What is going ON?

I just read two race reports. One by a pro female who just finished Lake Placid and another by an age grouper who participated in the same race. They both did well. Female was top ten overall and guy was just over 10 hours. Fast to be sure.

What I don't comprehend is that they both ended up in the medical tent. On IVs. One passed out, and one had stomach problems for over five hours and called it a "near death" experience.

They both have children.

I recently attended a birthday party for a friend of mine who turned 80. She used to run trails with us years ago. Some of them took many hours to complete, but we were out there for fun, maybe a little friendly competition amongst ourselves, but we still supported and looked out for each other. We made sure everyone was accounted for at the end of the run and I don't ever remember anyone ever running themselves into a state where they needed medical assistance of any kind. And this includes runs across the Grand Canyon (even the double).

I just don't get what is going on.

It's just a race. It's supposed to be fun. It's just playing. Right?

No race is worth a debilitating injury or death.

Be careful and look at your priorities people!
Maybe I don't belong in this sport anymore.

Pillow Project

I have been wanting to learn how to do this for years now...and I have! Finally!

This will be for my mom's birthday..it will be prettier than this when finished, as I have yet to buy the material for the pillow case and the braiding that goes around it.
But it was SO fun to make, that all my relatives will be getting picture pillows for Christmas gifts this year!

Happy Weekend!

How Many Sunrises?

How many sunrises have I witnessed over the years while getting up to train? Probably as many days (almost) as I am old-at least from 16 years old on. So let's say... 40 years times 300 (65 days a year for sleeping in, goofing off, being sick, etc.)-is around 12,000 sunrises. Do I ever get tired of looking at one? No.




We woke around four a.m. in order to drive to Sierra Vista and start our ride around 6:30, before the heat of the day settled in.
It's higher in S.Vista so always 8-10 degrees cooler. It was refreshing to begin a ride in temperatures under 80. Something about starting a ride in the dark and it being already 80 makes my brain hurt.



I was determined today to make it up every cut and stay in my clips and upright for the dips and rocks. I made it up all the hills without having to push, and only clipped out once on a steep decent as the road was newly rutted because of summer rains.

It's a second bloom for this area. I saw daisies, red penstamon, small blue morning-glory-type flowers, and the large white blooms of the "loco weed".

A few deer, jack-rabbits, squirrels-but none of these:



We had to laugh at the sign though, because WHY would one say "LIVE" bear? What? As opposed to a dead bear? Then you wouldn't have to put up a sign if it wasn't alive, right?

So I played "dead"-just for the sign, and because I was feeling good and having a great ride.




When I viewed this picture of hubby it was really weird! But I always knew he had a bit of an aura surrounding him!



We then pigged out on Mexican food, came home and did laundry and took a nap. I am waiting for the monsoon rains that seem to hit everywhere around us, but not here.



Waiting for rain. Have a great weekend and play hard. Get up in time for the sunrise. Life is short!

Where I want to swim...

From Marin County under the Golden Gate to the other side.

This would be so cool.

San Fran and number 6...maybe.

The first thing we do when we get to San Francisco each year is walk the trail that leads from the Sutro Baths to Land's End in Lincoln Park. It ends up here. The views along the bluff are amazing and we never tire of it. It's only a three mile round trip, but this year we tagged on another mile or so through the SeaCliff neighborhood, where I can gawk at mansions and manicured gardens and only imagine what it would be like to live in such beauty and splendor.




We then drove down to Fisherman's Wharf to find the meet up point for our swim, early on Saturday morning. Because of conflicting schedules with this year's Sharkfest event, we are unable to swim it, so looked for another way to get into the bay this summer.

A few years ago I met Pedro of Water World Swim on the beach in Aquatic Park just after he finished his 500th swim from Alcatraz. We had just completed our 7th and 5th the day before. My husband and I congratulated him after the media left and he handed me his swim cap, inquired about our crossings and introduced us to his wife. His accomplishment didn't take precendent as we chatted, and I admire him for that.

I knew that he and his organization trained people to swim without fear in Aquatic Park and hosted training swims out in the bay. What I didn't know was that they take up to 20 people monthly out to Alcatraz and provide boat and Coast Guard support (if needed) for swimmers. Many are first timers. Many are not. We signed up.



Not being a race, the feeling of getting together with 12 other crossers was different for us. It was pretty low-key. A few experienced swimmers who get to train in the cold water were going for their first "skin" crossing. A few were trying it for the first time. A few were "old hands" and use this as their morning workout.
We milled around, drank hot beverages (what did Mark Twain say about San Francsico? "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." I believe it now!) chatted with other swimmers (two brothers from Germany!) and tried to think of flat water without strong current.



Here is Pedro explaining flood and ebb tides and what landmarks to shoot for so you won't get pulled all the way to the Bay Bridge!



Yes I was cold-and possibly a little nervous...you can't get cocky about swimming in the bay, no matter how many times you've made it to Aquatic Park.



Going out to the island on a small fishing boat is much faster than a ferry, and all of a sudden we heard the captain say "five minutes-be ready to jump in five minutes!"

As early as we were (it was just after 7 a.m.), fishing boats were already near Alcatraz, lines in, with fishermen staring at us in orange caps like we were from another planet.
First come, first serve I guess, so we had to start in front of them, which put us further away from Alcatraz, which means our swim that day was going to be short. Probably by a half a mile.
Some were relieved. Some couldn't have cared less. My husband and I-well, we were vocal about it and felt a bit cheated.

The swim took us a little over a half an hour. It was warm this year (about 60 someone said!) and I was never cold like I have been in the past. And we did hit some strong current about a quarter mile from the breakwall, so we felt like we had a bit of a challenge anyway.
Hubby ended up way left of it- and I could see where he was so didn't opt to follow him. I chose my line pretty well this time around and was second woman up on the beach. But it wasn't a race, so people were relishing the experience, as well they should. I don't think I will count it as a full swim from Alcatraz however. Because it wasn't the full distance.



It's not everyday we get to swim in San Francisco Bay.
But if we lived there, it just might very well be a morning workout.

Time Trial-in'

I had forgotten what a time trial even looked like, much less remember how much they hurt! As the guy steadied my bike for my 8:15 a.m. "take-off", I told him it had been about 30 years since I had done something like this. And it wasn't up a damn mountain.

"Just relax"- "Ten seconds...three, two, one....BEEP!"

Out of the saddle start and right into a slight incline, that lead to much steeper inclines, and continued for most at least an hour, but for me more than an hour and a half.

It hurt. Badly.

I had taken my "singulaire" and my antihistimine and had a few puffs on my inhaler before starting. I still wasn't getting much air, but it's better than it has been, so who am I to complain? So what if my heart blows up and I pass out? So what if it's already over 90 degrees and I haven't trained much in the heat? This is a great workout? N'est pas?



Plus, I am all "kitted-out" and look like I "belong" to a regular cycling club. Right? (Dork!)

How can 12.5 miles seem so long? And take me over an hour and a half to complete? I averaged 8 min miles. Damn.
That sucks.
I either need one more cog (a 27 maybe?) or new lungs.

Or both.

The mountain has a better road to climb than it did when I was in my 30s. How come it feels so much steeper and harder?



But it is still just as pretty!

Shift up...ride on!

Sometimes you need it all out of the way....

So I made some hairbands this morning for myself and my daughter.




Good when face-washing or when you are in yoga or want the damn sweaty hair off your neck!



The next time I make these I will certainly buy some color coordinated elastic. They would look SO much better!

Now, time for session number 2 of the day.
Wouldn't you agree?
Go for it!