Happy June!

• On: 06/03/2009 09:00:29

Oh boy!  I thought I better blog here or you guys will stop reading!  This is busy season – as I say – where it is summer (well not here in Chicago yet!), but racing, schedules and everyone FIRED UP!  So, when I have time, I must work on the computer and it doesn’t lend itself very well for me to sit down and type about Triathlon when I need to be working…but this morning I decided to just write!

I was thinking this week last year I was in Vancouver getting ready to race ITU Worlds in Vancouver.  It rained and was cold everyday – but of course, on par for Chicago weather – and the water temps were 54F.  It was the coldest swim I have EVER done.  Man, did I love Vancouver. I really want to get back to that city.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and the race.  This week, I am in my taper for Eagleman 70.3 for next weekend.  YAY!  Yes, as you have heard me say 1,000 times, this IS my favorite race and this is my “A” race for my early season.  I am excited to see some friends out there too!  We will leave on Thursday and road trip WITH THE KIDS out to Philly – stay Friday and Friday night with Jerome’s parents – leave the kids with grandma and Papa and head to Columbia on Saturday AM….same routine for what, the 5^th time for us?  It works….it is about a 13-14 hour drive.  And, it is a tradition for us and have done it every year since 2003 or 04….except last year when I was in Canada racing.  So, I am FIRED up to head out there.

This is a picture of the Women's 35-39 Age group from 07, when I did the race last.  Those girls are twins - how ironic for me...and they went to Kona since I turned the slot down.  *Um, I still train in those clothes and have those shoes....time for new stuff...ahem...* 

Triathlon is going well…training is good – except for the cold temps that still are plaguing Chicago, I am feeling good.  LOTS of flat/aero hard rides and runs are getting me ready for Eagleman.  After Eagleman I am taking a mid-season break.  Because I decided to race 70.3 Worlds in November, I have to break up my season or I will be fried.  So, 2 seasons for me:  early season culminating with Eagleman and then later season culminating with Worlds.  I don’t think I am going to travel between EM and Worlds.  I will race locally and do some independent road races (bike and run) and enjoy the summer time with the kids and work.   Lots of summer camps, pool time, short trips, My high school 20^th reunion, TUCSON in July for Jerome and I…etc., will keep me busy.  I love racing locally and will do that from July-September with possibly even a 1/2 Marathon in the fall!!  YIPPEEE!  I need to be home more this year and am excited to do more w/ the kids as they are 7 and now VERY involved with things and I need/will support all of that.  Graham and Jerome are doing a 5k on Father’s Day too – he did it last year too and went like 27 minutes – helllloooooo, he was 6.  So, this year, he will be all over that. Morgan is still just smelling the flowers (which is fine!).

And, with the end of this early season Triathlon block, I am making some changes too.  I am going back to work with my old coach, friend and mentor, Dave.  Of course, Spencer was great and it was a good coaching relationship and he helped me reach A LOT OF my goals over the years, but it was time for me to move on.  I do not like to mix business with pleasure and that became apparent to me after this spring.  So, on that note, I go back to my favorite coach ever – someone who knows me VERY well and runs me into the ground more than I can count – has made me cry and has always been my biggest cheerleader (after Jerome of course).  THE CATCH:  DAVE can NOT swim or does not know the pool…but I feel like I am in a place now (thanks to Masters and Spencer) where I can do the swim by myself….and since it is my strength, I can make the swim happen.  The sad thing is that Masters is DONE for us here until October.  UGHHHH – so I have to be creative but will swim OW a ton and that will help me and I just carry over the winter swim fitness and it all works out. 

I never thought about coaching myself.  That DOES NOT WORK. I would end up sick, over-trained and doing stupid things.  I like to be accountable to someone and I want someone FIRED UP for me and excited to see progress and bounce ideas off of.  I never stopped this with Dave over the years, but now he can really get on me.  He is a World champion Duathlete, so he knows he stuff.  Plus, it is all about passion and mental toughness and all of that I learned from Dave….and that has made me the athlete I am now.  So, back to what I know and love….it is all good.   Things always come full circle.  And, I am not one to flip coaches..I have had 2 coaches in my 15 years….so, I do not take this lightly.  But, what that means is that I will be running a marathon sooner than later, I am sure!  (Dave is an uber marathoner).

Well, there you go!  That is my update.  I am excited watching all my friends and athletes race….Honu last weekend (go Michelle!) and Rockman and Green Bay Triathlon and Mooseman and everything else this weekend!  Let the hard work do its magic!  Good luck!

And, our OW swim race + 5k/10k kicks off tonight!  FINALLY!!!!