Thursday, August 30, 2007

Knee Update

Well the MRI came back and it is NOT a torn meniscus like she thought last week! This is good! But… no clue where the pain is coming from what is causing this – Argh!

So my options are:
1. ignore it and train through it
2. PT – "band aid on the boo boo"
3. 4-6 weeks off (after the marathon)
4. scope surgery (oh hell no!)
5. prescription – "band aid on the boo boo"
6. hmm I don’t remember! Must have been a good option!

Teresa suggested 2 and 5 if it were her in my shoes.
I am thinking 1 with increased stretching.
Then I will take the end of October and November off (mostly). December starts winter training, but it starts back up slowly.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Holy Masters, Batman!

last night's drills kicked my butt!!!!

1x300
4x75 (25k 25f 25s)
4x75 build
-------
1x700 (300hard, 50ez, 300 harder, 50ez)
R
6x100 (2@2:15, 1@2:05, 2@2:10, 1@2:00)
R
11X50 (50@sprint, 50@ez 3x50@hard, 50@sprint, 50@ez, 3x50@hard, 50@sprint) (every other lane had to do 21x50)
R
1x50ez
total: 2500 meters

I was sad to not have any fellow pinkies in the pool with me :( Two people "dumbed down" a lane and smoked by me and the other guppy. I got very frustrated knowing I couldn't keep up as much as I wanted to. This made me lose it mentally half way through and make the class even harder and more frustrating. Therefore, I have exiled them from the guppy lane. I promise no more negative thoughts - Patriot's is around the corner. So i might be slow, but I, too can do it!

Weekend Recap

Friday:
workout - open water swim (optional)
what i really did - lay on the couch with ice pack on knee feeling sorry for myself, then had 2 beers with friends.

Saturday:
workout - 75 mile ride
what i really did - with no bike i can't ride so i went shopping ALL day!

Sunday:
workout - none
what i really did - volunteered at the Richmond Sprint at ACAC. hung otu at the announcer's table with E-Murph. I punched the racers numbers for her to announce and added little TRIgirl tidbits. Shout out to missy and Karen for their first races, to Kate for getting married, etc. Watched all my pinkies, greg and friends rock the race! go team!

Friday, August 24, 2007

Knee Frustration

I finally can train again post-sutures. As the weeks have gone by getting abck inthe game my knee hurts...again! Argh! I figure it must be the inflammation kicking back in. But now it feels different. Not my kneecap, but the side and abck of my knee. slowly getting more and more painful and annoying. I live with icepacks on my knee. work...sleep...constantly. After flying on Monday it was bad enough that I emailed Teresa. She told to come in pronto...as in monday afternoon. I made my way in there on my lunch break today. this new pain...medial meniscus tear! Argh!

so what does this mean?
No RNR Half Marathon sicne it is not an important race
Still participate in Patriot's
MRI #3
50% chance - exercises to fix it on it's own.
50% chance - surgery.
I am pretty sure my body will fix it on its own, but damn this shit hurts. Enough already! Can I trade in this knee for a new one? Thanks! :)

Bike Frustration

For Timberman I shopped my bike up to NH through 3Sports and the local bike store affiliated with the race, MC Cycle and Sport. It seemed to be a great flawless process. I tookit to 3Sports, they disassemble and ship it. MC Cycle recieves it, assembles it, I pick it up and race. Then drop it back off to them at the race and they disassemble and ship back to 3Sports. Perfect! or not...

Today is Friday. I have no bike. I was supposed to ride Tuesday - ok I knew I would miss that one - and was tired enough to be okay with that. Thursday another ride comes...and goes. So yesterday afternoon I call MC Cycle to get the tracking number to find out where my bike is. I have a big 75 mile ride saturday morning and 3Sports will need to assemble it in time. Well...they haven't even disassembled her yet!!!!!!!!! WHAT?!?!?!?!?! They use the excuse that I did tell them to rush it back and I told them I didn't know they were going to sit on it for a week! So...an entire week comes and goes...and no biking. and 2 weeks until race day. Stress and frustration much?!

