Go NTP!

Yesterday I got roped into doing a swim clinic at Sandy Point State Park for the club's New Triathlete Program (NTP). What a good time! Tammy and Simon had some great handouts ready to go for about 30 people - most of which this was their first time in open water. After we went over the basics, into the water we went. There were a few great swimmers. And a few more not so comfortable swimmers. We had tons of volunteers and I think everyone learned a lot and became more comfortable in the water. Also, I got to share a few of my "fun" open water stories.

After, we followed up with a bike ride. All was going well until about 4o minutes in and the two girls I was riding with - we came upon a different group of DC Tri with a flat. Because I just had experience changing one last week - we all pulled over and I put on a show of how to change a flat. Luckily, Will showed up 5 minutes later to cover and give tips I wasn't aware of. Yay learning! After way too long, we were back on our bikes and back to the park.

Of course, no good work goes without lunch, and cupcakes.

But what I don't understand is that if I use sunblock, smell like sunblock, why do I still burn???

Now that I am a member of USMS...

On Wednesday night, I received 3 text messages and an e-mail from AJ about joining the DC Park and Rec Masters Swim team. It is by far the cheapest team around, and therefore spots fill up quick - when they do open spots. So, I got in and all was good. Now I just have to go to practices...

But, that also made me realize that I could sign up for races with my new USMS number... so of course I did.

My summer is filling up quite nicely!

Why Didn't He Just Fly Away???

I tried to come up with every excuse this morning so I didn't have to crawl out of bed and go biking. I just wanted to sleep. But no. I told Brooke that I would go biking. And after it wasn't raining, and the ground wasn't wet, so I got ready and headed out. I got on Rock Creek Parkway, headed to Hains Point - and smack... A bird was trying to fly away - but he didn't fly fast enough and hit the top of my windshield. Oh, it was so loud. I felt horrible! I knew there was nothing I could do, 3 cars behind me, so I kept driving. Poor bird...

So I made it to the parking lot, meet up with Brooke, Mary Elizabeth, and a few other DC Tri people - and of course shared my sad bird story. Of course, no sympathy, just mockery.

But the ride was good. As hard as it is to get up and moving, it's always worth it (well, not for the bird but...)

Another Foot Dr. Visit

Today was a follow up for my inserts. So far, so good. A few more tweaks are needed, but I feel we are on the right track. No surgery, no cortisone. Just good old fashion doctering.

But here is my number one major concern. Not my back. Not my shoulders. Not even my right food. But, back to the good ol' knees. My right one specifically. I was doing laundry yesterday and I stood up after (over) loading the front load washer and felt this horrible pain on the lower inside part of my knee. NNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! I hobbled back to my apartment and went right for the ice pack. It's a smidge better, but going up stairs isn't good. Not sure how long I wait to call another doctor. (and this cartoon made me laugh really, really hard.)

But I did go to swim practice tonight. The Club set up a group to come in, video your swim, and it will be analyzed by NCAA coaches and e-mailed to you with tips and drills. YAY! I haven't had my swim looked at in YEARS!

Oh, and friends, PLEASE stop hurting your selves on your bikes. PLEASE! There were at least two more accidents/mishaps that I know of. Not good people, just not good. Please take it easy.

I Can't Kick My Own A$$

That was a quote from Sandy around mile 40 at our rest stop. It pretty much summed up the day.

Today's ride
I got to the starting point, going through my routine, including pumping up my tires. Well, the pin on my front tube broke off. Karen and Lindsey said don't change it (as we all try to avoid changing tubes) but Mimi and Sandy said change it. Well, I only had 1 tube - but Sandy had 2, so I borrowed one and started changing the tube. And you know what - success! And pretty quick. Almost too quick... But YAY!

Then the ride started and I felt a poke in my left leg. Within 3 miles, I had a hole in my shorts. Not.Cool. My bike fit pushed me back about 2 inches and my saddle bag must have been a bit off so the velcro was rubbing into my shorts. And the worst part - biking shorts are expensive! And I had about 50+ miles left.

Then, the wind hit. Now, I knew this was going to happen - especially because there was a wind advisory, but for some reason, it was worse than I expected. And earlier in the than the last time.

Then, the sun came out. And it was hot and windy. That sucked up a lot of energy, which is not a good thing. I just kept counting down til the 40 mile rest stop. When I got there, I was so excited to see a drinking fountain. I was eating my Combos (the new super food), chatting with Karen, stretching and I heard "But see, I can't kick my own a$$!" There was Sandy, showing Mimi, how she can't kick her own a$$. That just struck me as very funny - and I knew it would be the appropriate title of this post.

