Buckle List

Three months ago I began mountain biking. Even though I was holding a pretty good 3:1 crash to ride ratio, I was enjoying the challenge and the closeness with nature. I entered a 104 mile mtb race four weeks after getting my bike. It was wonderful, I went kinda fast, and I got one of these for my effort:
It was big, heavy and desired by some fellow riders.
A month later, a friend of mine posted a picture on facebook.

A pretty, shiny, big, and heavy buckle. I inquired; "What do I have to do to get that?" Run 50 miles... in one day. Without really thinking it through, I signed up.
I want that buckle.
Two days ago, the lottery opened for the Leadville 100 mile mtb race. Here's what you get when you cross the finish line:

I put my name in. I want that buckle too.

fur child

I will celebrate (read: one glass of top shelf tequila and bed by 9:00) my 34th birthday this week. I have no children, and still after years of saying "it's not for me", have no desire to mother a two legged being. I am surrounded by friends/bloggers/facebookers who have families and/or have recently become mothers.
I truly am happy for them and enjoy looking at the snapshots of their lives.
But, I want my moment too.
In March, I had a fur child. His name is Bean. Butter Bean.
He has four legs and is delightful. I only had to change his diapers a couple of times (okay, so it wasn't diapers, it was poop on the floor). And while I do have to come home right after work, I don't need a babysitter if I want to hit happy hour at Blanco on Friday night. He is the best running partner I've had in years and loves me even if I lock him in a den with only a squeeky duck for 10 hours.
I have looked at a million baby pictures in my life time. Never have I replied with a "check out MY baby" and pulled out my phone or facebook.
Well, here it is. A dose of fur baby photos. I've looked at yours. You can check out mine.
He is amazing, even if he does pee like a girl.

my send off to Tammy and Ross Lamb

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

As one can see from the frequencing of my blog posts, it takes something special to
draw me to the keyboard. This time, it's a way for me to say "good bye" to two of my dear friends.
Tomorrow, Tucson will loose two of it's truly valued members to California. Tammy and Ross Lamb are packing up their life as I type to follow their career ambitions into another state.
Tammy and Ross have made this city a better place. Most certainly for me and I can only guess how many others, but definately more than they could realize.


Tammy, I'm going to miss you a ton. You have been my Tucson rock when I've felt alone and needed a shoulder. Ross, you were always there to share a tequila, beer or glass of wine when it was most necessary. I'm so grateful and thankful for becoming close.
I have already booked my ticket to LA.
xo cp

This year.... and last

No comments about slacking or the like. I haven't blogged and that's
that.
Not for lack of things to put out there, just couldn't bring myself to
the computer for a full 30 min or so. The world is just spinning
extra fast these days.

Brief synopsis. Last year was one of my worst athletically (results wise), and best personally.
Yes, they can be independant of each other (one of my 2010 life lessons).
I am proud of myself for attempting many things that scared me to death... not so proud of the effort I put into them.
I moved up to a Cat 2 bike racer, raced against the best in world, and promptly got my ass handed back to me.
I raced as a professional triathlete. Trained like a beginner, and got my ass beat by over 2 hours when I lined up beside Chrissie Wellington.
But, regardless of feeling like I would rather be anywhere else by 2000m of the IM AZ swim, I finished what I started. After my first IM dnf in Kona, I decided that as long as the medics allowed my to stay on the course, I would finish everything I started.
So, despite some of my worst results, this grasshopper learned much and grew as a person and athlete.
I am fully committed to 2011 as first, a cyclist on the best Women's 1/2 cycling team in the SW, Trisports Cycling/Eclipse Racing. Then (even though I haven't swam since IM AZ), I will rededicate the summer to tris.
Below is a photo gallery of important events/people that have happened since my last post.... no real order.