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Pre-Patriot's Ride Pictures

Leaving Maramarc - Anna, Carmen, DB, Kate O, Cyndi, Jonah, Deanna L
Getting ready to go - Deanna L, Fave, SanDee, Bethany, TRIboy
Me riding along
Smiling afterwards - Cyndi, DB, Fave, Deanna L, Kate, Anna, Carmen, and Jonah
TRIGIRLS ROCK!

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

White Caps, Mountains, and Pine Trees

Timberman was quite an adventure. Here's my novel...

Thursday:
I arrived in Manchester, NH after only a short delay meeting mom and brother at the airport. My brother got the rental car as mom got me dinner (since i missed dinner waiting on the runway) and I waited for my luggage. and I waited. and I waited. Then they announced that was all the luggage off the plane. I'm sorry, what?! Half the plane is still standing here. Off I took off for claims office knowing the line was going to be long. On my way I passed Desiree Ficker. I smiled and pointed her out to my mom - DF laughed and clearly I got busted for talking about her. When I got in the car, I first had to laugh. What rental car did they gie my 31 year old single brother - a mini van. pimp mobile. I told him he needed car seats and spinners to really pimp it out. Hew was saddened to hear he missed his opportunity of chatting it up with DF since he was waiting in the car. We fianlly arrive through the storm to Laconia, NH - my Aunt Mich's house. Always the family gathering spot.

Friday:
I couldn't sleep so at 6:15 I called the airline. My bags made it!!! They were located and the delivery company would be delivering them befoer 1:00! What a sigh of relief. I had my tri outfit, helmet, and sneakers in my carry on. But my transition bag and bike cleats were in my luggage.

Brother, cousin Rick, and I headed off to downtown Laconia to MC Cycle - the host tri store for the race. We picked up our bikes all assembled and ready. Since I had no bike shoes we put my bike in the pimp mobile as Matthew and Rick rode to the race site. I said I would never drive a mini van, but I did. This way we could see part of the bike course and Matthew and I could check out the water. The bike course was defintiely hilly. and let's discuss the water. Holy coldness, batman! We swam around for a bit and the water was clear and pretty shallow - 8' deep at the deepest part of the race.

Upon our arrival back to the house all the kids were there riding bikes and playing with the neighbors. Guess what else had just arrived....my bag!!! So I threw on my cleats and Matthew and I rode around the neighborhood just spinning around for about 4 easy miles. After minor adjusting to both our aerobars we were ready to go.

That afternoon was packet pick-up at Gunstock. I should have clued in right here. Gunstock is a ski resort. What is required for skiing - mountains. The pick-up process was wello organized and very speedy. We toured aroudn the expo which wasn't as big as we were imagining, but well laid out. Little band with raffle prizes, team hoyt was there, as well as final kick had a tent. I went shopping! New tri shorts and socks. Aother all timberman gear tent I walked away with a new cycling jersey and visor. thepackets had goodies in them - an issue of triathlete magazine, gatorade endurance, lots of little samples. the 70.3 packets also had a hat in them. As I walked thru the expo I got a text msg of support from RW! just what I needed.

Back home for a spaghetti dinner and packing of the bags.

Saturday:
Man why do i do these?! It's soooo early! My brother and I head off to the race site at Ellacoya State Park. On the way there I turn on my dead cell phone to get teext messages of support from friends! I love it!! I get bodymarked and head into transition to set up. Only racers in there. The racks were set up so each rack was an age group. There were large letters on the end of each row for east visibility and numbers on the rack so you had a particular spot. I get things set up but am f-f-f-freeeezing. Matthew has his arm warmers in the car so he gives me those even though they are too big to wear on teh bike since i only have my tri top. I head off to the port-a-potty line. As we all stand around shivering I am thinking to myself - I left richmond in 104 degree weather was is the low 50's crap! Flashback to the snowy duathlon. I can take the cold. The women in ront of me strikes up comversation as we realize that she did Eagleman and noticed the TRIgirl presence at that race! Awesome! Go Pinkies! Well - time to wetsuit up.

