So the big lesson this week was a physics lesson; the law of gravity to be more specific.
One pays a price for breaking the law.
You know me. I am brave, but not a daredevil. I am not blessed with a great sense of balance, and I respect this. I also respect gravity. I do not like the sensation of weightlessness (unlike the rest of the daredevils in my house). I avoid "falling" type of rides; you know like the Tower of Terror, Dr. Doom's Freefall, any sort of catapult or bungee, and there is NO WAY you would get me on ANY of the rides on top of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. You can forget skydiving or bungee jumping. I can't even watch it on TV!
This "safety switch" so to speak, has served me well. I managed to get through an entire season of triathlon training without falling off my bike. There were several times that I had to use the "Force" to stay upright. But I did not fall.
Until Saturday, that is.
Sigh...
I should have known before I even got to practice. We were meeting at 7:30 AM (or so I thought). I was happily making my way to the training ground early Saturday morning; listening to some tunes, drinking my coconut water, and munching on my peanut butter and toast. I received a text from one of my teammates that said, "R U Coming?"
I thought, what is she talking about? It's only 7:20, I'll be there in 5 minutes!
Then I panicked - uh-oh! Maybe I should check my paperwork at this red light - ARRGGHH! We were supposed to meet at 7:00!!!
I'm Late!
To the first official training!
Cue the stomachache and cold sweats.
I almost turned around and went home in shame.
But, since I was 5 minutes away, I perservered.
As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw everyone was just getting on their bikes. The coach came over and I'm sure he said some thing clever. I couldn't hear him over the frantic apologies (mine).
The bottom line was this: They weren't going to wait for me, but I could catch up.
Good enough for me. The time alone on my bike gave me a few minutes to compose myself and promise NEVER to do that again!
I eventually caught the group and was christened "The Snail." I could live with snail. I like snails. They are kind of cute. And delicious with a little butter and garlic.
We warmed up with a 7 mile ride and started the drills designed to get us more comfortable on the bike (ha-ha). One foot pedaling, balancing, gearing up and down, sprinting and stopping... I actually did okay. For a while. And then I didn't.
Funny thing about being clipped into your bike. You can't get your feet out when you are panicking. Without your feet free, you stand absolutely no chance of getting free of the bike as it is falling. Even when you aren't moving forward.
Gravity is not just a good idea - it's a law.
So for violating the law, I paid the price.
Twice.
Ouch.
They call what I did a "static" fall. This is the least dangerous, and the most embarrassing (of course) of the ways to fall off your bike. Somehow I managed to land on my left knee both times. I must remember to tuck and roll the next time gravity starts enforcing its law.
I am okay. Nothing is broken. I was wearing my running tights over my bike shorts, so the abrasions are not nearly as bad as they could be. The swelling and the limp should be gone by tomorrow, and I will have to get back in the saddle and try again.
The bruising should be spectacular, though!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Here we go again!
(Is that a collective groan, and slamming shut of checkbooks and wallets everywhere that I hear?)
This time I am participating in a century ride. In case you were wondering, that is a 100 mile bike ride (yes, all in one day).
This one is called "America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride" and takes place around Lake Tahoe.
I do realize that Lake Tahoe is in the mountains. And, yes, I also realize that it will be cold.
Yes, I will be training for this in S. Florida.
(there are no hills here)
I must remember to check the elevation of the ride - how much oxygen is in the air up there?
I'm a sea level kind of girl.
Well, this is all about challenging myself, right?
If you followed my adventures while I trained for my last event with the Team, you know that I was a little, well, challenged on the bike. Maybe pathetic is more like it. But, I stuck with it and perservered. I did not crash (many did), I refused to fall, and even when my bike computer (speedometer) quit working at mile 9, I kept on pushing. I finished strong and with a smile. I did not set any course records, and I was passed by many while I was out there, but I did it.
More importantly, with your help, I raised over $4500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!
Money that was used to fund cancer treatments, research, patient education and support, and to bring us one step closer to a cure. How awesome is that?
And, that's why I'm doing it again.
Because every four minutes, someone new is diagnosed with a blood cancer, and every 10 minutes someone loses their battle with leukemia, lymphoma, or myleoma.
And, despite my issues on (and with) the bike, I CAN do this. And I am going to do it for those who can't.
We had our first training ride on Saturday, and it was a humbling event. Our cycle team is made up (so far) of half alumni and half newbies. The alumni (me included) have decided to really challenge ourselves on the bike and form an "elite" bike team. This team is committed to maintaining at least 18 mph on the bike for the entire ride. We all met in Jupiter on Saturday morning, shivering in the sub-60 degree weather. Go ahead northerners, scoff away! We were chilly!
The ride was cold, fast, fun, exhausting, and yes, humbling. My coach told me that I was "white knuckling" the whole ride (duh). I told him to ask Coach Lisa how far I have come.
I found out that I cannot average 18 mph on the bike, despite my best efforts - even on the flat surface of A1A.
I cannot do this... yet.
But I will.
Come along with me.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/pb/ambbr11/leannewelch
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Christmas at Disney
It's all over...
Hard to believe, isn't it? Months of prep, and shopping, and spending, cooking , and cleaning...
The holiday season, as usual, went by much too quickly.
I love Christmas, really love Christmas, really, really love... well, you get the idea.
This Chrismas was all about Isabella (isn't it always about the kids?).
