fishy_outawater

Just came across this today...

2009-02-26T05:29:00.000-08:00

It's been a while...

2009-02-25T07:03:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since I have posted and since I have done any kind of racing. Over the past two weekends we have done two masters meets. It was our first swim meets in probably over three years. It was fun to get back into the pool for some shorter events.

PAY Winter Freeze
2.15.09 - Short Course Meters

Xterra Regional Champion - 2008

2008-09-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

This year I am Xterra Regional Champion for my age group. Last year I missed it by one point. I am excited to have the honor. I wish I could travel out to Tahoe for champs, but it is just not feasible this year. Thanks for a great season and wonderful adventures! Everyone who puts time into the series does such a great job.

LIVESTRONG Challenge Philly

2008-08-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I rode the 100 mile LIVESTRONG Challenge in Philly. It was a great experience. Shawn and Mike went to pick up our packets the day before the ride, so when we all arrived in the morning we just had to get our bikes together and go. Bruce met up with Shawn, Sara, Otmani, Mike and I in the parking lot right when we arrived. We geared up, put on the sunscreen and went to the start. We all waited 40 minutes past the start time for the opening ceremonies. Finally, it began and Lance gave a short speech and we were off.

The first ten miles were congested and we all separated. We gathered again at the first stop. At this time we saw a girl in a pink dress and sandals, riding the ride. Off we went for the next 13 miles, easy as cake so far. Otmani and I had some fun riding together trying to see how fast we could go on the downhills. The second stop came and this one was huge, and really congested. I thought this is going to be horrible, too many people everywhere, and commented how it was like being in New York City. As the day went on though the masses really spread.

Bruce had been riding pretty fast and ahead of us. I decided to stick with him and see how it went. I began with him on the next leg, but with the crowds, eventually got boxed in and lost him. Again, we regrouped at the stop. The next time I was able to stay with Bruce and we rode fast through all the downhills and continued up hills while people all around us were cramping and walking. I lost Bruce at one point in the cornfields, where the wind was bad, I found him at the stop just after I rode the biggest hill of my life. Bruce and I were pretty far ahead at this point, so we waited, I ate and ate - mostly oranges, they are key for me in long events. When the last of our group arrived, we found out that Otmani had broken a spoke. There was a bike tent, which was fixing it for him, but our time was running low. They set the cut-off for 4 p.m. and we were only 57 miles out. Shawn urged Bruce and I to take off, so eventually we set off. I was worried, we had been in the rest stop for at least 45 minutes just after a huge hill.

Right away another hill came to torture us, no cramping though. I was good and kept on behind Bruce. At the next stop we decided to skip it and just go for the cut time. We both took a swig of our Gatorade as we pushed on. Somewhere in this section we were coming up to a red light, but the cops stopped traffic so we would not have to stop. Next thing I know, Bruce said something like I will catch up. I continued up the hill and continued on. I figured he was right on my wheel as there were still plenty of people around. When I came to the next stop, I stopped. No Bruce. I waited and when he came in he was feeling it. Looked pretty pale, but as I was calculating we had 1 hour to do 19 miles, we had to move. So I urged him to eat something, and as he did he said let's go.

19 miles to go, with one hour. They told us they were going to pick people up even if they were one mile out. I rode as hard as I could, but the time was slipping by and the hills kept coming, though much smaller at this point. However small, 80+ miles into a ride they felt big enough. I started to see signs every 5 miles counting us down. I rode alone for the rest of the ride, just hoping to make it in. I skipped the last stop, which I heard was filled with the best treats, cake and soda. I had 15 minutes to ride 5 miles, I kept glancing at my watch. Skipping the last rest stop really hurt. I hit the wall in those last 5 miles and they were the longest 5 of the entire ride. People were riding past and it was all I could do to ride up the last hills. Where was this stupid college? It seemed at every traffic light we should be entering to the finish, but it was not there. Finally, I saw some yellow balloons and came up next to a man I had seen at the start. I told him great ride, and then he rode his way down the cancer survivor lane at the finish. I came in 7 minutes past 4 p.m., but no one ever came out to pick us off the street. Ten minutes later Bruce came in, I was so thankful they let him finish. All the others were allowed to finish as well, their threats meant nothing in the end. All of the volunteers waited out so the riders could finish their days.

It was an amazing experience. At the 57 mile rest stop I met a woman who was doing the ride for her second time, this time after beating cancer, last year in between her chemo and radiation. The people out there were brave and strong. Bruce could barely ride two laps of a parking lot five months ago and was now kicking our ass on a 100 mile ride. I had so much fun, and have a new respect for hills. I rode every last inch of that ride and it was a good feeling in the end. Over 3 million dollars were raised on that day alone for the fight against cancer. It is a nasty disease and I hope one day we will have a world free of it.

Xterra Charlottesville, Aug. 17, 2008

2008-08-19T11:50:00.001-07:00

With a lot on my mind, I had not thought much about this race. We had pre-registered a few weeks in advance so we went down to race even though we were not too ready for it. I was glad since this is my favorite venue for the xterra races.

Unfortunately, the race begins way too early so we had to get up at 4:30 a.m. We got to the race sight before the sun even got up, another sign it was way too early. Shawn and I got premium spots on the far racks, they were filling up fast, by the time the last athletes arrived there was only room along the fence. This race must have doubled in size from last year.

They changed up the swim wave starts and I ended up in the first wave. This was fine because last year I was in the last wave and people from the first wave had already made it around and lapped us before we even got to start. So I had clean water this year for an entire lap, and did not run into people until about half way through the second lap. The swim went easy, surprisingly since I have not swum in about a month, two guys took off from the start and I hung back. I was third out without a problem, first female, with the pro Alisha Lion not too far back.

Transition went well, got everything on, but I made a huge mistake. I forgot to find out where the exit was and ran my bike pretty much all the way around the perimeter before I got out. I saw Alisha in transition and new she would be coming along very soon.

The bike was awesome. It has a lot of twists and turns, roots and rocks. The trails are similar to our own, but much rootier and rockier. The first half flew by, a lot of it was fun downhills. Alisha passed me early on, but then I never saw another female until 8 miles in. I had clean trails that entire time. I must have put enough time on the men on the swim that they were pretty far behind. But it all came crashing down in the last four miles of the race, they all caught up at once and I had to continually pull over to allow streams of five men pass. It got very frustrating after feeling so free and fast for the first half.

Some fun firsts happened on the bike:
1. I did my first ever jump in a race. I am not sure what came over me and why I did it. I just think I was having so much fun riding it was like an everyday ride and I wanted to feel some air.

2. I rode the biggest log pile of my life. I remember coming up to it and hesitating, thinking I am not sure what is on the other side, but then just went for it. I think I might be ready for some middle run log pile action.

The other cool thing that was running through my head at this point, this specific log pile, was that two years ago at that point it was me, one other man and the sweep. We were out there together just trying to survive. I remember getting off my bike there thinking there is no way, and the guy reacting, saying that we had made it this far lets live and walk over. Also having the sweep there is a memory I will never forget. I told him good job, and he was like...ummm, no I am just out here to make sure everyone gets in. Shawn was not racing and I had been out there so long that he starting walking the trail backwards to make sure I was ok. This made me realize how far I have come in two years as I rode successfully over these logs in third place.

The run came and was not too bad, though I only took one gu on the bike and had decided I would rely on the cliff blocks on the run. Out of transition I grabbed the opened bag upside down and they all fell out except for one. I ate the one immediately and later on choked down a gu after two gags from the water tent. I ran steady, walked some hills. A couple girls passed me and towards the end I came up on a guy who was cramping. I stopped for about 30 seconds to give him the rest of my water I was carrying. He downed it. Then I started back up the final hill, about a quarter mile to the finish. At the very end a girl passed me who was in my division. I did know this, let her pass and then when she got about ten feet ahead I could see the finish line so I kicked it in as fast as possible. I sprinted and thanks to all the track practices I have done this year was able to beat this girl. Shawn was there at the finish, I had not heard him cheering.

I would love to get back there to just ride the trails one day. They are a lot of fun. I think I was like fifth overall female, third in my age-group and 79th total. We left before the official results came out, I had a nap before we drove home. I was most sore from my Wii playing, though my legs felt that final sprint in.

