I'm not burying myself (prepared or not) then It must mean that I'm turning into a slacker and being a slacker just isn't in my genetic make up. <br />
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Back to Sunday:<br />
After arriving and getting checked in, my mission was to get 2 loops of the course in before the start of the men's race at 9. Then one more lap right before the women's 3/4 at 10. The more I can ride a given course the better.<br />
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Problem # 1: I only got in one lap<br />
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The course was incredibly crowded for the warm up. This combined with the slick conditions and technical sections that felt way over my head got me wanting to pedal right back to my car and go home. How the heck was I going to handle some of this stuff if I've never ridden on it before? Clearly I was letting a little mud, some twisty stuff, wooden stairs, off camber slick sections and the fear of falling overtake me.<br />
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I made an emergency text to be coaxed off the ledge from a friend who's been doing cyclocross for 20+ years. "Stand your ground you can do this. Make sure your tire pressure is low. pedal your bike over the off camber sections with your bike upright and your body slightly leaning into the side<br />
Don't you do triathlons with tons of people around you?"<br />
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Different skill set dude.... Case closed.<br />
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I approached my teammate Michele with ( I'm pretty sure) the look of panic on my face asking how she thought I could approach the off camber sections that I wouldn't even consider walking on let alone think I could ride on.<br />
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"Look past it. Look to where you want to go. Remember what Marla Streb told us this summer. You'll be fine"<br />
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The good news is, I made the best of the advice given and today I'm happy to say I'm at work unscathed, teeth intact and relatively content with the result.<br />
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Here's what I accomplished:(looking for the positives here!)<br />
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1. I stayed upright the entire race but not without narrowly mixing in with at least 3 crashes right in front of me.<br />
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2. I rode the off camber sections tentatively but successfully. Concurrently this technique only let the other<br />
women pull further away from me. They were tough. I was not.<br />
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3. I didn't swear at the ankle biting juniors who tend to ride up to you within inches of your front wheel and or handlebars without even flinching fall get up, and do it again at the next tricky section.. (Not good for the 50 year old psyche)<br />
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4. The flyover that I couldn't ride once before the race and looked intimidating was a breeze and actually fun.<br />
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So why am I doing this sport that I clearly have no skills at and scares me?<br />
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I just love it. I love the challenge and because it's so damn hard, it makes me want it even more.<br />
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I suppose the love of it outweighs my result which remains a constant for me: The back row sections of line up.<br />
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It's not that I don't try or possess the desire to become better, it's just a sport/skill that eludes me even though I try to be better at it.<br />
In the end, as I weigh the frustration of my given result with my desire to stick with the sport ultimately the latter keeps me continually banging my head against the barriers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo: David Loszewski</td></tr>
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Thanks for checking in!<br />
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<br />Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-70518854169796012452013-09-23T19:25:00.003-04:002013-09-23T20:47:32.988-04:00Done and Done<div style="text-align: center;">
Before we get started, a sincere thank you must go to Rachel Ross and her run coaching, Runspo for helping me make the transition from a run/walking shuffle to miraculously getting me to the point in which I could run again. Not only did I need help getting my a$$ in gear but at the same time, I needed someone to babysit me so that I didn't binge-run and wind up injured again. <b>Goal complete.</b></div>
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I have not run consistently in over a year. After taking a break in 2012 to focus on cycling, I inconveniently tore my knee and added 9 more months to the total. I weighed 151 pounds in January after ACL reconstruction. I struggled with this the most and I've spent a good part of 8 months slowly chipping away at regaining some sense of well being physically as well as mentally. It's been a really long haul to say the least and arduous at that but it's over now and far behind me. If you know anything about me, one of my major flaws is my lack of being* in the moment* and taking one task at a time. My mantra which usually works against me : <i>I want it all back and I want it all right now.</i> It took much self discipline and self control over the last 8 months, but I did it. <b>Goal complete.</b> And a huge one at that.</div>
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When my patience and consistency started to reward me, I decided it might be fun to have an obtainable goal to motivate me further so I signed up for 4 sprint triathlons for the end of August into September. My orthopedic warned me back in April that I most likely would experience front of the knee pain when attempting to run as my knee was still healing and to not expect much. Participating would be a good start. Rachel worked with what I had : No run base coupled with a high risk for getting myself injured. I signed up for the 4 races and set my expectation bar so low you wouldn't have gotten your big toe under it. My first prize was the absence of <i>any</i> front of the knee pain. Thankful, I continued and followed the run plan. <b>Goal complete.</b></div>
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This past weekend closed out the last of the 4 races I signed up for. It's still hard to digest that I used to love and respond "1/2 ironman" without hesitation when asked what my favorite distance of triathlon was. It's all foreign to me now. A sprint was now something I wondered if I could finish without blowing up by the run and walking and I did it. <b>Goal complete.</b></div>
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I managed 2 age group wins and 2 second place age group finishes in my little local New England sprints I picked. This was way more than I hoped for or expected from myself. <b>Goal complete with a bonus Price Is Right - Spin The Big Wheel without going over.</b></div>