This year, I decided to do something we haven't done in years - go to Disney to enjoy the holiday activities. Yes, it is crowded, expensive, too. I rationalized all this away by saying that this trip was our Christmas present to ourselves. I loved working at Disney during the holiday season - all the decorations, the Candlelight Processional, snow on Main Street... I had all of this magic locked inside a tiny place in my heart and couldn't wait to share it with my family.
I should have known better.
I should have gone myself.
My first clue was given to me before we even left for Disney. I left work early and headed to Mom's to meet Ray and Isabella. They were already there and settled in on the couch eating snacks and watching TV. Obviously I was the only one in a hurry to get there when the party (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party) started.
We puttered around Mom's for a couple of hours until she threw us out the door - hurry up, doesn't the party start in an hour? (yes, it does).
Up the FL Tpke, quick check in to our hotel, and we arrived at the Magic Kingdom around 8:00 (4 hours left to party). Then the battle over which rides we were going on began.
Rides? We can ride anytime! Let's see the shows!
Well, apparently I was the only one interested in seeing all the Christmas Shows, and the Christmas decorations, the lighting of the Castle Dreamlights, and the parade, and the fireworks...
Note to self (and any of you who might be wondering) - MVMCP is not really worth the additional admission ticket. The parade was cool, and so were the fireworks, but the parade and fireworks for the Halloween party (Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party) are much better.
As a former Cast Member, preserving the Magic is very important to me, and a big part of that magic is the idea that the characters are really alive and not someone in a costume. The way to do this is to ensure that a character is only seen in one part of the park at any given time. Well, as we were headed past Peter Pan's Flight to see the Parade from Liberty Square, I noticed the seven dwarves (all of them: Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Sneezy, Bashful, and Doc) posing for a photo opportunity. In the distance, I could hear the music for the parade beginning. "oh," I thought to myself, "Guess the Dwarves aren't in the parade."
But they were!
This mystery was not lost on Isabella, who said, "Mommy, they must have run really fast to get in the parade!" "Do they have a secret door?" I assured her they must have a secret passageway.
Then, as the parade was over, and we meandered past the photo opportunity station, there were the little miners again! Now, I was getting annoyed. Of course, Isabella doesn't miss a trick. "Mommy? How did they get back here so fast?" I didn't know what to tell her. Even the tunnels under the Magic Kingdom could not have gotten them there that fast.
I have to say, I was pretty disappointed in the Mouse over that one. She's at that tender age when Santa and the Tooth Fairy are just barely real; spotting an obvious screw up like that one made the magic fade just a little for Isabella. She told me on the way home that she was pretty sure it was the REAL dwarves in the parade and maybe some helpers in costume that were signing autographs.
Pretty good logic for a six year old, huh?
We didn't get back to the hotel until 2:00 AM. I pulled the blackout curtains tight, and turned off the alarm. I figured we'd get up when we were good and ready, knowing full well, I'd be up at 8:00 and staring and my sleeping family for many hours.
How wrong I was.
Pushed out of bed by a knee in my back (How did Isabella get in this bed?) and then kept awake by the incessant snores, I crept out of the bedroom and onto the pullout couch (ie: Isabella's bed) at 5:00 AM, or so. Nearly SIX hours later, Ray woke me up, saying, "Do you know how long you slept?"
"AARGH!! It's 11:00! We've already missed two hours at Epcot!"
Since it was my fault, I really couldn't be mad at anyone (but myself).
So, out the door we went, me grumbling and mad at myself.
The plan; and yes, I always have a plan for our disney trips. We don't always stick to them, but I like to write stuff down. Anyway, the plan was to start by parking at Hollywood Studios (where we would be ending our day), and take the boat to Epcot, visit the various Holiday Storytellers, have lunch in France, see some more storytellers, catch the first candlelight processional, and head on over to the Studios. Once at the Studios, we would meet up with my dear friend, Mark, and see the Osboune (no, not Ozzy, or Sharon) Spectacle of lights, maybe go on a few rides, and have dinner at the Brown Derby (mmm).
It mostly worked out.
We saw two Storytellers, had lunch, and then the crowds came in.
Crazy crowds.
Crowds like I have never seen.
Crowds that made me think of New Year's Eve on Bourbon Street.
Crowds that made me terrified to lose Isabella (I never get that fear).
Note to self - next year, go on a Wednesday.
The Candlelight Processional was majestic as usual. Our narrator was Whoopi Goldberg. How cool was that?
When it ended, the crowds were even thicker. We abandoned any thought of more strorytellers, and bailed.
The rest of our evening was great. Yes, totally crowded, but whatever. We met Mark, saw the lights, had dinner, and called it a somewhat early evening.
The next day we were back to normal, hit Hollywood Studios again and Isabella got to ride on both the Tower of Terror (I skipped that one), and the Rock and Roller Coaster.
My baby girl went upside down!
Then the weather turned ugly and we ran for the car and headed home.
I can't believe I forgot the ponchos!
Hard to believe, isn't it? Months of prep, and shopping, and spending, cooking , and cleaning...
The holiday season, as usual, went by much too quickly.
I love Christmas, really love Christmas, really, really love... well, you get the idea.
This Chrismas was all about Isabella (isn't it always about the kids?).