Morning Fog

2008-08-04T13:53:00.001-07:00

CIMG0184.JPG, originally uploaded by fishy_outawater.

CIMG0188.JPG, originally uploaded by fishy_outawater.

I had so many comments throughout the entire race about being number 1, including just after the two woman passed me when the volunteer told me I was ALMOST number one. I thought that was a bit harsh! Read the race report below.

Xterra Appalachia - 8.03.08

2008-08-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

The drive to xterra Appalachia out in Indiana, Pennsylvania is beautiful. Through the mountains on the PA turnpike we encountered some severe thunderstorms and had a wonderful show Saturday afternoon. By the time we arrived, it was sunny and not humid, a perfect evening. We picked up our numbers - I was number 1. Wow!

The evening went fast and we tried to get some sleep, but the hotel hosted a bunch of party animals so the night was restless. In the morning we had a quick breakfast and made our way through the fog. We were so close to the race site we got there with plenty of time to stake our space in an odd transition area. Before I did that, I went down to the lake for some neat photos.

I picked a spot close to the entrance from the swim, not the best location, but I ended up only sharing the rack with one other person so it was fine. I set up my gear, got my number 1 plastered on my arm and got in for a swim. We had enough time to swim the entire course which was an out and back on the warm lake.

When the race director shouted go we were all wading chest deep in the water, off we went. Shawn sprinted ahead, I have never seen him take to the swim like this. I was too far out away from the line of buoys that would be so easy to follow so I decided to cut in. It was Otmani I was cutting in front of, but I decided to go for it so I could have a straight line throughout the swim. It was a very short swim and I wanted to hold back as much as possible. Going out some dude in a wetsuit took off with Shawn. I was still surprised Shawn was going this hard, on the way back they died off a bit and I pulled up beside them. Shawn and I dropped the wetsuit dude and swam together. Shawn started pulling way left and I tapped him on the shoulder and he got back on track. I timed my stroke so we were stroke for stroke, we came in together. It was fun. Shawn got up before I would normally, because the water was so shallow. I got up with him and then immediately fell back down, but caught back up to him and ran in while having conversation back to transition. Headline should read - Husband and wife finish swim together. At least Shawn won the swim, because the rest of the day did not go his way.

Out on the bike, I got out of transition first, and Otmani soon came up behind. I pedalled with him for a while and then Shawn and Fortmann came up as well. We all went into the single track together. I was last in, Fortmann stopped at one point and I passed by him. Right after that I was behind Shawn and he was getting up a steep hill where you had to dismount. He was trying to get back on and to get started when he got off balance and ended up perpendicular to the trail with his back tire covering the trail, upright pretty much leaning on the tree. A man came around me riding and was trying to pass Shawn's bike, but ended up riding directly into the tire. It tore Shawn's tire right of the rim, and I completely witnessed the entire incident. The man thought he had a flat and I said no Shawn you have a flat - knowing that was it. There was nothing I could do to help him. Fortmann was with us, we all stopped, said sorry and had to go on, I felt soooo bad and so did Fortmann.

The rest of the ride was composed of steep hills that you had to push, push and push. And then some fun downhill sections, a water crossing and some more fire roads. At one point I was by myself and I thought I had gone off track. I stopped to ask a man and woman walking their dogs if they had seen riders going by, they confirmed I was on course and I picked my speed back up. I never saw a female, I was in first the entire bike section until the very last mile. Two females came by at once. I got off the bike not too far behind them, though they dropped me on the last hill coming in.

On the run I felt good going out, and passed two men right away. The run starts out with some huge winding hills. At the bottom of the hill you can see way up and I saw second place female. I tried to catch her, and ran hard when I could, but I had a side cramp the entire run. I never caught her and both the men I passed, passed me later on in the run. I did pass one other guy and overall had a fairly strong run.

The results are not posted yet, but I did end up in third female - free entry into next year's race (pretty cool perk.) I think I broke two hours and last year I was 2hrs 9 minutes at this race. I will post the results when they are up. The race director is so enthusiastic and runs a great race, I will return for more in the future!

HOW MUCH!?!

2008-07-29T10:04:00.001-07:00

How much snot can you blow out of one nose??? I have been blowing straight for a week and it just keeps coming...sorry for the nasty visual...

29th ANNUAL T. JOHN CAREY MASTERS 1 MILE OCEAN SWIM

2008-07-27T05:12:00.000-07:00

Ocean City, NJ -- July 26, 2008

19:58
65/311 - overall
1/13 - age group
16/121 - female

As if we didn't get enough beach time in Rehoboth, we headed up to Ocean City, New Jersey for some more beach time. This time we were there for the one mile ocean swim that a bunch of the Drexel swimmers were doing. We had not done a swimming event, that was just swimming alone, in two years.

We arrived, signed up and walk the mile down the beach to the start line. As we did we tested the water and realized it was unseasonably cold. It is JULY!!! Shawn and I stood in the water contemplating a warm-up for about 15 minutes. Finally, once the Drexel guys ran and dove in we worked our way in, swam out past the breaking waves and quickly back in. This water was COLD.

The swim had two waves and I was in the second. I watched the first wave go off and expected to be two minutes later, I am standing there wet and shivering uncontrollably at this point and find out the start of wave two is going to be ten minutes later. This was a long ten minutes.

Finally our wave went off, and I did not burst into the water like a normal ocean swim. Again I gingerly walked my way in, and walked out as far as I could. When I did dive in I just swam for it, all I could think about was getting back out of the water. By the time I reached the middle of the swim my feet were numb up to my ankles. The only other thought I had throughout that swim was ... how am I going to walk when I get out to the finish line when I can not feel my feet??? Somehow I did, but it took a while for them to come back. I lost a lot of time on the start, probably at least a minute, but I was too cold to care...

I was cold the rest of the night and got a hot chocolate, mid-july on the way home. Sitting at the awards, an older man was having a really bad time. He was shivering still and all wrapped up, I added my towel for him to keep his legs warm. Once we got out of there an ambulance, fire-truck and police car came screaming in, I hope it was not for him.

Rehoboth Beach Flat Ride

2008-07-27T04:47:00.000-07:00

While we were on vacation for a few days at Rehoboth Beach we had a perfect morning to go out for a road ride. We were staying in Rehoboth and road south down Route 1A towards Bethany Beach. The road is perfect for a ride like this because of its wide shoulders. It was a 30 mile ride, out and back, with the bay on one side and the ocean on the other. There were some nice views along the way.

Shawn at the beginning of the ride.

Pit stop for pizza at Bethany Beach.

Our half-way point.

A very nice view from a bridge.

Almost back, at Silver Lake.

A good day for a ride...

Two Magic Words

2008-07-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

Clobetasol propionate

With two applications my poison ivy has completely reversed and is disappearing. Absolutely amazing stuff! If you can get your hands on some, I highly recommend it after tramping through some poison ivy.

Poison Ivy

2008-07-20T08:09:00.001-07:00

I have always been very sensitive to poison ivy, but have been pretty lucky over the past few years since I spend so much time outside. My luck shifted this morning when I saw the beginnings of the rash from my knee all the way down to my ankle on my right leg. I think I can safely trace this back to a trail that we accidentally rode yesterday at the very end, and I mean the last minute, of our three hour ride. I was following Otmani and Shawn all morning, but they were always just far enough ahead that I could not see where they were turning. For some reason Shawn took the route that we normally take only if we want to shoot out at the road. Fortmann and I followed the yells that came from them telling us to go that way, but we thought they turned left to go down the trail. I couldn't understand why they would be taking the road back - which is the way they went. Fortmann and I fought our way through an overgrown trail, and by the end we had to dismount to make it through the overgrowth. Only to find out they had gone on the road and we had chosen the wrong path.

The itching began last night and I woke up this morning to the rash. I immediately looked on the Internet to see if there was any kind of intervention that you could do early to get rid of the rash - I get it bad. I found this article that said to get to the dr. asap and if treated early with the steroids you could actually make the rash disappear. Here's to hoping ... I visited the 7-day clinic and saw a Dr. at 9 a.m. on a Sunday. I am going to pick up the prescription within the next hour...

Here is the article from the New York Times:

Health: Dermatology; With Poison Ivy, Timing Is Everything

By GINA KOLATA

Published: July 14, 1988

LEAD: Exposure to poison ivy, the summertime scourge of suburbia, should be considered more a dermatological emergency than a nuisance to be salved, according to experts in skin disorders.

