Kate Pallardy

An Update

2012-02-09T12:38:00.000-05:00

I have finally managed to sit myself down and not only start writing but actually finish a blog post. I have made many attempts in the past but a few sentences in I become completely distracted. I do have the best intentions to keep everyone up to date though I admit I have failed. I am so far behind that I do not even know where to begin. Anders is growing like a weed. He is exclusively breastfed and mama’s milk is definitely treating him well. He is an extremely happy baby and already has quite the sense of humor. He cracks me up and is actually in the midst of pulling off a double roll over as I am writing this. Everyone asks if ours lives have changed ummm yes. I have to laugh at that response. I mean, a human has entered into our lives so yes, life has changed but in the whole scheme of things, we still travel, train, and eat the same. I have to mention eating the same because people think that since I am breastfeeding I am eating different. I am still simply a fruit and veggie girl.

We bring Anders with us every where. He has already flown 10 times. He has been to California twice, Chicago twice, Colorado and is whisked off to Connecticut or Vermont on most other weekends when we aren’t flying. He does very well during flights and cars and late night travel excursions. The one thing Anders doesn’t do well at is sleeping through the night. He is up at least 4 times a night. He always wants to eat and/or cuddle with mommy. A good night’s sleep has not existed since his birth but he has healthy and wonderfully happy during the day so I will put up with the interrupted sleep. I have managed to find easier ways of dealing with his night wakings that help me to feel better rested during the day. I am a wimpy mom and cannot stand to hear him cry so despite all evidence that a good cry it out will help him self soothe into a peaceful nights rest…I simply cannot do it. We did attempt 1 week of crying to sleep and self soothing at night. One night he cried for over an hour and then I started crying and then Mike pretty much started crying. Yep, that was it. No more cry it out. I can’t stand it. It is horrible. So, we find a happy medium that works for all of us.

Besides being a happy mommy, I am still training. I don’t have any set goals quite yet just enjoying feeling strong and fast again without the pressure of having to perform. I am working on a few other life goals including finishing up my vegan, gluten free, soy free, grain free cookbook. Yes, I will shorten the long descriptive title. It is a fun project that definitely challenges me and my taste buds (yummy!). Also, I am hoping to start putting pen to paper on a chapter book. Well, I am just trying to write at least 1 hour a day. My creative brain power is mostly foggy and in a million directions for the chapter book but a few ideas spring to life every now and then. What else?! Oh yes, I am also attempting to learn Spanish and sign language (for Anders). Luckily there are many amazing and free podcasts that I can listen to as I am running to help with my Spanish (not sign language…don’t think that would quite work as an audio).

I promise to write soon with more than just an update.

Photo Album

2011-11-21T15:32:00.000-05:00

Since it is very apparent I cannot find time to sit and write a blog, I decided to post pictures. I've heard rumors that a picture is worth a 1,000 words. Our little boy is growing up!

A Quick Note

2011-11-03T14:17:00.000-04:00

I wanted to write a quick little note that I will be back to blogging very soon. I took a small hiatus due to my inability to squeeze in writing in my free time. I’m starting to juggle life a bit better these days. My world certainly has changed but I am completely in love with my little guy and how much happiness and adventure he has added into our lives. It is so beautiful to see the world through a baby’s eyes. Mom, Daddy, and Anders are all doing so great and I have so many millions of stories to tell I actually cannot wait to get my fingers back on the keyboard. So, I promise to get back to it next week as my family keeps gently reminding me how much they miss my blogs and pictures.

Introducing Little Baby Anders!

2011-09-12T09:21:00.000-04:00

Anders McNaughton Halovatch

September 6, 2011

7lbs. 4oz.

All natural breech birth with only 4 hours of labor!

Daddy and Mommy are so happy and in love.

Dad is so proud of his butt first boy.

Hitting the greens hard for happy little tummys.

Grandma Mema overjoyed with the new bundle of love.

Black Cloud...

2011-08-30T14:40:00.000-04:00

The little black cloud hovering above my family just can’t seem to disappear. Today my brother-in-law lost his mom quite unexpectedly. The news is harsh and tears my heart out. It is really too much, too soon and leaves me pondering why life has to be so cruel. Not to say that there is any easy way to lose someone but to lose two people you deeply love within a matter of weeks is tragic and heart wrenching. I feel helpless because I know there is absolutely nothing that can lift the pain away. There are just no words. The only thing I can do is to be there and let them know that I love them so much. Please send any positive thoughts and energy their way as they must go through the entire cycle of grief and heartache once again. Good news…please come!

Heads UP

2011-08-19T14:15:00.000-04:00

As I have painfully learned over these past few months, life doesn’t always go according to plan. I had visions of a beautiful homebirth with my husband, our little birth team, and me floating in water calm and relaxed. Yes, those initial visions were wonderful void of interventions, drugs, and hospital hostility. Unfortunately, baby buttons is heads up in a frank breech position meaning both feet are up by his head and butt is wedged deep in my pelvis. We discovered our baby was breech at 33 weeks and since that very moment, I started taking action.

First, I began with the most natural, least intrusive ways to flip my child head down. I did everything from crawling on all fours, elephant walking, inversions, visualization, hanging upside down, handstands in water, freezing my poor child’s head, flashlights at the lower end of my belly, and I even upped my yoga to 3x a week (feeling very stretchy these days). None of those things got the baby any closer to turning so I upped the ante even more and began daily excursions to the chiropractor and acupuncturist for moxibustion. Baby was still laughing at me pretty much saying yo, ma, I like it heads up in here. Well, Mike and I decided we needed to take the big guns out and attempt to manually turn baby buttons. External version is quite intense especially since I agreed to take on the full gamut of drugs to get my compact, muscle tight belly to loosen. No, I do not like drugs or any sort of intense intervention but in the US, if you have a breech baby, it basically means you are going to get sliced and diced and that’s no good. So, there I was IV’ed, hospitaled, epiduraled, robed with ass hanging out having Dr. M throw down some major pile drivers on my tummy in a sweat inducing attempt to get my child to move. Well, after over an hour of wrestling with my belly Baby Buttons shifted a magnificent 2 inches to the right. Basically, this baby has no room to turn because my belly is unhorizontal and I’m very muscular and unjiggly wiggly. So, what does everyone tell me…you need a scheduled c-section. What the?! I can’t even start labor? and honestly, does breech really mean I can’t deliver naturally. hmmm, a very tough place for my husband and I to be in.

After much research and talking, we decided we still needed to be given the opportunity to do a natural birth. Problem was no one in New York City wants to go near a breech baby unless it is with a very sharp knife. Literally, after making call after call, I found one – yes, only one – doctor in all of New York or even within 2 hours of the city that has not only tremendous experience delivering breech babies but was willing and happy to let me give it a go and push this baby out bum first. So, here were my choices: c-section, Dr. R, or run off into the woods and do it myself (tempting as this was, I do not have any intentions of putting the baby in any sort of danger). Yesterday, we swiped the credit card once again **cash only please because insurance would say hell no to breech delivery** dropping major $$ simply to attempt to have a natural birth, craziness. Sadly, I will have to be in the hospital closely monitored but really, it was and is my only option.

Visualization and vocalization are key for me to somewhat get what I want and how I want it. I do like the doctor and trust her very much but I also know that any time you step into a hospital there are rules and protocols to be followed though let me say something right now…if I want to birth on all fours, I am birthing on all fours!!! Should be an interesting experience. Definitely a bit more scary though I am putting a lot of faith in my little baby that they will make their way into this world without any delays. I need that. I really need that.

36 weeks

2011-08-12T09:44:00.000-04:00

36 weeks...and counting down the days, hours, minutes until I can get this little one out of me! I love Baby Buttons but I prefer him/her in my arms over my belly at this point (or actually at any point during this pregnancy).

Need Some Good News

2011-08-09T20:19:00.000-04:00

I’ve never experienced this side of life before. It is a side of life that I wish upon no one. I just am struggling and it is so hard when life just can’t seem to give any good news. I really would love a little lift but it seems more bad than good lately or maybe it is simply how I am feeling right now. I mean, I have certainly enjoyed moments in the past few days though there’s an underlying sadness that I can’t shake. I’m trying. I’m trying to be upbeat and all smiles and feel the happiness in the small things but I’m hurt. I’m so hurt and I don’t know what it’s going to take to lift me up. Maybe the answer is simply time. Maybe the days and the good moments will begin to fill the void I feel in my heart. I hate to be such a bummer though I promised honesty and honestly, it is very hard right now.

Well, with each new day there is hope so crossing my fingers for a solid nights sleep with good dreams (no more nightmares!) and to a beautiful morning filled with optimism.

Hard Days

2011-08-04T14:49:00.000-04:00

It is extremely hard to wrap words around how I am feeling these past few weeks. There are times where I feel as if I am walking along with a black cloud hovering above my head (aka Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh) and then there are times where I am laughing and giggling as if nothing was wrong with the world. Living a thousand miles from home gives me the ability to step away from the constant daily reminders of my Dad. I can almost live life without the feeling of grief deep in the pit of my stomach but, of course, that’s only until a memory flashes into my head or I make a phone call home to check-in…then reality sets in and pain numbs my insides.

Tears woke me up this morning. I dreamt that my mom was clearing out the house that we grew up in and my Dad’s favorite chair, pictures, couch, walking shoes were being tossed aside without a care in the world. I screamed and yelled that we just couldn’t throw away memories and jostled myself awake realizing, yet again, that Dad will never be there to calm my worries or go for a little night stroll to chat about life. My Dad can’t hug me anymore or tell me how proud he is of me. He won’t be there to make me laugh or drag me through the crowds in Disney World to hop on Snow White because there was no line—yes, only 3 months ago the two of us were tossing old ladies and men in wheel chairs out of the way so we could get to Snow White…what can I say, we were excited! I miss everything about him. It is so surreal and so painful but in my growing belly a little one awaits to come into this challenging world and I am ready to welcome them with love and kisses. With death comes life and this Baby Buttons may be the life that brings some joy back into our hurting family.

To My Dad: the hardest goodbye

2011-07-25T09:06:00.002-04:00

To actually sit and write this blog brings me to tears. Two weeks ago, I received a phone call from my sister that no person ever wants to receive. The voice on the other end told me something was horribly wrong and when the news was finally broken and the words Dad died crossed over the phone lines…my world completely shattered. I hate to remember that exact moment because it was the worst possible pain you could ever feel. All strength left my body and I just laid in a crumbled mess on the floor. It was impossible to wrap my head around the magnitude of the situation. It was hard to grasp the concept that my Daddy was gone forever. All I kept saying was What? Why? I thought of the pain my Mom must be feeling. I wanted to be home that instant to swoop her in my arms. I thought of my sisters and younger brothers. I just kept thinking about how broken and devastated we were as a family.

I shook with pain and the tears were endless. My Dad was my hero. He was the life of the party. He was my buddy, my friend, my courage. He was the perfect Dad, a man so selfless and so full of life. I was broken. Mikey had to swoop me into his arms and calm me down but there were no words that could make the situation better…it was just nice to know he was there. Sleep was impossible that night wrought with beautiful memories and painful recognition that there will be no more. The journey home that next morning was slow and agonizing. My world was spinning in slow motion. My world was destroyed.

Seeing my family for the first time broke me down even further. I have never seen such pain nor have I ever experienced it firsthand. My sisters and I embraced in a long tearful hug…no words exchanged. Nothing could be said. Nothing could be fixed. I just wanted my Dad back, to walk through the front door and give me one of his loving bear hugs and a smack on the forehead. I wanted one more hug. I wanted one more conversation. I wanted one more good belly laugh. I wanted him to be at one more race. I wanted to him to hold my new little baby. I wanted him to be Papa to my kids. There is absolutely no replacing my Dad. He was one of kind. A man who truly, above all loved his family and made sure to always brighten the world of those around him. The last vivid memory of my Dad was a few weeks ago…

I was up at my parents cabin and strong storms were rolling in and out. I was determined to get some running miles in but I was playing with lightening so I wanted to be somewhat safe. Finally, there was a break in the clouds. I said, “I’m outta here”. I threw on my shoes and mentioned to my Dad where I was running just in case it got ugly. So, I started my little slow jog and at about 2 miles out a storm erupted above me with a solid crack of thunder. Oh Boy, baby buttons and I were going to have to do a little sprint workout home but, you know who I see coming up the road? -- good ole’ Dad to the rescue. He was grinning ear to ear knowing he was a very loved man at the moment. He always was super excited to save me whether it was a broken down bike, a bonk on a run, or pregnant me stuck in a storm. I’ll miss those rescues. No one saves me better than my Dad. He even would throw in one of his little silly dances because he got so excited about another successful save. His smile is still so clear in my mind. The feel of his warm hugs still perfectly remembered. I don’t want to ever forget how it feels but I’m honestly not sure how I can make those feelings last.

Ironman Wisconsin last year...a moment I will never forget.

We lost a beautiful man. My family is broken but we are strong. It will always hurt though we are lucky to have each other and the wonderful memories with our Dad. My mom and his love will never die…married for 32 years, together for 37. That strength, bond, and commitment is instilled in each and everyone of us kids. Laughter still resonates through the house because that’s the way my Dad would have wanted it. Jokes and smiles are still abundant because that is the legacy my Dad left behind. My Dad ignited a fire in each of us and mine, I will make sure, will burn even stronger and brighter. In a sad way, my Dad’s death will make me stronger…it will make me love deeper. It makes me want to be a better person, a better wife, a better mother, a better athlete. A few years ago, my Dad’s death may have destroyed me yet now, it will strengthen me because I know that’s what he wants. He wants to see all of us take life by the horns and not let go. He wants us to all laugh a bit louder, love a bit deeper, and always enjoy the simplest pleasures in life. My Dad was a simple man but his simplicity was what made him extraordinary.

Dad, you will always live in my heart. You will never ever be forgotten. I will think about you each and everyday and live my life in your honor. I know you are proud of all of us and I will always continue to live my life to the absolute fullest. I love you so much…your Kates.

My Dad rescuing me last year after my cable snapped 50 miles from home

Dad always putting up with my over abundance of energy

Busy Weekend

2011-07-07T11:33:00.000-04:00

After a very busy July 4th weekend, these past two days have allowed me some much needed rest and slower training. We celebrated my father in-law’s 60th birthday with a huge surprise bash on Friday night and then Mike and I decided to do a late night drive north to the Vermont house so we could start the day of training on some of our most favorite hills. Of course, pulling into the driveway at 2:30am is never good for two of your most avid sleep devotees but we pushed through.

Mike is officially going to toe the start line at the Vermont 100 in 10 days so he has been crash training (if there is such a thing) these past 4 weeks. In a normal world, if you find out that you received a roll down spot into a 100-mile race only 5 weeks before the race and your training hasn’t been exactly 100-miler focused typically you would say ya know, maybe not this year though in our heads, it seems like a fun challenge. Luckily, during CFA study time, Mike was running 10 miles every other day and doing some longer type walks. It is all about the time spent on the feet not speed so he may be in a better position than he thinks. Well, 100-milers are supposed to hurt…it is really about how long you can avoid that pain.

While Mike was running/trekking through some 25-30 miles each day, I would either jump on my mountain bike and ride next to him or Mike would be kind enough to allow some slower type hiking miles so that I can shuffle along. Sunday, we decided to add a climb and descent up Mt. Snow then Monday, Mike was feeling a bit beat up and decided we should do the entire 13 mile death loop together. My legs were already trashed from climbing mountains the day before but baby and I were in for a long slow up n’ down walk shuffle. Well, let’s just say my legs got punished. By the end of our 3h10min. Vermont hike, I was wobbling like I had just ran a 50-mile race. It actually felt quite nice to have very sore legs again though I knew that very sore legs and pregnancy meant I would be needed some extra sleep and less training over the next few days (sad but true). Who knew a walk-shuffle could be so brutal?!

The Power of Change

2011-06-26T19:24:00.002-04:00

Two years ago, I watched my brother-in-law struggle terribly to hike to the top of one of my favorite peaks in Vermont. I had dragged all my family members to the top to see the awesome views but no one was hurting quite as bad as Marc. Of course, I had to heckle him a bit though felt guilty when I noticed that he had suddenly realized he wasn’t in a good place health wise. It was a hard realization. It is never a good moment in life when you recognize something in yourself that needs changing.

I have heard so many empty promises from people swearing they were going to become healthy, lose weight , eat more fruits and veggies. I hate simply hearing and then never actually seeing people doing. It is disheartening and annoying. Just try and get healthy or don’t but please don’t rattle off all your health fantasies to me. Marc never rattled, never promised, never set unreachable goals. He simply put his head down and got his body to work. The transformation was pretty unbelievable. He began with a little 'from couch to 5k' training program and slowly jogged/walked his way to being able to run with the front group of his running club. He gradually shifted his diet towards a fruit and veggie focus. Nothing was crazy drastic but he was crazy committed.

Yesterday I watched him finish his first marathon…120 lbs. less. This was definitely not an easy marathon. Marc endured 26.2 miles of backwoods trails including all the trail goodies of long climbs, rocks, miles of sand running, heat and lack of salt pills (sorry Marc!), and not your most fully stocked aid stations. He was quite the champ out there…very inspiring. Way to go Marc -- you are an inspiration to many and certainly proof of the power of positive change!!!

Almost 29 weeks

2011-06-20T12:48:00.000-04:00

Baby and I are going on 29 weeks! We are rumbling along…quite literally actually as yesterday we ended up on some rather off road type mountain trails. Nothing too crazy but I did apologize a few times to baby because we did hit a few rougher type patches though we were only going maybe (and I mean maybe) 6 mph. Haha, incredible speeds. Running has recently become a bit more problematic so we are cutting back on distance and slowing it down but I still manage to be on my feet about 30 miles per week between walking and running. I’ve completely fallen in love with my granny style mountain biking and I have been getting wet more often then not. Pumping iron is still in the mix even though the boys at the gym give me the awkward stare – I just turn the music up and continue slamming around my 8lb dumbbells and throwing down some incredible 15-20 reps. Most importantly is that we are feeling good and hopefully can continue to cruise along nicely to the labor line.

You know you have good friends when...

2011-06-16T19:54:00.000-04:00

So, no...this isn't a current picture but it looked nice and fast and like I was able to breath

Somehow, I can still manage to drag my riding buddy Tommy out onto the roads with me. I know it probably isn’t his most proud moment riding along side a 7-month, heavy breathing pregnant woman but Tommy is a good friend. Of course, I do have to tell him that in order to ride with me he has to wake up before 5am and run 12 miles with my husband. I want to make sure his legs and heart are somewhat abused before venturing out with me for 30 miles at a blazing 16mph pace. The plan always is an 11am meet up at the Sage road and 9w intersection. I drive myself out of the city over the George Washington Bridge and tuck my car into a nice little neighborhood – and next to woods so I can tinkle before takeoff – and then I can start riding with a nice wide shoulder…see, I’m not completely hazardous with baby (only sometimes). Tommy is my little protector out on the roads so I am definitely grateful for that because I just wouldn’t feel as safe without him. He even puts up with my abrasive yelling up hills cussing at the person who thought it was funny to continually add hills to our route. Plus, there are also fights with the baby and lung space. I hope Tommy enjoys these slow days now because there will be a time in the near future where I will be making him pay for his snickering.

A Baby and A Name

2011-06-14T10:55:00.002-04:00

When I was training in Thailand, there was a masseuse that lived less than 100 yds. down the road offering spectacular 1h30min massages that cost about $6 US dollars. Truly a win win for an over tired, sore muscled girl. I had a massage about 3x a week. You would think it would be everyday but sadly, there were some days where either I didn’t have time or I didn’t have the energy to move my body down the longlong road. Sometimes, the bed wins.

The masseuse was a small beautiful woman named Temsuri. She had an infectious smile and an understated confidence about her. Temsuri was one of the few people in our area that was able to speak English so we would chat a bit about our lives. One afternoon, we were talking about my husband and I asked if she was married or had any kids. It was the first time I had seen her entire demeanor change. A sadness came upon her and had me feeling guilty that I even brought up the subject but she went on with her story and explained that she wasn’t able to have children. She told me how much she loved kids and their unfailing energy for life and their ability to live in the moment. I wasn’t really sure how to respond as I felt there weren’t any words that could help her understand how sorry I was though before I said anything, she turned to me with her heartfelt brown eyes and asked me if I had a daughter…could I name her Temsuri. I didn’t take even two seconds to respond – I said absolutely. The look that spread across her face was remarkable. It was like I lifted the weight of the world off her shoulders.

Well, truthfully, I never thought about this story since. I mean, kids were 5 years down the road, right?! That was until I became pregnant 9 months later. First, I thought this has to be a girl (of course, I have no idea just a hunch) and my child is going to kill me because I have to name her Temsuri. I explained to my husband that we have to use this name, somehow, if we have a girl otherwise I’ll surely be haunted or be given 10 years of horribly bad luck. Yes, I’m superstitious and also just can’t completely forget my promise not when it was only a year ago that I made that promise. Well, luckily there are such things as middle names.

