A couple reasons why I look forward to getting on my bike....

These photos are just a few of the sights from this week's cycling time.  I biked on Sunday for 20 miles from our cabin on the east side of the Cascade Mountain Range and again on Thursday for 26 miles near Wildcat Lake on the east side of the Olympic Mountain Range.  The sights, sounds & smells I experience on a ride are what keep me going back for more. 

Chiwawa River Road  near Fish Lake in Chelan County, WA

Seabeck Holly Road along the shores of the Hood Canal in Kitsap County, WA

Reflections: Riding the North Olympic Discovery Trail

No kids
My husband and me; sunshine
Change into cycling gear in the backseat of the van on the Port Angeles pier
It's quiet
Swing a leg over the saddle; cleats snap
Pedal along calm straits and benches facing seaward in the grass, beckoning repose and reflection
Hard packed dirt and pebbles for a stretch, bumpy back to smooth

A litter of pine cones and twigs greets us; our wheels search smooth blacktop
Twists and turns; sharp descents to wooden bridges over brooks and rivers
The sun finds it's way to us through thick clouds
Snow capped peaks loom over big red barns, and gentle-eyed cows munch green blades of grass
We pedal on, smiling, breathing deep
Ladies walk poodles
Trail side, a cyclist's bike and pack are discarded in exchange for roller blades-his arms circle fast, warming up for a hard push along the straightaway near the airport
"Beautiful day, isn't it?" "Yes, it is."
Parks
Neighborhoods
Sequim
Signs change to white with old-town brown fonts; we miss a turn; miss another

Twenty one miles and turn around
Was the wind at our backs before, or did it just pick up?
A pause to interact with cows and calves, our roadside spectators; they're interested in us, but a bit shy
Railroad Park, another pause - are we getting tired?
Nature calls, a handful of Peanut M&M's shake out of the bag, into the hand, up to the mouth: our fuel
Goofy pictures, laughter
Ride on

Twists and turns, in reverse
Kids jump on a backyard trampoline; jump off homemade dirt ramps on BMX bikes
Two cyclists are up ahead with matching Nike sacks on their backs
"On your left."
She moves right. "There's one more behind me."
She moves left, I brake and move right; she moves right. Her bike leans right as her foot comes to the ground.
Too late. Wheels collide. Hand, hip, shoulder, jaw and helmet hit blacktop.
Husband is off bike and jogging back.
She feels worse than I do. I'm okay, just can't get my shoe unclipped.
She does it for me, helps me up. "Sorry!"
"It's okay."
Pedal on. Stop. Right brake lever and shifter is mashed in, but it works.
Pedal on.

The wind challenges us.
Our thighs begin to burn. Water bottles are drained. M&M's eaten.
No more chatting; no more pictures.
5 miles to go, we know because there are mile markers informing us
A sharp left onto a looping stretch of dirt and pebbles
I stay to the edges, where it's grassy, for smoother riding
Round the bend comes a dog, galloping at top speed, tongue lolling out to the side
A leash pulled tight; a hand
A young man in a crouch-flying on roller blades, his dog pulling him along like the Grinch's poor beast!
He comes out of his crouch as he sees me in his path; I swerve right just in time

Pounding heart, queasy, adrenaline shocked stomach
Breath deeply, turn the crank
Round the unpaved, rocky loop, back to paved shoreline
42 miles
Feeling goofy as we roll onto the pier in P.A.
We take some pictures, load the bikes, surreptitiously change in the van again
A gang of foul mouthed adolescents are parked at the adjacent playground
"Let's get out of here, where should we eat?"
???????????????????????????
Hungry, can't think straight.

Heading out to Sequim he grabs a lone banana from behind his seat and doesn't offer to share.
"Hey, can I have some of that?"
He rips off the end that he's just bitten and hands it to me with a wild look in his eyes. I gobble it down.
"Okay, let's turn around and go back to that Thai place by the pier", I say.
We do. Cold drafts and spicy noodles fill our bellies. "God, this is so good."
Big belly laughs.
"We don't usually fight over a banana before dinner."
DQ chocolate dipped cones for the car ride home

Home.
Kids are in bed.
"Thanks, Mom."
"Okay, I love you honey, bye."
Grandmas just don't know how much richer our lives are because of them.
Ride on.

Airport section

Whimsical, charming...

Spectators by the wayside

Railroad Bridge

Where's the Thai food?

Treading Water

Right. It is a good thing that I signed up for the Blue Lake Tri before swimming in the lake yesterday with the so-called troops. Or is it? I've swam in Wildcat Lake many times in my life and have never worn a wetsuit. Last September at the Tri Turtle Tri, which is held at this very same lake, I felt perfectly fine swimming 800 yards in my two piece swim suit. No problem.  Yesterday, I dug out my old shorty wetsuit, which is a bit too small, and arrived back at the beach after our 1/2 mile swim completely frozen. The water is cold in May. (!)