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I ticked the last box on Sunday with one last race but not without some drama. A heavy rain cancelled the ocean swim portion of our race. I'd be lying if I said i was fine with that. Instead I threw a mini hissy fit while I sat in my car listening to the announcement. WHAAAAAT??? There's no thunder, there's no lightening!! I drove for an 1:20 only to have my favorite and strongest discipline at the moment snatched away and my weakest being two legs of the race now??? I tried to quickly let it go and did some SERIOUS attitude adjustment on the fly after a phone call or two to quiet me down. I had no control over this. Besides I wasn't the only one affected. Instead, I adjusted my goal along with my attitude and went to Plan B: I would cross that finish line leaving nothing out there. Having the swim taken away, I would not get that tiny advantage out of the water and the runners would prevail. I accepted this and got out from the warm and dry cocoon of my car to do a long run warm up.</div>
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As we (the last of 6 waves) finally got started, I watched while 4-5 women took off ahead of me for the 1.5 mile run leaving me in their wake. Even though I warmed up thoroughly, I had a hard time <i>staying</i> warmed up waiting for our wave. Even with a good warn up,It was a shock to my body and I just had to settle in and maintain a pace I could handle for 1.5 miles and forget what was going on further than my own feet. I didn't start my watch, I just put my head down and focused on good form and going hard but not so hard I'd tip the scale. <b> 8:48 pace</b> the results show.<b> </b>Seriously?<b>? </b>HORRIBLE. How could I feel like I was gonna throw up and it be an 8:48 pace? </div>
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After slipping into transition feeling like I ran a 6:45 minute mile, I rolled out praying someone wouldn't take me down with the wet conditions. My legs were like quick set cement after my 6:45 minute mile fantasy pace run. my legs were also confused because my arms were supposed to be doing their share of work before getting on my bike. Ooooof.</div>
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I caught myself 2 or 3 times thinking about the run that loomed over me during my 14 mile TT as if I had to run 26.2 miles. I even allowed my sensible self to contemplate racking my bike in transition and forgetting about that little 3.1 part but then I regained composure only because the thought of how my dad was going to appear in front of me showing his disappointment and then would have to go to the Elks Lodge later to watch the Patriots game with his buddies all the while telling them his daughter was a quitter. </div>
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14.5 miles/ 20.7 mph 42:58 and that part was over.<b> Goal Completed.</b></div>
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I racked my bike with a 39.9 transition and If someone had waved one of those giant bags of swedish fish in front of me to grab on exiting T2, I'd a betcha I could have shaved off another 5 seconds.</div>
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Zoom Zoom ...off I went thinking about the pancakes I was gonna have when I finished as my reward for going -Throw Up Mode- the entire race. I ran. I ran as hard as I could. This time I managed a 7:51 pace. I wanted to end this little race on a good note and all I needed to do was put forth my best effort. Nothing more.</div>
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I crossed the finish line and looked for my dad. Another goal attained. And the best part? My dad didn't have to show up at the Elks later that day telling his Benevolent and Protective order of Elk brethren his #2 daughter was a quitter after all. The best goal of all!</div>
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Thanks for checking in!<br />
<br />Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-84651374872531999622013-07-25T13:12:00.002-04:002013-07-25T18:20:57.903-04:00Nubble Light Challenge 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>It's time to finally stop beating my head against the tile wall of the pool and swallow the bitter pill that I'm not an open water swim specialist. </b><br />
<b>There, I said it. </b></div>
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<b>It pains me to confess to this because I love it and it's not like I haven't tried to think and act otherwise but the truth is, I'm just not good at it, period. The frustrating thing about open water swimming is, it's almost impossible to point out and fix what is broken (that) what you cannot see. In a perfect world I would have had my friend and swim guru Nate McBride a 20 year masters swim coach in a kayak next to me on Saturday with a clipboard checking off all the crap I'm doing wrong and wielding a large stick to whack me with every time I gave another second or two away. Honestly </b><b>I just can't see( myself )where the breakdown was and if I can't visualize, digest, and work to improve a particular flaw I seem to be plagued with, I am NEVER going to fix what is broken.</b></div>
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<b>This was my 3rd go at Nubble Light Challenge. Every year it gets better. The race directors go above and beyond having safety the top priority as they should. There are boats and kayaks throughout the entire 2.4 miles. Many more than the first year.</b></div>
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<b>You cannot breath to the left or right without seeing a boat or kayak hanging out with it's occupant looking at you. </b></div>
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<b>I wondered what are they thinking sitting there bobbing in the ocean swells. "<i> That girl is swimming like she'd never</i></b><br />
<b><i>pass a sobriety test " </i>or<i> "These people are nuts swimming out here" </i></b></div>
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<b>The first year they had 4 buoys for sighting for an ocean 2.4 mile swim. How I even got through that swim with only 4 buoys frankly </b><b>is beyond my comprehension. It's apparent that I suck at slighting and swimming anything that resembles </b><b>a straight line so with only 4 instead of the now 10, it's a miracle I didn't either get plucked from</b></div>
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<b>the mid atlantic or run into the rocks that line the Nubble Light House back in 2010.</b></div>
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<b>Back to Saturday. Everything was status quo except the tide was in and WAY IN. Whoopsy.. I thought....more water to swim in. This ain't gonna be a record breaker.</b><br />
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<b>My wave went off without a hitch except one: The timing company that was used handed out</b><br />
<b>chip straps that were like threads, over stretched and the velcro was all but gone. I Finally got the </b><br />
<b>thing situated on my ankle and it felt secure (as it was gonna be)</b><br />
