open water swim clinic this sunday!

You are invited to an open water swim clinic! Here are the details:

When: Sunday Sept 14th 8am (until about 10am)

Where: Kershaw Park, Canandaigua Lake we will be meeting under one of the shelters initially!

What: Learn and tricks of open water swimming. Everything from sighting, to

wetsuits, to which

goggles to wear, warm ups before a triathlon, and even some stroke technique.

Who: Presented by Train-This and Score-This!

Now here are the nitty gritty details:

When you arrive please come on over to the shelter. We will be towards the Hess station, closer to the coffee shop rather than the actual swim entrance. You will need to sign a USAT waiver and check in with Rich from Score-This! And for the record...... Train-This and Score-This have been lifelong friends..... people often ask if we know each other! HA!

Open water swimming is much more than swimming in a lake. Even as a collegiate swimmer it took me a few seasons to develop my open water style. We will take you through the whole gamete on Sunday. I will bring some of my wetsuits so you can see the difference between sleeveless, long sleeved and you can check out a skin suit as well. I will bring lots of pairs of goggles so you can check out the different styles. I will help you determine which ones might or might not be for you (both wetsuits and goggles).

Next we will talk about getting the wetsuit on and off, how to achieve the fit and how to slide out in no time.

I will teach you how to navigate an open water swim, from start to finish. I will teach you "the dolphin" and give you some tips on how to swim straight, when to breathe, and how to not get kicked in the head. :-)

The course will not be set up on Sunday because the lake is open for the boaters and we just don't' want anyone to die! However our traditional swim course will be available for all to swim. Plan on swimming as little or as much as you'd like. I will take a look at strokes and will give you one small tip to make your open water swim better (if you even need it!).

While this clinic takes place at the site of the Finger Lakes Triathlon, you needn't be in the triathlon or even a triathlete to attend. You do need to know how to swim. No lifeguards will be on hand. The lake is 5 feet deep in all sections we will be swimming in. So you will never be in water over your head.

So please join us..... our clinic is free and we would love to see all of you!!!!!!

not much longer

Here I am stalking Brian Rhodes. When we started to take this picture he was sitting down and stretching. I instructed Foster 1 to take the picture with me in the foreground. As Foster 1 took the picture he was laughing uncontrollably. Later on when I uploaded this picture I realized that BR realized what was going on, stood up and himself started laughing. I will have to work on improving the subtly of my stalker ways.

Goodness gracious I am sick. NUTS as Luc would say. Was I not just sick? The good news is that it is respiratory. I train easier when it is above the neck, rest when it is below the neck. I have a four hour uptempo brick on tap today and I need to get er done.

It's funny how if you were my athlete telling me this.... I'd likely tell you some really great advice. But when it is me..... do as I say not as I do.

Because there is not a lot of time left. And I need to rock these last few weeks out. I need this tempo work and I need to know I can do it.

What I must remember is that Austin isn't being built in these weeks, it has actually already been built. I have been building it all season long and I hope..... I hope..... I hope that it all comes together on October 5th.

As I have looked back over my season I don't see enough races on my calendar. I see some results but I wasn't healthy. I see a lot of work and not a lot to show for that work. As next season begins to loom there will be more.

Now that my divorce from the Ironman has become official. And I got custody of the kid.

I mean today Ironman is running around with over 4,000 people all over the world. What kind of relationship is that?????

Two weeks from today I get to race at the Finger Lakes Triathlon. This is the big hometown race and it's full to capacity. There's a great ladies field and my heart is already pumping at the thought of going hard and going fast. I will be like a bear in a cage at that race.

Oh yes I will.

There's this balance between competing a lot and not competing too much. Enough to keep you fresh, but not so much you trash yourself. I definitely feel under the wire this year but again it comes back to Ironman (bastard) who I gave up everything for.

Racing is fun. It's the party of all of this work. Its the celebration, the good times with friends, the head to head races. That's what we sit on our trainers all winter long for. That chance to see what you have on that very day.

