2013 Looking Back, and Looking Forward

It's New Year's Eve and as I write this I have just finished a 4.75 mile run. OK, run is a little optimistic, I jogged/walked the distance. On the plus side I ran the first 2.5 miles and ran over half of the remaining 2.25 so overall I did fine. I've gotten to where I like point to point runs because I can't cheat and I have to make the distance or wait for someone to pick me up on the side of the road. (I always file a flight plan with my Hubby including route and ETA just in case.) Today I had Hubby drive me south of town and let me out along the highway. He says it makes him feel bad leaving me standing on the side of the road. Awwwww.

So now it's time to look back over the year and review what went right and what went wrong. Then I need to figure out how to make what when wrong go right next year. And to realize that sometimes we don't get to choose our path, only make the best of the rocky road laid before us.

My goal last year was to better my time in the Big Pool Triathlon and do an open water swim triathlon. I'm happy to report that I bettered my time by over 3 minutes. I placed 1st (don't laugh, I wasn't the only one in my age group) in my division and felt pretty darn proud. Then in September I participated in my first ever open water swim triathlon. Just to add some fun to the year I did an epic weekend with a 10K on Saturday and one leg of the Bike Across Kansas on Sunday.

Now for what went wrong.

I'm slowing down. Way down. My turtle mascot is even passing me. But that's OK with me. What is not OK is the spill I took on my bike in September on a long bike ride with Traci W. It landed me in the hospital overnight and dashed my attempt at a 100 mile bike ride. This was followed by a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Boom. That was a blow. I'm still trying to balance the disease, treatment, and workouts so I can maintain my activity level but it's difficult. I have to conserve my energy where I can and time my workouts with my medications. All in all, it's a pain the you know what.

What can I do for next year?

I intend to Run Anyway. I have several races/runs on my calendar already and plan to do at least 4 sprint triathlons. I may be getting slower but I finish and that's what matters to me. I want to do more bike rides but maybe not the long distance rides. Some of my Running Friends are encouraging me to do the Oklahoma City Memorial 1/2 Marathon but I'm not sure my mind and body are up to that. We'll see after I do the Groundhog Run 10K in Kansas City the end of January.

All in all it wasn't a total disaster year. But I would sure love next year to be better. I'm looking forward to putting this RA into remission and feeling my old self again. I can't wait to get my bike back out on the road and pedal away the miles. Next year will be a great year. Happy New Year to all my friends and family. Keep moving; whatever you can, whenever you can.

Running Underground!

My registration is in for the TLC Groundhog Run in January! What makes this run so unique? It takes place in an underground mine that has been converted to commercial storage. What makes this so challenging to me? I have claustrophobia.

TLC Groundhog Run

After looking at pictures of the place and reading all I could about it I made the decision to go for it. I'm going to run the 10K this time because there is a finisher medal involved. I'm all about the bling! Several other ladies are signed up so it's looking like a group road trip is in order.

Since the race is inside the weather won't be a factor, but it will affect my training. The RA medication is supposed to knock my immune system to the ground so I can't afford to get sick. Plus I don't think my feet will take much more than one day of running a week. So I'll be swimming and riding the bike on the trainer as much as I can. I'll try to get in a long run once a week but it most likely will be on my treadmill. I LOVE doing long miles on that thing. (I wish there was a sarcasm font.)

If I can keep this up through the winter I should be in good shape next spring when the real training starts. I've been looking at the Tri schedule for next year and I can hardly wait!

Run Anyway

I’m not posting this for sympathy. I’m not posting this to make myself seem special. I’m posting this to remind myself to Run Anyway. Yesterday I was officially diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, commonly referred to as RA. I choose to think of it as Run Anyway because that is what I intend to do.  

A few months ago my fingers started swelling and would get “stuck” in the bent position if I moved them too far. The stinging and aching was beyond the control of standard over the counter meds and only getting worse. Soon the pain spread to my entire hands and my feet. Once it hit that stage I knew something had to be done. Running was becoming very painful so I didn’t do much of that at all. That doesn’t make for a good triathlete!

We live in an area without a rheumotogist so off I went to the big city for an evaluation even though my local doctor and I had already pretty much narrowed the diagnoses down to RA. The specialist confirmed it and we are now working on a plan of attack. There is no cure for RA but the treatment can slow the progression significantly. My joints are only slightly damaged and although it isn’t reversible I should retain most of my function. I’m really looking forward to a reduction in the pain. The treatment isn’t without side effects and I’ll have to be monitored closely.

So instead of feeling sorry for myself and picking out a nice comfy rocking chair and cane, I’m going to run. And swim. And bike. Heck, I wasn’t fast to begin with so slowing down doesn’t bother me. I’ll just have to be a little more careful about how I structure my training and I’ll be fine.

From now on, RA = Run Anyway. I’m not giving up. This is more reason than ever to stay active and as fit as possible. I plan on doing triathlons for many years to come. I’ll do the best I can with what I’ve got. No excuses and no expectations. Just RUN ANYWAY!

Which Came First, The Chicken Or The Egg

As I write this my eyes are having trouble focusing on the computer screen, a lingering side-affect of my latest set-back. To add to the aches and pains of my bike crashes a few days ago I developed a severe case of positional vertigo. It's an experience I don't want to repeat anytime soon.

In the middle of the nigh early Monday morning I turned over in bed. That doesn't sound like a big issue. But it is if you get dizzy and feel the room spinning out of control. I was hoping it would go away but when I next turned over the spinning hit so hard and fast that I had to wake my hubby up to get something to throw up into. My good big stock pot was the first thing he found. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat chicken soup from that particular pan again.

Every little shift of my head sent me reeling. The world would spin so fast and hard that I would flip over in the bed and hang my head in just the right position to make it slow down. I'm usually not an alarmist but this had me headed to the ER. The car ride was agony. Every turn brought new spinning and new nausea.

The staff there gave me some meds for the spinning and stomach problems, and a steroid shot to help my inner ear. They sent me home with instructions to return if it got worse. It did. By just after lunch the pain in my head was unbearable so off we went to visit the good folks at the hospital again. This time they ordered a head CT which came back normal. Hubby thinks they didn't see anything because I've lost my mind doing all these adventures.

And then the debate started. Did the crashes on Saturday contribute to the vertigo that started Monday? Or was my balance already compromised making me a wobbly rider a few days before the full onset of the condition? It all depends on which doctor you talk to. I've taken a drink from my water bottle many many times on a ride and not been that unsteady. But a blow to the head hard enough to crack my helmet is not to be taken lightly either. In the long run it doesn't really matter. Getting back on my feet is the goal, not finding blame.

They admitted me to the hospital for observation and late in the evening one of the doctors did a maneuver where he quickly changed my position and turned my head  from side to side. As awful as that felt it did seem to slow the spinning to an almost manageable speed. Between that and the drugs I was on the road to recovery. The next day was spent resting and practicing standing and walking on my own without falling down. Now, it's my eyes that are giving me the most problems. The side-affect of the patch I have to wear (just like they wear on a cruise ship) is dilated pupils. You know how it feels when you go to the eye doctor and they put those drops in your eyes? That's what I'm feeling now and will feel until I go back for my checkup next week.

It goes without saying that I won't be doing the Pedal the Plains ride. I may not have ridden all 100 miles but I would have loved to spend the day with friends just cruising down the highways and byways. My friends have been fantastic and I can't thank them enough for their prayers, concern, and encouragement. If anything, all these adventures have led me to a great place in my life filled with positive, caring people. Ladies, you are so special to me. I don't really care which came first, the chicken or the egg. Just as long as I can recover and get back on the road. Fried chicken and omelets anyone?

