a lil xmas stroll

I often do my longer runs down by my mothers hood. its beautiful terrain and much afar from the jumble of city life. clean roads. minimal potholes. trees. i like trees. so i get up xmas morning to do my "post 2300 consumed cookies and 14 pieces of red velvet cake" run. clearly by my consumption i was good and fueled....and i decided this was gonna be a tuffy. so i get out there in the crisp winter air to begin my journey. it was so serene. similar to my light peeping run. but it was light out...but so quiet. i envisioned each home...how the children woke to find santa's goodies....i pictured everyone inside around their fire places. christmas breakfast....scones. jelly's and jams and nutella. mmm. (i dont think i have ever even had a scone...but remember i was imagining...and scones seem appropriately holidayish. lol) nobody was out. minimal cars...and the cars that did drive by were filled with families...clearly on their way to grandmas or to their friends...relatives. so about half way on my journey their is a strip where you pass by a "park"...sorta. its more like a lake surrounded by a walking path...you often will see folks jogging or walking around the lake...its about a mile or so around the perimeter. very picturesque. anyway so as im approaching that part of my run, i see a man in the distance walking with what appeared to be his two children. thoughts entered my mind about how nice it was to see a father walking with his kids on christmas morning...getting out away from the cookies...bundling up...the kids were so cute-- one walking with a "walking stick" and the other bouncing a small ball of some sort. i started to think about how few people were out enjoying the christmas morning air....and how beautiful that air was. funny how you think a zillion thoughts in a span of a few seconds. i also thought how the man appeared pretty fit--and how this routine was probably part of his daily regime. im quite certain you wouldn't see an unfit person--or a person that didn't include walking or getting outside for fresh air as part of their daily routine--out and about on christmas morning. So back to me running...as i approach the man, i wave and smile....he starts back peddling and as i remove my earphone he shouts "mighty montauk???" (note: i was running in a fleece vest that i had gotten at the mighty montauk half ironman in 2006. there was a small insignia on the breast of the vest) i shout back...YEAH--MIGHTY MAN!! he smiled huge and yelled...I was there! I raced!! i smile huge in remembrance and shock that the man even noticed my vest as i was running past...(perhaps i needed to be running a bit faster haha) I responded with a "right on!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!" "Merry christmas to you too...he shouted back" and i went on my way. I tell this story because i thought about how funny the whole thing was and how it went down. of all places...of all moments...of all times...ironic. (it also happened right about at the moment when my legs started to fatigue just a bit) that race in 2006 was epic. there was a monsoon...literally that day. there was shin deep water on most of the run course. literally you could have done the run in a row boat. i remember telling myself that if i could finish that race then i was sure to be able to finish any race ever in any condition...ever. it was THAT bad. not sure what the moral of the story is....perhaps only triathletes go out on christmas morning to exercise...haha nah.....that wouldn't be inspiring enough. haha...but i just started thinking after i continued on that run about what an integral part training and exercising is in our lives. even christmas morning. the world will continue on around us and we just have to be proactive about making sure we partake in it. the little lessons that we learn when we do. the people and the moments that happen... when we least expect it. seeing that guy and remembering that race also helped to alleviate the brief fatigue in my legs...oddly enough. always good to think about the times when you really hurt and you pushed on through it....helps when you have a bit of a hump in training.

ah well im rambling. moral of the story--get out and go for a run. and make sure you look cute cause you may run into someone you know. haha. just kidding. MERRY CHRISTMAS! happy kwanza.

speaking of christmas wishes.....

yes folks...in case you didn't think you read that correctly....or in case you missed that...the clock does read 2:17AM. i am at mom's. i bought her an ipod for christmas and she doesn't know it. i am sneaking around her house loading all her music into itunes.....holy cow. this sucks. this takes FOREVER!!!!!!! for some estranged reason i dont ever remember it taking this long. and to make it worse...her music library consists of random tunes by chuck berry....roger williams ????? (who the hell is he???).....nat king cole (the 4 disc box set!!) and oh yes amy grant's christmas. hell i tell you. this is love. i've still got like 50 more CDs to load and my eyes are going to fall out of my head. and my ears are burning. i dont think she is even going to listen to this damn ipod. she hates headphones...as does most of our older generation. they hate being "plugged in"...she better. she better get "plugged in" after this 96 hour cd loading session....or i may go postal.
christmas spirit. gotta love it.