I want more of those days. As I prepare for Austin I can't help but thinking to 2009 and the year I turn 35. I actually can't wait. 30-34 was good but not at all what I know I am capable of. I know I have a peak to hit and I haven't hit it yet. Now that I am so over the Ironman (please notice that if I had not left the IMLP course in an ambulance...... had I pr'd I am very sure I would be singing a whole different tune.....) there is a whole field of 70.3 waiting to be investigated and figured out.

It begins in Austin!!!!

look out!

Today was a wonderful day. I got to do three workouts with Kelly B (and the amazing Miss Kim swam with us as well). It was good to be back on the road in the sun laughing and smiling. We underestimated the heat (near 90) and during our 30 minute run (after our 90 min bike) had to stop and about jump in the Pond for some more water. But we made it, Irongals we are! HA HA!

We talk triathlon the way most folks talk football. We talk about the men's IM Hawaii field is pretty much wide open. Who we think the top women will be. Where's MJ been lately?

And we talked about my husband. Curt. He's got an Ironman coming up. Ironman Florida to be exact.

Curt isn't the biggest Ironman fan and that's probably why he's had such longevity in our sport. At age 34 he did a triathlon over in Binghamton NY. He was the very last man out of the water. Five years later he came back and won that race five years in a row.

How did he do it? Through consistent smart training.

Throughout his triathlon career he's been All American three hundred years in a row. Annually he's on the Indie Tri list and most other lists out there. He's a quiet guy who has a lot of passion for triathlon.

The third time he qualified for the Hawaii Ironman, he accepted the slot. That was 1999. He walked most of a marathon to finish in just above 11 hours. He did Ironman Canada in 2001 and didn't have a great day.

The guy doesn't like the freaking Ironman. But he rips off 2:00 Olympic distance races and is in the top three at Nationals each year.

He's prepping for Ironman Florida. He tells me "You Iron People are pigs." when it comes to caloric consumption during the race. Yesterday he did a five hour ride and reported to me that four hours got boring so he came home and did an hour on the trainer.

I shook my head. That might be the last thing I would have done if I was.... bored.

I have to say this is the most Iron focused he's ever been. One night I heard him confess to his friend that I had made Ironman Florida look easy.

Which made me smile.

If Curt sticks to a steady plan he will easily break 10:00. Honestly it will all come down to nutrition. If he keeps the calories coming in and the sodium, he will have no problems and in fact he will cruise to it.

He will take down my family Ironman record quite easily then. And you know what?? I hope he smashes it. We will be out there cheering.

So here's to the fittest 52 year old guy I know. For his tenacity, longevity and dedication. Here's to a personal best at Ironman Florida. And here's to many many more years to come!

awesome

Here's me, Kelly B and Pelee at 70.3 Worlds 2006.

I am a pretty happy camper today, for two good reasons. I had a great tempo day today on the bike and the run despite a sore throat and all that goes along with it. Kelly B. is home, and she is home for 3 weeks. Which means I have a training partner.

Kelly B has done 7 Ironmans and now lives in Colorado. Boulder to be exact. She swims with Craig Alexander and sometimes Gordo (because if she knows them and I know her that makes me instant BFF with them..... right?) Kelly pretty damn consistently turns out a 4:40-4:45 70.3 races and has been to Kona a bunch of times.

She's also my long time friend.

We've gotten into our fair share of trouble.

One time at band camp..... well it was 2003. We were prepping for Ironman Lake Placid. We were running 20 miles in 2 10 mile loops. We met at Mendon Ponds Park.

She biked there and we tossed her bike in my car.

At mile 10 we looped back to the car, and refueled. Then I locked the keys in the car.

I hate that feeling. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Some quick thinking and we headed towards Curt's office, which was 10 miles away.

It was a rough run. I remember arriving there and laying in the grass outside his office. Soon there were a bunch of men looking at us as we waited for Curt to save us.

What a day.

Another time that summer.... that was the summer it was 800 degrees every single day. We did our long ride from convenience store to convenience store. Each time we arrived our fluid was hot. We bought ice and ice and ice. With 14 miles to go we rode to her house and ate Popsicles while sitting in her air conditioned house. Then we finished the ride.