Record Ride, Complete With Road Rash

I woke up this morning and groaned. I ache from head to toe, side to side, and almost every place in between. But through all that pain there is a silver lining. I just completed my longest bike ride to date: 69.66 miles. Close enough to call it 70 miles. I couldn't have done it without the help of my good friend Traci W. but it didn't come without some unwanted excitement.

A week ago I struggled through a 60 mile ride and was plagued with self doubt. My arms and shoulders were cramping, I was dizzy, and the last 10 miles were agony. The goal is a 100 mile ride in just a few weeks and I was upping my mileage every week. But after that ride I just couldn't imagine finishing that challenge.

Traci W. to the rescue! She called me up and offered to come and ride with me this week and help me with my nutrition and pacing so I could finish with a positive outlook. What a wonderful friend! When doing big miles it's hard to find someone to share those miles because, face it, most others aren't looking for that distance or have the time to spend an entire day on the road.

I played with the route and checked the forecast and planned the best 70 miles route I could. Wouldn't you know it, the county put gravel on the shoulders the day before the ride so that messed up the route a little. Then the weather changed and we were blessed with some much needed rain. I've never really ridden in rain so this was going to be interesting.

Traci told me to slow down and ease up on my pace so we took out slow and steady and made good progress through the first 20 miles. I was feeling pretty good, especially when the rain stopped. The weather was cool but not cold and the traffic was light on the back roads through the country side. That's when disaster struck.

I was reaching for my water bottle and my wheel drifted. I could see it coming but couldn't do anything about it as my front wheel clipped Traci's back wheel and down I went. I hit the pavement pretty hard and it rang my bell for a little bit. When I finally was able to sit up and take stock it wasn't as bad as it could have been. My helmet was cracked, my glasses bent, my hip knee and hand took the brunt of the fall. The shifter on my handle bars was cocked a little and the chain was off. Everything was survivable except my derailer, which was stuck on the small ring and wouldn't let me shift up. At lest it wasn't the other way around.

A few miles down the road we took a lunch break and I had time to gather my thoughts. I was OK, just really embarrassed at my stupid mistake. We were soon back on the road and I was feeling pretty good, all things considered.

We made a few more quick stops and even met my Hubby for a few minutes as we made our way back to town on the highway. The wind was starting to pick up so we took the most direct route back to town to ride in a more protected area. That meant we needed to put in a few extra miles in town so we started riding the city streets.

I'm not an urban rider. Busy streets make me nervous. But what happened next was just dumb luck. We were on a fairly busy street and I wanted to head to a better less traveled street. As we were riding Traci saw an opportunity to turn a block early and took it. I was just a little ahead and by the time I realize she was turning I was past the intersection. I tried to make the turn and almost made it but was leaning the wrong way and clipped the curb. You guessed it, down I want again, landing on the opposite side as I had landed in the morning.

Talk about feeling stupid. Two falls for two stupid reasons. This time my lower leg was banged up and my should took a pretty good hit too. We had about 13 miles to go and I was a mess. Riding wise I felt pretty good. It was everything else that hurt.

We made it to the zoo and did laps around that area to round out the miles. I wasn't totally exhausted but I was ready to stop. 70 miles was in the book and I was upright and smiling.

I knew I would be sore in the morning but, holy cow! I expected all the bumps and bruises to hurt, but was surprised how much my shoulders and arms ached.  As of right now I am not thinking of riding the 100 miles next week but most likely will call it a day at the 67 mile marker. It's not what I was working toward by I don't think I'm going to be able to handle a longer ride.

Traci was a good sport about picking me up when I was on the ground, and for driving over and spending the day with me out on the road. I did learn a few lessons along the way such as: leave lots of room between riders when you take a drink. Plan your turns ahead of time. Most of life's bumps and bruises will heal. But the most important thing I learned is that the miles are much easier with friends along for the ride. Next week is the Pedal the Plains ride and I will enjoy the adventure. Just not as many miles of it as I had planned.

It's All About the Bling

Kate, me, Claudia, & Meghan - Team 4F

Maybe it's a little silly, but give me a chance to score some unique swag and I'm all over that race. If that swag happens to be a tiara, well, where do I sign! When Claudia B. put out the word that she was doing the Tiara Tri in El Dorado how could I resist.

We made our plans, booked the hotel room, and even had shirts made representing our fitness club, Team 4F. Claudia, Kate H., Meghan M. and I were registered and on our way.

The only flaw in the plan was my training. Non-existent would be the way to describe my workouts over the past 4 weeks. I had managed a few long bike rides and a few short swims, but running was missing from my calendar. My son's wedding and reception, a family reunion, starting back to work, and just plain lack of motivation took it's tool. I have been working toward a 100 mile bike ride in mid September and was not even thinking about a running event let alone a triathlon.

Tiara Tri - How cool is that!

Claudia has been working all summer long and competed in the National Triathlon Championships a few weeks ago. Kate has been doing a triathlon almost every weekend to finish her goal of 5 for the year. Meghan, like me, has been struggling to find the time to workout but is still very active with softball and other activities for her work as a fitness director. But she's young and full of energy. I on the other hand am not a spring chicken and my body is reminding me of that fact.

But I was game to give it a try. This would give me the opportunity to accomplish my goal for the year of doing an open water swim. You see, I had never in my life swam in a lake. I live in an area where water is scarce. Being a farm kid and then a farm wife did not lead to a lot of spare time in the summer for camping and boating, especially when it involved a long drive to the nearest body of water. So an open water swim was really a big hurdle for me.

We arrived at the lake, which is actually a man-made pond near the big lake, in plenty of time to pick up our packets and rack our bikes. This is a new event and we had no idea of how many women would be there but the bike area seemed pretty full and we had to fit our bikes in where we could. But all I could think about was that lake. I didn't know what to expect or how I would react and was more than a little leery of what lie below the surface.

My first open-water swim - EVER!

Turns out I didn't need to worry about what was below because the water was so cloudy you couldn't see more then a foot or two. I walked down to the shore with the girls and dipped my feet in. And immediately cringed at the squishy sand between my toes. I didn't bring a bucket to wash my feet during transition so I was worried about sand in my shoes. I didn't need to add things to the worry list but it was getting longer by the minute. I felt things in the sand and Claudia just laughed as I jumped at every turn. Someone remarked about a fish flapping in the pond and I added that to my worry list. I joked about making friends with the lifeguards and water rescue people because they were going to have to save me, only I wasn't really joking.

But it turns out that I was not the only one there who had never done any lake swimming. While waiting for the start there were quite a few other ladies with the same look in their eyes: terror, mixed with resignation. Terror of the unknown, of not seeing the bottom, of feeling something touching you out of the deep. And resignation that we were going to do this. We were going to run head long into something we had not prepared for and didn't understand.

There were 4 waves and I was in the last. I thought that was a good thing because everyone else would be ahead of me and I wouldn't have that many bodies close to me. Claudia gave me some last minute advice and before I knew it we were set to go. I started strong and fell into a good stroke rhythm but was totally disorientated at not being able to see anything. I kept touching a swimmer to my right but when I turned my head as I was underwater I couldn't even see her. At the first turn I started to feel more comfortable but was still very tense. A few seconds of back stroking at the half way mark and I was ready to make the turn for the shore.

That's when I took in a mouthful of lake water. I instantly flipped to my back and started coughing. Claudia was near and asked if I was OK and hung back with me a little bit. I soon was in control again and back on my stomach for the last 100 meters. When the bottom rose up to meet me I took to my feet and started high stepping it to shore. Claudia and I exchanged a high five and she was off. I had made it through the swim!

The rest of the race was pretty uneventful for me. I passed several younger riders on my bike and was feeling pretty good. I took it easy on the run and walked when I wanted. Little did I know that if I had stayed with that old lady in the green top just ahead of me I might have passed her and placed in my age division. But that was not what this race was about for me.

