tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346356472024-02-07T09:33:42.502-08:00GoBigGreenDartmouth Graduate and Roger Federer Fan who spends most of her time working, cycling, swimming or running.
But watching Grand Slam tennis is still the BOMB.GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.comBlogger409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-80708880632785139352017-10-19T08:59:00.002-07:002017-10-19T08:59:52.023-07:00Fall in Minnesota, AKA off season. Plus some mini race recaps! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">I had a dream last night that it snowed. So if i were to end this blog post in just a few sentences it would read " FALL in MN: we think every day over 60 is the last and we wait for snow. Goodbye." </span></div>
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When in reality that isn't true its in the back of our heads. </div>
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The leaves are at peak, a bit late, and its cold in the AM and recently gotten into the high 60's and lower 70's for about 1 hour 4-5pm:) I am not quite used to the 35 deg in the AM, but we always say that in a month or two you will wish it was that warm in the AM. So it goes. </div>
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Here is a little recap of the rest of my summer and my early fall. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Superiorman Triathlon long course: August. aka Roger's first race. </span></div>
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We both ended up on the podium which was super cool. We had hoped to stay at our cabin but with the change of venue ( logistics) it meant no saturday bike check, no indoor T, etc it ended up being a huge hassle so we grabbed a bed with my friend Renee. While no race can control the weather, it was wet. Very wet. But luckily we raced in dry and had a lot of fun. Not sure i will go back but i got myself back into the headspace of Half Iron racing ( as in you cannot go as fast as you do in an OLY) and it was super fun to swim in Lake Superior. That i would do again.</div>
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And yes Roger is from Wisconsin so we just figure that is what Lake Superior looks like when you live over there. LOL.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Square Lake Triathlon short course: September. aka Roger's 2nd race </span></div>
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Ross, the man, who won the race snapped us some pics. This was Uncle Randy's last year putting on the race. What a fun venue and a great course. It was chilly to start but things warmed up well with the sun. I love Square lake its my home open water lake, despite the drive from St Paul i doubt you can get a cleaner body of water and a solid 2-2.5 miles uninterrupted ( other than loons) of pure bliss.</div>
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Today was interesting. Roger and I both started in the elite wave. He didn't catch me till about mile 14 of the bike, and then he went storming by me. When i got into T2 he was still there. I refrained from commenting on the tea party bc you know that doesn't help the car ride home, but again its his 2nd race! We ran out of T2 together, he on my shoulder. I had the typical Julia talk " I hope he does not sit there the entire 5 miles!" And well just figured that if we were riding he would not WAIT for me, so i wasn't going to feel bad if i didn't wait for him. Things self selected and I finished a few minutes ahead of him and all was good. Super Suzie was there and had passed me earlier on the bike so i was running for 2nd female which i was glad to keep hold of. This was ADD ON race #1, i had planned to be done after Sup Man. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Other Stuff: </span></div>
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Annually we do a memory ride for Rich. It varies on the distance and timing, so many people attend that we do our best to plan it when we know there isn't another event going on. This year we lucked out ( besides the course, see below) on the weather and we had nearly 40 people riding in memory of that crazy guy who had a quirky sense of humor. I remember him thinking that taking his picture in front of a Giant Otter was the best thing ever! </div>
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His mother attended coffee after the ride and said it best. When i thanked people for coming, she blurted out " Yes thanks for remembering all the stupid things Richard did on a bike." She of course was kidding, but don't we all have a bucket of dumb things we have done on a bike!!! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wrong bike for Cyclocross</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich and his otter friend<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smashing down those beers on a nice fall night </td></tr>
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We made time for rides with friends and some beer stops.<br />
I also ran the TC 10 miler. This was add on race #2. While you have to enter the lottery in July, I had really thought this would be a fun run. NO care on the time. It was sort of like that but i also had decided to enter add on race #3, so we decided to use this as a tempo long run and it was perfect timing 3 weeks out from my last half!<br />
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Sometimes when you add on too many things, the balance gets out of whack and something breaks. SO....While the TC 10 went great, i held back and i had a lot of fun. IT was hard to not be " racing it" I did what i was told and i felt good. I did not shell myself and the humid and 50 deg race temps were great. My sister and i walked the 2.5 miles ( or more bc its hard to get out of that venue!) to my parents and i was super excited that i knew for my next half i was ready!<br />
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Sadly, my body didn't really recover right. I have had some ongoing Hamstring issues and while i was confident that I was doing everything right ( with treatments, strength, etc) I just decided that it wasn't worth the risk to travel to another Half. So with a lot of hemming and hawing and analyzing if this was an injury or this was just a blip, well for once or maybe twice in my life i am taking my own advice. Not racing NC 70.3 this weekend. Ya i ate a lot of costs and airfare and my bike is having a little vacation without me, but hey. I am most sad to miss a race cation with my buddy stacey. BEST OF LUCK STACEY!!!!<br />
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IT is what it is. I have done the old " hail mary " pass in the fall only to be the one who limps thru the winter, depressed that i can only be a chlorinated rat. Plus, I think i finally see that going for it every single time, maxing out, only gives me high's and then lows, and if i have learned anything this summer its that i want to be on a better equilibrium than that. I want to invest in next year, and the year after and heaven forbid the AG 55-59! I am not there yet! But while i don't see racing triathlon into my 70's and older, who knows. I just know that I have been incredibly blessed thus far and that as we age, we are gonna get nicked up. You are active and you push yourself? you are gonna get nicked up. I hope that the only MD's i see are still non operative and have needles and I hope that my PT's continue to help me stay out of trouble. My Coach Marilyn has really helped me see that I have nothing to prove, and that there is still room for improvement as i age. I am not going to lose it, as long as i use it wisely!<br />
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We also went back to Road America. I was able to do an open water swim in Lake Geneva and do some great hilly running and riding. Though we both flatted, those roads were messy but super fun.<br />
And of course, some more time at Bang....and more cars to drive us to the brewery.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roger restored this MGA</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more beer from our favorite spot Bang Brewing</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more earplugs and fast cars </td></tr>
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Cant end the post without Einstein :) Ruby too, but i don't have a recent photo of her......</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Einstein turned 13. </td></tr>
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GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-67462594696890946592017-07-12T09:29:00.002-07:002017-07-12T09:34:54.869-07:002017 Lifetime Mpls Olympic Race: The race in my backyard! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sean and Hanna, two of the nicest friends in triathlon.</td></tr>
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Lifetime Triathlon is one i decided to try in 2013 because it scared me. It scared me bc it's on tight roads, roads that aren't really all that great ( some improvements made, lots to be desired) and its flat. I tend to like some hills. Plus Nokomis in mid July can be pea green soup. This year was my 3rd year I think? 2013 we had huge rains and it got shortened so i didn't have to ride the really crappy backside or the course. Ironman got in the way of 2014/15 and then i went again last year in 2016. I was super duper nervous last year bc i had never done the whole course.<br />
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This race has as close to an IRONMAN feel to it as you will get without doing a WTC race. ITs big, its loud, there are a lot of people, of all abilities. It is not the small town Waconia race where you pretty much know who is out there, and know the roads have great shoulders and you don't have to do much thinking. This year? I was so relaxed. ALOT of this comes from some new thinking and new ways of looking at my training, and my longevity in this sport. In the big scheme what did this race mean to me on July 8? Can i keep relaxed and still remain strong? We would see. Its the first time racing where I haven't kept a close look at my timing devices. When i finished Elaine asked me my time. I said " I really don't know." I didn't. ( love her, she said " well i think you were ahead of me." ) haha, no um you passed me around mile 15 of the bike:)<br />
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Swim: 24:24 ( from timing) I had a great swim. I swung wide a bit at the start but got the keyhole going and even knocked my head on the way in on the metal balls outside the swim area. Oops. That was sorta funny. Hanna and i jostled a bit, but other than being warm ( 76 deg) in a LS wetsuit i felt pretty good, kept the turnover up and strokes long.<br />
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T1: run run run. parking lots, run. etc..same old stuff.<br />
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Bike 1:06 per me 1:08 per timing. I had heard I was 3rd female out of the water. I know Gaby was WAY ahead, and later saw her on the river road mixing it up with the lead guys. Not sure who was ahead of me bc i never saw anyone. ( later learned it was maggie, who somehow turned wrong? not sure)<br />
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I didn't feel like i had great legs to be honest. I tried to just not spike my watts and to let my legs warm up to an intensity that i felt was right. The first 12 miles is lovely. The west river road is pristine now so you can settle in a bit, but as you come back towards the lake and then head down nokomis parkway and to Lake Harriet its anyone's guess what pothole or crack you will land in. I spent most my time in AERO but i was certainly not head down and i was not pedaling efficiently. I know this is true for everyone, so pretty sure all the riders share this. I remembered in 2016 seeing Chris Spoth flatted and running his bike up the parkway in barefoot. So i prayed that wasn't my destiny. The MPLS police did a fabulous job controlling traffic to keep us safe and there were very few wayward spectators using the open roads for their burly and dog running. (Last year i remember there were a few times you thought you may hit one of them)<br />
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My bike comfort is always a work in progress. Chris ( balser) has worked tirelessly at helping make my Small Bike ( don't ask, i regret this sizing but i didn't know any better) is too small. We have made it as big as we can but its been a real pain the back. ( Dave, want to buy a bike) So especially on courses like this where i cant really stretch out and settle in, my back hurts. I came off the bike with > 3/10 which was a bummer per pain levels and hoped it would settle down once i was running.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrPIPB9pNG5pJpg3U2IpFO1EZVEbgAYRKNx_8qo5kV4RTsUq2e-MA6VL990XGgnemQYop0gAu6vTTcW_iHJS2Qnt1U_lLkwIG1I35YTWOGXjDtysPZA7CqukO0i6bhhTQOF-N/s1600/bazu-13076882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrPIPB9pNG5pJpg3U2IpFO1EZVEbgAYRKNx_8qo5kV4RTsUq2e-MA6VL990XGgnemQYop0gAu6vTTcW_iHJS2Qnt1U_lLkwIG1I35YTWOGXjDtysPZA7CqukO0i6bhhTQOF-N/s320/bazu-13076882.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just me on my tiny little bike </td></tr>
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T2: I always give myself a bit " get your back into alignment" time as i run out of T2. I don't have a tea party but i do let myself JOG EASY PEASY out of T2. I saw maggie right ahead of me and pretty much let her go.<br />
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Run 44:50 : I started this run very easy. Relaxed, drop the shoulders. Let the core take over and get your back upright, Yay, it was working. By mile 1 I was feeling pretty ok. DEF less back pain.<br />
Sean went by me and gave me a hug. Who has time to do that when you are winning the race? HE does! Such a fine person, and athlete.<br />
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The run felt hard. I guess this sport is hard. I kept telling myself to relax and to just run. I had a goal of winning the masters, but i really didn't think i had anyone to chase. On the 2nd lap i saw Roger who said " one more lap" and at that point, yes i was happy for the only partial jog over the cedar bridge and the ability to be running down some of the folks on their 1st lap of two.<br />
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I wasn't sure what pace i was running, I have gotten in the habit of not looking, just going by feel. As we hit mile 4 i decided to try to not slow down....at 5, i decided to try to " move faster, " I hate to say pick it up bc that is all relative but right before mile 6 I think is when i saw that there was a runner ahead of me. I wasn't sure it was Maggie bc she is tiny and there were lots of collegiate tiny people out there. Some spectator said to me " you can catch her." I was like " damn, deep breathe."<br />
I decided i would just keep running in my heightened " pick it up" speed and see where that got me. Well it got me to her shoulder right as we were about to cross into the road and go down the chute. At that point it was " GO." I wasn't about to hang on her shoulder, that is annoying and figured if she went with me i had no hope in outsprinting her. She is fast!<br />
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Some guy was there ( you can see his arm in the picture below) and he went with me. I dunno maybe he set a pick for me! But i ran in that straight away like I was running down a drop shot that was two courts away. And when i stopped i was like " what happened? " and " oh that may leave a mark."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK1ScetwS60bQcnKvfyZ8FpinNxeAhp4q7S8QhKVs6QUbnJyb42JpgKyrNtGYI1OxDGo3DBskpDjf04BmW1Z3np9RQ8EdY0E46nilgcQP3M5-T6mGCh6kkWpjaSD_PZ3iboKt/s1600/bazu-13071358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK1ScetwS60bQcnKvfyZ8FpinNxeAhp4q7S8QhKVs6QUbnJyb42JpgKyrNtGYI1OxDGo3DBskpDjf04BmW1Z3np9RQ8EdY0E46nilgcQP3M5-T6mGCh6kkWpjaSD_PZ3iboKt/s320/bazu-13071358.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey i don't feel so bad. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrEfMWWc7qLuVHZGquRsYUDhP4U24-UrVIoZym04CzHkOrB1PKX0r-E3KOQ2fjvI8SCSSNmCHsoUoBG9WkKh-EOHMR7aJ63iY6xYsEfCfR-wr_gUrzTBUDWXNC0X2j1IEWY10/s1600/bazu-13043424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrEfMWWc7qLuVHZGquRsYUDhP4U24-UrVIoZym04CzHkOrB1PKX0r-E3KOQ2fjvI8SCSSNmCHsoUoBG9WkKh-EOHMR7aJ63iY6xYsEfCfR-wr_gUrzTBUDWXNC0X2j1IEWY10/s320/bazu-13043424.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is when i realized i could catch the girl in front of me. hmm....not looking forward to this finish. </td></tr>
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I survived that sprint and clocked a good 400 time in doing so! My splits were pretty consistent and fastest in the last 2 miles, same as liberty. Marilyn is onto something.<br />
Funniest is the guy said to me " you made me throw up 4x in that final stretch. " at first i was like HUH? then i see this picture and see that he must have veered to the bucket after.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iNxWPnxTCTbfj4XL34t1UwX-jR7SiikiAHJnvj10vPIquZRsmcZtTflIHpUmgLAedoAhopP0bTqfF14rq6hUp9PCaLcYkU_tu0poWSqzesf5-9rPsLeql1hrcKH3d-cTftcY/s1600/bazu-13082522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iNxWPnxTCTbfj4XL34t1UwX-jR7SiikiAHJnvj10vPIquZRsmcZtTflIHpUmgLAedoAhopP0bTqfF14rq6hUp9PCaLcYkU_tu0poWSqzesf5-9rPsLeql1hrcKH3d-cTftcY/s640/bazu-13082522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming in hot. Faster than i have run since last summer. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh now i see what he was talking about !! ha!<br />
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I congratulated Maggie and we posed for our Pretzel and water sponsor deals. LOL, No really she was super sweet and told me she had gone off course earlier on the bike. She has a ton of potential and will be fun to watch her continue to race. Then said " who are you?" I didn't have enough energy for a snappy comeback ( a friend/peer of your moms? :))))) but introduced myself:)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AuV0PSQE8FdHEFLBKl_aGSkLP-kUNRzcUOxGTfqQPsReng1w_mOIIcgkVbgkVww-vDT2vwazaZez108T66wLm-WmUQZET8HxMZhR5TxYY3LqiDsMutaasJXVrBy2DbOejtgL/s1600/bazu-13075745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AuV0PSQE8FdHEFLBKl_aGSkLP-kUNRzcUOxGTfqQPsReng1w_mOIIcgkVbgkVww-vDT2vwazaZez108T66wLm-WmUQZET8HxMZhR5TxYY3LqiDsMutaasJXVrBy2DbOejtgL/s640/bazu-13075745.jpg" width="425" /></a><br />
Well that is about it. Finished 2:21 and lowered my course record for 50-54. Got 5th elite ( two college kids beat me, guess that is ok!) I love that i can get home from this race in 10minutes. I love that you get BARE chicken coupons ( yum yum) and i love that you really do get to share the course with some fabulous athletes. Its got a great energy! I always say i am not doing it again, but as long as i am welcome in that 2nd wave you will hopefully see me back.<br />
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Thank you to my coach Marilyn Chycota for continuing to hold onto my shirttails in training, and to be as much of a therapist as a triathlon coach. Your knowledge and life experiences continue to help me see that I am not old, just need to train smarter and continue to get some life challenges ( see older blog) in check.<br />
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Thank you to Kevin and all the folks at Gear West Bike and Tri. And to all my PT's ( Viverant) and my main LMT Bianca, for keeping me in working order. And Crystal, when i can make the drive for handling all the other stuff:) Yup i am not old but hell the body needs a lot of TLC as we get older!!<br />
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Thanks for reading!!!GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-38631232045618733042017-06-16T12:35:00.006-07:002017-06-16T12:35:58.718-07:00Liberty Olympic Race Report <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Saturday June 10 was the Liberty OLY. I have done this race umpteen times. I have raced the half iron distance in rain, hail, sleet, and high 40 deg temps. Not fun. I Remember running 13.1 miles on calves that were so cold, that my legs were literally trashed for 2 weeks after. Not fun.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HOWLING? Liberty 2014</td></tr>
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So when saturday's forecast was for heat ( which we had last year) plus high winds, you sorta go: Ok whatever. Adapt. Make it a training day. Whatever you need to do to get to the finish. My marching orders were to keep this race under control. I am not sandbagging when i tell you my running has been very slight the last few months. Its been all about keeping my body, my back especially happy. I came into this race with two runs of 50 minutes as my long runs. So to say i had low expectations is an understatement. The plan wasn't to kill it ( very challenging for me to say that) but to keep my lower back at a < 3/10 pain level.<br />
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After what i posted last week, I am shy to comment that this race went well. You know sometimes all your fears are 75% in your head, and sometimes your fears are just that. False Events Appearing Real. I love that. Rich used to tell me that all the time. Don't be scared. Fear is just a waste of energy. So onward.<br />
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Swim: I have no idea my time( not a garmin swimmer) , but it was slow. I had to often look up and do breast stroke bc even with bilateral breathing the water was coming every which way. I just plugged along till i got to the turn buoy. The Oly race had already been delayed as the Half started first and at least one gal was pulled bc she was hyperventilating. A canoe capsized. It wasn't a pleasant day on the lake but we had wetsuits on ( even thought it was 76 deg so it was toasty) and the likelihood of this race ever being non wetsuit is nil. I don't think in the history of this race this has ever happened. Never say never but I like non wetsuit<br />
( Any wetsuit hurts my back) but i was happy to have it on today. Coming back i drifted ( The wind was a head cross and a tail cross) so likely I did a few extra meters. LOL. I wondered why there were people swimming at me. Oops. Well I was in the first wave so yup, my bad, it was oncoming waves.<br />
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T 1: Uneventful. In and out in a minute.<br />
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Bike: As many have said, it was an effort in not spiking watts into the wind, and then staying upright. I had changed out my front wheel from an 808 to a 303 ( anyone want to buy a front 808, I am serious) and that was huge. No way i would have had as comfortable of a ride on a front deeper dish. I also didn't ride a disc. No need to give mother nature any other reason to toss me around. I had fun out there, kept it controlled and didn't override into the headwind. Coming back it was sweet to be riding 34-36mph, pushing minimal watts. Lets just not kill those legs now for the hot run to come.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure where this was, back into the park? credit to Sebottka photos </td></tr>
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T2: Gingerly hopping off that bike, into T2 and nothing crazy happened. Remembered my Gel and my Belt:) off i went. Tippy toeing trying to get my body upright.<br />
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Run: I didn't look at my Garmin. I almost didn't wear it, but i wanted to see where I was ( post race) and see what my body felt like RPE v what i actually ran. I was just ticking along, took my gel around mile 2, didn't want it but heck who wants a gel? Drank water at each stop, etc...It was lonely out there actually i didn't see anyone till i started to see the guys coming back at me. I had no idea who was ahead or behind me. Then i saw Andi fly by ( 1st place) and shortly i saw Katie ahead walking. Run-roh. Decision time.<br />
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My decision wasn't really a decision, it was me saying " check on her make sure she is ok, and then keep running." and i did just that. I told her to keep on, that " you got this girl." and i just kept moving. Luckily in the heat I don't do so bad. I also kept ahead on the bike and well, lets just say its not like I was cool as a cucumber but my pace didn't slow too much over 6.3 miles. ( maybe i ran loopy i dunno)<br />
