beast and the mud bash

I was asked where my beast report was and I realized it was only on attack point.. and just typing in this little blog I miss it.

So the beast all the way back to March 27 and NW Trail Run, -holy cow was that fun. It was a mud bash. I have never felt so awake, so alive and so wet and muddy and I loved it. Came in 13 out of 50 five milers.. I gave it my all too but that mud and some logs to my mid section were slowing me down, but not ruining any of my fun time though.

The BEAST

I would say we finally started putting our time in for races and then I busted my elbow...I was a little bummed but decided to do the beast anyway... it wasn't my broken elbow, it was my broken brain that put us at the back of the heat after we started with such a strong run.

Mac points out a short cut up a cliff, and me 20 feet into what I think will be the divine shortcut of the world, the coat closet of Narnia, left us in the back in the pit of hell. The little cliff had the same consistency of a sandcastle, and the higher I climbed I put my full arm deep into the sand before moving my next foot and arm, it was CRAZY. Mac thought we should turn back at one point, but where i had once had my foot was no longer sand there. Mac told me later that 25 minute climb, the race was over for him, more about getting off the hill and just navigating the course. I felt horrible. He said if he would have fallen it would have been cartwheels and to our deaths.

I LOVED our biking, I couldn't have asked for better trails coming off an injury. Lots of mud, was able to ride with no fear, didn't fall, in fact I lacked a single sound effect. I did get feedback (he emphasized feedback), "you were awesome on the bike, not afraid, rode tough through the mud, down hills, but you need to get some power in those quads." Heart sank... anyway, I had a blast, I made a poor choice in the nav.

However racing is all about learning. I am not the navigator and I am going to follow like a lemming, I usually do but the climb, the cliff, the possible shortcut was so enticing...

since the feedback, I have been going to the gym, hitting the weights, riding my bike, mt and road, I put on some pounds, not purposely, but moving them to muscle. We have been hitting a few sports a day now we just need to make them extra long so we are prepared for our racing coming up...

my post feels blah, but I have had writers block since I have been so behind.. so expect wit, silliness, great report and some awesome pictures next post because I have been hitting those trails and my race report is going to show it!!!

peace

St Paddy Day Dash

Here are my results and then there was going to be a cute quick story about Marna and Mark winning best costume, but I have no photo's of them. They are hoarding them until they splash into the front pages of NW runners magazine or maybe it will be next year's photo for the race, but they were darn right CUTE... Congratulations to them both. They are rock (movie) stars!

gender: F
location: Seattle, WA
overall place: 982 out of 8328
division place: 24 out of 631
gender place: 189 out of 4402
time: 26:38

The run said it was 3.58 miles.
We started in the back of the first heat, when they announced there was 5000 people in the first wave, i thought, "you better be in top 2000" Then I realized we were actually behind 5000 people who were forced to walk 400 feet after the start because of the crowd. I reminded myself, FUN, FUN, FUN, and continued in my position. Then when it slightly slightly thinned out - somewhere my head was like, this will be the biggest pick off of my life, I love it. Don't worry, I know I was no rock star, and I myself have been completely not only picked off but plucked! But still I was going to try to run past all the people without being obnoxious or some kind of crazy yelling "ON YOUR LEFT ON YOUR LEFT" - but just running and dodging without touching, only passing. I had fun.

I felt tired for a 5k, and thought about an ultra runner on a particular turn - called myself a pansy and picked up the pace. I ran past a lot of people, one advantage of being in the back. When I saw I was 24 of 631 of my age group, I was a little bummed I wasn't the crazy starting at the front pushing leprechauns down. Do you think my position would have changed? Not the pushing down, the starting in front? It didn't feel as much down hill as last year did, but I was a little zigzag.

Here is Capone - doubled in size plus 2. He is like Celsius to Fahrenheit (minus 30).

Half Mercer On Me

Catchy title, but that's about all I got. And to some, the title might not even be catchy, just a groan... however, that is still all I got.

I ran the half mercer this Sunday March 9. I thought harder than I ran, my head was on FIRE. It is the real first exercise I have done since I broke my elbow. AND this time when I broke my elbow, it was NOTHING pain wise compared to the first time. Less bones involved, but whatever it was -it zapped the LIFE out of me. So went from sleeping three weeks to waking up to half marathon.

I was analyzing every racer type, groups, front section runners, to mid section runners, picnic-ers and cotton sock wearers, skinny short girls with large calves, old men using their last steps for a half marathon, to the spry older man that has a pep in their step to thank every volunteer and police officer.