Return to City Life

2011-06-08T19:29:00.000-04:00

Returning home to the city after being in lake mode for 2 ½ weeks definitely reawakes the ‘move it or lose it’ senses. There are parts of me that love going for my morning run in Central Park knowing I will always have people to chase. I enjoy not ever being alone when my legs are throbbing and even love the early morning bike workouts swinging around the park with hundreds of other cyclists but there are times when all I want is to be running alone without a soul in sight or biking without cars whizzing by every 3 seconds. I wish there was a way to intermix the worlds where you could just choose whether you want a people day or nature day. Most of the time, I do get weekend nature days though that always includes traveling out of the city and driving minimum of 3 hours. Santa Monica balanced both worlds pretty well and occasionally I daydream that we are still living near the ocean and taking rides up Latigo Canyon or trekking up the canyon trails.

Now, don’t get me wrong…I love where I live. I love the people in this city. I thrive on the energy of New York but NYC and me have a love-hate relationship. I am not the type of person who thrives on insanely high stress levels or can walk along without noticing the world around me. I move fast when a workout calls for me to move fast otherwise I am in cruise control much to the annoyance of my point A to point B husband. I thought it was something I could eventually adjust to but I don’t think so. It is ok…I think the city needs a few more mellow individuals. So, I had to say good-bye to cabin life (only for 2 weeks!) and head back home to Mike and hopefully a less stressed Mike - cfa test will be taken and with a bit of luck, passed (pass or fail not to be found out until end of August).

Cabin Life Photo Album

Pregnancy Surprises

2011-06-06T10:51:00.000-04:00

Pregnancy has brought many funny little surprises my way and last night, was possibly the most exciting of all and if not exciting then let’s just say extremely embarrassing. Again, I share these stories with you not for sympathy but simply for the fact that if I cannot laugh at these matters then I will surely cry.

So, yesterday I started my long journey home from my parent’s cabin. The easiest way (if you would like to call it easy) is to jump in the car for a 2 hour drive to a small little airport, fly to Minneapolis for a 3 hour layover then fly into LaGuardia only to find a 1h20min. taxi line and once actually in the taxi, one would think it is simply an uneventful ride home…nope. Here is where pregnancy surprises step right in and deliver me a fun new case of motion sickness mostly experienced in planes especially during bouts of turbulence and back of cars. Yesterday was no different. I had to do some deep breathing and praying on the mini 2-prop plane over to Minnesota and through the large rough patch over to NYC again the stomach took a double turn. I just closed my eyes hoping the end was near. The good news was I made it through wishing I never had to fly on a plane again until this baby is out.

Onto the taxi and after a large amount of watermelon (sounded good at the time)…a few accelerations, stop and goes, and veers in an out of traffic – I was completely green though nothing overly significant. I had been in this position a million times before and usually can deep breathe my way out of it and once my feet are on solid ground, all is right with the world again. Well, within a split second and thankfully directly in front of my apartment building, I projectile vomited all over the back of the cab. Yes, things on the inside wanted to be on the outside and there was absolutely no vomit forewarning simply a OH SH*T moment and out it went. I was completely, absolutely mortified. The cab driver was disgusted and rightly so. I just kept apologizing and apologizing and apologizing…I think at one point I tried to explain I was pregnant and the baby obviously hates your driving but nothing I said really mattered as there was quite a bit of human secretion surrounding my general vicinity. I frantically called mike and said, we need some paper towels and fantastic asap! Clean up on aisle 7! Of course, Mike thought I had to be joking and while I stared helplessly at upchucked watermelon on my leg, I started to cry saying I am not joking and that baby buttons is in so much trouble (disciplining starts early in this house). I never know how Mike remains so calm. He comes downstairs, strolls across the street, and simply says it’s a little vomit, big deal. I proceed to scrub the entire back of this guy’s taxi still rambling through about 5 million sorrys and then give him a 10$ tip telling him to erase what I look like as to not elicit any poor memories in the near future.

So, Mike gets to walk back into our building with paper towels, a bottle of febreze, a bag of vomit and a mortified, blotchy faced, vomit still on her pants wife and all he says is Kate…you know Pete, he vomited in a taxi. I said Mike, Pete was at least drunk – I have to remember all of this. Oh yes, pregnancy how I love thee.

Conversations

2011-06-02T16:23:00.003-04:00

About three times a week, I will have a conversation with Mike explaining how I feel a bit heavier these days when I run. He kindly listens to my repetitive discoveries of pregnancy and then asks if we are going to have to have this conversation next week. I said, of course we will because I know next week I will probably feel heavier than this week and who else really wants to hear about ligament stretching, pelvic shifting and bouncing belly drama…not many people but you, Mike, are half of this growing heaviness and will pretend you care about my trivial observations. Mike’s final questions of our heavy run talks usually are something like, you do know you are pregnant, right? And you do know that you will grow bigger until September? What?! I had no idea. I’m going to have to get bigger? Ugh.

I do have to always remind Mike that I simply am discussing how I feel each day and since I love my training and swim, bike, running adventures, I am simply stating that I am not feeling light or floaty or fast though I did feel fast yesterday when I was running from streak lightening explaining to the baby that we need to pump out some sub-8min. miles in order to avoid getting us fried like bacon (roadside 2-for-1 special!). Luckily, Dad came to the rescue and while I was only a ½ mile from the cabin, a ½ mile can be a long way these days. One thing I have learned is that pregnancy fast is much different than normal fast. Anything under 9 min. miles is pretty much equal to a sub-5 min mile and my heart and legs are starting to believe 6 mile runs are really actually 20 mile runs. To the growing little one, I just say let’s keep on trucking and sometimes have to have the occasional roadside conversation with the belly baby explaining that we need to work together here and that you (baby) should consider moving off the bladder.

Tough Skin

2011-05-28T12:16:00.000-04:00

Growing up, most of my Memorial Day weekends were spent at my Grandpa’s cabin. Once the calendar turned to May, I would start counting down the days before we would get to head up to the lake. It signaled the start of summer and all things I truly loved: skiing, tubing, bonfires, late night game playing, fishing with Dad, adventures on the water. I know I was quite the challenge to my Mom as my excitement was not easily contained…I literally bounced off the walls. The funny thing about being a kid is that weather just seemed never to affect the senses. Memorial Day in northern Wisconsin doesn’t exactly guarantee warm weather and never brings even semi-tolerable water temps but try telling that to a water loving nine year old. 50 degree water temperature on a cloudy 50 degree – Perfect Swim Day.

I would always challenge my sisters to the ‘let’s try and swim everyday no matter what the temperature is’ challenge. I remember my Uncle Chris watching us get ready to go out for a swim then looking out the window at the drizzling rain and then back to the below 50degree temperature reading. I think he somehow convinced himself that the water must really be warm because there is absolutely no way we could happily swim without shivers. So, he threw on his swim trunks and headed out the door with us. For cold days, the best way to throw your practically naked body into the water was off the rope swing. There was just no turning back once you left the platform. We all made it in and within about 5 minutes, my uncle had turned blue and was shaking. I remember giggling saying isn’t this so much fun. Ah, to be a kid again. Now, I won’t even touch the water with a full wetsuit on a 70 degree day. I’ll stay dry thank you very much but there are days when I wish I could still have that tough kid skin.

Golden Birthdays

2011-05-26T14:59:00.000-04:00

I was in 3rd grade and remember quite clearly sitting at lunch with my friend as she explained in detail all about her ‘golden’ birthday adventures. She was turning the big number 9 on the 9th of April and according to her and her mother, this had to be the most fantastic birthday she would ever know. Her list was endless, full of shopping extravaganzas, pampering day (who doesn’t need a pampering day at the age of 9?), a trip to Florida, slumber parties, and ransacking of candy stores. I sat in awe…golden birthdays were definitely a once in a life phenomenon that absolutely could not be missed. Of course, lucky for me (I suppose), I had another 17 years to plan mine and if I intended on keeping with my 3rd grade girlfriend’s tradition, I probably needed the extra years to organize my golden extravaganza!

So, here I sit – 26 on the 26th of May and while I may not have an endless list of birthday exploits, I certainly have a golden birthday. I don’t really know when that time comes in one’s life when birthdays become more about counting your blessings instead of counting presents. To be surrounded by people I love most in this world and to be able to laugh, play games and eat an extra helping of graham cracker honey roasted apples is a perfect day to me. Obviously, it helps to be able to stare out onto the lake all day watching fishermen stroll in and out of the weed beds with the biggest challenge of my afternoon being the search for that perfect stick to roast marshmallows and I always enjoy hearing my brother complain about being dragged onto another one of our stupid biking or kayaking adventures – he really truly loves it, deep down. Stressful days here…very stressful days.

My sister Peggy along with Jason and the two kids arrive today and my dad will pull a late night drive to get up here hopefully before tomorrow’s sunrise. I hate that we are missing a few essential pieces to the family – Mike, my sister Christy and husband Marc, and my brother Paul. It can get pretty crazy around here when everyone’s together but I take what I can get and simply enjoy having more bodies around.

Today I count my blessings and am tremendously grateful that life’s good has severely outweighed the bad and even happier that the bad resembled only small stumbles this past year.

And With all that said, I now sit and wait until the thermometer reads at least 50 degrees before we head out onto the bikes and yes, a brick run – the first in 8 months consisting of maybe 1-2 miles at a blazing 9 min. pace.

Biking with Baby

2011-05-24T14:14:00.000-04:00

Before heading to Wisconsin, I really wanted to pack up my tri bike and ship her up to the cabin. I still am feeling quite comfortable on the bike due to a few gradual shifts in bar and seat height. It has come that time where I can only run at most 5 days during the week…anymore than five days leaves my belly ligaments and pelvis begging for mercy. I actually prefer only to run 4 days a week running (jogging) between 6-10 miles each run. The other days I hop on the bike and I still like to throw in double workouts varying among swim, bike, run and gym combinations all depending on energy levels and weather situations.

So, yes, I was concerned I wouldn’t have a bike in Wisconsin and was completely saddened at the thought of not riding but with the painful process of packing a bike, shipping a bike, paying for the shipping of the bike and all the ailments that could come during the bike’s journey – I decided to leave my bike shipping to when it was absolutely necessary. Luckily, an idea came to my little brain…bring my pedals and bike shoes and steal one of my brothers’ mountain bikes. No, do not worry; I have no intentions of riding off road or down mountain sides. I stick to quiet roads these days or even low volume bike paths.

My brother’s bike actually suits me quite well. I am close to the handle bars with a low seat so the belly is not crunched nor are my lungs. I get to be clipped in so I still feel like a real biker and I move in complete slow motion but am huffing and puffing despite low speeds. Even my legs are challenged because my position on the bike certainly puts all the workload on my quads. My mom is happy because she can ride with me though now she should be riding ahead me. My brother thinks it is great to challenge me to workouts and actually be able to beat me. I wish I could say that I enjoy being slow and sluggy but that competitive side of me hates losing. Sad…I know. Fortunately, I am already starting to blame all my shortcomings on the baby. Aren’t I such a wonderful mom?!

Traveling North

2011-05-22T13:21:00.000-04:00

With Mike’s CFA study habits and baby time coming at the end of summer, I decided it best for me to head out for 2 weeks to one of my most favorite places in the world…our little family cabin in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Maybe not quite a destination for some but for me, it has always been home. Every summer it was pack up and head north for family bonding and fresh crisp air. It was my sanctuary when life wasn’t all that fun. It holds only the best of memories and always promises to create so many more. It is definitely a home away from home though sometimes it resembles simply home more than anything else (if that makes sense). Of course, the cabin is so far north that I wouldn’t even consider a visit until May comes around and once November starts to come to a close, you better get out of town! The cabin is nestled right up on the lake and winter months are not only unbearably cold but send constant harsh, bone chilling winds that, I swear, would make a polar bear shutter. Hmmm, how do the Canadians do it? No thank you.

For now, it is just my mom, youngest brother, and me enjoying the simple life though yesterday we all were having a good laugh about the end of the world and the inevitable rapture. Well, let me just say, the rapture did happen…to us at least. We pulled into the cabin at 6:00pm on the dot and the rain was pouring down with a full-size van packed to the brim and I mean, packed to the brim. We didn’t have a choice of whether we could unload tomorrow or not, it was now and now meant unloading in the rain. If you have ever unloaded a full-size van packed to the roof in pouring rain then yes, you to have experienced the rapture!

Ultramarathons and Me

2011-05-18T13:36:00.000-04:00

After my first 50-miler...with my greatest cheering section -- MOM!

My cousin decided to do her final high school research paper on ultramarathons which I just think is so cool and asked me for an interview. Since quite a few people ask me about ultras and my experience, I thought I would share the whole thing with you. It is a bit wordy but hopefully can answer some questions and get more people out in the trails! Enjoy...

Why did you ultramarathon? What was the draw for you.

I was 20 when I decided to run my first ultra. For me, I really wanted to change my life. I wanted to do something that was going to challenge me to become a better person. I wanted to work towards a goal I thought was impossible to achieve. I was attempting to find adventure and an escape from the world I created around myself (wasn’t enjoying life at that moment). It was the challenge and the journey. I loved that I had no clue what would be in store for me when I started down the road towards training and racing for this 50-mile run. My entire mindset changed about life once I signed up. I guess, in a sense, I was literally running away from my old life then I completely fell in love with the sport.

How did you get into it. How do others get into it? Is there a common draw?

I didn’t know much about ultrarunning or running in general at the time. The most I ever did was a 5k here and there. I was actually putting most of my athletic energy towards fitness competitions but that sport sucked the life out of me…it was so vain and artificial. I had heard rumors of these ultra runs but the one that stuck in my mind the most was this girl I had met in my trapeze class (yes, I was learning how to swing from a trapeze). I remember all of us stretching in a circle and talking about our weekend plans and she casually mentions she is going to run a 50-mile race, no biggee. Well, people start asking questions mostly – you are going to run 50 miles at one time?! The seed was planted in my brain. So when I decided it was time to do something different with my life that was what I remembered, a 50-mile race. So, I researched and signed up for the first race I could drive to.
From the people I have met at these races, I can say the majority start running these distances as an escape but what changes is that these runners eventually fall in love with the sport. Not only is the sport so simple yet fantastic, it really is an amazing group of crazy people out there running.
How did you train? Is it a small group who does it, or a large group who trains together? Is it a tight knit group? Does someone manage your training or do you do it yourself?

Before I signed up for my first race, I hadn’t run further then 6 miles. The day after I registered for the race, I decided it was time to lace up the running shoes and get some miles in my legs. I ran 12 miles the next day and by the weekend, I was determined to run this 27-mile loop I created. Mind over matter! That first long training run hurt…I mean really hurt but it was amazing. I can still recall the butterflies I felt in my stomach because I knew I was finally doing something I loved and I was doing something that I decided to do without influence from anyone. It tasted like freedom!

I would say that most ultrarunners train most of their miles solo. Occasionally, you will find someone to run a few miles with you or you will have a weekend where you meet up with fellow long distance runners but most runs are solo. Most ultra runners do not mind the solo runs. For me, I loved being out there alone. Maybe once a week I would meet up with a friend for a run.

Training: the key for ultras is to get your legs used to long miles. My mileage every week averaged between 80-120 miles but my long runs were long. My weeks would typically include 3x15 mile runs. 1x20-25mile run. 1x25-35mile run. In addition to the runs, I would lift weights in the gym to keep my legs strong (and arms) plus I would run stairs and hill repeats galore to prepare me for the climbing and descending of the trails. I never raced anything flat so in order to prepare for mountainous terrain when living in relatively flat areas, I needed to climb lots of stairs and repeat hills until I was dizzy. Also, I would stack my runs meaning I would take a 3-day block and run 15 miles on Thursday, 23 on Friday, and then head into Saturday with sore, tired legs making sure to run between 30-35 miles. Sunday would be a rest day after that training block. To make the long runs easier to handle, I would attempt to make them point-to-points usually running to meet my mom or sisters at a restaurant or have Mike pick me up at some place in the distance (then no turning back!!!). Of course, once you start the race season, racing becomes training which is much more fun.

How long did you train before competing in your first race?

I registered for me first race on January 1st and literally had less then 4 months to get ready (end of April). I didn’t let it scare me and never listened to what people would deem the ‘right way’. I knew I could be ready if I just focused on what needed to be done. The first 2 months of training where quite painful. I had sore knees, sore back, aching toes, muscles were screaming but I loved it and never backed down…eventually my body caught up and starting getting used to the miles and pounding the road.
What did the training consist of?

Long runs. Weight training. Hill repeats. Stair Climbing and then eventually, I had the benefit of being able to run in trails 1-2 times a week which really helped with my descending and climbing skills **some descents in races are a few miles long, on single track and if you don’t train in trails then you will lose a ton of time because you start to fight gravity and tiptoe around every little obstacle**
Did you practice every day? How many hours a day/week did you train?

I never really took days off. I may have taken 2-3 days off a month from running but would still go to the gym or jump in the pool to loosen up the body. I probably trained between 13-16 hours a week. I think another thing that really helped was waitressing during that first year of racing…I would wake up crazy early in the morning (2:30am) head out the door and run my 15-mile loop then drive over to work to open the restaurant and have to be on my feet walking around for another 8 hours. Anytime on your feet adds to training – especially for 100milers.

Did you do many races before being an ultramarathoner or just jump right in with training? Did you ease your way up to ultramarthoning from smaller races? Or one day were you just kinda like “hey lets be an ultramarathoner!”

I would say that my first 50-miler was my first race. It was perfect! I was ready. I ran a lot in those four months leading up to the race. My longest training run was 35 miles and that’s when I knew I was ready because I was able to run the whole thing without my body feeling like it was going to fall apart.

How many did you run a year? How long of a break did you need between each to recover? Did you tend to stick to the same type of race? Meaning the same distance or terrain??

Well, at my first race I ended up meeting Mike (my husband) – talk about changing my life! Once I met Mike, I knew nothing in my life would ever be the same. All his friends were crazy ultra runners or racing Ironman triathlons (as was he). They all quickly became my closest friends and of course, convinced me I could race more often and even would be ready to run a 100-miler by July! A lot of our friends were race directors or knew of races that I didn’t even know existed so quickly I saw my calendar filling up that summer. Every time I went out to visit Mike (lived in NYC), we would head up to Vermont or New Hampshire and race. I think I raced about six 50 milers, one 100 miler, and one 50k that first year. I couldn’t get enough!

Recovery: After each 50 mile race, I needed about 3 weeks to feel 100% myself again. I would always attempt to start running as soon as I could (without limping) but swimming always increased those first 2 weeks after a race. Now, let me say – a 100 miler is COMPLETELY different than a 50-mile race. The pain doesn’t just double it quadruples. Recovery after that race took 6 weeks and I absolutely could not run for 10 days…I was broken haha.

The terrain for most ultras is typically trails but there are all different types of trails: fire roads, single track, rocky-roots, mountains (climbing), flat. I typically raced up and down meaning the more climbing and descending the better. It is what I loved. I did do a 50k in Central Park – we pretty much did 9 x 4 mile loop and that was relatively flat and fast.
Did you get a lot of injuries? Stress related or anything like that? How about during races? Any dehydration or injuries common?

Knock on wood but I’ve never had an injury. I have had lingering pains and aches but nothing that ever stopped me from training. One time, I was dealing with some major back/glute issues in the very beginning of my ultra training but I was so absolutely determined to train, I decided to manage the pain by duct taping a golf ball against my back/glute muscle. I then would proceed onto my run with a protruding ball and a slight hobble to my run but about one week later the pain subsided and I was able to shelf the duct tape. I never said I was smart or sane!

You would think that people attempting to run 50-miles or 100-mile races would definitely come out severely dehydrated or injured but truthfully it doesn’t happen all that much. Well, severe dyhrydration doesn’t happen that much or we just ignore it because well, we are kind of all a bit stupid. We unquestionably have severe muscle pain but nothing to major. I think the reason for this is that anyone wanting to run an ultra actually TRAINS. A lot of people nowadays will just jump into a marathon but never put in enough time or miles and come out dehydrated, injured or worse. Most ultrarunners are training their bodies and truly understand their bodies. The more common thing you see is people dropping out from races. 100-milers have a very high percentage of people who do not finish and that isn’t such a horrible thing…sometimes the body has had enough and shuts you down before worse things happen.

Did being an ultramarthoner change how you live other aspects of your life? (dieting, work, etc.) Do you have to eat certain foods for this?

Honestly, my entire life changed once I decide to sign up for that first race. My entire thinking on what was possible and impossible in life (not just racing) changed. I started to see the world differently. I became happier, calmer (well, calmer in the sense of more at peace with myself but still slightly hyperactive). Of course, I met my husband and well, that created an entirely new journey. As for diet, we slowly transformed into the vegan gluten-free lifestyle (no animal products, limited grains) which simply felt right for us. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and always take in liquid before long workouts – being hydrated is so so important. Either some fresh squeezed orange juice or coconut water are my top choices before training.