<b>Not even to the first buoy, the thing was dangling from my big toe. Granite State Timing should be</b><br />
<b>grateful it didn't end up on the ocean floor. I snatched it and hung there treading water for a minute wondering</b><br />
<b>what I should do with the thing. I ended up stuffing it under the leg of my wetsuit and off I went.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KONcpQz4vhY/UfFXeckDpCI/AAAAAAAARrU/fZLhYAGvQyU/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KONcpQz4vhY/UfFXeckDpCI/AAAAAAAARrU/fZLhYAGvQyU/s320/photo+(13).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crap-ola timing chip</td></tr>
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<b>My swim was good (or so I thought). I swam it a bit conservatively at the start getting out of the waves</b><br />
<b>and not going hypoxic like I have in the past, gasping for air. I settled into what appeared a good pace swimming my own race and not concerned with finding any feet to jump on. There just wasn't any in my small-ish wave.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Were there swells? Yes. Was the water cold? Only in spots. Did I feel good? Yes.</b><br />
<b>No excuses. I just sucked and sucked BAD.</b><br />
<b>A particular individual that I can pulverize in the pool exited the water in another wave, 5+ minutes ahead of me. Five minutes in the swimming world is like a week. Just sayin'</b><br />
<b>When I looked at the results compared to how I felt I did, my jaw went slack. 1:18 and 14th IN MY AGE GROUP.</b><br />
<b>Huh?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Numbers don't lie and the Garmin 910 I wore confirmed my lackluster result.</b><br />
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<b>Here's my friend Katie who KILLED it out there and I checking out the Lighthouse pre swim</b><br />
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<b>I didn't leave without a nice parting gift. The worst chaffing from a wetsuit I have ever had.</b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr28nyRY4eg/UfFYYqPrrkI/AAAAAAAARrk/8msGl66PTXg/s1600/photo+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr28nyRY4eg/UfFYYqPrrkI/AAAAAAAARrk/8msGl66PTXg/s320/photo+(15).JPG" width="274" /></a></div>
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<b>I know what your asking and YES! I slathered on BodyGlide pre swim. </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PROOF!<br />
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<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So I did my sulking and foot stomping in a huff and now it's time to stash this away and move on to the next big adventure.<br /><br />I just haven't figured out what that is.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by!</span></b></td></tr>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-315267860182367472013-07-15T14:58:00.000-04:002013-07-15T15:56:48.600-04:00Bikes, Swimming and LESS of me!!<div style="text-align: center;">
July is upon us and I'm settled into a good summer routine. My knee is 99.9% feeling fabulous and I've even started to run. The 151 lbs I weighed in January is now down to 140-139. It's been a looooong tenacious road in this department. My hummingbird metabolism is all but a memory and it's been tedious getting back to where I can wear my normal clothes. The biggest PITA now is being forced to wear this carbon brace when I mountain bike, trail run or ride my cross bike in the trails. Anything risky that may force me to twist and snap my graft. (shutter) Are you wondering if I'm miffed that It wasn't offered in pink? You bet. For $1000???? The good news is I don't have to wear it past my anniversary/surgery date of Oct 10th and then and only then, can I have a ceremonial toss to a landfill.</div>
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So yeah, I got a mountain bike and here it is for the 2 or 3 of you that missed the social media image overload I made you endure. It's supa nice as you can imagine. Nothing that comes out of Seven Cycles is anything but. I waited foreverandaday for this bike but now that it's in my grips, it's just an amazing bike and honestly, it is way too much bike for the noob mountain biker that I am. I am forever grateful to Rob Vandermark, Patria Lanfranchi and everyone over at Seven Cycles who had a part in making this bike for me, 'specially Mikey Salvatore who hinted I should ask for a pink bike. I've taken 2 clinics and doing my best trying to get out on it as much as I can to (try) and master some of the basics of mountain biking. It can only make my cyclocross skills a smidgen better, right? </div>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pakmVUQO5Y4/UeQ1RAMXWWI/AAAAAAAARps/Y79UNA12sTU/s1600/photo+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pakmVUQO5Y4/UeQ1RAMXWWI/AAAAAAAARps/Y79UNA12sTU/s200/photo+(10).JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Honey 29er</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2BnDZU6DbQ/UeRFME5WYrI/AAAAAAAARqs/mDRoflHLNGM/s1600/photo+(11).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2BnDZU6DbQ/UeRFME5WYrI/AAAAAAAARqs/mDRoflHLNGM/s200/photo+(11).JPG" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nighty night my sweet Honey</td></tr>
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Remember that paddle board lying unpacked screaming to be taken out 2 posts ago? Finally, It went on it's maiden voyage Fourth of July weekend by me. Gripping the deck with my toes, I got right up on that sucker and never fell off! Another toy I didn't know squat about but have fallen in love with. You wanna get your back, abs and arms rock solid? SUP. It's fun and relaxing yet you are working out by trying to keep yourself stabilized on the board while fish gazing and working on your tan!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkEZ5w2RW64/UeQ7BHyBIII/AAAAAAAARqM/rzNA267HQVo/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkEZ5w2RW64/UeQ7BHyBIII/AAAAAAAARqM/rzNA267HQVo/s320/photo+(12).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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In other news, The Nubble Light Challenge is less than 5 days away and I've been working hard to prepare for the distance along with the temperatures the unpredictable Maine waters can toss at you.</div>
<div>
My friend Elaine Howley, an experienced English Channel swimmer has been dragging me out to open water swim with her in Nahant and South Boston. I even managed to sneak in a 5k swim down in Mashpee for training. It was held in a pond but it was more like an ocean and I loved every second of it. I even got FIRST in my age group!! Ok.. I was the only woman in my age group there. Humpf! What the heck?? I guess they all slept in because it was windy and raining.</div>
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Ok, so wish me luck this weekend!! My plan is to stick to Elaine like those crotch protectors in new </div>
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swimwear. She won't be wearing a wetsuit ( way tougher than I) but she's a pro at navigation and a purest in</div>
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the open water. </div>
