when you least expect it...

the past 3 weeks i have done 3 incredible bike rides. all 3 of them being my long rides.

the first being a ride from solana beach with a goal of making it to temecula in 4 hours. i made it to fallbrook- the hilly route i chose slowed down the expected pace. the second ride was in santa barbara last weekend. we did over 3,000 feet of climbing in a mere 4.5 hours although i do not think the hills really started until 2 hours into the ride! and yesterday was my longest ride ever done in the books of 6 hours 18 min and 104 miles! i did make it to temecula finally and back home!

all said and done there are a lot of things i expect when i head out for a long ride. i expect it to be foggy and cold at first. i expect the hills to make my quads burn. i expect to feel truly grateful that i am capable of even saying i am about to go out for a 4+ hour ride. i expect to hopefully meet up with friends or enjoy the solitude of riding alone. all of things are what i am ready for as i leave the front door.

what i am starting to learn are that the things least expected are what truly make my ride worth every minute.

on my solo 4 hour adventure to temecula i did not expect to enjoy the challenge of a new route. i did not expect to do one of the hardest descents i have ever done. i did not expect the view of climbing into lake wolford at 7:30am to see the steam from the warm lake water to being rising up with the sun. i did not expect to be so relieved to see justin when i was only in fallbrook because the thought of any more climbing seemed unbearable.

in santa barbara i did not expect to ride along a ridge line of a mountain. i did not expect to be able to see all of ventura, santa barbara and goleta at the same time. i did not expect my legs to handle the amount of climbing that we did. i did not expect that i'd make a new riding friend so now i have someone else to call when i visit.

yesterday was the least expected thing i have ever experienced. i went out riding with a few friends and i did not expect to leave them to continue on with the other half of the group to temecula. i did not expect to drop part of the group up the climbs. i did not expect to ride with a complete stranger for 3 plus hours. its crazy to think that i came home and felt like i had the best time riding with someone i had just met on the ride. i did not expect a rider of that caliber and talent to make sure i pedaled all the way home. i did not expect to laugh so much yesterday at all of the jokes. most of all i did not expect to feel that humbled by the company i was riding with- all very cool and very fun!

I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
Henry David Thoreau

to your health,

C

bumpin raw 'beets'

most greens in my vegetable garden start, like the swiss chard below, out green and pretty! then they get combined with Vega protein powder (hemp, pea protein), blueberries and almond milk. they turn into this:

yes- that is a glass from a triathlon finish. clearly wedding registry will do me and my dishes some good!

this was the ONE and ONLY beet from my 'winter' garden:

i am very proud of this beet. it survived not-so-nutrient- rich soil without any regular watering.... i do need to work on my gardening skills. although i found i am most successful with things that need little time. go figure. see swiss chard below that looks fabulous!

hopefully some where between work, ironman training, wedding planning and swim team i can go pick up some tomato plants, more chard and zucchini... all to be posted green and glorious!

to your health,

C

what a day

first off- THANK YOU to all of my local peeps, friends and teammates for being out on the race course either volunteering and/or cheering everyone on! the best part of my day was knowing i was not alone on that course! from the start of the swim having people yell 'go colleen' to seeing friends as i was leaving TI- and of course- all along the run course- thank you thank you! it is WAY more motivating to try your best and do your best when you have your friends out supporting. i cannot be more appreciative.

my favorite part of the race saturday was the start of the run. i was next to a tall guy and we were running together for at least 2 miles. i had people saying 'go colleen' every few steps- at least it seemed- and tall guy noticed. he says to me 'you've got a lot of fans out here colleen' and i just smiled and told him to stay with me because i knew we'd see them all again and more! so much fun- and totally made my day!

i think i had been looking for this race ALL of last season. to finally put swim-bike-run together in one piece is a satisfying feeling. the race saturday was unique. i was not rested- not totally wreaked either- so i had a more casual feeling about the entire thing. i told myself just do what my body can do and do not expect anything else. and i kept thinking if i feel good- ill just go for it- and thats what i did!

the water was not half as bad as years prior- in fact- it was fine. wasn't cold except that split second of entering the water. the swim is always funny to me. the best-and worst- part is when i round the turn buoys- i think people just use those buoys as an excuse to stop or something. i always approach the buoys full speed and never fail to see at least 5 swimmers with their bodies bobbing like they are buoys! its hilarious... i had to dodge so many people but that was expected. my swim time was still competitive but it was not as fast as i would have liked... however- as in my last post- i really wasnt expecting a stellar performance given my lack of workouts.