Exposure to poison ivy, the summertime scourge of suburbia, should be considered more a dermatological emergency than a nuisance to be salved, according to experts in skin disorders.

In treating exposure to the plant toxin, timing is everything, specialists in poison ivy have discovered.

By beginning steroid therapy as soon as the first little red bumps appear on a patient's skin, doctors can stop a poison ivy rash in its tracks. But if they wait or if the patient puts off getting medical help, hoping that the incipent rash is not going to turn into the typical oozing and itching blisters, it may be too late.

The specialists say that even many dermatologists, let alone general practictioners and members of the public, do not realize the importance of early treatment. Few Seek Help Early

But patients rarely seek help early, said Dr. William L. Epstein, a dermatologist at the University of California in San Francisco. ''Usually they wait a day or two,'' he said. Or they ''go to the drugstore and spend money on things that don't work.''

Although steroid hormones may still give patients some relief after the rash has broken out, doctors find that the only way to completely stop a poison ivy rash is to give high doses of the hormones early.

Poison ivy researchers are coming to appreciate the extraordinary potency of the oil, urushiol, that comes from the plant and can cause an allergic rash in about 50 percent of the nation's population. The same oil that is found in poison ivy east of the Rocky Mountains is also found in poison oak west of the Rockies and in poison sumac, which grows in wetlands and standing water all along the East Coast. Urushiol, pronounced you-ROO-she-all, is inactivated by water, but it can persist for months or years on shoes or clothing that have not been washed.

Almost no other natural substance is as potent as urushiol, experts say. Sensitive people will get a rash if they put on a patch with a one-thousandth of 1 percent solution of urushiol on it, researchers have found. In contrast, it takes a solution of 2 percent to 2.5 percent of nickel to produce a skin rash in sensitive people. Myths and Misinformation

Poison ivy researchers say myths and misinformation about poison ivy are rife, but they concede that not even the experts completely understand many aspects of the allergy.

Many people, for example, think that poison ivy rashes are contagious and that they can spread on a person's body if they are scratched. However, scratching and contact with the rash and pus have nothing to do with how the rash spreads.

The rash is a reaction to the oil; thus, it is not contagious by itself. And by the time a person has an itchy rash, the urushiol is long gone from the skin surface.

Dr. Jere D. Guin, a dermatologist at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock, said people spread the urushiol on themselves when they first touch it. A rash could appear everywhere they touch. But the rashes come out at different times, depending on how much oil came into contact with the skin and where the contact occurred. Face Is Particularly Sensitive

The skin that first contacts the urushiol and that has the highest dose of the oil will usually break out first, but some areas are far more sensitive than others, dermatologists have found. The face is particularly sensitive, while the palms of the hands, where the skin is thick, almost never develop rashes.

The only way to stop a severe poison ivy rash is to suppress the entire cell-mediated immunity portion of the immune system. That portion fights infection using white blood cells, while another portion uses antibodies. The urushiol is converted in the body to a reactive chemical, quinone, which binds to white blood cells and starts an immune reaction leading to a rash.

Oddly enough, people who have allergies that involve antibodies, such as asthma and hay fever, are only half as likely as the rest of the population to be allergic to poison ivy. Researchers speculate that immune systems that are overly active in producing antibodies have less active white blood cells. Steroids Prevent a Rash

In experiments, Dr. Epstein has completely prevented a rash from developing by giving people steroid hormones such as cortisol to suppress their cell-mediated immunity after they are exposed to urushiol but before they have broken out.

''Some people have asked if they couldn't just take steroids prophylactically, such as when they are going on a hunting trip,'' Dr. Epstein said. ''Theoretically, it would work like a charm, but practically you just can't do it.'' He said the benefits of potentially preventing a rash were not worth the risk of suppressing the immune system, which include an increased susceptiblity to infections.

Dr. Epstein emphasized, however, that if patients started taking steroid hormones within six hours of developing a rash, the rash would go away completely. The longer people wait to take steroids the less likely they are to benefit from them.

One of the great mysteries of poison ivy rashes is their propensity to appear in places that have never been touched by urushiol. Dermatologists can always say that perhaps the patient accidentally brushed that area of skin, or that the oil was on the patient's clothes and the clothes brushed the skin. Rashes in Other Areas

Such a hypothesis is difficult to rule out because it takes so little oil to cause a rash. Dr. Epstein has found that a person who is insensitive to poison ivy can touch urushiol with a finger and then blot his finger on his own skin a thousand times, but there will still be enough urushiol on his finger to produce a rash if he touches the skin of a sensitive person.

But experiments indicate that rashes can occur in areas that were not exposed to the oil. Dermatologists have put a patch containing urushiol on a volunteer's skin and found that a rash not only appears under the patch but also crops up elsewhere on the body. In particular, it seems likely to appear at the site of an old poison ivy rash or in an area where there is pressure or minor irritation, such as the shoulder blades.

One possible explanation for rashes in areas that have not been touched by urushiol is that minute amounts of quinone that the body makes from urushiol are carried through the body by immune system cells. When these cells circulate in an area that is slightly irritated they might provoke a reaction.

Some experts have also suggested that minute amounts of urushiol fragments might remain at the site of old poison ivy rashes, and these fragments might cause an old rash to flare up when the immune system cells come by bearing quinones from urushiol. But these theories have never been tested. ''It's all just supposition,'' Dr. Epstein said. An Assault on the Body Soon after brushing against poison ivy, a person can spread its potent oil elsewhere by touch. But the rash can appear in puzzling patterns. Even when directly exposed, the palm, 1, never breaks out. If oil has been rubbed on the face, 2, the rash can appear within hours or days. Effects also appear relatively quickly on the delicate skin of the inner arm, 3. Thicker skin, as on the outer arm, 4, is slower to react and may not erupt for a week or more. As derivatives of the toxic oil pass through the bloodstream, rashes can also appear in places not directly exposed, as on the leg, 5, perhaps because the skin had been sensitized by a previous attack. Secretions from the rash itself do not contain the toxin and cannot cause eruptions.

EX2 Xterra - July 13, 2008

2008-07-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

We headed out to Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland on Saturday morning. It is not a long drive so we were able to take our time and head out mid-morning. Otmani picked Shawn and I up and we managed to not forget anything. We successfully made it to packet pick-up even after some adventures finding lunch and a grocery stop on the way. After getting our race numbers we drove down the road and set up tent. Rocky Gap is beautiful and has wonderful campgrounds. We had plenty of room and our tents were right along the bike and run route. We thought about setting the cooler up so we could grab some cold drinks as we came through!

Otmani and Shawn tried to help me fix up my bike which had started shifting poorly the week before the race, although it is new I have put hundreds of miles on it already this year. We could not remedy the problem and seemed to make it a bit harder to shift. I was frustrated, but thankful it was still rideable, though not very smooth.

Race morning arrived quickly and as we were eating we looked at our watches and realized we had to get over to the race site. Luckily we were camping so close that we were one of the first to arrive. As we walked in, Otmani suggested I visit the Bike Lane tent and see if they could adjust my derailer. Yes - this race is actually big enough that they had two bike tents providing pre-race maintenance. The dude was ultra quick and made a bunch of adjustments, and even took the cable off entirely, but he came up with the same results we did, though he made it much smoother, smoother even than a week before when the problem started. He said I needed to replace the cable housing and there wasn't time for that. But i felt lucky, it was smooth and I had gotten there in time for him to do that much. A girl came over, while he was working on my bike, and said she had forgotten her bike ... yes her entire bike. He had one she could borrow, but she already looked pretty upset so I was thankful I had my own bike in working condition!

After that I even had time to set up transition and take my bike for a spin, again glad I did this because he had it in a very high gear which would have been a complete surprise when I mounted it after the swim. I also had time to swim a warm-up. All went well and the race was off with the first wave, all men 45 and under. I fell into the second wave, and decided to start far right closest to the bouys. I don't normally do this and usually take the outside route, but something just told me to go the direct route this time; I had been all the way to the left and had to weave through the girls at the start line with my last minute decision. I took off and one girl, who was part of a relay stayed with me. I swam very easy, but no one came up on us. Immediately we swam through the men, this girl went way outside and I just stayed straight somehow swimming through the masses without anybody getting in my way. I feel like the crowd just divided as we came through them, I think they were scared! I swam into the finish of the first lap right behind this girl and stayed on her tail, but again she took the outside route on the second lap and I decided to go with the straight option. I think I swam the straightest, shortest possible route and did it as slow as I could - my time was still a minute faster than last year. I came out first female, the girl never caught back up after her scenic route through the far end of the course. Into transition and I see Shawn and Otmani, I am not out of breath much, a good sign.

