The View

Many people have been asking me..... how does one train for two Ironmans in one year? Good question, this is new territory for me. We do have a plan however and after Ironman Lake Placid in a few weeks we will see if anything changes.

I don't think it is wise to do 2 Ironmans in a year. I think it takes a wicked toll on the body and on the mind. So why am I doing it? Another good question. A year in advance it all seems like a good idea.

The other reason is the possibility of a Hawaii qualification and the possibility of breaking eleven hours. The past few years I a Hawaii slot has eluded me, as I have really hit some stumbling blocks with my long distance performances. Those stumbling blocks are lessons. There are lessons in resistance. The past 3 years of long distance shortcomings are giving way to me being a better coach, and then in turn a better athlete. If I didn't know that the end of this period was coming, I would not keep at it.

My goals for Ironman Lake PLacid are very simple. The wide ranges for the time goals are based on weather. The same effort that one year brings you 6:00 on the bike, brings you 6:30 the next with a touch of wind.

Swim 1:00 (best time 57)
Bike 6:00-6:20 (best time 6:07)
Run 4:00-4:30 (best time 4:08)

My training for IMLP has consisted mostly of base training. I have not done a ton of speedwork, I have done a fair amount of tempo however. The idea is to build a massive base for Ironman Lake Placid.

Following the race I will likley take a complete week off. I will practice yoga, two days of yoga will cure it all. I promise you it is the fastest road to recovery. But it hurts to do it. A lot.

Week 2 the plan is to add in some swimming and cycling and running. By light I mean light. 30 minute runs. The temptation will be to do more.

The week of August 12th will be week 3 and we will continue to recover much the same as week 2. Week four, the week of August 19th is where we will begin some longer workouts. By longer I mean nothing over 2:00 on the bike yet. Curt will be preparing for the world championships during this time too, so his workouts take all priority.

When we head to Germany I plan do really kick things up. No super long riding in Germany but frequency will increase. From there we will increase the volume but more importantly begin some good intensity work.

The base will have been built and now the finishing touches of speed will be worked on. My goals for Ironman Florida;

swim sub 60
bike 5:30
run 4:00 or less.

So all of my training will gear directly towards that. I will sprinkle a few training races in there to spice it up and get my head back in the game.

So this is all how it looks on paper, and we will have to see how much and what changes after Lake Placid. Hands down IMLP is my favorite race. The beauty. The hills. It's a second home. And as I approach my final 6 hour ride tomorrow I approach it with a calm feeling of confidence.

The work has been done. The party is almost here.

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers

Gimme a C!

The boys arrived 2 days ago in Portland Oregon for Age Group Nationals! Curt is traveling with our wonderful friend Tom Dutton and they have reported in from the course.

Hilly, depending on who you talk to. Floridians think it is hilly, our boys believe they are small rollers. Water is cool but feels great. The spoke to a woman who had never swum in water under 72 degrees. Run rolling hills similar to the Guelph Lake Triathlon in the Subaru Triathlon Series.

So this is a course Curt should do well on. His only gripe is that it is about 75 degrees there. He'd prefer 90 degrees. He is ready, resting and prepared to rock and roll on Saturday morning.

Things on the East Coast have been going well. I am married to my Computrainer at 5am for these days that Curt is gone. But then the remainder of the day gives way to water fun in the pool and on the slip and slide.

Come Saturday morning however we will be cheering from here! GO CURTY GO!

Best of luck to everyone competing!

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers

Right ... Left .... Click

I have always had a bike box with three wheels. See my bike box pictured in the right column.

We didn't always have a bike box, we didn't do all that much air travel until a few years ago. Anytime we did travel the friendly skies, we borrowed form the huge community of triathletes here. I seemed to always borrow Erik Grimm's bike case, until 2005 1/2 Ironman Nationals. I had had it!

During the race I sustained a back injury and Erik's case was a soft case with one wheel missing. Lugging that damn thing through the airport in St. Louis was enough.

"DAMN GRIMM!" I cried. So I put it on my list.

Actually we did have a bike box, but it was more like a coffin. The best use of that box was the nap I took on top of it in Kona Hawaii as I waited 24 years for a rental car. Now that was comfortable.

We got rid of that thing forever ago.

Last summer though as Curt was headed to Switzerland and I had some travel races planned, we decided it was time to grab one. My bike guy Jim Costello from Hanndlebars gave us a great deal on a terrific case.

Curt made it to and from Switzerland without a hitch.

It was smaller, more compact, easy to pack and had four wheels.

That is until the 70.3 World Championship. I unloaded my bike from the luggage belt and whoa! The front wheel was punched in. A quick inspection of the bike revealed no harm done. I teared up to an Air Tran employee and got myself some free tickets.

And I was back to the 3 legged case. Which is fine I can live with that.

My husband however can not. And the poor man can not close it either.

Picture this for some entertainment. It's 94 degrees out, and Curt Eggers is essentially jumping up and down on the bike box trying to close it. There is an art to closing these things, of which I have carefully mastered. To close the bike box you must line up the "catchers" lay on top of it, and with your body move right, then left and you will hear a click.

It works every time.

When poor Curt became even more frustrated with the box, I reminded him..... "Security is just going to open it up again." to which I thought his head would explode.

Now understand this is Mr. National Champion, tapered and a little on edge from upcoming travel and such. So I can understand a bit of frustration.

But leave the bike box to me. This is my domain.

In the end the bike box got closed, and Curt is headed to Oregon. Let's just hope that security has learned the right left click move too!

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers

Those Days

You will rarely hear me complain abut Ironman training. Mostly because I love it. Mostly because I know and understand what an absolute privilege it is to be able to do this. And did I mention how much I love it?

However there are those days, the ones close to race day.... where things seem to fall apart.... and you panic. Today I had one of those days.

If things are going to feel like they are falling apart... this is the week that they will. Every single one of my athletes has faced some sort of mini-disaster in the past 2 weeks and today I had mine.

6:15 I set out on my final 20 miler. I was ready, pumped. Last week I had nailed 21 miles in 3:08 so today must mean I'd nail 22 in less time. Naturally.

At mile 3 I felt tired. At mile 4 the pain in my left leg began. deep, deep within my quad. Deep. I mean so deep that I self diagnosed with a stress fracture and catastrophosized so deeply that I began to cry and then began to walk.