a christmas wish

with the coming of Christmas I'd like the opportunity to write a lil about life and triathlon and family. I speak often about how tri will change you. I mean that. I am confident that if you have completed or raced one, you understand what i mean. even if you have stood and witnessed the beauty of the finish line-you are different coming away from it. I am not sure how to pinpoint it and i don't think one can. perhaps its the strength of human spirit. the commodore of endless will. the bullet proof strength of toleration. the magic of sweat. the mystery of soul searching. the journey itself. look into the eyes of any one of the 2000+ eyes at mile 24 of an Ironman and you will have your answer but you wont be able to pinpoint it either....but something will click.

I think often about my family. Odd because i have three brothers that i don't really speak to. they don't understand me. i dont expect them to. they've never been to a race and they could care less about asking me about my journey. they are missing out. i still think of them often in the heat of my race. sometimes I've even hallucinated on the run....mistaking some brown haired tall stranger on the side of the run course for one of my brothers. then i smack myself and realize that that man was just someone else's brother or father or supporter. I've learned in triathlon the priority of life. How unimportant work is. How unimportant shopping is. how unimportant negativity is. fretting over the little things. getting grumpy over the stupid shit that doesn't matter. how nothing matters...nothing really matters except for life itself and those brave soldiers that stick through the journey with us. we are so weak when compared to the elements. we are on this massive planet and survival is all we can do. live good--honest, loving, caring. the universe is far too expansive. the cliche about not sweating the small stuff is so true. in a world where nothing is certain---where we have no control--if we put one foot in front of the other, we will go forward. one step at a time. the little victories. the little certainties that we create for ourselves...and in the end we just hope that our family, friends, and supporters are at that finish line. and in the spirit of this damn sport WHAT DO WE THINK ABOUT AT THAT FINISH LINE? do you even think about the $10,000 bike? the pimped out sneakers on your feet? the wetsuit that ran you $500? not a chance do i think about that crap. i think about my family. my journey. the reality that i created. the essence of what life seems to be all about.

i am not sure where i am going with this. but for me, the holidays are most certainly about the family. the presents are tradition but mean nothing to me. the dinner table is the most beautiful place next to the finish line. to embrace your family. to hold hands. to look at each other and realize--these are the same faces. these are the same faces that each year i break bread with. these are the people that matter. a seat at the table may go empty and we hope that it may be filled one day with a child. the circle of life. those are the people that matter. your blood. and for those of you that are parents and who sit at that table with your children...the world that you and your spouse have so generously and selflessly created and nurtured...suck it in. breath in that moment and feel the power of love. forget all else. forget the job. the annoying cousin. the fact that that one last gift isn't wrapped. the string of lights on the tree that wont light. the burnt turkey. the time. forget it all. it doesn't matter. nothing matters. nothing matters but life.

stay up late. relish the moment. long after the table has been cleaned. long after the kiddies are in bed. stay up and hold each other. look out the window out onto the night. feel lucky that you have one another. savor.

my Christmas wish is that this blog makes sense to you. perhaps it is jumbled and erratic. but my feelings run so deep and its hard to collect them. i tend to just write as i think and i don't stop to think about whether it is fluid. embrace those you love and forget the nonsense. put the past behind you. open your heart. liberate yourself. and succumb.
let this holiday season change you.

be well .be safe. thanks for reading. Happy holidays.

wow

so for those peeps who read my last posting "silly silly peeps"...I've deleted it.....i realized there was some pretty PATHETIC misspellings. apparently i need to NEVER forget to use spellcheck before i post anything.....and apparently i need to go back to school for some English 101.

I'm really not that retarded... i promise.