I decide to take the bike easy, I just want to make sure to finish this course. It is pretty technical and in years past we have not had good luck as a group (even resulting in broken bones.) I rode through the first rocky section with ease, though there were too many men around me ready to pass. At one point I decided to pull off and let about ten or fifteen guys go by, as I did this I cheered each of them on and that presented the atmosphere I carried for the rest of the race. I went back to the basics and just had fun. I rode smoothly and as each person passed I made sure to tell them great job. It is amazing the responses you get back and how much more fun it makes the ride. My first mistake came at Evitt's revenge where I decided to ride. I rode up and up past a bunch of guys who were walking - about half way up I had to dismount and walk. At that point I had winded myself and could barely push the bike up, then the hill keeps going up for a while, it is rideable at this point, but since I was winded it was harder than it should have been.

After that big hill there is a steep rocky descent, very dangerous and I went slowly down it, though I rode it without hesitation. People did pass me and flew by going down, but as I exited I came upon a race worker and exclaimed how happy I was to make it through. From that hill out it is easy going to the end of the lap. The second lap went just as well, easy going, didn't push it too much but a lot of fun. Talked with each competitor who passed and enjoyed the race.

Coming into transition I was with a guy, I exclaimed we made it! He was just as excited to make it through the bike section. I had to pee though and still had another hour to go in this race, I decided to take the time in transition and take care of that :) Out onto the run my legs felt like dead weight, and my stomach was cramping. We were not even started, my goal was to come in at 3 hours and I was on pace, but would have to repeat my phenomenal run from last year. It wasn't going to happen. My stomach was really on edge and I had to preserve my energy for the climbs. I could not run in places where I made it through last year, and had to actually stop on the rocky uphill hike section to gather myself and gain my breath back. I knew at that point I would not make the three hour cut off that I had set for myself, but just kept running as I could. I allowed the boy to splash me at the water stopped, he was chucking the water into your face as hard as he could and it was pretty funny. He was having fun. I could barely run down the smooth road at the end of the race, but did my best to keep going. Many, many, many people passed me at this point in the race, but I still made sure to have fun. I was so happy that I never saw Otmani or Shawn, meaning that they successfully made it through without technical problems that have plagued them in the past at this specific race.

I finished as one guy passed me 100 yards to the finish line, some guy warned me he was coming, but it was all I could do to keep moving forward! I got through the finish and Shawn and Otmani were waiting. I collapsed in exhaustion at their bike rack, that had collapsed itself somewhere during the race. We all made it back into the lake and relaxed in the cool water. I guess it was pretty hot that day, but by now I am pretty used to this summer heat.

The results were just posted and it looks like I not only took my wave, but had the fastest swim time overall ... I did not expect that at all, I felt as though I held back sooo much! I need some good rest, I think my body is overall just depleted from all this racing. My legs are not firing at the end of these races, but overall this was the most fun I have had all year at a race.

Results:
3rd in age-group out of 12
126 overall including men and relays out of 261

3   125 Alicia Markey           29 Newark DE                                                          3:07:35
Swim: 20:16 (1)          
Bike lap 1: 50:32 (4)
Swim + Bike lap 1: 1:10:48 (2)
Bike lap 2:  50:13 (3)      
Swim + Bike: 2:01:01 (3)
Run: 1:06:34 (5)
Total: 3:07:35 (3)

The camping was fantastic, the night entailed a few more bike rides, a visit to the camp store, a petition for more ice that will be filed in Annapolis, many critters, tree climbing, dirt bike riding, crashes (more blood than at the race), a long-lived camp fire with exploding cans, burnt bean patties with week old buns and two thirty packs. Again, a weekend we will long remember.

Firecracker 5k

2008-07-07T06:12:00.000-07:00

July 4, 2008
Rockford Park, Wilmington , DE

00:24:03
07:46
77th overall
14th female
8th age-group

100% humidity on the fourth of July this year, we drove to the race in the rain, and it rained while we warmed-up, but it stopped for the start of the 5k. The start went well and I was feeling great, but about five minutes into the race my mouth was dry, completely dry. All of the sudden I could not get air and I had to stop, bent over coughing I thought that I was going to have to walk back and as I couldn't get air my eyes darted around to find the closest volunteer. I waved Shawn and Otmani pass as they came by me, I did not want them to worry or stop during their race. Soon after I was able to get my breathing under control and decided I would continue on.

I made it past the mile marker under 7:45, with the stop, so I must have been flying for the first mile. I could still see Shawn and Otmani, they were running together so I ran towards them and made it to them at the turnaround. Coming back was tough in the humidity and a short incline upwards. Otmani slowly crept ahead and I did all I could to continue, but the last 400 meters were really painful and I had to pee so bad! I got to the finish and fell onto the grass, 5k's are so painful, just like a 200 free ... a long sprint. We all had pretty good times for the conditions, enjoyed a short warm-down swim and a full day of bbq and drinking.

Rocks to Remember

2008-07-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

Someone posted these images of the trail at Xterra Trimax and it better explains what I was trying to ellaborate on ... so many rocks ...

This is a good picture of the Mountain Laurel that was embedded all over the trail, at times you had to squeeze through it or it grabbed you, but it was beautiful.

Official Trimax Results and Photos

2008-07-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

38th overall; 3RD F25-29
Swim: 0:10:29
T1: 0:01:41
Bike: 1:28:54
T2: 0:00:59
Run: 0:42:13
Total: 2:24:16

Transition set-up prerace

Darlise, our photographer and supporter

Vince - prerace before his first Xterra

COLD pond

Ready to swim

Me on the swim

Shawn exiting the swim

Vince exiting the swim

Vince on the bike

Vince on the run

Me on the bike

Me going out on the run

Vince on the finish

Shawn on the finish

Me on the finish

WE ALL FINISHED!!

If I never see another ROCK again...

2008-06-30T09:50:00.001-07:00

Xterra Trimax

Mifflenburg, PA - June 29,2008

We arrived mid-afternoon after a nice back-road drive to central PA. We had been out this route to Indiana, PA last year and knew the ride was nice. Half was there we ran into a crazy downpour, the kind that you can barely see when driving. In a short fifteen minutes, the rain was done. We made it to the hotel, and talked with Vince and Darlise (a neighbor from a few houses down.) We decided to meet at the race site for packet pick-up. Shawn and I went over early hoping to get a short swim in, but the water was cold and there were too many kids swimming at the park. Instead we walked a few miles of the course to see what we could see. After picking up our packets we ran into someone we knew who told us the course was crazy and that he had walked 30% of it. We met this guy on the way back from Tahoe last year after he won his age group at nationals and was on to Worlds, I knew coming from him this was going to be a tough ride.

It was about then that I decided I was just there to ride and have fun. That evening we went to dinner with Vince and Darlise and then got some last minute stuff together and got a good night sleep. The morning came with sprinkles shooting out of the sky while we got the bikes back on the rack; we thought this would be our first race in the rain. But the rain never came full-on. We set up transition. Vince and I went out for a short warm-up run while Shawn went in the water. We met him back at transition and his teeth were shaking, he stated he made the decision that the wetsuit was needed. It was pretty humid, and our short run made us wet with sweat. It was a workout just to get the wetsuit on, but once we got in the water we realized why it was needed - it was cold.

The swim went off as a sprint across the beach and it was a two lap course through some nice lake grass and crap. It kept getting stuck around my neck and through my fingers. Shortly through the first lap I was alone with one other guy. I rode his feet for the rest of the lap and then passed him on the second lap as he wandered wide. I came out of the water first; the guy was only two seconds behind and he congratulated me on a nice swim as we ran together up to transition.