Mentally I was not in the game either, I was seriously wondering why I signed up for a triathlon of any distance, I don't even like swimming! My wetsuit felt like it was choking me and the range of motion for my arms felt restricted. Plus, the troops were moving out and I was falling behind-flailing. I felt stressed out the whole way across the lake and back, and was happy to see Audrey-one of the troops-come swimming back out to give me moral support for the final 200. I didn't really feel like I was even moving forward at that point, just treading water.

Back on the shore I had to make a real effort to keep my teeth from clacking together; it took me an hour to stop shivering.  This was just a no-good, rotten swim workout for me and the competitor in me needed to do something to get myself back on track, so after I (finally!) warmed up, I made a bee-line for Poulsbo Running to try on full performance wetsuits. They have several choices and offer weekend rentals for $35 . Just trying one on gave me a bit of a boost. The mental edge is not to be trifled with.

It's funny, but it seems to be true that my workouts always seem to mimic how my life is going.  Maybe if I can get rid of that pile of laundry, get my sick kids healthy, and check a few other things off my list, I will have a better swim. Will I be ready in three weeks to swim 1500 meters? My confidence is shaken but I am still resolved to go for it. We'll see. I know the troops will be cheering me on. I may not love swimming, but I do love a challenge.

-Michelle

Transitions

Transitions, and not T1 or T2.  I mean training transitions.  The time post major race event that moves ones' focus to the next major race.  That's where I am or I should say, was most recently. 

I finished the Wenatchee 1/2 Marathon in mid-April and now three weeks later have FINALLY got my head to switch gears onto my next major event - the Blue Lake Olympic Triathlon - in less than four weeks.  A one mile swim, followed by a 26-mile bike with a 10k tacked on the end for a cool-down.

Thankfully, Michelle and I have been maintaining a bike routine (mostly) weekly so I am comfortable that the bike leg will go okay.  I've been making it to the pool weekly with my goal being twice a week but swimming in a pool says NOTHING when preparing for a race that swims ONE MILE in a cold deep lake.  It dawned on me just two days ago that I NEED TO GET INTO THE LAKE! 

Wait!  It's MAY.  In Washington.  The lakes are cold in August in Washington.  Hmmmm?!  Why did think that an oly tri was a good idea in June?  Oh, because that's when it fits into that master schedule I planned out in January.  Time to round up the troops. 

The troops showed up.  We jumped into the lake this morning and swam our first 1/2 mile of the season in open water.... hallelujah!  Yeah, it was cold - but once you get going the coldness wears off and a smile appears because that first plunge is over and now the routine will no longer include a dip in the pool - it'll be off to the lake! 

Olympic Distance was still the right choice!  Right Michelle?!  Good thing we signed up before the swim this morning.

Maybe I should start running again.

Roots Rock

Forest 5k - Port Gamble, WA.
Roots Rock Trail Running Series

• Two Adidas knit hats
• A stylish ball cap
• Two sweat/headbands
• 1 pair Smartwool knit liner gloves
• 1 Amphipod Micropack
• 3 short sleeve Roots Rock technical shirts
• 2 blue & 1 red age group ribbons

Yes, Poulsbo Running knows how to host an event and those in the know hang around for the awards, 'cause there's always lots of goodies coming out of Brooke and Chris Hammett's magic cardboard box. So, before you scoff at my hard won podium prize, ask yourself the following: "Where the hell was I this morning and why doesn't my car smell as good as Michelle's?" Hmm? Yes, well, there is always the Timber Town 10k in July. I am planning to kick your booty if show up, just so ya know. It is a race afterall, and running like a wild woman through the woods can be very therapeutic...but I'm preaching to the choir here.

Shawn & Sloan (right side) - A last minute registration. 

This last week has been a hard one for our family, as we said goodbye to a dear loved one who recently passed away. We had penciled the Roots Rock Trail Running Series races onto our calendar and after a long, sad week, a local 5k sounded like a good thing to do.  Shortly after tucking in for the night I heard my cell phone jingle. Who could that be this late at night? My phone happened to be on my bedside table so I flipped it open and read the text message from Elisa. "You are running a 5k tomorrow" it said. Is she freaking psychic? No, apparently she remembered that I had wanted to bid on the race series donation that she had procured for our kids' elementary school auction, which is where she was texting me from, so she bid on it for me and won. Sweet deal.