Sub LT

So here we are December 16th. Just about 1 month following Clearwater. So what am I doing? Well....i ask myself that everyday...haha...no really-I've been doing a lot of sub LT work. What does that mean you ask? well, all my workouts are being done with a heart rate in my aerobic zone. NO speed work. All efforts are conversationally paced. It has been known that these types of workouts should be done in the "pre season" as they will keep you from "peaking" too early for your A race AND by strengthening your aerobic base you will be able to actually raise your LT and have maximal gains from your speed work when the time comes. So for the last month...i've been keeping my HR nice and happy. I was a little skeptical about this whole idea...we as triathletes crave those LT workouts and I knew it was going to be painfully boring to lollygag on the treadmill for an hour plus. HOWEVER--I am now convinced. I haven't even put in a full month but I already see results. My running is really coming along...I am able to sustain a much higher speed on the treadmill for a longer period of time with a much lower HR. I don't know what this means--but I do know that it is a good sign. Granted, in prep for Clearwater, I wasn't really doing too many "Long" runs...I was keeping all runs in and around the 50 min mark but I was really making each run quality...lots of tempo work. So its been a while since I've done some mindless running--however, I do know that when I was doing my 1 hr + runs in the past, I would never be able to hang in around the 8.0 setting on the tmill for the full time with a HR in my low zone 2. I am going to attribute this to sub LT work. I will update you in another few weeks or so...i am going to attempt to slowly ramp up the speed and see how my HR responds. My goal for preseason is to hang in at 7 min miles for 1 hour with a zone 2 HR. That may be aggressive for me but lets see if there is any true science to this whole running game.

clearwater finish

pretty cool--this is my finish line video from clearwater. Never ordered this before and although its a split second worth of film its kinda cool.

anyone out there?

Just wondering if anyone is actually reading my blog. I feel kinda lonely with only comments from 1 person... :) If you are reading this--are you enjoying my blog? could you send me a comment or two? haha. thanks. Next post...later on. Just got my high speed internet hooked up in my apt so I'll be posting much more often...no need to use my friends computer anymore...and guess what else...I GOT A TV!! haha..i haven't had a tv for the past year!! always just watched at the gym...or at the bar! HA. bye bye for now.

light peeping

So in the spirit of mixing things up a bit...I decided to incorporate some "light peeping" into my evening run. If you haven't done this yet...I am going to strongly suggest to give it a whirl. I went down to central NJ to visit my mom. Its cold and gross out...but since I just lectured you all about how we need to brave the elements, I decided to strap on about 40 layers too many and head out for my run...but I didn't shove off until about 4:15 pm. Now my light peeping escapade was not planned...it just sorta happened-which made it the best part. One of my rituals when I head out for an unplanned run is to stroll through my playlists in my ipod and pick one that I just haven't listened to in a while. So thats what i did....found an old play list...(ironically entitled "mix it up" which paraded my ears with songs by OAR, Dar williams, Brand new, Ray Lamontague, matt nathanson, story of the year, and a few others...) and headed out into the evening. About 15 minutes into my run, I realized I was dressed all in black and barely visible to the oncoming traffic--I started to get a little nervous so I made some more turns and took myself onto some more back roads where there really was minimal traffic. I started to get lost in my music and then something happened. I looked around. Like really looked around and started to notice how totally beautiful all of the houses looked. One after another they were adorned with christmas lights and beautiful wreaths and red bows. I could look in the windows and see families getting ready to have sunday dinner...hanging out in their living room. I was sorta peeping--but not in a weird way..just running by and simply admiring what I was witnessing. I could see christmas trees in windows...I could see candles lighting the sills...i could see fires in the fireplaces and smoke poofing out of chimneys. I felt like the "all night runner". It was so beautiful...calming..relaxing. getting lost in your head. listening to great tunes. and being witness to what makes sunday and the holidays so special. Before i knew it my time was up and I was heading back to mom's beautifully adorned house where I suddenly had much more appreciation for the work it took to make it sparkle with such great holiday spirit.