Queens for a day.

It was about concurring the unknown. Doing what you fear. Becoming a more complete triathlete. As I crossed the finish line and they hung a finisher medal around my neck and put a tiara on my head little did they know they were crowning me as a true triathlete. As I looked around and saw the smiles on the other ladies faces I realized that we were all glowing with pride. By putting that little cheesy crown on our heads we were bestowed with the title of triathlete and everyone of us was proud of our accomplishment.

I missed placing 3rd by just over 2 minutes. If I had trained hard and pushed a little more... Well, I did what I came to do. Claudia ended up placing 1st in our age group and Meghan placed 3rd in spite of a shoe lace verses bike chain incident. Kate, like me, finished just out of the medals but was very happy with her run.

My friend Yolanda R. once posted on Facebook: "You know you're a runner when..." My response was "you don't mind having your picture taken when you are sweaty as long as you're smiling!" I'm modifying that response by adding "WEARING A TIARA!! "

Life Gets In The Way

Finding time for a workout is difficult for me right now. I've started back to work and the first few weeks are packed with overtime and a lot of stress. Add to that my son's wedding reception, family visiting from all over the country, and all my other responsibilities and, well, you get the picture.

Some of my girl friends and I decided to do the Tiara Tri in El Dorado. That's about 5 hours from home. It's just one week away and I am so not ready. I haven't done any running for the last 3 and a half weeks and swimming time has been non-existent. I've gotten a few bike rides in but no brick workouts of any kind. To say I'm unprepared is an understatement.

So this weekend I set my alarm early on Saturday and packed my bike bag for a long ride. I also happen to have a century ride coming up in 4 weeks so I need to get in a lot of seat time. The 40 mile ride was good but that's a long way from 100. Thankfully the ride for the upcoming tri is only 9 miles. I can remember when a 9 mile ride sounded so far!

I set my alarm early again this morning and went for a run, the first in 25 days. I would really have loved to sleep in, but I need to do at least a little training. I took it easy and walked up the hills and ran the downhills and flats. Surprisingly my time wasn't too horrible and I felt pretty good afterward.

I know without proper training I can't expect great results at the race. Kate H. and Claudia B. have been doing tri's all summer long and are really ready for this one. Meghan M. and I have not and are going for the fun and experience. That's just the way it's going to be.

But I have one more thing to prove to myself. This will be my first ever open water swim. That was my goal for the year and it looks like I will have my chance to cross that off my bucket list. Without ever swimming in a lake or large body of water before I don't know what to expect. Everyone tells me it will be fine, but I'm still very nervous about this challenge. If I survive the swim I plan to take it easy on the bike and run and enjoy the day.

I'm realizing the truth in the saying "You can't train for two events". Between the triathlon and the century bike ride I don't really know what workout schedule to follow. I want to do them both but long rides don't fit into the tri plan. I guess I'll shift gears so to speak after this coming weekend.

In the mean time I'll keep working with my schedule to try and fit in workouts this week. It's funny how everyone has the same hours in a day but some use them more wisely then other. I'm looking for that wisdom.

Go Girl!

I'm so proud of Miss Claudia B.! She competed in the Olympic Triathlon National Championships this past weekend in Wisconsin. Claudia never ceases to amaze me. She meets every challenge and works her butt off to get it done. To see her smiling at the end of her run and hear the enthusiasm in her voice is so uplifting.

Her enthusiasm is also contagious. She has invited (read- dared, challenged, finagled) a group of us other Tri nutsto compete with her in an upcoming ladies only event, the Tiara Tri. I have to admit, she is winning me over and I'm seriously thinking about doing this one. It's a 400 meter swim, 9.5 mile bike, and 5K run.

The kicker for me is the swim. It's open water and that was one of my goals for the year. I've never swam in a lake and we don't have an open body of water in which to train. But this could be my one chance to cross this off my bucket list.

The down side is the timing of the event, only 2 weeks away. I've started back to work for the year and training time is almost nonexistent. To say I won't be physically prepared is an understatement.  The other problem is also work related. To get there in time to pick up my packet on Friday evening I would have to take off work at noon. I really hate to ask for a day off work when we have only been back a few weeks. I only get 2 days for the year and I don't use them unless I really need too.

But, I think I'm leaning toward going if I can work out the logistics. I know I can get through the race and finish and that's all I can expect this time. If I do this one it will be for the fun and fellowship of my friends. Plus the tiara we are promised when we finish!

Traci at the rest stop.

Shake Down, Break Down

I guess you have to take the good with the bad. Yesterday was good. Today was bad. The ride didn't turn out as I planned and I left a friend out on the road. I don't like that feeling.

The plan was simple. Traci W. wanted to do a shake down ride with her new bike and paniers so she rode from Dodge City toward my house in Garden City. I rode out to meet her half way and then we pedaled back into town. It was a fun day and the 61 miles slipped away. We had a tough stretch as we turned into the wind for a long uphill section but we made it back to town just in time to enjoy lunch at a local Mexican food restaurant. Then it was on to my house for camping lessons!

Camping on my lawn!

This was a chance for Traci to see if she had forgotten anything or needed to re-evaluate any of her equipment. Traci is planning a 10 day bike tour of the San Juan Islands in Washington state. I watched and learned as she set up her tent in my back yard. I'm not a camper so this was all new to me. She made it look so easy but I'm sure if I would try it would take me hours to do what she did in minutes. I picked her brain about all sorts of biking and camping gear and learned so much. Maybe someday I'll try camping, but I'm not quite there yet. I went to bed with achy knees and shoulders and a tender (a hmmm) lower region. Nothing that a good nights sleep couldn't cure.

Drying her tent on the airport sign as I changed a flat.

Saturday morning started with a low tire. The rear tire has been giving me fits for a while and after having 2 flats on one ride I have started carrying 2 tubes and a frame mounted pump. I aired the tire up and it seemed fine. The morning was beautiful and we were scooting right along. Then things went down hill, and I'm not talking about the road. At the 6 mile mark I noticed the tire dragging and stopped to check. Yup, it was low so I pumped it up. Traci warned me that I would need to change it anyway soon so at the 10 mile mark I stopped again. It was time to change that tube.

Repacking her tent and ready to roll.

I have changed flats before so I got to work. Traci took this opportunity to dry out her rain-fly from her tent, hanging it on the Regional Airport sign. There was a small wire sticking through the tire and after pulling it out and getting the tire back on the rim we were ready to pump. But for some reason the new tube wouldn't take air. Well, rats. We tested the tube before putting it back in but now, nothing. We even wasted a can of air trying to get it inflated. It just wouldn't air up.

Time to pull out spare tube number 2. I took the tire off the rim again and put the next tube on and low and behold, it held. We were back in business and headed down the road. I told Traci that now I had to go all the way to Dodge with her because I didn't have another tube and didn't want to ride back home without one.

Things were going along great until mile 15. You guessed it, the tire was flat again. Now we had to break out Traci's patch kit and fix one of the tubes. It's a pretty simple task if you have the right equipment and Traci does, of course. We found the hole the wire had made and fixed it right up. By this time I was getting pretty good at changing tires but my hands were getting sore and I don't think I'll get the chain grease out for days. I looked at the clock and we had been on the road for almost 3 hours and made 15 miles. Not a good day at all.

Traci riding off in the distance.

We were back on the road and feeling the wind a little more. My heart sank to my toes when my tire went flat AGAIN! We had not even made another 1 1/2 miles. This was not going to work. I was so frustrated and aggravated and disappointed, but I had to call a halt to my part of the ride and send Traci on her way alone. At this rate it would be evening before we made it to Dodge City. I know she's a big girl and riding the roads by herself is nothing new but I still felt like I was abandoning her. A call to my wonderful Hubby had a ride on the way to pick me up, a mere 16.5 miles from home. 