What’s the difference between ultramarathoning and normal marathoners and being an iron woman?

Ultramarathoning is all about simplicity. The races aren’t over done or over sponsored. People show up in cotton shirts, ripped shorts. It isn’t about looking the best. It is truly a race against yourself. They are tough and most are tucked away into some backwoods without anyone knowing they are even going on. Marathons are a media frenzy these days even ironman triathlons have so much hype and press. People want to out do each other, look the best, talk about how much they trained…it is very different at an ultra start line. Don’t get me wrong – I love ironmans (never have done a true marathon but I’m sure I would love that to) but I love it for a different reason. Ironman and marathons bring the best possible athlete out of you. It is competitive forcing you to become the best you can possibly be but my true love is the simplicity of ultras. Marathons and ironmans aren’t simple maybe even a bit over exaggerated but for me, as a professional triathlete, the media, sponsors, and hype are what makes for a paycheck at the end of the race so I really shouldn’t complain.

How long do people continue this sport usually? Does it get too wearing on the body after a while?

Funny thing about ultras is that you would think it has a short life for people but it is completely opposite. It seems people just stick with it. Maybe it’s because they are doing something they really have to love. Maybe it is because a lot of the training miles are long and slow. I’m not sure but surprisingly, people seem to stay in this sport forever. The best, fastest, strongest ultrarunners are in their 40s!!!
What are some of the ultramarathons you participated in?

Vermont 50, Vermont 100, McNaughton 50, Pittsfield Peaks races, NYC Knicker Bocker, Ice Age (Wisconsin), North Face 50 miler, JFK, All the trail races in Santa Monica or Malibu California---so great to be able to race out your back door. Hmm there’s quite a few more but can’t really think of them off the top of my head.

Treasures and Trails

2011-05-16T11:13:00.000-04:00

Our little getaway house is finally coming together. I truly had no idea how much effort, energy, and money it took to fill an empty house. Beds, frames, couches, dishes, silverware, tables, sheets…oh bother but the good news is that this weekend was the first weekend I did not come home with a list of things we needed. I, of course, have things I want in order to turn the house into a comfy little home away from home but that will take time and diligence as I made the rule that the only thing allowed in from this point on is antiques.

I have a vision! This weekend I went on my very first antiquing marathon (ah, the things you get to do when pregnant). Yep, all day I strolled through antique stores and yard sales and found the most amazing items…each piece adding its own story to our lake house and yes, the definite possibility for future hauntings – part of the adventure. I still have yet to master the art of wheeling and dealing much to my husband’s disappointment. I say to Mike look at this amazing old apple bucket. only 2 dollars Mike. 2$! He then butts in with a…did you offer less then 2 dollars? Ugh!

After mornings of browsing and buying, I then headed into the trails for a bit of a run/hike. Our little Connecticut trails near our house offer quite the mixture of runnable terrain and only hikable terrain which is a perfect little mix for me as running is much more fun (and less achy) when you get to go up and over with a mix of hiking and climbing thrown in. I have completely fallen in love with my new found trails and find myself slowly drift into a world of calm and quiet.

Where was Mike during these days full of old treasures and muddy runs…studying, studying, studying. He has CFA level 3 coming June 5 and this is one man determined to pass the final test (only can take once a year). I certainly do not know much of these financial exams but anything with only a 30-40% pass rate and so many books with unrecognizable jargon has certainly got to be a doozy.

22 weeks.

2011-05-10T14:54:00.000-04:00

The baby and I actually had a little growth spurt this week so the very exciting news is that I am officially showing. I like that I am now starting to look pregnant. It is pretty fun. Though, I will warn you that when the weather begins creeping upwards...I will definitely be sporting shorts with compression socks. I already look like a complete running nerd but once I add in compression socks -- forget about it. Ok, now out for a sun run!

Growing Bump and Runs

2011-05-06T11:02:00.000-04:00

I am sitting at 22 weeks, a much welcome time of pregnancy. It is the point where you aren’t too big, not too tired, not too achy. I am in coasting mode simply nesting upon my eggs so to speak. Luckily, I am still able to run quite comfortably and jog out 10 mile runs without any glitch except for the unavoidable pee stops every 1.5 miles (a lot of circling in Central Park). To be completely honest, I could run longer than 10 miles however things begin to feel less happy and I will mildly suffer from some sort of residual effect the next day. Luckily, if feeling the need to be on my feet a bit longer, my body responds positively to walking after the 10 miles which puts my hyperactive mind and legs at ease.

The thing that I have found throughout all my pregnancy do and do not studying sessions is that no one really knows much about exercise and pregnancy. Speculation, theory and some amazingly animated opinions are really all the studies (or lack there of) have amounted to. They will say some form of exercise is healthy aka do not simply plop yourself in a seated position for 9 months and anticipate great results but where do we go from there? I have been warned about a million times…watch that heart rate, don’t go above 140bpm, don’t sweat too much, don’t run down hill --- don’t, don’t, don’t but of course, I just do, do, do what feels natural and comfortable. I mean, let’s be frank, the people lecturing me on the do nots of exercising aren’t exactly pillars of motion (if ya know what I’m saying). So, I move without monitoring heart rate or allocating fixed amount of times and distances. I go and go at what is comfortable. I am by no means fast and am not in anyway overextending myself. I’m just being me and training until I think – yep, not feeling 100% anymore so it is time to either stop, slow down, or eat (yummy!). The one thing that I do think is enormously important is hydration. Hydration before, during and after. Pre runs I make sure to gulp down some type of liquid calories either in the form of coconut water or fresh squeezed orange juice followed with a banana or 2 then during the run I carry my hand held water bottle forcing myself to drink even though thirst isn’t calling. After my workouts, it is shake time and shake time means lots of water and Vega Shake + green romaine goodness. How do I know it works well…because I feel energized, strong and baby is kicking away these days.

Happy Runs!!!

New Blog. New Life.

2011-05-02T15:03:00.000-04:00

I have taken quite the hiatus from blogging. Life can be sneaky. While I truly thought I had things figured out, mapping out my year and years ahead well, life decided to send me the stork surprise. Absorbing those imminent changes that would be thrust upon my life I, in a sense, hiccupped then panicked. To be completely honest, I looked at my husband and said I’m not ready. really not ready. I hadn’t ever put much thought into becoming a mom because I still had so much work left on myself. I sat for about two months with my head in my hands thinking about what I am supposed to do next.

You know the saying…don’t put all your eggs in one basket – I did. Naivety at its best. I was a professional triathlete and going to eventually one day scratch and claw my way to the top and I was going to stand on top of that big elite mountain feeling as though I finally conquered the world. Ha! Not exactly. I tripped and stumbled and the only reason I somehow managed to not make a complete mockery of myself and my goals was that I had an extremely supportive husband who bent over backwards helping in my pursuit of a fantastical dream. I took an immature approach and failed to do what I truly intended to do and that was to find me. I wanted to be on that journey of self discovery only to find that I veered off way back at thinking everything was wrong with the world but what was really wrong was me.

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates. ~Thomas Szasz, "Personal Conduct," The Second Sin, 1973. This quote has stuck in my head over the course of the last few months. Maybe it was my constant mumblings to Mike about not knowing who I am and how am I supposed to raise a baby if I don’t even know the purpose and direction of my own life? Oh yes, those questions came out quite a lot and while most of the time Mike simply shook his head occasionally he would give me the sincere look and say you can still create a life for yourself and find what it is you are looking for in this world. A baby isn’t a burden Katie…it is truly a blessing and I have no doubt it will make you a better, stronger person. The world may look brighter and you might just find happiness and purpose in places you never thought possible. I can’t help but love him because he never says anything unless he truly means it. He also suggested I start writing again…blogging to the world more often than not because it is a way to clear my head, organize thoughts, and of course, connect to those who probably, just maybe, feel the same way I do. So, that’s what I intend to do – write but write honestly and openly. Not all about racing and eating fruits (even though that will still be a huge part) but more about living and dealing and discovering.

CHEERS to the new blog and creating a new life with Baby Buttons!

The Pregnant Pause

2011-03-24T11:18:00.000-04:00

The pregnant pause. I am 4 months pregnant!!! Ah yes, I remember the days fondly -- Attempting to figure out what was wrong with me though secretively knowing the answer but pretending not to know the answer because it was scary and surprising and causing my head to spin. Not 1 pregnancy test or 2 pregnancy tests but 5 positive pregnancy tests later then a trip to the obgyn and a visual of the child growing inside plus hearing the heart rate yes then I realized that I am indeed pregnant. Wow! It took quite awhile for it to sink in. I was on the five year wait plan and gave about 5 lectures during Christmas that babies weren’t coming until I was 30 (and funny enough I was actually pregnant with my child who was quietly snickering at me for my ignorance). I guess holiday parties should provide warnings…as well as peppermint schnapps.

Luckily, Mike was as happy as can be. Never even a flicker of shock in his eyes. He has been calmly waiting for this moment. He was ready to be a daddy. I needed a few months to think ok I am liking this idea of being a mom. So, don’t worry. I am so so happy now. It just took awhile to kind of sort out how life would change because let me tell you, having a child changes your ENTIRE life. I love it now but what I do not love is being pregnant. I know it may seem selfish but I am truly ecstatic to have the little one in my arms just not so much in my belly. I am finally breaking free of the nausea all day everyday phase so that’s a blessing. January and February were miserable miserable months. I never knew I could feel so bad. I some how managed to get myself moving for an hour a day but oh it was not pretty…always needed that toilet nearby and food was a whole other issue. Now that I’m 4 months along, the days are looking much clearer. Salads are back on the menu and I am able to actually do some normal (but much slower paced) training. That has made me a much happier mama. I will provide some baby bump pictures in the near future though right now, the bump isn’t really all that exciting. Just looks like a small bit of bloating and a bad 5-day binge on donuts. Sorry for the absence but this girl was in SHOCKville.

Goal Number 1

2010-12-10T12:56:00.000-05:00

What to do…where to go? Those are the thoughts that have been swirling around my mind. After a beautiful full week refresher in California, I have some what sorted out my approach to 2011. I’m not the type that likes to play the game of life by the books. I also am certainly not the sort to settle for meeting half-way or doing something without heart or passion. Hmmm, an interesting dilemma as triathlon has been my life for the last 3 years and I loved every minute and every challenge but there were things missing. Life didn’t seemed perfect even though I was supposedly living the perfect life. Triathlon set me up for some huge tests and while I met some head on others I failed. Maybe it had something to do with my heart being half in and half out. It was a year of learning and a year of enduring the ugly side of sport. No one likes the ugly side and sometimes I felt as if I was treading water with my hands above my head knowing if I didn’t change my ways I was going to sink.

So, I guess there is the question – am I going to sink or swim in 2011…I would like to swim and swim in an entirely new direction (no thank you to sinking). The biggest change --- I want to qualify for the Olympic trials for the Marathon. In numbers that means running under a 2:46. In my mind that means running a 2:42 and then making a huge push to run super speedy in the trials. What that means for triathlon is keeping her on the back burner (not a complete good bye just a pause) and putting down the bike and keeping dry (unless water running!). I get to put all my athletic energy towards running and running faster, stronger, and having the ability to hold 6 min. miles for 26.2 miles. I love it. I love everything about my goal. I love everything about running. The most important part is that this is 100% what I WANT to do and has nothing to do with making money or attracting sponsors or being a smart business girl. It has to do with what makes me energized, happy, excited. The best part is that this will translate perfectly into the rest of my life. Running will not consume my entire life but actually give me chance to make my other dreams come true and work towards other passions and goals.

I have 5 huge goals for 2011…

1. Qualify for the Olympic Trials

number 2 – 5 coming soon!

Just Thinking

2010-11-18T13:33:00.000-05:00

It has been a few weeks since I have blogged. Miami sparked some seriously deep thinking in my little head and now, I am simply attempting and re-attempting to manage my big dreams and goals with the reality of life. It is a very intense process but I am making head way and finding a new direction which seems to hold even more excitement than I could have ever imagined and some wonderfully challenging prospects. I want to make an honest, well thought plan for 2011. Flying by the seat of my pants is fun but leads no where fast. I have had 3 years of growth but not the success I had imagined at this point in my life. I expect more for myself and want to start down a bit of a different road.

Miami

2010-10-31T12:11:00.000-04:00

Miami certainly did not turn out as I had hoped. It was officially the first race I did not finish and while I am beyond bummed to not have crossed that finish line, I honestly didn’t have another option. Around mile 2 or so, I hit a pothole the size of Canada and since I happened to be going uphill on the probably the only uphill on the course, I ended up doing a lazy tumble onto the curb. The lazy tumble hit my brake and derailleur quite hard and I couldn’t get things back to working order. I needed an Allan wrench to readjust my brake and a bike genius to figure out how to heal my Ceepo. I kept riding in hopes of a mechanic. No one actually knew if there was mechanics on the course so I was determined to keep grinding it out. Around mile 15, I couldn’t do much more as my back had enough of the big gear, brake rubbing fiesta. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise because my bike doesn’t have the best fit yet and my back wasn’t happy and still isn’t happy.

I manually shifted my chain to the little gear and ended up having to take the ride of shame home. Apparently the only way back to the finish was riding the course in reverse. Everyone continued to point out that I was going the wrong way and as I started approaching the finish, people actually thought I was winning the race and applauding my entrance. I was so embarrassed but kept riding as I had no clue where I was and just wanted to get back to the hotel. Soon bigger crowds were forming and begin cow-belling me and whooping and hollering…that’s when I took a 90degree veer off the course, got off my bike and tried to look as unracer-esque as possible. I love Miami’s spirit though it was directed to the wrong person. As a million and one negative thoughts flowed through my brain, I actually was able to act on the one positive idea and that was to fetch my run shoes and head back to the hotel for a ½ marathon treadmill run.

Obtaining my shoes was quite the impossible task but finally convinced the race director that if I wasn’t able to get my run shoes I may walk into oncoming traffic (I had to be overly dramatic in order to get any where as the transition was ‘locked down’). So now the job was to figure out how to get back to the hotel with my bike and run shoes, hat, and bananas. Lucky for me, I had on stretchy bottoms and literally shoved everything in the back of my shorts. I am proud to say that even though I was mentally out of it and a bit sad, I was able to do a strong treadmill session. I was so upset that I may have let people down and didn’t want to see Mike as I thought that he may be so disappointed but he is the best ever because all he says is…Katie, at least you weren’t hurt. Shit will happen in races. We will train for the next race where you will be stronger then ever.

Ceepo Katana

2010-10-26T09:25:00.000-04:00

My newest riding partner is up and ready. Still a few tweaks that will need to happen but for now, I will let’er be and make changes after Miami. I just need to get some ride time on her to make sure knees, back, neck are adjusted as best as possible. I am so excited to race and while, it is probably never the smartest to race until your bike is 100% fitted…I think we will be fine. I really believe the Ceepo Katana will fit me like a glove. I am planning on heading out to Boulder, Colorado early December to get a proper fit from the best in the world. Our newest quote flying around the house is Sharpen the Sword – 2011 tri season is all about sharpening the sword, doing what needs to be done, making sure everything has a purpose and a focus. I love it!

Trekking Around

2010-10-18T12:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I chalked my day up as recovery. We decided to spend another weekend up in Vermont. We honestly cannot get enough of the crisp air, autumn views, and of course, our wonderful uphill-downhill run routes. Unfortunately, Sunday wasn’t a running day as my legs and body needed a rest. I’ve switched my training intensity to high and volume to low but I think the initial shock of this change has definitely challenged the body. Speedy training means some type of recovery is needed every 3-4 days or so. This doesn’t mean sit around and do nothing but is more of a let’s not try to max out the heart rate today and yesterday, it also meant let’s not smash the legs to bits. Mike advised we go for a walk/trek up through our favorite hills. I always wrongly assume that maybe we would walk for 1-2 hours though with Mike 2 hours becomes 3 and 3 becomes 4 and after the little walk is done I realize that I’ve been trekking up and down hills for over 4 hours and as much as I convince myself it was a perfect recovery day…my legs the this morning said I AM HEAVY and not so much recovered. So, I’ve procrastinated training waiting for a miracle. I hear the treadmill calling and water saying I will be friendly to your legs but the body is slow to go. Though, I must admit that the Vermont trek was worth every step and every climb because nature’s beauty is truly remarkable.

A Warm Apple Treat

2010-10-13T12:34:00.000-04:00

It is the time of year when apples make their grand reappearance. While they are always readily available throughout the entire year, there is certainly an apple craze that occurs from September through December. Our taste buds become a bit more desperate for apple pies, apple strudels, apple crisp and apple custard but with desperate cravings comes growing waistlines and that is no good. So, how do we enjoy apple treats without apple chub? Here is a simple recipe that is low fat, gluten free, and vegan friendly.

What you need for 2 people or one seriously hungry person...that would usually be me:

4 organic apples – I like to mix and match. Usually 1 granny smith, 1 honey crisp, and 2 gala.
Cinnamon
Sea Salt
Nutmeg
Olive Oil
Agave Nectar (or you can use honey)
Stevia

Slice your apples into thin slices. Place into the pan. Fill the pan with enough water to cover the apples. Let the water boil and slowly steam/soften the apples (you may need to add more water). Make sure before you begin adding the other ingredients all the water is pretty much out of the pan. Lower the heat to medium. Add 1 Tbls. of olive oil and 2 Tbls. of Agave Nectar stir and mix. Add cinnamon, sea salt, a small little dash of nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of stevia. Stir together. I like to wait until the bottom apples get a little golden brown but it is all a matter of taste.

If you want to get really exciting, you can add some gluten free graham crackers by simply putting the grahams in a plastic bag and crushing it into fine crumbs with a rolling pin. This makes the sweet warm apples even more delicious.

A Heartbreaking Loss

2010-10-07T10:20:00.000-04:00

It has been a tough week. A devastating week. Life can be so cruel.

We lost a close friend…family to my husband. He was 37 years old. A mountain biking accident. He left behind his beautiful wife and three wonderful kids. The only thing I know for sure is that Paulo will always live on through those kids. His spirit will be alive. I just wished they could have known their dad a bit longer because he was so unbelievably extraordinary in such a quiet way. He had the biggest heart and always lived life to the fullest.

It truly just takes your breath from you. I hope more than anything that Marni can find some of the strength and happiness and hope that she has lost. I wish I can take some of the pain from her. I wish I could turn back the clock but all that I really can do is continue living my life the best way I know how and to continue to love and create memories with those that I cherish most. Life is never a guarantee but what makes life worth living is the happiness and joy we feel when celebrating each day with the people we love.

Please hug everyone dearest to you. Tell them you love them…kiss them, hug them, hold them. Please let go of anger and open your arms to the beautiful world around you.

Paolo – you will never be forgotten. We will always make sure Marni and the kids are ok. You will be forever missed and maybe, just maybe, you can send some of your strength on the bike my way.

Doghouse

2010-09-29T08:15:00.000-04:00

The body is starting to bounce back and feel a bit more alive. The legs are feeling stronger and the heart is beating a bit faster…after an ironman, I can never get my heart rate up without either my legs imploding or my lungs gasping for air so I don’t even attempt to climb out of the 130s (that’s my max until my body says its ready). This weekend I was able to start training some serious training and Mike and I began our Saturday with an evil up n’ down 10 mile run. Deadly climbs with even deadlier descents. I was determined to give it all my body had because I was absolutely so excited to be outside in Vermont actually running again. I huffed and puffed my way up climb number 1 then carefully descended descent number 1 then came climb number 2 and I started chatting 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4 attempting to blaze my way up. Of course, blazing my way up these climbs landed my mile times at 9:15 and 8:33 but with a long descent ahead I was more determined than ever to just let’er rip. These are no ordinary descents; at certain points, we are dealing with grades over 20%. Time for the quads to get tough! I felt them slowly tearing apart as I ticked away at the 3-mile downhill sprint. I didn’t care – I wanted speed and was so happy to be running in the fall with all the red, orange, yellow leaves slowly drifting around me. 10-mile hill run completed. TIME: 1:17:57. A rather brilliant time for my first attempt and first ‘training’ run since Wisconsin. This weekend’s goal…break 1:17!

After the run, I jumped straight on my bike for a 50-mile tempo ride. It was a strong effort but once I jumped off the bike, I knew my legs were unhappy. Sunday morning I couldn’t even walk down the stairs. Monday morning I still couldn’t squat down or walk without an ugly limp. Tuesday I gave running a go but my legs laughed at me. Today, everything is much better and healed up and I got a little over zealous with my anticipated training plans – 2 hour hard bike workout in central park followed by a 40 minute run with 2 miles at 5:50 pace. 3000 yd. swim 20x100 as main set then a 3 hour ride maybe another jaunt in the pool…that’s where Mike pretty much lost it. and I quote “I thought you were going to train smarter. A 3 hour, mostly spin out, ride is a joke. you need to seriously change your outlook on the sport or it will no longer be an option”. Ouch. Not exactly what I wanted to hear but it is exactly what I needed to hear. I always know what I should do in my head though have the hardest time saying no to a friend or feeling that I’m missing a beautiful day that may soon become few and far between. It is a horrible habit and causes me to have unproductive training that leads to nothing more than slow bike times. What I need to do is bike, run, swim…relax and recover then jump on my trainer for 1 hour hard of shorter intervals then call it a day of training and work on my writing. Hmm now I have to explain to my friend Hank that I am in the severe dog house for making unfocused, unproductive training plans and hope he doesn’t hate me to much for backing out of yet another ride (once again from saying yes when I should have said no). Maybe I should just blame all of this on Hank?! Haha Hank…I love you!