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Thanks for checking in!</div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-51608153581491038382013-06-18T21:38:00.001-04:002013-06-19T20:12:34.501-04:00b2b Ride Number Eight<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CqR72O666Q/UcCJtNz5vYI/AAAAAAAARlE/ljH_cxaMU6I/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CqR72O666Q/UcCJtNz5vYI/AAAAAAAARlE/ljH_cxaMU6I/s320/photo+(5).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve, Tom, John, Brian</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
If there's one thing I can take away from this, my 8th Harpoon Brewery to Brewery excursion is it will never <i>ever </i> be easy or pain free mentally nor physically no matter what shape you are in. There are parts of this ride that will tear you up into little pieces if you let it. It will test your tenacity level and give you lots of practice honing your skills at pushing back fatigue that quite simply makes you want to just get off the bike and call it a day. That being said, It really <i>is</i> a fun ride.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As tough as the day can be, I have never once rolled into the brewery finishing the ride without being rewarded (albeit short ) but always the same: A rush of adrenaline that comes with clarity as if it were the very first ride back in 2004. The day flashes through my mind of all the rest stops, happy helpful volunteers that make this ride what it is. Sometimes minor glitches we've overcome as a group but always it's the same. The sense of relief combined with sheer joy that I made it another year. No crashes, no mechanicals and the sense of gratitude that not only am I fortunate to be able to finish the ride but also with my past experience(s) I can filter quicky through the low points of the day knowing there are plenty of high notes right up the road.</div>
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This is typically how the day unfolds: I am literally up almost an entire</div>
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24 hours.</div>
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3:40 AM- alarm</div>
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5:15 -arrival and setup</div>
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6AM- roll</div>
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3:30/4:30- arrival to VT</div>
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6pm - 2+ hour drive back to the waterfront in Boston</div>
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8:30 PM-collect bike and drive home (stop at McDonalds for my once a year large fries and vanilla shake)</div>
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Mattress dive by11PM but wired from all the caffeine consumed by gels</div>
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and rocket fuel (coke/sports drink mix) needed after mile 75.</div>
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This year for the first time, I worked the packet pick up on Friday night at the Brewery ( they promised a case of beer!!) It's an option if you don't want to deal with it the race morning. I guess I never really paid much attention to how many women actually do the ride but that night, it was raining testosterone. I don't think I got</div>
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one woman in my section of L-M to retrieve a packet. </div>
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As intimidating as the ride might project to many, it runs like a well oiled machine with a concierge at your finger tips out there all day.</div>
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Between the rest stops, The Mavic dudes in the bright yellow (reasurring ) car. The Cycle Loft</div>
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too has a car out there sometimes creeping by to heckle or tell you that you *look great* when it is crystal clear you do not.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I managed the day well in retrospect but not without a few minor bumps. I borrowed my friend/Hup team mate Ana's race wheels to lighen the load for the day. They are tubulars and as comfortable as I am dealing with tubulars, I decided I would only carry one can of Pit Stop and some spare air.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qrLEWZ3jRrI/UcEBVXUgQVI/AAAAAAAARlo/j-n-fdW0d8U/s1600/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qrLEWZ3jRrI/UcEBVXUgQVI/AAAAAAAARlo/j-n-fdW0d8U/s200/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changing out my cassette on Ana's speedy race wheels b4 the ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GC1wp2nozRM/UcEB2r_voBI/AAAAAAAARls/4ylzzitkqN0/s1600/photo+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GC1wp2nozRM/UcEB2r_voBI/AAAAAAAARls/4ylzzitkqN0/s200/photo+(7).JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A clean cassette is a happy cassette</td></tr>
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Not 25 miles into the ride, the can popped out of my jersey pocket and rolled into the street.</div>
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It took me seconds to zip around and head back for it.</div>
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Car one- "please don't roll over that! Phew..."</div>
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Care number two- "Pleeeeze don't hit that!" Phew...</div>
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Care number three- "OMG.. I can go get the can after this car goes by!"</div>
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Kaboom</div>
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My can exploded under the car's wheel. It wasn't even rolling at that point so I don't</div>
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understand how they couldn't have seen it or me with my hands in prayer postion, eyes locked on it</div>
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to retieve. Instantly the color drained from my face. I was essentially screwed with</div>
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no back up for my wheels. I would have to wait for the Mavic gods to save me</div>
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<i>IF</i> I flatted. Within 20 minutes I forgot about cans of Pit Stop and deflating tubulars. No sense</div>
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wasting energy on something I couldn't control or predict.</div>
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By mile 60, I begain to get slighty concerned. The first 50 didn't click off quickly like they have in the past and my quads started to burn on any hills, short or long way too early in the game.</div>
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A mile or so before the 75 aid station stop, a rider behind me informed</div>
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me that he could clearly see my right rear brake pad dragging. I thanked him</div>
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and rolled in to have it adjusted. ( Thank you Anthony from Cycle Loft) I was relieved that<br />