This year, I decided to do something we haven't done in years - go to Disney to enjoy the holiday activities. Yes, it is crowded, expensive, too. I rationalized all this away by saying that this trip was our Christmas present to ourselves. I loved working at Disney during the holiday season - all the decorations, the Candlelight Processional, snow on Main Street... I had all of this magic locked inside a tiny place in my heart and couldn't wait to share it with my family.
I should have known better.
I should have gone myself.
My first clue was given to me before we even left for Disney. I left work early and headed to Mom's to meet Ray and Isabella. They were already there and settled in on the couch eating snacks and watching TV. Obviously I was the only one in a hurry to get there when the party (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party) started.
We puttered around Mom's for a couple of hours until she threw us out the door - hurry up, doesn't the party start in an hour? (yes, it does).
Up the FL Tpke, quick check in to our hotel, and we arrived at the Magic Kingdom around 8:00 (4 hours left to party). Then the battle over which rides we were going on began.
Rides? We can ride anytime! Let's see the shows!
Well, apparently I was the only one interested in seeing all the Christmas Shows, and the Christmas decorations, the lighting of the Castle Dreamlights, and the parade, and the fireworks...
Note to self (and any of you who might be wondering) - MVMCP is not really worth the additional admission ticket. The parade was cool, and so were the fireworks, but the parade and fireworks for the Halloween party (Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party) are much better.
As a former Cast Member, preserving the Magic is very important to me, and a big part of that magic is the idea that the characters are really alive and not someone in a costume. The way to do this is to ensure that a character is only seen in one part of the park at any given time. Well, as we were headed past Peter Pan's Flight to see the Parade from Liberty Square, I noticed the seven dwarves (all of them: Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Sneezy, Bashful, and Doc) posing for a photo opportunity. In the distance, I could hear the music for the parade beginning. "oh," I thought to myself, "Guess the Dwarves aren't in the parade."
But they were!
This mystery was not lost on Isabella, who said, "Mommy, they must have run really fast to get in the parade!" "Do they have a secret door?" I assured her they must have a secret passageway.
Then, as the parade was over, and we meandered past the photo opportunity station, there were the little miners again! Now, I was getting annoyed. Of course, Isabella doesn't miss a trick. "Mommy? How did they get back here so fast?" I didn't know what to tell her. Even the tunnels under the Magic Kingdom could not have gotten them there that fast.
I have to say, I was pretty disappointed in the Mouse over that one. She's at that tender age when Santa and the Tooth Fairy are just barely real; spotting an obvious screw up like that one made the magic fade just a little for Isabella. She told me on the way home that she was pretty sure it was the REAL dwarves in the parade and maybe some helpers in costume that were signing autographs.
Pretty good logic for a six year old, huh?
We didn't get back to the hotel until 2:00 AM. I pulled the blackout curtains tight, and turned off the alarm. I figured we'd get up when we were good and ready, knowing full well, I'd be up at 8:00 and staring and my sleeping family for many hours.
How wrong I was.
Pushed out of bed by a knee in my back (How did Isabella get in this bed?) and then kept awake by the incessant snores, I crept out of the bedroom and onto the pullout couch (ie: Isabella's bed) at 5:00 AM, or so. Nearly SIX hours later, Ray woke me up, saying, "Do you know how long you slept?"
"AARGH!! It's 11:00! We've already missed two hours at Epcot!"
Since it was my fault, I really couldn't be mad at anyone (but myself).
So, out the door we went, me grumbling and mad at myself.
The plan; and yes, I always have a plan for our disney trips. We don't always stick to them, but I like to write stuff down. Anyway, the plan was to start by parking at Hollywood Studios (where we would be ending our day), and take the boat to Epcot, visit the various Holiday Storytellers, have lunch in France, see some more storytellers, catch the first candlelight processional, and head on over to the Studios. Once at the Studios, we would meet up with my dear friend, Mark, and see the Osboune (no, not Ozzy, or Sharon) Spectacle of lights, maybe go on a few rides, and have dinner at the Brown Derby (mmm).
It mostly worked out.
We saw two Storytellers, had lunch, and then the crowds came in.
Crazy crowds.
Crowds like I have never seen.
Crowds that made me think of New Year's Eve on Bourbon Street.
Crowds that made me terrified to lose Isabella (I never get that fear).
Note to self - next year, go on a Wednesday.
The Candlelight Processional was majestic as usual. Our narrator was Whoopi Goldberg. How cool was that?
When it ended, the crowds were even thicker. We abandoned any thought of more strorytellers, and bailed.
The rest of our evening was great. Yes, totally crowded, but whatever. We met Mark, saw the lights, had dinner, and called it a somewhat early evening.
The next day we were back to normal, hit Hollywood Studios again and Isabella got to ride on both the Tower of Terror (I skipped that one), and the Rock and Roller Coaster.
My baby girl went upside down!
Then the weather turned ugly and we ran for the car and headed home.
I can't believe I forgot the ponchos!
Monday, November 29, 2010
My Four Day Weekend...
The good...
Hello? Four days off is pretty darn good in my book!
Spent two days with the in-laws and actually had a good time!
Isabella got to drive a tractor! Not just any tractor... a JOHN DEERE, baby! (and, no, I don't have any pictures)
On the way home from the in-laws we stopped at The Gaylord Palms in Orlando to see ICE! Absolutely amazing! 2 million tons of ice carved into stautes, and sculptures, and slides, and it was just incredible! And cold! Like 9 degrees, cold. Oh, sure, they gave us "parkas" to keep you warm, but seriously? Did I mention 9 degrees?