The transition was tight and since I was first in I had plenty of room to get the wetsuit off, but by the time I was out the others were starting to crowd in. I had to carry my bike over people just to get out. The bike started with a few miles up hill, with two short but steep climbs. I sat back and paced them out, but made it up. Vince passed me just as we went in to the single track, then the rocks...oh the rocks. I have never seen so many. I attempted to ride them, and some were rideable. At the first unridable spot I had been riding for a while and a man behind me stated I was showing him some good lines, but I just couldn't take it any longer. From there out for the next few miles it was a walk - bike - walk. The rocks were insane. At one point while riding, I came up to a black, plastic storm pipe that looked as though if you hit it from the right angle you would go fine over it. But it was went and it took me right down, later on after the race, everyone in transition remembered this pipe and it sounded as though it took down most racers.

There was a point in the rock gardens that the race was no longer a race for me, I just wanted to survive and did not want a broken ankle. Shawn came by at some point and I probably made him worried because I expressed my concerns. Finally we got to some rideable terrain and a female came up behind me (many had passed already by this point) and she asked if I was Alicia. I said yes, and she introduced herself, Sue Anne, a name familiar from many races I have done. We stayed together for a few miles and even had a very long conversation on a very unridable long walking section, for both of us we were just out there for a ride and we enjoyed each others company.

After a lot of back-jolting, neck jarring riding we ended up on a dirt packed fire road and it was up-up-up. A mile or so of up and up, and we climbed it, but there was a reward of the fastest down-hill ever. Apparently, this was not part of the course. Later on I was talking to Anne who is the xterra representative and she said they sent us all the wrong way, but once they determined it, they had to keep the race fair. At that point we were supposed to be back on single track in the woods. I kept waiting for us to re-enter. The course mileage was the same with our detour, but the single track was skipped at the end, and I was very thankful.

So I come ripping into transition because we just had this beautiful downhill section and Anne is standing there telling us to dismount, so I did, but my shoe never came unclipped and I fell hard in front of everyone. Right onto my side on the gravel road, I told the crowd that one was for them and they cheered me back up and into transition.

I had plenty left for the run this time since a lot of the bike was a walk. I took off and tried to pace it out because I knew there was one big hill coming, and I mean straight up and had heard there was a second one as well. The race director warned me of the hard run ahead as I entered the single track. The first hill was tough but I made it and continued on, but then after a nice downhill section on road we came back into the woods at the base of a giant uphill rock garden. Yes, rocks everywhere, nothing you could do but climb. My heart rate was at max by the time I reached the top. At that point I passed Sue Anne who had a twisted ankle, that must have been really rough. I ran it in, fell once and felt my finger bend the wrong way. It seems fine, but my palm is pretty swollen.

I am bruised up a bit more and sore in funny places, like the arches of my feet and my lower back from the rocks. It was a fun event, the race directors were full of enthusiasm, but overall the bike portion was not that fun because it was not really rideable. Darlise took some photos so I should be getting them later on this week and posting them. It was Vince's first xterra and he showed a lot of potential with an age-group placing and an overall 20th place...we tried to convince him that the rides were not all that technical and insane. Hope he will be out for more. Shawn did awesome after his few weeks out of it, and I was pleased to finish. I know I was 6th female and 3rd in my age-group. I passed one female on the run, but one passed me - she was flying. I will post the official results when they are available.

Richmond Race Report - 6.15.08

2008-06-16T17:23:00.000-07:00

After an early morning, 4:30 a.m., we arrived at the Richmond James River Xterra East Championship. This was the first year that we decided to do the full championship race. For the past two years we have done the sport race. Shawn and I went down last weekend to check out the bike course, and at that point I was a bit scared. Some of the technical sections were beyond my skills, but I decided to stick with the championship race and just hope for the best.

At the site there was no line for body marking so as I walked in with my bike I just dropped everything and got that over with first. In at transition there was plenty of room for the bikes and no assignments, this allowed Shawn and I to park our bikes right next to each other. This is always nice because if we need something from the other it is easy to get. Everything set up quickly and Shawn even remembered to bring down the pump for me because I had forgotten to add air to my tires at the car. I had noticed the day before on our short pre-ride that my tires were a bit squishy. Shawn and I were all set up and had time for a short warm-up swim. The water was very warm, and it was not even cool to stand out of the water when we were finished warm-up. The sport race went off and Fortmann took the lead in the swim, he arrived back at the shore a short time later and was announced first out of the water - First competitor all day and first to have his name announced! It was really cool. We then had time to jump back in for a short swim to Pee Island, where all the pros were gathered and it looked like they were standing there peeing one last time before the race started. We joined...

Photo: Pee Island

Shawn and Otmani took off in the second wave, right after the pros. Sara and I took off in the fourth wave four minutes after them. The first half of the swim was pretty uneventful, though I quickly had to start swimming through a lot of older men. Once we exited at Bell Island for the short run mid-swim (an Xterra tradition) I sprinted to try to pass as many of these men as possible out of the water, I was just frustrated trying to swim through them. Then the swim got stupid, which is all I can call it, plain stupid. We had to swim back around the other side of the island and there were huge rocks everywhere. You could not see them, swam right into them. I cut up my hands and feet and at times was merely crawling across rocks because there were only inches of water above them. Between this and the masses of bodies I was now in the middle of I was completely frustrated with the swim, not an easy one to get into any kind of rhythm. I was second female out of the water, and the first must have been just a few feet in front of me, but there was no seeing her with all of the green and yellow caps around me. The announcer yelled my name as I jumped out, I quickly found my shoes and had no problem getting up to transition. Second Photo: Rocks on the STUPID swim

I sat down in transition and got my gear together, it all felt pretty smooth and I was out on the bike course. My plan was to take it real easy on the first half of the bike and to allow any eager men to get by me, I didn't want the pressure of them riding up my ass on Forest Hill. This plan worked well, though I was sucking more wind than I should have been. I got through Bell Island, the first part of the single track, and had a few guys riding behind me. I was flustered, but they set the tone for the bike. Last year I had people yelling at me to get out of the way, this guy said he was not there to win any race and wanted to have fun. He yelled this at me while we soared down the hill on Bell Island. I did wonderfully, rode every last bit of it and felt good about it. He congratulated me as we exited. It was so nice to have a cheerful competitor with me for the first part of the race. I continued to not push it and made it into Forest Hill, again all of my fears went away and I had a fantastic technical ride. I made it up most hills, and had people congratulating me for the effort. I rode the roller coaster without hesitation and did not have to exit my bike on the steep switchback, I just pulled one foot out of the cleat and made it around. I was ecstatic. The rest of the ride was cake compared to what I had thought it would be, but again I was sucking wind and had these short cramps in my calf muscles throughout the last portion of the bike. I had taken three Gus with me, and ate them all at safe spots along the bike, I drank only water - this is what I have had best luck with for stomach cramping. But I do not think it was enough, I felt a hunger pang as we entered the swim and I even mentioned this to Shawn. Lessons learn thus far in the season 1. Smith Lake - Don't take a Gu at a portion on the bike where it will send you over the handlebars & 2. Richmond - Don't not take food because there is nowhere to take it safely - So what is the happy medium!??

Also, all throughout the ride I had thick snot running out of my nose...this sucked and it never ended, how much of this can come out of my body over the last two weeks? I was blowing snot rockets left and right, once in front of the camera, we will see if they choose to upload that photo!

I exited the ride portion and saw Roxie and Fortmann, I was very glad to see Fortmann in one piece and assumed his race went well, later he confirmed it had. I got into transition, sat down again and took the time to double knot my shoes, at Smith Lake each shoe came untied on the run, I was not going to let that happen again. I felt horrible and had no idea how I was going to make it through the run, so I started and I jogged. Slowly I caught the guy in front of me and he was very chatty, I had nothing in me and not extra for communication. I was drained and I still had at least five more miles to go. It was hot, but not as hot as years past. Soon we got to the rail ties, I climbed these with another woman, and literally I had to drag myself up using my arms, my legs were not responding. I had to stop at the top, I was dizzy and almost puked, the people up there gave me some encouraging words, but I couldn't listen. I think that is when Sara came up, but I am not sure everything was blurring. If it was I tried to run again, and I kept on. She came by and looked very peppy, I was glad for her - she had an amazing run. I continued through the course and actually did run most of it. I remember a set of steps that were like a ladder that you would see on the back of an RV. We had to climb these to get up from river rock to the land level. I asked the guy if he was serious, and he just looked at me and said there was water straight ahead. Next we went on to Bell Island, I thanked a woman for helping out, as I try to do for all of the volunteers when I pass them and she replied in thanks for supplying an event for her to come out to. I was surprised by her answer, but I guess everyone loves an outdoor adventure. Bell Island is somewhat a blur, I knew I was almost there and I kept on jogging, but have no idea how I did it.

