Monday evening

Not much to report...8 mile bike ride at 6:30 in the evening yesterday west and south of town...sun close to setting. 84 degrees...uneventful. Except for little black gnats that come out at sunset and stick to your face and shirt when you pedal through a bog. Some become a snack too as you breathe with your mouth open.

I flossed a couple of them out when I got home.

Yes, Steph, there are still bugs alive here until the frost does its job. I am looking forward to that first frost.

Last Race!!

Okay, so if you have me as a friend on FB, you already know that I had a great time at Bear Lake. Now, let me tell you what I couldn't in mixed company... We took off from Orem way too late on friday night. I had to pick up my packet by 9pm in Bear Lake. After a trip to Ryan's grandparents to get the key to their summer home, (cool, huh?) we headed to Logan Canyon. Ryan begged to drive. He said it was his favorite drive in Utah, how could I deny him? After a quick wife lecture about driving with 'intent' but not fast, lol, we were off. 5 or 6 miles into SUV nascar training, I asked him to please slow down. He assured me that it was under control. That was when the puking started. Each child took their turn, followed by a quick clean of the car seat, a change of clothes and a roadside cuddle. FIVE hours after leaving Orem, we rolled into the packet pick up at 9pm on the dot. Whew. Happily settled into the house our kids were asleep by 10:45pm, ugh, and I fell asleep by 1am. And then 3am. Then 4am. And then... well, you get the idea. The race was blown, and I knew it.

Race morning, I decided that I didn't want to get all upset about the last race and ruin our vacation, so I decided to let this one go. I'd been reading a book on the mental training need for triathlons and decided to use this as an opportunity to try out some of the techniques. I went to transition to check my bike and the seat post popped off in my hand. "Handle one thing at a time" I thought. "First fix the bike, then worry about the race."

I asked where I might find bike support. The response from the race director was, "What the hell is bike support?" Enough said.

The book said to think about one thing at a time only. First the tool. I began to ask around for the proper tool and finally got the bike fixed. Next, was wetsuit, then cap, then warm up. Don't think about anything else. And so it went through the swim, first this buoy, then that one. First get my wetsuit off, then get to transition. Two miles into the bike, I noticed I was already worried about the run. The rest of the race I caught myself thinking too far ahead, and had to keep refocusing. It was new for me, but what a difference!! I remained calm and relaxed through the entire race. I felt more aware of what was happening right then. A few miles in, a girl yelled to pass and shot me a' look'. I know what you're thinking, I'm reading too much into it, but I know the look. I've seen it before. It's the "You have a nicer bike, and I'm kicking your trash." look. I hung onto her a few lengths back and waited for her to get tired. I fueled, and I waited. I then passed her going 26 mph up a hill. As I passed her I said, "You're doing great! Don't give up!" She shot another look at me. I like that look much better. My bike split was the best yet for me and the run was relatively pleasant. (I hate running, I'm working on it.)

After the race, and talking my stomach down once again, my kids were going nuts for lunch, so we took off. It wasn't until I got home on Sunday that I checked the results and realized that I placed second in my division. I was floored. I sat there checking the times again and the phone rang. It was a friend that did the race with me. "I can't believe you placed! You looked like you were out for a casual Saturday ride. You are so strange." Too bad I listed myself as being from some random town in Albania. Otherwise, I would have a medal I suppose. Hilarious.

I have no idea if the mental techniques are what made the difference, or if the fast people didn't show up to Bear Lake, but I'm sure as heck going to finish that book. I had the most fun I've had at a tri all year! I'm taking a few weeks off of formal training, I think my joints could use it. This sport ROCKS. I've already planned most of next year.

Last weekend

Hi there ya'll...so let's see...what did I do last weekend? Friday night we did the boating and eating at a restaurant on the shore south of Oshkosh. Then boated back in the dark stopping in the middle of the lake to enjoy the stars and quiet. We left at 6 and got home about 11:30; two other couples went along, so it was a good time and perfect temperatures for the lake. No bugs either this time of year for some reason. I think they have filled up from a summer of feasting on LaRae's blood.

Saturday I got on the bike at 8 a.m. and did 17 miles, pushing for speed. At least I was able to average 16 mph rather than the 14-15 I had been doing. It was clear and gorgeous with fog going out that lifted while riding, so it kind of felt like I was riding through a surreal landscape of yellowing beans and corn with nothing else around...at least on the way out. The fog was gone by the time I started back.