I could put 80 percent of the racers in to ten categories with actual real more detailed description but i don't won't to fully stereo type for two reasons, this blog will haunt me when I run for president, and two, I am not sure what category I fall in to.

I did run with a 12 year old -75 percent of the race -It was like I couldn't shake her. She actually deserved to have either fifteen minutes shaved on her time or an added extra two miles. She would have to run to every person that put their hand out to high five. People would yell "YOU ROCK" I would think, which makes me SUCK. I only felt sorry for myself for the two seconds, when I realized my dad's coaching motto, always run with the best, I was, she was just 12. And people kept running, by us and smiling at us. I was old enough to be her mom, both blonde and both flat chested, we could have been related!

I had no umph, no know how, power, each step was solemn, EXCEPT today, I am happy, out of my coma, excited to workout tomorrow and I have a race March 27th. Oh and I am running the st. paddy's day - Love em and leave 5k was 7:41 mile, I would love to beat that time but if I even try to be competitive with a thousand drunk leprechauns for a dash - you have full rights to shoot me.

P.S. Lululemon has hit the scene. Everyone was out full spring and the race shirts were thrown aside -despite the attempt to for a dri-fit - It was the stage of a great fashion show!

Good race. I know the people that started that race, great people, great race, great time (a day later)!

just a little more inside thoughts race day
"who ends a race on an uphill?"
"who put the finish line water further than the race itself"
"oh I bitch about running with the 12 year old - but is she doing a break a way?"
"who runs with a broken elbow?
"is it me, or is john cash annoying if your ipod gets stuck on the same song over and over"
"where is my eminem, eye of the tiger, rocky theme song?"
"I don't even run with music, why am I now?"
"If I could just catch someone I would give them this ipod like I am just a promotion out here running"
"I can't even pick people off this race"
"oh my god - I just got picked off"

Disclaimer about earlier post

I actually didn't have the winter triathlon set as a race race. It was more of a weekend get away, so I am no longer beating myself up not being a cross country skiier. I know how to do it. I will be slow. BUT I won't ever quit, even if the banners, finish line or what have you gets taken now. I am just going to go out there and have fun. It sounds lame (I can be some time - sorry for any fans I have just punctured their image of me - did I say fans I meant fan.. or mom), however this is just a little adventure with some skill sets I don't have and in truth, I have practiced endurance, I do run (which is 1/3 of the race), and I have been biking... it's going to be great. No stress... I mean my lodging, the food and wine list alone can be a reason enough to be dead last and call it a successful weekend.

I do need to pick out a specific race or races and really train - and do it all the right way!

By next Friday, a race, a date, or a type of race and time frame (gosh I can't commit) - kidding. NEXT FRIDAY - a race calendar and some goals will be set. I will still be racing, or running every week or two, but I mean the kind of training the big kids too. The kind my trainer likes.... quoting AV before he kicks as in a race, GIDDY UP!

Training

I broke a promise to myself and it's bumming me out. I have the winter triathlon, and I didn't really train for the cross country piece, or riding my mountain bike up a huge hill, packed with snow.I have road my road bike, been on my mountain bike double then last year, went on runs, training has been fun, endurance is up, but I promised myself to train and boom, I'm in race with NO cross country skiing abilities... . think positive -endurance is up, except the pain in my side is still killing me.

Today was a beautiful day with sunshine for an 11 mile cougar trail run. I took a tiny little extra loop - ignoring my navigator but my phone rang, "read me the nearest sign when you come to one" "Ok,...." as I run a down hill, see an amazing waterfall, yet, trail is getting skinnier and no signs,I felt a little dumb, I did have a compass, but I didn't know if the car was N, E, S, or W. finally up a hill, I saw a sign, and named the trail, "ok take a left and run straight. It was like I was a little adventure race minion - Then came the smart advice, "don't leave your navigator unless you have a map or you will be the guy that fell under the log and covered himself with leaves" - "I would actually admit to going to Vegas" "Vegas would be the first place I would check if you ever went missing"

Then we grabbed Capone and ran around Green Lake. He is cute and fast. Tiny little fella too. He is going to get bigger, but he runs fast, and I love it.

Road riding yesterday, I actually felt good about myself. For the first time I saw improvement, i felt like I was keeping up with D - but maybe I just imagined it, or he made me feel better... either way, I felt great.

Here is another picture of Capone -After runs, he gets to soak in the tub, and be dried with warm towels straight from the dryer. He has 11 toys, and its 5:17 am, and I just took him out for a little jaunt and bathroom break... he is so amazing.