I got to the finish line and it was only 3 hours 22 minutes, I did not see this because I can really only remember being thankful that I finished. A man walked up to me and said are you all right, all I could do was shake my head no. He walked me to the spray tent, and I was wobbling everywhere, he had to hold me up. I had no idea Shawn was there, I looked up and saw him in street clothes and it didn't even dawn on me that he wasn't supposed to be. The guy asked me if I needed an IV for the dehydration, I said no, I think the needle would have made me pass out. I am a wuss when it comes to needles. sat there for a few minutes, and I ended up somehow with three bottles of water and I don't think I actually drank any of them. I got up and went and sat over under another tent with the food with Shawn and Otmani and Fortmann, I am not sure if at that point I realized Shawn had not finished, but I think we talked about. I was all of the sudden freezing and still dizzy so I went back to the medical tent. They had me lie down and put my legs up. I felt really week and dizzy, finally the doctor came over and I suggested I get some food. He brought me some chocolate chip mini muffins, I downed the package in two seconds and within a few minutes I was back to reality. Across the tent he saw the reaction it had and brought me a second, they were amazing, the best muffins I had ever tasted. Only weird thing, and I noticed this at the other races is my mouth blisters at the roof when I eat after a race. I think it must have to do with the lack of salt left in my body. So after that I went over and got the free meal because I realized that was what I needed. I had been sick for the previous two weeks so I am sure that contributed. It was not hotter than any other day out there, I just had a culmination of things all coming together at once.

A day later and I am pretty whipped up, so happy about the bike portion I feel it was a successful day. I am sure it would have been better under different circumstances, but I went in with a modest goal of 3hrs30 minutes and I hit it. Unfortunately I passed on this awful summer sickness to Shawn and he had to drop after the bike. He had a rough day, but he is always so optimistic and positive. He is great to be around when you are feeling bad, even on his worst day he was very comforting.

Congrats to Fortmann, Sara and Otmani for an awesome outing in Richmond. Sometimes during the race I wonder why I am doing this, but these will be days we will remember for a long time to come.

Here for the Beer

2008-05-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

Memorial day weekend was a nice bit of some fun camping down at the Smith Lake Xterra in North Carolina. We arrived mid-day on Saturday, in time for a pre-ride of the course. We took it easy and calculated where all of the obstacles might be, we were surprised at how easy the course seemed. After the nice ride, we set up camp and went for dinner. The weather was beautiful, couldn't ask for better camping weather.

Sunday morning we had to rise early, this event was an 8 a.m. start. We got to the park in plenty of time and got everything set up. Shawn and I headed down to the lake to get a short warm-up in. The water was warm. In the swimming area they had one of those big blow up trampolines; I have always wanted to try one. I swam out to the lifeguard who was on a kayak and asked him if I could jump off. He told me, why not...we did it all day yesterday. I got up and felt like a kid, jumped around a few time and did a flip off into the water. What fun, I could have skipped the tri and done that all day. The lifeguard then informed me that he was a soldier, but could not swim, he was just assigned to work as the lifeguard there ... he assured me that was what his flotation device was for. Glad I could swim!

The swim went off, wetsuits were optional, it was warm, I opted not to wear mine. Two laps and a few of the wetsuits went ahead, but I managed to stay with the lead pack, I say pack because one guy went off on his own, he must have had a jet pack on - he beat us by 2 minutes. We had to run up a hill to transition, it went better than last year, I got on my gear and went out for the bike.

The bike was two loops of a nine mile flat, fast course. Shawn passed me about three miles in and I never saw him again. I knew the day before when we pre-rode that there was no keeping up with him on this bike. I got through the first loop in 46 minutes, fast and no problems. Then there was the second loop. Otmani caught me right towards the beginning after my first crash, he said he could see me for the entire second half of the first loop, but could not catch me. Once the tree stopped me, he was able to. That crash was not too bad. I kept going and felt ok, but decided I needed a Gu. I decided at the wrong time, once I realized it I tried to throw it, but that was a worse decision. The throw put me over my handlebars, going down roots, and bounced me off a tree. This shook me and took me a few minutes to recover. I did, but two minutes later a stick took my chain off. This stick was more like a log that I left behind in the trail, Mike and Sara thanked me for that later on. Making it through the obstacles on the second lap, I thought I was on my way. Just fast trail ahead, I pushed it, but along a corner the sand took the bike out from under me and I fell hard, without warning. Three times, on the easiest course, all on the second lap. Something like 54 minutes...Ouch.

The run was all sand. My legs could barely move, and all I could do was search out hard ground. I caught Otmani and we ran the majority of it together until the last hill. I had to walk and he ran on. We all finished with in a minute of each other, and overall had our best finishes. 1 hour faster than last year, two miles shorter. 1st in my age group, 6th female overall. 75 more points already, only one more first needed to get the most points possible.

Alicia Markey

14:26

1:27/100m

02:50

1:39:31

10.9mph

00:48

30:10

9:26/M

2:27:46

We got some food to grill up and enjoyed a memorial day feast on the fire. We were definitely there for the beer...the fourth leg of our quadathalon began....

Pig Iron Porter

2008-05-12T11:24:00.001-07:00

Saturday morning we got up early to do a block workout. Shawn and I arrived at the Y at 6 a.m. and did an easy mile swim and transitioned to the stationary bikes for a short 40 minute ride. We got home quick and met Mike to go over to Newark for the Iron Hill 5k race. The registration was at the restaurant and we got there in plenty of time. Finding the start was another story. We walked and jogged for twenty minutes to the other side of downtown Newark and finally found the start on the campus of University of Delaware at 2 minutes to nine. We were not the only ones who had this trouble and the race started about 15 minutes late - which gave us a chance to run to the restrooms that were conveniently at the start line. We met two other friends at the start. The race went off and was pretty much down hill for the first mile - 7:09. Feeling very good because of the long warm-up I kept the pace as steady as I could, the second mile came in at 7:40 and it had flattened out. The third mile was flat and a bit uphill, but I was able to stay strong at 7:42. I could have done without the last half of the last mile, but a 5k is not a 5k without the mouth sweats at the end and a feeling of puking. It comes and goes within minutes of the finish. 23:20 was my finish time, my best 5k time by about a minute. The track workouts have paid off for my faster running. One of my track mates won the female race, I was 65th overall and 8th female. Shawn had his best 5k time and the others had good showings as well. The best reward was the Pig Iron Porter back at Iron Hill and their spread (sandwiches, salads, fries and cookies - all by 10 a.m.) + a t-shirt...we voted it "most for your money 5k." We went home for a nap and reconvened for more drinking by 3 p.m.

Xterra Uwharrie - Race Report

2008-05-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

Markey, Alicia
Newark, DE USA
Mid Atlantic

Women 25-29
(1)

3:49:31 Details

Hide Details

Swim:	14:43
T1:	02:07
Bike:	2:19:39
T2:	01:33
Run:	1:11:27
Finish:	3:49:31

46th overall, 3rd overall female (out of 7), 1st in age-group

After a long ride down on Saturday we made it to the race site in time to pick up our packets on Saturday. We received our numbers and they must have assigned them alphabetically - Shawn and I were one number apart. Shawn is trained by now to check the number against the name and sure enough they had ours switched, in addition they had me as a male competitor. After promising the race director I was female, she promised to switch it by morning - so off to the campground we went to unpack.

As we unpacked we found no air mattress - we searched, and looked twice until we came to the conclusion it was not in the truck ... so far, not a great start. So we traveled into the town that had three restaurants, one of course was a McDonald's in search of dinner, we settled on an Italian place and had a nice spaghetti dinner. On our way back to the campground we stopped at the local gas station that was a restaurant/outdoor center all in one. In such a small town we were able to get our hands on a $16 air mattress! Unbelievable...things were looking up.

