Bike Store Auction

How is training going? Good.

Today there was a bike store being auctioned off, or at least the inventory or most of the inventory. They had posted photos online of what was supposed to be sold but when we went to see the items at the sale location, just down the road from here, there was about 1/3 less stuff than in the photos. Oh well, not our problem.

Lan spent about $500 total and got a LOT of stuff. He got a lot of shifter cables that he wants to sell on eBay but we've got to figure out how much shipping would be. He also got 4 NICE rims and a bunch of energy gels and stuff like that; shammy butter, chain lube, patch kits. A couple of shifting thingies and some other boxes of things. Hes happy.

Last night Lan and I participated in the first Friday Triday at Bremerton YMCA where we all did a mini tri. 15 minute swim (I did about 1/4 mile), 30 minutes spin (12 miles) and a 15 minute run (about 1 mile). It was fun and very low keyed, I think there were 11 of us all together. They plan on doing this more often so its something to look forward to.

Linda has strep throat and she sounds like shes got a mechanical voice box thing. Not good. I better not get sick. I spent the last few days with her before she knew she was sick.

My New Trainer/Coach

How is training going? Very good.

Today I completed 3 hours in the gym and another hour at the track with Linda and Lisa doing intervals. Well, we called it intervals, it was question time. Linda and I have never even seen a live Ironman so we had so many questions we needed answered, like where do the SPECIAL NEEDS bags go?

Oh yeah, Lisa is my new coach. Shes the leader of the Kitsap TriBabes and we have known her for going on 4 years. She was my first choice in a coach but I went with Ryan instead. That was a good choice, I learned a LOT from him. Lisa has basically ignored her duties with Linda all winter.

Yesterday they got together and swam a mile in the lake, which was only 60* and raining, hard.

I will be getting in next week myself to see what I can do. Yay, we all know I LOVE HATE to swim.

Today in the mail I received my new Pearl Izumi Women's Symphony Shorts, REI had them for $110, MSRP was $100 and I paid less than $40 including shipping. I'm hoping these will be my Ironman shorts but lets see how the West Sound Tri Club kit is before I make that final decision.

In the next week I should be getting my Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor. Linda has one that I love, you can get all the info online with maps, elevation, heart rate, etc. totally cool.

I really need to stay off Facebook when I'm tired. Last night I signed up for Danskin. I had a $20 discount but still paid $125.20 but there is no tee shirt included and NONE OF THE MONEY GOES TO CHARITY. If you want to make a donation you have to pay extra. I call BS on that. But they have a new race feature this year, if you are in a group of 50 or more you get your own start wave, finishers tent, tee shirt and recognition. We have always been the largest group in the last 4 years, no other groups even come close to the number of TriBabes we have.

Walking on water

How is training going? Very Good.

Today Linda and I walked 11.37 miles.  From her house at 10am, we headed out to Manchester, along Beach Drive toward Port Orchard. We had a goal, to walk as fast as we could in 1.5 hours & then turn around.

We completed our walk in just under 3 hours and both of us felt good and not too tired. On the way back we wanted to pick up the pace as our average was only about 16.50 so we jogged a bit a few times and that really helped. We ended up with an average mile pace of 15.39 or something like that.

Along the way we saw witnessed a falcon murdering a small bird. As we walked along I noticed feathers falling out of the sky, then more, then clumps of feathers. Looking up, there in a tree was a dove size bird plucking another bird for all it was worth. Weird.

A couple miles farther along we saw a young buck deer eating bushes in a yard. As we passed him we noticed that his tongue was sticking out. More weirdness.

At the pier shown above is a porta potty and its a good thing we had tissues.

On Lindas GPS you can see our route, including walking out onto this pier. Looks like we were walking on water.

The weather was a perfect 70*, the sun was shining and we had all that time to gossip, brag and high five each other for all the fun stuff we're doing together.

Hills on Bikes

How is training going? Good today.

The weather has been perfect for training all weekend, in the low 70's for the first time all year. maybe since 2 years ago. Seriously, we've had 2 crappy summers so its high time we have a nice one. I'm betting its going to be in the 90's for Coeur d'Alene and that will suck. So just in case, I'm trying to work out during the warmer parts of the days.

Today we went 18.5 miles on HILLS. Down Mullenix to Olalla Valley, then into Olalla & we got to go UP Burley Olalla hill where Lan rode behind me, coaching me on my cadence, speed and gearing. Then we rode down the steep hill under the freeway over to Bethel Burley & up to Port Orchard, over on Converse & to Phillips, down  and up those hills and back home. It was a fast ride because he pushed me to go faster and he was teaching me how  to do it, when to shift, which gear to use. God, I love my husband.

I had workout plans for yesterday but called in for a 10 hour shift 6:50am-4:50pm. I missed the Southworth boat by 10 minutes so Lan came & picked me up. We went to Ivars for dinner & Lan tried to go to a couple bike shops but they were closed.