So, I didn't get the mileage I was looking for but I did learn from this experience. I will be getting a patch kit, and carrying canned air along with my pump. I learned that camping is not like living on Mars, but the right equipment is key. I will be getting a new tire to replace my old one, along with some new tubes (I want to start fresh). And I learned that sometimes you have to say, "enough". That was a hard call to make but the right one. I can't thank Traci enough for all her patience and helpful tips. I feel I know a lot more then I did two days ago but still don't know near enough. Right now I'm waiting to hear from her to let me know she made the 45 miles to home without any trouble. Not finishing a ride is a yucky feeling, and knowing I let a friend down even more so. Sorry, Traci. 

Never a Dull Moment

If nothing else, getting out on the road and into the pool keeps things interesting. There is always something happening to keep me on my toes. This week was no exception, with everything from grasshopper attaches to a ride in a State Trooper vehicle.

I don't have a big race in the near future so I'm just doing what I want workout wise for a few weeks. It's nice not to have to follow a plan for a little while and I'm enjoying it immensely. I'm still doing something everyday but on my own time and at my own pace.

On the day I went swimming I didn't time it very well. It was another triple digit temperature day and it seems the hotter the air the colder the water feels. I'm not one to just plunge into the water. I inch down bit by bit, slowly letting my body adjust to the cold. It was taking a good long while to get up the nerve to sink my body down but I finally got all the way in. Then the whistle blew for break time and everyone had to get out of the pool. What?!! I just got used to the water and they want me to get out? Yup. I spent the next 20 minutes baking on the side of the pool.

My long run was through the sage brush and I felt like I was in a really bad disaster movie. Grasshoppers were everywhere and jumping on my legs as I ran. Believe me I was doing some really interesting moves to bat them off as I ran. I wish I was talented enough to write a really bad movie about Attack of the Killer Grasshoppers.

But my ride was the most interesting workout of the week. The forecast was for little wind in the morning so I decided to head out for a 40 mile ride. I started nice and early with energy gels, fruit chews, plenty of water and everything I thought I might need for a long ride. Things were fine until about 10 miles into the ride when my rear tire went flat. No problem. I carry a spare tube and a can of compressed air for just that reason. This was the first time I changed a tire by myself and was taking my time and being careful. After only 10 minutes I was back on the road, my hands greasy from the chain and feeling pretty proud of myself.

That is until I got a second flat on the same tire 5 miles later. That was a problem. No more tubes and no more air in the can. That made me 15 miles from home and a long way from anywhere out on the highway. I knew my Hubby was working a good 50 miles away and would not be happy if he had to come pick me up. I started walking back home and called him to get the phone number of a neighbor lady that I though could come and pick me up. Between bad cell reception and loud trucks we got cut off a few times and when we finally got connected a State Trooper had just pulled up behind me. He offered to put my bike in the back of his SUV and drive me home. What timing!

Between adventures and misadventures it's been a full week. I learned some lessons and laughed at my own goofs and blunders. Life truly is full of interesting stories and adventures if you just get out of the door and look for them. Never a dull moment!

Medal of Honor

There is a box in my workout room that holds my bib numbers. I save every one of them and write down the race, date, distance, and time on them. I save my training calendars with the squares colored in and print-outs of race results. I keep the coolest swag items and the neatest bags. And, yes, I keep my medals there too.

Living where I do has it's advantages. The races aren't huge so you don't get lost in the crowd. And if the fast old ladies don't enter I sometimes manage to bring home a little bling. But what's the prize worth when there is no one there to compete against? Some would say "not a lot". And I might have said that too in my younger days. But looking at that box of medals made me realize something. I'm still running.

When I see the fit men and women who enter these races I can't help but be humbled. They are so fast and so smooth and so, so, so much better then me. When I step up to the line I feel like an imposter. Someone pretending to be an athlete. They work hard and train hard and have God given talent and man-made technique. They leave me in the dust and make it look so easy as I'm sweating up a storm and gasping for every breath as my hips and knees scream at me. They deserve those medals and the recognition of a job well done.

But when there are only a few in my age group I start to get that competitive drive and I think, maybe, just maybe, I can do well enough to place. If I pace myself just right and suck it up at the end, or in the middle, or just after the first mile, then I might actually win something, even if it is another medal to throw in the box. I try a little harder and push a little more and run some of my best races when there are only a few competitors in my group.

More importantly, I feel those medals are a badge of honor for sticking it out and showing up at a race. As I get older that becomes even more of an accomplishment. Every time I pin on a bib I'm proving to myself that age is just a number.

I have run in a few races were I was the only person in my group. I have been know to sneak a peak at the registration sheet looking for ladies my age to size up the competition. I've even come right out and asked how old someone was after we crossed the finish line in almost a dead heat. My favorite shirt says "Don't pass me, I'm not in your age group." But it's all in fun. In the younger groups there is more competition and so those medals are more precious and harder to get. But when you are in the "Masters" division, it's all about outlasting the other old ladies! I'll take those medals no matter how they come my way and throw them in the box. When I look back on them, I'll know they are awards for stepping up to the line at an age when many are sitting back and watching from the sidelines. They truly are my badge of honor.

Race Day!

I woke up to thunder and lightning at 5:00 this morning. I saw the flashes through the window and the air filled with the sound of rumbling. Uh, oh. Not a good start to a triathlon race day.

We are trying to finish wheat harvest so a rain delay would set us back some. We didn't get much more than a heavy sprinkle but that will keep the combines out of the field for a few hours today. On the other hand we need all the moisture we can get. But for a triathlon, with lots of swimmers in the water and out on the open prairie on bikes, lightning is not your friend. After turning on the TV and checking the radar on my laptop I thought we should be alright and the storm would be out of the area by the 7:30 start time.

1st Place 50+ Age Group!!

How did we get so lucky? The air temperature was in the mid 60s, the wind was almost non-existent, and the clouds stayed around long enough to keep us cool. It doesn't get more perfect than that!

I arrived in plenty of time to stake out my transition spot at the end of a rack. For some reason they set the racks up on the parking lot this year. The rocks and gravel were not going to be fun to run through from the pool. I tried to pick a spot as close to the grass as I could then spent some time kicking rocks out of the way.

Casey A. was there and Yolanda R. was part of a team. Several other people that I know were setting up their bikes too. When you start to go to more events you meet more and more people. After a while you feel like one big family. The down side is you compete against the same people again and again, but actually you are competing with yourself. Right?

Traci W. and Claudia B. came to watch and cheer us on and I can't tell you how good it feels to hear a familiar voice calling out from the sidelines, giving you encouragement and pulling you through the finish line.

Out of the water without drowning.

Finally it was go time. We lined up on the pool deck in number order and waited our turn to start. This was a serpentine swim with 10 second start intervals. I thought about lowering my expected swim time so I would start sooner, but changed my mind. I didn't want the pressure of being passed by those behind me. I was still passed by some, but I held my own and even passed one swimmer. It wasn't pretty and I struggled a little and had to do the back stroke for a little while. But my back stroke is almost as fast as my free style so it really wasn't a loss.

When we got to the end it was all I could do to hoist myself up out of the water and onto the deck. My arms felt like jelly and I was afraid I would fall back into the water. But I made it and headed for the transition area. Claudia, bless her heart, handed me my glasses (I had forgotten to take them off before going to the pool!) and I tip toed to my bike. No rocks were going to slow me down! I know putting on socks takes a few more seconds but I'm not quite to the point of going without. By the time I left on my bike I was ahead of last years race by almost a minute. Yessssss.

Headed out on the ride.