Yes, I actually cried. A pity party. Boo Hoo poor Mary.

I walked 1/2 mile.

And then the pain began to ease. I stopped, stretched, shook things out. I looked at the sky.

And at that point, after all of that I then decided that I had do do the unthinkable. I had to stop at mile 9. Weighing in on the fine line between too much and just enough..... the point of no return..... I knew that rest at this point was the better choice. And it was the harder choice.

At what point in my life did "just 9 miles" become only 9 miles?

I started to run again, I can't be seen walking! So I ran and the pain eased to an ache. I picked up the pace, if this is going blow let it blow. Pain remained at a 1/10 when previously it was a 6/10. I finished strong. So my thoughts veered away from a stress fracture and turned to a deep muscle ache.

I came home and jumped on training peaks. And I went back to January 1st 2007, and I reviewed all of my long bikes and my long runs. I wrote it down on a piece of paper.

I handed it to Curt.

"Am I ready?" I asked him.

"You are the worst rester." He said "But hell I think you are ready."

And what does Curt know about the Ironman anyways? Hell he's done just 2 :-) But he's right. I am ready.

From here on the more we push through the more it will adversely affect our time. The more we rest and listen to our bodies the better July 22nd will be. Right now I feel like a truck ran over me. Sunday after our ride I felt like Natasha Badmann. But that's how it goes here in the land of Iron. There are ups and there are downs. Being on a down means that an up is coming.

So the rest of the day it's rest. I have been so good about clearing my schedule, I have the opportunity to rest and sit back. And resting and sitting back has taken the form of long days at Kershaw park with Luc. I stand thigh deep in the water and if I am lucky I run into Tom's awesome wife Jen or Nathalie.

The panic has ended. The worst is over. I had mine too, and keep calling and keep emailing because we are all going through it together.

But know, know, know...... it happened to me also.

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers

108 Miles of smiles.

Yesterday three of my athletes joined me for a 108 mile ride. We began at 5:30am and it was incredibly strange to be bundled up in the middle of June, however there has been a bit of a "cool wave" in Upstate New York this week, and today we begin to heat things up.

So Glenn, Dennis, Bill and I set out at this early hour with a destination in mind. Napes and the Grainery. The Grainery is a terrific little coffee shop nestled in the heat of the small village of Naples, NY. The coffee is outstanding, and they are used to cyclists dropping in. The Grainery was about 50 miles from my house, down winding roads that slid along the east side of the Gorgeous Canindaigua Lake. My most amazing husband made an exception this morning. Typically my long workouts are done mid week, but this weekend treat was exactly that... a treat. Thank you Curt!

So much of my distance training this season has been done alone that I welcomed the opportunity to spend it with my athletes, who are now my friends. Dennis and I are preparing for Ironman Lake Placid. Glenn and Bill are preparing for Ironman Kentucky. We all needed to get this ride done as early as possible.

Less than an hour into the ride Bill began to complain that his legs were tired. The three of them did a 2+ hour run the previous day.

"That's to be expected" I told him, he did IMLP in 06 so he knows that. Then I remembered how cranky he gets with little calories. "EAT."

A few minutes later I noticed his rear tire was flat. "Maybe that's why." I laughed. So we had our first and luckily only flats of the day. I called ahead to Dennis and Glenn.

"Flat!" I cried.

"We know!" they answered. I began to laugh, knowing they thought I had called out Left!! As our next turn was approaching.

Nonetheless Bill was so cranky that I changed the damn tire for him and told him to eat.

Now my bike was making a rather interesting noise. Bike noises don't bother me so I tend to neglect them. Since Eagleman however each time I hit the rear brakes this horrible screeching noise begins. I see Jim from Handlebars this Friday so I don't worry about it. But the looks I get from my athletes..... priceless!

"I am new!" I told them. So during the ride I would occasionally hit the rear brakes to amuse the guys. It doesn't take much!

Depending on your theory of training, many say that you should never stop during a long ride. Or stop minimally. I am not one to have breakfast halfway through a ride but I am one to stop at the Grainery. 20 minutes for a cup of coffee with friends is a treasure.

"We won't be able to do this at the Ironman." I reminded them, as I pulled a massive bag of white powder out of my back pocket. We all began to laugh, as we knew how suspicious we appeared, or rather I appeared!

Today I was trying Infinit nutrition, and it was working well. My custom designed formula was great. I was feeling really good and it was going down easy.

We continued on after our coffee and things were going well for everyone. It was one of those rides where there is more silence than conversation, we rode our own paces but we kept an eye out for one another, and we only stopped one more time for refueling.

The effort was moderate, at time hard, and the day was perfect. These are the rides you remember. These are the days you reflect on during the bike leg of the Ironman. At least I will.

Four weeks to go, and these four weeks are emotion filled ones. Highs and lows, anticipation, fear, confidence. These four weeks have it all ending with one magical day.

The day we all toe the line together. The day we slap hands with one another a billion times on this course. The day when we are not just there for ourselves, we are there for one another.

That's what makes our Train-This team so special, and yes I am incredibly biased. We have done the miles together. We have done the hours together. We are truly a team and when we get to July 22nd...... we know that we got there together.

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers

Just Maybe

Possibility, possibilities... came surging through my mind today during a 7 mile tempo run. Why on earth did I feel so good? 3 days after 21 miles I feel fatigue but it was if my legs could suddenly handle a new level of pain.

Just maybe, I thought, just maybe all of this running focus.... all of this non resting..... all of this run 6 miles before a race and then 8 miles afterwards..... just maybe it was all beginning to actually absorb. To take hold. To begin to shine through.

The runs in the cold. The bike sessions in the garage.... all of those lonely hours and lonely miles. Just maybe this is the beginning of the pinnacle.

Today I believed. Today I believed that if the weather holds and I hit my pacing goals.... and all of my previous nutrition debacles have given birth to the right day at the right time..... just maybe.

The line between too much and just enough has been a fine one. The mistakes are more numerous than the victories. The pain greater than the pleasure. But then again there is pleasure within the pain.

Because doing the work is only half the battle. Balancing the work is another small fraction. Looking at yourself in the mirror every single day, the good parts as well as the bad parts of you... that's what it truly takes.

The Ironman takes no prisoners. It's like a giant mirror that will reflect every bit and piece of you. So you'd better be comfortable with what you see. You don't have to love it, you don't have to hate it, you just have to be comfortable with it. All gets revealed on Ironman day.