I could most likely point to this as the cause of my premature leg fatigue. I trained for this ride the most I ever have. Two centuries and countless rides with plenty of undulating if not</div>
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grinding long hills. It just didn't add up.</div>
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For the remainer of the ride my focus was on hording my remaining matches the best I could</div>
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I tucked in where ever I could and took no turns pulling in our group mainly because</div>
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I just couldn't. I never really got to shake things out and find my legs.</div>
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I averaged 17.8 last year and this year was a struggle to average 16.5.</div>
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It is what it is. </div>
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This is not a race but I would be lying if I didn't say I was slightly disappointed.</div>
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Long gone is the innocence of knowing nothing but - I'm riding my bike to Vermont!!-</div>
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With experience comes expectations.<br />
My advice if you have this on your bucket list: (and you should!) Prepare as you feel needed but as my friend Skip told me, <i>"It's a sneaky ride an it can go either way."</i></div>
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Beer.<br />
Make that the carrot in front of your imaginary cart and<br />
Just. Keep. Pedaling.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Prize </td></tr>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-70189113782992661372013-06-10T15:38:00.002-04:002013-06-10T18:46:16.431-04:005 Things I'm Doing, Getting, Not Missing, Or I Paid For -Soon To Be Suffering Through<br />
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I have no good excuses for not updating my blog. There are lots of good things happening to chat about rather than a plateful of complains so what gives?? (That's me asking me)<br />
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Answer: Lazy<br />
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Here's a condensed update in short sentences and a little visual as to not bore you to tears. You'll be done in 45 seconds and on with your day.<br />
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Here we go.<br />
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*My fresh off the press custom Seven Cycles/ Honey Bikes 29er frame is being built up today. 6-10-13 YAY.<br />
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* In approximately 5 days, I will be on my bike for 8+ hours riding 148 miles to VT for my 8th b2b ride. YAY (I think)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WfsqJyiFPg/UbYmuuAhglI/AAAAAAAARjo/wesWDmYa8hk/s1600/7657718346_93d406098b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WfsqJyiFPg/UbYmuuAhglI/AAAAAAAARjo/wesWDmYa8hk/s320/7657718346_93d406098b_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">b2b 2012. Photo credit: Harpoon Brewery</td></tr>
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* I did some research and finally ordered a SUP board and it was just delivered. YAY!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3AUxGJzcffI/UbYkk2MbomI/AAAAAAAARjY/P3gTjzX0-0I/s1600/IMG_1806.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3AUxGJzcffI/UbYkk2MbomI/AAAAAAAARjY/P3gTjzX0-0I/s320/IMG_1806.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know, pink.. what a surprise, right??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
* My ACL/knee is so back to normal, I rarely think about it now. It will be 8 months June 10th from my surgery. YAY<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zPbqUReir04/UIv29iga__I/AAAAAAAAQgk/GJG1qu8KCRE/s1600/blogger-image-379314712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zPbqUReir04/UIv29iga__I/AAAAAAAAQgk/GJG1qu8KCRE/s320/blogger-image-379314712.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oct 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh.. and just for kicks, Here I am at a super fun Luna Chix women's only mountain bike clinic about a week ago with Marla Streb. She was fabulous and made everything look easy breezy. Here I am doing a wall track stand. Add in 85 degrees with 70% humidity with no air flowing in that corner I was in, and damn....It's harder than you think!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6cU_WWcsYI/UbYowrngCaI/AAAAAAAARj4/i4JFkNSzAHY/s1600/943374_4775864603208_917337972_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6cU_WWcsYI/UbYowrngCaI/AAAAAAAARj4/i4JFkNSzAHY/s320/943374_4775864603208_917337972_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Serene Forte</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-52690472173776559082013-05-17T18:07:00.000-04:002013-05-17T18:30:50.525-04:00Weeping Willow Mountain Bike Race <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s0f84JYIKT4/UZam40dJGRI/AAAAAAAARg0/VTKQ29w9qks/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s0f84JYIKT4/UZam40dJGRI/AAAAAAAARg0/VTKQ29w9qks/s200/photo+(6).JPG" width="149" /></a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It happend!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did my very first mountain bike race last weekend on a borrowed bike and no real idea on what I was doing. It wasn't supposed to turn out this way but <span style="text-align: center;"> I had signed up long ago with the vision I'd have my new bike in my possession way before this race.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I decided rather last minute that I would head to Ipswich after initially nixing the idea as the race approached, If I could somehow make it work. Either using my cross bike or borrowing a mountain bike that would fit me, I would do it. "It," everyone kept telling me, was an "<strike>easy</strike>" course and I'd have <strike>no</strike> problems on it.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eh..not so much for me anyway.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I considered just riding my cyclocross bike but I </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">borrowed a mountain bike last minute instead.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A nice cushy dual suspension Specialized Epic that actually fit me </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pretty well. However, I wasn't used to it and in particular, the shifting.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Let's just chalk it up as a confusing mess for me.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I was a total spaz cross chaining and clicking buttons like I had OCD while warming up. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually I made some sense out of it by trying to remember - Sliver shifter-BIGGER ring on the left. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Silver shifter-EASIER gears on the right and managed to settle in during the warm up. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Lucky for me, my friend and Hup teammate, Kerry Combs came to the race early just to give me my accelerated course on mountain biking 101. I totally trust her and if she had said, "Don't do this race today" I would have nixed it. Kerry is a avid mountain bike racer. She's been in the sport since 1993. Just some of the racing she has done include: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;">Wilderness 101, Lumberjack 100 and Shenandoah 100. 100k Mohican, 12 Hour and 6 Hour solo races in (WV, CA, GA, NH, MA, VA, and Canada)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"> I am very lucky to have her as a mentor in my new venture in mountain biking. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;">Hugs to you Kerry.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The trails at the race were a bit slippery from morning rain and I was super tense at first . I just tried to chill and listen and follow behind Kerry in hopes I wouldn't be dragged out of the woods staring up at the sky in a prone position come race time. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the race started, I wasn't the least bit nervous for some reason.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The eight other veteran, (I think that's what they called us) women in my group were really nice and we all chatted waiting to line up.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When they let us go, adrenaline took over and anything I was timid on (most everything) with Kerry on the warm up, went right out the door. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lessons learned:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1..Teetering along at 2mph over roots with stiff arms lands you</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on your A$$.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Committing to doing something and then choking partially through lands you on your a$$</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Worrying about what is behind you instead of what you are doing in front of you, lands you, you</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">guessed it, on your a$$.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. If you don't have any momentum going up a steep incline, It matters nothing that you</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">are pedaling in an ez gear to get up it, Boom! There you will find yourself once again, on your a$$.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, I managed to stay upright a good portion of the way but not without exiting the woods white knuckled from my death grip on my handle bars and at the finish sporting a leaf and dirt motif. I'm sure I was a spectacle in the woods especially when I would</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grab on to small trees like safety bars installed in bathtubs for seniors to get through some twisty narrow</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">junk on some of the trails trying to stay upright. It was super fun though and I'm stoked to try and get better at it.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon I will have my new bike and I hear the awesome Bee Keepers over at Seven Cycles/Honey are STOKED to</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">design and paint up something new and a little bit out of the ordinary.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't wait to see it. But one thing is certain, when I look down at my pretty </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">new bike it will remind me of this: </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I'm trying something new and albeit, somewhat difficult for me. I</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t's for fun</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and it's purpose is</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to keep me fit while I find my way back into cyclocross with an ACL tear far behind and forgotten.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by!</span></b></div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-88633365221098207602013-04-18T15:31:00.002-04:002013-04-18T20:32:36.224-04:00Ronde De Rosey # 2<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><i><br /><span style="color: purple;">I must start this blog post by saying I am truly horrified along with our entire nation that again, we've been whacked with the terrorist stick. Whether the blame falls domestically or internationally It's hard to believe we were struck in the back of the knees (again) without warning. After letting this sink in, I keep thinking how the perpetrators did their homework in choosing a venue that was universally known and spectated from around the world almost impossible to secure safely, and poised in front of dozens and dozens of media outlets to capture cleanly the destruction, panic, and bloody results of their efforts but with all that media capture, it just might</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: purple;">bring them to justice sooner than we think.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br />
</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: purple;">Through all the heartache right now, this will only make our country stronger. We might have to be inconvenienced</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: purple;"> with even more restrictions and most costs associated with safely precautions, but like we have done in the past, we always prevail and even stronger than before.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<b>I did a little bike ride last Sunday. Like a 10 hour day bike ride. HA!</b><br />
<b>It was my second go at the Ronde De Rosy Ride put together by Hup United team mate<span style="color: red;">,<a href="http://roseyscot.blogspot.com/">Scott Rosenthal</a></span></b><br />
<b>The proceeds from this ride go entirely to Bikes Not Bombs. If you're not familiar with it, it's a</b><br />
<b>very cool organization. Check it<span style="color: purple;"> <a href="https://bikesnotbombs.org/">OUT</a></span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>This year Rosey as we call him,</b><br />
<b>did not disappoint.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Here's my team all fresh as a daisy pre launch</b><br />
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<b>Team Der French (don't ask....)</b><br />
<b>David, Erica, Me,Michele, Peter, Laura, Emily-missing from photo, sporting our</b><br />
<b>RAD arm bands.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>I'm not sure how many teams signed up, but I'm guessing 13-ish.</b><br />
<b>After unloading our bikes and gearing up, off we went as part of</b><br />
<b>the first wave. (8:30 AM)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>We were STOKED. The day was beautiful. The trails would be dry.</b><br />
<b>We were prepared. 3 bikes had mounted GPS to find our way through</b><br />
<b>the 59.7 miles of road (30%) and trail systems (70%) mapped out. Twizzlers,</b><br />
<b>homemade chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies, homemade rice cakes,</b><br />
<b>lots of tubes, spare air and can do attitude: CHECK.</b><br />