What can I say about the bike ride. My Garmin said the wind speed was "0". I believe it! At least for the first half. I felt a slight breeze on the ride back but not enough to affect my speed. I felt like I was really flying! I was pushing up most of the hills and really pumping on the way down. I even passed a few people! But some of the fast guys that didn't turn in swim times or signed up late whizzed by me like I was standing still. Over all, I was pleased and I knew I was faster then last year by a little bit. I kept looking at my overall time and thinking "If I can get back to transition before 1:00 I can lower my time a little.

The transition from biking to running is difficult for most, awkward for some, and down right ugly for the rest. I usually fall into the last category. But today the transition didn't feel too bad. I was able to run from the start and maintain pace for quite a distance. I still had to walk from time to time but I tried to keep near my goal pace of 11:30. Don't laugh, that's about all I can manage on a regular run let alone at the end of a triathlon. I sucked down some power gel before the water stop and that seemed to help. It's always interesting to run around the zoo because you never know what you are going to see. Or hear in this case. As we ran by the lion enclosure the big cat was cheering us on with his roar. How cool is that!

On the last stretch to the finish line I looked at my watch. Wow! I was really going to lower my time from last year quite a bit. I tried to pump harder but that just made me tighten up. So I tried to relax and let it flow and run smooth and easy to the finish. Easier said then done!

Thumbs up!

I've never been to a big race with thousands of people running elbow to elbow so I don't know what it's like to finish in a crowd. But there is something to be said for finishing on your own with no one around you. I could hear Traci and Claudia, but also so many others cheering me to the finish line. That is a feeling that takes all the pain away for a few moments. I more and more realize the importance of being a spectator. I understand why so many family and friends of Boston Marathon runners were crowded at the finish line. God bless each of them for their support for their loved ones and grant them strength as they now fight to recover what was lost.

As I crossed the line I hit my timer button. 1:34:20! I had lowered my time by just over 3 minutes. Just finishing with a smile is winning, but to improve is like adding whipped topping to a fudge sundae. MMMMMM good. After catching my breath I felt fine and even now my legs are not tight or sore. We'll see how I feel in the morning! Last year they didn't have times available until the next Monday but they must have figured out a better system and they had the results within the hour. Incredibly, I finished 1st in the 50+ age group! Yes, there was more than one. They also have my time listed as 1:34 flat. I'll take it. Now I wish I would have ran a few steps more.

Finished and smiling!

Another big race is in the books and I proved that it wasn't a fluke. I can do this and I can get better. I have so many people to thank but I'll just sum it up by saying I have the most wonderful network of friends that provide me with amazing amounts of encouragement and support. My Hubby is proud of me but still thinks I'm crazy. Without strength from God and the gift of a healthy body I would be sitting on the front porch watching this parade of life from the sidelines. I don't want to watch that parade. I want to be in it. Heck, I want to lead that parade! Anyone want to join me!?

The Triathlon Song

Today is a rest day before the Big Pool Triathlon. I'm not scared or nervous like I was last year. Now I know what to expect. And I know what to expect out of myself. I think I'll do fine. I hope to better last years time a little and finish with a thumbs up and a smile. Just finishing is winning!

I didn't train as long as last year but I'm farther ahead in my abilities, especially on the run. This was only an 8 week program and I did miss more workouts then I should have, but I don't regret any part of the past 2 months. I did what I could when I could and that's all I can ask from myself.

The excitement level isn't the same this year either. I'm looking at this as more of just another race instead of a mile stone accomplishment. But it is an accomplishment and I shouldn't lose sight of that fact. Tomorrow I'll be swimming 400 meters, biking 12.5 miles, and the running a 5K. I'm pretty darn proud of that.

But today as I have a little time on my hands, I decided to have some fun. A tune started running through my head so I put some words to it, added a few pictures and put together a short video. So for your enjoyment, I present, "The Triathlon Song".

See you all after the race!

Tri Practice

Last night was another Triathlon Practice put on by the local Recreation Commission. I can't express how much these sessions help with transition training and overall confidence for the upcoming race. The distances were relatively short (125 meter swim, 6 mile bike, 1 mile run) but that's fine with me. Actually, I would love to do this distance once a week just to keep fresh. It's long enough to work your body but short enough to fit into a busy schedule.

I was horrible in transition and I'm not sure why. I fumbled with my watch strap and lost time there. I also discovered that I don't like Gatorade on my bike ride. It was just too sticky sweet. It was suggested that I cut it with water so I will still get the electrolytes but not the heavy syrup taste. I may have to try that.

The temperature as we started this practice was 100 degrees. I'm crazy, not stupid, so I didn't go all out on the run but my bike ride was fine. I've been watching the forecast for Saturday and so far it's favorable with low wind and a break in the extreme heat. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

It's harvest time for our farm so I'm being pulled in multiple directions. Keeping the harvest crew fed and fitting in workouts is a juggling act and I've gotten pretty good at juggling. It also means that my Hubby most likely will not be at the race this year. That's OK. He'll be cheering me on from the field. But it would still be comforting to see him there to catch me at the finish line. I can't believe it's almost race day. Only one more swimming workout before the race so I'll compete with what I've got. I'll finish. The final countdown is here! 3 days till race time!

That's Why!

After wondering what the heck I am doing and doubting myself and my efforts I came up with the real answer this morning and it's the same as it's always been. Because I can.

Yesterday I went for a 5 mile run and really felt pretty good about my effort. I ran the first 2.5 miles at a nice pace and finished the second half at a more leisurely pace. But 5 miles is a long way for me and it took right at one hour. I asked myself what I would be doing if I wasn't out on the road for that hour and a host of little things popped into my head: switching the laundry around, pulling a few weeds in the yard, reading my book, (and the most likely) surfing the net. All of these things I can and did do later in the day so what pressing matter would I be addressing if I skipped my run. Since I'm off for the summer I can honestly say, not a thing. So why not run. I always feel better and like I've accomplished something.

This morning I went for a swim at the Y and as fate would have it I was in a lane next to a man doing therapy in the pool. He would walk sideways, backwards, forwards, then sideways again. I don't know what injury he has but he was moving, slowly, but moving. Then I headed out for a 2 mile run and there were more people on the trail hobbling and limping, struggling with the motion of putting one foot in front of the other. It doesn't take being hit over the head that many times to get the point. I do this because I can, in support of those who can't through donations and race fees for various causes.

I came to the realization that if I am going to need therapy for anything physical I want it to be because I was doing something active. Not because I let my muscles atrophy and my joints stiffen. When I feel aches and pains I want them to be because I pushed hard in a workout, not because I did nothing and let my body decay.

But most of all I want others to see that you can move and be fit and enjoy life at any age and at any level. It's never too late to start and you are never too old to try. I do this because I can and thank God for that privilege. I'll try to remember that when the workouts are hard and I'm covered in sweat.

Why Ask Why

It was about 2 miles into my run when that little voice started to whisper in my ear.  "Why are you doing this? What are you trying to prove? Who are you trying to impress. You're slow and not good at any of this." It's hard not to listen to that voice when you are struggling through a 3 mile run in 90 degree heat.

I started with a 600 meter swim that went alright. I felt more comfortable in the pool and even practiced the lane changes required in a serpentine swim. I'm not sure why I'm struggling when I was able to swim 900 - 1000 meters with ease at the indoor pool. The water in the pool is not heating up very quickly either. The 100 degree days coming up should help that a little.

Then after a slow transition I started on my run. I finally bought a hydration belt and this was my first run with a water bottle on my back. It was hard to get used to the flopping up and down on my back and tightening up the strap just make it press against my stomach and make me feel uggg. I really wasn't doing too bad through the first 1.75 miles. But then that voice started talking to me as I struggled to get a rhythm going on that last mile. I had to walk way too much and didn't feel good at all. The belt pressing against my belly didn't help. I love having the water to squirt on my face and shoulders and the few sips I took were welcome. Something else I'll just have to get used to I guess.