16 more windy, painful, trying to beat the rain - and I made it back. Karen and Lindsey were waiting - deciding between more biking and a run. Well, I wanted to go 5 more miles, so my odometer said 6#. Well, 5 miles turned into
Karen "Let's just go to the barriers". Me. "Ok"
Lindsey "Let's just go to the other barriers". Me. "Okay, but then we turn around".
Karen "Let's just go to the highway". Me. "Okay, but then we REALLY turn around."
Back to the street and Lindsey points left (the long way back to the car). Me "RIGHT". Karen "no, left, it's prettier". Me "fine. Wait, I am really easy to convince, aren't I?" Karen "Yes" and she peddled away...

The best part of the 64 mile ride - my first trip to Sonic.
Best quotes of the lunch - Sandy "if you ____________, you burn more calories, right?" (Editors note - I typed out what she said, but just couldn't leave it knowing my parents and their friends read this).
And out of no where, Lindsey "I get really tried from eating rice crispy treats". That one makes me laugh typing it out.

Anyway, it was another great ride with awesome ladies, tons of laughs and over 3000 calories burned (hence the tots at Sonic :-).

I can't kick my own a$$, but the sun, wind, and Karen can - and it's awesome.

I'm Like an Elephant?

Really, that's what AJ said!

Here's the story. AJ and I met up for a swim and dinner tonight. Yes, we have rockn' Friday nights! Anyway, we were both pretty beat up after our 3K swim with fins from Wednesday, but decided to swim anyway. It was a good workout, even thought AJ is staying on my feet... I liked being faster than someone who qualified for World Championships.

Anyway, AJ also has a degree in physical therapy. So after helping her with her swimming, and making her the same speed as I am, at dinner I put her to work with my new body issues. After my bike fit a few weeks ago, I learned that it's not my hamstrings, hip flexors, or even my IT bands that were tight, but the soleus. They are the reason I can't do squats and have to lean over really far when standing up. So I asked AJ for some stretching tips. As we walked to our cars, she was fascinated by how my foot isn't at a 90 degree angel with my shin.

We figured out a few stretches and AJ said she would do some research. She also came to the (probably correct conclusion) that this could be why I don't like running!! I had not put these two together, but it makes total sense.
This was followed up with something like "you know it's like an elephant. How they don't run because they don't have ankles".
Me - "Did you just compare me to an elephant?"
AJ - "No, not like that!"
Me - laughing hysterically. AJ kept talking, and it was the epitome of sticking your foot in mouth, further and further. I understood her point - but it was pretty funny.

Tomorrow - another Eagleman ride. I am really hoping the isolated thunderstorms stay away and the wind gusts don't start until after the ride. Doubtful - but I'm am hoping!

Fins are Fun

Today's swim was pretty quiet. Monday was B.A.N.A.N.A.S and today was, well, not. It started off just AJ and I in our lane, and she decided to use fins for the entire workout. I thought, of course, that this was a brilliant idea, so I used my fins too. It was actually a lot of fun!

3500 total, 3000 with fins. This was definitely a workout for the legs. But my favorite part - I turned my sprint set into an IM sprint set. Doing butterfly with fins - so much fun. I felt very Michael Phelps'ie.

I may be not so happy with legs tomorrow - and therefore will blame AJ. Good thing she doesn't read this...

Pulling was a bad idea

I write the swim workouts for Monday's, so I have no one to blame but my self.

If you read my very long post from yesterday, you know I totally bit it on Saturday. See, the nose of the saddle jammed into my inner thigh on the right side as I fell.

That makes using a pull buoy for 600 yds no fun.

Yesterday's Bike - Fail. Today - Good

From all that happened yesterday - I don't think anyone should have biked.
Part 1 - Me.
I headed to 14th and T, pulled Blain out of of the car, and rushed to meet my group as I hear "Amanda"
I looked around, didn't see anyone and kept going. "Amanda!!" is yelled again, so I answer "YES???" And I saw someone coming over and she yelled "It's Brooke". It was true, I had no idea who she was. Oops. We had a quick chat, she was off on her run and I was off on my ride. Or I tried.
I went to clip in, my gears locked up and down I went. H.A.R.D. If it was appropriate, I would take a picture. But it's not, so I won't. But it's bad.
I met up with the group (lead by Christina who I did Augusta 70.3 with, not Karen, the other one in the pic) and I took the back/sweep. There were a few new-ish riders and I could tell this by the wobbles at stop lights.
Sure enough, right in Georgetown, down one girl went. Hard. I had to smack the saddle back into place, and she was pretty shaken up. Rightfully so - but it happens to all of us (i.e., me that morning). We kept going, and at another intersection, about 1 mile away, down again. Not as hard, but still. By this point, we lost everyone else, but we kept going - and I didn't mind the easy pace, I didn't have the use of all of my gears - I banged my derailleur during my fall.
But, as soon as we hit the first hill, I waited and waited, until she finally came up the hill, walking her bike. I felt so bad. We had a snack, said we would keep going, and as she peddled away - flat back tire. And she had no spare, pump, or patch kit (and she was on a hybrid so what I had wouldn't have worked).
Obviously shaken, I offered to ride back to my car and come back to get her and drive her home. It just wasn't her day - and I get that. On my way, I heard a rattle, stopped to make sure I had my car key. As I did, I see Karen and AJ fly by.