You will walk through the fire, you will get burned (in a positive way) and you will walk through that finish line a different person than you were at the starting line. You won't be a brand new person. You'll be a deeper person. A more patient person.

And you'll be someone with a massive threshold for pain.

Thanks for stopping by,

:-) mary eggers

Summertime

On the run course in Lake Placid

Welcome to day one of summertime, where the days are long, sunny and are planned to be nothing but fun at the Eggers' home.

Luc bounded off the bus at 2:10pm yesterday afternoon arms open wide throwing his backpack, ready to play. We made a family decision to forgo the traditional summer camp, and to instead hang at home, at the beach, ride our bikes and take the opportunity... to be home.

Thank you to Curt for allowing that opportunity to exist.

Sure the training now gets done at an early hour, but through those early hours there is serenity in silence. Thrill of spotting the thousands of deer cross my path, and the smell of summertime looming.

My third Ironman is just 5 weeks away. Through this second to last build week I am feeling very good. I executed a 21 mile run on Wednesday in 3 hours and 8 minutes, walking one minute every ten. My new nutrition plan of Gatorade Endurance is working. The details of how to get it on the course so it calculates correctly are all that is left.

As I approach this third Ironman I am feeling very positive. So much of what happens on this course is weather dependant. And Lake Placid is one of the toughest courses out there. However it is the only Ironman I have ever done so I don't know any better. Maybe this will allow any other Ironman course to feel easy :-) My plan is to take the day as it comes and stick to my pacing goals. Roll with the punches, and stay on an even keel. It will be a special day for many reasons. Win, lose or draw it will be a blast, and that's what really matters.

So as summertime officially unrolls, I opened it with a fantastic swim in Canindaigua Lake, some coffee with a friend..... making pancakes at home. It's time to kick back, lather on the suntan lotion, and put our feet up!

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers

The Great Skewer Mystery

We have a mystery on our hands, and it revolves around a skewer. Literally. A Bontrager Carbon skewer to be exact. And it's getting deeper and more mysterious.


It all began this weekend in Hamilton, Ontario... Canada. Curt treated us to a weekend getaway to the Binsbrook Triathlon, which is parts of the HSBC Triathlon Series. I began my triathlon career in Canada at the Subaru Triathlon Series, so I felt like I was cheating on my friends at Trisport Canada.... but I was so pleasantly surprised at how excellent this race was.... I shall make it a point to do another this or next season.

Canada is an East Coast mecca for triathletes. In fact Lisa Bentley lives in the next town over form Hamilton. Nicole Stevens Elite Marathon runner is from Ontario. Lori Bowden herself was born from the Subaru Triathlon series. Jamie Cleveland, Jasper Blake, Treza Macel, Melissa Spooner... the list goes on. Racing in Canada I have raced with so many amazing athletes that I always follow their careers and victories.


Nonetheless Curt and I arrived rather early at the BInsbrook triathlon, when I noticed something rather strange. I put my front wheel on my bike, and my skewer.... it was the skewer for a back wheel!


How could this be?

I retraced my travels in my head. Last week I rode with Kevin and Kitima to Eagleman. But my bike was on the outside of the car on a rear hitch. The wheels.... during that whole trip were never changed. I left with my race wheels on. I raced with them on, and I came home with them on.


I have a rule about bikes. I am the only one who tinkers with my bike. When race wheels need to be removed... I remove them. When things need adjusted... I adjust them. I firmly believe we need to be responsible for our own bike. That way should something go wrong.... headset loose, etc, then the blame can not be shifted.

So when I removed my race wheels after Eagleman, like always my Bontrager Skewers remained in the wheel and I hung the wheel up where I always hang the wheels up. Done. Finished.


Saturday morning when I loaded the car my bike went inside and the front wheel went next to the bike. No skewer removed.

Let me flash back for a moment to the week before Eagleman. I noticed that my race wheel was in fact missing its skewer. A quick look around the garage and I found it in one of Curt's 300 ace wheels. He had stolen it! Denial soon followed but I allowed him off the hook. My Bontrager skewers came with my Bontrager wheels and that's where they'd stay. We have 8,000 front skewers in the skewer box, so take another!

That moment in Binsbrook.... Curt became prime suspect #1. I looked at his wheels. No Bontrager skewer was there. But of course we had no extra skewers. Steam rose from my ears. I was positive, absolutely positive that Curt had made the switch.

Not intentionally...... I imagined he saw the skewer again and the opportunity to make a switcheroo... and he must have put the wrong one on. JUST FESS UP! I cried.

"I didn't do it!" He retaliated. He's denying because he is embarrassed or he forgot. I was very certain of this. He scrambled around the race sight and found me a front skewer... so my race was on. Whew!


I love to race in Canada for so many reasons, and this day brought me the opportunity to race with 2 Canadian National Team Members. Knowing this would elevate my race and theirs I was both excited yet full of dread. After 3 straight weeks of racing and traveling.... I was pooped. I need the speedwork so this 750 meter swim / 28 k bike and 6.6 k run was just perfect. The weather was hot and I was ready.

During the swim I found a partner with a woman, who would eventually win the race. She was a National team member and we seemed to share similar abilities. We swam together and as we rounded the first buoy we began to catch the slower men. I tucked in behind her and allowed her to make the navigation through the pack. She picked a great line and I was excited to be competing with someone of similar ability.

Onto the bike I was equally as happy as she and I seemed to have similar bike abilities. While I did catch her by 5K she legally hung in behind me. I was so delighted in the etiquette of the Canadians. There were no marshalls out there but every single person obeyed the passing and the non drafting rules. I wanted to cheer and scream!


Into T2 she edged ahead of me with a faster dismount, and then disaster struck. I ran into transition and..... what race was I at? Pittsford? Eagleman..... where the heck did I rack? for the first time in my life I could not find my rack!!!!!

I noticed the horrified look of the crowd, so I smiled and shouted "I'M NEW!" to which I received a loud round of applause. After ninety seconds I found my bike, laughing so hard I fell over onto my butt trying to get my shoe on. I received another round of cheers as I finally left transition.... I could see the lead woman in front of me.