"Why are you doing this, you aren't any good at it." Truer words have never been spoken. I'm not good at any of the disciplines. I'm an OK swimmer, a fair cyclist, and an awful runner. Add it all together and you get a really bad triathlete. As my feet shuffled along I had to really think hard to answer this question. I guess I'll use the standard response. "Because I Can." This is a hard race for me and knowing I can do something even though it's difficult only makes me stronger.

"What are you trying to prove?" I'm trying to prove that last year wasn't a fluke. That I am actually capable of completing this race with a smile and a thumbs up. I also want to prove that just because I'm in my 50s doesn't mean I have to sit on my tush and watch the world go by.

"Who are you trying to impress?" OK, I'll admit it. My ego really enjoys the positive comments directed my way. But as for impressing anyone, well, I know what I do isn't worthy of too much awe. Those who know what this is about are sure not impressed, and those that don't aren't really sure what it takes either. I guess "impress" is not the right word. I would say I'm trying to encourage and inspire others to at least try something out of their comfort zone.

I finished my run with a lot to think about. There are only 5 more hard workouts scheduled before the race and I will try to make the best of each one. The runs are not getting any easier so I'll have to enjoy the swim and ride as best I can and survive the 3 miles leading to the finish line. Why am I doing this? Good question. I'll let you know after the race.

Stop and Smell The... Sunflowers

The road less traveled.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our training schedule we forget to look around us. We worry about mileage and time and refueling and pushing ourselves to the limit. But this morning, I took my time on my ride and run and had a little fun along the way.

Yesterday evening the gang at the Holcomb Rec had a Triathlon practice to help participants get ready for their upcoming event. It's a fantastic way to get a feel for transitions and what it will be like on race day. The distances were wonderfully short: 75 meter swim, 4 mile bike, .5 mile run. Just enough to get your feet wet so to speak. I like these practices to work on  my transitions, laying everything out just as I would for a race. It lets me see what I need to organize better and how I can get through with more confidence. It's better to realize you have forgotten something now then on race day.

Turtle Power!

I felt really good throughout and managed a pretty good time. That's not to say I'm fast, but for me the pace was better then expected. No sign of the muscle cramps that plagued me after the bike to run transition last year. I've very thankful for that.

This morning was beautiful and my plan called for a bike/run brick. With barely twelve hours to recuperate I knew I would have to go a little slower. So I decided to take the opportunity to really look around and stop and appreciate the world around me. With my phone in my pocket I set out on my ride.

The first thing I noticed was the sunflowers. They were beautiful and in full bloom. The area has been blessed with a little rain this spring and the native flowers are loving it. The road I was on is lightly traveled and I really enjoyed the downhill stretches. Flying down the hills is one of my favorite things about riding!

The Rocket!

I came across some snakes (thankfully dead) and a few turtles (thankfully alive). I stopped and let one of them cross in front of me on his way to who knows where. He sure took his time about getting across the road. Then I was back at the Zoo and ready for a 3 mile run. I tried not to walk and managed pretty well even after a 10 mile bike ride. But then I noticed the lions out enjoying the day so I stopped and said hello.

A little later I saw the "Rocket" and just had to stop. The Rocket is a piece of playground equipment built in the 1960s when America was caught up in the space race. I haven't climbed up inside since I was a young girl but I remember it was the highlight of any trip to the zoo. What the heck, I'm always up for an adventure.

You know how sometimes the things from your youth that you remember as huge turn out to be actually a little smaller in real life. This was no exception. I barely fit through the openings and struggled to stand upright at the top.  As I stood on the top level I imagined how many thousands of children had stood in the exact same spot. Did they think they were one step closer to the moon? Did they imagine blasting off to unknown worlds? I know I did when I was little.

I'm at the top!

After crawling out of the Rocket and starting on the last leg of my run I realized that this was one of the most enjoyable runs I have ever done. My total time was awful because of my side trips, but the actual time I was running was not a bad pace at all.

I'm not going to miraculously get a lot faster in the next ten days before my race. I know that. I accept that. But I do want to enjoy the experience and finish strong. Training hard is key to accomplishing that goal. But it shouldn't take the place of appreciating all that is around us and the many blessings given to us. I'll push hard when I need to and when I can, but I will also strive to take some time and smell the sunflowers.

Love the downhills!

Thunder and Lightning

Last night was a first for me. I participated in an evening "Glow Run". I also watched lightning all around and wondered what the heck we were doing out there.

A few weeks ago a friend asked me if I would be interested in doing a Glow Run to benefit the local volleyball team. Each player was supposed to line up some runners and pass out flyers to spread the word. What could I say but yes. Her daughter is starting to go to a few runs and I wanted to help her out so I posted the information on a few Facebook pages and hoped for the best.

The race was at 9:00 in the evening so I hoped the temperature would be down. But I didn't know how to eat or go about my day. I ended up just eating normal but a little early in the evening and I actually took a nap mid-afternoon. Of course that could be because I had two grand kids wearing me out all morning. I didn't feel really good or rested and wasn't expecting a lot out of myself. I'm usually in bed by the time I would be finishing this race.

Kate H came to run as did a few of my neighbors. It was a great surprise to see them all there. Some of the really fast young men in the area were there too so it was going to be fun to see the run. The route was three laps around the school and parking area then a lap around the track so I knew I would be seeing them as they passed me by. Usually when you are slow you only see them leaving you at the starting line. The first guys passes me by after one lap. That's humbling.

The temperature at race time was 93 degrees. Not good. And a storm was moving in. Also not good. We started the race and a few streaks of lightning could be seen in the distance. At the end of lap one the lightning was getting closer with flashes every few seconds. I really thought they would stop us after lap two and end the race. I was sort of hoping that would be the case because I was out of gas after two miles.

I had to walk a few jags on mile three but as I neared the end the lightning was getting pretty steady and a lot closer. I tried to kick it in gear to finish as fast as I could but my high gear isn't a lot different from my low so I did the best I could. As I ran the lap around the track to finish I though "this is crazy!" Running in an area where there are metal bleachers and tall light polls in the middle of a lightning storm is not good. I finished, and along with everyone else got in my car and headed home.

Going to bed right after running three miles is not easy so I took a little time to cool down and unwind. The rain hit hard about an hour after the race finished. My body didn't like running at night but that could have just been the heat. All in all it was not my best run. But I'm going to look on the bright side. I didn't get struck by lightning!

So Darn Hot

This week has been a challenge, both for working out and for the weather. It's hot and windy again today but with everything else that I need to do this weekend today was the only day I could work in a big tri workout. With my race in only 2 weeks I need to get a few of these under my belt.

As usual it's hot and windy. 103 degrees and a 25 mph south wind don't add up to fun, or safe conditions for a long hard workout. At least not for me. But pool hours being what they are this afternoon worked out better then this evening. I loaded up the bike and packed up my gear and headed to the pool.

For some reason swimming the Big Pool is hard for me this year. Or at least it feels hard. I had to stop at each 100 and even side stroke a little bit just to finish my 400 meters. But then I looked at my time and even with stopping to hang on the end I was still right at 11:00. I think if I swim there a few more times I'll get it down but today my breathing and cadence was all out of whack and I felt like I was flailing instead of swimming.

I hopped out of the pool and got my bike off the rack. Doing this type of brick doesn't give you a true feeling for transition because you have to do so much more then during a race: unlock the bike, get it off the rack, open the car, get everything out, etc. In a race you would already have done that but it's not an option at a busy public pool. I decided to do laps around the zoo due to the wind. Even in the relative shelter of the trees it was hard going against the wind. I did 6.4 miles and decided to call it enough even though I had wanted to do at least 9 miles. Dodging cars and smelling hot animal manure does not make for a pleasant ride.