Although she went to Connecticut for a while and to Boulder.... we have remained great friends. As we swam today we planned on doing the Newtons 24 hours of triathlon next year. And now that she's healthy again we both promised no Ironmans for a while.

A while. That never has to be defined.

She's home on break from school (she's returning to University to become a PT) it means I get to borrow her. Just like the old days. She's come at just the right time as we are prepping for Austin. I am still trying to talk her into joining us. We have to see how SOS goes. She has promised to take it very easy as she has spent this season not running because of injuries. She promised to walk if she has to and to spend the day just being happy to be moving again.

And what can I say except for that I am psyched. I have her for 3 weeks to swim and ride with, and maybe a little bit of running on her part. There's trouble to be had and we are the ones to create it.

Now if I had not left IMLP course in an ambulance, I might not be treasuring this so much. I might have sworn off training during Sept at all. Things happen for a reason. And while it might be a stretch to say now I have the opportunity to hang with one of my favorite people in the world..... it's a stretch I will make.

I can't imagine I would ever turn down a training day with Kelly B.

If you happen to see 2 half dressed sweaty girls laying in the grass outside your office..... you will know what I did..... again.

made it

We made it through the first day of school. 3.5 hours of training, a great swim with Kim, waiting nervously and making several calls while Luc's bus was very late.... and last but not least..... sitting in class.

What made class much better was knowing a few souls in the class, who are not annoying. You know those annoying ones, the ones who need to raise their hand when class is over. The ones who know it all..... the adult learners.... wait I am now considered an adult learner.

The interesting thing about being a nurse at the University of Rochester is what we have our own nursing school, and everyone in class is between the ages of 25-50. So it isn't like I am the oldest at 34. I am right in the middle.

And I am starting to see I will be with some of these gals through my entire Masters program. Which made me happy when I realized Wende, from the Adult side (Adult ED) would be too. She's one I can hang with.

I almost fell asleep during class.

Yesterday I got an email that offered me a rolldown spot to the Best of the US race in October. I sighed. Man, that would have been fun. But I am in no sprint condition right now. And I am prepping for Austin. And we will be heading to Ironman Florida. I can't pack that much into October. I would like to, but I can't.

Pass it along, I told the race director.

This week's workouts are going well. I am hitting some big intensity today. Good tempo workouts on the bike and the run. Yesterday I got to swim with one of my athletes Kim, and today I get to swim with Kelly B. She's home form Colorado to do SOS!

Onward we go...... day two of school for Luc.... and no school for me today! Hip Hip Hooray!

first day of school

Here's me and Kelly B on the beach at 70.3 World Championships 2006. She's coming home this weekend!!! WOO HOO!

Today is the first day of school. For Luc. for me. During my ride this mid morning the streets will be quiet and the bus garage will be empty as they all sit in their new shiny clean desks and learn about .... whatever they learn about in them there buildings.

A visit to Luc's teacher and new classroom confirmed that yes..... second grade is for big boys. No longer are there tables, there are desks. No longer are there a lot of toys and cots to take naps on.....

Why do the little ones get to take naps in school? I can remember resisting naptime as a kindergartner and begging for a nap as a senior in high school! I mean I was swimming four hours a day! I was tired. NOT FAIR.

But I digress. I looked over the new classroom. The teacher showed me the agenda they would be using this year. The agenda is the weekly planner all the kids get. It's how we all communicate. It contains homework assignments and teacher comments and parent input.

I don't know if I like or don't like all this planning, writing, three card system of time out for bad behavior. Sister Virginia would rap us on the head if we got out of line. So we didn't.

For me, my school begins tonight. Three years to go, or four. I am not starting a new program I am merely continuing the grinding out of classes.

Health Policies. Can't wait. What's worse is that I looked over my syllabus. Group presentation. Oh great.

I don't mind group things. It just so happens that a million times a week not only am I in group things but I am in charge of that group.

My triathlon team.

My yoga classes.

My spinning class.

Often I am the charge nurse in Peds ED which puts me in charge of "the big show".