I was running well over some strange surfaces; rocks, crushed stone, grass, dirt, and oh... there were some nasty little hills out there! As we headed to the turnaround I saw the lead woman in front of me and saw her walk the aid station / turnaround. She spotted me and began to run again. Now had I not screwed up transition I would have been right with her, which disappointed me because win or lose a race I wanted the opportunity to run hard next to someone. Our run splits were the same I believe so this was a race that I had completely lost in transition. Either way I was thrilled with 2nd place, sandwiched in between 2 terrific women. To top it all off I was only 3 minutes behind Curt's bike split, which especially after three weeks of lots of racing was excellent for me. And I did nab him by one second on the swim! Hooray!


I was so impressed with the HSBC series as well. Top notch in terms of quality and in terms of quantity.


Curt was looking strong out there all day long and smashed the field on Father's Day to take home the overall win. Yay for Curty!

But back to the skewer mystery. Curt knew he resided as prime suspect #1. We agreed that once we got home we would look together, so that there would be no chance of tampering with evidence. After a wonderful Father's Day celebration with my parents and Luc at their home in Buffalo.... we arrived home for the moment of truth.


I inspected each and every one of Curt's wheels. No skewer. I inspected mine. No skewer. I looked in the skewer pile. No skewer. We looked at one another.


Luc?

No, Luc lacks the fine motor skills to unscrew a skewer (but that would be a good occupational therapy exercise for him... mental note). And the wheels are hung out of his reach.


"So..." Curt concluded.... "Your wheels never left your bike the whole time you were in Eagleman."


"Correct" I stated.

"Did you race with that skewer at Eagleman?"

"No" I said "The wheels would have come off at least during transfer."

"Then how did it get changed?" He asked. I suspected he and he suspected me. We each suspected the other person. Now our suspicion was not from the theme that anyone did it maliciously. Accidentally. Like Curt maybe saw my beautiful skewer and wanted it for his own? And just didn't realize as he was making the fast switch.

Again denied and I have no evidence to prove it.

"Bring in Kevin and Kitima!" He cried this morning.

"Now wait a minute, they are innocent. Neither touched my bike!" I reported "You are bringing in innocent people to shift the focus of the investigation!!!!!"


So the mystery of the switched skewer now gets filed into the very same category as the mouse who inhabited my car. Because to this day we do not know what ever became of him either.

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers

Anything is possible with a HO HO

Anything is possible. That's the big theme of the Ironman. But in my case what it should say is that Anything weird can happen.

It started on Tuesday as one of my athletes and friends.... Bill, and I were out aiming for a four hour ride. I decided to enlighten Bill and show him that route 64 didn't end at 5&20 but in fact wound all the way down through the amazing town of Naples. Since his wonderful girlfriend and Musselman trainee was such an amazing support for us at Eagleman, I let him in on the secret of the Brown Hound Bistro.

"Take her there." I instructed him.

About half way to Naples is a gas station, it is my favorite gas station on earth. Rather than the traditional gas station appearance, this one looks like a big wooden house. With so many friendly faces it feels like home inside. As I have made this a regular stop on my route this season I have gotten to know then many wonderful people who work there. I have also gotten to know some of the town folk. Nothing sparks a conversation quicker than "How far y'ridin t'day?"

As usual we make the stop, I head into the bathroom, buy some water and have my typical conversation with the woman behind the counter. I walk back outside and see the Wonder Bread delivery man. I have seen him a few times before and he is real nice.

This morning he was so darn nice that he grabbed a box of Ho Ho's out of his truck and handed them to me! With a statement to the effect that I deserved some Ho Ho's, he was off. We stood there for a moment wondering what to do with this newly aquired treasure. So I did what any normal triathlete would do, I shoved the box into the back pocket of my jersey.

The rest of the ride I rode with a box of Ho Hos protruding from my back pocket but when we got home I was a hero!

So remember... anything is possible. Not just in training but in life as well. I mean how often has someone handed you a box of Ho Ho's?

NAMCHEE BAZAAR "The Invitation by Orion Mountain Dreamer"

On November 10th 2006 I had the honor of seeing a beautiful presentation at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. It was about John Blais, the ALS Warrior Poet. I am like everyone else, intrigued and inspired by his story. I thought about him a lot on Sunday at Eagleman.

This beautiful poem is on his website, and it encompasses so much. Read it, and think about it.

Think about this; do the animosities you hold in your life... really matter? Your judgements on other people or on yourself.... who are you to judge anything? Who am I to judge anything?

Within my life, my family, my business, my athletics... personally I am striving for personal excellence. At times others see this and attack... but I have learned that when we don't like something about someone else, it is because we see something of ourselves that we truly don't like.

Thank you Blazeman for enriching my life. Thank you for helping me to see clearly what is really important.

*********************************************************************************

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your hearts longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams or for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your sorrow.

If you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and close from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fit it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with the wildness and let the "Meatheadedness" fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself, if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.

I want to know if you can be faithful and trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not there everyday, and if you can source your life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still shout stand on the edges of a lake, river or mountain and shout to the silver of the full moon. Yes! I'm a Meathead...

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for someone you love.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and truly like the company you keep in the empty moments of your life and still remember me...

Your friend, Blazeman - King of all "Meatheads" 2004.

Still on the Bridge?

I think I left my legs on the Bay Bridge in Maryland! Has anyone seen them?

Sunday evening it took us four hours to travel 40 miles from Cambridge Maryland across the Bay Bridge. I joked that it I was awake enough I'd hop on my bike and meet Kevin and Kitima on the other side. But I'd then be alone and that is no fun. We arrived home at 5am Monday morning.

Monday became a deserved day off. All I did was work. Luckily working from home means feet up and coffee in hand, so I am very blessed to be able to work from home. It could have been 12 hours on my feet in Peds ED and after a half Ironman that is just no darn fun.

With the intentions of sneaking 2 hours in before my four hour ride this morning, I hopped out of bed pretty eager at 4am. 30 minutes on the bike and my legs said "Good try Mary." And I was relegated to tinkering with the mounting of my Ergomo. Previously it has been mounted under my right forearm which can make for an annoying ride when you are trying to use the data during training rides and races. So for now electrical tape holds it in place while i consult Jen and Jerome for mounting tricks. I liked how Jerome had his mounted yet now I forgot how that looked.

What's that saying, about duct tape? :-)

Speaking of Power Meters I was confused about my data collection from Eagleman. For riding slow 2:40 it seemed that my wattage was rather high. An average of 264? That didn't seem right. Quick email to Trevor and he set me straight.....