Here is an interesting customer we had on the dock:

She had fishnet stockings on... Jim had a hard time not staring. Lisa and I thought it was down right funny to watch him not watching her.

This morning I rode the scooter down to Southworth dock to retrieve the blue truck, which we had left overnight. I needed to know how long it would take me to ride it there so when I ride it for work I won't be late & miss the boat. It only took 20 minutes, usually it takes 15 in the car. So I'll only have to leave a few minutes earlier now.

Today we were supposed to go for a 70 mile bike ride but we were waiting all day for a guy to show up who wanted to look at our truck & he didn't get here until 6pm. So the day was mostly shot. But he bought the truck and I now have a bigger chunk of change for my Ironman spending. It was also nice that we had the truck for 10 years and sold it for more than we paid for it and it needs a lot of work. The battery is DEAD, the front bumper is bent a little but Lan gave him a new grill and the guy has another bumper. Its going to need a little exhaust work, like a new cateletic converter. but mostly the engine  and tranny are still running strong and I think they guy is excited to get the truck.

Because we had to wait for the guy, Lan had time to work on the Miata. This poor car has been sitting for 3 years and it was a cheaper fix than he thought and only took the 1 day to do. So to celebrate the car running we went to DQ and had blizzards.

And I had time to bathe Joey and Sunshower too. Poor Joe, he was out in the pasture and when I went out to get him he was covered in flies. That's so unusual, he was miserable. So I groomed him & put fly spray on & then put him into the arena for a while.

Here he is, just got done rolling & is shaking the dust off. He looks like pigpen here. Floppy ears, lol.

Sunshower and Wifi were out in the arena for the morning and they had no flies on them so it was weird. When they came out of the arena I put them out in the field Joey had been in and Wifi was covered with flies when I brought her in later. Wonder whats up with that?? I'm going to need fly predators soon.

Wifi is so pretty but her white coat is shedding and shes going to be a darker gray this summer.

Sunshower is pretty pretty too.

NEw Equipment

How is training going? Very good on the bike and in the pool.

I received my new cycling jersey today from cbsstore.com, The Amazing Race jersey I ordered last week.

These are the ones the contestants were all wearing on the opening show of this season when they were riding thru the wine areas of California. I said then I WANT ONE AND I'LL GET IT AS SOON AS THEY COME UP FOR SALE. 

Well, I got it and LOVE it. Except I ordered a medium and need a large. I barely need a large but its a little tight in the arms and shoulders so I've got to send it back for a return. Sigh. I love the shirt.

Its got a zipper all the way down the front and its soft techy material, items I like a lot.

Right now its all packaged up and ready to go back to the post office.

In other news, I swam last night but wasn't feeling very good. I had worked 10 hours starting at 6:45 but had been up since 5am and by 6:30pm when I got into the pool I was just beat. Lasted 1 terrible hour & then left. Got 16 laps in, only 16.

There was a slow old lady, just beginning to learn to swim, taking up the whole lane. She didn't understand staying on one side of the lane and allowing people to pass you. Frustrating.

Good news: I signed up for another half marathon, the Amica Seattle Half marathon on November 25th. Sunday after Thanksgiving.

More good news: I'm in the lead for 1st place for the West Side mtn Bike Series this year, on April 29th if I don't have to work Lan and I will go race again and I'll win another medal and swag. it will be my first swag. IF I don't have to work.

Daffodil 60 Mile Ride

How is training going? Pretty good.

Today Lan, me & Linda went out to Orting to ride in the Daffodil Ride. This is the 37th year and my 3rd time. I did the very first one and two years ago Lan & I did 40 miles.

Today is actually my longest ride ever.

Whats wrong with this picture?

OH SHIT, my bike fell. No injuries, luckily.

When we did the 40 miles it was a different route and we did it in exactly 4 hours. Today is the same one I originally did and today we did it in 5 hours 30 minutes. Lan and I could have done it a LOT faster with out Linda because for the first 40 miles she wouldn't get out of her fucking granny gear no matter if we were going up hill or down hill. So we had to keep waiting for her sorry ass at every corner.

Then when we got to Cemetery Hill, just a couple miles from the end, that stupid bitch went down the hill in front of me then a fucked up Subaru driver got behind her and they were only going 26 MPH. I had to fucking slam on my brakes, sit up and wait for them to get out of the way. I was fucking pissed off. Stupid bitches.

Linda is NEVER going to finish the bike leg of CDA if she doesn't get off the god damn brakes. And I had been thinking maybe I'd ride with her since shes always been faster up hills than me on the bike but shes not any longer. She only beat me up 2 hills. If she catches me on the marathon then we can finish together but I'm not going to slow my bike for her.

Yes, I did enjoy myself and I didn't let Linda know I was pissed off at her. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect temperatures, I was with Lan and I got a lot of miles in.

Will I ride with Linda again? Yes but not for a while and then only on easy rides. I'm not going to waste a good training ride waiting for her again.

Feeling Accomplished

How is training going? Very well.