Sunday A.M. - After chugging our usual morning cup of coffee and hastily throwing on our running gear, my husband, Shawn, and I jumped in the car and headed down the hill toward Port Gamble. Just after exiting our neighborhood, my husband's cell phone rang. "Uh, oh, that's probably Sloan," said my husband. Our nine year old son wanted to run the race, but was still sleeping when we snuck out the door. We hung a u-turn and headed back to get him. I looked at my watch, yep, we would still make it to the race on time, barely. (We did, and...relief!....I even had time for a quick trip to the restroom.)

Banjo music livened up the pre-race routine.

22:35  Finished. I haven't run a 5k in quite some time and didn't get a chance to warm-up. The first mile was a bit of a shock to the system, but then I settled into a pretty good rhythm. The course was muddy and started in town, heading out through some rolling, grassy meadows, then looped back into the root strewn singletrack trails of the woods, which soon delivered us to an old logging road. The road took us out further into the Port Gamble trail system and then back to the finish. I've run on this section of the Port Gamble Trails before and I always have the uncanny feeling that I'm running uphill in both directions. It's great fun. I highly recommend it. Click on the link above for a map of the trails, just be aware that new trails have and are being made, so there are more single tracks out there than you will see on the map.

Sloan rockets to the finish. (30:21) He ran the whole course on his own.

Shawn, Sloan, Michelle (me). Shawn placed second in his age group (20:42), plus he also scored a knit hat during the raffle. It's amazing how happy winning a raffle prize can make you. We all felt thrilled to have our numbers called out. Bingo, bingo, bingo. Yeah. It really is the small things that make life good.

Rest. 

Sloan races back after receiving his Boys 10 & under blue ribbon, plus a cool Adidas XC knit hat from race directors Brooke and Chris Hammett, owner's of Poulsbo Running.

Say cheese. Top 3 ladies 40 and over. We still got it. :)

The Top-Ten Leading to 13.1

Top 10 Things I Learned While Training for and Running a Half Marathon



10. Don't wash & dry your mp3 player. They don't do dryers.



9. Running without tunes is actually enjoyable.



8. My preference is running with a friend.



7. Listening to my body is smart.



6. As a runner, the Pacific NW has got to be one of the most beautiful and challenging places to live. I am lucky.



5. Nature calls around mile 6 of a run that is scheduled to be greater than 12 miles.



4. I can take care of business just like bears do.



3. Always carry tissues.



2. If the urge hits while in a race - always take the FIRST opportunity to go!



1. I can run 13.1 miles.

Wenatchee 1/2 Marathon

Wenatchee Half Marathon - Saturday, April 17, 2010

Eyes open.  Clock reads 5:44 a.m.  At first, I close my eyes and think, I have one more minute until the alarm goes off - ni....  OH CRAP.  We are leaving at 5:45.  ARGHHH!  At least I didn't completely oversleep.  Rob says, "you pushed snooze a long time ago."  Thanks dear.  I guess I am not shaving my legs this morning.  So much for a shower.  I check the boys bedroom - no Michelle.  I find her sitting at the kitchen table quietly drinking coffee, eating breakfast and reading a magazine.  At least I set the automatic timer on the coffee pot and set my clothes out the night before - let's roll!

It's 6 a.m. - the morning looked perfect from the view of Plain Valley.  Sun shining through a light layer of hazy clouds, 50 degrees.  A great day for a morning jog.  Wenatchee is a short hour drive from the cabin and one I am used to on Saturday wee-mornings.  Packet pick-up is from between 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. with the race starting at 8. The plan was to be at pick-up at 7, use the restroom, drop our stuff at the car, use the restroom and start the race.  The email correspondence from the 'director' stated that they were expecting a record number of participants estimated at a thousand people. 

We pull into the parking lot next to a series of porta-potties at 7 a.m.  This has got to be close.  How convenient - right next to the restrooms.  Things are looking good!  

But, are we in the right place?  Where are all the people?  Oh - a thousand people for the whole event.  There is a 10K, 1/2 marathon & full marathon.  

I pick up my packet.  This is too easy!  We found that we had plenty of time to walk around, find indoor plumbing (twice), sneak across the bridge for a photo and drop our 'warm' gear at the car prior to the race start.

  

We basically just followed the crowd, knowing that the 1/2 marathon was the first race and as soon as people started filling the street, we followed.  A quick snapshot at the start.  Just another weekend run - I was trying to convince myself.  Up until this point, I had logged just two runs in the double digits and the closest I came to 13.1 miles was just over 11.  I was trying not to think about how many more minutes I would have to run over that 11 mile run and was hoping that race day anxiety and adrenaline would get me through.  Let's go already!