I am going to be very drastic is training in the next ten days...some people say you can't train for a race in ten days, I think Hart has really helped with the endurance, my racing and lifting weights with D has also helped.. I just need to learn to skate ski.. I think I can do that in ten days...

Congratulations Hart on taking 1st in the Orcas Island 50k.

The other results weren't published, I can't wait to read how well my other friends did!!

Valentines 5k

Checking the temperature is the key element for runs. I have been perfectly cold this whole winter, warming up running. I still hear everyone's voice, "start cold, you will warm up."

Once I got to Green Lake it was like, "dang I am hot before we start"

"guess the temperature?"

44?

Close 47.

I need to put checking the temperature on the to do list before going out the door. I did want it to be wet, rainy and windy and to enjoy crazy seattle weather with 1500 plus people running around the lake (and this little loop they create for the extra distance).

We stood in the 8 minute mile group and we couldn't even run when we hit the start line, then I zipped away and was dodging people. My energy was low though and I felt like a slug. The one positive thing is I was passing people instead of people passing me, so I was doing something right. When I know there is one mile left I love to kick it into a higher gear. Today I was like, "nah" I felt lazy. I also didn't think I was running very fast to make any difference on my time.

I was very surprised to find out I ran 23:55 - I think that is a 7:41 minute mile. Not bad. It makes me want to race again, especially when I feel well and I feel like I am pushing hard, because this was a great time for me, although if you can imagine, I moaned and groaned "why, why, why??? didnt I sprint out the last mile, or even half mile?"

I'm ready to start my track training. Right now though I need to go cross country skiing at least six times six and and three rides up Tiger... desperately... for the winter triathlon I am doing in March.

I swear I just ate a bacon rosemary chocolate...

Meet Capone

weighing in at 6 pounds. SMOOCH.

He had his first run today up and down the hallway... fast.

Also gorgeous day cross country skiing despite all my mishaps. Snowing while the sun was out. Pretty dang surreal. The snow is awesome this year..

"Tap Out Tap Out"

Whistler was an amazing time - 29th the 5th.

We had a lesson for classic cross country skiing. It was glorious with gorgeous huge snow flakes. We went around the lake three times.

There were some friends there - one of the days of snowboarding, I flipped over the t-bar. Talk about a thrill. My heart was pounding so hard.

Taking Jake up on the innertubing was a a blast. We all used him as an excuse.

We watched the glorious win of RUSH in the UFC. I won a bet.

We discovered a new little place called FOOT. They soak your feet in warm water and it turns into a thick jello and then they wash it off and 45 minutes of complete bliss of Reflexology. They do massage all the way to your upper leg. It was so amazing I wanted to go back so bad. So two days later we sign up for the 45 minute neck and back massage and the 45 minute reflexology. My lady was too hard. I went from thinking this place was bliss to plain torture. I serious kept saying stop. NO. And I didn't mean yes. I was getting so hacked at that lady I would have punched her if I had any arms free at all. She grabbed both arms back and put her knee in my back to crack it. I heard Mac's evil laugh and I was fighting with my massage lady when she then trying to crack my neck. I yell to Mac "tap out. tap out." I looked worse that Matt Hughes and he is still laughing. She said, "Do you try to be pretty?" I'm was like "what?" "Do you try, you know, to be skinny, you feel like tofu. You have no muscles." Ok muscles breaker, caused a bruise, and my ego.. hello do you guys know I lifted weights starting in high school? all the time... no muscle? I was even on my high school weight team.. well there were no other 93 pounds in the weight class, but still... and I used to workout all the time at SAC before the WAC. TOFU????

Post Traumatic Beast Syndrome

Last night at Tower of Powers right when I got out the car I had butterflies. I had major flashback to Sunday's Beast and was questioning whether I even like to ride. But last night turned out to be such an amazing time. My riding time was a little longer because people had to wait for me. However I took more chances than ever and it felt great. Hart rode behind me for a while to give me tips and it was helpful and I was getting over big logs, huge drops and of course BIG FALLS. Mac impressed me by riding with no back break. One thing that was helpful was I took my time instead of hopping off by bike for a root, or whatever scared me I took a shot at it. Sorry I slowed anybody up, but I was happy over all with my riding.

Back to the Beast -

It was great fun, probably the most suffering I have ever had in a race temperature wise. I do love mud and down hills but not when its freezing like that. I learned a lot about gear (which I was lacking). I had amazing support from Rinn, Mac and RVG -when I felt like I was getting onset of a little hypothermia. I was probably far from it, but I did lose a litttle vision, fell, and asked where rain came from or something. Next thing I know Rinn is putting layers on me with Mac, RVG is switching out my gloves to these dry glorious waterproof warm gloves, while blowing into them. They did make me run with my bike to warm up my feet. For a minute I thought they were going to tell me quit, and I did have a thought, "what's it take to get out of this?" But after that I just turned my head to "you can suffer mode" and just kept going. Never thought again about wanting it over. Did dream of sun though.