Swim:
Ahhhh beautiful Lake Winipesaukee. Mountains in the background, clear water. Perfect. Oh no...white caps?! seriously?! I watch the first wave start and before the first bouy someone is out of the water! oh my. We are all wading in the water since it is warmer than the air temperature! The water I was freezing in yeserday is now where i am going for warmth! As each wave starts people are taken out of the water and it is closer and closer to my turn. As I walk through the swim start timeing mats and into the water. Swim/awlk out to the starting line. 3-2-1 GO! I start swimming. Am I going anywhere. People around me are walking - maybe i should try that i am running through the water. Waves crashing in ym face. Back to swimming at elast my face is in the water. every breath - face full of water. every sighting - face full of water. Hmm. maybe backstorke - then the water will hit the back of my head! great idea, fave! wrong. the waves just go over my haed into my face. suck it up. get your game on. fianlly the first buoy. turn and swim parallel to the shore. waves are crashing on my left side. shore line and stronger breathing on the right - awesome! i get to the last buoy and cannot believe i am already done! as i am exiting the water i am passed by two people with purple caps - mmm not good. oh well. run up the ramp as i am unzipping the wetsuit and taking the arms out. throw myself down on the mats as some guy (who is supposed to!) strips off my wetsuit. man this thing has never come off so fast before. i grab it and run. didn't even think about my fear of losing my tri shorts!
Swim Time- 14:13
Swim Place- 45/61

Bike:
After a slow 3:15 T1 I ran out for the bike with my family little kids and all cheering me on. The girl in front of me cashing at the mount line - i felt bad for her, but ran around her and pushed forward. I knew the bike started on a steady long uphill. Took my time. Realized I was going way slower than I would have liked and kicked it up a notch. The beginning was very congested and it was jsut a big pack - we fianlly spread ourselves enough apart, but were always closer than i would have liked. at times i had to hammer more than comfortable to pass someone to not draft and times slow down a bit to not draft. The were not hills, but I felt like I was riding through the blue ridge. I tried not to think about the burn. I think 90% of the first half was uphill. ok so that means fly on the way back, right?! yeah not. i hit two good descents that had me hit 30 - my fastest. I make my way back into Ellacoya passing the family again - CD's picture with your heat moments. As I quickly tear off the cleats and into the sneaks I hear my mom yelling "GO TRIGIRL!!" I look up, laugh, and blow her a kiss! She knows I love racing with my team and was sad to not have them there. (ps - totally just got teary eyed)
Bike Time- 1:01:21
Bike Pace- 14.7 (ew)
Bike Place- 34/61

Run:
T2 was quick (1:26). I haven't done a brick in awhile since I was out for so long and it got me. yikes! The first mile kicked my butt! I walked thru the water stop at mile 1! Looked at my watch - right at 10:00. I told myself a 30:00 run was just fine and kept on going ignoring the burn from my gluts and hip flexors from all the climbing. Picked it up and pushed on thru. Hey this isn't so bad, just needed to get my legs back. I should pick it up a bit. As I run along the pine tree lined road overlooking the lake and the mountains, there are signs the well organized race team has placed throughout the course for thoughts to ponder: "why does your nose run and your feet smell?" "Why is it called the #2 pencil if it used the #1 most used?" (duh #2 lead!). Well you get the drift. I thought these signs were a great idea to keep you from getting mentally drained. I run down the chute with my family cheering!!!!!
Run Time- 26:46 (my fastest 5k ever!)
Run Pace- 8:56 (which means my last 2.1 miles were at a 7:59 pace!!!!)
Run Place- 41/61

Final Time- 1:47:00 (goal was to break 2 hours)
Final Place- 36/61 (well i like to be at the top of the middle, but this works)

Aftrwards was a post race nap and the traditional family lobster feast! so yummy! Thanks to my family for the posters and cheers!

It was a great race and a great time. I hope to do the 70.3 next year. Pictures to come.

The next day with a glass lake the 70.3 course was rocking! Matthew, Matt L, Alissa, Becca, and Steve! It was great seeing the 3 sports logo, Endorphin logo, and Alissa sporting team nature's path!