Sunday I was a bum. We went visiting people all afternoon and it was dark when we got home, so c'est la vie on the workout.

I'll bike today instead. There is a real good reason to grab every day right now...its called 80 degrees; clear; dry; emerging fall colors. Lovely.

Glorious Blading!

Today Kale and I took the kids for another skate. Kale wanted to make sure we had time for the boys to throw rocks in the river as well as let them skate for the first time. (We found some small skates that fit them. So cute and funny! I wish we had our camera with us!)

Anyway, after we went a little over a mile, Kale turned around and took the boys back to the river to start throwing rocks. I kept going.

Total, I did about 1 1/4 mi pushing the boys, and then skated by myself. (I haven't done that since prior to Brenton being born. Kind of felt weird!) Total, I did 6 1/2 miles. It was pretty fun. I got a great workout and enjoyed the time by myself.

Now I need to get ready to go to a local steak house. We've never been, but I've heard that the steak and potatoes are the best around. (Yes Dad, we're trying it out to see if we should take you and Mom while you're out here.) I'm glad I got a workout in today so I don't have to feel quite so guilty about eating a HUGE helping of potatoes and steak tonight. MMMMMMM.

I Love Fall!

So, with the help of motivation from my dad (yes, little words go a long way with me!) I got off my butt today and went blading. I knew I had to do something. Yesterday I stood Eli up and just went to work, without working out. Today I felt even yuckier and knew I had to do something. The thought of driving to Coeur D Alene to swim, or the thought of going to work out when Kale got home, just bored me almost to the point of tears. So, I packed up the kids, the jogger (WHICH I LOVE!!!!) and we hit the trail.

After airing the tires on the jogger, we parked at the Pinehurst trail head. I unloaded all, loaded the trailer, and off we went. We made it 5 miles, saw two snakes (one was right in the middle of the trail and refused to move!) and we ran over our fair share of grasshoppers.

After the skate, we stopped at the bridge close to the trail head, walked down to the river and the boys threw rocks. I showed Brenton what a wishing rock was, and after repeating the "Dragon Tale" wish song, he would throw the rock into the river. So cute!

The weather was perfect, the boys behaved well, and I broke a sweat. What a great skate!

The week after Labor Day and the campus run

Hmmmmmmm...not much here. I skipped Wednesday to let my legs rebound from all the biking last weekend and the chugging run on Tuesday. So Wednesday was a relaxing evening spent watching the president on tv and feeling embarrassed for the country by the congressional antics. I used to laugh about such things when we lived in Turkey watching third world politics which mirrored what I saw happen at the joint session, but hey...I don't need to go to a third world country any longer to view such. I can stay home and view it from my own TV in my own country.

I think we are fast becoming a third world country with nukes. We certainly have PEOPLE who are nukes.

Anyway...back to the reason for this blog....

I biked 8 miles last evening and tried to push the speed up. I have been averaging 14-15 mph on my rides, and it didn't seem to matter if it was 5 miles or 25 miles. I guess on a hybrid bike with 2 inch wide tires that's not bad...it does get the heart rate up...but I wanted to see if I could push it up a bit.

Well, I did...and do you know that its really hard to go just 2 mph faster over an 8 mile ride! I was amazed at how hard it was to push up just 2 more mph's!

Today, we are going out on a boat with friends, so no run; no bike. And I really won't miss it!

Yuck.

Lately I've felt very yucky. I think junk food and a combo of a long-weekend without working out will do that to you. Anyway, I'm back on track, well 1/2 track I guess. I didn't do anything all weekend except for play with my family. I did do a 15 mile downhill mountain bike ride on Saturday, but I didn't even raise my heart-rate, so I don't think that counts.

On Monday AM I did the usually morning 1 hour workout. Then Tuesday we did a PM. Wednesday AM again, and I'm debating on whether to go tonight or not. I have to go to work, so I have to go back into "town", but my workout partner can't go, so I'd be by myself. Less motivation for me. Hmmmm...choices.

I have been pushing myself harder during my workouts. My ankles have started to tighten up again and hurt a little, so I have to go back to Eli. (I'd switched to biking, then treadmill, then stair-stepper.) I really wish I could do more running. For the first time in my life, I want to. As for the stair-stepper, I think that's the most boring thing I've ever done. LOADS worse than Eli. So, maybe...I'll go see Eli tonight. Blah.