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I did miss water stop bc they had oncoming traffic and i regretted that. The sun was hot and i hoped that the half runners, and even the 10k runners were smart about pacing, and their hydration. It was a day to walk water stops, use your flask if you have one, and just get it done.<br />
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Finish: Its a gorgeous finish on a gravel road, tree lined and a great greeting from our own Jerry McNeil. I was super thrilled to be done and happy to get 2nd OA. I knew there were a lot of fast cats behind me though so I was mostly happy that i stuck to my plan and most happy that my LBP was nil. To say that thrills me. Almost don't want to put that into the universe but I am.<br />
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Congrats to all that raced and thank you to FinalStretch and Mark Bongers for always putting on great races. Ongoing thanks to Kevin and Gear West Bike and Tri for helping me with bikes, and life in general. And of course thanks to all my PT's <strike>who i can't name bc there are too many of them</strike>.And to my coach Marilyn Chycota for holding onto the back of my shirt when i run:)GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-15084267101866580362017-06-07T16:45:00.000-07:002017-06-07T16:45:46.685-07:00Playing Catch Up Summer 2017: I Don't Know How to Give upWell today i wrote a blog on my easy 50' run. I have written a lot of blogs in my head running, and I have done a lot of easy running in the past two months. Time to put something on paper.<br />
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Its been along time since i posted. Damie said she wanted me to post more, so while i really haven't been avoiding it, its just ALOT has happened and it felt overwhelming to try to share it. I also have a bird in my ear telling me that my life is private and i don't need to share it. But at the same time I think i have a lot to share and i think people actually like reading. When there is a lot of negativity in my life, or I am not feeling up and positive, its harder for me to share that. But life is life and sometimes sharing the reality of " life " goods and bads is cathartic. Also my life has become so much more than " a shiny PR" and a " race report where i killed it." So if you are looking for paces and pre race meals, go elsewhere. All i know is that when my teammate and rockstar racer Diane said to me<br />
" YOU ARE TOUGH, KEEP GOING, " that is what i decided to do.<br />
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So lets play a little catch up. Its been since July of 2015 since i posted. That would be a really long and tedious blog if i tried to catch you up on all that has happened. So lets see if i can give you a highlight reel:</div>
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I did Ironman Wisconsin. It was fine. To be honest if Jen ( my cop friend, awesome buddy) hadn't been there or been there to train with me it would've been tough. I recall feeling like my heart wasn't in it. I am not sure why. I did all the work Jen told me, and i still had a day where i came up with a race i wasn't super happy with. Now that is Ironman. I know. But after doing that course 2 times i thought maybe this would be the one i nailed. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Training ride!!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_95qa3A651CVchI0bP8w9LsizK_S7e_RAzxE9u9erXa9AFMBKHVW5hyK3_x-4udD6iuyPYdxfRpCf-DMUoIUPEjyh8Hw-6pHx-claEG45jOoeKJNoVsjdYxFGOEz2J8crt7xh/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="940" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_95qa3A651CVchI0bP8w9LsizK_S7e_RAzxE9u9erXa9AFMBKHVW5hyK3_x-4udD6iuyPYdxfRpCf-DMUoIUPEjyh8Hw-6pHx-claEG45jOoeKJNoVsjdYxFGOEz2J8crt7xh/s320/Image.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So disappointed no triathletes knew Roger Federer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaq2Fo5pDO6tGHf1hPs2CF70iPO_6dcoIFPXndJxNVNqmmoJE2yPE4WiWtP59ALKUuZHYOU3BIq2HWnoBYWrQUwQEtgxJAh0Q9E9fnlWm_SRZ-4Bt088q8LbXxXqF2vev4pWH0/s1600/Image+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaq2Fo5pDO6tGHf1hPs2CF70iPO_6dcoIFPXndJxNVNqmmoJE2yPE4WiWtP59ALKUuZHYOU3BIq2HWnoBYWrQUwQEtgxJAh0Q9E9fnlWm_SRZ-4Bt088q8LbXxXqF2vev4pWH0/s320/Image+6.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister fun at a family wedding in the poconos the weekend after IMOO </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG0naQb5bmjMZeHx5edqNLH8HPKDzQrQ1LgQ2vzArBD9l6Empj6sVJjqa0MKt8KOxuJhZ371C_70fz1bt7271zB2iJJegpQaED8BpkK_pNkMhXpiwSOM33bAqxfJGfzlpznvx/s1600/Image+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG0naQb5bmjMZeHx5edqNLH8HPKDzQrQ1LgQ2vzArBD9l6Empj6sVJjqa0MKt8KOxuJhZ371C_70fz1bt7271zB2iJJegpQaED8BpkK_pNkMhXpiwSOM33bAqxfJGfzlpznvx/s320/Image+17.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I met my own Roger</td></tr>
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At the same time I felt a bit down about my race, I started riding with a local cycling group. I had ridden with them before and its <strike>and effort to not get dropped in the first 15 miles </strike>a lot of fun!I met Roger there and its been a great thing for us both. Now i have my own Roger, though Roger #1 ( just bc i knew him first) sure has shown us he isn't ready to retire yet. Ahh, so exciting the tennis he has played in the last year. <strike>Seem to always have to talk about a Roger. </strike><div>
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The fall of 2015 my dad also was very sick. He was diagnosed at 88 yo with advanced appendix cancer and also prostate that had metastasized .. the prognosis was pretty grim. My mom and dad live in the house i grew up in, and are still there today. On June 9 my dad will turn 90. He still drives ( eye roll) and he still volunteers all over, walks the dog, and i swear they do more social stuff at night than i do. But the reality is its been really hard. Its been hard on my mom ( who, I know the role there, as a caregiver) and its been emotionally hard on me. He goes to chemo / drips every two weeks. He has been doing that since OCT 2015. Insert big LIVING WITH CANCER AT 90 cheer!!! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR9if7W5aYT949svkqEUPqyZ-w5ff_bABaP0wD9-zYAP2-hfX2xR1K_OavwEY2Wx8bbB6g0-eVPZNXzO_mGFPiyby2GUKKmd_a6_i6T8ZvPMqXoMsiMxoBg9Q97R054-ikJZ8/s1600/Image+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR9if7W5aYT949svkqEUPqyZ-w5ff_bABaP0wD9-zYAP2-hfX2xR1K_OavwEY2Wx8bbB6g0-eVPZNXzO_mGFPiyby2GUKKmd_a6_i6T8ZvPMqXoMsiMxoBg9Q97R054-ikJZ8/s320/Image+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016 birthdays! </td></tr>
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On my end it brought up a lot of suppressed emotions about Rich. My dad's getting sick isn't about me. But i do a lot for my parents, and I am the caregiver in the family. The siblings have all jumped on and learned to help and learned that listening and being there, trumps the fact that i can speak the jargon. I am really grateful that they have jumped in when I just can't do it. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtee3f4e-sh95EbDRDPptbmE66QZf97lNYY1bV0ppBwNeJgtjUiSOZn_soEFKpKthgevLeQb-0j0rxSmxtZR_70onLM-JyQABnksUb_ol3003jazsTdC9xv1dRc2FWzfHKcOC4/s1600/Image+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtee3f4e-sh95EbDRDPptbmE66QZf97lNYY1bV0ppBwNeJgtjUiSOZn_soEFKpKthgevLeQb-0j0rxSmxtZR_70onLM-JyQABnksUb_ol3003jazsTdC9xv1dRc2FWzfHKcOC4/s320/Image+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dad in the center, at the cabin with his goofy cousins! </td></tr>
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The reason i discuss my dad is I am still having panic attacks. Something i had after Rich died. I am getting some help with that, but i now see that I never really dealt with losing my husband. And i am told that living with someone dying from cancer is a traumatic incident. Not in the sense of " one time event" but in the case of a longstanding anxiety and trauma in dealing with what happened to him from his sudden diagnosis, to being married less than 3 years, to seeing the process of dying. Its not something i would wish on anyone. So i guess i just moved on. I am a doer, my therapist says I am not gonna let anything stop me. And so if i stay busy ( say racing) then i don't have to deal with the trauma. ( other than at night when i have panic attacks)<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRTqIquTsoSJXrjwFgGibPb70r-f1HmyFYtdNGzjaOSVzybT5xSFrTFNsi4aZvIJnNkzULq_52HrfxvdltPAUAcRBfk2dJtfWhgg__zoTp3KyedPi6Z8eHfGpvzYJxEaBHMLa/s1600/Image+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="855" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRTqIquTsoSJXrjwFgGibPb70r-f1HmyFYtdNGzjaOSVzybT5xSFrTFNsi4aZvIJnNkzULq_52HrfxvdltPAUAcRBfk2dJtfWhgg__zoTp3KyedPi6Z8eHfGpvzYJxEaBHMLa/s320/Image+3.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I raced in 2016, did pretty well. </td></tr>
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So 2016 came and has gone. I raced. All short and OLY. I was doing great. Jen was great at getting me into speedy 50 yo shape and to be honest I was loving the short stuff. But the truth is that my back had been bothering me for over 6 months. I had had a facet injection ( lumbar) and it had helped a ton the summer prior to Ironman Wisco. But when my dad got sick ( and i started riding A LOT Of CROSS AND ROAD bike) it got super tight. I recall the winter of 2016 not being able to run without feeling like i had a knife in my left lumbar ( L3-4 if you care to know where) Facet pain is pretty specific and its brought on worse with extension and rotation. So running down hills SUCKED.<br />
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I did the best i could with it thru the summer, and before i stepped on a rock at Toughman MN, i was really thinking i would make it thru the season and get to AG natz. I stepped on a rock ( beware if you do that race) and that was that. I was out for 8 weeks, in a boot, blah blah blah. my back went to Hell in that boot, and not running ( Which we had already tried over the winter) made it worse.<br />
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You can see where this is going.... I raced a lot in 2016 and i did well, but i was not healthy. I made some choices to race and ( train!) in pain. Actually i can't say i raced in pain, i really was pretty good racing. But even wearing my wetsuit ( which i have since replaced) made my left side hurt bc it extends you. <br />
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The fall of 2016 I had another facet injection. Its cortisone. It didn't help. We started to piece together a few things:<br />
1. My MRI was clean. I have normal age related facet arthopathy. I have a back of a 20 yo. My discs are good. I have not discogenic pain.<br />
2. My Xray ( AP. standing) is a different story. I have an exaggerated lordosis ( think anterior pelvic tilt or butt sticking out) and i have a right rotation. Thank you 40+ years of tennis. I can just serve a tennis ball for 40 years with my left hand and maybe i will be ok when i am 90! But that is really the key here. The lordosis and the rotation. ITs like a functional scoliosis.<br />
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In early 2017 I did what i thought i never would. I had two Radio Frequency Ablations. They put the sensory nerves to sleep that feed the facets. IT sounds awful. My Back doctor is great. She is a skilled technician and she did a great job. Facet joints are doubly innervated from above and below, <strike>which is really dumb</strike> so I am not that worried about it. Nerves regenerate. OF course anytime you have someone poking around in your spine you better damn well know they are good at what they do.<br />
Did it help? Not 100% sure. I still have a lot of lower back issues, bilaterally.<br />
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And while this may all sound like " yawn, another injury..." I wish it was something that was easily fixed. Its not. ITs been constant work and constant PT ( and constant exercises and more strength than i have ever done) I will leave the anatomy and the fun PT stuff at that. ITs not fun when you can't fix yourself.<br />
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So today. Roger has learned to swim. Rumor is he may do a triathlon. Though Open Water is an entire different beast. He would kill it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8MHwEOFl6x31IWlMvWV3NJKlodR86mVSiiiB7lAAFu-2Vb87Lb-zsLo_ICVyrHDklBfSo0BUdI9OPCb-rYQ3a6kI-TmCfZB3B_9GWBmpgyZ7Ohs7V4ooSJAlPzCyryw8Z52Z/s1600/IMG_4045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8MHwEOFl6x31IWlMvWV3NJKlodR86mVSiiiB7lAAFu-2Vb87Lb-zsLo_ICVyrHDklBfSo0BUdI9OPCb-rYQ3a6kI-TmCfZB3B_9GWBmpgyZ7Ohs7V4ooSJAlPzCyryw8Z52Z/s320/IMG_4045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we aren't in MN anymore ( FEB) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4KBE9tXR2FmTpTsTUPFSoTFv7jPOjiLMghpgftd15Ry0em0fto5Mr4d4gB355dfr_VPzFBRbHyqxN2ByPIeG6CxVKKtmSeckco6H2K9rMg0BdQQHu_gcyR707n__zakAGQac/s1600/IMG_4049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4KBE9tXR2FmTpTsTUPFSoTFv7jPOjiLMghpgftd15Ry0em0fto5Mr4d4gB355dfr_VPzFBRbHyqxN2ByPIeG6CxVKKtmSeckco6H2K9rMg0BdQQHu_gcyR707n__zakAGQac/s320/IMG_4049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those guys i ride with:) fun times in the dez </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLnhj1w2z_Wy-2LLK6AXvUPIcNj3TWTHI94p3dT7awUjX1I0L2KNRM32JLYJX2OH-h8mVAjNkA80qlP3bNmrN-maVE0SwY7ubYuT3Z7McxYQjKlFMCv54oq7rg9eDqi_AkkEy/s1600/IMG_4061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLnhj1w2z_Wy-2LLK6AXvUPIcNj3TWTHI94p3dT7awUjX1I0L2KNRM32JLYJX2OH-h8mVAjNkA80qlP3bNmrN-maVE0SwY7ubYuT3Z7McxYQjKlFMCv54oq7rg9eDqi_AkkEy/s320/IMG_4061.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who said its always warm in the desert. Joshua tree. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UZvnr6OA1btn3EulSLHVwDW2CDY9VXuLCgHJgIXltEu9OAX-25AX1inGCHgZIuUzqMSQmY11zUr29DhyHhW8osmX6IKMyFx4-HeiDHn5AVtrGTs7drQtOml6L3icn_iqmIJl/s1600/Image+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UZvnr6OA1btn3EulSLHVwDW2CDY9VXuLCgHJgIXltEu9OAX-25AX1inGCHgZIuUzqMSQmY11zUr29DhyHhW8osmX6IKMyFx4-HeiDHn5AVtrGTs7drQtOml6L3icn_iqmIJl/s320/Image+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sailing buddies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIdqond9253SCfgz81gSjZC_Sd_7HZ70V41l3ocZPuXxa8ex5rFTE77Zh-R54-NKxdEWMeKNYtQfbdAoekLASqNvaUPuZT4JAR1qsED4nY27rfkJ0YZb1s8T11EEzkHUH9bWJ/s1600/IMG_3594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1346" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIdqond9253SCfgz81gSjZC_Sd_7HZ70V41l3ocZPuXxa8ex5rFTE77Zh-R54-NKxdEWMeKNYtQfbdAoekLASqNvaUPuZT4JAR1qsED4nY27rfkJ0YZb1s8T11EEzkHUH9bWJ/s320/IMG_3594.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine tasting in Sonoma</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICirPPz77f-79Rv6tEX5TBmaEwMp12pVqCiqaUIBYidVpOAhoFs0c3WoNZIB2tJ2vET16Lq9jLvzjRX6Jx06_x9FSbyvFu9DWXhZzBIr_Jb_ZSoKmN4PE-I05CYDam5WB9Q9O/s1600/IMG_4782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICirPPz77f-79Rv6tEX5TBmaEwMp12pVqCiqaUIBYidVpOAhoFs0c3WoNZIB2tJ2vET16Lq9jLvzjRX6Jx06_x9FSbyvFu9DWXhZzBIr_Jb_ZSoKmN4PE-I05CYDam5WB9Q9O/s320/IMG_4782.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas 2016</td></tr>
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Lots to be excited about, and well pictures are fun. I have done some really great travel and my back has been " meh " thru a lot of it. I even am now one of those picky sleep number bed people. Im a 65. And i know Gwen is too. yay me. </div>
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Racing this summer? Is going to be different. I have a new sheriff in town and change and transition isn't easy. We have taken a few months to back off some of the things that were hurting me. I am not 100%, and i may never be. But the goal of my racing triathlon goes like this " So Julia, you can retire. or quit, bc i mean who retires when they are 51 and aren't professional? " Then i say " yes but can you still race and just back off what hurts you? maybe do some longer course and see if the slower pace is a bit better? " And then i say " yes but that sucks to not be fast and killing it. " And then i say " For once in your life, take your own advice." So far better than quitting this sport, goal is going to be to race, enjoy, train for mediocrity ( that is a joke roger and i have) and as diane told me. KEEP GOING. I haven't met all my dreams yet in this sport. I have met a lot of them in short course, so body willing we are going to bump it up and go longer. Nothing fancy this year. But lets hope my " 20 yo back" starts acting like one. Thanks for reading and see you out there! </div>
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GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-54941052022902694772015-07-08T13:51:00.000-07:002015-07-08T13:51:13.727-07:00In a nutshell….. Hello faithful readers. Long time no talk. I have so much to say but so little to say, if that makes any sense at all. I have never used this blog as a personal platform to be anything but myself but this past month has had me literally choked up.<br />
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So for today. I will make some comments, post a lot of pictures and maybe get into some details if it feels right. For many of you its a triathlon catch up blog. So lets start there. I am doing Ironman Wisconsin. I am training. Its been pretty ok, a few things here and there but physically, as related to training, and the basic athletic movements of SWIM BIKE RUN and repeat. Its all been pretty ok.<br />
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I raced a Half. IT was likely the toughest half i have ever done, and that had nothing to do with the course, the conditions or my fitness. That i managed to even show up was the hugest victory and that in and of itself got me moving one step at a time, minute to minute, just like any endurance event. You don't think too much about what is ahead, you just stay in the moment. I have pics but basically i swam, didn't have a panic attack in the water, biked pretty good, it rained, what is new for june, and i ran a so so half on a tough course. I wasn't destroyed the next day or the next week, physically that is.<br />
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So one half and that maybe it. Here are some pictures of fun stuff:) I can talk about the not fun stuff in a minute.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPLluZGhC-J8CqZUZ2ISZI1hGuOxwgjM5F1pCCJsuAl4zK4vb4DBAA0KXJJUBKzn3PTAMBMuX1Tq7qZBbGt0Z4yppeO_5Qy3w_mpCis6yqff-0bVNGC1_6SpSs0WNV3F96DCv/s1600/Image+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPLluZGhC-J8CqZUZ2ISZI1hGuOxwgjM5F1pCCJsuAl4zK4vb4DBAA0KXJJUBKzn3PTAMBMuX1Tq7qZBbGt0Z4yppeO_5Qy3w_mpCis6yqff-0bVNGC1_6SpSs0WNV3F96DCv/s320/Image+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEST EVER, I am sorry chocolate milk but no thanks. TART cherries are where it's at for anti inflammatory properties, READ ALL YOU ATHLETES OVER 40…. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secret weapon, LCM</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rode around in here, Rich and I used to ride here. me and the crows. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaver Bay, just off the lake, THE LAKE. SUPERIOR, </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FUN with my nephews on the 4th. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ACE ( giant dog) has separation anxiety when my brother leaves, Ruby is a bit less needy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8g78EMj-K3EqOymSzp9FFaiSahdwcicssZxtvO4o_IgLjI60zZI3jQZIikqpiQ4PACPzK1o1BsAbyXPAufZTj4eoVnFS61yxbSiHLSGddP40EtDQnlVV3bkI-VmFM28wEK_l/s1600/Image+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8g78EMj-K3EqOymSzp9FFaiSahdwcicssZxtvO4o_IgLjI60zZI3jQZIikqpiQ4PACPzK1o1BsAbyXPAufZTj4eoVnFS61yxbSiHLSGddP40EtDQnlVV3bkI-VmFM28wEK_l/s320/Image+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't like a lady in the lupine? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hEzBcm9LpXU0otTwY9vR8dMqXWvnoePAyeNTJgw49EKeza0PFQnjpK5K4P8h1C_e-nacyQHaHW5BFcoBbwowrw-4N3xLtq2px4eEkxr-ZsZBb-ELaXo2Lfjm1qT2cvlz6DFW/s1600/Image+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hEzBcm9LpXU0otTwY9vR8dMqXWvnoePAyeNTJgw49EKeza0PFQnjpK5K4P8h1C_e-nacyQHaHW5BFcoBbwowrw-4N3xLtq2px4eEkxr-ZsZBb-ELaXo2Lfjm1qT2cvlz6DFW/s400/Image+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does this even need a caption??? YOU KNOW HOW I GET WITH SLAMS</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cNohJe2i-_9Eoie-EsT4T4ksCRNXXmHpHKa-FJhLID45oAcO3TDG4KBx_fRa9RsEgNIqRiVlrchga_vQpgTsaERjEbb868SiDvfO78wljMJyvfeCQv7uoc9VmhFSf8_0Tswc/s1600/Image+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cNohJe2i-_9Eoie-EsT4T4ksCRNXXmHpHKa-FJhLID45oAcO3TDG4KBx_fRa9RsEgNIqRiVlrchga_vQpgTsaERjEbb868SiDvfO78wljMJyvfeCQv7uoc9VmhFSf8_0Tswc/s320/Image+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mairs men</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uAaloO02O8ISRwlYfnumQdTWpJyUy5_c3mSrD4825BhNhe68JLZPxDFeOpb_Es2hst-HJhIV1LmKkW8gpETja2utkUaLjbcawVSKPmR_mArO0DXue-jcDoPgfOe_5MliG41o/s1600/Image+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uAaloO02O8ISRwlYfnumQdTWpJyUy5_c3mSrD4825BhNhe68JLZPxDFeOpb_Es2hst-HJhIV1LmKkW8gpETja2utkUaLjbcawVSKPmR_mArO0DXue-jcDoPgfOe_5MliG41o/s400/Image+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So thankful for my sisters, we are so different in many ways, so alike in others. </td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaG1ZLReuO8f1Gkw5C0dHd9e3vDm5Yf_qwQBjDx_l_8e-mgYT8oArSAwyxx82mYVzkkd6re_GzyUHAVZ5PR_flzeZ5nZXOzSnpfMCp26Tb_MKVuTE_HgRh1vRcGEjv1Xq0VWqR/s1600/Image+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaG1ZLReuO8f1Gkw5C0dHd9e3vDm5Yf_qwQBjDx_l_8e-mgYT8oArSAwyxx82mYVzkkd6re_GzyUHAVZ5PR_flzeZ5nZXOzSnpfMCp26Tb_MKVuTE_HgRh1vRcGEjv1Xq0VWqR/s320/Image+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">I have the best friends!!! My own personal Cop to ride with. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1vihNMamCkMrE9jiqg48r3TGdT2rM3yOqnrCDaXKlhBsKoLxNkA4Q1cl2jqs0V7HjUz_48KobOowbbxWxasF9zRkL2giO6E5nSop-KP2r2slJb1RTT0ftEqEzQMaD7wxWv4a/s1600/Image+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1vihNMamCkMrE9jiqg48r3TGdT2rM3yOqnrCDaXKlhBsKoLxNkA4Q1cl2jqs0V7HjUz_48KobOowbbxWxasF9zRkL2giO6E5nSop-KP2r2slJb1RTT0ftEqEzQMaD7wxWv4a/s320/Image+1.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
My new phone screen<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbXjLZoIfQmU6-h6MdqObX8vbezu6a1-nE3DtjjRPmMJ7vbw7iG5Wlyy3vpYT0L23jr38s-ZIm3Ya5gQWg1W-RTSYTF_a7L7aYlfXnEfWAwyiCEmuPKE8QIW0zT6clFR2Vd6C/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbXjLZoIfQmU6-h6MdqObX8vbezu6a1-nE3DtjjRPmMJ7vbw7iG5Wlyy3vpYT0L23jr38s-ZIm3Ya5gQWg1W-RTSYTF_a7L7aYlfXnEfWAwyiCEmuPKE8QIW0zT6clFR2Vd6C/s320/Image.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This isn't about me. I love all that is crazy/messed up/ about me, luckily i didn't have a twin or the world would be in trouble. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRPwxcnobFiEUHW0J5foWzmvXFttMnUVIaJluFX_p83we6pE-AjUmb7310cwAf4kCstgty4q97eY1Bj34_08_akUkuLqM0jlplA6D1CnWhHjxpqnBgDG6PI44v2tn0ep52ofx/s1600/Image+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRPwxcnobFiEUHW0J5foWzmvXFttMnUVIaJluFX_p83we6pE-AjUmb7310cwAf4kCstgty4q97eY1Bj34_08_akUkuLqM0jlplA6D1CnWhHjxpqnBgDG6PI44v2tn0ep52ofx/s320/Image+2.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was blessed with Rich in my life to help me learn to love my inner monster and that we all deserve love and that until you love yourself nobody else can love you. Or do that work for you. I had a good teacher. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1bMgbuc2Ahuakxoi9vfOODK1c3YDNOMiQBUg7TzirAB9U5GzKQOxImWKbOoHQ-DB3_5ndWTyb9652rFjVSUo4pg-Dfw6WEkzVyb_REvmXvL-jyVVJIiBeVqBOr_FTC83Opxc/s1600/Image+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1bMgbuc2Ahuakxoi9vfOODK1c3YDNOMiQBUg7TzirAB9U5GzKQOxImWKbOoHQ-DB3_5ndWTyb9652rFjVSUo4pg-Dfw6WEkzVyb_REvmXvL-jyVVJIiBeVqBOr_FTC83Opxc/s400/Image+14.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is stolen from Angela, but this pretty much still a work in progress.<br />every single day!<br /><br /></td></tr>
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And while this Ironman training, and family time, and the best friends ever near and far support me i am walking thru the last month without a close friend i loved. I am still not sure what happened and i don't think he is either. It happened abruptly and with no personal contact and while i can say I hate how it was handled I don't hate him. That isn't how i live my life and I know whatever pain i am feeling his has to be deeper. I hope he can figure things out as he deserves someone like me in his life, I just think i deserve better:) And I know we all have our inner demons I am just used to working those out with someone not being shut out…., its just been super hard. And while i am resilient and i am an Ironman and i bad ass and i am all this stuff with all this super human powers i am still just a girl who wants to be loved. ( WAIT, WHAT MOVIE IS THAT FROM???!!!!) sorry i had to throw that in there, its too true.<br />