Part 2 - Other DC Tri People.
AJ "You okay"
Me "Rough day"
AJ and Karen - keep going. Strange that two of my closest friends flew right by me. So I take off, trying to catch them, as they were heading in the direction of their cars (and it was way to early for them to be done). They made every light, I didn't. When I got to their cars, I asked for a ride to my car. No luck for me as there was a big crash with a bunch of our DC Tri guys. Karen was getting her car to pick up those guys!
Luckily, all was okay, for the most part, with them.

Back to me.
On my way back, my chain fell twice and I had about 2 gears. No fun. But I made it back, picked up my down biker and explained what happen to the other group.
Overall, it was just a bad biking day.

Part 3 - Conte's
I confirmed my love for Conte's. I took Blain up to the shop to figure out why I couldn't hold a gear. The mechanic started explain what he had done last year for my tune up, because Blain is so awesome, he remembered working on him. Within 5 minutes, he was fixed and ready to go. And NO charge! So I ran to the store and got them some cookies as a thank you.
PS everyone - stop stealing my move!

Today
One of the club's biggest events - the Columbia Brick-nic. See, we ride and run the Columbia course (brick) and have a picnic (nic). We are smart crew. Some of us got there early so we could help out later.
Overall, it was a good ride. Slow, I was dropped pretty quickly, but it was fun. Blain was shifting great, and no dropped chains. Don't get me wrong, the course still sucks. Hills - they are not fun and I spent a lot of time there in 2008.
At one point I hear "Get off the road!" It was Joe and AJ. I managed to stay with them for about 2 minutes, then we hit a hill. And they are very fast. But I liked being on my bike and it was so nice to have so many people around, and not feel the pressure to go a speed I didn't want to go. Not push too hard to keep up, but not sweep so someone doesn't feel bad. It was a 24 mile loop - someone was always close.

After the ride, I did go for a wag (walk/jog) for the first time in months - with my new inserts!! And, I didn't want to cut off my entire foot! Just the top half, but only half way into my 2.6 miles. But, I will take it!

And then we ate. And ate (yes, that is an entire table of desserts). And ate some more.

Good times.

APPROVED!!

Hi all. If any of you are still there...

There has been stuff going on - some good and some not so much. But isn't that life?!?! It's all a learning process and choices.

Here is a quick recap.

Brooke and Shane's wedding! IN VEGAS! Great times were had. And you know what they say - what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas ;-)

This was followed by a large decision. I decided to switch from the full 70.3 Eagleman race to the Aqua Velo. This is just the swim and the bike - no run. Now I do have new inserts, and for the first time in over a year, I don't want to cut off my right foot after long walks in my sneakers - but I knew that wasn't enough to go 13.1 miles after 57.2 miles of swimming and biking. This drastically screws up my parents visit - but I had to do what was best for me. This will be the 1 year 'anniversary' of the start of my back spams and I really don't want to take any chances.

However, I still have to bike the 56 miles. So our crew headed out to Cambridge, MD for the fun day of biking. And when I say fun - I mean incredibly cold and windy. When birds flew up and into the wind - the went backwards. LITERALLY! I didn't have pants, but an extra set of arm warms which I used as leg warmers. But it was a good ride. Karen smoked me. Sandy stuck with me. Were were chased by a dog. And I taught Sandy how to blow snot rockets. The wind was so bad, at one point I wanted to crash so I wouldn't have to ride any more and someone would have to pick me up. But I finished. So, overall, a very successful ride. And we have 2 more scheduled before the race.

I took a day off to do one of the most memorable days I have had in DC - and that's saying a lot. I went to help a WWII veteran tour his memorial via the Honor Flight. He was all I expected and I would do this event again in a heart beat.

Friday was also a changing day - but in a different way. I had a BIKE FIT!! I have heard wonderful things about a bike fitter from Conte's and decided to give it a shot. I spent so much money on PT last year, maybe I could save a bit by paying for a new fit... And 1 hour and 40 minutes later - I felt a world of difference. YAY!

And tonight - my first Conte's hill ride. The route is still hilly. But I did more this year, on my first ride, than I did the past 2 years. Approved. This was celebrated with dinner (and queso) with some friends - and that was also approved.

So, there is my update. Oh, and I have been swimming too. Monday and sometimes Wednesdays with awesome people. They are making me faster, whether it be to keep up with someone or keep someone from catching me - it's good.

Now that I have started again - hopefully I can continue again. More stories about dog chase and snot rockets to come...