Off to my run…need to stay focused. Always train with a purpose and no, riding to enjoy a beautiful day is NOT a purpose. Ugh.

My City

2010-09-28T10:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday night, I had to take a quick walk down the street to grab some pineapples from our local fruit stand. It was a rainy evening with some fervent downpours creating random city lakes and tidal waves from speeding taxis. I had the pleasure of experiencing the city tsunami which completely drenched me from head to toe. I, of course, was taking great caution tiptoeing around any and all water holes and walking meticulously from heel to toe in order to avoid staining my perfectly white sneakers. I was doing so well until I successfully cleared one of NYC’s most recently formed lake on 63rd and Broadway and amidst my celebratory dance a yellow taxi flies by at ridiculous speeds and launches a vicious watery attack upon my white shoes and my mostly dry body…the water even sneakily seeped into my raincoat down into my skivvies. It was a scene directly from a movie and left me quite saddened at the thought that my shoes may never be white again. Even in my sadness, I couldn’t help but fall more in love with my city. There, outside at Lincoln Center in the crazy rain, stood hundreds of people from all over the world standing side by side (umbrella to umbrella) staring and admiring the most beautiful display of art, talent, and emotion…the Opera (projected on a large movie screen). I have little understanding of Opera but even without ever truly appreciating the art, I quickly fell in awe. It has a power to awaken something emotional within you and you stop and stare and wonder even if for a brief second. As I walked away, I took a glance back appreciating all the energy the city gives.

Apple Picking

2010-09-23T12:08:00.000-04:00

Autumn. My absolute favorite time of year. The crisp air. The brilliant colors. The smell of bonfires and apple pies. I truly missed the change of seasons last year. While sun and warmth are absolutely wonderful, they don’t awaken my imagination. They don’t make me take deep breathes and reminisce of old memories and all the new ones to come. I love seeing the slow stream of smoke pouring out of stone chimneys, the rivers carrying the most colorful array of leaves, and wonderfully orange pumpkins scattered throughout Vermont fields. It makes me giddy.

Last weekend was my first fall adventure…apple picking with the family. There is nothing better then being able to grab beautiful red apples from the tree and giggle as you take your first bite and juice runs down your chin. Fujis were the apples of choice this particular weekend as each variety of apple has their own ripening progression. At first, a little disappointment came across all of our faces because Fujis are not the best ‘in store’ apples. They always taste rather bland and mealy but we decided what the hay and give’er a go as we didn’t have many options. We all took a skeptical first bite and were AMAZED at the taste. These apples were astounding. Crunchy, sweet, a taste buds dream. My little nephew Colin was in apple heaven. He was in awe that you could simply pick an apple and then eat it! He carried around one of the biggest Fuji apples I’ve ever seen and then made sure to eat every little morsel. He loved that he could just throw the apple on the ground after he was finished. I honestly think he ate upwards of 5 apples that day. Actually, we probably all ate about 5 apples because they were so good. We had an absolute blast. Who would’ve thought that apple picking could even entertain a high school football player? I’m telling you, there’s nothing better then grabbing the family and heading out to the orchards.

Happy apple picking!

I love it: Shake and Go Smoothies

2010-09-22T12:28:00.000-04:00

Today I have to give a huge shout out to Vega products and compliment them on providing the cleanest, healthiest, and best-tasting recovery products on the market. Hands down they are the best and far superior to any other company out there. I have relied on their products from day one of my ultra running adventures and never looked back. Vegan, Gluten Free, Pure and Natural. Their newest product is the Shake and Go Smoothie and they will soon be offering sample packs online.

http://shop.sequelnaturals.com/Vega-Us/Vega-Nutritional-Products_2

People always ask me if I ever dream about suddenly drowning myself in milk chocolate or swimming in a vat of cool whip. I always laugh because those thoughts don’t really ever course my mind. I have found enough sweetness in fruit to last a lifetime and yes, have on occasion eaten enough peaches to fill an entire room. I truly don’t miss out on processed, sugar laden treats. I will be honest that at one time in my life I did love more than anything a warm cup of hot chocolate and the occasional bag of skittles. I cannot lie and say that those things did not taste good. Yes, there are many options out there to replace such naughty foods (if you can even consider them food) but I have never made the exhausting effort to actually find and sample a vegan, gluten free hot chocolate substitute or ‘healthy’ skittles because as we all know, the nutritional value and taste would never be able to satisfy my high standards. So, I have lived my life for the past 5 years without hot or cold chocolate beverages and have foregone all skittle eating habits…until a few months ago when Vega came along with their Shake and Go Smoothies. Now, at first, I was little skeptical. I already had my happy Vega routine. Vega Sport before and during workouts and then Vega Health Optimizer with romaine, banana, and strawberries. My body was happy as were my taste buds but skepticism was put aside because truthfully Vega has never let me down with their products.

My first experience came with Choc-A-Lot and while I know I was simply supposed to shake and go, I actually decided to break the rules and blend with ice and a bit of vanilla almond milk because I thought it was finally time for a vegan, gluten free super healthy ‘milk’shake. OH MY GOODNESS! Vega made chocolate taste like chocolate and there I was drowning myself in a milk chocolaty heaven. Honestly delicious and the quite the recovery treat but my favorite was still to come – Tropical Tango. The first time I had Tropical Tango was after a 5-hour ride that didn’t end at a house but a parking lot where we then had to drive over an hour home so I ate 2 bananas then Shake and Go’d my smoothie and was surprised by how good it tasted and that it actually was smooth and not semi-chunky. All I needed was a little water and my bottle. My favorite way to drink the Tropical Tango is to blend with frozen strawberries and coconut water. Seriously amazing. Almost like liquid skittles and the Hawaiian islands blended together.

I am a huge fan and am once again, adding another Vega product to my routine. Vega Shake and Go Smoothies are definitely worth a try. You will NOT be disappointed! So good. Recovery with just a little shake. I love it.

Rest and Recovery

2010-09-19T10:44:00.000-04:00

7 days of rest and recovery. True rest and recovery. A complete hiatus from all things swim, bike, run and now I’m finally going a bit stir crazy. Most people would say then go on ahead and do some training but of course, my body would be missing the entire point. Everyone has their own ideas about how and when to rest…totally rest. This would be considered total rest. I did break a few days ago and decided a jog/walk would be a marvelous thing though the legs failed to cooperate and after 20min. I was forced to walk. This cemented the fact in my mind that rest, total rest is positive and healthy and will lead to beautiful things (also helps I am without my bike so temptation does not exist).

Happily tomorrow begins day 1 of countdown to Miami 70.3 but next week is nothing crazy just a little aerobic running and biking with a few bike workouts towards the end of the week being slightly harder and I will begin upping the ante on my pool training. Mentally and energy wise I am so excited to embark on year 3 of pro triathlon (even though year 3 isn’t officially until after the last race of the season) because I have had some major break throughs which have mostly all occurred on the mental side of the game. Over the past 7 days, I have had plenty of time to study and analyze where I can improve, how I can improve, and all the little steps it will take to get there. I had some great thoughts come to me while taking some truly intense walks with the dog. The key part is now that I know what I am suppose to do…can I execute? This is tricky because this is what has seperated the tier-1 pros from the best of the tier-2 pros which is where I currently rank. I’ve been out worked and out smarted. Ugh! I hate that feeling. So, come 2011 season I want to know that I could not have worked harder, smarter, or sustained one more intense workout. This Is now a head game because we are coming into NYC winter where solo training and indoor training are unavoidable but both are also as good (or even greater) to gaining speed and fitness so this girl must put her focus hat on and see what truly lies within these muscles. I don’t like 4th place and even worse is 8th place. Time to buckle up and buckle down (really makes no sense but you get the picture). This next winter will either make me or break me. Go big or go home. If there were any more ridiculous sayings that I could throw in I would. I’m am so so excited to get going and also am still trying to finagle a winter training camp in Jan. or Feb. Hawaii anyone?!

Ironman Wisconsin Photos

2010-09-15T22:13:00.000-04:00

I never can focus to well the week after an ironman. My brain and legs are mushy. I don't really understand why I feel hazy but everyone will tell me how exciting it must be to dabble in new adventures, work on buried projects, experience the world with no agendas. I always give an exaggerated look like yay, that's exactly what I'm doing even though I am truthfully just resting and recovering. Boring but needed.

So, with that said, I do not have a very fancy or exciting Ironman Wisconsin race report (maybe soon) but I decided I could do pictures. It was a tough day from the start of the bike to the end of the run. My legs refused to go though luckily my mind wasn't ready to quit so we ended up at the finish line in 4th. Not what I was hoping but the best I could do on Sunday. I am happy. Definitely not content. I have a lot more work to do in order to get to where I need to be. Even though the race wasn't the race I wanted at least my cheering crowd was amazing and gave me amazing support to get me through to that finish line and most importantly hold on to 4th as 5th place was slowly sneaking up behind me. A big thank you to my cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, brother-in-law, mom, dad, new found friends and Madison for being absolutely amazing. What a great (painful) day!

Swim exit

Banana-Rama!

Fueled on Bananas.

Running through Badger Stadium. So fun.

My Dad cheering me on. Loved it.

High Fiving my Dad. Can life get any better?!

Where is the finish line? I was panicking because my legs were done.

Ok. Happy. 4th. I'll take it.

Toasted.
Exhausted.

A Rant

2010-09-08T11:29:00.000-04:00

Nope, this definitely won't be my kindest blog but sometimes you just can't be nice. You have to be straightforward.

Over the past 16 weeks, I haven’t done too much jet-setting around the globe except for one little trip to northern Wisconsin. I have stayed low key in order to maintain a quality training routine that would allow both my mind and body to start absorbing some much needed hard work. Yesterday, I realized the hard way that I had created a delusional world in my head and convinced myself that we, America, were getting on the right track with health and attitude. It is very easy for any of us to create isolated perfect worlds. Even while living smack dab in NYC, I somehow managed to maintain a world that made me almost forget that my world isn’t the normal or average world. Most everyone I associate with is overly active, eats an abundance amount of fruits and veggies, is truly happy, actually thinks about intellectual thoughts instead of simply who is going to win this weekend’s football game (don't get me worng, I love football but not quite thought provoking conversation). I surround myself with energy. Positive energy and most importantly people who care about themselves which in turn, allows them to care about the world. It is a hugely important concept that people often tend to overlook. Many view taking care of themselves as selfish (some do, others are just plain lazy) but more likely this is an easy excuse not to take that step. I really believe people need to focus first and foremost on their own happiness and health before truly being able to give openly to everyone else. I know…yell at me. Trust me, you can do both simultaneously but if you don’t heal yourself then something is going to give. One thing I know for sure is that once you lose your health, life becomes tough very tough.

So why am I ranting? Well, I had to reserve a last minute flight to Chicago and my options were limited to one airline, JetBlue (they charge a flat rate of $50 for bikes while others are now all but asking for your first born child in order to get your bike on the plane). So, Jetblue it is...middle seat. No problem until I discovered my lovely neighbors. Man #1 – 100lbs over weight with the addition of random groans. Man #2 – unshowered, horrific breathe, stained clothes, and no concept that it isn’t comforting to be stared at for hours on end. You may think I am being unkind but I think I’m actually being too kind. While I sat arms tight to my sides snacking on my pineapple, these two men go on to ask for TRIPLES of potatoe chips and peanuts while quenching their thirst with nice cold Coca-Cola. I wish I was exaggerating about this. Man #2 actually rubbed his hands on his shorts and then of course fell asleep with his head turned towards me, mouth wide open, and sending me into my ultimate disspair as it smelled as if something had walked into his gapping mouth and died. Hoping to distract myself, I decided to attempt to plug my headset into my armrest realizing that Man#1’s legs were in fact spilling over and covering the hole. Do a push his leg down in order to plug in my headset? Do I wake him up? Am I suppose to feel sorry for him that he is overweight even though I just saw him eat 1200calories of fat, grease and sugar? Well, I just go for it touching his leg and then getting an evil look as if I invaded his space. UGH! I was peeved and sick and nauseated thinking how disgusting can one be? Where is the complete disconnect of actually allowing this to be acceptable? Have some decency! And stop making excuses, stop being lazy, stop not caring and get a hold of yourself people – and even if you cannot fathom getting healthy then take a shower. Please.

It is important to surround ourselves with people who force us to hold ourselves accountable for our own lives. People who help you become a better person are truly assets and dime a dozen. It isn't easy to walk outside the comfort bubble in order to make room for change but once you take that first step, things always tend to fall into place. Never let go of good people.

Sometimes you just have to sew!

2010-09-02T08:20:00.000-04:00

Through this entire crazy year and mild upheavals, BlueSeventy has pretty much been the only sponsor to stay by my side. Actually, believe it or not…they actually reached out to me. I have to thank them wholeheartedly because truly I don’t think many believe in me even though I’m finally starting to believe in myself and that is the most important thing anyways. Anywho, with the new rule changes regarding speedsuits, it left a few companies scrapping and saying where, when, how? BlueSeventy will have a suit out early October latest but kind of left me scratching as what to do in the mean time. I’m crossing my fingers that Wisconsin is a wetsuit swimathon but there is a possibility that we will have to thin suit it…what’s a girl to do then?

Yes, quite the conundrum. I most certainly do not want to spend upwards of $200 simply to get a possible one use out of a speedsuit. The thought of going full on Baywatch style the entire race with my favorite red, cat suit like speedo crossed my mind more then once but two things truly troubled me and that was the thought of practicing my biking and running in the swimsuit through Central Park which I don’t think would go unnoticed and may cause complete pandemonium as my white cheeks flash out from the backside…2nd concern is the fact the I have fears of camel toe protrusion during the race (actually, more like nightmares). Ok so nix the suit. Maybe attempt a sports bra, tri shorts swim…ah, nope. I think it was 2 years ago 70.3 Florida. My first triathlon. I thought I’d be brilliant and avoid the time-consuming step of unzipping a speed suit so went in full on tritop, tribottom realizing about 5 minutes into the swim that my shorts had literally ballooned to the size of Oprah Winfrey on one of her binges. Holy Water Balloon! I attempted to take them off with no avail because I super knotted the tie. Thank goodness because this definitely saved a few awkward moments as fellow swimmers would recognize that the white whale is, in actuality, a bare ass. Morale of the story---don’t double knot your shorts! Ok so red speedo option OUT, bra short option OUT, only thing left to do…

Scavenge through my drawers for some type of tight swim appropriate, material legal, above the knees, and not to flashy outfit. Nylons? possibly, maybe, no. How about bib shorts? just weird. and then I Discovered, again, 2 viable options – one I would have to cut the legs to go above my knee but unfortunately have no idea the material of the suit or the brand to find out what material it is so had to bypass. Option two, an old swimskin with a whopping hole in the back end. Actually, a perfect cut hole and I thought to myself
I could sew this beauty up no problem. Yes no one will even know. Or actually maybe I sew it with red thread so that everyone does know and it completely psyches them out.

Yes, so there you have it. I am opting for a sewed up speedsuit. If there’s a will, there’s a way and damn’t I’m making a way.

Confidence Boost.

2010-08-23T14:20:00.000-04:00

First off, I am 100% decided that I will be racing Ironman Wisconsin on September 12. Training has been going exceptionally well and I can finally say that I would actually be nervous to race myself. I am ready and confident. I am so excited to get to that start line and fight for 1st place. I will have 16 weeks of uninterrupted hard, fast training in my legs (and arms…I haven’t forgotten about swimming).

I raced Timberman 70.3 this past weekend and while it may not look like the fastest race on paper – it was a ridiculously good race for all the load I had in my legs from the past 10 days of biking, running, and swimming. There was no taper. No resting up except for major bed time on Saturday which refers to lying and/or sitting in one’s bed without any intention of getting up unless for food or bathroom. Ahh, loved it.

I was amazed yesterday to hear that I was the 6th woman out of the water only 3 minutes down to the leaders. This is a major breakthrough and means that I was able to hold onto the second pack chase group on the bike and actually had the potential to run my way up to top-5 but due to slightly dead legs, I didn’t have the low 6minute mile pace ability. It is all good because I know that I am saving up for Wisconsin where I am hoping to, in simple terms, crush skulls. Yippee!

Try

2010-08-11T13:20:00.000-04:00

“Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.” George Edward Woodberry

Mike sent me this quote this morning and it quickly reminded me to reevaluate my position in triathlon. I can’t back down from races because I feel inferior but instead I need to go in with my chin held high and give it whatever I have that day. Actually, I shouldn’t just give it all I have but always believe that I have more fight. I like to say ‘crush skulls’ it just sounds so raw and intense. I love it because it is so funny rolling off my lips. Oh yes and mentally I always need to stay in the race and fighting from swim start through the finish tape. It hasn’t been the easiest working in this sport but the feeling will be much much worse to know that I let my dream defeat me.

TRY. and TRY with everything you have.

Back in Action

2010-08-10T16:43:00.001-04:00

It has been a long hiatus but I finally have my feet back under me. The new apartment is pretty much all sorted out except for the severe need for a new couch. I finally have a computer and internet. The only plan from now and September 12 is to get ready to race to the best of my ability and that is a beautiful thing. Training has actually gone quite well over the past 8 weeks. I haven’t yet hit the large volume numbers I was hoping for at this time in the season but my body is responding well to the training and everything feels strong and healthy. I will be buckling down over the next few weeks and attending to all the swim, bike, run workouts that will bring me to tiptop shape for September 12. Time for some hard work!

Limbo

2010-06-08T20:16:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the long absence on my end. Life has been a bit hectic. I feel as if we are living in limbo…always waiting for someone to give answers. Mike is in the city and started his new job hopping between hotels and apartments. I am in Connecticut doing all that I can to regain some lost fitness, ensure a smooth transition to NYC, and attempt to recapture some normalcy though a routine will not happen until the end of the month. It looks as if we won’t be in our new apartment until after June 16th and before we officially live there we need to do a complete overall with paint and brooms. We actually snatched the apartment before it was listed - meaning before it was cleaned, painted and renovated - but ended up saving lots of $$money on our end and that’s never a bad thing. Good news is that since I currently have a garage I decided to renovate a beautiful desk (my father-in-law must love it). I found it abandoned on the side of the rode. Few have faith in its hidden beauty though I know this one has major potential after some long hours of laborious love. All is well and the changes and craziness are all happy and fun and exciting. No worries here!

The Next Few Days...

2010-05-23T17:50:00.000-04:00

Sunday: finish packing up the apartment
Monday: fly to NYC
Tuesday and Wednesday: find an apartment in NYC
Drive to Connecticut
Thursday: Hopefully, a solo 140-mile birthday ride to Vermont (well, the solo part is unfortunate but still totally fun)

Thursday will kick off my official 60 day training for Lake placid. 60 days! I warned Mike that I will become an animal (sometimes fluffy and cute but mostly vicious and wild) and maybe a little insane but this is quite necessary. I am currently still in a severe recovery stage and yes, I did manage to squeeze in a whooping 10 hours of training this week. No worries here. Just a few extra jiggles that will be given a quite the awakening come May 27th. Mike and I get to have a farewell dinner tonight at one of our most favorite restaurants, Raw Planet and I will, of course, overindulge. Trust me, even though it is all raw and veggies there are still a plentiful amount of naughty treats to be had. I currently consider myself like a bear preparing for hibernation and am in need for a little extra fattening (though my hibernation will not include sleeping all day more like biking, running, and swimming but really the same thing).

Onward to my delicious feast and then off to New York City. Kate is going home :-)

Florida 70.3

2010-05-20T10:49:00.000-04:00

Florida kindly reminded me that St. George was still hanging around in my legs. I had realized this fact days before I approached the starting line but the decision had been made long ago that I would race no matter the circumstances. Two days before Florida I decided to give the legs a test run…I hopped onto the bike for a 2 x 15 min. time trial and then jumped directly onto the treadmill for an 18 min. 5k. The bike went fine. Not amazing but acceptable. The run was quite the opposite. I felt like I was dying. I couldn’t breathe, my legs wouldn’t turn over and at mile 2, I had to turn the treadmill down to an 8:30 mile and call it quits. That’s when I knew that I probably shouldn’t race though I am stubborn and my Dad was going to be there cheering so onward (and hopefully upward).