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So that is about as much as i will say. And ya that empathy gene of mine needs to be tamed doesn't it:) nope its what makes me who I am.<br />
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More training updates to come i hope and thanks for reading my babble.<br />
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AND OF COURSE GO ROGER!!! Stan is next in my line up for winning but, wow i have a huge tennis post to come.GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-3614656629918688582015-05-11T14:03:00.002-07:002015-05-11T14:03:44.876-07:00Catching up....I started a race report in march, it never got past the initial draft phase! Life has been good, busy, good, busy and a few hiccups along the way. Since i am doing my best to keep my life in balance, my life hasnt been ALL training. I really have been quiet on the blog scene partly bc 1) i got hacked and so i had to change my address so many of you three readers cant even find me 2) I have had alot of soul searching on WHY? WHAT? WHY? Do i want to do this?? And honestly winter or march or even APRIL for that matter in MN arent the best months to decide on your season when its sleeting and 40 and your skin hasnt seen the sun since September.<br />
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So if any of that makes sense here is what i have been up to:<br />
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Ran a great fun Get lucky 7k. It went really well. My speed work has been nil, a few pick ups here and there and most of my fast runs were done inside on the Hydroworx. So to run even 7k at a good clip sub 7's with ease i was pretty happy. At this point you know things cant last:) I had started to have some lower back pain ( well soreness) in the pool and now i had started to feel it running too. Running with a super powerful JET pushing water at you on a fast Underwater treadmill wasnt good either and i really was sore thru most of march.<br />
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Didnt of course think too much of this new issue i had with too much lumbar extension ( ie stand up tall and if you arent engaged in your lower abs you are gonna be in trouble) in the pool and running. I just sorta thought, " huh, i never have back issues." and off to camp i went.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanET2woxNd1QB87yub4w0odAC9Y2QU9T6nLJCrQ1E_bZgjYFJStsxofAehjj_o_gQNbZQitJt_Ny-plMkgcxAOG_G6GwmIUYpTjT6Xp5oAsfSorJGhT56QpyL6ZFCe-6wTTcr/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanET2woxNd1QB87yub4w0odAC9Y2QU9T6nLJCrQ1E_bZgjYFJStsxofAehjj_o_gQNbZQitJt_Ny-plMkgcxAOG_G6GwmIUYpTjT6Xp5oAsfSorJGhT56QpyL6ZFCe-6wTTcr/s400/IMG_0688.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacey and I take on Madera. Jen and Maxine were someplace:)</td></tr>
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Camp was a blast and it really renewed my love for 1) being WARM, yes 90 deg ++ bring it. 2) for training with fun people 3) biking.<br />
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As much as i love to run and swim outside, biking just really really is so awesome. Everytime we all got in safely though i said a prayer, you just never know what people's bike handling skills are and of course what a car may decide to do.<br />
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Team Lidocaine had a ton of fun and we laughed alot, ate alot of whole foods and laughed some more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv1_0UcExZfy8Trbmel1jHNBTsAHyJBqsAZeA2kLDGl9sv9SR-1JD4n0zhcOiBe9OZ2KJ0EiuS478Su_YMUEMi67sYqHmQucPKhA03J_c6amjPlmVKonYo4Dfk-H4y5bDtC_h/s1600/IMG_0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv1_0UcExZfy8Trbmel1jHNBTsAHyJBqsAZeA2kLDGl9sv9SR-1JD4n0zhcOiBe9OZ2KJ0EiuS478Su_YMUEMi67sYqHmQucPKhA03J_c6amjPlmVKonYo4Dfk-H4y5bDtC_h/s400/IMG_0721.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team Lidocaine cleans up nice</td></tr>
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My back was sorta sore but ya know sometimes you just forget about the niggles and survive! I came home and the day off in the airport was fine but i was tired. About a week later i got really tired and my back hurt more and my Hammy hurt more with speed and oiy, tune back into the " WHAT WHY WHAT WHY?" Talks I was having. A few saving graces:<br />
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It was sorta nice out! I mean it wasnt snowing, and the snow was really gone. We had some 70's and some 60's and while we have had our share of wet and 40 to 50 deg its really been OK for MN standards. NOW mark my words i knowwe are never out of the woods till july! <br />
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This guy has helped alot too.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0WAXBTOTbJJ7j-LyGbQECs2qnggWDl9p4qeIAIWeBjQfSqUdd8dpoI1HdieRESad586J73oihbpIx7M-npjbj-pvM7HbeLkdt1kUi1NkTfygqIs_MJMG1LXf8I6LaEDIA_a6/s1600/IMG_0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0WAXBTOTbJJ7j-LyGbQECs2qnggWDl9p4qeIAIWeBjQfSqUdd8dpoI1HdieRESad586J73oihbpIx7M-npjbj-pvM7HbeLkdt1kUi1NkTfygqIs_MJMG1LXf8I6LaEDIA_a6/s400/IMG_0825.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="300" /></a>My cute man who i am so lucky to have by my side supporting me thru any crazy endeavor i do, and reminding me that worrying is a waste of energy. When you have the worry gene, that is hard to let go of but i am trying. The weekend after camp we escaped to FLA to get our sweat on, see the sights and just relax. My back was really bugging me so nothing like some airplane rides to really let you know that its time to get an MD to check you out. I take any pain as a "note to self" but back pain the most. Luckily i had no trouble with walking, or sitting or sleeping, it was a pretty specific position and well, swimming! Ack! Swimming is usually good for the lower back but if its not a disc issue ( which i was 90% sure mine wasnt) then unloading the spine doesnt really matter if its a rotational issue. So a lovely fun great weekend, then we headed back to reality.<br />
<br />
In the midst of this I was getting in my training, getting needled which gave relief but the soreness just came back esp with swimming. Getting out of Aero to run wasnt great either. The consistent theme here is that the Lats and QL ( lower back) were consistently " ON " and that guarding made me think it was more than a strain. One MRI later and my MD's thought was right. I have some L3L4 facet inflammation, likely due to trying to stand too tall running and losing my lower abs, and likely over side planking. Yup, all our bodies are different arent they? Luckily my discs are LOVELY! And really i am so relieved about this.<br />
<br />
MRI and any CT or any of that cues some irrational panic in me from Rich. It is what it is, but whether i am crazy or not i have had a panic attack in or before any of these tests. There were alot of Pet scans. MRI's CT scans with rich and i know i have this non logical fear that i will be diagnosed with this strange tumor that nobody expected. So rest easy i am good. But honestly you can tell me to not worry but...I saw it happen when he was asymptomatic, so heck I still have to have alot of hand holding if i get any of these tests.<br />
<br />
Training is clipping along, lots of stretching and core work and a re-training of some TVA in the run and also trying to keep my core engaged swimming. Its getting better though the thought of a 50 M pool in my future and a lake with no flip turns is inviting. I will be getting some sort of injection into the facet joint in the near future. The MD wasnt keen on an oral dose of steroids or NSAIDS bc she said she has seen too many athletes not really know if they are recovered and that it masks/limits your bodies natural inflammation and recovery. Which i knew, but it was good to hear her say " Id get the shot."<br />
<br />
Hopefully that will allow for some more comfortable swimming and runs off the bike when the muscle guarding stops. So as this blog is now turning too medical:<br />
<br />
I got the rust out and did a TT last week: photo courtesy of PP.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg101kx4JXCnEc8cFD7dqEE1YkYeoLTE_kkiInXHFr2nrb8gEHsVZHUi3HsWfOCg5_fn6XGg5myY1UbtT4XuJfkHkIiYsNqflYDaSxAGtlP2fnkEXON3TK_kO-riNypiE2-IOUr/s1600/Picture+65.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg101kx4JXCnEc8cFD7dqEE1YkYeoLTE_kkiInXHFr2nrb8gEHsVZHUi3HsWfOCg5_fn6XGg5myY1UbtT4XuJfkHkIiYsNqflYDaSxAGtlP2fnkEXON3TK_kO-riNypiE2-IOUr/s400/Picture+65.png" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Ruby dug into my mom's purse and tried to chew up her lipstick. She is getting precocious in her old age.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHkTcOeyvDYEo_eTrCtbbexVvqXiWcOYPH7HCegtuijpe6GZqrjIxaFqtqqmB8VuDpxlfNV34T-U7hVFylUKK-2_JeWYyir4q7cKB5W72haHqnaDok5BgRX-iU3JQkyn6g4zI/s1600/IMG_0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHkTcOeyvDYEo_eTrCtbbexVvqXiWcOYPH7HCegtuijpe6GZqrjIxaFqtqqmB8VuDpxlfNV34T-U7hVFylUKK-2_JeWYyir4q7cKB5W72haHqnaDok5BgRX-iU3JQkyn6g4zI/s320/IMG_0954.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I Didnt do ANYTHING wrong.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I love these: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGYKOpQr3e7c0GobQ5LU7gEtYZ5dM1kYoc-UTutido0L40cxkd0h8BCJwD9B5xXPCxyF1zUIhQQKjZn_S3adFCySXCF3BmKIuFcd7lFGKXkd6ApUm4M0jcrca9R8Wy5Bwptzk/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGYKOpQr3e7c0GobQ5LU7gEtYZ5dM1kYoc-UTutido0L40cxkd0h8BCJwD9B5xXPCxyF1zUIhQQKjZn_S3adFCySXCF3BmKIuFcd7lFGKXkd6ApUm4M0jcrca9R8Wy5Bwptzk/s320/IMG_0896.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
My nephew Joe is an amazing kid. 7th grader who hits the ball like a senior, but he is still just a little boy. Cant wait to see him play more and more and grow into his body!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pwpVhCrxF3uiFaWqnllM9FOEUkehP5bcq5f2V93YD0H3RFkBMhFVPbGSY9D7PMaZDVDK-cFv-jNgkXLzKRn42kVE0n65OZUPTn-nxSG9BigO2cPpT2w3LrhBUejPbrD1jxfk/s1600/IMG_0850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pwpVhCrxF3uiFaWqnllM9FOEUkehP5bcq5f2V93YD0H3RFkBMhFVPbGSY9D7PMaZDVDK-cFv-jNgkXLzKRn42kVE0n65OZUPTn-nxSG9BigO2cPpT2w3LrhBUejPbrD1jxfk/s320/IMG_0850.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="239" /></a><br />
<br />
I am loving the lilacs. Last year they came out at the end of JUNE! no photo its pouring out, but my ride saturday smelled like lilacs the entire time! from lilacs to.....nasty.....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhiy68NbgTbwqrP5f_O66KebVBzp4ur7-h8VsIqw64JP1vvfWxngRgNw40Tvc9G6SdtS7dGIaNvHu83krHvBSg2nQBBYOZbgP5nKa-3JBV2gp_mwLfIqUJCNvpyUX2gXeFu-0/s1600/IMG_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhiy68NbgTbwqrP5f_O66KebVBzp4ur7-h8VsIqw64JP1vvfWxngRgNw40Tvc9G6SdtS7dGIaNvHu83krHvBSg2nQBBYOZbgP5nKa-3JBV2gp_mwLfIqUJCNvpyUX2gXeFu-0/s320/IMG_0585.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where is Glen when you need him?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yes i have had a few of these in my house. Dont ask.<br />
<br />
I turned 49 years young and had a really fun night out celebraing. What a special night full of surprises!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPpCYNh17CjD00TSAg9xh4aafgupH_NZega5AnVsVJ0J9i6uM8WbYrdps7GhVENysW21miK37sxraRQNDppFWFbwnRyzmCI-kHU_cm5I8NTzbAatxsLmqJ2kbj7SiwVEjxX_G/s1600/IMG_0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPpCYNh17CjD00TSAg9xh4aafgupH_NZega5AnVsVJ0J9i6uM8WbYrdps7GhVENysW21miK37sxraRQNDppFWFbwnRyzmCI-kHU_cm5I8NTzbAatxsLmqJ2kbj7SiwVEjxX_G/s400/IMG_0911.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="300" /></a><br />
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<br />
I broke up with my Y and joined the Park pool. It was hard. But it was the best thing in the world to do. No more chlorinated sinuses and no more wandering pool temps. This is a solid 81 deg pool. Love. IT.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5fVsU5WiJHiHyHpugCs3j02ei0-6LtQy95mBUZXUWcSaLNeQ8GN50q649MAa7lfF6Uad39l_hU08tHSi0JTdF_Xhyphenhyphen5hV2ET7lLmWxl2Jq9iZ2YGBhIAnXVs2EmHrQyPfxm9H/s1600/IMG_0897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5fVsU5WiJHiHyHpugCs3j02ei0-6LtQy95mBUZXUWcSaLNeQ8GN50q649MAa7lfF6Uad39l_hU08tHSi0JTdF_Xhyphenhyphen5hV2ET7lLmWxl2Jq9iZ2YGBhIAnXVs2EmHrQyPfxm9H/s320/IMG_0897.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><br />
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And the glory days: </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6eiiZoLs9r4G9X4G8LhhtW3hJoe4aMPcFP0ZzCJbmLq0FGJajzXv7aF0vz5Nb3UejvRYbPSVPNYB1nCopz962SAFylYwsyz11hgGvcYbD2gPxHc1SlTvLo7YfmGwm0DLwAPI/s1600/IMG_0866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6eiiZoLs9r4G9X4G8LhhtW3hJoe4aMPcFP0ZzCJbmLq0FGJajzXv7aF0vz5Nb3UejvRYbPSVPNYB1nCopz962SAFylYwsyz11hgGvcYbD2gPxHc1SlTvLo7YfmGwm0DLwAPI/s400/IMG_0866.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where's waldo. I Cant get this to turn. State champions 1984. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-59665380362853020462015-02-03T10:42:00.001-08:002015-02-03T10:49:47.822-08:00100 Things ( #4 is listed twice) LOL not sure why. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I love my name</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My name was going to be Sara but my cousin Sara
was born 7 mos earlier and got that name, so I became Julia. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I don’t like being called Julie.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
4.When I was young I was afraid a lot. I used to sleep with stuffed
animals lined on my bed to protect me.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I idolized both my sisters.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My younger brother was a pain</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My younger brother is now one of my best
friends. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I cant remember at what age I fell in love with
tennis but I do know I loved getting new rackets, and I loved playing tennis
from the age of 10 on.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I learned to hit a forehand by copying my sister
Heide.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We used to take lessons from a pro in La Jolla
named Bill Bond. He taught us the EGG backswing. It’s still a topic of family
conversation.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
ball girled for Chris Evert and I was so nervous I am surprised I even could
move.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
studied alot. Like at least friday or saturday night. I was called a hermit by many.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
didn’t do a lot of social stuff in 7-12th grade</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Most
of my social stuff I did do was with my teams or tennis friends. One favorite was playing tennis all day ( yes really) at my friends house and then going to Dairy Queen and then driving over to stalk her crush Jim Demaies. Funny i remember his name. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
played Varsity Tennis, Basketball and Softball from 9<sup>th</sup> grade on.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Most
of my teammates were consistent ( ie the same people)</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
started at my school in 1<sup>st</sup> grade.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
parents told me they had a surprise for me when I was in public school and I
thought it was a new bike or a stuffed llama. It was entry to a different
school mid year. I didn’t think that was all that awesome.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->MY
cousin ( see 2) and I used to compete in spelling in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade, it
was stressful.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
aunt Marge( see 2) was my 4<sup>th</sup> grade teacher. 4<sup>th</sup> grade
was the best</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">20.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Aunt
Marge died way to young and I miss her.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">21.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
favorite color was red.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">22.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
favorite color now is …it depends<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>
Aqua Marine or periwinkle blue.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">23.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
wore a uniform to grade school. Then we had a dress code for 7-12.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">24.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We
wore snoopy/colorful/knee highs to express ourselves.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">25.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
used to make (paint/ribbons) hair accessories and sold them to a gift shop when
I was in 6<sup>th</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> grade </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">26.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
had an avocado plant in my room as a kid.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">27.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
never liked avocado till a few years ago. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">28.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
started with guacamole and now I can eat avocado raw<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">29.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
used to re arrange my bedroom every few months. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">30.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
was a neat freak and liked to have all my clothes put away.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">31.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
car now is a mess. I am not a neat freak anymore.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">32.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
never thought about what I ate till I went to college.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">33.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
tennis coach used to weigh us and do body comp testing on us.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">34.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We
had to run timed miles 1x week. I almost joined the track team.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">35.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
freshman summer I decided I needed to get in shape.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">36.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Division
1 tennis players are usually already in shape ( duh)</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">37.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
had disordered eating my sophmore and junior years at college. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">38.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
loved Dartmouth </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">39.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
didn’t really love my tennis coach</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">40.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->At
Dartmouth I met some of the best people who I am still friends with.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">41.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
lived in Lyon, France for 3 mos. I didn’t like it. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">42.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
travelled to the south of Spain and spent a day in morocco. I was terribly
homesick and was miserable. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">43.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->When
the space shuttle blew up I was sitting with my French family eating dinner in
Lyon France and I have never felt so alone and isolated in my life. I wanted to
go home. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">44.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Dartmouth
alums talk a lot about their college and their fellow alums.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">45.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sorry</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">46.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
favorite job when I was in college was teaching tennis.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">47.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
almost became a tennis professional</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">48.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
had a melanoma</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">49.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
quit tennis bc I was mentally drained, and I wanted to meet new people</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">50.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
met my husband riding bikes</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">51.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
am still afraid of the sun ( see 48) </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">52.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
love being outside.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">53.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Often
I am torn btwn being outside, sun, skin cancer, And usually go back to the
feeling that “ I don’t want to die from being tan.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">54.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
have never been to Las Vegas</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">55.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
am not sure that is a problem since I cant stay awake past midnight</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">56.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
want to go to Bend, Oregon.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">57.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
don’t know how much longer I can do triathlon. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">58.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
worked at Caribou before it became a chain that makes so so espresso drinks</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">59.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
never thought I wouldn’t have kids</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">60.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
just never wanted to have kids enough to do it alone</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">61.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
met Rich when I was 40. We got married when I was 43. He died when I was 46. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">62.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My
40s have still been the best years of my life. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">63.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Meeting
Rich made me a better person</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">64.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Being
with Rich as he died changed me forever.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">65.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Seeing
Rich die made me fear death a lot less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I still fear death.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">66.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
don’t think I have any enemies. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">67.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
really believe in the “ do the right thing “ way of living. Lots of people may
give that lip service but they don’t act on it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">68.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
have only been in the hospital twice.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">69.</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>After college I