Holiday spirit. I can't wait to sit down tonight and have dinner with my family. And I can only HOPE that someone light peeps into my world and can bear exposure to the warmth and serenity of mom's house.

a one liner.

Just thought i would share a piece of advice that i got from the smartest man and triathlete i know.

"Just keep doing what you're doing and don't worry who's paying attention."

dismal gone rye

mother nature thinks she's got us. she decides that we are going to have these so called "seasons" and thinks that she is going to hold us captive to the elements. i like to rebel. occasionally. i think my boy James pearson (other ckc finalist) would agree...you can take a look at his blog pic...nice getup..lol. Moving right along...my point is that the duldrums of winter come swooping into our area and it is very easy for us to curl up in a blanky and stay nice and toasty and look out the window and thank the lord that you dont have to go out for anything. that is easy. oh so temptingly easy. i had a short little discussion with my friend Dupric (as i like to call him). he asked me about my training day and what i was going to be doing...this was last friday. i responded with my famed answer..."a brick...scotty a brick"...(note: i do LOTs and LOTS AND LOTS of indoor bricks...like almost daily in one form of another....always usually inside on trainer and treadmill.) (note 2: painfully boring) (explanation 1: i train inside because i think you can really focus in on the task at hand...and living in the city cluster--its just plain safe....and you can check out the hottie that is running half as slow as you are on the treadmill next to you.) Moving right along...back to "scotty...a brick...thats what i do scott...bricks!" he proceeded to go off on a rampage about how i need to do something else and how i need to hit the trails (um id like you to find me a "trail" by where i live...haha) and how i need to buy a mountain bike and i need to go do something different or i am going to go crazy. (note 19: he's a pro...so i secretly listen) (note 20: i always get in at LEAST 2 workouts each week outside somewhere... so im not THAT much of a hermit.) with all this said...i got my rear to central park yesterday to do my long run. I used to live just blocks from the park and would frequent it daily. i LOVE CP. to me-there is no place in the world other than a race itself with better energy. i got to the park in the afternoon and started moving around the outer loop and realized how totally peaceful and enjoyable and exciting the whole thing was...it sounds retarded but its like you are in this little place in the middle of the massive city and there were SOOO many people out running and biking in the middle of the afternoon! it was crazy! it made me realize that i really need to get back out to the park more often. granted...mother nature blessed us with frigid temps and air force winds that made my fingers want to bleed and my contacts to freeze in my eyes...but i was smiling huge and i couldn't believe how fast the 10 miles went. and although there weren't any hotties on the "treadmill next to me"....there CERTAINLY was some awesome talent out there running amok!) totally enjoyable. I guess my whole long point is that even if its gross out...even if its cold and dismal...rebel. do what you love and you will get even more satisfaction. you will think to yourself..."my competition isn't doing this..." (even though they probably are and thats WHY they are your competition.) If you dress nice and warm and bundle up you will feel empowered and SOOO much better that you just went out and did it....and earned your chicken soup and hot chocolate.
i will still continue to train inside but i am certainly going to make an effort to get back into the CPark 1-2x per week and share in the great energy. Nothing's gonna stop us.

Ironman - Team Hoyt - I can Only Imagine

"outside". go there.

the event

The event was just incredible. It was evident that there was a ton of time spent in making sure that everything ran smooth…and it was seamless. Getting 100 antsy type AAA people together to compete indoors on equipment that is not their own all while making them feel like a superstar triathlete is no easy task. Somehow they pulled it off beautifully. Not one detail was neglected.
Saturday ran a biking and running field test. There were different “waves” of athletes all scheduled to compete throughout the day—roughly 10 per wave. The biking segment consisted of a 20 minute all out time trial on a computrainer—a sophisticated piece of equipment that rigs your own bike stationary and monitors your watts, speed, MPH, etc. All this info is then projected on a massive movie screen on the wall in front of the room. You then essentially race each other and can see your competitors—as well as your own—info on the big screen. While 20 minutes doesn’t seem like a difficult task….it’s a LONG time to be grinding away pushing as hard and as fast as you can go. You don’t want to start off too hard and crash…and you don’t want to go out to easy and find that you left too much in the tank. Even if you didn’t win this segment—it was a valuable lesson in wattage and why “power” is important on the bike. Certainly a new concept to me—a rider who always thought MPH was the most important.
The run part of the competition followed the bike with a 12 minute “all-out” sprint. The idea was to see how far you could run in 12 minutes….on a 1.5% incline to simulate the road. Again, 12 minutes doesn’t seem like very long….but try sprinting for 12 minutes. ‘Nuff said.