2nd out of the water and on to the bike. i caught the first girl on the first hill entering the base. that got me going. then i passed a handful of gals in the 40 AG and was thinking i was on a roll since that wave was two waves ahead of me. once off base i told myself to just settle in- there was a lot of work to be done because all of the real hills were yet to come! i did the entire ride with only seeing 1 or 2 other women. one gal in my AG caught up to me but then i never saw her after about the 2nd climb. i felt good the entire time. i felt like i was in control and i was aggressive with my pace. it paid off because my time was a PR for the course and competitive within the women's splits. there were some crazy winds out east but i just sucked it up and held on.

getting off of the bike i could not believe how good i really did feel. my legs did not have the heavy feeling at all! i just felt ready to go my 'long run' off of the bike. again- i wanted to be aggressive but not stupid. so i just stayed where i felt in control. that happened to be at 7:20 pace. okay!! ill take it. i listened to my body and i knew i did not have to push any harder because that was fast enough for me. all of the little hills i thought of my runs in the ranch and the short hills that mimic the same feeling- its hard but only for 30seconds. the run course is the most fun because you can see all of your competitors. i could see beth, brandy, kristin all just 1 mile back from me most of the time.

i was in first the entire race until the 2nd loop on the run. this girl passed me like i was standing still! my 7:30 pace then seemed like slow motion!! she had to have been running 6:30s... so i ran my own race to the finish. i am so happy i did what i could do- and i am so happy it felt good, aggressive and controlled all at the same time. i finished second. turns out the girl who passed me ran a 1:21 split!! hi pro runner. anyway- came close to that kona spot- but just wasn't my day to get it.

for first race of the season i could not have asked, hoped, wished for a better start to the season. i feel so much more motivated because i know my hard work from last season and the past 2 months of training is paying off. now i have to figure out to do double the distance...

ironman- here we go!

to your health,

C

you know you are a triathlete when....

every other book on the shelf is about running, motivation or nutrition.

the only thing left out on the counter is a display of sunscreen because you re-apply for every workout.

swim suits replace towels.

a computrainer and 'the stick' can be found in your bedroom.

race posters are the decor for the laundry room.

the dish rack is composed of water bottles and coffee mugs.

water bottle tops- for some reason- are stored with the wine bottles in the china cabinet.

there are minimum 4 bikes in your living room (garage if you have one).

there is a complete pantry section dedicated to race/training nutrition.

you have a complete shoe rack full of running and cycling shoes- dont forget helmets!

you can do a full load of laundry made up of lyrca, spandex and luon.

to your health,

C

black is back.

the past 3 years i have competed at the CA 70.3 i have been rested. i usually consider this race an early season test of fitness. with that i usually rest thinking i'll give myself a shot to do what i like to do best- race!

this season my approach is a bit different. not so much taper... more like train right on through it. with that i will 'rest' as deemed appropriate by coach: 2 days out- take it easy and stay hydrated and ready to roll.

probably the biggest difference from last season- where i DNF'd from dehydration- and this season is that i do not have to be at a swim meet ALL day (in the sun, on my feet, screaming at kids) the day prior to the race. thank goodness!! my clients just so happened to plan it also for me that 3 of them would be out of town this week on friday. okay- ill just take that morning to sleep in as well! on top of that- the high schoolers have their backwards prom dance- so we canceled workout. i figure if i show up on friday night and no kiddos are there at the pool what really is the point? so i am super stoked to have a REAL 'rest' day the day prior to the race.