The average and normalized power kinda look too high. Maybe you didn't calibrate your pm before the start. I don't know too much about the ergomo but I heard that you really have to take the time to calibrate it before every ride. Your average power was around 264 watts. To give you some idea of why I thought that it was off is that that's what Faris averaged for a 4:25 at Kona the year he won. :-) Plus the approx 2500 cals you burned on the bike also seem a little too high. :-)

Remembering my rookie mistakes that day..... not only did I not plug it in and had to stop..... I did in fact forget to calibrate it. Whew! But looking at the data I was able to be very consistent in cycling slowness, which is new for me. I had to swallow my massive cycling ego. And I am glad that I did.

So much for me being Faris' new training partner.

On deck still for the week is 20:25, which I am ready for. The intensity has kicked up a notch for my last 3 week Ironman build.... and I know now that I am ready to make the jump. I can't say it's going to be pretty but on July 2nd I will be glad for it. This weekend Curt and I are racing up in Hamilton Ontario, a short little race that I am using as speed work. The day before the race I will cycle the torturous 3 hours towards Buffalo, which is much much much more difficult than Lake Placid. If there is a God Curt will make it to me before I have to climb out of Warsaw. It's the way to my parents house and it will hurt. But a good hurt as they say!

So I am ready. Ready to begin this final push towards Lake Placid. I am dialing in nutrition and really pleased with it. I am dialing in my distance and speed and I am feeling positive. Things are coming together for the big dance. Especially my head.

Now it's time to find those legs....

:-) Mary Eggers

Eagleman 70.3 Race Report Part I

This weekend I made the trek to Cambridge Maryland to the Ironman Eagleman 70.3 race in Cambridge Maryland. I had not planned on racing another 1/2 Ironman before Lake Placid, but the Monday before the opportunity presented itself. I was not rested nor tapered, and I couldn't really taper with my Lake Placid training. I needed the opportunity to practice pacing and nutrition…. and in retrospect I am so very glad I did.

I consulted with Trevor S., a good friend of mine whom I am begging to coach me next year. I told him of my carbo load plan and my nutrition and pacing plan for Egaleman, and he shot me an email that I am so glad for!

He pointed out that we know I have a strong bike. I have biked this course in 2:28 and 2:31 on difficult days, But each time I ride that hard my run suffers tremendously. And while I am very confident in my running abilities this year it is difficult for me to let go of that bike! Ego, ego ego.

Trevor suggested I really hang back on the bike. We set some wattage goals; I set MPH goals and cadence goals. On the way to Maryland Kevin, Kitima and I talked a lot about it. Kitima pointed out that the bike split was a consolation prize. We need to focus on the ultimate goal. I knew they were all right. I made the decision to bike 2:40. Of course no one believed me but I was determined to come off that bike feeling rather "cheesy" as Gordo would say.

Race day came after a great night of sleep in the tent. It was actually wonderful. My wave began at 7:58 under overcast skies. This might have been the best year in terms of weather. I have been here for hot, for windy and now for perfect.

I had a great swim, albeit the course was a tad short. I kept my stroke long and I did not get stung by jellyfish. Out of the water I stumbled through transition, making goofy rookie mistakes. I had to actually stop one mile into the bike and plug in my Power Meter….. I put it on the bike and I had forgotten to plug it in! Once back on a woman in my age group passed me at mile 5. And that's where the test began.

Every year I have done this race I am in the top ten for bike splits. My goal was to not make that list. I wanted to bike over 10 minutes slower and see how that would affect my run. In retrospect 5 minutes might have been better J

Natasha Badman, who won the race, said it best however, about what was going on, on the bike. "I saw cheating out there." She cried. "I saw drafting!"

During the ride I got swallowed up in a mass peleton. In USAT races you may NOT draft on the bike. Yet here were competitors, including several women in my age group who ended up top five in the age group. Drafting during a USAT race is just plain cheating.

I had to back off and then pass the massive group of 20 people who were riding dangerously. The second time I got swallowed up a woman said to me "We are not meaning to draft!"

"Then STOP!" I told her. "You have a choice to cheat or not to cheat. And if you are going to draft then get out of your aerobars. You are not even drafting correctly. Someone is going to crash."

At that time my friend Jen Harrison passed me, which made me feel good about my pacing because she began 5 min behind me. I knew I was riding slower (what a weird goal). We called back and forth to each other how awful the pack was. We tried to break it up. But we failed.

Finally a motorcycle pulled up, which was the only official vehicular I saw all day. He started writing down numbers and I knew if I didn't back off I'd earn myself a penalty. So I had to let go of Jen and sit back for a while as penalty warnings (only warnings?) were handed off. This was fine because I was on pace for 2:40, my heart rate was remaining below 150 and I was hitting my nutrition spot on. Trevor's plan was working!

Right on target…. at an embarrassingly slow 2:40. I hopped off the bike, grabbed my fuel belt which I had stashed in ice, and headed out on the run.

I felt amazing! I felt great! I felt like I could…. run! Trevor again was right! Backing off the bike lent me some running legs! I was able to hold my pace just below 8 minutes with ease and I walked a few seconds at each aid station….. and then I realized I was going to flirt with breaking 5 hours. This could bring me back to the fours,…. where I belong!

I was so intent however at sticking with the plan and sticking with the goal…. that I just kept my plan. I drank coke and Gatorade as Trevor had guided me, and I think I grinned from ear to ear the whole time. I spotted Bill, Kevin and Kitima (who all PR'D by the way!!!!) AND I FELT TERRIFIC. Better Then I have ever felt during a half Ironman in a long time. I had bounce! I had happiness. I was so thrilled! But again, I kept to the plan and I walked a bit at each station.

I cam through the finish line in 5:01…. my fastest time in 3 years. I had nailed the plan. I was thrilled for so many reasons, especially because I am in the middle of an 18 hour training week, did a four hour ride 3 days ago…. and was using this day for what it was.

I was thrilled with nutrition. I was thrilled with how I felt. I was thrilled with my pacing. And my love for this distance came rolling back to me. I know I am capable of a 4:45 1/2 Ironman. I have spent a long time figuring things out and I am excited to finally begin to get things right. I know what I am capable of and I have found the right mentor to help me get there.