I gave it my best that day. Pushed the bike with all I had and then when I hit the ground to run well sadly nothing would go. My hamstrings felt like tight violin strings and my butt muscles ached. After about 3 miles, I put it in cruise control and gave a little comment to my Dad that I was toast, burnt crumbly toast. Of course, my Dad is the greatest and said Hey Kate, it is ok. Just cruise it on home and gave me a high five. I chatted with a few people and even jogged along side Matt Miller and Charlie Plaskon for a bit. Charlie is a young 67 year old athlete. He is a blind athlete and truly inspirational. Matt, the founder of the C-Different foundation is also such an incredible man. They made me fall in love, once again, with this sport. You just can’t ever quit and so I plodded on home to the finish line and smiled because I was greeted by Mom, Dad, brothers, my sister, and little baby nephew. Awesome.

Florida was a pretty awful race on paper but in actuality, it was quite good. I learned I need to recover longer than 2 weeks from an ironman but also that I will always be able to tough it out. I am coming to the start line much more confident and am learning to close my ears to the naysayers. I know what needs to be done before Lake Placid and I will promise that it will be my greatest race to date. Of course, before any of Placid training truly begins I need to pack up our entire apartment, fly across the country, find an apartment, and re-establish some sort of normalcy plus recover which may honestly take another 2 weeks until that zippy zing is back. I can tell you this...I’m ready and smiling.

Quick Update

2010-05-12T12:04:00.000-04:00

Just a quick update on my end…I am flying out to Florida tomorrow for a little family vacation in Disney World and will be racing Florida 70.3 on Sunday. Unfortunately, my legs are still feeling the affects of St. George but I do love to race. It will be so much fun racing with almost the entire Pallardy clan intact minus my sister Christy, her husband Marc (wish you were coming) and my husband but other than that we will have a full house and I’m sure some good memories. Oh yes and full house means full house. I think 8 of us will be in a two bedroom. Nothing like a little family bonding. Actually, I love it because this race is truly a no pressure race day and then straight off to Splash Mountain. I’m so excited and will give it everything to make them proud though don’t worry, they already told me Kate, we don’t even care if you can’t race. We’re in Disney! Thanks…I think.

After Florida, I will be flying back to California only to have to pack up our entire apartment for a move across the country. Yep, Mike and I are moving back to the Big Apple. I am thrilled! Not quite a California type of girl. Home is out East. So, that will make for a crazy end of May. Then we have the time trial apartment search in midtown Manhattan and crossing our fingers that the stuff will make it from California in three weeks not six like last time. Once we get settled, Lake Placid training will truly begin. I already warned Mike that I will have to become a zombie for those 6 weeks before Placid but until that times comes, it is time to focus on getting life in order. Moving is no fun! but moving back to New York City is wonderful.

Minimalist

2010-05-07T11:28:00.000-04:00

I am writing this before my first little run since St. George. Some people gasp at the fact that I haven’t ran for 5 days. It seems horrifying that even though I’m sure I could have wobbled through some short runs, I made the executive decision to boycott any running until I knew I could run without muscle pain or having to trot along at 12 minute miles. I have kept my legs going with some swims and easy bikes but I will be the first to say that I am BEAT UP! My body is hurting and I honestly cannot avoid the mid-day naps even after not doing much more then daily chores, sending e-mails and eating bananas. With Florida 70.3 looming in the near future, I know that in order for me to have a stab at a solid performance I must pamper my little broken body with much love and much more recovery. Sometimes, I fall victim to the athlete curse that seems to always whisper in your ear more is more. Putting a halt to the typical training schedule is definitely quite odd but the worst is the mental game. I want to go try and nail some hard sessions just to convince myself I have speed but these workouts would put me in the ground for the next 6 months (no joke). So I shall just sit back and do what I can do…running minimally and then attempting to give it hell come 9 days. Please Disney World send me some magic (healing) fairy dust – WADA approved of course ;-).

Race Day

2010-05-04T11:52:00.000-04:00

St. George was absolutely amazing! One of the most gorgeous places I have ever been to in my life. There was breathtaking beauty surrounding you all day. The town was so quaint and cheerful. I just fell in love with this place and was so happy to finally make a good decision.

Race days are always interesting and this one most certainly gave me a whirlwind of emotions. The swim was held in a reservoir that seemed to appear out of no where. Imagine the moon then imagine the moon with a sparkling blue watering hole…that was our swim – a cold swim. Stepping into that water was no fun but looking at all the pros slowly making there way in and there faces change from focused to pain was enjoyable. I made sure to do a solid warm-up and had to unfog my goggles about 5 times before the start. Once the cannon boomed, we were off and I fell behind some feet and that was it. Happily uneventful and came in just under 1-hour. A good start until I realized I was frozen. The wetsuit rippers had to do everything in order to get my wetsuit off. I couldn’t move and once my semi-naked body hit the cold air…uncontrollable shivers. So there I am in T1 with no ability to move my hands or body simply shaking explaining to the ladies that it is cold about one million times. They did everything for me including putting on my socks, shoes, helmet, buckling helmet, change shorts, arm warmers, jacket, sunscreen and after all that was completed I still sat there thinking I need some hot tea maybe even hot chocolate or possibly a coffee even though I don’t drink coffee. yep, that was my rambling mind then before I could think clouded thoughts anymore the five ladies yanked my body off the chair and shoved me out the tent screaming GOOD LUCK! 5 minutes in T1. Whoopsies.

Onto the bike – Cold. Even though I had arm warmers and a warm jacket, I was tightening up every where breathing hard despite not moving. Hmm, what to do? I just kept working at it. Pedal and push. Pedal and push. Well, I wasn’t moving fast but I was moving forward so that was definitely a positive. Around mile 30, my lower back started killing me. It probably had to do with switching back to my Ceepo in such short notice and failing to put my seat at the correct height which ended up working muscles that are never worked. It was a very uncomfortable ride for about 40 miles which slowed my sorry ass down some more. Not a good feeling but coming into loop 2, things starting to feel good. No more frozen body and the back pain subsided so I gave it go and ended up biking quite well from mile 74-112. I was happy with my second loop but sad about seeing my bike time. No time to linger…it was time to run.

I started the run with a banana shoved into my shirt which people seemed to love. I guess running with bananas sticking out of your top isn’t the norm but a girl has to do what a girl has to do. Of course, I had the never fail T2 bathroom stop. I don’t know how to cure this epidemic. I can’t pee myself running or walking and I really have to go coming off that bike (darn coconut water). So, I do my I need to pee really fast and end up going really slow pit stop then I was off and my legs felt like absolute garbage. Oh boy. Never the best feeling of having trashed legs and knowing you need to run 26.2 miles. This is where running ultras truly saves me because I always bring myself back to about mile-74 of the Vermont 100 and remember that if I kept moving forward then I should be able to fly now. Once I made the 4 mile climb out and hit the first flat/downhill, blood flow seemed to increase and I fell into quite comfortable rhythm. Never really fast but strong. It was a tough run course. Hills and then more hills. I honestly loved it though one couldn’t tell by my face because I was so focused. I sometimes get into a run trance where I notice nothing. I feel bad because everyone was cheering so loudly and I simply don’t respond with even a blink. Sorry! Once I took 5th, I inherited the best bikeman possible. He just kept screaming Move out of the way, 5th place female. This girl needs some water. If a girl needs pretzels, get her some pretzels. Working for money here…on the inside. He was amazing and making me laugh because he was just non-stop yelling at people. I loved it! He was my hero. At mile 21, I had 5th place pretty much secured and then had my husband gently remind me if I wanted to get paid for this effort I might want to get my butt moving a little faster. Wurtele obviously crushed us all and now I needed to get under 10:21 to get paid so the fight was on and was truly painful. I ran my little heart out at the end which wasn’t fast but I gave it everything I had. I was chasing the invisible person (a paycheck) and knew that if I missed it by 10 seconds I would be pissed at myself. Yes, I had the full fledged sprint to the finish and remember nothing about mile 24-26.2 but I MADE IT! Yippee. Thank goodness. I guess that’s what I get for a 5-minute transition and a horrible performance on the bike. Lake Placid…watch out! This girl will be trained and ready to conquer you…I love racing but I will tell you right now – in two weeks, Florida 70.3 will hurt.

Ironman St. George: Here I come!

2010-04-28T11:49:00.000-04:00

So yes, my last blog wasn’t particularly cheerful but I do want to keep things honest and real. We all know life isn’t always beautiful and can be down right cruel at times though the things that keep us moving forward with our head held high is what makes it all worth while. I asked the question…How do I make my cowplop into something ridiculously amazing? Well, I came up with my answer.

Obviously, I went through a series of misfortunate events that led to what I deemed as failure. There I was sitting on my coach sobbing uncontrollably over my salad. Mike looked at me with his Oh no eyes. I decided to separate from my team and now felt completely naked. I no longer had sponsors or teammates. I only want to make people happy and currently have made quite a few people very upset with my decisions. Of course, Mike attempts to explain to me that this is business and you have to make business decisions. I know it was the right choice but it certainly wasn’t easy. I just couldn’t stop thinking that I really let Mike down because he has given me so much to let me go after these big dreams.

We had to build bikes, unbuild bikes, buy new parts, return new parts. I mean it has literally been in and out of the bike shops everyday and oh yes, here’s my credit card. Ugh. Walking away from my team, I have to give up race bonuses, status and swallow my pride because I will be racing bare. I’m ok with that just feel that I have taken one million steps backwards. What honestly changed everything was Mike looking at me and saying What will make you happiest? So, in between my pathetic weeping sobs, I mumbled something like I WANT TO RACE ST. GEAORGE. Yes, that was my answer. I am certainly not in what I consider ironman shape but what I do know is that I am ecstatic to be racing on Saturday. I love long and hills and 26 miles of pure running adventure. I feel naughty as it almost something I shouldn’t do but to hell with what’s right! I have had 6 days to think about this race and my thoughts are this…let’s just have fun. Givem’ Hell but no pressure, no stress, no nerves. I almost didn’t want to tell anyone that I was racing because then I feel pressure to perform but I realize, at this moment in my life, I need support. Hey…I am stronger and faster than I have ever been in my entire life and if, by chance, I go 14 hours…who cares?! I’m going to give it what I have and that’s all I can do. I’m excited for Saturday and everything that it brings. I know I will fall back in love with this sport and am hoping for a few small miracles.

Pray for my broken little body. I hope to do well for every one of you that has been pulling for me. All the little notes sent my way have given me that extra bit of courage and determination that I’ve needed. This race is for you!

Cowplop.

2010-04-25T01:06:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had that moment when you are absolutely fixed on baking something delicious? Where you are skimming through old cookbooks waiting for your eyes to fall upon a beautiful picture of pure deliciousness? The moment you find your soon to be culinary masterpiece you fetch a pen and paper, scribble down all the necessary ingredients and then run directly off to the store skimming the aisles for items 1-12. Once at home, you start pouring, measuring, and stirring. You make sure to do everything right. One cup here. 1 tablespoon there. Pre-heat the oven. Grease the pan. Nothing is missed because you know that one false step could ruin your final yummy work of art. The aroma is perfect. The timer is ticking and you are anxious checking again and again if all is ok in that little oven. When you hear the timer beep, your heart jumps because you know this is it. Your taste buds are soaring; you absolutely cannot wait to take that first bite. Oh yes, the first warm gooey bite and then disaster strikes. It tastes awful. How can this taste awful? What went wrong? Dissapointment. You think over and over about what you missed or if you put too much of that, not enough of this. Did it cook too long? Did you stir too short? All the excitement and work with nothing too show but a large pan of something resembling spoiled dog food. Yep, this would be my triathlon career right now…a bad case of misfortunate events leading to a disastrous pan of cowplop. Great. I now must start at the beginning but running out of patience. I love the sport with all my heart but boy oh boy, this sport definitely is giving me a run for my money (literally). How do I make my cowplop into something ridiculously amazing? I have no idea. If someone does, let me know because good ideas from my frazzled brain have been few and far between.

The Worst kind of Rain

2010-04-21T11:49:00.000-04:00

A warm rain during a run…that’s a good kind of rain. A cold rain while wrapped up on the couch huddled under blankets…a wonderful kind of rain. A freezing rain with wind while riding in the mountains and still needing to conquer a 10-mile descent with uncontrollable shivering…the worst kind of rain.

Yesterday left me crying on the bike. Yes, quite wimpy actually but I was unbelievably scared. I had no options but to ride my frozen body home in 2 hours of cold rain and the worst part was I had to descend down a river that, at one time, was a canyon. I had checked the weather quite thoroughly that morning and rain wasn’t to come until 3:00pm so I thought I would be fine. I peddled along at a good little pace and conquered one of my favorite climbs in a strong time. I was happy until I took a look around me and saw the low hanging gray clouds moving in.

I had already descended to the other side of the mountain and was 2 hours from home but convinced myself that the rain wasn’t coming just a bit of gray. 10 minutes later there came a huge gust of wind then droplets and I shouted repeatedly No!No!No! Please No! The shouting honestly seemed to ward off the rain for about 15 minutes as it only sprinkled on me. I could handle a sprinkle and pushed the pace hoping that with some speed I could bypass the inevitable. No luck. I was surrounded by ominous skies and soon was riding through a down pour. I had one option and that was to get home as quickly as possible. Once in the Santa Monica Mountains, you are pretty much left to your own defenses. There is no such thing as a coffee shop for shelter or a phone call for a possible lift home…it is you and your bike.

I broke the ride into sections. My goal was to push the flats and climbs as hard as I could possibly go to keep a good forward pace and most importantly, to keep warm and then, come descents, ride my brakes as the roads had become a biker’s worse nightmare – sand, mud, leaf parties, rivers of water. Yikers. I managed to keep myself semi-warm for the first hour but all went to hell when I hit Topanga (my last climb and descent). I was literally soaked to the bone and slowly my muscles began to lock up. Pedaling was difficult and could only manage small chain ring circles. My breathing became stuttered and my body starting to shake. I knew this descent could kill me simply from cold shock but I said just manage to keep your hands tightly around the brake levers and you’ll be fine.

The descent from hell. The rain came even harder and the wind whipped up the canyon. Even though I was descending at blistering 4mph, I felt I was still going to fast. Every turn scared the be geezers out of me and I made a pact with God that if he brought me down this mountain safely then I would never swear again or kill any little bugs or ignore the homeless man who asks me for money two times a day. Of course, I was mumbling every swear known to man as I rolled down the mountain but that’s really besides the point. The point was I was colder than I have ever been in my entire adult life and yes, tears started to stream down my face because I had become absolutely miserable and truly thought I wasn’t going to make it home.

When I finally reached the end of the 50-hour descent, I definitely felt a small victory but still had 30 minutes to get home and that was 30 minutes too long. I could barely peddle. I could barely breathe. I was shaking. I had snot dripping out my nose. Spit drooling out of my mouth. I was a complete disaster. I did laugh a little because it was all so ridiculous. I started counting down from 10 over and over to simply keep my sanity (that’s how bad it was). When I saw my road and my little home, I was euphorically ecstatic. One last demon awaited and that was to unlock my door. The key was in the keyhole but my hands couldn’t turn it. I almost had another fit of tears because I was so close to warmth but so flippin’ far away. Luckily, I was saved by a young man who turned the key so effortlessly while looking at me as though I was truly insane. I hobbled inside, ripped off my shoes and literally ran directly into the shower with full helmet and clothes (couldn’t manage to get the helmet off). I sat in the hothot shower for 45 minutes and after I got out, I still couldn’t stop shaking. I ended up brewing 3 batches of tea and wrapped myself in five blankets and then smiled because I knew that no race could ever present me with worse conditions…

What doesn’t kill you -- makes you stronger.

Doubt

2010-04-19T07:56:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, while searching for the answers in others…you begin to realize that the answers were in you the whole time. Believe in Yourself!

To error is human...

2010-04-12T14:16:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it is truly hard to admit that I am not all that graceful. It is even harder to admit that I come with a baggage of flaws and unsuspecting messes. Triathlon tends to bring forth all my most inglorious characteristics and though I try hard to work past my imperfections well, things eventually do go wrong. I do not take light the situation that occurred on the 11th of April but due to a man and a camera, I cannot hide behind pure denial because this my friends is etched into history. I also believe it is truly my duty to the team to address the question that was posted on our forum from Miss Caroline Steffan herself – How can you lose one shoe? I wish I could never personally answer this question but the following series of pictures shows how and why one can lose just one shoe…

I would like to apologize for not having a picture of my left bike shoe lying alone and abandoned on the road while I begin biking away with only one shoe clipped onto my bike. Every normal person would assume that you would recognize almost immediatly that you only have one bike shoe however I am not normal and had a crowd of bystanders screaming your shoe is on the road! your shoe is on the road! Oh boy, quite an embarrassing moment though simply one of millions in my life. I attempted to stay calm but anyone who knows me understands that sometimes instead of crying I laugh in order to avoid the river of tears and of course, ended up in a fit of giggles while working hard to stay focused.

"to err is human, to forgive divine"

Alas, I lower my head in shame and agony. I will not let this incidence happen again and will train hard in order to ensure a more professional and swift mounting onto the bike. Here are a few more pictures of the race. I promise that these will not make you cringe as much as the others.

Sadly, I am not saying that I am number one...I was simply caught in the act of pointing at something. For a 1st place, I have much more work to do.

The Madness Continues...

2010-04-08T15:01:00.000-04:00

The other day I wrote a thank you e-mail to Bruno-Luc from Louis Garneau. I was in immediate need of different size cycling shoes and honestly the next day, they were at my doorstep. He became my hero and I was even more excited that the shoes looked so snazzy with my red and white bike because well…the shoes are a shiny, sparkly red and white. In response to my e-mail, Bruno-Luc asked if I heated up my shoes in order to make them mold to my feet. I could only laugh at this question as anyone who knows me understands that I haven’t put anything in an oven for almost 3 years let alone a pair of brand new happy shoes. My response went something like this…

I cannot lie to you. I am nervous about heating up my shoes. I lack any experience with ovens so the shoes are not in qualified hands plus I don't own a pan. Before you judge me on my lack of pans just know that my entire life has reverted back to the 1930s as I have been writing with unsharpened pencils, my cell phone has been broken for 6 months, and currently am operating on a cash only basis due to some credit fraud. Fun times.

I will trust you if you tell me it is simple and I won't melt my new shoes but do I really need to put them on a pan? Who uses these things called pans anyway?! How about just some tin foil?

Luc...I'm a mess

I do want to apologize to Bruno-Luc for such a drawn out response but he probably didn’t realize who he was talking with and he also probably regrets his decision to involve me in any sort of e-mail dialogue. Bruno-Luc’s response to my e-mail was that we could have a phone conversation and asked how he could reach me. Again, I had to laugh as I have no phone and no way of receiving any incoming calls. He now must have realized that I am truly a disaster.

To make matters even horribly worse, the plumbing in our apartment went bust and has completely wreaked havoc on my life deciding to spew all of my neighbors shit into my bathtub continually throughout the day. Of course, this perfectly suits my reverting to the 1930s as my toilet has also felt the effects of the plumbing problems and I am now considering the possibility of using the pan in my cupboard in order to relieve myself.

When will the madness end?

Is there a full moon?!

2010-04-05T14:18:00.000-04:00

I honestly think everyone of us has heard the saying two steps forward, one step back. I am trying to convince myself that right now in my little life I am simply taking a small step backwards and soon enough I will be rocketing off into the sky. Of course, that sounds brilliant but sometimes it can be frustrating as I can honestly confess that the steps backwards have quite outweighed the steps forward. I promise I have put my fighting cap on and am determined to forge ahead though last night I realized how ridiculous things had become. My mind was battling one thousand thoughts and ideas. I decided that I could go for a nice warm cup of green tea. I put some water in the electric kettle and waited very impatiently for the boil. As soon as I saw some steam, I pour the water into my cup and knowing I have to wait for it to cool, I scampered off to the computer to write a few e-mails. I return to my heavenly cup of tea only to find there is no tea. What the?! It was empty yet no water surrounding the area. I asked Mike if he dumped my tea though he had just raced a 50k and was lying on his most favorite sleeping bag and I knew there was no chance in hell he had moved within the last 10 minutes. Stupefied but not defeated, I go through the whole routine again and again return to the cup only to find it empty once again. I swear to you there is a full moon circling my head. I inspect the cup and discovered no cracks and convinced myself that I had somehow inherited magical powers and was unknowingly deploring them onto my green tea. After further investigation, I did finally find a small rounded hole at the bottom of my most favorite mug which allowed for a perfect leakage rate that caused the water to drip seamlessly down the lines of the counter. I do not know how a rounded whole ended up at the bottom of my mug but I did seem to find the whole situation deliriously hilarious. Lately, even the small insignificant things have gone weirdly wrong and I am praying for mercy from the April Fools gods because it’s April 5 and it isn’t funny anymore. Please full moon…stop circling my head.

A Bit Bummed

2010-04-03T15:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I had to drive my mom and brother to the airport and say my goodbyes. I hate goodbyes. I always brush them off as quickly as possible as they are never easy and break my heart.