I dragged my lazy butt out the door and onto my bike to ride 20 miles on Sunday with a good friend (now my lazy butt is sore).
We put up (and decorated) our Christmas tree. Mom came over to help us decorate - the Christmas Spirit is alive in our house again!
Christmas shopping is 95% done!
We started to put up the house lights, but it started raining (boo) so we couldn't finish, so I guess that brings me to the next heading...
The bad...
Did I mention the rain which interrupted the decking of my halls?
The Miami Hurricanes (I could go on, but I am still annoyed so I won't). Sorry, Coach Shannon, you seem like a nice guy, but you had it coming...
There was a GIANT spider (Fear Factor sized) in the bathroom with Isabella and I on Thanksgiving. Much hysteria ensued, until Ray and his father were able to subdue it with a flyswatter (which just broke its leg), and finally, Ray's size 12 shoe. They tried to save it and move it outside where it could continue eating mice, or frogs, or whatever else it was eating to get so big. However, the spider did not understand human logic and refused to accept amnesty. Sadly, it met its untimely demise in the guest bathroom at my in-laws house (under the aforementioned shoe).
We did not win the lottery (my apologies to everyone to whom I have promised spoils of my winnings - maybe next time).
Weight Watchers changed its program and points system AGAIN! Now I'll have to re-learn the whole darn program! Oh-well, I guess it will free up all the brain space I had dedicated to points values of all my favorite foods (wine = 2 points per glass, beer = 3 points per pint, dark chocolate = 1 point per square)
Looking ahead...
Getting a haircut tomorrow - hey, it only happens twice a year, so its a big event in my book!
Bill Bone Bike Tour on Sunday. This is a bike ride on the Palm Beach Marathon Course. It will be fun to ride the streets ahead of the runners on totally closed roads. It will be dark, so I'd better buy a light!
Final Thoughts...
This evening we all went to downtown Boca Raton for the blessing of the Creche (Nativity Scene). It was quite magical to see how many people were there. Pastors from four or five different churches (Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Orthodox) were all there to offer their prayers and blessings. There were children in costume as part of a living Nativity, we sang Christmas carols, and lit the Christmas tree. It was kind of strange to be participating in something so blatantly... religious... in an outdoor setting. I kept waiting for the PC police to come shut us down.
Isabella seemed to really enjoy it, and wanted to be in the very front and stay until the end. I was so thrilled to see her getting into the meaning of Christmas, and told her so.
Silly me.
She just wanted to get a closer look at Mary's costume.
It turns out she wants to be the star of the Nativity next year...
(I should have known better)
Hello? Four days off is pretty darn good in my book!
Spent two days with the in-laws and actually had a good time!
Isabella got to drive a tractor! Not just any tractor... a JOHN DEERE, baby! (and, no, I don't have any pictures)
On the way home from the in-laws we stopped at The Gaylord Palms in Orlando to see ICE! Absolutely amazing! 2 million tons of ice carved into stautes, and sculptures, and slides, and it was just incredible! And cold! Like 9 degrees, cold. Oh, sure, they gave us "parkas" to keep you warm, but seriously? Did I mention 9 degrees?
I dragged my lazy butt out the door and onto my bike to ride 20 miles on Sunday with a good friend (now my lazy butt is sore).
We put up (and decorated) our Christmas tree. Mom came over to help us decorate - the Christmas Spirit is alive in our house again!
Christmas shopping is 95% done!
We started to put up the house lights, but it started raining (boo) so we couldn't finish, so I guess that brings me to the next heading...
The bad...
Did I mention the rain which interrupted the decking of my halls?
The Miami Hurricanes (I could go on, but I am still annoyed so I won't). Sorry, Coach Shannon, you seem like a nice guy, but you had it coming...
There was a GIANT spider (Fear Factor sized) in the bathroom with Isabella and I on Thanksgiving. Much hysteria ensued, until Ray and his father were able to subdue it with a flyswatter (which just broke its leg), and finally, Ray's size 12 shoe. They tried to save it and move it outside where it could continue eating mice, or frogs, or whatever else it was eating to get so big. However, the spider did not understand human logic and refused to accept amnesty. Sadly, it met its untimely demise in the guest bathroom at my in-laws house (under the aforementioned shoe).
We did not win the lottery (my apologies to everyone to whom I have promised spoils of my winnings - maybe next time).
Weight Watchers changed its program and points system AGAIN! Now I'll have to re-learn the whole darn program! Oh-well, I guess it will free up all the brain space I had dedicated to points values of all my favorite foods (wine = 2 points per glass, beer = 3 points per pint, dark chocolate = 1 point per square)
Looking ahead...
Getting a haircut tomorrow - hey, it only happens twice a year, so its a big event in my book!
Bill Bone Bike Tour on Sunday. This is a bike ride on the Palm Beach Marathon Course. It will be fun to ride the streets ahead of the runners on totally closed roads. It will be dark, so I'd better buy a light!
Final Thoughts...
This evening we all went to downtown Boca Raton for the blessing of the Creche (Nativity Scene). It was quite magical to see how many people were there. Pastors from four or five different churches (Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Orthodox) were all there to offer their prayers and blessings. There were children in costume as part of a living Nativity, we sang Christmas carols, and lit the Christmas tree. It was kind of strange to be participating in something so blatantly... religious... in an outdoor setting. I kept waiting for the PC police to come shut us down.