was inpatient for 6 weeks bc I was anorexic. I admitted myself bc I knew I
needed help. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">70.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->After
routine surgery in 2014 I was hospitalized for 4 days with mysterious we have
no idea what is happening Dx. NOS pain. IT was the worst. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">71.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Hashtags
really start to annoy me. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">72.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->When
you live with someone fighting cancer you will understand what strength/heart and
courage is.<br />
( see 71)</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">73.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Yes
I know that I take things personally sometimes and I shouldn’t.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">74.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
am an eternal optimist</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">75.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
sometimes believe in people more than they believe in themselves</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">76.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
can be stubborn and set in my ways</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">77.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
like sushi. A LOT.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">78.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
can’t make a good Cosmo anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>End
of an era <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(see I could have
hashtagged that) </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">79.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
love Malbec</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">80.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
drink too much Espresso in the winter</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">81.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Becoming a Physical Therapist is the best career choice i have ever made. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">82.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sometimes
I think I am afraid to stop swim bike run bc its so hard to start up again </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">83.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
want to play tennis again</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">84.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
am not sure I want to or CAN play tennis again “ Like THAT.” How I used to play.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">85.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
have a 5 year and a 10 year master plan for my life AND for my active life.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">86.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
like competing in sports</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">87.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
love playing ping pong.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">88.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
don’t like cats</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">89.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
am not afraid of mice, or spiders but I don’t really care for snakes.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">90.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
used to eat a lot of ice cream but now it gives me a stomach ache</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">91.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
didn’t eat meat from 8<sup>th</sup> grade till after college. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">92.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
dislike most pasta</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">93.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
really like rice</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">94.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
love my family. I love my extended family. I love my cousins.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">95.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We
have a cabin in northern MN </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">96.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
want to go to Greece someday</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">97.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
eat too much almond butter</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">98.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
want to live in a warmer climate for the winter months<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>( ie Jan-March) someday.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 22.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">99.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I
love open water swimming and swimming in the USVI and Square lake MN are my favorite places!<br />
<br /></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-70317671056376130072015-01-24T12:00:00.002-08:002015-01-24T12:04:46.253-08:00Is it still January? Greetings from MN. Its been awhile. Too long actually because now I feel the need to write 5 pages, but I wont and you are welcome. I left off as winter was just starting. I was not running. Life was fine, but not blogging was partly because my life was in flux and well, it was a busy holiday time! Life in flux is good. As I insinuated earlier I needed and wanted to take stock of what had " gone down " in the last 2+ years personally. You know I see the best in people and the way I live my life is to always always give people the benefit of the doubt. In the short term this is groovy, and fun. For all. In the long term it can mean I see potential in people that they may not or may not WANT to see. I learn the hard way to not be co-dependent and I here we are.<br />
<br />
Funny that as soon as I really saw that this summer I grew leaps and bounds. Athletes are usually of the camp that want to glean every bit of knowledge, they have the skill set ( usually) to take what they can use and discard the rest. This usually happens in an open discussion where nobody takes anything the wrong way and we as athletes agree to disagree. Same goes for my work. I work with alot of bright and intelligent health care providers. Discussions may or may not be confrontational but the relationships that thrive in my workplace do so because we mutually respect one another and know that we have the resident or the organization in our best interest.<br />
<br />
Relationships dont always work that way. And to quote or misquote one of many instagramm sayings<br />
" Dont let someone try to water you down because they cant take you full strength." or something like that :)<br />
<br />
As for life outside of the above, things are moving along. Work is super busy and I am loving every minute. Even if it means i am working more minutes than ever. I have the unique position of being able to work 1:1 with older adults on specific balance and functional skills, but at the same time, get the ear of our CEO as we plan for how we can grow Wellness on all our campuses. Right now we serve about 25k older adults in MN, WI and IA. In 2.5 years we expect to double this. That is alot of people! This isnt directly on our campuses but in communities and outreach programs. This is big and I am happy to say our CEO sees the challenge of behavior change and culture to get older adults moving.<br />
<br />
Triathlon. Oh yes, That. I started up wth JH again in January. Its never a smooth ride to begin with for me. I am successfully rehabbing my hamstring and will say that some <strike>major </strike>form changes, shoe changes, more strength than i have ever done has me running a few inches taller without the aid of a Hoka. ( that was a joke, get it?) But running in florida in warm and humid is a bit easier than running on ice and snow in MN so i am dealing with some niggles that are from the onslaught of winter lately. Though its nearly 40 today! Why cant i run when its 40? :) I need to be less stubborn and get on the TM when its slippery out but a girl needs her outdoor time. Well I do.<br />
<br />
Things will come together. I am not worried and JH has been a saint at re assuring me things are fine. Even though i still have the desire to " hit every single wko in TP" I am accepting that that doesnt always happen, at least to me in January!<br />
<br />
Well that about covers some of what I had to say, without 5 pages of babble.<br />
<br />
And because pictures are more fun:<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWkgo7LVM9pc1qpXNtClhAzRgRjTU160ELy-7owNescePYF_i6zgvtHJ4WyBxAZeV9JtFfszHVOtAiYIyiwY_x7xCQbAk0QNKYxXm5Ztn5cJ2mYJ_Yw7dXqL0AqmpDYynFdPp/s1600/IMG_0156.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWkgo7LVM9pc1qpXNtClhAzRgRjTU160ELy-7owNescePYF_i6zgvtHJ4WyBxAZeV9JtFfszHVOtAiYIyiwY_x7xCQbAk0QNKYxXm5Ztn5cJ2mYJ_Yw7dXqL0AqmpDYynFdPp/s1600/IMG_0156.PNG" height="640" width="408" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture makes my heart jump with joy. And yes it makes me want to play tennis even if I have surely missed my chance to hold my own with my 12 yo nephew. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA25LL93SXyBqxEwx6Tub7bVlAL0f32yvAO3FJBQyV8zBy3-8B26FPsBsPz0yWPBlFr5E3X6URSlKGVd5jsmv_X6CDrRI2mNGPDCwNAs1xJVafJ4t_s9bMzaT5JugvY0GHq08H/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA25LL93SXyBqxEwx6Tub7bVlAL0f32yvAO3FJBQyV8zBy3-8B26FPsBsPz0yWPBlFr5E3X6URSlKGVd5jsmv_X6CDrRI2mNGPDCwNAs1xJVafJ4t_s9bMzaT5JugvY0GHq08H/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby. Ya these are from summer:) But cant have a post without a dog pic:)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH-wH_QA1VeFYcfo8G5RyoRsV56poouTCLSGuKIeXdiAUZAJ0kPQcJ9vXYVBLY8aj5t69AblOKr8lHgMu_acsViqnxm0mregoSfZ-k5sEAKGRwdHn01KgD7eH506MjsWExcr8/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH-wH_QA1VeFYcfo8G5RyoRsV56poouTCLSGuKIeXdiAUZAJ0kPQcJ9vXYVBLY8aj5t69AblOKr8lHgMu_acsViqnxm0mregoSfZ-k5sEAKGRwdHn01KgD7eH506MjsWExcr8/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more for Ruby's fan club ( ok my mom and ER)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSlheSoRypVkut_mrVG4r9ZUwpXylmp1egaYqv-ZuGzz1OxoeUe1laP-XyUSECtxVtVfMSX6C3saLExgf5VucSrww9Q2yx3lnZ_qAOgZJY_0xOU17N2YeK44tHzTLXBn-BQLZ/s1600/1-3-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSlheSoRypVkut_mrVG4r9ZUwpXylmp1egaYqv-ZuGzz1OxoeUe1laP-XyUSECtxVtVfMSX6C3saLExgf5VucSrww9Q2yx3lnZ_qAOgZJY_0xOU17N2YeK44tHzTLXBn-BQLZ/s1600/1-3-15.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holiday fun with my Dartmouth bestie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3dmhG18NGMbaACX2eU59OdBO1LsU1JYXPZzIM7VVgxzCDKXkN_L3tZIAZ3O8mida6zpdMJx6NZdDHsr-336B73rPzmPfl5zPynBYlAX1kk5b3xuNXG7sVdVJEQgHSrwIMWGR/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3dmhG18NGMbaACX2eU59OdBO1LsU1JYXPZzIM7VVgxzCDKXkN_L3tZIAZ3O8mida6zpdMJx6NZdDHsr-336B73rPzmPfl5zPynBYlAX1kk5b3xuNXG7sVdVJEQgHSrwIMWGR/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" height="117" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh the Gulf even on a cloudy day....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and mom, walking on above cloudy day</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun's out, and i squeezed into my new Betty two piece! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some new shoes that no, i cant wear in the snow and ice but i do my strength in them and theyre great!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like summer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCO-ZVcf_7LlP3FFSDdL8PpthCCaMp4Io5N4Q49a0XIXIKzpsQqiRi-VK3x8YFWdC_MeQG4lehnZUVrl0WlJILtIO3kJJUeT6VmhysFiwbt_JXZUWfWW6x5saW9CqyXoQhyphenhyphenbPS/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCO-ZVcf_7LlP3FFSDdL8PpthCCaMp4Io5N4Q49a0XIXIKzpsQqiRi-VK3x8YFWdC_MeQG4lehnZUVrl0WlJILtIO3kJJUeT6VmhysFiwbt_JXZUWfWW6x5saW9CqyXoQhyphenhyphenbPS/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tennis selfies</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "boys" in their new hand me down specs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRJRK8af_jhujXWBTOIBeXiB7Glk3Ro3b0WzZfTvORmn3ck0Qmf7qYdJkyoP0MUmFWxVQrDBf_aBQ8qrlmDjH6L_lr39Dgbpe-Sap3XvgU4F8cCd8xqyrsv-2g11CtecZU2C7/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRJRK8af_jhujXWBTOIBeXiB7Glk3Ro3b0WzZfTvORmn3ck0Qmf7qYdJkyoP0MUmFWxVQrDBf_aBQ8qrlmDjH6L_lr39Dgbpe-Sap3XvgU4F8cCd8xqyrsv-2g11CtecZU2C7/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No comment needed? :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5Iih0XaveVY8a0DylXdkzA1tL0Hy4ZYscqbWVEP5WCeZnHOuejw07uHcC4f_TrVFkP7eAF9v_wRImYIApvgA6gGdWdz8D0Say99tDrkJbT1QaTPcgDRrmfbnd2M41KTjOoT2/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5Iih0XaveVY8a0DylXdkzA1tL0Hy4ZYscqbWVEP5WCeZnHOuejw07uHcC4f_TrVFkP7eAF9v_wRImYIApvgA6gGdWdz8D0Say99tDrkJbT1QaTPcgDRrmfbnd2M41KTjOoT2/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All bundled up and nowhere to go....oh but out on the snow to run. </td></tr>
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<br />GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-34374407423569573982014-11-08T11:46:00.001-08:002014-11-08T11:46:03.687-08:00Following A New PathHello to all of you! Lots has been going on since i last wrote about fall and the TC 10 miler. My last running race and my last running steps to be exact since Oct 5th! Phew, seems like forever but its really only been a month and I am doing fine in my head which usually sets the course for being fine physically. This wasnt without some major speed bumps to get here but as of now? today? I am good!<br />
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So in no real order:<br />
Fall is slowly leaving us, the forecast for the next 10 days is barely into the 30's and snow. Boo. Not READY this early.<br />
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I still have a fun time every morning checking in on the zoo in the basment. Luckily they havent gotten upstairs yet and after i had a live one ( that nearly killed ME bc i was crying so hard trying to get it free) I havent even added more PB but they keep coming!<br />
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We had a girls weekend in Lake Geneva. We ate a balanced diet.<br />
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But since Caroline is having a baby we did get better food than above and we also had a surprise shower for her. JH and some Chicago girls ( and julio!) came up for a visit and we loved every second. I laughed alot, and got some good good advice and discussions, the kind you cant get texting or emailing with your besties bc they live too far away. Caroline was training for a marathon ( yes she is in her 2nd trimester!) while i stayed in my non run mode, Stacey was in a boot, and sarah said " whatever its off season." Liz was a cross racing nut and left early to dominate ( terrorize) the Cat 4 race and then finally upgrade so she didnt hurt any more juniors. ( just kidding)<br />
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I parted ways with a very nice man that I had the pleasure to get to know over the last year. It was one of the hardest things I have done but i know what i need in a partner and i know he is out there.<br />
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But that didnt mean i didnt get to meet up with his sister and her fiance when they came to town for some shopping. But if you look at the stolen quote below from Bree, that is what I want, and what I deserve. I dont do average well.<br />
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And while i have no photos I am about 2.5 weeks into my 2nd experience with PRP. I may write more on that later ( comment if you want the all out PRP report, its pretty cool) , but for now all is fine. I have a big race and a big plan for 2015 but as my lovely coach reassures me. I am fine. This hamstring tendonopathy is one that i hear about alot from many of my friends. They have that dull nag in the insertion and they cant get it to go away. Well I have had it before in my left hamstring and when it showed up about 3 weeks before the TC 10 miler in my RIGHT hammie ( i know, the good one! what???) i knew. I knew and sadly accepted this was my fate. I also know that it doesnt go away. Rest doesnt make it better alone nor does stretching it ( no-no-no) so before i got the PRP i went into no run mode and some aggressive eccentrics along with deep work on the area. </div>
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When I finally did the PRP the good doctor ( i will hook you up if you live locally, just ask) and I went over the MRI which was pretty unremarkable and went for it. No tears. Just minimal to mild -osis or -opathy, if you will. I am doing some super BUNS OF STEEL and CORE TILL I CRY type workouts now and will start on eccentrics soon. Hopefully can start running in about 10-14 days. My body is the boss but i am optimistic! </div>
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Last in the health section...I had blue light treatment or photodynamic therapy on my face on friday.</div>
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OUCHIE. I look like a tomato. I cant be in direct or indirect sunlight till sunday and after that i am told I will peel a bit and look sorta " like i had a bad sunburn." My Derm has been after me to do this and since i grew up in the "SPF 4" era and wore few hats and no glasses playing hours of tennis I am sure my face has some sun damage. While this was like fireworks going off on my face it feels now like i have a VERY BAD SUNBURN. Riding my trainer i had a cold water bottle and cool towel. Ouchie. </div>
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Those of you on FB And Instagram saw this: </div>
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The first one is from EFA and it was labor day weekend before Rich died. The ocean pic is when we were in Florida with my parents i dont remember the year. But what I love about these pics is that I still feel like Rich is right here with me. I know that doesnt maybe " make sense " to you but it does to me. And when i hear someone ( maybe an ex?) say " I dont know if you are over Rich..." I have to step back and think " Do i ever want to get over him? what does that mean?" I know what it means and I know that there will always be a little piece of my heart that is with Rich. This doesnt mean i dont have a lot more heart to give, but best of all after two years I finally feel like i am back to knowing what I need and what I want in a relationship. And most important, what I deserve. And I am pretty grateful for all the people in my life and all the blessings!!! People come in and out of our lives for a reason and i cant wait to see what is next! </div>
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GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-33489077323380945142014-10-08T15:22:00.000-07:002014-10-08T15:22:35.071-07:00TC 10 mile race report and FALL IS HERE!!It's been a long time. Alot has happened, and yes there was one more race in there.<br />
I love this time of year, just not what follows, and with our temps cooler than normal ( oh why is that a surprise) other than one week of summer last week...well its perfect running weather!<br />
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I love the Twin Cities Marathon weekend. It truly is the most beautiful urban marathon. I have done it once, the only open marathon i have done and likely will do. That day was a day like yesterday yet colder. My finish photo has me in tights and gloves and looking like a cold cold runner. Which as i recall i was due to snow. Yesterday on the other hand was just cold before and after, the conditions for running were perfect.<br />
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My goal for this race is to try to always go under 70 minutes. This year we had a bit of a different course due to the summer flooding we had, the normal route was closed. All in all I think it was apples and oranges and Steve in a Speedo has more than enough dialogue on which is easier which is harder where the hills are which hill has more grade. etc. etc. You get my point. Subjectively I felt that sunday was slightly harder just bc we had two sets of steeper hills as opposed to just one longer gradual climb. All ok, not gonna lose sleep and I just made sure to not GAS myself up those hills so i could ease back into a close to race pace run.<br />
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Mike was also running and was in coral 3 so we parted ways and i got my warm up in. Before you knew it it was go time. National Anthem, ditch the garbage bag, and the small gun goes off. I was standing next to jenn S and we both decided they needed an IM cannon. I made sure to start my Garmin as i passed the timing mat. It felt like 10-15 sec but later i learned it was 25. That paid off in my timing.<br />
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For the last 3 weeks i have been dealing with a too familiar hamstring issue. The dreaded -opathy. This time in my Right side. The GOOD SIDE, as i call it. So that is another blog for another day. But having gotten the green light from more than one medical professional to run, I decided I would run but if it got painful i would jog it in. All the while knowing i was in shape for running sub 7's. I would have to check my ego at the door if that was the case.<br />
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So Miles 1-5 ticked by pretty fast. The short sharper hills were tough but i felt really strong, the way i have felt in all my training. JH trained me well for this and I cant say enough about 3 - 4 weeks of training and my speed came back. Super fun ( even if it means i cant run now, i guess it was worth it!) At mile 5 I still felt awesome, working but not in pain at all. As we climbed up Summit i remember reading something that said " remember this is only 2 miles...." and i finally looked at my AVG pace. I hadnt been looking, didnt want to bc I wanted to run by feel. My hamstring started to TUG a bit but it was by no means painful. And I saw that my pace was right at 7:00 as i made it up Summit. When i hit mile 7 ( basically the end of the longer false flat) I was tired but i knew that I was going to make my goal of sub 7. And at mile 8, I saw my parents and their friends ( so nice of them to come out on a cold morning) and that gave me some fuel to kick it in those last two. You do have ONE MORE incline that isnt really very long, just before mile 9 and that was just fine. I took a glance at my Avg pace and saw 6:56 and was elated. And my Hamstring hurt but I am not gonna pull up now. Off i went and finished in 1:09.16. Super pumped with that. I did slow it down a bit coming down hill into the finish as that is what hurts more, the lengthening of the muscle.<br />
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Special thanks to Steve H too, who came out to cheer and anyone else who called my name. I saw my finisher video and i know why my mid back is so tight. I was running like it was cold! Tight in my upper body, luckily my lower body felt awesome:) I waited for Mike to get in and by the time he did i was a popsicle. I had changed but it was cold and we hurried thru to get his stuff and then trekked back up summit to my parents house, with a caribou stop ( oh so warm) i would call the day a 2 mile warmup, 10 mile race, and 2 mile walk to cool down.<br />
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Thanks to Terry Lee for the picture: and the nice comment that i was too fast for him to get a better pic:)<br />
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SO NOW, you may have heard that the race was short. Ha, so the lead vehicle must have been texting or hadnt had their espresso, so we missed a turn, so the OFFICIAL COURSE ws 9.86. MY garmin though had 9.99 so i am taking this as what it is :) I must have had to dodge a few people ( yes i did) to start! People make errors just too bad it was at the TCM!<br />
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I just love this race and walking up summit, despite being draped in two space blankets and with chattering teeth was amazing. I loved seeing the final runnners / walkers for the 10 mile come in, the lead wheelers for the marathon ZOOM by, and to thank the police and the volunteers along the way. I have to admit when iran thru the DELTA airlines water stop at mile 8.5 I had enough filter to stop myself from saying what i was thinking..." WHY THE BIKE HATE? WHY?" but i knew these nice people dont make the bike fare rules so why ruin their day? :) Yes i am serious i did think nasty bike karma for Delta in that last mile.<br />