We always have such silly fun and they truly helped to take my mind off my jumbly life. I have to admit that right now I am dealing with some bad decisions I have made. It is making things quite complicated and I have to learn how to become a business women in order to avoid being completely walked over. I am trying my best to stay calm, cool, and collected but it has been a stressful few weeks. I can’t help but beat myself up and repeat all the ‘what if scenarios’ in my head. It isn’t the most fun place to be and I feel bad as I know I’ve let quite a few people down. I hate having to cause any conflict as controversy is something I will avoid at all costs though I realize now that it is a part of life and a part of life that I must come face-to-face with. The hardest part is not knowing how to fix everything and not knowing who to trust. I realized this year that triathlon is not as simple as training and racing. I’ve learned some hard lessons and now am trying to unravel my little mess. I’m crossing my fingers that somehow everything will magically work out but am currently very disappointed in myself and my current situation. Happy blog, right? Sorry. Things will clear up soon. I’m just a bit bummed.

Family Visit

2010-03-30T12:58:00.000-04:00

My mom and brother are visiting this week and I am so happy for the much needed break from the swim, bike, run routine as it was slowly beating me into the ground. The days are now filled with beach walks, hikes, laughs, scrabble and sunsets though training isn’t being completely thrown out the window simply immensely downsized. Sometimes I just need to have a mental refresher with some good quality family bonding. Today, I am heading to the waves with the brother. No, not surfing. This girl isn’t that talented but we will pull out the body boards (and wetsuits) and cruise some waves. My guess is we will only last about 10 minutes because the weather isn’t quite cooperating and the water, well, it is cold but my brother needs to hit the beach in order to report home that he was swimming in the ocean and riding the huge (not so much) waves. When you are 13, it is all about creating jealousy among your friends. It gives you that notch up for at least a few days. I realize the importance of the cool factor so I happily obliged. Anyways, I needed an excuse to do some boogie boarding.

No Oceanside

2010-03-24T17:56:00.000-04:00

I thought I would write to say that I am sadly not racing Oceanside due to some personal issues. Nothing serious but needed to postpone the TeamTBB debut for a few more weeks. I actually discovered a low key half iron in southern California called Superfrog on April 11. I think there are only about 300 people racing but it does have a small little prize purse so you can be assured I will be going for gold and of course, I’m a little antsy to get out there and see where my fitness is at. My run has felt dynamite lately and my bike quite a bit stronger though the course will be quite the dream crusher because much of the run is on sand…the race is hosted by Navy Seals so sand is obviously a must.

I do love the start of the race season as all the butterflies return and you are reminded why you fell in love with the sport and just how lucky you truly are. Just a few more weeks!

A week has gone by...

2010-03-21T17:18:00.000-04:00

I was reminded yesterday by my big sis that I haven’t written for quite sometime. She thought it best that I make sure to mention that I am still alive so…I’m still alive though my legs are quite dead. Training has come back full force and I love every long second of it. I honestly do not know where this week went. The good thing is that my body is slowly getting back on track and my mind is feeling quite a bit more refreshed. My week was filled with so many happy (and strange) moments. I wish I could share all the strange occurrences that seemed to come my way throughout this week though I honestly think most of these moments are you had to be there kind of moments. That is the sad thing about doing most of my training on my own as I am left laughing alone on the side of the road uncontrollably and this creates the illusion that I am crazy. and while some of these instances I swore I had taken crazy pills, I was not actually the one who was crazy. Does that make sense? Oh bother. Actually, to be quite honest with you, the main reason I haven’t had a chance to blog was that I finally had a break through – my writer’s block unclogged and finally, I have been able to make some great strides in writing my novel. This is a very exciting moment because for anyone who has ever written anything knows that when you experience a brain block you are stuck no matter how good your intentions. You can honestly spend hours in a library or with a pencil between your fingers but if you have a brain fart then you are better off poking yourself in the eye with that pencil (which almost happened on a few occasions). The good thing is now I am off and running (figuratively) and my book is flowing along with ease. I am thrilled with my progress. Now, off to the pool like a good little swimmer that I am even though I’d rather take a nice long walk along the beach.

Security: Round II

2010-03-12T13:37:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I made a few calls in hopes of finding some clarity regarding open track hours. I did eventually get through to one person who actually knew a little something about public track hours. Every other person replied with maybe its open in the early morning or lightheartedly state if the gates are open I'm sure you can run (not true as I was escorted off yesterday x 2). I even heard the reply that the track wasn’t for people (this one confused me). Then, when I called the college, I received the answer of…its open when its open but may be closed due to various events (hmmm loved the clarity). Anywho, I got one lady who gave me the green light to run on the high school track from 6:00am-7:30am this morning. Wow, thanks for all the options.

So, this morning I was on the track at 5:55am bundled up with gloves, hat, arm warmers, and down feathered vest as it was only 7c (45 degrees). Thailand, I need you! I miss your most glorious heat and ungated, deliciously red running track. Well, at least I was free to run. I start my workout and you probably could have guessed — security comes trotting down the bleachers. I actually received 2 guards today. Man, I’m a baddass. They go on to tell me in their mean voice that I am absolutely not allowed to bring my bike down to the track. They must be joking, right? Wrong. My bike wasn’t even on the track. It was leaning on the fence both wheels in the grass and it wasn’t like I was whistling around doing 400meter repeats in my TT position! Oh Lordy…okedoke. I go over to my bike and have to carry it to the outside fence with both guards watching and they go on to make sure I know I must be off this track at 7:30am as its school policy. I know. I know. I wanted to speak a piece of my mind but only could mumble a delicate Yes, of course.

I did actually complete an entire track workout but seriously, aren’t there bigger issues to deal with? Can’t they just leave a girl alone? Can’t we all get along? I want to run circles in peace! I honestly believe that here in the states there is a group of people determined to protect running tracks from, you guessed it, runners. I despise that group of people and I wish upon them nightmares of crazy little girls chasing them around gated tracks. I will find you….

Security!

2010-03-11T19:29:00.000-05:00

I have four running tracks within a 2 mile radius and you would think that with four options, there would never be any problems hopping onto a track for a workout. Oh no, not the case here in Santa Monica. What I had failed to realize about Santa Monica was that the running track was considered quite sacred and all shall be barred and locked unless, by chance, they are not (always a surprise). I have rarely found any of the tracks available and had all but given up on the idea of a mid-day track workout but I returned from camp a new woman…determined to find a way.

So, today, off I went on my bike with a backpack full of running gear. Yes, I was going to get on a track. I mapped my route hoping that I would only have to hit one track and could soon find myself lost in the intervals. Track number one, open gates! Yippee. I hop down. Lace up my shoes and off I go. I had the track all to myself with blue skies and sunshine gazing down at me. I was happy – for about 10 minutes. Come around the turn and what do I see? Standing at my start line, a rather large, nasty security woman decked out in badges and walkie talkies glared at me as though she was going to give me the ultimate beat down. I thought about simply sprinting by though I believe she had a stun gun on hand so I bypassed that thought and walked up to her surrendering. She gives me a full body scan and then says Madam (she actually referred to me as madam) , you are NOT allowed on this track. You will leave immediately. I gave a smile and nod but of course couldn’t just leave without some answers…

Why can’t we use the track at this time?
School law forbids the public from using the track unless during public use hours.
When are public use hours?
Unsure. Maybe mornings but not all mornings.
Do you know if there is anyway I could talk to someone and see if I could get a permit or something so I can run on the track mid-day?
I would be the person you talk to and Madam, there are no permits. and there is no running on the track, period. You will never be an exception. Once we let one person come on the track mid-day then everyone will be on the track.
That would be horrible if everyone was running on the track (sarcastically stated).
How can I find out if the track is definitely open?
You must leave now. Off school property.
Ok Sorry.

Yep, that was the extent of the conversation and she actually walked me to the corner and made sure I biked away. I can see it now Run Away Runner Circling Publicly Funded Track. Horrifying. Well, onto track number two. Yet again, the gates are open. I’m much more cautious during round 2 of track running. I scanned my surroundings searching for any signs of security or stun guns. All looked clear and I jump onto my 400 meter circle ready to go. One lap down, two laps down, three laps…oh bugger, security not looking so happy with me. There is a yell followed with quick paced shuffling This track is not open to runners! Sorry. I didn’t really even say much. I did ask when the track was open to the public and received an unspecified reply I do not believe the public has access to this track. Oh bologna! and, once again, I was escorted off and watched to make sure I bike away but this time the security guard took the extra measure of making sure to lock the gates in front of me. I get it people, I get it. Deep breath. Onto track number three even though, by this point, my motivation was sadly lacking. Track number three: locked. Track number four: locked. Final Destination: home with my pineapple and ended up forfeiting my track workout or any running workout due to frustration and stun guns.

I want to simply run on a running track. That’s all. Nothing more. I want to run in circles…unbothered. I just honestly cannot understand why, at 9am in the morning, all the tracks must be locked, gated, and inspected by stun gunned dressed security guards. It is a track people. A track! Rubber and grass. A circle that is made for running and I, a runner, who wants to run that circle. I don’t get it. I really don’t understand but I shall give it another go tomorrow morning again on my bike and with my backpack. I am still determined though if I happen to get stun gunned or whamboozled then I will, most likely, call it quits on my track endeavors.

Counting down the Days

2010-03-06T13:56:00.000-05:00

It was a long exhausting journey home. I am so happy to wave good bye to airplanes for a few months. The next time I will fly I will be heading for Disney World and while most of the trip will be family playtime and twirling tea cups, I also will be doing a little racing. Florida 70.3 is honestly one of my favorite races on the circuit as it genuinely feels magical. I feel like a little kid in candy land. I always have so much fun and honestly can't stop smiling. It seems all the stress of race day disappears because around every corner there is Mickey Mouse and Goofy, enchanting music and childhood memories. This year will be extra special…almost my whole family will be down watching me race. Brothers, sisters, cute little baby nephew, mom and (drum roll) my daddy!

I still can’t believe I actually convinced my dad to come down to Florida. For anyone who knows my dad, he is a kind of a homebody but is so super supportive of my racing. I had to get him out to one of my races this year though I knew I needed to get creative. The trick was that he is a sucker for Disney World so I knew, with just a bit of finagling, that I just might get him to see me race in Florida. A 2-for-1 type deal. Of course, I had to reassure him that it wasn’t one of the crazy long races and that there will be much more Disney Worlding than racing (no problem for me!). Oh yes and my dad said he wouldn’t mind witnessing a victory. It seems so simple when my dad says it…Kate, if I’m watching you race. I’m pulling for a win. No problem Dad. No problem. I can’t even stop smiling and the race is months away. I will be so excited getting onto the plane in May as it will be combining all my favorite things in the world – family, racing, imagination and childlike fun. Yes, I'm counting down the days - 70.

What Else?...

2010-03-01T19:09:00.000-05:00

I had to laugh a little as I have had so many people ask well, what else is happening in Thailand? Oh yes, what else besides swim, bike, run…hmmm, there is my daily excursions to the fruit market and that’s about it. We are truly immersed in a swim, bike, run world. Our hotel is quite secluded from the lively happenings of Krabi town and of course, Thailand is a world far from home. English is not spoken here and the idea of coffee shop or movie theater seems extremely thrilling. We do not have television. Ok, I have a television with 3 channels – BBC, soccer, and a movie channel though the problem is that I unplugged the tv the first day I got here and now have no energy to actually go over and plug it back in so for me, no tv. Each day we are training from 7am to 6pm and in between attempting to regain some sort of energy to go nail it yet again. Now, this is all good. My teammates and I know how to laugh and giggle and have fun whilst training our arses off (literally) but outside life beyond the daily routine of swim, bike, run is well…boring. A good boring. A make you focus on what needs to get done type of boring. It becomes home here. When suddenly you realize that the four elephants walking down the road are quite normal and soon find your internal powers to tame the stray dogs well you know you’ve adapted to the Thailand way of life.

I am actually heading home a bit earlier then expected as plans changed but no worries, I am so happy to be getting back to California on Thursday and have missed my husband in crazy amounts. I have also missed my little home. When you are away, far away, you realize how fortunate you are and how truly amazing and blessed your life is.

Alrighty, I’m now off to workout #1 of the day…a speedy track session.

Gray Clouds

2010-02-26T09:19:00.000-05:00

There are always those moments in my training when I begin to feel as though I am simply stumbling along. The body is tired, the muscles ache and the heart seems to be sputtering. I keep pushing and fighting knowing that this is what needs to be done. Motivation is never lacking but sometimes that little extra umph just isn’t there.

After a short swim yesterday, coach handed us our workouts of the day. Time Trial bike followed by a 15k hard brick run then for a little afternoon delight…hill repeats. I had enough of my sloggy training. I wanted to feel some fire, some speed. I was ready to go for blood. So, off onto the bike I go. Our time trial road was oddly quiet and the sun actually hidden beneath quite a few clouds. I thought this is perfect, time to give’em hell. I was on a funny little mission. The sweat was pouring, my lungs burning. I was breathing like a ravenous bull. I was finding my umph. It felt unbelievably good to let it all go. I kept saying make the wind chase you, make the wind chase you. I shattered my quads and then felt some nervous butterflies because I wanted that same feeling on the run. I wanted to feel free and feel fire. I jumped off my bike and threw on my shoes and headed out onto the road.

There was an extra spring in my step. The sun still was tucked away beneath some gray clouds. I almost forgot the feeling of running without the high noon scorching heat. Each step felt easy and comfortable. Then, suddenly those gray clouds decided to unleash their fury and the rain came and came hard. It was almost like a waterfall pouring straight from the heavens. Literally I was soaked to the bone within 2 seconds but soaked with running shoes on means that I am in my little running heaven. I LOVE to run in the rain but, before I frolicked through all the massive puddles, I needed to save my ipod. I panicked a bit because I already lost my ipod a few weeks ago to an unexpected rain shower. All I could think was noooooo, not another loss (my heart can't take anymore). I started scraping for plastic. I was frantically searching the side of the roads for anything plastic. I ended up layering my ipod with about 6 things of random items praying for its life to be spared. After the intense ipod rescue, I stripped off my earphones and sunglasses and went for a speedy, puddle splashing sprint home. I was floating. I was giggling. All I could think was how much I loved my sport and how beautiful life is. Sometimes all a girl needs is a spot of rain!

Pain and Glory

2010-02-24T00:40:00.000-05:00

I have about 45 minutes until I need to jump onto my bike for a 4-hour ride. I’m actually fighting to keep my eyes open and making sure to stay a good distance from my bed as it seems to be calling my name for a nice long nap. The training has been tough…a good tough. Non-stop from morning until night and the sun is always there to keep you very honest and sweaty during all efforts. My body is tired but I have always managed to find the energy somewhere to put together another swim, bike or run session and of course, today’s bike will be no different.

Physically, yes, everyone here is run-down and a bit smacked around but mentally, if we are resilient enough, we can always stay fresh…in the head. And this, I have learned, is the most important thing when it comes to racing, training, and even managing normal life – get your head straightened out. So, right now, I have to simply take a deep breath and get out onto the road realizing that these are the workouts that make you stronger, faster, fitter on race day. When the going gets tough, the tough get going! I laugh though because I think people assume we are just little energizer bunnies…going, going, going. Now, we may always be going but the going isn’t always pretty and most certainly isn’t always painless yet nothing and I do mean nothing can stop a true champion. It is a painful process to get good though if you can sincerely love the ups and downs and embrace the pain then I believe things will turn out alright. The beauty of camp is that you find that extra little motivation from your teammates and your coach (yes, coach – I’m listening). We are all in pain but with pain, comes glory.

Emil!

2010-02-21T02:36:00.000-05:00

Today's workout was dedicated to a man by the name of Emil Zatopek. Emil was not only a phenomenol runner but a great man. A true role model for athletes all over the world. He is the only man to win three golds in the 1952 olympic games: 5000 meters, 10000 meters, and the marathon...A feat that will most certainly never be replicated. His training routine was tough and he kept it simple but hard. There are three things that were vital to his success--the track, interval training, and volume. So, today I had to embrace my Emil and had a 25-mile track workout and of course, to add to the fun of this little run I was going to run straight through the high noon heat.

After this workout, I was so elated and giddy that I had to send an e-mail straight off to coach. This is what I wrote...

Brett,
Today was probably the greatest training runs I've had in my entire life. It certainly wasn't about speed as I wasn't blazing but I was so unbelievably solid from mile 1 to mile 25. I was worried that it wouldn't be pretty due to the fact that my body was quite dented up from yesterday's training though as soon as I stepped onto the track, I fell into that nice little rhythm. I didn't actually get to start my workout until about 8:45am...insides tend not to agree with late dinners. No problem, a little sun and heat never scares me as that type of pain never compares to other pain I've had to deal with so I just embrace it with a few extra waters and pineapple juice. I was all set.

About half way through, that's when things really started to click. I felt good. My mind was clear. I was a happy little girl out on that track. It was so perfect. Just me, 400meters, some sunshine and a few lazy dogs. Life doesn't get any better!!! I love finding that point when the legs start to fall apart and that's when the real fun begins because you begin a battle. No one knows the battle that goes on but you. Its when you have to decide whether you want to push down barriers or hide away from the pain. I decided to battle. Make love to the pain. So much fun. When things got sketchy on the last set of 20x200s I simply cried out "EMIL!" and pushed on. I honestly had a blast out there and felt so good. Don't worry coach...the legs are crying now. They are shattered but my spirits are lifted. I love running. Absolutely loved today. Thanks Mr. Zotapek. Thanks Coach. Kate :-)

Embrace your Emil today. Happy Training!

More Pictures

2010-02-18T23:35:00.001-05:00

A little Krabi Photo Album

Our Hotel

Our beautiful neighbors...I think I eat more bananas then them!

My market down the road where I get coconuts and pineapples

Our 40k bike road where a lot of biking pain occurs

The pool with the running track in the background

This is where I drown everyday. Witness the no lane lines.

The Street outside our hotel

A Swim Thought

2010-02-17T03:20:00.000-05:00

Today’s swim actually called for some easy 800s though easy with paddles doesn’t truly equal easy for this girl. As I am ticking through the meters, my mind and body keep on telling me you are wimpy, your shoulders hurt, you are slow. Evil thoughts that tend to always creep there way into my head whilst swimming. One 800 done. Two 800s done. Three 800s done. Then the fourth 800 posed a bit of a problem as I was deliriously tired and so I started drinking in much more pool water than your average water-gulping fish. I could feel the water start sloshing in my belly and then I had this hilarious thought come to mind (though now I realize it wasn’t even remotely funny. I was just tired)…

I envisioned myself going up n’ down the pool which wasn’t to hard to envision as I was going up n’ down the pool but that is all besides the point. Anywho, I was swallowing more and more of the water and suddenly realize that I had drank the entire pool. So, there my entire team is lying on the bottom of an empty pool attempting to finish there swim sets only to realize to their horror that Kate had accidentally inhaled all the water. Then Brett walks over to the side of the pool with that look in his eyes as to say What exactly is the problem here boys and girls? Of course, everyone is looking at me explaining that Kate drank all the water coach and of course, my belly was protruding larger than the Atlantic Ocean and all Brett says, without hesitation, is…GET IN HER BELLY!

Ok, so this thought actually made me have to stop on the side of the pool because I was laughing so unbelievably hard and the sad thing is now that I am reading this it just doesn’t make any sense. These are the things I have to battle in my head as my body starts to get more and more smashed. I apologize for bringing you into that world.

Random Pictures

2010-02-16T18:01:00.000-05:00

Our afternoon off that seemed so long ago

The Wongstar beautifully showing off the gorgeous beach. The water looks refreshing but is actually quite warm.

How we get around Krabi. Load er' up!

My shower-toilet combo I'm not too fond off nor am I fond of cold showers. One would honestly think that since it is almost 100 degrees outside a cold shower would be nice but cold is cold and it is no fun.

The view from my bedroom window.

Banana Run

2010-02-13T23:12:00.000-05:00

I have many people approach me and ask, “How do I get ridiculously good-looking arms?” It is a question I take very seriously and very rarely do I divulge any secrets however I feel it is only fair to allow for a small leak in my arm training routine. Now, people you must listen and listen closely…the program doesn’t include any of your fancy machines or pretentious dumbbells and absolutely no prissy little bands or 100s of push-ups. I mean, that stuff is all fine and dandy but for real results you must take it old school and when I say old school, I mean very older than old school. Take it back about a few million years when us men and women were supposedly monkey men and women. I know for absolute fact that our ancestors of great had ridiculously good-looking arms.

Start the arm training young! Definite key to future success.

How did our hairy relatives get such extraordinary arms without the gym and knowledge of reps and sets? Well, it is quite simple…in the morning, they think to themselves Oh, me hungry me needy food and sure enough they have to run to their nearest banana tree which happens to be just about 2 miles away. There they grab their beautiful yellow bananas and run home with bananas in tote and this my friends happens more than simply once a day. Yes, you may be giggling and thinking oh you silly little girl but the truth is, as my teammates witnessed yesterday the Banana Run is a staple in my ridiculously good-looking arms routine. Running with 10 bananas in your hand leads to arms that will make girls pee themselves at the swim start because they fear my chiseled biceps. It is all part of my plan to take girls out of the race before the race even starts. Banana-Rama!