I know it's not much, but it's been 30 minutes and for now that's all I've got.

my new love

I'm in deep.
Who could have known it would turn out like this?
I use to dread time spent on the saddle. Now, I'm looking forward to it like
it's my favorite of the three. How could that be? I'm a runner?
I have been bitten. Bitten by the cycling bug. And the more time I spend riding, the more I realize how much I have to improve.
This year, I became a part of a really great team. Trisports.com/Eclispe cycling.
Yes, I said 'team'. Cycling is actually a team sport. As much as I love triathlon, I have been missing the comradery of a team sport.
a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCc3Uz-bdiZXXUA4r46T4y6GEdq39rvNoo0PH2IkhUzbmKI2A2HaAq0saHu0nFMHV80T_oN0Gal8ytCXeO2YQyd4mKrKCTyHdJsGU4iGQHajbQc6vdcEexSpMMYi4Ng8suSqq5D4tJdY/s1600/teaminglobe.jpg">
Last year, I was the AZ cat 4 RR champ. This year, I was the AZ cat 3 champ. Now, I have moved up to be a Cat 2 racer. Now, I will be racing against the pros. I will get my ass kicked. At first.
The rest of this year will be dedicated to Kona. But I also have a goal to become the best cyclist I can and see what comes of it.

Game on!

Triathlon training has kicked into high gear. Last week, I did 21 hours of training.
Approximately double the previous week. Kona is on the horizon. I know it's still 4 months away. But my body and mind were aching for structure and ready to go. My running and swimming have been taking a back seat to cycling. I've caught the bug.
This past week, I was back on the track and in the pool (once, which is one more time than the week before!). I have always been a runner. Running has always been the one of the three that I didn't complain about doing. Now, I feel like it's a forgotten language. Cycling is where it's at!
Since my last post, 5 million years ago, I have done 3 stage races, a state championship, a road race and a couple of TT's. I have also done one duathlon and a half ironman. All for the fun of it (I think it's always meant to be like that!).

There is too much to tell.
However, I have a few key events on the horizon to motivate me to update my blog....
1. July - Cascade cycling classic, Bend Oregon. A 6 day stage race!! Killer.
2. July - Vineman marathon, California. A week after the stage race!! Killer.
3. Couple of half IM's yet to be determined
4. Kona!!!!!

I have also been involved in the Trisports.com catalogue... keep an eye out!

Speed

No, I'm not talking about eight balls and movies with buses in them. I'm speaking of the ''move one foot in front of another, while your heart's beating out of your chest, bleeding from the lungs, sweat and spit spilling out of your body while trying to hit a time' kinda' speed. The same kind of speed that seems to have left me in the dust. Now I'm fully aware that speed is a relative term, and that relative to some, I am fast. But, I am also all to aware that relative to some, I am sssssllllllloooooowwwwww (this is especially apparent over short distances). And to 'keep it real', I am actually only comparing myself to......
myself. If I were somehow magically able to race a 13 year old me in a 400, 800 or even 1500 m, I would get my ass kick by mini me.
This realization came about tonight during my first date with the oval for 2010.
The workout was short - too short. This meant one thing, it was to be FAST. On paper it was laughable to this IM athlete. I'm used to doing lots, and lots and lots of repeats, at a slower pace. I've been working on the deisel engine.
With a new goal on the horizon (marathon!) I need to work on getting faster in the shorter races (tee hee).
I did my warm up run to the track - 20 min..... found a bush for a last minute pee, did a couple of pick ups and was ready.... more than ready, I was excited!! I have always felt at home on the track. I was running on an oval long before I had a true appreciation for how much pain it can inflict. Nothing beats a good workout on the track.
The workout was simple: 2 x 400, 1 x 800, 1 x 1600, 1 x 800, 2 x 400.
The first 400s and 800 were to be at a decent clip, but the slowest getting quicker with each repeat. The 1600 was too be close to all out, realizing that I would have to go quicker yet for the next 800 and 400s.
No shocker, I went out too quick. I find running on a track much easier than a treadmill and since all of my speed sessions have been on a treadmill judging speed by my effort was a mistake..... 1:28. Next one went slower. The 800 was comfortable at 3:03. But the 1600 was where the money was at! I dropped it like it was hot, for the first three laps. I hit the third lap in 4:24. Not super but I was stoked. Then, a terrible pain in my chest! Was I having a heart attack? Quick assessment: no pain in my arm, not light headed... guess not. Kept running. Felt like I was running soooo fast! Just 100 left - I swear I could hear chariots of fire. Hit the line in 5:56... dang! I definately thought I would be faster than that! In grade 9 I ran the 1500 in 5:20, 800 in 2:26, the 400 in 60 seconds... today, the fastest 400 I could muster was a 1:22. Lots of work to do..... and I can't wait until next time!