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Since its always a topic....I had two gels with caffeine as my fuel. One pre race with water and one at mile 4.5, with water, that ended up all over me. Other than that not much water it was cold. Mike took the chews i gave him, kicking and screaming that he didnt need them. But he did. and finished strong in 1:30 . Now if only he had trained. Yup, I had to give him some grief for the " OH IF ONLY I HAD TRAINED " comment. We all have lots of friends that would have won if they had only trained, dont we? :)<br />
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Stolen pic. The others are messy, too many people to get a good shot. I stocked up on free stuff while i waited for mike:)<br />
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So now its off season. Things will be fine. Just gotta step back and heal. I want to do a 2014 recap bc in looking back its been a big wonderful year. Thanks for reading!!<br />
<br />GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-44731800708791805632014-09-14T18:16:00.000-07:002014-09-14T18:19:42.249-07:00Square Lake Triathlon Race ReportWell its time for another race report. Havent been too many this summer but that comes with the territory of IM training. I wanted to close out the ( too short) summer season up here with one more race. As much as I loved racing late July I wasnt ready to hang it up in August because anyone from MN knows that we have a forced " end to season " around the corner.<br />
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Jen gave me a few leg opening workouts and i did a Time Trial to see if i could shake a bit of IM shuffle out of my step. I will say that i think i did, but it sure hurt.<br />
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The obvious race was Square Lake Short Course. I LOVE me some Square Lake. Its where i swim on Wednesday AM's with my pals and its where i play with Eagles and Loons. Any chance i get to run out there as long as JH doesnt say " FLAT COURSE" i will do it after a swim. Nothing better. Riding out in Washington County is the best too. A few roads need repaving and luckily one big stretch on this race's bike WILL FINALLY get its new surface next summer. Luckily. I am always amazed if i go thru that section and dont flat.<br />
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So race day dawned and i racked right next to my teammate and World Champ ( and AG champ) Heather Lendway. Heather is the nicest, most humble champion i have ever known. Her sister racked btwn us and that was fitting for how the race would shake out.<br />
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Race didnt start till 8 am so while i wasnt nervous per se for this I did want to get out and get a good warm up. I never am totally CHILL at a race. ITs just how it is. I want to do my best on that day and that means getting a good solid warm up especially when its cooler out. Morning temps were chilly but the air was close to 50 when we started and the water was really fine. Maybe about 70? So i got se up and did a little warm up and suddenly Randy ( RD) said " Elites are starting in 30 sec!" yikes i barely made it back to the beach to do a 180 and start. I got a pretty good start, started next to heather who very quickly pulled away and i know was 1st out of the water in the elite wave. It was a bit choppy but i was still happy with how it went though i felt like 1/2 mile was about when i was getting into my rhythm.<br />
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Exited and took the long RUN up the wooden stairs. Talk about HR jump, WHILE playing the wetsuit struggle dance. I Did have my Garmin on but what took the time ( AS USUAL) was getting the leg over my timing chip. Insert long leg sigh.<br />
I like how this pic makes my arms look big. haha. Yes Jen. I said that.<br />
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So i was about 30 sec behind Lisa and way more behind Heather but i got my suit off and into the cool air i went. Ok my arms arent as hulky here. LOL. </div>
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This is a rolling bike with lots of hills and punchy inclines. The surface as i mentioned is questionable on the back half of the course, and for 17 miles i decided i was going to TT it as best i could. A few honks from a minivan mom ( sorry if that offends) on the treacherous road made me move over and back off a bit. Other than that just a solid hard ride.</div>
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Funny about this race is that the camera guy ( thank you minnefota moments) sits in the shoulder on a stool and i hope nobody will hit him. ITs sorta funny sorta " um, hello" as he snaps your photo on the bike. Yay the good shoulders are back! Can you tell i am happy to have some muscles in my arms:) And the GW tats :) Ok i am amusing myself, now back to the race report. </div>
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I saw Lisa running out of T2 as i entered so i sorta figured I was solidly in 3rd with not much hope to catch a speedy Lendway sister. My toes were a bit numb so i had a harder time putting my shoes on but once i got going i shuffled up the hill and out the park gate. </div>
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I set my sights on some dude's to catch and that i did. A few dudes went by me but I just kept my pace. The run course really rolls as it hits some gravel roads and then you end out back on Square Lake Trail ( where we biked out of the park) and i was greeted by Mike on his new road bike. Super fun to see him and hear him cheer me on. It was his first time at a race. Afterwards he said " Everyone looked in pain. " :) And then he also said the guy in 2nd was super grumpy. Well yes he may have been bc Heather was chicking him. </div>
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Anyways I negative split the run which likely means I decided to not let a few guys go by me, but overall I remembered what a nearly OLY distance felt like. 5 mile run isnt a 10k but after IM training 5 was enough. I ended up 3rd, knowing a few AG Women were fast I was relieved to see nobody caught me. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the Lendway sisters! Heather WON THE ENTIRE RACE!! #SHEISACHAMP!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good reason to race in MN</td></tr>
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And so there you have it. The week prior I was doing normal stuff like going to the theatre with Mike, who keeps me cultured. And sleeping a bit more, and dragging my feet to get out to ride when its below 50 deg. The indoor pool is too hot and too short ( miss my 50m pool) and its a tough time of year bc summer is all but gone. It's also a tough time of year bc it's Rich's birthday ( August 29), the Anniversary of his passing from this earth ( Sept 28), and also our wedding anniversary ( Nov 7).<br />
Sigh. Lots of fall things that make me love the fall but also a bit uneasy. <br />
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Im glad I have a nice guy in my life to laugh and have fun with. And someone that when i start taking myself and triathlon too seriously tells me that he is going to just drink beer and not workout anymore. Its a funny banter we have but i am thrilled he loves his new Felt road bike and is quickly figuring out how to clip in and out. Not bad for a guy who has never ridden a road bike before. Doesnt get easier as you get older!</div>
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So that is it for now. I am doing the TC 10 miler if JH doesnt kill me and my hammies dont cry uncle. After that its some much needed time off and a few fall trips. Thanks for reading my hodge podge of a blog update! </div>
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GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-17533307190895293482014-08-05T11:12:00.001-07:002014-08-05T11:12:31.494-07:00Ironman Canada: Run and the End. ( I promise) I got into T2 and was so relieved to hand that bike off. Sweet. My lowerback was tight! My new bike is a bit more agressively fit so I felt it a bit running into the change tent. A nice volunteer helped me out and she said she was supposed to race but her bike didnt get here, so she did the swim and then vounteered. How neat is that. First off I sat on my glasses. So i said " your most impt job all day is to get these lens back in." and she went to work.<br />
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When i returned home I had a friend request from her, turns out she is a PT and lives near CDA where she had raced earlier this year. I knew i could have hung out in T2 and talked with her. But i got on my way.<br />
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Running out was as usual like running on coals. FAST! I had to scale it back and try to slow. it. down.<br />
My legs did feel a bit ( ALOT) trashed from that ride but i didnt spend too much time dwelling on that.I Really had a pretty good head thru this entire run. Yay me running. I honestly was so excited to run:) not only bc i felt PREPARED for it but bc i love to run! My fuel plan was good, and i was ready for some hot running!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving T2<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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I was thankful for the sunscreen people who made me look like Casper but this pic doesnt even show it! </div>
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So miles 1-13 clicked off pretty good. I was holding around 8:30-8:40 and wasnt in distress at all. Taking fluids each station. I did have a feeling i may need to pee or....and so i stopped. That was good but it took me awhile to get rolling again.It did get hot and yes be careful what you wish for, but i was never OVERHEATED. I Took ice and water mostly, the Perform just was like rot gut especially hot. I stuck to my fuel plan and until about mile 18 that was just fine. </div>
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The course is great. I can only report on what my Garmin said and what my legs said but i did not have more than 1k of climbing. I am reading all sorts of crazy reports but this was not a hilly course. Rolling yes espec around the lake on gravel but that was shaded as was at least 60% of the course. So I did not feel this was a hard run course and there was nothing like Observatory hill where you are really looking UP and your legs are screaming at you. Like Madison lots of pathes and turns and not alot of open road but it was great to have so many people ( ala state street) SCREAMING your name and telling you how great you looked. Even if they were lying it made my day to hear people say " your cadence looks good, your form looks great!" bc as we all know a blank look from someone means we read it as " You look like crap." ( or they are just tired, which i also get) </div>
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I know was WAY OFF the mark for 1-5 in my AG but i never gave up hope to chase a few down. On the 2nd loop I know i passed a few but at that point compression sleeves and washed off ink make it hard, and is that woman on her 1st of 2nd lap? You sorta just go into your own world. As I said i was good for 1 loop then i got a bit of that tunnel vision. I didnt feel bonky but i did make it my mission to control this and if that meant slowing at all the aid stations it did. I stopped to walk all the stations and was there 1-2 minutes getting what i needed and then back up and running. I didnt micromanage my watch /garmin and i did stop a few more times at the porta potty but all was fine. When i was running i think i was moving along at 9 min miles. So actually not as slow as it appears. To be honest I havent looked at the results. Its hard for me to see them. Maybe i am just being a fragile ego but getting spanked that bad on the swim and bike was not my plan. But it is what it is and i just decided that i wanted to stay positive about this entire race and experience so why look and get down on myself ? I will look when i am feeling a bit less vlunerable about it all. When i am recovered.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling pretty good here, and you know what? why not smile and wave. I was having fun!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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So that last half of the marathon I never really had any LOW LOW I am so miserable moments. I did have some anterior hip pain ( TFL if you care) that around mile23 decided to bark at my ITB and i thought " Hey,thanks for waiting till mile 23 and not at mile 20 like in Wisconsin" and i managed that. It hurt but i ran thru it and honestly? That was it. I was happy with how i finished and that all the sudden the finish chute was THERE! Having no clue on my time ( total time) to see sub 12 made me super happy and i thought i was pretty close to 4 hours. 4:05. Sub 4 is gonna happen as is sub 6 on the bike. Yes I did say that.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJ4Yxvbt22iIY8pSDVDh0S9cFbFBVdkuH5-D30rzFlR3s3BKqm7bfJ8Fl5Nln13tLtw-hlt_iZ7YHFeUT7md7ZX61ZXGh5_eeuVyIEodBdnGK3AAKmkIFqlTG-rWKGTBF7sgJ/s1600/photo+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJ4Yxvbt22iIY8pSDVDh0S9cFbFBVdkuH5-D30rzFlR3s3BKqm7bfJ8Fl5Nln13tLtw-hlt_iZ7YHFeUT7md7ZX61ZXGh5_eeuVyIEodBdnGK3AAKmkIFqlTG-rWKGTBF7sgJ/s1600/photo+1.PNG" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9Ml2qs5qTXXvsZS2PqQ1Mo6gFqE_a5-aMXQ_SZRiIrDEv4LiZI5GJopTuy_Xi5kFUnESgizhHqRTXLO-4DL39bRoxJuQZqDEomurKxYTfDGZ8-uy2DlPn3WLkQj8jgumemMl/s1600/photo+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9Ml2qs5qTXXvsZS2PqQ1Mo6gFqE_a5-aMXQ_SZRiIrDEv4LiZI5GJopTuy_Xi5kFUnESgizhHqRTXLO-4DL39bRoxJuQZqDEomurKxYTfDGZ8-uy2DlPn3WLkQj8jgumemMl/s1600/photo+2.PNG" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
Analyzing my form is my fun time, and looks ok. Upright not all hunched over, a bit of lateral whip on the finish pic on my right side but not alot of hip drop. My glutes did their job and i think the ITB thing happens when my glute med got tired. Mile 23 isnt bad afterall. Ok that ends the PT talk.<br />
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Am I happy with this race? YES. And i am happy with how i am recovering. I had such a distorted race and recovery in 2012 that it makes me super happy and also sort of feeling like a ROCKSTAR today, that i feel so good. Then i go " oh ya last time i did an IM my recovery was not really that happy or recovery-esque bc of Rich." and i mean that in a loving way not in a selfish way.<br />
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So today to be thinking about another, and to ready to swim biek run NOW ( i am not doing anything hard or formal dont worry) is fun. I dont take any of this for granted and i am super thankful that my body lets me do this.<br />
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Do i think about changes for next year? of course. But my number one goal with all this is always to be injury free and healthy. Meaning not to do something that would endanger my overall health. And i think so far I am doing well with that.<br />
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Many thanks go to my sister Elizabeth who sherpa'd me like a star. Cant do it without her.<br />
My rehab hands, Heather, Crystal and her team, Kevin my rolfer, Kara my DC who puts my first rib back in place and any other random thorax issues, Christine who is my LMT and of course Jen my coach.<br />
Cant leave out my family and Mike who somehow think I am crazy but love me anyways. And when i asked Mike if i could do another one he said " who am i to say you cant ?" So may need a bit more discussion on that :)<br />
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Here are a few more pictures:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYOTfJP3nQwJcxyLXKx_VX5JeBa3cwaX17yRzrZoAmZu6pFkxNXWzi9dgieAghqex2LcFt4O3XW-usRS7l1rhG9UakXFelvJkI3j97Mo7kYUcYEKCzAkoIhpLUvuewjLMCkOB/s1600/photo+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYOTfJP3nQwJcxyLXKx_VX5JeBa3cwaX17yRzrZoAmZu6pFkxNXWzi9dgieAghqex2LcFt4O3XW-usRS7l1rhG9UakXFelvJkI3j97Mo7kYUcYEKCzAkoIhpLUvuewjLMCkOB/s1600/photo+3.PNG" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CANT GET THIS OFFFFFFFFF!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_lSNDtVxne5Pf_RhbO5tkO4198KUOLp8d5ElWT4zmHJ27Mxie8alDATfEYZ1zLr3SuLxLQlH0EK9cFAlHCVoKJ5cHTkIzJdlBQ740hKUqaj5hDYqJ2A0L14gPDkYpol0YkjR/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_lSNDtVxne5Pf_RhbO5tkO4198KUOLp8d5ElWT4zmHJ27Mxie8alDATfEYZ1zLr3SuLxLQlH0EK9cFAlHCVoKJ5cHTkIzJdlBQ740hKUqaj5hDYqJ2A0L14gPDkYpol0YkjR/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhP78O4lzl3HuUMesgD1S1bSLpBiJ0vjtAoboyyCrtTajqmcRfALDaiae4wj4zjAEoJBgZuT2UBr0qPlKudwJlL6-4cyhRMZw-wvfZGFScRvvWNjN_dtvKDbuTNZwKqVdN8we/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhP78O4lzl3HuUMesgD1S1bSLpBiJ0vjtAoboyyCrtTajqmcRfALDaiae4wj4zjAEoJBgZuT2UBr0qPlKudwJlL6-4cyhRMZw-wvfZGFScRvvWNjN_dtvKDbuTNZwKqVdN8we/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YUM, lots a fresh berries</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliypCPwLmhuGW7kAEl2oFbb8x09V5dy9gEhPfs_7E81IWQZCuJU5MdlK0CX_XSRR4Kii7baLkclXwf2NCkJSPf9vJ3N47lZD2VSIXGpqfGK6Qb6Rf-xpAClwtSYMTc7RCfVE7/s1600/photo+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliypCPwLmhuGW7kAEl2oFbb8x09V5dy9gEhPfs_7E81IWQZCuJU5MdlK0CX_XSRR4Kii7baLkclXwf2NCkJSPf9vJ3N47lZD2VSIXGpqfGK6Qb6Rf-xpAClwtSYMTc7RCfVE7/s1600/photo+3.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crisis diverted. We flew into Rain and 50</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMYJslCBjyKYPeAI3drK0o1sL4IP9emcKYnNI7hZ8kRVkyyeSDlj1Ck6J35GGrawl3Mrbrtk5N1WqFz4WOVu_gSKmK08Vn8OX5mj4FdixVJe2YAWPmI1OIEfLGscobtdO3Voc/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMYJslCBjyKYPeAI3drK0o1sL4IP9emcKYnNI7hZ8kRVkyyeSDlj1Ck6J35GGrawl3Mrbrtk5N1WqFz4WOVu_gSKmK08Vn8OX5mj4FdixVJe2YAWPmI1OIEfLGscobtdO3Voc/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never going to do CDA, 65 deg is my limit. </td></tr>
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GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-34594406165460024862014-08-04T09:32:00.001-07:002014-08-04T09:36:44.203-07:00Ironman Canada Continued....Ok sorry about that. I had to go to a Lyle Lovett concert. Super guy and the sort of guy you want to have coffee with. Other than the Gestapo couple that was in front of us telling everyone to be quiet...um hello. We are at the zoo outdoors, if you want a perfectly controlled environment stay at home in your throne's and put in a CD, Annoying to say the least. We werent even drinking and the people around us were getting some MAJOR stinkeye from the control couple.<br />
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So that is why I had to stop writing. Oh and to clean my pool and to take a nap.<br />
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And pay attention to Mike since he missed me when i was riding my bike for XXX hours.<br />
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Speaking of Bikes....<br />
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The ride starts uphill immediately, and its pretty shaded. I was chilled to say the least but when we would hit a sunny patch i knew i was going to be ok. We climbed out of Rainbow park and thru Whistler then we headed up to the Biathlon/bobsled area in Callaghan Valley. It was an abrupt UP. yikes, standing still anyone? I was relieved to see my power was working. </div>
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My last two big races ( meaning not OLY or sprints) the power had gone nuts. IM Wisconsin i averaged 600 watts for my NP( #EPO?), and this year at Liberty same. So happy that i had some feedback. Jen and I had decided that with the punchiness of this race an Average power reading would be hard since there is so much up and down so i really rode by feel and at the end of the bike my power was exactly where it should have been if not a bit high. I had been training FINE a bit higher than IMWatts so this was good and expected.</div>
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This course is so pretty and actually I was nearly 2:30 in and had this " wait, i am close to half done?" </div>
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Now this is assuming i would come in under 6 hours. ( someday) Now i know where i am on the timeline due to the feed bag:) While i am always toying with what works my fuel plan was one i had last year but since i didnt race an IMlast year I wasnt sure how it would play out. It involves powerbars, powergels and perform. No water. The tweak i need is more water. I just dont know how athletes and pro's who use this can do it with no water.</div>
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Other than that I think its a go. Shot blocks and gels on the run, but i will get to that. </div>
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Main issue i have had with the powerbars is that my jaw cramps. Seriously. This has happened to a few people i know, and it hurts. The chewing of the bars has had my jaw sore more than once. Sorta funny actually. But since Camp in March i have been using this plan so that was what I would use. May jump on the OSMO wagon next year but honestly I do NOT like the taste of that drink. So adding water may be my plan. Bc I am not a small man i know but I also think triathletes are quick on gimmicks and the latest fad. Hate me for saying that but its true, right Angela? </div>
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The best part of the bike was i really didnt get bored and never really had a super low spot. I love climbing and if anything the scary spots were the guys who i had passed would BOMB down behind me and I never knew if they would hold a line. I admit to one LOW spot or well, negative stretch. </div>
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In the flats of Pemberton ( which reminded me of home, cows and horses and rolling, not really FLAT) a girl was so OBVIOUSLY leap frogging on wheels I had to say something. At first i thought maybe it was just that one wheel she was on, but when that one got away she went to the next and the next. </div>
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I finally said something and she told me to " SHUT UP." I told her to " GET A LIFE, this isnt a team sport" and that was it. I passed her back out of Pemberton on the climb back into Whistler which made me quite happy. #Cheatersneverwin</div>
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The only true low point was the " pee on the bike " thing. Not easy for me to do when i am cold too. So i stopped and not to be gross but its good i did bc I had to do more than pee. So much better. I cant beleive at IM Moo the first time i did that i held it in for 6 hours. I was able to refill my bottles and why cant they make a PERFORM bottle that stays in your cage or has a spout that is easier to open. Heck, that is annoying. For anyone who hasnt done an IM( cheryl) be ready to struggle with those tops. I dont use a sippy cup as you can see, but i would actually put bottles in special needs next time to avoid using those dumb Peformbottles. </div>
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Speaking of that climb. I had done the math and figured i could getback to T2 under 6 hours IF i could average 19 mph. Not hard on a rolling or flat course. But comingback into town I think i averaged about 13! Holy hills and 10% grades. I just read Jackie Arendts blog about trying to save something for the end and...well...agreed. Hard to not burn matches on a course like this. I was just really happy to be headed back and while my Right quad ( VMO) got very sore i knew this has happened at Lemmon when i am not conditioned and i knew running on it would be fine. </div>
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IF i were to do this course again, or as i told Jen,if she has any other athletes do it ( I was her first)i would do MANY MANY more hill repeats in the middle of long rides. I didnt do enough hills. and while i have to say i dont live in the mountains. i do have some steep 10% and around that grade hills i could have done more of. I did a few at the end of 100 mile rides but 1-2 was not sufficient. 8-10 would have been. Either way I thought it was lovely and i am so so so thankful that we didnt have rain. That would have been cold and a crashfest. </div>