Isabella seemed to really enjoy it, and wanted to be in the very front and stay until the end. I was so thrilled to see her getting into the meaning of Christmas, and told her so.
Silly me.
She just wanted to get a closer look at Mary's costume.
It turns out she wants to be the star of the Nativity next year...
(I should have known better)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Miss Me?
Well, in the two months since my last post I have:
You may have noticed that I kept the title of my blog, but I did change the banner heading. I realized in the last few months that even though I am no longer training for a triathlon, I still have a lot to say. I thought maybe there's one or two of you out there who might want to hear it as well. I could be wrong. Only time will tell.
Team in Training is never far from my thoughts, and I keep in touch with a quite a few folks that I met during my training. I am now out there recruiting for upcoming races, but have not yet committed to another myself. Frankly I still find the fundraising a bit daunting. There is no question in my mind that this is a good cause and an incredible organization, I just wish I was better at raising money. Every time I buy a lottery ticket, one of the first things I promise to do when I win is sign up for another race with the Team, and write them a big, fat check - enough to cover the minimums for me and all of my Teammates!
Until then, I'll sit on the sidelines and help my friends with their fundraisers.
Unless... anyone out there wants to write the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society a big fat check in my name?
Wait... before you do that, could you buy me a new bike first?
Now that my coached rides are over, I have been riding either by myself or with one or two friends on the weekends. I am no longer isolated by my group of Teammates and I have found myself out there with... them.
Yes, the huge marauding packs of testosterone-charged men on very expensive bikes going approximately 30 mph (maybe faster, it's hard to tell when I am cowering on the far right of the bike path trying to stay upright as 50 bikes whiz past me). Occasionally I'll catch a random comment from them regarding my bike. I have heard the terms, dinosaur, antique, old school... I choose to take them as compliments!
So yes, a new bike (or even one made in the past 5 years) would make me happy.
But, I think I can manage just fine on the old one, thank you very much.
I'd rather have the money go to the Team.
In other news, I'm glad things seem to have settled down after election day. I was so happy when the phone calls and negative commercials stopped. I just wish the American voters weren't so fickle. They seem to forget that politicians are just regular people like you or I. No one has all the answers. If one party isn't working, let's all vote for the other guy! Oh, wait, that's not working either; let's vote for all the other guys again! I remain hopeful, as always. Of course, the Europeans all think we're insanely impatient (duh). But our government has only been around for a couple of hundred years - we'll mature in another hundred or so (maybe).
During the Nation's Triathlon, we ran past the Washington Monument. As I was approaching the base of the monument, I heard loud music and cheering, drums, more cheering. Of course I assumed it was all for the runners (hahahahaha!). As I got a little closer, I noticed the fife and drum corps, the people in Revolutionary War-type outfits, and the signs.
It was the TEA party rally. I had to laugh. I'm sure if I had stopped to read any of the signs, I probably would have cried.
I just thought... "What a country!" Where else in the world is anyone guaranteed the freedom to have a huge political rally (one which totally opposes the current administration, by the way), and have it occur a few feet from a huge endurance event with 7000 participants? No one got in each other's way, and as far as I could tell, everyone's event went on as planned.
Mine did, anyway. I finished strong and happy. Here's some photos taken by my good friend Veronica Webber. She lives in MD, and drove down for the day to cheer me on and take some really good photos:
What an amazing feeling it was to finish this race! I could NOT stop smiling. And, of course, now as I am looking though the photos and reading my old blogs, I am thinking about signing up for my next event. There's been some talk about the group signing up for a century ride (that's a 100-mile ride) next November in Tuscon. Might be fun, but I'm not so sure I would want to spend 6 hours on my bike.
I guess I have some time to think about it (and time to upgrade the wheels). For now, I think I'll stick to the local foot races (not a whole lot of swimming going on even in a South Florida winter) and try to improve my times.
- Raced in (and finished) the Nation's Triathlon
- Came home and raced in the Tropical Triathlon (and did it 13 minutes faster than my last sprint tri)
- Raced in three local 5K races (and had my best finish time ever!)
- Welcomed a new nephew and another cousin into the world!
You may have noticed that I kept the title of my blog, but I did change the banner heading. I realized in the last few months that even though I am no longer training for a triathlon, I still have a lot to say. I thought maybe there's one or two of you out there who might want to hear it as well. I could be wrong. Only time will tell.
Team in Training is never far from my thoughts, and I keep in touch with a quite a few folks that I met during my training. I am now out there recruiting for upcoming races, but have not yet committed to another myself. Frankly I still find the fundraising a bit daunting. There is no question in my mind that this is a good cause and an incredible organization, I just wish I was better at raising money. Every time I buy a lottery ticket, one of the first things I promise to do when I win is sign up for another race with the Team, and write them a big, fat check - enough to cover the minimums for me and all of my Teammates!
Until then, I'll sit on the sidelines and help my friends with their fundraisers.
Unless... anyone out there wants to write the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society a big fat check in my name?
Wait... before you do that, could you buy me a new bike first?
Now that my coached rides are over, I have been riding either by myself or with one or two friends on the weekends. I am no longer isolated by my group of Teammates and I have found myself out there with... them.