At the end of the day, the judges narrowed the field down to 10 athletes. The tension was at an all time high and they took forever to make their decision---somewhat understandable considering what an amazing group of athletes were in the bunch. The 10 semifinalists would move on to Sunday’s competition where there would be a swim evaluation in the endless pool, a BMI test (body mass index)—which pretty much told you how many cheeseburgers you had been eating lately…(clearly I’ve had a few!) , a Blood lactate test—they make you run-progressively increasing the intensity and every few minutes they take a blood sample from your finger—the samples are tested and the results ultimately will indicate your lactate threshold. The final part was the interview where you got to sit down with the final judges and plead your case as to why you should be among the final 6! I forgot to mention that Sam McGlone—winner of the 2006 70.3 world championships, and 2nd place in the 2007 ironman world championships—was one of the judges along with TJ and Cameron from Triathlete Magazine!

The camaraderie of the group was amazing. From the very first day that we all got bunched in this, we developed these sweet little bonds with each other. Picking one others’ brains about where they were from and how they got involved in this amazing sport. People came from all over—even KONA Hawaii!! There were folks from Canada, Wisconsin, Idaho, California, Nebraska, England!! It was so great to have such a diverse group of athletes brought together in the most diverse city in the world!! There was no hostility about competing against one another---just positive energy out of the sheer excitement to be a part of the event!

I wasn’t really paying attention to who was paying attention to me…everyone was so great! Honestly—I live alone…train alone…and work alone. (NOT as bad as it sounds..haha) But when I get to be around triathletes…its like its CHRISTMAS DAY! I get so excited—perhaps that’s why I love going to races! I love being around people that understand what its like to love and be passionate about triathlon. So at the event—I was like a kid in a candy store…I was SO excited to be there and I was just talking to everyone that would talk to me!! As far a being a favorite…I think everyone at the event was somebody’s favorite....i had no idea I was going to be one of the six.

on Sunday there were 5 women—narrowed down to 3. Before they made the announcement they informed us of a consolation prize for the 4 folks that wouldn’t make it. (2men 2 women) I remember sitting on the floor…gripping my head…thinking “this is it…I am totally a consolation winner”. They announced the first two women…the third was either me or I was going home. I looked at the other two amazing women that were sitting there just as anxious as me and I really thought there was NO way I was going to get picked over them. They both had such amazing stories to tell. When they announced my name…I am not really sure what I did…I just started crying like a baby and I ran up and hugged everyone in the line-up. I must have looked like a total freak…but I couldn’t stop smiling…in fact I’m still smiling…It’s pretty surreal.

I think the best part of the CKC is that I now have access to world class coaching in a top-notch facility. This Cadence team knows their stuff!!! There is just no question that if you want to get faster and race more efficient—Cadence will get you there. I really feel privileged to have this available to me. I want to work with Cadence to build on my current fitness and really develop my speed. Certainly the gear helps…but you can’t put a aero helmet on a turtle and think its gonna fly. You need legs. You need power. Cadence has the equipment and the knowledge to develop that in me. Once that is developed, the gear will be an awesome compliment. My season will be pretty chock full…I’ll be doing a half in March, Eagleman 70.3 in June, Lake Placid Ironman in July, and Timberman 70.3 in August. With the help of Cadence, I hope to qualify for Kona—Ironman world championships at lake placid—which will take place in October 2008. I also hope to qualify again for the 70.3 world championships in Clearwater, Fl at one of the other 70.3 half ironman races—that will take place in November 2008.

