Sunday, August 16, 2009

Where's Amanda?

Ummm... That's a great question. Really, I don't know. I don't fully know where the time has gone, but I know a lot of it does not have to do with working out :-(

2 weeks ago - work was mass chaos.
Last week I was in WEST Des Moines, Iowa (NOT Des Moines - there is a difference) for work.
This coming Friday, I am moving to Brooke's condo.
Next Tuesday I head to Atlanta for work.

If anyone can make more time - that would be great.

But, the best part of my Iowa trip - the Iowa State Fair. I ate as much as I could on a stick.
I missed taking a picture of the block of mozzarella on a stick.




I didn't have enough room for the pinnaple on a stick or the fried oreo on a stick. Maybe next time.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Trying To Keep Up

It has just been a bit too crazy. I am not sure why, what I have been doing, etc - but it's just been a bit harder for me to find the time to blog.


And tomorrow, I leave for Des Moines. Don't hate

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

So Much to Write... So Little Time

I don't know where the time has gone... Here's a quick update

Monday
Back in the pool. It was great to see a few people I haven't seen in awhile and be back swimming. It felt pretty good - just a few twinges towards the end, so I called it a bit early. On my way home, I had the strongest craving for fish sticks. A bit odd, yes. So I stopped by the grocery store and satisfied my craving.

Tuesday
Rushed from work to another PT session. Things were feeling okay, but always feel better after a session. I just wish it wasn't so much $$$. Insurance only covers so much. After PT, I rushed to the Conte's Tuesday night hill ride. I got there just in time to see everyone (all 200) ride away. I eventually found parking, headed in the general direction of the ride, and found a few other late riders to make it to the route.
Butt.Kicking.Hills.
However, again there were a lot of people I haven't seen in awhile, and people who just did IM Lake Placid, so it was worth it.

Wednesday
Back to swim. And a lot of foot/leg cramps... We were going to have an IM Lake Placid story time, however car issues for one person put a damper on the plans. It was probably better that way for me as I have had a really crummy few days. Work is sucking the life out of me and even though I leave the office, there is just so much going on it's hard to not think about. Blah.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Another Attempt, Another DNF

But I am actually calling this a NAF - Not Allowed to Finish.

Here's the story...

We had a great dinner last night at Dolce. Some carbs, a few glasses of wine, and really great conversations with amazing friends.

The alarm went off at 5 and we all started to crawl out of bed and get ready for the day. I was still convinced it would be a du, but hoping for the full tri. We got the cars packed, quick group picture with our shirts, and head to Fairmount Park. Oh, and did I mention that it started raining as soon as we got out of the car?

After we made our way through painful body marking (Sharpies and wet skin don't go well together) we set up transition, and started to wait. And wait. Tri, du, du, tri. More rain, more waiting wondering...

FINALLY it was announced - a duathlon. There was too much junk in the river. GGGRRREEEAAATTT... I then argue with my self about what to do. I am not supposed to run, and haven't ran since ITU in mid-June. 1.5 miles, 15.5 mile bike, 3.1 mile run... Smart, stupid, choices, what to do...

45 minutes later, they started the race. I decide to start in my 13th wave, do the bike, and play it by ear for the last run. After standing around for about 3 hours, the first 1.5 miles were fine. I saw Karen and Diane come back before I even took off. Fianlly, I start. I saw Brooke and Mary Elizabeth on my way out - with them on the way back in. Everyone in my wave was long gone and I was moving along - and my nice slow pace. It was a bit tough - I hate being last and it's never an easy feeling no matter how many times it happens. But the 1.5 miles was over soon enough and Carlos and I are off.

The roads were wet. Very wet. A lot of the bikers were new to biking because they wouldn't stay to the right. On a U turn, I saw a girl spin out. I saw another spin out on a 90 degree right turn. I saw an ambulance with 3 bikes down. And this was all within the first 5 miles, and it only got worse. I saw Mary Elizabeth twice, and that was it. I couldn't take advantage of the down hills and the rain started up again. About mile 12, I saw lightening in the distance and heard thunder. Overall I saw about 6 spin outs/crashes. 4 ambulances. A dozen or so flats. Not good, especially for a race catered toward first time triathletes.

As I got back into T2 - I decided to head out on the run, just walk it, and look for the ladies. However, Mother Nature and the Race Director had a different idea. I heard women saying they are shutting down the course - no one was allowed out on the run and they are bringing all the women back to transition. I went over to the finish, turned in my chip and grabbed 5 medals - as I wanted everyone to have one. We all completed the race they held and deserved the medals.

I got to back to my stuff and the sky's opened up. I have never seen rain like this - let alone be caught in it with an aluminum bike and a bunch of metal bike racks. And then the lightening came. And a lot of it, on all sides. I was stuck in a valley, no idea where anyone was (other than on the course) and I decided to head back to the car.

Walking through the river that was once a street, I made it to a field and heard a "Crack, Smash". I saw a tree brach fall and smash a car. More lightening. More children crying. More women running. Sheets and sheets of rain. Again, I hear "Crack, Smash"! Another tree branch fell on another car.

I eventually make it to Marcus, who was under a tree. I threw Carlos into the back, and moved about 5 spots down. I really didn't Marcus to be smashed by a tree. After a quick call to the parents, I finally saw the ladies.

Karen made it about 3 cones from the turn around before having to turn around.
Brooke and Diane made it in about mile.
Mary Elizabeth made it about a half mile in to the 5K.

Overall, not a good day for anyone. However we all made it home sefly - just a little wet. Hopefully this has not turned Karen and Diane against triathlon. They really aren't all like this - just the ones this year that I have signed up for this year.

So, in some ways a DNF, but the official results say "Ranks not available due to course closure caused by weather." Better luck next time!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

In Philly!

We are in Philly ready to race. Woot!!!

Registered for the race, I am number 14something. Karen and Diane go first in wave 8, Mary Elizabeth and Brooke go in wave 11 and I am in wave 12 - all by my self. The others are pretty excited for this - hoping to grab my legs when I go by... but the waves are 6 minutes apart so I really think they will do much better than they think.

Off to explore the city of love, a pasta dinner and early bed.

(PS - I have been to Philly many times and have never seen the LOVE statue... sad.)