Code Red!

2010-02-10T21:23:00.001-05:00

No, the picture above is not from a National Geographic photo expedition. The picture was taken from my shower. Horrifying. A CODE RED situation. It happened like this:

After a 5 plus hour day of double biking, I decided that a deep cleansing shower was in order due to the fact that I may have mistakenly forgotten to shower after workout #1 instead taking a 2-hour power nap and hit workout #2 crusty, salty, sweating and absolutely disgusting. I fear this may not be the only time this happens at camp and I do want to apologize to my teammates for this little unfortunate mishap.

So, off into the shower I go. There I am singing and dancing with bubbles floating all around me and then, I peer through my sudsy eyes to see a hairy creature twice the size of me **slight exaggeration** sitting in the corner waiting to pounce. I squeal and squirm and panic. How am I going to finish my shower with this blood sucking, life-threatening thing staring at me with his beady, ginormous eyes?! At first, I think…forget the shower and run for the hills but then I remember I didn’t even take shower #1 today so I best scrub for the sake of hygiene and, I kid you not, I actually stepped outside my shower into my bedroom closing the door and soaped myself up in my room. Then, when water was necessary, I went back to the shower making sure to keep the door open for a quick escape in the case the spider attempted any fancy movements. I had visions of this spider taking me hostage, wrapping me in his silky web and feasting on my amazingly meaty body for the next year. Oh scary!

Once I was squeaky clean and properly dressed, I screamed for coach at the top of my lungs…Coach! Coach! Help me. Help me. My life is in severe jeopardy! Of course, coach didn’t respond and I had to go to plan B, which was run through the halls of the hotel until I ran into a man or lady willing to risk their pretty little life for a girl like me. Luckily, there was a man nearby who took that spider and man wrestled him until its heart stopped beating…though, unfortunately for me, 2 legs were left on the floor after the wrestling match and they quivered and shook. I closed my eyes and picked the legs up (with a paper towel) and through the squirmy massive legs into the trash bin.

Hopefully this mama massive spider didn’t lay baby eggs all over my room…I’m going to have nightmares!

Thai Massage

2010-02-07T20:47:00.001-05:00

Walking towards my massage I see angelically written on the little shops front massage for everyday people. It seemed so innocent and gentle. So, I politely slipped off my sandals and walked inside and asked for a basic Thai massage. The lady nods and points me to the bed where she draws the curtains around me and I assume that means time to get into my birthday suit. I start whipping off my clothes stripper style and she runs in saying, “No!no.no.” Oh dear. Probably gave her much more of show then she bargained for. I throw back on my shirt then she tosses me some oversized maroon clown bottoms and I think panties or no panties?…I went with a naked bum simply to feel more at home.

The massage started off gentle enough for the first 3 minutes. I thought how nice and soothing but not for long as ‘Strong Hands Magee’ went at my muscles with the wrath of an angry bull. I attempted to take the pain but I broke down and asked for more soft, more soft. That worked for 30seconds then back to the grinding. So, I winced and told myself this is good for me. Of course, right when I thought this is good she grabs my hands, kneels on my calves and pulls my body off the bed 1-2-3-4 times. I couldn’t take it anymore and completely broke down in a fit of giggles. How ridiculous was this? The lady didn’t even pause with my laughter she went right on hammering away then flipped me over like a jello sandwich and wrenched my quads and IT band until blood came out of my eyes. She would smile at my wincing as if someone told her I see beautiful little bunnies everytime I wince in pain.

And just when I thought I experienced the worst…all of a sudden her foot was jammed into my hamstring with legs folded like a pretzel and circulation denied to my most valuable body parts---this all made for a giggle fit #2 which my massage monster lady (who I adore) also joined in. There we are two of us laughing but she obviously doesn’t take a break in action and continually gnashes away at my little broken body.

I still don’t exactly know what happened and feel slightly abused and maybe slightly injured but in a weird sort of way, I think I truly enjoyed it and maybe even loved it.

Long Ride

2010-02-06T19:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we had our very first long ride. Coach devised a deceptively tough 155k loop that includes all things evil: hills, wind, heat…but then it also includes all things good: beautiful scenery, wonderful people screaming hello!, and the beauty of riding 1 single loop and of course, 15 cents for a huge water. The most wonderful thing about this ride is that there are very few distractions.

We were sent off at 9:00am as a group. The plan was at 25k some of the girls (Rebekahs x 2) and boys would go off and bang out the loop and the rest of us would simply get it in our legs. Well, that plan didn’t really start off as I had envisioned as most of our group was holding on at 30k and no one was giving in. Last thing I was going to do was be dropped so I pretty much brought up the rear of the paceline praying that I can hold this for the whole ride. Miraculously, coach actually told us to slow down as there was no need to smash ourselves. So, we slowed for about 2k then put the burners back on but now it was just Amy, Tereza, Maki, me cruising along. The pace was fast. We had quite an efficient paceline going and I actually felt pretty comfortable. Amy is one mean machine uphills. If I was leading and we hit a hill, I could be assured that Amy would quickly creep past rhythmically sailing up the climb. Oh bugger but she will make me stronger so I guess a thank you is in order.

We ended up getting a bit lost at the end. Never the most fun as a 155k ride seems long enough especially with the heat. I think Rebekah Keat’s bike read 41c (105 degrees) while riding. That’s toasty and pretty much sticks it to you. I think our final time was 4:35 for 100 miles. Now, mind you we were pacelining but still…that’s blazing for this girl.

Off for my long run then beach time with the team…yippee.

Simple and Beautiful

2010-02-05T03:43:00.000-05:00

Most importantly, I need to tell you that I found Bananas! They do not sell them at the local supermarket but they do sell them just down the road. Every little food stall (most everyone has one down the road from our hotel) has delicious little bananas that taste just like white chocolate and only cost 5 cents each.

Now onto the simple and beautiful...

A simple morning run in Krabi always seems to begin with a smile from May, the owner of our hotel. She doesn’t speak English but has a heart of gold and we have a mutual understanding of our extreme lack of comprehension of each other’s language so our smiles and nods do just fine. I have managed to write a few sentences in Thai and the locals appreciate the effort even though I am quite scared that the computer translations aren’t as eloquent as I wish.

Krabi is definitely a far world from home though most certainly a beautiful world. The people here live very simple lives. They are so gracious and kindly accept our cultural miscues. I actually fall a bit more in love with Thailand everyday. Simplicity is lost in America. Here people are outdoors all day working hard to provide for their families. There isn’t stress or hardship written on their face…there is comfort and a humble acceptance of their lives as they are. We road our first team ride yesterday and most every one waved and screamed hello. The kids here have such beautiful little faces. Their energies are so magnetic. I hope to take this simple world back home with me as it truly makes life all that more beautiful and peaceful. Stress is a good thing as it drives us forward to success and allows us to reach our full potential even at times conquering the impossible however stress is a double edge sword. Too much stress can drive us mad and takes from us our childlike wonder and joy. Take time in your life to enjoy the simple things.

Thailand: new experience

2010-02-03T17:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my mind was filled with billions of little thoughts. I was entering into an unfamiliar world filled with people, culture, and new beginnings plus of course, lots of sweat (holy moly…it is hot), burning muscles, and screaming lungs. Not only is Thailand my first time leaving the states but also it is the first time I can ever remember traveling alone. It is a slightly uneasy experience but an experience that will truly help me grow as a person and athlete.

Krabi attracts many tourists for its unique beauty and its simple tropical life. Most tourists will stay near the ocean where their every need will be taken care of and the feeling of home and familiar comforts are constantly surrounding them. For us teamtbb athletes, we moved inland and placed ourselves directly into the Thai culture. Our hotel is more of a low-end dorm with tile floors, a simple bed, and a toilet-shower-sink combination that creates a very interesting situation as showering leaves most everything soaked including the bathroom floor for the entire day. Luckily, it is in the 90s from morning until evening because hot water does not exist though fortunately what does exist is air conditioning for an extra 4$ a night. I love you air conditioning.

Adapting to a new culture is certainly tough when language becomes a huge barrier. Where we are staying…English isn’t spoken and American foods really don’t exist unless you consider Pringles and Lays chips as staples of our world then yes, American foods are here. The grocery store caused me a small panic attack. Everything seems well…foreign. Most the fresh vegetables were things I’ve never even heard of and I really thought there would be billions of bananas but no bananas could be found. There is plenty of pineapple so my friends, I will become even more addicted to the ambiguous, spiky yellow fruit.

Off to my first run of training camp #1---please stray dogs…do not chase me.

My First Bike Crash

2010-01-29T18:11:00.001-05:00

Today, I experienced my first bike crash, an experience I wish upon no one as it was one of the scariest moments of my life. I’m not even quite sure what happened but I know there was a truck, an orange sign, and a girl on her bike (that girl would sadly be me).

I was riding south on the PCH back home to Santa Monica and for those who are unfamiliar with the Pacific Coast Highway, let’s just say it isn’t the most fun road to ride as you have four lanes of traffic, cars parked on the right, rocks-mud-sand and whatever else falls from the steep cliffs above and then there’s construction and all sorts of holes and lumps. So, why even bother riding on this crazy road? Well, for those of us living in Santa Monica, it is our one and only option in order to actually get to better and safer riding. I am an extremely cautious rider especially on the PCH as pedestrians and bikers most certainly DO NOT have the right away but sometimes cautious riding isn’t enough…

Orange is far from my favorite color and I swear to you I’ll be having nightmares of orange tonight. I could see the construction up ahead and the hazardously positioned orange cones and the diamond orange evil sign warning that there was some constructing taking place. Well, all this orange paraphernalia was going to force me over into traffic. So, I take a look and see no cars in the right lane—there was a truck about a ¼ mile back but in the left lane so I thought to myself no worries. I point to the right and inch over into the lane only to soon hear a blaring truck horn and I mean BLARING. PANIC! Complete Panic. I heard the truck and he was not braking, not even slowing the tiniest of bits. Quick thinking in my head went something like this take on an 18-wheeler or an orange sign…orange sign hear I come. I bolt my bike to the right braking like a mad woman. The only thought I remember thinking was that there was no way in hell I was going to be staying upright. All I recall was that there was some sliding, a leg slamming into the wicked orange sign, a bike being thrown into the air due to the signs stupid metal holders and then a girl on the ground buried under the orange sign. The good thing is that everything happened so fast that I didn’t put my arms down to brace my fall though my poor little right butt cheek took the brunt of the hit and then my right knee and right shoulder. A few scrapes and bruises but otherwise, I was perfectly fine. I have no idea how I managed to come away with nothing broken or a severe road rash. I definitely am lucky. Oh yes, my bike—perfectly fine as I think hitting my butt first on the ground saved her from severe damage. The sad thing was that no one stopped to help or even see if I was ok. At least 30 cars passed and not one even slowed. What in the hell is this world coming to?! or maybe that’s just Californication.

Moral of the story…don’t mess with the color orange or 18-wheelers.

Training Camp

2010-01-26T18:04:00.000-05:00

Today I picked up my visa for Thailand! I am nervous. I am anxious. I am excited. I am sad. I am ready but then with that feeling of ready comes the feeling of being completely unprepared. I leave Monday night for my first training camp with my team and my new coach. I will be in Thailand until mid-March and will also spend some of that time in Singapore. My first race of the year will actually be Singapore 70.3 on March 21st. Can you believe that?! I’m racing in Singapore. It all seems so surreal and I will definitely make the most of it. The hardest part for me (and I know this sounds so sappy) is to be without Mike. We are partners in crime and I will miss him so much but, don’t worry, he will be coming to Thailand and he’ll be at Singapore for my race so that makes it all a bit easier.

Beware the Table Salt: Part 2

2010-01-25T17:06:00.000-05:00

After my little article on the dangers of table salt, I have had quite a few people question the integrity of my statement that the added iodine in salt could be adversely affecting our health. I know it seems crazy, right? The reason the companies have added iodine to our salts was to save us from thyroid issues and those unsightly goiters but the truth is hypothyroidism is even more common now than it ever was. Well, that doesn’t make too much sense. We have the added iodine in our diets (thank you so much salt companies) but the results weren’t all that positive (I take back my previous thank you). Of course, you will hear our wonderful media and advertisements claiming over and over again how horrible iodine deficiency is and that you need to eat table salt with iodine. Yes, iodine deficiency is dangerous and yes, it can lead to huge problems but the answer is not in consuming table salt with iodine.

First and foremost, I would like to publicly state that iodine deficiency isn’t the result of being iodine deficient. It is most likely from the obvious fact that most Americans diets are horrible. Their diets revolve around processed foods. They drink way too much caffeine, soda and alcohol and unknowingly use chemicals all over their bodies everyday. Fluoride found in our water and toothpaste and bromide found in our hair conditioners both inhibit iodine absorption in the thyroid. Then there is the vegans savior soy – not only does it hinder iodine absorption but causes its own little host of problems. Maddening isn’t it?

Now back to our salt companies…do you honestly think they added the iodine with your optimum health in mind?! Sorry but these companies do not care about our health; they care about their bottom line. So, if adding iodine sells more salt than add iodine. and what kind of iodine do they add? This is where you have the problems. The iodine added is synthetic and inorganic meaning it is actually toxic to our bodies. Seems like someone failed to mention that little fact. Once again, I will reiterate that table salt is poison and I stand by that statement 100%.

Salt, unrefined salt, is not poison. It shouldn’t be eaten in excess though the point here is that it can actually be good for our health. Organic salts, such as celtic grey seasalt, not only contain over 89 trace minerals but our much needed natural iodine. For healthy thyroid function, we only need a very small amount of iodine and this small amount should come from organic salts or sea vegetables such as kelp or spirulina and the good thing about getting our iodine from natural sources is that it is almost impossible to overdose.

I hope that clears up some confusion. Eat your fruits and veggies!

I Rolled the Dice...

2010-01-19T18:09:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you gamble and you lose and today I lost. It was a weather.com type of training day. Those are the days when you stare at your computer screen checking the hour-to-hour forecast and pray that the weather breaks. Now, let’s be honest…I experienced those on a daily basis in New York City but now I’m blessed with lots of sunshine except for the occasional spouts of rain. Currently, we are enduring 5-day rain spouter here in Cali so computer watching becomes vital. Of course, I could ride my bike indoors though Tuesdays are not indoor days so my head was out of it and the body was begging for fresh air...one more click of the refresh button and whala I had a break!

Shoes on. Helmet on. A few extra layers for warmth and I’m off. I was cruising. Absolutely crushing the bike—mind you, I believe I had a 30mph tailwind but back to what’s truly important—I was flying! Then, my flying had to end due to a sudden and massive explosion in the clouds HELLO RAIN. I make a super quick turn around and hello headwind. No more flying more like crawling wondering why I am so stupid and hoping my bike remains upright through the puddles and random mud pits. Not so much fun especially on a super busy road where I swear to you cars thought it hilarious to come just a bit closer to me and accelerate through the puddles so I experience a land tsunami. Not cool cars. Not cool.

Yep, I’m absolutely soaked to the bone. Muddy. A bit cold but then the rain stops. The wind dies down and I think, hell I’m already wet and muddy. Let’s go for some intervals. So lalalala I’m doing my little intervals up and down a 2 mile strip thinking I am an absolute genius because here I am cruising on my bike while everyone else is indoors because rain is cold and wet. Well, I pushed my luck. The gods revolted---they sent me a huge bolt of lightening and then a crack of thunder that nearly through me off my bike followed by a severe downpour and hurricane winds. I actually was a little scared but then, in a weird sort of way, I was completely happy. Giggling like a little school girl. Here I was biking in a torrential rain with winds blowing me all over the place and I was happy…actually, I was having the time of my life. I did one more interval just because I could. It felt naughty. So, in the end, maybe I did gamble though now I’m not so sure that I lost…I loved my wet little adventure except for the fact that my bike needs a major cleaning.

Beware the Table Salt

2010-01-18T12:20:00.000-05:00

Table Salt is poison. I know it sounds extreme and you probably don’t even want to read the rest of this because well, let’s be honest, salt makes food yummy. Don’t worry…I’m a victim too! Yes, our bodies need salt. We cannot function without it but the fact is our body only needs about 500-1000 mg of salt and this is easily obtained through fresh fruits and vegetables. Trust me, it is severely difficult to become sodium deficient. Actually, it is almost entirely unheard of in normal everyday situations.

So, you ask…what is honestly so wrong with a bit of table salt? First, we must understand that table salt simply isn’t just the salt sitting on your table; table salt is also referred to as cooking salt and this is the salt you find in condiments, grains and breads, canned or frozen foods, meats, drinks and pretty much all processed foods. Unless you go out of your way to purchase raw, unprocessed salt (sea, celtic, or Himalayan) you are eating table salt. Table salt must undergo a process called chemical cleaning. After becoming chemically cleaned, table salt actually turns into sodium chloride, which is an unnatural chemical and is treated as a poison once it enters our bodies. Plus, there are the chemical additives, iodine and fluoride, that we are forced to believe as necessary for our health. Then there are those things added without our knowledge in order to make the salt pour better or help it avoid clumping. Aluminum Hydroxide—yep, the chemical said to cause breast cancer and possibly Alzheimer’s disease…it is right there in our salt ingested everyday. No wonder we have so many health issues! And why do they add these poisons? It is all about making money and the marketing appeal.

Ok, so we know about the chemicals in the salt but there is also the fact that eating this type of salt causes the body to work overtime in order to rid it from our bodies. Sodium chloride upsets the fluid balance in our body and overburdens the elimination systems. Water molecules must surround the sodium chloride to break up the structures (sodium and chloride ions) in order for the body to be able to neutralize the salt. The water is stolen from our hydrated cells and this leaves the cells dehydrated, dry, and rigid and can end up prematurely killing them. All this causes excess fatigue, arthritis, kidney and gallbladder stones, poor blood flow (slow recovery from workouts…not cool salt just not cool), and ugly cellulite.

I think most of us know how to cut our salt intake but it never hurts to reiterate the facts. First, make sure to keep all salt eating below 2000mg a day and the 2000mg doesn’t mean… oh, I ate some soy sauced veggies (soy sauce contains 1000mg of salt per tablespoon) and I don’t really know how much salt that was so let’s just say 500mg. No people. You need to make calculated judgments. It’s your health here! Eat foods that you know are salt free or super low in sodium or if you do go out to eat RESEARCH the menu options and yes, all dressings are loaded with salt. Fresh fruits and Vegetables are free (careful with frozen) as that isn’t where are problem lies. Processed foods are all but evil. Condiments are table salts deceivingly dressed in a tasty disguise and meats rarely are void of salt injections. You need to immediately replace all table salts with celtic, Himalayan, or sea salts -- these are easy unnoticeable replacements that can save you big time but remember even with raw unprocessed salts we need to make sure we stay below 2000mg. Be conscious of what you are eating!

Triathlon News

2010-01-13T13:37:00.000-05:00

I finally have some exciting triathlon news to share. I am one of the newest members of TeamTBB for 2010! For those not familiar with the team, TeamTBB is unquestionably one of the strongest tri teams in the world. I believe most everyone is familiar with Chrissie Wellington; her career skyrocketed after working with Brett Sutton and of course, there are countless others including Olympians and Ironman champions that have trickled through the hands of coach Sutton. I also love the fact we not only work hard to swim, bike, and run the fastest but also bring our love for the sport to help change the world…TeamTBB’s motto We Make Life Better – two wheels at a time.

I am so blessed to be given this opportunity. It seems quite surreal. Sometimes it is a little nerve wracking to know that I now finally have all the pieces to success right in front of me. There are no excuses. If I fail, I know it was because I wasn’t strong enough. If I come short of my goals then I was too scared and I simply didn’t have what it took to be great. I absolutely cannot accept failure. Now, trust me, I fail most everyday but once I accept this failure then I am defeated. I know…it sounds pretty grim though the truth can hurt. I have huge expectations for myself not only in triathlon but also for how I can become a better person and how I can give back to this world. These things are all good and I am loving the journey. It is fun to feel the little nervous energy bustling inside of me. I have a great bit of fight in my heart everyday and that makes me feel truly alive and ready to tackle each day with everything I have.

Yes, becoming great in triathlon is a very personal goal but I truly believe that personal goals, whatever they may be, are incredibly important. They make you happier, healthier, and allow you to become a positive inspiration for others. When you begin to live a life full of love and energy, you start a butterfly effect. People feel the energy and use it to push themselves to a live better life. I think the key thing to remember, as you are working towards a goal, is to work towards it with an open heart and open mind. Do not allow yourself to become blinded by your ambitions but make sure to open your eyes even wider to the world around you. So, for 2010, set powerful, life-changing goals and then simply work hard to achieve your dreams making sure to do so with lots of love, laughs, and positive energy.