Did you see that awesome picture on Hart's blog of Rinn holding on to my backpack and I am towing him up the hill? ok. ok, he is pushing me - and he did a few times too on the bike. I felt a little bad after for relying a bit on him and MAC.

Rinn also got a flat -which he changed faster than I could change my shoes in the TA even with a TA Angel. Another learning point.

The run was great. My feet were toasty, dry and I don't run with gloves and my hands were so warm. I was a happy camper. I did feel exhausted and was a little teary eyed when we finished. In a good way. I wouldn't say it was my fastest running because was I beat but it was so awesome to feel warm. I thought Rinn and Mac were awesome navigators. Rinn is amazing.

I asked Hart if I didn't recover enough before the race, and he said for your A race we will do lots of different recovery. I have a jingle bell 5k this weekend, I wish I would have told him that was my A race because he kicked my a++ again this week. He is an amazing coach. I do need to get a calendar out and set up some races.

Hollywood Rock Star Training Camp with MHart

Yep. 3 days a week workout with Matt Hart

To be the best you need to hang with the best.

I even signed up for his track workouts for December -which are amazing. I was only able to attend a few last series but it was so fun, great group of people, awesome trainer and training.

Drawback -He is kind of putting small damper in my style, not completely bad but after we lifted weights today I went to get us protein shakes and he took a sip, "what's in this?" me, "fresh stawberries and whey protein." he is like "do you mind if we ask?" turns out, strawberry syrup and protein. I was also off on the protein amount. So we actually bought new real fresh fruit protein shakes. Then I ordered food to go and I got a salad, again if he wasn't there, big fat juicy burger.

ALSO -When we were lifting weights there is little bench bar for skull smashers (tricep exercise), and I am like "it weighs 35 pounds." he was like "oh, no that's a 20 pound bar." "I am like no its 35 pounds" then literally 3 workers over heared me said, "he is rights, its 20 pounds." Then I said, "does anybody have a scale?"

so I truly might be a hollywood star after all this, healthy eating, working out, not sleeping a day away, actually making me track my progress... thank goodness he likeable - if this doesn't workout - I am going for Britney's trainer, people complain about her all the time, but all this pictures she looks happy with her perfectly white teeth.

My true goals with Matt (and he will make me succeed)
Run an ultra at a decent speed (to finish #1 goal)
Become GREAT at MT biking
Be a competitor in Adventure Racing
and maybe just one day tow RVG while pushing Hart biking, just to say I did it.

Peace out and go carrots (kidding)

Haleakala

It was 10,400 elevation ride I did with AV is August. Talked about it in early post, but just finally got to posting how cool it looked at top

Mailbox Peak

After the Death March Led by Mathew Hart



Top of The Mailbox Peak minus the Mailbox


REI's models (Dog still takes focus- Damn)


No one stripped searched my bag and was able to have yummy bacon at the top


Gorgeous View

We Are Family I got all My Sisters and Me

 


 

Today we celebrated my dad's birthday out on my sister's dock - all four of my nephews and neices were there - Two boys from one sister and two girls from another, they all look hauntingly alike and are GORGEOUS...

I painted a painting for Mitch's room per his request (more like command) and was a hard driver. Calling me, begging me, he was giving me painters block. So I finally delivered the abstract basketball and he said I love it I love it. Then his little brother eyes began to water and he tried to hide his face. He finally told papa (my dad) that he didn't know why I didn't paint him a baseball for his room. I then cried and stressed all the way home. My sister said, "you could never have kids, you are too sensitive" she said, "I spent the other day at the water park for six hours going on slides with these boys, we then went to a really nice dinner, just the three of them and Clint looked at her and said, "No matter hard I try I still love dad the most."

she is right - that would break me - I am too sensitive - but what would also make me the greatest, look, one tear and I stayed up all night to paint his baseball and it will be at his door tomorrow morning when he wakes.

I have news on training.. which I will post when lucid.

Cougar takes Husky down!

Friday night D and I meet to lift weights. We make a mutual decision he will be the enforcer of weight training and mountain biking and my job is to get us running. For the first time in our adventure racing career (yes a few small races and I call it a career) we are on the same page. We are both done suffering in race from lack of training. So we shake hands on it. We will train.