On the way home I thought about Ironman Florida….. and I allowed myself some time to think about it. Two Ironmans in a year is a lot on a body and a family. So I just might call it a season after IMLP so that I can take an early off-season and begin working on my running for 2008. But you just never know with me. That could change in a few days.

Special thanks to Trevor for his spot on help. Thanks to Handlebars, Tri Running and Walking, Breathe, Twin Advertising, Score-This and to my awesome TT Team for their support. Next I will have up the Team report because you can't go on a trip with your friends without some adventure happening…….

Ironman Eagleman 70.3

This morning we are off to the Ironman Eagleman 70.3 in Cambridge Maryland. While I have not tapered for this race, I am very excited to try a new nutrition plan (Thanks Trevor) and to work on pacing.

The hardest thing for me at this race will be pacing on the bike. I am a strong cyclist and for the past 2 years have made the top ten bike split list..... but for one reason or another my run has suffered.

My goal in this race is to bike.... eeeks..... conservatively.... slower...... at the bottom end of threshold wattage..... and if another woman passes..... let her go! EEKS! Trevor reminded me that we know I can bike well, I need to have a solid run. He's right.

So whatever the final time I am looking for solid splits, to feel good, and most importantly to have a boatload of fun. I will be there with friends from home, friends I have made there and new friends to be made.

Kelly I wish you were with us! BOO HOO!

You can follow along on Sunday morning at www.ironman.com my wave leaves at 0758. Cheer loud and thanks for your continued support.

:-) Mary Eggers

The Chosen Spot

Canindaigua Lake is literally the chosen spot. Anyone who lives in Upstate New York knows what I mean. I will have to post some pictures because this little town is truly heaven on earth.

A group of us swims on Wed / Fri mornings between 5-5:30 in Canindaigua Lake. The Lake is about 18 miles long, and we congregate on the North Shore, near Kerhaw Park. The beauty of our swim spot is that we swim parallel to shore, allowing for the ability to stand up anywhere we are swimming. It's worth the 20 mile drive. It's worth the earliest morning to watch the sun rise during a 60 minute swim. And you can only understand it if you go.

Wednesday was a gift. Not so much in terms of weather but in terms of beauty. The air was 60 but the water was 68. Throw a wetsuit on and things are excellent.

I swam with Jackie and Jeremy. We did have a Tom sighting as he pulled into the parking lot and then pulled out. We must give the man some credit though, he just finished the Desoto Triple T!

I have to give extra kudos to Jackie for driving to and from the swim in her wetsuit.

After a beautiful 45 minute swim I was home in time for the beloved kiss before my little pumpkin boarded the bus. Then I was off for a four hour recovery ride. Four hour recovery ride? Yes, and I have the watts and heart rate data to prove it.

I rode to South Bristol, which is near Canindaigua. I was in the rolling hills of Bristol and South Bristol, nearing Naples and I again was in heaven. At my turnaround point I stopped for a moment and relished in the beauty of my surroundings. Wow.

Tomorrow morning we leave for Eagleman, and I am very excited. No taper for this, just a pacing and nutrition test. Trevor S. gave me some terrific nutritional advice that I think will actually work this time.

Funny with my Ergomo. As a coach I am loving the data from my athletes. It's as if I can really see what they are doing. As an athlete I feel like a dope, navigating the Ergomo isn't hard.... if you are one of those who reads directions. But yesterday I was able to perform and understand the interval function of Mr. Ergomo.... and i got it. With wattage range goals in hand I am hoping for a bit of a conservative ride at Eagleman.

In 2005 and 2006 I was on the list for top ten bike splits at this race. I almost would like to bee off that list because my runs have suffered. While I am not tapered and don't have a lot of speed, I am looking to have solid splits in all 3 events. I am hoping I can put together my run nutrition. Thanks to Trevor for his help.

Most of all however... I am looking to have fun. Kelly B recently move to Boulder and won't be there. This crushed me. This was one of the races we did together. But this time Kevin, Kitima, Sharon and Bill are going. Aside form the Ironman this is their first "National" race. They will love it, I know they will.

So this morning as I execute a 2.5 hour workout, not tapering or resting I will once again relish in the beauty of my surroundings. But at the same time I will look forward to the wonderful ride through the Wildlife Preserve that we will be riding through on Sunday.

There is much more to competition than winning or losing. It's once in a while stopping, looking around and soaking it all up.

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) mary Eggers

This One's For Me

I don't know what has happened to me lately but I have an inability to stick with a decision. I have an ability to change my mind on a dime and just blow with the damn wind. It's a horrible feeling to a girl who has lived her life by the plan and the big plan and the grand plan. I change plans and ideas and such more times then my mother has changed her hairstyle.

And this latest flip flop I am directly blaming on Foster One (Mike Foster) because I do not want to own the responsibility of being a quack, waffle or indecisive. I will put that on him :-)

Yesterday at the Pittsford Triathlon something quite interesting happened for me. It was Mike Foster's bad day. I can't stress to you enough that if Foster was in shape right now, didn't succumb to food poisoning, or run the corporate challenge or is in the midst of writing his thesis (and we want him to place the focus on the thesis as he will be working in DC on some projects.... but we can't talk about that..... we need this man's brain...) he'd not only have lapped me on the swim, bike and run but he'd have smashed his own course record. So I need that to be crystal clear.

But when I passed him on the run I never expected him to hang with me. I have never run with anyone like that in a race, sitting on my shoulder so close that I could hear their breathing... .. in any race I have ever done I have either pulled away or I have surrendered. Yesterday however this was my friend and I wanted him not to give up. At the same time I wanted to see if I could run with him there.

Could we help each other?

I think that we did. During our run I thought abut a lot of stuff..... I tried feeding myself and Mike positive vibes. I tried to send him ESP messages to stay together, work together. After not too long I felt like we were in a pattern, and it became almost like a dance.

I also realized this would likely be the one and only time I got to share this experience with my friend. Mike and Erika are leaving next month. For some reason I thought they were leaving in October. Well, that was my own little form of denial. Since the day I met them I denied that they were leaving.

So while we were running I closed my eyes and I smiled. What a great experience to share with a friend. A race, a run, a pace.

And when there was 1/4 mile left Mike prodded me to kick it in. I told him I didn't have an extra gear. But suddenly I somehow found it. And then came 15 seconds that stunned me. I ran harder or faster than ever in my life. It was just 15 seconds. But I never looked for that before. I always conceded that I didn't have it.