Now - to the knee doctor I go. Sigh.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Timberman Triathlon Festival

this afternoon i fly to laconia (well actually i fly to manchester and drive to laconia).
my bike arrived yesterday.

I race on saturday: 1/2 mile lake swim, 15 mile bike, 5k run
my bib number: 5768

On sunday is the 70.3: 1.2 mile lake swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run
Participating "Family":
Matthew Favreau (my brother) 1578
Matthew Leahy (SQ's brother) 843
Participating RTC:
Becca Moore 660 (3Sports team)
Alissa Herko 765
Steve Lindredge


I look forward to the event and will make sure I bring home proper race reporting from both events! Especially since it is a possible TG and MMF race for 2008!

Also want to send out a Happy Birthday! to my late father today - he would be 65 years young today! That makes this race even better! Not only was he a pilot and I am flying on his birthday, but I am going to spend the weekend with his family in an area that he grew up in! I know it will be an amazing race!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Taining Much?!

Lord - where have I been?! Clearly not blogging that's fo sho!

So last thursday I went on a ride with Jenn, Erin, Emmie, and Becca. Out local meterologist, Erin, let us know that the crazy storm would be passing. So we all passed the time playing with transformers and eating spicy pretzels. Note - transformers today are not like when we were kids! They are hard! Alas, we were defeated and unable to transform teh car into a robot. But - we still had our spicy pretzels! After much deliberation, we conquered the storm and headed out for a nice ride. Good Times, Ladies. Good Times.

This past weekend I road tripped with the pink ladies to Jamestown Settlement for a Patriot pre-ride. We all met at maramarc and after a quick traditional detour to starbucks we were on our way! Riding with Cyndi behind the weel and DL by her side, we had a nice ride filled with talking and laughing. Then we got to the site. I admit I did get a wee bit nervous. As we were getting our gear together one woman asked us if we were doing Lady Patriot. Just becuae we are girls doesn't mean we an't do the half woman! sheesh. oh and have i mentioned that there were no port-o-potties! I mean we have hydrating for awhile now. The course was a nice ride. the first 20 miles were pretty flat. but no you can't hammer it out b/c man tere are some hills to come! one hill not everyone made it up (including the guy who was climbing next to me and fell and when i asked him twice if he was ok he ignored me - jerk!) anyways 0 after a brief sare of being lost wiht some rednecks looking way too hard at me, i finished! i did the course with my main goal being to take mental ntoes and my secondary goal to hold a pace of 16.5. well i took mental notes, but finished with a pace of 16.2.

my bike has been shipped and is supposed to arrive in newhamoshire today! tomorrow afternoon i fly out to new hampshire for timberman triathlon festival. i will be doing the sprint on saturday and my brother matt is participating in the 70.3 on sunday. as well as some RTC friends participating in the 70.3 as well! i love cheering everyone on - and i am really looking foward to seeing my brother kick major butt! (as well as sq's brother matt, too!)

well work is telling me that i need to do soem of it and stop blogging. so this is a short catch-up.

best of luck to everyone doing luray. i will be with you in racing spirit!

Monday, August 13, 2007

TAG! i'm it!

Tri Jones has tagged me - and now I am running to base!

Jobs I’ve Held
Limited Too
Limited
Zany Brainy
Design Works (Intern)
Patricia McLean Interiors, Inc.
Rutt of Atlanta (Intern)
Ainsworth-Noah and Associates
NFD, Inc.
TM Collaborative
Cornerstone Architects
Perretz and Young Architects

Movies I Can Watch Over & Over
Steel Magnolias
Shag
Top Gun
Bridget Jones
Princess Bride
Back to the Future
anything old disney, especially with hayley mills

My Guilty Pleasures
wine
cheese
naps
shopping

Places I Have Lived
charlotte, nc
raleigh, nc
atlanta, ga
richmond, va

Shows I Enjoy
Oprah
Days of Our Lives
Wheel of Fortune
Jeopardy
Survivor
Bachelor
Real World/Road Rules Challenges

Places I Have Been on Vacation
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
Florida
Tennessee
West Virginia
Maine
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Colorado
California
Canada
Bahamas
Mexico
Italy
Spain
England
France
Kona (ok wishful thinking, but it seemed to fit so well)

Favorite Foods
steak
cheese!!
hummus
mexican
italian
chinese

Websites I Visit Daily
TRIgirl forum
myspace.com (addicted!)
hotmail.com
blogger!!