So Saturday morning comes and we head out to Cougar Mt to run the 13 mile trail run. I ran it last year so I already have the goal to beat last years time. First year actual races are looping around so I can see if there is any progress.

I have nuun instead of gatorade. check. I have sworn NO stops at water stations. check. There is just one thing holding me back from beating last years time. The runner in front of me and the pace we are going.

D and I decided to run together like a team, he always holds back, avoiding the crowds and finds his place right away. I am not going the exact pace I wanted but am ok with it, for about 2 to 3 miles. The person ahead of me feet are sliding all over the place and it's not the technical piece. Its not even the elevation gain or lost, its the nicest part of the race. So as I watch her feet slide and the distance between her and the runner in front of her is growing, growing and then out of sight. My heart feels a twinge and I'm bummed. I then realize that with a broken elbow last year I ran faster. I turn behind me and said, "lets pass." "I'm ok" hmm. The trail still looks tame and her feet are dancing all over the rocks. I think of the spills I took last year and I turn back and say, "We should sprint this part then we can slow because it gets brutal in there." "I'm ok." I have no idea why I take this the wrong way, because Mt. Biking I can't go any faster, but here on my feet I am like I can't take this. I can't. I then just jet.

I poured my heart into the next 10-11 miles. I was running so hard. I only beat my time by 32 minutes and felt really let down. One friend said, that's more than 2.5 minute per mile that's great. But honestly what I put into and the return factor for my time -which was 3:05 - I was really upset with myself.

I was like I need to make up from the slow poke ahead of me and I just was seriously giving every once of blood I had. I was blazng down each down hill and I mean FAST. I felt strong and then KABOOM! I hit the ground (bang bang I hit the ground, bang bang I hate that sound) and I truly popped up faster than I fell. I swear I don't know if it was me that brought my body off of the ground or if it was a fall so hard I bounced back up. There were four guys now behind me that were saying, "lets wash her knee, pull her to side" and out came, "don't touch me." and this guy still running behind me says, "you should check out your knee." I say, "I can feel the blood in my sock. I don't want to fall into my fall." (What does that mean? I don't know and I said it but I knew at the time.) Then I was like "I'm sorry" these guys were like "no, it's ok. We shouldn't thought you wanted to stop" and then one guy stayed behind me and the other guys were a little behind.

It was so great. We are out there running 13 miles. It's gorgeous. I am wearing cute shorts :), its a good day to be alive (all that runners high stuff), but I am still giving it all I got and I catch a few more people, then I go barreling down the next hill and try to turn a corner. I ran straight off the path and kept going. I couldn't get my legs to stop. It was like I had no control, it wasn't even downhill anymore as much as momentum and rubber legs. I then even conciously was like stop legs stop. Still running in the bushes about to run into a log and I use my shoulders to fall to the right of the log. Behind me a girl comes up laughing and laughing - I thanked her and ran away.

I don't wear a watch but I swear that my pace wass so much faster than last year.

So as I cross the line and see 3:05 my heart sunk. Bleh. Run that hard and be that slow.. what the hek? I thought I gave it my all. Then as I come over I still had outwardly good attitude and was truly happy to finish but then there was silence. A crowd. Silent. For one small second I thought, oh my knee, then a guy grabbed my arm and another woman began talking and before sentences were formed I instantly think something is wrong with D. Then this guy says, "Your husband is at the hospital." I took deep breath. No husband so no hospital. Then he held up D's keys and my knees almost fell. Esp the way he was holding my arm and the other woman says, "he is in shock. His finger hyper-extended and he has a compound fracture." and so on and someone else and someone else. She went on to say he hasn't been to the hospital since wakeboarding accident (those were those EXTREME lessons we took), I was like how does she know this why is she still talking? What? She said, "it's so werid cuz his dad just lost his fingers too." WHAT??? stop. Then she said, "have some food and get some water he will be in the hospital for awhile." WHAAAAAAAT? like I'm going to be chowing on some food.

So I drive to the hospital talk to my Brother in Law Mark. He said, "so weird I was going to call him today, I'm going to pop over there."

So I get there expecting to see this laid out shocked person instead I get greeted with the biggest smile and he says, "Oh my god, I would have been so pissed if I lost my finger running." and he laughs. D was just funny. Telling the great story how he ran down these hills and finally did pass that girl, and was just feeling great and catching time on down hills when his feet got away from him he just fell. He said he put his hands down and when he looked at his hand, the top of his pointer finger was pointed back at him. He said not only was his pointing back it was crooked and the skin ripped on the other side. He popped his finger into place and just held it. He then he said he did an inventory of his body to see if anything else was injured. He said he debated running and then realized there were rocks in his finger (which the doctor cleaned out with a toothbrush). He always says I am known for story telling. I think he told the facts all up until the part he said, "I am so bummed I didn't get to finish the race I was having a good run." It sounded fishy. I now imagine D on mile 4, busting his own finger back and saying, "screw this trail." so the truth is still unknown.