But I did. And Mike helped me see that.

So I went to bed with that feeling of confidence. With that feeling of believing in my run again.

And I had that sinking feeling that I'd be missing out on a great time this weekend if I skipped Eagleman. The whole experience, not just the 70.3 miles.

So I caused my husband's head to begin to spin (again) when I walked into the house with my newest and latest proposal.

"What if I just go and do Eagleman?" Oatmeal flew across the room.

"Oh my God!" He cried... "Bill got to you!" Bill and Sharon have been taunting me with Egleman tales.

"No..." I promised him..... and I told him of my fear. "I will just do a normal training week, use it as part of my build, practice my nutrition, my carbo load, spend time with friends..... and have fun?" He shook his head but I knew he understood.

"Go." He smiled, still shaking his head. "You do need to go."

What would I do without this man who so completely understands me. I think to understand this, you need to understand how cool this race is. Kevin, Kitima, , Sharon and Bill will be there. My friend Jen from Chicago and her hubby will be there. Dirk will be there.

I conferred with Jen Harrison and she told me to throw the sanity out the window (I did that a long time ago Jen...) and to come and have some fun.

So I made some calls, I arranged Granny, and I jumped on my bike in the rain. And I thought abut Eagleman (And the fact that Brian Rhodes is racing..... oooooo....) and cycling through the Wildlife Refuge.... and swimming in the Bay..... and going to the pro athlete Q&A..... and the teammates that are going......

And I said screw it. I will go. I will still ride long but I will cut my long run back. I will go... for me. To treat myself. No expectations, no goals. Nutrition and pacing practice and to freaking celebrate. I love to train and I love to race so let's go have a freaking party doing it. Whatever the finishing time is.... it is. Pressure is off. Fun is on.

Because that's what this is really about isn't it? Fun? I need a good long training day. I want to spend it with friends. So I am doing my normal week, long ride, just a shorter run, and I am throwing caution into the wind.

I hope I don't have another top 10 bike split. I hope my husband's friend finally out bikes me. This day is for me, this party is for me. An opportunity to do what I absolutely love to do.....

Race. Fast or slow I will be there on Sunday and I will have the biggest smile.

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers

Pittsford Triathlon Part II

The Pittsford Triathlon was this morning, and it was a very special day for a whole bunch of reasons. I was able to narrowly win the race by a mere 15 seconds over sprint specialist Kathleen Hayden. She's a world class duathlete and she specializes in the short and fast. I specialize in the long and fast. So a 300 meter swim / 15 mile bike and 3.5 mile run was ... well a speed session in my book.

Nonetheless it was also special because my awesome Yoga Studio was a race sponsor and the entire Weis clan, Larry, Abby, Carly and Cyndi. Cyndi is the brainchild of heaven on earth and they were there in full force. Tofu salad, organic smoothies, they put on an amazing show and gave me a fantastic sweatshirt so I could proudly claim my love for Breathe!

I had a pretty good clean swim, meaning no one got in my way. A smooth transition preceded a strong bike. I felt a little sluggish perhaps because of all of the miles I had ridden this week. Then the run.

One of my athletes Mike Foster was in view, and he began the time trial start swim 5 min ahead. I had caught up by the end of the bike. Now Mike is in The Air Force and this year he's been focused on his Thesis, which if you have ever written one... then you understand. Mike finished Ironman lake Placid in 11:15 and if he was in shape he'd wipe the course clean with me. So his fitness is not where it normally is, which I know is breaking his heart.

Mike also had the fortune of contracting food poisoning on Sunday, lost 8 pounds by Monday and then ran the 95 degree Corporate Challenge on Thursday. So before you give me any kudos please know that Mike was not at all in top form, but I thank him for my win today.

I was able to catch up to Mike during mile 1 of the race, and he sat on my shoulder. I have never run with anyone on my shoulder, so I thought excellent, let's try this out! We fell into a pattern, his exhale, my inhale, his inhale, my exhale. We kept it together stride for stride.

As we approached 1/4 mile of the finish line Mike called on me to pick it up.

"This is all I got!" I called to him. But he knew that wasn't true. I just didn't know it to be true. He kicked it up and then I kicked it up, pushed harder for all of 15 seconds than I have ever pushed in my life. And that, right there won me the race. WHEW!

It was special because Mike and his wife Erika (our associate coach) are going to be moving to Washington DC in another month. Special because I got to run with my friend Mike. Special because I didn't give up. Special.... because it was just 2 friends running.

I knew Mike was not at top form, I knew he was nowhere near it. But I was honored that he hung in there and helped me find something new within me.

Because I learned that I can run. And I can hurt.

After the race I took another 3 mile run before I joined the post race party.

So it was a good speed training day for me. I was three minutes off the course record of 1:09, which I set in 2004 when I was more focused on going fast than long. Funny how we switch focus and how things shift a bit.

Up next is a 4 week 20 hour per week block to finish up preparation for Ironman Lake Placid. Next Sunday I race in Keuka, then in Canada. I use those races for speedwork and see what happens.

I'd like to thank all of my wonderful sponsors;

Handlebars Cycling Company, Breathe-Yoga, TWIN Advertising, Skirt Sports, Tri Running and Walking, Victor Advanced Chiropractic, Fuel Belt and Score-This. Thanks to all of my awesome athletes for their support (they all kicked butt out there!) and to my husband and son of course who are the reason I am here to begin with.

Thanks for stopping by.
:-) Mary Eggers

Pittsford Triathlon Race Report

This picture is of the amazing Zach DeRidder, who completed his first triathlon today as he is currently undergoing treatment for liver cancer. Please read on for his amazing story. This picture is from 13 Wham News.

This morning was the 4th annual Pittsford Triathlon, consisting of a 300 yard pool swim / 15 mile bike and 3.5 mile run. I was honored to be able to win this time trial start race, as each of the 200+ competitors began 30 seconds apart.

For being in the midst of Ironman training I thought I had a pretty good day, albeit 3 minutes off the course record I set in 2004 here. With that being said I felt very good, a bit sluggish on the bike... which I expected after 150 miles of cycling this week.

I was thrilled with the race direction and my athletes all did awesome. They will be highlighted on the home page.