Everyone that knows how important this is to me has been super supportive. Mom and her husband Romano are my biggest fans. They even came with me to registration at the event just to see what it was all about!! (they loved the free champagne! Haha) This sport is so new to them…and it can be totally foreign to those that don’t participate. They got a chance to see me at Lake Placid and they’ve been by my side ever since…asking questions and trying to put together all the pieces of how the sport works. I think you have to witness the beauty of the sport first hand—or be in the race itself—for you to “get it”. Perhaps that’s generalizing but watching an Ironman and standing at that finish line….will change you.

the beginning

I remember being 16 years old. I was a lifeguard at the town pool. There was a family that regularly came down. They were so fit—like the type of people you just stare at and dream about how you wished you looked as good as they did. Six pack abs…toned arms…even the kids were ripped. As it turned out, they were triathletes. There began my secret little dream of one day doing a triathlon and magically being transformed into a super athlete….far fetched dreams as I had never competitively ran, cycled, or swam. That dream never left me. Ironically enough, I was camping along the Colorado river in the Grand Canyon in December 2005. Out of nowhere trots a couple from Long Island! Of all places!! We hiked out together and vowed to meet up back in New York upon our return. Sure enough, we did….and a friend of theirs that joined us that night turned out to be a triathlete!! Kindly, he gave me the email address of a local gal in NY that was interested in doing some coaching. I emailed her and the rest was history! I began training for my first race in March 2006. I ran my first timed mile at the Central Park reservoir in something like 10 minutes. UGH! I did my first duathlon in April. It was a 2 mile run, 8 mile bike, 2 mile run. I finished and almost died. I think it took me something like 19 minutes to run 2 miles! I will NEVER forget what my legs felt like trying to run after biking 8 miles….JELLO!!! As a side note—I stopped working with my initial coach as she had other commitments to attend to. I worked with a team…but that didn’t work out either. In search of a new coach—I googled the “fit” guy from the pool. He turned out to be a former pro and a 2x podium finisher in his age group in Kona!! I emailed him my request to be coached-- he generously accepted and coached me through Lake Placid! We have become great friends and I have fallen in love with his family. We just raced Clearwater 70.3 championships together and he WON his age group!! He’s a rock star. Funny thing is that he decided that he really didn’t have the time to coach me anymore—work, family, etc. That was just in time for the CKC to happen!! MAN OH MAN am I lucky with timing!!

outside.

So its pretty crazy the turns that life throws in the road. I haven't had any luck with teams or coaching (with the proud exception of mike...but he knows that). I worked with a group last year that gave up on me...still not sure why. they claimed it was because they couldn't "do anything for me". I'm bitter. I don't give up....let alone on people.
The CKC just seemed too darn perfect. Getting a year of top end coaching...a ton of free equipment...a blog on TRIATHLETE.COM!!!!! a chance to go to placid again and have a potentially FREE trip to kona...pretty suh-weeet gig ehe?! I must tell you all that the 5 other kats that were chosen for this challenge are as good as it gets. They are AMAZING people with amazing stories and they ALL deserved to be a part of this. (in fact, i feel like everyone i met at the CKC deserved to be a part of this...) They are warm and caring and whole. I feel so blessed to be one of the 6.
This is a life changer for me. FOR SURE. You have to believe. You have to believe that there is a chance and that there is hope. The 5 others in this group have demonstrated that and I believe that all 6 of us are symbols of what happens with you believe...believe big.
I guess i keep using this word "believe". It spawns so many meanings. Few people in this crazy world do believe....in life. in love. in happiness. in themselves. in magic. it is easy to say that you can't. it is easy to say you're crazy. it is easy to be comfortable. magic happens when you go outside your box...outside that zone of comfort. outside. if you dont believe me...then i am afraid that you are one of "them". I hope that you follow my blogs and you are inspired to go outside.

Here was my essay from my CKC entry. that one night where i clicked away on the computer and began a new journey.