Immediately when his finger was wrapped and in a splint he said "Rock paper scissors" with this perma straight finger. It was funny. I told him the girl thought he was in shock because he was so matter of fact, get me to the hosptial, and I looked at him and realize I should have known she could have taken his personality for someone in shock. HA.

It goes to show you how you deliver news and also the persons injured attitude. It could have been trauma and just a bad day. It wasn't. Normal eating food and story telling. The only bummer was it was his left hand and he is left handed. Of course that he was injured but he was so like its a good day. I am ok.

The thought makes you weasy but when you see the actual rip ts's impressive! When he only had two stitches I thought it can't be too bad, but when you see it, the tear is the entire width of his finger and they did only two stitches to seep out the rocks, which he showed me, "look, just like that." as he pulled a pebble from his finger. Injury of the month for sure. Atttitude of the YEAR for sure!!

Spinsters

I decided to take group cycling yesterday for our team training since one of us has injury and can not shift gears. We set off to class and my partner left me to go get his heart monitor. Meanwhile I'm just standing near my bike stetching because I'm still sore from Saturdays run (story to be posted tonight or tomorrow). The class is so loud and three ladies that are in class are screaming to the teacher the stories of their training which entailed three sports for training, but one of them being dinner and a bottle of wine each. Then the teacher who is on foot comes up to me and says, "aren't you going to get on your bike?" "Oh class started? Do you get on your bike?" "Yes class started. No I don't get on the bike." So my riding guy is back and gets going on his bike. And the cackling gets louder and the teacher says something about RPM's but I couldn't hear. So I say, "I can't hear the teacher." And then the talking lady says to him she didn't hear either so he repeats it. Then they start talking (more like shouting) about drinking and eating early and I am on edge. My bike partner says, "Relax!" I'm not sure about anyone else but there is hardly a time when on edge that being told to relax I slightly giggle and say, "your right its me, I will relax." Instead my eyes turned to slits my head cranked to him and I was about to hiss when the teacher caught part of their conversation and brought this guy Bruce into the conversation. The teacher said, "Tell them how important it is to rest." He said, "Rest is very important..if you are in shape." ZING. I wanted to hug him. I am usually not bratty but one time a month my thoughts (hormones) are those of mean girl and today was that day. They were silent. Then finally one spoke, "yeah but have you probably haven't done a triathalon before." he then said, "if you don't count my ironman this summer your right." then they just tried to engage him and pegged him with questions. He eventually hopped off his bike for the cool down piece and said to the teacher, "don't ever bring me into their conversation again." Afterward, I realized it was 50/50. My mind wasn't normal and those ladies were out of control. I do have to say though it's hard to drag yourself to indoor workouts and I want a stress reliever and I felt worse. So I went and got a massage and the hiked little si with Marna and Misha. After my massage -my head was set straight and I loved little si. We had a great time. It was glorious to hear about Marna's 7 day biking trip.

Everything is Gravy

No really! That's all that I can think about is gravy. Drinking gravy (actually). Doug Heffernan just did it on the King of Queens. It was disgusting watching, yet, the thought of drinking gravy is all consuming. Someone even asked me what I'm doing tomorrow and what came as was "all I know is breakfast and gravy." I meant to say, "biscuits and gravy."

Far cry from how I felt last week. All I could do is get sick. Violently sick. Right after my race of six degrees of navigation. I could blame heat, over workout, not enough training (for me), but right before I was laid out to die, no matter what it could have been, it just hurt my skin. I loved racing. I had a great time. We were even singing. I would have enjoyed some single track and some technical riding. But I had a blast. Riding my bike on a huge rock was a highlight. After the race, it was there and then that I decided - after a race; suffering is no longer needed. I have proved I can do that - why not go in to a race experienced. I'm a competitor - I keep thinking I want first - but then my training is spotty. Commandoughs have a race coming up in September - I raced with a different team for six degrees. Again, they were fun, this all comes back to me. I talked to the leader of our team (Commando), and told him my views and we are in fact our going to train train train (right after I drink a cup of gravy).