<br />
<b>I was nervous to say the least If more about the trails and single track terrain</b><br />
<b>that I knew would bring out the wuss in me. I was for sure the WEAKEST LINK</b><br />
<b>in the trails for our team. Anything that made my armpits itch, I avoided or walked my bike</b><br />
<b>down or through. I had my custom carbon brace on my knee which</b><br />
<b>certainly helped me be less timid but I had a lot of ground and still do to gain</b><br />
<b>to feel comfortable on my CX bike in the trails with the concern of somehow</b><br />
<b>ripping my knee apart again looming over me.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Between MIchele David and Peter, we had a good system going to find our</b><br />
<b>way through the cue sheet/GPS of endless turns of roads and trails through greater Boston.</b><br />
<b>We were in Brookline,Watertown, Belmont, Waltham, Weston, Wellesley, Needham back to Brookline.</b><br />
<b>(Might be missing a town or two) </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Anyway, I had THE BEST team. There was no whining, no downers, just a fun group</b><br />
<b>dealing with flats, getting lost and burning LOTS and LOTS of matches.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My friend Laura gets special props for doing Battenkill ( a gnarly 60 mile road race the day</b><br />
<b>before nabbing 5th place in her division AND then coming to the Ronde)</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>Props to Michele pictured below too. Nothing but tough, determined and</b><br />
<b>wicked awesome on a CX bike. Our fearless leader/team organizer.</b><br />
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<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>After 4 hours out there, the freshness of the daisy was all but gone in all of us. The ride was challenging to say</b><br />
<b>the least and each and every time I got in a trail section, I spent lots of energy trying to keep my</b><br />
<b>hands from a death grasp on my handlebars and my shoulders from touching my ears with tension </b><br />
<b>locked in them. I felt comfortable on my bike but my brakes weren't quite where I would have</b><br />
<b>liked them (able to stop me completely) and I spent a good amount of time putting my left foot down to stop myself on sections I </b><br />
<b> would attempt but then bail on or at the end of a decent in the trails in which I couldn't come to</b><br />
<b>a complete stop.</b><br />
<b>By the end of the day and not even noticing until I got in the shower that night of the consequences of doing this.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>WARNING!!! GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW!!!</b><br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>take a deep breath, I'm showing my a$$ cheek </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>ready??</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>This is what happens when the nose of your saddle keeps</b><br />
<b> smacking you in the bum over and over and over. This resulted from #1 My lack of confidence in the trails and #2, The</b><br />
<b>crappy brakes that kept forcing me to put my left foot down to stop my bike in which the back wheel would come up and the nose of the saddle kept kicking me in the rear. I was so focused on</b><br />
<b>riding clean and not falling I didn't even feel this happening.</b><br />
<b>The next day I could barely sit on the right side. :-(</b><br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>With 15 miles left of the ride, it was down to two of us, Michele and I. Laura was getting a sore throat</b><br />
<b>and was run down from racing the day before. Other people had to get back and some just</b><br />
<b>plain bonked. For me as an endurance athlete for so many years, I raised my hand when Michele asked</b><br />
<b>who wanted to finish the ride.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>So off we went but not without me running out of liquids completely and</b><br />
<b>telling her I was fine knowing she had to get back as soon as possible to get</b><br />
<b>to Connecticut from our starting point in Brookline. Her husband was there at the finish waiting. We had no time to mess with. With about 8 miles to go, the two of us were getting through yet another trail system when</b><br />
<b>behind us came the Geekhouse Bikes Squad. I couldn't believe it!! I was so happy to see another team and swore Michele and I just had to be</b><br />
<b>the remaining riders out there. Nope. They were still out there because they WANTED to be out there having</b><br />
<b>stopped at Whole Paycheck for burritos and chillaxation. Before passing us they asked if we needed anything.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>My tongue was velcroed to roof of my mouth and before I could even finish asking if anyone had some extra</b><br />
<b>fluids I could have. BAM! they were all trying to fill my bottles. Just super nice and I was brought back from</b><br />
<b>the dead!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>GEEK HOUSE RULES!!!!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Wrapping this up, Michele and I did make it. We did the ride in it's entirety. 6:14 rolling ride time, Finish time with getting</b><br />
<b>lost and fixing flats: 10 hours.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Thank you Scott and all the sponsors and my very special team! </b><br />
<b>Love you guys!!!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Thanks for reading and checking out my basketball size bruise. Heee heeee!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: Scott Rosenthal</td></tr>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-70406343084459320142013-04-03T14:10:00.000-04:002013-04-03T14:10:08.471-04:00Get Out Your Cross Bikes!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGyKGDo6M_A/UVw7l6XMVhI/AAAAAAAARYU/rZ5GwXIv3PA/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGyKGDo6M_A/UVw7l6XMVhI/AAAAAAAARYU/rZ5GwXIv3PA/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye bye slicks,hello Michelin Muds</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A<b>pril 3rd 2013 and it's 35 degrees outside. Go figure...... With that said, time marches on and ready or not, some serious cycling is rapidly approaching. I'm thinking many folks didn't get the training in they wanted for the upcoming annual </b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ronde de Rosey Ride, just 2 weeks away.</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What's this you ask? It's an off road/some road gnarly 70 mile cycling excursion on a cross bike using gps only to navigate through selected Metro West </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">towns that are not revealed</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to the teams of riders until the day before starting at The Washington Square Tavern in Brookline and ending </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">there with barely the energy to hold up your beer. This year promises to be and I quote: "<i>a soul crusher and not for the weak and whiny"</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So without sounding too much like a loser, my soul is easily crushed, I'm feelin' wimpy these days and I'm a naturally gifted whiner. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Last year I felt pretty darn prepared for this ride with a snow free winter and the winter fitness I had </b></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gained with indoor time trials, pedaling to work as early as March and not having a bum knee.</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year the facts are: I haven't commuted to work once yet on my bike (24 miles each way) and l haven't been on a cross bike in anything that resembles a trail </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">since early summer 2012. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This coming weekend I'm doing a ride I'm calling * The Ronde Dress Rehearsal* If I make it</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>through this without peeing myself from fear of falling and wrecking my knee (needless overreacting)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I'm sooo there next weekend with my scheduled team for the Ronde de Rosey. One of the requirements of the ride this weekend is some fender action. I'm all ready!</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F6T1UvYUknw/UVxrwtoNZLI/AAAAAAAARYk/jvwTRj-nEX8/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F6T1UvYUknw/UVxrwtoNZLI/AAAAAAAARYk/jvwTRj-nEX8/s320/photo+(3).JPG" width="239" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>bedazzled fender action</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Also I get the fine honor of wearing my custom CARBON.. yes I said CARBON knee brace $1000 out of pocket. (thank you fine healthcare insurance)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3V2nRF-avOM/UVxsOGFlvAI/AAAAAAAARYs/UadGEolZP98/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3V2nRF-avOM/UVxsOGFlvAI/AAAAAAAARYs/UadGEolZP98/s320/photo+(4).JPG" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>waiting to be bedazzled...<br /><br /><br /></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Wish me luck, dry cycling shorts AND a backbone. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Yeesh.....</b></span></div>
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5888131917049009189.post-9117000627920864222013-03-11T15:54:00.000-04:002013-03-11T17:12:23.293-04:00Dear Diary.....<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 4th 2013</b></span><br />
Dear Diary<br />
It's the first day back in the pool after a 5 month hiatus. For months, I've been dragged my feet with my head down murmuring incessantly about my restrictions from swimming due to possibly tearing the cadaver graft in my knee and then when I'm finally granted the green light, my attitude has eroded to:"<i>why bother at this point</i>?" Yeesh.... I know.. I'm such a knuckle head, don't remind me.<br />
The good news is, my determination is slowly coming 'round if ever so slowly and it's outweighing the self pity of being completely out of shape and sporting belly lard.<br />
I dug out my black * make-me-feel-less-fatter-looking-than- i-really-am* suit, sucked in my gut and headed out to the pool deck this morning. My goggle straps were dried out and broke in 3 places before I even got in the water. Ditto on the swim cap,deteriorated from sitting for so long neglected. My morning swim mates and coach's greetings of welcome back outweighed the rocky start and by the end of my first practice with 2 of my favorite lane mates, I was feeling right at home. I've started back on the bike too taking spin classes at a local gym, using my Computrainer and even started venturing outside on 2 wheels. Something I haven't done since August 18 when I tore up my knee. Yippee!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">March 4th 2013</span></b><br />
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Dear Diary<br />
Guess What??? Me and my belly fat made it to the 5 week mark in the tank with no setbacks and I'm feeling a bit stronger every week now. I'm far from barracuda- like, but I'm DEFINITELY minnow status now. Today I even stayed for the entire set on Distance Day and got in 600 yards of extra credit<i> before</i> practice. Count it diary: 4100 yards. It's like old times right??? I've ridden outside with my Hup United crew twice now and I've even started run/ walking on the treadmill. It's no lie I feel like a gorilla lumbering away on there, huffing and puffing after 3 minutes of something that is supposed to resemble running but heck, the girl has gotta start somewhere, right?<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">March 8th</span></b><br />
Dear Diary<br />
It goes without saying, there have certainly have been some rough patches over the past few weeks but like with everything, if you first possess the<b> </b><i><b>desire</b>,</i> sprinkle in some<i><b> patience</b></i>, add a measure of <i><b>consistency</b></i> the rewards will come. One thing that is annoying me though is the awol of my metabolism. It just up and left without any warning. How rude. I'm still lugging around more than I want yet working out 9+ hours a week now. Where's my reward for that Diary, Huh?? I'm miffed to say the least. Ok, so it goes without saying, I should just have a Luna Bar minus smearing the 2 tablespoons of peanut butter on TOP of the Luna Bar before consuming.<br />
Whatever.....<br />
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My belly touches my thighs when I'm in my aero bars. Not good Diary...not good at all.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">March 11th</span></b><br />
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Happy Daylight Saving Time Diary.<br />
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I need toothpicks to hold my eyes open today. I got up at 4:50 to make it into town to swim but really, it was 3:50 AM. This one hour time change debacle kills me every year. UGH. Just brutal. My kidneys are swimming in caffeinated Green Tea today trying to fight the urge to go curl up in the waiting room carpet here at work for a nap.<br />
It's week 6 back at the pool today and get this diary, 4400 yards!! Perhaps that is why I want to go lay down? Today was a break through swim. I fell strong and in control of the set for the first time in a very long time.<br />
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This weekend while at a 50th birthday party, drinking margaritas and stuffing in birthday cake, my friend Steve sent this image to me after chatting about Ironman Lake Placid across the table. We both course bike marshaled for Ironman in 2011 and he had this Skinny B*tch resembling none other than me on his phone. Oh Boy... talk about a wake up call .These Lucky Brand Jeans are hidden in the bowels of my closet screaming at me to <b><span style="color: red;">PUT DOWN THE FORK!!</span></b><br />
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I'm working on it diary... I'm working on it.<br />
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Trigirlpinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14508992315655249194noreply@blogger.com1