It's always absolutely thrilling to win a race. Absolutely. But what I think many people forgot today was a very amazing story that unfolded right before their eyes. I unfortunately heard whining about being beaten by a few seconds, or feeling that the seed times were incorrect, or the length of time it took do get to the awards....

How about the story of Zach DeRidder? I was so honored to meet Zach and his friends today, and I am also honored to say that Train-This is joining these guys in their fight.

How would you like to be 22 years old and be diagnosed with Liver Cancer?

Do you know how terrible a diagnosis of liver cancer is?

How would you like to race with a tumor the size of a grapefruit on that liver?

And would you race 2 days after your latest round of Chemo?

As I shook hands with Zach today I was astounded. I looked back to see people scrambling over results and people getting upset by defeats or excited by triumphs... yet the biggest triumph of the day was standing right before them. How wrapped up we can get in our own selves and our racing that we forget the biggest picture of all..... life.

Former Train-This athlete Christine Webb recently featured Zach on the news, she did a great job of telling it also......

He says his cancer diagnosis is his chance to give something back. Looking at Zach you would never know he has a tumor the size of two grapefruits just outside his liver. He was diagnosed last year at age 21 with a rare cancer. He took six types of chemotherapy at Rochester General Hospital and at times struggled for his life. Yet he feels grateful. His passion is sports and exercise. He desperately wanted to be active again after being so sick, so last year he started slowly—coming back to run five k races. His latest challenge is his first sprint triathlon this Sunday in Pittsford. But he's not stopping there. He wants to create his own foundation raising money for cancer survivors like himself-- to go back to school. Zach's next challenge is to ride his bike across the country raising money. His goal is to help inspire others to follow their dreams.

I stood at packet pickup yesterday and listened to a man slamming the race director because he did not believe his swim time was fair. Hey mister.... how'd you like to be Zach? That's what I wanted to say to him today.

But the funny things is, you wouldn't get that feeling if you met Zach. This kid was so full of life, so full of zest and so full of happiness. A cancer patient? You would never believe it. His smile lit up the entire town. This is a kid who is so happy and so full of life.

It was his first triathlon and I tell you.... he was the true champion today.

So complain that your spouse missed your finish on the video. Yell at the newbie girl who doesn't know the rules..... or get caught up in bike splits or run splits or whatever else that you may.

But remember that you are not racing with a tumor on your liver. You are not racing after undergoing Chemotherapy. Zach is an incredible inspiration to all of us.

Don't jump on the Zach DeRidder bandwagon. Do something better. Not only contribute and support....

Live well. Live your life well. Don't live your life based on race results or training hours (and I speak to myself just as much as I speak to you). Because at the end of the day.... we are all just human beings with our different bags of stuff. Some are heavier. Some are lighter.

Keep Zach in your prayers and look to him as the example. He's living life and he's throwing his arms around each and every opportunity that he has to make a difference.

Thank you Zach for allowing me to meet you. Thank you Zach for coming to the race today. You are making me and others better people and that is the most important victory of all.

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers

Weekend at Placid Part II

As we completed our ride last Saturday afternoon, athletes were in various stages of elation and pain. This is a difficult course and to conquer it you must know how to ride it. Pure endurance strength and speed are no match for someone who knows how to ride this beast.

When I got the call from Pelee, who was 5 miles out and shitting himself, I hopped into the car and began a rescue mission. It was a new nutritional attempt gone bad, and for Pelee's defense this is not his first Ironman. This guys handles pain so when a rescue call comes, I run.

In the meantime Firecracker.... who is 22 year old Sarah... got off her bike feeling obnoxiously tight. Her hips, her back..... I advised her that since Mosseman was next weekend to wait 10 minutes before deciding on a 30 minute post ride run we had scheduled.

So I rescue Pelee and return to the parking lot. Bill informs me that Sarah in fact did sit down for a moment. El Magnifico (Rolando) told her to take it easy, let's go get some Ben and Jerry's...

And then it happened. Reportedly Sarah took a deep breathe, stood up and cried out...

"I AM NOT A WUSS". She walked to the end of the parking lot and she began to run. Awesome.

Later that night we had a terrific dinner and a lot of laughs at Erie's... a pasta joint on the Lake. and my wonderful athletes appeased me with an evening coffee at Starbucks afterwards.

The mood was good. The biggest part of the weekend was behind us. Each group had developed their own war cry. But that's what happens when you train long with people. The little things become funny. Screaming that you aren't a wuss becomes extra hilarious and Pelee shitting himself becomes the laugh of the century.

I call those "Movie Moments"

Saturday morning we awoke to overcast skies and light mist. I was elated because this whole weekend gave everyone a chance to experience the lack of a trend in Adirondack weather patterns.

I ran with Jackie and Sarah. I instructed everyone of the plan "Run 10 minutes and walk 1" to which I was greeted with idiotic looks. Everyone looked at each other. Are you really going to do that? "You will all do that."

And to my group and a few others I added that the last 10 minutes of each hour we would run hard. Eyes rolled. Then we began.

The hard thing about running on Sunday morning is that everyone in the world is eating pancakes and bacon... Sarah's nose caught the smell of bacon. That gave birth to us screaming "BACON" randomly throughout the run.

It was agreed that the run course was equally as gorgeous as the bike course. Following the plan we walked 1 minute every 10 and we picked it up the last 10 of each hour. Passing one another on the course I got shouts of "This walking thing rocks Mary!"

Would I steer you wrong guys?

Rain began to fall at the end of our run and we timed it so we'd finish in the Olympic Oval, where the Ironman finish happens. And we ran it hard.

I could see it, I could hear it and I could smell it. I am ready. I am so very ready.

The weekend culminated with breakfast at the Downtown Diner, with eggs and pancakes and everything we could eat. Delirious smiles were worn on every one's faces. We came, we conquered. We learned so very much not just about ourselves, but one another.

Thanks for stopping by.

:-) Mary Eggers

Congrats Luc Eggers

I swear Part II of Weekend at Placid is on the way but first......

Congratulations to Luc Eggers for the completing of his very first Marathon! The Leary Elementary School embarked on a 5 month program to inspire the children to get some exercise every day! For each 10 minutes of activity they completed they earned one tenth of a mile. And our very own Luc Eggers completed his marathon!

Luc trained by swimming, riding his bike, hiking, playing on the playground, soccer, you name it... he did it. And honestly he had enough for 2 marathons!

Way to go Luc! We are so proud of you!