i have mixed feelings about the race saturday. since swim team coaching has started i have found it more difficult to get to masters on time- a lot of email correspondence that i always feel the urgency to reply to- so my own swimming has been slacking. but lets be realistic here... even if i swim a minute slower in the race it will not make much of a difference over the course of 5 hours. i have been biking really well and strong! and have a ton of base miles under my legs so i feel ready to roll on that front. the run... well i have a much better attitude towards it for this race... even with 2 weeks off of running in feb. i feel like my fitness will carry me through even on tired legs. my biggest brick workouts in past weeks i have found my legs/body feel pretty good for the run! i hope i find it saturday.

my biggest concern i'd say about saturday is putting all 3 things together! swim-bike-run. if you have ridden with me at all recently you know i've been a bit more prepared in terms of nutrition (more so for ironman practice) so i am feeling confident in my plan. i know my bigger brick workouts have been solid efforts and i end up feeling great by the end. both of those things will carry me through. some times just remembering the little important things can make gains mentally when the going gets tough.

a podium finish is always my goal and really just doing my best for where i am at. i am looking forward to seeing all of my nytro gals out on the course also! we are in black and pink this season! i am thinking friday i will will have to prepare my own mani/pedi race special... black anyone??

to your health,

C

carrot juice cocktail

lately ive just been cooking things that have been easy to make. not much effort but nutritious and full-o- flavor! very little time because that is all i have these days! enjoy!

sweet potato fries. cut 2-3 large organic sweet potatoes in half and then slice the longest way possible to get nice big fry wedges. pre-heat the oven to 425. lightly grease a pan with some olive oil and place potatoes on a flat tray. bake at 425 for 15-20 min, take the potatoes out and flip them around, place back into the oven for another 15-20 min. lightly salt and they should be ready to eat!

the before picture:

the after... looks like a few are missing here... =)

carrot juice cocktail. ive been craving my carrot/beet juice mix. this time justin asked me to skip the beets. so just carrot juice it is. too hard to take pictures while juicing a 5lb. bag of organic carrots. but here the post photos. carrot juice with the dry remains... hoping i find some time to make some type of carrot muffin/bread thing...

the cocktail part of this whole idea... 3 parts carrot juice, 1 part sparkling water with some ice. wa-lahh! tasty cocktail of carrot juice. who would of that was possible or could taste so good!

this is what sheila thinks of my cooking/juicing. although she does enjoy when a carrot drops on the floor. mmmm those taste good!

to your health,

C

two hundred.

this year i have a lot of 'firsts' ahead of me. one of which will be ironman. in preparing for ironman i have been training first for the CA 70.3 half ironman. CA 70.3 with be a 4th time around for me. in any case i have never trained so much distance/volume leading up to CA 1/2 mostly because of ironman in the distant-yet very near- future of June 27.

a couple of weeks back i realized that my bike training is coming quite close to 200 miles within a weeks time!?!?! never have i seen that before! like anything i do i try to make small goals and recognize when i have accomplishments to keep myself motivated. this week i have a 3 rides on tap. tomorrow a 3.5 hour ride with fiesta island loops tagged on there- i am guessing it will total right around 50 miles. wednesday, my now 'regular' 3:15-20 hour loop through elifn forest- 55 miles. and then on sunday the gran fondo century ride -101 miles. if i add that up correctly i will be at 206 miles for the week. boo-yahhH!!

another first for me- well since 2004- is that i swam 3 consecutive days in a row last week at masters. i only believe it because i can still feel my right shoulder every time i move it. just a little sore and a little reminder my 'old' swimming body needs to maybe try 2 days consecutive first before jumping into the pool 3x.

oh yes- may i not forget that my other firsts for the week were managing 78 kiddos on my swim team roster, about 70 of those parents, bridesmaid dress shopping, getting the save the dates in the mail and first hand witness to coast hwy flooding from the high tide.

phew. tired just re-reading this post. excited for the week ahead!

to your health,

C