Body Parts I Have Injured
broke arm
numerous ankle injuries (dancing related)
stitches in eyebrow (thank you brother)
stitches in back of head (thank you sister)
stitches in foot (again, not my fault)
fractured elbow
torn thumb
broken numerous toes (clumsy)
broken right pinky finger
(hmmm good thing i have insurance!)

Awards You’ve Won
numerous dancing awards (i competed for 8 years)
IIDA award for community involvement
i got 3rd place in the science fair one year!
3rd place F 25-29 at 3 sports Duathlon 2007

Pick 5 other bloggers.
umm i think everyone has already been chosen. sadness.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Rankings

Since I have completed two triathlons in 2007, I recieve a USA Triathlon ranking. Not sure what it means, but so far I havea score of 57.27881. I know the closer to 100 the "better". So maybe I will increase my score with my two upcoming triathlons - Timberman and Patriot's.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

A Hot Date?

Today is August 8, 2007.
Patriot's is September 8, 2007.

reality check! HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!
after some minor sress at this realization, i am taking some deep breaths.

am i ready?
i will be. i trust my coaches and my training. i know i have learned and training like i am suposed to be.

can i swim that long?
yes! i swam 1.5 miles last week. and will be swimming 2 miles in 2 weeks. surely i will be able to swim 1.2 miles.

can i keep my bike speed steady?
well i rode 60 miles on saturday and felt good the first 40. problem - ran out of food. note - carry more than 1 luna bar on the bike! but i am iding a hard ride with soem new people tomorrow night and this weekend is the mock bike. riding the course with the water stops and everything. this will allow to really feel out the course, make mental notes and prepare myself for what will lie ahead of me.

can i run 13.1 miles?
this is the part i am the least confident about right now. i have not run 10 miles yet! rut roh. i have missed out on 3 weeks on long distance running with my stitches. this sunday i am going to do an "easy" 16 mile run/walk. i am accepting that i will walk through the water stops and probably at other ties throughout as well. i will feel betterabout this after sunday's torture. i mean training.

so stress go away. i can do this. i wil lhave my tg's with me and with them anything is possible! bring it on!

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Firsts

LAst week in review...

FIRST week back to training after the stitches.
After being out of commission for a few weeks, i was finally able to train again. Unfortuantely, I had to take it easy and could not jump right in where i left off. Runs were very short (and painful) and bikes were shorter, too. ed's weights class on the other hand...no mercy there and my quads let me know that for days! but it as good to be out there again.

FIRST 2400 meter swim.
straight! that's right 1.5 miles. it took me 55:33 to finish, but yay! my longest swim ever! next time maybe i will need to learn flip turns.

FIRST 60 mile ride
with a pink posse we headed out saturday morning to ride a hilly 60 miler. longest distance AND hills - oh no! but...we did it. the first 40 miles were actually really good. the last 20 on the other hand. i think my quads hated me.

and...only 4 weeks left until patriot's. holy shit.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

One Day at a Time

Monday - finally back to training. walk into ed's shenanigan's yummy weights class, and walk out already sore. an hour of lunges after a few weeks of no leg work gave my quads a reality check. then off to the pool for masters - darn - it got cut short. (yes that was sarcasm) man i was tired after 30 minutes!

tuesday - 45 minutes of riding turned into 30 minutes due to the uncomfortably sore quads and gluts - at a nice slow 16.2 pace. oh well. then 60 minutes of running turned into 1 mile :( i thought my foot was going to explode!!! i could not believe how tender it was and how much running did put pressure on it. afterwards i could barely stand on it. but it did make the soreness feel nonexistant. (remember, snells, if your toe hurts, get punched in the arm)

tonight - timed 1.5 mile swim. well this has to be a better workout then monday or tuesdays!