I hopped off my bike and had to take time to rack it and chain it down, changed my shoes and started walking around the zoo. It was extremely hot and I had no intentions of running any kind of distance. I"m crazy, not stupid. I carried my water bottle with me and sucked down a gel pack and did the best I could. Running in short spurts was all I could do in this heat. Slow and safe.

Overall I'm happy with where I'm at in my training. I have a 5K tomorrow evening and then another hard week, then a taper week. I may not be blazing fast but I'll get it done. Each workout can only make me better. If it just wasn't so darn hot.

It's a Really Big Pool

It's hot out today. I mean really hot. Like 110 degrees hot with a 25 mph south wind. Not the kind of day the Chamber of Commerce puts on a post card but the kind of day we have more of then we want. The best place to be on a day like today is in the pool, and we happen to have one of the biggest right here in my town.

The Big Pool lane swim area.

The "Big Pool" is, well, big. Really big. Built by local citizens back in the 20s they got a little carried away and didn't know when to stop digging. Now the 50 meter lap swim portion with 8 lanes doesn't even come close to taking up a lot of space. The new filtration system is working beautifully and the water was clear but cold. It takes a little while for the sun to heat up 2.2 million gallons of water.

I swam slowly just to get a feel for the distance. It's easy to panic and think you are never going to get to the end after only swimming in 25 meter pools. This followed a 3.5 mile run this morning. I walked the last bit of the run because I caught up to some neighbors who I don't see often. I will always change my routine to make time for family and friends. Besides, I was pooped anyway!

If you are ever in this area stop at the Big Pool. It's big. Really big!

Epic Weekend!

Looking back I can't believe it's only been two days ago but so much has happened in a short amount of time my head is spinning. Sorry folks, this is going to turn into a long post but the short version is I ran my second 10K of my life and bettered my time then rode a day section of Bike Across Kansas for a beautiful 57.5 miles. But the experiences and memories are much greater than that and deserve a proper telling.

Saturday

This part of the story really started three years ago when I entered my very first race; the Longhorn Stampede. It has grown to one of the bigger races in the area with over 175 entrants this year. The first year I walked the 5K with a friend with a little jogging thrown in. Since there were very few in my age group I placed second. I was hooked. Now I can't count how many races I've entered and the medals collect in a box in my work-out room. But I will always have a fond spot for this race.

My training program called for a 5 mile run this weekend so some crazy impulse in my brain made me check the 10K box in the entry form. What's another extra mile? I've only run one other 10K and that didn't turn out too well. I really stressed my IT band and had to stop running for a few months last fall. So what the heck was I doing signing up for another one? I really don't know. The farthest I've run (and I use that word loosely, it's more like intervals/survival mode) is 4.5 in the past 6 months. This was going to be ugly.

Winning isn't everything, but it is nice.

An older gentleman that has run for years has started coming to a few events to run with me. Dennis is a very fit 67 year old guy with a slow steady running style. We run about the same pace but he has much more endurance. I was happy that he wanted to run this race since it is one of my favorite. We started out fine and kept side by side for the first 4 miles. Then I started to lag. I could tell he was much stronger so I encouraged him to go on and I would be fine. He reluctantly did but he didn't pull too far ahead. I think he was holding back so I wouldn't be all alone on the route.

That's right. All alone. I was the last person running. I could hear the course worker picking up the direction cones and sign arrows behind me as I passed. That's a little disheartening. But I kept checking my watch and I was still maintaining a somewhat decent pace, even with a few walking jags thrown in. I passed the last water stop and they had everything packed and ready to close down as they handed me the last cup of water. (sigh) I was feeling pretty bad about my running and my effort, but I couldn't have run any faster. That was it. That was all there was.

Then, with a long trip around the block to go, Yolanda R. rounded a corner and started running with me. What an angle! She had just set a PR in the 10K (actually she set the course record for her age group!) and had come back to encourage me to the finish. Suddenly my feet didn't feel quite so heavy and my legs pumped a little faster.

As we turned the last corner and hit the long stretch to the finish line, there was Dennis. He had finished and turned right around to come run with me. Wow. I was humbled. I knew he was worried about me but I guess he doesn't know that I'm a turtle. I'll get there eventually. I'll finish.

Remember those 175+ runners at the race? Everyone of them was cheering me on as I neared the finish line. I tried to run fast and look smooth but it was hard. I really wanted to walk, but NO WAY was I walking with everyone cheering for me. This was my hometown race and most of those people were my friends and neighbors. I was smiling from ear to ear which is something I can't explain. To hurt that much and feel that good at the same time is something I think only runners can explain. I finished and finished strong. I ran the best race I could and actually improved my time from my other 10K so, woo hoo, a new PR to boot.

In the whirl wind of activity after the race I talked to many people and in the process lost track of Dennis. He's still new to the race scene and is a little shy so he left. At the awards presentation Yolanda received a jacket for placing 3rd overall for 10K women and 1st in her age group. Gina G., another great friend placed 1st in the 50 and over division. I knew when she turned 50 I was in trouble. But low and behold, I placed 2nd in our group. Yup, only two of us, but I'll take it with a smile. The surprise was Dennis finishing 2nd in the 60 and over division. Yup, only two of them, but I picked up his medal for him and took it to him later that evening.

Ready to Ride at BAK in Sublette

The look on his face when I handed him that medal was priceless. Shock, followed by humor, then pride. He knows there were only 2 runners, but he is as proud of that medal as anyone can be. He was smiling from ear to ear and showing it to everyone around. I know the feeling. I showed my first medal to everyone I met! Before the evening was through he came up to me and asked if I was doing the race in a few weeks at a small lake in a neighboring town. I told him it is the same day as my triathlon and he thought a second and said "Maybe I'll go do that one on my own. I've always wanted to run the lake." I think he's hooked.

Sunday

Now to switch gears, literally. Another crazy brain impulse back in February made me sign up for a one day section of the Bike Across Kansas. It happened to be going very near my town and the distance was manageable at about 55 miles. I picked Sunday's ride so I could do the race on Saturday. Gina G. made the same decision so we were running and riding together all weekend.

Traci and I just gabbing away the miles.

Neither of us had done anything like this before so we didn't really know what to expect. Claudia B., Traci W., and Casey A., have all done it before but we were newbies. Still fresh (???) from our 10K runs we headed to Sublette to pick up our rider packets. If you have never seen 800 bicycles in one place, plus riders, tents, campers, and support vehicles you just can't imagine what it's like. Every type of bike and rider was present and  a tent city covered every green space of lawn at the local high school. We found Traci and made our arrangements to meet in the morning and she looked tired but OK. She is an expert cyclist and biked across the United States last year. (To read about her amazing adventure check out her blog)

Then we found Claudia and her husband and they looked tired. They had fought typical Kansas wind most of the day and were ready to crash. They had camped out the night before and storms in the area made sleeping difficult. Marty has only had a bike for 5 weeks and is trying this adventure for the first time. He's crazy by the way. Since home was only a short drive away and we were coming back in the morning the light bulb turned on over his head and they rode back home with us to get a good nights sleep.

Gina is as crazy as the rest of us!

Have I mentioned wind a few times? I'm sure I have because we have a lot of it. When we signed up for the ride we knew we would have to take whatever weather came that day and make the best of it. We watched the forecast and crossed our fingers. God must have been listening and been in a gracious mood because the day was absolutely spectacular! After the 25 mph headwinds the riders faced the day before this was a gift from heaven.

Gina, Traci, and I along with Traci's friend Sue who rode with her through part of the cross country journey last year headed out with Claudia and Marty not far behind. I have never had such an easy ride in my life! Not that there was a tailwind, there was no wind at all! We talked and laughed and watched the miles fly by. I rode beside Sue for a while and got to know her and pointed out interesting things along the way. She is from Washington state and has never been in this area before. Quite a change from water and green trees. I felt like I could have ridden forever. My saddle said otherwise, but the rest of my body was having a great time.