Oh - don't want to feel ill again, changing subject. Spaghetti is no replacement for gravy. I just ate spaghetti by my parents’ house and I am going to have to say that spaghetti is spotty at best too. Your teeth can't really sink into a noodle. I'm near choking before I believe I have a bite. Even then spaghetti is weak. I need steak (or just a cup of gravy). Will I get sick? Hmm. Need a risk assessment team.

momar places value on commandoughs

But do the commandoughs?
Tough questions - there is a team name request - because one feels they have to spell out DOUGHS -to let them know we are not like commando tough - I say when we are crawling in dead last - it's a dead give a way, I also think this should be brought to an even higher philosophical question - I mean aren't we tough?. Zero training and then boom in a race? I say leave off the ugh. OR train.
This last race we did finish, no short course, and we were long because of me. SO maybe I train, then talk smack?

Ok, the next part you are about to read seems like train of thoughts so bear with it.. Or bare with it... see.. That’s the mess and typos you are about to enter.

I have some saved blogs and some photos that I need to post so I will catch up soon.

Back to Momar

The race itself was glorious - Our Kayaking was decent for two people that have never kayaked together. We have paddled once in a canoe (for a race) with Kayak paddles, but I don't think that counts. I haven't been mountain biking since I first came to Hawaii, but I have been exercising so endurance would not have normally been my weakest link HOWEVER - I just learned I have zero balance on benadryl. And when we were doing well and our navigator who has cranked it up and is nailing check points; it goes dead to the wall when the teammate (me) keeps falling down. I was like baby Simpson. I had climbed under a tree I couldn't get over and there I was full of stinging nettles. At first I thought it was poison oak so I immediately took two bendadryl. Then I hopped on my bike and about 15 minutes later I would just fall over. Then ride. Fall over. This one girl said, "she fell down again" and it was like on a straight away -I am not sure if it was the meds in my body, or my own being bummed out - but I swear the word again was yelled and emphasized by the biker. Anyway - by orienteering time - I gained a little bit of balance -but what would have been my best part (on foot) was just a so so run. The most amazing part of the race was river running and having to blow up floaties to paddle (with arm like a surfboard) to the checkpoint. GLORIOUS. FUNNY.

I also had some major rock or something in my shoe - and since I have ended a few races with bloody feet - I decided to take care of this matter before running on through the river and D was standing in line for the check point. I take off my shoe - my sock and fish out a dime size pebble - meanwhile I placed my shoe on rock, not only was my shoe was missing - so was the rock - the water slightly rapid and it was a high - the rock was dry - I think the sun dried it out and then boom, no rock and most importantly NO shoe (this is all before Benadryl). I then yell down to some boys running up the river - and said did you see a shoe? Then they said, "What did it look like" and I lift up my left foot and show them a my shoe - I was wearing grey Merrils. They said "Grey?" I then kicked in to my holy grail accent and said, "yes I am looking for a shoe that looks like a rock, have you seen it." they repeated "a rock, yes I have seen a rock" and I say, "can I wear it as a shoe" and then I finally just watched where all the water patterns were going (ten routes) where the shoe went missing and by the grace of AR racing gods, it lodged itself between two rocks ten feet away. LUCKY.

Then the whole thing goes awry - when I ended up with major spiders in my bed, back eaten alive, loss of keys, small planned surgery and whole a lot of tears - back in Seattle.

That's when I come back to Maui and have had five visitors, or maybe I am intruding on their visit. Either way, that story later. Also Valpey - flew me to an island with old growth trees -and had two awesome trails runs (walk runs) - the trees were so large that you could go inside them if you wanted. It was the enchanted forest and a great workout to boot. And when on boat – then popped over to maui.

Thank you for anyone who took my calls - at 9800 feet elevation from my bike ride up to Haleakala. D was giving me tour de France and I was giving him tour de Jill. Matt thought my messages said I rode my bike 200 feet. My ipod went dead 2 miles to go and RVG would NOT sing to me. Josue didn't answer and my mom was like "are you crying -or you happy?" Alix and I were talking about chocolate martinis. Also when I did get to the top all the cars that passed me, were so friendly and the people came to talk to me - I never turn down attention. :) One couple gave me bottled water. One couple crackers. It was freezing up there. I even got a few pictures with people - which made me giggle I probably was going like a turtle - however today I feel like I didn't ride hard enough because I am not sore but I made it. Also everyone offered me so much food, praise, but no a jacket or their blankets they were wrapped up in. AV passed me at 6500 feet. We started at different locations - he did check on my food supply, water, etc, then zip he was gone. Also a bull was hanging next to me when I did a clothes change. There were no fences (who owned those bulls?) anyway -I started even talking to the bull and was like "I hope you can read it says watch for bikers" two seconds later - I see a picture of sign with a bull on it for bull crossing, I am like, "touché"

Last thing –If all that elevation didn’t seem loopy enough – right after I downed a double espresso hammer gel – my ipod was still working and my endorphins were flying HIGH and “your beautiful” came on the ipod and I was like I think someone wrote this for me, then boom he talks about how he saw the girl on a subway and I am like “I haven’t been on any subway” the high and low of that espresso was deadly – I had to move my song to I’m a soldier – then right back up to feeling high and GREAT. Again, wish I would have worked even harder. I thought the big fat was tougher.