Various lectures I give around town.

So at any given moment I am in front of 30 people. I don't' mind it. I have been a group speaker forever. Or I am with a few people. I don't mind that either. I have no quams about communication. No shyness here.

I just wish my academic life would be solo. I want to go to class, sip coffee, learn about health policies (and barf on the rocks......) go home, write my papers and live happily ever after.

No go. Group projects. Awesome.

So yesterday was sad and exciting all at the same time. The back to school haircut. Swimming lesson sign up. We even signed up for a bowling league. What the heck? Bowling is a lifelong skill that clearly I grew up without even as a mother who kicks bowling butt.

As I paged through my planner and planned out my week, and the month..... I looked ahead. Two trips to warm places on the horizon. The second will be the great one because my only responsibility will be to play on the beach, enhance my tan and be the ultimate cheerleader.

I have a background as a cheerleader you know.

So on this first day of school I shall ride for two hours and swim with Kim...... and the time Luc being at school awards me is both good and bad. It means he's getting older. It means winter is coming. It means he's growing up. It means I get some time to do my thing.

We are closer to Austin. We are one day closer to that masters degree and we are closer to...... college. One day closer. 9 years and 364 days to go. I hope they pass slowly.

This evening as I sit in my class from 4-7:50pm forgive me if I am checking out my tan where my watch is, making sure the sun kissed me enough. Forgive me if my mind isn't on the policy of health. My eyes just might be out the window and there might be scribbles in my notes..... because my body might be in a classroom...... but my head and my heart will still be at the beach.

last day of summer

They always say Labor Day is the last day of summer. In my book the Finger Lakes Triathlon is the last day of summer. I don't know why... maybe because it actually is on the last day of summer. Sept 21st. Call me crazy....

But when school begins on Wednesday, Labor Day wins out. And what do we do on the last day of summer? We go to Seabreeze like the rest of Rochester does. Only I'd have to say only 1/2 of Rochester was there. The other 1/2 was home recovering from broken arms.

Now the tricky thing was this..... I work Sunday nights from midnight to 8am. I work one night per week and that's it. I am pretty good at recovering from a night shift. And I knew today's recovery would have to be stellar. I promised the guys if they let me sleep from 9-11am that I would go with them to Seabreeze.

Oh God.

So when a trauma was announced and I found myself on the helipad at 7:55am under a bright and sunny sky .... I wondered if I would get home before noon. You just don't leave those things midway to go home.

But at 8am I was in fact relieved by the next crew and as much as I hate to leave in the middle of that, I know that I am no good at that hour.

Surviving a night shift takes three things: pre sleep of at least 2 hours...... 64 ounces of water and stellar nutrition. A lot of nurses in the world are notorious for being overweight and snacking on cookies, donuts during the shift. It's easy to happen. Those things are easy and fast to eat. It takes time to eat well. I have to proudly say I work on a very healthy unit, we all eat well. So we bring in things like pretzels, grapes etc to snack on throughout the night.

I am lucky!

I was in bed by 9am and the moment 11am hit I was awoken. It was time to go.

Now there is a feeling of being post night shift that I dread. The only way I can describe it is this: it's not sleepiness..... you feel like you have ridden the magic teacups in Disney World 8 times in a row. A strange feeling of nausea and edginess.

That escaped me at the amusement park.

Boy did we have fun. Water slides with wonderfully cold water for my legs and to keep me awake. The boys rode every roller coaster. I love watching people come off rides. Genuine smiles. Big smiles. Laughter. Like the cares of the world have washed away.

Families and friends spending time together.

That's what Monday was about. Togetherness. It just feels good.

It amazes me how our lives have changed as Luc has gotten older. I used to love the baby years. And the toddler years. But when you have a second grader and you can do things like this..... of this is the greatest time ever. I imagine I will say that about every year.

I already dread the college years. I like it how it is right here and right now.

So I will savor that very feeling as we travel through time together. I will not look so far forward that I forget this time right now. Never. So often we are focused on what is coming, what will happen, where we are going that we completely miss the moments at hand.

Be present.