Yes, the huge marauding packs of testosterone-charged men on very expensive bikes going approximately 30 mph (maybe faster, it's hard to tell when I am cowering on the far right of the bike path trying to stay upright as 50 bikes whiz past me). Occasionally I'll catch a random comment from them regarding my bike. I have heard the terms, dinosaur, antique, old school... I choose to take them as compliments!
So yes, a new bike (or even one made in the past 5 years) would make me happy.
But, I think I can manage just fine on the old one, thank you very much.
I'd rather have the money go to the Team.
In other news, I'm glad things seem to have settled down after election day. I was so happy when the phone calls and negative commercials stopped. I just wish the American voters weren't so fickle. They seem to forget that politicians are just regular people like you or I. No one has all the answers. If one party isn't working, let's all vote for the other guy! Oh, wait, that's not working either; let's vote for all the other guys again! I remain hopeful, as always. Of course, the Europeans all think we're insanely impatient (duh). But our government has only been around for a couple of hundred years - we'll mature in another hundred or so (maybe).
During the Nation's Triathlon, we ran past the Washington Monument. As I was approaching the base of the monument, I heard loud music and cheering, drums, more cheering. Of course I assumed it was all for the runners (hahahahaha!). As I got a little closer, I noticed the fife and drum corps, the people in Revolutionary War-type outfits, and the signs.
It was the TEA party rally. I had to laugh. I'm sure if I had stopped to read any of the signs, I probably would have cried.
I just thought... "What a country!" Where else in the world is anyone guaranteed the freedom to have a huge political rally (one which totally opposes the current administration, by the way), and have it occur a few feet from a huge endurance event with 7000 participants? No one got in each other's way, and as far as I could tell, everyone's event went on as planned.
Mine did, anyway. I finished strong and happy. Here's some photos taken by my good friend Veronica Webber. She lives in MD, and drove down for the day to cheer me on and take some really good photos:
I guess I have some time to think about it (and time to upgrade the wheels). For now, I think I'll stick to the local foot races (not a whole lot of swimming going on even in a South Florida winter) and try to improve my times.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Some random thoughts...
As I pack and make all my last minute preparations, the same random thoughts keep going through my head.
I have had such a wonderful experience training with the team; do I have what it takes to do another?
Do you?
To my followers and friends, if I signed up for another event with the Team, could I count on you to help me make my fundraising committment?
To my family, could you deal with me training for another one of these? With the early mornings, and the tired (and crabby) afternoons, and the endless piles of stinky sweaty clothes (none of which can go in the dryer)? How about the missed weekends, and softball games, and the fact that I have a tendency to fall asleep by 9:00 PM every night?
I just don't know.
And then...
I hear from my best friend Randi, about her friend Jen Rutansky.
Jen was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma 13 years ago, when she was only 25. She underwent radiation treatments, but a year later she was sick again. Doctors told her that Chemotherapy was her best hope, but she was resistant because she knew that chemo would most likely make her infertile. She was then offered the opportunity to ripen, harvest, and freeze her eggs so that sometime in the future, when she was well (and presumably married), she could still have children. She took a chance, and froze her eggs. In 2005, she and her husband welcomed their son into the world. The first child EVER to be born to a cancer patient from her own frozen eggs.
I'd like to think that some of my predecessors with team in Training helped fund the amazing advances that allowed Jen to realize her dream of becoming a mother.
I remember when this happened, because it was a really big deal. Jen was on the Today Show and in newspapers all over the world with her husband and their two children.
Wait, two children?
Jen only had 14 eggs frozen, and their surrogate had already miscarried twice. Just in case the last set of eggs didn't make it, the Rutanskys were also going through the adoption process. As luck would have it, they adoped a daughter just a few short months before their son was born. They felt so incredibly blessed to have two darling, healthy babies only a few months apart.
It wasn't an easy road, and Jen battled her Hodgkin's again and again. She had many treatments, including a stem cell transplant, that would put her cancer into remission for a short time.
Unfortunately Jen lost her battle this week. She leaves behind her loving family, her husband, and two children who will know that their mom wanted them so much, she was willing to do anything to make them a part of her family.
I will race on Sunday, not just for my honored hero, Kim Russo, but also in memory of Jennifer Rutansky.
I will race for Kim's and Jen's children, and the hope that they will someday live in a world without cancer.
I will race knowing that the money I raised helps to fund the research that allowed Jen and others like her to realize their dream of becoming a mother.
I will race because I can.
Thank you for this opportunity.
I have had such a wonderful experience training with the team; do I have what it takes to do another?
Do you?
To my followers and friends, if I signed up for another event with the Team, could I count on you to help me make my fundraising committment?
To my family, could you deal with me training for another one of these? With the early mornings, and the tired (and crabby) afternoons, and the endless piles of stinky sweaty clothes (none of which can go in the dryer)? How about the missed weekends, and softball games, and the fact that I have a tendency to fall asleep by 9:00 PM every night?
I just don't know.
And then...
I hear from my best friend Randi, about her friend Jen Rutansky.
Jen was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma 13 years ago, when she was only 25. She underwent radiation treatments, but a year later she was sick again. Doctors told her that Chemotherapy was her best hope, but she was resistant because she knew that chemo would most likely make her infertile. She was then offered the opportunity to ripen, harvest, and freeze her eggs so that sometime in the future, when she was well (and presumably married), she could still have children. She took a chance, and froze her eggs. In 2005, she and her husband welcomed their son into the world. The first child EVER to be born to a cancer patient from her own frozen eggs.