Today was boot camp followed by Torrey's strength/spin class. At noon I had a massage, at 2pm I loaded up my trusty Ford Ranger, went over to pick up Linda & took a load of composted manure out to Bremerton, which I sold for $35. When I went back to Linda's to drop her off we stopped at her friends house and filled my truck with firewood which I brought home and threw out of the bed of the truck onto the pile of firewood I took out of the big Dodge the other day. In a while I'm going to Masters swimming at the Bremerton YMCA.
Today is a good workout day.  I feel like I got not only planned exercises done but also some good Cross training.

LSD

How is training going? Good.

Yesterday lan and I were able to get in 57 miles on the bikes.

Rode from home, went out past Belfair and back on NorthShore Road. Its a pretty ride along the lower Hoods Canal, mostly flat with just a few hills.

It took us 4 hours 5 minutes but we still didn't keep our pace above 14 MPH.

  Not good, I need to be able to go an average of 14MPH during Ironman or I wont make it.

But we did ride up Mullenix at the end of the ride and I did that in 6 minutes so I was glad.

In horse news:
Wifi is white and black again, need to get good photos of her showing her beautiful color and conformation. Well, honestly her conformation isnt great but its good enough, since she was a total accident. But I love her.

Price of hay has increased dramatically and Im not happy about that, not at all. Last time it was $489 and now its $555, delivered its going to be $589. Time to increase boarding fees.

Jealousy

How is training going? As well as can be expected.

Jealousy sucks.

Yesterday Lan and I were able to get in only 1 hour of riding, instead of the 4 we had planned on. Because I had to be at work at 2pm, it was decided that we would ride in West Seattle, around the Alki area. It was a great workout for a few reasons:
1. WIND
  Headwinds and cross winds blowing off the water that would change at unexpected times.
2. DOGS
  There were a lot of people walking their dogs but they were so unpredictable and took up most of the pathway.
3. PEOPLE
  The people in Seattle are a bunch of stupid idiots. Did YOUR Drivers Ed instructor teach you to check your mirrors on a busy street before you open your car door? Well, none of the teachers in Seattle teach it because I had at least 3 doors opened right in front of me.
4. CRAPPY STREETS
  The roads were horrible. Cracks, lines, pot holes, sewer lines. They were incredibly bumpy and uncomfortable.

GOOD POINTS OF THE RIDE:
We got to ride up 1 hill, it was about 1/4 mile long and pretty steep. of course Lan got to the top first and came back for me but he did say that hes not having to go back as far as he used to go to find me on hills.
The stress of riding in the city is unusual for me so it was good to experience it. I've ridden there before but on my mtn bike a very long time ago, when I didn't know to pay attention to all these things.

So back to the topic of the day... jealousy.

Linda and Steve had all day to ride so they got in 51.5 miles. They rode around Port Orchard, out to Cenex, into Olalla, out to Southworth and back home. I wish I had done that ride instead of our short one. But after looking at his online Garmin info I see that their/his top steed was only 37 MPH and they were pretty proud of the hills they rode up when I've been doing those same ones for years & I haven't had to walk up any of them either, ever. They did have good time, 4.5 hours for the entire distance.

Yes, Im being bitchy but I dont care, this is MY blog.

Why do I do this?

How is training going? Big Sigh.

I am SO tired lately and I haven't even been working out. That might be why I'm tired. But I'm too tired to get out and get exercise. So I called a new doctor, one in my area, and I'm going to go in for this cold/allergies/sinus infection BS that's going on and try to get it cleared up. That might help with my swimming and nausea in the water.

And I've set up an appointment for a physical in 4-6 weeks, perfect timing for the Ironman. I've got to be healthy for it, huh?

We beat her

How is training going? GREAT.

Last Friday Linda and I did our practice Half Ironman so that we could see if we were even close to how well trained Barbara is. Barbara did Galveston Half Ironman on Sunday, she finished in 7 hours 44 minutes. Linda and I did ours in a pool, on spin bikes and walking on the road/running on a treadmill and we completed ours in 9 hours. But we took hour long breaks at transition.

WE BEAT HER.

 We have both been stressing out over it since Barb is a dentist who has Ryan as a personal trainer (yes, my old Ryan.) Linda does most of her workouts at Olympic Gym in Port Orchard and you know all about mine. Barb does hers at Olympic too but shes got all sorts of advantages, like shes rich, she picks her own work days, she can pay for the best.

But obviously Linda and I are doing OK since our time was better than hers. Yes, we had rest periods, yes, we were at 'home', yes, we had cool/cold weather and she was in the heat. But we beat her.  Barb made the choice to go to Galveston. Linda and I made the choice to see if we could at least finish a half and now we know we can.

Plus, neither of us had any problems afterward, only a bit of soreness that day & the next, not major soreness at all. Today we both feel great. I haven't had a workout since then but I'm going to boot camp, spin & core tomorrow. I'm now excited to move on and step it up some more.