Ali once said, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ''Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'' Enduring toleration is what differentiates you from I. You see, I’m the one that shows up and jacks your AG slot. Didn’t know I was coming did you?I’m silent. I’m the hot tall blond at work in the Tahari suit and high heels, delegating orders yet making nice with everyone. The men bow and the chics seethe. They have no idea that underneath lies torn up tri shorts and a devoured sports bra. I leave early to attend to my dark secretive love affair with my legs. How vicious can they be tonight? How far can they take me? Who motivates me? Who drives me? That’s a silly question. This sport isn’t about who. There aren’t any whos on the course. There aren’t any whos on mile 104. There aren’t any whos at mile 22. The whos are my legs. My legs drive me. They are my lovers. They are my propulsion. How intense that love affair becomes is the difference between solidity and debility. I’m young. I’ve got a road in front of me as long as I want it to be. I see the lava beds of the Queen K every night in my dreams. I hear the cheers of Alii drive in the midst of ringing phones and “tp reports”. Am I intense? You bet your ass I am. Am I too intense? Come on Cadence, is there such a thing?I want to arouse those who feel they need a who. Those timid and meak. Unleash them. Let them rip. Everything they need is right there inside of them.

about me!

a little bit about me...I'm a 26 year old self made triathlete. I played high school basketball but never got any PT because I was just flat out BAD! haha. I would beg the coach to put me in...never happened. I was doomed to a career of water-girl for the other girls that actually knew how to run a play and how to put the ball in the hoop. Speaking of balls...i am no good at any sport that uses them. me and balls are bad news. Ran my first ever "timed" mile in March of last year..2006 at the central park reservoir. oooof...it clocked in at a very speedy 10:14. yes you read that correct folks. AND i almost passed out in the reservoir following that effort. BUT there certainly is a first for everything. I kept at it...kept running ....and got myself my first spiffy road bike that same month. A Jamis comet...with SPD mountain bike pedals and shoes and clip on aero bars that i had no clue how to use and was scared silly to attempt to use because i would have NO ACCESS TO BRAKES! frightening to say the least.

brief race history

did my first tri in June 2006 up in New Hampshire at Mooseman. Couldn't even tell you what my time was but i fell totally and hopelessly in love. did my next race 2 weeks later at Tupper lake in NY state. got 6th in my AG! woo hoo!! 2 months later I WON my AG at the Lake George olympic race. Followed that up with my FIRST half ironman at Cancun 70.3. I went 48 minutes in the water....apparently my swim is as good as my basketball skills haha....2:32 on the bike...(that jamis was zippy!!) and ran the hardest hellish half marathon of my life at 2 hrs plus! I ended up going 5:28 i think...but learned a painful lesson about not burning your legs out on the bike cuz you STILL HAVE TO RUN! after that race i came back to NY and raced the Mighty Montauk half 1 month later and placed 3rd in my AG. My run was a bit better in around 1:50 or so but it was hard cuz it was raining so hard..i felt like i was swimming rather than running. After that season i made a commitment that this was for me and I was, like i am now, living loving breathing sweating loving loving...did i say loving...this crazy sport. 1 year following my first timed mile disaster i raced California 70.3 in march of this year. I made a solid effort to not bike like a crazy lady and have a good run and it worked. I biked a 2:49 (it is a TOUGH course!)and ran a 1:41:40! i finished in 5:18 and was very very happy. The season went on and the next big race was THEE BIG RACE>>>IRONMAN LAKE PLACID! what a day! I ended up finishing 6th in my AG at 11:23 and ran a 3:56 marathon!! I was so happy but missed my slot to Kona by 1 at the Roll down...FUEL FOR THE FIRE!! 1 month later I raced Timberman 70.3 in NH and clocked in at 5:09:23 which gave me a 4th place AG finish and was good enough for CLEARWATER!!! So this was it...the culmination of all this crazy racing..I got there and had the RACE OF MY DREAMS!!! swim 39 bike 2:24 run 1:35!!!!finishing 4:45 and placing 9th in my ag...only 7 minutes away from winning my ag and only 2 minutes between me and 3rd place!!! man oh man...to think of that 10 minute mile just last year!