We stopped at the SAG stops and had cookies and brownies and visited with other riders. Then we would get back in the saddle again and pedal on down the road. We rode past the largest wind farm in Kansas and not a blade was turning. With 800 cyclists going the same direction it was a steady stream of bikes along the highway. With little traffic, great company, and no wind it was one of the most enjoyable rides I have ever had. It ended way too soon as we pedaled the last hill into Dodge City.

Sue, enjoy this rare Kansas day.

Gina's friend came to pick us up and I felt like I was missing the ending of a good movie, like we should be going on with the rest of them. We were tired but excited and so blessed to have spent such an amazing day with wonderful people. The rest of the group is on the road again today and have 400 miles left to go by the weekend. The wind is picking up and the forecast is for above 100 degree days the rest of the week. How did we get so lucky? To pick a day to ride in February and have it turn out so perfect is a miracle. I know I can't do the entire ride because of harvest. Plus I've never camped out in my life. But the though lingers in my head today and I wonder. For now I'll thank God for the beautiful day and the new friendships that have been formed. Be safe out there and keep pedaling! Fair winds and no flats!

Ride, Boldly Ride!

Yesterday was a perfect bike riding day! After a day of cold and clouds, and another of strong Kansas wind, we were blessed with a calm day with mild temperatures. And it just so happened that Yolanda R. and I had picked this day for a ride. How great is that!

Last Saturday at the Hoof it to Health race Yolanda mentioned that she was on her own this week and would love to come and ride with me. I'm always looking for riding partners so we made a date. The long range weather forecasts are not always correct so when planning that far in advance it's risky. I kept watching the weather sites and I thought we might be OK. It turned out fantastic!

Yolanda has a heavy hybrid cross trainer and that works for her. She has some dirt roads to ride just to get to the pavement so that bike makes sense. Yolanda is a very good runner with many 1/2 marathons under her belt and I knew her endurance would be fine.

Where to ride, hmmmmm. The forecast was for a north wind so I wanted to head north first and get the hard part out of the way and a tailwind on the way home. But there really was NO WIND! My Garmin said 5 mph, which is nothing in our part of the world. We started out in the cool morning air and just marveled at the wonderful day we had been gifted.

Yolanda R. and I still looking good after 30.25 miles!

We stopped a few times for water and snacks and to strip off clothes when it got warm but we kept a nice pace and before you know it we were back at the start with smiles on our faces and a record 30.25 mile ride for Yolanda! I haven't ridden that far in a long time either so I was pretty pleased with our day. After we ate a light lunch at Subway we parted company. I just couldn't believe how beautiful the day was after the really crumby weather we have had. Maybe someone upstairs wanted us to have a great ride!

I did discover a few things on this ride. I really love being part of the running/riding community in this area. I have met so many wonderful people and found so much support. The positive vibes at the races and rides is like an adrenaline rush. I've found that I really like vanilla energy gels. I have never tried them before and bought some on a whim. Needless to say, I stopped in at the bike store on the way home and bought a bunch more!

Finally, I learned that I enjoy seeing the pride others feel in reaching new milestones and reaching goals that they once thought unattainable. I'm so happy for Yolanda in her new record distance and new confidence that she can ride, boldly ride, anywhere she wants to go. I love seeing first time runners finish with a fist pump and a smile splitting their tired faces. I enjoy hearing all the details and stories about races and rides that have pushed even the toughest athletes to their limits. Sharing their journeys makes my own seem more worthwhile.

Today is a rest day with a big weekend ahead; a 10K at the Holcomb Stampede and then one day of the Bike Across Kansas. The weather may not be as nice for that ride as it was yesterday, but the company should make the miles fly by as we ride, boldly ride.

Crazy Weather

Today was down right chilly. The high was 59 degrees with overcast skies and a chance for rain. That's a far cry from our normal 90 degrees and clear skies. Any rain would be appreciated but the air was too cool for me to run after my swim. I'm crazy, not stupid. I could have run on the treadmill but that just doesn't seem right in the summer time.

So I swam and finished 1000 meters with a little problem. The first 400 was in 10:17 so I'm really happy with that. The problem you ask? Well, my goggles keep fogging up at around the 700 meter mark and by the end of my session today I was swimming blind. I had heard whispers about spitting in your lenses but I didn't want to do that if they were just pulling my leg. But after posting the question to my Running Friends group I got a resounding answer. SPIT! Who knew? So now if I spit in my goggle and someone looks at me funny I can let them in on the scoop.

Tomorrow Yolanda R. is going to drive up and meet Claudia B. and I for a bike ride. I hope the wind stays down and we have some fun on our ride instead of surviving an ordeal. I think her speed is comparable to mine, but she has so much endurance. We'll see what happens.

As for the weather, it's supposed to be in the 90s next week. Crazy.

Stronger Every Day

Today was a brick ride/run. I was not optimistic about getting it done because when I went to bed the wind was blowing at about 28 mph. It had been blowing all day and didn't show signs of stopping. But when I awoke it was quite. Almost dead calm. Woo Hoo!

I sprung out of bed, or what passes for springing at my age, and hurried through my Cheerios and chocolate milk. A few pumps of air in my tires and I was on the road. The ride went smooth and I tried to push myself on the uphill parts. My thighs are not happy with me for that but they will get over it and be stronger for it.

I started out on the run and had to walk way too soon. But with intervals and my watch keeping me on track I finished with a decent pace despite all the walking. No one said it had to be pretty, just cross the finish line however you can. 

Early morning rides and runs are the best. The day is just starting and the air is still a little cool. I'm making progress and getting stronger. At least I think I am. Doing an event is fun, but the journey to get there is what makes a better person. Lord, make me the best person I can be.

I'm BAAAACK!

It has been a week to remember, or forget, depending on your point of view. A week ago our house was struck by lightning. Actually it struck the junction box in the yard and followed the wires into the house. We lost a lot of electrical appliances but worst of all WE LOST OUR INTERNET ACCESS! It's amazing how much we rely on that little connection. All we had was our phones and I was not going to blog on that thing.

So I've spent the week calling repairmen, scheduling technician visits, and replacing fried equipment. Thankfully I'm off work for the summer and was able to devote the time to getting the house up and running again. It also means that I have time to train and no excuses.

Swimming has been good with my time and endurance right where I want them to be. My last timed 400 was faster than last year by almost 2 minutes. My riding is going fine and when the weather cooperates I get a good workout in. The run has been a surprise. I'm actually improving!

Claudia and I taking a break on a beautiful morning.

On Friday the weather was beautiful so Claudia B. and I went for a ride. She filled me in on all the details of her triumph at the Tyler Texas 1/2 Iron Triathlon. She placed 1st in her age group and yes, there was more than one entrant. I love riding with friends, it makes the miles fly by.

Saturday  was the Hoof it to Health race in my town. I have no illusions about being fast, but I did run the fasted 5K I've run in years! No walking and a nice pace added up to a personal improvement of which I'm very proud. I can do it!

So today I did 4.62 miles. Walking was involved but the first half was not too bad. I've taken a big step and signed up for a 10K next Saturday. The only race strategy is to survive. It will be a challenge but I can get through it.

This weekend promises to be exciting and challenging. The 10K on Saturday is leading up to a ride on Sunday as part of the Bike Across Kansas. I'm only doing one day and it's only 50 miles. I can't believe I can say ONLY when talking about that much distance. My, how my thinking has changed.

I'm running again almost like in the old days and everything else is coming along great. I think I might actually do alright at this year's triathlon. I'm Baaaaack!