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Ok have to go to work so run is coming. I was so happy to get to run! </div>
<br />GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-88897616436424320792014-08-03T15:21:00.000-07:002014-08-03T15:21:11.295-07:00Ironman Canada Ok sorry ( Cheryl) but i have been busy boating and drinking lemon drop martinis. I dont know how most people do this every weekend. I think its way more tiring than training! But a good change.<br />
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So.....<br />
Swim :) I had two chances to swim in Alta Lake before race day. Both times it was 45-50 deg air and windy. So COLD. The water didnt feel much warmer and my internal temperature said it was close to 60 deg. So i can do that. But i was sure cold when i got out. Lovely water though and amazing views. We didnt see the course marked till we got down there race AM so it was a guessing game and just a chance to stretch it out and for me, to plan for the 1st hour freeze i knew i would have on the bike.<br />
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Race day dawned and I wont bore you with the " here is what i ate" that everyone seems to be interested in. If you care it was the same old same old ...rice toast with nut butter, banana, a few other secret things ( not really, whey) but i met up with Jared and we dropped bags and headed to the swim. We had to bus down there and they moved us along really well and fast. It was crazy that it was race day. I remember thinking the AM of my first IM that the next time i would come back to that hotel room I wouldbe an Ironman. I took a moment to smile at that thought, bc the day goes SO FAST once you are out there.<br />
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We arrived at the swim start and it was lovely out, a bit chilly around 50 deg and dry. So we hovered in our morning clothes till the last minute. I had a hate and a jacket and pants. Gloves even. The sun was so nice and i knew that would be my saving grace as i rode that first hour. Alot of athletes had been in a tizzy pre race dropping their bikes off. " What pressure? Should i deflate a a bit. At IM florida this happened, they may pop, etc..." I just stuck with my plan that I use and that is to NOT TOUCH them race morning unless they are obviously flat or lower. I think you can overinflate or mess your valve, blow em up the night prior and unless its 100 deg out just leave em. All good when i arrived. Loaded nutrition and then just waited.<br />
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About 1 hour pre swim i ate 1/2 a powerbar. Then 15 min pre start a gel. And water. I was topped off for sure. When i got in the water with Jared I Said my good byes and we seperated. I wanted nothing to do with the buoy line and so was going to swim a bit wide and hopefully avoid the corner mayhem. It was really hard to tell even where the start line was and even when the cannon went off we were a bit confused, no count down. " That is it?" and off we went. IT was the typical mayhem for a bit, the usual folks ( green caps, sorry) who start out fast and fade after 400 m. So i still stayed outside the buoy line and while it felt congested i could swim. I really feel like the first loop went by slowly. I was trying to avoid the sandwich effect where i see two caps ( green) coming at me from both ways and i am the center target. They dont know it but neither is swimming straight but will collide with me in the middle. Its good to be able to bilateral breathe! So i would have to dodge or often go behind one, and then find a clear path. The 2nd loop felt a bit faster but i still really didnt feel i had good open water. My swim time was not as fast as I Wanted but it is what it is, and it was over before i knew it. Two loops was surely slower than one but it was lovely out there and while i had a few moments of " I am cold " I tried to just forget about it.<br />
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Running into the change tent the volunteer said " YOU will warm up fast, you will warm up fast..." over and over bc i was shaking. I did put on a base layer and arm warmers and no i did NOT overheat. So there :) It was a super thin baselayer and that first hour with the shade and some descending i couldnt have been happier. Arm warmers came off around 2-3 hours in but i can handle that heat, it wasnt that hot ( to me)<br />
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The funny things i remember about the swim:<br />
My engagement ring sits on my right hand, and it was swinging like mad. I knew it wouldnt fall off bc my knuckle is big enough but i was thinking how i didnt want Rich at the bottom of the lake.<br />
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I wished it was a 1 lap swim.<br />
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Everytime i tried to get closer to the buoy line i decided i didnt like getting hit or punched or kicked enough and i moved gently back to the side about 10 feet. It was minimal why bother.<br />
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I think i am a strong swimmer but i really felt flat the first 500 M. I really think that things kick in for me about half way in a swim this distance. Being patient helped but it sure felt like a long swim. Many said it was but whatever, moving on it was time to bike.<br />
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<br />GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-26859563980026710252014-08-01T09:46:00.001-07:002014-08-01T09:46:45.015-07:00Ironman Canada : You pay money to do that ? Says one of my senior residents i work with:) So I was thinking about this race, and thinking i may not even blog about it. But it was so much more than a race that I want to get that down on paper ( paper?) Looking back at my other Ironmans, bc really for ME at least I dont just sign up for an IM bc it's there. Of course number 1 ( 2011 IMMOO) was bc I had done the other distances and I wanted to see what this IM thing was. No intention of doing another. haha. Ya, well....Race went well but at that point I had no clue on the fuel thing and that 20 gels later and too much salt ( since then i know i dont need extra NaCl) would leave my marathon in the GI distress file. Lets just say I didnt feel so hot after that run. Rich, having complete faith in my health : " Nah you dont need an IV." Then the next day...having been up all night " you should have had fluids..." Whopsy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHOA i cant walk but i am happy, till i suddenly nearly fainted</td></tr>
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Ironman 2 came sorta unexpectedly. Yes I did sign up so it wasnt Active.com divine intervention. </div>
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I remember the day, it was a WED that Rich walked into the kitchen and told me he had been down to Mayo and his cancer had come back. He had spots on his lungs. From there things pretty much got all tornadic in my life and somehow i signed up for another Ironman. IMMOO 2012 was going to happen and while i think Rich was scared for me ( since I really didnt feel so HOT after the 1st) but he also was 100% supportive since it was something I was doing for me. It was mine. As the days, and months went on with his cancer progressing, and the oncology visits and chemo and all that goes into taking care of him it was evident that i NEEDED to have something that had nothing to do with cancer, and his health. That may sound sorta distorted, but in hindsight and even after the race I saw how i was better able to care for him bc I had taken time for me. Pick your hobby, but mine was Ironman. Granted he did ALMOST all my rides with me, and when i tried to drop out he said " WE have trained hard for his, WE are going." and we did. But in 2012 i was not in a good " mental " place before that race. or during. or after. Rich died about 2 weeks after that race. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Fan!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Way better than 2011! </td></tr>
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I realized that going into the swim crying and feeling weak was no way to hang out with 3000 of my best friends. Nobody had tissues. So i shut that emotion down and swam. Of course it cameback on the bike. Longest bike ride EVER.<br />
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So my point in writing this is that I came to Canada in a good mental place. Ya some physical stuff but dont we always have that hanging over us? I was ready to face IM again but I just wasnt ready to do it in Madison bc the emotions were still pretty fresh. Granted it was a year ago that i signed up, and having conquered Whistler I am really proud that I went back in. It was a good idea to go someplace different for me, get some new memories. And I will say that being 100% mentally ok for an Ironman made it that much easier and enjoyable.<br />
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Ok I will write an actual race report next, I promise:)</div>
GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-45054873803022511192014-07-31T14:39:00.001-07:002014-07-31T14:39:19.222-07:00The Pre Race " What's been going on?" IM CANADAHey all of you ( 4) readers. Its been quiet here hasnt it. Mostly because I have been busy, focused, working, in a relationship, training. Not reading blogs much and surely not writing. I left off at Liberty Tri. A rough one. One that Jared and I talked about ALOT leading into Canada in the "WHAT IF..." department.<br />
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I had some sore lower legs ( lets just call them Calf mm since you dont care exactly what they are do you) and 13 days not running put a bit of a " scare " in me. Turns out after consulting my friendly MD who I dearly depend on, this can happen when its this cold and wet and you run on legs that are frozen. Nothing was torn, nothing was even remotely long term damaged, they just were without blood for too long and well...There ya go. Sore. So I was able to ride ok but really took it easy with getting back to runs.<br />
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Louisville became and option, as did Maryland, as did paying alot of money to do Wisconsin. Because as much as i wanted to get away from Madison, part of me longed for the " I know that course " thing. In the long run and after maybe 1-2 nights tossing on this possible loss of much $$ and dreams of Canada I decided this. I can run pretty well. I maybe undertrained but whatever. I am going to Canada and unless I have some really bad issue where i cant even run, even if my longest run is 16 miles i am going. And it all worked out. Longest run turned out to be 20 and I built up to that nicely. All ok.<br />
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So in the mean time in additon to training I had a nice time at the cabin, was training ALOT up there over the 4th so family and BF were used to the " yes i can walk 1 mile but not 5 and not rough rocky terrain bc i have to run XXX tmmrw" sort of talk. So I am excited now for August to be able to walk anyplace and not worry about my training or twisting an ankle! As we get older ( WE, haha how old are you?) things dont always go as planned. Little things talk more and sometimes it takes a few morehands on you than " ya its been a month since my last massage." For me, knowing what works for me it means bodywork, rolf, massage, PT ( mostly this is strength and keeping things in balance), ART, and two different Chiro's. One adjusts, the other does soft tissue. Ya talk about high maintenance. But i know my body and i know the ART chiro wont adjust my first rib. So this is like a 2nd job. Its worth it, but its alot of energy. and time. and money.<br />
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And in the end its all up to your head and body to be ok with where you are and decide its go time. My taper lasted about 2 weeks. Perfect. I was nervous about this, the 1st week i was tired, didnt think it was enough. But it was. Enough that i had no niggles, I had not real taper issues at all. Loved it.<br />
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We flew out on WED night and home Tuesday after the race. The rains and cold we arrived in scared me but i trusted the forecast even though ( see Jared see Liberty) i had packed like i could be racing in 50 and rain. Trust me this would have been ugly for bike safety not to mention swimming in a hypothermic lake. And lets not think about those calves again. My sister Elizabeth came armed with plans to learn the trails on her bike and by foot. She was a godsend and I cant thank her enough for driving me around. Pretty much everywhere. And She does NOT LIKE TO DRIVE. What a gift she is to me.<br />
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So I will write more about the race but wanted to get the pre race jargon out there....GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-3721323122732679472014-06-11T09:36:00.003-07:002014-06-11T09:36:42.178-07:00Liberty Half Iron Race ReportI've been putting off writing this for a few reasons, none of which has to do with my placement or my performance. But to be honest I left this race ready to give up long course racing. No joke. Sometimes the elements, that i know i have NO CONTROL over, are just enough to put you over the edge. I am glad to say i stayed on the edge and other than some VERY SORE calf muscles that are still reminding me of the elements, I am back wanting to keep racing, well at least training...ideally in sunny and 80, no lets make that 90!<br />
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Ok so on with the report:<br />
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Even before the wetsuit dance and walk to the water we had a 30 min " grab your stuff minus your bikes and take cover" break. At that point I had started to plan my workout for sunday. A nice day of getting in the distance without the aftermath of racing a half.<br />
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Pre Swim: We were delayed an hour or more. The rain and storms were pretty obvious if you looked at a radar and when I woke up i could see the waves of colored blobs that were supposed to come thru at race start and thru the morning. So we were warming up and the RD said he was going to start us even later bc " the roads are flooded and the police arent sure about corners. " GULP. um ok.<br />
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Swim: So in the elite wave we are cleared and the rain is SORTA letting up or maybe i just got used to it. Swim was fine, uneventful. I usually find myself swimming with elite guys that may or may not be good open water siters, so i tend to not trust feet. These are the same guys that blow by me like they are late for a wedding about 2-5 miles into the bike. Hi Guys. I was fine, worked hard but not hard enough that it didnt cross my mind that i wouldnt mind another lap bc it was 70 deg in the water and i was pretty comfortable.<br />
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T1: a soggy run to the bikes and the onset of the " OMG its cold " I had everything in bags so i just grabbed my wind vest, stuffed my food in the back pocket and then some arm warmers. My problem was that i couldnt get them on. They are soft and fleecy and have hands ( which i hadnt planned to use) but i kept getting caught up even tho they were rolled into donuts. So i took off, glasses on too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey Kerry, you caught me with my nouth full.<br />Picture from Yndecam</td></tr>
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T1 + 1.0 miles: Damn it i need these arm warmers, and i cant see a thing with these glasses. So i pulled over and took off the glasses ( they were tinted for darker days but there was too much road spray, etc) and the arm warmers needed both hands plus some to get on. Finally i was rolling along.<br />
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Bike: Did i mention that I was hitting 1200 Watts leaving the park? Yes my bike fitness has been strong and i feel really good about my bike right now, but not that good. So out goes the need or guide of a powermeter, and maybe that was ok. Every so often i looked thinking MAYBE it settled down but i was averaging 6-700 Watts. Go me.<br />
Since i couldnt see too well it was ok and i realized that my best bet was to stay upright, follow my fuel plan and try to get this thing over with as fast as i can. The problem was i was dropping stuff. And a half iron bike isnt really one you can "wish away," so while i wanted to be all " bada$$" about my bike i had to be smart too.<br />
I couldnt see much other than being passed alot, and there were ALOT of cars, not sure what that was about but it created more road spray. Just when you thought you had a break from mother nature the skies would open up and the wind would pick up with a turn. In hindsight i stopped 4 times. I dropped a bottle, i dropped a gel. I hit a lip in the road ( construction) and my fast air popped out. So while waiting for cars and other bikes I would turn back to get what i dropped. When i look at the times i get frustrated with that, but it was the best thing for me to do since going into a 13mile run underfueled AND FREEZING wasnt smart.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ok now i cant feel my feet and my hands are pretty numb too. How is this dismount going to go again?"<br />Yndecam</td></tr>
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T2: Thank the LORD i am done and safely. I knew my legs were really cold though as my adductors had cramped a bit and i knew i was riding at a lower cadence to keep the bike on the road. I had to ask a guy a few racks over to unbuckle my helmet. Thanks dude. Then i had to sit down to get my shoes on. I couldnt feel my hands so I ALMOST ditched the socks but knew better. These socks are super easy to put on but not when you lack fine motor skills.<br />
" Squish Squish Squish" was a common sound as we ran out of the grassy Bog known as Transition onto the path which itself had a few rivers forming.<br />
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Run: I hoped i would warm up. Core temp had been ok after about 30 miles of biking but my feet, lower legs and hands were still really really cold. This obviously made me feel like i had NO rhythm at all during the run. By mile 4 i was already doing the countdown game " 9 more miles, you run 9 miles all the time. " I made a math error at mile 7 somehow telling myself i had 5 miles. Duh. I had no GI issues at all, cant stand the HEED that seems to be prevalent at our races, so stuck to water and Powergels on target.<br />
I really had no energy highs or lows, and at no point did i think I was going to " drop, cramp, slow or lose it." But by mile 9 my Glutes were feeling incredibly tight and I was starting to feel like my chest was really tight. The last 3 miles is pretty uphill and i passed a few people and that was a good thing, alot of women dont race elite though so i knew i wasnt really passing them in the chronological sense but it still feels good to finish strong.<br />
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Finish: Finish strong i did and when i stopped both lower legs SEIZED. I have never had that happen before. So i limped my way to the water and since i had really fueled like a champ all i could stomach was some animal crackers. Plus i started to have the uncontrolled shivers.<br />
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Aftermath: The Aftermath i would have liked to avoid was driving home with the seat warmers and heat to 80, a hot bath that finally got my core temp up but likely did nothing for my sore and seized soleus mm, and a headache that lasted 24 hours. ( I thought maybe it was caffeine induced but then i had some caffeine sunday and it didnt go away so i think it was from squinting in the rain for 2 1/2 hours ++ While riding)<br />
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On the Plus side....." crickets..."<br />
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No really I finish what i start. Had they called it I would have been fine. I didnt end up in an ambulance like a few did, or with road rash. I learned that i need more clothing and i need to have every sort of outfit and gloves and calf sleeves available. I learned that I dont need to sign up for races in MN in June:) Kansas looked pretty nice!<br />
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I hate to sound deflated and sour grapes but all i wanted to do was cry after that race. I Am still really sore and i will likely be moving some workouts for this weekend bc i cant stand on the pedals yet. Was that worth it when i have an IM in 7 weeks? I dont know really. Im pleased i had a great swim, felt strong on the bike despite the conditions and that i folllowed my fuel plan and have had no nutritional issues. The run was a run done on cold legs, not much more to say to that!<br />
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The party for my dads 87th was postponed due to our crappy weather. ( YA... he is a rockstar) That was ok. Im a great hostesss but i dont think my pool was inviting to family when it was in the 50's and raining. Oiy. Why do i live here again?<br />
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Well there you have it. Thanks for reading!<br />
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<br />GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-42346379623104880612014-05-21T14:27:00.002-07:002014-05-21T14:27:54.502-07:00Gear West Duathlon Race ReportOk got some pics and actually there is a Video up at the finish so you could watch yourself finish. Sorta fun. Considering i passed a gal within 100 Yards of the finish. I never miss a chance to run down a drop shot.<br />
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So the race. This, other than a fall du Iron girl, is the only one i usually do. Though to be honest i sorta like them and with the cold springs we are having I may try to do a few more next year. Anyways. The race is not typical. This year Sean, the RD, dubbed it "MUD SWEAT AND GLORY." Every year it is usually a mud fest on the ball fields and orchards of Orono Middle school. This year we got lucky. There was soft grass for sure but no shoes were lost, stepped out of, and as far as my race goes i didnt STEP into anything that really made me say " UGH." That being said there were some LEAPS over gullys and some tests of the ol' hamstring as you jumped to avoid a deep wet area.<br />
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Drew promised me this was waist up. oops. I was sorta pretending i had muscles to pose. PRETEND being the key word here. Pre race fun with the best shop in town. ( or any town for that matter)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Something was funny. I am not sure what:) </td></tr>
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So run 1: You start on a road the then run about 1/2 mile before you jump back into the fields. Photo below is run 1, lots of running in and out of grass and well...lots of people go off course:) Its marked but the 2nd run you have to sorta pay attn otherwise you end up elsewhere. Been there.<br />
Run 1 was good for me. I took it out hard and held it and thought " ok lets see what happens. " I know in theory you should hold back but that just doesnt really seem to enter my mind in a race.<br />
Transitions were actually decent. My new bike is lower and so the T issue isnt really getting in and out its the getting the shoes on and not falling over.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just out of T1 with Sara on my heels. </td></tr>
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So Bike! ITs about 18 miles, not quite 30k i think. Super rolling and super fun. Its one where you need to always keep the gas on bc there are ample chances to rest as in the photo below.<br />
Sara ( Yay Dartmouth grad) told me before the run that she was going to " sit right behind you the entire race." and That she did! Legally. On the bike she was in front, besides, behind...sorta a nice thing to ride legally with a nice person. Luckily i didnt get all Dartmouth chit chat with her bc i couldnt breathe. I would pass her up and she would PASS me down. All good. I thought i lost her then within 2 miles she was right there. Oops:) I think she put the gas on bc i didnt slow up.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grimace of Sarah is coming to get me, pedal hard on the downhill! </td></tr>