I'd like to think that some of my predecessors with team in Training helped fund the amazing advances that allowed Jen to realize her dream of becoming a mother.
I remember when this happened, because it was a really big deal. Jen was on the Today Show and in newspapers all over the world with her husband and their two children.
Wait, two children?
Jen only had 14 eggs frozen, and their surrogate had already miscarried twice. Just in case the last set of eggs didn't make it, the Rutanskys were also going through the adoption process. As luck would have it, they adoped a daughter just a few short months before their son was born. They felt so incredibly blessed to have two darling, healthy babies only a few months apart.
It wasn't an easy road, and Jen battled her Hodgkin's again and again. She had many treatments, including a stem cell transplant, that would put her cancer into remission for a short time.
Unfortunately Jen lost her battle this week. She leaves behind her loving family, her husband, and two children who will know that their mom wanted them so much, she was willing to do anything to make them a part of her family.
I will race on Sunday, not just for my honored hero, Kim Russo, but also in memory of Jennifer Rutansky.
I will race for Kim's and Jen's children, and the hope that they will someday live in a world without cancer.
I will race knowing that the money I raised helps to fund the research that allowed Jen and others like her to realize their dream of becoming a mother.
I will race because I can.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Has it really been a month?
Since my last post?
Well, three and a half weeks actually.
And yes, I was right about the training schedule being kicked up a notch.
I told my coach that these workouts were being filed in the "Is she kidding me?" section. But, who am I to question my coach? That's one of the reasons I signed up with Team in Training in the first place - so someone else was in charge of my training schedule.
It is very nice to have someone else tell you how far to go and how hard to push it. In my previous workouts, I was the one who got to decide how long my runs would take me, and I was really good at talking myself out of a few miles. Not anymore.
35 mile bike, followed by a six mile run? You got it!
500 yd warm up swim, followed by a one-mile timed swim and then some sprints just for "fun?" Yes, ma'am!
I got my official Athlete's package from the Nation's Triathlon yesterday.
Let the butterflies begin!
My race number is 5710 (I think there are only 6,000 athletes) and I don't start my swim until 8:52 AM.
The race begins at 7:00 AM, and I get to stand around for almost two hours before I can even get my feet wet. Do you realize that this means some of the elite athletes will actually FINISH the race before I can even start? More importantly, I will probably not start my 6 mile run until 11:00 AM (or so).
Do you know that today in Washington, DC it was 90 degrees at 11:00 AM?!
It is scheduled to cool off a bit by next weekend, but still! Good thing I did all my training in S. Florida!
And... the temperature in the Potomac is 84 degrees, so I probably won't get to wear my fancy new Team in Training wetsuit. Boo! I think the water has to be 76 before you are allowed a wetsuit.
Although, you never know, if Hurricane Earl dumps enough rain in the area tonight maybe the water will cool off a bit. I do feel kind of bad that my friends and family along the east coast are under Hurricane watches and warnings, while I am looking at a nice blue sky. But, have you seen the map of the tropics? There's a new storm coming off the coast of Africa every day, and one of them is bound to make landfall (or close to it) in S. Florida. I just hope that Gaston stays far away and doesn't ruin any travel or race plans for next weekend.
Well, there is no sense in worrying about it, right? Like Isabella's pre-school teachers used to say, "You get what you get, and you don't get upset!"
Speaking of Isabella and school...
All of my prayers have been answered!
First grade started with a smile (yaay!); and ended with the statement, "Mom, 1st grade is so exciting!"
Nothing makes a parent happier than knowing their child is happy, right? Considering that she had been whining and worried about starting school for at least two weeks, I was so relieved to hear how great school is going. Of course the second day of school was her birthday, and nothing guarantees new friends like bringing cupcakes to school!
She has made lots of new friends and we even discovered that one of her new buddies lives a few blocks away from us. She's even at Isabella's bus stop. So happy about that!
Of course Isabella can't have a birthday without the obligagtory trip to Disney. Funny, because we had told her that we wouldn't be going for her birthday this year - it gets too expensive and we had just come home from a two week whirlwind tour of the Northeast. Of course, once I found out that my best friend was driving down from S. Carolina for a family event in S. Florida and taking an extra day on the way home to stop at the Magic Kingdom, well...
Needless to say, we had a wonderful two days with our friends. Usually Isabella is the only kid, so it was a totally new experience for her to have three other kids to play with, go on rides with, sit with at dinner...
I do have to share one photo, just because it is so funny. You'd think that since I've been on this ride at least 20 times, I would eventually get used to the drop...
Yes, that's me, in the front seat of Splash Mountain, screaming my head off. You'll notice that daredevil Isabella is simply grinning - she may even have her eyes closed, enjoying the moment of weightlessness. Behind us are the Shanes - Randi, Zac, Dylan, and Becca - who all seem to be enjoying the ride. Well, except Becca who hates the big drop, but loves the rest of the ride.
I e-mailed this picture to Ray, who laughed and remarked that he could see my tonsils.
This is very ironic, because my tonsils are the reason I am updating my blog on a Thursday afternoon.
I am home sick with... wait for it...
Tonsillitis!