The Sacred Pineapple

2010-01-08T15:16:00.000-05:00

I don’t know many things in this world but one thing I do know is pineapples. I’m not sure if I believe in reincarnation though there are days that I swear I was once a pineapple in a past life. I have that connection, a blood bond of sorts and if you look at me just right with eyes squinted, head turned in a peculiar manner, and lighting quite dark, yes, I may even resemble a pineapple. So, when it comes to picking a truly fresh ripe pineapple, I can guarantee a perfect pick.

Today, in the store, there was a man in his early 30s scouring the pineapple selection. I knew from my first look that he was an amateur. On most occasions, I ignore such inexperienced fruit pickers but not today. The man selected such a horrificly flawed fruit that I, Kate Pallardy, stepped in. He may of thought I was crazy (I am!) and he may thought I have crossed the unseen grocery personal bubble but I was there saying – you my friend are picking a bad pineapple and delicately showed him the light. I am a hero and deserve a fruit cape to fly around and save more victims of bad fruit selection.

Guidelines on how to pick a proper pineapple:

Color must be slightly green, slightly yellow
Touch must be firm with a little give…not squishy!
Smell must be present just slightly. Overly pungent and its bad.

Make sure the crown (top of the pineapple) is not dry. The crown
should look fresh and green and you should
be able to easily pull a leaf from a ripe pineapple.

FACT: I have had pineapple 100 days in a row.

How I Began my New Year

2010-01-04T13:07:00.000-05:00

I apologize beforehand for this story. It may cause cringing or a deep sorrow for my inability to avoid chaotic situations that typically only come about due to my own awkwardness.

It all began with some coconut water…
and I drank quite a bit due to being more thirsty than normal pre-ride
Not a good idea because bladders are only so big…

My family will giggle at the beginning of this story because they know better than anyone that I have many of hundreds of pee stories. I don’t know why it happens to be this way but it is and I accept my downfalls in life. So, as it was, Mike and I hopped onto our bikes and headed out to the PCH. 10 minutes into riding and I already needed a potty break. 20 minutes – things were getting bad and at 30 minutes I knew I had to time trial it to the gas station bathroom which sits at just about 40 minutes into the ride. I screeched my bike into the station, unclipped my shoes, and ran me and my bike into the potty. I was in a hurry so quickly rested my bike against the wall and found some much needed relief UNTIL…

My bike started falling. I panicked. The last thing you want is your beautiful bike to hit concrete floor so I sprung off the toilet in an attempt to save her. The good news was I managed to rescue my bike just centimeters from its untimely death though without a price. When you have to go, you have to go and when you have to go bad well there’s little to do to stop it. Yep, I slightly wetted myself in order to rescue my bike but if that weren’t bad enough my aero bottle was full of water which spilled all over the floor. Wet concrete floor meets my bike cleats and you guessed it, I slip right onto my butt and worst part (here comes the cringing) I slip right onto my bare, white caboose with shorts down at my ankles and tri-bike lying sprawled across me. It is a picture I wish none of you make a mental note of. At that point, I was laughing and crying and disgusted and ashamed and wet and piddled upon.

Oh 2010, how I love you so!

Happy New Year. I hope yours starts off dryer than mine.

Manage your Weakness

2009-12-29T14:03:00.000-05:00

My first year in triathlon, 2008, I felt I was holding the weight of the world on my shoulders due to my expectations in the sport. My goal for my first year was to earn my pro card. I hadn’t ever biked before that year and swimming was put on the back burner. I was a runner but not a fast runner. I ran long. A 50-mile race in the mountains could be won with 10-minute miles. The few things I had going for me was thousands of hard earned miles in my legs, mental toughness, the ability to love pain, and of course, falling in love with endurance sports and the people who came with it.

Year one was simple…train a lot. I didn’t have a plan just everyday train as much as my body could handle (which truthfully wasn’t all that much) but it paid off. The major problem I had was that when a race approached I seemed to fall apart due to worry and stress. I couldn’t sleep. I lost energy and things unraveled because mentally I was a mess. It was a problem and affected my race performance. This year, I managed this issue. I now can sleep a full, uninterrupted 9-hours race night and can talk myself away from negative thoughts. This seemingly simple change in race mentality is truly what helped me improve so much this year. I still have much more work to do mentally but I’ve come a long way.

Remember: Sport may be a measurement of our physical capabilities but our success is due to how we train our weaknesses.

Christmas Victory!

2009-12-21T14:20:00.000-05:00

And the winner of Pallardy Gingerbread Houses 2009 is (drum roll please)…ME! It was a tough night. Almost 5 hours of gingerbread assembly. The key to my victory this year was not only being able to bring my vision to life but also nailing my nutrition and avoiding long transitions between assembly, decorating, and fine-tuning. The competition was fierce. I was up against a gingerbread pirate ship, aircraft carrier, and a beautifully ornamented church with all the bells and whistles. Oh, and I can’t forget my youngest brothers bomb shelter. And, for those not tuned into the gingerbread house sport, a bomb shelter means my house fell apart and now it is simply a pile of rubble so I will now call this a bomb shelter. It is ok Craig – maybe next year. For some, gingerbread houses are a quiet calm tradition but in my family’s world it is far from calm. It is 5-7 hours of pure candy pandemonium. Yelling and tears is just apart of this holiday endurance race. While many don’t condone extreme time saving techniques (such as wetting one’s pants to prevent a long bathroom break), I applaud such efforts. It’s a tough night and only the strong prevail. VICTORY was mine!

Pre Gingerbread Carnage

Thanks Kid!

2009-12-18T09:31:00.000-05:00

Dreaming that one day I will ride sub-5 hour bike split

Yesterday, I was out riding my bike on one of my favorite hilly loops. The weather was absolutely perfect. 71 degrees and sunny with a strong wind coming from the valleys not the ocean which basically means head wind climbing…tail wind descending. I actually haven’t endured wind for quite a few months so I took it on with open arms and of course, showed it who was boss (ok, lets be honest. the wind manhandled me a bit).

As I was descending from my first climb, I saw Mulholland Kid – that is purely a nickname but quite deserved. I see this kid climbing, descending, climbing, descending all the time and on the same road aka Mulholland with the same look of determination. He sports longer jean shorts, a simple cotton t-shirt, a tattered helmet and glasses. He is maybe 13 years old and just from watching him – you can tell he is dreaming big. While most adults need the perfect spandex outfit to train, a beautiful bike plus an entertaining (non-mind numbing) workout, this kid is happily riding his dirt encrusted mountain bike and hauls it up n’ down the same old mountain rode sweating into *gasp* cotton. He doesn’t care about what’s perceived as right or wrong. He doesn’t care about proper training. I don’t know what the kid is aspiring to become though I can promise he will become someone great because for now, he is daring to dream and daring to work hard towards that dream and truthfully, he probably doesn’t even know he’s working hard. He loves to simply be on his bike soaking in the sun. That’s what kids do. They don’t let the world and naysayers bring them down. I truly hope that when he returns home from his biking that he is returning home to someone who shows him the encouragement and support that kids need to take their ambitions to fruition. Hey…I believe in you Kid!

The moral of this story is that Mulholland kid made me realize that I to am a kid. I am living my dream. Everyday I get to mix pleasure with pain. I am loving life and dreaming beyond the stars. My world is full of color and laughter and love. I giggle like a little kid. I discover like a little kid and I am finally pushing beyond all the naysayers and actually living as a kid. My advice is this --- stop being so adult. Take lessons from kids.

Oh Christmas Tree!

2009-12-12T18:23:00.000-05:00

My very first Christmas tree. Every time I take a glance at my little tree I smile because he reminds me of one of my all-time holiday favorites… A Charlie Brown Christmas. It isn’t the size of the tree that matters but the heart. And this tree has heart plus blood, sweat and some tears. Yep, Mike and I adorned our tree with our hard earned racing medals. At first, when told to save the medals for our Christmas tree one day, I laughed. But now I see his Christmas vision! It is simply glorious and I must say – my Christmas spirit is quite a bit brighter (is that even possible?!) because of my tree.

50k Trail Race

2009-12-07T18:18:00.001-05:00

On Sunday, I had the approval to race a 50k on the sandy WINDY trails of the Mojave Desert. I was giddy and happy and all smiles because I absolutely love me some long running races in the trails. Nothing better! http://www.othtc.com/

Race morning brought some freezing cold temps and I mean that literally as there was ice on the ground. It was comical as it seemed many have never seen ice before---what is this ice you speak of? Though I will say ice also has become quite foreign to me and the cold was very foreign to my legs. Poor legs really wanted a pair of spandex on but alas, it was a one loop course so no pants just toughen up buttercup. Well, my legs didn’t so much as toughen up as harden up for the first 22 miles. No bummer here. The beautiful thing about the trail races is that there is no pressure to perform. Now, don’t get me wrong. I always want to crush races though sometimes it simply isn’t in you. The difference between trail runs and triathlons is that in triathlon, no matter the day I may be having, I have to push hard even if I feel crummy and worthless but Sunday I didn’t have to fight it. I was happy shuffling along in the sand AND THE WIND. Oh my---the wind. It was blowing and it made the uphills interesting as I moved at about a 20 minute mile pace. I loved it. The tougher the conditions the more in love I am with my running.

There is something so liberating about running with hundreds of others out in the desert, in the wind, up hills, in the sand…awesome. And even more awesome was that at mile 22 something happened—I suddenly felt invincible and light. I started running. I mean true running even had some 6:20 miles in there. I have no idea where it came from. I flew the last 9 miles and could have run 20 more (at least that’s what I felt like when I finished). The girls I passed at the end looked at me crossed eyed. Fresh squeezed orange juice is my new best friend during long runs! That’s all I drank and all I needed. I will happily take my 2nd place finish and try and convince my coach that I need to run one more 50k before camp in February. On one final note I must sadly admit that Mike, yet again, beat me but I have my revenge with the photo below…

Don't Let Traveling Make You Sick

2009-12-03T14:28:00.000-05:00

After getting back from my Thanksgiving travels, I couldn’t help but think that a long day of traveling that includes both driving and flying is truly risky business…especially for us athletes. First off, there is the stress that always comes from airports and the check-ins, the security, the delays and the people who have no idea how to fly. Plus, of course, you are now surrounded by a germ utopia and sneezes, coughing, and unwashed hands. Stress and germs are made worse by the fact you aren’t eating the same, sleeping the same, and will be sitting on your arse for hours on end. And, what’s even worse for you and I is that are immune systems are compromised because we are training machines (yes, we are machines).

I always thought it genius to do a ridiculously hard training block that ends the very minute I have to leave for my holiday destination only to find that I become sick or severely rundown and I always wonder – why did this happen? The biggest reason is that I failed to let my body recover from training and now my immune system is exhausted and just can’t cope with the generous amounts of naughty bacteria and traveling trauma. Here are a few of my cures to avoid the traveling blues:

Solution #1 – give your body at least 36-48 hours of rest and relaxation before a long travel day (6+ hours of travel).
Solution #2 – wash your hands a billion and one times.
Solution #3 – don’t drown yourself in water. I know everyone thinks, oh I’m going to be dehydrated…listen people, drinking water is good. Drowning yourself in water is bad. I’m not a fan of fruit juices but when it comes to flying day, I think a natural fruit juice can provide you with hydration plus a little extra vitamin C.
Solution #4 - Eat how you would normally eat. Though I must admit, Airports are soooo tempting.
Solution #5 – wind sprints (or a gentle walk) up and down the plane aisle just to keep the blood flowing.
Solution #4 - when you arrive at your destination, choose sleep. Sleep is beautiful.

Good Luck with your travels and always take care of yourself. Now, if I could only follow my own advice.

Victory! Yippee...

2009-11-23T20:21:00.000-05:00

Victory! I must celebrate no matter how small the triumph because nowadays, in my little life, victories come few and far between so I’m happy and of course, because I’m such a complete animal, I pulled in a 30k course record.

The tote bag I won for my incredible effort

I started my day at 6:00am. Jumped on my bike and headed north on the PCH towards the race. I decided to make this a 35-mile time trial. I was loving it because one – I felt phenomenal and two—at 6:00am it is quiet. The sun sneaks its rays over the blue ocean and the dolphins were frolicking along. There weren’t any distractions and cars were few and far between. Beautiful.

I made it to the race with just enough time to slip into some running attire, take a potty break and then we were off…Mike was racing the 50k. He’s been training hard and seriously has become ridiculously fast in the trails. I waved good-bye and started out with a nice jog. It was finally nice to race with no pressure. I haven’t felt that free in a long time so I soaked it in for all it was worth. I honestly loved every step. The people were great. I chatted with a number of runners. I was cruising. The course was hard. Climb a mountain descend a mountain x 3. That was the best part! With about 4 miles to go, a lady told me I could beat the course record. I thought why not and put the burners on down the descent to claim victory and record. Though, I will admit – competitive field wouldn’t exactly some up the 30k but I will live it up for now...can't even imagine what I'll be like if I ever win an ironman.

Mike…he crushed the 50k. His field was stacked with true trail runners. I was quite impressed with his performance. What a man I have!

Oh yes, one last note…the only thing I was fueled on was fresh squeezed orange juice for the bike and run. I never felt better.

Orange Infestation. Send Mike to the farmers market = 50lbs. of oranges. Yummy.

Tri Tuesdays

2009-11-18T16:28:00.000-05:00

Tri Tuesdays are the newest addition to my training calendar. Basically it entails a 5:30am swim start (to early for this girl) then onto the bike for pretty much 3 hours of hills…steep hills plus a few time trials and group inflicted torture. Of course, it’s the good kind of torture as I am biking with a great group of guys and gal, Katie. Of course these boys and girls make me feel weak and insignificant as my heart rate is probably in the (maybe a slight exaggeration) 300s and they are talking about sweet little birds and the pretty skies…I’m dying. Then after the bike, I throw on those running shoes for a hilly brick run that can last from 30 min. – 1h30min. depending on how I feel and what needs to be done. There is no lingering about between workouts (quick transitions) and I stick to my race day nutrition as this makes sure to avoid any race day surprises with food.

If you can some how manage to throw a race day training day into your calendar, I highly recommend this workout. It may be mentally tough to have to jump into the cold pool before a long hard bike but what do you do when you are racing? Come race day you will be mentally tougher and physically more capable then the rest. It pays off big time!

My Ride today...in pictures!

2009-11-12T17:17:00.000-05:00

Today, I actually decided to bring my camera with me on my little bike through the mountains. Even though this ride inflicts a good deal of pain, I just can’t help but love it because its absolutely beautiful and once you conquer the little hills…you get rollercoaster fun descents.

This little 'reminder' on the road is just plain evil sometimes. 2k until the top of the climb but of course, that was after you just finished a 40min climb then had a 30sec. descent and then here you are, climbing again...cruel (the devil's pitchfork quite appropriate)

The views are stunning.

This house is directly out of a fairytale. I swear to you that there are 3 creepy witches living in there stirring their pots and brewing magic. Imagination or Reality?

Once you pass through these gates, there is no turning back. Crazy descent. Steep. Hairpin turns. Narrow roads and cliff edges that will send you soaring off into the clouds if you don't watch yourself. Super Fun.

Steep n' Scary

The hills were rough on me today so let's just say I was very excited to be back at sea level.

California isn't so bad!

Bad isn't Bad

2009-11-10T20:21:00.000-05:00

I have a bad habit of getting upset over a not so good workout. It’s those days when you want to run 6:10 miles but can’t seem to get below 7 minutes. It’s those days when you wanted to attack hills and instead you find yourself struggling to even pedal at your easiest gear. It’s those days you are planning on nailing every swim set and yet…your arms decide to take a vacation. So, those finished ‘bad’ workouts start playing with your head. You doubt your abilities and start changing workouts just so maybe you can squeeze in a good swim, bike, run and that, my friends, is a flawed plan.

You want to know how many workouts I considered not so good this year…60%. Yep, 3 out of every 5 workouts turn out to be bad. That means more bad than good. I thought about this. The major problem with this bad workout phenomenon is that mentally it takes its toll. I finish a not so good workout and then stress enters into my body. Stress is not healthy. A manic mind is definitely not healthy. Then I came to a MAJOR CONCLUSION…

Bad workouts are a figment of one’s imagination and ‘ideal’ conditions. There is no such thing as a bad workout. My self-defined bad workouts were actually quite the opposite. They are what made me stronger, faster, and mentally tougher. The good workouts are boosters. They let you know that you are on track. They remind you that you are a bit fitter than you thought. When you are training everyday, hours a day, you are carrying around heavy legs and worn down muscles but come race day BAM! you hit it because you were both physically ready and the biggest element of them all – mentally ready.

Don't let your self-defined bad workouts weigh you down. BE CONFIDENT...Simply stick to your plan and put your heart, head, and muscle into every workout every day and you can't go wrong.

The Old bait n' switch

2009-11-04T22:46:00.001-05:00

I heard a rumor going around town that something called cauliflower could just possibly have the taste equivalent of mashed potatoes. I was all ears because I love me some mashed potatoes but they are a naughty treat. Of course, the cauliflower needs some handy work aka steaming and blending. I decided it was time to put an end to rumors and stamp some truth to this story. So, off I went to the store. I purchased frozen cauliflower (4 bags worth mind you) not fresh as I knew I was steaming them to sogginess anyways and mine as well save a few dollars.

It was quite a simple process…steam the cauliflower for about 15-20 min. so that it falls apart at the touch of a fork then take the cauliflower and blend to smooth consistency, add a touch of sea salt, maybe some dill and I kid you not…mashed potatoes that aren’t mashed potatoes. Brilliant! I ate all 4 bags—feeling a slight cauli overdose but it was worth every spoon full.

Texas 70.3 and Lessons Learned

2009-10-26T11:49:00.000-04:00

I don’t really want to dwell too much on Texas. I was very disappointed in my performance and I’m not talking performance on race day but my race prep. I was complacent and could have avoided my bike issues before they started. I took myself out the race on Saturday not Sunday. I always tend to learn my lessons the hard way though the good thing is that once the lesson is learned it will neverEVER be repeated. That’s how I roll along in this triathlon world…make a mistake--whoopsies, won’t do that again. I hate that I am this way. I look at Texas results and cringe because I know what happened should have been avoided and a good solid race could have been had. I would have rather felt a pair of dead legs on the bike and know I just didn’t have it that day instead of knowing I, in fact, messed up my day. Leaves a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I’ll tell you—I wanted to quit. I realized I was out of the race. I wanted to put my bike down, stick the thumb out and call it a day Those devilish little thoughts start to flood your brain but ya know, that’s the easy cheesy way out. I can't quit unless I have some pretty dire circumstances. I went onto the run frustrated beyond belief and decided to give it an honest go. My legs were there for the run but no one to push them. Listen, I had a few tears, some self-inflicting lectures, a pity party (I was the only guest) and now, I’m ready. I’m ready for winter training. I am ready to make myself a swimmer. I am ready to build my engine on the bike and I’m ready to become a clean n’ polished triathlete. Come March, I will be a force on that starting line. I’m excited about my season and more excited about what lies ahead.

Oh yes, I want to thank Patricia for being so nice as to let Mike and I take over her home and bring along our traveling farmer’s market. Patricia has the Napa marathon in March and is shooting for a PR at the age of 40. I know she will crush that course and it is quite an awesome feat. Go Get’em Girl!

No, I am not a genius

2009-10-21T11:51:00.000-04:00

Currently, I am reading the book Outliers. It is quite a fantastical book. It fills your head with deep little thoughts and quandaries. It is a thinking mans book and profoundly written. The remarkable thing about this book is that it is for anyone. It is not a ‘you may like it’ kind of book because no matter who you are and what you interested in – you will pull something away from this book. That is a promise.

Right now, I just finished up the chapter on geniuses. You know, those whiz kid types and there came a section about IQ and Chris Langan. Quick intro on Chris Langan…Einstein’s IQ 150 – Chris Langan’s IQ 195. Enough said. So, here is Chris, a genius of sorts. He takes 100s of IQ tests. Passes with flying colors. Since he is so absurdly smart, he has to take an IQ test made specifically for those with masterminds. He, once again, prevailed with flying colors but missed just one question and that question was:

Teeth is to Hen as Nest is to….

I pondered this. Wanted to see if I could get this right. I’m a smart one (pure genius actually). Thought I had this in the bag. My logic rambled on like this – Well, hen have no teeth and if they did have teeth then their whole composition would change. Having teeth means you would eat different foods, those foods would greatly impact their physical adaptations making them inept to fly thus the hen as a bird may no longer be a bird due to the addition of teeth. Yet, even though they no longer would be a bird they would still be an animal of sorts…so nest must be to something that is in the housing category but would not exist in any pre-existing nest but changes its overall composition…not its overall category – after my mind streamed through what I thought genius thinking…my answer was Steel Beam. The right answer – MARE.

I’ll stick with triathlon and may have actually lost a few brain cells attempting such a ridiculous question. Who needs IQ anyways?!