Ah decided, not living in Maui, I need Sun and city life. My next few places to check out are Australia, London (cold I know), Cayman (maybe not big enough city), and NY which is both humid and hot. But I need to decide this all soon, live in Seattle, school work, or work in these places. OR start training like a madman and RACE. I would like to be good and to train.

Surf Lesson(s)

I went surfing with Jason Saturday. Photo was when he was in the shallow area taking his dog surfing (whom did better than I). We drove near half this island for a good spot. Me, "good spot? Let's try a wave pool." I got pumpled. Brutilized and had a couple waves of mother nature slamming and pulling me down showing me whose boss. I didn't stand up. I was just releaved to catch on enough to be laying on my board riding a wave instead of being thrown. One time I was slam dunked which felt like 8 feet only to come up to a wave smacking me down harder. I also ended like five wave layers out even tho I was paddling like mad to come in, thinking, "great where's my gu if I get lost out to sea?"

Jason starts yelling "hey come here. Come by me. " I was thinking "he is kidding right? does he really think I'm not trying to get to him? All I want to do is be close I'm scared out here. The waves were even bigger out there.

Then today I went out with Susie. I got up. We were in iddy biddy waves and she was more of the hands on approach. I had fun both times. No fear today. Saturday was fun but a little shaken. I am going again tomorrow. Hopefully something in between. I will post a picture of Susie. Her friend took pictures. Need to get them.

Friday I ran from Alix's to the Four Seasons. Best check point I have ever seen. The bell boy was like welcome back. Handed me an iced towel and bottle water. I went and changed into a bikini and hung out there all day. When I was running up the hills instead of "I think I can. I think I can. 'It was Four Seasons. Four Seasons'."

I'm going to stay there my last two nights, whenever that will be.

Bamboo Forrest

oh wait that's me not the bamboo forrest, just through that picture in for my mom, last one with all that hair color. Next one, BLONDE. (She has called me every day about it) :P
Self Photography :)

Back to Bamboo Forrest.

Bamboo Forrest - I can't even explain it, but will attempt it. Lets just say a top five experience for sure and I am still in awe. I can not even begin to explain life or living in the moment. Even in some of my greatest experiences I'm still day dreaming or catching myself not living in the moment. Like scuba diving I start day dreaming and all of sudden I'm Ichiro at bat or kicking George (Rush) St Pierre a++ (even tho he is my idol). But at the Bamboo Forrest I was so present. I didn't have any other thoughts then what I was seeing. I could have lived and stayed there forever. First the trail of bamboo I felt like I jumped into an unreal world, the trail was gorgeous, peaceful, muddy in some spots and dry in others, but the bamboo all looked the same, so surreal. Then the rocks, some difficult rock jumping to rock climbing. Then jump in swim to a waterfall then out again up to the next water fall. One time using bamboo to rock climb (also to reppel) then swim through another pool of water with gorgeous water fall. Then there was the rope climb. I felt a little weak on the rope. Need to lift more. But I made it. Then we swam a pretty nice swim to the last water fall. Swimming was so cool and refreshing. Someone in our group said, "I feel like we are in a movie." Just swsimming then turning the corner, just surrounded by bamboo, rocks and water, then the water fall. Felt prehistoric -nothing has changed. Like it was a movie set or we were preserved in a time warp. (Um how did you like the five ways I decribed prehistoric?)

I didn't take camera in. I needed both hands, and one swim was pretty long for holding camera in the air. I wish I had photos. AMAZING.

Today we went to fishbowl to snorkel. Climbed down in lava rock for a three mile hike. It was also amazing.

Tonight we have kick boxing, not like areobic dance. Real kick boxing.

Also Alix Kung Fu Lesson will involve the move mittens of death.

I have not had any soda, I drink just water and nuun. I only have three tablets left.
Zero fast food and no fried food.

(I could have broke that down to three sentences - no fast food, amazing workouts, amazing trails and swimming)