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I knew that there were many women ahead of me. I didnt know how many but i was hoping for top 10. This race is super competitive and there is always a strong field. My friend and excellent triathlete Julie Hull was there and had blown by me on the bike and i knew i didnt have too much chance to catch her but why not try? </div>
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So as I started the 2nd run I just thought " ouch, are we done yet?" I passed claire which felt wrong, but she sure helped me run fast at the start of the run but i think she could hear me breathing on her so she may have been happy. She slapped me on the butt and said " go get it." And then i saw Andrea up ahead. I was closing but i also knew Sarah ( Go Dartmouth) was close to me too. This run snakes in and out so you see people behind you. AWFUL! You had better get moving:) So the finish of the run goes around a track and i got closer to andrea but she was not budging. As we did a 180 on wet grass and got to the walkway behind the tennis courts ( Asphalt) I hit it and just went for it up the slight incline. We turned Left into the Finish chute and I never looked back. Super happy with that, and knock on wood i could walk the next day so it was worth it. </div>
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I finished top AG and 10th :) Thanks to Andrea there was a girl who doesnt race Elite and usually races AG and i think i got her by about 1 second. Hard when you dont know your competition. But that is her choice i guess...hmm.....If i hadnt sprinted i may not have gotten 10th.</div>
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So now its on to IRONMAN TRAINING:) Its always good to know that while those short ones HURT, they are over SO FAST. Grass is always greener isnt it. And i am lucky that i like them and seem to have some speed in my legs at 48 years young. </div>
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Thanks to the volunteers, thanks especially to John at Gear West, Hannah and Sean for all the help with Penelope the new bike and special thanks to Chris Balser the BIKE FIT GURU bc he and I spent ALOT Of time together last week. I think we are close to finding a good fit. </div>
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Best news is that our weather seems to be warming up , sorta. I will believe it when i see it but at least the forecast is for 60-80 not 40-60. </div>
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Thanks for reading:) Stay healthy and be well!<br /><br />
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GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-21002331041829095282014-05-19T09:10:00.002-07:002014-05-19T09:10:49.802-07:00Gear West Duathlon; A look back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I dont have any photos yet from the Duathlon yesterday so i will start out with what i have been thinking lately. I miss Rich:) I miss his enthusiasm, his ability to not take life too seriously, and his always happy demeanor on the bike. " Any day riding is a good day." With this always on my mind I have found it easier to race because i know how lucky i am to be riding my bike. Or moving at all. Sometimes this makes me want to stay in bed and not get up. It makes me think that I dont HAVE TO DO THIS racing stuff. Or this Ironman stuff. I could just be happy riding my bike around and running if i feel like it. </div>
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But then I always remember that I GET TO DO THIS. And Pressure is something i put on myself. When i used to play tennis i had a lot of pre-competition anxiety. It carried into my game bc with tennis, you can really turn yourself inside out if your head isnt where it should be. Luckily with triathlon this doesnt happen to me. Once the gun goes off I do my part. IF i am lucky enough to pass someone, good for me. If someone is lucky enough to be trained well and fit to pass me, then good for them. It may not be anything to do with my performance, they are having a good day. These head games i used to play in tennis have really helped me accept my performances and the memory of Rich has sure helped me enjoy that i get to be out there. </div>
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I will write more once i get some pics from sunday. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich at BOUS with me, he was practicing my finish</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich with my sister waiting for me at IM Wisconsin. They had written TRUST on the road for me. To TRUST myself. </td></tr>
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And now a look back at some other GW du's</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoPbyeKhBt_ZvTag3AJ5NP1DvBtp5MpUhNVrzPJ4Y3QCyOEdxXvG1zs0bhb4qXlsHb8unOsLLMFSyKV9OFCJVQGnyfefCaYqQGX4K4L0K-RkUkvsO_0D5tmPUsHwR4ooqlbTm/s1600/P5171301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoPbyeKhBt_ZvTag3AJ5NP1DvBtp5MpUhNVrzPJ4Y3QCyOEdxXvG1zs0bhb4qXlsHb8unOsLLMFSyKV9OFCJVQGnyfefCaYqQGX4K4L0K-RkUkvsO_0D5tmPUsHwR4ooqlbTm/s1600/P5171301.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With STeve in a speedo, it was cold that day. I think this was my first one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ME, Kort and Karen showing off our mud.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MUDDY SHOES</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Marta, Jen post race maybe 3 yrs ago?</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1896747254"></span><span id="goog_1896747255"></span><br />GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-90297441535855507692014-04-21T15:12:00.001-07:002014-04-21T15:12:25.669-07:00Tucson Pre-Camp, Camp, and Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well I guess this is what I get when i dont update very often. Lots to say:)<br />
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After the winter we have had and actually had after I returned home...( ahem snow) I was so ready for some hot hot temps. Which I got! I will never ever get sick of this view:<br />
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View from my Mother in Law's condo in Green Valley</div>
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Obviously Stacey and I had a blast with Rosemary despite Stacey's bike shop trying to sabotage our Madera climb. ( PEOPLE ITS not MADEIRA, no "I") my first ride i ever did with Rich was up Madera and i will do it as long as I can. Serious HTFU those last 1.5 miles. <br />
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My love of free range Grass Fed beef is shown above. We had a nice time down there with her, too short but then we headed back up to Tucson to claim our beds and meet up with Caroline. Who I started calling CLINE, and confused the heck out of Stacey and others wondering who this new camper was going to be.<br />
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We got in some solid rides and runs before camp even started and come the last day of camp i was sorta wondering what i had done. Turns out I got in a SOLID 6 days of running and biking, no regrets at all!<br />
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Day One: Swim in the AM, it was cloudy really? With my cute lanemates. We did a solid 4k i think and i waved at Cline in the next lane who was getting her thrashing but keeping up in the REAL SWIMMER lane:) Here is my favorite quote of the day from JH " The difference btwn your lane<br />
( pointing to us) and THAT lane ( pointing to the Stacey, Melissa, Caroline swimmer lane) is that you guys are too pretty you are too nice underwater, especially you Julia." She may have mentioned me lacking power ( um, hello bird arms) but i just decided to " keep on swimming keep on swimming...."<br />
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After the swim we had a quick change to get ready for "Gates Pass->McCain Loops x 3 and Julia's bonus round". Sorry. I made a wrong turn and took a few gals on a tour of Tucson. My Garmin stopped but Christie got 82 miles and i rode an extra loop so i am rounding to 90:) Yay us. Sorry gals. But heck it was 95 deg in there and i loved it. Pippi got hot and tired and i felt bad for that, but we all made it home safely.<br />
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Day Two: LEMMON!<br />
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This is my best pic of Lemmon. My homemade gloves. Should taken a pic of the garbage bags and newspaper and duct tape:) It was super windy as we went up and it just got chilly. It wasnt THAT COLD but i had no clothing and after being sweaty on the way up I got really chilled dipping down at 21 and climbing back up to the cabin. Cline shared her cocoa with me and i didnt even want a cookie.<br />
The ride itself? Awesome. I had some juice to go when i wanted to go and was able to chill out when i wanted to just chill out. Using my IM fuel plan has taken discipline but i really think its working. We can talk more about that later, but I am buying into the "do the same fuel no matter if its an hour or a 5 hour day. "<br />
T run was glorious as it was hot and i clocked in a rolling 4 miles and then hit Le Buzz for my first iced decaf espresso of the year. That caffeine thing, so easy to avoid when its warm, so hard to avoid when i got home and it was cold, snowing and 30 deg. PROOF BELOW<br />
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This night was on our own:<br />
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I cant remember what we did but i know i did some of this ^^^^<br />
My BF is a serious popcorn lover, i couldnt not have it when i was there. Salty goodness. Cute that they had a heart bowl so i could pretend i was eating it with him.<br />
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Day Three: Run and Lemmon Repeats.<br />
In some serious need of me time i decided to run solo. I ran from the house with Cline and then ran around Sabino avoiding the lateral lower leg trauma ( peroneals anyone?) I get every year descending Phoneline trail. I missed the view but i was rewarded with some great trails, some solo time where i was the only one talking at myself, and a solid 11.5 miles in my longest run of the year. I love trails but i am used to trails that arent rocky and twisty to descend.<br />
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Onto Lemmon we go!<br />
For what I dread but also love. TIME TRIAL EFFORTS! I hit these hard, thinking i would hold back and do the 2nd faster i went out and let it rip. I started 4th and gradually made a few passes and watched as Cline cheered for me up ahead. ( LOL) she was likely fried but I had to giggle at her. Thanks girl:) The 2nd one hurt like a Beast. But i was only 25 sec slower which with wind and effort and what we did in the AM I was totally fine with. I told Jen that i thought this was a BIT AGGRESSIVE, but i loved it. ( ok that is an inside joke)<br />
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Then onto Yoga at LULU to earn our dinner at Blanco. Yoga was fun. And Funny. And after 3000 downward dogs my calves did feel looser, i will leave it at that.<br />
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Day Four: the final day!<br />
JH had us do a challenging Hill run, and HILLY it was. THIS WAS SURELY aggressive. But i am glad i did it. I had said i may not run bc it was my 6th day running and at the geriatric age of nearly 48 I was a bit shy. But i felt ok. My glutes were sore from riding so taking a ride seemed less than appealling. So off i went keeping Cline and Jerome and Dan in my sights and clocked it in and was glad i had done it. I would love to do that run with fresh legs. As Caroline noted JH Does this as a TT for her time when she comes down. What a great run!<br />
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Then a bit of time to get ready for the last swim. We had done a 1650 TT the first swim and i was dreading that more bc my brain was dead. I also had a bit of a tummy upset from the mexican and wasnt sure how i would feel in the pool. Truth be told i felt pretty nauseated mid swim, and when we had to do 25 sprints from a tread i was not sure i was going to make it. I Did of course but i think i was just tired. That entire day i felt a bit off. WE went for Fro Yo and ended up with Gelato that just didnt sound good. Too rich. I was happy to get a bit of appetite back for dinner out. Below are some of my favorite camp photos:<br />
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This camp would not be camp without Jerome. Who says very little, says very little negative and always has a grin and a helpful tip for you. Even if its " yes I will drink that for you Jenny."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzA5YMF__zy2F6YZ1_MQA1uDPgozGBNblq9-VKaebUWvI43WhQoekPhyphenhyphenMQKdBASoNml0vytY9Gdv-imiG9hKJManL4BgG42qa3EG2dv-O1Nyr7RL0E7DEIcT2iTc5EjJc3AKm2/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzA5YMF__zy2F6YZ1_MQA1uDPgozGBNblq9-VKaebUWvI43WhQoekPhyphenhyphenMQKdBASoNml0vytY9Gdv-imiG9hKJManL4BgG42qa3EG2dv-O1Nyr7RL0E7DEIcT2iTc5EjJc3AKm2/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a great photo, this laugh says it all. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roomates unite! She didnt snore and shared her hairbrush with me. What a gal. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes Jenny i will take that for you...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuLMBeKUNX3tviS7Zhht45uPLSFKAcjPE6vFasAGZyhd3hc7tEw5YpQZS0MyBuoybU__YLoSdtG4A3Qy3wzoa4y3Zk-qucEP0WCk4gTWBm2A1d-zO4W_eabavyMM9yi0Tj3z_/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuLMBeKUNX3tviS7Zhht45uPLSFKAcjPE6vFasAGZyhd3hc7tEw5YpQZS0MyBuoybU__YLoSdtG4A3Qy3wzoa4y3Zk-qucEP0WCk4gTWBm2A1d-zO4W_eabavyMM9yi0Tj3z_/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the final night crew, those that stayed on one night to laugh our brains off and drink some margaritas<br /><br /></td></tr>
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So now that i am home what is new? This is new: Easter ride on Penelope, the new bike. She did great, and while i love it, its going to take some getting used to.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Easter was fun, spent the weekend with the BF's family and we had some good times at the MOA ( shopping anyone?) and eating out and just hanging out. Then sunday i was with my family and the weather could not have been nicer. I wish it would hold but it wont, cooler temps and rain ahead. But 70 degrees on EASTER? We were due. </div>
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This coming weekend i am going to madison to run in a race with the BF and to meet his parents. Should be a good time and also will likely be one of the last free weekends before the IM Training starts in earnest! Thanks for reading and hope you had a great Easter!<br /><br />
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GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-61395163184208738662014-03-04T14:42:00.001-08:002014-03-04T14:42:40.884-08:00The Gerbil WheelTime for a quick update. And i mean quick, because life lately has been somewhat monotononous.<br />
I was emailing with Angela like we do all day long most days about the weather. Yes the weather. And racing. Some about the family, her's, mine, my love life, her chaotic life at the moment with a husband on the injured reserve list, etc...well anyways I decided life lately feels like we are on the gerbil wheel. Maybe bc we have been on the treadmill so much, not sure.....<br />
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So here is my check list of things that have made life monotonous:<br />
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Its been cold. I mean COLD. -15 , then -10 and today it was nearly 20 deg. SO when you are telling me its too cold to run outside and you are talking 40 degrees? Ok i will stay off social media.<br />
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We have so much snow that the roads are like a luge track. Your car, should you have a smaller low to the ground car bounces around like its in a pinball machine. We cannot park on one side of the street bc the emergency vehicles cant get thru. We are in one solid state of snow emergency until this melts.<br />
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Melting = FLOODING. And ice dam and leaking. And snow rakes and ...so what was it about 40 degrees that was so bad? Maybe its better to stay frozen.<br />
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Training. I am doing it. Doing work. That is good monotony. I am taking my time, realizing how grateful I am for health insurance ( even tho my coverage is worse than 2013 and i pay 2x as much) yes. But i have it and i realize if were unisured how much this little surgery -> lets complicate things and go to the ER would cost otherwise.<br />
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Family is good. I am a lucky girl. My family loves and and I love them and someday we will all swim and grill in my pool that is covered with ALOT OF SNOW.<br />
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Mike is good. Working alot. Being a good dad. Being a good BF. Not sure he knows what dating someone training for an Ironman entails but he will find out. I think when he says " what are you doing tmmrw?" and i lead with " riding my bike then swimming," he gets that things go on before the sun is up and often I need to tone that down and just say " work , driving all over the metro like normal" and not lead with the training. Its not normal to workout 2x a day unless you have a goal like and IM and i realize and he does too, that you dont do a 11 hour Ironman by training 45 minutes a day.<br />
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I am getting a new bike. Its not here yet but i am super excited.<br />
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Tucson cant come soon enough. Actually yes it can. I was off my bike for 5 weeks. That has been a painful and mentally taxing thing for me. I often think i am a slow responder to riding. I need to ride alot and then i get stronger. Mt Lemmon doesnt get any shorter or less challenging. This year will be a very tough ride for me. Then again Gates Pass isnt any cake walk either coming up the back side!<br />
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That is about it, monotony is good. As is staying out of the E.R. and the O.R.<br />
<br />GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-85319734412309070512014-02-14T10:08:00.001-08:002014-02-14T10:17:04.009-08:00Well.... that is one way to get out of your bike testHello again.<br />
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Well I have debated how much I really want to or need to write about what happened since my last post. Some of you know, others of you dont and the main thing is that its only a big deal because it happened to me. In the large scheme of life its a blip and one that i would be very happy to forget. Alas, I cant and barely a week out from " IT" I am still freaked out by it.<br />
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So if you have a weak stomach or get grossed out my medical talk, then stop reading.<br />
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Sunday Feb 9th started well. A short elliptical wko at Mike's as i wasnt quite ready to run. It as 9 days post op and while they say " 3-5 days you will be back to your normal activities..." I was still sore! I will someday write a post called "elective laproscopy for the high level athlete, allow 2-4 weeks."<br />
After that i went home and it was like the clock turned to 2pm and i started getting these intense spasm like cramps in my Right Lower Quadrant. So now, if i hadnt lost my appendix i would think that i was having an appendicitis. I called the MD bc it was that bad. She said " its gas, just take some drugs ( norco) and it will pass." I did, it didnt pass. I tried a hot bathe, that didnt work. By 4pm my lovely sister who had unknowingly come over to use my recovery boots, was driving me to the ER ( same hospital i had surgery at) while i moaned and groaned and writhed in pain. I did allow her 30 min to get her legs pumped with those boots so i am not all that bad of a sister.<br />
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We got to the ER and i got checked in around 4, triaged and taken back by about 5. This was Super Bowl sunday so that maybe kept the census down in the ER, tho i do recall in my drugged haze seeing a few Ambulances ( EMTs) bringing back men who looked to have had a few too many cocktail weineies earlier that night.<br />
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Without too much detail I was set up on an IV and given a pretty strong pain killer called Dilaudid. It worked well for about 30 minutes then i would need more. It is sort of a blur, but i went from CT back to the ER, then went to Ultrasound, ( which left me in serious pain and literally screaming for more painkillers) and then to another exam room. When she said " we are all set up for you across the hall, lets walk over there" I said " no way i cant walk. " it as that bad. At one point i remember a nurse coming in to tell em to stop moaning. Seriously? I get what she was trying to help me with ( to stop hyperventilating) but she sure didnt have good bedside skills. While i was thinking " Ya right lady" It did help to try to breathe deep but it didnt help with the pain. So while all the scans were clear, other than showing some inflammation and bleeding post surgically I was admitted for pain control. The ER doc was so nice, I was so exhausted and tired and crying. I could tell he felt so bad. At one point when he was talking about going home i said " i cannot go home. " My sister was going to stay with me, and honestly I am so glad she didnt have to, what a helpless feeling to see me like that, Plus she hates hospitals and gets queesy seeing blood, etc.<br />
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So up to the Surgery Specialities wing I go. I had a super nice nurse that night. I got settled by 1am, and while i can say that the pain pump helped i was a bit leary to use it. I tried to sleep but i kept having these waves of pain thru my lower right quadrant. What is really interseting and maybe a tad bit embarrassing to say ( but has to be said) is that the only thing they came up with from the tests was that I had some stool in my Ascending colon, which if you know your bowels ( haha, never losing a chance to talk anatomy) is on the Right side of your addominal cavity, travels up and then across to your left side then descends down your Left side. So by the end of all this i was sore EVERYWHERE in my lower quadrant.<br />
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When nothing else proved positive ( Thank GOD, trust me i had lots of things going thru my head) i knew that the ER is the place they figure out or hopefully negate all the bad things that could be. I had abcess, hernia, perforated bowel, IUD has migrated to ?? who knows where, I had too many things in my head, even thinking i had some sort of blood clot in my ?? My sister had to tell me repeatedly to " DONT GO THERE" and i had to stop my lively brain.<br />
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So Monday dawns ( and honestly I just looked at a calender) as these 72 hours are a blur....and we are still in the same place, lots of painkillers and lots of people poking me. General Surgeon is called in as i started to spike a fever up to 101.8 and my White Blood cells were inching up. So now we have some sort of infection. I am sent down for xray, to see if there is anything they missed, as another CT in less than 24 hours is not warranted. OF course i am like " sure it is, lets be sure" and then the Surgeon says " ok we need to watch this, and i will be around. " You need to just be NPO for now ( meaning nothing by mouth) even clear liquids. I hadnt eaten anything bc now we had assumed we just needed to clear me out and i had started on Miralax and a lovely bowel cleanse such as you over 50's have done for a colonoscopy. So he stopped all that. Till 10pm when he said " you are ok, we arent going to do any exploratory surgery" and so guess what i got to do all night monday night? Sleep is overated isnt it.<br />
But at the same time the fever was still on my head was killing me and they were dripping IV antibiotics and when the bag emptied the pole with 3 lines going into my Right arm would beep like there was a fire ....one time it was so loud and it woke me out of such a deep drug sleep i paged the nurse and the CNA would come and turn it off ( not really its a 2 min pause) and it would go back on. I just remember HOWLING " TURN IT OFF..." and finally I just said " heck " and sat up on mybed and turned it off myself. At least my headache wasnt worse.<br />