Do you think there is a connection? Hmmm? Maybe I got some of that germy water in my throat (perish the thought!).
All I know is that as soon as we got home on Tuesday afternoon, I went straight to bed and have only recently been able to sit upright and swallow. I did manage to drag myself to the Doc this morning so he could check out the petri dish growing at the back of my throat. It's never a good sign when your doctor shines the light, depresses your tongue and says, "Eww!" Then immediately runs to his desk, shoves a prescription in your hand and begins sanitizing the office.
So while I sit at home, isolating myself from the rest of the healthy world, I wonder...
I just have to trust Coach Lisa.
I'm ready.
I've done the work, put in the miles, and raised the money. Now it's time to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Can't wait!
Well, three and a half weeks actually.
And yes, I was right about the training schedule being kicked up a notch.
I told my coach that these workouts were being filed in the "Is she kidding me?" section. But, who am I to question my coach? That's one of the reasons I signed up with Team in Training in the first place - so someone else was in charge of my training schedule.
It is very nice to have someone else tell you how far to go and how hard to push it. In my previous workouts, I was the one who got to decide how long my runs would take me, and I was really good at talking myself out of a few miles. Not anymore.
35 mile bike, followed by a six mile run? You got it!
500 yd warm up swim, followed by a one-mile timed swim and then some sprints just for "fun?" Yes, ma'am!
I got my official Athlete's package from the Nation's Triathlon yesterday.
Let the butterflies begin!
My race number is 5710 (I think there are only 6,000 athletes) and I don't start my swim until 8:52 AM.
The race begins at 7:00 AM, and I get to stand around for almost two hours before I can even get my feet wet. Do you realize that this means some of the elite athletes will actually FINISH the race before I can even start? More importantly, I will probably not start my 6 mile run until 11:00 AM (or so).
Do you know that today in Washington, DC it was 90 degrees at 11:00 AM?!
It is scheduled to cool off a bit by next weekend, but still! Good thing I did all my training in S. Florida!
And... the temperature in the Potomac is 84 degrees, so I probably won't get to wear my fancy new Team in Training wetsuit. Boo! I think the water has to be 76 before you are allowed a wetsuit.
Although, you never know, if Hurricane Earl dumps enough rain in the area tonight maybe the water will cool off a bit. I do feel kind of bad that my friends and family along the east coast are under Hurricane watches and warnings, while I am looking at a nice blue sky. But, have you seen the map of the tropics? There's a new storm coming off the coast of Africa every day, and one of them is bound to make landfall (or close to it) in S. Florida. I just hope that Gaston stays far away and doesn't ruin any travel or race plans for next weekend.
Well, there is no sense in worrying about it, right? Like Isabella's pre-school teachers used to say, "You get what you get, and you don't get upset!"
All of my prayers have been answered!
First grade started with a smile (yaay!); and ended with the statement, "Mom, 1st grade is so exciting!"
Nothing makes a parent happier than knowing their child is happy, right? Considering that she had been whining and worried about starting school for at least two weeks, I was so relieved to hear how great school is going. Of course the second day of school was her birthday, and nothing guarantees new friends like bringing cupcakes to school!
She has made lots of new friends and we even discovered that one of her new buddies lives a few blocks away from us. She's even at Isabella's bus stop. So happy about that!
Of course Isabella can't have a birthday without the obligagtory trip to Disney. Funny, because we had told her that we wouldn't be going for her birthday this year - it gets too expensive and we had just come home from a two week whirlwind tour of the Northeast. Of course, once I found out that my best friend was driving down from S. Carolina for a family event in S. Florida and taking an extra day on the way home to stop at the Magic Kingdom, well...
Needless to say, we had a wonderful two days with our friends. Usually Isabella is the only kid, so it was a totally new experience for her to have three other kids to play with, go on rides with, sit with at dinner...
I do have to share one photo, just because it is so funny. You'd think that since I've been on this ride at least 20 times, I would eventually get used to the drop...
Yes, that's me, in the front seat of Splash Mountain, screaming my head off. You'll notice that daredevil Isabella is simply grinning - she may even have her eyes closed, enjoying the moment of weightlessness. Behind us are the Shanes - Randi, Zac, Dylan, and Becca - who all seem to be enjoying the ride. Well, except Becca who hates the big drop, but loves the rest of the ride.
I e-mailed this picture to Ray, who laughed and remarked that he could see my tonsils.
This is very ironic, because my tonsils are the reason I am updating my blog on a Thursday afternoon.
I am home sick with... wait for it...
Tonsillitis!
Do you think there is a connection? Hmmm? Maybe I got some of that germy water in my throat (perish the thought!).
All I know is that as soon as we got home on Tuesday afternoon, I went straight to bed and have only recently been able to sit upright and swallow. I did manage to drag myself to the Doc this morning so he could check out the petri dish growing at the back of my throat. It's never a good sign when your doctor shines the light, depresses your tongue and says, "Eww!" Then immediately runs to his desk, shoves a prescription in your hand and begins sanitizing the office.
So while I sit at home, isolating myself from the rest of the healthy world, I wonder...
- Will I be well enough for the Team bike ride tomorrow night?
- If so, should I ride?
- If not, will I be ready for Nation's?
I just have to trust Coach Lisa.
I'm ready.
I've done the work, put in the miles, and raised the money. Now it's time to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Can't wait!
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