I was feeling really good at the start.  The first two miles flew by, but I was humbled greatly when from behind I heard this alarm go off.  Someone's HR monitor already?  No, no.  It was just the two fellas out for a morning jog.  With a keg.  Yes, they passed me.  The alarm was set so they could switch carriers.  They were going to carry the keg the whole race.  Michelle mentioned to me that she would feel horrible if they finished the race before us.  So Michelle, how do you feel?  (Yes, they kept their pace and finished ahead of us - but it didn't appear they were 'officially' running the race.  No timing chip and no number. Doesn't count right?!)

The course is an out and back along the mighty Columbia River, starting in downtown Wenatchee and heading north along the river.  We cross the bridge into East Wenatchee and head south for about 2 miles turn around and head back.  It was a gorgeous day with little wind and just the right amount of sun (not beating down but not completely hiding behind the clouds).

You can almost see Mission Ridge in the right hand side of the mountains in the photo below.  The views of town from the Ridge are just as spectacular as from the views on race day looking up.  The scenery alone is enough to keep me running.

It is at this point in the race (about mile 6) my stomach begins to cramp.  I know that I need to down some gel soon and I am just not sure how that will go.  Knowing that a water station is also coming up, I want to down some nutrition in order to wash it down with some water.  So, I chugged about a tablespoon of Hammer Gel (apple cinnamon, just in case you are interested) and await the water station. 

I accidentally grab the sports drink - ick. But, apparently my sports drink mix up wasn't the only mishap here - my wardrobe malfunction just adds more humor - now.    My stomach is already in a knot and now it is cringing.  I can't do sports drinks and I think I need to go to the bathroom.  This isn't looking good.

So I plug along.  My pace is slower than a snail at this point, but I am still jogging.  I see a porta-pottie.  Oh, I'll be fine.  I am sure there is another one not much further along - heck, they've had them just about every other mile up until this point.  This feeling HAS to pass.  Michelle confirms my thoughts - you'll be able to make it she says.

"Hi Sam's mom!"  I hear.  Huh?!  I have a Sam.  Oh!  You mean me!  Who is that?  I don't recongnize that person.  Sam -preschool & snowboarding are his thing - who would be here that would know him and not me?  I couldn't think of anyone from Sam's preschool class that would be here.  Must be someone from snowboarding.

At the turn around they hand out GU (and quite the variety I must add).  I politely take one and put it in my pocket (it's 'free'!)- I have absolutely no desire to put anything else into my body.  I was mapping out the distance to those porta-potties - how far was that last one from the turn around again?   If there isn't a line, I'll go. 

Hah!  Two porta-potties, right next to a water stop.  There are people around.  NO WAY!  I am not going there - too public.  (Love, love, love my pottie phobia).  I know that on the other side of the bridge there are bathrooms ever mile or so.  They are permanent structures and much more 'private'.  I'll go there if I need to.

Thinking back on it - I was ridiculous.  I was running, but using all my energy on the downhills (where I can actually 'recover' a bit) making sure everything stayed put, on the inside.  It got to the point where I was playing out scenerios in my head about which group of sagebrush was big enough to hide behind. 

Somewhere around mile 10 - I find relief.  Hallalujah! 

Now it's time for the side stitch to take over and my numb toes to cause me grief. 

It's ALL in my head.
 MIND OVER MATTER!
Push through - you can do it.

AND I DID! 

(Note the huge sigh of relief here!)

I FINISH 2:12:01! 

Right on.

Thanks Michelle for 'running' with me.  I say that because for Michelle - this was a slow jog.   Had it not been for the fact that Michelle is rehabbing an injury, there is NO way I would have asked her to run the race WITH me.  But because she is under doc orders to run only short 4 milers a couple times a week I took advantage of the opportunity.  I am happy that I did - her report on Monday was that she felt great.  Had she run 'her' race the outcome would not have been so joyful  or so that's the story I'm sticking to. 

 Of course, she heads right to the results posting and checks her age group.  Her response, "I could have totally won my age group" reminds me that she is a strong competitor and I was a lucky girl to have such a wonderful friend to give that up!

My goal was to RUN the whole race.  Check. 

My target finish time was 2:09, based on my PR 5K time.  I am very happy with the outcome and am still laughing at the fact that ANYTHING can happen on race day!

NW Adventure Chics - postrace.

The mystery greeter! a.k.a.  Miss Amy - Sam's preschool teacher!!  What a surprise.

Michelle, Samantha Cox & I.  While running the 'home stretch' Michelle & I both see this girl walking a dog and cheering on the runners and as we got closer we realize we know her.  Sam, a lifeguard at the North Kitap pool and a hopeful triathlete recruit - ran the 10K and finished SECOND in her age group!  Way to go Sam!

A great first half. 

Now when is the second?!