The rain came so we all retreated to the tents early, we shared a group campground with most of the other xterra competitors. The rain must not have been too bad, because I slept through most of the night, at 5:40 we all were awoken by our neighbors car alarm that would not go off, he even drove it out of the campground, came back with it off, got out and it restarted on him.

We had plenty of time, the pushed back the start of the open division to 10:30. With everything set up in transition, Shawn and I went for a warm-up swim. I opted for the wetsuit, Shawn opted to not wear his. The race went off and the swim was uneventful as usual. A few fast swimmers took off and I let them go, the others all fell behind me, by the time I rounded the final buoy the rest of the field was back at the last buoy. I got out of my wetsuit fast and never saw Shawn enter transition.

Onto the bike, nothing went well. My heart rate had spiked and it would not go down, I was working hard and could not get into a rhythm. The bike had no rhythm. You had to pay attention to every move you made, and the hills...oh the hills... The trails were rutted out from horse use, and rocky. The 29er performed like magic, and technically I did fine. On the first lap we came to a long uphill, no one could ride. As we were walking, Shawn appeared, then Otmani appeared. I was defeated, out of breath and ready to give up. I asked Shawn if we really had to walk this hill a second time - he replied yes (I knew this was the answer, I just wanted a simple glimmer of hope that we wouldn't have to.) I let them pass, told them good luck, got to the top - heart rate has now been in the 170's for 40 minutes, and I had not drank anything yet since it was all I could do to suck in the air. I stopped, took a Gel - the trail flattened a bit and we went in for the second lap. The Gel did the trick, I slowed a bit and got my rhythm a bit in the second lap, a few girls had passed and I had decided I was just there to finish. Throughout the second lap I made sure to eat and drink more and got through to the run.

At transition Shawn was just finishing up and leaving. We said a few positive words (even though we were both defeated by that bike) as he was on his way. I caught up to him shortly into the run, and told him to keep it up. The run was rutty and rocky as well, but pretty flat. I got to the first aid station and found Otmani, we walked the hill together and I went on. A mile or so later I took my first crash, my legs were done and were not reacting, every rock seemed to be a magnet. I made sure to take it easy for the rest of the run, I wanted to finish, but I wanted to finish in one piece. I did, the next competitor to come in was Shawn. Otmani was shortly after and Sara finished her first ever xterra. We all got big points since it was such a small race.

It was a fun event, very difficult to race on trails you have never seen before. After eating at the gas station/restaurant we went back to the campground. All of our fellow campers had left, we had the entire campground to ourselves for the night.

Trail Dawgs 10k - Training Race 4.26.08

2008-05-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Trail Dawgs Triple Crown Race took place on Saturday. This is one of the only local trail races that I know about, and it is a lot of fun. The morning starts with a marathon, 5 minutes later the half-marathon goes off. When the half finishes they hold a 10k followed by a 5k. All in the trails of White Clay State Park, just miles from the house. For those who want to participate in the Triple Crown, you must run the half, 10k and 5k - almost amounts to a full marathon.

Last year we participated in the 10k; this year I had not planned on it since the half ironman was just the week before. Shawn signed up early in the week, so I decided if I am going to go and watch I might as well use it as training - so I signed up.

It was a pretty uneventful run, I remembered the two steep hills at the end and held back for them. I had a nice chat with a friend that was in the race, ran with Shawn for a bit, and sucked some wind up the hills at the end. I ended in 57:56 and Shawn shortly behind in 1:00 flat. We both dropped significant time off our results from last year.

Fortmann was running the 5k and they have a nice picnic throughout all the races so we packed our cooler. When the 5k went off we walked down to the car and rewarded ourselves with a nice ice cold beer, got some burgers - they even had veggie burgers - and waited on Fortmann. He finished in great time, and was very happy with his finish. We all shared some more beer and enjoyed the lazy afternoon to follow.

Next up - this weekend we travel to North Carolina for our first Xterra of the season.

Kinetic Half Ironman - Race Report

2008-04-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

Kinetic Half Ironman - Lake Anna State Park, VA
1.2m swim - 56m bike - 13.1m run
Swim: 31:16 - 8th Female
T1: 6:02- 79th Female
Bike: 3:34:18- 70th Female
T2: 3:48- 72th Female
Run: 2:23:17- 50th Female
Age group: 12/18
Overall Female: 46 /92

Arriving in VA on Friday night we were able to pick up our race packets. We got to the site 15 minutes late for the pick-up because of traffic, but the race director waited around and we had success. We were able to scope out the start location and the transition area, heard the water temp. was in the 60's which was great news. On our drive out we ended up on a portion of the bike route, which gave us an idea of what the hills would be like.

Saturday morning we got to the race site and were glad we had done the packet pick-up the night before. There was a line all the way down the road. We got our bikes ready, and felt a bit intimidated by the pricey bikes with aero bars all around us - we just kept reminding each other that this was just for training...the set up went fine and the swim soon started.

Shawn took off in the third wave of swimmers while I waited around for the 5th and last wave. There was probably 350+ participants, as a faster swimmer it kind of sucks to go off last. I have gotten it down now though, just stay way outside. People usually try to swim in the most direct line possible to the buoys and I know it will save me time to just stay away from them. The swim went fine, just had to remind myself to stay slow and I did. I came around the first loop and exited the water, gave a big wave to Rick who was taking photos and actually found both Shawn and I in the mass of wetsuits. When I came around for the second loop and turned the last corner, my thoughts were why does this swim have to end, wish it were a bit longer, not ready for that long ass bike yet...

Coming into transition, many bikes were still racked and Shawn was waiting with his wetsuit off already. Our plan was to ride together - so we took our time and made sure we had everything we needed for the ride and off we went. The ride was uneventful for the most part. The road was not closed to traffic so we got our first experience riding with a lot of traffic with no shoulders. It was actually not bad. The route was hilly, up and down, up and down, but beautiful. The sun was shining, and the trees were blossoming. The only bad part was the smell of some cows half way through, and since it was two laps we got to experience it twice! Shawn and I separated about 40 miles into the ride; he had planned to not do the run so I went ahead to finish to get to the run. Unfortunately, Shawn had a flat shortly after I left. His cO2 pump did not work and he rode 10 miles with the flat until a race van came by to help. The last 6 miles for me were hard on the bike, my back and butt and neck hurt. I passed a guy and he asked me if I was ready for the run, I said I was unsure ... he said I guess we will find out...

The run went surprisingly well. I came out of transition and we went straight up a hill, ugh! But there were many water stops along the way and I just stuck with my plan of eating lots and drinking lots. The heat came full on at that point, into the 80's. The oranges at each of the water stops saved me. Three loops of the run, three water stops on each loop. The last two miles were kind of painful, but I think that was just knowing I was almost there - the last mile was all downhill.

At the finish, the man announced my name and the woman giving out the finisher medals said "I thought I recognized you ... I am so and so from Xterra" I told her this was my training and my last road race before xterra season and that it sucked in comparison. I am xterra all the way, much more interesting and challenging fun. Shawn was waiting at the finish, we packed up and got on the road. Overall we had a great day, and learned a lot about eating and how much it matters in longer races. Photos to come soon...

After the race, that night we watched Into the Wild and one line in the movie summed up the reason I would try an event like this:
The core of man's spirit comes from new experiences....

Beer and the Mayor

2008-04-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

Friday night we decided to do the Newark 250th anniversary 5k run. I didn't much feel up to it, but had wanted to do a 5k for some time since I have been running the track practices regularly. After a long day at work and my morning workout I was spent. On my ride home from work I made the decision, if Shawn was in his running clothes when we got home we would do it, if he was not we would go out drinking instead. I mentioned this to Shawn when I arrived home and saw him in his running clothes - he said we could do both, and of course we could. By the time we got back into downtown Newark we were not sure we would make the sign-up in time since the race started at 6:15, but we did (guess there was no way of getting out of this one.)

No time for warm-up, we just got on the line and began to run. I felt bad, tight and tired. Fortunately, the entire first mile was flat or downhill. It was a nice evening, and even humid. As I ran on the fairly flat course I crossed the finish line on the way out, this was an out and back course, but the back was much shorter. So I knew the finish line was on a hill, but knew also we would not have to do the larger part of the hill because the finish line was short of the top. I held back as much as I could, and finally felt warmed up 20 minutes in. The race shortly ended in 24:20, which was my best for a 5k. This was the first time I was under an 8 minute mile pace. I am glad I did that, and know with some warm-up and rest it would be much faster. This is a great sign for the upcoming tri season. Shawn finished shortly after me, and missed my near-puking session - but what is a 5k without some mouth sweats!