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I will never take for granted the abiltity to pull myself up in bed, to sleep in my bed without considerable back pain, and to get to the bathroom without a pole. ( because you have unplug that thing everytime) as I was able to rest a bit more and yes start clearing out I still had a fever and my head still hurt. I had a headache even after i got home. I Would wake up and it was like my head just hurt. sort of a frontal lobe ache. WAlking the halls at 1 am, 3 am just bc i wanted to move and not feel like i was hunched and accordioned at my waist. It hurt. Not going to lie. I have never been in so much pain in my life. And to make it worse that tuesday night, when i was faced with a huge jug of laxative plus miralax plus a night nurse who I swear was just there to make sure i didnt die, well I had some weepy moments. I was scared, tired and wasnt sure i could do this. Mainly i was scared bc it was remarkably close to what i know Rich went thru during his hospital stay at Mayo for his initial surgeries. While i know mine wasnt as serious you cant help but think " I am not ready to go see Rich yet." And wonder what the heck, why, what happened? This was supposed to be a super simple surgery.<br />
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So despite night nurses ( Who was back tuesday night too, oh joy, and sorry i know they have alot of people to take care of) and not being able to eat, and not being able to watch TV bc my head hurt, and not wanting anyone to come visit besides family bc i just felt so darn crappy...well they deduced that while they cant say for sure what happened they think my body just was UNHAPPY with the surgery on the 24th. IT gives me a bit of piece of mind I guess. To think that i have never ever in my life been constipated:) TMI but still that the week leading into this advneture i had been regular etc, and that AM had had a BM, well...( sorry if this is TMI but it speaks to the WTH?) maybe my surgeon ( OB) was right when i saw her this week " You are delicate, you have never had surgery and after 47 years you had some fairly extensive work, your body didnt like it." I trust her, she is the best. I knew that she didnt knick my bowel and had i had a bowel injury well it would have showed up in days 2-4 not day 9-10.<br />
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I got home and started learning to eat again. It still is uncomfortable, but i am on alot of flax and some miralax. But that is like draino. I am not sure how long till i feel normal again. Its getting better. I can swim, i can bike, Running has been a bit less comfortable but i am trying to make some strides so that the rest of my body ( aka hammies and addcutors) dont have such a hard time come March 1st.<br />
I am still tired. Work has been great and while my work is so awesome and i work from home alot i just know i need to keep trusting my body.<br />
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Ironman Canada is july 27. My surgeon said " oh you will be fine" and i have to remember i will be but that i dont start training for IM on June 1st. So i have 100% plans for a killer race in Canada but if my body has other plans well, so be it. Ironman will always take my money and refund .555% of my entry fee, :) But there are other races out there later on should my coach and i think that is necessary.<br />
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Not much else to report, you have likely heard enough from me for a bit:)<br />
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Happy Valentines and special thanks to: My sister Elizabeth, my family for coming to visit me, Mike (I never thought i would meet another man who is as wonderful as Rich), ER, Angela, Sarah..you guys kept me hoping and laughing while i screamed in pain. Even though laughing hurt :) it was worth it.<br />
<br />GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-84993227420072468562014-01-29T12:04:00.003-08:002014-01-29T12:04:59.789-08:00Endometreosis Continued....So i realized maybe you have no idea what Endo even is. I know i didnt. I thought, until I looked it up, that it was just stuff that was in your insides ( ie uterus) that was inflamed or not healing right. So that when you had your period you were more uncomfortable. What i found was way more...hmm. icky, for lack of a highly professional term.<br />
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From our good friend Wikipedia:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Endometriosis</b> is a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gynecological" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Gynecological">gynecological</a> condition in which cells from the lining of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uterus" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Uterus">uterus</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometrium" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Endometrium">endometrium</a>) appear and flourish outside the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uterine_cavity" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Uterine cavity">uterine cavity</a>, most commonly on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Membrane" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Membrane">membrane</a> which lines the abdominal cavity, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peritoneum" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Peritoneum">peritoneum</a>. The uterine cavity is lined with endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Hormone">hormones</a>. Endometrial cells in areas outside the uterus are also influenced by hormonal changes and respond in a way that is similar to the cells found inside the uterus. Symptoms of endometriosis are pain and infertility. The pain often is worse with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cycle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Menstrual cycle">menstrual cycle</a> and is the most common cause of secondary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysmenorrhea" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Dysmenorrhea">dysmenorrhea</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So with that, you can see, its not as simple as my brain had thought. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I left off with the surgery. So to skip the parts about me being nervous about General Anesthesia, and my sister and I playing with all the contraptions on the waiting pre surgery room..." hey lets try this one on my finger, what is your pulse? Wait its 99? that is high. " " No Elizabeth that is your pulse ox/ % you want it close to 100" we had some giggles on that one. We didnt hook take each other's temperatures, and i nearly died when they asked for a urine sample when i hadnt eaten or had anything to drink in 12 hours. amazing how nervous pee is easy to produce ( think pre race).</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">When i was walked into the OR ( yes i got to walk in there, looking into all the other surgey rooms and seeing people passed out, i sorta wished i had been rolled in. All i remember was i lay down, the started an IV, they put on a BP cuff and then i was babbling ( nerves again) and said I would rather be doing an IM. The nurses ate that up and as i told them " oh no you swim first, otherwise you drown, its 2.4 swim then 112 bike then 26.2 run, " and one nurse was bowing to me. Then i woke up at 1030 in recovery. I walked into the surgery at 0730. Nothing like some Tri talk for them to say " lights out sister." </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">When i woke up it was a few hours later and my Belly HURT. I am not sure what they gave me but i made the Anesthesioligist repeat after me that i was 123 lbs and that he wouldnt give me gas for a 150 or 175 lb male. I also made sure that my MD didnt inflate me too much. See they pump you full of Co2 so they can see your insides better. I had heard that the gas pain in your neck and shoulders is intense for 48 hours after the surgery. I had a little bit of that pain but It really was no worse than feeling like i had sore shoulders after swimming. It was really not bad at all compared to the cramping. I also learned soon after that i had some bonus organ removal. My guess was my tubes. But phew, those were intact. I just lost some weight in my RLQ ( Right Lower Quadrant) my appendix was inflamed. So who needs that. Fine by me, now i know i wont ever have an emergency Appy. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">As soon as i got home ( and starting looking up all the cute Dankso clogs the nurses had on) i remembered not to do anything big in the next 24 hours. Dont get married, Dont sell my house, Dont go buy $500 worth of cute clogs. I love Dansko I used to wear them in the clnic. As an aside friday night i couldnt sleep so i did buy Mike three pair of jeans, And i did buy myself some shoes and a sweater. Oops. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I also emailed my Osteopath, here is what he said :</span></span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">My understanding of endometriosis is that it starts with a problem with peristalsis in the fallopian tubes. Instead of a smooth peristaltic wave from the fimbria end toward the uterus, the wave is chaotic and somewhat spastic. This results in a backwash of endometrium into the abdomen where it implants, and then bleeds on a monthly cycle.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The peristalsis issue is at least partly related to blood sugar balance. If you have any carb intolerance at all, then this is likely a factor in the initiation of endometriosis. Other factors are a whole manner of environmental toxins that muck up the normal signaling in the fallopian tubes. Detoxification is what is needed in this case, and a very clean diet free of xenoestrogens.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Once the endometrium has implanted, it is up to the immune system to clear it out. I think that sometimes the backwash issue is ongoing and it overwhelms the body's ability to clear it out. Other times it seems that the body just tolerates the implant though it is not at all normal to do so.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">We can talk about strategies to try to handle all of this.</span></i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">** last time i saw him we discussed eatling less sugars while training. I think i may have to try this. I Also know we tried eating Sardines for brekkie and i was like GAG. nope. Cant do that. </span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">You can bet we are talking about this. While i know i am going to be healing and better in the months to come, I also want to do what i can to avoid this recurring. IF that means some diet changes then so be it. I can do that:) I sorta feel like i have to. As much as I can say "oh it wasnt THAT bad," I then have these flashbacks of times where it WAS that bad. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The first night of camp 2013 in Tucson. Period Day 1, me up roaming the condo all night, crying, doubled in pain, not wanting to wake the entire condo, wishing and praying it would go away. Thankful that we werent climbing lemmon that day, i wouldnt have made it. I was a wreck. Stuff like that. The next day we made it up Lemmon just fine. I was fine. But hello russian roulette. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">So its now Wednesday, my surgery was last friday. I left the house today. What a thrill. I cant tell you how funny it is to not be totally stir crazy and to actually be feeling like this is the right thing to do. I miss training, but in the big scheme? I hope this is a small speed bump. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">What is the prognosis? Well I can start training 10-14 days post surgery. My plan is to start moving more prior to that as my body feels. They said i would have trouble bending over, or reaching. nope. And that i may be quite sore in my incisions ( yes) but they feel secure. The worst is that i have alot of cramping. And I have been taking Ibuprofen for that an it helps. No swimming obviously and i am guessing i will walk before i run and soft pedal before i look at watts.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">As far as prognosis for life? not Triathlon? :) Hopefully with some dietary changes and with the addtion of a Mirena ( yup, tell all here) I will have less and less symptoms. If i were one who knew my sisters and mom went thru menopause early on i would have skipped the IUD but mid 50's and still going strong for my sisters means i dont want to deal with this for another 5- 6 years. I know the Mirena has its own challenges in the first 3 mos, but it surely cant be worse than what I have dealt with over time. Plus i am not a fan of OCP's for anyone my age or even after 40. Just my opinion. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I was thinking that i had wished i had done this sooner, but then had an A-ha moment. The last 3+ years i spent taking care of Rich. Doesnt mean thatI couldnt have done this but honestly I had no energy to take care of me in This Manner. So i am glad i was brave enough to do this NOW. Finally. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Ok so What did i leave out? :) not much. I missed the third Polar Vortex and hopefully the last. Its 12 deg out and it feels like its 70:) I am trying to eat more protein but honestly I lived on soup and graham crackers for 4 days. Thanks especially to ER and Angela whose daily emails keep me laughing and thinking that this is ok. And of course thanks to my family and Mike for making me laugh ( now that i can without pain) and for reminding me that sleeping till 1130 then 930 then 9 am even without drugs is a good thing:) Dreamy i know. Wow. Who knew i could sleep like that. </span><br />
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<br />GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-73614165224873729912014-01-27T07:53:00.000-08:002014-01-27T07:53:12.830-08:00Mid Winter BreakWell this post will be different from my normal upbeat posts full of love and sunsets and activity. While those posts will return, I wanted to write a bit about my experience this last week AND over the last 6-8 years with endometreosis. Funny thing that word. I thought it was something other people got and was for women that just had some weird stuff going on in their insides. I really didnt even know what it was or that i had it, till about 6 months ago.<br />
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One thing i did know was that I have had SEVERE mentrual cramps and at times if i missed my period due to high training or when i had just started doing triathlon in my early 40's I was so overjoyed. I know this isnt a good thing. Getting your period is GOOD. As much as we say that tongue in cheek i know its a good sign that my body is healthy, i am feeding it, there isnt an energy imbalance and in many studies ( which I can find and state if you want them) there is a correlation with women who are irregular or ammenorheic and injuries, especially injuries to the lower leg and feet. ( ie Plantars) So everytime i was balled up and literally unable to pedal my bike or had to get off the trainer to lie down, I knew that this was good for me, isnt it? Recently the " get off the bike to lie down and groan " had gotten more frequent. Even when i didnt have my period. This had also happened when i was Time Trialing or at a race when i was doing a very hard ( well I was racing) effort I felt like i had cramps even when i didnt have my period. It was the strangest thing, and it never happened when i was running or swimming.<br />
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Lets back up for a second. I have never had kids. I think that means i am more at risk for this. None of my family has it, that is also a risk factor if mom or sisters have it. I really had no other symptoms they list online ( you know, the BOX OF TRUTH) other than a ton of pain the day before and days 1-2 of my cycle. I dont bleed alot. I wont go into what they say alot of Endo sufferers have, go google it. But the point is every 27 days i would start to get really anxious and try to not plan things for those days. If i had a race? well that was totally a huge bummer. I was more worried about this than the race. I used to dose up on Celebrex, that didnt work AT ALL. When i started seeing an OB instead of listening to my MD ( who by the way is really a well respected sports med MD internist, shame on her) who just wanted me on the pill and NSAIDS for the rest of my life, I got a new Rx for Ibuprofen. This really was a miracle for me. IT actually cut the edge. So all last summer ( summer of 2013) i would dose up to 2400 mg of Ibuprofen starting 2-3 days before my period. That is alot of Advil. I have horse pills that are 800 mg ( 4 advil) and i would use my pill cutter so i could spread it out so i hopefully didnt Kill my stomach lining. It got to the point i didnt even need to eat, i never got an upset stomach. MAybe i just am eating pretty often anyways but so far i never had any issues with that. ( tick tock, i hope i still dont)<br />
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Ironman 2012 at Wisconsin before i had the above protocol i had my period. Rich was dying. I got off the bike 3 x, I wanted to quit. I am just amazed when i look back at that. Best of the US race in 2010 I had my period, got it race day. I grimaced that entire run. I think i nearly passed out when i finished and i remember thinking that if that run had been longer than a 10k i could NOT have done it. No way. I guess maybe this makes me sound all gritlike and superwomanesque. That isnt my point in writing this. My point, I think is to share this in case any of you have been told you just have to suck it up and deal with it. and maybe my point is that i decided that i didnt care if this interuppted my training for Ironman bc my entire life was being affected by this.<br />
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So when i finally got the clue to go see an OB ( remember no kids so i dont really have an OB) but i went to see Donna Block who delivered my nephews and is a great surgeon. My MD said " She is a surgeon she wants to cut," and yes I Get that. But i also know that Donna knew right away. Over 6 mos ago she said " we should do a laproscopy, we put you to sleep and...." I stopped listening at the general anestheisa part. I was not into that AT ALL. no way jose.<br />
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I got the information and promptly started doing the ibuprofen and this past summer of 2013 most my races fell on good days, i seemed ot get my period on monday! Or tuesday! not the weekend. Thank you body. Also maybe in the summer things just seem easier, yet i still had a few days of " ugh, glad i only have to swim today...or glad i dont have a big work day." It really is russian roulette. So i kept up the NSAIDS, never leaving home without my horse pills. OFten wondering what my stomach or liver or insides was thinking about this. Also wondering if when iw as really training hard for shorter courses if somehow i would injure myself bc i was doped up on Nsaids 4-5 days of a 27 day cycle.<br />
But i was doing good. I made it thru the season, and i ran the 10 miler and no issues ( as i said, the calender was in my favor)<br />
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So what made me change my mind? Well this fall I must have forgotten to get on the Nsaids on time and i had an episode that rocked my world.I had just met Mike and he was over, I had just started back with JH and had a ride that was not that hard but it really seemed to drain me. I figured it was a holiday weekend ( Thanksgiving) and i had eaten alot of pie andstuff i dont usually eat. ( We will get to the Gluten free stuff later) and i also was tired. Mike and i then went for a 20 min t run, nothing hard. Outside, remember when we used to have days above -25? well we did. And then i got home and i felt really really awful. I got my period and knew. I then got faint. I dry heaved I tried to eat, i couldnt. I lay on the bed in a ball and said to MIke " welcome to my world every 27 days." at that point i didnt want to take any Nsaids bc i had nothing in my gut and i knew that whatever gel or OSmo or Skratch i drank wasnt enough. I have NEVER FELT SO awful and I said " maybe you should take me to the ER." Then i thought clearly. " They will just drug me. " SO, being the resilient person i am i went to the small stash of Oxycodone that Rich told me " dont get rid of this, it has good street value." and i took a half a 5mg pill. IT worked wonders. Dont come looking for them ihave them well hidden.<br />
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I have never had to take narcotics before for my period and that was the exact day i knew that i didnt want to deal with this anymore and i went back into see Donna, Dr. Block and got this procedure planned. OF course my next cycle was fine. Fine meaning painful but not like that one i described above.<br />
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Background done and if you are still here i will write next post about the procedure and what they found and how i feel. I am really uncomfortable but i know this was the best thing to do. Dr Block told my sister " nobody should be this uncomfortable." Amen to that.GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34635647.post-21956372317674631642014-01-22T06:29:00.000-08:002014-01-22T06:29:19.166-08:00Florida in Pics!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Weather was better than in MN! 80's to start, 40's when we left. Still no snow!</div>
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ONE OF MY FAVORITES!</div>
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WOW. SUN. WATER....</div>
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Night shot. blurry:) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYK77Y_bgv49TL0APobqWr_hV8OS-fwXLzSyrZevZOIhPsZByNzLLVYdH2rF_nsmOSXhHWy6w5heF4J2ASSYBYS0eQGIwGQ-QYzNc_boxHAy9pVE9lZwPCzNRJKTJcIjQqsPa/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYK77Y_bgv49TL0APobqWr_hV8OS-fwXLzSyrZevZOIhPsZByNzLLVYdH2rF_nsmOSXhHWy6w5heF4J2ASSYBYS0eQGIwGQ-QYzNc_boxHAy9pVE9lZwPCzNRJKTJcIjQqsPa/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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ME and DAD</div>
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TENNIS TIME!!!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OHVmVLZEfx0yh_tQdK86jau1LMI6e7WzZN-cSQpxlPKf5PISDO2zjSlxfkWDtXEULxzg0gUnh4eLwYiKuqZGv7Cv1F0MN2u-S_-CnVBBeILU6ytPSbLqYctn9elbtNByvdf5/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OHVmVLZEfx0yh_tQdK86jau1LMI6e7WzZN-cSQpxlPKf5PISDO2zjSlxfkWDtXEULxzg0gUnh4eLwYiKuqZGv7Cv1F0MN2u-S_-CnVBBeILU6ytPSbLqYctn9elbtNByvdf5/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I must have been telling Mike a secret</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSUTs4Xxdv2UmcYy3d8lUhwCYOCc0I99xdLCRNnDqfIG9h9xb-xHosOPCLS9oqnhpYXzK1LojZ98rR2ONpHnRPEXvbcM3jX4Q6cVWDpjbaxuTxb4_K5817lVgo-q6_hbxzJtg/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSUTs4Xxdv2UmcYy3d8lUhwCYOCc0I99xdLCRNnDqfIG9h9xb-xHosOPCLS9oqnhpYXzK1LojZ98rR2ONpHnRPEXvbcM3jX4Q6cVWDpjbaxuTxb4_K5817lVgo-q6_hbxzJtg/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wBgETH8zkb4-Mvz7diO_yehKVzKRjlQXuSO071AktjTPhBFFBBwftPKOzj0e3d8zyU2LswxVnaBPz3P7tLqARZNTu3fhMHwglvdzDjCQlGqJsB9Eu2h12Xq6leoSYBrsxRqb/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wBgETH8zkb4-Mvz7diO_yehKVzKRjlQXuSO071AktjTPhBFFBBwftPKOzj0e3d8zyU2LswxVnaBPz3P7tLqARZNTu3fhMHwglvdzDjCQlGqJsB9Eu2h12Xq6leoSYBrsxRqb/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before it got to be 40 deg in the AM we had some lounge time. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIzEB5wOw0OMTKIjcLtqaG4Ck0j9-9QK6MUUcIJiV0iQkY_m_96ms__ZttfvhHbi2ouhztUakefmgwE72iK2HGldAvPDaK2wnb6dq2bVwPBFmHJV52YBlrA1aoAjdRaldJFbE/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIzEB5wOw0OMTKIjcLtqaG4Ck0j9-9QK6MUUcIJiV0iQkY_m_96ms__ZttfvhHbi2ouhztUakefmgwE72iK2HGldAvPDaK2wnb6dq2bVwPBFmHJV52YBlrA1aoAjdRaldJFbE/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we are geeky, matching shirts. and we were on Captiva, i know:) not Sanibel. </td></tr>
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<br />GoBigGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11733710492405707464noreply@blogger.com1