So no, we are not pro-runners, but yes we tend to be pro-drinkers. Ran into someone I work with on my walk back up to Main street and he gave us his free beer drink tickets. Now we had two in hand. We went to the DeerPark for the after party. An older man at the bar told me if I was looking for a good beer to try the Newark 250th Ale. So I say Ok is it good? As I ask this he hands over his glass and wants me to take a swig of his...I decline and tell him I will take his word for it. The beer was tasty and just right after the run. The next day we look at the images online and find out the man was the mayor of Newark, still don't think I want to share beers with him, even if he is the mayor. Got home, showered up, and went out to continue our drinking. Great evening!

Xterra UNwharrie

2008-04-11T11:49:00.001-07:00

Xterra UNwharre | Open Class - 1000 Meter Swim, 24k MTB Bike, 10k Trail Run

I am all signed up for the first xterra of the season on May 4th. It is down in North Carolina...it will be a long drive, but worth it for a fun early season race. I don't know much about this venue since we have not been to this race in the past. The site says it is an awesome adventure in a beautiful National Forest. Any race that takes me somewhere interesting, beautiful and simply outside is fun in my book. Camping will be great and the post party will be extraordinary!

Here is a video about an Xterra Hero...watching him is a true inspiration...

No crashing!

2008-04-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

Wednesday nights are harder for me to get out on time, well only for four more weeks...the countdown has begun. That is when my class I teach will be over, and I am ready for it to be this year. Yesterday I got out at a fairly decent time and went straight home, had a very fast transition from work to bike clothes, filled up the camelback and rode straight from the house. I am so happy the Richardson path to Judge Morris is back open this year, thanks to Lauri and her friends who rerouted it. Last year the trail went through some private property and the owner was unhappy with it; the trail was closed and we could not as easily ride from home. I had Otmani and Fortmann ride towards me and we met up easily and then continued to ride. Nothing too special about the ride, my legs were burning from earlier in the week and still very sore this morning. Fortmann went back to his car and Otmani and I went up to the parking lot to check for Shawn, then we parted, going in separate directions. When I returned home, I received a text from Otmani saying he had crashed - this after the warning for me to not crash as I left for home alone. He said he was ok but bloody...will have to find the details out about that one tonight.

Shawn could not make it home from Drexel in time for the ride so he ran into Judge Morris from home. I rode back home through there and did not see him, if I had known he was in there I would have rode the loop to find him. He made it home and did a wonderful 6 mile run. Both starving, with no sauces for our chicken, we decided to head out to our favorite Pantera (for my one fan who reads this blog.) On the way home from Pantera, we went to the grocery and stocked up on sauces and lots of other goodies. Time for some grillin'

Florida Sun!

2008-04-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

Florida was absolutely amazing, just what I needed as this non-spring continues up north. The weather was in the 80's and the sun was shining all three days. I got to swim in the ocean every day and sleep on the beach for some relaxation. We did not rent a car so we walked everywhere. The three days was a great active recovery. We counted at least 14 miles of walking on Thursday.

Back at home it continues to be cold and wet. It rained on Sunday, so our planned bike got changed to a run. Monday I did not have time to get my road bike put in my car, and by the time I got out of work I was happy to just ride inside. It was too cold out! Last night it got pretty nice by the end of the day for track. I felt like crap during the day and thought I was going to have a bad workout and even considered skipping. When I got outside, I felt much better and finished warm-up. My set included a 1600, 1200, 800 and 400. I started the mile and John joined me for the last two laps, he talked I listened and gasped for air, trying to keep pace. When i looked at my watch it showed 7:23...my fastest mile in a while. The practice continued to be a challenge, but I was much more successful then I thought I would be. This morning I paid for it in the pool, but the practice was just a long warm-up. Nothing too hard.

Hoping to get out tonight. Not sure when I will get out of teaching and if the weather will clear. I hear it will be 70 tomorrow afternoon!

Beautiful Spring Days...

2008-04-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday it rained, and then rained some more, but at about 4 p.m. it cleared. And when the skies cleared it was a beauty. Just in time for an outdoor track session at UD. This was the first time all year we had been out there in shorts and t-shirts with the sun. The run went well, and we all found ourselves stretching much longer than normal...we did not want the evening to end. Sitting on the warm, rubber track I learned about how car usage could be reduced in DC, how one man met his wife, and what the casinos are like in Las Vegas...and how smoking ruins your experience their after living in a smoke-free environment. When I finally left, it was still warm and the sun had not gone down. All signs of spring, finally.

Off to Florida tonight until Saturday. Shawn will be recruiting at YMCA nationals for Drexel and I will just be along for the warm weather. Last night it cooled off with a large rain storm in the night, the trails are probably pretty soggy by now. Hopefully Sunday, I will get in a long ride. For now some sun, rest and relaxation!

Long ride and now rain...

2008-03-31T08:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday was cold; spring is not arriving quickly enough. We geared up for a ride and packed up the bikes. Went to the local trails since we are still tuning up for the season. The ride was nice, the wind was cold, but the sun was warm enough. We went in and out of White Clay and Middle Run. Headed back to the cars mid-ride to drop off some of our group and then headed out to Judge Morris. I was still feeling pretty good by the end of the ride and wanted to get in a few extra miles to prepare for the upcoming half so I stayed out while Shawn drove the car home. I got home through Judge Morris and found the trail that was closed off last year is now open again. This is great news, and means we will be able to continue to easily ride from our house.

Once I got home I downed a beer for re-hydration and showered up...we went out to a college friend's house and drank too much and stayed up too late. Sunday was a waste, tired and unmotivated. Now on to the rest of the week...and off to Florida for some sun and warmth! I hope to bring some back up north. With any luck spring will arrive by the time we return. Today it is cold and misting out, tonight will be an indoor ride for sure...

Transition to spin ...

2008-03-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

For the past few months Fridays have been my "early" day of the week. This is always a challenge since the week has already worn on me. We plan to get in the water at 5 a.m., but usually arrive on the pool deck by ten after. This morning I got there and did not see my training partner, Joe (he is usually there before me even though he lives a bit farther away.) I had heard my phone buzz last night, but never looked to see who had left a message. When I did not see Joe there I thought for sure it was him saying he would not make it; he had been in Texas and was flying back in last night. So I started my swim, slowly, thinking it sure was a good thing I did not look at the phone because if I had I would not have made it here alone...but as that thought finished in walked Joe.

I squeezed in a mile swim, and we got the last two bikes available. Every week we seem to get the last bike, one of these days we are going to be too late! Got through the 45 minute ride, and made it to work...now for the rest of the day. No plans for this evening yet, but it seems as though it might rain again. I need to get a long ride in this weekend. We are hoping for better weather tomorrow, though this morning I saw a high of 48 ... isn't it supposed to be spring?!?

Today's Endurance Planet episode was a Breakaway Friday program titled, Hills. We do not have too many hills in Delaware. In fact, when I was in Tahoe last year I got laughed at when I said I was from Delaware..."Not too many hills there..." is what I heard. It was true, I suffered through what they consider "Hills." To us it was more of a mountain. There will be more hills this year, but we will have to seek them out.

Kona Kula 2-9

2008-03-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Kona Kula 2-9 is awesome! I have been riding it for the past few days and noticed a huge difference from my old bike (10 yr old Trek 4500.) It feels so light! Getting up the hills is easier, cornering is amazing. I am flying in and out of trees. I have hit the handle bars a few times through narrow tree openings, maybe these handlebars are a bit wider than the old ones. The best part about the bike is that I can jump! Last night I rode through a section with a jump - I normally get maybe an inch of air on this particular jump ... I got up with the 29er and waited for land again. I had a moment of panic while in the air, but once I felt the ground again, I felt complete exhilaration. This disc brakes are so much smoother than what I was used to. I rented a bike out in Tahoe with disc breaks and could not believe the difference. I feel that I can fly down the hills with more "stopping" confidence. This bike is going to be great to race on and it definitely will be a pleasure to train on. More than ever, I can not wait to get out on the trails. Too bad it is raining today! Probably good idea to take a break tonight though.